- Title: Arrow – Darkness on the Edge of Town
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Following last week’s revelations, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) makes and important decision concerning her feelings for Ollie (Stephen Amell), Walter (Colin Salmon) readjusts to life after captivity, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) concludes his final preparations for The Undertaking by killing every seismologist who has knowledge of the project, and Oliver, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), and Diggle (David Ramsey) work together to try and uncover what Malcolm has planned and just how Moira (Susanna Thompson) fits into the picture. With the help of Diggle, Ollie stages the kidnapping of himself and Moira, and through a little rough play acting gets all the information he needs about the seismic device from Unidac Industries and Merlyn’s plans to level the Glades.
Following up on a link between the Dark Archer and the Merlyn Group, Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne) questions Tommy (Colin Donnell) as Felicity tries to hack into the company’s mainframe after she, Ollie, and Diggle all break into the company’s headquarters to discover the location of the device. With everything in place, the device nearly within their grasp, and Malcolm starring down the bow of Green Arrow, Oliver decides to finally give in to his feelings for Laurel and consider hanging up the hood for good once The Undertaking has been stopped. However, that’s easier said than done.
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” also picks up the loose thread of Thea (Willa Holland) and Roy‘s (Colton Haynes) search for Green Arrow. Neither Oliver’s disapproval or Thea’s ultimatum can deter Roy in his mission to find meaning for his own life by finding the man who saved it. This week’s flashbacks to the island Oliver, Shado (Celina Jade), and Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) discover the true purpose of Edward Fryers‘ (Sebastian Dunn) missile launcher after their capture by Yao Fei (Byron Mann) and Fryers’ men. The episode ends with Oliver confronting Merlyn only to discover his father’s friend is the Dark Archer, get himself captured, and have his secret exposed leading into what should make for an action-packed season finale next week.
There’s a moment in this episode where Oliver considers the work he’s done, and the body count he’s accumulated, over the course of a single season and begins to suspect that maybe he’s not doing his father’s memory proud. It’s a short scene, but it’s certainly a building block Arrow could use to help to begin to forge a hero out of the deadly vigilante they’ve shown us so far. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m expecting Oliver to walk away from Laurel once The Undertaking has been stopped next week. After bringing the pair back together I’d prefer something more interesting (such as her slowly uncovering his second job as they continue their relationship). I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
All-in-all, I thought the episode wasn’t bad. Well written, good pace, throwing in some twists. I’m just worried there isn’t enough time to transform Oliver Queen from vigilante to hero before I lose interest in seeing it happen.