Arrow (Season 5) (1 Viewer)

[DaveHof3]

Chase has now attained a level of omniscence that is beyond ridiculous, even on a show like that where suspension of disbelief is required. "Arrow" has always had a problem where, in the quest to create formidable villains like Chase and Merlin and Damian, they imbue them with so many resources and abilities that they make Team Arrow look like a bunch of losers. One season finale victory doesn't erase all the setbacks and suffering they endure before they get there.

 

[NeilO]

Chase has now attained a level of omniscence that is beyond ridiculous, even on a show like that where suspension of disbelief is required. "Arrow" has always had a problem where, in the quest to create formidable villains like Chase and Merlin and Damian, they imbue them with so many resources and abilities that they make Team Arrow look like a bunch of losers. One season finale victory doesn't erase all the setbacks and suffering they endure before they get there.

It is mind-boggling.

By the way, Black Lightning was approved to go to series. That may be appealing to the Arrow audience. it may be a mid-season pickup.

 

[NeilO]

Why does Oliver think that Slade will really help him and not stab him in the back? Feels like a bad idea to me, but maybe they will sell us on that idea.

I would think that Nyssa might be able to talk some sense into Talia. I am just surprised that Oliver did not bring her into this as soon as he knew Talia was working with Chase.

Anyway, it should be quite an action filled season finale. Please let there not be a cliff-hanger.

 

[Sam Favate]

In keeping with Arrow's tradition of naming each season penultimate episode after a Bruce Springsteen song, tonight's episode was titled "Missing," which is a very obscure Springsteen song. It's a song he wrote for the Sean Penn movie The Crossing Guard in 1996. Cheers to the Arrow team for the deep cut reference.

I doubt next week will be a cliffhanger; most Arrow season finales aren't. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if Slade goes free and becomes next season's big bad. I have to say I always thought the bad blood between Oliver and Slade was forced - it didn't seem natural for guys who were so close to become mortal enemies over what is, essentially, a misunderstanding.

 

[NeilO]

I have to say I always thought the bad blood between Oliver and Slade was forced - it didn't seem natural for guys who were so close to become mortal enemies over what is, essentially, a misunderstanding.

They are big on misunderstandings in this show. Talia doesn't know the while story and she is helping Chase because of that. I still don't understand why Evelyn is helping Chase so much either, but then she is a bit psychotic as is evil-Laurel.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Chase still feels too powerful to me, and his allies' motives don't seem sufficiently deep to go to these lengths with him.

But I like that the climactic battle is taking place on Lian Yu, and doesn't involve Star City getting half-destroyed for the umpteenth time.

I really hope Oliver scores a moral victory over Chase in the finale. It's not enough to kill him; that wouldn't be satisfying. He needs to prove Chase wrong.

Why does Oliver think that Slade will really help him and not stab him in the back? Feels like a bad idea to me, but maybe they will sell us on that idea.

It's one thing that Chase won't be expecting. I like the idea that Oliver's bench is deeper than Chase knows.

I would think that Nyssa might be able to talk some sense into Talia. I am just surprised that Oliver did not bring her into this as soon as he knew Talia was working with Chase.

It probably had something to do with the fact that Katrina Law was a series regular on "Training Day" and only became available once that show wrapped for the season.

In keeping with Arrow's tradition of naming each season penultimate episode after a Bruce Springsteen song, tonight's episode was titled "Missing," which is a very obscure Springsteen song. It's a song he wrote for the Sean Penn movie The Crossing Guard in 1996. Cheers to the Arrow team for the deep cut reference.

Very interesting! I didn't know they did that.

I have to say I always thought the bad blood between Oliver and Slade was forced - it didn't seem natural for guys who were so close to become mortal enemies over what is, essentially, a misunderstanding.

Slade's season of villainy was driven by his Mirakuru-induced psychosis. It makes sense that once he was free of the Mirakuru, he'd begin to see things more clearly again.

 

[NeilO]

Chase still feels too powerful to me, and his allies' motives don't seem sufficiently deep to go to these lengths with him.

That's one of my major problems this season, but maybe we'll understand more in the finale.

It probably had something to do with the fact that Katrina Law was a series regular on "Training Day" and only became available once that show wrapped for the season..

I understand the practicalities of the actor not being available, but all it would take is one line of dialogue so that we knew it was a consideration. I hope we get something about that in the finale.

Slade's season of villainy was driven by his Mirakuru-induced psychosis. It makes sense that once he was free of the Mirakuru, he'd begin to see things more clearly again.

I did forget the extent of that.

Lyla is sure going to have a lot to take care of, assuming Diggle returns. if he doesn't make it back, it may be Arrow vs Argus next season. No matter what, there will be a lot to cleanup after the finale.

Definitely also glad that Star City isn't in danger (though it was last episode).

 

[TJPC]

Sorry to vent, but this has been the worst season for me. I had a backlog of about 7 shows that I had been forcing myself through. The last one I watched consisted of a pointless boring flashback story taking place in Russia which I fast forwarded through, punctuated by scenes of brutal torture. FUN WOW! I gave up and erased the rest from my PVR.

 

[DavidJ]

Interesting response, TJPC, and one that I can understand. It's interesting to me because there are a lot of Arrow fans that are hailing this season as a return to season two form. Not sure I agree with them.

 

[Sam Favate]

I don't have it in front of me, but EW has a bit this week lauding Arrow's season 5 finale and saying it caps one of the show's strongest seasons ever.

 

[NeilO]

Sorry to vent, but this has been the worst season for me. I had a backlog of about 7 shows that I had been forcing myself through. The last one I watched consisted of a pointless boring flashback story taking place in Russia which I fast forwarded through, punctuated by scenes of brutal torture. FUN WOW! I gave up and erased the rest from my PVR.

That episode was the low point of the season. The last couple of episodes have been quite good and I have high hopes for the season finale.

I think this season would have been a lot stronger overall if it had been shorter. Mistakes were made by the characters that I don't think they should have made. Plus seemed just too far ahead of team-Arrow at times. If they had condensed some of those false steps it would have been better.

 

[Sam Favate]

Best cliffhanger yet. Great season finale.

 

[NeilO]

Great season finale with a great cliffhanger, but I cannot believe that Chase filled the whole island with explosives. That was a step too far. Maybe he could have done something localized, but to the extent portrayed it defied belief. First off, it is way too much to not be noticed by Argus. Second, where did all the explosives come from? How big was that secret and why didn't anyone follow through on this?

As far as the cliffhangers - I have full confidence that Merlyn got himself away from the landmine in some fashion. He probably also helped the rest of the team get to safety as well. Or most of them anyway. I've no idea about Chase's allies. I wouldn't write any of them off, but Evelyn is the most likely one not to have survived.

Adding later: maybe Argus just kept an eye on their own area, which would mean that their bunker would be safe from the explosives and that is where Oliver's allies rode out the explosive finale.

 

[NeilO]

It must have been an interesting discussion when Chase was telling his allies that he set explosives all over the island with a dead man switch tied to his life and he wants Oliver to kill him. "My plan is worth all your lives, right? As long as we prove to ourselves that Oliver Queen is a murderer and he and everyone he cares about dies, you don't care if you live? Right?"

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Great finale, but frustrating cliffhanger. I don't need a big mystery to lure me back in next season, and I resent shows for imposing them.

It was nice that Oliver won. Chase's decision to commit suicide was an implicit admission of failure. He wanted Oliver to be the architect of his own destruction. Instead, he had to settle for making him hurt as much as possible.

It must have been an interesting discussion when Chase was telling his allies that he set explosives all over the island with a dead man switch tied to his life and he wants Oliver to kill him. "My plan is worth all your lives, right? As long as we prove to ourselves that Oliver Queen is a murderer and he and everyone he cares about dies, you don't care if you live? Right?"

I really hope Evelyn lives, if only so that she can learn that a) Oliver won; and b) Chase was willing to sacrifice her without a second thought.

 

[David Weicker]

This ending would be a terrific opening for a Legends Of Tomorrow crossover.

Oliver calls Sara and tells her that her dad needs a ride

 

[ponset]

Hope Captain Boomerang survives because I want to see him on FLASH.
He ties Barry to a Giant Boomerang and lets it fly.
I love those stories in the old Flash comic in the 60's.

 

[Joseph Bolus]

So ... Literally *none* of the supporting cast is guaranteed to be back??

Just today had an opportunity to view the last two episodes and found myself hurling expletives at the screen throughout.

This is probably the biggest season-ending cliffhanger since ST:TNG's "The Best of Both Worlds"!

 

[Sam Favate]

I had the same thought about ST:TNG.

Many of the cast are guaranteed to be back. The show even added several of the supporting players (billed as guests this season) to series regulars next season. One exception is

Spoiler

John Barrowman, who has given interviews lately saying he is finished with the Arrowverse.

 

[NeilO]

So ... Literally *none* of the supporting cast is guaranteed to be back??

Of course promotional photos of cast members are starting to be released, so some of the suspense is being eliminated.

So, why bother with cliffhangers if within a couple of weeks, your publicity department is going to spoil things?