13 episodes ago (on episode 10 specifically), I came here to rant on how pissed off I was at this show. My words exactly were "this is the last Arrow season I'll be watching".
Well, this is the bit where I come here to eat my words. It's like a "comment of shame"... but it would be unfair not to, given how everything improved immensely for almost the entire remainder of the season, and how great this episode was. (I may divert a little from the episode, but will try to return to it)
My biggest issue with the show at the time was the whole Laurel/Black Canary situation (kill Laurel; keep mentioning Laurel; bring Black Siren as fake Laurel, then take her away; bring a new character who not only has the power, but is named Dinah...). I wasn't a fan of what happened in Season 4, but worse was the fact that they never moved on from it and the prospect of having a "Dinah" and also the Siren just felt like salt in the wound. However... Dinah has a great actress who fit really well into the team. Katie Cassidy absolutely killed it as the Siren. And honestly, the fact that they happened to face each other in the finale was just badass, it feels like the payoff we receive as a gift after all these storylines. I'm aware that Katie Cassidy may return to be a part of the show and I'm going to be cautiously optimistic, but I think the story can go to exciting places based on some of her looks and reactions when dealing with Quentin. The bottom line is: Katie Cassidy belongs on this show.
Adrian Chase was the presence that the show needed and he is big part of the reason why I started looking forward to watching Arrow again week after week. Actor Josh Segarra did an incredible job of haunting Oliver and I believe the finale was where he did his better work, in particular with his very last scene on the boat. The fact that he was always many steps ahead of Oliver was entertaining, I worried that it was too much sometimes... but eventually would just enjoy his madness. I feel like they went to great lengths to make a memorable villain, and he isn't necessarily "an improvement" over the previous ones, such as Deathstroke who is loved by many. And they didn't even make a big deal out of the Prometheus identity (as in a vigilante archer vs archer nemesis again), he didn't even wear the costume in the finale. Honestly, I'm kinda bummed out that he is gone, but I was never disappointed with Chase/Prometheus.
There is still a lot that could have been polished, or simplified. Just as with The Flash, I feel like they add too many characters in - it can't be a coincidence that Julian and Thea disappear for periods of time, then return to get caught up: the writers can't juggle all of them at all times. The finale (and the season, for that matter) could easily not have had Talia, for example... because what did that storyline amount to? She sort of trained Oliver in flashbacks, sort of hated him in the present for killing Ra's, even though she sort of hated Ra's as well... then just fought Nyssa here. It's not something I don't like, but I think it's time that could have been spent on giving more depth to other characters, such as making Deathstroke's new tranquility something slightly more complicated. They are so many, that they do this thing where they show them in pairs having conversations to fit everyone in, but it really doesn't have a lot of meaning. Samantha says she refuses to leave the island without WIlliam, but then they never even get the opportunity in the first place, so what does saying that amount to really? And Malcolm's return... just to get blown off by a landmine?
(Obviously a landmine didn't just kill Malcolm Merlyn, but still, all of this was weird).
Hands down what I absolutely loved here was the way the episode was constructed between flashbacks, what was happening and where it was happening. The fact that the flashbacks came full circle is really cool (and the fricking call to Moira Queen almost felt like a reward scene in a video game. Achievement: all flashbacks seen, you earn this). Lian Yu will always be a setting of significance (well, maybe not anymore after that ending....), and in that way the episode is very aptly named. The past and present parallels, some intentionally caused by Chase, were excellent to watch - and the difference between this Oliver and that Oliver is one of the best represented dilemmas of the show, one that has been portrayed extremely well by Stephen Amell, (the cast members really were on their A-game for this one) with a conclusion that is very true to the journey Oliver has gone through this season (I mean the "not killing Chase").
I can't not mention Deathstroke. I was one of the masses excited about his return, and I'm glad Manu Bennett actually came back for it despite the issues he had with the show at some point. The fact that the Mirakuru "wore off" is fine, I guess, although maybe too convenient of a solution for these times of peril - I would have been interested in seeing a struggle between good and bad, perhaps, but given the amount of things happening in the episode, it was decent. It feels weird to see them working together again, but weird in a cool way. I have to say I was a bit worried he would bite it due to another version of Deathstroke being in the movies soon... I guess we'll see. Boomerang's betrayal was kinda cool, though.
Overall, the last batch of episodes made it all very exciting again. I would say the highlights were definitely Adrian Chase and, quite honestly, Rene (especially his relationship with Quentin, which was a quite entertaining side plot). The things I didn't enjoy at all were the whole Helix plot, the heavily Olicity episode (I don't really mind Olicity THAT much but that one episode really wasn't much)... and Evelyn Sharp. Evelyn "I hate Oliver because he killed bad people, so I'll side with a much worse murderer that killed many innocents" Sharp.
So, do I eat my words from before? I do, and gladly: quality has been restored on a show very dear to me and it makes me happy to look forward to the next season. I thought of saving the episodes for later, but with that ending, it's likely that I'll start as it airs. Therefore, this wasn't the last season for me after all.
I'm ditching Supergirl, though.
HOLY SHIT, WHAT WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER AT THE ENDING?!?!?!?! This episode made me feel like Arrow S01 all over again. Loved it from the start. It was an emotional rollercoaster, specially with Slade, because you never really know what's his next move. I honestly can't even think about something else right now. Jesus! Where do i click to fast foward to october?? See you guys next season!!
Lmao I can’t believe they ended the season like that, if the rest of the show hadn’t already been released I’d be pissed rn. Perfect end to the perfect villain. The flash in Oliver’s eye at the end, done so well.
The only annoying thing was the big amount of flashbacks in the middle of the climax scenes. Just.. enough with the flashbacks already!
Brilliant F**king episode!!! Best DC TV Berlanti-verse Show after a 5-year come around!! Amazing seeing Slade/ Manu Bennett again for the little face time he had! =D 10/10 Totally dope! and F%cking Ninja!!! Cant wait for Season 6!!!!!!!!!!!111
NO. THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO END THE SEASON. THAT IS NOT A CLIFFHANGER THAT'S AN ENTIRE OTHER FRIGGING EPISODE!!!!!!!!!
That fighting scene. That freaking fighting scene is just one take. Man, I can't start to say how much I enjoyed it and how much I appreciated that they shoot it that way. Bloody amazing! I just thought Nyssa and Talia'a fight was was too quick and it was too easy for Nyssa to defeat her sister. But anyway, it was awesome.
"Actually, it's Black Canary", man, that was beautiful. I loved it when Question said it.
10/10 and that's because I can't give it a higher score. That was epic, awesome, amazing, spectacular, I'm running out of adjectives to describe this 42 minutes of visual pleasure. The hype train has no breaks!!!
Thank you to the cast, the crew, the writers, everyone involved in this season. It was a fucking amazing episode, within a fucking amazing season with fucking amazing and intense actors, especially Stephen and Josh. Dammit, they're so good. These guys gave me the excitement and hype I just needed. This is gonna be a long wait. I recovered my faith in Arrow again and I have 5 months to rewatch everything. Thank you for this freaking amazing season that's given us one of the best villains, if not the best. Gotta love the little crazy sunovabitch.
It's hard to see Katie Cassidy after that photos...
Standing ovation. AMAZING. Man, I'm shacking. I'm speechless. There are no words to describe the fucking masterpiece I just watched. Everything was straight up perfect. So here it goes.
"The name of the island they found me on is Lian Yu. It's Mandarin for Purgatory". Goosebumps. And the first season logo. Man, everything was on point.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT! That was fucking EPIC! That's how you do a finale. Oh my God. I can't go to sleep right now. There are no words. The episode was too good.
It all started with a father and a son on a boat and that's where it all ended. AMAZING. And Chase even had the same revolver Robert used! I'm in shock! That's such a crazy level of obsession on Chase. No freaking way it was a coincidence and he happened to have the same gun. And how the fuck did he know the kind of gun Robert used? Man, that's commitment. I bet he actually searched for the gun and dig to find it. Or he looked around on the bottom of the sea until he found it. That guy is bananas. His dedication is noteworthy. I was actually sad he had to go. He wanted to show Oliver who he really was and ended up dying the same way Robert did. Whatever the case, I'm gonna miss that psychopath so badly. "There's the killer and know and love", man. That and "William? Good name. Sort of a sweet kid, actually. You sure he's yours?"
My God. I don't know what else to say. I'm totally speechless. I love that brilliant crazy ass psychopath. Even in his death Chase was indeed 10 steps ahead. Straight up suicide. If that's not commitment, just come here and show me.
I can't believe it. We've gone full circle. It's so amazing. Five years have gone way too fast. And the scenes, the visuals skipping from Moira and Oliver to Oliver and William were just brilliant.
Now, that's how you do a cliffhanger! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! Did they just kill the whole supporting cast in a big ass explosion? They are probably taking refuge in ARGUS.
They are probably in the ARGUS bunker. No freakingway they made it to the other side of the island. Either that, or Slade sacrificed himself. And if that happened, I riot. Not Slade. Don't you dare to touch my little precious crazy man, not when we just got him back.
I absolutely loved what they did with Slade in this episode. We need a redemption arc in Season 6. We deserve it! We just got Manu back. I don't want to lose him again. Someone better take care of that beautiful man. I'm glad he finally realized that Oliver didn't deserve any of the shit Slade did to him. "Assumption is the mother of all failures!", loved that line.
I want a Deathstroke spin-off with Manu Bennett. He's just amazing. I'm mesmerized every single time he's on screen. I'd watch the hell out if that show. He's too damn good. My, how much I missed Manu's sexy voice. He's such a badass. His lines were brilliant.
The acting. For God's sake. Stephen Amell just hit a whole new level. The scenes with Chase and Ollie are some of the best and I swear I have heartattacks. My favourite scene was when Chase brought William out of the cabin on the boat. Oliver's scared reaction and the drawing of the arrow and the bow was just, wow. It was intense as hell. Straight up fear and desperation. Such an amazing delivery. I was on the edge of my fucking seat when Chase had William in his hands.
"Don't you talk to him! Don't even look at him!" just WOW. Amell was on point with that father rage.
My heart! I thought I wouldn't make it to the end. My heart was pumping as he ran to catch Chase.
I just gave Adrian Chase a double standing ovation. Not only did he elaborate that whole 10 steps plan just to fuck with Oliver, but he also C4'd an entire freaking island! He's the evilest evil that ever eviled. And I loved every damn second of it. No wonders he takes his job very seriously. Adrian Chase: my favourite psycho. He will surely be missed. Nothing he did was cliché. And the bad guy won at the end.
I cannot describe how happy this is making me. It's doing literally every single thing right. When Slade did the right thing and showed himself loyal and regretful and back to being such a great friend I seriously started just dancing I was so extatic!
And with Malcom sacrificing himself for Thea?! I mean surely there's no way they can actually say byebye to John Barrowman but oh my goddddd I started crying and it was just like oh my godohmygodohmygod!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank god! I hope everyone's dead, only so that there won't be another season of bs
I was surprised at how much I missed seeing an un-Mirakuku-maddened Slade Wilson. Our introduction to that concept ("it wore off years ago") was a decent explanation, but much too quick; I'd like to have see that slipped in somehow a few episodes ago, and then Oliver finally deciding to take a hopeful-if-desperate chance on believing in it now. But I can get past that. Seeing Deathstroke back in deadly action, with what must now be a terrible loyalty to doing absolutely everything he can to make life up to OIiver (and probably to Thea, too)... I hope he doesn't just quietly disappear next season. We can't just open that door and immediately forget about it like that...
Disappointed with the Cliffhanger. It's the season finale, not the mid-season finale!
-BOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Me: -Thinking to wait the next season
-Fetal position
-Crying
I'm so hyped for this episode I can hardly breath!!! I think I'm gonna die of happiness. Grab popcorn!
No words, this is one of the best season finale I’ve seen in years. I couldn’t take my eyes from the TV, thanks to everybody that wrote this amazing episode
What a finale!! I loved every second of it. It had great pace, lots of tension and was filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. And great acting too! Stephen Amell did a terrific job, and of course Josh Segarra has been delivering all season. That cliffhanger was something else. I am glad I am binging and don’t have to wait months til next season. Also the way I yelled when I thought Slade switched sides. I really bought it.
Adrian Chase has been the best villain in this show. He has made this season interesting, he has really challenged Oliver, and although he did not win, he still kinda won lol. Oliver is going to feel miserable for what just happened. Great great episode.
Great. They are dead ish
I'm sorry, but this was really dumb ending. I thought immediatelly just f** tie him up, he's going to kill himself. And what did he do? He killed himself. They couldn't make it more predictable.
I'm soooo on edge! So much adrenaline! And it's freakin' midnight and I have work tomorrow! That's how much I'm into this!!
Nice ending. Chase's fate was predictable. and we all know everyone makes it off the island due to Slade. And Merlin? Surviving that land mine would be a breeze because...Merlin. ;-) And I'm glad the island is gone...But without it, the writer's are going to have to find new material. Can't wait for the next season!
Yhea, the Spartacus Revival is here!
ARROW. DOES. NOT. GET. ANY. BETTER. THAN. THIS.
This show finally redeemed it self and it was one hell of a season, well done!
It's been two seasons since I've fucking loved an Arrow finale! Yes!
Awesome season finale. The writers did a incredible job this season. I love every minute of Slade. And finally.. by by Chase. That was his plain all along. But the cliffhanger.. come on! But yeah.. Great season finale for a great season.
OMG
What just happened?
I think I'm in shock and denial. I can't believe they're gonna leave us hanging like that until next season. What?
I mean, I know most likely none of the others died not even Malcom (well, maybe, hopefully, Evelyn and the other baddies). But still. That was a really d*ck move, ending the season like that no matter how epic.
I'm demanding lots of daddy Oliver scenes next season to make up for that finale!
And OMG I loved how they brought back so many of the non-main characters! Slade! Nyssa! Moira Oh, my heart shattered and the pieces fell all over the place after that phone call.
Stephen Amell deserves a standing ovation for his acting this season. I mean, he's been consistently awesome, but this season he was just magnificent. Truly amazing.
One thing I'd like to know, though, is how long it took Adrian to place that many bombs. Lian Yu is quite a big island and there were a ton of explosives set out LOL
Also, are we done with the flashbacks and weird wigs now?
WHAT? I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL?
This was a perfectly wrote and acting season finale, but for me is a difficult one. Yes, they gave us everything what we was expecting for; this season for me was almost bored. But I can see something more here, how are they going to explain us that the most part of the team (bc of course there gonna be survivors) survived to the explosion?
Either way, I'm so fucking happy that Chase is dead. I was expecting for this for too long. Also, I don't know why I suspect that Malcom didn't die for the landmine.
I need to say this, I'm not a hater of flashback scenes, but every single minute that I was focus in the episode BOOM! A flashback appears... Please, stop to do that in a season finale.
Good job Arrow writers, now you got us waiting for the explanation of how and who survived to that. Well, I hope that Felicity, Thea and Nyssa be ok, or at least alive.
2 sides fighting on the island. It has been well, with cliffhanger of which I expect deaths by both sides. I hope that now that the fashbacks have reached the present end, and also that it is over I am to blame for all the bad that happens to those who are close to me
Awesome to see Slade back. Although I wouldn't put it passed the writers to have him die in the season premiere....saving Felicity. Just put him on team Arrow.
Of course the writers have to have Slade curious about Oliver's love life. He also points out that he thought Oliver would marry Felicity. "Pukes!" You just don't have the most bad ass guy on the show interested in Olicity as well.
Otherwise it was a pretty great action packed finale.
At one point, Felicity said, "Between Curtis and I, we have over 500 points of IQ." Wow. Bad grammar aside, I've always known that Curtis is impressive, but I had no idea that he's tooling around with an IQ of 425. In any case, this was a perfect example of why Felicity is such a tedious and annoying character. It's unfortunate that she couldn't imitate Merlyn in this one, so I'll spend the hiatus hoping that some of that C4 had her name on it.
Best fucking episode since season 2. Finally this show is back on track, Chase will forever be my favourite villain. And that ending... WOW.
Review by VeroBlockedParentSpoilers2017-05-25T15:48:18Z
Classic Chase. Smirking even while committing suicide.
RIP Lian Yu. You will surely be missed.
"William's younger than you were, so he's gonna be fine, you know. And you have each other, which is good. Oliver, that's because it's gonna be lonely without mom and Felicity". HOLY SHIT. That was savage.
Can we just give a round of applause to Josh Segarra? That guy is the MVP of this season. Fucking brilliant acting. He and Stephen Amell blew me with their performances.
Oh Moira, the feels. The onions. That scene was bringing me to tears. That call was beautiful. "My beautiful boy". It hit me right in the feels. They made me tear up. That was just beautiful. I need to rewatch season 1 again. I need it. Both of them are incredible actors and their performances just wow. They blew me up. Moira will always have that motherly bond that breaks me and shatters me to pieces. I cried like a little baby. That's why I would always say Moira is one of the best characters of the show and the actress is just amazing. 60 seconds of phonecall. 60 bloody seconds and it took my heart out. "I'm on a boat", lol. That just cracked me up. My God, I'm a freaking mess right now.
I wish they could have done more with Merlyn this episode, but besides that awesome finale. I don't buy he's dead. The guy took a freaking arrow to the heart and yet he didn't die. No freaking way Malcolm "still no title" Merlyn is dead. I refuse to believe it. If I don't see his body I won't buy it. Who am I kidding? Even if I see it.
Man, poor William aka The most traumatized boy alive. That kid is gonna be in therapy for the rest of his life. I don't want anyone to confirm which characters are going to be back for next season. I want to be surprised. no freaking way they've killed the whole supporting cast but someone's dead. I bet it's Samantha.
And that fucking traitor bitch Evelyn is still locked in that cage. I couldn't laugh any harder when I saw Slade locking her up. Man, I was so, so happy.