Arrow
Episode Title: “Uprising”
Channel: CW
Director: Jesse Warn
Writers: Beth
Schwartz and Brian Ford Sullivan
Genre: Action,
Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Runtime: 42
min
Rated: TV-14
Original Air Date: February 4,
2015
This week we were led to believe we'd
witness an epic showdown between Team Arrow and Brick's minions.
What we got was a lot of talking. The philosophical debate while
mildly interesting didn't provide the drama that the previous two
episodes had. It seems that since everyone had come to terms with
Oliver's absence the characters all stalled out. Felicity was the
most frustrating of the team's members, it was her words that allowed
the team to take up Oliver's fight, but she's just incapable of doing
what needed to be done. The compromises that needed to be made were
beyond her.
The flashbacks this week revolved
around Malcolm Merlyn and the time after his wife, Rebecca's, murder.
It's clear that we're going to see some sort of redemption of the
character in the near future, although the writers are going to have
their work cut out for them. Making the audience forget the things
he's done, and convincing us that the other characters have forgiven
him for the his actions will be no small order. It was fun to see a
more innocent Merlyn seeking vengeance and eventually making his way
to the League of Assassins. The advent of his name, The Magician,
was a nice touch. I hope we see more of his training, especially now
that he's agreed to help Oliver train to fight Ra's Al Ghul. I can
see a few moments when Ollie's training parallel's his own revealing
to the audience more about how Merlyn became the man we know him as
now.
Speaking of Oliver, I have mixed
feelings about his return to Starling City. Clearly it was time for
him to return, as his supporting characters seem to have gotten to a
point where they can't maintain the same entertainment level that the
previous two episodes have enjoyed. When the battle royale between
Brick's men and Team Arrow's Glades militia began I expected it to go
badly and for Oliver's return to turn the tide. Although it would
have been a dramatic entry I think the way it was handled actually
works better. Team Arrow was winning, proving that they're capable
of operating with out the Arrow if necessary, even Laurel; which
might help to avoid an awkward moment during which Oliver tells her
she's not ready. He didn't swoop in and save his friends, he swooped
in and saved his enemy from falling another notch towards
unforgivable. Yes it's self-serving, Oliver needs Merlyn to train
him, but it also highlights the major difference between the two.
Malcolm would have watched the Arrow sink to his level, Oliver wants
to redeem Merlyn. That simple truth will make the next few weeks
interesting as we see whose desires take hold.
After praising Henry Allen's ability to
pierce the secret identity of a hero on The Flash
last night I'd be remiss in not mentioning that Det. Lance was
also not to be fooled, He saw right through Roy's disguise and
managed to throw some quips about it as well. Sin popped back into
the picture as an ally in the Glades, and was around just long enough
to tell Lance that she doesn't believe the current Canary is Sara.
It's about time Laurel's lies in that regard were exposed, and it's
sure to lead to fireworks when he finally finds proof or confronts
Laurel over the matter. Can his health hold up and if so, can his
relationship with his remaining daughter survive the truth?
Conclusion:
The Brick story line didn't conclude with the bang I was expecting.
It seems everyone but Diggle and Brick forgot about the guns they'd
been toting. Oliver's return, while anticlimactic, was probably done
in the best way possible; establishing that Team Arrow and all
of it's members are capable of doing what must be done to save
Starling City. The uneasy alliance with Malcolm Merlyn may still
fracture the team, but it should lead to good television going
forward.
Rating:
7/10
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