#olicity fandom episode rewatches

[jbuffyangel]

Hot and Cold: Arrow 1x22 Review (Darkness of the Edge of Town)

There is no episode that exemplifies the disjointed nature of Season 1 more than “Darkness on the Edge of Town.”  We have Exhibit A: an OTA field op and the smoaking hot chemistry of Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards igniting in an elevator shaft of all places.

And Exhibit B: the other show. A frigid black hole I feared we’d never escape from.

Let’s dig in…

Olicity and OTA

Let’s start with the positive since there is soooooo much freaking positive! It can take time for a television series to find its footing in the first season.  Unfortunately, nowadays if the audience isn’t binging the entire season in 24 hours, the show gets canceled. But blessedly, this was 2013. Network TV was still the supreme ruler, and Arrow was pulling big enough numbers for the CW to allow for some leeway.

Twenty two episodes of leeway. Arrow finally found its groove and latched on to the mystical “it factor” that keeps an audience watching - Oliver, Felicity and Diggle. The chemistry and dynamic between these characters and the actors who play them is undeniable and it creates an action packed, laughing out loud, and sizzling hot episode. The writers are having FUN in “Darkness on the Edge of Town" and it shows, which means we get to have fun too.

Oliver decides to question his mother regarding the Undertaking, but she refuses to confess. So, Oliver and Diggle take a more brutal approach. The Hood kidnaps them both and beats the crap out of Oliver until she coughs up the information. It’s always hilarious when this show acts like David Ramsey can fit in Stephen Amell’s suit.

The burgeoning relationship between Oliver and Felicity is very much in its infancy. Oliver is fully in denial about feeling any type of way toward his IT girl. Never is that more apparent then when Oliver and Diggle return from the confrontation with Moira. Diggle gets a few solid whacks in, which I’m sure felt amazing given the absolute jackass Oliver was being the past few episodes.

Felicity has a much harder time concealing her feelings towards Oliver and it’s clear she worries about him. She is always the first to ask if he’s okay, offer a supportive ear to listen or shoulder to cry on. However, Oliver seems to draw a line in this episode when Felicity reaches to touch the bruise on his face. That small step was too much. He physically keeps her at arm’s length because the intimacy of Felicity’s concerned touch is not something Oliver is ready for. There is still a very big wall hiding all that pain, regret and unworthiness.

Source: @lyricalarrow

Admitting he remembers the exact day they met, however, is absolutely no problem. We shall come to discover just how much Oliver remembers about that day in later seasons. I have a lot of male friends and I guarantee you I don’t remember the day we met. However, the day I met my husband is burned into my memory.

The team determines the only way to stop Merlyn from leveling the Glades with a man-made earthquake machine is to find the location of the device. Unfortunately, Felicity is unable to hack Merlyn’s system so she needs direct access to his mainframe inside Merlyn Global Headquarters. LET'S DO CRIMES!

Oliver makes an appointment with Tommy (more on that later) while Felicity continues to up her adorability factor by dressing up as Big Belly Burger employee delivering lunch to a security guard otherwise known as John Diggle.

The burger is laced with benzodiazepine, so it knocks out the other security guard and gives John free reign to control the elevator & cameras. Do we know how Diggle is able to pose as a security guard? No. Do we care? Nope. Let the hijinks commence!

Oliver and Felicity make their way to the elevator, but not until Oliver unloads an unwelcomed dudebro hitting on Felicity.

Jealousy looks so good on him. The way Stephen Amell plays this scene, with his nails-on-a-chalkboard look at the word “sweetie” to robotically knocking the papers out of the elevator, is physical comedy at its best. Something Amell rarely gets to do, but he’s great at it.  

The mainframe is on the twenty fifth floor, but the elevator only goes up to the nineteenth, so Oliver and Felicity have some climbing to do. It seems Felicity is thinking of a certain kind of climbing as well and really who can blame her?

Source: @lyricalarrow

Oliver lifts her WITH ONE ARM out of the elevator, which is so freaking hot I cannot.

Then, very gently, bends down to wrap his arm around Felicity’s waist and loop her arm around his neck. Oliver is moving with the precision of a jungle cat, but it also feels like an incredibly elaborate way to grab hold of someone. It has a very superhero sweep-her-into-my-arms sensuality to it. The mission is giving Oliver plenty of reasons to touch Felicity and he doesn’t seem unhappy about it, particularly when he softly tells her, "Hold onto me tight."

Is it warm in here? Holy Moses, Oliver Queen. Get control. This man is a god to women, so he clearly understands the connotations of, “Hold onto me tight.” There’s a thousand different ways to say that platonically, but nope! Oliver charges headlong into the blinking neon lights of SEXUAL INNNUENDO.

Felicity’s Freudian slip didn’t feel so Freudian either. She knew exactly what she was saying and leveled her full meaning in a single look. I thought the elevator was going to combust from all the heat. If you are looking for the text book definition of undressing someone with your eyes than look no further than these two. They way they hold the gaze. WOW. Can we have all the nakedness now?!!! It’s a sin against science for Oliver and Felicity not to bang regularly BECAUSE THE CHEMISTRY.

THIS IS NOT THE BEHAVIOR OF A MAN MADLY IN LOVE WITH LAUREL LANCE.

This scene has the classic Superman and Lois Lane feel to it.

Source: @olicitygifs

Oliver is doing his vigilante thing, but his partner in crime isn’t the leading lady of Arrow. It’s a supporting character who’s feeling less and less supporting with each episode.

Unfortunately, Felicity is about to be discovered while Oliver is held up by Malcolm Merlyn, Thea and Roy Harper. This is a very popular day to visit Merlyn Global. Oliver’s frustration under his cool and calm exterior builds the tension nicely and we do wonder how Felicity is getting out of this jam. Never fear! It’s John Diggle to the rescue. Top notch comedy from both Rickards and Ramsey.

Source: @olicitygifs

Their first official team mission outside of the bunker is a wild success. Felicity still has to search through all of Merlyn’s data to determine the location of the device. Despite all the heat, hilarity and hijinks on this side of the show, Oliver makes an abrupt decision regarding the other side of the show that makes absolutely no sense.

Lauriver and Merlance

Still feeling warm friends? Well don’t worry. I have a nice bucket of ice cold water to dump on you.

As predicted, Oliver’s love confession messes with Laurel’s mind and obliterates any clear path back to Tommy. He drops this bomb on her and they have not spoken for a WEEK. Of course, this is all Laurel has thought about and she makes a rather elaborate speech admitting she has feelings for Oliver too.

Yeah, none of this is a surprise. Tommy knew Laurel had feelings for Oliver. We knew Laurel had feelings for Oliver. Hell, even Oliver knew. The only one who wasn’t admitting it was Laurel, so at least she’s finally being honest about things. You don’t get a love triangle if the central figure in the love triangle doesn’t have feelings for two people. The issue is who does Laurel love MORE.

Laurel: Maybe Tommy was right. Maybe he and I weren’t meant to be.

She had a clear answer last week. It was Tommy. She absolutely wanted to get back together with him, but Oliver decided honesty was the best policy on this one subject only. This line enrages me because Oliver has distracted Laurel from the man she is truly meant to be with. I will die on this hill, friends. DIE. ON. THIS. MERLANCE. HILL.

Laurel: Tommy’s a good guy. Are you?

Oliver: I didn’t have an agenda. I didn’t mean to make it more difficult to fix things with Tommy.

Oh for fucks sake. Yes, you did Oliver. That’s exactly why you said it. This is just a straight up lie. Oliver absolutely wanted to confuse Laurel. He just doesn’t want to look like the bad guy for doing it. This is some A+ Ollie behavior.

After Laurel makes a wonderfully impassioned and heartfelt speech about her feelings for Oliver, after probably obsessing about it for seven days straight, Oliver dumps her. AGAIN.

Oliver: Nothing’s changed. My life hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed.

I am infuriated on Laurel’s behalf with this flip flopping back and forth. The time to make this speech was last week in the hospital hallway. That was the moment to let her go and put Laurel on the plane with the man she belongs with, but Oliver couldn’t do it because it was too damn hard. It was just cruel and horribly unfair to both Tommy and Laurel because Oliver has absolutely no intention of being with her. But now it’s too late. The information is out there. You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube, my dude.

Laurel pays her father a visit to basically get his permission to date Oliver again. Yeah, let’s make the man who lost his daughter to Oliver’s selfishness sign off on banging his other daughter again. This show.

Quentin’s speech is equally as empty as any speech Laurel’s made about seeing the change in Oliver because we, the audience, have not been privy to those moments. We’re just supposed to take their word for it even though the last time Quentin saw Oliver Queen he was trying to arrest him for drug trafficking. But sure, Quentin thinks he’s “changed.”

In order to make this storyline work, you have to give proper attention to the Lance family interacting with Oliver and the writers do not seem interested in doing that. All the important emotional growth takes place off screen and we’re supposed to accept it as fact because the characters tell us.

Meanwhile, they are organically growing the relationship Oliver has with Diggle, Felicity, hell even Roy! So we know the writers are capable of SHOWING these moments of character evolution. They just choose not to when it comes to the Lance family. It’s why the show feels so completely disjointed.

Oliver pays Tommy a visit and wants to have a chat.

Source: @queensarrow

So it's safe to say Tommy is still pissed.

Oliver encourages him to work things out with Laurel – kind of?

Oliver: Lord knows, I am guilty of a lot of things between us, but not you are her.

What’s infuriating about this conversation is that Oliver still refuses to accept any kind of responsibility in their break up. Oliver pretends to be a friend to the all feminists and touts Laurel’s independence and free will. She makes her own choices and she chose Tommy.

Tommy’s point is clear, even if it is self pitying; Laurel is not dealing with all the information. If she did have all the information then she would choose Oliver. From Oliver’s standpoint, it doesn’t matter because he can’t be with her.

That’s not reassuring to Tommy nor is it supposed to be. If the elements keeping Oliver and Laurel apart were removed (the Hood) then Oliver wouldn’t think twice about making a move on Laurel. And Tommy knows this. These are not the actions of a best friend, which is why he’s so pissed.

Now, Tommy’s big mistake was throwing in the towel too early. He should have NEVER given Oliver an opening with Laurel, but he did and it set them on this path. No we have to watch it play out.

Oliver: I promised myself that when I crossed all of these names off the list, I’d be done, but taking down these people, it doesn’t honor him. I was just treating the symptoms while the disease festered. I stop the Undertaking… I wipe out the disease.

Diggle: What are you saying Oliver? You would hang up the Hood?

Oliver: Merlyn’s plan is what I returned from the island to stop.

Does anyone else have whiplash? Oliver does a complete about face and determines he can be with Laurel since he only needs to cross one name off the list instead of dozens. He’s just missing one step, gee what could it be? Oh! I know. OLIVER STILL HAS TO CROSS MERLYN’S NAME OFF THE LIST AND STOP THE UNDERTAKING. Talk about counting your chickens before their hatched.

A hero’s journey is a very specific type of story. Joseph Campbell outline seventeen stages in 1949 and Christopher Vogler created an updated version in 2007 for screenwriting. I’m not going through all seventeen steps, but we can skip to the very last one regarding this storyline.

Freedom to Live/Return with the Elixir – meaning the hero has faced their internal and external struggles, has conquered the demons around them and earned the right to live as they choose. From a spiritual sense, the hero lives without fear of death.

It’s similar with Vogler’s elixir stage. From a community perspective, the hero has found the magical way to heal their wounded land. They are bringing hope, life and freedom back to their loved ones. In doing so, it gives the hero a personal victory. They’ve earned the right to experience peace and joy, which can be represented in a wide variety of narratives.

Oliver is hero. Arrow has made his endgame very clear - save Starling City. Has he saved the city? Has he stopped Malcolm Merlyn? NO. So why is his leather clad ass running all the way back to Laurel Lance to enjoy the fruits an elixir he has yet to procure? If Laurel is endgame, this makes absolutely no sense. This is too fast. It’s too abrupt. It doesn’t feel earned because it hasn’t been earned.

Clearly, the initial plan was to put Oliver (Green Arrow) and Laurel (Black Canary) on parallel, if not intersecting, paths. I’m not saying Oliver cannot be with Laurel as they evolve into superheroes together. But this is the first freaking season you guys! He hasn’t done a damn thing yet! Neither has she. And yet, here Oliver is, knocking on Laurel’s door, looking for some fruit.

Oliver: Ever since I’ve been back, we’ve been doing this dance. We come together and then I pull away.  Something pulls me away, but I think finally that something might be over.

Laurel: What are you are trying saying?

Oliver: That you know me better than anyone. And that you are more important to me than anyone. I just hope I didn’t wait too long to say it.

If Laurel has no clue Oliver is the Hood then can he really claim she knows him best? It sounds good to say, and probably what Laurel is dying to hear, but it rings hollow because there’s no evidence of this anywhere on the show. Laurel was wrong about who Oliver is all season. We are just supposed to accept some verbal acknowledgment of change, that she knows him better than anyone, but without any television scenes to back it up. That’s not how storytelling works, Arrow writers.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I warned you I wasn’t done with this topic - Oliver is still lying to Laurel. There should be more talking. What are those things pulling you away, Oliver? Why are they over? Are you a hooded, crime fighting, serial killer who has been mysteriously stalking me all year? Those are just some ideas off the top of my head. There is no person on this planet that Oliver needs an honest conversation with more than Laurel Lance, but nope. They jump straight to sex.  

Let’s talk about the sex. This has been built up all season. These two characters belong together. They are bulldozing over Tommy Merlyn to be together because they are this passionate romance that time cannot quell. It should be like the fourth of July in Laurel’s apartment right now.

Source: laurelscanary

Instead, of heat we get frigid. Fish have hotter sex.

I’m willing to acknowledge "Radioactive" was the hit song of 2013 and every show on the CW was using it. It has a very sexy beat and big crescendo. It sounds like a good song to use during a sex scene.

Except for the fact that it’s called RADIOACTIVE with lyrics like, “This is it, the apocalypse.” This is not the romance your Plan A couple usually requires in a scene like this. They had Blake Neely for a composer. Where’s Oliver and Laurel’s love theme? We'll probably get it in the season finale but anything would be better than "Radioactive."

Source: laurelscanary

Next issue. Black socks and jean shorts?  Wardrobe – what were you thinking? Nobody felt the need to tell Katie to take off the sox? Details matter!!

Source: laurelscanary

Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy kissing are like watching two pieces of flat cardboard trying to hump each other. Can they choose a direction? Are we biting or no biting? Are we using tongue or no tongue? Can Oliver unbutton his shirt or does Laurel need to help? Is Oliver going to drop Laurel while trying to get her sweatshirt off? It was just so awkward from start to finish. ZERO SPARKS.

Source: habibialkaysani

And for the coup de grace, they leave the curtains pulled wide open, so Tommy can see them screwing from the street. The look of utter devastation on his face is heartbreaking and that’s the final image they leave us with as their love scene fades to black. Oliver and Laurel reuniting are not framed as a good thing. It’s framed as a betrayal, because that’s exactly what it is.

Source: @queensarrow

Even worse, Felicity finds the device while Oliver and Laurel are asleep and HE LEAVES. No note. No, honey I have to run out and save the city real quick, but I’ll be back for round two later. Nothing. But please, tell me again how much Ollie has changed.

When I watched this episode live I was horribly disappointed the big reunion with Laurel and Oliver fell flat. This was really my last gasp trying to be a Lauriver shipper. And I use the term “trying” loosely. I was more or less looking for any redeeming qualities in this love story, but after this hypothermic love scene I was officially out. I could not ship these two. I could never forgive them for betraying Tommy. But I feared Arrow would never move on from Oliver and Laurel.  

Of course, their real intention becomes all too clear later. Arrow was trying to blow them up to make way for something infinitely better.

 Theroy

Speaking of flipping back and forth, these two break up every other week. Roy is clearly committed to finding the Vigilante, which leads them to Merlyn Global and a run in with Oliver, the disapproving older brother. Again, Stephen Amell’s acting is superb.

I loved the way he said “What” to Thea and the firm alpha male handshake he gives Roy, warning him to stay away.

Obviously, Roy accomplished his goal. He found the Vigilante. Roy just doesn’t know it. He thinks Oliver Queen is too much of a wimp to ever consider him as the man in the hood. Thea was good and ticked off with that “wimp” remark. Enough to dump Roy. She will not tolerate any slander of her brother. #QUEENSIBILINGSFOREVER

But this is like the fifth time these two broke up, so it’s losing the impact. This isn’t all about the Hood’s identity and thanking him for saving Roy’s life. He wants to BE the Hood, so Roy can protect the people he loves and never lose anyone again. The question is – who did Roy lose? Unfortunately, Thea storms out before we get an answer, but hopefully one is coming in the season finale. (No I do not remember who).

Long story short, yes I like these two, but the faster the Arrow writers move the characters into the Hood storyline the better. Otherwise they are just marooned on their own show like Laurel Lance Island.

Stray Thoughts

Yao Fei died! It’s so sad and traumatic. I forgot he’s shot in the head. Really didn’t need to see that twice.

Fyers is shooting down a commercial airliner to destabilize the Chinese economy. It’s always about money for these assholes.

Walter wants a divorce and I would say their differences are irreconcilable. Moira is getting what she deserves. You can’t kidnap your husband for six months and then offer him tea and crumpets when he comes home.

"Who the hell is Felicity Smoak?" Uh oh. Quentin has Felicity’s name. That ain’t good.

“Is the other archer working for Merlyn?” Please don’t make Diggle look this dumb again.

Merlyn versus Oliver battle was EPIC! The fight scenes this season are so stellar.

“Psychopaths are color coding themselves. That’s helpful.” HA!

Listen to the Watchover podcast reaction to 1x22!!!

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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!

[sometimesrosy]

Do you ever experience an unfulfilled desire to see your tv couple (from The 100) consummate their relationship onscreen? And if so how do you get over it?

Yeah I do. I think it's one of the reasons I fell off of doing the rewatch (although not the only reason by far.) Because it felt hollow. You know? TBH I could have handled the way it ended better if they didn't completely invalidate the head and the heart story, and the story of trying to make sure we deserve to survive. And if they had even just ADDRESSED the tie between them. It was a mistake to take the love scene out of the episode after the resuscitation scene. But oh well.

There it is. You can't trust hollywood because they have their own agenda and they often put the story last.

What do I do to get over it? Well, I had to let go of the obsession, which I was ready for, tbh. I just moved on. Maybe because for me The 100 was a coping strategy, and my mental health improved so I didn't need them as a coping strategy anymore.

But it's hard to just be like, well, be over it, if you still need it as an emotional support ship.

In that case, I'd probably switch to fanfiction. There's some fantastic fanfic in the fandom and they can fix where it went wrong.

The tv show is fiction. It's not real life. It didn't really happen. There's no "truth" to it. Yes, there's canon. And the canon tells 'A' story. I personally think JR ruined the story out of spite, so I chose not to give a shit what happened in season 7, although I'd be okay taking it as inspiration.

If I were still obsessed, I would be WRITING fanfiction, to fix it frankly. BUT

I'm not, for some actual reasons that might have helped me move past the show and the ship.

Mainly because I started ghostwriting romances. Especially when I started, I was inspired by fan fiction and would definitely put Bellarke into the books. Sometimes I'd put Olicity. or like some other random ship. Writing my own story and giving them happy endings helped me not need them as emotional support.

And then also perhaps I switched my emotional support to reading historical romances. I read a lot of them. I started because my first ghostbook had a trope I didn't understand and my google search led to a historical romance, so I read it and remembered that I used to like bodice rippers when I was teen, so I started reading them. And the thing is, it's a lot like fanfiction. This character and that character fall in love in the fictional world of Regency or Victorian England. And because it's this kinda Jane Austen universe, it stays familiar. And because it's a fantasy version of the real times, well, it's not too near the real world and all the stress we go through now.

So how did I get over Bellarke's crash and burn? I wrote other stuff. I read other stuff. I might also suggest finding a different ship to fall in love with. You know that old saying "the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else?" I think that fits with a broken ship, too. Find someone else to obsess over.

[allimariexf]

POLL: Olicity Fandom’s Top Arrow Episodes

Hey everyone! As we come up to the last episode of Arrow, we’re trying to figure out WHAT ARE THE DEFINITIVE FAVORITE EPISODES of Arrow/Olicity fandom?

TAKE THE POLL HERE (x) 

(Also there’s a 7 question Olicity quiz that’s designed to be a breeze for Olicity fans...but is it? 😘)

The results of this poll will be used to determine the next couple months’ Coordinated Episode Rewatch schedule on the Olicity Discord server (want to know more about this and join in? READ MORE HERE and HERE).

Because here’s the thing...we hold WEEKLY coordinated group rewatches (learn more here), and while we usually watch episodes in chronological order (while skipping universally disliked episodes 😉), we’re currently at episode 4x16 (”Broken Hearts”) and we just reeeeally didn’t feel in the mood to watch that this week, or the rest of season 4, going into season 5. These next couple months are going to be heartbreaking enough.

INSTEAD, over the next couple months we will be doing something different to commemorate the ending of Arrow: we’re going to be watching the fandom’s TOP FAVORITE ARROW EPISODES (as voted on by you in this poll).

To create this poll, I asked the Olicity Discord members to list their top 20 Arrow episodes of all time. (IT WAS VERY PAINFUL AND WE ALL KIND OF DIED A LITTLE). Afterward, I tallied the results and came up with 26 top episodes, which are the choices presented in this poll. Now we need YOU to help us narrow it down to THE FANDOM’S TOP 15 EPISODES OF ALL TIME.

WE CAN DO IT. I BELIEVE IN US.

[faegal04]

Olicity Fandom Rewatch

Hi everybody! Yesterday we watched Season 2x10 “Blast Radius” and had an amazing time! Here’s just a smidge of all that we talked about!!!  Of course we were all a”quiver”(see what I did there ;) ) Special thanks to @stephswims @chrissykins-for-the-win @smoakmonster @1-crazy-dreamer @tangled23works @hope-for-olicity and our fearless leader @allimariexf

Thanks to everyone who was there (NINETEEN (19) OF US THIS TIME!! 😱😱😱)

We will be doing this again next weekend – and we’ll be watching 2x14 (Time of Death!!! 😍😍😍)

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN! Provided you are an Olicity fan who can consent to NSFW content and who agrees to treat people respectful. Send a message to myself, @allimariexf @msbeccieboo @stephswims @lucyyh @1-crazy-dreamer @puck038 for an invite!

[lucyyh]

Olicity (Discord) rewatch: 6x09 Irreconcilable Differences. The Olicity Wedding Reception.

(7 Final Part) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

[freetobeeyouandme]

Finding out I actually watched all of S10 of supernatural from my Tumblr archive because I sure as hell don’t fucking remember jack shit from the end of that season except Charlie dying...yeah ok

[1-crazy-dreamer]

Arrow - 4x03 “Restoration” | Olicity (Discord) Rewatch

[lakadyn]

So This Is It...

I watched the last show yesterday, slept on it and now I have a few thoughts. First, it was a good send off. Satisfying. I will be able to watch the show again without fail, the last ep gave me what I wanted: a reunion. Oliver and Felicity together at last at peace (wherever it is, really I don’t care).

I always disliked that Oliver saw her for the first time in a flashback but the way it came to an end with him recreating the very room where they first met (adding some red pens along the way) moved me. Plus the way she was dressed as he sees her. Not dressed as she was that day, no. I love that he sees her with the ponytail, a light pink blouse and a skirt not-that-short… And heels of course. And he’ll explain why they are in his mother’s office after a long love session (but I digress).

So I enjoyed this episode and it was important to me. The show writers and me have been at war for a long time because of the plotholes the size of the Grand canyon. Very fast, I learnt to focus only on Olicity because there Stephen and Emily made sure they could not fuck up too much. Plus, there was Diggle, with David Ramsey always being the cheerleader for those two and having a beautiful love story of his own. As long as I concentrated on that I was (mostly) fine.

Arrow is not my first fandom but it took a strong meaning in my life because it came from left field. I’m a journalist and I covered the first episode. I remembered writing it was “unusual to watch a show for the lead’s abs but that Arrow was an exception”. I didn’t give it much thought after that. Too many Award winning shows to watch and Supernatural too, mind you.

But one night, during what would become the worst year of my life, I needed a show to help me pass the long hours before dawn and the hospital. My TV had stored the first 2 seasons of Arrow so I began watching trying to keep panic at bay. And there came Emily. I binge watched because good TV can take you away from your problems even the scariest. By morning, I was hooked especially because I was in awe. Felicity was not an unusual character per se, she was the geek, the computer genius any vigilante couldn’t live without these days. But she was sexy with glasses. Short and with a temper. Not afraid  of our then grumbling hero and the most intelligent person in any room at any time. I’m a feminist, I was proud a sexy girl could be that smart unapologetically. This said, those geeks don’t get the sexy guy. NE-VER. Felicity sure was sexy as hell, but really? With the comics fans yelling Canary love and LL continuity?

Thank god for Em and Stephen chemistry because every conversation they had was full of sparkles. After I binge watched, I finally joined the fandom live by the beginning of S3 with my fingers crossed for Olicity. I started a Tumblr just for that and Oh that season! It’s still my fave. Every ep analyzed to catch the looks, the almost touches, the lingering pauses. It was a blast. When Nanda Parbat came, I was still surviving what turned out to be a year and a half of bad luck but as I rewatched the love scene (with ou without sound LOL), I could escape my many problems. The geek got the guy and that made TV history.

I lost my job, I had toothaches that lasted 4 months, my appartement was robbed, I had a cancer scare, I was diagnosed with endometriosis after years of pain without explanation and finally I decided to sell my house and move abroad.During those 2 years, Arrow was my rock. I know it’s pathetic but it sometimes was the only happy hour in my week and so, for a long time. This show didn’t save my life but it made it easier. It was my life raft. And for that I will always thank the show and the fandom and especially Emily and Stephen.

As I write this in sunny Spain, my life has changed dramatically, I bought a new appartement, I have new plans and my show is done. Thanks for the ride guys. It was a bumpy one but we made it in the end. Olicity prevailed. We survived and enjoyed most of the ride and the most important thing is : we have memories that will last us a life time and that can help us escape when life throws us a curved ball (or two, or three…). I kiss you all and wish you all the best. XOXO

[sweetdawn129]

Why Arrow means so much to me...

I tried watching Arrow from the first episode with my husband. We absolutely HATED the voiceovers - totally turned us off. We stopped watching and I didn’t start again until the middle of season 2 in early 2014.

I had been having a really hard time. You see, my husband and I had been trying to start a family without any luck. And it was getting pretty depressing...every month, realizing I failed again, unable to do something women had been doing and were expected to do since forever...get pregnant.

So I re-discovered Arrow (and discovered Olicity!) and binged it to catch-up. I was hooked. I wasn’t on social media so I didn’t have the fandom yet for another year, and then didn’t really start interacting for around another year after that. But I had my hands full anyway. I went on to have 5 IUI treatments in 2014 - all failures. I burrowed into Arrow even more - watched and rewatched episodes to escape life.

When Oliver got kicked off the mountain in 3x09, I was distraught for Arrow and Olicity...and me. I found Tumblr and Twitter and Stephen’s Facebook page. I gobbled up fan fiction and couldn’t believe I had gone so long without any of it. I started reading @jbuffyangel reviews and it gave me hope.

The fandom gave me hope.

Olicity gave me hope.

Arrow gave me hope.

I don’t even know why. It really doesn’t make sense. But somehow, the escape let me process my feelings in a way I couldn’t without it.

In 2016, my husband and I decided to try IVF. He actually had decent insurance (the 5 IUIs were all out of pocket expenses and were expensive enough), and we thought the new job with the better insurance was a sign to us. Even though we still had to pay a lot of money out of pocket, the increased chances of conception were worth the try. Two failed IVFs later and I was more numb than I could ever have thought.

Season 5 was so hard for that reason. Olicity was in such a dire place, as much as I was emotionally. It caused me to actually start interacting with people here on Tumblr. I found fandom friends who are sweet and caring and loved what I loved about Arrow. Throughout season 5 and 6, I breathed in the love of virtual strangers and found so much solace in that escape.

My husband and I decided to give up the dream of a family. It was too hard on our mental health. I saw a therapist briefly to try to process the grief of the death of a dream. I held on to the perspective that it could definitely be worse - my husband and I were still a team and still loved each other and still had so many blessings. We had great jobs, great friends, great home - really privileged lives. We would find another dream to pursue by deciding to build our dream house. I dropped off Tumblr because I had so much going on with work (a promotion!) and the new house (managing a house build is not easy). But I figured I’d pick it back up once the season started.

Then in July before season 7 started, I was so tired and couldn’t keep my eyes open. I chalked it up to the stress of the job and the house, when I realized at 8:30am after I decided to work from home that I may be pregnant. I thought FOR SURE I am pregnant. I bought a pregnancy test. That sucker turned positive before I could even stop peeing on the stick. I couldn’t believe it. My husband and I were in disbelief and over the moon! It couldn’t be! But we heard so many stories about how letting go of the dream sometimes helps it come true.

The dream lasted about a month. I miscarried. And I really haven’t recovered emotionally.

There had been so much joy and anger and angst in the fandom all year and I’ve been here, but not really as present as I’d like to be. I haven’t really been present in anything...just going through the motions hoping I get back to my old self.

Then I hear the news today and watch Stephen’s Facebook live and I am so sad. I am sad when I think that maybe the people whose stories I follow on AO3 or blogs I read on Tumblr may stop posting. I am sad when I think I won’t see a great love story like Olicity on my screen anymore. I am sad when I think how I haven’t been as present as I would like to be for every second of the past season because we’re running out of time.

And so once again I am thankful for Arrow and its fandom because it just helps give me the right perspective. It allows me a different way to express myself and process my emotions. I cried a lot today knowing it will end soon. It’s nice to feel something again when I’ve been numb for so long.

I am going to try to be present every day in my life, in this show, in this fandom until the end. Thank you for inspiring me to do so.

@almondblossomme @wherethereissmoak @turtlejustice @tdgal1 @oliverdant @supersillyanddorky06 @dust2dust34 @dettiot @felicityollies @flowerandsunshine @hope-for-olicity @jbuffyangel @jules85 @jaspertown @latinasmoak @louiseblue1 @laurabelle2930 @coal000 @normalisjustafairytale @nalla-madness @machawicket @marytagus @memcjo

[jbuffyangel]

Always Laurel: Arrow 1x20 Review (Home Invasion)

The love triangle pendulum swings violently in the other direction as Oliver makes a decision that breaks Tommy’s heart and destroys Diggle’s trust in him.

Source: @htbthomas

Does Oliver always choose Laurel? If yes, then is that a good thing?

Let’s dig in…

Merlance and Lauriver

At this point in the first season, you have probably formed an opinion on this love triangle.  You are either Merlance, Lauriver, a plague on both their houses, or just don’t give a crap. All choices are valid. Everyone knows where I stand.

What I think we can agree on is this love triangle is toxic. Toxicity, I feel, that is being driven largely by Oliver Queen. But we’ll get to that in a minute.  First, we need to discuss the choice Oliver makes.

Laurel is representing the Moore family and suing Edward Rasmus, an investment broker, for stealing their life savings. Rasmus hires Gunn from Angel (that’s what I’m calling him. I know his character has a name, but I don’t care) to kill the parents, but their son Taylor manages to escape. We don’t actually see how Taylor escaped. It looks he jumped out a twelve story window, but whatever.

Laurel volunteers to be the child’s temporary guardian, so Taylor stays at her apartment with Tommy. This leads to a beautiful Merlance moment and one of my all-time favorite Tommy scenes in the series. Little Taylor is grieving the loss of both his parents, so Tommy offers him some advice.  

Source: @bifelicitys

Colin Donnell’s delivery in this scene is just the right mix of sadness and loving comfort. We can see the kind of father Tommy would be and it’s a beautiful sight to behold. If Laurel Lance is not in love with Tommy Merlyn already then she certainly falls in love with him in this moment.

I wish we could just leave them here forever. Safe in the cocoon of their stable, loving, and supportive relationship.

But we can’t because of Oliver.

Tommy and Laurel have lost one crucial aspect of their relationship because of Oliver - honesty. They are both lying. Laurel has failed to tell Tommy that she’s been having “friendly” lunches with Oliver (re: see last episodes “I don’t want to be on an island anymore” speech).  And Tommy is keeping the biggest secret of all – he knows Oliver is the vigilante.

Source: @htbthomas

Gunn storms Laurel’s apartment to finish the job on Taylor. Tommy throws himself over Taylor’s body and I friggin swooned. Someone woman needs to give this man a baby! The daddy hotness is too much to take.

Laurel shows some impressive “daughter of a cop” moves when she breaks out the shot gun.

Unfortunately, she didn’t keep more than one bullet in the chamber. Why she didn’t check the gun the minute she got home I will never understand. I swear, this woman sometimes.

Of course, Oliver is there in the shadows as The Hood to rescue Laurel, Tommy and Taylor. Now that Tommy knows Laurel and Taylor are targets, he advises Quentin they should stay at the Queen mansion. They have wall to wall security and more importantly The Hood lives there.

Tommy: We both only want is best for Laurel. And right now that is to stay close to the Oliver. Trust me.

However, the first thing Oliver does when they arrive is leave to help Diggle track down Floyd Lawton, which infuriates Tommy.

Tommy: You are the reason why we’re here and trust me that wasn’t easy to admit.

Oliver assures Tommy the bodyguards at the Queen mansion will be more than sufficient to protect them, but when push comes to shove, he abandons his promise to Diggle to stop Rasmus. This didn’t stop Gunn from going after Taylor again at the Queen mansion. The bodyguards ended up being worthless and a hoodless Oliver Queen had to kill Gunn with a fire poker.

Was Oliver needed at the mansion to save everyone’s lives? YES. But that went down after the Lawton sting operation. Did stopping Rasmus in any way deter Gunn from going after Taylor again? No. Gunn kills anyone who has seen his face – including Rasmus. Oliver couldn’t have known that though. I’m not denying Oliver is juggling a lot of balls this episode. He has some tough choices to make, but the problem is he’s not being honest about the reasons behind those choices.

Felicity:  Couldn’t you be friends with someone less complicated than your ex-girlfriend who is your ex-best friend’s current girlfriend?

It’s a lightly made comment about Oliver’s relationships outside of the bunker, but Felicity’s gentle jab packs a big punch of truth. The more Oliver says Laurel is just a friend the less anyone believes him. It’s crap. Oliver clearly has more than friendly feelings towards Laurel and he does absolutely nothing to conceal them. In fact, he’s pretty damn brazen about it.

Let’s talk the lunches. It ultimately is canceled because of Laurel’s meetings with the Moores, so Oliver meets them when he arrives at CNRI. But he comes back to Laurel’s office after they are murdered to see if there’s anything he can do.

Initially, Tommy tells Oliver his help is not required and a phone call to check on Laurel would’ve been more than sufficient. He didn’t need to stop by in person. Tommy is being very territorial and rightfully so. The vibe ain’t vibing. Then Oliver casually not so casually tells Tommy about the lunches with Laurel – which she has failed to share with her boyfriend. 

Why is Laurel lying to Tommy? A lie of omission is still a lie. If she is truly “just friends” with Oliver then there’s no reason to hide the lunches from Tommy. Laurel has yet to truly articulate how she feels for Oliver, but this lie is not good. An emotional affair is just as hurtful and wrong as a physical one. Some even consider it worse, but make no mistake, an emotional affair is cheating.

As for Oliver, his feelings are plain as day. He has kept Laurel on an emotional hook for the entire season. He continually reinserts himself into her life, particularly at the moments when she’s trying her best to move on.

There was a respectful distance between the two and then Oliver decides Laurel is the person he wants to reconnect with. Why not Tommy? Their friendship could use a lot of damage control. What about Thea? Oliver can’t take her to Big Belly Burger or his mother or Diggle? There is an ample list of people Oliver can open up to if he so chooses. But instead he chooses Laurel – a choice that, as Felicity states, is complicated and wildly inappropriate.

Oliver also uses the vigilante shtick to emotionally manipulate Laurel. He can’t be honest about who he is or what he feels for her, so instead he uses The Hood to be her knight in shining armor.

Source: @htbthomas

When Laurel finds out it’s The Vigilante who saved them, Oliver notices the soft smile playing on her lips and he’s extremely pleased - almost smug. He’s used the hood to stay close to Laurel all season long. She’s hemmed and hawed about whether or not The Vigilante is a good guy, but it seems she’s solidly pro hood at the moment.

Oliver: He’s lucky to have you in his life. I know the feeling.

This conversation takes place about twenty feet from the bedroom Laurel is staying in with HER BOYFRIEND who is supposed to be Oliver’s best friend.  He gently touches her arm, they hug and Oliver presses Laurel’s head to his chest, all while Tommy is listening. The way Oliver speaks to Laurel, the way he touches her, is anything but ok.

Source: @htbthomas

One of the fatal flaws of Lauriver is the writers tell rather than show. I’m a little unclear what “change” Laurel is referring to in Oliver because we don’t get scenes of them discussing anything REAL. So, we’re just supposed to accept through the course of the season Laurel has seen change in Oliver Queen.

But she doesn’t qualify what that change is. Is he more selfless? Is Oliver more communicative? Is he more honest? I don’t know what that word means to Laurel. The last time we saw Oliver and Laurel interacting on a personal level was at least 1x09 or 1x10 and those scenes were really about Laurel finally moving on with Tommy.

SO. WHY. DOESN’T. OLIVER. LET. HER. MOVE. ON????????????!!!!

Oliver is desperate for Laurel’s forgiveness. He’s so desperate for it that he uses The Hood as a way to prove he’s a different person now and to develop a relationship with Laurel he cannot otherwise have as Oliver Queen. As The Hood, there is no Sara. As The Hood, there is no betrayal. As The Hood, he can rebuild trust and find a way to stay in Laurel’s life. As The Hood, he can be the hero. If Oliver can fix things with Laurel it’s like the last five years never happened. Oliver may have a mission to save the city, but what he’s really chasing is absolution.

I’m going to harp on this until I am blue in the face and I’m nowhere near done discussing it in these final three episodes. Nothing has truly changed between Laurel and Oliver. He was lying to her five years ago and he’s lying to her now. Love based on deception isn’t love. There can be no absolution without honest confession.

Tommy: You still love her, don’t you?

Source: mymarsrevolution

This is a popular line used in Olicity fanvids, but it’s not about Felicity. It’s about Laurel. This discussion about Laurel between Oliver and Tommy is so patronizing. It’s like Laurel is a toy they are arguing over.  The men get to decide who gets to “keep” her. The men decide what information she needs and who she really belongs with. This choice is neither Oliver nor Tommy’s to make. Laurel deserves the full truth and to decide for herself if she wants to be with either of them.

Source: @bj-hunnicutts

But what Oliver says is so toxically self serving it makes my blood boil. He’s inserted himself as The Hood in Laurel’s life as a sexy, leather clad, dangerous, bow & arrow wielding, romance novel, shadow figure who heroically saves her life again and again (because women hate guys like that). Oliver develops an emotional attachment between Laurel and The Hood to keep his hooks in her just enough to muddy the waters with Tommy.

Now he’s reinserting himself into her life as Oliver Queen, but just as a “friend” while carrying on an emotional affair with her. He has ZERO intention of ever being honest or having a real relationship with her. Oliver dresses it up as heroic selflessness, but if he was really being selfless – he would leave her alone completely. Oliver doesn’t want to be with Laurel, but he doesn’t want her to move on from him either. It’s selfish.

Oliver isn’t the only one lying to Laurel. Tommy is too, but we know why. Oliver’s secret is not his to tell, but there’s another reason he finally admits to in “Home Invasion.”

Source: @htbthomas

Is Tommy right about Laurel choosing Oliver? Yeah, probably. I believed that when I first watched Season 1 and I still believe it now. If she was fully committed to Tommy then The Hood couldn’t have any effect on her. If Laurel was fully committed to Tommy, then Oliver would truly be just a friend. She would tell Tommy about the lunches. Or she would say it’s not appropriate and she cannot be the shoulder Oliver cries on.

Instead, Laurel tethers herself to both The Hood and Oliver in a way that grazes the line between friends and more than friends. Those lines should always be clear if you are in a committed relationship. She is being unfair to Tommy.

But again, Laurel isn’t dealing with all the information. So, there’s only so much I fault her at this point. What Oliver is doing is very manipulative and it shows, quite frankly, that when it comes to Laurel – he hasn’t changed much. It doesn’t endear Laurel to me that she can’t see Tommy is the perfect man for her, but at this point in the season I am laying the blame for this toxic cycle more at Oliver’s feet than hers.

Unfortunately, Tommy makes the biggest mistake of his life and breaks up with Laurel. I understand why. Tommy has some self respect and knows there’s something going on between Laurel and Oliver. Tommy knows he’s competing with a mythic romance novel like persona and he feels he doesn’t measure up in comparison, which is the real reason he leaves. He’s wrong in every way possible. You don’t need to dress up in a hood and save the city to be a good man.

Tommy: I guess I haven’t changed as much as we all thought then.

He can barely get the words out as he ends their relationship. Laurel is understandably shocked and confused. This seems to be a 180 degree turn from where they were just a day ago. To say this breakup was abrupt would be an understatement.

The saddest part is Tommy truly has changed. He should stay and fight for Laurel because what they have is real and worth saving. They’ve made their own history, one that doesn’t have anything to do with Oliver Queen. (Are you feeling the Joey & Pacey versus Dawson parallel?)

But Tommy is right about something. Laurel and Oliver need to deal with their baggage, so she can find always with the right man - the man who wants a future with her and not the man trying to erase the past.

Oliver and Diggle

If Arrow is pushing us to root for a Laurel and Oliver reunion, they are doing a spectacularly bad job at it. Oliver has promised Diggle he will help kill Floyd Lawton, but in the end he abandons John and Deadshot gets away. Diggle feels betrayed primarily because well… Oliver betrayed him. 

Diggle: I needed you there, man.

The choice between Lawton and Rasmus was a simple one. Deadshot was the bigger threat and the harder target to capture. Oliver can be pretty mechanical when it comes to making these types of choices, so it was surprising when he chose the corrupt investment broker over the assassin.

Four ARGUS agents died trying to capture Lawton. It really didn’t need to be a choice for Oliver. Why couldn’t Felicity call in a tip to Detective Lance and let Starling PD arrest Rasmus?

Source: bj-hunnicutts-blog

Because then The Hood couldn’t be the hero for Laurel. Oliver got to strut into the mansion and announce Rasmus was arrested, there was no longer a threat to the boy or Laurel, and The Hood was the man who saved the day. The pleased little smile on Laurel’s face, this latest rescue more proof that The Hood was a good man who cared for her, was Oliver’s reward. He scored points with Laurel. Oliver may not be cashing them in, but he’s collecting points all the same.

This does not make his actions completely altruistic, which is why Diggle is angry. John knows Oliver was trying to look good in front of Laurel and he put that desire before his friendship with John. Proving to Laurel that he’s a changed man is just as much a part of Oliver’s mission as The List. He broke his promise to John.  Oliver didn’t help Diggle complete his mission to avenge his brother. Instead, Oliver continued to pursue his own.

 Source: bj-hunnicutts-blog

If Oliver choosing Laurel is a good thing then why is there all this collateral damage around him?  Tommy, Diggle, Lyla, ARGUS agents, even Felicity, have been hurt by this choice.

Oliver: Something to say, Felicity? Felicity: Nothing you want to hear.

This is not an accident on the writers’ part. They could’ve easily shown the scenario I posed about (re: Felicity tipping off Quentin) or Diggle understanding and supporting Oliver choosing Laurel. It didn’t have to play out like this. Remember they are the ones crafting the story here. It’s their choice.

They are doing this for a REASON. Oliver did not make the right decision in “Home Invasion.” The writers are not saying Oliver and Laurel should be together and the rest of the world be damned. Quite the opposite.

Relationships cannot exist in a bubble. Just because you love someone doesn’t give you the right to hurt people in the name of that love. We can become blind to other people's feelings and consumed by our emotions for one singular person, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Spike: Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy. Great love is wild and passionate and dangerous. It burns and consumes.

Buffy: Until there's nothing left. Love like that doesn't last.

Not a BTVS fan? Let’s try The Vampire Diaries:

Damon: I thought you broke my heart so I ripped open Aaron’s neck that is how much control you have over me.

Elena: And I'm still here, that's how much control you have over me.

Damon: Listen to us. This is toxic. We are in a toxic relationship, Elena.

Oliver isn’t consumed by love for Laurel, but he is consumed by regret. Guilt can be just as powerful emotion as love. We know Oliver hasn’t always chosen Laurel – hell we saw it in the freaking flashback this episode.

Oliver kisses Shado as she tries to teach him to be an archer. He’s been away from Laurel (AND SARA) for few weeks (months?) and he’s already kissing someone else. These are not the actions of a man deeply in love.

Oliver: There’s someone. And it’s a mile past complicated, but I can’t.

Shado: Does she know how much you love her?

Oliver: I suspect right now she doesn’t. But as soon as I’m home, she will.

The Arrow writers either have a very wacked perspective on what love, fidelity and devotion mean or they are trying to make a point. Oliver didn’t choose Laurel in the past and it led to some disastrous consequences.

But Oliver choosing Laurel in the present has also led to some disastrous consequences. So maybe, just maybe, Oliver and Laurel isn’t a good thing. True love wouldn’t leave this much human wreckage in its wake. Maybe this isn’t the “always” Oliver should be pursuing. 

Diggle: The only thing that will stop me from going out that door is an arrow.

And they are using John Diggle, the man guiding Oliver on his path to righteousness, to make that point.

Stray Thoughts

HE LOOKS. You cannot beat the Stemily chemistry. These scenes are gold.

YASSS Diggle shirtless. There needs to be more Diggle shirtless.

Lyla is pissed John didn’t tell her Deadshot killed his brother. She’s going to arrest him if he continues to get in the way. Hmm… handcuffs. Has potential. *evil cackle*

Tommy also lied to Laurel about Oliver being cool with him leaving the club for a job with his dad. It’s like watching these two swirl down a toilet bowl honestly.

Oliver in a towel is always welcomed no matter how ticked off I am at him.

“I can’t explain it but it feels like my life is connected to his.” Roy and Thea are united in the hunt for The Hood. Finally these two get a storyline I care about.

The badge was a fake. This is actually a really good safety tip. Should I know what a valid badge number looks like? Feel like I should know that.

“I’m feeling like it might be time for you to move.” Preach.  Does Laurel have insurance? Who pays to fix her apartment all the time? I think she’s needed a new couch like three times already.

Lyla’s code name is Harbringer. Hello comics!

Lawton doesn’t kill Diggle because he hasn’t been paid to? That is convenient, isn’t it? Come on show. Do better with valid reasons for getting characters out of jams when Oliver isn’t available.

Are we going to talk about WHY a world class assassin was hired to kill John’s brother? I feel like there’s major backstory there.

Where is Shado getting all the arrows?

“I liked who my son was when he was around you.” If Moira Queen is pro Lauriver then that’s all the proof I need to swear off that relationship. The evil spirits are coming to get me. No thanks.

Oliver has killed 26 people (that the cops know about) since returning home. Yeesh. That’s a lot.

Can you really break off a doorknob to keep someone from entering the room?

“No, Ollie is still out there!” Oh honestly Tommy, just let her go. Maybe a bullet will snap some sense into her.

Listen to the Watchover podcast reaction to 1x20!!!

If you’d like to support the blog, please buy me a cup of tea!

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

[austencello]

Delayed Arrow review

Dear friends,

It is that time of year! I love the week of Holy Week because it means we get to live out in real time and walk along Jesus through his last days on earth and celebrate in his resurrection.  I get to play and sing in numerous services, including two filled with art, music, theater and dance sharing stories of God’s salvation in the Old Testament on Saturday, an overnight Vigil filled with worship, prayer, and scripture (and I wrote an original song that I shared at 3 am), and a beautiful sunrise Easter service filled with joy.

It also means I am physically and emotionally drained afterwards. Which means Arrow always takes a back seat during this week.  I’m hoping to rewatch last week’s episode today and take notes.  I may end up running behind with reviews for the rest of the season.  Thankfully, you all are very understanding and encouraging. 

I also want to do a good job with this past Canary episode. I realize that most of my readers are huge Olicity fans but I became really good friends with a Laurel Lance fan at the end of season 4 due to our love of the soundtrack (ironically through my review of her death and funeral episode which had fantastic music).  We have worked on projects together, bemoaned the enmity and ridiculousness between our two factions in the fandom, and rave about how we agree that Season 3 had the best music in Arrow.  (He’s also reasonable in recognizing that Felicity and Oliver are together for this show)  He was thrilled with this episode especially after the heartbreak of Season 4, so this review is going to be for you @jorahandal (whenever I get to writing it!)

Enjoy the Diggle episode tonight.  I look forward to hearing lots of Diggle motifs.

[allimariexf]

Olicity Fandom’s Top Arrow Episodes: Poll Results and Fandom Rewatch

Hey everyone! About a month ago, I created a poll HERE where I asked the fandom to rank their top episodes of Arrow. Well, MORE THAN A HUNDRED OF YOU VOTED! and here are the results, the definitive list of our fandom’s Top Arrow Episodes:

1. 2x07 "State v. Queen" 

 2. 5x20 "Underneath" 

3. 3x20 "The Fallen" 

4. 3x05 "The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak" 

5. 2x23 "Unthinkable" 

6. 1x15 "Dodger" 

7. 3x01 "The Calm" 

8. 4x01 "Green Arrow" 

9. 3x23 "My Name is Oliver Queen" 

10. 2x08 "The Scientist" 

11. 6x04 "Reversal" 

12. 1x14 "The Odyssey" 

13. 2x14 "Time of Death" 

14. 2x22 "Streets of Fire" 

15. 4x09 "Dark Waters"

(For more information about the process of how we reached these results, see the post HERE.)

So many of you may be wondering: now what? Well, I’m glad you asked. The  goal of this poll was to determine which episodes we will be watching next on our Fandom-Wide Episode Rewatches. And YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US, starting with:

1x14 "The Odyssey" (because we elected to watch the list in chronological order)

on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 at 7 PM UTC (that’s 2 PM Eastern, 11 AM Pacific). 

For more information on how to join in, READ MORE under the cut! 

Here’s the thing…for over a year, we have been holding WEEKLY Olicity Fandom coordinated group rewatches. Basically, it works like this:

1. join our Discord server* (basically, Discord is a group chat platform that is free, reputable, and available on desktop and mobile. If you want more info, it’s very googleable.)

for more info on OUR Olicity Discord server, see my posts here and here

*in order to join the server (which is invite-only, to keep out trolls and antis), you must agree to a few simple rules: 1) be an Olicity/Felicity/OTA fan, 2) consent to NSFW content, and 3) agree to treat people with respect and NOT CREATE DRAMA because we are lovers, not haters ;)

and if you agree to those rules, direct message me, or @1-crazy-dreamer or @lucyyh or @stephswims to get an invite!

2. at the appointed time, we queue up the episode on our own devices and then all hit “play” at the same time, watching the episode live “together” while we chat on the discord server.

As stated above, our next group rewatch will be 1x14 on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 at 7 PM UTC (that’s 2 PM Eastern, 11 AM Pacific). PLEASE JOIN US! 

(Now I’m going to tag a bunch of you who may have missed the announcement on Discord, just in case ;)

@fallen-karmacode @babblingblondegenius @bookolicitynessa @cainc3 @tdgal1 @crazycrystal10 @cruzrogue @crys4728 @emeraldoliverqueen @epj27 @feilcityqueen @felicityollies @geneeste @helooksather @hope-for-olicity @igotnothingclever @jules85 @juvinadelgreko @machawicket @smoakandmirror-blog @memcjo @msquared79 @olicity-beliver @olicityotp-always @onceuponarrow @msbeccieboo @smoaking-greenarrow @smoakmonster @swordandarrow @tangled23works @zynthi-i

Also: apologies if you’re on our server and I didn’t tag you; either I assumed you’re already well aware of the next rewatch, or I didn’t know your tumblr tag. EVERYONE is very welcome to join us! 😘😘😘

[faegal04]

Arrow Season 3 Rewatch

So I started today with the 3rd season and already I am drowning in feels. First let me say that I need baby Sarah back(thanks Barry) because I need this

To see Uncle Oliver taking care of baby Sarah would literally make my heart, head and ovaries explode!

Two:

Oliver asking Felicity out for their date "date". He was so adorable.

Three:

Their date:

And then, the beginning of the end

The aftermath

Dammit! It won't let me go any more on this post, so look for part two coming up!

[lucyyh]

Olicity (Discord) Rewatch: 6x09 Irreconcilable Differences. (The Olicity Wedding Reception)

(1)

[thinkolicity]

..Well I guess I have words to say.

I didn’t want to watch Stephen’s announcement..but I just did and man now I’m crying for real. When that man cries I cry.

I know it’s relatively early but I just want to say, before going back to processing, that I’m grateful to have been part of this fandom for the past several years. I discovered Arrow when season 1 aired here in Italy around March 2013, once that finished I never thought about it again and then discovered Olicity by chance on YouTube during the US hiatus in January 2014. The very same week after a good bingewatch, I came here on tumblr mid-season 2 not knowing what to expect, built this blog from zero, created my happy bubble, and because of you I never left.

This show changed my life. When my grandpa killed himself in 2014, being the one who found his body..it really hit me deep. The next day, I was here and on twitter liveblogging 3x02. This show helped me through my grief, this is how much I’m grateful for its existence. I’m reading all these post about how much Arrow & the fandom helped you all and got you through the highs and lows of life and all I have to say is: you are a bunch of inspiring, strong, badass bitches.

I don’t want to @ anyone because I want everyone to feel included: to all the people I’ve ever talked to, my mutuals and non mutuals..thank you from the bottom of my heart. We’ve had our ups and downs, countless battles, friendships were made, people left, and people stayed. We’ve been through so much. Together as a fandom family. I love every single one of you.

This is the bittersweet part of tv series; year after year we virtually invite these actors and their characters into hour homes and on our tv screens. They are family. We invest countless hours in theories, speculations, gifs, fanart, and fanfictions and if right now you are feeling like your heart has been ripped out of your chest and eaten in front of you..embrace the feeling. Cry, laugh, scream, whine, celebrate, curse..don’t hold back.

Righ now, the feeling of impending doom I first felt right after the last crossover ended is back with a vengeance and it’s not pretty. I went through a lot of endings but now it’s my favorite show’s ever turn, and it hurts like a bitch. Honestly...it’s the 10 episodes order that hurts a bit more. It means an earlier ending that’s gonna be here in the blink of an eye and I just want to hold on for just a little bit longer. I made the mistake of taking a regular season order for granted. I never expected otherwise. It hurts even more the not knowing how that end is gonna be because I know that if unreversable death is the direction we are going...the betrayal is gonna be real. I just hate those endings in every medium possible - I want to leave the show knowing everyone is happy and fulfilled and that goes for me as well. I want to be able to rewatch in peace and serenity. Plus, Oliver just deserves everything good and more. Him dying doesn’t make sense. I shall be positive and confident.

Like Stephen said, this is not the end. It’s the beginning of the end. We still have a ways to go and I’m sure we’ll get the most out of it. Just know that this blog and myself are not going anywhere, we’ll evolve and change but I hope to keep you all with me for a long time to come. We may not be together-together afterwards, but this fandom will never die and that’s what matters the most #famforever.

It’s gonna be a blast.

[1-crazy-dreamer]

"NOTHING WORTHWHILE EVER COMES EASY"

Olicity Fandom Episode Rewatch: 4x02 "The Candidate" - (check this out)