Arrow Review: Inheritance (Season 7 Episode 17)
Oliver learns the truth about Emiko while managing to keep an even bigger reveal up her sleeve on present-focused Arrow Season 7 Episode 17, “Inheritance.”
A flash-forward-less episode takes out the stress of the uncertain future, while adding a brilliant reveal and a twist that helps Arrow enter the mini-hiatus with more information about who the real villain is, an idea of what Oliver, Felicity, Diggle, and the team will be reckoning with and a shocking reveal that ties the present and the future to the past in an exciting way.
The Ninth Circle’s existence is officially recognized. The trouble that follows is in the form of sibling betrayal because of course, Oliver can’t catch a break. Story and tradition dictate that Oliver’s reunions with family end badly for any multitude of reasons.
This time around, it’s Emiko’s real reason for trying to strike up a relationship with her long-lost half-sibling. While her connection to the Ninth Circle and Dante are not surprising thanks to an earlier scene, it’s the final moment between Emiko and Dante that takes the arc to the next level.
Finding out that it’s Emiko in charge of the super covert organization and not Dante changes things immeasurably when taking into consideration her entire motivation for her involvement in the Ninth Circle – to seek retribution against anyone with the Queen name.
The flashbacks do the job of giving us more insight into Emiko’s relationship with Robert (and how terrible Robert Queen has consistently been with all of his children) well.
Emiko’s interactions with her father, from being kicked out of their home to having her idea shot down for the sake of keeping her existence a secret, makes the Emiko we see now make so much sense.
Finding out Emiko is the leader behind the Ninth Circle and learning about Archer’s capabilities to a certain extent feels like a mark of a significant shift in the story, both in the present and a shift in what we’ve seen of the future.
With that knowledge, new questions about Archer and what we’ve seen in 2040 emerge and who is responsible for sending Oliver and Felicity into hiding. Is Emiko still the one in charge in the future?
Paired with Emiko’s flashbacks where we trace the source of her hatred of anyone attached to the Queen name, “Inheritance” clears things up a bit about why exactly Mia doesn’t share a last name with her father, why William is a Harris, and why they are all separated and in hiding.
The final flashback also offers one last surprising, gasp-inducing moment, making it clear that Emiko knew about Malcolm’s plans to blow up the gambit. At that moment Emiko races her way to the top of the Arrow Big Bad™ list, alongside Adrian Chase and his time plotting to bring Oliver down.
It’s always the ones that play the long game that leave an impression, and though we’ve just seen Emiko’s villainous reveal, it will be interesting to see where it goes from here.
I love that we continue to see my favorite version of Diggle back after an extended absence. He’s out there as Spartan next to Oliver’s Green Arrow and returning to those Oliver/John heart-to-hearts.
His insights, advice, and encouragement have always added another level to their brother-like bond and relationship, and it’s lovely that we get a return to that.
While Oliver’s dealing with the fallout of betrayal, Felicity recruits Alena for her Archer work and the continuation of her Smoak Tech story. It’s nice to see that she’s still working towards it, despite knowing what it leads to, and knowing she’s not alone working on it.
I can’t help but wonder at what point does Archer fall into the wrong hands?
Random Thoughts
- Seeing the Bunker scenes make a return after half of a season continues to be a delight as we see a return to a modified normal.
- Robert Queen is the worst, and there’s something about learning that he is far more terrible that makes me feel worse about Oliver and every child connected to Robert Queen.
- Oliver and Felicity working out in the field together through comms will never get old.
What did you think of this episode of Arrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Arrow returns Monday, April 15 at its new time 9/8c 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.