My "Arrow" 3x14 Recap
On the island, Ollie and Thea train. Thea is digging the bonding experience. Ollie enjoys it as well but a little less since he still has deep dark secrets. How many, we don't know. I feel like a lot of secrets are probably getting revealed off-screen?
In turns out, this is our annual flashback episode so everything is 5 years ago until I say it's not. Amanda reveals China White is in Starling City to meet with Peter Kang. He works for Queen Consolidated and was even at Ollie's house for Christmas. That is why Maseo and Ollie are still alive. Ollie knowing this guy is a huge advantage. That said, Amanda throws out the standard death threat, including that anyone who finds out Ollie is alive will die. So, Queen Consolidated had holiday parties? Their family is so shady and lovable at the same time. Maseo and Ollie begin tracking the guy.
Elsewhere, Quentin is blowing off work to drink. Laurel comes to get him. Quentin throws it in her face that she's not even that sad that Sara died. Low blow, especially considering how she “died.” Though, this is three years after the boat sinking so why isn't Quentin fired by this point?
In a car, Maseo tells Ollie that they have to break into Queen Consolidated that night. While casing the place, Ollie sees Thea and is overwhelmed. Aww.
In the present, Ollie is having a nightmare about Sara. Again, aww, this time in a sad way. Thea wakes him. She reveals how and why she knows Sara is dead. Ollie said he didn't mention it because he didn't feel like it was his place to discuss it. When Thea asks how she died, Ollie avoids the question and walks off. I doubt that will work forever. Even if it does, it will obviously blow up in his face big time. Anyway, Ollie tries to get his mind of things by going to see Slade. It turns out Ollie (or as we'll find out later, A.R.G.U.S.) has guards running the prison so I guess Slade wouldn't have starved if Ollie had died. Ollie finds Thea. He gets a call from Captain Jack who reveals he let Slade out so Ollie would be forced to kill again. Ollie and Thea go on the run. Okay, a couple of problems here: 1) I don't think Ollie's problem was killing as much as being outmatched. 2) Slade could kill them first. 3) Captain Jack is responsible for the death of that random guard. So much for turning over a new leaf.
5 years ago, Ollie and Maseo take time from the mission to follow Thea home. Maseo is being pretty cool about all this honestly. Thea sweetly talks to Ollie and Robert's gravestones until she scores drugs in front of them. Tommy shows up to chase the drug dealer away. He also tells Thea to stay away from his birthday party because it's not for her. He says he thinks of Ollie everyday (my heart, you guys) but is glad Ollie is not there to see her like this. Thea says Ollie cares more about her now that he's dead. I know we've never seen a flashback of them together since they never wanted to cast someone other than Willa Holland for those scenes. That said, I always got the vibe that they were close.
In the present, Ollie goes to Robert's grave to get a gun. Slade knocks Ollie and Thea out right there. They wake up in a cell. Slade is still crazy but a little more evened out now. He is going to leave them alive in the jail forever like Ollie was planning to do to him. Slade tries to reveal the business about Shado. Thea doesn't really care. Word.
5 years ago, in Momma Moira's office, Ollie gets the information on Kang's activities. While on the computer he sees files left for himself and Thea. He gets those two. While doing that Felicity comes in to drop off a file. Ollie hides. Felicity tells a picture of Ollie how cute he is. I know what they were going for here, but it isn't all that adorable that Felicity found a dead guy cute, especially since it was a bad picture.
Ollie decides to use his spare time to go to Tommy's party. Diggle and his brother, Andy, are working the party. His brother seems pretty cool but dead. Felicity would love him. Laurel comes to hang out. They spot Thea arriving. Tommy tries to send her away but she won't go. She buys drugs from the same drug dealer. Ollie corners him and tries to scare him away. He recognizes Ollie. He then pulls a knife on him. Knowing what this all means for him, Ollie just snaps the guy's neck and leaves.
In the present, Thea knows Ollie has a secret from her. Ollie admits as much but doesn't want to talk about it now. Apparently the prison was made by the Chinese who were originally on the island and A.R.G.U.S. fixed it up for Ollie. Ollie realizes the prisons were made for men so Thea could squeeze her arm out and hit the release button. This requires Ollie to dislocate her shoulder but he gives her a hug after. This family. Could Slade not have figured out a way to get to that?
5 years ago, after the party Thea thinks she spots Ollie but shakes it off. I guess it's the one upside of her drug problem. Quentin is there as a cop and insults Tommy and then Laurel. Inside he calls her a gold digger. He then yells at her for moving away and helping rich people. So... in the pilot we met the somewhat emotionally healed Quentin? Scary. Maseo pulls Ollie away at gunpoint. Ollie wants to return to his life since his family has the money and connections to make that happen. Maseo says if they don't complete the mission, China White could kill tons of people. Ollie says he doesn't know those people but he knows his family. He wants out. Maseo is severely disappointed in him but let's him go. Maseo must really love Ollie. He also gets in a hilarious burn that wearing a hood and rubbing paint on his face wouldn't hide his identity from anyone. It's like Ollie doesn't want a secret identity! Also, Maseo was just running from the organization in the last episode, but now he's all about the mission?
In the present, Thea stumbles into one of Ollie's old traps. He gets her out and injures himself in the process. Finally slowed down, he is forced to admit that she killed Sara. He didn't tell her because it wasn't her choice to murder anyone. Thea finally has a complete realization about Captain Jack. At least she's not blaming herself? This causes her to doubt the whole mission. All this yelling allows Slade to get the jump on them. Thea and Ollie tag team fight him. It's pretty awesome. Thea pulls the gun on him. People had a problem believing Slade went down so easy. He is no longer on mirakuru, doesn't really have the opportunity to work out and has had no one to spar against for several months. I buy it.
5 years ago, Ollie returns home and allows himself literally one second of relaxation. He plays the video that he found on his father's computer for him. It was to be played in the event of his death. He admits he did some terrible things with the people from the secret book. He regrets them. He wants Ollie to right the wrongs. We never do see the message for Thea and I wonder if it will come back into play. He also, looks considerably older than when he died. That's awkward.
At the old Queen Consolidated building, China White auctions off the doomsday virus she assembled all season long. A.R.G.U.S. tries to stop it. Everyone gets killed but Maseo who runs out of ammo. China White instructs someone to kill him. Ollie shows up. Together he and Maseo take out China White's guards. They knock out China White and get the bioweapon back. So, if they took her down, how was she free in the future?
In the present, Ollie convinces Thea that she is not a killer. She gives Slade a flesh wound. Slade says Ollie is losing his sister to darkness. He then mentions that he will probably lose Felicity as well. Then there will be nothing left of him. Well, he already lost Felicity all on his own, so it's too late for that.
5 years ago, Ollie considers his service done. Amanda reveals she works for General Shrieve. He shows up and says he will debrief Ollie in China. When that is over, Ollie can go wherever he wants. Ollie takes the deal. Side Note: In the comics, Lt. Matthew Shrieve was part of an organization rivaling A.R.G.U.S..
At CNRI, Tommy tracks Laurel down to check on her. After the talk with her dad, she decided to change her plans and work at CNRI. Kind of a weird lesson to take away. Tommy asks her out and she accepts.
Thea puts out flowers for Robert and Ollie, showing she does care. Or she is sad about no more drugs for awhile.
In the present, Laurel finds Quentin at Sara's grave. She reveals River Song already knows the truth. She defends her choice to be what Quentin calls the Black Canary. Quentin doesn't care about any of that. He considers their bond broken after the secret she kept. He goes to an AA meeting and leaves the alcohol he bought with her. He gave a drunk some alcohol. When he is cold, he is an iceberg. Laurel pours it out over Sara's grave. None of these people know how to act at graves.
At Thea's place, Ollie asks Thea not to tell Laurel about Sara's death. It will only complicate things and Laurel might turn on Thea. Well, secrets have never caused you trouble so this is a great plan. Oh wait... Captain Jack shows up and says the point of the island was to teach them to work together. It did. He has that going for him... except earlier he said he wanted them to kill. Thea reveals she knows he made her kill Sara. She will work with him because Ollie asked her to but she is no longer his daughter.