#arrow 5x23 spoilers

[storyteller0311]

Arrow 5x23: Forgiveness, Redemption, and the Ties That Bind

So, I don’t know about you guys, but I thought tonight’s season finale of Arrow was pretty spectacular. While the general plot of the episode was somewhat predictable, the themes running through it and the assorted character moments were wonderful. But it was the episode’s function as both a season finale and the closing of a 5 year arc where it truly and fantastically shined.

Tonight’s episode brought many, many things full circle and connected threads that have been present throughout the season and throughout much of the series. Had the episode not ended on such a cliffhanger, it would have worked as a series finale too. (Though I’m so glad we have more time to spend with our favorite characters.)

If I had to simplify 5x23 into a core group of themes, it would be:

Forgiveness Redemption Moving On

and most importantly...

the love of a parent for their child.

And, with great kudos to Arrow’s writers and producers, I found that these themes and the plot lines they were highlighted by simultaneously closed out the journey so far and laid the ground work for Arrow’s journey moving forward.

In my opinion, so many of the things that happened in 5x23 were necessary, not only to close out that 5 year arc, but more importantly to launch Arrow into a new era.

Malcolm Merlyn’s death could have come in so many different ways. He could have been the villain in this episode had this and previous seasons been constructed differently. But instead, and I think infinitely more powerfully, he died as the one thing he’d been claiming he was for years – a father who loved and would do anything to protect his daughter. Not only did this feed into the episode’s main theme, but it also served as a road forward for Thea in season 6. In the aftermath of Season 4’s bloodlust storyline, Thea has struggled with her identity as the daughter of less than innocent parents. But, as Malcolm proved, no one is all dark or all light (OK, except for maybe Adrian Chase – dude is bat shit bonkers) and in the end his sacrifice will give Thea the strength and the resolve and the faith to know that she is capable of being a good person and not simply the legacy of her parents.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure where Slade Wilson’s story was going to go in tonight’s episode. And by the time he had triple (quadruple?) crossed Oliver and team, I had whiplash. But, in the end, I was so very happy that his storyline was one of redemption. And it makes sense too. I highly doubt Manu Bennett would have agreed to return for anything less ��� especially considering his unhappiness/crankiness about Slade’s character development in the past.

Slade is a mirror in some ways to Oliver, as well as a direct callback to the beginning of Oliver’s story. This Slade is a man who has had to come to terms with his actions, he knows the power of the past. And he knows that Oliver is still the innocent kid underneath, who is not the monster that Chase has made him out to be. And, now knowing that Oliver is also a father, he too sees that Oliver knows the love of a parent for his child and that he will do all he can to save William. 

I think Slade will meet one of two fates in the aftermath of 5x23. There was a moment at the end of the episode where I caught something that made me think Slade might have something up his sleeve – an idea to save them. Whether or not Slade has a major hand in saving everyone on the island, I don’t look for him to stick around in any capacity. He’ll either die saving the others or surviving, will go off to look for his son.

For Lance, tonight’s episode was as much about moving on as it was about a parent’s love for his child. Tonight, Lance made a huge stride forward in his acceptance of Laurel’s death. Black Siren’s presence is not a balm to Lance, but rather is an insult to Laurel’s legacy. She is the antithesis to his daughter and he will not have her manipulating that legacy or his love of and memory of her.

 His moving on is also highlighted by his calling Dinah Black Canary, thus answering the question Laurel posed on her death bed to Oliver at the beginning of the season and giving Dinah her road forward in Season 6.

And, then, there’s Oliver. Our dear, beautiful boy has come full circle.

He has been to the brink and has come back from it. He will not let Adrian win. He will not give in to his demands.

He has finally come to terms with his journey and realized that he has changed. He is not the same man that returned to Starling City at the beginning of Season 1.

He has forgiven himself.

He is ready to move on.

It will probably be an unpopular opinion, but I now see why the William storyline was so important to the overall trajectory of Arrow and Oliver’s story. We can argue on specifics and how Olicity was handled within the storyline, but I think Oliver absolutely needed to learn he had a son and go through this journey to understand and accept this facet of his journey.

Because he finally understands why his father did what he did on that life raft in the pilot. Why this journey of hell and heroism began in the first place.

Because Robert’s love for his son would have led him to do anything to protect Oliver. Just like Oliver’s love for William would lead him to do anything to protect him.

Because deep down, underneath the conspiracies and the Undertaking, and the book of names, and the righting of wrongs…it was about love. And forgiveness.

“I’ve been tryin’ to get down to the heart of the matter… But I think it’s about forgiveness Forgiveness” – Don Henley, “The Heart of the Matter”

So, where do we go from here?

I look for Season 6 to be a departure in many ways from the last 5 seasons. The conclusion of Season 5 showed Oliver accepting that he could have a full life that included those he loves. I think this life will definitely include William, though how much will depend on Samantha’s fate – something I’m not sure of.

I think Season 6 will be an exploration of Oliver Queen, family man and that he and Felicity will be stronger than ever by the end of the season.

And, finally, a random thought…

With all this thematic emphasis on parents…does anyone else think it puts an interesting spin on how the new recruits called Felicity and Oliver “Mom” and “Dad” all season? 

[thebookjumper]

6x01 Spec:

Plot twist!!  Arrow 6x01 begins five years in the future and we get flashbacks to see how everyone survived and what the last five years have been like...

No?

@missyriver @hope-for-olicity @nalla-madness @tdgal1 @almondblossomme @jaspertown @scu11y22

[olivergifs]

[and-i-believe-in-you]

Moira Queen & Oliver Queen || 5x23 || Please don’t hang up

[skcolicity]

“Oliver said there’s an ARGUS plane on the other side of the island.” Felicity.

“It’ll take us all day to get there.” Diggle. “Anything could happen to Chase to set off the explosives.”

“Oliver said he wouldn’t kill him,” Felicity said, hanging on stubbornly to her optimism.

“Yeah, but that still doesn’t guarantee the explosives won’t go off,” Dinah chipped in.

“I still think we should wait for Oliver,” Quentin said. “If anything, we should look for his son.”

Samantha perked up. “I’m on board with that plan.”

Slade listened to all the chatter with half an ear as they each tried to come up with a plan. He remained silent, not because he had no opinion, but because he felt something. In his gut. Something wrong.

The short hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his heart hammered in his chest. There was definitely something wrong, and that something wrong was coming fast.

“We have to go underground,” he shouted, silencing everyone.

They all turned as one to stare at him.

“Why?” Rene asked.

Without answering, Slade ran toward the only place he knew would be safe, not waiting for the others to follow. After a beat, he heard rapid footsteps behind him, but he kept his concentration on looking for one thing.

The entrance to an ARGUS prison block.

Slade had spent the last three years in a cell on the other side of the island, but if he knew ARGUS, he knew that they would be thorough. There was bound to be another block on this side.

“Where are you taking us?” Thea called out from behind him.

Slade didn’t answer.

“Slade!” Diggle shouted.

At last, Slade saw something metal rising out of the ground in the distance, maybe 400 metres away. His pace sped up as gooseflesh crawled up his neck.

“Run!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Run like the devil is on your heels!”

Sweat popped out on his brow as they finally reached the entrance. He wasted no time in wrenching the door open. “Get in!”

No one moved, to his everlasting frustration.

“We need to look for William!” Samantha cried.

“And the plane,” Rene added.

Slade grit his teeth and growled, “Get. In. Now.”

A grave look appeared on Diggle’s face, finally catching Slade’s bad feeling, and ushered Felicity before him. “Get in,” he repeated, and finally, they all began to move.

No sooner had Slade shut and locked the lid that the ground beneath them shook violently, throwing him off the ladder. Explosions sounded overhead, through the thick concrete. The floor shook as the shockwave reached them, but the walls held firm.

“Go deeper,” he commanded, getting up from the floor. “Through that door and down the hall, there’s a stairwell at the end. That will take us lower.”

They all turned to go, except for Felicity, who stood with her hand over her mouth and tears swimming in her eyes.

“Oliver...” she whispered.

Slade approached her slowly, getting in her field of view. “He’s gonna be all right,” he said, attempting to reassure her. “Kid’s got more than nine lives. He’s more worried about us, I’d wager.”

She blinked up at him, as if just realizing he was in front of her. After a tense moment, she nodded, and turned to follow the others.

Slade took one look back at the door above his head. “You better not make a liar out of me, kid,” he said, before following the others into the bunker.

[queensarrow]

[yet-i-remain-quiet]

KISS IN THE SUIT

FELICITY KISSED OLIVER WHILE HE’S WEARING THE SUIT

[andjustforthismoment]

[smoakmonster]

But like…what are they gonna talk about at SDCC this year?? 

It’s just gonna be Stephen Amell at a panel by himself like, “So Oliver and William went and got Big Belly Burger as soon as they got home. And since Oliver can’t be the GA without his team, he and William hang out at the Mayor’s office a lot. They also go to joint therapy sessions once a week.” 

[storyteller0311]

That was amazing. 

AMAZING.

I’m not even worried. 

Talk about a freaking fantastic way to bring that 5 year arc full circle.

[oliverdant]

Sometimes as an actor you have to be thick skinned and realize that there are a whole bunch of things going on that may or may not enable your producers to do certain things with your character so they concentrate in other characters and sometimes they are not allowed to involve your character which I found out from Marc Guggenheim that basically they have to hold on Deathstroke because of the potential on being used in the movie world, you know, it was going to be used in the Batman movie or what not…and since there has been an issue with that production, they got the opportunity to bring Deathstroke back. You know, it’s a very popular character and the fans out there wanted his return for along time

Arrow’s Deathstroke, Manu Bennett Interview - MCM Comic Con London - May 2017

[alanna-the-lionheart]

Guys, I just realized that this was the ONLY season finale where we actually got an Olicity kiss. 

[olivergifs]

[theshipsfirstmate]

season 6 of Arrow starts with Oliver running through the burning wreckage of Lian Yu trying to find Felicity goodbye

[queensarrow]

[yet-i-remain-quiet]

always reblog