#FelicitySmoakGifs

[jbuffyangel]

Survive: Arrow 1x23 Review (Sacrifice)

Well, my friends… we made it to the end of Season 1. Arrow’s first season was often uneven as it searched for the magic to bring it all together, but supported by fantastic stunts and fight scenes, and a great hero's journey story.

That said, they deliver on the finale. “Sacrifice” is tense, exhilarating and, above all, tragic. In the eight seasons, the Season 1 finale still has me emotionally traumatized and is definitely my most mourned character loss on the show.

But there is massive hope for Olicity in some very key scenes, while Laurel & Oliver are left in the wreckage of the Glades.

This review is particularly spoiler heavy for Season 2. I cannot tell you how many times I started and restarted Arrow Season 1 reviews. It’s taken me the better part of a decade, so I am absolutely thrilled to say -

Let’s dig in…

Olicity (and Diggle)

Is Olicity the focus of this finale? No, not even close, but that’s okay. In fact, it’s very good. This is Season 1 friends. We are at the beginning of the story. Not the end. Oliver and Felicity are just getting started and Arrow makes it abundantly clear with scenes that echo through the show until the series finale. The absolute last thing we want is Oliver to get the girl in the Season 1 finale. *cough*Lauriver*cough*

Oliver left Laurel’s bed in 1x22 to take Malcolm down for good. He gets his ass handed to him on a platter instead and then Malcolm literally strings him up. Shirtless, sweaty and in chains. THIS IS A FAMILY SHOW. Get your head out of the gutter. HA! Just kidding. I’d never tell you that. Here’s some gifs of Oliver chained up and half naked. Enjoy.

Source: PaigeOTA

Diggle rescues Oliver after he already rescued himself, but it’s the thought that counts. Felicity is on her way to the bunker when Detective Lance picks her up.

Source: @felicitysmoakgifs

Paul Blackthorne is an actor’s actor. He is truly great, but Emily Bett Rickards finally gives Blackthorne someone to bounce off of. It makes the interrogation scene hilarious, but also sincere as Felicity voices the mission statement of the whole show.

Source: @felicitysmoakgifs

Detective Lance is a damn good cop (minus the fact he never pieces together that Oliver is the Hood, but that’s not really his fault. Oliver gaslit his suspicions masterfully).  He reads Felicity Smoak for filth with the evidence he has on her. This is about the time Felicity should be asking for a lawyer, but it’s Oliver to the rescue instead.

Oliver actually calls the cops to report a crime! It’s really shocking quite frankly. He tells Lance that Merlyn is going to blow up the Glades and it needs to evacuated. Even more shocking than Oliver reporting a crime is the fact that Lance listens to him! See boys? Isn’t it better when we use our words?

Oliver feigns ignorance when Lance says he has Felicity in custody.

Alright he lies better than that, but Lance buys it because they have bigger fish to fry quite frankly, so he lets Felicity go.

Source: @livelovecaliforniadreams

Laurel told Oliver he was too selfish to be the Hood. Then she called the Hood a killer. Tommy called him a murderer after he learned Oliver’s true identity. Yes, the Vigilante/Hood has killed, but we’re not watching the story of the Vigilante or the Hood – the killer. We’re watching the story of Oliver Queen – the hero.

This is the first time the show has uttered the word "hero" in relation to masked man in the hood (I think? Feel free to fact check me) and it's said by none other than Felicity Smoak – the guest star, the girl Friday, the comedic relief. Or any other term those who failed to believe in this character liked to call Felicity to minimize her importance in the story. But the writers are not minimizing Felicity. They are elevating her.

Felicity admits initially she thought the Hood was a killer, but then she found out it was Oliver Queen. From the moment Felicity met Oliver she saw the light inside him. She sees who Oliver is and who he can become. In Felicity’s eyes there are no grey zones when it comes to Oliver Queen. There are no moral quandaries. Felicity knows both sides. She knows the hood and the man. She sees him as a good man who selflessly sacrifices for the people of Starling City every day.

Quentin: She says you care about the people of this city. That it needs you.

Felicity is telling Lance instead of hunting the Hood he should be working with him. And you know what? It works! Felicity has an impact on Detective Lance. He’s second guessing his approach to the Hood.

It used to be Laurel who was extolling the virtues of the Hood to her father, but now it’s Felicity. This shift is so incredibly subtle, given all the other Laurel activities in the final two episodes, but so incredibly important.

If you look at the history on superheroes (which is modern day Greek mythology) there is always one person who believes in the superhero, calls them a hero before anyone else, and loves the hero unconditionally – particularly when it’s inconceivable for the two to be together. That person is typically the superhero’s great love.

So WHY are the writers giving Felicity Smoak a love interest speech in the Season 1 finale? Particularly when Oliver just hopped out of Laurel Lance’s bed. Riddle me that kids! It’s also the line from which the episode title is pulled from – a significant factor when you look at the history of Arrow. This is the first time a series finale episode title is pulled from a Felicity Smoak line, but it’s not the last!

It’s Felicity who figures out where Merlyn has hidden the earthquake machine. The friggin map in Oliver’s book did actually mean something guys! Points to those who cared. I was not among them, but I rejoice in your win.

The device can be remote activated, so someone needs to find it, but Oliver isn't leaving anything to chance. He wants Diggle in the field to deactivate the device. But this leaves Oliver to fight Merlyn alone.

Diggle: He’ll kill you, Oliver.

Oliver: I know.

Can we talk for a moment about the absolute resolution in Oliver’s voice? There’s no fear. Not even sadness really. This is the way the battle ends – the way it was always going to end. Oliver came home to save his city, but it means sacrificing his life. Oliver is not suicidal, but he’s resigned to his fate.

Except, bit by bit, Oliver has allowed people he loves back into his life. That impenetrable wall, the one that made him almost machine like in the beginning of the season, has softened a bit. Those people are the tethers to his life and make it more difficult for Oliver to just let go now. He loves and is loved returned.

As far as Diggle speeches go, this is one of the greats. Oliver accepts Diggle’s help, but balks when Felicity volunteers to deactivate the device while John fights Merlyn with Oliver.

Oliver looks so proud of Felicity in this moment, particularly when she refuses to leave his side. So much is said between these two in just a single look. I am feeling verklempt.

Oliver cannot focus on fighting Merlyn if Felicity is not safe, so he calls Detective Lance for a second time and asks him to deactivate the device. He volunteers Felicity to talk Quentin through it. Yes, Oliver is willing to sacrifice his girlfriend’s father to save Felicity (HA!), who shall be hereby known as his Not Girlfriend-Girlfriend.

Lance and Felicity are successful. They deactivate the device. Oliver beats Malcolm, but he doesn’t outsmart him. There was a second device, and the team must watch helplessly as a portion of the Glades crumbles around them.

Source: @yet-i-remain-quiet

Oliver hears her voice and his first thought is of Felicity's safety. His second thought is of Laurel’s safety, once Felicity tells him the location of the damage. (Jen evil grins).

Admittedly, I missed all of these moments the first time I watched. I didn’t realize the importance until the Season 2 finale and I began this blog. The way Felicity sees Oliver Queen is the way he will be seen someday, but not in Season 1. He will become a hero, but this failure and loss will be one of many incredibly painful sacrifices in that journey.

There will be one woman, in a hero’s journey of her own, who will be integrally linked with Oliver. The one woman who saw Oliver Queen for who is truly is and believed in him from the beginning. The one woman he trusts and depends on. The one woman whose unconditional love helps Oliver Queen become a hero.

But it’s not the woman promised in the pilot.

The story shift was there all along my friends. We just had to look.

Lauriver and Merlance

The dreaded love triangle of Season 1 resolves itself in the most heart breaking and disastrous way possible. Actions have consequences, my friends. Don’t ever forget it.

A very drunk Tommy decides to pay his “best friend” a visit after witnessing his sex romp with Laurel. Tommy still can’t even bring himself to say sex. He refers to kissing, but come on my son. We all know where they were doing.

Oliver gives a classic sorry not sorry response and tries to pivot the conversation to Tommy’s mass murdering psychopathic father. Why Oliver feels the best time to share his father's evil mastermind plan is when Tommy is three sheets to a very drunkity drunk wind is beyond me. Oliver has the emotional intelligence of a stump in Season 1. I can’t even call him a pine tree yet.

Tommy swings on Oliver after he brings up Tommy’s mother. Yes, Oliver is trying to explain Malcolm’s motivation for destroying the Glades, but it’s just a step too far after banging the love of Tommy’s life.  Oliver side steps it easily, but I wish the writers would’ve given Tommy that punch. Oliver completely deserves it. Not more than three seconds after telling Tommy to fight for Laurel, Oliver shows up at her door for an illicit sex romp. YES, I SAID ILLICIT. COME FIGHT ME.

Oliver: The difference between us Tommy is that I didn’t find out the truth about my father until it was too late. But you’ve always known, deep down, you have always known the man he is.

Tommy: I wish you would’ve died on that island.

This lands harder than any punch Tommy could’ve given Oliver.

After discovering her bed empty, Laurel pays Oliver a visit at the Queen Mansion because understandably she has questions. Like WHAT THE FUCK OLIVER???!!!

One of the first posts I wrote for Something to Live For was “Moments of Truth: Oliver’s S1 & S2 Queen Mansion Love Confessions.” You can still read it. I stand by every word of it. It’s funny that in ten years my perspective on this scene between Oliver and Laurel has not changed at all. I will try not to repeat myself too much, but the bottom line is the scene is not believable. There’s too much dishonesty. That’s the crux of my problem with it.

It’s supposed to be the big love confession between Oliver and Laurel. The entire season has been building toward it. Oliver assures Laurel that he’s not reverting to form by leaving her bed in the middle of the night with no note. Laurel believes Oliver is scared again and he’s running away – just like last time.

Oliver assures Laurel that he’s not afraid and there’s so much he wants to tell her. For the first time, we hear Oliver’s perspective on the island. It didn’t change him. It just stripped away all the things that he wasn’t, which was the person Laurel always saw.

I do not agree with Oliver’s perspective on island AT ALL. This is a beautifully prepared speech and I’m sure it made Laurel feel really good, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense when you parse it out. Lian Yu means purgatory. You suffer in the fire of your sins in purgatory. That pain and suffering is redemptive. It forms you into something new, something better. I do not believe Oliver was always a hero deep down. I believe Lian Yu burned him like molten steel until he was remade new. Ollie Queen died on that boat with his father, and he was formed into someone one else… something else to survive.  

Agree to disagree, Oliver. Except, I am right, and you're wrong BECAUSE TREE STUMP.

Laurel believed Oliver could be more than a selfish, cheating, lazy, entitled, spoiled playboy who lived off his father’s money and did whatever he pleased, regardless of who it hurt. Laurel could see the potential in Oliver, but the writers never truly quantify what that potential is. I do not believe she meant a crime fighting archer who vigilantes by night and is a reclusive bar owner by day.

We don’t know what GOOD Laurel sees in Oliver. She’s basically mute on the topic. All Laurel will say is Oliver changed. So, we’re just supposed to accept that Oliver is a different person and the person he is today is the man Laurel always believed he could be. Ok. It would just be nice if Arrow would SHOW us that rather than tell.

I don’t want to rag on Laurel too much, because she’s really not my primary issue is this speech. She’s just the object of Oliver’s word vomit. And like I said, girlfriend has put in the YEARS, and this is probably the first time he’s articulated what she means to him. So, a win for Laurel I guess. However, hallow it is.

No, my issue is with Oliver. Not just in what he’s saying but in what he’s NOT saying. Oliver never tells Laurel that he’s the Hood. HE’S STILL LYING TO HER. Oliver is on his “nobody can know my secret” trip, so some of this we’ll just have to attribute it to being Season 1. But this is the big speech about who he truly is, so it would make sense for Oliver to tell Laurel WHO HE TRULY IS. He even says there’s so much he wants to tell her, but then doesn’t tell her anything.

Let’s remove the safety concern. This leaves two options. The first is Oliver intends to save the city, hang up the hood, and live a peaceful life with Laurel. The second is Oliver does not anticipate surviving this fight with Merlyn, so doesn’t feel it is necessary to tell Laurel the truth because he’ll be dead.

I’m a glass half full girl. Also, they are shining a big old spotlight on Oliver and Laurel as they kiss, so I think the first option is most likely. It’s also the reason Oliver raced over to hop into bed with Laurel the previous night. Oliver NEVER plans to tell Laurel he’s the Hood the same way he never planned to tell Tommy (or Moira, Thea, etc.).

The problem is, Oliver wants a new life with Laurel, one built on trust because trust is their big issue (because all the lying and cheating). But in order to have trust, there must be honesty. Oliver cannot hope to have a functional relationship with Laurel if he’s keeping a secret this big. Laurel deserves to know all sides of Oliver Queen - the man and the hood. Anything short of that proves Oliver hasn’t changed at all. Not when it comes to Laurel Lance.

The second option is very dark and twisty. He’s giving it one last go, telling Laurel how he feels, before he marches off to battle and dies. Is this something Oliver Queen would do? Absolutely. I’m just not convinced this is where his head space is at in this particular finale. Oliver is celebrating with Laurel like he already saved the city. But he hasn’t done anything yet, so the pacing of this scene feels very off. We’re in the middle of the episode, but it feels like the end.   

Things brings me to my biggest problem with this speech – Oliver never says “I love you” to Laurel.  This is the big love confession speech, but there is no “I love you.” Oliver says a lot of stuff, but he never says what’s really important and what Laurel truly deserves to hear.

You only put the couple together this early in an episode to break them up at the end. Cleary, Lauriver is going to be sacrificed on the altar of Starling City, but we don’t know how or why. We get our answer at the end of the episode.

NOW we get to rag on Laurel. Both Oliver and Lance tell her to stay out of the Glades, but does she listen? NO. Laurel and the rest of the staff at CNRI need to save paper. Yes, you read that correctly. PAPER. Apparently, all the clients would lose everything if they didn’t save the files. It was 2013, not 1954!!! Throw a litter of kittens or something in the building to make it make sense!

Of course, the building collapses and of course Laurel is trapped under a cement block. Ugh, just leave her there. I’m so over it. DIE WITH THE PAPER LAUREL! BE ONE WITH YOUR FILES!!

But it is not Oliver, dressed as the hood, ready to reveal his secret and save Laurel like we expect. It’s Tommy. Beautiful, precious, wonderful, cinnamon roll Tommy Merlyn who immediately tells Laurel the one thing Oliver Queen has not.

You can pinpoint the moment where Laurel realizes she made the biggest mistake of her life.

Tommy was always honest with Laurel. He loves her unconditionally. Tommy put Laurel first and made her laugh. They built a peaceful and happy life together. Tommy Merlyn was already the man Laurel wanted Oliver to become. He’s the man who truly deserves her. It wasn’t Oliver’s love confession we were waiting to hear. It was Tommy’s. It was always Tommy.

Laurel knows Tommy was the right man, the better man, for her but now it’s too late. She can never tell Tommy loves him. Laurel can never choose him. She can never make it right. All we can hear are her anguished screams as the building collapses around Tommy.

I’ve had my disagreements with Katie Cassidy over the years, but holy crap was her acting amazing in this scene. She sold Laurel’s despair and devastation. This is easily one of my favorite Laurel Lance scenes. Perhaps only surpassed by 3x01, but it’s an awfully close second.

Quentin: You have to promise me one thing Laurel. You’re not gonna die along with me. You have to go on with your life. After your sister died, I pushed people away. I became like a ghost, and I didn’t think I had the right to live if my baby couldn’t.  Promise me you’re not going to make the same mistakes as I did.

Can someone just give Paul Blackthorne an award. I don’t care which one. Just give him awards. This scene, while a heart-breaking goodbye between a father and daughter, also perfectly sets up Laurel’s Season 2 arc. If Oliver Queen has taught us one thing it’s that you can physically survive, but emotionally may be a completely different story.

Laurel is begging for someone to help Tommy and when we see Oliver’s motorcycle it gives us a glimmer of hope that maybe he arrived just in time. Oliver removes the fallen concrete boulders away, but there is a rebar through Tommy’s chest and then we know it’s too late. Tommy’s final moments will be with Oliver.

There are more physically traumatic deaths on Arrow, but no other death impacted me more emotionally. He was not a perfect man, but there was a real light in Tommy Merlyn. He exuded humor and charm, but underneath all of that, was a truly kind and earnest man who wanted to be a better person, not only for the woman he loved, but for himself. And Tommy became a better man. In a series about hooded vigilantes, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes someone a good person. You don’t need to save a city. You just need to show up every day for the people you love. That’s all the heroism most of us really need.

Oliver knows one of the main reasons Tommy broke up with Laurel was because he felt he’d never measure up to Oliver. He could never swoop in and save Laurel like the Hood could. Tommy felt he wasn’t enough - Laurel wanted a hero. This is Oliver’s way of telling Tommy he is one. In the end, Tommy was everything Laurel needed him to be and more. Oliver is realizing this just like Laurel. Sometimes the clarity of death exposes the lunacy of our life choices.

If I didn’t love Oliver Queen so much, I would hate him for inserting himself between Laurel and Tommy. But I don’t need to hate Oliver Queen for his decisions. He’ll hate himself enough. I must forgive Oliver because he is incapable of forgiving himself.

Tommy never wanted to be like his father, which is why joining his company was so disheartening. We thought we’d lose Tommy to the darkness, but he proves once again he is the antithesis of Malcolm Merlyn by asking for Oliver’s forgiveness. 

Oliver has been chasing forgiveness all season and what is so beautiful about this moment is how freely he absolves Tommy. Oliver refuses to accept Tommy has anything to even apologize for (which is correct). Sometimes when we are not forgiven it can harden us against those who require our forgiveness, but that hasn’t happened with Oliver Queen. There is a heart that loves deeply underneath that fortified wall of pain and we are watching it break.

Source: @olivergifs

Tommy asks Oliver if he killed Merlyn and Oliver says no. It’s a lie, but a merciful one. Tommy leaves this world for the next with a thank you as his final words to his best friend and Oliver shatters. He was ready to die to fulfill his mission, but he was not prepared to lose Tommy. Oliver begs God to switch places, but Tommy does not open his eyes. There is no reprieve from this grief. Tommy died and Oliver survived. It is a sacrifice much too difficult to bear. 

I was absolutely gutted after this episode. It’s still hard to watch these final scenes to this day. I truly do not see how Laurel and Oliver overcome Tommy’s death. If Lauriver is the Titanic (and it is) and Sara was the iceberg, then Tommy is the split down the middle that sends the ship plummeting to the ocean bed. Quite frankly, I don’t understand how they ever overcame Sara, which is another problem with the big love confession in the mansion. Neither of them is being honest about their reasons for resurrecting this corpse of a relationship.

This is why Tommy is a death knell to Laurel & Oliver’s relationship. There is a confluence of events which led Tommy to that building and the primary factor (other than Laurel and her papers) was betrayal. Sure, all the technicality boxes are checked. Laurel and Tommy broke up, but boy did Oliver & Laurel have a hell of a time at the wake. (re: Rachel and Ross). Oliver betrayed Tommy just like he betrayed Laurel with Sara. And now Laurel is culpable in the same betrayal that made her wish for Oliver’s infinite suffering. This guilt is inescapable, and it will drive them apart.

Tommy is the nail in the coffin. Lauriver is dead and it needs to stay dead.

***Did I know this after watching the finale the first time? Nope. But I’m here to save you a lot of heartache, stress, and worry. You’re welcome. Enjoy Season 2!

Malcolm Merlyn

I haven’t written much about Merlyn and the Dark Archer primarily because we haven’t heard much from him outside of his conversations with Moira and flashbacks with Robert Queen. His motivations, albeit depraved and evil, are simple. His wife died in the Glades; therefore, the Glades must die.

Malcolm: You mother built her clinic in the Glades because she wanted to save this city. It can’t be saved.  Because the people there don’t want it to be saved.

Tommy: So, you kill them all?

Malcolm: YES! They deserve to die, all of them, the way she died!!

“Sacrifice” showcases John Barrowman’s acting ability because he’s allowed to unleash the crazy, particularly when he explains his master plan to Tommy. Daddy is one friggin scarry fruit loop!

We also get some great super villain monologuing and much-needed philosophical debates between Malcolm and Oliver.

Oliver: Do you really think you’re honoring Tommy’s mother by destroying the Glades?

Malcolm: As surely as you believe you’re honoring your father by wearing this hood. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss your father.

Oliver: You’ll see him soon.

Malcolm: You can’t beat me, Oliver. Yes, you’re younger and you’re faster, yet you always seem to come up short against me. Wanna know why? Because you don’t know in your heart what you’re fighting for. What you’re willing to sacrifice, and I do.

This dialogue is so great! Classic good versus evil. The best villains are ones with emotional ties to the hero. The best villains are often the dark reflection of the hero.  The terrifying part of Malcolm’s monologue is he’s right.

There is a thin, but discernible line between Oliver and Malcolm Merlyn. Oliver is choosing to murder guilty people to honor his father. Merlyn is murdering innocent people to honor his wife. It’s a big difference, but Oliver lacks the firm moral high ground needed in this conversation, which is why he silently twists helplessly in the chains.

Oliver’s own actions have handcuffed him in a way. He is a killer just like Malcolm. Yes, he killed bad people, but not always because he had to. Oliver killed to exact justice (revenge?) too. A justice based on his convictions and beliefs alone. But what does Oliver believe?

We can justify just about anything in this world if we want to, which is why it’s so important to have a moral code. Without one, you’re just making it up as you go along and it’s very easy to be pulled off track. Oliver’s code in Season 1 was the list of names. He thought saving the city was as simple as crossing names off a list. Oliver believes he was honoring Robert by making those who hurt the city pay for their unanswered crimes.

Felicity answers Malcolm’s question about sacrifice when she tells Quentin Lance who she believes the Vigilante is. She’s right. Oliver is willing to sacrifice a lot to save strangers. People he’s never met but feels a responsibility for because of the sins of his father. It’s not an insane idea. Some carry the weight of our parents’ failings and recognize themselves in Oliver Queen.

Both men are clearly willing to sacrifice their own lives. But Malcolm will sacrifice anything and anyone for his mission – including his own son. For Oliver that price was too high and one he never anticipated paying.  

Tommy is not the only death in the series finale. Yao Fei dies in the flashbacks and its brutal. As we peel back the layers of Oliver Queen, we see how truly traumatizing those years away were. It’s freaking miracle Oliver can even function, let alone fight for his city. The symmetry of fighting Malcolm, the man who sent Oliver to Lian Yu, with Yao Fei’s’ bow, the man who saved him from Lian Yu, is exceptionally beautiful.

The rooftop battle between Malcolm and Oliver is the level of awesome I require in a series finale fight scene. In the end, Oliver kills Malcolm but fails to save the city. Primarily because Merlyn outsmarted him and used two earthquake machines. But Malcolm also beat Oliver because he was right. Oliver does not know what he is truly fighting for. A list of names is not enough to save the city and honor Robert Queen.

Oliver: Thank you for teaching me what I’m fighting for, but my father taught me how.

It looks like Malcolm will kill Oliver in the final moments of their fight, but Oliver flashes back to that moment on the boat with his father (like he did a thousand times on the island and over the course of the series) and recalls what his father instructed him to do: SURVIVE.

Oliver Queen has an indomitable will to survive. It’s the promise he made to his father. It’s what kept him alive the five years he was on the island. It’s why he ultimately beats Malcolm Merlyn. Pure determination.

But survival isn’t enough. None of us are here to survive life. It’s not a moral code. It’s why Oliver falls woefully short. Robert Queen taught Oliver how to survive, but it will take someone else to teach him how to live.  Until he learns that lesson, he will never be the hero Starling City needs.

Stray Thoughts

The earthquake machine being at the location of where Malcolm’s wife was murdered does have a nice poetry to it. Crazy poetry. But poetry.

Oliver killing Fyers with Yao Fei’s bow which is the justice I needed. He also chooses to save Shado’s life over securing a ride home and we hear the Hood’s voice for the very first time. The evolution is happening!!!

Malcolm stops an arrow with his bare hand. It was friggin cool. It was even cooler when Oliver used an explosive arrow the next time Malcolm tried to pull the same trick.

“I take back every joke I made about you putting a tracker in your boot.” I love when this show tackles potential plot holes and the solutions make sense.

Fyers is shooting down a commercial airliner to mess with China’s economy like what happened to the USA on September 11th. I'm not a fan of killing, but anyone trying to repeat 9/11 needs to die.

Shado is really the hero in the flashbacks. Homegirl reprogrammed a missile and blows up the camp!

“What are laws, rules, if they don’t protect people?” Detective Lance is grappling with his own moral code and gets suspended. Quentin teaming up with the Hood? I am 100% down for this storyline.

Oliver: What about those people in the Glades?

Moira: I’m not their mother.

I’m as fierce a Mama Bear as any other mother, but this is not a good look Moira. I love that Oliver finally tells her how Robert died and that they have an honest conversation about Moira’s choices.

Moira going to the press to expose Malcolm Merlyn was AWESOME, but couldn’t she have thought of that like, I don’t know, twenty-three episodes ago?

Laurel is wearing green in the mansion scene. No, not even symbolic color coding will make me love these two. And that means a lot coming from me because symbolism is my freaking jam. This also includes the sunlight shining on Lauriver. It's a red herring. Pay it no attention.

Moira DEARDEN Queen. Wave hi to another comic book reference.

Thea goes to the Glades too to save Roy which makes her the second stupidest character in this episode. DOESN’T ANYONE HAVE A PHONE? JUST CALL HIM THEA.

Don’t pull the knife out, John. That’s literally the last thing you do.

“You fucking dumb ass.” My note while watching Laurel collect all the paper.

They should have killed Laurel and Tommy should have become the next Dark Archer. It would've been a waaaaay better story. They saved the wrong character. The Season 6 appearance by Colin Donnell supports this theory.

Just so you know where I was at emotionally in May 2013. On Wednesday I watched Tommy die on Arrow and then Thursday, on The Vampire Diaries, I watched Elena choose Damon while Stefan was trapped in a safe at the bottom of a lake drowning repeatedly.  It is easily my worst series finale week EVER. Including Grey’s Anatomy Season 5 and 6 finales (hello trauma) and Pam dying on Dallas (I was six and thought she really died).

Listen to the Watchover podcast reaction to 1x23!!!

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Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me!

#arrow #arrow 1x23 #olicity #oliver and felicity #arrow review #arrow reviews #tommy merlyn #anti laurel lance #merlance #anti lauriver #john diggle #felicity smoak #malcolm merlyn #season 1 episode review #season 1 episode reviews #oliver queen #olicity fandom #olicity gifs #emily bett rickards #stephen amell #paul blackthorne #colin donnell

[felicytsmoak]

“You know I went to MIT, right? It’s like Havard for computer geeks with an acceptance rate of 6.7%, so if I can get in there, I can get in pretty much anywhere.”

Goodbye Felicity Smoak!

#felicitysmoakedit #dcladies #dcmultiverse #dctvgifs #dailydcheroes #arrowdailyblog #dctvladies #felicitysmoakgifs #dctvedit #arrowedit #felicity smoak #my gifs #mine #** #i can't stop crying #i'm gonna miss her so much

[ah-maa-zing]

Family is precious. And it’s love, in spite of everything, that makes it precious.

                                         -- Oliver Queen

#arrowedit #arrowgifs #oliverqueengifs #felicitysmoakgifs #miasmoakgifs #williamclaytongifs #Felicity Smoak #Oliver Queen #William Clayton #Mia Smoak #my edits #ah-maa-zing edits #the Queen family #my loves #gosh this took me ages #but i remembered this quote from way back when and I couldn't get it out of my head #isn't it just...perfect for them? #ugh #my beautiful Smoak-Queens

[andjustforthismoment]

O l i c i t y 

A r r o w  -  3 x 01  |  7 x 22

#Olicity #Arrow #Oliver x Felicity #Felicity Smoak #Oliver Queen #Baby Sara #lyla michaels #Mygifs #mypost #OlicityGifs #ArrowGifs #FelicitySmoakGifs #OliverQueenGifs #QueenSmoakFamGif #3x01 #7x22 #No words needed #It's all in the looks #moment by moment #This is what love looks like #Home is where you are #OTP #Green Arrow #Overwatch #Baby Mia #QueenFamily #If only for a moment

[tangled23works]

Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once. 

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come. 

#oliver queen #felicity smoak #william shakespeare quotes #even if a crisis is coming #even if he dies #no matter what #he's still a HERO #thank you gifmakers #olicitygifs #turtlejustice #felicitysmoakgifs #amythegloriouspond #arrowdaily

[spectralarchers]

sort of commissioned by @felicity-smoak-is-my-goddess ♥

#felicity smoak #clint barton #marvelgifs #gif1 #clintbartongifs #felicitysmoakgifs #commission

[smoak-and-mirrors]

Arrow Season 6, Episode 9 - Irreconcilable Differences

Her courage was her crown and she wore it like a Queen. -Atticus

#felicitysmoakedit #felicitysmoakgif #felicity smoak #arrow edit

[msbeccieboo]

CEO!Felicity

So I decided to start a little series on all the different aspects of Felicity Smoak that make her so wonderful!  Next up we remember her for the awesome businesswoman/entrepreneur she became throughout the show, as she went from IT girl to…

Felicity Smoak: Badass Boss!!

1) Felicity has been CEO of three companies within the last 4 years of the show (and arguably ran QC for most of S2).

2) Even imparting her skills to Oliver (or attempting to, at least).

3) Look how excited she was 😍😍

4) She did make some questionable hires/business associates 😬

5) But they always believed in her.

6) Savage. Our girl gave zero fucks about sticking it to the PT board. 

7) Damn straight you can, Felicity!

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

8) Even in an Alien-induced dream world, our girl was still at the top of her game. 

9) Despite living in hiding, she still built from Smoak Tech back up from scratch and turned it into a successful company entirely remotely.

10) Ultimately, all she wanted to do was help people and the world (and make cool techy stuff!).

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Bonus: Cutest CEO EVER!!

Thank you so much to all the fabulous gif-makers 😍 Any uncredited gifs are mine.

I’d love to see any additions you can think of, or suggestions for more categories!

💗💗💗

Previously…

Hacker ~ Field ~ Wife ~ Babbler ~ Cheerleader ~ Lover ~ Fighter ~ Friend ~ Cutiepie ~ Girlfriend

#Felicity series #Felicity Smoak #felicity smoak appreciation post #Arrow #beccie's brain #11

[smoakqueenz]

i feel like i need more accounts to follow. can i ask what your top 10 olicity accounts/blogs are, your blog/edits etc are wonderful!

Hi there ^^

So here a short list of one of my favs Olicity tumblr, 

@ebett​ @oliverxfelicity​ @alexiablackbriar13​ @felicityollies​ @dust2dust34​@supersillyanddorky06​ @whoeveryoulovethemost​​

Here some “official” account with amazing gifs @olicitygifs​​ @arrowdaily​​@olivergifs​ @oliverxfelicity​​ @felicitysmoakgifs​​ 

Other fantastic gifmakers @1-crazy-dreamer​​ @lucyyh​​ @smoakmonster​​ @turtlejustice​​ @felicytsmoak​​ @bifelicitys​​ @matthew-daddario​​ @feilcityqueen​​

For graphicmakers, unfortunately some of them are now inactive, @ebett​​@whoeveryoulovethemost​ @fe-li-ci-ty​​ @cherrychapssstick​​ @doe-eyed-girly-evil​​ @klarolicityswan​​ @ilarina​​

And so sorry if I forgot someone, I did this really quickly.

#nelly's reply #Anonymous

[swordandarrow]

@1-crazy-dreamer @ah-maa-zing @alanna-the-lionheart @alexiablackbriar13 @allimariexf

@almondblossomme @andjustforthismoment @arrow-crack @arrowgirl20 @arrowgirl23

@arrow-through-my-writers-block @athenaagron @aussieforgood @babblingblondegenius

@bazingagubicorn   @bb-olicity @befitandchase @bifelicitys@bindy417 @bisexualfelicity

@bitchwhwifi @blondeeoneexox @bokayjunkie @bookolicitynessa @cainc3 @callistawolf

@candykizzes24 @charlie-leau@cherchersketch  @coal000 @cogentranting @crazycrystal10  

@cruzrogue @dianasmatthews @dmichellewrites @charlinert @doe-eyed-girly-evil

@dust2dust34 @ebett @eloquence-of-felicities @emilybettsource@fandombookmark

@feilcityqueen @felicitisqueen @felicitysmoakdaily @felicitysmoakgifs @felicitysmoakq

@foreverxyoungxwildxfree @frembett @fyeahebr @geneshaven @gothsmoak

@green-arrows-of-karamel @hope-for-olicity @it-was-a-red-heeler @jaspertown  

@jbuffyangel @jedichick04 @jhopq @jules85 @katluna90olicity @klarolicityswan

@laurabelle2930 @lostolicityscenes@lucyyh @lyricalarrow @magda1102

@marytagus @mel-loves-all @memcjo @mindramblingfics@miriam1779 @missafairy

@missyriver @mogirl97 @mortallock @msbeccieboo @nalla-madness @oliverdant

@oliverfel4 @oliverfelicitygifs @oliversfelicity @oliverxfelicity @onceuponanolicity

@oneofakindxx @pintofmintchip @pleasantfanandstudent @quebecolicityfanart

@queensarrow @quiveringbunny @rua1412 @ruwithmeguys @saebrfan @scu11y22

@segsibongsoon @shaniartist @smkkbert @smoak-and-mirrors @smoakfoxxgoddess

@smoaking-greenarrow @smoakmonster @smoakqueenz @songbin @spartandiggle

@spaztronautwriter @stellahellaviola @storyteller0311 @supersillyanddorky06

@talkingtomyquiver @tangled23works @tdgal1 @thebookjumper @tinaday3w

@truevampireslovers @turtlejustice @V4l13 @vaelisamaza @virelove

@walker-oliciter @wherethereissmoak @whoeveryoulovethemost

@wifiandbow @wildirish23 @wrldtravler                                                                                                                                                                                                 ...and to the whole Olicity fandom

#fandom #happy holidays

[caelestis1989]

Review: Arrow 7x16 “Star City 2040″

Esse episódio poderia ter sido facilmente chamado por The Secret Origin of Mia Smoak.

Esse episódio me traz vibrações do 3x05. Só que a diferença é que Mia é muito mais parecida com seu pai, mesmo que em algumas das escassas cenas da infância dela, não parece ou eles querem nos fazer acreditar que o Oliver não viu sua filhinha crescer. E um novo recorde foi estabelecido, com esse é o 4º episódio em sequência que manteve uma narrativa sólida. Mas mesmo assim eu fiquei sentindo que uma peça faltava pra tornar o episódio incrivelmente maravilhoso. Oliver Queen. Um episódio de Arrow sempre sofre alguns tropeços quando eles nos negam mais cenas com o protagonista da série. 

Esse episódio também teve um ar de introdução a um spin-off. E eu tenho a impressão que a série vai se chamar Star City 2040, não só pelo título do episódio como o trabalho que eles tiveram para fazerem jaquetas escritas com esse nome (que vimos em fotos de bastidores). Eles nunca criaram jaquetas com nomes de títulos de episódios anteriormente. Não acho que isso seja algo aleatório. Não tem como eles chamarem esse spin-off de Legacie porque esse nome já foi tomado pelo spin-off de TVD e TO. 

Começo dos Flashbacks

Infelizmente a cena do nascimento da Mia foi tão curta.

Nunca vi o Oliver tão feliz como esse momento. Foi o maior sorriso que vi no rosto do nosso menino. 

Crédito: @oliverxfelicity @lucyyh

Baby Mia é cópia fiel dos pais. O bebê mais fofo e adorável. Tenho a ligeira impressão que eles nos mostraram a cena do nascimento da Mia agora porque eles pretendem começar a última temporada já com a baby Mia nascida. Não acho que eles vão mostrar a cena do nascimento de novo. E isso me faz acreditar que sim, a baby Mia foi concebida no 7x08 e ela nasceu em setembro.

A única coisa que não encaixa na minha cabeça é como os olhos da Mia deixaram de ser azuis e se tornaram verdes escuros quando ela chegou a idade adulta. Não me conformo por eles deixarem um detalhe desse passar. Não custava nada a atriz colocar lentes azuis nas cenas, pelo menos naquelas em que a iluminação é mais clara. Até o Ben Lewis colocou lentes azuis, eu sei disso porque já fui procurar fotos do ator no google e os olhos dele me parece castanhos. 

Eu fui totalmente pega de surpresa ao ver que Nyssa foi a responsável pelo treinamento da Mia desde a infância. Eu gostei! Na hora em que vi essa cena eu pensei: “Faz sentido, elas são esposas-irmãs”. 

É lógico que Mia seria fodona, foi treinada por um membro da Liga dos Assassinos, e não é qualquer membro, é a filha do finado Ra’s Al Ghul. Isso me lembra da época em que o Oliver durante um curto período de tempo, passou treinando com Talia Al Ghul (irmã mais velha da Nyssa). E foi Talia quem deu ao Oliver seu primeiro arco, aquele em que ele começou sua jornada em Star City. A diferença é que Mia teve todo o seu treinamento com Nyssa desde a infância, aposto que ela ainda vai superar as habilidades do pai. 

Crédito: @plotbunnyshipper

E ela recebe seu primeiro arco das mãos de um membro da família Al Ghul. Arrow ama seus paralelos. 

Crédito: @ebett

Eu gostei desse arco, ele parece ser mais prático e discreto porque a Mia não precisa carregar sua aljava nas costas. Isso chamaria muita atenção indesejada de uma cidade que odeia qualquer atividade que os lembre dos vigilantes.

Eu gostaria de ter visto a Felicity interagir com a Mini-Mia. Ela é tão fofa. 

E sabemos que ela é filha do James Bamford. Achei bacana porque eles unem o útil ao agradável, já que de qualquer forma em algum momento quem trabalha na série precisa trazer seus filhos para o set. 

Mia chega em casa com novidades. Ela trouxe o queijo favorito da mãe, aquele que fede. Ela fica chamando pela mãe e encontra o silêncio. Ela fica preocupada e pega uma faca achando que tinha um intruso dentro da casa. Já falei que adorei essa cabana?! Ela parece muito mais como uma casa que todos aqueles apartamentos que Olicity morou até agora. Desculpe, pelo devaneio. 

Crédito: @felicittysqueen

A coisa que mais me impressionou nessa cena foi o comportamento blasé da Felicity. Ela quase teve sua garganta cortada e estava muito orgulhosa dos reflexos impressionantes da filha. 

Crédito: @felicitysmoakgifs

Senhora Carver é a fofoqueira do bairro. Ela também tentou empurrar seu filho mais velho pra cima da Mia. Ela seria a versão 2.0 daquela vizinha intrometida de Ivy Town. Felicity e Mia fazem referências a personagens do livro O mágico de Oz. 

Eu já disse que amo O Mágico de Oz?! Eu juro que já chorei lendo esse livro, ele é tão especial pra mim. São personagens que buscam na Cidade Esmeralda algo que eles já tem em sua essência, no decorrer do caminho. O Leão covarde busca coragem, mas é o mais corajoso do grupo. O Espantalho busca um cérebro mas é o mais inteligente, as melhores ideias vem dele. O Homem de lata busca um coração mas é o mais amoroso, tão cheio de compaixão. E a Dorothy só quer voltar pra casa. Eu acho que a Mia é a Dorothy nessa história. 

Mia tenta convencer a mãe a sair pela cidade um pouco. Ela até usa o amor que Felicity tem pela Smoak Tech pra isso. Eu compreendo que Mia queira explorar o mundo além daquela cabana. Fico imaginando o quão frustrante foi pra alguém da personalidade dela ter que seguir as regras da mãe, à risca. Me impressiona o fato dela não ter fugido de casa antes. Pra uma criança deve ser angustiante ficar presa em casa o tempo todo. Eu lembro que minha irmã e eu costumávamos aproveitar quando minha mãe dormia pra fugir pela janela e poder brincar, já que ela trancava a porta. E isso levando uma vida comum. Agora imagina quando você é filha de vigilantes. Connor tem razão, isso é um saco!

Mia quer um pouco de liberdade. Felicity diz que elas não podem ir pra Star City porque elas não estão seguras lá. E pelo que a Mia falou, a Felicity comanda a empresa remotamente da cabana. Isso nem chega a ser uma surpresa já que a Felicity já fez isso com a Palmer Tech de Ivy Town. Mia diz que segundo sua mãe, seu pai era um grande herói, e que elas simplesmente poderiam dizer isso pra todos. Só que não é tão simples assim. Achei fofa a ingenuidade da Mia. As duas até esse momento pareciam ter uma relação boa de mãe e filha, até ela descobrir que Felicity ainda estava agindo como vigilante. 

Mia tentou persuadir a mãe dizendo que poderia se proteger porque ela (Felicity) providenciou pra que isso fosse possível. 

Crédito: @lucyyh

Ao ver a filha chateada por não conseguir esticar mais um pouco sua liberdade, Felicity propõe que as duas tivessem uma maratona de filmes. Mia topa o momento Mãe e Filha. As coisas estavam bem até um porta retrato digital ser destruído por uma flecha. Até agora me pergunto quanto disso foi um acidente. Não faz muito sentido a Mia praticar arquearia dentro de casa e usar uma maçã como alvo bem na frente de um porta retrato com as fotos da família. Essa menina tem muitas emoções reprimidas. Ela é tão Oliver!

Crédito: @olicitygifs

Felicity nunca mentiu sobre o passado dela e do Oliver, ela só escondeu que continuava sendo Overwatch. Mia fica ressentida porque ela sabe que esse tempo todo precisou se esconder na cabana por causa das atividades do pai como Arqueiro Verde, e descobre que sua mãe continuou fazendo o mesmo todo esse tempo. 

Mia se sentiu traída pela mãe por causa dos segredos. Os segredos nunca param. Lógico que não deve ser fácil pra ela engolir que sua mãe sempre tenha a cidade como prioridade, e é isso que fica evidente no decorrer do episódio, mesmo depois do tempo que ela ficou afastada da mãe. Ela fugiu pra descobrir por conta própria quem é sua família, ou o que ela faria da vida dela. Ela fugiu do controle que Felicity tinha sobre ela. Acho que Mia só permitia todo esse controle por amar muito sua mãe e porque na época a Felicity contava o que era conveniente, isso tentando proteger a Mia de todo o fardo da vida vigilante. Mas nunca é fácil descobrir que alguém que você ama vem mentindo pra você a vida toda. 

“Ninguém mais pode me segurar. Eu preciso forjar meu próprio caminho.”

E finalmente descobrimos a origem do codinome Blackstar. E é claro que o significado vem dos momentos de Mia com sua mãe. 

“A minha mãe me disse uma vez que todas as luzes de estrelas que vemos viajam tanto que a estrela em si nem existem mais, Eventualmente, todas somem na escuridão. Apagadas. É pra onde quero ir.”

Crédito: @ebett

No começo de sua jornada, Mia estava em busca da luz, da verdade. Em algum momento essa busca para a luz mudou, e deve ter sido quando ela ouviu de todo mundo que os vigilantes acabaram com a cidade. E isso fez com que a Mia não quisesse mais ir em direção a luz, mas agora em direção a escuridão. É como se ela tivesse fugindo dos problemas, porque ela acredita que a verdade não vai libertá-la. Não é à toa que ela se escondeu naquela gaiola. Lutando pra se manter, pra sobreviver nesse mundo durante muito tempo, desconhecido pra ela. Um mundo sombrio, com verdades feias. Com meias-verdades e meias-mentiras. Um mundo onde seus pais são odiados. 

E agora faz todo sentido ela não usar o sobrenome Queen. Porque além desse sobrenome ser um alvo em suas costas, ainda tem o auto-ódio pelas suas origens, porque ela acredita que seus pais arruinaram Star City. Ela também não quer enfrentar as consequências se alguém descobrir quem são seus pais. Acho que a única exceção em sua lista de contatos para quem ela disse que era Mia Smoak foi o Connor, porque eles tiveram um relacionamento. Mas pra todos os outros ela só deve dizer seu codinome. Isso porque ela não confia em ninguém, e é uma garota inteligente pra não sair por aí dando seu verdadeiro nome pra qualquer um, sabendo que as pessoas podem pesquisar a fundo quem ela é. 

Enquanto estava sendo tatuada, Mia perguntou o que era toda aquela movimentação na gaiola. A tatuadora diz que eles estão lutando. Mia pergunta quanto eles pagam por isso. A tatuadora diz que eles pagam milhares se você ganhar a luta. Mia diz que nunca perde. Bem, ela continua invicta. Engraçado, ela não sabe muito sobre o pai mas é tão parecida com ele. Essa Mia me faz lembrar da época em que o Oliver participava do Clube da Luta na Russia. 

Apareceu um homem com o mesmo físico do Oliver lutando na gaiola enquanto a Mia estava sendo tatuada. A teoria do momento no tumblr é que esse homem pode ser o Oliver. Eu sempre vou preferir uma teoria do Oliver vivo do que um Oliver morto.

Fim dos Flashbacks

Crédito: @smoakmonster

William não está nem um pouco preparados pra arriscar suas vidas invandindo os Glades. Mia não tem nada melhor pra fazer. Tão blasé. Adoro!

Tal pai, tal filha!

Crédito: @arrowdaily

William propõe que Mia finja ser sua assistente executiva como disfarce. 

Crédito: @felicitysmoakgifs

A resposta dela é tão Felicity. Só que o problema nem é esse. Mia diz que eles são filhos de vigilantes e no momento em que eles passarem pelo escaneamento, serão pegos. William diz que não usa mais o sobrenome Clayton. Pelo menos essa parte do mistério sobre como o William conseguiu passar todos esses anos sem ser importunado pelos haters dos pais foi respondido. Mas fiquei curiosa pra saber que sobrenome ele está usando agora. William consegue passar pelo escaneamento, Mia não. Acho que ela nem deve estar registrada em qualquer banco de dados do governo. Ela é filha de uma super hacker, se tem alguém que pode apagar qualquer dado sobre a Mia é Felicity Smoak. 

Connor aparece pra salvar a pele da Mia. Ele é um agente da Knigtwatch (a versão boa da ARGUS). Depois de passar pela vigilância, Connor se desculpa por não ter contado a verdade pra ela. Ele diz que não teve escolha. 

Crédito: @smoakmonster

William se coloca numa posição como mediador e diz que por mais que ele adore um drama de relacionamento que não seja o dele, eles precisam parar pra não acabar com todo o disfarce. 

Pra ter acesso a todo o prédio eles precisam do DNA do chefão da empresa. Kevin Dale (aliado do Rene). William tem uma reunião marcada com Kevin, só que ele não sabe como roubar o DNA dele furtivamente. Sorte dele é que sua irmãzinha pode fazer isso e enquanto ele está flertando com o CEO, Mia pega a amostra do DNA dele da xícara. Connor chega com uma máquina que replica DNA, e eles conseguem passar por lugares restritos dentro da empresa. 

No elevador, Mia diz para William que ele não pode sair do elevador. William diz que está gostando desses momentos entre irmãos. Mia diz que ele é mais útil, pra ela vivo. William percebe que essa é a maneira da Mia de dizer que se importa com ele.

E Mia revela que sua mãe é o anjo investidor que financiou a empresa do William. 

Crédito: @smoaktechs

Felicity sempre esteve olhando e ajudando o William esse tempo todo. Ela tinha uma foto dos dois em uma das telas de seu computador na cabana, e do lado tinha a foto do pai deles usando o traje GA. 

Mia tem a mesma mania do pai em flechar a perna das pessoas. Ela deixa um guarda inconsciente usando seu arco. Papai ficaria muito orgulhoso. E dentro daquela sala protegida eles encontram Felicity. Felicity não fica muito feliz com eles resgatando ela. As coordenadas que ela mandou foi para as bombas, uma missão do Roy e da Dinah. 

Essa cena mexeu comigo.

Tantos anos que os dois não se vêem. E corta o meu coração de assistir que a Felicity temia que o seu filho do coração talvez não quisesse vê-la novamente. 

Crédito: @arrowdaily

Connor interrompe o reencontro familiar e diz que eles precisam sair dali antes que os outros descubram o que eles fizeram com os guardas. Felicity diz que não vai sair até resolver o problema com as bombas. Mia diz: “Você acabou de sair do perigo e quer voltar pra ele? Típico! ... Você prefere ir brincar de herói ao invés de fazer o melhor pra sua filha!” William chama a atenção de Mia e ela diz pra ele ficar fora disso. “Pelo menos uma vez na sua vida, mãe, coloque sua família em primeiro lugar.”

Felicity diz que é por isso que ela tentou protegê-la das atividades de vigilante, pra Mia não ter que tomar esse tipo de decisão. 

Crédito: @felicitysmoakgifs

Felicity diz que ser heroína é seu propósito e por isso não pode sair de lá. Eu entendo que ela não queria que eles destruam a cidade mas agora dizer que ser uma heroína é seu propósito de vida, eu achei essa frase muito brega. Felicity teve outras prioridades quando se tornou mãe, ao invés de ficar tentando salvar uma cidade que nunca vai reconhecer os esforços deles. Como você salva alguém que não quer ser salvo?

Não estou dizendo que Felicity não é uma heroína por todas as coisas que já fez por Star City, o meu problema é que não vejo mais motivação pra continuar fazendo isso. Acho que já estou farta de ver eles tentando lutar por uma cidade que nunca deu valor para os seus sacrifícios. Por mim, o Oliver e a Felicity deveriam pegar seus filhos e ir morar em Ivy Town. Eles merecem um pouco de paz depois de tanta abnegação por uma cidade ingrata que votou a favor da lei anti-vigilante.  

Eu posso compreender que a motivação da Felicity pra continuar fazendo isso é porque o programa Archer é uma criação dela e ela se sente responsável pelas consequências de como o programa foi usado. Por isso que disse em uma review passada que por mais que a tecnologia dela fosse impressionante e ela tivesse boas intenções quando criou, isso não muda o fato de que nem todos que usarem esse programa vão fazer com as melhores intenções. Que uma coisa que aparentemente pode dar a ligeira impressão de segurança pode se transformar em controle social. O programa Archer nas mãos de alguém como Kevin Dale é como brincar de Deus. O plano dele era destruir os Glades da mesma forma que o resto de Star City foi destruída pra provar um ponto e colocar o programa pra ser vendido globalmente. 

É a famosa regra de 3:

Você cria o problema;

Oferece a solução;

E lucra com isso.

William decide ficar com a Felicity e impedir que eles explodam os Glades. Engraçado que eu achei que o plano era acabar de bombardear a cidade fora dos muros. No meio do caminho, William pergunta se Felicity está bem e ela diz que já está acostumada a ser uma decepção pra filha. 

Eles encontram Zoe, Dinah e Roy no meio do caminho. Dinah diz estar agradecida por ela estar viva. Nossa, que falsidade. As duas nunca tiveram esse tipo de relação. Fora, os momentos em que a Dinah disse tantas vezes que a Felicity foi para o lado negro da força. Sendo que ela mal sabia sobre a Felicity para fazer tal julgamento. Felicity diz que se infiltrar dentro da organização fez parte do plano para impedir que eles destruíssem a cidade. Ela também se desculpa por não falar com eles sobre a Mia. Eu acho que ela não deve nenhuma explicação a qualquer um deles. 

Mia não quer participar e decide ir embora. Connor diz para Mia que está ali para apoiá-la. Mia desconfia e diz que ele só está lá porque ele fez uma promessa ao pai dele. Ela diz que não sabe o que é pior: Ele mentir pra ela todo esse tempo, fazendo ela perceber que todo o relacionamento dos dois foi baseado numa mentira ou, ele acreditar que ela precisava de proteção. Connor sabe que ela pode se proteger mas ele só ficou porque se importa com ela. 

Connor diz que houve um tempo que também se ressentia com os pais por eles estarem sempre estarem ausentes. Mas com o tempo ele percebeu que precisava aprender a compartilhar os pais com os outros, que ele precisava ser abnegado. Mia diz que Connor aprendeu isso desde pequeno e é muito típico dele falar algo assim. Connor diz que ela também aprendeu isso desde a infância, a diferença é que ele pôde escolher e ela nunca teve essa escolha, até agora. Mia acha que finalmente ele mostrou seu objetivo em se aproximar dela, manipulá-la sobre isso. E quando Mia se aproxima do elevador, Connor diz que se ela sair por aquela porta estará fazendo exatamente o que Felicity quer que ela faça. Ir embora de Star City. E ele está certo! Ele diz que ela não pode tomar essa decisão baseado nos erros da mãe.  E Mia decide finalmente participar da missão de impedir que a cidade seja explodida. E foi nessa cena que eu finalmente vi a magia de um romance nascer, agora eu posso dizer que me incluo no time dos shippers SmoakHawke. 

O Connor ainda citou a fala do Tio Ben de Homem Aranha. “Com grandes poderes vêm grandes responsabilidades”. 

Esse garoto já me conquistou. 

Crédito: @feilcityqueen  @oliverxfelicity

Rene finalmente percebe que seu principal aliado é um vilão que quer destruir a cidade, e que nunca teve um protocolo para evacuar a cidade. Nossa, como esse Rene é lerdo! Ele tem um plano para colocá-los dentro da festa de máscaras. Felicity diz que tem como desativar as bombas porque tem um dispositivo que é como se fosse um cérebro da bomba, o William entende o que ela quer dizer.  E a Mia não perde tempo em implicar com seu irmão e com sua mãe, dizendo sarcasticamente “Que legal, agora tem dois deles”. Ela também faz um comentário afiado sobre como todos vão se enturmar numa festa com máscaras, com exceção do William. 

Crédito: @lucyyh @ebett

Nem parece que esses dois passaram tanto tempo longe um do outro. Eu sempre vou amar a relação de mãe e filho. O Oliver continua presente em pequenas coisas que a Felicity faz. Ela continua usando a aliança de casamento, na festa usou uma máscara verde e o nome do seu principal programa é Archer. 

Mia é a estrela da equipe e rouba a cena. Ela é a única que destrói o mini-cubo que o Kevin Dale vivia carregando consigo, o tal cérebro das bombas. 

Crédito: @felicittysqueen

Ela também consegue lidar com 10 homens igual ao pai, e ainda veste a capa em grande estilo. Ela não nega que é um membro da família Queen. Até agora são 4 arqueiros na família, incluindo a bastarda. 

Dinah diz que foi bom juntar a equipe de novo. Cadê o Oliver??? Felicity diz que eles precisam agradecer o William, se não fosse ele nada disso seria possível. Já que ela tinha muita esperança e rezava pra que ele tivesse guardado o hozen com ele esse tempo todo, e ela ficou incrivelmente surpresa e emocionada por ele ter guardado. Ela diz que sabe que não merceia toda essa consideração. William diz: “Fico feliz que não tenha te odiado completamente. Agora eu tenho uma irmã pra odiar ao invés disso.”

Mia diz que precisa tomar um ar e vai embora. William diz que o relacionamento dos dois ainda não chegou nessa fase. Felicity acalma o coração do seu filho e diz que o problema não é com ele. Connor se oferece pra conversar com Mia e Felicity descarta. Ela vai procurar sua filha.

Felicity passa a mão nas coisas e constata que a filha continua não sendo muito fã de limpeza. Eu ri. Mia fica emburrada e pergunta se ela vai começar a conversa pegando no pé dela. Felicity diz que como ela é sua mãe, faz parte do acordo pegar no seu pé. 

Mia pergunta se ela está ali para convencê-la a ajudar o time arqueiro com o Galaxy. Parece que o Connor conhece muito mais a Felicity que a Mia. Se dependesse da Felicity, ela levaria a filha para bem longe disso tudo, ela não quer que Mia se envolva nisso, mas sabe que ela não pode tomar essa decisão, só a Mia. E depois de muitos anos, Felicity abre mão do controle, ela dá a filha o livre arbítrio de escolher por si mesma. 

Mia: “Sabe, quando eu saí de casa, eu tava tão brava com você. Eu aprendi tudo o que sabia sobre vigilantes. Eu desenterrei reportagens antigas sobre como eles destruíram Star City... Eu me convenci... Eu me convenci de que era verdade. De que você tinha mentido pra mim a minha infância inteira... De que suas histórias sobre heroísmo do time arqueiro eram só porque você não queria que eu pensasse mal de você. Ou sobre o papai. Eu passei esses últimos anos odiando vigilantes... Porque eu odiava você. (Felicity não a culpa por isso) Eu entendo porque você quis mentir pra mim, pra me proteger. Não consigo nem imaginar como deve ter sido a cidade inteira se virando contra vocês. Contra o papai...”

Crédito: @ebett

Mia percebe que sua mãe levou toda essa coisa com o Galaxy para o lado pessoal e pergunta se isso tem alguma relação com seu pai. Felicity diz que não, que tem a ver com ela. Eu achei essa resposta curta demais, ela parece ser bem complexa pra uma simples negativa. 

Bônus: 

Crédito: @oliverxfelicity

Engulam essa, haters!

#arrow 7x16 #mia smoak #william clayton #felicity smoak-queen #connor hawke #kevin dale #rene ramirez #anti dinah drake #roy harper #smoakhawke #oliver queen

[jbuffyangel]

Strength: Arrow 8x05 Review (Prochnost)

We’re headed back to Russia for some Queen family vacation fun, except their version of “fun” is kidnappings and fight clubs.

Let’s dig in…

Oliver, Mia and William

Do you remember how we used to pray for a scene of Oliver teaching Felicity the bow and arrow? 

The scenes with Helena fueled my hate fire for years. The closest we ever came to Olicity “training” was Oliver offering Felicity a few punching pointers

and the glorious salmon-ladder-leads-to-sex scene.

I’m not complaining! All I’m saying is we could’ve had a bow-and-arrow-training-leads-to-sex scene too. I have several insert-scenario-here-leads-to-sex scene ideas this show has yet to explore.

Anyway, if we can’t have Felicity training with Oliver then second best is their daughter training with Oliver. The intro to “Prochnost” is almost three minutes long and it’s pure fan fiction from start to finish.  

Source: felicitysmoakgifs 

Oliver teaches Mia how to tennis ball and uses cooking as analogy before he remembers she’s 50% Smoak.

It is clear Mia still has a lot to learn not only from a vigilante perspective, but also in terms of her archer skills.  

When we met Oliver Queen in the pilot his skill set was perfected. He was a fully formed bad ass. 

We haven’t seen Mia train other than a montage with Nyssa Al Ghul in 7x16 and I am thoroughly enjoying there’s still a lot she can learn from her father.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

Oliver reviews all of his trick arrows with Mia, but doesn’t want them to become a crutch. 

Source: lucyyh 

What he doesn’t say is trick arrows became more of a necessity in disabling criminals after killing them was no longer an option. We’ve come a long way with Oliver Queen. If you had told me father/daughter training sessions were in our future when I watched the pilot then I would’ve laughed you out of the room because that’s a special brand of CRAZY.

Of course, a training scene without the stick thingies wouldn’t be a training scene on Arrow. 

Source: miasmoakdaily

Yes, I know there’s a technical term for the stick thingies, but if I haven’t learned it by now do you think I ever will? No is the right answer.

Oliver: Nyssa taught you well.

Mia: Mom made sure of it.

I think Arrow makes an important point during this scene. Nyssa Al Ghul is good, but she’s no Oliver Queen. There’s been many seasons where it feels like the writers down played Oliver’s skills to give the other team members something to do *cough*L*urelLance*cough*. 

However, the writers seem particularly focused on showing how Oliver’s skills are a whole other level now. Remember, he’s the guy who killed Ra’s Al Ghul – probably the greatest fighter of all time. It’s why Riccardo Diaz being a formidable threat was so laughable. When Felicity reached out to Nyssa she was asking the best for help, but there truly is no substitute for Oliver Queen.

Source: miasmoakdaily 

Mia “The Machine” Smoak-Queen (her official title btw) doesn’t need a break, but I love how Oliver worries about her nonetheless. DADDY OLIVER IS SO SOFT.

Source: amunetblack

Mia gently reins in William’s ramble and this is the brother/sister banter I am here for. Look, I know we’ve clocked a season and a half with these kids and I should be used to moments where they remind me of Oliver and Felicity, BUT I CAN’T GET USED TO IT. It still fills me with absolute glee anytime it happens.

Children are individuals with unique personalities, but one of the more fun aspects of parenting is seeing traits of other family members, or maybe even yourself, emerge in the child you’re raising. I feel the same glee when my daughter reminds me of my husband or mother. And since William and Mia are my fictional TV children why should I be any different?

There’s a Curtis reference in this scene, so naturally I doze off when that happens, but the cliff notes version is the energy wave that destroyed Earth 2 can be recreated. There’s a Russian general trying to replicate it via pulse wave generator weapon and Team Arrow needs to get the plans.

I think. Plus they need plutonium which Diggle volunteers to get.

Oliver invites the kids to Russia with him and they are equally as shocked as I am. 

Really? We’re going to Russia? I mean, I know we’re going to Russia, but Oliver’s casual invitation makes this trip sound like the equivalent of a grocery store run. The kids are so excited to be invited they think they’re going to Disney World with Dad.

This is so not going to be Disney World. TELL THEM THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE DISNEY WORLD OLIVER.

Oliver: I’m a better man. Different man. I think I can teach them the good without showing them the bad.

Oliver thinks this is going to be Disney World. 

Diggle accurately points out visiting the place which was home to the darkest point of his life may not be as simple as Oliver would like it to be. His answer is equally wonderful and sooooo WRONG. It’s WONDERFUL Oliver believes he’s a better man. It took us 8 long years to get here and his statement is no small thing. Round of applause for our boy.

Unfortunately, this is where the wonderful ends. Oliver is determined to only show his children the good. I guess it sounds ok when he says it, but upon closer examination it misses the forest through the trees. Everything that happened to Oliver Queen, good and bad, has formed the person he is. He cannot extricate the bad from this story anymore than he can the good. They are a sticky wicket forever entwined together. Take out one and you don’t get the full picture. And what his children need and deserve is the full picture.

That’s not to say Oliver’s filter is entirely wrong. There are certainly topics and information children are not ready to hear, can’t understand, or wouldn’t be appropriate to tell them. Every parent has some kind of filter when raising their children because that’s what good parenting requires.

This is appropriate when children are small. As your child grows into an adult then your relationship with them must become more adult, which requires more transparency. This is the problem between Oliver and his children. He is parenting like William and Mia are still little. And they are not.

If plans for a pulse generator sound like a flimsy excuse to go to Russia then you’d be right. The real reason we’re going to Russia isn’t because of some rando general. It’s to say goodbye to one of Arrow’s greatest supporting characters - Anatoly Knyazev

“My brother.”

I block out most of Season 6 because half of it was a walking horror show, so I don’t remember where Oliver and Anatoly left things after he joined and then betrayed Team Bad Guy. 

I guess their cool now? I don’t really want to spend all kinds of time on Oliver and Anatoly hashing out their issues, so if a hug gets the job done then I’m good. Also William speaks Russian. Queen men speaking foreign languages is hot.

A+ reaction Steve. 

Source: arrowdaily 

Anatoly was bored in the Maldives, now owns a bar and has a delicious pina colada recipe so that pretty much catches us up on him. He offers to help find Burov, but Oliver doesn’t want Anatoly’s “friends” involved because they are Bratva and he’s not discussing the bad parts of Russia with his children. I think the good parts of Russia ended at pina colada, Oliver. See how this is going to be a problem?

The best place to meet up with Burov is a local fight club. This prompts William to share where he met his baby sister and gives us Oliver’s best dad reaction to date. 

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 

Bless you William. You do God’s work my boy.

Mia: Why did you bring us on this mission if you aren’t going to let us help?

Oliver: This is the Bratva. They are terrible people and you guys are my kids.

Mia: Yes, but we’re not children.

Oliver: Well you are when I look at you.

Aww… my sweet, lovable, wonderful Oliver. 

Do we ever stop looking at our children as children? Probably not. I know I will always be my parents’ baby girl and my daughter will always be mine. It is difficult to fully accept a human being as an adult when you’ve changed their diapers. And in Oliver’s defense he changed Mia’s diaper about five minutes ago in the present timeline, regardless of the future adults standing before him. We must give him some time to… adjust.

But Mia is Mia and doesn’t listen to anyone, other than William (SOUND FAMILIAR?) and he’s firmly on her team this week, so they go to the fight club and watch Dad in action. Mia has heard the stories of her father all her life but seeing him in action is an eye-opening experience. She is difficult to impress, but her dad is AWESOME. Yeah, we think so too honey. Welcome to stanning Oliver Queen.

Source: olivergifs

Unfortunately, the Bratva aren’t cool with the deal Oliver made with Burov and kidnap him along with Mia. Her Spidey sense was tingling, so she went to check on dad. Oops.

Source: feilcityqueen 

If there is one lesson the Arrow villains consistently fail to learn it’s DO NOT MESS WITH PEOPLE OLIVER QUEEN LOVES. He gets very angry and wildly unpleasant, which leads to many broken bones and occasionally murder. You put hands on Felicity Smoak and even I’m down with Oliver ripping off your head.

Of course, Oliver wakes from unconsciousness and his immediate question is if Mia is okay. Can’t-Admit-I’m-In-Love-With-You Oliver, 

Boyfriend Oliver,

Fiance Oliver, 

Ex-boyfriend Oliver, 

Husband Oliver, 

and Dad Oliver  are all the same Olivers.

Mia doesn’t understand why everyone in Russia knows who Oliver is and quickly deduces Dad was Bratva. Our princess is a smart cookie! Oliver is ticked Mia didn’t listen to him and there is truly no greater justice in the world than God creating a child who is exactly like you. Robert and Moira are having themselves a nice little chuckle.

Source: lucyyh 

The Bratva threatens to torture Mia if Oliver doesn’t tell them what’s on the zip drive. Mia is very brave and tells Daddy not to say anything. Pfft. Not likely Little Miss Square Bear. He points a gun at Oliver’s precious girl and counts down from five. The Green Arrow breaks like a pretzel. Honestly, I’m shocked Oliver didn’t give the guy the whole store after four.

Source: olicitygifs 

Unfortunately, nobody believes Oliver is telling the full story and a very large knife is brandished in Mia’s direction. Seriously? The one-time Oliver tells the truth he’s accused of lying. How ironic is that? The goon was at least 20 feet away from Mia, but Daddy was ready to flay him alive seven different ways. 

Oh. He was only cutting the restraints. Okay, we’ll knock down the flaying to five different ways.

The Bratva force Mia to play the Ring the Bell game. I don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but it works for my purposes. Oliver is very much HELL NO CHILD, but really her only other option is death. Of course, if she doesn’t ring the bell she dies too. ISN’T RUSSIA FUN? 

Mia kicks major ass, but is unable to ring the bell in under 60 seconds. This might have something to do with her wasting time to look back at the clock and then waiting an additional 3 seconds to reach for the friggin bell, but that’s just details. Be less stupid Arrow.

The Bratva don’t shoot her because… they’re nice gang of Russian mobsters now? 

Source: arrowdaily

This made very little sense other than Arrow doesn’t want to shoot the female lead of their new television show. On second thought, good enough for me. Oliver shoots death daggers at the man who scared the friggin bejesus out of him and it’s pretty much a certainty he will be flayed eight different ways.

William has a full-on panic attack over his father and sister’s kidnapping and it’s pretty much the cutest thing ever.  Then L*urel actually provides some necessary and helpful information. Is that the second week in a row this happened? I’m scared fandom. Hold me.

L*urel: Aren’t the people in your family constantly injecting each other with tracking devices?

William: Normally I would say God I hope not, but now I guess I can see the advantages.

He’s able to track them down, but L*urel and Anatoly show up right after Oliver has already freed himself by dislocating his thumbs. I love that trick. Mia’s reaction is the perfect combination of horrified and impressed. She really wants that trick to be on the next lesson plan.

Mia is bumming hard over not ringing the bell and boozes it up with some scotch. THY NAME IS GENETICS.

Oliver has had enough of his kids almost dying and is putting their asses on a plane back home BECAUSE THIS ISN’T DISNEY WORLD. 

William jumps firmly on Team Mia and reminds their father he’d be dead without them. Oliver has been dislocating his thumbs on his own for awhile now children. I think he’d survive without your help.

It’s time to set these kiddies straight.

Source:  oliverxfelicity

Mia tries to argue the whole adults saving the city angle, but that’s not going to fly in this timeline cupcake. 

In this timeline, Oliver smooshed those perfect chubby cheeks one more time before he left to save the universe 

Source:  oliverxfelicity 

and his rebelling teenage son, who was ousted from the present storyline to make a ridiculous plot point work in the future storyline, ignored his phone calls. (I’m never getting over the whole William never moves in with Mia and Felicity thing. NEVER.)

So, all of his children can take several seats and do what they’re told or they will be grounded! That includes no computer for you, William and Oliver will be taking that bow and arrow back little miss Mia.

Side note: This was a perfect time for William to explain WHY he didn’t return any of Oliver’s calls or if he even received them, but NOPE. Why would these writers attempt to clean up this mess of a storyline with reasonable explanations? Better to just ignore the Grand Canyon sized plot holes and keep driving through. 

Stephen Amell does a wonderful job in this scene as Oliver’s voice quivers with emotion. He’s skating the edge of keeping his composure and losing it all together perfectly this season. Neither Mia nor William have offered much understanding for where Oliver is coming from. Yes, they are adults but 1) No matter how old they get they will always be Oliver’s children and 2) HE MISSED TWENTY YEARS.  

Oliver has been very clear this was not a choice he wanted to make. Mia and William are not the only ones who lost something precious. Oliver lost a lot too. Part of being an adult is letting go of the natural narcissism we all have as children. So, if Mia and William want to put on their big boy and big girl pants then they need to show their father a little understanding and compassion.

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 get to know my brother to get to know you.

Mia is not ready to do that yet. She throws Oliver’s choices in his face once again. He is still the one she wants to blame. If this reaction frustrates you then that’s understandable because Mia is supposed to be frustrating right now. It’s odd for us to be identifying through Oliver, but that’s what happens when the hero becomes fully evolved. This entire episode is about showing how much Mia still has to learn not only physically, but emotionally too.  

Source: oliverxfelicity

Oliver is getting used to Mia’s blame by now and it doesn’t really change his opinion on this situation. The worst part of this argument is Oliver believing his children hate him. His worst nightmare was Mia and William not understanding his choices and resenting him for it. Oliver’s greatest fear isn’t death. It is his children believing he abandoned them.

Mia being angry at Oliver over not growing up with William is really not his fault and it’s bizarre how the writers are insistent on lumping that in with everything else she’s ticked about. I did a deep dive on Mia’s emotional and psychological viewpoint last week and I won’t repeat it here because everything still stands. But how is Felicity never going back for William Oliver’s fault?

I’m not putting the blame on Felicity here either. It’s a ludicrous plot point that makes absolutely no sense, so it’s pointless to even try to argue the logic. And yet, that’s exactly what the writers keep trying to do. But it merely shines a brighter spotlight on their illogical reasoning behind the decision.

We are already sympathizing with Oliver because we know how heartbroken he was to leave his children. We know he sacrificed everything for a bunch of ungrateful twats who caught a lucky break for existing in the universe. But forcing Mia’s character to continually blame Oliver for EVERYTHING can rapidly make this character unlikeable. Particularly since her father left to SAVE THE UNIVERSE. The writers need to tread carefully. This has the same nonsensical threads of the Season 4 break up. Or, even worse, Mia channeling the same the anger/blame/bitterness of Season 1 & 2 L*urel Lance. Nobody wants a repeat of those hot messes.

Oliver is floundering. He missed twenty years of his children’s lives. They’ve arrived from a different time as adults. Oliver was still learning how to be a parent and then the universe flipped the board. He has no idea how to do this and the one person who can help him isn’t here. If there was ever a time Oliver needed his Felicity this is it.

So, the only guiding light Oliver has right now is the promise he made his wife and mother of his children. 

Source: oliverxfelicity 

Not to get too nitpicky on the details Oliver, but as @callistawolf​ pointed out in our Watchover episode of 8x05, we never heard him make any promises to Felicity about the children. 

In their final goodbye, it was Felicity promising Oliver to do whatever was necessary to keep their children safe (re: Nyssa Al Ghul). So, let’s just create our own head canon there was some Olicity discussion about the future kids being in present day off screen and he made the promise to her then. Cool? Cool.

OR Oliver is merely trying to score points in an argument via emotional manipulation, which hey man. More power to you. Whatever it takes to keep kiddos safe, I guess. I did have to chuckle about Oliver keeping his promises to Felicity NOW that she’s off the show. Where was this guy in 6x23? Or maybe I sobbed quietly. Probably a little of both. Regardless of the reasoning, it’s an EPIC speech. Dad for the win.

Oliver decides it’s time to get boozy. Amen brother. Pass the scotch. 

Anatoly is no Felicity Smoak, but in the ever-spinning weekly wheel of characters trying to fill her role, he asks the obvious question. Is Oliver sending his children home because he believes they cannot handle Russia/vigilantism/life?

Of course, the answer has been obvious from the moment Oliver decided to only share the good. It’s not about what his children can handle. This is about what Oliver can handle.

Anatoly: That is understandable. You’re ashamed. You have truly done some terrible things.

Oliver: Thank you for the reminder.

Anatoly: But you also have done some good things. It’s important that the kids see both.

Can’t you just hear Felicity Smoak saying these lines? Only in an adorable ramble and less booze? I miss her. Just leaving this here.

I absolutely understand Oliver’s refusal to share the darkest moments of his past. It’s not like my dad has gone chapter and verse into his Vietnam experiences. But I know he was there. I know some of the stories. Maybe Oliver doesn’t need to go into detail about the time he skinned a guy, but he can be honest with his children about being in the Bratva.

Anatoly: That’s the thing about teaching. It’s not about what you want to say. It’s about what they need to hear.”

This part of the speech is all Anatoly. 

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 

He taught Oliver living was not for the weak because this was the lesson Oliver needed to hear.  Maybe he missed out on teaching William and Mia how to tie their shoes or ride a bike, but nobody understands what it means to be a hero better than Oliver Queen. The Crisis is coming and if Oliver is marching slowly but steadily to his death then he must pass on all he’s learned. There is still so much to teach Mia and William about Oliver’s life and who he is. Those lessons can only come from their father.  What William and Mia need to hear is the truth.

“You were so little. I think that’s what I’ve always wanted all these years. Is for you just to stay little, quiet and safe. But you’re not any of those things. You’re loud and fearless and it scares the crap out of me.” Derek Shepherd, Grey’s Anatomy

His children are loud and fearless and it scares the crap out of Oliver Queen. But there’s a deeper fear driving his hesitation. Oliver is afraid that if he tells Mia and William the truth about his past then they’ll only hate him more. He is constantly afraid of losing his children’s love.

But truth is the path to understanding. Anatoly is right. Oliver must give Mia and William a chance. The real truth is there’s nothing he has done or will ever do that will make his children stop loving him. Sure, Mia is angry at Oliver, but she’s only angry because she loves him. She craves her father’s approval more than anything.

Oliver changes his parenting tactic. He cannot shield his children from the very life they have chosen for themselves. He asks Mia to fight in the ring with him and William to help get them in. Oliver treats his children like they are part of the team – like partners.

Mia has been trying to show her father what she’s capable of since the moment she came to the present. Underneath all that anger and blame, is a little girl who just wants to make her daddy proud. What Mia needs to realize is she already makes Oliver proud merely by existing. However, he offers her the support and belief she’s been craving as they enter the ring together. 

Source: oliverxfelicity

The look on her face says everything about how Mia truly feels about her dad.

Source: arrowdaily

FATHER DAUGHTER FIGHT CLUB. From the moment, we met Blackstar in the ring I hoped she was Olicity’s daughter and we would somehow, someway get a scene of Oliver and Mia teaming up. But I never imagined these circumstances. It’s awesome.

After kicking butt as a team and a family, Oliver opens the door to his past and lets his children walk through. And what better place to start than the beginning?

Source: olivergifs

The truth is a tie that binds and it will be the foundation of Oliver’s relationship with his children. Something he never had with his parents until it was too late.

And did William and Mia stop loving Oliver after they heard the truth? No. They understand him better and love him all the more for what he’s survived. 

Mia: Don’t forget to send me that picture of my dad with that haircut.

Anatoly: Don’t forget to ask about Bratva tattoo. We have matching.

Oliver: Used to. Used to actually.

William: Oh I’m gonna need to hear that story immediately.

Well... son this raving loony burned my tattoo off my chest after several hours of torture. 

The warm banter of this scene isn’t to make light of what Oliver Queen suffered. It’s to show the power of telling our stories. Pain and fear lose control over us, bit by bit, the more we talk about it and share with our loved ones. We let them inside the good and bad, so we don’t have to carry it by ourselves anymore. Overtime, we begin to see our suffering for what it is - something we survived. Children, in particular, have an ability to find the light in the dark. We can see our life through their eyes and remarkably, yes even find the humor in what was once unspeakable pain. And come on - Oliver’s flashback hair is always funny.

Family is the source of Oliver’s strength. It always has been. It’s what helped him survive the unsurvivable.

He can only become his children’s strength by teaching them how he became a better man. William and Mia can only understand who their father is, and how to be heroes, by knowing the good and the bad. Hiding either tarnishes the beauty of his story. Oliver is finally strong enough to tell it and his children are strong enough to hear it. And that’s how the past, present and future will find harmony, acceptance, forgiveness and love.

Source: oliverxfelicity

Diggle and Roy

John enlists Roy’s help obtaining the plutonium.

 Source: thistributeisonfire

We’re going to run through this pretty quick because this storyline is all about getting Colton Haynes back on Team Arrow for the final episodes. 

Diggle tells Roy what happens to him in the future. The cure for Roy’s bloodlust wasn’t hiding out on Lian Yu for 20 years. It was rejoining the team and fighting for the city again.

Diggle: Maybe this time you don’t have to wait that long.

Diggle’s ENTIRE motivation is to change Roy’s future and it’s not difficult to figure out why. Obviously John cares about Roy and wants to help him. However, Roy also makes a very good test case. Diggle is also desperate to change Connor, JJ and Zoe’s future as well. If they can make their own hope in the present then maybe things can be different for his children in the future.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer

We all need love and support. None of us can truly survive on our own - particularly when we are suffering. Roy fights John at first, but eventually he comes to realize he’s right. Roy found purpose and family when he met Oliver so it makes sense to him they are the reason he gets better. So why wait? He comes home and begins the path to healing twenty years earlier. And thus, a major storyline from Season 7 flash forwards begins to change.

ROY MADE SENSE Y’ALL!!! 

L*urel L*nce

I truly could not figure out why L*urel was in Russia. I guess to help Oliver track down these plans, but she spent the better part of the episode staring at her fingernails. That’s not even an exaggeration. KC stared at her fingernails for an entire scene.

Source: thistributeisonfire 

Her interactions with Oliver are even more bizarre.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 

I’m sorry, but does L*urel go here? Bl*ck S*ren has been on the show since Season 5. You’d think at this point she’d know Oliver Queen can easily handle one guy twice his size. I’m chalking up this stupidity to the acting version of a layup, so Stephen Amell can spike it with the epic comeback of, “I’ll give him half a chance.”

I guess L*urel is primarily in Russia to betray Oliver Queen and steal the plans or something, per Lyla’s instructions.

LL: And here I thought I was supposed to be the bad guy.

At last count Lyla never murdered innocent people, so I think she's still ahead by the numbers Bl*ck S*ren.  This is the problem with L*urel’s character this year. The comparisons her character makes this season are INSANE. Putting on a new suit and calling yourself Bl*ck C*nary doesn’t automatically make you morally superior to everyone.

At least when Season 7 L*urel was playing attorney she had a healthy perspective on herself.  I was a big fan of the snark last season and found her character to be refreshingly amusing in her biting honesty, but this year the writers lost the snarky humor and have gone straight to obnoxious hypocrisy and judgment.  Sometimes she’s just downright mean in a way none of the other characters deserve. Yes, Lyla is being shady, but this in no way erases the horrors of your past L*urel. 

L*urel: If saving it means going back to the person I used to be then what the hell is the point?

We all know this whole betray Oliver thing the Monitor is playing at with L*urel is a trick. She’s not going to betray Oliver and prove herself a worthy and useful hero.  Ok. Whatever. I know I’m supposed to get excited about her big speech, but this line kind of gnawed at me. 

L*urel is unwilling to save an ENTIRE EARTH because she’d have to do something shady. She’s not willing to do any dirty work if it sullies her good name. So, Earth 2 only matters as long as L*urel gets to be a hero on it? I guess I should be happy L*urel is holding onto her moral center, but if there’s anything Oliver Queen’s story has taught us sometimes heroism requires doing unpleasant things for the greater good.

Take Lyla for example – a person L*urel feels quite comfortable judging. Lyla has been lying to her husband, something she does not want to do, for the greater good. I think we know enough about Lyla’s character by now that even though her actions are hurtful we can trust her reasons. 

LL’s primary function this week it seems is to rat Lyla out to Diggle and Oliver.

Source: stevesrogered

I guess we’re supposed to rejoice there’s no price L*urel is willing to pay for her morality, but this is still the same person who has yet to take any responsibility for the people she’s murdered. The line just sounded so arrogant and self serving to me. I don’t know. Maybe it was just KC’s delivery.

It’s been difficult for me to imagine what role either L*urel or Dinah will play in the spin off and seeing as how the writers are struggling to find a purpose for their characters in the final season of Arrow I am not encouraged. That said, L*urel’s scene with Mia was one of the few bright spots for her character in this week’s episode.  Mia believes she’s not cut out to be a hero because she failed to ring the bell like her father and Zoe’s death still weighs heavily on her conscious.

Mia: Every time I try and live up to my dad or to prove I can do what it is you all do. I fail.

L*urel: 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.

Damn L*urel. That was really good advice and a truthful reflection of the person you are. CAN WE HAVE THIS ATTITUDE CONSISTENTLY WEEK TO WEEK PLEASE WRITERS? This is the first time I can see a version of L*urel working in the spin off, but that’s always the problem with the writing of her character. We never know which version we’re going to get.

Season 8 is slipping back into very bad Season 1 habits. There’s a lack of cohesiveness with L*urel and they really need to get this sorted out before the new show hits the air. Otherwise, we’re going to have the same problem we’ve always had with her character. No matter how many versions of L*urel’s character these writers create they never figure out who she truly is because they don’t want to devote the necessary screen time. This leaves us with a half baked canary every single time.

If L*urel is going to play Rupert Giles to Mia’s Buffy in the spin off then this scene is a good indication of how it could work, but that’s only if this path stays on track which seldom happens with this character. The key to LL is a very specific supporting role. She worked great in Season 7 because her focus was getting Oliver Queen out of jail. Then,it was about fleshing out her redemption and shipping her back to E2 to make amends.

L*urel lacks a concrete To Do list this year. They toss her into scenes and she takes up space looking at her fingernails. Or she arrives a few minutes after Oliver frees himself to scream down a door he could have easily opened. Or she says something hypocritical and nasty. REALLY? This is the best these writers can come up with? Sadly, history points to yes.

Keep her scenes short. Keep her scenes specific. Keep her scenes supporting. That’s the only way this character works. And believe me I wish it was different, but there doesn’t seem to be any version of L*urel L*nce these writers can keep a handle on.

You know what I appreciate about this scene between Anatoly and William though? Anatoly addresses his less than honorable past and apologizes. I can’t fully remember what Anatoly did to William - I think it might have been related to kidnapping or a bomb or a nuke or all three. See? I told you I don’t remember S6. My point is - can we expect an apology from L*urel for being an accessory to William’s mother’s murder? I won’t hold my breath. It would be extremely helpful if they addressed LL’s past in an honest way and actually had her show remorse to one of her victims, but again that requires more screen time and effort than this show is ever will to give her character.

SO WHY DO THEY KEEP HER AROUND?

Stray Thoughts

Connor isn’t in this week’s episode because he’s checking in on Sandra. Soooo… Connor can visit his mother but Mia and William can’t visit theirs? I know this is yet another EBR plot hole, but find a better reason for Connor to be MIA writers. It just makes the Smoak-Queen family look uncaring, which we know they are not. And if Connor can get an off camera mother moment mention then why can’t Mia and William? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ANNOY ME.

“Has anyone fought six men before?” Mia and Oliver’s side eye is hilarious, but didn’t Mia fight six goons by herself? And we’ve watched Oliver take down twenty without breaking a sweat. Raise the number in the ring a little if you want me to take their hesitation seriously.

Diggle is absolutely horrified to find out Lyla is working against the team with The Monitor. “I didn’t want to believe it was true.” Boy, really? Who are you kidding? This is Lyla Michaels, super spy. She’s been lying and doing shady things from minute one. She’s the Oliver to your Felicity. Get out of here with that nonsense. This is totally something she would do and you know it. Lol

William doesn’t like the field, but the allure of beautiful couture convinces him otherwise. At least he didn’t have to go on a skeevy date with Ray Palmer to wear it. Source:  felicitysmoakgifs

William’s “Wrap it up” sign while Mia was fighting was such a funny and wonderful way of showing their team within a team.

“I can be the fun uncle.” Raise your hand if you want Anatoly as a fun uncle. 

He was a complicated, but ultimately wonderful character who made Arrow a better show. 

Goodbye Anatoly. I will miss you. source:  oliverxfelicity

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O l i c i t y  |  A r r o w  3 x 20  

Felicity:  Thanks for letting me be here for you.  Oliver:  You're welcome. I didn't have much of a choice, though, did I?  Felicity:  No. I wanted to make you think you had grown a little as a person. 

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MRS SMOAK-QUEEN Arrow Season 6, Episode 9 - Irreconcilable Differences

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