Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 13 - The Devil's Greatest Trick

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.




Plot

With Black Canary out for blood (especially Black Siren's) in the wake of Vigilante's death, Oliver finds himself faced with the dual problem of capturing Cayden James before Star City is destroyed and keeping his enemies from being killed by his former allies.


Influences

The Green Arrow comics of Judd Winick (Oliver Queen balancing being mayor and a superhero, a city under siege by super-villains storyline, the heroes being portrayed as dumber than the villains and more inclined to fight each other than the villains) and Jeff Lemire (Ricardo Diaz being a criminal mastermind masquerading as something else.)


Goofs

The opening flashback is said to take place 18 months before the events of this episode. Assuming that the episodes take place at approximately the time they air (a fact that is confirmed when Diggle says it has been four months since Oliver's secret identity was revealed in October 2017), this would set this episode during Early August 2016. Ignoring that most public schools in the United States are not in session then, the high school basketball season does not usually start until later in the fall. The finals which Owen is playing in would almost certainly not be held in August!  (Perhaps the semester was delayed due to HIVE's attack on Star City in early 2016 and the Star City School District was just getting around to holding finals that month?)

Why does Wild Dog of all people object to Dinah's quest for vengeance?

For that matter, why don't Curtis and Rene offer to help Dinah with her hunt for Black Siren?  Even if they don't want to see her die as badly as Dinah does or object to killing for moral reasons, finding Black Siren could put them closer to finding Cayden James' bomb.

Where the heck is Cayden James driving if all the ways out of Star City are sealed off and the only way out of the city is by flying?

For that matter, why would the notoriously paranoid James bother to turn off whatever is stopping his phone from being tracked in the final hours of his plan?

Why wouldn't Cayden James watch the game from the bleachers where his son would be sure to see him? Even if he was expecting to be arrested by ARGUS, why not try and use the crowd to hide in rather than suspiciously watching the game through a window on the side of the gym?  (For that matter, what kind of high school gym has glass walls?)

Ricardo Diaz has to be the worst criminal mastermind ever. Supposedly he set up this whole conflict between Green Arrow and Cayden James as a means of taking over the city, yet didn't have any mechanism in place for stopping Cayden James from following through on his plan to blow up the city. Only Team Arrow coming together - despite their fractures - managed to keep his whole plan from falling apart, even though his entire plan is dependent on the team being fractured!


Performances

It's a subtle thing, but kudos to Willa Holland looking around and being careful about what she says in a crowded room as she is talking about Team Arrow business. It just hit me that I don't think any other actor on their phone in public has been doing this all season, though I might be wrong.

Likewise, there's a brief moment of David Ramsey seeming to steady himself during the bit where The Flash takes Green Arrow and Spartan to cut off Cayden James. This is a nod to the running gag of how travel at super-speed usually makes John Diggle throw up.

Michael Emerson's performance as Cayden James is Emmy-worthy.


Artistry

There's some nice parallels in the script between Oliver's trying to keep William safe from his life in the present day and Cayden James doing the same 18 months earlier.


Trivia

The episode title comes from a quote from the movie The Usual Suspects - "The greatest trick The Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

The character of Ricardo Diaz was introduced to The New 52 reality in Green Arrow #23 (October 2013) by Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino. Using the alias Richard Dragon in honor of his mentor in The League of Assassins, whom he killed,  Ricardo Diaz Jr. was the son of Ricardo Diaz Sr. - a corrupt Seattle businessman, who was killed by John Diggle who was, at the time, posing as Green Arrow. Seeking revenge, Diaz Jr. went off in search of The League of Assassins. After killing his mentor and taking his name, the new "Richard Dragon" returned to Seattle and began killing gang-leaders while posing as a vigilante. In truth, "Dragon" was cementing his control on the underworld with the ultimate goal of killing Green Arrow and taking over his city. To that end, Diaz formed a team - The Longbow Hunters - dedicated to killing Green Arrow.

The DCTVU version of Ricardo Diaz is a career criminal who goes by the street name "Dragon". Once part of a Glades gang called The Scorpions, he was sentenced to Life Without Parole twice for his extensive list of crimes. His convictions were overturned due to technicalities and he has only been out of prison for one month, according to Dinah in 606.


Technobabble

Felicity and Curtis a photographic analysis algorithm for examining altered photographs. It works wonders on a single still image, but is limited in how quickly it can scan 24 fps video.

Using the metadata on the video file, Cayden James confirms that the forged video was made by someone within using the same technology used to make the doctored photo of Oliver Queen as Green Arrow.

Cayden James had a hacked ARGUS transponder 18 months ago.

Cayden's detonator emits a 76-gigahertz field. This means that it can deactivate Black Siren's power inhibitor collar.


Dialogue Triumphs

Green Arrow: You need to know something!
Cayden James: Many things, I'm sure, but I doubt very much that you're the man to teach them to me.

Thea: I noticed that Dinah didn't show up to work today.
Quentin: Well, after what happened to Sobel, were you really expecting her to?
Thea: No, I just... if, from what Oliver told me, I... I don't really think that she's exactly just grieving.
Quentin: You think Oliver would just, what, let Dinah kill her?
Thea: No, I... I  just don't think that  that's what's on his mind right now.
Quentin: Right. (pauses) Well, if it comes down to Laurel against Dinah... Laurel's not the one I'm worried about.

(Green Arrow has convinced James that he's innocent and they've determined that either Black Siren, Anatoly or Ricardo Diaz is responsible for framing him for killing Owen Post.)
Cayden James: I'd like to speak to my former colleagues. And that's where the two of you come in.
Green Arrow: No! We're not rounding them up to be executed!
Cayden James: No. I just want a pointed conversation. Bring them to me. All three. Alive. Otherwise I'll have no choice but to stay the course. I still have a very powerful bomb and I'd be perfectly happy to take out Star City right along with whoever orchestrated the death of my son.

Black Canary: What are you doing? I had her!
Green Arrow: I'm saving the city.

Black Canary: I cannot believe you are working with Cayden James.
Wild Dog: It's not like that, D.
Spartan: He wants Anatoly, Diaz and Laurel. Alive.
Mr. Terrific: Or "boom goes the city." Just saying that's a pretty good reason to not kill her besides, you know, all the other good reasons like "killing is bad."
Black Canary: I can hold off for a little while.
Green Arrow: Dinah, we do not just execute people.
Black Canary: No. You just let them die.

Quentin: What's going on?
Black Canary: I'm counting down the minutes.
Quentin: What, before you try to kill my daughter again?
Black Canary: That is not your daughter! That is a monster!
Quentin: You gave your monster a second chance.
Black Canary: After he worked his ass off to redeem himself and after he gave his life to stop Cayden James, so if you seriously want to compare Vince to Larurel, I sugg-
Quentin: I know. I know what she's done. I'm not an idiot. But no one deserves to die. Not even her.
Black Canary: You're wrong. And once this is all over, if Cayden James doesn't kill her, I 'm sure as hell am gonna take my shot.

Anatoly: City is about to become crater! You want to put me in prison?! Fine! (pauses) Just... out of town, please.
Green Arrow: The bomb's not going to to go off, Anatoly, because I am going to deliver Cayden James the truth - You!
Anatoly: You have finally snapped! (pauses) Took a few more years longer than I expected.

Green Arrow: Your son wouldn't want you to do this.
Cayden James: The person responsible for his death is in the vicinity. And I intend to drag them to Hell with me. I owe it to my son.
(Cayden's grip on the detonator tightens as Green Arrow pulls William closer to him and turns him so they're facing.)
Green Arrow: You don't have to be afraid, all right?  I'm right here with you. And I love you very much.
(Cayden James looks upon them, clearly touched.)
Cayden James: William... I had an obligation to protect my son.It's a father's job - protect your child.  But I failed.... I failed him. Utterly.  All this time... the man responsible for his death... was me.


Continuity

Alena was recruited into Helix 18 months before the events of this episode (Approximately August 2016) At the time, Cayden James had just completed a hack of the financial records of a corrupt company - Averwood Pharmaceuticals.

Star City High School's mascot is The Gators.

Owen Post was a basketball player on Star City High's basketball team.

Cayden James intentionally kept his son ignorant of his work.

Cayden James' ex-wife was remarried to a man named Jim. Jim did not bother to invite Owen to dinner with them when he wanted to celebrate his new promotion.

Capt. Hill's full name is revealed as Captain Kimberly Hill.

The real killer of Owen Post was a professional assassin named Karl Iscove.

Karl Iscove is dead. Oliver Queen knows this somehow.

I-86 is one of the freeways through Star City.

The Flash has a quick (ha-ha) cameo taking Green Arrow and Spartan to cut off Cayden James' escape from Star City.

This episode probably takes place sometime after the events of F413 as Barry Allen is free to help Oliver and John. Before this episode, Barry Allen was in prison facing life in prison for the murder of Clifford DeVoe a.k.a. The Thinker.

Cayden James confirms that the fake video of Green Arrow killing his son was made using his tech. The same technology was also used to make the fake Green Arrow picture from 601.

Spartan refers to the death of Sheck in 611. James says he doubts he was the culprit.

Cayden James was arrested by ARGUS 18 months ago, the day after Alena joined Helix. This was also the day of the finals game his son was playing in.

Dinah has access to a metahuman power inhibitor collar that was "taken off of another murderous pair of dopplegangers". This appears to be one of the collars used by Earth-X Oliver Queen and Earth-X Kara Zor-El during Crisis on Earth-X.

Anatoly repeats his denial from 602 of being involved with outing Oliver's secret identity.

Cayden James is arrested. Diaz, Anatoly and Black Siren all escape.

Oliver tells Cayden James that he hopes his surrender isn't part of some ploy, saying he's had bad luck with that tactic in the past. This is a reference to both Slade Wilson's arrest being part of his plan in Season 2 and Adrian Chase's surrender in Season 5.

Cayden James embezzled all the city's funds Oliver sent him to a bank in Corto Maltese. He gives Oliver his best guesses as to where to find Diaz, Black Siren and Anatoly. All he asks for in exchange is for a chance to visit his son's grave and for Oliver to be a better father than he was.

It is revealed that Quentin Lance helped Black Siren to escape after she was shot by Black Canary.

Ricardo Diaz is revealed to be the one who set up the conflict between Cayden James and Oliver Queen.

Captain Kimberly Hill is on Ricardo Diaz' payroll.

Ricardo Diaz kills Cayden James.


Location

The flashbacks to Cayden James in Helix Headquarters take place 18 months before this episode.


The Fridge Factor

Dinah becomes completely irrational and murderous for the sake of making it seem like there is any kind of comparison between her and Black Siren


The Winick Factor

Quentin and Laurel's characters are both derailed for the sake of the stupid Black Siren redemption arc.


The Bottom Line

Crap on a cracker, made tolerable only by some excellent acting. The script is Winnickian in its stupidity, with villains who have brilliant plans that put them three steps ahead of the heroes at all times and any victories the heroes have all being part of the plan.The Black Siren redemption arc has now derailed two great characters - Dinah (who is turned into an illogical, murderous harpy to make Faux Laurel seem less evil by comparison) and Quentin (who is now committing multiple crimes helping a wanted murderer escape justice because he wants his baby girl back).

Shockingly, that isn't the worst aspect of the episode.  That would be the  "surprise" reveal that isn't that surprising, given that we know Black Siren isn't smart enough to have done the work required and Anatoly - ignoring his code of honor - didn't have any reason to turn against Oliver when this plan to strike against him started. By process of elimination - and his being the least developed villain -  that means that Diaz has to be the traitor to Team James... but given his goals of running the city, that makes him helping James and not having an out on the plan to blow up the city all the more illogical.

All I know is that this show is going to have an uphill battle trying to redeem itself when it returns on March 1st. As of right now, I'm firmly with the camp of fans who say this series should have stopped with Season 5 like they planned.

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 12 - All For Nothing

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here. 

 
Plot

With Cayden James holding all of Star City hostage, things are more dire than ever. The conflict between Star City's two superhero teams comes to a head, as a disagreement between Oliver and Dinah regarding Vigilante's trustworthiness endangers one of their own.


Influences

The Green Arrow comics of Judd Winick. (Oliver Queen balancing being mayor and a superhero, a city under siege by super-villains storyline, the heroes being portrayed as dumber than the villains.)


Goofs

As good as a job as Paul Blackthorne does of selling Quentin's torment, his subplot of trying to convince Black Siren that there is a hero in her is idiotic even before the end of the episode ruins any chance the viewers might have of Black Siren achieving redemption.

Why do Black Siren and Cayden James not kill Black Canary while she's helpless? James may want Oliver Queen to suffer but he has no reason to spare the other heroes of Star City. And since when has Black Siren ever shown restraint when given a chance to kill, much less a chance to take out her arch-rival?


Performances

The only thing redeeming Quentin's subplot is Paul Blackthorne's excellent performance.

Juliana Harkavy continues to slay as Dinah Drake. I know we're probably supposed to be sad that she's returning to violence but her declaration at the end that she's killing Black Siren had me cheering because of the strength of Harkavy's performance.


Artistry

The flashbacks in the script do a good job alternating between the scenes of Dinah and Victor undercover in the past and Vigilante working undercover in the present and maintaining the tension of both.


Technobabble

Felicity suggests using a sniffer device -which pulls electronic data from any hard drive or devices close by - to track Cayden James.

Cayden James' server has 80 terabytes of data on it.

Felicity helps Vigilante to bluff past Cayden James by telling him to say that just because he knows how to handle a gun doesn't mean he can't tell the difference between a trans-polymer hybrid and a fiber-optic cable. He also asks how James maximized the data throughput.


Dialogue Triumphs

Vigilante: You believe me, right? About not knowing about the ARGUS divers?
Dinah: I already told you I do.
Vigilante: I guess what I'm asking is... do you trust me?
(Dinah kisses him passionately for a moment before breaking it.)
Dinah: Does that answer your question?

Cayden James: I don't like surprises. And I like even less the feeling that I can't trust my comrades.
Vigilante: It sounds like it's just me you don't trust.
Cayden James: If I didn't, you wouldn't be drawing breath right now, Mr. Sobel,

Cayden James: You were always the enigma, Mr. Sobel. The vigilante willing to ally himself with criminals to take out other vigilantes. I must confess I never totally bought into it. Given your background as an undercover operative, I would have been a fool to. (pauses) I don't strike you as a fool, do I?
Vigilante: No, but you are coming off a little crazy, though.

(Dinah has announced her intention to save Vigilante on her own.)
Oliver: Dinah, Vincent would not want you to it this way...
Dinah: Don't you dare! You know damn well that if it was Felicity out there... (throws a side-glance to John) If it was Lyla, this wouldn't even be up for debate. Vince is my family! And I'm not letting him die. Not again.
(Oliver says nothing but glares at Dinah as he steps out of her way.)
Curtis: Dinah?
Dinah: You're not talking me out of this, Curtis.
Rene: We know. That's why we're coming with you.
Curtis: You're our family too.
(Dinah looks surprised.)
Curtis: We'll save Vince. (looks to Oliver) You save the city.

(Green Arrow enters into a room in the warehouse. He finds several hostages, tied up around a bomb with a ticking timer and a walkie-talkie. Anatoly's voice comes through the radio.)
Anatoly: Hello, Kapiushon. No need for me to explain choice here, yes?
Green Arrow: I thought you were an honorable man?!
Anatoly: I am. Why else I give you choice?

(Dinah hears a knock at her door. She grabs her pistol and draws it as she pulls aside the curtain. It' Oliver. She lowers the gun and opens the door.)
Dinah: You shouldn't be here.
Oliver: Dinah, please give me a chance to explain-
Dinah: You lost that right when you decided to leave Vince on his own to die.
Oliver: I'm truly sorry about what happened to Vince. Because I know what he meant to you. But this was his call. And he knew what he signed on for.
Dinah: (scoffs) Wow. You are really bad at apologies.
(closes the door)
Oliver: I'm not hear to apologize.
Dinah: Of course you're not.
Oliver: I'm here to explain that... this wasn't all for nothing. Felicity's been going through the data that Vince pulled out and for the first time... Dinah, for the first time, we have some viable options.
Dinah: Viable options? You know, I used to tell Vince his way of seeking justice wasn't viable. I convinced him to change. Just how you convinced me. But you know what, Oliver? Vince was right. The only way to bring justice to this city is with a bullet.
Oliver: No, Dinah. I need you to listen to me-
Dinah: I'm going to make sure Vince didn't die for nothing. I am going to kill every last one of them. Starting with Laurel.


Dialogue Disasters

Black Siren: This isn't me! (screams)


Continuity

Captain Hill is the new acting head of the Star City Police Department.

Cayden James kills an entire ARGUS dive team that attempts to sneak into Star City amphibiously by setting their comms system to electrocute them.

As the episode opens, Oliver has sent $70 to Cayden James. He guesses they have a day or tow before the money runs out.

William is hidden in an ARGUS safehouse.

Quentin catches Black Siren stalking him.

Vincent Sobel and Dinah Drake were first partnered five years ago in Central City. Captain Singh - who is Barry Allen's superior on The Flash - was also their boss.

Cayden James' war council believe that some unknown factor was responsible for killing Sheck in 611 - an ARGUS agent, probably - since none of Team Arrow would use lethal force and the cops weren't capable of fighting back at the time.

Oliver promises to take Felicity to Aruba for their honeymoon once Cayden James is caught. Aruba was also the preferred vacation destination of Mick "Heatwave" Rory in L301.

Felicity refers to the sniffer device she used to get information from Prometheus' mother in 514.

Quentin tells Thea about Black Siren stalking him.

06/14/1998 is the birthday of Owen Post - Cayden James' son. It's also the code to get into his server room.

Alena makes her first physical appearance on the show in several episodes.

Quentin confronts Black Siren with a video/photo slideshow of his Laurel She screams that that isn't her and destroys the equipment before fleeing.

The flashback scenes with Vince and Dinah lead up to the footage from 511 showing how Dinah got her powers.

Black Siren kills Vigilante with an extended point-blank sonic blast right through his ear.

Rene says it took him days to react to anything after his wife was murdered.

Alena finds the video that made Cayden James think The Green Arrow killed his son. It was digitally doctored using the same techniques used to make the faked photo of Oliver Queen as Green Arrow that was leaked to the press in 601. This means that whoever faked the photo is someone working with Cayden James who would know how he would react and that there is another traitor in his team.

Thea tells Quentin that Black Siren killed Vigilante.


Location

The flashbacks to when Dinah and Vincent Sobel first teamed up take place in Central City.


The Fridge Factor

It's kind of disturbing how everyone refers to Black Siren as Laurel instead of Black Siren now. I'm sure this is a writing note to push Quentin's conflict but it just seems like most of the characters would be very strict about making it clear that this woman is Not Their Laurel given how much Laurel is supposed to mean to everyone.

It's also disturbing how much Quentin is investing in trying to save Black Siren given the daughter he still has (though Sara is probably not that great about writing home) and is ignoring the foster daughter he has in Thea, who is supporting him despite her better judgement. Hopefully this will be setting up Quentin realizing the family he has vs. the family he's lost by season's end.


The Winnick Factor

Between heroes who can't put their personal drama aside for the sake of the greater good, villains who are three steps ahead of the heroes at all times and whatever victories the heroes win being Pyrrhic, this whole episode feels like a vintage Judd Winick comic.


The Bottom Line

If it weren't for the Quentin subplot, this would be a harmless piece of filler typical of mid-season CW shows. Paul Blackthorne does a fantastic job of selling Quentin Lance's conflict but it seems like this subplot is only there to give him and Willa Holland something to do because the Black Siren redemption arc seemed stupid even before she killed a helpless hero who honestly was trying to find redemption. All I can say is Viva Black Canary and her efforts to kill Black Siren next week. I know we won't be so lucky as see that happen, but we can dream for another week, at least.

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 11 - We Fall

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.




Plot

With Team Arrow split in two, Cayden James launches an attack on Star City's infrastructure. Though the hacking attacks are seemingly random, one directly places Oliver's son and a bus full of other children in danger, drawing Green Arrow and the rest of Star City's heroes out into the open.


Influences

The Green Arrow comics of Judd Winick. (Oliver Queen balancing being mayor and a superhero, a city under siege by super-villains storyline, the heroes being portrayed as dumber than the villains, reference to The Outsiders - a team he revitalized in the 2000s.)


Goofs

It appears to be awfully bright outside for almost 7:00 am in January for an American city (which would presumably be observing Daylight Savings Time) in the opening scene. (Sunrise usually doesn't come until around 7:45 am at this time of year in Seattle.)

Why aren't there any parent chaperones or teachers on the bus with William's class if they were going on a field trip? There should have been more adults than the bus driver.


Performances

Juliana Harkavy steals the show as Black Canary, once again. Another few episodes like this and I may think her a worthy successor to Caity Lotz.


Artistry

The new Spartan costume is a definite improvement on the old one.

The entirety of the fifth segment, with the fight choreography, the editing between Felicity's talk with William, the writing on Felicity's speech and whole scene as both teams (and Vigilante) fight to defend the safe zone.


Trivia

Dinah's Canary Cry is shown to be "more powerful than a locomotive" as she uses her voice to literally stop a train's velocity. This has become a standard metric of measuring the strength of super powers. It comes from the 1941 Superman radio show, which included the lines "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound" as part of its opening narration.

Curtis suggests that "New Team Arrow' call themselves The Outsiders. In The DC Comics Universe, The Outsiders is a superhero name that has been used by several different teams.

The first Outsiders team was formed by Batman following a falling-out with The Justice League over what the team's focus should be. Batman left the team, but it continued on without him for several years. The team included Black Lightning and Katana in its membership.

Years later, Dick "Nightwing" Grayson and Roy "Arsenal" Harper would form a new Outsiders in the wake of the collapse of The Titans and Young Justice. Judd Winick - the Green Arrow writer who wrote all the stories where Oliver Queen tried to continue being Green Arrow while serving as Mayor of Star City - also was responsible for the creation of the second Outsiders team. This team included Black Lightning's daughter Anissa, who fought crime under the codename Thunder.

In The New 52 reality, The Outsiders were a covert-ops branch of Bruce Wayne's Batman Inc.

In The New 52 Green Arrow comics, The Outsiders was also the name of a collective of clans based around various ancient weapons. The Queen family was tied to The Arrow Clan and the vigilante Katana's family was tied to The Sword Clan.

In The Rebirth reality, reference was also made in Dark Knights: Metal to The Outsiders being a team Batman established in secret to research the properties of various strange metals to The Multiverse.

When Curtis suggests the name Outsiders, Dinah says that she really liked that book. This is a reference to The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - a classic coming-of-age young adult novel about gang violence.


Technobabble

One of the extra credit questions on William's prep sheet for his field trip involves a math problem about Hyperbolic Geometry in marine organisms like coral. Felicity says that it's a high-dimension math problem most people don't get until 12th Grade AP Math.

Vigilante is able to block New Team Arrow's communications system.

Vigilante uses the connection between Curtis' T-Sphere and his visor to send a message in Morse Code.


Dialogue Triumphs

(William is talking to Oliver and Felicity about his homework.)
William: Will you take a look at it?
Oliver: Yeah. Of course!
William: (sheepishly) I meant Felicity.
Oliver: (clearly disappointed) Sure you did. Yep.
William: I'm sorry. It's a math problem about Hyperbolic Geometry in marine organisms like coral.
Oliver: I do know what coral is. But that's okay.

(Dinah, Curtis and Rene are in their new base when Curtis' phone starts ringing. Curtis checks it.)
Curtis: It's Felicity.
Rene: She isn't bugging us again, is she?
Curtis: No.
(Rene and Dinah both look at Curtis skeptically.)
Curtis: ... I'll do a sweep.

Vigilante: I'm on your side. Cayden James is my target too. I'm undercover in his organization.
Mister Terrific: Do you think this 'T' on my face stands for gullible? (pauses) You know what I mean.

Oliver: What do you want?
Cayden James: I've already told you. Vengeance for my son. (He walks to the window overlooking the city.) I cared for him, protected him... loved him. Just as you do this city. But now... your city's entire infrastructure is under my control. Buildings. Institutions. Even people. All under my dominion.
Oliver: These are innocent people-
Cayden James: - and you can save then. (He places a piece of paper on the desk) By wiring $10 million into that off-shore account. No later than 11:30 tonight. (pauses) And every night. Until further notice.
Oliver: (barely maintaining control) That will bankrupt us!
Cayden James: Well, I certainly hope so. Please don't imagine I've gone through these lengths for money. No. This is for you. So that you'll suffer.
Oliver: I didn't kill your son.
Cayden James: Yes, you did. One year ago, this very day, right here in Star City. You missed your intended target, but your arrow found its way into my boy.
Oliver: Well, if you're seeking vengeance, if you want revenge... why haven't you just outed me as The Green Arrow?
Cayden James: If my understanding is correct, that's already been done.
Oliver: Star City will not negotiate with a terrorist!
Cayden James: Oh, spare me the political claptrap, Mr. Queen. By tonight that will sound hollow, even to you.

(Wild Dog and Mister Terrific are frantically pulling wires on the train controls trying to change the switches that are set to cause a collision. Black Canary is staring down the trains as they approach the intersection, clearly worried.) 
Wild Dog: Hey, what's Plan D?
Mister Terrific: There is no Plan D!
Wild Dog: What?!
Black Canary: Yes, there is!
(Black Canary stands in the middle of the train track, facing the oncoming train and lets loose with a Canary Cry.  The train begins to stop, eventually coming to a full stop right in front of her as the other train passes safely.)

Rene: Hey, man - New Team Arrow is kicking ass!
Curtis: You know what? I really have to say that I think we should change our name. What do you guys think about "The Outsiders"?
Dinah: Oooh. Ummm... I think it was a really awesome book?

(Felicity wants Oliver to talk to William right away about his broken promise.)
Oliver: Well, I've learned, several times, the hard way, that sometimes kids just want to be left alone. I know I have to talk to him. I'm just trying to respect that.
Felicity: Okay. And I might totally be projecting here, because my dad was a - you know - Super-villain Evil Hacktivist. He did a lot of things that I didn't like. Or approve of. And the way he chose to live his life? That's not the part that bugged me.
Oliver: Okay. What bugged you?
Felicity: The Lie.

(Wild Dog, Black Canary and Mister Terrific watch the crowd at the safe zone.) 
Wild Dog: Officers marching. Guns out. City under siege. It's like "Escape From Detroit"!
Mister Terrific: I don't know whether to correct you or to just embrace your attempt at referencing one of my favorite John Carpenter films.
Wild Dog: Huh?

Felicity: You know, I've loved your dad from the first time he brought me a bullet-ridden computer. Remind me to tell you about that one. That was a long time ago, which means I've loved him for a long time. Which means I've worried about him for a long time. And he... he hasn't always been truthful. He's lied. He's kept secrets. He's not perfect. This life... it's not ideal. But he makes his sacrifices so we have to make ours. I sometimes think to myself that's what makes this love deeper than other kinds of love. You know, it sounds cheesy, but... it does because we can't take things for granted. We have to live with the fear and the uncertainty that everything can be taken from us in an instant.
(As Felicity speaks, we see the two teams fighting Cayden James' men. As Wild Dog is taking down one man, he fails to see Sheck coming up behind him, aiming a gun at his head. Suddenly Vigilante, who is on the roof, shoots the man in the leg. He falls to the ground and looks up.)
Sheck: Traitor! (reaching for his dropped gun) I'm taking you to hell with-
(Vigilante shoots the man. Black Canary, who was fighting two thugs on the other side of the courtyard spins and sees this, smirking slightly as she sees Vigilante run off.)
Felicity: Because that's the price we pay for choosing the people that we love. Everything that he does, he does for a good reason. Or what he thinks is a good reason. You can worry about your dad, but you have to believe that he's going to be okay. Because that's the only way that this works. Okay?
William: Okay.


Continuity

William is practicing archery indoors with a toy archery set.

Oliver is hiding his return as Green Arrow from William.

William is going on a field trip to the Coastal Biology Center.

William has a Flash backpack.

Councilman Harold Grovner was the victim of the car hacking.

Six people were killed by Cayden James' cutting the power to the hospital.

Five people were killed by Cayden James' elevator hack.

One of the victims of the electrocuting elevator was Captain Frank Pike of the SCPD - Quentin Lance's former superior when Quentin was a Detective with the SCPD.

John refers to the bomb Cayden James stole in 607 and the amplifier he stole in 609.

Felicity refers to Cayden James taking over the port in 610.

Cayden James crashes a plane on State Street.

For the first time since 605, Curtis' T-Spheres are able to trace Vigilante's visor. Dinah immediately concludes this is meant to draw them into a trap.

Quentin and Thea take over running the SCPD and start setting up safe-zones around Star City.

Vigilante claims to be working with Cayden James to bring him down from the inside. He gives Curtis a tip on a future attack New Team Arrow might be able to stop where the Red Line and Yellow Line subways meet.

Star City has three councilmen named Gattis, McCaskill and Kullens.

Cayden James uses the alias Ben Gale to visit Oliver in his office.

Cayden James claims that The Green Arrow killed his son in Star City in January 2017. Oliver says this isn't possible since, on the day in question, he was in Hub City trying to recruit Dinah Drake (as seen in 511.)

Cayden James' son, Owen Post, was first mentioned in 607.

Felicity refers to the events of 604 and how Cayden James' actions there trying to break into The Internet Vault were a trick to set up the code that would let him hack Star City.

James' attacks are revealed to be blocking off all the ways in and out of the city.

Oliver had Cisco Ramon build John a new and improved Spartan costume.

Dinah is shown to have enough power and fine control of her Canary Cry that she can use it to stop a train without damaging it.

William learns that Oliver has become Green Arrow again.

Dinah learns where Curtis got the intel about stopping the train collision. She refuses to work with Vigilante. Rene says they need his help.

Alena says that Cayden James got a package from Corto Maltese in May 2017 which she thinks had a USB with fake evidence that Green Arrow killed Cayden James' son.

Felicity refers to Oliver bringing her a computer full of bullet holes in 103.

Vigilante kills Sheck before he can kill Wild Dog.

Dinah approaches Vigilante after he saves Rene's life. He asks where they stand now but the scene ends before she answers.

William says he understands why Oliver has to be Green Arrow now but that he isn't scared because he has Felicity as a step-mom now.

Alena is unable to find any record of the USB drive being used in a computer in Corto Maltese.

The episode ends with Oliver instructing Thea to wire the money to Cayden James' account.


Untelevised Adventures

Felicity makes reference to a Cayden James taking control of a crane when listing "hack-cidents" that are happening around Star City to John.

Off-camera, Felicity does what she assures Oliver was some very cool and exciting hacking to track the package containing the USB that she thinks holds the fake evidence that Oliver killed Cayden James' son.


The Bottom Line

A fantastic episode, which does much to take the taint off of the previous two episodes, if only because we have an explanation for why Vigilante has been working with Cayden James all this time. The episode also does a lot to make William into more of a character than a plot device, at least up until the end with his dickish remark about how Ollie can be Green Arrow because if he dies William will have Felicity to take care of him. Then again, that kind of thoughtless remark is proof that he is Ollie's son if nothing else does.

Strangely enough, the best bits of the episode involve New Team Arrow (who I am totally hip to being called The Outsiders) and Black Canary. If nothing else, I like that I'm still not sure where things are going with the Black Canary/Vigilante relationship and that sense of surprise is something novel that this series has lacked for a long time. It may be a coincidence that this episode is completely free of Black Siren and seems like the best episode in some time, but I doubt it.

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 10 - Divided

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here. 




Plot

Team Arrow has been broken in two, but Oliver remains convinced that he can tackle Cayden James with only Diggle and Feliicty backing him up. Still, he does concede he could use some help, turning to a most surprising ally as he discovers one of Cayden's secrets.

Meanwhile, as Wild Dog, Mister Terrific and Black Canary decide to start their own team to save Star City independent of Green Arrow, Dinah tries to reacquaint herself with her old partner, Vincent "Vigilante" Sobel, not knowing that he's part of Cayden James' new team!


Influences

The Judd Winick run of Green Arrow (Oliver Queen balancing being mayor and Green Arrow, the heroes being complete idiots while the villains get away with everything.)


Goofs

Dinah does have a point - why doesn't Rene lock his apartment door, apart from the reason that nobody on TV ever locking their outside doors?

Cayden James refers to it being evening, yet daylight is clearly visible streaming in through the windows and doors of the warehouse where he confronts Jerry Bertinelli.

Thea's 180 on the possibility of Black Siren being redeemed comes out of nowhere, suggesting a scene was cut for time in this episode.


Performances

I've missed the scenes of Willa Holland and Paul Blackthorne playing opposite each other and the scenes here where we see Quentin torturing himself with thoughts of trying to save Black Siren while Thea reminds him to think of the other daughter he still has (i.e. Sara) while affirming that she's come to view Quentin as a second father is the emotional high-point of the episode.


Artistry

There's some fantastic lighting in the ARGUS scenes.

The sequence of Green Arrow taking on Ricardo Diaz and his men is a fantastic blend of stunt-work and camera-work.


Trivia

In the episode's opening scene, we see Black Siren incapacitate Jerry Bertinelli with a "blown kiss"- a small shockwave that barely makes any noise which knocks him down and only stuns him. In the classic comics, Black Canary had such fine control of her powers that she could pulverize an ivory billiard ball without disturbing the hand that held it. This is the most control we've seen from Black Siren in the series to date.

Oliver goes to investigate a security system failure at 74th and Jansen.  This may be a nod to Master Jansen - the Buddhist monk and martial arts instructor whose Ashram Oliver Queen briefly stayed at on two occasions in the comics.

Jerry Bertinelli asks Green Arrow if he ever thought of getting a big signal in the sky that people could use to call him. This is a nod to The Bat-Signal, which is famously used in the Batman comics for Commissioner Gordon to call Batman if he needs his help.

While it is less famous than The Bat-Signal, the Star City police in the comics did use an Arrow-Signal to call for Green Arrow on several occasions. It was also referred to as "The Arrow Flare".

The license plates in whatever state Star City is located are stamped with the motto "Land of Mist". This could be a clever nod to Washington State, which is famous for its humid weather.

The Land of Mist is also the name of a science-fiction/fantasy novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his scientist hero, Professor Challenger.

Felicity makes reference to a Star City neighborhood called Adams Heights. This is likely a nod to Neal Adams - the artist who designed Green Arrow's Bronze Age "Robin Hood" style costume and illustrated most of the famous Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic that redefined Green Arrow as a modern day Robin Hood.

The unnamed associate of Cayden James' from 609 played by actor Tobias Jelinek is identified by the name Mr. Sheck. He is still identified on the IMDB page for the series as "Boots".


Technobabble

Curtis inserts the latest chip to correct John's nerve damage under the radial carpal.

Some kind of electromagnetic frequency interference from Cayden James' bug in The Arrowcave creates an echo that Felicity, John and Curtis notice, leading to its discovery.

Oliver makes use of a new trick arrow - The Garrote Arrow - to disable Black Siren. In actually, The Garrote Arrow is two arrows connected by a high-tension line. Shot simultaneously and anchored to a point, the wire between the arrows "locks" constraining whatever is between the two arrows... like the neck of a woman with a sonic scream.

Oliver also makes use of some kind of electric arrow to disable one of Cayden James' T-spheres. This causes a chain reaction that disables the other two T-spheres James has made.

Felicity reworks the T-spheres so they can be controlled remotely from a laptop. This enables John to help Oliver in the fight against Ricardo Diaz, by deploying the T-spheres as a flying taser.


Dialogue Triumphs

Dinah: You know, anybody in this office could arrest you. Hell, I could arrest you.
Vince: For what? I'm a Central City Police Officer. The only rap on me is that I am presumed dead. (pauses) Then again, I was, an undercover, so that death is probably bogus.
Dinah: The Vigilante put the fear of God into these guys.
Vince: At least The Vigilante isn't killing them.
Dinah: (smirking) Most guys just send flowers.

Green Arrow: Do you really think that I'm going to help you win a turf war?
Jerry Bertinelli: Well, I think you're the enemy of my enemy. Which makes us allies.

John: So we're getting in bed with The Betinellis, now?
Felicity: I remember the last time you got in bed with one of the Bertinellis. It did not work out well.
(Oliver just gives her a withering glare. Felicity is nonplussed.) 
Felicity: I have a long memory for these sort of things. Call me crazy.

(Cayden James stands up as Green Arrow stares him down.)
Cayden James: You've taught yourself some new tricks.
Green Arrow: No more games. (To Felicity) Overwatch, I have the target.
(Cut to John and Felicity, who are watching from ARGUS.)
John: (looking at Felicity's monitor) That's a whole lot of bad news.
Felicity: Arrow, you're about to get some company!
(There is a sound of reverb and static feedback as Felicity grabs her ear-piece, wincing.)
(Cut back to Green Arrow, still staring James down but looking a bit more unsure.)
Green Arrow: Overwatch, do you copy?
Cayden James: I'm afraid Miss Smoak can't hear you. You see, I also have some tricks, Mr. Queen. And I have friends.
(Anatoly enters the room behind Oliver with several of his Bratva.)
Anatoly: Hello Kapiushon. How were your holidays?
(From the other side of the warehouse, Ricardo Diaz enters with his men.)
Diaz: Funny you should mention that.
(Diaz pulls a knife and cuts Black Siren free of the garrote arrow.)
Diaz: Looks like we're getting a late Christmas present.
(A gun cocks behind Green Arrow, he turns and sees Vigilante on a scaffold overlooking the room.)
Green Arrow: I thought you only targeted criminals?
Vigilante: I thought you'd know vigilantes are criminals, Mr. Mayor.
Cayden James: You'll find that I don't play games, Mr. Queen. But I do win.
Black Siren: Enough! I am so sick of everyone not killing him when they have the chance!
(While everyone is focused on Siren, Green Arrow pulls his bow and shoots a Zip-Line Arrow across the room. He is propelled up and away as the gang fire their guns at him, futility.)

(Quentin is telling Thea about how Black Siren spared him a month earlier.)
Thea: Look, I mean, everyone - even Ra's Al Gul - had moments of kindness.
Quentin: Yeah.
Thea: Look, I'm not saying that this Laurel is that bad, but...
Quentin: I just can't stop thinking that if I abandon her, if I write her off as some kind of psycho... I dunno, it... It sounds crazy but if there is just some way to get through to her and I don't take it... it's gonna be like watching her die all over again.
Thea: You're like a father to me, you know that?
(Quentin shrugs, looking embarrassed.)
Thea: If you go down this road, Quentin, you could end up getting killed. Even if you don't care what happens to you, don't forget that you've got your other daughter.

(John runs to a computer opposite Felicity's work station.)
John: Send in the cavalry!
(Felicity begins typing away. At the battle site, a T-sphere flies into the fight, shocking Diaz's men.)
(Cut back to ARGUS, where we see that John is controlling the T-sphere from his computer.)
Felicity: So... how does this compare to Halo?
John: So. Much. Better.

(Green Arrow has just escaped the ambush after being double-crossed by Jerry Bertinelli)
Cayden James: Mr. Bertinelli...
Jerry Bertinelli: All right! All right! Just take the freaking port!
Cayden James: Thank you. Although you elected to betray me this evening, you ultimately made the right choice.
(One of James' men raises a gun to Jerry Bertinelli's head. We cut away as there's a volley of shots and Jerry Bertinelli's body hits the floor. Cayden James leans over to it and nods.)
Cayden James: Which is why I won't have your daughter killed.


Continuity

The episode opens in the office of Jerry Bertinelli - current head of the Bertinelli crime family. He was the nephew of Frank Bertinelli and cousin of Helena and Pino Bertinelli. He is the only member of the crime family who is not in jail or dead.

Jerry decides to name his new ship "The Huntress" after his cousin. This is a reference to Helena Bertinelli, who was last seen on the show in 217.

Helena did appear in the Arrow: Season 2.5, where she made her peace with Oliver Queen and it was suggested that she was going to be recruited to Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad.

Jerry Bertinelli has a daughter attending Columbia University.

As this episode starts, Felicity has just pulled 21 consecutive all-nighters trying to find Cayden James and Black Siren.

The latest microchip Curtis and Felicity developed to treat John's nerve damage costs 2.24 million dollars. This is their second attempt at fixing John electronically.

Quentin has fired Rene as his assistant.

Quentin rehires Thea as Chief of Staff for the Mayor's office.

The second chip fails.

John plays Halo. Felicity says she always imagined him as a Call of Duty fan.

Vigilante scared five wanted criminals into turning themselves in.

Oliver refers to the prototype T-sphere that was stolen from The Bunker by Black Siren in 601.

Felicity discovers the bug that was planted in The Bunker in 601.

According to Jerry Bertinelli, Huntress is "underground". This suggests that Helena got out of prison sometime since her last official appearance in 217.

Jerry Bertinelli asks Green Arrow to help him fight Cayden James' takeover of his docks.

Felicity refers to the events of 107 & 108 and Oliver's relationship with Helena Bertinelli.

The license plates in whatever state Star City is located are stamped with the motto "Land of Mist".

The Star City Zoo has a new reptile house with a Komodo dragon.

Rene has not told Zoe that he's lost his job.

The case against Oliver Queen being Green Arrow has been moved from the FBI to the Star City DA'ss office.

Curtis agrees to hack the DA's office files to delete any evidence they have that Rene is Wild Dog.

Dinah stopped being Black Canary several weeks earlier.

Thea says that she isn't ready to return as Speedy yet, but she intends to help Oliver as soon as she can.

The unnamed associate of Cayden James' from 609 played by actor Tobias Jelinek is identified by the name Mr. Sheck. He is still identified on the IMDB page as "Boots".

Oliver points out that Cayden James has known their identities for months yet done nothing with that knowledge and that they have no idea what his plans are.

The Red Lions are a Chechnyan death squad.

Jerry Bertinelli is killed.

Felicity's mother made her watch the movie Bull Durham over and over. Despite this, Felicity agrees it is the best baseball movie ever made.

Curtis, Dinah and Rene reject Oliver's attempt at reconciliation and move forward with their plans to make their own team of heroes.

Curtis gives John the third version of his reworked chip. It works, giving John full mobility with his arms again.

Thea gives Quentin copies of several pictures she had of Laurel for his photo album.

Thea offers to help Quentin with his plan to try and redeem Black Siren, though neither of them have any idea how they're going to do it.

Curtis builds a new lair for himself, Rene and Dinah into the old Helix hideout.

Cayden James is now aware that Dinah is aware of the link between Vigilante and himself.


Untelevised Adventures

Dinah refers to a nightmare stakeout that she once endured in Central City in a car with a broken heater in freezing weather.


The Fridge Factor

Dinah's confronting Vigilante without police back-up seems incredibly short-sighted on her part, to say nothing of being a violation of standard police protocol. As she points out later, this also outs the fact that Team Arrow is onto Cayden James's bug to the bad guys.

Averted in the case of Black Siren, who shows far greater control of her powers in the opening scene than she ever showed before.


The Winick Factor

The only way for the current chain of events in the series to work is for all of the heroes to hold petty grudges and forget about the power of working together, as the villains - all of whom have wildly different goals and methodologies - put aside their differences for a common goal.

This is especially nonsensical in the case of Vigilante, a killer of criminals who is now working with Russian gangsters, drug dealers, a psychotic metahuman and a criminal mastermind hacker... for reasons.


The Bottom Line

The only reason this episode works at all is that the ensemble cast do a fantastic job of selling the reality of their scenes even though the logic of it doesn't hold up at all. And granting that grudges are inherently illogical, the alliance of villains is still utterly nonsensical. Throw in the fact that Dinah is set to take the blame for the biggest failure on the part of the heroes, Black Siren is suddenly being built up to be far more capable than she ever was before yet still is capable of redemption despite being a psychotic lunatic who is somehow being held back by Cayden James... somehow....

Overall, Season Six is fast on the way to beating out Season Four as the worst season of the series and I'm starting to think cancellation might not be a bad thing.

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 9 - Irreconcilable Differences

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here. 



Plot

Oliver and Felicity's wedding reception is dampened by disturbing news - The FBI have a witness ready to testify that Oliver Queen is The Green Arrow and it's someone on Team Arrow! Paranoia runs deep, as the team questions who they can trust but their fears will have to be put on hold when Quentin Lance is taken hostage by Cayden James and Black Siren.


Influences

The Mission Impossible films (the heist on ARGUS)


Goofs

Black Siren shows far more martial arts skill here than she has in previous episodes, being capable of knocking out both Thea Queen and Quentin Lance with one punch.

It is said that the nano-aluminum amplifier could be used to increase the power of a thermobaric bomb by twenty-fold. John says this is enough to destroy Star City and then some. However, it was said in the Thanksgiving episode that the bomb's radius was 200 yards. 4,000 yards is a considerable distance but not the size of a large city.

As neat an idea as it is trying to tie all the villains from the first half of this season into a unified villain group, it really doesn't make sense in the context of the characters. Forget the psychotic Black Siren being made to heel. There's no logical reason (yet) for Anatoly to involve himself with the destruction of a whole city nor for Ricardo Diaz. And don't get me started on Vigilante teaming with a group of criminals unless this is part of a major long con on his part.


Performances

You never realize how much you miss Willa Holland as Thea until she's back after being gone for a few episodes.


Artistry

The script does a good job at the beginning of playing up the mystery of who the traitor to Team Arrow is. While we know it probably isn't Dinah, enough wiggle room is left (along with the revelation that Vigilante knows Oliver Queen is Green Arrow) to make it uncertain, along with Curtis' heavy drinking and Rene's confession of wondering if they'd be better off without Team Arrow.

There is one nice shot of Oliver Queen, standing before the racks holding all of Team Arrow's costumes, after telling John to assemble the team... the whole team.


Trivia

The episode opens with the original Season 6 introduction, with Oliver once again declaring that he is The Green Arrow.

The Arrow Title Card is back to having the symbols for Black Canary, Wild Dog, Mister Terrific, Overwatch, Spartan and Green Arrow.


Technobabble

Cayden James requests a nano-aluminum amplifier in exchange for Quentin Lance's life.

The vault holding the nano-aluminum amplifier has a pressure-sensitive floor rigged to its alarm.

The nano-aluminum amplifier can be used to increase the explosive power of a thermobaric bomb by twenty-fold. That is enough power to blow up all of Star City. 

Curtis says he can disable the amplifier by back-channeling a path into the circuitry. Felicity suggests he also hide that behind the existing board.


Dialogue Triumphs

Donna: I want you to know that I have forgiven both of you for running off. And eloping. And waiting to propose to my daughter until you were under indictment.
Oliver: Oh! Actually, Felicity proposed to me.

(After Oliver and Felicity escape from her parents.)
Felicity: Those whack jobs are already your in-laws, so if you're having second thoughts, it's too late for you.
Oliver: I wouldn't have it any other way.
Felicity: (softly) You really do love me.

(Curtis is awkwardly and obviously lying to Rene about all the men he is dating.)
Curtis: There's one guy in particular who I'm dating. His name is... Dom Perignon. He is smooth and expensive, and uh, he's really nice. Uh, but there's, like, other guys too.
Rene: Who? Tom Collins? Rob Roy?
Curtis: Not actually a gin guy.

(Quentin gives Oliver a small box. It contains a fancy gold watch.)
Quentin: Yeah, I know. It doesn't look like much. (chuckles nervously)  But... my dad gave that to me on my wedding day.
Oliver: Quentin, I can't accept this!
Quentin: It's not like I've got anybody I can give it to, is it? (pauses) And besides, it's not right you don't have a parent here tonight.

Rene: True love is... so special that we all dream about it. And when I look at Oliver and Felicity, I'm reminded of... how I felt about my wife on our wedding day. We were so in love. And we would do anything for each other, I mean no matter what! And that is the epitome of Oliver and Felicity. Yeah, I mean, you guys have had your struggles, but... you always worked through it. These are two of the most genuine people in the world and they deserve all the happiness. And... I'm so fortunate to call them my friends. So please raise a glass to true love... Oliver and Felicity.

Curtis: Do you...  do you ever... feel like life would be easier... if there was never a Team Arrow?
Rene: (pauses) Only all the time.

(A hungover Curtis, disguised as a janitor, pushes a wheeled trashcan over a panel. He pulls the lid off and looks down into the bin.)
Curtis: We're clear! Ohhhh.. .also, leaning over - not a great decision.
(Felicity stands up out of the trash clan and slaps Curtis.)
Felicity: You are not throwing up! I'm already spending my honeymoon in a garbage can! I am not wearing your puke!

Rene: Stop! Dinah, isn't the witness, Oliver.
Oliver: You don't know that.
Rene: Yes, I do. Because it's me. I'm the one that's testifying against you.

Oliver: Thinking about what Rene did... what did he do really? He kept a secret and he put his daughter ahead of the team. And I feel betrayed. How can I feel betrayed by somebody doing the exact same things that I've done?
Thea: Because you've never sold anyone out on the team, Ollie. And if you're convicted, you could wind up spending a really long time in jail. But having said that, you're doing the right thing looking at things through his perspective. And having done that, maybe you can see your way to forgiving him?
Oliver: Seriously?
Thea: Well, Rene is a very desperate guy who just did a very desperate thing. But he's also the same guy who just last night was giving such a heart-felt, sweet speech and was calling you his friend. And I really thing that he meant that! It was a betrayal. No question. But since you've been able to see things from his point of view, you should also be able to see a way of forgiving him.

Cayden James: I am a man of my word. If I wasn't, there wouldn't be much point in my vowing to destroy this city, would there?

Vince: You okay? You don't look good.
Dinah: I don't want to talk about it.
Vince: Then why did you reach out?
Dinah: Because I had no one else to call.
Vince: I'll try not to be insulted by that.
Dinah: I really needed someone who... believed in me. I needed a friend.
Vince: Friends. I can do that.


Dialogue Disasters

The whole scene of Quentin Lance trying to empathize with Black Siren. Katie Cassidy's plastic performance doesn't help.

Oliver: Cayden James knew that we sabotaged the amplifier last night. We need to find out how.
(Cut to: A POV shot from the ceiling of The Bunker. We pull back to reveal that we're looking at a monitor in Cayden James' hideout.)
Black Siren: When you had me raid their bunker and plant that mini-cam two months ago-
Cayden James: - was this the outcome that I had in mind? Quite so, Miss Lance.
(We pull back to see James standing with another man as they watch the monitor and Black Siren comes to his side.)
Cayden James: Although I must confess things have worked out even better than I anticipated.
(A door opens from one side of the room. Anatoly enters and comes to stand with the others.)
Anatoly: Hardly impressive. Left to his own devices, Oliver Queen will always push away those closest to him.
(Vince joins the group as well.)
Vince: So we've got them fighting with each other instead of fighting us.
(Ricardo "The Dragon" Diaz steps up on the side of the unknown man.)
Ricardo Diaz: Please tell me that isn't your whole master plan?
Cayden James: Oh, not at all, Mr. Diaz. In fact, I think it fair to say that this...is only the beginning.


Continuity

Oliver and Thea were allowed to sip champagne at family gatherings as part of toasts as children.

Lyla Michaels was unable to attend the reception due to an ARGUS mission.

Noah "Calculator" Kuttler is seen for the first time since 422.

Donna Smoak is seen for the first time since 423.

Noah and Donna were married by a Tom Jones impersonating rabbi. Noah said he arranged that because he mistakenly thought Donna was a Tom Jones fan.

Adam and Laura Hoffman - the neighbor couple with whom Oliver and Felicity frequently socialized with when they lived in Ivy Town in 401 - show up for the reception.

Curtis and his husband Paul had custom cocktails made at their wedding - The Holtini and the Peach Paul Sangria. They both also wore matching white tuxes.

Dinah says she doesn't really believe in marriage or life-long commitments but admits that may be due to her having several broken engagements.

Dinah receives a text message at the reception from an unknown caller who asks why she isn't answering their calls. Both Rene and Curtis have noticed her getting mysterious texts and acting strangely lately.

Curtis has been drinking more often since his divorce.

Quentin gives Oliver a watch that his father gave him on the day he got married.

Curtis catches the bouquet when Felicity throws it.

Oliver and Felicity's first dance is held to Etta James' At Last.

Thea makes reference to hoping to see someone at the ceremony. This is a nod to Roy Harper.

Thea makes reference to Chase - the League of Assassins member who posed as a DJ and with whom she had a brief romance before his death in 313.

Thea has a "no DJs" rule regarding men she dates now.

Donna Smoak says that she had made a mistake trying to drive Noah out of her and Felicity's life and admits that she does like Tom Jones.

Quentin tries to say hello to Donna. It is awkward, since she has not seen him since the start of Season 5, when he had fallen off the wagon.

Oliver refers to Evelyn Sharpe a.k.a. Artemis, who betrayed Team Arrow in 509.

Rene keeps fresh-cut sunflowers in his apartment. They are his daughter Zoe's favorite.

Dinah's mysterious texter is Vince "Vigilante" Sobel. She tells him to leave Star City and that if she sees him again, she won't let him get away a second time.

Vigilante is aware of Oliver Queen's secret identity.

Reference is made to the thermobaric bomb Cayden James made in 607.

Rene reveals that he is the one testifying against Oliver. The reason why is because Agent Watson said that she had proof that he was Wild Dog and that the only way she'd back off and let him see his daughter again is if he helped her get The Green Arrow.

Black Siren says that the Quentin Lance of Earth Two died when she was 13, killed by a drunk driven while picking up her birthday cake.

The Laurel Lance of Earth One and Earth Two share the same kind of favorite cake - yellow with chocolate frosting, from a bakery called Carlye's.

Oliver kicks Wild Dog off of Team Arrow.

Black Canary quits the team, saying she doesn't trust Oliver anymore. She calls Vigilante back, saying she'd like to try and be friends again for a start.

Curtis quits the team as well, though he is still part of Felicity's company.

Zoe is allowed to move back in with Rene.


The Bottom Line

Lackluster and nonsensical in equal measure.  "Yellow cake with chocolate frosting" will be the new "Martha" when Marvel Comics fans mock DC Comics properties. At least the wedding scenes are funny and touching.

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 7 - Thanksgiving

For a summary of the episode guide layout & categories, click here.




Plot

Oliver is ready to celebrate the Thanksgiving season - both in public as Mayor and in private with Felicity and William. Twin terrors threaten to ruin the holiday, however - Cayden James' activating the next phase of his master-plan and Agent Watson making a move to arrest Oliver for being The Green Arrow!


Influences

The Green Arrow comics of Benjamin Percy. (Oliver Queen having to be Green Arrow while facing murder charges.)


Goofs

The new SCPD building is referred to both as a new precinct house and a new HQ. Possibly it is acting as a temporary HQ, but either way six weeks seems like an amazing turn-around time on getting a new building refitted.

It is unclear just why in the names of the many ridiculous gods of the DCU Cayden James is employing Black Siren. It beggars belief that a master-planner like James would risk working with a loose cannon like Black Siren. His plans require subtlety and Black Siren is a murderous psychopath who kills when she gets bored and uses her powers around explosives in defiance of his orders.

For that matter, it's unclear why Black Siren is working as hired muscle for James in the first place. He may have saved her from Lian Yu, but nothing in Black Siren's character has suggested any sense of gratitude or camaraderie.

The sudden fight between Curtis and Felicity over their company's resources is unnecessary drama in an episode that is already tense enough. Felicity herself says it best - "We don't have time for this right now."

Felicity says that the new drug used to awaken Thea from her coma was a new form of Zolpidem. Zolpidem is a powerful sedative used to treat severe insomnia - the exact opposite of what one would want a coma patient to take!


Performances

There's several great dialogues throughout the episode. Quentin talking with Dinah. Dinah talking with Ollie. Curtis talking with John. And Oliver talking to John. The ensemble are all firing on eight cylinders this time around.


Trivia

Cayden James steals nano-thermite from a company called Sunderland Corp. In the comics, Sunderland Corporation was a scientific research firm which first appeared in Swamp Thing.

Curtis catches Cayden James breaking into Amertek. In the comics, this was the company which employed John Henry Irons as a weapon's designer before he became the hero Steel.

The bomb Cayden James creates is hidden in Corridor 52 of Starling Stadium. This is yet another nod to the number 52, which shows up repeatedly in various DC Comics properties.


Technobabble

Nano-thermite is a metastable intermolecular composite - a reactive particle. It is highly explosive when combined with the proper accelerate.

A City District Attorney cannot act as legal counsel to a Mayor accused of a crime in Star City.

Black Siren steals 100 pounds of polymer-bonded explosives.

The nano-thermite, when combined with the explosives, creates a thermobaric weapon which disperses a cloud of fire and pressure cooks everything within 200 yards.

Felicity saw one of Cayden James' algorithms that was based on traffic patterns which could be used to extrapolate population movement.

Felicity cross-references the crowd's pattern with the cloud's path of destruction.

Curtis creates a particle cloud sim.

The drug used to awaken Thea from her coma was a new form of Zolpidem not yet available on the market.


Dialogue Triumphs

John: We have to focus. This might be the most difficult thing we've ever had to face. If people think The Green Arrow is in prison, then the flood gates will open. Now, more than ever, we have to protect this city! If the criminals here think that it's open season, then this city will become a war zone.

(Oliver is lying on the bunk in his cell. Dinah walks up to the bars.)
Dinah: Tell me what you need.
Oliver: I need some sleep.
Dinah: I think I can do one better. FBI transfers can be lost. Locks can be left open.
Oliver: I appreciate that. But if I make myself a fugitive, then... obviously I'm making William an orphan.
Dinah: (nods) Gotta do it the right way.
Oliver: Yep. I've gotta do it the right way.
Dinah: Okay. Good night.
(Dinah leaves Ollie alone, as he stares at the ceiling.)

(Felicity has just discovered that Curtis was using their company's implant design on John without consulting her first.)
Felicity: You injected our friend with our company's proprietary technology and you didn't think to, I don't know... involve me in that at all?!
Curtis: I thought "Lone Ranger" was just the way we did things here at Helix Dynamics. You know? The name of the company you picked without consulting me?
(There is a long pause.)
Rene: I'm gonna... work on an algorithm over there, while I figure out what an algorithm is.

(Oliver walks into John's hospital room. He finds him struggling to stand from his bed.)
John: I told Felicity not to bother you with this.
Oliver: Which part? You being in the hospital? The experimental steroid? Or... the nerve damage... that has affected you for months? (pauses) Are you going to be alright?
John: I'll be fine. I didn't want you to worry, Oliver. Which is why I didn't tell you-
Oliver: No. No, John. You didn't tell me because you knew I'd never let you go out there compromised. And that I'd certainly never let you compromise the team. I've been mad at you before John, but this... is the first time I've ever been disappointed.
John: Oliver, you gave up the right to judge me when you gave up that hood.
Oliver:  You don't get to claim the moral high ground here, my friend.
John: Oh, I'm not, Oliver! But I apologized to the people who I endangered. The team, Oliver. The team! My obligation begins and ends with them. I don't owe you a damn thing!
Oliver: For the sake of our friendship, I hope that's the withdrawal talking.
(John glares at Oliver and slowly brings himself to stand.)
John: I put on this hood because you asked me to.
Oliver: Don't blame me for this!
John: I'm not blaming you, Oliver. I blame myself. For putting your needs, your goals, even your family above my own. I've done that from the very beginning. That was my biggest mistake.
Oliver: That was your biggest mistake?  Mine was trusting you to be The Green Arrow.
(Oliver turns around and leaves the room.)


Continuity

The new SCPD HQ has been completed, after being blown up six weeks earlier in 601.

Oliver refers to the public belief that Roy Harper was the first Arrow - part of the plan to save Oliver from jail in 319.

Curtis injects John with a prototype for fixing his nerve problem, modeled on the spinal implant that cured Felicity's paralysis.

Curtis Holt was a Cub Scout.

The new District Attorney of Star City is a man named Sam Armand.

Jean Loring - who represented Moira Queen during her murder trial - is seen for the first time since 207. She is acting as Oliver's lawyer on the charges the FBI has brought against him.

Oliver is facing seven counts of murder, among other charges.

Oliver is released on $5,000,000 bail and a $500,000 bond.

Felicity is able to pay the bond, using the first round of investments from her and Curtis' company.

Curtis catches Cayden James breaking into Amertek. This is the military/industrial firm in 502 that was the target of Ragman's vigilante acts.

Amertek has twenty chemicals in their possession that could be used as an accelerator for the nano-thermite.

John's implant fails at an inopportune moment.

Felicity was never told about John's condition, following John telling the rest of the team in 606.

Dr. Schwarz guesses that John is suffering from withdrawal from the drug he was taking.

John still has not told Oliver about his condition.  Oliver learns about it after Felicity tells him.

Curtis and Felicity determine that James' most likely target is Starling Stadium - a 35,000 seat arena where Billy Joel will be playing that night.

Rene is a Billy Joel fan.

Dinah tells Quentin about how Vigilante is her ex-boyfriend. Quentin, in turn, tells Dinah about how he had a chance to kill Black Siren in 601 but didn't take it.

Oliver apologizes to John for not thinking about John Jr. before asking him to become The Green Arrow.

John's tests show that the nerve damage in his arm spread to his back. If he continues to work in the field, he may wind up permanently paralyzed.

John refers to the events of 508 and how - in a world meant to give him his perfect life - he was The Green Arrow.

Wild Dog is accurate enough as a knife-thrower to set off a fire alarm by throwing a dagger at it.

Cayden James blames Green Arrow for costing him his son and intends to seek revenge on all of Star City for what Green Arrow did.

A boy named Owen Post has Cayden James listed as the father on his birth certificate. Post disappeared two months after Cayden James was taken into custody by ARGUS.

Cayden James leaks the video footage of Team Arrow attacking his men, who are dressed as fake cops, to the Internet and it starts trending. The vote on the Star City anti-vigilante measure is that same day.

Thea Queen awakens from her coma.

William has learned how to cook somewhat.


The Bottom Line

A harmless bit of filler that doesn't do much but end some minor subplots while setting up new ones. The series is basically treading water here but the performances from most of the cast are strong enough you won't care.