Arrow Season 8 Episode 5 Review: Prochnost
Sarah Little
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The best blasts from the past go to Anatoly and the Bratva.
And, Roy snuck in there as well.
An ode to Arrow Season 5, arguably one of the best seasons of the beloved show, Arrow Season 8 Episode 5 was filled with tears, shockers, and fighting -- and not just the physical kind.
Oliver and Mia still had a lot of baggage to unpack and was it ever satisfying to watch.
Even though they are father and daughter, they have no clue who the other person truly is. Russia allowed them to understand each other on a deeper level.
Oliver: I'm your father, alright? It is my primary job in the world to protect you.
Mia: We don't need that. In the future, we're the ones that are saving the city.
Oliver: Well this isn't the future! This is months after I was heartbroken right before I left that I couldn't get you on the phone at your grandparents. So, I walked into your room to look at you one last time and you looked back at me from your crib.
Mia: And because you made the choice to protect us I had to spend my whole life alone. I didn't have a chance to know my brother to get to know you.
Oliver: I'm sorry that it worked out that way, and both of you can decide on your own how much you want to hate me and how much blame you want to assign. But, I made a promise to your mother to keep you safe and there is no world, there is no universe, there is no past, present, or future where I break it.
Mia: Fine.
How convenient was it that the General they were seeking frequented a fight club? It is a place Mia knows all too well, which shocked Oliver as he learned more about his daughter's life and the skills she has acquired.
When Oliver saw what Mia could really do, he was understandably scared for his daughter's life, as any parent would be. But, he also did not want Mia to find out about his past.
What he failed to realize was how in awe Mia is of Oliver and that he is the main influence in her life.
Mia is the fighter that she is because she wants to live up to her father's legacy. She is like a little kid that tries to mimic their parents, except this time it's beating up people.
Oliver still sees Mia as his baby because she was, quite literally, a baby when he saw her only months ago. But, she has lived a full life and proven that she can take as much care of herself as Oliver can.
One of Oliver's major faults throughout the series is that he fails to trust that the people he loves are human beings capable of making their own decisions. That has resulted in him making some bad decisions.
Oliver has to realize that he cannot protect everyone. He is allowed to share his burden with others, and although he has made major improvements in that area, it is still something he struggles with.
However, Oliver did take a big step towards building trust with his kids when he asked William and Mia to help him steal the plans for a weapon to use against The Monitor.
And, that is all thanks to Anatoly. That version of Anatoly -- the one where he sees himself as Oliver's brother -- has been truly missed.
Anatoly: Remember the first thing I taught you?
Oliver: Living is not for the weak.
Anatoly: Your children are not weak, Oliver. They are also not children. Whatever it is you have to say, they can handle it. If you do not, they will never learn to be heroes.
Oliver recognized the value of his kids, and like it or not, that they are a team now. As a result, Mia showed off her skills to her dad, and Oliver opened up about his troubling past to his kids. It was a win/win for everyone involved.
They still have a way to go before they reach the level of total comfort and trust with one another, but they are on their way.
In the mean time, more father/daughter fight scenes please!
How proud are we of Laurel?
It was quite shocking that Laurel did not steal the plans from Oliver to give to Lyla and The Monitor, but she has always been one to prove people wrong.
Mia: Every time I try and live up to my dad, or to prove that I can do what it is you all do, I fail.
Laurel: Do you think that your father is any better? If you're trying to live up to us, don't. We are just as flawed as anyone, especially me. All you can do is live up to yourself.
Plus, she had Mia and Anatoly praising her for how much she has changed and proven herself to be a hero.
Maybe she made her choice because of the guilt she felt, but guilt can be a good thing. It means she has morals and is willing to follow them. Laurel has come a long way from when she was Black Siren.
What was even better was that Laurel took along Oliver and Diggle for her meeting with Lyla.
Well, she probably could have given Lyla more of a chance to decide to tell her family about her dealings with The Monitor, but it made for an epic scene, so no complaints here.
Of course, Lyla believes she is doing the right thing by working with The Monitor, and she probably is. But she needs to be honest with her family.
Nothing good can come out of withholding the truth from those you love (and those who love Arrow because we are dying to know the backstory of Lyla and The Monitor).
However, seeing as Oliver, Diggle, and Laurel got shot with darts after confronting Lyla, it's safe to say the truth is not coming anytime soon.
On the other side of Arrow Season 8 Episode 5, we saw the return of Roy. And no, not the Roy from 2040, but Jason the Mechanic from 2019.
Roy has been doing what Roy does best -- hiding.
Roy: I think I'm gonna stick around for awhile. If you're going to be taking on a space guy, I figured you might need all the help you can get.
Diggle: Glad you changed your mind.
Roy: You know when I first met Oliver, he gave me a purpose. But, he also gave me all of you. Makes sense that having a team is what helps me in the future, so why wait? Besides, you know, I kind of miss this place.
Diggle: Welcome back Roy.
The joy of returning characters is that you forget how much you missed them while they were gone, and if the show knows what they are doing, it's as if the character never left.
Thankfully, Roy always fits right back in with the team when he makes his sporadic returns. And, given that he was one of the original members of Team Arrow, his reappearances are always welcome.
Even though Roy has major bloodlust, which we saw on Arrow Season 7, Diggle tried to coax him out of hiding to rejoin the team.
And that is how Roy is so similar to Oliver. It's not so hard to believe when remembering that Oliver trained Roy.
They both think that they can protect the ones they love by shielding them from the pain they think they cause instead of asking for help and putting trust in others.
Oliver and Roy made strides when they asked for help from their team. Here's to hoping that continues and they finally learn their lesson during the final season.
What did you think, Arrow Fanatics?
Are you enjoying the relationship building between Oliver and Mia? How shocked were you when Laurel denied The Monitor's request? And is Stephen Amell required in his contract to say "suit up" at least once every episode?
Let me know in the comments, and don't forget that you can watch Arrow online right here on TV Fanatic!
Arrow airs on Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
Sarah Little was a staff writer for TV Fanatic.She retired in September 2021.
