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Arrow - 2.06 - Keep Your Enemies Closer - Another Wish Checked? - Review and Episode Awards

Nov 17, 2013

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Arrow is having a terrific season. The pacing is better than season 1 and the character changes have been for the most part a huge improvement. New characters have similarly been impressive. In fact, there are only a few items still left on my wish list. One of those is Diggle. Last season, Diggle started out as a strong character, in part because he was the only one who knew Oliver's identity. While he was not an equal partner to Oliver in many episodes, he did get many juicy scenes to work with and shone in them. Then somewhere around midway, he started becoming slightly more in the background as the focus shifted on other characters. While he did have episodes where he was more central and even had a starring role in an episode, it sometimes felt like the writers were not sure what to do with his character. Oliver had the main action sequences and Felicity, the information, while myriad others had the drama parts. Enter this season and in the first 5 episodes, not much changed except in episode 2 where he got to fight China White and his ending banter with Oliver was notable. However, in the other episodes with the exception of plane jumping and talking with Lyla, his main role seemed to be exposition, "black driver," and scene wallpaper. In the fifth episode there's an entire scene in the Arrow Cave where he doesn't say one word. In fact, for most of the scene he doesn't even look at anyone as he stands in the far back with his back turned. When in that episode we finally do get a noteworthy Oliver and Diggle scene of them drinking vodka, it cuts quickly to a lame flashback and then ends. Argh!

Most of this lack of Diggle time can be reasonably explained though. This season Arrow is twice as busy, with more subplots and far more characters needing to share the spotlight because of it. With Oliver's Arrow transformation, Laurel's break down, Sara's return, Quentin's new job status, Roy's hero initiation, Moira's trial, Thea's club management, Queen Consolidated's collapse, and Blood's Big Bad impersonation, there is hardly room for anyone else. The only other main character without a clear storyline this season is Felicity and the writers are not going to let an opportunity to showcase her go by. (Heck, when Oliver finds out about Diggle and Carly's breakup half the conversation is with Felicity.) I can understand that sheer time constraints alone mean that not everyone gets a spotlight moment, but perhaps Arrow is too busy currently. Add in a Quentin-centric episode and 2 that focused a lot on Sara and there's little wiggle room. Not that I am complaining about those episodes since they were amazing. However in a season where the emphasis is on how these characters' lives and attitudes have changed post-quake, nothing much has changed about Diggle. Of all the characters, he seems to be the least affected by the quake and the one most likely to be overlooked in a scene. In fact, it sometimes feels like they are just adding him in to meet a time quota because even when he's on screen, he has remarkably little to do. After 5 episodes, I felt like my dream of having Diggle as at least a partial driving force in the plot was going unchecked this season. And then came episode 6.

Almost every episode in which Diggle is personally connected to the story contains Deadshot and this one is no different. After Lyla is caught in a Russian gulag while trying to assassinate/capture/get marksmen tips from Deadshot, Diggle must rescue her. The remarkable thing about this Diggle-centric episode is actually the amount of time he is on his own interacting with people who are not part of Team Arrow. It opens up insights into his character and gives some much needed character growth. Right from the beginning, it is Diggle who is commissioned with the job by potential important player, Amanda Waller. If she becomes an essential plot point later on, he will be the closest connected to her at least starting out. I also loved how it was Diggle who went undercover in the prison instead of Oliver. Not only did it make sense but it kept Diggle out of the exposition role he plays so often. The reveal that Lyla was his ex-wife gave him ample motivation in this episode as well as filling in some of the gaps in his back story. Plus it was a complete shock to me, making it that much more poignant. But of course, it is the scenes with Deadshot where Diggle soared. The opening scene in the freezer, where Digg's rage is clearly evident and yet he is impotent to act on that rage is impressive. For a man of action there can be no worse feeling than to know that the object of your vengeance for so long is within eyeshot but still out of reach. I am shocked that when the guard released him, he didn't at least attempt to punch Deadshot, although at that point he was so cold he could barely stand much less win a fight. Then to have no choice but to pair with your brother's killer in order to find the woman you love - egads, that's good conflict. I really like how Lyla acknowledged how hard working together was for Diggle. The Deadshot ending scene was equally potent where Diggle's personal honor code required that he allow Deadshot go. By the way, I have real problems with that scene because according to hero code, anyone Deadshot kills from this point on should be on Diggle's conscience. Does anyone really believe that Deadshot is reformed of his assassin ways? More true to form would have been to lock him up somewhere and call the police. I know they were in a rush but surely they could have trussed him up in the police vehicle near the airport and called as they took off. Still Digg wouldn't have gotten the HIVE info without letting him go and that is an exciting angle.

In the end, this episode was everything Diggle I hoped it would be. It gave us insight on the character, fostered interactions with people outside Team Arrow, created a new potential story line, and showed character growth. It did its job, but where does that leave my wish list? I guess optimistic is the best answer. I'm not ready to check it off the list without seeing real follow up to this episode, but there's a lot to work with now. I would love to see either the Amanda Waller or HIVE angles pursued into a sustainable story line for Diggle. They are the quickest way to incorporate Diggle into a main plot point and comic book fans seem excited about them both. Plus Amanda knowing Oliver's alter ego gives them some leverage over Team Arrow that might provide excellent external conflict. They could conceivably blackmail Team Arrow into helping them later. I could also see the connection with Lyla being important in the long run if ARGUS and Arrow start teaming up more regularly or if they continue to need military information. I just hope they don't kill her to jumpstart any mytharc. I'd rather her become an interesting character in her own right and have a purpose beyond motivating another vendetta. Of course there is a great possibility of Deadshot returning to Starling City as well, which would also up the emotional ante and since Deadshot was far less cartoonish this episode, I'd even be glad to see him back instead of rooting for his immediate demise like in other episodes. There are so many ways to make Diggle an essential part of the storytelling and I hope the writers use them to create a stronger character. If not, at least let him in on more of the fight scenes please. There is so much more this character can do than just spout exposition and watch other people's conversations.


Episode Awards:



Grade: B+

Best Scene - Diggle ends up in a freezer after a prison fight, and sees Deadshot there
-Frankly Diggle owns the top 5 scenes of the night as is fitting for a character-centric episode. However this is my pick because of the sheer hatred and impotency to do anything about it in the scene.

Best Non-Diggle Scene - Moira tells Thea that she cannot break up with Roy

Best Moment - tie - Quentin lets Roy go / Slade and Shado are alive

Least Favorite Moment - Isabel crashes the Team Arrow escapade

MVP - Diggle

Best Guest Character - Deadshot
-This will be part of next week's review, but I liked Deadshot better here than in any previous episode because he was more real, less cartoonish.

Best Use of a Minor Character - Anatole
-I hope he comes back in the present. Love all his lines but especially:

Anatole: "If Oliver vouches for you, you're my second favorite American."
Anatole: "From what I hear, she was trying to break in." Diggle: "Why?" Anatole: "I do not know, but clearly she had issues breaking back out."
Anatole: "It's full of violent psychopaths and killers…and that's just the guards."

Best Fashion Accessory - Felicity's hat when she lands in Russia

Biggest Shock - Lyla is Diggle's ex-wife / ARGUS knows Oliver's alter ego

Best Reason to Avoid Russian Gulags - tie - the food and hanging with the guy who killed your brother

Best Death - Deadshot kills the guard with an icicle

Best Confirmation - Slade and Shado are still alive

Best Flashback - Sara gets Oliver to betray Slade and Shado for Ivo to Oliver's shock

Worst Sound Editing - Diggle tells Oliver to get down in the fight

Best Action - Oliver takes out the guards to help Diggle escape and then everyone starts shooting

Best Answer to a Previous Mystery - Deadshot: "I don't miss."
-So Andy was caught up in something that got Deadshot hired. Great answer leading to further mystery.

Biggest Awww Moment - Diggle says he will always come for Lyla
-Lyla: "You came for me." Diggle: "Always have. Always will."

Best Quote - Diggle: "Thank you. You had my back." Oliver: "And now you know what it feels like."

Most Common Sense - Moira: "Thea, your social life is not going to be the determining factor in my trial."

Burning Questions -

Why doesn't Oliver hear Diggle as he's being tasered?
Why would the Japanese Imperial Army put all their serum on one sub or not make more when the sub went down?
Why did Diggle let Deadshot go instead of appeasing his honor and his conscience by having him arrested? He didn't have to kill him to keep him from killing people in the future.
What did they tell Isabel when leaving Russia about Lyla joining them and the fact that they are all beaten up?


Best Snark - Isabel: "I think she can take the night off. Don't you?"

The "Duh, Oliver" Award - Oliver: "So we're not doing the 'what happens in Russia stays in Russia'?" Felicity: "We're still in Russia."





Other Great Lines -

Felicity: "I'm sorry to interrupt your 'hullh'. I need to talk to you about your plans for this evening with Mr. Harper."
Oliver: "We are going to have to work on your excuses."
Quentin: "Thanks. It's been awhile since I arrested you. I forgot how good it feels."
Diggle: "Oliver, what are you doing?" Oliver: "Just need to help a friend."
Diggle: "Oliver, her tagging along does not help matters any."
Diggle: "The only thing that's impossible is us leaving this country without this woman." Anatole: "I like this guy. We have…we have no word for optimistic in the Russian."
Felicity: "Just thinking out loud, but are we sure this is the best plan we can come up with?"
Diggle: "Felicity, Lyla isn't my friend. She was my wife." Felicity: "Explain that sentence."
Isabel: "Do I strike you as someone who needs to cuddle?"
Deadshot: "If I say she's in there, what's keeping you from shooting me?" Diggle: "Honor. You should try it sometime."
Thea: "What are you doing here?" Roy: "Good question. I've gotten a lot of calls from prison, but never from my girlfriend's mother."
Moira: "You've not only survived. You've flourished. I think a lot of that has to do with Roy. So as your mother I forbid you not to see him."



Screencaps by Screencapped.net

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21 comments:

  1. Lots to love in this episode. Here's hoping we get some follow-up to the episode and a storyline that directly connects Diggle to the season-long theme. Sorry about being so screencap happy today.

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  2. It'd be great if Diggle had a storyline like Carter in Person of Interest, and then involve the rest of the team.

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  3. They have another problem with using Diggle and that is David's recurring commitment to Blue Blood. He participated in 5 episodes of Blue Blood last season (all aired in 2013 according to IMDB,) an episode with him was already aired this year, and apparently he already filmed another. That too is probably not making Arrow showrunners' life simple when scheduling his scenes.

    Personally, Diggle is one of my favorite characters and I too would love him to get more focus on Arrow.

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  4. Least favorite scene - Oliver sleeping with Isabel.

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  5. That would be fantastic. In a way I think of him as a cross between the Carter and Fusco characters on that show. He is such an intriguing character that I would like to see him more in the forefront again in the everyday episodes.

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  6. I don't mind that he slept with Isabel. I just don't want to have to deal with the consequences for the next 4-5 episodes. My biggest issue is that it's going to turn into love geometry in a show far too interesting to have to resort to such lame, cliched tactics. I have the same problem with the Slade and Shado scene because I feel that it too is going to drag down the plot when Oliver rejoins them. I would be good if Arrow cut all the romance and shipper-pleasing dialogue out and concentrated on the plot for awhile. We've got both Blood and the League of Assassins to work into the overall story as well as Amanda Waller to flesh out and myriad one-off criminals. This show does best with action.

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  7. I didn't realize he was on another show. That's disappointing because schedule conflicts were the same reason we lost Walter halfway through season 1. I'm still hoping he shows up as a regular later this season. Here's hoping both David Ramsey and Colin Salmon's schedules clear up by midseason so they can continue to shine on Arrow. Or better yet, someone just get Colin Salmon his own series. Maybe he could star in something with Mark Sheppard, another actor who I can never get enough of.

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  8. Yeah, I had no idea either until somebody mentioned it in another forum and IMDB confirmed..
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0708981/filmoseries?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3#tt1595859
    And it explains the episodes where he was more in the background.
    I hope they kill his character in Blue Bloods so that Arrow could have 100% of his time.
    I too hope to see Walter again. I can't see them adding Walter as a regular when the show already has 9 regulars. Maybe on the Flash?

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  9. I didn't see Slade and Shado's scene as romance. I saw it as a friend trying to keep another friend, who is wounded badly, alive. I also don't think Oliver would jump right to romance when he returns to Shado, first because Sara will probably be there with him, and second because he'll be busy blaming himself for what happened to Slade.
    As for Isabel, I think it was a one time thing. I hope he doesn't make this mistake again.

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  10. I don't think it was romantic at all from Shado's point of view, but Slade is suffering from some very serious unrequited love, as well as burns, and that's all it takes for a love triangle to ruin everything. I doubt we've heard the last of the Oliver-Shado-Slade issue.

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  11. I'm kind of hoping they send some of the other regular/recurring characters off to the Flash instead. There's a whole slew that I think would benefit from going elsewhere and that would allow Arrow to feel a little less overcrowded.

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  12. Funny, I see Carter as a mix between Diggle and Quentin. I didn't care much about Quentin in season 1, but he's quickly becoming one of my favorites. Now that I think about it, Quentin and Diggle working together would also be nice to see.

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  13. I totally agree Shado is someone who is selfless that will help anyone which is what i think will get her killed sadly

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  14. David Ramsey is an awesome actor and person so it was really good he got a chance to shine

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  15. I liked it mostly because that scene was more of a case of the 2 playing chess with each other more than anything else.I also like the way they wrote the Sara scenes in the flashback where she had to play a few games to help Oliver survive,i know a lot of people saw it as a betrayal but their was a lot more to it.

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  16. //Best Snark - Isabel: "I think she can take the night off. Don't you?"//

    I s Dahne slowly becoming a Summer Glau addict? ;-)

    Summer Glau's character Isabel Rochev played a more prominent role than in the first two episodes she was in. I thought the episode was very enjoyable, especially the parts when Isabel and Oliver begin to warm up to each other; I also must add that the scenes of Isabel and Oliver relating to each other made her seem more three dimensional as a character and puts her in a somewhat sympathetic light imo.
    That said I have the feeling that Isabel won't be very popular among Olicity shippers.

    I'm glad Isabel Rochev was able to get loose a bit, and Summer Glau nailed it.

    Arrow writers are taking their time with Isabel (well, except for the sex part - quickest "quickie" ever :-)) but at least we've learned a bit more about her backstory. Of course we know that she has a secret agenda and I guess we will learn more about her motives in episode 8.

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  17. I love how Summer Glau can play a bitch one moment:

    Oliver: Are we going to discuss what happened last night?
    Isabel: "Why would we?"

    And be charming and coy the minute after:

    Isabel: "I'll see you at the office tomorrow".

    Playing that kind of ambiguity is Summer Glau's trademark, and she nailed it :-)

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  18. Just like Dahne, I'm glad we had a Diggle-centric episode and I loved it.

    On the promoting department, I notice that at least 5 interviews of Summer Glau for Arrow (even I lost the count. lol) were published in the most important entertainment websites while I counted only one for David Ramsey (though I can't be certain).

    As you probably know, this episode was the show's most-watched and highest-rated episode of the season in Adult 18-49 and Adult 18-34. I guess The Black Canary arc didn't hurt the ratings. But Summer Glau's heavy promoting of the show through online interviews didn't hurt it either. It looked like Summer was Arrow's Public Relation this week :-)

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  19. No, but I do like the Arrow writers.

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  20. I think Diggle benefits a lot at being a not always front and centre character.



    (Incidentally there are a lot of actors working on 2 shows almost simultaneously)


    The cast of Arrow is pretty big and as soon as you add more characters you are always taking screentime away from another.. its just the breaks of having a 42 minute long episode. A Very enjoyable episode, I didnt mind Isabel, Diggle was great

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  21. I agree with most of your opinions, I too would love to see them keeping the focus on the real story and action going on with the League, Blood and even Moira's trial is really interesting. However, I think one of the great things on this show is it's sense of realism in the sense of how humans react to situations, and how they act. Partnership, of all sorts, romantic or not, is well worth exploring as it is a natural thing for all of us, including the characters. I love how the bit of 'old' Oliver shows through his to choice to go for some fun with Isabel before going to save Diggle; I love that Felicity has a crush on Oliver - anything else wouldn't make sense, he is handsome and she feels she has a special bond with him.. why shouldn't she crush on him? And the beauty of the show - with a tiny bit of air time they really get a lot of development done for these types of relationships. It doesn't bother the main plot line, it doesn't take away from it in attention or even time on air much (what, 1-2 minutes from an entire episode?), it only adds to the sense that these characters are real humans with real human reactions. I love it, and don't think they should stop, just keep it at the right amount and know where to keep the real focus.

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