Arrow Review: Starling City (Season 8 Episode 1)

Welcome to another Earth, where everything is not quite right, and emotional gut punches run rampant on Arrow Season 8 Episode 1, “Starling City.”

With the Monitor’s task in mind, Oliver’s search for Dwarf Star Particles takes him from Lian Yu to Starling City in an hour filled with not only solid callbacks and homages to the first season of Arrow, but with little nods to other seasons along the way.

Given the amount of ground the episode covers, it’s no surprise that the pacing is quicker than what I’m used to in an Arrow episode. But even with that pacing, it’s still an enjoyable hour that hits the big moments, reveals, and homages with just enough time to somewhat process it before being faced with the next.

Granted, I’m still not clear on what the purpose of those particles are by the end of the hour. But Oliver’s journey through this Earth offers moments of perspective on what his existence in the universe means, and it’s put into words so well by Diggle.

Diggle: This world isn’t better. It’s much, much worse. You know why? Because you aren’t in it.

Diggle and Oliver’s relationship has grown so much since they first met 7 years ago when Moira first hired him as Oliver’s bodyguard, a moment we get to see hilariously and touchingly re-enacted by the pair, down to Oliver’s attempted escape out of the back of the car.

Seeing how far Diggle is willing to go—to an entirely different universe—for his brother is a perfect example of the kind of love and support they have for each other. Being there, so Oliver doesn’t go at it alone, to offer words of advice, encouragement, and tough love through it all.

The emotional moments tied to Oliver’s life on his Earth that take the premiere to another level.

Seeing Felicity, William, and Mia never far from Oliver’s mind and heart is honestly beautiful and heartbreaking, and it’s immediately apparent just how much his wife and children are with him during his return family dinner.

Oliver: I used to make this for William all the time.

It’s a quick moment, but it hurts to see Moira ask who William is, knowing that Oliver would have wanted to go on and on about who his son is and shows the kind of reality Oliver is facing in his travels.

Those feelings are compounded as Oliver asks his mother whether she would have left him and Thea if she knew it was to protect him. That moment of doubt turns into a moment of heartbreak as Moira offers him some measure of comfort.

Moira: Someday, when you have children, you will understand.

The writers definitely don’t hold back on the feelings in the first act, and Stephen Amell plays all of these moments so well, really conveying all of the loss, pain, and heartache Oliver carries in the name of saving the multiverse.

Oliver: I’ve lost people too, Tommy. I’ve lost people closer to me than I can possibly explain to you. Every one of those losses brings with it a choice – between darkness and light. Make the right choice.

Tommy’s return and reveal as the Dark Archer leads to another one of those fantastic moments as he can save this Starling City from the undertaking. Colin Donnell’s return to Arrow is always a delight and played in a way through the years that always makes Tommy’s appearance exciting, fun, and emotional.

I’m glad he was able to return to the show one more time.

Even with Emily Bett Rickards’ notable absence, Felicity’s presence is felt throughout, from mentions of her Bunker design on this Earth to Oliver gazing at the photo he keeps of her and Mia from the cabin –a quick moment that still manages to leave a lasting impression.

It’s especially felt as Oliver goes down to the Merlyn-Queen Consolidated IT department looking for her.

Oliver: It was supposed to be red.

I mean, the scene has every item to call back to that iconic scene on Arrow Season 1 Episode 3, “Lone Gunman,”; the pink blouse, blond hair, glasses, and that red pen comment, with the added fun of seeing the season 3 fern. I am a fan.

Meanwhile, in 2040, Future Team Arrow finds that they’re struggling to get it together during a mission that brings them face to face with JJ, aka Deathstroke.

Trying to figure out leadership isn’t easy, especially mid-mission, but it provides some exciting opportunities to dig into some family moments.

William and Mia’s little conversation in the newly renovated bunker really goes to show you how much like their parents they are.

William offering comforting words to Mia about the legacy their mother and father left them feels like something Felicity would have done, while Mia takes the time to process it quietly and in slightly broody fashion, much like Oliver, before accepting it and taking it in stride.

It’s an endearing moment and one of hopefully many more to come.

Of course, it’s not exactly smooth sailing for the Diggle siblings as we get a formal introduction to JJ and his Deathstrokes. I’m very curious to see how Connor and JJ’s relationship develops (or devolves) from this moment.

Naturally, we’re reminded that amid the fun, the emotions, and the callbacks that a crisis is coming in the rudest way—losing Moira and Tommy once again.

Where does the portal lead to next? What memories will it bring back? What lessons will it impart to our hero?

Random Thoughts

• Which costumes are hanging on the mannequins in the other Earth’s bunker?
• A world where Malcolm Merlyn is an innocent man (as far as we see), is a bizarre world.
• Oliver’s “10 steps ahead of you” comment to Josh Segarra’s version of the Hood plays much funnier, in a twisted way, considering what we know about Adrian Chase and Oliver’s history.
• The fact that Thea’s dead on this Earth definitely adds to the emotional onslaught within the first 10 minutes of the hour.
• The Monitor’s voice over as Oliver makes his run from the Pilot is interesting, especially the phrase “they [Paragons] are the only hope for all of creation” as the camera pans up to Oliver’s face. It’s a poignant moment given the magnitude of what he’s about to undergo and conveys something Arrow fans have known about Oliver for a very long time – he is a big damn hero.

What did you think of this episode of Arrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Arrow airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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