My "Arrow" 4x18 Recap
We open with Andy getting a gun out of the Diggle family safe. He immediately comes clean with Diggle about what happened in the previous episode. He asks for advice. You couldn't have gone to a better guy for that.
At the Arrow Cave, Ollie finally mentions that Damien's magic object is the statue from the flashbacks. Apologies for not putting that together sooner. Turns out I care less about the flashbacks than I thought. Anyway, the group decides to install Andy as a double agent working with Damien.
At Ruve's acceptance speech, Ollie makes an appearance for the good of the city. It turns out there were write in votes that were 40% in Ollie's favor. Aw. Everyone hates Ruve as much as we do. Ruve approaches and announces she wants Laurel to be the new DA.
5 years ago, Taiana says the island is hell. It turns people into monsters. Ollie agrees but thinking of who they used to be won't help them now. They execute their plan. They kill guards and release prisoners. Baron has the statue but Taiana and Ollie blow up the tunnel he's in to trap him. Also, Taiana shows a picture of her brother to Ollie while he shows her a picture of Laurel. This is just for angst. Ollie promises Taiana he will go to Russia and tell her parents what happened to her brother if she promises to tell Laurel what happened to him if he doesn't make it. I think we all know where this is going. Preemptive R.I.P., girl.
Green Arrow, Spartan and Andy try to save a shipment. They do it easily. They realize it was a trap. Easy has never been their thing.
At the Arrow Cave, Laurel tells Thea that she's considering becoming DA to keep an eye on Ruve. Captain Jack attacks with LOA guys to get the statue. So, I guess all of his anger for the LOA is for nothing since some still work for him? They succeed because Thea hesitates to kill Captain Jack. She leaves to blow off steam. Ollie arrives and privately tells Laurel that the thinks Andy is betraying them.
Quentin and Laurel have dinner together. Laurel says she's thinking of taking the DA job. Quentin says Ruve won't let her out of her sight if that happens. She will have to stop being the Black Canary. At this point her problems are either fulfill her life long dream or be a superhero. Not bad problems to have.
In a warehouse, Andy takes an arrow for Green Arrow. He warns them that Captain Jack must be at the prison with Damien. Diggle comforts Andy by saying he hid a piece of the statue so Damien doesn't have it. Ollie warns Diggle to keep his mouth shut. Laurel and Thea go to research Damien and Captain Jack. Diggle will get a lot of flack for ignoring red flags here but Ollie was the one who got him to trust in the first place. To the show's credit they remember that as well.
At the prison, Damien reveals that Captain Jack is giving him the statue in exchange for him and Thea being spared during Genesis. I feel like in Damien's mind that might mean he'll kill them both before Genesis arrives. Anyway, a piece is missing from the statue so it's back to the drawing board for Captain Jack. Laurel searches Damien's cell and turns up nothing. He taunts her.
At Diggle's place, Ollie confronts Andy with his accusations. Andy proclaims innocence. Diggle arrives and protects Andy. This would've gone over better if Ollie had run this by Diggle first. Communicate!
At the Arrow Cave, Ollie tells Diggle that Andy lead them into several traps. Diggle thinks Ollie is just upset because Felicity dumped him. Diggle leaves. Elsewhere, Ollie tells Laurel that she put off her dreams of being DA to avenge Sara but Sara's alive now. Maybe she should take this opportunity to be a DA. For those of you keeping score, Laurel is about to reach her life long dream. You know what that means in TV world. Team Arrow is monitoring the prison and sees as Damien takes weapons and prisoners to hold the prison hostage.
In the prison, BC Laurel, Green Arrow, Spartan, Speedy and Andy bust into the place. Quentin is the distraction. Speedy and Captain Jack can't bring themselves to kill each other. Andy reveals he was a double agent the whole time. That means the entire team was both right and wrong depending on the moment. Damien activates the statue and reveals he knows all of their identities. He stabs Laurel with one of Green Arrow's arrows since Quentin disobeyed him. Yes, because what is Quentin doing if he's not mourning one of his daughters. Also, the prisoners escape. To get into things a little more, I'll mention Damien uses the statue's power to freeze everyone until he has left. He could kill them all here but maybe Andy is trying to keep Diggle alive while Captain Jack is trying to keep Thea alive. No explanation for Ollie. Anyway, Damien stabs Laurel while she was frozen and people have a problem with that. Instead of going out in a blaze of glory, she was stabbed while standing still over something her dad did. This indicates what superhero shows always do which is make the death more about the characters who survive then the ones who died. She could've gone out better.
In the hospital, Green Arrow brings BC Laurel in. He has to leave her to avoid drawing attention that will keep her from being helped. Seeing as she is in uniform that seems like it'll happen on it's own but whatever. I guess her true identity has been revealed and I wonder if there will be fallout?
At the police station, Quentin learns the prisoner escaped and Laurel was injured. He begs a cop to release him. She thinks about it. Finally, his connections pay off.
At the hospital, Felicity arrives. They learn 50 prisoners escaped. Diggle says he would never forgive himself for trusting Andy if Laurel died. Gee, I wonder if that will come back around? Laurel is put in a room. She's fine (FOR NOW, which is very manipulative). Ollie, Felicity, Thea and Diggle file into the room. Laurel says she loves them all. She would've regretted giving up being the Black Canary. The others file out so it's just Ollie and Laurel in the room. She has the picture that Ollie had five years ago. It was a reminder of when things are good. She says she's happy for Ollie and Felicity and hopes they end up together. That all said, Ollie is the love of her life and she wanted him to know that since she nearly just died. She has him make a promise that we don't see. Then she dies as all her friends watch. Not very professional. Quentin comes just a second too late to see her. His life is garbage. R.I.P. Laurel. I doubt a lot of fans will miss you very much but you were really coming along there.