Arrow Review: Man of Answers
Carissa Pavlica
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Damn, that Slade Wilson is a lot of fun!
Slade made it pretty clear on Arrow Season 2 Episode 18 that his idea of making Oliver suffer is a little different than what one might have expected. He's not necessarily interested in overtly killing people, but in sharing his truths with them. I like it!
On Arrow Season 2 Episode 17, it felt like there were just too many lies and they were at the heart of all of the hurt going down in Starling City. Slade may not see things the same way, as he's using truths to hurt those who love Oliver, but in the end he's probably doing Oliver a favor.
Slade let Thea go right quick and let his minions take over. She wasn't to be harmed, but was used to scare the hell out of Oliver and his family and to force Oliver to sign Queen Consolidated over to Isabel Rochev. As soon as Oliver did that I knew she was working with Slade and he had orchestrated everything with her. It made perfect sense.
Slade also took the opportunity to tell Thea about Malcolm Merlyn. He did tell a little lie of his own by suggesting Oliver has known about her birth for years, but the timing of it doesn't even matter. It's interesting to whom he chose to tell what truths. To Thea it was about her father and to Laurel it was about Oliver's secret identity.
Since Slade has already confronted both Laurel and Thea and didn't seem in any hurry to harm them, it feels like we can cross them off the list of a Shado/Sara type showdown if that's even in his playbook. We also learned by Slade is still so anry about Shado -- because she's always with him. Thanks to the Mirakuru she's alive and well in his mind, and driving his actions. I can appreciate that being enough to drive him batty with the need for revenge.
Laurel's knowledge of Oliver's identity might be what saves Lance from his imprisonment. Sara already told daddy that Oliver didn't know anything about the Arrow, so it seems doubtful she'll be willing to give him up now to save Lance from facing charges. Laurel could be angry enough about the lies to turn on Oliver to save her father.
Sara keeps proving again and again how willing she is to kill and somehow I think that will be her downfall. Roy had every right to be upset and question Oliver's judgment about Thea after what he forced him to do. Roy very possibly could have saved Thea had they been together, but he'll never know.
Angsty Roy was an enjoyable Roy, though, wasn't he? He got some zinger lines in about King Queen before he ended up driving out of town. Where the hell is he going?
You're special forces, she's an international assassin. You'd think that between the three of us we could have gotten answers out of Slade ourselves instead of turning him into the police. Here's what's really sick, is we didn't even question him because he said it was the right thing to do. Just like he said I had to break up with Thea one week after telling me to leave her alone!
Roy
When it came down to it, the people who had Oliver's back when he needed support the most were his two trusted companions, Diggle and Felicity. Felicity was also the only team member who gave him the OK to go out on his own. It's what he needed to do and there wasn't going to be any stopping him, so why not give him a feeling of security as he goes out?
The entire hour just came together fabulously. Slade's calm demeanor rattled Oliver and threw him even further off of his game. He has had nothing but time to craft this elaborate plan and Oliver has been blindsided. How are Sara and Felicity going to protect him from the pain of Laurel knowing his secret and Thea knowing about Malcolm?
I wonder how long until Thea learns Moira's bigger secret -- that Malcolm is still alive. Similarly, I wonder whether Laurel will immediately let on that she knows Oliver's secret identity and if it will cause her to question who Canary is and if that will, in turn, ruin her relationship with Sara once again.
I asked last week at what price so many lies, and we're starting to see some answers tonight. We're in a rerun next week before finishing out the season with all new episodes so watch Arrow online in the meantime!
What secret that Slade told surprised you most?
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.
