This week’s episode of Arrow wrapped up the story that’s been running since midseason.
How did it do?
Find out here…
ThisArrowreview contains spoilers
Uprising was a weird one.
Not a bad one, but a weird one.
A tough episode to get a read on.
For starters, it was a different kind of opening.
I figured this meant we were due for a ridiculous climax of some kind, but I was wrong.
I did appreciate Oliver asking Tatsu to come back to Starling City with him.
I can only imagine what Team Arrow would be like if both Maseo and Tatsu joined up.
In fact, maybe thats the secret plan.
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Im enjoying watching Roy and Laurel working together.
Its just neat seeing Arsenal and Black Canary getting it done on screen.
There fight with Brick later on, when hes firing shotgun flares at them, was another nice moment.
I think we hit the limits of Brick as a villain.
When it really came down to it at the end, he was nothing.
Just a plot gear to hit a big reset button on the streets of Starling City.
They would have earned that.
But I now am certain it was a mistake not to have him gone for longer.
I found the big brawl in the street at the end to be seriously lacking, too.
It was great to see Wildcat all suited up and throwing punches, though.
Sins miraculous return and thoroughly boneheaded chat with Captain Lance seriously rubbed me the wrong way.
First of all, Sin literally just strolling back on camera was…silly.
It also doesnt help that it exposes how thickhesbeen lately.
Maybe this trilogy should have been longer.
Unless my continued Manchurian Candidate theory about Thea comes into play here.
Did Dad hypnotize her so she wouldnt even pay attention to the news or something?
Some of the shows other ladies fared a little better.
If theres one thing that has been totally consistent during this entire story arc, its been Felicity.
I will give the episode this, though.
Despite Felicitys (justified) protests, I do actually buy Oliver agreeing to work with Merlyn, now.
Thats a pretty major swerve, but they earned it.
Meanwhile…On an Island…
Wait…noton an island?
This week was all about Malcolm Merlyn string of bad decisions that ultimately landed him in Nanda Parbat.
These were alright, but I think this story would have been better served as its own flashback episode.
There was a lot of talky exposition and the decision to go off and leave Tommy felt rather abrupt.
I really dug seeing young Nyssa, though.
I even dug the magician explanation.
But yeah, like the rest of the episode, it was all a little too talky.
But you know what?
And more John Barrowman screentime is never, ever a bad thing.
DC Universe Watchtower
There was nothing in that Channel 52 news crawl at the beginning.
Believe me, I looked.
Olivers alibi was that he was shacking up with somebody in Bludhaven, occasional home of Nightwing.
Thats actually a story I WOULD like to see at some point in the future.
Im legit asking, because I dont know.
Other than that, Uprising was light on DCU references.
It wouldnt have made a difference.
This week wasnt necessarily bad, but it was awfully pedestrian.
I might have been easier on it if the build up from recent episodes hadnt raised my expectations.
Theres always next week!
Rating:
2.5 out of 5
