ARROW - Season 7.4

REVIEW:  ARROW - SEASON 7, EP. 4:  "Level Two"

The Emerald Archer's 7th season has certainly brought some twists and turns, as well as highlighting the importance of the vigilante presence in Star City.  It's also shedding a light on just what lengths some will go through to not only protect their families, but to bring about justice as well.

This week's show gave us a new face on the Arrow canvas:  Dr, Jarrett Parker.  A psychiatrist  with the prison who is there to help Oliver gain more clarity...or so we are led to believe.  He's played with a bit of ambiguity----and I was left wondering just what his true motives are.  He spends the entire episode trying to convince Ollie to let go of his past so that he can be a better person.  Ollie is forced to face the incident with his father, where his father not only killed the one surviving crew member on the raft, but himself in order to have Ollie survive.  The good doctor tries to convince Ollie that his father burdened him with his demons, and Ollie took them on.  As much as Ollie tried to resist, Parker went about drugging Ollie with truth serum (I'm pretty sure that's what it was), to get the truth out of him about how he became Green Arrow, and why he shouldered his father's sins in order to correct them.  Parker also wasn't against using Felicity and especially William to dig into Ollie some more, saying that how can Ollie be a good father and set a good example if he's parading around as Green Arrow.  He gave Ollie the picture of Felicity and William, just to "motivate" Ollie in to giving up his quest to bring down Diaz.  To Ollie's credit---while he faced a lot of his past---he wouldn't relent.  Even when Parker was set to all but lobotomize him, when asked his name (which he did repeatedly in this episode), Ollie, towards the end of the episode, referred to himself as "Inmate 4587".

Felicity's walk on the dark side takes another turn as she goes to the one person who's walked that side of the street---Laurel.  When her attempts to get info about Diaz's location hits a wall, because Silencer refuses to give Diaz up, Felicity is willing to go so far as to commit acts of torture to her in order to get what she wants.  As much as Rene, who's been willing to help Felicity out, wants to help her nail Diaz, and break the rules to do it....he warns Felicity that torture is not the way.  He tells her of his regret when he committed the same act while he was in the Navy.  It cost him dearly, as he still has nightmares about it.  Felicity---who at this juncture feels she has nothing left to lose---spurns him and heads right to the person who owes a bit of revenge on Diaz for using her AND his killing of the one person who believed in her---Quentin.  Once Felicity lets Laurel know that she has Silencer, Laurel is all to willing to see if she can get that same info out of Silencer.  Laurel goes so far as to use her sonic scream on Silencer, but the girl won't budge...she's loyal.  Felicity isn't satisfied, and is willing to go the extreme, when Laurel actually stops her.  Laurel reveals that someone killed her father and her Ollie on Earth 2, and she went out for blood and got it.  As much as she likes this side of Felicity (who, as it turns out, reminds her of the Felicity on her Earth---who apparently is ruthless as hell), she tells her to be patient, and use her head.  Felicity actually takes that to heart, as Silencer breaks her bonds and escapes, but not before Felicity put a tracker on her, to lead her and Laurel to Diaz.

Rene and Zoe attend a Town Hall Meeting in the Glades with Dinah to discuss why police response is slow when it comes to crimes committed in the Glades, and the sightings of the new Green Arrow.  Dinah tries to assure the townsfolk that the police are doing what they can (but are underbudgeted---thanks to the lack of city funds---courtesy of Laurel and Diaz), but that just isn't enough for the citizens.  Rene---who has been on the side of the new Green Arrow---actually tries to stand up for Dinah in this episode.  The people feel things were better when the Green Arrow was protecting them, and don't mind the vigilantes patrolling the streets.  This issue has been one of the underlying stories this season, and has put Rene and Dinah on opposite ends.  As the meeting is going on, however, an arsonist named John Cortez sets the community center ablaze, and everyone scampers to escape.  However, Zoe is caught in a separate room in the building, and the new Arrow helps rescue her and everyone else.  We later see Zoe in the hospital, where Curtis shows up with a Beebo Doll for her (This is the SECOND sighting of Beebo in as many weeks, considering he was featured in Supergirl as well.  That makes two things that all these Earths have in common:  Beebo and Big Belly Burger!).  

Rene, Dig, and Dinah all discuss the vigilante issue, and it's clear where both Rene and Dinah stand.  As much as Dig tries to be the mediator, it's not enough.  Later on, Rene gets info about Cortez setting another fire in the Glades, and goes to put a stop to him.  He runs into the Arrow yet again, and just as he lets this new archer know he's on his side, Dinah shows up to arrest him.  Rene and Dinah face off just enough for the new Arrow to escape.  Dinah is pissed off, and has Rene arrested.  Diggle comes to Dinah to discuss what's going on, and gives his own insight, as well as helping Dinah follow up a lead on Cortez.  Turns out whatever info Rene got on him through Felicity was on the money, and Dinah was willing to let Rene out---providing he did things HER way.  Rene wasn't looking to suit up as Wild Dog...but this is personal to him because Zoe was hurt.  He thinking like a father.  They find out through the file Diggle provided that a developer named Pat Bowin, who hired Cortez to torch the Glades, so he could get the land cheap, for redevelopment purposes.  Rene and Dinah head to a theater in order to stop Cortez from setting the building ablaze.  They get into battle with Cortez and managed to defeat him, but the Arrow shows up to help, but gets hurt.  Dinah decides to let him go...realizing that in order to get some justice, she's going to have to paint outside the lines a bit.  She sends Rene and the injured Arrow off before they're caught.  Towards the end of the episode, she checks in on Zoe, and gives her a Canary pin.  

We get back to the Flash Forward story with Roy and William.  We see them in Star City, tracking down the coordinates left by Felicity for William to find.  Star City looks like a war zone, and the streets are empty.  They make their way to Smoak Industries, where they break in and use the clue she left William to find something she left for him...which turns out to be a Rubik's Cube.  Just as he and Roy are about to leave, they're busted by guards who were on patrol.  As they're about to be taken away, another archer shows up and takes them down.  Turns out this new vigilante is---Dinah!  She informs both Roy and William that the city fell apart, and that they should've never left Lian Yu.  William then uses the clues from the Rubik's Cube to discover Felicity's secret:  a map of the Glades.  We also get to meet Dinah's partner:  The new Black Canary---Zoe!  Dinah let's them know that the Glade are being heavily guarded by the police these days.  There are secret tunnels going in and out of it, however.  Dinah asks how he got here, and he let her know about Felicity's clues.  She lets him know, however, that Felicity is dead.

I liked this episode, because we're getting deeper into this dark future that seems to plague Star City.  What happens with Roy, Dinah, and William will be an interesting journey...and how it will tie into the present (which it HAS to, at some juncture...otherwise...what was the point of it all?).  I find it rather funny that of all the ways future Felicity could leave a clue for William...its in the form of a Rubik's Cube.  The new face on the scene, our dear Dr. Parker, is a character who's true motives have yet to be revealed.  On one hand, you can feel that he's there to help Oliver...on the other, he's toying with Ollie, and he might be this "Demon" that Brick had talked about (last week my guess was Stanley, but hey---no harm in finding other "suspects" to this guy's identity).  I question his motives as to how he "heals" Ollie from his troubled past.  I honestly feel there's more to this guy than being just a psychiatrist.

The underlying story of vigilantism in Star City (which, unlike Central City, who honors and praises The Flash for his noble deeds), is somewhat a long running theme throughout the series.  While the new Mayor and police are hell bent on capturing this new Green Arrow (so much as to blame him for the arson jobs), they're in no real position to do much to enforce the law considering limited resources---no thanks in part to Diaz for having corrupt cops and officials on his payroll, and the city funds that were purloined by him and Laurel.  While the rest of Team Arrow has needed something to do, Rene and Dinah have been the token characters to show the yin and yang of the issue.  Dinah wants to have justice, and as much as she liked being a part of the team, she understands full well the law, being a cop.  She's trying to play by the rules, but is finding it harder and harder.  Rene is all aboard having the new Arrow around.  He feels that his presence is needed to keep the peace...even if it means operating outside the law.  Rene isn't just coming from having been a vigilante himself---his motivation was protecting his daughter---who has his full support on the issue.  Diggle also finds time to give Dinah a pep talk about crossing lines, and trying to stick to the rules.  

It's fascinating to see the darker side of Felicity---who's desperation is worn on her sleeve, and her quest for revenge (because, let's face it:  it's FAAAR beyond justice now for her), and the lengths she is now willing to go to free Ollie and keep William safe.  Her willingness to not only work with Laurel, but encourage Laurel to use whatever means necessary to get what she wants give us insight of a woman who's lost it all (she feels), and there is no depth of low she won't sink to get the job done...even if it means crossing a line that she may not be able to come back from.  Having Laurel, of all people, to give her a moment of clarity on the issue, but also give us a peek into Laurel's desperation to redeem herself for Quentin's sake.  

While some may think that a lot of these characters being jammed into the episode clutters it up, it gave them each a part to play in the story---even if it's minor.  Diggle has his own issues to deal with, but he keeps tabs on everyone.  Honestly, I think he does it for Ollie's sake, and to keep the team "together" in a sense.  He is the voice of reason, even though he's got to deal with a wife who's walking her own fine line between light and dark to bring about justice.  Dinah and Rene are our eyes into each side of this vigilante issue.  And Laurel is in the background, occasionally giving us some delicious little tidbit to move the story along..,and to either help or antagonize our heroes in some manner.  She isn't so much integral to the plot right now...it's nice to see her once in awhile...just to keep things interesting.  Ollie's time in prison shows us the hardships he's enduring while trying to keep Felicity and William alive from Diaz.  Curtis' role is down to just a cameo here and there.  He's comic relief, and seems content on just being the tech guy for ARGUS.  But he also shows he's pretty much close to being the team's heart as anyone.  He doesn't have to be in every episode, but it's good to know that when you need to lighten things up, and get a good laugh, he's there when you need him.  

The show is keeping the intrigue up with this flash forward story.  We got more this episode with the revelation that Dinah and a now adult Zoe are running around as the new Green Arrow and Black Canary.  My question is this:  if this is supposedly the future...I wonder when we'll find out about Ollie.  We just found out Felicity is dead in the future, but no word on Diggle or Ollie.  My other thought was that, since this IS the Arrowverse, it makes me wonder if what has been happening in The Flash with Nora altering the timeline a bit with her presence, that it altered the future for Team Arrow as well?  And that THIS is that new reality?  And what will the Elseworlds crossover play into it?  

That's all for this week.  As usual---feel free to leave questions or comments---I'll be glad to help answer them or enjoy anything you guys gotta say.  I appreciate the love.

Until next week....keep your sights on the bullseye!