With last week’s Russian-mob-tastic episode behind us, we come to this week’s episode, the last one until December. But fear not — in that Dec 4 episode, we’ve been promised we will meet Barry Allen. Our episode centers around the trial prosecuting Moira Queen (Oliver’s mother) for the destruction of The Glades in last season’s final episode, hence the title.
Also in the first five minutes, we also see flashbacks to the night of the earthquakes, where we see The Count escaping Iron Heights prison and a flashback to the island, where Dr. Ivo has brought Oliver to look for the bodies. And with the reappearance of The Count, somehow Diggle has mysteriously been exposed to Vertigo, as have hundreds of others around the city. So it’s up to Felicity and her short skirt and her computer wizardry to figure it out, leaving Oliver the double duty of playing devoted son at his mother’s trial and trying to regulate as his vigalante alter ego. And without many further plot spoilers, let’s talk about some highlights and lowlights.
The Good
- I love The Count. And he is as bat$#!t crazy as ever. He channels a lot of The Joker into this performance, and it’s welcome.
- Slade shows up in half-blackface, (don’t worry, not the offensive kind) covering his burns. Say it with me: Death Stroke! Death Stroke!
- They might be laying it on a little thick with mentions of Star Labs and their particle accelerator, but my muggle wife doesn’t seem to care and it’s catnip to me. Tee hee hee!
- And. . ohmyblog. . .stick around for the last minute for not one but TWO major reveals. You will green your pants.
The Bad
- Roy Harper giving his widdle girlfriend Thea boxing lessons. See? It’s symbolic that they’re ANGRY.
- Laurel confronting Moira in prison for something she says “I could be disbarred for doing this. . .but this is for family.” Argh. Maybe they should disbar you and rid us of your stupidity. And then the breathless confession to her children, “You shouldn’t have to find this out in court. . .” Double argh. In fact, most of the courtroom and legal stuff was overwrought and boring. I guess we need filler between all the ‘splosions and arrows.
The Ugly
- Can we quit it with the “Convenient News Report” to fill in some exposition? Especially with the SAME anchor all the time? Does Starling City have a special 24 hours news channel that has the single female anchor and the single male, african-american reporter always camped out at the courthouse?
- Speaking of lazy storytelling, Oliver rushes off to take care of something as the Arrow in the middle of his mother’s jury deliberations, revealing it is the plainly night time. He returns to the courtroom just before the jury ends their deliberations — still night time. Because, you know, juries deliberate through the night.
Don’t get me wrong– I’m picking at nits here. Becuase it’s fun. Overall, I enjoyed the episode– a good balance of moving the main story forward, action, teenage CW drama, and revealing more from the island.
Miscellanea:
Arrows fired: 6
Scenes of shirtless Oliver Queen: 0 (awwwww . . . .)
Reprecussions from a fling with your business partner? 0. What happens in Moscow stays in Moscow, apparently.
Not a super impressive outing for any of these. Maybe next week.
The Final Verdict
On the charge of being awesome, I find this episode guilty.
On the related charge of being dumb and falling apart if you think about it too much, double guilty.
Still a more believeable and realistic show than Scandal.
2 1/2 stars — a solid outing, not the best. 2 of those stars alone go the The Count, and the other 1/2 for the final reveals.