Subscribe to get a recap of the days posts & never miss the latest breaking news or exclusive content.
Arrow returns from hiatus with “Broken Hearts,” an episode that comes fully equipped with it’s own drinking game; take a shot every time a character says the word “love.” Overall the episode is heavy on the romantic overtures, light on the action, and uneven on plot progression. Guest Star Amy Gumenick reprises her role as a misguided love-obsessed criminal, Cupid. An obvious choice from the writers to capitalize on the current, shattered, state of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak’s love affair. Thank you, Cupid for finally bringing this couple to the alter, too bad they’ve broken up. In addition, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) begins to prosecute Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough) in a preliminary hearing. The flashbacks continue to run in circles, but the statue did provide a small tie in between past and present. I’m a bit broken hearted myself after this episode due to my anticipation for it’s return… I guess Cupid was right, “Love is an arrow in the heart,” now drink.
“Your engagement, that horrible shooting, your miracle recovery, it was all just a fairytale,” explains Cupid to Felicity after she shoots Oliver with an arrow. This brings me to a few minor issues I had involving this episode’s #Olicity plotline; too much. I fell in love with this pairing due to the subtext and reliance on small moments that aid in Oliver’s overall evolution into a true superhero. The alter scene was too long and felt heavy handed with Oliver’s love declaration, Cupid’s interruption, and Felicity’s heartfelt sermon. While, watching “Broken Hearts” I actually found myself missing all the extended fight/chase scenes… really something just felt off. The few action scenes in this episode were fleeting and at times comical; like the limo crashing through the “brick wall,” all I saw was cardboard. The missing Arrow action only increases the imbalance found in our central #Olicity plotline. “You know no matter how much you love me there will be a part of you that defaults to the man on the island… alone,” explains Felicity after returning the ring once and for all. I love this point, because it relates their relationship struggles back to Oliver’s overall progression into a superhero; unfortunately, the point gets lost in the shuffle as the scene continues, only to end on a very melodramatic beat. I keep looking back at the previous episode “Blood Debts,” a solid return from hiatus, with #Olicity at the center; they set a high bar that “Broken Hearts” did not meet. Fingers crossed that this episode is not an indicator about the remaining seven episodes, or I’ll be looking as grim as Oliver Queen.
“The difference between insanity and faith, lies only in the believers,” explains Baron Reiter (Jimmy Akingbola). Okay, minus this line, I am about as lost in the flashbacks as Oliver and Tiana (Elysia Rotaru). We do learn that Reiter finds the same mystical totem that Darhk has been using in the present as a source of power. “AWOL” (4×12) subtly hinted at this villainous connection, I’m just trying to figure out the bigger picture at this point. How do these events on the island lead Oliver to become the man we met in season one? Please let me know if you foresee where this Lian Yu plotline is headed, because I cannot see the light at the end of those underground tunnels. I do foresee a tension-filled prison break episode in our future after reading the synopsis for “Eleven Fifty-Nine” (4×18). In addition, we are headed to Monument Point after showrunner Marc Guggenheim revealed the title for episode twenty-one. This follows on the heels of “Genesis” (4×20), so maybe Star City falls and the survivors seek refuge in this nearby town. A place that has ties to the Justice League of America and a storyline featuring a hero [Jay Garrick] being declared mayor. Mayor Queen, well it sounds like he can certainly provide light for others, when times are darkest… he’ll eventually get his girl back too.
Tweet me your Arrow 4B theories @sjbelmont
https://youtu.be/NIcQEPo38f8