The Guiding Light: Dark Waters 4x09 Review

Proposals, marriage, babies. These are often the pinnacle of any shipper’s mountain. We want to see our beloved couple happy, in love, safe, living the life they only dreamed of, while procreating so their blessed genetics live on for the next generation to enjoy.

But what makes the proposal, marriage and babies so satisfying is the journey towards them. A happy ending is the goal, but without the middle of the story, the trials and tribulations, the ring would sparkle just a little less.

Yes, Oliver’s proposal was magical and perfect, but it was the moments BEFORE the proposal that made it so satisfying.

Let’s dig in…

Olicity

Engagements are as varied as the couples. The “how, when and why” they happen are the magic in proposals and each story is unique. As is typical with Oliver and Felicity, their proposal didn’t happen in quite the way I imagined it, but it made perfect sense.

Mama Smoak finds the ring. Classic. Oliver hiding the ring in the holiday decorations box made as much sense as hiding it the bowl of rocks, but I’m getting off topic. Mama Smoak’s joy and Felicity’s shock were pitch perfect. It also allowed for a little mother/daughter freak out that is part and parcel with the whole process.

Basically, Donna is me. I am Donna. If you don’t have a family member or friend freaking out over a ring that size you’re not doing engagements right. THREE CARAT. PRINCESS CUT. FLAWLESS. Because of course it is. IT’S THE OLICITY RING.

At first I was a little disappointed Felicity found out about the ring, but as the episode progressed, I realized how important it was that she did. Oliver hadn’t proposed yet and they needed to have THE TALK.

Speaking from my own experience, which includes other couples I know, engagements are seldom a surprise. How a proposal all comes together in the end is often a surprise, but the answer is not. Most couples, have The Talk before a ring is brought into the equation. You talk about what you want from life and what a life together could look like. Most couples know they are getting engaged before they get engaged.

Here’s the thing… the ring was brought into the equation before Oliver and Felicity had The Talk about their future. Sure, it happens sometimes, but given Felicity’s honesty and Oliver’s pragmatism it seemed unlike them to not have The Talk prior to popping the question.

There’s a series of adorable slip ups,

and “oh my god is he gonna propose” moments with Felicity that Emily Bett Rickards handles with her masterful comic timing.

It’s funny without being cheesy or silly. Also, I’m loving the red coat throwback! She wore that coat when Oliver told her he loves her for the first time.

However, it’s during her conversation with Curtis that Felicity realizes Oliver intended to propose the night of the soufflé.

Then she does the maths. That was three months ago. Why hasn’t he proposed since? Girl…welcome to the Olicity fandom.

We’ve been asking that question for THREE MONTHS as well.

The answer is: BECAUSE IT’S NOT THE MID SEASON FINALE.



Since it IS the mid season finale, Felicity decides to have a little chat with Oliver. This scene exemplified how different Oliver and Felicity are. Felicity, with barely a thought in her head, goes to confront Oliver about not proposing.

I couldn’t believe it. I actually said out loud, “She’s not going to ask him why he hasn’t proposed yet is she?"

Yup. That’s exactly what she’s gonna do. God bless. I love this woman. That takes moxy.

It’s a bold move, but it is so freaking Felicity Smoak. The woman is honesty. Pure, unfiltered, honesty. She says what she thinks and she thinks what she feels.

Oliver isn’t like that. Honesty isn’t his first instinct (as evident by the huge lie he’s keeping from Felicity). When there’s a problem between him and Felicity, he recoils. His pragmatism propels him inward. He thinks, or rather, over thinks. He considers every option and solution, by himself.

In this way, they are polar opposites. Felicity boldly asks Oliver why he hasn’t proposed and Oliver’s stunned reaction to the question perfectly encapsulates the differences in the way they think, approach problems and react to those problems. Does this spell disaster for their relationship? Of course not. Polar opposites can have very successful marriages. It’s navigating the waters, especially in the early years, that can be a little tricky. The key is learning about your partner and understanding that how they process things isn’t necessarily the way you process things. Often we are attracted to our opposite because they are strong in an area we are weak.

I’m like Felicity. I think it. I say it. It’s my way. I’m honest to the point of blunt and I have a tendency to leap before I look. My Nicholas is like Oliver. Quiet, pragmatic, cool under pressure. Nick needs time to himself to mull. He has to think things through, look at every possible angle, every possible solution, until he arrives at his own conclusion. He can be slow to tell me things, especially if something is bothering him, whereas I tend to blurt things out immediately. I can’t push him any faster than he wants to go and he can’t reign me in. So the question is… how do you balance it? Well…

Listen folks, I’m ten years in and we’re still figuring it out, but I promise you one thing - it sure isn’t boring! I don’t necessarily think it’s an either/or situation. We evaluate in our own way and come together in the end. How we get there may differ, but ultimately we find the solution together.

That’s the dance we are witnessing between Oliver and Felicity. She asks him the question we’ve all been asking for three months: why hasn’t he proposed? Oliver weakly responds because everything changed: where they live, what they do. What they are doing is dangerous.

Felicity fervently argues her conclusion. She loves Oliver and she loves saving the city. She wants BOTH. She believes they can have BOTH. What does Oliver believe?

And he hesitates. Because of course he does.

This is where we’ve been with Oliver for the last three years. This idea that he can have both, be a masked superhero and a normal man, has plagued him since he returned to Starling. It is the reason he kept Felicity at arm’s length.

It is the reason why he fought everything he felt for her.

Yes, Oliver is living his life as The Green Arrow while being with Felicity, but the engagement is the final leap into the unknown. It is a commitment to BOTH mask and man and Oliver hesitates.

But why does he hesitate? Is it because of Felicity? No. She is the one thing Oliver is certain of. The reason Oliver hesitates is fear. I’m hearing a common complaint about Oliver Queen. That "fear” is his excuse for everything. He’s lying about his son to Felicity because he’s afraid. He hasn’t proposed yet because he’s afraid. People are fed up with Oliver Queen’s fear.

Ya know…that’s a bit like getting ticked off at a burn victim for being freaked out by fire. Are you really going to tell someone who survived third degree burns to just “get over” their fear of fire? Um, no. Their fear is warranted, based on actual fact and something that is very difficult to move past. That’s what the Island is to Oliver Queen. The Island is fire and the things that happened to him there are the third degree burns. As healthy and as functioning as he is (which I assure you is a freaking miracle), this is a man still journeying towards his final destination. He’s moved passed his PTSD, but that doesn’t eliminate the fear. It doesn’t eliminate his hesitation. Oliver fears losing those he loves because that’s been his experience. Oliver Queen loses nearly everyone he loves.

Again

and again

and again

and again

and again

and again

and again

No matter how much he tries to protect them, ultimately he fails.

Oliver Queen, like many heroes, carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. This responsibility can feel almost god like. With his innumerable talents, Oliver Queen saves lives. The problem is when he can’t save someone. More often than not, Oliver takes that failure upon himself. "I failed. It’s all my fault.“ is the song stuck on repeat inside Oliver’s head.

Oliver blames himself for Damien Darhk’s drone siege and for Felicity, Thea and Diggle’s kidnapping. He lives in constant fear that he will lose the people he loves. Not simply lose them, but lose them because of his dangerous world. It is a continual cycle of guilt that, while noble, ultimately usurps his loved ones’ free will. Oliver fails to recognize that his dangerous world… is their dangerous world too. By choice.

Team Arrow challenges Oliver’s guilt on several occasions. They refuse to cancel the holiday party, even though Oliver has just put a target on their backs. Laurel refused to let Oliver to blame himself for the kidnappings and Felicity refused to let Oliver lose faith in their relationship. In short, the people who love Oliver refuse to let his fear stop him from LIVING.

THIS is the scene I’ve been waiting for.

This is the scene where Oliver and Felicity talk about his fear. Whether it happens before or after the ring is exchanged, every couple must have THIS TALK. Every couple must ask, “What can we be together?” In short, Oliver and Felicity have to get engaged before they can get engaged.

Choosing marriage is a leap into the biggest, blackest, unknown there is. There are no guarantees. The only thing you can say is, "I choose you. Every day. Forever.” The essence of marriage isn’t a promise of a happily ever after. The essence of marriage is a promise of, “No matter what happens, I will be by your side. ” It’s the only promise either of you can really make. Life is an unknown, but love is a choice. It is an act of will. Stay or leave. Fight or give up. You don’t make the choice once. You choose again and again and again. Marriage is a thousand choices adding up to a lifetime. A forever.



For Oliver and Felicity, The Talk had to happen before the ring. Oliver thinks and analyzes. He’s almost tactical in the way he approaches decisions. He was certain in suburbia because the danger was gone. He could see what their life would be. The mask brings infinite variables. He cannot think of every outcome because that’s impossible. He cannot foresee the future. It’s why he’s hesitating. Marriage is a leap into the unknown and Oliver doesn’t leap.

But Felicity Smoak does. She lets her heart guide her always and, by doing so, guides the way for Oliver.

This choice, HER CHOICE, needed to be said out loud. Once again, Felicity is facing certain death. Once again, Oliver blames himself for the position he’s put her in, but Felicity refuses to accept Oliver’s guilt anymore.



This is the life she wants. This is the life she chooses. She loves the mask and the man. She wants to be a CEO by day and a crime fighter by night.

Felicity chooses to fight. She chooses to stay.



Felicity chooses Oliver. No matter what happens. Nobody gets to take that decision from her, not even Oliver. It is one choice added to the hundreds of choices that led her here.

It is one choice added to a thousand more she will make. Felicity takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and leaps into the unknown.



Her answer is yes. It is always yes. Forever.



And then…Oliver’s worst fear is realized. Damien drags his beloved sister, best friend and love into a gas chamber. Darhk references the atrocities of the Nazis, but more frightening, embraces their philosophy. Like Hitler, Darhk believes humanity requires a “restart”. A cleansing. Just because he wears a nice suit and goes home to a wife and daughter (yeah we’ll get into that in a minute) doesn’t make Damien Darhk any less evil. He shot up a beach filled with little children. Darhk has no respect for human life. I would say he’s on par with Hitler.

That said, a gas chamber? On Hanukkah? With a volunteer dressed like a concentration camp prisoner? REALLY ARROW?

I mean…good grief. It would be wise to embrace subtly every so often. Or, ya know, NOT HAVE AN EPISODE WITH A GAS CHAMBER ON HANUKKAH.



Not the first stupid thing Arrow has done. Won’t be the last.

When the HIVE solider grabs Felicity and drags her into the gas chamber, it takes three additional soldiers to hold Oliver back. It is unbridled rage. When he was beating the Ghosts for Felicity’s location, Oliver could put the rage to good use.

But he quickly realizes his anger will not sway Darhk. He pleads for their lives, but how do you reason with Satan?

Oliver races to the chamber and faces Felicity. He desperately searches for weaknesses in the chamber as the gas pours in. A certainty sinks in. Oliver knows he’s going to watch his loved ones die in front of him. He knows he’s going to watch Felicity die in front of him. He does the only thing still within his power to do. He whispers, “I love you.”

Felicity Smoak is the air Oliver Queen breathes. He exhales the “I love you” knowing Felicity’s last breath will also be his. He will not survive her loss.

As Felicity gasps for air, she repeatedly and desperately says, “I love you” in return.

Oliver Queen is the air Felicity Smoak breathes. She repeats it in hopes that the words will sustain her a little longer. And if they can’t… then she wants to die telling Oliver she loves him.



Then, the cavalry arrives.

Listen, I am no fan or either Malcolm Merlyn or Laurel Lance but I legit cheered when they showed up.

I’ve never been so happy about Laurel’s completely nonsensical fighting skills in my life. The Canary Cry is oddly growing on me, especially when it frees all my favs from certain death.

Laurel tosses Oliver the baton.

Yeesh. Someone needs to teach KC how to throw a ball, because that was just embarrassing.

But not to fear, Amell is here! Stephen smashes the glass with the baton and makes it all look cool.

Oliver motions to Felicity and POSSIBLY says, “Come here baby."



The jury is still out on what he says exactly, but he does murmur something. Personally, I’m choosing to believe Amell muttered exactly that. I know my truth.

Sufficiently freaked, as one would be escaping death by GAS CHAMBER, Felicity flings her arms around Oliver, gasping for air. Oliver picks Felicity up and holds onto her tight.

Pause for necessary swooning.

Unpause. In 2x22, the reason Oliver carried Felicity from the car wreck, and not John, is because he was shaken. He thought Felicity was dead.

He needed to feel her breathing. He needed to feel her heartbeat to know she survived.

The same fear and panic grip Oliver again. It’s why he holds her so tightly and carries her from the chamber. He needs to feel her breathing, to know with certainty that she’s alive.

This isn’t Oliver and Felicity’s first brush with death. It is unusual for Oliver to be this emotional post survival. Damien really scared the crap out of him. The last time Oliver was this freaked out was when The Count held Felicity hostage.

He wasn’t even this terrified with Slade because Oliver knew he had the upper hand. This time, Oliver knew Damien had the upper hand. He gives voice to his deepest fear…losing her. Felicity knows Oliver’s deepest fear and when he voices it, she understands how terrified he was. She tells him,

It’s an important call back to all the other times Felicity’s life has been in danger. In the moments afterward, she’s always been the terrified one. Oliver was always the calm in the storm. His soft, soothing voice saying, "Hey. Hey. I’m here. You’re safe.” to ease Felicity’s fears and reassure her.

Now, Felicity uses the same words to reassure Oliver. By using “I’m here” to reassure Oliver, Felicity is acknowledging they’ve been here before. He’s almost lost her before and she’s survived. The reason they are here again, facing certain death, is because Felicity continually chooses this life and she always will. In a way, her reassurance promises they will be face certain death again, but they will survive because they face it together.

And thus it brings us to the proposal scene. A Christmas tree lighting ceremony to be exact, although Oliver does reference lighting a candle so it also represents Hanukah. Whether it’s lights on a tree or a candle, when it comes to Oliver and Felicity it always comes back to the light. Why? Because Oliver’s journey started there. On his headstone, the symbol of his death, was the first reference to light:

Oliver Queen’s story is about bringing a man back to LIFE. It’s about finding the light life dimmed too soon and harnessing it to a blinding brilliance.

Felicity is the one person who can harness Oliver’s light. When Oliver is hopeless, Felicity is his hope.

When Oliver doubts, Felicity is his belief.



She loves him unconditionally, even when Oliver believes he’s unworthy. Felicity accepts all of Oliver, even when he can’t accept himself.

She guides his path from vigilante,

to hero,

to man,

to superhero.

Her love lights the way.



One night, two thousand years ago, shepherds wandering alone in the dark saw a star shining bright and brilliant in the sky. An angel came down from heaven and announced the birth of a baby, a king. One who would bring peace, love, and forgiveness to mankind.

The Christmas tree represents hope. A rebirth. The lights of the Christmas tree symbolize the light Christ’s birth brought to mankind. The star on top represents the star the shepherds saw that night, The Star of Bethlehem. Christ’s love lights the way.

The wood of the Christmas tree represents the wood of the manager Christ slept in as a new born baby. But the wood of the Christmas tree foretells Jesus’ suffering on the cross. For the fulfillment of Jesus’ life and God’s promise of salvation is not in His birth, but in His death. Christ died for all mankind’s sins and it is through His suffering that we are saved. Therefore, Christmas holds a unique duality. The joy of promised salvation and the sorrow of the impending suffering.

By choosing the Christmas tree as the symbol of Olicity’s engagement, the writers acknowledge the same duality. Oliver and Felicity bring love, peace and happiness to one another’s lives, but with their joy comes the promise of impending suffering. Their love is a light in the dark, but the dark still exists. There will be challenges. They will suffer. But the light still exists. Going through the darkness is the only way to the other side. It’s the only way towards salvation. It’s the only way to the light.

Once again, Oliver faced losing what is most precious to him. His fear, while real and with reason, also stops Oliver from LIVING. Felicity isn’t like that. She doesn’t let her fear stop her from living. She keeps pushing forward. Felicity doesn’t run. She stays. Felicity chooses to fight. She chooses Oliver. Again and again and again. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and leaps into the unknown. And by doing so, shows Oliver how to as well. She guides his path. Her love lights the way.

In a parallel to the moment he first walked into her office,

Oliver turns to Felicity and says her name.

The day Oliver met Felicity Smoak is the day his life changed.

The reason Oliver fears losing Felicity so much is because he knows what life was like without her: cold, dark and hopeless. He doesn’t ever want to go back to that. He fears if he embraces both sides of himself, the man and the mask, that he will ultimately be left with nothing.



But Felicity was brave enough to say yes, so Oliver must be brave enough to ask the question. So Oliver closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and leaps into the unknown.

But he doesn’t ask Felicity to marry him. Instead he asks…

Because that’s who Felicity is to Oliver. That’s what she brings into his life. From the moment he met her. Happiness.

A life with Felicity means happiness to Oliver, no matter what happens. Oliver understands that he’ll never be able to erase his fear, but he’s choosing to stay.

He’s choosing to fight.

He’s choosing Felicity.

It is one choice in a thousand that will ultimately add up to a lifetime. A forever.



We are left with precious few moments of light. A moment for Felicity to marvel at the size of her ring.

A moment for Oliver drink in her joy.

A moment for Felicity to kiss him.

A moment for Oliver to kiss her back.

And then the darkness rolls in.

Oliver desperately tries to protect Felicity.

He covers her body with his.

Oliver knows they will die if he doesn’t move the limo, so he leaves Felicity to drive.

He gets them away from the gun fire, but soon discovers his worst fear realized.

Felicity, bleeding from a gunshot wound, lifeless in his arms.



She’s always been okay, but Oliver knows it only takes one time. One bullet is the difference between life and death. This is why he’s been so terrified.





Well the road is wide,

and waters run on either side,

and my shadow went with fading light,

stretching out towards the night.



‘Cause the Sun is low,

and I yet have still so far to go,

my lonely heart is beating so,

tired of the wonder.



But there’s a sign ahead,

though I think it’s the same one again,

and I’m thinking 'bout my only friend,

and so I find my way home.



When I need to get home

you’re my guiding light,

you’re my guiding light.





Something happens during the opening scene that, at first, it didn’t feel very significant, but as the final scene unfolded, it carried much more weight. Oliver and team are busy cleaning up the bay. Felicity is visiting with her mini-me, as Laurel termed the precocious little girl.

Mini Felicity is caught in the hail of gunfire Damien Darhk rains down on the event. Oliver dives, covers her body with his own, and ultimately saves the little girl. He saves Mini Felicity. As we now know, Oliver is unable to save Felicity from the bullets. It’s a powerful foreshadowing to the end of the episode, but does it mean more?

The midseason finale is often the turning point of the season. The moment when the tide shifts in the story. Of course Felicity is not dead. Nobody gets to send me panicked emails. I raised you better than that. However, a shift is coming to Oliver and Felicity. For so long Felicity has been Oliver’s guiding light. What happens to Oliver if Felicity can’t be that guide anymore?

There will be consequences to this shooting. What I’m not sure, but this is a direct parallel to Oliver’s death last season.

Felicity won’t be physically dead, but she may experience an emotional death of sorts. There is no light without the dark. We all have a duality. What happens if Felicity loses her way?

Oliver saves Mini Felicity. A child who is innately good, pure, joyful and innocent. All of the child’s attributes represent the light inside Felicity Smoak. And Oliver saves her.

This story, for better or for worse, is Oliver Queen’s story. Yes, Felicity has always guided Oliver’s way because she harnesses his light. But a shift needs to happen in order for Oliver Queen to become The Green Arrow. He MUST light his own way. He MUST harness his own light. He MUST become the star in the night sky others look to for hope. Before he can become a superhero to Star City, Oliver Queen must become a superhero to Felicity Smoak. She is his beginning, middle and end. The Green Arrow must start with Felicity before he can end with her. Oliver has to light the way for Felicity. He must be her guiding light.

Some may ask, isn’t Oliver already Felicity’s light? In some respects yes. But Felicity has never needed Oliver to harness her light. She’s never lost sight of who she is. But this event feels different. This event changes things.

This is why I am confident Oliver and Felicity will make their way through the William lie. It is possible they won’t break up, choosing rather to fight their way through the hard times together. But, more likely, Felicity will choose to break up with Oliver. It may even be the source of her spiral. And, for a time, Oliver may spiral as well. But I have faith Oliver will pull himself up and fight his way back. He will harness Felicity’s light like she’s done for Oliver countless times. Oliver will guide Felicity home.

The break up is simply one choice in a thousand that ultimately add up to a forever. It’s why we have to hold onto THIS moment.

When push comes to shove, in the clarity of life and death, Felicity always chooses Oliver. She will forgive him and he will make himself worthy of that forgiveness. Forgiveness is a strength, not a weakness. It is an act of mercy and grace. No relationship can survive without it. Forgiveness is choice to stay and fight. Forgiveness is another yes, another leap into the unknown, and Felicity always leaps with her heart. And Oliver will be there to catch her when she does.

Well the air is cold,

and yonder lies my sleeping soul,

by the branches broke like bones,

this weakened tree no longer holds.



But the night is still,

and I have not yet lost my will,

oh and I will keep on moving 'till,

'till I find my way home.

When I need to get home,

you’re my guiding light,

you’re my guiding light.

Guiding Light by Vance Joy

Laurel



I actually really enjoyed Laurel this episode!

It’s shocking I know. I have my moments with her. They are fewer and farther between as the seasons progressed, but not so long ago I loved Laurel Lance. Occasionally, I catch glimpses of the Laurel that I loved. Tonight was one of those nights.

***Disclaimer: I may have enjoyed Laurel a bit more in “Dark Waters” because it so perfectly sets up her death.

Wendy Mericle said 4x09 may hint who is in the grave. Of course the initial assumption is Felicity’s shooting, but we know better don’t we? Not our first rodeo. The CW is going to have to do way better than that ridiculous promo to make us believe Felicity is in the grave.

That’s not to say there isn’t set up for the grave. There was. A lot of it. It just wasn’t for Felicity. It was for Laurel.

Laurel confronted Quentin about his relationship with Damien Darhk.

Hand to God I said (out loud), “Wait. Laurel doesn’t know?"



Sweet Jesus, I cannot tell you how many times I say that in reference to a storyline and Laurel. It’s beyond ridiculous. Whatever.

Laurel isn’t happy to be used as Lance’s reason to join Darhk’s team.

She repeats the EXACT SAME dialogue Felicity said to Oliver.



The fact that these two women are connected through the SAME dialogue got my attention. BIG TIME. The premiere, mid season finale and finale are the three episodes that connect. Choose any season of Arrow and watch these three episodes. Chances are, you’ll understand the season without watching any other episode.

The premiere introduced us to the grave in the flash forward. Now it’s about catching up to time and each episode is another piece of the puzzle, but no more so than the mid season finale. The premiere foreshadowed Felicity as the likely candidate, but it was too heavy handed. The writers desperately wanted us to believe it was Felicity in the grave. Why? A misdirect? Yes. But who are they misdirecting our attention from? Laurel.

The mid season finale is the turning point. It’s the shift in the story when the red herrings will stop and the writers will get down to the business of setting up the real death. Felicity is the ultimate misdirect. She will survive the shooting. However, the midseason finale has to connect to the REAL character death. Just like the premiere did.

By repeating the same dialogue, Laurel is immediately connected to Felicity.

Both women assert that they get to decide whether or not they need someone’s protection. Both women explain to Oliver that they are choosing this life of their own free will. No matter what happens, he is not to blame.

But only ONE woman’s life is in peril by the end of the episode - Felicity’s. She will survive. Laurel wasn’t at the Christmas party. She was fielding tips on the hotline. Laurel didn’t end up in the gas chamber because she wasn’t there. Then, the Black Canary shows up and saves their lives. It will not take Damien Darhk long to piece it all together. Felicity was the failed attempt. The next time Darhk comes for Oliver’s loved ones, he won’t fail. Laurel will be the successful attempt. She will die. That’s the parallel between the two women.

Oliver’s graveside chat with Barry and how this death wasn’t his fault, but his responsibility, is a direct callback to his discussion with Laurel. Laurel told Oliver to stop blaming himself and to let go of his "go to guilt.” Yes, Felicity made similar assertions, but we know she survives the shooting. So why is Oliver repeating a conversation he had with Felicity at the grave? The conversation would carry more weight with Oliver if it came from the person who died. So, if it’s not Felicity… it has to be Laurel.

Oliver is repeating, almost verbatim, what Laurel says to him in “Dark Waters” because he accepts that she chose this life. It is the only way his lack of guilt at the grave makes any sense.

With his new relationship with Mama Smoak, Lance has a new storyline that can go into future seasons. However, the writers didn’t stop there. Lance said nothing good will come from him losing Laurel. It immediately sets the stage for Lance’s Season 5 storyline. Let’s see how bad things will be for him. It does not look good for Buckles. At. All.

Stray Thoughts…

Damien Darhk is the devil and apparently a husband and father. WHOAH! Didn’t see that coming. Well, even the Nazis had wives and kids. Just because you procreate doesn’t mean you aren’t evil.

If it turns out that Damien’s ulterior motive is to create clean air or something for his dying child, he will not garner any sympathy from me. Man put a bullet in Felicity Smoak. He needs to fry.

“Let’s light him up.” Hehe. Thea’s pun was both cool and funny.

I am coveting Emily Bett Rickard’s red dress and hairstyle. Sigh. She’s so purrrty.

Nobody from Team Arrow actually picked up any trash or did anything to clean up the harbor. They sort of just stood around like a J. Crew cover.

What was Alex wearing? You are cleaning up the harbor buddy. Not racing in the Iditarod.

Is Whatshername dead yet? No. UGH. Let’s move it along people. Times a wastin’ and there’s a perfectly good fourth grave on Lian Yu that needs to be filled.

Oliver swimming and the shark chasing after him was some of the worst CGI I’ve ever seen in my life. This, in conjunction with a recent episode on The Flash, has resulted in the decision that DC Television shouldn’t do sharks.

Oliver asked Felicity to marry him in front of all their family in friends. A choice many bristled at, but for me, it was the culmination of three years. It felt very “New Oliver.” This moment was about living his light and each person played an important role in getting him there. Yes, even Laurel. He wanted to share it with all of them. I think it’s important that we allow Oliver to change and let him be the person we always wanted him to be. That said, we’ll get a proposal Round 2.

Laurel just watched her ex boyfriend propose to his girlfriend. Lauriver cannot be deader. It cannot sink lower. You’re at the bottom of the ocean people.

Felicity referenced “Old Oliver” when she asked Oliver if he turned himself over to Darhk. It was not a pleased reference. His lie about William will feel very “Old Oliver” to Felicity and will be the crux of why she breaks up with him. At least that’s my guess.

Everything about Quentin’s introduction as Mama Smoak’s boyfriend was perfection. Including the red lipstick stain on his cheek.

We could move the Andy Diggle story forward anytime. I’m getting a little bored with the same brotherly chats that don’t infuse any new information.