#olicity 2x03

[jbuffyangel]

My Life. My Choice: Arrow 2x03 Review (Broken Dolls)

For the CW, “Broken Dolls” is actually really creepy. It’s this episode and Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “The Gentleman” that give me an absolute wiggins.

Creepiness equals solid bad guy which equals FELICITY IN DANGER and PROTECTIVE OLIVER. This happens to be my sexual identity. Excellent. We also get a very overdue confession from Laurel Lance regarding Tommy’s death.

Source: Paige

Let’s dig in…

Oliver and the Lance Family

We’re kicking off the episode with Oliver surrounded by cops in Laurel’s office. It’s not one of his handy trick arrows that save him however, but the Lady in Black and her sonic thing. A whole bunch of windows explode and everyone collapses except Oliver and the Lady in Black. I don’t think the sonic thing is based in real physics.

With the sonic thing as a clue, Felicity discovers the Lady in Black put five would-be rapists in the hospital and seems to be strictly targeting misogynist criminals. What is not to love about this woman? She’s still not talking to Oliver yet, so he must rely on Roy to find her. He chases Sin to the clock tower where he is subsequently knocked unconscious.

When he wakes, the Lady in Black is standing over him asking, “Are you one of them?” Roy is just as confused as the rest of us. When he gets a call from Thea, the Lady in Black tells Sin to release Roy and she vanishes. Well, that answered absolutely nothing.

When Oliver returns home safely to the bunker, Diggle asks the question everyone is asking, “What were you doing at Laurel’s office in the first place, Oliver?” God bless our logical King. Where would we be without you? Oliver wanted to convince Laurel he was doing things a different way, but acknowledges he was wrong to think he could simply convince her. From now on the Arrow will be steering clear of the Assistant District Attorney. FINALLY.

That’s not to say some of the Lance family can be convinced the Arrow has changed his ways. Detective Lance reaches out to Felicity to contact the Arrow because a serial killer he once arrested is back on the streets. His name is Barton Mathis aka “The Dollmaker.” He suffocates his victims with a flexible polymer he pours down their throats and then dresses them up like dolls (hello to the creepy). He escaped from prison during the earthquake and is killing again.

It’s personal to Lance because Mathis killed eight girls before he caught him. The police department is stretched too thin to stop Mathis before he kills more woman, so Lance is also trying another way and teaming up with the Arrow. YASSS!!

Lance swings by Laurel’s office to check on her and get the name of Mathis’ defense counsel. Laurel is not thrilled her father is digging into this case on his own time because of the way it consumed him the last time.

Laurel: Whatever guilt you’re feeling, you’re just using it to justify a vendetta.

Lance: Well maybe I’m not the only one.

SHOTS FIRED!!!!

Lance stops by the Dollmaker’s defense attorney, but brings the Arrow as backup. Oliver is no longer killing, but that doesn’t mean he’s above torturing.

Lance: I thought you were done killing people!

The Arrow: He’ll live.

Lance: He’s going to report me to my lieutenant.

Source: Paige

Honestly, this is one of the Arrow’s best lines ever. I am cackling. The defense attorney coughs up a possible location – the Bisque Museum. The building reminds him of Germany which is where porcelain dolls was invented. Thanks for nothing, Germany.

Lance and the Arrow track the Dollmaker to the Bisque Museum, but instead of finding Mathis they find a doll, with the article of the Dollmaker’s arrest attached to it, and a phone. Mathis calls to taunt Lance as he kills another woman.

While on a stakeout with Lance, Oliver uses the hood to address his issues with Lance’s daughters once again. He makes a somewhat snide remark about Laurel no longer believing in him. Honestly, I wish Oliver wasn’t so hung up on this thing with Laurel, but apparently he needs someone to explain it to him like a four year old.

Lance: She suffered a loss. Grief’s got a way of shifting a person’s belief. But then you know all about that. You’ve lost people too right?

The Arrow: Why would you say that?

Lance: Why else would you be doing this? My youngest, she died.

The Arrow: I’m sorry.

Lance: Less than a month after it happened, I ended up catching the Dollmaker case. Threw myself into it.  I think on some level, with each girl, I was trying to save Sara. And just like with Sara, I couldn’t.

Not that I’m in favor of Oliver using his secret identity to worm his way back into the Lance family, but this was the first time he could really apologize to Quentin and Quentin receive it. He doesn’t blame the Arrow for Sara’s death. He blames Oliver. He’s just too angry with Oliver to hear anything he has to say – even if it’s just expressing remorse. But Lance can accept it from the man in the hood.

I find it actually shocking at this point that Oliver doesn’t understand why Laurel is lashing out at the Arrow. Oliver’s entire mission is fueled by the grief of his father’s death – and every subsequent loss he suffered those five years. He found countless criminals to target his rage and sorrow at. Laurel is just targeting one criminal. Oliver really needs this explained to him? Buy a mirror buddy. Yeesh. Self reflection is not his strong suit in Season 2 apparently.

Lance is arrested for obstruction after attempting to arrest the Dollmaker on his own (with Team Arrow’s help), but having an ADA for a daughter comes in handy and Laurel gets the charges dropped. This leads to a very interesting argument about the Arrow. Do I love that Lance officially renamed him the Arrow? Yes, I do. He came up with the Hood, so it seems only right.

Lance: A guy with a bow and arrow can’t save a guy who’s had a building fall on top of him. What’s going on with you is not about the Arrow.

Finally, someone said it to her face. Lance cannot understand why Laurel feels guilty about Tommy’s death (*COUGH*WE CAN*COUGH*), but targeting the Arrow is not going to bring Tommy back. Lance is genuinely worried about Laurel, but she blows her father off like she’s does to anyone trying to help her lately.

The Dollmaker ups the ante and kidnaps Lance AND LAUREL by the end of the episode. Now, I am not a huge fan of Laurel at the moment. I have my issues with her, but seeing her tied up with a tube shoved down her throat, as her father begs for her life, was sufficiently scary.

Lance: Laurel, sweetheart, close your eyes. I’m here. I’m here, honey.

UGH. A parent telling their child to close their eyes during traumatic events traumatizes me!! Anytime the Arrow would like to show up would be swell.

Source: @dinahlaurellancesource

The Arrow saves Laurel of course, but he’s not the only masked vigilante the Dollmaker must contend with – the Lady in Black has shown up too. Well, this fits her MO since the guy is a freaking SERIAL KILLER OF WOMEN. In fact, now that I mention it, where the hell have YOU been Lady in Black?

Oliver is prepared to bring the Dollmaker back to prison after he immobilizes him with a couple of arrows, but the Lady in Black is not having it and puts a baton through the Dollmaker’s chest. You know, I’m not worked up about this kill. It's fine with her resolution skills.

Laurel cannot understand why the Arrow saved her, particularly since she’s been hunting him like prey.

Laurel: He came… he came to save me.

But this time, Laurel is not talking about the Arrow. She’s talking about Tommy.

Laurel: Oliver, he told to me to stay out of the Glades and he told me to get out of CNRI and I didn’t. Tommy was only there because I was too stubborn. Too stubborn to get out when I had the chance. You were right. I was blaming the Arrow because… Oh, my God. It’s all my fault, Dad. It’s all my fault that Tommy died.

Laurel collapses into her father’s arms and he comforts her as Oliver secretly listens to her heart wrenching confession, hidden away in the dark alley.

It’s a callback to the scene in the pilot when Oliver watched Laurel and Tommy from a distance. It foreshadowed that Oliver and Laurel’s superhero journeys would be linked and the tether was Tommy. It was simply not in the way either of them imagined.

We are not at the end of Laurel Lance’s Season 2 story, but the very beginning. While her confession is necessary, it will not solve all her problems. Acknowledging guilt and grief is one thing. Being ready to deal with it is another.

Did you notice that Quentin didn’t immediately tell Laurel she was wrong? I am not so inhuman that I hold Laurel completely responsible for Tommy’s death. Malcolm Merlyn killed his son. Not Laurel.

But she bears some culpability. If she had listened to Oliver or Quentin – Tommy may have lived. It’s possible he could have died another way, but what we know for certain is he never would’ve been at CNRI. He was there because of Laurel and only Laurel. That is the guilt she must carry for the rest of her life. Laurel doesn’t hate the Arrow. She hates herself.

That is a feeling Oliver Queen knows all too well. He goes to Laurel’s apartment to check on her and Quentin. When Lance thanks the Arrow for saving his daughter (again) Oliver’s response is surprisingly detached.

The Arrow: She needed help.

Just like Quentin. Just like all the other citizens of Starling City the Arrow has sworn to protect. I am not delusional to pretend that Oliver Queen doesn’t care more for Laurel Lance than a stranger on the street, but there is a note of dispassion. Oliver is not there because he’s trying to change Laurel’s mind about him or chase after her forgiveness or use the hood to weasel his way back into her personal life. He’s there because she was a person who needed help. That is all. And that says a lot. It’s quite a shift from the Oliver Queen of Season 1.

Source: @dinahlaurellancesource

You cannot help someone who doesn't want to be helped. I think this pull back is necessary. Oliver cannot always save Laurel - she has to learn to save herself. This her life. These are her choices. The road Laurel is headed toward is one that neither Oliver nor the Arrow can follow her down.

Olicity

After the Dollmaker’s latest victim is discovered, Team Arrow wants a peek at the forensics, but the police have sent everything to a private lab. Felicity can’t hack it because their system is offline. Seems she did too good of a job last season. FIELD TRIP TIME!

Lance and the Arrow break into the lab, so Felicity can download the forensic records. There is a list of chemical ingredients of all the make-up found on the victims. Lance recognizes one of the chemicals - ethyl paraben sodium laureth sulfate, which is found in skim cream. Lance remembers one of the victims was wearing some kind of Mermaid skin cream, which had the same type of formula.  Felicity quickly tracks it down, which leaves Lance gobsmacked by her abilities and Oliver smiles with "That's my girl" pride.

The Dollmaker picks his victims by their skin and the skin cream is how he finds them. All the victims use Mermaiden Skin Cream, which is very expensive and only carried at limited boutiques. Felicity volunteers to buy the skin cream at the four boutiques available in Starling City. Both Oliver and Diggle balk at that prospect of Felicity in that much danger.

Source: @smoakgifs

The boys can’t help but be a little awed by her bravery. Slade makes a similar comment about Shado when Oliver worries about leaving her behind in the plane so she can examine the Japanese soldier bones.

Slade: Her life. Her choice.

Oliver is romantically involved with Shado at this point, so it’s extremely telling the writers are drawing a direct parallel from Shado to Felicity. It’s also clear at this point that Team OTA is paralleling Team Flashback. This was such a cool shot:

Lance: Just for the record, I’m not a huge fan of dangling helpless girls in front of psychopaths like meat.

Felicity volunteers because she’s an absolute bad ass, but she also knows without a shadow of doubt that Oliver (and Diggle) will never let anything happen to her.

Source: smoakandswan

Once again, Felicity’s belief is proven right when the Dollmaker snatches her. Even though Diggle, Lance and Oliver are close there is still enough time for the Dollmaker to drag Felicity into a back alley. CREEPED OUT ALERT!!! Every woman has this exact fear every time they leave their house. #pickthebear

Oliver lands an arrow in this sick son of a bitch (YASSS MY KING!!!) and the Dollmaker releases Felicity. Unfortunately, she stumbles and hits her head as she falls to the ground. Lance chases after the Dollmaker, but Oliver does not.

He immediately runs to Felicity’s side and gently checks her head and tells her not to move. He stays with her until Diggle arrives.

Source: Paige

SWOON. This is not the “Mission is all that matters” man we saw last season. Some things (or someone) matter more.

Unfortunately, the Dollmaker escapes like he’s freaking Houdini. He kidnaps Laurel as ultimate retribution for Quentin arresting him.   

Dollmaker: You know I could maim you, I could slice you up into a thousand pieces, but if your soul remains intact what have I wrought? Huh? Nothing.

The goal is to hurt Quentin by killing his daughter, which will cause the emotional pain the Dollmaker desires. However, "If your soul remains intact what have I wrought?” feels like a reference to Oliver. Not Quentin.

If Oliver loses himself to the darkness of the hood, if he allows all the pain and suffering to destroy his soul, then it doesn’t matter how many bad guys he arrests or how many times he saves the city. The villains will win.

It’s an argument Oliver has been having with Slade the last few episodes. Slade disapproves of Oliver’s relationship with Shado primarily because he’s madly in love with her. That said, Slade made no moves towards any type of romantic relationship with Shado, which means he could truly believe what he’s telling Oliver – attachments get you killed.

Oliver: You think caring about people is what gets you killed. I think it’s what keeps people alive.

Slade: I was wrong about you. You’re definitely an idiot.

The question then becomes how do we go from Oliver believing in love in the flashbacks to emotionally closed off in present day? I say closed off purposely – not shut down. Oliver still feels very deeply, but he keeps those emotions in check, hidden under a hood and layer of steel forged during those five years away. Something happens in the past that changes Oliver mind about caring for others.

What’s so wild about Oliver’s statement to Slade is that he’s right and Island Ollie is seldom right about anything. It is crucial for Oliver to maintain his connections to Diggle, Felicity and his family. However, present day Oliver is not entirely wrong. Love can save his soul, but it can also destroy it. If a villain discovers who Oliver loves then it makes that person a target.  How many people can Oliver lose and his soul remains intact? Maybe it’s not a question of how many, but WHO. Regardless, it’s a risk Oliver has been reticent to take. For now.

The flip is the people Oliver cares about get a vote. They get to decide for themselves how much risk they can accept. And because they believe in Oliver so much they are willing to risk their lives. At the end of the day, it's their choice. Oliver gave Felicity the respect she deserved in making this decision - this respect should apply to all aspects of her life.

Source: smoakandswan

Stray Thoughts

“He’ll be out for 36 min.” That is an oddly specific time for a tranquilizer dart.

Shado was pre-med. I feel like Slade & Oliver should have known this sooner than a year later. What else do they have to talk about?

Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against Moira. Oliver keeps saying he’ll never let that happen, so I’m thinking he has a Mom jail break plan.

Sometimes you need a good old fashioned gratiutious shirtless scene.

Source: Paige

What secret is Moira willing to die to keep? It is something she believes will cost her relationship with her children. So that’s a big pile of yikes.

I am completely comfortable with the way Diggle & Oliver pass the time.

Slade’s hands and face are seriously burned from freighter bombing. Oliver is imprisoned on the boat. Who knows where Shado is. Flashbacks are straight up hell again!

LADY IN BLACK IS IN KAHOOTS WITH RA’S AL GHUL!!! Batman Jen squeals with delight.

Listen to the Watchover podcast reaction to 2x03!!!

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Disclaimer: Any gifs on the blog are not mine. If you would like a gif removed from my reviews, please message me!

[winnie-the-monster]

“How the hell could she do that?”

Oliver: proud

[lucyyh]

TBT Olicity black & white: 2x03 Broken Dolls.

[lyricalarrow]

ota + parallels

[smoakmonster]

30 days of vintage olicity - day 3

[jules85]

Arrow Rewatch 2018 2x03 Broken Dolls

- Sara's sonic device is stronger than BS and BC combined.

- 'Oh thank God.' Felicity worried about Oliver. Aww.

- The Dollmaker is one of the creepiest and darkest villains this show has ever had.

- 'I'm not letting this city get overrun with vigilantes.' Can this be season 7's mission statement?

- I liked seeing Lance working with Oliver. I think season 2 Lance is my favourite.

- I love the shot where Felicity, John, and Oliver all enter the frame, one after the other. It's an iconic OTA shot.

- pot meet kettle, Laurel. Using grief to justify a vendetta? Sound familiar?

- 'it seems like someone hacked into a lot of police related systems last year'. I wonder who that could've been?

- Quentin is so impressed with Felicity. Oliver is proud.

- noticed the parallels between the conversation between Oliver and Slade in the flashbacks about Shado to Felicity’s volunteering as bait later. Slade tells Oliver, 'it's her life. Her choice.' Felicity echos this again.

- also found it interesting during that same scene, Oliver has a very different outlook on life. He says, 'You think that caring about people gets you killed, I think it's what keeps people alive...that's who I am. I'm not changing.' This whole exchange shows Oliver's whole emotional journey on this show.

It's also interesting to note that Felicity is the one who reignites that notion in him. She is the one that reminds him to 'fight to live.' She is the one who gives him a reason.

- Felicity once again being brave.

- Dig and Oliver's faces...they are in awe of our girl.

- 'She must really believe in you.' Lance, you have no idea.

- 'Next time I offer to be bait for a serial killer, please turn me down.' Again reminding me why I love her. She can be brave but still acknowledge her fear.

- next up is one of my favourite and one of the most underrated Olicity scenes. Felicity falls and gets knocked out, Oliver rushes over to her aid. He asks if she's alright, tells her not to move, she holds his arm and he waits until John shows up to tell him she hit her head, before taking up the chase. She is his first priority.

- the DA is seeking the death penalty. Oliver tells Moira that no one is going to take her from them. That they won't let them. It's kind of heartbreaking knowing how this season plays out. Poor Oliver and Thea. I hate that they lost their mum.

- 'A guy with a bow and arrow can't save a guy who had a building fall on him.' Lance speaking some sense. Take note, Laurel.

- and we meet Sin.

- So many DC52 references in this episode. Lance's dispatch, the room number, the channel number. Real subtle guys.

- I always enjoy Caity Lotz doing fight choreography. She sells it so well. This is only her 3rd episode.

- Yes Laurel, it's all your fault that Tommy died. I've been saying this for weeks.

- anytime someone shows their appreciation for Oliver saving them it warms my heart. Wish it happened more often. Say if a few newbies and a city full of ungrateful townsfolk could follow suit, that would be great.

- love Sara's back story being tied to the League.

- 'To stop her or send her a thank you note?' lol

- Oliver wasn't always on the island? I'm shocked!!

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ another strong episode.

@hope-for-olicity @blondeeoneexox @allimariexf @memcjo

[hope-for-olicity]

Olicity Moments 2x03-2x05

I’m missing Olicity…I’m probably not alone. Let’s reflect.

Thanks to those who made the gifs!

// @almondblossomme // @memcjo // @wherethereissmoak // @mel-loves-all // @marytagus // @green-arrows-of-karamel // @miriam1779 // @oliverfel4 // @vaelisamaza // @coal000// @emmaamelia95 // @tdgal1 // @laurabelle2930 // @lalawo1 // @thebookjumper // @missyriver // @quiveringbunny // @charlinert // @quant-um-fizzx // @dmichellewrites // @sweetdawn129 //

[intrepidmare]

A little comparison

Last night I watched Arrow 5x16 (again) and when Oliver rescued the DL, I started thinking. Just  watching how he was with her. He's been with her for months now, everyone knows they're dating and supposedly he "loves" her, right? (To our eternal dismay, but that's not the point) My point is that he should've been desperate for hugging, touching, kissing her, right? He didn't even gave her little taps on the shoulders! Nothing! And not only that! He said go, get to safety and walked out on her. Just look...

Now look how different he was with Felicity, way back in time, on 2x03 when they were nothing.. he hadn't even recognized to himself that he had feelings for her (that happened 3 episodes later on 2x06 in Russia, right? ok) and when the doll maker grabbed her and pushed her and felicity hit her head. He stayed with her (TOUCHING HER) until Digg came. Just then he went after the doll maker.  Here's the proof...

Looking at it logically, he could have shot an arrow to Mathis to stop him, just before kneeling next to Felicity. It would have taken literally ONE second, but that was too much time to make sure she was ok. And didn't leave her alone at any moment. With Susan, he didn't kept his word that he'd get her out and left her at her own risk. Sure, he knew Promy was waiting for him, but what if he was working with someone else (We knew he was!) or what the DL found one of the bombs trying to get out or didn't get out in time before the building exploded, or a million other things. Digg was nowhere near to help her. Neither was Curtis who was rescuing Rene and Dinah. I mean she could have gotten caught again or whatever (That wasn't the play but the possibility was there) and Oliver didn't care. 

If she had been Felicity, he’d not have thought in leaving her alone not for a second and that conversation on the elevator would have been the opposite, pretty much like this: (I'm doing just the dialogue, you imagine all the touching, hugging and kissing)

"Oliver!" "Felicity! Are you ok? I thought I lost you!" "I’m fine, I’m ok. A-Adrian Chase is--" "I know! I need get you out of here." "No, wait, Oliver. Chase is here! You need to get the son of the-- yeah... bitch!" "No, until you're safe and out of here." "I can't take care of myself. Go! I'll be okay" "Felicity!" "Oliver, go!"

And he'd have gone and kicked prometheus' ass (instead of getting himself kidnapped) not only cuz Adrian deserves it, but cuz his wifey told him to

And of course, this comparison it's just one of the many I could make with Oliver and Felicity, but I think is more striking doing this way due the status of the relationships of Oliver with each woman at the time of the events..

@hope-for-olicity // @acheaptrickandacheesyoneline //  @mtb1002 // @memcjo // @almondblossomme // @smkkbert // @tdgal1 // @miriam1779 // @emmaamelia95 // @coal000 // @somewhatinvisible // @oliverfel4 // @wanderingmmries​ // @laurabelle2930  // @nalla-madness​ //  @vaelisamaza​ // @felicity-said--yes // @cris101071 // @imusuallyobsessed // @djeniiscorner // @pjcmfalcon​ // @missafairy​ // @lynslogic // @felicityollies​ // @marytagus​ // @lalawo1​ // @scu11y22 // @bitchwhwifi // @wherethereissmoak // @smoakingarrow19 // @jaspertown // @nightkeepyr // @thetaufactor // @krystal09 // @wanhani // @obliviouschickwithagun // @malafle // @bitchwhwifi // @bwangangelic // @helizaden // @bleedundermypen // @mrt2501 @nathiawarrior // @coryleanne // @speechgirl41 // @hollywoodkats // @callan52 //  @cinfos //

[memcjo]

Rain and storms are in the forecast, so it seemed a perfect day to recommend @befitandchase​ on day 13 of my Olicity Fanfiction Recommendation post!  There are EIGHT pages of Olicity fic on her ao3 page!!  It was difficult to pick all of my favs, so I’m providing links to some series she’s done.  ENJOY!

ao3page

The Aftermath Series~ Olicity angsty, angst with a big helping of smutty smut ;)

Summer of Olicity Series~ Olicity sweetness and fluff.

What’s Your Fantasy Series~ Phew! Hot and sexy with hurt, comfort, and a happy ending.

Snowed In~ With a blizzard blowing through Starling City, Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak have not choice but to wait it out in Verdant. But even inclement weather won't stop Felicity from having a good time. Silly shenanigans abound as she gets Oliver to loosen up a bit and have a little fun for a change.

Dribbles and Drabbles~ Olicity stories of all types.

Be Mine~ Three times Oliver asks Felicity to be his Valentine and the one time she say yes.

I’ll Look After You~ Felicity takes care of a very sick Oliver.

My Faith in You Never Wavers~ She knew exactly what he was going to say and quickly pressed her forefinger to his lips. “Tonight, you were there for me. You saved me from a madman. You could have gone after him, but you stayed with me to make sure I was okay. That’s what matters, even if he got away. I know you’ll catch him soon. I have faith in you. I've always had faith in you.” 2x03 spoilers if you haven't seen the episode.

Broken~ The moments when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable are the moments when we need those that mean the most to us. Sometimes just knowing someone is there to help you through the pain gives you the strength to pull through. She became the strength he needed when life felt hopeless.

10 Fics in 10 Days

Accepting the Love We Deserve~ Just like everyone else, Felicity Smoak has insecurities. Most of the time they lie dormant, buried under years of successful repression. But some nights they return in her dreams and overwhelm her.

Stay safe, everyone!

[westallenolicitygifs]

[olicitytropes]

Olicity Tropetastic Awards: Season Two

Island rescues, trips to Russia, Vertigo, jealousy, and Mirakuru soldiers. The season of ‘will they or won’t they’ and ‘everyone at Queen Consolidated already thinks they are.’ He thought it’d be better to not be with someone he could really care about. She will always be his girl. He was not alone, and she believed in him. 

There was a lot to love about Arrow’s second season, and there was even more fanfic to love!

@memcjo’s recs:

Pick Me Up (and put me back together again) -  Imagine036

Oliver Queen never panics, but he’s panicking now. Slade has him backed into a corner and the older man knows it. He's in Oliver’s line of sight then, and he freezes when he takes in the scene before him. His heart stops as he realizes Slade has managed to take him by surprise once again.

**Award: Best Use of Our OTP being the OTP to end all other OTPs!**

I Am Not Broken! - @hope-for-olicity

Set early in Season 2, Felicity breaks her leg and Oliver freaks out a bit

**Award: Best Use of the Sweetest, Most Protective, A Bit Jealous, and Also Loving Oliver Queen looking out for the Love of His Life~Felicity Smoak**

Sometimes it lasts in love (and sometimes it hurts instead) -  sarcastic_fina

After five years away, Laurel returns to Starling City in hopes of reuniting with Oliver, only to find he's moved on.

**Award: Best Use of LL accepting Olicity and moving on**

Quiet Knocking - @allimariexf

Missing scene from 2x03: Broken Dolls. After Felicity offers herself up as bait for the Dollmaker.

“Felicity. You got caught by a serial killer.” The words came out harsher than he intended.

Instantly, Felicity’s defenses rose. “I was trying not to!”

Her flippant attitude was exactly what he didn’t need to hear. It meant she wasn’t taking her own safety seriously, and it made him angry. “Well try harder, next time!”

**Award: Best Use of the Push and Pull of Attraction that is Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak**

Mutual Release - @dust2dust34

Set in Season 2.5. Mutual frustration leads to other mutual things.

**Award: Best Use of SEXY TIMES, Slow-Burn Olicity**

God Bless Gray Sweatpants -  somewhereelse

Season 2.5 AU. Felicity finds herself in the freshest of hells as Oliver stumbles upon what it takes to break her careful control.

**Award: Best Use of ORST with an Oblivious Felicity and Determined Oliver!**

can’t escape this now - @callistawolf

Oliver Queen, scion of a wealthy and powerful family, returns home from his exile to Russia to find that his mother has plans for his future that he wants no part of. Unfortunately, it's not really up to him and neither is it up to Felicity Smoak, who is about to find out what sort of man her father truly is. MOB AU

**Award: Best Use of Enemies-to-Lovers with a side of Crazy Ex Trope**

@blondeeoneexox’s recs:

The New Normal -  RosieTwiggs

Oliver and Felicity are exposed to a new drug, compliments of The Count 4.0. It quickly becomes obvious that the effects will change their relationship forever, especially after Caitlin gives them the really bad news: it's self replicating, every 24 hours, and she's not sure how soon she'll be able to find an antidote. In the meantime, they're going to have to find a way to come to terms with their new normal.

**Award: The Fic I Cant Get Enough Of (And Need More Of!)**

Almost, but Not Yet -  CSM

Time Travel. Season 6 Felicity accidentally finds herself in the past and meets Season 2 Olicity.

**Award: The Cutest, Most One Of A Kind Olicity Fic I Think I’ve Ever Read**

The Meaning of Flowers - @yet-i-remain-quiet

Five times that Oliver gives Felicity flowers. Pre-Olicity

**Award: Softest, Sappiest, Most Thoughtful Oliver**

@msbeccieboo’s recs:

Be Kind, Rewind - @dust2dust34

“Oliver,” Felicity said, grabbing his arm and turning him. “Kiss me.” (Set in first half of S2 somewhere...)

**Award: Best second first kiss**

It’s a Wonderful (Vigilante) Life, or Every Time a Bell Rings, an Angel Gets Unlimited Data - @it-was-a-red-heeler

If Oliver hadn’t told Felicity he loved her in 2.23, when would she have said it? What if the answer was “never”?

A missing scene from 2.23.

**Award: Best ‘what if’ moment**

@it-was-a-red-heeler’s recs:

Stay with Me -  watcherofworlds

No matter how hard she tries, Felicity can't wipe away the memory of the Count's touch. Then Oliver brings her comfort and some much needed company

**Award: Sweetest First Kiss**

The Importance of Scruff - @hope-for-olicity

Arrow Season 2 story set shortly after they return from Russia in 2x06. Felicity meets a nice man and decides to go on a date.

**Award: Best Use of a Babbling Oliver**

@smoaking-greenarrow’s recs:

What Happens in Russia - @jesileighs

Several months have passed since Oliver told Felicity he didn't want to risk their friendship by trying to fix their relationship. The team is celebrating a victory in Russia when the vodka gets the best of them. Again. Will what happened in Russia stay in Russia?

Sequel/Follow Up to "Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun" and "Ease the Pain"

**Award: Best ‘Drunk in Russia/Talking about the Isabel thing’ Trope**

Plus One -  sherlylikeswaffles

Set somewhere during S2, Oliver is CEO and Felicity his assistant. When he gets a wedding invitation, he accidentally makes her his plus one. So they go to a wedding together...just as friends, of course.

**Award:  Best ‘Be My Date to this Wedding’ Trope**

Deceive, Inveigle, and Obfuscate - MachaSWicket

When a threat to Felicity's safety isn't something that Oliver can put arrows in, the team has to look for different kinds of solutions to assorted legal problems. Diverges from canon during S2 mid-season break. Written as a thank you to my lovely tumblr friends.

**Award: Best ‘Fake Married’ Trope**

Dark Stranger -  paynesgrey

Felicity must make peace with Oliver's choice, even if it means turning her attention to a charming and mysterious stranger. Her attentions to someone else, however, do not go unnoticed. COMPLETE.

**Award: Best ‘Protective Oliver’ Trope**

You’ll Always Be My Girl (or Felicity’s first scar and Oliver’s lecture) -  goodgirl21

Canon Divergence of 2x06: Keep Your Enemies Closer and 2x14: Time of Death.

Felicity begins to feel insecure with her relationship with Oliver upon the arrival of Sara.

**Award: Best ‘Canon Rewrite (through Felicity’s eyes)’ Trope**

@allimariexf’s recs:

The Crow - poisonangelmuse, TheAlternativeSource

Bratva Captain Oliver Queen has been looking for revenge his entire life. When he can’t trust his own family, the Bratva to get it, he finds the answer to all of his problems in Felicity Smoak; a genius hacker who is running for her life from the same object of Oliver’s hatred, The Triad. With an unlikely partnership, The Crow might just find out that light can shine in the darkest of places. #BratvaOliver #Olicity #Smut #Violence #PossessiveOliver #RussianMob #AU #HEA

**Award: Best Instance of “The worse things get for Oliver and Felicity, the better they get for us”**

Make Me: Part 1 and Part 2 - @smoaking-greenarrow

"You're not going out in that outfit."

Set in season 2.5

**Award: Best Case of Felicity Getting Under Oliver’s Skin**

The Journey Home: A Story in Three Parts, Plus Some Bagels - @it-was-a-red-heeler

My contribution to Olicityweek 2017: Favorite Quotes

The title of my Tumblr blog is No One Is Eating The Bagels, which is my favorite Felicity quote. Here is my story about it (7 days early, because I have severe impulse control issues when it comes to publishing fan fiction...and frosted sugar cookies.)

**Award: Most Delicious Season 2 Slowburn Set Up**

@tangled23works’ recs:

Succumbing to Shadows - @allimariexf

Wordlessly, Oliver lifted her hand to his lips, placing a series of soft kisses over her knuckles. Unable to stop herself, she looked up and met his eyes, but for once she couldn’t read their expression. He was probably just trying to maintain their cover.

But what if he wasn’t?

She looked back toward the driveway as the Ferrari pulled up, her heart beating fast.

And what if he was?

~~~~Season 2 Angst and Smut!!~~~~

**Award: Steamiest and Most Intriguing Season 2 Rewrite**

The Phoenix Saga - @supersillyanddorky06

Felicity Smoak fell in love with the broody, intense Oliver Queen, Captain of the Russian Bratva, ages ago but he broke her heart. So, when the sudden marriage between them is arranged, she does not understand it and she does not want it. Except Oliver Queen is not only a harder man to live with than she realized, he also has no intention of letting her go.

**Award: Hottest Bratva Oliver and Most Sassy Felicity**

We’re Not Just Friends - @smoaking-greenarrow

Prompt: “We're not just friends and you fucking know it.”

Oliver visits Felicity after their encounter with The Count. 2x07 canon divergence. Contains smut.

**Award: Best ‘Friends to Lovers’ Canon Divergence**

[msbeccieboo]

Arrow 7x18 brain dump

And we’re back from hiatus! Unlike a few that I see, I really enjoyed this episode! Sure the main story was clunky, and a lot of the dialogue was cheesy as hell, but the theme and notion behind it of women coming together to save the day was just everything that Arrow, and the whole Canary concept up until now has been missing. As usual, this got long, and gif-heavy, so apologies if you get bored haha!

Felicity

Yes of course we’re coming to Felicity first! Our (Smoak) Queen absolutely ruled the show this week! I still remember the fandom reaction when we heard the episode title…it was something along the lines of:

(gif from my gif keyboard-sorry no link!)

And then the episode rolls round and it’s awesome (mostly) and Felicity is at the centre of it!! Amazing! In fact, it was so hard to separate this review into character/theme sections this week, as Felicity was intertwined so closely with all of them.

Felicity was at her finest this week. We saw her both as Overwatch and literally saving the day in the field. We had wifey Felicity, loyal friend felicity, mama Felicity, flirty-flirt Felicity….the list goes on!! And in an episode called Lost Canary??

Continued under the cut

It was Felicity’s heart and famous empathy that really shone through for me this week. From start to end she tried her best to win Black Siren back round, to clear her name, and save her from herself. Our girl literally reached across time to help her friend. Now whether or not BS had earned/deserved that much effort on Felicity’s part is another thing altogether, but one thing that prevails is Felicity’s huge heart, her compassion and her unwavering belief in those she calls her friends. Her ability to see the good in people, even at their worst, is probably my favourite thing about her. And whereas Dinah was right to an extent about Felicity having ‘blinders’, she just wants to see the best in people. This is why she is the heart of the team. This is why Oliver fell in love with her. This is why I fell in love with her. The moment where she shouts at Dinah “we should be helping her not hunting her”, just epitomises Felicity for me.

It was ultimately Felicity’s stalwart belief in her that made BS turn ‘good’ in the end. Our girl literally put her and her unborn child’s life out there and dared BS to kill them to prove she was evil. In doing this, Felicity ultimately saves the day! Sure, we see Felicity being a badass every week, but watching her lead a team of women in the field was super emotional for me to watch.

Source: smoaktechs

This did start to feel like a goodbye to Felicity, especially with the Sara scene, reminiscing and commenting on how far she has come. I imagine the timing of Emily’s announcement was planned to precede this last run of episodes for this reason. I’m still coming to terms with Emily leaving, and I haven’t been able to write anything about it yet (and not sure I will tbh), but episodes like this make me realise just how different (and by different I mean shitty) this show would have been/will be without her in it and I’m simply not ready still 😭😭😭

Olicity

We only got two Olicity scenes this week, which was actually far more than I thought we would get, and they bookended the episode so beautifully!! I still don’t think I’m over the cuteness this week!!

In the first scene we got a beautifully babbly Felicity; “Are you sure that you are ok, now that you know that your sister is evil and tried to kill you? Too soon?” 😂😂, along with a little of her own horn-tooting haha:

Source: felicitysmoakgifs 1 and 2

Oliver’s little smile after that was just 😍😍

We had a cute little smooch, and touching!! It was so nice to see them being truly affectionate and comfortable around each other again!

Source: olicitygifs

Then Oliver being all Protective Daddy!Oliver, asking Felicity to take it easy and look after her PRECIOUS CARGO!!!!!

NVJDFNVJDKVNFDVKND!!!! Honestly this will go down as being one of the great Olicity quotes for me! His little belly gesture, and then her adorable “I know” I can’t handle the cuteness guys!!!!!!

Oh and then there was the cutest Olicity scene everrrr!! Felicity returns from her bird adventures to find a sleepy adorable Oliver laid out on the couch 😍🔥😍

Source: lucyyh 💗

OMGGGGG her face when she sees him, and tells him she’d missed him….hgfidsbodsnfv!!!

Source: olicitygifs

The mystery remains as to just why Oliver is that exhausted…as I talk about in the next section, he and Dig didn’t do an awful lot this episode. The only acceptable answer is that they spent the rest of their time in the episode putting together an endless amount of baby furniture…I now decree this as FACT!!

Anyhoo…back to snuggly Oliver. Ughh this man does not stop being adorable (even with this hair)! He sits up and pulls Felicity into him by the bum (we all see you Oliver 👀) and smushes himself into her chest for a hug, kissing her shoulder, telling her how he will take care of her 😍😱 😍😱, then Felicity promptly asks for a foot rub, to which he happily obliges.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 💗

I AM DECEASED!!!!

Combined with the ending of 4x08 this confirms that the Green Arrow is a cuddleholic, and I will watch this scene on a loop FOREVER!!! I could seriously watch the rest of this season/show just of them being affectionate and domestic like this. Your OTP could never!!

Oliver/Dig

Oliver goes on a little boys trip with Dig to try and find the killer of Emiko’s mother. I’m sooo glad they didn’t waste much time on this, and gladder still that they wasted no time at all on Emiko! Turns out the responsible party was one of the Longbow Hunters (yes them again), that Felicity found for them.

Source: ebett

I love how Dig/ARGUS/NTA spent the first part of the season trying and failing to capture these guys, then Oliver rocks up and takes him out with a tranq arrow in 2 seconds flat, and has no clue who he even is haha!

Source: feilcityqueen

They work out pretty quickly that Dante hired him, then promptly leave and that’s the end of that! I really like how the men weren’t minimised or side-lined entirely (except Rene *shrugs*), they just weren’t that significant in the episode. Boss Beth and her team did a great job here of not taking away from them in order for the women in the episode to shine, something that previous writing teams on this show have done over and over again in the reversed situation *cough* MG *cough*.

Sara

Sara frikking Lance is back!!!!

That entrance though...it was everything!! The way all the glass shattered was reminiscent of her first cry scene where she saved Oliver at the DA’s office in 2x03.

Source: supercanaries

I do think though that it was absolute bullshit that BS could beat Sara in a fight!

Then we got the previously teased Sara/Felicity scene. OHMIGOD I loved this scene so much!! I really miss Sara in Arrow, and this scene was just so perfect!! I loved their little friendly flirty-flirt!!

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Putting together the two people in the Arrowverse that have killer chemistry with everyone was an inspired choice here, and it just makes me long for the Smoakingcanary friendship that we never really saw fully developed! We have a lighter Sara now, so they could not have had this level of friendship in S2, or even S4, but I always loved their relationship, even back then.

Source: eloquence-of-felicities

Sara has grown so much since she left for the Waverider, she is so much more reflective and a wiser woman now. I like that she doesn’t acknowledge BS as LL, but sees herself in her and still wants to help, and to honour Quentin. Lance sister scenes were always my favourite of Laurel’s, and the Sara/BS scenes have the same energy about them. I loved Sara’s speech to BS at the graveyard about redemption. Sara still doesn’t see herself as completely worthy, but acknowledges that she has grown into a hero, through her years of trying. So I cheered when she told BS “You think you deserve a medal for trying to be good for 5 seconds? Redemption isn’t a destination it’s a journey”

Source: canarygifs

Oh, that’s just the theme of the entire series!! Yaaaaassss!! Go Sara! I really hope we get to see her again this season.

Black Siren

Straight up, I was worried when I saw the opening scene…the overacting, yelling, annoying music, ridiculous unbelievable ass-kicking and then that title card?? 😬😬 ‘Evil’ BS is so campy in the worst way…I like ‘good’ BS, so that opening?? Yeah I had my doubts haha!

I enjoyed Black Siren’s struggle within the episode; what she really wants is to be seen and accepted as the good person she is trying to become. As soon as she was doubted last episode, her instinct was to revert back, an ‘if they think I’m evil, I’ll just be evil’ mentality. The problem is, as Sara told her, she was trying to be a good person for like a few months? She has a long way go to redeem herself and earn back the trust of people who know what she did as Black Siren before (see: Dinah 😬). Her beacon of hope (see what I did there?) is Felicity. She has been ever since she approached her at the start of the season. BS saw in Felicity an opportunity to avenge Quentin initially, and eventually, through falling for Felicity’s friendship charms (doesn’t everybody?), do good, and be that better person that Quentin and Felicity thought she could be. And despite Sara’s (awesome) talk with her, it’s Felicity in the end that persuades her which side to fall on in the end.

In the end, Black Siren realises/decides that in order to continue on her redemptive path, she needs to go back to where she started, Earth 2, and do some good there. How this fits with her appearance in later episodes in the season (spoiler pics) and her apparently large storyline next season is yet to be seen. Felicity’s face when she hears BS is leaving is heart-breaking 😭😭 Their friendship has been one of the unexpected highlights of this season for me; it has been so nice to see a female friendship on this show! I also liked how through all of her short-lived evilness, she never revealed Felicity’s pregnancy, even covering for her back in the lair at the end of the mission!

Extra BS moments:

BS pushing Felicity out of the way in the final fight scene 😍

Shadow Thief: “Which one is Felicity?” BS: “The chatty one” 😂😂

Source: minibetta

Source: plotbunnyshipper 

Dinah

*Dramatic sigh* Ugh Dinah. She continues to drive me mad! She has some real moments of warmth (but I think that’s just Juliana shining through), but for the most part she’s just super annoying! She has a constant condescending tone, a terrible attitude, is massively hypocritical, and is so back and forth with her standpoints that she leaves me with whiplash most episodes!

I hated the way she talked down to Felicity throughout the episode, for believing in Laurel. Dinah believed in Vinnie, and the Team had her back (until BS killed him 😬). Dinah MURDERED PEOPLE TOO, and the Team had her back. She should have empathy for BS, having been in the exact same situation, but she doesn’t see it that way. I loved Felicity serving her up the tea in the bunker scene, it’s about damn time!

Felicity’s overall snark at Dinah this week was on point!  Her “Please hold” and “Good chat, really love our chats” 😂😂 our girl really knows how to deliver a burn and still look cute doing it haha!

Flash Forwards

I have missed my flashforwards baby OTA!! Unfortunately we were missing William, Connor and Roy this week, cos Girl Power ✌ and all that jazz! But we did get to see some more Mama Felicity. Future Felicity is definitely more stoic and detached than our Felicity, but that changes when her kids are around; I loved the mother-daughter hug when Mia returned!  

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

I’d forgotten about the whole helmet thing to start with, when I first saw it I thought it was Dig!! But helmet guy basically shows up at the start of the FFs and kills a boatload of Canaries. Did I giggle at the notion that anyone can be a Canary in the future, and that therefore they are totally interchangeable and dispensable in nature? Yes I did 😂 Anyway, Mia’s determination to track and take down helmet guy, to honour the dead birds, led to more Oliver (and later, Felicity) comparisons, which I am always here for!!

Dinah later actually gives Mia a really inspiring speech about the Canaries. That they are girls taking care of girls; a support system for women, so that they are there for each other when needed most. Dinah references a time when she did not do that (for Black Siren, presumably), and that that following that she changed how she worked. I’m hoping this means that Dinah will become more likeable in the present timeline for the upcoming episodes, but I’m not holding my breath.

Mia still isn’t used to relying on others, but she does ask Dinah for help and is refused, so her reaction to Dinah’s talk was just ‘yeah….no’, pretty much, with the line “Too bad I’m not a Canary”….and the Smoak burns keep on coming this episode 😂 😂

Source: amunetblack

At the end, as Mia nearly meets her end taking down helmet guy (as if he could have taken her!) she is saved by…Future Black Siren!!! Who is obviously alive still, back on Earth 1, and a goodie!! Yay!! I love that BS ‘saves’ Mia in both timelines in the same episode, nice touch! She gives Mia the helmet for Felicity, along with some sage advice:

Source: jaces-clarissa

I’d have liked to see her and Felicity interact, but you can’t win them all!

Bonus moments

Felicity: “Fake heat signatures? That is devious and impressive!” Lolololol!

That table slide!

Source: seeing-red-arrow

Source: smoaktechs

(I love that Felicity delivered the birds line 😂😂)

“To ladies taking down ladies”

And that’s it! Four episodes left 😭😭😭 I AM NOT READY!!

Thank you to all the wonderful gif makers! This episode has yielded SO MANY amazing gifs, so thank you for sharing them with us all! 💗💗💗

[austencello]

Lost Canary - Arrow Music Notes 7x18

Laurel fights within herself and the other ladies to determine whether she will return down the villain path or continue to fight for redemption.  Sara Lance returns and Dinah explains the purpose of the Canary network in the flash-forwards.

There were 4 different Canary themes (out of 6) present in this episode.  A lot of dive into!

Black Siren and the Canary

Black Siren’s theme was introduced as a villain theme in the Flash (2x22 “Black Siren in Central City”) first in celeste (a keyboard that sounds like bells...think Harry Potter) and then flute with high violins.  She also has a low string pattern that accompanies it.  This theme first appeared in 5x10 of Arrow as she revealed herself as Laurel’s doppelgänger from Earth 2 and not the Laurel they knew.  “Laurel, not Laurel.”  The themes for both Laurels are almost the same until the last note: While Earth 1 Laurel ended with a whole step, Earth 2 Laurel ended on a minor 3rd or Augmented 2nd, both going up.  This leaves it unresolved and dissonant, twisting what was heroic into something a little more sinister, fitting for a villainous doppleganer: taking the heroic Canary theme from our Laurel and twisting it for the murderous one from Earth 2.  Black Siren’s theme has one unusual aspect from the other Canary themes, however.  It has two parts: the one going up (based on the original Laurel) and then repeating almost the same notes with it going down at the end (still staying with 5 notes, a necessary part of any Canary theme).  

As she reappears at the end of Season 5 and the beginning of Season 6, this theme appears a lot as she attacks the team with Prometheus and Cayden James. However, as she appears to have second thoughts with Diaz and Quentin believes there is hope, the villain theme ceases to appear, making a brief/cut-off version as she was about to scream at the Silencer in 7x04. 

Things take a turn in this episode as she turns back to being Black Siren and what she believes is her true self after she is exposed working with Diaz.  After appearing in her Black Siren outfit accompanied by pseudo rock/techno music and fighting, looking for the villain Shadowfax, the Canary symbol is used for the title with her theme (the first part) in the flute and horn.  This combination of instruments is used a lot for all the Canary themes - heroic and birdlike, giving a little hint for the rest of the episode.

The high violin version plays the first half of her theme as she reunites with Shadowthief, wanting to go on a crime spree together.  The theme is punctuated with stops and accents with accompanying drum kit (callback to the earlier rock/techno feel) as Laurel asks if she is still good with locks. As they attack the “dry cleaner”, the horns plays her whole theme with her entrance.

As they go on their next job, they are interrupted by Dinah and Sara.  As Sara appears with a version of original Laurel’s electronic cry, her Canary theme and the original Canary theme (”Canary” 2x03) plays in the flute. Laurel makes a little comment about her supposed to be on a little space ship while the horn plays a bit of the Legends theme in the background as a fun little nod. This Canary theme plays again as they fight, this time in an electronic sound matching more of sounds that occur with Legends. It also matches the fact that several Canaries are fighting in the same scene, not limited to just one. Near the end, Laurel uses her cry to burst a light and then declares for them to stay away from her as she walks away.  As she does so, the electronic instrument plays the first half of her theme, fitting with the tone of their altercation. The electric guitar aspect of the rock/techno music from the opening returns as Felicity and Dinah are almost blown up later on, seeming to cement that Siren is firmly on the villain path.

However, Sara comes to realize that if Laurel really wanted to kill them, she wouldn’t have left so much time with the bomb.  As she processes some of this, flute begins to play and she leaves to find Laurel at Quentin’s grave. This instrument returns with a variation of Sara’s canary theme as Sara owns up to her sins, sharing that the only way she could head down the redemption path from being assassin was to return home and face the things she had done.  This variation begins with the same opening 5th and has 5 notes but stays in major, getting rid of the dissonance used in almost every Canary theme. It is the sound of a realized hero, a woman who has found redemption and became a hero through a long journey.  This plays over violins and cellos, a combination often used for Lance sister conversations but again not quite the same, alluding to the past but making it clear that they are not actually sisters.  Laurel says it is too late “this is who I am” as the flute plays her Black Siren theme (the first half).

As Laurel and Shadowthief try to steal a weapon, Black Siren’s theme is played for the last time as a villain theme in the flute and strings. Sara reappears to stop her as her Canary theme plays in the horn. 

After the epic showdown, they reconvene in the bunker to celebrate and Felicity gives Laurel the original Black Canary costume. As does so, an altered version of Sara’s Canary theme plays, being in major instead of slightly dissonant. This exact version was used after Laurel’s death, being declared a hero both at her funeral “Laurel is the Black Canary” (4x19) and then when her statue was erected in 5x01.  In many ways, this is the theme for the legend that Laurel became, becoming bigger after death in the ways a saint often becomes. To use this in passing down her dream of continuing the Black Canary on to this Laurel, who is seeking to earn her redemption by facing her sins in Earth 2 seems a percent sendoff.

In the Flashforwards, Mia is saved by the Black Canary, revealed to be Laurel.  The first 5 notes so close to being a heroic theme and then changed to be a villain theme is now used for a hero, played in both horn and the flute like the title card at the beginning. The melody is unchanged as it is still the same person but now she is the Black Canary instead of Black Siren, part of a larger Canary network.  

Birds of Justice - the Canaries

Two new versions of the Canary theme appeared in this episode that are very much connected: one for the future and for the present. Both start like the original Canary theme with a 5th going up, a similar rhythm, and each part is made up of 5 notes.  These two are also connected by going down a minor third (essentially playing a minor triad for you music nerds) but it is the last two notes that change.

The first that plays is in the flash-forwards as Dinah explains to Mia why she set up the Canary network, a support system for woman with the bravery and sacrifice of these women who always get back up again. The theme has two parts of 5 notes (like Black Siren’s) and like all the Canary themes, includes a little dissonance. The first grouping takes the same notes as Dinah’s Canary theme and plays them in a different order. It first plays in solo French horn as she shows Mia the Canary pin and then low strings.  As this theme plays and expands, the harmonies give it a heroic epic quality supported by timpani rolls.  It is a theme of working together as a team, women having each other’s backs.  The music turns minor as Mia rejects being a Canary.

Meanwhile, in the present day, Felicity is determined to stop Laurel from becoming a murderous villain again and tells her that she believes in her, asking Laurel what she wants to be. Then the second new Canary theme plays as she tells Laurel that she will have to use the new weapon on her but is not getting out the way as Sara and Dinah join her. In a similar fashion to the flash-forwards, the theme plays in low strings, violins and horns, is made out of two parts of 5 notes, and definitely imitates both Sara’s and Laurel’s Canary theme while being slightly different in one or two intervals.  It is a combinations of all the Canary themes as these women come together.   This version has a drum beat going on underneath both to raise the stakes and give intensity.  It is the harmonies that are very similar to the flash-forward melody, connecting those two together.  As they fight, a final variation plays mixing this newest one with Sara’s/original Canary theme in violins and electronics with more punctuation and stops in between each notes to fit with the fighting. The horns play the new team Canary theme as they walk away as the “Birds of Justice.”  It is a great music sequence.

As they meet up in the bunker to celebrate, Felicity gives Dinah a new electronic cry based on the previous Laurel’s device (that Sara had used in this episode.) As she does so, the new team Birds/Canary theme plays in the horn. This also connects the present to the future as she will be the leader of the Canaries and it is this day that is her inspiration for a network and a team of women.

In the end of the episode, Mia is rescued by Laurel and her group of Canaries, having been contacted by Laurel.  Watching Mia’s back because that is what the Canaries do and then Laurel admonishes/encourages Mia that she has a long way to prove herself a hero and to not screw it up.  The flash-forward Canary theme plays in the strings during this moment and then ends with a variation of Mia’s Blackstar theme in the strings as she watches them leave.

Felicity and Olicity - belief and hope

Felicity’s instrument is harp and that appeared several times throughout the episode as she seeks to bring hope and help both Oliver and Laurel. At the beginning of the episode, she found some resources for Oliver regarding Emiko’s mother’s killer. As violins alternate between two notes, a harp plays occasionally as they discuss this.  The piano (Oliver’s instrument) plays his hero themes as he believes that Emiko was not lying about her mother being murdered. The piano switches to the beginning of the Olicity theme “The One I love” (2x23) as he asks her to take it easy for him because of the precious cargo.  This is the 3rd time that the beginning of this theme has been used for sweet pregnancy moments, giving just a little hint of their love theme in their care and excitement for their baby.  Then the music mixes piano, fun strings (often for fun cute scenes of Felicity) and hints of high waterglasses/electronics mixing their various elements together as they have a sweet domestic moment together.

Later on, after Laurel tried to “blow them up” Dinah and Felicity have a discussion on whether Laurel had actually changed.  Felicity argued that it was through the team’s support that helped Dinah change and was disappointed when it appeared Laurel had not changed after all.  The harp accompanied the majority of this scene for Felicity’s heart and belief in the fact that Laurel needed that friendship and support maybe even more than anyone realized. What makes it even poignant is that it is the same motif used for Laurel and Lance’s relationship (the flute part - “Working together but alone” 1x02).  While in later seasons, it was used primarily for Quentin’s grief, in the first season it was used as Laurel explained her job to fight for what was right, to help Thea because she reminded them of Sara (1x12), as well as looking for Sara (1x18).  There was a belief in family and helping each other through their grief and loss.  Here, Dinah is reminded again of the loss she endured at the hands of Laurel and that she ultimately is unredeemable, making it hard to get past that death in the same way that Lance had trouble forgiving the Queens for Sara.  Felicity and Laurel 1 were more compassionate, trying to see the good past the bad, giving second changes.

Harp returns at the end when Laurel, Dinah and Felicity celebrate with champagne and Felicity hopes things will go back to normal.  However Laurel shares her plans. Felicity’s belief and hope inspired Laurel as did Sara’s talk about facing her past as she decides to return to Earth 2, walking the hard path of working towards redemption.

Felicity returns home to a sleepy Oliver and after recounting the day, piano, hammered dulcimer and major strings play as they relax together.  This is their soundscape of being home and happy together from “Domestic Life” (4x01) to now.

Extra Notes:

- The music for the Longbow Hunters returned (bell-like electronic) as Oliver and John interrogated one of them in this episode.

- You may have noticed that I am a little behind on music reviews.  Between Easter and upcoming orchestra concerts and other stuff, it has been quite a busy few weeks.  I was hoping I would be able to catch up but my guess is that I will just be behind for the rest of the season.  Ah well! Enjoy the stroll back into memory lane.

@jorahandal @academyofshipping @ah-maa-zing @smoakmonster @herskirtsarentthatshort @dmichellewrites @almondblossomme @green-arrows-of-karamel @scu11y22 @mel-loves-all

[babblingblondegenius]

Happy Mancrush Monday

Two weeks ago I did a post for Mancrush Monday that focused on Season 3 Oliver through fashion and Olicity.   @xspeedytrashx requested a Mancrush Monday Olicity Edition for all the seasons.  Last week’s post covered season 1 and this one will focus on my favorite season of Arrow--Season 2. :)

Season 2 is my favorite because that is when I fell in love with the show.  With the news that Arrow is coming to an end, reliving these moments is bittersweet. While I’ve always thought Olicity started developing feelings for each other in season 1, it was season 2 when they fell in love/the show decided to embrace the amazing chemistry and build Olicity as the canon couple.  I may drag TPTB for a lot of their narrative choices but I’ll always appreciate their bravery with that bold move.  There was so much focus on Olicity that I’m breaking up the season into a three-part post to make sure we cover all their UST, heart eyes, angst, and the abundance of Oliver in business suits. ;)  This post is episodes 2x01 - 2x06.

Let’s start with a bang and shirtless Oliver saving Felicity from a landmine.  

He lands on top of her and doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to get up.   

Next we have Oliver, grumpy at first since he is no longer on top of bae, putting on a grey tee as Felicity calls him out on his lack of enthusiasm.  The girl jumped out of a plane for you, the least you could do is leave your shirt off. ;)

Good future hubby immediately gets her water, gives her a smile, and tells her he is happy to see her.  Also a bow of his head because she is the Queen. ;) 

Oliver was looking mighty fine for someone who had just spent five months in self-exile on a deserted island.  He’s not keen on returning to Starling City and Queen Consolidated until Felicity mentions she might be one of the casualties of the imminent merger.  Then he decides it’s time to suit up and get back to work...

He’s not ready for the green one just yet, even though Felicity has refurbished the lair and had a custom bow made for him with the money he left for her.  

Our usually selfless Queen did include one amenity for herself....

But Oliver needs to put the salmon ladder to use for more than Felicity’s (and our) viewing enjoyment.  He has to be in peak physical condition so when the conference room is attacked, he can kick out a window and swing her to safety.

After the crash landing through another window, he gently moves her hair so he can see her face and doesn’t breathe until her little nod assures him she’s okay.

One of the highlights of season was CEO!Oliver.  What he lacked in business acumen, he more than made up for in sharp suits and selecting the best person to work by his side.  Felicity simultaneously praises and teases him.  Apparently, math wasn’t his academic forte.  I’ve never related to him more lol.   

Just to recap, all that epic-ness was in the first episode of season 2.  Moving on to my favorite episode of all time 2x02.  Sassy Felicity is waiting for Oliver the minute he steps off the elevator, looking dapper in his taupe suit and trying to outrun bae giving him hell for ‘promoting’ her without her knowledge.  

Our MIT certified genius is not happy about her new position as Oliver’s EA.  She lets him know in no uncertain terms that she will not be fetching him coffee.  They continue to argue like an old married couple throughout the episode.  Same grey tee as when she sassed him on Lian Yu but now she’s genuinely upset on Dig’s behalf.  He hates to see her go but he loves to watch her leave. ;)

Even Oliver’s impeccable suits can’t save him from the wrath of Felicity.  She is already mad at him but Oliver decides to throw fuel on the fire by asking her to get him and his guest some coffee.  It has always been my head canon that he intentionally provoked her to illicit a sassy response and he got what he asked for lol.  Look at his face--this is the moment I knew he was falling for her hard. 

The episode comes to a close with Oliver watching the news that the city is blaming him for not doing enough and Oliver, being Oliver, agrees with them (the more things change, the more they stay the same).  He is as blue as his sweater until Felicity remedies that by bringing him ‘one’ cup of coffee.  

Two-for-one mancrush special.  Interesting that Oliver had a whole-ass lair but chooses to put his training mat two feet from Felicity.  Wonder why? ;)  But the real question is how in the world did Felicity ever get any work done?!?

Wifey wiping blood off of hubby’s face with her bare hands.  That’s love, bitch.

And here we have some off-the-charts lust with the always late Mr. Queen giving Ms. Smoak an advance peek at his smoldering bedroom eyes.  

Hubby gifting wifey with a bag of dirt for her to analyze while sporting a tie and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled-up.  It’d be better to analyze those forearms. 

Felicity interrupted his ‘grrrr’ (in a red dress) and called him ‘Mr. Queen’ repeatedly.  I’ll let you be the judge of why he is biting his lip like that. ;)

It’s been frequently commented over the years that they look like parents here.  Proof positive that Oliver does not need to dress like a grandpa to pass as a dad.  The baby blue button-up and worried/disapproving expression do the trick. 

Adding a jacket and tie, this vision in blue is calm and cool as he threatens a member of the Bratva for information..... 

.....and 10 seconds later he is an adorable cupcake winking at Felicity.

Even this coat is more attractive than the current one lol.  Oliver didn’t really need a coat here since Felicity is putting him on blast (as she should).

The suit is nice and the blue dress shirt brings out the guilt and regret in his eyes.  At this point, Oliver was aware that he had feelings for Felicity but he wasn’t willing to explore them.  Oliver broke his own heart by telling her he ‘can’t be with someone he could really care about.’  

I just couldn’t end this with angst so here is a bonus of an episode 2x03 scene from the gag reel:

All the kudos to the fandom’s amazing gifmakers!  2x02 gif credit to FanForum and 2x03 gif credit to FanPop. Next week’s post will be episodes 2x07 - 2x13.  :)

[agent-alexandradanvers-blog]

See you around, Danvers

You know, I don't really do well with partners, but I think we made a pretty good team ~ Maggie Sawyer

{2x03-Welcome to Earth}

{3x05-Damage}

I miss them so so much. I hope we’ll see more of Maggie in the future, and Sanvers will make up and be endgame. Ugh. I miss them. I really really hope that they have a dog called Gertrude (lmao).  

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Tell me what you want me to post :)

-Fanfiction recommendations ?

-Favourite Sanvers video ?

-Reviews of Episodes ?

-More of Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Arrow ?

-Crossovers ?

-Other Ships ? 

(CaptainCanary, SuperCorp, Karamel, Throy, Olicity, Snowbarry, Westallen)

[theolicitylibrary]

S02 E03: Broken Dolls

This is the compilation of all Olicity fics written in response to S02E03 of Arrow. The list do not include speculation stories of future episodes or plot development, just post-episode reactions and missing scenes. Keep this in mind when you sent a suggestion to add to this list. 

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Here for You by hope27 [T - part of a collection]

After the Dollmaker experience, Felicity doesn't want to go home.

Chapter 6-2x03 by anthfan [T - part of a collection]

After Felicity gets hurt. Just a little follow up that needed to happen.

A Choice Made by hope27 [T - part of a collection]

This is an Oliver POV to anthfan's 2x03 drabble.

The Pitfalls of Bravery by chasethewind [G - 1471]

My take on what should have happened in 2x03 after Oliver saves Felicity from Mathis.

The Mess We've Made by SmoakScreen [G - 1250]

After her run in with Mathis, Felicity gets a visitor.

Easily Undone by normalisjustafairytale [NR - 838]

A nice, UST happy, fun lil fluffy post 2x03 ficlet.

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If you know or wrote a fic related to S02E03 and it’s not here, please send it to us so we can add here.