David Ramsey, Colton Haynes
Arrow Season 3, Episode 18: “Public Enemy”
Written by Marc Guggenheim and Wendy Mericle
Directed by Dwight Little
Airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on The CW
Throughout the season, Oliver has found Ra’s Al Ghul a formidable adversary. While the latter has proven that he’s more than capable of besting the Arrow physically, last week saw the League of Assassins frame Oliver for the death of the city’s Mayor, proving the cunning nature of Ra’s as well. This week’s episode sees the forces against Oliver and Team Arrow assert themselves more forcefully, as the group finds themselves actively hunted by the police in an episode that bring a season-long theme to the forefront.
The Arrow becoming a hunted figure is an interesting turn to observe. Much of the past two seasons have revolved around Oliver’s actions being influenced by things that happened to him before his return to Starling City, whether it’s following his father’s screed to cleanse the city, or dealing with Slade and his vendetta against Oliver. However, this season has seen a greater focus on the ramifications of Oliver’s actions as the Arrow, and the episode serves to effectively drive that point home. Despite Captain Lance’s insistence on holding Oliver accountable for the wrong deaths, his reluctance in letting Oliver and his team colour outside the lines has been clear since the beginning. In addition, the rest of Starling City hasn’t had a chance to weigh in on the presence of the vigilante team. The combination of these factors means that the exploration of what the vigilante group meant to the city, not just to Oliver and his team, was bound to come sooner or later. With both Oliver and Roy now in custody, and the public believing that one of them is the Arrow, it will be intriguing to see how the city reacts. On one hand, Oliver’s absence earlier this season established his importance to the city, and the successful rallying of troops undertaken by Laurel and Roy proves that some people are in favour of vigilante justice, particularly when the police fails. On the other hand, the reveal that Oliver was behind the hood is likely to turn a lot of people against the Arrow, since he was seemingly involved in both attacks on the city. Where the public opinion on the Arrow comes down in subsequent episodes will be intriguing to watch.
Colton Haynes, Willa Holland
Seeing how Team Arrow deals with Oliver’s arrest also holds potential. This season has seen numerous members of the team come into their own, particularly when Oliver was recovering from his fight with Ra’s, but this poses a new challenge altogether. Oliver’s absence meant that the team had to figure out their personal reasons for keeping up the fight against crime without a guiding force. His arrest, however, and the forceful reinstatement of the anti-vigilante act, means that these characters will now have to figure out their personal reasons for continuing to fight in the face of active adversarial actions against them. While Roy and Laurel’s reaction to this opposition may be clear, a number of other characters are worth keeping an eye on, chief among them Diggle. Diggle has already expressed an interest in quitting Team Arrow so that his daughter has a more secure future, and being targeted by the police for his involvement may be what pushes him over the edge. Thea’s reaction to these events will also be intriguing. As a trained fighter who’s yearning to undo the actions committed by her under Merlyn’s influence, Thea could prove to be a valuable member of the vigilante team, and what path she chooses with this kind of pressure against Team Arrow will say a lot about who Thea is at this point.
Unfortunately, the show’s turn to exploring the Arrow’s relationship with Starling City has made the flashbacks feel somewhat useless. In the first two seasons, the flashbacks provided useful background knowledge that helped inform present day situations. However, this season has seen Oliver either face situations for the first time, or deal with the results of his actions since returning to Starling City, actions the audience has seen unfold. This week’s flashback in particular adds nothing new to the ongoing events in Starling City, and Shado’s sister as a whole feels like a superfluous addition to the series as a whole. The ongoing unspoken camaraderie between Laurel and Roy continues to be a strong aspect of the season. It’s clear the duo see aspects of themselves in each other, as individuals trying to make a difference to the best of their ability, a bond that is likely to have been strengthened during the time they took on Brick in Oliver’s absence. It’s good to see Nyssa get somewhat involved in the week’s proceedings, despite her reluctance. With her anger towards her father and her suspicions about Oliver, Nyssa’s motivations remain opaque. Combined with her skill set, this makes her a dangerous force with no clear alliance, and which side she ends up fighting with is likely to be a key determinant in which side wins, making both her and Thea worth keeping an eye on as the season moves to its conclusion.
– Deepayan Sengupta