Arrow Review: Prochnost (Season 8 Episode 5)

A trip to Russia finds Oliver, William, and Mia wrestling with their relationship and past as they search for a way to stop The Monitor on another generally strong Arrow Season 8 Episode 5, “Prochnost.”

While there’s a concerted effort to bring Roy back into the fold by joining Diggle as they travel to track down some plutonium for the device that will supposedly stop the destruction of Earths, it falls a bit flat.

It’s the Queen-Smoak family that becomes the highlight of the hour.

Oliver and Mia’s training opening scene is equal parts adorable and badass, seeing Oliver getting the chance to impart some of his hard-earned skills on his daughter as Mia eagerly takes it all in.

I mean, they even bring back the tennis ball training, a nod to Arrow’s history that hits right in the nostalgic feels.

It’s not just the tennis ball training, but a few other scenes that harken back to some critical moments in Oliver’s journey not only in the last 8 years, but in the last 13 years and does it in such a cool, unforced, and impactful way that adds to the Queen-Smoak family dynamic.

Seeing Mia having to go through the Bratva test, ringing the bell, while Oliver is watching, strapped to a chair is something else. It’s a nice callback, honoring what Oliver went through during his time in the Bratva.

It also gives Oliver a chance to see that his daughter can defend herself and takes after him in fighting style and sheer strength. But with that realization comes a very reasonable fear about the dangers Mia and William face by being in Russia with him.

Oliver’s willingness to head into the fight club cage on his own initially provides a fantastic and insightful moment where Mia and her father argue about their reason for the Queen-Smoak siblings’ presence.

Mia: Yes, but we’re not children

Oliver: Well, you are when I look at you.

It’s a great, sudden burst of emotion between the pair that packs quite a punch. It does an excellent job of showing Mia and Oliver’s frame of mind when it comes to their dynamic.

Of course, it adds tension to their tentative relationship, providing a foundation for another heartbreaking Queen-Smoak family moment as Oliver conveys the depth of what he’s lost with his children. What he had to do the day The Monitor came to collect him and how recent it all still is for him.

He also invokes a promise made.

Oliver: But I made a promise to your mother. There is no world. There is no universe. There is no past, present, or future where I break it.

There is so much pain in his words to Mia and William that you can’t help but feel that heartache at his loss and what’s at stake for him, which is still relatively fresh at that moment. You can also feel the amount of power he puts behind a promise he makes to Felicity.

It’s a fantastic scene and one of the best parts of the hour.

I absolutely love that we are getting to see Oliver as a father again. It’s something that he wanted to be for William and Mia but never got the chance to do entirely.

To see him navigate his specific path of fatherhood, from deciding to share his dark past with adult children to the way he embraces them wholeheartedly as they are, is honestly a beautiful thing and something I wish we get to see more of for the remainder of the season.

Not to mention the fact that Stephen Amell does a beautiful job in these emotional Queen-Smoak family moments, and moments like those conversations with William and Mia are heartbreakingly great examples of it.

By the end of “Prochnost,” Oliver’s decision to follow Anatoly’s parenting advice and attempt to open up, offering more about his past, and including his children in his fieldwork provides a clear sign that he’s making strides and is willing to try a new way to get to know them and get closer to William and Mia.

Anatoly’s final appearance on the show brings with it a sense of closure on another part of Oliver’s life while also offering a mix of funny and sentimental moments.

Seeing Anatoly one last time, making amends with Oliver, offering parenting advice, designating himself as the “fun uncle,” before saying goodbye is so lovely and surprisingly emotional.

While the family tension and look into the Queen-Smoak family dynamic is the crux of the episode, there’s still the matter of The Monitor and Lyla’s lies.

By the end of the hour, Diggle and Oliver find out the truth, and Lyla isn’t any more forthcoming about her work with The Monitor or her reasoning if her conversation with Earth-2 Laurel is any indication.

There are still so many unanswered questions about why Lyla is involved, how Lyla got involved with The Monitor, and, most importantly, when Lyla became involved with the mysterious God who has sent Oliver on this mission.

Hopefully, we get some insight and answers about Lyla as Harbinger before “Crisis” shifts into high gear.

Can Lyla be trusted? Are we going to get more transparency on The Monitor? Will these answers come before “Crisis”?

Random Thoughts

• I’m going to need some clarification on what the rules are for revealing information about the future because Oliver and Diggle don’t seem to be concerned. How fast and loose are we playing with these rules? Is it playing out this way because things will be shifting soon?
• Mia’s look of wonder after seeing her father taking people down is fantastic and plays as a solid contrast to Oliver’s expression of fear of what his children think of him.
• Ben Lewis’ ability to deliver those panicky, hilarious one-liners is fantastic.
• Sidelining JJ, during the episode is an interesting choice, and I have questions about it.
• Laurel’s words to Mia about how flawed and imperfect they all are is an insightful look at the way they lead their lives.
• It’s honestly a bit surprising that we find out that she decides not to turn on Oliver in favor of getting her Earth back.

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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