Arrow - S6E1 - Fallout

Previously on Arrow

After an explosive season finale (yes, I am morally obligated to describe it as such) that seemed to promise a real game changer, Arrow returned for season 6 with more of the same. Everyone important survived, except for William’s mum (but let’s be honest, she was never important), and, after spending season 5 mostly MIA, Thea is now in a convenient coma as we wait for Willa Holland to decide to come back for a visit in between shooting what we can only hope are a series of projects worthy of her talents. In her absence, Paul Blackthorne has been promoted to most talented cast member, which makes having to rehash his ‘alcoholic dealing with guilt about his daughter’s death’ plotline for the umpteenth time almost bearable. Almost.

The Good

I’m not overly invested in the Black Siren storyline, but after all that she’s been through over the seasons it is nice to see Katie Cassidy given something fun to do.

Another unexpectedly delightful return is that of Raisa, the Queen’s maid from the pilot. I’m glad the show isn’t trying to pretend that Oliver has the time to be the Mayor, a superhero, and raise a child all at the same time, and I always thought Raisa’s disappearance was a wasted opportunity.

I am cautiously optimistic about the outing of Oliver as the Green Arrow. I hope that the show actually bites the bullet and lets the secret be out there for good, instead of being saved by a last minute Deus Ex Machina as has happened every other time anyone has come close to revealing his true identity.

The Bad

Can someone remind me where Oliver landed on the whole ‘Is killing wrong?’ debate? Because he sure spends a lot of time shooting mooks in the face for someone who refused to kill Chase last season.

The stunts this episode were generally very good, but I call bullshit on Oliver shooting someone so hard that he was lifted off the ground and pinned to a beam. Also the timeline of Renee falling off of the overpass and being caught by Oliver in the nick of time just does not make any physical sense.

On the subject of things that make no physical sense, was Felicity tripping trying to escape the explosions on Lian Yu not the most unrealistic thing on a show where Oliver Queen was somehow deemed worthy of becoming Mayor?

After the season 5 finale created a tangible sense of danger, the flashback scenes on Lian Yu this episode were strangely lackluster, with even the normally more reliable actors unable to sell a sense of urgency. Discussing how to escape an imminent explosion should not have the tone of people discussing their brunch order.

I always hate disparaging child actors, but lets just say that William is almost as good an actor as his father. To be fair, he hasn’t been given a lot to work with, with material that seems written for a much younger child. The show clearly seems to think that Oliver is a good father dealing as best he can with a bad situation, but it’s hard not to root for child services to take William away after watching Oliver leave William alone on the shore of a burning island after he had just been kidnapped and watched a man die. Even worse, Oliver keeps referring to him as ‘Buddy’ and ‘Kiddo’, which would be enough to drive a wedge between father and son even in the best of situations.