Pretty good ep with plenty of things to distract from S. Amell's stiff acting and delivery as Oliver... glad that Oliver made up with Dig and came clean to Laurel, but complicating things badly... some of the ep was either confusing or was edited a bit wonky as did Oliver reveal to his mother/Thea that Walter was dead to get his mother to lead him to Merlyn because I was under the impression that he believed the casino guy that Walter was in fact dead... small quibble but good ep overall
Pretty solid episode. Glad they found Walter, glad Oliver apologized to Diggle, and glad Oliver found out about both his mother and Malcolm.
But the two best parts of the episode easily were: Felicity saying "I love having you inside me..." and Oliver's anger-fueled rampage through the place they were holding Walter.
I wondered about that too!!! But he seemed to wonder what went on his Mom was so adamant that Walter was still alive. Dig had already placed a few doubts in his mind maybe he was following his instincts they don't normally fail him. Can't wait for the next new ep. I hated this show when it first started I love Stephen but he is a much better at acting than he is doing on this show. My Mom argues that his stiffness is part of the character to put yourself in his place. Five years on an Island learning to rely on himself as we have sen there was some betrayal there so basically being alone and learning how to become a killing machine had to take its toll so he would be stiff with his family and friends he hasn't been home a year yet. Anyway just a thought.
Different strokes re: Amell, I guess. I've seen aot of comments about him being stiff, but I've been very impressed at how well he's playing a very emotionally closed-off and damaged guy. I think the "stiffness" is Oliver's reserve and inwardness.
I was really surprised by Felicity's "inside me" line because the promo for this episode edited it to sound like she was saying something different. It really caught me off guard.
Felicity meeting Laurel and Thea and Moira was fun. I'm not sure Oliver should've mentioned she was his friend though. I think he gotta separate between himself to his Hooded version more. Show, telling me everything about the Undertaking should also include how they plan to execute their plan, and I didn't learn everything about the Undertaking despite being told otherwise today. SA rocked the different Olivers as usual. Am I the only one who sees the potential in Walter being the next big bad next season? Those 6 months must have changed him.
This is what I think too, Moira responded so weird that Oliver had to check it out and he could've easily traced her location using her phone or by asking her driver where he took her.
Barrowman has never played reserved in his life. Not in any thing he's ever done. Don't get me wrong, I love him - but he oozes with every line-read. He's a cartoon in the best possible way. Every once in a while, he says a word that I know is a real word, but it just doesn't sound like one the way he says it.
Amell is stiff, but he's getting much better. Lots of actors struggle in their first staring role and come out of it much better. Jennifer Carpenter had much the same problem on Dexter, now probably deserves Emmy consideration. Boreanaz was awful in his first season on Buffy, now is very natural.
I was surprised they found Walter, most shows don't return kidnapped secondary characters and I was expecting the show to kill him. Good to know I was wrong.
I think most of Amell being stiff is intentional and I agree about Barrowman acting cartoonish. The one I have the most problems with acting wise in this show is Katie Cassidy, that I hope improves soon.
I thought it was one of the better episodes in a while. Great action and I enjoyed seeing Oliver's emotional side. LOVED his last scene with Laurel. :) My shipper heart is happy! :) The downside is....I think this is the first episode he hasn't taken his shirt off in! :'( I'm kinda dissappointed! lol ;)
I agree about the stiffness. I think it's him holding himself back, but I find lately we are starting to see moments when his guard is coming down and he's less stiff. I loved the emotion he displayed at the end of this episode. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it more than usual.
A very rare occurance! lol I bet if we counted the eps on one hand we’d still have fingers left over. :) Eps with his shirt off is like having your cake and eating it too. Everyones happy. :)
I'm very impressed with him in Arrow but ... Barrowman plays reserve? Amell may not be a Hoffman or a De Niro, but he's playing multiple versions of Oliver--pre-island, Oliver changing on the island, and post-island--differentiating them all well, in my opinion. He's either grown on me or improved as the season has progressed. I can recall, watching the first episode, thinking that the voice-over was pretty dire. I hope they either drop it or redo it for next season.
That's the thing with Felicity, she doesn't think before she acts. I personally had the same quality in RL as a teen and it got me in trouble too lol, but I learnt to shut up ;)
This is part of her awkwardness and it also shows how what a fast thinker she is (considering how fast she can babble.) It's some of the traits I like in her character.
You must have been an interesting teen lol! However, Felicity's not a teen, and she pretty clearly has life experience (no matter how good you are at math, card-counting isn't something you just master in a couple of hours, and she was pretty quick to show her knowledge of seedy gambling history with her 86ed explanation), but even more, that phrasing just does not ring true to me as a likely way to express the idea of having a voice in your ear. I enjoyed th eline, yes, but it came across to me as a writer-constructed joke, not as a plausible line of dialogue. I mean, really, "I like having you inside me"? Sounds like an Amanda Bynes tweet, not a Felicity Smoak sentiment.
No doubt, but she's working as a professional and is pretty clearly well-educated, so at the least she must be in her early twenties--unless she's a Sheldon-level genius, I suppose!
I get the instinct to defend him - I don't think it's a show-killing issue, but it's not intentional. Pre-Island and On-Island flashbacks are no different. His line-reads seem like line-reads, which is the mark of a stiff actor.
Not sure I agree about Cassidy at this point. When she was being force-fed lawyer speak earlier in the season, that wrung false, but since then?
YMMV but I see Stephen voicing island!Oliver and Starling!Oliver differently using different tones to his voice and different expressions, and I don't see him just doing line-reads. I watch quite a few TV shows and consider him as one of the better actors I see on my tv screen each week because of him portraying those characters so differently.
As for Cassidi, I'm still waiting for the first time she wrinkles her forehead. Her face barely moves, which makes her emote too many scenes too similarly and at times, I find it distracting. She was much more animated in other shows I saw her such as SPN so I don't know if it's intentional or side effect of using too much botox, but it is what is for now..
This episode was incredible. I love this show so much it really came together during the season. Glad to see Walter back home, they really had me in there thinking that he was dead. Very excited about the final eps. Also, I love Felicity!!
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Good stuff. I loved seeing Felicity meet Laurel.
ReplyDeletePretty good ep with plenty of things to distract from S. Amell's stiff acting and delivery as Oliver... glad that Oliver made up with Dig and came clean to Laurel, but complicating things badly... some of the ep was either confusing or was edited a bit wonky as did Oliver reveal to his mother/Thea that Walter was dead to get his mother to lead him to Merlyn because I was under the impression that he believed the casino guy that Walter was in fact dead... small quibble but good ep overall
ReplyDeleteLove Love Loved it.
ReplyDeleteI think he did believe Walter was dead but once his mother left, he decided to follow her
ReplyDeletePretty solid episode. Glad they found Walter, glad Oliver apologized to Diggle, and glad Oliver found out about both his mother and Malcolm.
ReplyDeleteBut the two best parts of the episode easily were: Felicity saying "I love having you inside me..." and Oliver's anger-fueled rampage through the place they were holding Walter.
I wondered about that too!!! But he seemed to wonder what went on his Mom was so adamant that Walter was still alive. Dig had already placed a few doubts in his mind maybe he was following his instincts they don't normally fail him. Can't wait for the next new ep. I hated this show when it first started I love Stephen but he is a much better at acting than he is doing on this show. My Mom argues that his stiffness is part of the character to put yourself in his place. Five years on an Island learning to rely on himself as we have sen there was some betrayal there so basically being alone and learning how to become a killing machine had to take its toll so he would be stiff with his family and friends he hasn't been home a year yet. Anyway just a thought.
ReplyDeleteKinda what I thought as well. This is kinda confirmed when you see the look of shock on Oliver's face after he hears Walter is still alive.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else get slightly giddy at the Oliver/Malcolm stare down?
ReplyDeleteI love comics and I love heroes and I have always liked Arrow. I didn't, however, think an episode of Arrow could be THAT good. Really really great!
ReplyDeleteDifferent strokes re: Amell, I guess. I've seen aot of comments about him being stiff, but I've been very impressed at how well he's playing a very emotionally closed-off and damaged guy. I think the "stiffness" is Oliver's reserve and inwardness.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer this type of episode to the average episode. Great use of Felicity gets 100 points. "Inside me" line costs 90 points though.
ReplyDeleteBarrowman plays reserve. Amell is just a poor actor.
ReplyDeletei enjoyed pretty much, something I can't tell of the last episodes.
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised by Felicity's "inside me" line because the promo for this episode edited it to sound like she was saying something different. It really caught me off guard.
ReplyDeleteFelicity meeting Laurel and Thea and Moira was fun. I'm not sure Oliver should've mentioned she was his friend though. I think he gotta separate between himself to his Hooded version more.
ReplyDeleteShow, telling me everything about the Undertaking should also include how they plan to execute their plan, and I didn't learn everything about the Undertaking despite being told otherwise today.
SA rocked the different Olivers as usual.
Am I the only one who sees the potential in Walter being the next big bad next season? Those 6 months must have changed him.
This is what I think too, Moira responded so weird that Oliver had to check it out and he could've easily traced her location using her phone or by asking her driver where he took her.
ReplyDeleteI too agree the stiffness is intentional and I think we see this constantly in the island scenes.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't disagree with you more.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm knows Oliver is the Hood, he is waiting for him..
ReplyDeleteBarrowman has never played reserved in his life. Not in any thing he's ever done. Don't get me wrong, I love him - but he oozes with every line-read. He's a cartoon in the best possible way. Every once in a while, he says a word that I know is a real word, but it just doesn't sound like one the way he says it.
ReplyDeleteAmell is stiff, but he's getting much better. Lots of actors struggle in their first staring role and come out of it much better. Jennifer Carpenter had much the same problem on Dexter, now probably deserves Emmy consideration. Boreanaz was awful in his first season on Buffy, now is very natural.
I was surprised they found Walter, most shows don't return kidnapped secondary characters and I was expecting the show to kill him. Good to know I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think most of Amell being stiff is intentional and I agree about Barrowman acting cartoonish. The one I have the most problems with acting wise in this show is Katie Cassidy, that I hope improves soon.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was one of the better episodes in a while. Great action and I enjoyed seeing Oliver's emotional side. LOVED his last scene with Laurel. :) My shipper heart is happy! :) The downside is....I think this is the first episode he hasn't taken his shirt off in! :'( I'm kinda dissappointed! lol ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree about the stiffness. I think it's him holding himself back, but I find lately we are starting to see moments when his guard is coming down and he's less stiff. I loved the emotion he displayed at the end of this episode. Maybe that's why I enjoyed it more than usual.
ReplyDeleteThere were more episodes without his shirt off before like 1.16
ReplyDeleteA very rare occurance! lol I bet if we counted the eps on one hand we’d still have fingers left over. :) Eps with his shirt off is like having your cake and eating it too. Everyones happy. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed with him in Arrow but ... Barrowman plays reserve? Amell may not be a Hoffman or a De Niro, but he's playing multiple versions of Oliver--pre-island, Oliver changing on the island, and post-island--differentiating them all well, in my opinion. He's either grown on me or improved as the season has progressed. I can recall, watching the first episode, thinking that the voice-over was pretty dire. I hope they either drop it or redo it for next season.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a funn y line but was surprised by it because I can't imagine anybody saying it without already knowing up front how it would sound.
ReplyDeleteI loved Felicity interacting with EVERYONE. Her playing 'matchmaker' for Diggle and Oliver was great.
ReplyDeleteMy poor baby Ollie though. Stephen just slays me.
That's the thing with Felicity, she doesn't think before she acts. I personally had the same quality in RL as a teen and it got me in trouble too lol, but I learnt to shut up ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is part of her awkwardness and it also shows how what a fast thinker she is (considering how fast she can babble.) It's some of the traits I like in her character.
You must have been an interesting teen lol! However, Felicity's not a teen, and she pretty clearly has life experience (no matter how good you are at math, card-counting isn't something you just master in a couple of hours, and she was pretty quick to show her knowledge of seedy gambling history with her 86ed explanation), but even more, that phrasing just does not ring true to me as a likely way to express the idea of having a voice in your ear. I enjoyed th eline, yes, but it came across to me as a writer-constructed joke, not as a plausible line of dialogue. I mean, really, "I like having you inside me"? Sounds like an Amanda Bynes tweet, not a Felicity Smoak sentiment.
ReplyDeleteLOL, isn't Amanda Bynes in a similar age to Felicity? We weren't told Felicity's age yet but I think she's probably a bit younger than Oliver.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, but she's working as a professional and is pretty clearly well-educated, so at the least she must be in her early twenties--unless she's a Sheldon-level genius, I suppose!
ReplyDeleteI too meant mid-20s, since Bynes is 27. I think Felicity is probably 25 or so and Oliver is almost 28 now so it'll make Felicty a bit younger.
ReplyDeleteI get the instinct to defend him - I don't think it's a show-killing issue, but it's not intentional. Pre-Island and On-Island flashbacks are no different. His line-reads seem like line-reads, which is the mark of a stiff actor.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I agree about Cassidy at this point. When she was being force-fed lawyer speak earlier in the season, that wrung false, but since then?
YMMV but I see Stephen voicing island!Oliver and Starling!Oliver differently using different tones to his voice and different expressions, and I don't see him just doing line-reads. I watch quite a few TV shows and consider him as one of the better actors I see on my tv screen each week because of him portraying those characters so differently.
ReplyDeleteAs for Cassidi, I'm still waiting for the first time she wrinkles her forehead. Her face barely moves, which makes her emote too many scenes too similarly and at times, I find it distracting. She was much more animated in other shows I saw her such as SPN so I don't know if it's intentional or side effect of using too much botox, but it is what is for now..
This episode was incredible. I love this show so much it really came together during the season. Glad to see Walter back home, they really had me in there thinking that he was dead. Very excited about the final eps. Also, I love Felicity!!
ReplyDelete