TV REVIEW: There’s No going Back in Arrow’s “Canaries”

By Justin Carter

Eventually, every superhero team goes from “team” to “family.” After all, when you’re fighting side by side with someone, you’re bound to get attached to them. And like any blood family, those bonds are going to be tested from time to time. Team Arrow has had their spats, but nothing as big as the debate surrounding the sister of one of their own taking up her mantle. Oliver’s departure and subsequent death left a black cloud hanging over the team that only Laurel was able to dispel. Whether the fans and Oliver like it or not, she’s the reason Team Arrow stayed together during his downtime, and for him to expect her to just back off once he returns is one of the stupidest things he’s done.

“Canaries” is the end of what is basically the Laurel trilogy. Now that she’s suited up and kicking ass, she has to have the classic legacy superhero moment where she wonders if she can live up to the original thing. The reappearance of Count Vertigo (once again played by Peter Stormare, who just seems to be enjoying himself more) leads to her getting drugged and hallucinating Sara–and later her father–berating her for taking on the Canary mantle. Even worse is when Oliver tells her that she’s only wearing the suit to chase the high that she lost when she went to rehab.

The initial fight between the two Canaries is appropriately brutal to watch, and at times a bit jarring, which may be the point. Credit has to go to Caity Lotz and Paul Blackthorne for portraying hallucinatory versions of themselves with the right amount of rage that Laurel would imagine them to have. Making Laurel’s hallucinations of her father even worse is the fact that they’re actually better than the reality. Yes, Lance finally learns the truth, about both his daughters, and it’s heartwrenching. Lance doesn’t collapse to the ground or show any signs that his heart will give out, but ending on the two Lances embracing each other is the best note this storyline could’ve gone out on.

Speaking of families and revelations, Thea is finally in on Oliver’s secret! Instead of giving her some fairly legitimate reasons to be upset with him for lying to her for the past three years, she’s instead thankful of the multiple times he’s saved her life. The interactions between the two siblings feel less like a time bomb, and it’s nice to see them bicker over who kicked who’s ass in the winter finale. This, however, doesn’t mean that either sibling is willing to trust Malcolm one jot. Now that Thea’s in the loop, it’s refreshing to see both of them on the same page as far as he’s concerned, which is why the Queen siblings’ trip to Lian Yu should give them a good idea of what to do about him once the League of Assassins have been put behind them.

When I reviewed “Left Behind” weeks ago, I made the note that the other members of Team Arrow had proven themselves as heroes in the making. This episode both proves and disproves that–Laurel comes into her own, but Diggle is still playing ops manager with Felicity. If anyone besides Laurel has grown into their own since the show’s return, it’s definitely Roy. It can’t be said enough that he’s become a certified badass of his own now, and standing up to Oliver is something that works with him. Diggle can give the speech, of course, but what Roy says couldn’t work if it came from Felicity. If nothing else from this episode, you can take away the fact that Oliver and his crusade have grown into something bigger than him, and there’s no going back.

Additional Notes:

• “You smell like smoke. Korean barbecue?” “C4.”

• “Was my form off?” More like Katie Sassidy.

• RIP to Thea’s dance club boyfriend. You died as you lived, hitting on Thea and drinking.

• Next week also marks the return of Slade, which will no doubt be a treat.