Arrow, “Beacon of Hope,” was written by the team of Ben Sokolowski and Brian Ford Sullivan and was directed by Michael Schultz. This episode saw the crossover of a villain from The Flash – Emily Kinney reprised her role as Brie Larvan. This episode definitely had the feel of borrowing the tone of The Flash as well – something the producers have been promising most of this season. Don’t get me wrong, I like The Flash – and really love Grant Gustin, Jesse Martin, and Carlos Valdes – but The Flash isn’t really my cup of tea. I like Arrow because it’s darker. It's not quite the difference between the Batman tv series of the 60s and The Dark Knight - but it's close.
And as much as I like Echo Kellum as Curtis and it was fun to see him in the lair going all fanboy, the fact that he’s been upped to series regular for next season has me worried on two counts. What does this mean for Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) ever returning to the lair and what does it mean for the tone of our show?
I did like how the title of this episode played on the BEE puns running throughout the episode, but also introduced Felicity’s new focus. As the episode opens, she’s already troubled that the device that is helping her to walk is going to be priced so expensively be Palmer Technologies that it will be out of reach for many people who need it. It’s an interesting dilemma. After all, in order to continue to do cutting edge research, the company has to cover its overhead – but can it do that effectively with just the new power cell? Theoretically, it can make a lot of money with the business and industrial uses of the power cell, leaving the company able to be philanthropic in its sale of the biotech. Once Felicity has saved the entire Board by the end of the episode, they may be more willing to discuss such a balance. Too bad a lot of pharma companies couldn’t have a similar epiphany!
I’m pretty sure that a hacker is never going to get any internet time in prison, but Brie does and manages to parole herself in order to come after Felicity for the chip in her spine. Brie is one of those people who could never afford it. I did like the bee special effects – and how they transformer – ed themselves into an actual opponent.
And here’s another rant on this episode. High heels for someone with a spinal condition? Really? I love my stilettos, don’t get me wrong, but I’m getting tired of how they are used in this show. It’s fine for Felicity to wear them when she has no expectation of running, and I do respect the fact that the women are in flats when in superhero costume. But Charlotte Ross (Donna) is done a complete disservice first by the ridiculously high shoes – nobody would shop in those – and even more by that dress! Again. Who would wear that to shop? I get that she’s beautiful, but could the show objectify her slightly less? I was really hoping once she took them off to run in her bare feet that she would leave them off.
Oliver (Stephen Amell) is filling his spare time and energy with training. I loved the Thea (Willa Holland)/Laurel (Katie Cassidy)/Diggle (David Ramsey)/Oliver training circle. I also did love Oliver pointing out that Felicity isn’t Vodemort! And that he hadn’t seen the movies… Laurel reaches out to Oliver because what they used to have gives her a special insight to how passionately he loves and how much he hurts after it goes away.
Thea goes to see Felicity to ask for a job for Alex. Felicity, of course, is immediately concerned about Thea’s “night job.” And has to speak in code in front of her mother. Once Brie shows up, Felicity, Donna and Thea have to work together to try to get to safety.
Curtis heads off his sick bed to go help the team. Paul (Chenier Hundal) is not impressed. And of course, Curtis lies about where he was when he finally goes home. How long until either Curtis’s marriage collapses or Paul is put in danger or killed? I did love Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) commenting on whether anyone can just walk in the lair when Curtis arrives. Good question – sure seems like it! Also? Did Curtis get the fastest IV in history?
Curtis hacks the bees to let the rest of the team try to get into Palmer Technologies. He uses one to take a message to Felicity. Felicity, Donna, and Thea make it to the door just as Curtis loses control of the bees and Oliver ends up getting stung. I did like Curtis going to Pop Culture references when he was nervous – like the Borg and Alien… Curtis uses the Canary Scream technology to kill the bees in Oliver – but again the bees adapt so it’s only a one time fix. Curtis ultimately finds a solution and Quentin even jumps on the pop culture bandwagon by likening the fix to
Independence Day!
Felicity comes up with a plan to save the board members. By stopping the elevator at the conference room floor and then blowing a door with communication devices that malfunction! Felicity and Thea send the board members with Donna when Brie shows up.
Brie explains her obsession with bees – they are dying off at 30% per year and all life depends on them! Is it just me or is a bee-obsessed villain a natural recruit for HIVE? Felicity does give Brie the blueprints. Felicity complains that she’s sick of the violence. But Thea tells Felicity that they have to be the beacon of hope for the city.
Oliver is overly harsh with Curtis and luckily Laurel steps in to point out what he’s doing. Once again, Oliver is trying to scare someone away – he wants to show Curtis that this isn’t a good life – it’s not fun. Oliver is back to believing he can’t have a life and be the Green Arrow. Laurel points out that life’s not fair and that Felicity broke up with him because of the choices he made. She also tells him that he’s a beacon of hope for the city and she wishes he’d save some of the hope for himself.
In the final confrontation, the entire team works to defeat Brie. Oliver is bested by B-man, but Felicity uses a light to electrocute him. First rule of computer discipline, right? Deny it power – or give it too much! Oliver takes a bullet for Felicity after telling her she never has to say thank you. Quentin kills the rogue bee coming after him and Curtis, allowing Curtis to take control of the bees and swarm Brie with them.
After Oliver apologizes to Curtis and invites him back any time, Laurel compliments Oliver on his apology. He is taking her words to heart – trying to be a beacon of hope and save some of that hope for himself.
Thea tries one more time to get Felicity to rejoin the team. After all, does it get any better than the thrill of what they’d done that night? Felicity tells Thea she was never in it for that. Was she just in it for Oliver? Felicity clarifies that she was in it to make a difference. To be a beacon of hope. But now she’s going to do that with Palmer Technology and the new spinal implant technology.
Malcolm (John Barrowman) visits Dahrk (Neal McDonough) to tell him that HIVE no longer has faith in him – and doesn’t like his magic either – so he’s now on his own in prison. He gets beaten up once before managing to turn things in his favor and blackmail Michael Amar (Adrian Glynn McMorran) into working for him. Amar’s mouth is sewn shut because of his abilities as Murmur – see last season’s “The Offer.”
The final scene reveals that the new mastermind who Malcom is reporting to is none other than Andy Diggle (Eugene Byrd)!!! I did NOT see that coming!
The flashbacks were pretty sparse. Reiter (Jimmy Akingbola) seems to be immune to bullets – but his magic wears off. Luckily, for Oliver the magic wears off and allows him to knock Reiter out. The Oliver/Reiter fight was a good one. And then as soon as Oliver turns his back to look after Taiana (Elysia Rotaru) Reiter disappears. The two end the episode preparing to storm the prison to release Taiana’s friends and kill all of Reiter’s men.
I neither loved not absolutely hated this episode. I did feel that lightening the tone is really not the direction I’m looking for with the show. Both Donna and Curtis have potential to be likeable characters, but to date, they often come across as just the comic relief – Donna especially. It’s hard to take her dramatic moments seriously and it’s only Ross’s talent as an actor that makes it work. What did you think of the episode? Did you enjoy seeing Brie and Murmur again? Is this is for Olicity? Is the romance between Laurel and Oliver about to heat up again? What about Andy Diggle as the new big bad? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
