Arrow Arrow Season 3, Episode 7 "Draw Back Your Bow" General Discussion

[Seb]

Seems like there was a huge wave of nods tonight; Sherwood Florist, Katana being an "outsider", the business dinner with Mr. Gardner, the Palmer Technologies logo bearing a resemblance, in part, to the Atom logo and then the obvious ones. Wonder what the A.T.O.M. acronym is going to stand for.

Huh, I missed the nod to Katana being an Outsider. Shame on me since the newer (read: Nightwing and Arsenal's run onwards) Outsider comics were my only experience of her character.

I seriously hope they can avoid any CW bulls**t between Katana and Ollie. Tatsu is supposed to be incredibly devoted to her family (she pretty much embodies the concept of loyalty, in whatever form it might take in a given circumstance).

I really liked Cupid, but thought her getting shipped off to Waller was especially crazy given the opinion Ollie seems to have of her (and justifiably so). It felt like plot over character with the writers finding an excuse to use her as a Harley surrogate in the Squad. It would have made more sense for Waller to just take her from prison herself.

Ollie is being a whiny little brat, and that's annoying.

We got a glimpse of Thea's cool new badassery earlier, but now apparently she's back boring teenage melodrama. Yay.

Ollicity is boring, Felicity deserves better and Ollie can be hastag-forever-alone for all I care.

 

[Mister J]

Huh, I missed the nod to Katana being an Outsider. Shame on me since the newer (read: Nightwing and Arsenal's run onwards) Outsider comics were my only experience of her character.

When they're on the makeshift stakeout, Tatsu tells Oliver that gaijin means "Foreigner. Outsider. You". He responds that it means her too. Fitting, given they both have history with the team (although I got so giddy, that the applicability to Ollie initially passed me ).

I wonder if we'll get webisode entries on Oliver learning to do laundry.

 

[Herolee10]

It feels like this show is going through this the same problem that Smallville went through when it made it to its third season. In fact, one could argue that there are a lot of similarities between the both shows' first three seasons.

1. Relationship/Romance that's been developed well between the male lead and a female star in the first two seasons, becomes a bore to watch by the third due to stupid melodrama. (Clark/Lana and Oliver/Felicity).

2. Female character that's close to the male protagonist joins forces with his enemy at the end of the second season, indicating that we're in for a big change for that female character, only for her to revert back to her regular self at the start of season 3 (Chloe/Lionel and Thea/Malcom)

3. Male protagonist feels like he can't be with the woman he desires due to his responsibilities but still ends up being a baby about it and drives everyone crazy by his indecisive attitude. (Clark and Oliver)

4. Fan favorite female character ends up being more defined by who she's being paired up with rather than giving her a interesting arc of her own. (Lana and Felicity)

5. The third season is not consistent with the themes and arcs that it's introduced at the start of the season and seemingly has no clear direction.

 

[Loki882]

-Cupid was a terribly written as she was in the comics (no surprise since Kreisberg is also involved in the show), but I didn't mind her as much here. Probably because I felt that the actress was quite entertaining as elevated the material somewhat. Also, she didn't all of the truly twisted crap that she does in the comics. As for the "make a difference," line, it's another crappy thing from the comics. Kreisberg had her do all kinds of evil crap, yet kept trying to ham-fistedly make sympathetic by having all of the characters be all "you poor dear with your backstory, we're so sorry for you." And then GA lets he go more or less at the end. It was bad there and it's bad here.

-Seriously Oliver, you handed her over to Waller or all people. When has Waller EVER been shown to "help" people. Use, manipulate, threaten, and kill them sure, but "help" no. Hell she made YOUR life Hell. That was just dumb.

-They turned Oliver into a jealous teenager, which didn't even remotely fit his character. Palmer changing the name of the company that his family built would have been a much better reason for him to be angry.

-They're FINALLY letting Katana do something, about time. And yes, this episode made me think that they'll eventually kill off her husband and then she and Oliver will start shagging. Also, Oliver's track record with female characters on this show.

-Really writers, the best plot line that you could come up with for Thea is having her hook up with DJ *****e, seriously? Hopefully Pappa Merlyn disposes of this guy REALLY soon.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

This was truly a filter episode......I guess the fall finale and crossover will be more interesting......

 

[Hunter Rider]

The criticism of Ollie in here is just bizarre to me, why would he be more upset about losing a company he never really cared about than seeing the smug *****e who took it from him making out with the women he loves?

If you were really doing what Ollie is doing you couldn't be a nice guy all the time and you'd be racked with guilt and conflict, the mission vs the hope of some form of happiness has always been a part of a character like Ollie.

I genuinely get the underlying feeling that most would be happy if they stuck Ollie permanently with Laurel and just concentrated on fighting baddies every week with no human drama at all.

He's being pretty selfish too. HE was the one who broke it off with Felicity. He has no right to now be upset at her for being with another man. She's totally allowed to do that.

That's not how real human emotions work, if they did everyone would be in blissfully happy relationships, it's more complicated sadly.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

Maybe it would better if there was zero to no romance. it seem to work well if there was none but I guess it the CW and need to get viewers to watch? I do think the DJ is a spy but the chances are unlikely

 

[Herolee10]

Personally, my biggest issue with Oliver this season has been the choices that he's made regarding Malcom and Cupid.


He know Malcom is bad and what he's capable of and yet he still chooses to protect him from the LOA, calling for war against them and all for the sake of Malcom, because of Thea?

And despite knowing that Cupid needs mental help, he chooses to dump her on Waller where he knows she'll be used on the Suicide Squad, a group that goes on suicidal missions with mini bombs implanted in their bodies in case if they go off of Waller's plans.

I know Oliver is supposed to be a flawed character but the producers aren't making it easier for us to like him as a character.

So far, the only likable characters that I've enjoyed seeing this season have been Roy and Ray.

 

[Hunter Rider]

His family's name gets officially wiped out... officially replaced with 'Palmer Technologies'


His family legacy is over..


And all that upsets him is Felicity spending time with Ray?



Really writers...

Are you gonna give every episode with Felicity focus a 1 because of your obsession with Laurel/Cassidy?

Maybe it would better if there was zero to no romance. it seem to work well if there was none but I guess it the CW and need to get viewers to watch? I do think the DJ is a spy but the chances are unlikely

Nearly every show that is successful has a romantic element of some kind in there, it's how most shows operate no matter the network.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Personally, my biggest issue with Oliver this season has been the choices that he's made regarding Malcom and Cupid.


He know Malcom is bad and what he's capable of and yet he still chooses to protect him from the LOA, calling for war against them and all for the sake of Malcom, because of Thea?

And despite knowing that Cupid needs mental help, he chooses to dump her on Waller where he knows she'll be used on the Suicide Squad, a group that goes on suicidal missions with mini bombs implanted in their bodies in case if they go off of Waller's plans.

I know Oliver is supposed to be a flawed character but the producers aren't making it easier for us to like him as a character.

So far, the only likable characters that I've enjoyed seeing this season have been Roy and Ray.

He protected Malcolm because he wants him to watch over Thea and isn't going to allow the LOA to call the shots in his city.

As for Cupid, there is no helping someone has insane as she is, so why not give her to someone that can use her clearly developed skills as a killer to go on missions for the country as an expendable asset? It's about as much use as her life will be.

I like Roy, Ollie, Thea, Felicity and Digg personally, I find Palmer insufferably smug and cheesy.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

I doubt Oliver give the crap about his family company anymore.......I still hoping the Sherwood Flourist Easter egg will be something more in the future........

 

[Herolee10]

He protected Malcolm because he wants him to watch over Thea and isn't going to allow the LOA to call the shots in his city.

As for Cupid, there is no helping someone has insane as she is, so why not give her to someone that can use her clearly developed skills as a killer to go on missions for the country as an expendable asset? It's about as much use as her life will be.

I like Roy, Ollie, Thea, Felicity and Digg personally, I find Palmer insufferably smug and cheesy.

And what does Oliver plan on doing if Malcom starts killing innocent people again? Not to mention the fact that Malcom has yet to pay for the innocent lives that he killed during the quake.

And even if he stopped Nyssa from killing Malcom, he has no reason to think that the League will simply back off because Oliver told them to.

And regarding Cupid, maybe it was the way that Amell delivered his lines but I got the impression that he really thought that being in the SS would be better for Cupid (not his country) than being in jail.

Normally I like Diggs as well, but I wasn't a fan on how he and nearly everyone else turned on Roy so easily when they thought that he had some Mirakuru left in him. It was ade abundantly clear that Roy wasn't in control of his actions when he was dosed with the serum but they were all ready to crucify him last week, and it's not like they're all completely innocent either

 

[Loki882]

He protected Malcolm because he wants him to watch over Thea and isn't going to allow the LOA to call the shots in his city.

As for Cupid, there is no helping someone has insane as she is, so why not give her to someone that can use her clearly developed skills as a killer to go on missions for the country as an expendable asset? It's about as much use as her life will be.

I like Roy, Ollie, Thea, Felicity and Digg personally, I find Palmer insufferably smug and cheesy.

Yeah, he wants the mass-murderer who killed hundreds of people (including Oliver's own father), and was indirectly responsible for the death of Oliver's best friend, said murderers own son. And Oliver wants THIS guy looking after his sister, so much so that he's willing to risk war with the LOA. Yeah that's not going to come back to bite him later at all. Yeah that justification didn't work them and it doesn't work know. It's just an excuse for them to keep Merlyn around (which they could have done in any number of less stupidly-contrived ways).

Yeah she's got mental issues, so don't even try to help her. Just dump her off with the woman that you know from first-hand experience is bad news. Yeah I'm not buying that he'd do that, at all. Honestly, it would have been more merciful if he had just put an arrow trough her head. Plus the scene didn't play that way. I don't know if it was the dialogue, or Amell's delivery, but it really played like he thought that joining the Suicide Squad would be good for CUPID. It didn't come across as him thinking about the country.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

Merlyn won't even be in a prison......he be in Waller's Suicide Squad.......and IT not a stupid excuse to keep him around. There something more. We should just wait and see instead of complaining the same thing over again over protecting a murderer

 

[Hunter Rider]

And what does Oliver plan on doing if Malcom starts killing innocent people again? Not to mention the fact that Malcom has yet to pay for the innocent lives that he killed during the quake.

And even if he stopped Nyssa from killing Malcom, he has no reason to think that the League will simply back off because Oliver told them to.

And regarding Cupid, maybe it was the way that Amell delivered his lines but I got the impression that he really thought that being in the SS would be better for Cupid (not his country) than being in jail.

Normally I like Diggs as well, but I wasn't a fan on how he and nearly everyone else turned on Roy so easily when they thought that he had some Mirakuru left in him. It was ade abundantly clear that Roy wasn't in control of his actions when he was dosed with the serum but they were all ready to crucify him last week, and it's not like they're all completely innocent either

Well it's not as if Malcolm was going around killing willy nilly, he had his target and did the damage he set out to for the most part, he crippled the Glades and got his revenge for his wife's murder.

I don't think we have seen anything to suggest Ollie believes the LOA will just back off, but they are villains just like Malcolm, Ollie isn't going to let them make calls in Starling.

I just saw it as him thinking of it as the best she could do with her damaged life, but I can see what you mean by the actual line they gave Ollie.

I think Digg reacted to the fact Sara was the victim more so than Roy the perpetrator. Oddly enough Ollie was the only one to try and help Roy and be there for him, but not many mentioned that unlike this week where he's getting endless moaning because he pushed a few things off his desk after seeing another guy kissing Felicity. He even rebounded pretty quickly and went off to dinner with his family.

 

[Boy Scout]

Oliver saving Malcolm made no sense. Never has, still doesn't, and never will.

Oliver handing Cupid over to Waller, as presented, was very convenient, came out of nowhere, and an odd choice on his behalf. A prison cell would've been able to hold her just fine. That said, I don't find it nearly as illogical as protecting Malcolm Merlyn.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Yeah, he wants the mass-murderer who killed hundreds of people (including Oliver's own father), and was indirectly responsible for the death of Oliver's best friend, said murderers own son. And Oliver wants THIS guy looking after his sister, so much so that he's willing to risk war with the LOA. Yeah that's not going to come back to bite him later at all. Yeah that justification didn't work them and it doesn't work know. It's just an excuse for them to keep Merlyn around (which they could have done in any number of less stupidly-contrived ways).

Yeah she's got mental issues, so don't even try to help her. Just dump her off with the woman that you know from first-hand experience is bad news. Yeah I'm not buying that he'd do that, at all. Honestly, it would have been more merciful if he had just put an arrow trough her head. Plus the scene didn't play that way. I don't know if it was the dialogue, or Amell's delivery, but it really played like he thought that joining the Suicide Squad would be good for CUPID. It didn't come across as him thinking about the country.

He believes that Malcolm cares for Thea, and he knows first hand how good Malcolm is, so why not have the best protecting your sister. Also a hero doesn't alter his course because it might upset a group of killers and criminals, Batman wouldn't allow the LOA to waltz into Gotham and kill The Joker.

Like I said the line they gave him wasn't the best to convey the point, but how do you help a psycho like her? Might as well get some use out of her killing skills.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

Thea will never forgive Oliver if he kills her father........there something bigger going on and Meryln would be better used alive as a asset to Waller like Cupid....Maybe Waller called Oliver off screen that he not kill Merlyn for some reason. He may not want to protecting Merlyn but force to do it under ARGUS orders perhaps

 

[Paradox1]

Stephen Amell said the reasons for protecting Merlyn are about 50/50. He doesn't want the LOA hunting him in Starling and her connection to Thea. Also I love Ray Palmer because that guy is a true gentleman and seriously that guy treated Felicity like a queen pun not intended.

 

[Human Torch]

Are you gonna give every episode with Felicity focus a 1 because of your obsession with Laurel/Cassidy?

Yeah,somebody needs to

 

[Boy Scout]

He isn't aware of Thea and Malcolm's relationship and could have offered to help the League chase Malcolm out of Starling

 

[Human Torch]

The criticism of Ollie in here is just bizarre to me, why would he be more upset about losing a company he never really cared about than seeing the smug *****e who took it from him making out with the women he loves?

Exactly!


I just lost the woman I love to a rich and powerful,good looking guy- b-but they finally changed the name on my company that I lost a year ago!

 

[Paradox1]

He isn't aware of Thea and Malcolm's relationship and could have offered to help the League chase Malcolm out of Starling

So you'd rather him help the league catch his sister's father so they can kill him? Thea rightfully could never forgive him for something like that. I don't care if your dad is a mass murderer. There is that biological bond that can not be overcome.

 

[Nathan]

I guess I'm ok with Ollie letting Merlyn go, because Thea is alive only because of him. So he's indebted to him. It shouldn't last, but he won't put an Arrow into him for the moment.

I really, really dislike that Ollie is handing over able bodies to Waller though. Especially if that person is mentally ill. So, she went to therapy once and it didn't stick? Let's ship her off then to do the governments dirty work, and implant a bomb in her neck in case she doesn't want to play along.

 

[Human Torch]

I don't really get the criticism of Digg this episode.He's at a place where he's happy with his (kinda-sorta) wife and baby and he sees his two best friends that are clearly into each other needing a push.So he (briefly) talks to them both about it. I know "Olicity" isn't really popular around here,but let's not make Digg out to be your match-making Aunt Edna!

I really liked Roy and Ollie going to Digg's for dinner.With Thanksgiving on the way,I'd like to think that was their Thanksgiving.t:

Having Ollie hand Cupid off to Waller was dumb as ****.I don't know why any of them continue to have dealings with that woman.