Arrow 2.12 "Tremors" Review: Love Conquers All

    This week’s episode of Arrow, “Tremors,” was written by Marc Guggenheim and Drew Z Greenberg and directed by Guy Bee. This episode demonstrates everything that makes Arrow one of the best shows on television: great writing, great action, great acting, and terrific direction to make it all hang together.

    As with all the best Arrow episodes, at its core is a single theme that bleeds into each storyline. This week its one of the lessons that Oliver (Stephen Amell) learned on the Island from Sara (Caity Lotz): “Love’s the most powerful emotion. And that makes it the most dangerous.”  Oliver reiterates that love is the most powerful emotion at the end of the episode, bookending and underscoring its importance. Love of Tommy (Colin Donnell) has had a profound effect on both Oliver and Laurel (Katie Cassidy).  It’s love for Tommy and respect for his memory that changed Oliver’s focus from seeking revenge and saving the city to honoring his friend by becoming something other than the killer he once was – he’s become Arrow. The shot of Tommy’s picture in Malcolm’s house underscores his importance to this episode – nice touch Guy Bee!

    We see that Laurel has continued to spiral out of control, fueled still by her guilt over Tommy’s death. Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) finally intervenes because of the love he has for his daughter and tricks Laurel into going to a support meeting. He appeals to her through his love of her as his family by telling her he misses her. As someone else who has experienced addiction, Quentin understands that he’s missing Laurel both physically and spiritually as the addiction has changed who she is. This is also a nice parallel to what the Mirakuru is doing to Roy (Colton Haynes) and did to Slade (Manu Bennett).

    Laurel puts him off but agrees to dinner because of her love for him. Meanwhile, she learns she isn’t getting the job with Joanna (Annie Ilonzeh) and is under investigation to be disbarred, losing even the job she loves. Quentin practices tough love, pointing out to Laurel that she’s not the only one who has experienced loss and disappointment in her life. Laurel refuses to even stay to listen at the meeting, running away to go and get drunk at Verdant. Thea (Willa Holland) calls Oliver as Laurel is ridiculously drunk. Kudos to Cassidy who turns in one of her strongest performances on the show.  She clearly shows Laurel’s spiral and her fear of what’s happening to her and her inability to stop it. Oliver knows who wields enough power to stop Laurel’s downward spiral – the person who came back to help her before – Sara. When Oliver calls, she returns to Starling City and reveals herself to Laurel because of her love for her sister.

    Again, Tommy’s picture helps to remind Oliver of one friend he failed, just as he failed Slade and is determined to save Roy where he failed Slade. Amell is once again fantastic in this episode. We see Oliver’s quiet desperation and determination to save Roy, his frustration at his own failures. It was fun to see Roy as frustrated by slapping water as Oliver was when Shado (Celina Jade) made him do it. Diggle (David Ramsey) tries to tell Oliver that some people are too damaged to be able to save them. Oliver tells Roy that he was unable to save Slade and had to put an arrow through his eye – so we have it confirmed.

    The two scenes that really stood out for me, were the ones between Roy and Oliver and Slade and Oliver at the end of the episode. All three actors, Amell, Haynes, and Bennett brought their A-games. Oliver puts himself completely on the line when he reveals himself to Roy, but he has to do it in order to appeal to Roy’s love of Thea. Oliver’s own love for his sister was the only way to reach Roy. Roy is stunned to learn that Oliver is the Arrow. He tells Oliver that he’s already saved him – not just physically, but really saved his very being. Perhaps this gratitude and hero worship combined with Roy’s love of Thea will be enough to help Roy succeed where we know that Slade has failed. The scene ends with a beautiful shot of the two shaking hands, silhouetted  against the burning remains of the device . The earthquake device is clearly one of the tremors referred to by the title. The tremors in Roy’s hand and the tremors in Slade’s hand also nicely tie the two scenes together and to the title.

    Bennett is fantastic in the scene on the Island as he crumbles from rage to fear of what is happening to him. Amell, likewise, is once again impressive in this scene and we see Oliver take another step in his transformation. Amell continues to be brilliant playing multiple facets of this character. I loved the way this scene was shot with tight close ups and nice reaction shots of Sara as she shows by her eyes her fear that Oliver is about to tell Slade the truth about Shado. Of course, Oliver does tell Slade the truth – just another truth. He uses Shado’s love of Slade and her desire for him to be reunited with his son – another love for Slade to hang on to – to reach Slade. Oliver then assures Slade he will still have his revenge when they take the freighter! Oliver has grown a backbone!

    While Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and Diggle are mostly in the background in this episode, we also know that at least part of Felicity’s reason for being a part of Team Arrow is her love of Oliver. I loved the scene in which Amell is doing the salmon ladder as he briefs the team and tells them he’s determined not to make the same mistakes with Roy that he made with Slade. We learn that Oliver thinks that Slade is dead. Also in that scene, when Felicity says she’s hacked the prison, Oliver expresses surprise. When Felicity asks if she hears judgment in his voice, he clarifies that it’s pride – love it! Felicity and Diggle are both concerned that Roy now knows Oliver’s secret, yet when Oliver brings Roy to meet them, they welcome him to the “team.” They continue to stand behind Oliver.

    It’s also love for Thea that ultimately convinces Moira (Susanna Thompson) to run for Mayor. Thea convinces Moira that she can do more than simply feel sorry for what she did, she can play an active role in making up for it.  Part of Moira’s motivation has to be her love of Walter (Colin Salmon) as well. It was great having Salmon back. It was also great to see that part of her campaign team is going to include Nicholas Lea as Mark Francis. Lea will be familiar to many from his long run on The X-Files. Of course, having his mother run against Sebastian Blood (Kevin Alejandro), his friend, is going to create complications for Oliver. I am curious as to exactly how Walter and Moira are going to keep her OB quiet about Thea’s true father. Will they be as ruthless at Blood in her campaign for Mayor?

    The episode also sees the return of Bronze Tiger (Michael Jai White). As an aside, I loved Felicity pointing out that his name is lame because tigers aren’t bronze! We see another thread picked up as Cynthia Addai-Robinson returns as Amanda Waller from A.R.G.U.S. On Facebook, Amell promised a moment that would give comic book lovers a “boner,” and Waller recruiting Bronze Tiger for the Suicide Squad was that moment. It’s great to see the show really capitalize on the seeds it’s sown throughout the season – that’s good story-telling.

    I've managed to get all the way to the end of this review without even mentioning the terrific action sequences which we seem to simply take for granted on this show, thanks to the great work week in and week out by James Bamford and his team. I'm including praise here not only for the fight scenes but the great training exercises as well - and really, any episode that features the salmon ladder gets a thumbs up! Maybe we should see Diggle and Roy training on that too...

    What did you think of the episode? Will Oliver be able to keep Roy under control? Was it a mistake to reveal himself to Roy? Did you enjoy the return of Walter? Do you think Moira can become Mayor? Do you think Sara can get Laurel to sober up? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!