'Arrow' Review/Recap: "Canaries"
Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
The main star of Arrow tonight was Laurel Lance. Katie Cassidy has transformed Laurel and delivers some of the best scenes Arrow has seen this entire season. In an amazing action sequence, Laurel sees Sara as her attacker when injected with vertigo. Cassidy has fully transformed into a superhero and has proven herself as an actress in this episode. Her incredible fight sequences with Lotz is outstanding and helps propel the character to new heights. Cassidy and Lotz are in perfect synchronization as they duel and it was amazing to see two female characters fight on screen over something other than a man.
Fans have been waiting for Laurel to break the news of Sara’s death to Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) and in this episode it finally happened. Blackthorne and Cassidy deliver their best performances to date as Blackthorne stumbles to catch himself upon hearing the news. The two of them have always worked beautifully together and this scene showcases it once again. Cassidy and Blackthorne work effortlessly together and this scene further proves how much they have grown as actors. In season one, Cassidy and Blackthorne were seen as the hardened characters that rarely showed emotions and now they open up to each other and create some of the most heartbreaking scenes Arrow has seen.
One of the biggest moments of the night comes within the first ten minutes of the episode. Malcolm (John Barrowman) tells Oliver it’s about time Thea (Willa Holland) was let in on his secret identity. In a moment fans of Arrow have been waiting for since day one, Oliver leads his little sister down to The Arrow Cave. In the perfect possible way Thea tells Oliver, “All those times I got so mad at you for being a flake… you were saving someone’s life. Thank you!” Amell and Holland have amazing chemistry and have become one of the best sibling duos on television. With Thea finally knowing Oliver’s secret here is hoping they have even more scenes together. Amell has grown exponentially as an actor and it shows when he is standing with tear filled eyes in The Foundry as Thea takes it all in.
Team Arrow also underwent some drastic changes this week with the inclusion of Laurel and Thea into the team. Felicity and Roy begin to take a more important role in the team as well. Felicity even tells Oliver, “That doesn’t mean we can go back. And it doesn’t mean you have the right to come back here and question everyone’s choices.” Rickards and Amell have often had lovely conversations with each other so it was refreshing to see the two of them bickering and showing another side to Oliver and Felicity’s relationship.
Next weeks Arrow looks even crazier (if that’s even possible). By this episodes end, Oliver and Thea take a trip to Lian Yu. This should make for an interesting episode especially because in the flashbacks this week fans saw Maseo (Karl Yune) and Oliver being dragged to Starling City by Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). Arrow is sure to be an interesting episode next week and will be one that long-time fans will not want to miss.
Arrow airs on Wednesdays at 8/9c on the CW.
Overall Grade: A-