ARROW Finally Goes Green for Season Four Opener
Episode 401 “Green Arrow”
[Photos: Dean Buscher /The CW]
Arrow returned to the CW airwaves with a big bang!
After Ra’s Al Ghul almost wiped out Star (formerly Starling) City with a deadly virus, Oliver decided to make a retreat from Team Arrow. He gave one of his deadliest adversaries — Malcolm — the title of Ra’s Al Ghul and joined his longtime love interest, Felicity, in retirement.
However, a hero does not stay gone for too long. What was the threat that caused Team Arrow to bring Oliver back to Star City? Which team members were not ready to welcome Oliver back with open arms?
Read on to find out…
As Oliver and Felicity were adjusting their lives in suburbia, Team Arrow had their hands full as they confronted terrorists trying to steal from Kord Industries. Red Arrow (Thea), Diggle and Black Canary but failed their mission. The Star City leadership received a surprise visitor at their meeting: Damien Dahrk. He warned them about the upcoming destruction that Star City was about to face.
It turned out that Dahrk was right. Assassins stormed into the Star City Police Department, and while Team Arrow saved Quentin Lance, they failed to save the District Attorney and two more city leaders. As Oliver was about to propose to Felicity, they received company in the form of Black Canary and Red Arrow. Both women briefed the couple about the Ghosts and revealed that Team Arrow was in over their heads. Oliver said, “No” but the girls and Felicity had other ideas.
As the couple arrived back in Star City, Oliver was confronted by a rude Diggle (who was still mad at the Arrow for putting his wife and daughter in jeopardy). While the former friends still had a long way to go to heal their relationship, Oliver and Felicity got back to work to find out where the Ghosts’ headquarters, he also revealed that Felicity worked for the team behind his back. Felicity revealed that she was bored out of her mind during Oliver’s retirement and stated that she missed her former life.
While the love birds bickered, Laurel tried to shake her father for clues and Diggle’s wife tried to convince her husband to forgive Oliver for kidnapping her at the request of Ra’s. However, their rest time was over when Felicity found out where Dahrk and his men’s headquarters. Team Arrow was shocked by Dahrk’s powers and immediately charged into battle.
They learned that Dahrk planned to use the hijacked Kord Industries weapons to send the new train station sky-high. Arrow stated that Dahrk was not a metahuman; they were dealing with mystical forces. He also noticed Thea was getting out-of-control with her crime fighting. The Arrow reminded her about how she needed to show restraint against the underworld. Diggle stated he also noticed Thea’s aggression and he reminded that Oliver had a problem trusting people.
After Diggle gave Ollie an earful, Captain Lance also had some choice words for the Archer, blaming him for Star City’s troubles. In private, Oliver shared his doubts with Felicity and told her that he brought the darkness back from his exile. Felicity reassured her boyfriend that he did not bring the darkness to Star City, but before they could get too entangled in an Olicity-fest, a ping from the computer hinted that the terrorists were going to attack during the 9:58 Central City train’s arrival.
The gang left their hideout and rushed back to the Star City Train Station to intercept the train. While Red Arrow, Black Canary and the Star City Police Department evacuated the train station,
The Arrow confronted Dahrk on the train. Dahrk’s powers and martial arts moves proved to challenge Oliver. Luckily, Diggle came in to save the day and shot Dahrk with a tranquilizer. They made it off the train right before it exploded.
Oliver revealed that Damien Dahrk commanded the H.I.V.E. and Diggle held back information from him. Before Diggle left the hideout, Green Arrow revealed himself to the people of Star City with one phrase that marked a new chapter in Arrow history: “I Am The Green Arrow.”
My take: “Green Arrow” perfectly set the tone of the season. As a newcomer to the show, I may be late to the party…but I will certainly enjoy the journey. However, there were some story elements that the screenwriters could have done better.
One, I was a little disappointed that the screenwriters did not resolve Oliver and Diggle’s bickering so soon. If they are going to defeat Dahrk, they need to set aside their differences and learn to trust each other again sooner rather than later.
Next, I believe Detective Lance is going to be a bit over his head by siding with Dahrk and I believe that Black Canary might channel her inner Thea when she finds out about the Good Detective’s hidden agenda.
Meanwhile, while it was nice to see Barry (Grant Gustin) and Oliver interact at the graveyard, I wish they used Barry to cool off the Ollie-Diggle confrontation and remind Team Arrow not to let Ray and Roy’s sacrifices be in vain. Speaking of the two characters, it would have been nice to see both Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) and Roy Harper (Colton Haynes) on the canvas…however, since they’re both believed dead, it’ll be a while before fans will be seeing one or both of them in the near future.
Next week, the Green Arrow & Team Arrow begin a new adventure, but will they suspect Captain Lance’s involvement with Dahrk’s plans?
