Despite the title, there was little about the blast that commanded attention on Arrow Season 2 Episode 10.

However, the radius of all of the other stories and the way they're reaching beyond their immediate focal point hit home.

For those eager about word regarding Barry and the STAR Labs explosion, it was addressed immediately. Felicity has been at his side on and off for the last five weeks while he lay helplessly in a coma, which has made an already edgy Oliver even more agitated.

That was big story number one.

The bigger, overarching story was about Sebastian Blood and Mirakuru and giving Laurel some legs to stand on this season. It's wonderful how all encompassing what happened on the island is really becoming at this point. It makes a lot more sense to have gone though the more boring bits on Arrow Season 1 to get to this meaty stuff.

Is the battle of wills between Oliver and Felicity confusing any Olicity shippers out there? On the one hand, it's easy to see that they have some feelings for each other, and on the other hand, it's sometimes difficult to tell to what degree those feelings really go.

To use an 80s movie analogy, I think of Oliver and Felicity a bit like Sam and Jake from Sixteen Candles. They aren't in each other's league and are wholly aware of one another and attracted to each other, but there will have to be a very special circumstance for them to end up together. 

So, for now, Felicity is still having feels for Barry and Oliver is supporting it, despite his need to have her nearby and on his team. At least that keeps her close and until they reach a more comfortable personal place between them, that will have to suffice.

It's really good to see Laurel feeling stronger about herself and enough so that she's willing to do a little digging about Sebastian Blood when she senses something off about him.

Did I miss what she sensed? She was on to him way before this, but I was disappointed in Oliver not smelling a rat when Blood held the Unity Rally. Simple deductive reasoning tells me that he would do that if he knew who was behind the bombing. 

Watch Arrow Season 2 Episode 10 Online

It didn't matter whether Blood knew the bomber or not. Just putting the public into such a harmful position with such blatant disregard for them would make me immediately question everything about him. Blood's slick use of words has everyone fooled. It's a tad embarrassing. 

We may have learned why Slade was clenching and unclenching his fist when he was behind his desk in Arrow Season 2 Episode 9 -- because that's the hand he used to throttle Oliver on the island and he was clenching it then, kind of in awe of it's strength.

The island scenes are up and down for me right now. Oliver seems to have lost some of his mojo, reverting back to the dork he was when he first arrived. It was especially noticeable when Slade gave him Shado's hood. I just can't wait to see the day the two of them meet about Shado. It's going to be terribly painful.

Oh... back to Laurel. While Oliver is throwing campaign parties for Blood, Laurel is sifting through papers on his desk and having Lance run background checks. She's going on her gut and it's taking her places. Poor Maya Resik. She's no aunt at all, but Blood's mother who watched her son murder her husband before he sent her to the loony bin. No wonder she's mumbling and rocking back and forth.

Since Oliver is Blood's new best friend and Lance thinks he's Prince Charming, I suspect what we're going to see here is a situation where Laurel knows -- KNOWS -- Blood is behind something truly awful and that being elected Mayor will be the worst move for Starling City.

She will try to stop it, but her ex-boyfriend and her father will start saying she's using drugs or drinking and, if Blood gets wind, may force her to use those things to make sure she looks as bad as she should.

The rock bottom she's going to hit will be because she cried wolf, didn't get the help people wanted her to get, got well on her own and had the nerve to question the man who is not only becoming the most powerful in the city, but is running an army of Mirakuru juiced men and doing it under the supervision and with the blessing of Oliver's most powerful enemy -- Slade Wilson. Wouldn't he take pleasure in seeing Oliver's ex fall asunder?

Other thoughts:

• While it was interesting to see Roy heal and save Moira, despite having Mirakuru running though his veins, he really has no interesting story to tell at this point. What a shame.
• Alright -- So Lance has been able to SEE Oliver's face this entire time when he's The Arrow? He asked, "What's with the mask?" That leads me to believe he can see Oliver's face perfectly well. Is his vision otherwise that bad? If he can see the eyepaint is gone, then he surely can make out Ollie's facial features. Gimme a break!
• At least we have absolute confirmation that Oliver chose to save Sara. He said it out loud. They must be reading our round table discussions. 

How do you think Laurel's story will progress?

Here is the promo for Arrow Season 2 Episode 11:

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.