Arrow: Honor Thy Father

There was angst, abs, action and over 3 million viewers  for The CW’s Arrow  second episode, “Honor Thy Father,”  and it did not disappoint. Without further ado, let us on with the review!

Show Stealer
“The truth is I felt closer to you when you were dead. I know it was hell where you were but it was hell here too. You gotta let me in Ollie. You gotta let someone in”
From the moment Thea (Willa Holland) reacts to seeing Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) brutal scars, she was proving all over again why I am really growing to like her character. She’s gutsy, she’s honest, and she has incredible inner strength. This sequence stuck with me the entire episode. And as much as I loved the sibling relationship rekindling, I  loved even more the reveal that Thea’s ability to crack the walls that her brother is so desperate to keep up, could be Oliver’s Achilles Heel just as much as his salvation.  Bless her for also forcing Oliver to take off his shirt…AGAIN.

More Applause
“Marcus Redmond, you have failed this city.” Every episode of Arrow should open with a bad ass roof top fight scene. EVERY. ONE. I cannot say enough about how impressed I am with the quality of the stunts and fights on this show so far. Triple Chocolate Fudge Super Brownies for James Bamford, JJ Makaro, and all the poor guys Stephen Amell beats the stuffing out of every week.

Oliver Buries Robert. First, island flashbacks – woohoo! Second, watching Castaway Oliver fight off scavenger birds from his father’s body, then lift his father onto his shoulders and carry him to a safe place high up in the rocks and toil in the island sun to bury him – consider my heart WRENCHED. Well done.

“I’m a lawyer. I live to argue.” “I’m your father. I live to keep you safe.” It’s all about justice and family with those Lances … and getting their own way, of course. I enjoyed every minute Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and her father (Paul Blackthorne) were on screen together; looking forward to delving deeper into their relationship as the season progresses.

“Then we kill Miss Lance.” Welcome to the show China White! Actress Kelly Hu was just as fantastic as I have come to know her to be (RIP Pearl, we still miss you on The Vampire Diaries). She really does play the villain so well (even when it’s only briefly). Hopefully we’ll see more of her knocking leather and blades with Arrow again soon – as in fighting with him, guys, not … wait, there’s a plot twist

“I promised myself if I ever got the chance to do it again I’d do it with you … eat ice cream.” I confess I saw this scene going way differently in my head when it started – stupid Bad Guys and Their Premature Arrival  But I digress. The scene the way it actually did go was very applause-worthy just the same, as we got not only a glimpse of Oliver’s softer side but also a glimmer of the genuine emotional connection that still lingers between Laurel and Oliver.

Suits. Henleys. Abs. Guy Liner. *THUD* The CW is OBVIOUSLY taking my trauma over Brady’s early demise seriously. * off to bake the Wardrobe Department cookies and cupcakes and pie – applause, applause, applause!*

The Secret Super Cave of Shirtless-ness. May The Writers never run out of reasons for Oliver to play shirtless and flexing with sharp objects and climby things. EVER. Amen.

“This is why it’s a good idea to have a bodyguard.” Ah, Diggs (David Ramsey), you saved Oliver and Laurel AND you totally held your own in your fight with China White. *super fan hug* We’re keeping him, CW. FOREVER. No discussion.

“Wallace isn’t here, but I am.” Total. Chills. One of the aspects of The CW’s version of Green Arrow that I am definitely digging is his dark side. To bag the bad guys, Arrow doesn’t just shoot some super arrows and throw a couple of punches while uttering noble super threats  – he taunts ‘em, he stalks ‘em, he bleeds ‘em and then goes out for ice cream. *SO MUCH APPLAUSE*

Gentlemen, you will always remember this as the day you almost caught Green Arrow. My stomach jumped into my throat when Detective Lance appeared to have trapped Oliver. Luckily Oliver was carrying his handy-dandy Confession Recorder Arrow with him. Nice trick, Ollie, on all counts. *applause*

“You don’t have to go outside the law to get justice. I believe that and when I catch this guy he’s going to believe it too.” Detective Lance is unwavering on his principles, fiercely protective of his daughter and a damn good cop. He’s also gunning for Green Arrow. *shovels more popcorn in excited anticipation*

“All that time on the island plotting my return I didn’t realize how hard it would be to reconnect … how painful it would be to keep my secret.” Oliver revealed rare glimpses of the vulnerability brewing beneath the surface of both his playboy heir apparent and alter ego facades this episode. In his scenes with Thea, Moira and Walter, Laurel and at the opening of the health centre and at Robert’s gravestone, we learned he is far more complex than the “damaged jerk” that meets everyone’s eye. It was agonizing to watch the choices Oliver has to make to honor the wishes of his father and I can’t wait to find out where it will lead us this season.

“He doesn’t know the yacht was sabotaged.” *GASP!* Bad Mamma Queen! Also, WONDERFUL. Cue Plot to thicken. *giggles with gladness.*

Mysterious Mazy Symbol of Unknown but Presumably Significant Origin. It’s on Robert’s notebook (aka Little Black Book of Villains) AND on the book belonging to The Mysterious Stranger in the Limo Whose Identity We Also Presume Significant. Hmmmm …

Missed the Mark
Oliver Threw a Knife, not his Ice Cream Spoon. Have to agree with whomever it was that tweeted this while we were watching – so sorry I can’t remember who … tweet me if it was you – that Oliver deflecting China White’s knife with a killer ice cream spoon throw would have been awesome; crazy, but awesome.

Here comes China White … .and there she goes. Would have liked to have seen more screen time for Kelly Hu’s character especially with regards to her role with The Triad and a serious adversary for Arrow. But perhaps we haven’t seen the last of her in Starling City …

The Voice Overs. As much as I love to listen to Stephen Amell brood, not sure I’m sold on these yet.

Questions

Who are The Triad and what will their connection to the Queens be (at least I hope there will be one)?

Who shot Oliver on the island?

“You saw for yourself my son knows nothing. Robert didn’t tell him anything that could hurt us.” Who is ‘us’?

How could the D.A. use the recording from Arrow as evidence against Summers when the confession was obviously obtained involuntarily due to extreme duress? Just asking …

What or who does the Mysterious Mazy Symbol of Unknown but Presumably Significant Origin represent?

Will we get a hint soon as to what Tommy is hiding from Oliver (and I don’t mean the whole Laurel-thing)?

What is Oliver’s favourite flavour of ice cream?

Quotes of the Night

Thea: “I think the first four times of you in court was enough for me.”

Laurel: “What are you doing here?” Oliver: “Oh, they were bringing me back from the dead.”

Oliver to Moira: “I promise to introduce her if it ever gets to the first name stage.”

Laurel to Oliver: I can’t exactly imagine you as Master of the Universe.” Well maybe you can’t see him as the master of YOUR universe, but …

Conclusion
We’re two episodes in and the combination of compelling story arcs, a strong cast (lead and supporting), and entertaining action will have me up for Round Three. Now it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments section below, what you thought of this episode.

Arrow airs Wednesday nights on The CW at 8/7 c and moves to  CTV from CTV Two at 8 pm for its third episode!

Image Courtesy of The CW