Canaries

Sometimes she can be funny. Sometimes she can be cute. But mostly, I roll my eyes when she comes on screen. And that reduces my love for the show. Felicity says to Oliver, ' you do not have the right to come back here and question everyone's choices'. I find this an odd line for her to say considering last week that's exactly what she did. Repeatedly. Felicity doesn't want this. So you shouldn't. Felicity doesn't like that, so you can't. In fact, if you count, Felicity gave 6 ultimatums last week. Don't believe me? Rewatch and count for yourself. There's a difference between trying to show a female character as strong, and simply making her annoying. And no one on this show annoys me more then her character. Threaten to leave? Ok,, see ya, don't let the door etc... Except for my excessive dislike for Felicity, the rest of the episode was great. Other reviewers don't like the Laurel character. I do. Others complain she doesn't have enough training to be a superhero. She doesn't. But when they say she couldn't possibly win any fights, this is where they are letting their dislike of a character cloud their judgement. Because she never wins. What are the Laurel haters seeing? Cause the rest of us aren't seeing her beating everyone up. Just the opposite. She lands a few, then gets knocked down or out. Trying to be a superhero, doesn't make you one. And so far she isn't

It's clear that the show has forever changed. No longer is Oliver the only vigilante in Star City, and no longer do people follow everything he does. After a misstep last week, Arrow had one of it's better season 3 episodes tonight. It saw the return of Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/The Canary and it gave us great Thea and Laurel material. And with many big reveals, it seems as though we are starting to head down the home stretch of this season.

Other than the fact that there should be more than one cop handling Count Vertigo, I welcomed his return as an Arrow villain. Stormare gives us the creepy and frightening vibe that the previous Vertigo never could. It's sad though that this is likely the only way that Caity Lotz can appear in this show, but it was definitely effective. I have to say, I liked Laurel this episode. I think we're just going to have to accept her becoming a vigilante. As unbelievable as it may seem, Katie Cassidy performed really well this week. She once again proved her emotional range with both Ollie and her father. It was good to see her FINALLY telling her father about Sara. By the way that's back to back weeks that a woman in Oliver's life has set him straight.

It was assumed that Thea would find out sooner or later considering her brother and father are now training together. I really liked the way the writers handled her situation. Her character has come a long way since her whiny season 1 days. I'm also glad to see that boring DJ take a hike. Even after the reveal behind his character, it was painful watching his scenes with Thea. Her saying "I didn't ask for any of this" moment really hit home. It's pretty sad knowing just how many people in his life that Oliver has forever changed because of his previous decisions.

This episode was really well written that characters like Roy and Laurel who have previously been weak, had several great scenes. I really liked Roy standing up for Thea in the cave. There were just many great character moments this week. Even Diggle's one scene stayed true to who his character is. Star City has changed and Oliver is going to have to accept the changes if he wants to save this city. Roy and Malcom also shared a great moment saving Thea. Not to mention how much more believable Thea is now as a fighter. I mean, there wasn't a legitimate focus, but this episode was one of the better written and directed episodes of the series. It made me like things that I previously hated about this show. It's going to be interesting as Oliver in the flashbacks is now back in Starling, and Oliver in the present is now on the island. Did someone say Slade Wilson? My bet is on ARGUS letting him roam the island and set up his own training areas so he can be on the Suicide Squad later this season. But that's just me.

+Caity is back

+Thea's scenes

+I liked Laurel...

+Lance finally knows

+Well written

+Ollie 'returns' home

9.5/10