Arrow Season 4 Episode 1 "Green Arrow" Review *SPOILERS*

A New Day

There are some 

MAJOR SPOILERS in this review

Its been a while since I've done an Arrow Review, it's what happens when your a college student. Season 3 I would have to honestly say is the weakest of the seasons so far, but that doesn't mean its bad. It had some great moments and story arcs, but a lot of cookie cutter plots caused it to fall short in my book. If I had to give it a grade, it would probably be a C. Hopefully this season will redeem itself

Last time we left the team saving the day from Ras' Al Ghul. Oliver and Felicity retire from the team, Thea takes Oliver's place with Laurel and Diggle was pissed at Oliver. Five months have passed since then and it's time for Oliver to return to the city he swore to protect...so whats been happening? Lets find out...


We open to see our former Emerald Archer living a quiet life in the suburbs and despite them not saying it both Felicity and Oliver do not feel comfortable at all. They seem very happy together, but in the end they both feel awkward after all they've done. Meanwhile Team Arrow is having trouble with a new group of enemies called the Ghosts. If I had to describe them as anything, I would say that they are the cross between the League of Assassins and real life spec ops teams....yeah its that bad. After the leaders of the city get killed, Thea(who keeps wanting to be called Red Arrow) and Laurel go and get Oliver, despite Diggle, who for the time being will be referring to as his name due to the fact his vigilante persona doesn't have a name. To address the elephant in the room, I think Diggle's helmet is meh. If it could cover his entire head, I would be fine, though in all honesty I think it would be better if the designers went more the route of the Guardian.

When they return to the now renamed Star city, the team splits up trying to figure out what exactly is going on. In that time we see 2 non-mask moments that stood out and while I found one funny, I found the other boring. The one I found boring is the talk between Diggle and his wife. Yes, we get it, Dig was mad, but I assumed after the 5 months between seasons Diggle would grow up! His wife is a woman who killed people and lead a squad of criminals into war-torn countries and kept secrets from him; but hey she gets a free pass because she's the mother of his child so it's fine!

Soon the team learns of the big bad, Damien Darhk, and his unnatural power. HE'S IS LITERALLY ONLY MISSING A RED LIGHTSABER AND LIGHTNING TO BE A SITH LORD! I heard of mystical, but what he is able to do and how he acts is unlike any other villain on the show...and I loved it. Despite my love for the Arrowverse's Deathstroke, Merlyn, and even Ras' Al Ghul, they were all at their core a similar character; A violent man who acts from the shadows. While Damien is obviously violent, he makes his intentions entirely clear of what he's trying to accomplish by busting in on a meeting with the City Leaders. Despite it being in a federal building with obvious security, he just waltzes in without fear and tells him he's going to kill the scene. He definitely matches the feel of this season.

In the end, the team stops a bomb from destroying Star City, Oliver hacks into the emergency broadcast to declare his intentions and rebrands himself the Green Arrow, and we get two big revelations that made me lose it. First the revelation that Damien has an ally in the leadership of Star City...QUENTIN LANCE! Team Arrow's ally for two and a half season now working with the Darhk was actually a twist I never saw coming and can't wait to see more.The other revelation though was the shows first flash forward: Where Oliver cries at a fresh grave, where the name isn't shown... This season looks like it's going to be one hell of a ride.

KEYPOINTS
+ Fresh New Style
+ Sweet Action Scenes
+ Fresh Interesting Villain
+ Mind Blowing Twists
- Diggle's boring troubles...

8/10