Storyline Pros:
Ray Palmer and
Raylicity
The best part of the season was the introduction of a breath
of invigorating air that came in the form of Ray Palmer, a sunny side up genius
who romanced Felicity. Ray proved that a hero does not have to be doom and
gloom, anguished to no end and filled with so much self-loathing that he
struggles to feel worthy of taking another breath. He also gave the show a huge
burst of fun. You know that weird expression of a character actually enjoying
their life?
It is easy to forget that phenomenon actually has the capacity to exist in the “Arrow” universe, and Ray made it possible again. His romance with Felicity was naturally cultivated, and actors Brandon Routh and Emily Bett Rickards brought more chemistry to the screen than one could have possibly hoped for in a doomed romantic storyline that ended way too soon.
It is easy to forget that phenomenon actually has the capacity to exist in the “Arrow” universe, and Ray made it possible again. His romance with Felicity was naturally cultivated, and actors Brandon Routh and Emily Bett Rickards brought more chemistry to the screen than one could have possibly hoped for in a doomed romantic storyline that ended way too soon.
The Return of Malcolm
Merlyn
Malcolm Merlyn is the complicated villain that “Arrow.”
desperately needs, and that is because he is so multifaceted. The finest villains
start out with the best of intentions before morphing into something they never
anticipated, as they gradually lose touch with their original mission by
sacrificing one shred of morality after another in an attempt to secure their
original goal.
Such is the case of Malcolm, a man who has lost sight of his moral compass more times than viewers can count and because of his stupendous portrayer's (John Barrowman) charisma, been given more than his share of second chances to change.
Merlyn’s journey over Season 3 was an interesting one. It kept the audience guessing as to his true motives while hoping they would eventually spell his redemption. He is the ultimate arch-nemesis for Oliver. He can fight equal to him (if not better), and he is a superior strategist. When it comes to brains and brawn, he has it covered. He is also the only long-term villain that can authentically be kept alive given he’s someone Oliver shares a history with pre-dark side and thusly someone he can’t bring himself to kill.
Such is the case of Malcolm, a man who has lost sight of his moral compass more times than viewers can count and because of his stupendous portrayer's (John Barrowman) charisma, been given more than his share of second chances to change.
Merlyn’s journey over Season 3 was an interesting one. It kept the audience guessing as to his true motives while hoping they would eventually spell his redemption. He is the ultimate arch-nemesis for Oliver. He can fight equal to him (if not better), and he is a superior strategist. When it comes to brains and brawn, he has it covered. He is also the only long-term villain that can authentically be kept alive given he’s someone Oliver shares a history with pre-dark side and thusly someone he can’t bring himself to kill.
The Maturation of
Thea
From whiny party girl to her father’s kick-ass protégé, Thea
had her best season yet. Her newfound confidence and awakening as a fully
matured woman was a far better-realized arc than Laurel’s. With her function on
the show secured, the only thing that needs improving is her love life. Having
been nearly killed by a deadly DJ (seriously?), it’s time for her to wise up in
the romance department.
Diggle and his
Friendships
Oliver and Diggle’s bromance hit a major rough patch at the
end of the season, which was sad because their relationship had recently hit a
newly gratifying peak. It will be interesting to see how that tension rolls
into the following season. That said, it was Diggle’s relationship with Deadshot
that continued to be among the show’s most compelling. Given their past, the begrudging
respect that grew between them was an unexpected and nuanced development that
was one of the season's big surprises. With Diggle becoming a dad in Season 3, there was a heightened risk to his heroics and the price it posed
to his family. The conversations surrounding this were philosophically richer
than most.
Storyline Cons:
Sara’s Demise
Sara's death was the hardest storyline to get behind
throughout the season, simply because it was impossible to sympathize with
everyone’s grief over it. Sara lived by the sword and died by it. How many
other people has she left to mourn after she killed their loved ones? She was
an assassin - a killer who killed because she was told to by a higher-up,
without being given any reason.
She was anything but a saint, and still, the show had one scene after another with characters all broken up over her death. Laurel seemed to have instantaneous amnesia that blocked out how her sister cheated with her boyfriend behind her back and then blew back into town, putting Laurel down for not forgiving and forgetting at the drop of a hat. Well, she got that part down during the season, anointing Sara the saint of Star City.
She was anything but a saint, and still, the show had one scene after another with characters all broken up over her death. Laurel seemed to have instantaneous amnesia that blocked out how her sister cheated with her boyfriend behind her back and then blew back into town, putting Laurel down for not forgiving and forgetting at the drop of a hat. Well, she got that part down during the season, anointing Sara the saint of Star City.
Everyone Reports for
Superhero Duty and Overuses the Phrase “Save My City”
There is not a normal civilian on the series now. Everyone
and anyone can apparently put on a tight leather outfit and pronounce
themselves a hero without much training. Of course, the only person in Season 3 to suffer a real superhero learning curve was one of the few qualified
and equipped to be one, Ray. Thea’s evolution into an empowered heroine was more
believable than Laurel’s.
It’s reasonable to believe she has enhanced abilities given her father’s skills and being trained by him, a killer combination. Laurel received two weeks of training in a gym and got beat up several times, not exactly a winning formula for superhero dominance. It is also time to retire the phrase “save my city.” Claiming possession of a city whilst proclaiming to save it is as oxymoronic a display of ego if ever there was one.
It’s reasonable to believe she has enhanced abilities given her father’s skills and being trained by him, a killer combination. Laurel received two weeks of training in a gym and got beat up several times, not exactly a winning formula for superhero dominance. It is also time to retire the phrase “save my city.” Claiming possession of a city whilst proclaiming to save it is as oxymoronic a display of ego if ever there was one.
Felicity’s Backstory
and her Rushed Romance with Oliver
For two seasons, viewers have been left to wonder about the
mysterious past of Felicity Smoak, and in Season 3, they finally got their
answers. Well, be careful what you wish for. When the curtain was pulled back, it was revealed that Felicity was a raging goth hacktivist who was mean to her
mother for no reason. All of this rendered the Felicity fans had come to know
and love as a sort of falsehood, her feminine wardrobe, and sweet demeanor and
apparent cover for her inner Lisbeth Salander. None of that felt genuine to the
character and made Felicity feel like a fake, something she’s never come across
as. For more on this opinion, click here.
Meanwhile, her tumultuous relationship with Oliver ranged
from an unrequited affection on her part to being retconned as a full-blown mutual
love affair. It was hard to keep track of where it was all going. In many ways, the dynamic between Oliver and Felicity is better as a push and pull
relationship. The reality of them being a couple loses the luster of their
magic.
With Felicity’s dream of being with Oliver coming true at the end of the season, it is hard to imagine her inadvertent double entendres hitting with the same awkward amusement that lent so much of the needed levity to the show. The biggest problem in accepting her love match with Oliver is that it came at the expense of Ray. Love triangles are always tricky because they tend to claim a casualty, and it's usually the person at the center of it. Unfortunately, Felicity was not an exception. For more on this outlook, click here.
With Felicity’s dream of being with Oliver coming true at the end of the season, it is hard to imagine her inadvertent double entendres hitting with the same awkward amusement that lent so much of the needed levity to the show. The biggest problem in accepting her love match with Oliver is that it came at the expense of Ray. Love triangles are always tricky because they tend to claim a casualty, and it's usually the person at the center of it. Unfortunately, Felicity was not an exception. For more on this outlook, click here.
The Flashbacks
The dueling timelines and incessant flashbacks continue to
be the show’s most crippling feature. It is time to embrace the current
timeline completely. Skipping back and forth is so disruptive to the show's flow and adds nothing pertinent to the “present” storyline. An occasional flashback
is one thing but sharing half the show with one is mind-numbingly pointless.
There is no tension in the storylines. We know Oliver survives and a little
mystery as to how he made it back to Star City is not a bad thing.
Overall Grade: B- | To its credit, “Arrow” did manage to shock with the literal cliffhanger that
followed Oliver’s face off with Ra’s, a major highlight for the season. However, Ray Palmer and his
portrayer emerged as the season’s MVP, saving the show from the throws of
absolute melancholia. Season 3 would not have been half the enjoyable experience
it was without him.
Photo Credit: "Arrow"/CW
Photo Credit: "Arrow"/CW
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