Arrow (TV Series) Genesis (2016) User Reviews

Magical Mystery Tour

[ThomasDrufke · 8/10 · 4 May 2016]

After a wonderful episode of Flash last night, I just figured Arrow would have an off night because the two shows are never great at the same time, but I was wrong. It took some time to get going, but Genesis picked up the pace and finished strong.

With the team being unable to truly match Darhk's powers, Oliver went to Hub City to learn of his magic ways while the rest of the team "took some time off". Of course, things didn't stay normal for long as Thea found herself trapped in a small fake world like Pleasantville, while Diggle came face to face with his brother.

After not caring for the Andy character much at all this season, I was happy to see him meet his end tonight. Being that John was the one who pulled the trigger, it can't mean anything good for his conscious, especially after blaming himself for Laurel's death. Things aren't looking good for Dig.

Oliver's story line was just as important as he finally learned a way to counter Darhk's powerful magic. Felicity decided tag along which also gave a few moments of some more closure for the two of them. But the important thing is that Oliver was taught to fight Darhk by fueling himself through the light. But first he had to defeat his past demons in a semi-flashback with a special appearance from Deathstroke, which was awesome. But a few scenes with Esrin Fortuna (Pretty much Melisandre from Game of Thrones) proved to be all he needed.

I would have preferred some deeper explanation into the magic he learned because it seemed relatively easy, but it was incredibly satisfying to see Oliver finally overcome Darhk's powers by himself. That Arrow-claw body slam? Bonus points.

Thea spent the majority of the episode in a Pleasantville like arena under Star City which gave us a deeper understanding as to Darhk's plan, but for the most part, it took away from the emotional conflict going on with the other characters. I appreciated the end reveal, but it took a little too long for that story line to get going.

It was also nice seeing Lyla kick some butt while Diggle saved Sara on a motorcycle. Yeah, that was awesome. Unfortunately, it seems as though the "Rubicon" chip that Lyla once had, is now one of the final pieces to Darhk's puzzle. Overall, the pacing was a little slow but this episode got me excited for the final 3 episodes, and I can't really ask for any more from Arrow right now.

+Some tidbits about Genesis revealed

+Lyla as* kicking

+Andy got put down

+Ending reveal

+Oliver learns magic

-Though I would have liked some more explanation on that

-Starts very slow

8.7/10

Arrow - S04E20 Genesis

[j_forbesy · 8/10 · 5 May 2016]

After a hit episode of Flash, my only hope was that this episode of Arrow could back up and make a CW combo. Starting with the title of the episode, it got me excited that we finally get more information on Darhk's evil plan we only know as Genesis. The start to this episode was pretty awesome I'll admit. It was a proper May the 4th Star Wars scene with Darhk using his force to send a bullet speeding back before cracking the spine of another. That was really some evil stuff right there. This seems like the first time in a while we've seen Darhk really do stuff magic and its been a bit of a shame. The first have of this season was extremely Darhk heavy and it was pretty fantastic.

After having a couple of solid episodes in the past few weeks I feel like they really fell back into that Arrow slump that we are use to. As someone who actually really enjoyed season 3, I was a little surprised when many people have said how Arrow has been going down hill. I simple didn't see it. Until this episode. I feel like they are really starting to continue the same feel of each episode and even though the plot of each episode is really different, it still has that same Arrow feel. I think part of this is because of how amazing the Flash has been lately and I wonder if we would have a different view of the show if Flash wasn't around.

Something I really liked though was how they tied Constantine back into the main story line for this episode. As someone who really liked the Constantine episode I really liked how they used him as a catalysis that the plot was based from. I thought this arc started really well but in the end fell pretty flat. I liked how they were training in the cave and I thought Gabriella Wright who played Esrin did a fantastic job. I really loved the flashback like scene we got with Oliver where we saw all the deaths the made Oliver who he was. I also really like how we saw Oliver getting beaten around past villains. It is always is great to Deathstroke in action.

I also really liked the Diggle and Andy part of the episode. I really like how since the death of Laurel we are getting a really physical and emotional Diggle. I thought this was really the main and most interesting part of this episode and I really liked it. It started a bit flat but I like how it built as it went on until it actually became the main story that brought the team together.

I thought the ending of it was really emotional and it was great. I like how we get to see this new side of Diggle with his emotions playing out to his actions. I didn't really see the death of Andy coming but I thought it was well deserved. They set it up fantastically with Andy egging him on and I really bought the emotion around it.

I'm not to sure how the feel about the Thea part of this episode. I went from really hating the generic, "someone is in the house but it turns out to be someone making food for them" , to liking how we got to see uptight Thea was and how sensitive she is to her surroundings and how she struggles to relax. But then that flipped and when we found out her surroundings were actually staged and she wasn't overacting at all. I thought they missed a bit of an opportunity to give Thea more character development and really explore and see Thea struggle with everyday life.

Overall I actually really liked this episode. Even though we didn't learn a whole lot much about Genesis and Oliver's training wrapped up a bit flat, there were still so much to like about this episode. I really loved everything with Diggle, I thought his scenes were outstanding and I really loved how well they used the flashback scene while Oliver was training. Of course Darhk was back to his deadly best which is always a great sign for Arrow.

8/10

Arrow gone magical

[highmarksreviews · 6/10 · 11 February 2018]

The death of a problem character may elevate "Genesis", but the magical elements and a mixed bag of themes, not to mention the poor writing (again) hinder it from being anything really special, and more of an average stumble.

This episode forgets past episodes' character's origins and growth

[christian-devas · 4/10 · 4 May 2016]

We finally know what genesis is! well...kinda

The episode starts off well with Oliver bringing a tactical plan in finding a method of countering Darhk's magic. Through making contact with Constantine he decides to going to Hub City to train. He states that everyone should lay low but be available.

Flaw 1: Constantine? How could have gotten in contact with him? isn't he in hell? It would have been more believable had it been Vixen because it was who show team Arrow the Primordial Energy maps. It could have transitioned viewers to information about light and dark energy.

Felicity follows Oliver to Hub City and leaves John, Lyla and Thea without back up and thus makes them exposed and fracture because she wants to help Oliver.

Flaw 2: I thought she wanted to be a beacon of hope through Palmer Tech? She's the CEO, shouldn't she be doing that and developing as a character on her own?

Upon meeting Oliver's Dark Arts Magic trainer, Felicity says Oliver would never kill anyone to defeat Darhk. Felicity's presence throughout the entire sequence was pointless as her statements either were not necessary or contradictory to series so far.

Flaw 3: Oliver has killed people throughout the entire series. Just moments ago, he said he would do everything no matter what it took so that Darhk could not hurt anyone ever again.

Thea wakes up in a strange place, thinking that Alex might be in trouble in where ever she is.

Flaw 4: Thea was trained by her dad who was trained by the league of assassins. Why did she act like the damsel in distress at that moment?

Flaw 5: Alex works with Rueve Darhk, the yellow pills are expected

John went through an emotional roller-coaster in this episode and admits he isn't thinking with logic but emotion. This evident by his choice to follow Andy rather than calling it in for a joint venture. Lyla calls him out for it - which is good. John endangers his family, and knows that Andy has placed his family in the cross-hairs.

Flaw 6: Despite everything, John wants to save his brother, but Andy has proved time and time again that they are not brothers in the symbolic sense. John even almost killed him just moments before.

John kills his brother by accident and mourns the man that said he would never stop hunting Lyla and Sara. He tells Lyla that Sara is safe because she is with Dinah but HIVE knows all of you, they are probably monitoring all your families and therefore no one is safe. Sara could be dead then and there and no one would know.

Thea is in the Darhk's Ark but they know that she is Speedy, why let her roam free in there, she could sabotage the ark from the inside. They should have keep her subdued in a Virtual environment (her mind being in the empty city, but her body being in a tank with her arm cut off). Merlyn gets a needed hand through the use of genetic tissue.

Overall, the episode was one of better in the season so far. Diggle was the strongest part of the episode and the primordial energy training was interesting but there were too many flaws and inconsistencies in the writing of the episode to warrant a high rating.

One of the worst episode

[jackblue-89748 · 1/10 · 15 May 2016]

Yeah I have washed Arrow off my hands long time ago, but I feel that I need to say this.

This episode was one of the worst episode of Arrow (Error). Oliver made contact with Constantine, but wait, isn't Constantine in hell? Then Oliver goes to Hub and Felicity follows him there. Just answer this question: why the hell Felicity goes with Oliver to HUB city? Didn't she break up with him? Then Why did she stick her nose with his business?

Also didn't she say that she wanted to be a beacon of hope in Palmer Tech? I don't see that happening. The only thing I see is the dirty methods of the producers to twist things around and pair up Oliver and Felicity together again so they would satisfy their teenage girls viewers!

Overall, the episode sucked, the show went downhill, and that is fact.

More of the same

[kjv-06229 · 3/10 · 22 July 2019]

John finally takes action and of course he won't be charged with any crime.

GA runs off for secret to beating Darhk. LOL.