Arrow Review: Unmasked (Season 7 Episode 8)
In an hour that technically serves as its midseason finale, Arrow Season 7 Episode 8, “Unmasked,” offers a look at Oliver and Felicity’s realities post-Slabside, even more, questions thanks to those flashforwards, and a reveal that packs a surprise (if you aren’t a part of the fandom).
“Unmasked” makes for an uneven hour that still gets to the end of the first half of the season with a few moments that set up where some of our favorites stand in their relationships and hinting at what’s to come for some new additions.
The start of Oliver and Felicity’s path back to each other doesn’t seem to end with that post-Slabside reunion. Instead, it seems to signify the beginning of their journey as the pair realize that there are some changes they are going to have to deal with.
The last 7 months set Oliver and Felicity on their own paths, growing and adapting to their environments without each other. But with the pair back together, the adjustment is heartbreakingly tough.
Felicity has spent all of this time on her own, with no real support system, trying to survive and find a way to get Oliver out of Slabside. Meanwhile, Oliver spent his time working to endure a very hostile environment, surrounded by people he put away, paying a penance he has always thought he was meant to pay.
Those experiences have obviously taken a toll, and it’s clear in the way they are around each other, from Oliver’s defensive stance as Felicity attempts to join her husband in the shower to Felicity’s immediate response to the intruder in their apartment.
They each have trauma and their own issues to work through which makes their argument a painful but necessary one. Felicity points out that Oliver’s decision to go to Slabside was unilaterally made while explaining what he hasn’t seen while he’s been gone are things need to hear in order to understand the Felicity he sees now.
Alternatively, Oliver’s disbelief at Felicity calling her “old” self weak is something she needed to see. To see him reject the idea that she hasn’t always been strong is important especially given this strange concept seemingly being tossed around that strength equals a specific amount of force.
She’s not any stronger than she was before. She’s just shaped differently and grown to adapt as a result of her experiences.
I really like that even with the angst and the heartbreaking aspect of the growing process involved for Olicity, there is still that foundation of absolute love and adoration for each other.
We get to see that in moments like the pair taking the time to celebrate their anniversary, Oliver reciting his vows to her, and Felicity’s pep talk before the gala. Even as Felicity tells Oliver that she’s not sure what’s best for her is best for them at the moment, she tells him how much she loves him.
What I’m not sure about is what we’re meant to take from that final scene together. It’s understandable that it will take time to get back to them.
But is Felicity alluding to that time they will be taking is time apart?
There’s something interesting about Oliver throughout the hour. He’s still seemingly recovering, missing the façade he had before when dealing with the public. It’s not that he’s unsure, but he’s very cautious about his choices which we can see when he deals with Dinah and Rene and their new Green Arrow chase.
It’s that cautiousness that makes moments like his decision to go into Max Fuller’s club unmasked, hood-down and the resulting job offer that much more impactful.
The flash forwards continue their bleak look at what Star City’s become, only with the addition of introducing us to Blackstar. Granted there’s not much we know about her, except that she is a street fighter, knows Felicity, and there’s something she’s hiding.
But honestly, who isn’t hiding something (from the audience or other characters) at this point in the story?
Meanwhile, in the present, Diggle manages to cross another line somehow and do the one thing that would absolutely rock the foundation of his friendship with Oliver and Felicity—ask Diaz for help.
It just feels like Digg’s straying further and further and I’m waiting to see what the turning point looks like. I get that this is about that Dante painting—a story that hasn’t had its foundation cemented in the first half of the season. But this is a line he probably shouldn’t be completely crossing.
The present also has a new addition in the reveal of Emiko Queen as the Green Arrow, essentially confirming months of speculation about who’s under that suit. With that confirmation comes so many questions about her mission and whether it’s similar to Oliver’s at the beginning—right their father’s wrongs.
But what does she mean when she says she won’t be giving up?
Random Thoughts
- Another season, another Mayor that just doesn’t get it (I feel Oliver doesn’t count on this list, though).
- One of the more irksome aspects of how this has played out is how easy going the dynamic between Olicity and the newbies, and Digg is considering what we’ve seen over the last 7 episodes. They all essentially gave up on the man, not willing to help Felicity until it became easy or convenient for them to help her. So…not a fan of sweeping this arc under the rug though I do appreciate Felicity pointing out that Siren was a big help in getting Oliver out.
- I see what you did there, Arrow, with that mention of Christmas vacation feeling like 20 years away. Might that be a reference to when we see William again throughout “Unmasked.”
- Max Fuller would be that Cryptocurrency guy.
- Felicity’s introduction as the “wife of the freaking Green Arrow” is hilarious.
What did you think of this episode of Arrow? Can a large chunk of 7b just be Olicity in therapy with William for some sessions? Anyone else completely confused about Diggle and Lyla’s choices? Thoughts on Emiko and Blackstar aka Maya’s debuts?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Arrow airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.