Hello everyone and (finally) welcome to another Arrow catchup post, covering 6×9 Irreconcilable Differences. This was a strong episode and acted as the kick-off point for the season now being seemingly ready to take things to the next level. We have all of the villains coming together (arguably because none were strong enough to carry the villain role for a season alone) and now actually outnumber the depleted team Arrow. It was a bit weird to see the Vigilante stood among the villains as the episode came to a close though. He’s not really a bad guy in the same way as the others. Isn’t he more like Marvel’s Punisher. You wouldn’t see him align with the Sinister Six.

We kicked things off With Oliver and Fleicity’s wedding reception. No sign of Barry and Iris but they know better than to interrupt a friend’s special day. It was really weird actually how contented I was to just sit and relax into the reception scenes which on another day I could have easily accused of dragging on. Curtis being drunk wasn’t all that annoying, I am digging the Renee and Thea pairing even if absolutely nothing comes of it, and found it genuinely touching when Quentin gave Oliver the watch (he probably thought that Oliver would end up marrying one of his own daughters so had the gift ready anyway). Although it was a great touch (which many shows don’t bother with) to bring back supporting characters we haven’t seen for a while (in this case Felicity’s mum and dad) ow the pair seemingly ended up back together. I thought the mum hated the dad and I never really saw a reunion on the cards. If I remember , she was really harsh to him the last time they appeared together.

We saw the team fracture with Renee “selling Oliver out” and it was hard to not see where he was coming from. Sure Oliver could have been right that there was another way, but Renee had already gone through so much with his daughter and couldn’t risk losing her again. The other two leaving with him were understandable too (you have to stretch a bit more regarding Curtis but I’m wiling to accept it) and it brings up the question; will the three of them give up being vigilantes or are they going to form their own team with just the three of them? Renee I would think would stop as that they could still arrest him if he continued his crime-fighting ways. Either way I am very much excited to see what happens after this surprising development.

DD Rating: 8.5/10