Arrow 2.10 "Blast Radius" Review: Shock Waves and Fallout

    This week’s episode of Arrow, “Blast Radius,” was written by Jake Coburn and Keto Shimizu and directed by Rob Hardy. This was the first episode of Arrow for Hardy who has also directed such action oriented shows as The Vampire Diaries, Castle, and Criminal Minds. The episode has plenty of great action and nicely weaves a number of plot threads together. And we have the debut of the mask!

    The episode picks up five weeks after “Three Ghosts” and deals with some of the fallout from the discovery of the Mirakuru and Barry Allen’s (Grant Gustin) accident. The action in the present is nicely mirrored by the action on the Island that we see in flashbacks. Slade (Manu Bennett) is struggling with rage and an overpowering need for revenge against Ivo (Dylan Neal). Sara (Caity Lotz) provides a nice vehicle for exposition and tells Oliver (Stephen Amell) that all of the Japanese subjects who hadn’t died had been horribly disfigured, either mentally or physically. As Slade looks fine, we can assume that his damage was to his personality. Oliver is consumed with guilt over Shado’s death and wants to confess to Slade, but Sara stops him. It’s easy to see that Slade has since learned the truth and this is why he’s coming after Oliver now.

    In the present, we see Roy (Colton Haynes) struggling with the changes he’s experiencing too. The flashbacks suggest that Roy should be much more of a mess than he is. Oliver is, quite frankly, doing a crappy job keeping tabs on what’s happening with Roy. He’s so distracted by the Mirakuru that he drops the ball on a few things in this episode. We see that Roy has super healing powers and super strength when he saves Moira (Susanna Thompson) from the falling light grid. But Thea (Willa Holland) sees too! Thea isn’t stupid and knows something is going on by the end of the episode. Roy is continuing to try to keep her in the dark. I have to wonder if this is to protect her or because he thinks she won’t approve. Regardless, with any luck, she will tell Oliver by the next episode. It’s interesting though that Roy’s side effects don’t seem to be nearly as bad as Slade’s were, so possibly they have worked out the kinks of the serum and Roy won’t have the mind-altering side effects.

    The scenes in flashback were excellent, with Lotz, Amell, and Bennett all delivering exceptional performances. Bennett, in particular shows Slade’s fear as he slowly recognizes he’s losing himself and the rage he is unable to conquer. I suspect that Slade may have removed himself from Oliver and Sara in part to protect them against him. We also see the depth of his feelings for Shado, but also how he cares for Oliver, which is demonstrated by him giving Oliver Shado’s hood. Another Arrow question answered – how Oliver got the hood! Amell conveys Oliver’s anguish over Shado’s death and lying to his friend. We also see him at his wit’s end trying to figure out a way to save them all from Ivo. This dovetails nicely with the final scene with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards).

    The scenes on the Island once again draw a parallel to the triangle we see in the present, only now it’s Diggle (David Ramsey), Oliver, Felicity and Slade, Oliver, Sara. Slade and Diggle are clearly the mentors and Felicity and Sara are the knowledge/potential love interests. As demonstrated in flashbacks, Oliver knows the price of having people around him and having the responsibility to try to keep everyone safe and alive. No doubt this is what drove him to try to go it alone in the first place. The episode drives home that he can’t simply control everything and keep those close to him safe if they have to do their jobs. Diggle remains as always an important father-figure and the voice of reason. It was hilarious watching Diggle try to fill in for Felicity. I loved it when Diggle called Oliver on why he was sniping at Felicity: I think you didn’t have a problem with her dedication until she met Barry Allen.

    Oliver is beginning to accept that he can’t do this alone, but while he may yearn for a deeper connection to someone, he’s not ready to go there yet. That doesn’t stop him from being jealous of Barry, however, and the scenes with Felicity and Oliver sniping at one another were fantastic! It was nice to see Felicity stand up to Oliver and tell him to get his head out of his ass. And she’s not wrong – he was distracted in this episode. Outwardly, Oliver is solicitous about Barry, asking Felicity how he is and so forth, but there’s no other reason for accusing Felicity of being distracted other than jealousy. I also loved the final scene, which is beautifully acted by both Amell and Rickards. Oliver apologizes, but Felicity makes him do it properly and work for it when she says, “Are you apologizing to me or talking to your quiver?” It’s a very astute question – is he treating her like a person or simply as a tool?

    It was heartbreaking to see that Felicity still has some hope even while she is falling for Barry. It seems unlikely that she will ever completely drop the torch she is holding for Oliver, dooming any other relationship. She starts the question with “Do I have a shot” and there is a brief hesitation as she quickly assesses Oliver’s reaction before she breaks the tension with “at employee of the month.” She doesn’t want him to say no, that there is no chance at a romantic relationship, even if there isn’t one – or if he isn’t ready. Oliver’s response is fantastic anyway as he tells her she’s no longer an employee, she’s a partner and he couldn’t do this without her. It may not be all she wanted, but this is definitely something she’s earned. Oliver then turns the conversation to Barry, clearly indicating that this is where Felicity should place her heart. I loved the moment at the end of the scene when Oliver simply touches Felicity’s shoulder, holding her eyes with his and completely grounding her. It will be interesting to see if Oliver still supports a Barry/Felicity match when Barry ends up with superpowers. He’s hardly any “safer” for Felicity and Felicity is going to be stepping into a triangle there too.

    The other major storyline in the episode centers on Blood (Kevin Alejandro). It was really interesting to see Oliver forming a strong bond with Blood – as both Oliver and the Hood while Laurel (Katie Cassidy) grows increasingly wary of him. This is the beginning of another interesting triangle. It shows again the level of distraction on Oliver’s part that he is completely unaware of anything off about Blood. I loved Laurel telling Oliver that there was something unknowable about him and he reminded her of Oliver like that. It was great to see Cassidy getting some screen time and a meatier storyline. We are clearly meant to pick up on the fact that she’s the one that stole Quentin’s (Paul Blackthorne) pain medication as we see her popping pills. No doubt Oliver will be reluctant to believe her about Blood due to her current struggles with pills and alcohol. Quentin is reluctant to see the bad in Blood as well, but as he is already getting suspicious of Daily (Jesse Hutch), he is more likely to come to be swayed against Blood and come to Laurel’s aid.

     A quick word on the terrific actions sequences in this episode. I loved Oliver stringing up the drug dealer in the opening sequence. I also loved the motorcycle chase after Shrapnel (Sean Maher). In particular, when Oliver jumps off the bike and slides beside it, then jumping back on it – does he have those wheelies in the heels like you see on kid’s sneakers?

    I have one quibble with this episode – and the series in general. They get these fantastic guest stars – Sean Maher, perhaps most beloved from Firefly – and then they are only in two or three short scenes! It is both a blessing and a curse. I’m sure, however, that I was not alone in hoping for a Firefly reunion between Maher and Summer Glau (who played siblings on Firefly).

    Overall, I thought this was another really strong episode and a great return to set up the second half of the season. We’ve had the mask somewhat pulled away from Blood – he wasn’t an orphan, killed his father, and locked his mother in an insane asylum. It will be interesting to see how this affects the relationship between Oliver and Laurel. I also can’t wait to find out just what is going on with Roy. What did you think of the episode? Do you like the mask? Are you still rooting for Oliver and Felicity? What about the triangle being set up between Oliver/Blood/Laurel? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!