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Arrow "S5E11 Second Chances" - Review: One Hell of a Comeback!


Arrow "S5E11 Second Chances" - Review: One Hell of a Comeback!
9 out of 10

Second Chances – Oliver’s search for a new Black Canary takes the team to Hub City following rumours of an urban legend metahuman. Felicity tries to hack the NSA for files that will clear Diggle while in the flashbacks Talia al Ghul tries to convince Oliver of his true potential.

Arrow needed a second chance after mishandling its Laurel Lance cliffhanger.... and thankfully, it gets one by expanding upon the more interesting stories it set up last time: Talia al Ghul, John & Chase Vs the State and of course, the prospect of a new Black Canary. The later becomes the main feature as the episode serves to be her origin and story and introduction to Team Arrow. First up, Tina is a very convincing badass and considering Laurel’s journey was that of clueless novice to hero, it’s good to see the show changing it up making her an existing and capable fighter. This of course, means explaining why, as a Central City accelerator explosion metahuman, she’s only surfacing now but her back story of trauma and all consuming vengeance does a decent job of it. She’s initially referred to as an urban legend of blurred photos and shaky cell phone footage because she hasn’t been seeking any attention or engaging in public heroism. Also, presenting her in this self apposed state of isolation allows her to mirror Oliver’s back story nicely (her elaborate pin board represents Oliver’s kill list). This builds into the episode’s encompassing theme of Team Arrow being all about giving its members a second chance to do right. We see Oliver rejecting many promising female applicants because he doesn’t wants someone that wants to be the Black Canary.... he wants someone that needs it. The actress, Juliana Harkavy (Walking Dead season 4) is immediately very likeable as strong on screen presence and anyone concerned her character’s comics affiliation should brace themselves for her final scene (I had a full gasp and arm spasm moment).

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Canary potentials aside the team outing to Hub City is a lot more fun than expected is the supporting likes Curtis and Rene are not forgotten. In fact, Rene’s Big Belly Burger binging gets the funniest moments of the episode. The action and fights are also above standard for a regular (non-finale or special event) episode of the show. The climactic Hub City roof showdown is one of the best set pieces this season with guns blazing in all directions and terrific creative use of the helicopter. Kudos to director Mark Bunting, I genuinely thought this was a Jason Bamford episode. Flashbacks Oliver even gets his own John Wick-style gun sequence.

Speaking of the Flashbacks, the use Talia al Ghul and the new direction the Russia story is taking is an absolute win. For the first time in years, we see the flashbacks remembering their true purpose. While it can often be interesting to see them relate to Oliver’s present day events of the week, they are meant to be showing Oliver’s journey to the beginning; to episode one, scene one, and his becomming the Starling City vigilante. Talia practically pummels the story back into place bringing back not Oliver’s past flashback adventures but his father’s list and implying he’s been deliberately avoiding his destiny…. Which is exactly how some fans feel about that the flashbacks from season 3 onwards! These few scenes pack in more Green Arrow character building than anything in recent memory as Oliver is not only encouraged back towards archery taught the importance of creating an alter ego, “You need to give the monster an identity”. Hell, she literally quotes the season one opening narration at him! Much like Harkavy, sci-fi alumni Lexa Doig (Andromeda’s Rommie) provides a great representation of her character in her sultry composition and clear superiority over Oliver.

Given Arrow’s track record, we can be sure Talia will also crop up in the present day story. I know Katrina Law’s availability is tight these days but if the show can give us even one episode of Nyssa and Talia together many past sins will be forgiven especially considering that Oliver and Nyssa are technically still married..... if Oliver and Talia get a fling going in the past, imagine what the present day family reunion would be like?

The only part of the episode that was less effective for me was the combination of John’s legal case and Felicity’s hacking. While it’s made clear John’s not out of the woods yet, merely bailed, keeping him separated was good for the show by easing the saturated Team Arrow ranks (Ragman’s felt like just a passenger lately). However the idea of Felicity being tempted back towards her hacktivist ways without a goth makeover is an interesting one. Could we see her taking up her own crusade?

This is exactly the bounce back Arrow needed after last week and arguably its best episode this season with some really impressive new cast additions, terrific action and plenty of great incorporations of comics material. Some still won’t give Arrow a second chance after its season 3 & 4 troubles. Episodes like this are exactly why they should.

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