TV Retrospective: Arrow Season 2 episodes 10-12 review

It's been another week since the last one, so here's a new retrospective on Arrow episodes

Blast Radius

The Arrow starts by questioning street dealers about the man in the skull mask, Brother Blood, with no results. It's been 5 weeks since the star labs explosion, Barry's still in a coma, and Felicity is with him.

At the DA’s office, I just noticed those pills Laurel is taking are prescribed to her father, how come he hasn't yet noticed they've been missing? Laurel has suspicions about Sebastian Blood, that we already know are true, and we're going to bored watching the theory go down in flames because of this. An era of mystery is not a bad thing, and so far the only show that didn't have all it's cards played down by the mid-season finale was Agents of SHIELD (both seasons, although we'll see with the Flash)

Oliver is using the club to support Sebastian's run for Mayor, I wonder whether Thea had any choice words about it. Oliver asks about Roy, but Thea pretty much dismisses the question.

Villain incoming, ranting about corrupt polics, and a massive explosion, that’s pretty much the defining character of Anarky, but I don't think the show's using him. (He'd be a great character for Gotham though)

At Queen Consolidated: he really doesn't do much here, it just seems to be a set piece for him. Oh, and Felicity's back, having heard about the bombing. Laurel quizzes Blood about his family, and he spins some yarn about his mother murdering his drunkard father, the truth is frankly much more disturbing.

Roy is beginning to isolate himself, he can see that the serum has effects as he heals quickly from having a massive shard of glass in his arm. Lance suspects traitors in his department as wants phone records, but our anarchist strikes again. Lonnie would be so proud. Felicity tracks him down and Oliver gives chase, until smoke and signal scrambling put an end to this round

He has the gaul to think this is Felicity's fault! You know when it's hard to fight an opponent, when you don't know what they're capable of. Without expecting a signal scramble, it would've taken a few seconds to find him again, ample time for him to get away. You lost, and people are dying, but that aint Felicity's fault!

Even Diggle sort-of agrees on that point. Oh, so now Quintin's noticed his missing painkillers. Laurel wants him to investigate something about Blood, and he agrees. Blood wants to host a rally and essentially have a bullseye painted on his back alongside everyone else at the rally. The Arrow talks to Blood, but fail to talk him off.

And we have a guy at a toy store, he's the very very very obvious villain. The villain is shrapnel, another not-Green Arrow villain whose motivation is entirely new to his character, so he can join Brother Blood, Deathstroke, Firefly, Huntress and I'm certain there are many others in that category.

So, Blood is paying the expenses of his “aunt” in a mental institution or something. The Arrow breaks into the toy store from earlier, but of course it’s a trap. Shrapnel's just reading off a textbook, he knows nothing about Blood, just assumes. (He's sort of right, but…) Thanks to Felicity Oliver escapes unharmed.

Moira and Thea go to find Roy, but… wait, the 3 of them were together in the security footage Oliver was viewing, weren't they. So Diggle finds the bomb, but Shrapnel finds them, but thankfully Oliver arrives, some stage lighting starts to fall on Moira, and Roy manages to stop it, by the power of super-strength.

Turns out Shrapnel really can’t hold his own in a fight, and he's arrested. Oliver apologises to Felicity so lesson learned, and Ollicity shippers are going on overdrive.

On the Island, Slade is going nuts, Oliver blames himself for what happened to Shado, and as I explained before, he really shouldn't. Ivo wants the mirakuru, and offers a way off the Island in exchange, else he'll invade the island. Slade is long gone with the mirakuru.

Turns out that Blood killed his own father, and forced his mother, under the guise of his aunt into a mental institution. Good god! That is some messed up sh*t right there! Sebastian and the Arrow want to be partners, please tell me he isn't about to do what I think he is. Superheroes and politics don't mix, ever!

Rating 8.5/10

Blind Spot

Oh dear, Blood has come to visit his ‘Aunt,’ this can mean only one thing, and yes… she's dead by the end of the scene.

Meanwhile the Arrow is getting ever more edgy about finding the man in the skull mask, and Laurel's approach to finding out about the death of her witness is... A little too much. You know covert is sometimes more effective, especially when you're dealing with an angel in the public eye. Not that Laurel is thinking straight, she's still popping pills.

Gee, I'm sure the best way to get Roy talking about the skull mask guy is to go out and confront him about in your secret identity, talk to him as the f*cking Arrow you idiot! Sure he'll probably be p*ssed that you shot him in the leg, but…

Diggle's an optimist the entire episode, since when is he the optimist of the group!? So Laurel calls the Arrow, who's thankfully suspicious about the call (gotta maintain that secret identity somehow) she warns him but presents minimal evidence, meaning she's given nothing for the Arrow to go on whatsoever. Apart from some case notes.

Roy approaches Sin (where is she these days anyway, I hear she's coming back for an episode or two soon) and shows his new strength, he believes he can use it to hand out a beating to those who have wronged the city. (You know, sometimes it's best to be honest, now is one of those times)

Felcity finds that the case involving the murder of Sebastian Blood’s father, but the records from the case are so old that only hard copies exist. But their infiltration does not go as planned, and for all their efforts, the case file was stolen before them, and Felicity can't trace because… reasons?

OK, so, Ollie reaches out to Sebastian, but instead tips him off that she knows something. What an idiot. So, Roy's plan to take out a… sleezy dirtbag/murderer and… How the hell is he still breathing after taking that much of a beating?

Deathstroke arranged the stealing of the file, and calls upon Sebastian to fix the mess, he starts by getting Laurel arrested for the drugs, how did anyone know? She's been fairly discreet about it. Anyway, this discredits pretty much all of her investigations, well done Laurel, you've done it again

Ollie takes Laurel home, where she's ambushed by brother blood. Now that her word is meaningless to everyone else, it's time to make her words meaningless to herself. Also, good job keeping a secret, here's a hint: if you're an evil villain: don’t compliment someone's plans to save the damned city!

So brother blood is… Officer Daly, our mole in the department, who in no way has the resources to distribute a drug like Mirakuru, or the intelligence? Just saying, this would't be case closed for the Arrow, even if the evidence is conclusive for the police.

Ah, and Laurel is fired from the DAs office. Thea confides in Oliver that Roy is beginning to lose it, and Oliver gives yet ANOTHER HINT OF HIS SECRET IDENTITY! Seriously, stop it, stop it now! The Arrow offers to teach Roy control

On the Island, Ivo is playing Jekyl and Hyde, Sarah's being an idiot, and Slade's nowhere to be seen

OK, so Sebastian stays in the shadows a while longer, I'll just wait patiently… (Looks at watch)… any time now… (Checks Facebook)…. OK, can this hurry up already. We've known Sebastian Blood is the man in the skull mask since about episode 3! Nice that we got to see Slade being badass, pity Laurel's slipping back to annoying again…

Rating 8/10

Tremors

OK, Starling City's prison guards are clearly not particularly sharp. You'd think they'd have metal detectors that could detect where the metal is in a person, like those hand-held things you see at airports. Saying you have a bum knee, and then finding metal in the elbow might be a tad suspicious. Also, inmate falls dead, sound the f*cking alarm, and don't go in alone, you're just setting yourself up to be ambushed, even if Bronze Tiger didn't have his claws.

So, Oliver is teaching Roy how to slap water. A technique that builds strength… How about teaching him meditation? Or something that might calm his anger, which as we'll see is what lead to Slade going over the edge? Control of strength is great, control of temper is as important with him. Just saying.

Quintin plays games with Laurel, trying to get her to come to a support group… Haven't we been down this road before? Neither of you look better for it

Moira is asked to dinner by Walter, and it turns out that the Starling National bank are worried that Sebastian Blood will bankrupt the economy, and want Moira to run against her. I personally haven't seen an idea this stupid since Torchwood Miracle Day. But at least here, there is a little bit of justification with it, Torchwood: Miracle Day was just stupid.

So, Tiger's target is something in the Merlyn Mansion, Ollie takes Roy along with him, but Roy isn't ready and begins beating a guy near to death, with Ollie stopping him allowing Tiger to get away with his prize, a prototype earthquake machine. Remember what I said, calming techniques might've been useful there, instead of learning how to hit things more!

Roy tries to persuade Thea to leave town, but when she wants to know why and he can't tell her he gets angry, and… you know what I just said a moment ago, it applies here too.

Ah, it's time to see Joanna, formerly from CNRI, warn that Laurel is under disciplinary procedures that may affect her ability to practice law. So, she drowns her sorrows in the Verdant, because where else, seriously, there aren't any other bars she could drown her sorrows in? Oh… it's so Oliver could talk and then make a phone call to mystery person who surely couldn't possibly be Sara, nope, nope

Meanwhile, Roy's had enough… Anger management, seriously, control of strength is a much about mental control as it is about physical discipline. He's after whoever has the Earthquake device on his own, Oliver has to get there first.

He finds it, but Bronze Tiger has a bit of honour, and stays to defend his client. Unfortunately Roy's around, and forces our client to activate the device, protected by military grade steel stuff, Roy was the only hope, and only by unmasking could Oliver get him to think about Thea and channel his strength, and as we'll soon see, he does the stupidest thing possible to someone who is using love to control his strength, but we'll get to that.

On the Island, Slade wants to destroy the AMAZO with a rocket launcher, but Ollie manages to persuade him not too, citing that it's the only way off the Island, whilst still hiding the fact that he blames himself (despite the flaw I've brought up before) for Shado’s death.

Moira decides to run for Mayor, providing certain measures are made to prevent anyone finding out about Thea's parentage, Amanda Waller decides to pay Bronze Tiger a visit, and… Sara shows up at Laurel's as she passes out from… probably something more than too much to drink.

Another solid episode, building up the suicide squad angle, and developing Roy, but at the same time, doing nothing for the overall story.

Join us in two weeks, where we see Walter being an idiot, Ollie discovering another secret, and the enemy revealed.

Rating 8.5/10

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Images used in this review are from Arrow and belong to their respective owners. All images in this review are subject to fair use.