Arrow Arrow Season 5 Episode 13: "Spectre of the Gun"

[Slade W]

S5 EPISODE 13 - Spectre of the Gun

WILD DOG’S HISTORY IS REVEALED — A traumatic attack on City Hall triggers painful memories for Rene (Rick Gonzalez) about his family. Flashbacks reveal how Rene went from simple family man to a hero named Wild Dog.
Meanwhile, Oliver (Stephen Amell) must deal with the perpetrator behind the attack and realizes the best way to do so is as Mayor Queen instead of the Green Arrow. Tensions run high in the Arrow bunker.
Kristin Windell directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim

 

[Jedi Arrow]

Oh good, Wild Dog flashbacks! I say that in all seriousness, not sarcastically, because I really do want to like Rene. I think they've been slowly making him more likeable in the back half of the season (at least these last couple episodes). Rory is already more likeable than Rene and he has even less development, so Rene needs to play catch-up (but I also want some Ragman-based stuff soon, because please don't underuse Rory, guys).

 

[vantheman77]

The title is a Star Trek title.

 

[Legendver2]

Sounds more like a Bond title to me

 

[Slade W]

https://youtu.be/Py2JfvwA6OA

 

[NotNickFury]

So has there been an episode of Arrow prior to this one with some sort of warning advisory?

 

[Pennywise]

One of the best episodes of the season so far! It's refreshing to see Oliver try to solve problems as mayor. Also, Wild Dog's flashbacks!

 

[The Guardian]

That was awesome, Amel was great in that scene!

 

[Morg]

The title is a Star Trek title.

No it isn't ST has phaser not guns

 

[General Mike]

So has there been an episode of Arrow prior to this one with some sort of warning advisory?

Was wondering that too. First time I remember seeing it, but I watched the first 2 seasons on Netflix.

 

[SV Fan]

Didn't Rene say he is against the gun registry because if he had a gun his wife wouldn't die? Pretty stupid to show a flashback 2 seconds later where him going for a gun lead to his wife's death.

Also was Rene's wife Anna from he OC?

 

[vantheman77]

No it isn't ST has phaser not guns

Star Trek has the same episode title as this.

Since when did Arrow address the gun control commentary?

Quite an origin for Wild Dog.

 

[Paradox1]

This episode was way to preachy for me so blahhhhh!

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I kinda liked the idea, the concept, of what they wanted to do. The problem for me is that it seems way too hollow coming from them. Yeah, I get it that having clear politics can be messy and divisive and feel preachy. But if you're going to do it, then do it. If not, then don't. There's no half measure for me.

But, the reason it feels hollow to me, is that they have a superhero who is a ****ing politician. He's the ****ing mayor of the city, and despite that they haven't touched political themes or issues with a damn 50 foot pole. The closest we've gotten, before this, was Ollie getting called a 'Hippie' for his "clean the Glades" initiative last season, before it got shot up. I mean, I guess Season One was thinly political, because he was targeting One Percenters, going after corrupt executives and evil slum lords. But, I think it was subtle enough for most not to get it. And unlike other superheroes, who largely remain A-political overall, Green Arrow has historically been a very Liberal character. He's been a character who's worn his politics on his sleeve.

I understand that can be a gamble, and in the insane political climate we've had going almost a decade now. But, they've gone out of their way to not do that stuff. And doing it for an episode just seems hollow and empty because of it. It was also really weird to position Curtis calling out Rene over his chances of being shot, when Rene is also a person of color. Rene is half Dominican and half Puerto Rican. His chance of getting shot on the streets aren't that much better than Curtis', but positioning that argument with a Black man and a Latino man...came off as tone deaf, and like they wanted to keep Ollie out of any controversial moments. It's like they wanted to address that issue, but didn't have the right character (maybe Lance? Maybe Ollie?) in mind, so they just went with the only Latino character?? Seriously?

And then, despite all of that and the admittance that gun control is a complicated and divisive issue, they're able to come up with legislation that both sides can agree on overnight? Without the councilwoman's input, and only after looking over the proposal for all of twenty seconds, she's all in?? Really? You have any idea how paranoid pro-gun proponents can be? Even the idea that one of them would agree to something, and do so in the span of seconds just seems...I dunno, like someone writing doesn't understand politics. I think it was meant to be inspirational, and aiming high for what it takes. But, it was a messy way of saying it. Although, I have to say Amell delivered some amazingly inspirational speeches in this. He was great, as always. And Rene's backstory was pretty damn good, and heartbreaking.

I liked the idea, but cramming it into one episode, and how they fit everything in, and their reluctance to say anything political, despite having a ****ing politician has it's main character (which, doing that is kind of amazing when you thinking about it) just makes it all seem empty to me.

I didn't think it was preachy, to be fair. I thought they made an effort to give both sides a voice and give their views. But, still.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

So has there been an episode of Arrow prior to this one with some sort of warning advisory?

It's the first time they've done that. I've been watching, on tv, since season one. It's the first time they've done that.

I assume it's because of the shooting at the beginning. In all honesty, this could have easily been an episode that got delayed for a mass shooting taking place in the same week. I think given the nature of the shootout in City Hall, that's why they placed the disclaimer.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Didn't Rene say he is against the gun registry because if he had a gun his wife wouldn't die? Pretty stupid to show a flashback 2 seconds later where him going for a gun lead to his wife's death.

Also was Rene's wife Anna from he OC?

The storytelling was iffy there. But, I think he meant if he had it on him. He didn't take the gun with him, so he didn't have it on him. And I'm pretty sure the gun was illegal, which is probably why he lost his daughter after the shooting.

I'm not sure his wife died because he went for the gun. The gunman seemed to get startled, and start shooting, when the daughter walked in.

Definitely could have been better handled, in terms of storytelling.

 

[Lencho01]

An ok episode but, it felt a little off.

It was cool seeing Samaire Armstrong again.

 

[Slade W]

That was an ok episode. It is the third episode in a row where I really liked Rene. Amell, as always, does well in the emotional scenes.

 

[Deltron3030]

Great episode. Not as much arrow action if any but a very well written episode. Felt like part of a movie and I enjoyed it. Also seeing a Dinah and diggle ship.

 

[famicommander]

The way they took on gun control was stupid. They didn't even explain what the new regulations they passed at the end of the episode actually do. How is it gun control if it supposedly won't affect the ease of gun ownership, or even buying/selling/carrying guns?

The mere idea of gun control in a city that has:
1. Been partially destroyed by a ninja billionaire with an earthquake machine
2. Been invaded by an army of drug-enhanced supersoldiers
3. Been invaded by an army of ninjas
4. Been terrorized for a year by a magic ninja and his paramilitary evil organization

is just absurd.

Especially when you consider the rest of the planet has people that can phase through walls, travel through time, throw lightning, travel to alternate dimensions, run at super speed, fly, shoot fire from their hands, transmute matter into other matter, absorb nuclear energy, modify their size at will, breathe under water, pick up and throw cars, etc.

And they're worried about a random nut with a rifle?

I mean, team Arrow kills people all the freaking time. Diggle, Dinah, and Rene even use guns. And Ollie shoots people with a freaking bow.

 

[JMLZ]

The constant preaching about gun control took me out of the story as much as any commercial break. I wish they'd stick to the basics and keep the politics to an absolute minimum. Legends... and The Flash do fine without it. Supergirl is a non-stop political agenda mill and it looks like it's infecting Arrow now.

 

[KnightErrant]

Aside from the Wild Dog origin scenes I was glazing over with the PSA style episode.

 

[Batmannerism]

The very fact that Arrow took on gun control and developed the depth of several key characters gives this episode massive points for trying.

What does it matter that it's a fictional setting/story in terms of taking a position, or at least showing different positions around a serious debate ?

The point of the episode was that random nuts with guns, acquired legally, are incredibly dangerous - Sandy Hook ? Virginia Tech ? Aurora ? At least dangerous enough that maybe it's worth talking about the ease with which automatic weapons can be acquired legally.

At the same time, the episode touched on the dangers of registries and government surveillance - it's a complicated issue, and I think this episode did as good a job as could be expected of a CW show to deal with it.

 

[superboy13]

The constant preaching about gun control took me out of the story as much as any commercial break. I wish they'd stick to the basics and keep the politics to an absolute minimum. Legends... and The Flash do fine without it. Supergirl is a non-stop political agenda mill and it looks like it's infecting Arrow now.

I didn't see any preaching. If anything, I saw multiple characters offering different insights into different arguments and there was no final "guns are good/bad" message. They kept it pretty grey-area bound, which I think is good for a show like this. It was obviously "A very special episode of...", but it didn't feel like it was forcing a specific point of view, but rather engaging in a (very much needed) discussion.

I dug it.

 

[Batmannerism]

I didn't see any preaching. If anything, I saw multiple characters offering different insights into different arguments and there was no final "guns are good/bad" message. They kept it pretty grey-area bound, which I think is good for a show like this. It was obviously "A very special episode of...", but it didn't feel like it was forcing a specific point of view, but rather engaging in a (very much needed) discussion.

I dug it.

Very much on the same page. Had the same reaction - thought they handled it well for a CW show, particularly as they didn't reach a final conclusion.