Arrow Review: Present Tense (Season 8 Episode 4)

Oliver’s mission takes a backseat for a bit as the present, and the future collide bringing with it a whole lot of emotions, unresolved family issues, and plenty of opportunities for the Queen-Smoak family and Diggle family to emotionally wreck us all on a terrific Arrow Season 8 Episode 4, “Present Tense.”

The shock from Arrow Season 8 Episode 3, “Leap of Faith” has worn off and in its place is no small amount of confusion, anger, guilt, and heartbreak.

“Present Tense” does an excellent job of taking a breath and diving in a bit more into the feelings and frame of mind of Mia, William, Connor, Oliver, and Diggle, seeing what 20 years have done to their respective families.

There’s a sense of heartbreak the flows through Oliver’s interactions with Mia and William. He missed out on 20 years, Mia and William were kept apart until 2040, and they both felt a resounding sense of abandonment.

But while Mia’s initially closed off and angry, William’s more open and immediately willing to take the chance to rebuild his relationship with Oliver.

These striking differences play off each other in a way that makes Oliver’s interactions with each one poignant and at times, hard to watch, especially when it comes to his moments with Mia.

Stephen Amell, Ben Lewis, and Katherine McNamara do a phenomenal job playing the visceral emotions that a reunion like this brings out, leading to more than a few tearful moments.

The raw anger is on full display as Oliver tries to stop Mia from going out on her own. It’s a rough confrontation that is honestly breathtaking in its painfulness, as Mia reaches into the deep-seated feelings she has about being abandoned.

There’s something about the whole scene that makes it incredibly hard to watch, as Mia accuses Oliver of leaving for the sake of being a hero, that he’s just playing “dad,” and he’s nothing more than “some guy” in her way.

Her words feel designed to inflict massive amounts of pain and hit the mark rather successfully.

Mia’s feelings and need to lash out make sense considering what we know of her upbringing and Oliver’s absence, making the moment equal parts necessary and agonizing, especially knowing what we know about Oliver and his mission.

Through it all, though, Oliver understands his daughter’s perspective and takes it all in without offering any excuse or platitude.

It takes a conversation with William about their feelings of abandonment and advice to push a bit more for the dynamic to take a turn as Mia and Oliver team up out on the field, and Mia’s got revenge on her mind.

Oliver: Hate me if you want. I’m not letting you do this.

There were always moments that clearly indicated how similar Mia was to her father, especially to early series Oliver. But it’s moments like their scene out in the field as he stops her from killing that illustrates it perfectly while also showing how much Oliver has grown.

Between their moment in the field and Oliver offering advice on processing guilt, Mia and Oliver end on a somewhat tentative note, offering hope for repairing their relationship.

Will they be able to get to a good place down the road before whatever happens to Oliver happens? Will the 2040 kids be around that long?

While Mia and Oliver have a tumultuous start, William and Oliver’s is the complete opposite.

From William’s enthusiastic and warm hug with his father to his talks with him, it’s beautiful to see William willingly embrace what his dad is trying to do after seeing him struggle with Mia.

There’s no shortage of emotional moments between the pair either as we get perhaps the sweetest scene after Oliver asks William about something good that’s happened in the future. It’s lovely to see William come out to his father.

Oliver: Yeah, buddy. I know.

Oliver’s simple acknowledgment and explanation that he and Felicity were waiting for his son to do it on his own terms is a beautiful sentiment and is immediately followed by the stunning realization (once again) that Oliver missed out on so much with his children.

It’s a realization Oliver comes to many times throughout the hour, and it remains just as emotionally potent throughout the hour.

Meanwhile, the Diggle family is dealing with their issues, leading to even more tears.

Connor’s initial excitement at seeing Diggle is immediately met with disbelief and heartbreak that is only made worse when the truth about JJ is revealed. There’s so much guilt he’s dealing with and takes upon himself that you can’t help but feel for Connor.

There’s not much we know about the circumstances behind his adoption, but given what we do know about his guilt connected to his adoption, and Diggle’s initial outburst at the truth about JJ, it makes Digg’s final words to Connor that much more powerful.

Diggle: You’re my family, son.

David Ramsey and Joseph David-Jones do an excellent job of conveying the uncertainty, guilt, and ultimately affection that comes with a reunion like this.

Whatever The Monitor’s reason for bringing the kids back to the present, it sets the perfect foundation for second chances and an injection of hope into Oliver’s mission it seems, and though this may very well fall into this ominous God’s potentially evil plan, I appreciate what it’s brought me in the form of a pair of family reunions and many tears.

The question is, what is it all for? What is The Monitor’s reasoning behind this and his offer in the last moments of the hour?

I guess only time will tell.

Random Thought

• In the long term, if “Crisis” is meant to consolidate the infinite Earths, then maybe their hopes of changing the future is entirely possible. Granted, not a complete change from what we’ve seen, but a few distinct differences. Of course, there’s still so much we don’t know about the Crisis. So really, who’s to say what this is setting up.
• Have to give the kids of Future Team Arrow props for contemplating the consequences of telling Oliver, Diggle, and the others in the present about the future for at least half of an act.
• There’s a moment when the man at the police station asks for the time that so strikingly calls back to the beginnings of Slade’s siege on the city back on Arrow Season 2 that it’s incredible.
• Granted, he was overwhelmed by what he was seeing and dealing with his adult children in front of him, but it’s weird to not have Oliver ask about Felicity in 2040.
• Rene’s reaction to hearing of Zoe’s death is heartbreaking to watch. 
• Oliver making Monte Cristos for Mia and William is another lovely and hopeful moment on the road to repairing his relationship with his children.

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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