@jbuffyangel / jbuffyangel.tumblr.com
Sorry folks. I fell behind on these, so this is my version of brief reviewing. Quick and dirty.
Let’s dig in…
8/7/20 Rewatch
We’re only a hop, skip and a jump away from 1x03, which is why the kiddo insisted on a double header Friday night!
Arrow kicks off their mid season with a slumpy snoozer of an episode, but there are a few golden nuggets to chat about.
Let’s dig in…
Anon: I was catching up on your ask posts & I saw the one about Shado being Emiko's mother in the comics (which I didn't know b/c I know nothing about comics). But doesn't Shado have a twin we met very briefly (I don't remember when, where or why)? What if SHE is Emiko's mother? (There was a twin, right? Please tell me I'm not going crazy!) Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks! I love you, your blog and your podcasts! --Gayle (@storygirl78 on twitter)
Hi Gayle! I feel pretty confident that Arrow is going change Emiko’s mother on the show. They’ve aged her up quite a bit. I think she’s mid twenties maybe almost 30.
Robert Queen died in 2007. Shado is out. She was on the island with Oliver and died in 2008, but she was in her twenties. I always assumed Shado and Oliver were the same age on the island or only separated by a few years.
Oliver was born in 1985. He’s 34 now and 22 on Lian Yu. Thea was born in 1995, so she’s 24. I think Emiko is older than Thea and maybe 5-7 years younger than Oliver. It’s just a guess, but let’s put her birth at 1990. That would make Emiko 29.
If I’m right about Shado and Emiko’s ages then neither she or Mei are options for Emiko’s mother. They would be children at the time of conception just like Oliver was. Even if I’m wildly wrong about Shado and Emiko’s ages I don’t think I’m off by decades. For Robert to conceive with Shado or her twin Mei is pretty friggin young.
We’ve already done the skeevy older man arc with Robert and Isabel. A romantic relationship with either Shado or Mei puts Robert in pedophile range and they aren’t doing that. Emiko would have to be much much younger for either of these women to make sense to me as her mother.
China White is guest staring in 7x11, which is the episode David Ramsey is directing. They are forming a new Suicide Squad called Ghost Protocol. The episode is titled “Past Sins” so I think the chances are high Emiko’s mother will be China White.
Kelly Hu is 50 years old. Robert Queen was born in 1958. He was 49 years old when he died. That would put China White at 38 in 2007. Since I’m assuming Emiko isn’t too much younger than Oliver. It would mean China White was somewhere in her early to mid thirties at conception. Even if I’m wrong, and Kelly Hu is playing younger, then China White would still be in her mid to late twenties at conception.
OR they’ll choose a totally new character we’ve never met. Also an option.
I don't know about you, but so far I'm excited about the storyline with Emiko Queen, Oliver has another half sister. Thea was Moira's daughter with Merlin, it's nice to now explore the flip side since Emiko is Robert's daughter with another woman. Obviously, this is one more secret about Robert Queen Oliver didn't know about, do you think even Robert knew about Emiko? Also, do you have any theories on who Emiko's mother is
I’m not sure if Robert knew about Emiko. Given the way she spoke to him at the headstone, I would say yes. He did. There was a familiarity in the dialogue. Or it’s totally possible the writers were merely trying to mimic Oliver’s speech in 1x02 and Robert didn’t know about Emiko. But I think there’s more story potential if he did know.
I have no idea who her mother is and I can’t even venture a guess. I know it’s Shado in the comics, but Arrow has shown it doesn’t follow the comics. It’s entirely possible they pulled Emiko’s name from the comics and are making up an entirely new character like they did with Felicity Smoak. Or perhaps there will be more comic threads intertwined into her character.
Shado being her mother makes zero sense to me and I reject it entirely on the basis that it would mean, yet again, Oliver and Robert slept with the same woman. Yuck. No thanks. Honestly, I’ll be a little surprised if her mother is anyone we know. Is it weird I’m not super invested in who her mother is? Probably, but eh. It is what it is. I’m more curious about Oliver’s reaction to discovering Emiko and their relationship going forward.
See... this is what happens when I don’t pull all nighters. My life interferes with my ability to write insanely long reviews. Sorry for the wait my friends. Your patience is appreciated.
There comes a moment in every person's life when you realize your life is your own, a separate entity beyond your parent's expectations and dreams for you. You also see your parents for what they are... imperfect people just like you. There is freedom in these realizations and it is a crucial part of adulthood. As you grow older, your life is less and less defined by being what your parents leave behind. You begin to wonder what you will leave behind. You define a legacy for yourself. You learn how to live for yourself.
That is essentially the process both Oliver and Thea are going through in "Honor Thy Fathers" but because they are superheroes everything is on a super scale. Both Oliver and Thea faced their past tonight. They saw Robert Queen for who he really was and with those lessons came a certain peace. The past is no longer weighing them down. Both Thea and Oliver are free to look to the future.
Not quite sure what to do with a television show that gives me everything I've been waiting for on a narrative level. So... Imma gonna drink wine and throw confetti.
Let's dig in...
@mguggenheim: Arrow 100th Episode Table Read. No Flashpoint. No flashbacks.
Woo hoo!
But also, no David. No Paul!!!!
But isn’t that ROBERT QUEEN? (Or do my eyes deceive me?)
@scu11y22 @andjustforthismoment I think he there’s but not in the frame. Can’t be a 100 ep with him. 😉
I think you are right @kainesbitt77 . ☺
ROBERT FREAKING QUEEN SIGHTING.
Do you think we will ever see what was on the 'Thea' file Oliver copied off of Roberts computer in last evasions flashback? It has bugged me ever since..
Yes. Absolutely. Arrow always follows through on something they tease.
Time to talk the engagement ring. I’m going to preface this by saying that I know I am the minority in this opinion and that’s cool. Sometimes I gotta row my own boat. Blaze my own trail. I can handle the deserted island I am about to inhabit.
I really like that Oliver is giving Felicity his mother’s engagement ring.
(Pauses for gasps of horror).
Okay... you good? Let’s continue.
FILLER ALERT!!! FILLER ALERT!!! We have a filler episode on deck. Man your battle stations. By battle stations I mean copious amounts of Red Bull. Sorry episode 6. I don't mean to shade you. Well I do, but it's not really your fault. In a 23 episode season there will be filler episodes. Every show has them. God knows Buffy did. Bad Eggs anyone?
The reason I'm calling it a filler is because “Legacies” retreads old ground and embarks on very little new. Still, I shall do my utmost to dig up some new.
Let’s dig in...
Summer project time!!! I'm going to review Season 1 and 2 of Arrow as part of the Arrow rewatch. I've never reviewed episodes I've already watched, so this will be an interesting little experiment. Rest assured they will be shorter than my S3 reviews if I have any hope of maintaining my sanity this summer. Well some will be.
Before we get to the pilot I must first tell you my pilot story. I was knee deep into my Vampire Diaries obsession, headed into Season 4, when I saw a few promos for Arrow. I recognized Stephen from The Vampire Diaries (rest in peace Brady the werewolf), but didn't know much about him or the show. However, any actor who looks like this
and does that
...will grab my attention. My husband and I debate Fall TV shows like we're choosing our Fantasy Football picks. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: What about Arrow?
Husband: (shrugs) Eh.
Me: It looks good.
Husband: You know what it's about right?
Me: No.
Husband: The Green Arrow.
Me: What's a Green Arrow?
He rolls his eyes.
Husband: Not A Green Arrow, THE Green Arrow. It's a comic book character. Think Batman with a bow and arrow.
At the word "Batman" my ears perked up and my eyes brightened.
Husband: Yeah. Figured that'd get your attention.
Me: Oh I am so watching that. What else do you know?
Husband: He's not a "good" superhero exactly. The Green Arrow kills people. Also, he's married to The Black Canary.
Me: Who's the Black Canary?
Husband: Sort of like a poor man's Wonder Woman. My guess is that's who Katie Cassidy is playing.
Me: Why don't you want to watch?
Husband: I'm not a big Green Arrow guy.
Me: Well, he's dark & twisty with a built in romance. I'm sold.
You can insert your laughing gifs here about my excitement over Laurel & Oliver.
I watched the pilot. I was AMAZED. I demanded my husband watch it. It was non negotiable. This was a must see. He watched the pilot in total silence. After it was over he turned to me and said, "Holy shit. That was awesome." My response? "I KNOW!!!!" We were both hooked.
I say this having nearly 30 years of television viewing under my belt.
Arrow is the best pilot I've ever seen.
Let's dig in...
I was curious sir. In the synopsis for 3x14 its said that Thea and Oliver are on the island. Given what Oliver told her in Corto Maltese will we see them visiting the grave of Robert?? Thought this was important!
GREAT QUESTION MATTT
the four significant moments that oliver recalled while dying
Okay, do you think that the ending montage should've had more people like Digg, Roy, Laurel, Sara, Tommy, Shado, and Yao Fei? Or do you think the montage was more effective as it was? And why?
I’ve gotten this a couple times, so I figured I better answer it…also it seems like there may be some confusion in my review so I thought best to clear it up.
The reason Oliver thought of Robert, Moira and Thea was for a couple reasons. The memories were triggered by the word’s in Ra’s Al Ghul’s prayer. It’s why I analyzed the memories in conjunction with the lines in the prayer :) It triggered specific memories of specific people. It makes complete sense that Oliver’s memories revolved around his family. His journey began with his family and it ended with is family. He never would have been on that mountain in the first place if he wasn’t trying to right the wrongs of his parents and save Thea’s life.
However, NONE of this was conscious on Oliver’s part. It wasn’t like “Oh, I’m dying. I’m going to think of my father. Now my mother. Now Thea.” None of it was CHOICE on Oliver’s part. It was a deeply spiritual moment for Oliver and he simply bore witness to it.
Each person, each memory was tied directly to that prayer…except for Felicity. Oliver blinks rapidly before he remembers his kiss with Felicity. Almost like he’s surprised. Then he sees the moment after he kissed her, where his eyes were open but hers were closed. This was when Oliver was memorizing her face and the moment for the rest of his life. Why? Because it was the only time he ever allowed himself to love her the way he wants to…and he wanted to remember it. It was the one moment of his life where he was truly happy…where his light was the brightest.
So why is that his last thought? Because in the moment of his death, Oliver realizes he doesn’t want to die. He’s accepted the inevitability of death long ago, but that fatalistic attitude is what led to Oliver to simply survive his life. He didn’t truly live it. It’s an ephiphany. A moment where he realizes how unfinished his life is. Why? Because a life without Felicity, a life without truly loving her the way he wants to, isn’t a life at all. Oliver wanted a lifetime of those moments and he realized it in his moment of death. I think Oliver truly understood how much he loves her and how much he needs her, in a way he never has before – with blinding clarity. She is the air he breathes, and he realizes it, as he takes his last breath.
Of course there are more people Oliver loves like Diggle, Roy, Yao Fei, Shado, Laurel, Sara. This wasn’t Oliver actively choosing his thoughts. Death chooses you – not the other way around. Well, at least that’s the way I hope it goes. It is something that happens to you and you experience it.
There will be many, many interpretations of this scene and you know what? They are all right. Why? Because death has many different meanings and different perspectives. This is just mine .
Hi Jen, love your review. We've had Oliver's father say 'survive' and Tommy say 'fight', wouldn't it be great if we now had Sarah appear and say 'live'?
LOVE THAT.
Robert Queen to his son Oliver just moments before killing himself [Pilot Episode] (via oliverdant)
Is that quote real? Did it get deleted from the pilot? Man....why did they cut that? I literally just wrote a meta on how Robert wanted Oliver to do more than just survive. He wanted him to LIVE and become the hero Robert never had the courage to be. He wanted Oliver to save his soul...and his own in the process.
Stephen Amell once said there is a connective thread between the Arrow Season premieres and finales and so comaupcakes asked me to analyze all the Arrow premieres and finales. When I reached 3K followers, I asked you guys to vote on which meta you'd like me to do first...the season finale/premiere meta came out on top! I'm breaking this into 3 parts. Why? Well...analyzing 6 episodes is a lot especially premieres and finales. I thought this would be easier. So this is Part 1, the Arrow Season 1 premiere and finale analysis. Enjoy!
