On the romantic front, Iris and Eddie continued to struggle amid his newly kept secret. Eddie is apparently very transparent because Iris has zoned right in on the fact that he’s hiding something from her, while she cannot sense that her father or Barry is. The ultimatum that she laid down at the end of the episode might soon spell the e-n-d for the once nascent duo. Meanwhile, the awkward 5-way dinner was Barry’s breaking point as the stress of knowing Dr. Wells true self, proved torturous.  

Side Notes/Burning Questions: Ray and Cisco were TV’s best new buds, last week. How can Cisco remember Dr. Wells’ killing him, if it did not happen in the current timeline? His mind should be just as wiped as everyone else’s. When did this episode take place in terms of the “Arrow” timeline? When we left off with Felicity and Ray prior to the hiatus, their relationship seemed to be in limbo and all hell was breaking loose in Starling City. They wouldn’t jet off at a time like that.

Arrow | Team Arrow said goodbye to one of their own; Roy Harper. The resulting farewell played out with a few surprising twists and turns, though the result remained the same. Personally speaking, Roy never really fit in with the team. No matter how many attempts were made to reboot the character, whether he was the cocky street kid, the heart of gold rascal, the drugged up superhero or the kick-ass normal guy; none of it really worked.

Similar to Laurel, finding a definitive characterization for Roy has been a difficulty the series has had since his introduction. With the door closed on him for now, his absence should give Team Arrow some much needed breathing room and allow the writers to focus more on the characters on the canvas who do work. 

Now to the episode’s big cliffhanger, Thea was left for dead after a brutal altercation with Ra’s Al Ghul. According to the previews, it appears that a Lazarus pool might be what brings her back from the underworld. “Arrow” has always been a show heavily based in the gritty “real world”, so its fling into the supernatural seems a bit out of character. Obviously the show has hinted that Ra’s is a never aging, immortal and the only way that would be feasible is if he’s a supernatural entity or the product of one’s interference. Any hope that the show will side on a scientific explanation are dimming exponentially.  

Side Notes/Burning Questions: Oliver couldn’t even give Roy a goodbye hug? How emotionally crippled is he? Why can’t Thea know that Roy’s alive? Why is Felicity still giving Oliver longing looks? If she breaks Ray’s heart, that will be a tough thing for her to come back from.
Bates Motel | For the past 3 weeks "Bates Motel" has been delivering the most riveting television of the year and they didn't let up on the streak with last week's installment, "Norma Louise". As the title suggests, the episode centered on Norma and the aftermath of her having left town, attempting to shake off her identity. In light of her absence there was a giant vacuum on the home front and Norman came unglued over his mother's departure.

Dylan and Emma worked together in their attempt to manage the situation as Norman plunged to the utter depths of his illness. Meanwhile, Sheriff Romero was shot and after a confrontation with his rival, managed to rally out of his hospital bed and dispatch of his nemesis.

As Norma headed back home, she stopped off at the residence of the hipster professor who's been pursuing her. After sharing her dire fears for Norman's mental health, they shared a tryst and Norma explained she was headed back to her sons.

In a wildly accurate monologue to explain her decision, she used the story of the giving tree as a metaphor for parenthood, offering the best quote of the week: "Parents do not have needs. You ever read the book "The Giving Tree"? It's about a tree, and this kid keeps coming and taking stuff from it his whole life, until there's nothing left but a stump. And then the kid sits on the stump. That's being a parent.”

Surprising her sons with her return, she agreed to fulfill their wishes and meet with her brother. Their reunion would be the most powerful scene of the episode. A hyped up Norma pounding on her estranged brother's bus doors until Caleb answered. The flash in Vera Farmiga and Kenny Johnson’s eyes conveyed it all.

All of the history, the hurt, the pain, the heartache; melted away with only this sad connection left between them. It was a moment two seasons in the making and Farmiga and Johnson made it a remarkable one. Another episode packed to the gills with action, drama, slight comedy, brilliant monologues and phenomenal performances.  

Side Notes: Sheriff Romero's first call after regaining consciousness was to Norma. Can you say soul mates? Dylan and Emma bonded and it seemed as though Emma might be figuring out that she's been falling for the wrong Bates brother.

Photo Credit: "The Flash"/Official Twitter Page, "Arrow"/Official Twitter Page, "Bates Motel"/Official Twitter Page