What They Say:
Keep Your Enemies Closer – Amanda Waller tells Diggle that Lyla went missing after pursuing a lead on Deadshot in Russia. Moira’s lawyer thinks that Thea’s relationship with Roy, a known criminal, is hurting Moira’s case.
Content:
With the way Arrow really ramped things up in the previous episode, it’s safe to feel like this episode will tone things down a few notches and work through some of the other subplot storylines running around here. The whole arc with Sara as Canary is leading to a good bit of flashback material to be explored, an intriguing dynamic change in the present with not only Oliver but also Quentin and a greater expansion on the whole universe here with what’s being drawn into it. Introducing us to the League of Assassins is definitely a welcome item, even if it hits a few familiar ideas, but there’s such a great way of acknowledging the various areas of the comics universe that it’s very engaging for the hardcore fans or even those with a bit of knowledge. The way it’s really embracing so much of it is a surprise, especially after the way we saw Smallville operate for ten seasons.
With this episode, things shy away from some of the big picture issues we’ve been dealing with when it comes to Oliver and Sara and shines a light more on Diggle. And in a rather intriguing way, it introduces us to Amanda Waller, albeit the New 52 kind of thin and hot kind which is a real shame to see since she’s such a predictable presence in this way and not the same kind of intense threat. With her bringing Diggle in amid an op he was on with Oliver, we get the reveal that she’s aware of who Oliver is and what Diggle is doing with him, which makes it easy for her to get him to do what she wants. Namely, to go and bring back Lyla, who has found herself in a good deal of trouble in her quest to find out more about Deadshot for him. That’s certainly a motivator, but it also expands the larger world here with what Waller represents and the international scope of things. And it has me hoping we might really see a Suicide Squad at some point.
What’s really good here though is that when Diggle does admit what’s going on to Oliver, he doesn’t dance around and it just makes it clear. And Oliver doesn’t even blink at it and simply says that it’s time for the two of them and Felicity to head to the Moscow branch of the company. Avoiding the usual kind of dance that goes with this kind of material, such as Diggle just sneaking away instead, it allows the story to just move forward without unneeded drama and to keep its focus on what really needs doing. The Russian adventure takes a pretty dangerous turn from the get-go as we learn a bit about Diggle and how Lyla ended up in ARGUS and how she’s now trapped inside a gulag that she tried to break into in order to find out more about Deadshot. That puts Diggle in a position where the only way to get in and save her is to be taken in there as a prisoner himself. Predictable, yes, but it works with the kind of mission that suits Oliver and his past.
Of course, the whole adventure takes on a pretty dark turn as it goes on as Oliver is dealing with his issues on the outside and Diggle’s quest to find Lyla has him doing the unthinkable – actually working with Deadshot. Lawton’s being in there isn’t a surprise since that’s where Lyla was going to find out more, but seeing Diggle’s intensity at wanting to just destroy him is great. But Lawton manages to twist the situation to his advantage, both in making it so he can get out but also to make it so that Diggle has to actually protect and rely on him. It’s a great little twist that lets you see his frustration and resignation at the same time with it.
The prison arc as a whole is fairly truncated as one can expect considkering it’s an hour long show and one that has a lot of things going on, but it’s surprising how big it actually does go as it progresses, especially when the escape gets fully underway. The first season certainly worked with the budget it had, but events here are picking up and the show looks like it’s definitely getting better funded now, making for better sets (Even if they’re just that, sets) and improving the scale of it all. Watching as Diggle, Lawton and Lyla deal with things in the escape is spot on, though unfortunately the end to their relationship here is pretty much predictable. What it does for me though is reinforce that Lawton is someone that I really want to see more of as his presence and persona here is spot on. It’s dripping a bit over the top, but it’s wholly appropriate for the character. And like a lot of things related to the Diggle subplot here, it expands more on the larger world now that the Hive aspect is mentioned.
On the flashback story side of the episode, we do get to keep Sara involved in the show, even as she’s moved on in the present for a bit. Getting to see her and Oliver’s first meeting in this area is definitely intriguing as it moves us past the time when she first met Ivo and is now actively working alongside him since it’s been probably a year or so since the island adventure began. There’s a few interesting nuggets to be had here as it’s spread across the episode, but we finally get to see some of what’s going on with Slade and Shado as they survived the attack on the island and she’s tending to his wounds. They are playing up the idea that there may be something a little more to their relationship that can grow from this experience, but it’s something that you’d rather not see because of the way it would impact so many things between the two of them and Oliver. But also of importance here is that we see how Oliver’s time on the ship plays in the present with his Russian connection that exists and is very, very useful.
In Summary:
There’s a lot of little things going on in this episode amid the larger storyline, which is pretty much par for the course with this series. The subplot about Roy, Thea and Moira and image issues isn’t a surprise but I’m glad it was just a tiny piece to it all and not a full focus like it might be in some other shows. The real focus here is all on Diggle with a good dash of Oliver and some Felicity fun and awkwardness. I’ve liked Diggle from early on as he brings a different kind of grounded to the show and a pragmatic approach to things. The Russia arc here plays out well overall considering the time constraints and the way it has to be kind of rushed in some ways, but it achieves its goals and sets into motion a lot of different groups here that can become more involved as time goes on with its own quirks and impact. Lawton was the biggest surprise for me though as he didn’t do a lot for me during past appearances but here he just steps up in a great way. A very fun episode overall that could have some far ranging impact.
Grade: B+
