After a few weeks in recovery, the Arrow is back! And he certainly looked the part at the end of the "Uprising" when he let the citizens and, more importantly, criminals of 'his' city know that the green-hooded hero had returned. Returned, recuperated and not that happy to learn the “Canaries” got in the game while he was on the sidelines. Okay, Canary. Singular. I just wanted to work the title in there since the episode is lacking in DCU Easter eggs...
... Of The Week
"Canaries" is another episode following the midseason premiere that's far more focused on executing the story than being cute with Easter eggs. I guess that makes sense; Arrow was busy bringing its hero back to life. And back to Starling to help the team battle the villain of the week. It was fitting to have Peter Stormare's Werner Zytle (a.k.a. Count Vertigo) return for the episode named after the crime-fighting sisters, since he was also the bad guy during the installment that saw Sara bite the dust. And, just like in the premiere, the vertigo drug allowed our heroes to face and overcome their fears.
The Black Canary battles weren't quite as exciting as Oliver versus Oliver, and they just made me miss Caity Lotz' version. I did like how the Count, fresh from his escape during a transfer to/from Iron Heights, commented on her new suit though. And how Sara made a point to stress the Dinah half of her sister's name. It was also a relief for Laurel to finally break the bad news to Quentin, so thank you Sin for getting that ball rolling. It looks like Laurel's Canary will be a permanent member of the Team. I wonder if she'll get a case in The Quiver? Oh, Arrow, Arsenal, Dig (who's been the center of a recent rumor) and Felicity were around too.
... Of The Season
Speaking of The Quiver, Thea was finally brought into the fold, but more on that revelation in a moment. First, I want to talk about the flashbacks and how the past might possibly factor into the present. After going rogue in trying to recover both the alpha and Tatsu, Maseo and Oliver find themselves back under A.R.G.U.S. Agent Amanda Waller's thumb, as the Mockingbird's hunt for China White had led them back to Starling City. And Thea's life being threatened. A popular plot device these days. How amazing was it when Oliver revealed to Speedy that he's the Green Arrow? It was also a relief that she didn't get mad at the secret, since we've seen that a million times before.
She was pretty quick to turn on Malcolm, but she's at least smart enough to recognize that they need his help. I mean, if it wasn't for his training in Corto Maltese, she never would have suspected the Douchey DJ of dropping cyanide in the red wine. Inconceivable! I can't believe Ra's al Ghul allows guys like that in the League of Assassins. Makes me kind of lose a little respect for the Demon's Head. Anyway, with news of Oliver's survival having reached Nanda Parbat, the Arrow (and Magician) decide to take Thea to Lian Yu for a few days. Hm. Isn't that where Slade is sitting in a Super-Max prison? I wonder if we'll see him next week.
Arrow continues with Episode 14, “The Return,” on Wednesday, February 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW. Created by Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti, the DC Comics inspired series stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Willa Holland, Colton Haynes, Paul Blackthorne and John Barrowman.
