Arrow - Sara - Review

Arrow, “Sara,” was written by the team of Jake Coburn and Keto Shimizu and directed by Wendey Stanzler. This was an intense episode, with the team dealing with the aftermath of Sara’s (Caity Lotz) death. Stephen Amell (Oliver), Katie Cassidy (Laurel), and Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity) turn in particularly good performances as their characters are most dramatically affected by Sara’s death. Oliver and Sara shared a close bond because of what they went through together, their relationship, and their shared life paths. Laurel has truly lost her sister, and Felicity has lost a friend and role model.

The flashbacks bring back a favorite character whom we lost in season one – Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell). Of course, this wasn’t really the Tommy we’d come to know and love – the one who’d given up being a spoiled playboy – this is the spoiled playboy Tommy. Even so, we see that he’s goneagainst his father’s wishes to travel half way around the world to try to find his missing and presumed dead best friend. I was actually really disappointed at how little we got of Donnell in the episode as I’d really grown to love his character in the first season. Of course, it has to work with the continuity of the first season, and Tommy never indicates that he saw Oliver during the five years he was missing.

We see the beginnings of what Oliver was up to in Hong Kong. We also see that Amanda Waller is ruthless – and pretty unscrupulous. She wants Tommy dead to hide any trace that Oliver might be alive. Maseo (Karl Yune) is sent as Oliver’s handler to make sure he takes care of the target. When Oliver refuses, Maseo is in a very difficult position – either Tommy dies or Maseo’s family is hurt. Maseo is clearly not a bad guy and he’s willing to entertain alternatives to killing Tommy. I loved when Oliver suggested they raid the morgue for a Tommy lookalike, and Maseo is incredulous – “In a Hong Kong morgue!”

         They cleverly work together, however, to kidnap Tommy with Oliver remaining disguised as the bad guy and Maseo acting like the good cop who rescues Tommy and sends him scurrying home. Oliver’s flashback lesson is that he has to be alone in order to keep those close to him safe. Given Oliver’s declaration to Felicity in the last episode about learning to never trust anyone, I have to wonder how Maseo is going to let him down – will he tell Waller?

The entire team is affected by Sara’s death, and Diggle (David Ramsey) vows to take a bigger role with the team to help catch Sara’s murderer. In a very sweet gesture, John and Lyla name the baby Sara. Roy (Colton Haynes) is finally moved to reveal the letter that Thea (Willa Holland) left him because Oliver is so desperate to see his own sister after seeing Laurel lose hers. It was interesting that Roy told Felicity first, and it was Roy who comforted Felicity when they first see Sara’s body and at the grave side. The relationship between Oliver and Felicity felt odd in this episode. Clearly, after Felicity walked away from Oliver in the last episode, they’d taken a step back, but was no more than half a day before discovering Sara’s body. It seems unrealistic that they’d be able to turn their feelings off so quickly.

One of the most powerful scenes in the episode is when Felicity actually confronts Oliver about his feelings. She tells him she doesn’t have her A-game for him – “I’m sorry if I have feelings, but if you did…” and then she immediately apologizes for being mean. Oliver tells her that he doesn’t have the luxury of having feelings because everyone is looking to him to lead, to be strong. Felicity replies, “You’re still a human being. You’re allowed to have feelings. I know sometimes it’s easier to live under that hood.” But of course, it’s not easier to live under that hood, and Oliver confesses his greatest fear to Felicity – that “This life that I’ve chosen. It only ends one way.”

Sara’s death pushes Felicity to reassess what she’s doing. She tells Oliver that she isn’t going to simply wait down in the lair for him to die: “If there’s one thing that today’s taught me, it’s that life is precious, and I want so much more than this in mine.” Earlier in the episode she’s stormed off to tell Ray (Brandon Routh) to stop stalking her. He’s so determined to have her work for him that he spent over a billion dollars to buy the Tech Village franchise she’s working for. I liked Routh a lot more in this episode as we see him gain a little more depth. He tells her that he knows she’s not angry at him. He doesn’t pry to find out what’s wrong but just offers quiet support. Felicity tells him that money can’t solve her problem, and he wisely responds that “money can’t solve most problems.” Good answer, Ray, good answer. Now we know he’s not all about the money. By the end of the episode, Felicity accepts his job offer at Queen Consolidated. I have to wonder how that’s going to affect her availability for the team. Clearly, they are building towards more than a working relationship here as well…

I really liked Laurel’s response to her sister’s death. She vows to be a big part of bringing the killer to justice. Cassidy is much better at playing fierce in my opinion. I’m so glad that it’s clear from the outset that we aren’t going to have a repeat of last season. She quickly removes herself from Verdant – telling Oliver that a bar is the last place she should be. She’s not sacrificing her sobriety. She’s also being strong for others in the way Oliver is. She refuses to tell Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) about Sara’s death because of his precarious health, leaving her to grieve alone. Quentin tells her he forgives her and always will because he’s her father. But will he be able to forgive her for not telling him about Sara’s death? I loved the scene in the hospital room after she lies her way in and starts torturing Kelso (Patrick Gilmore) to get answers.

Of course, we couldn’t have the murder be solved in one episode – that would have made Lotz’s departure less meaningful, and we need time for Laurel to take up the mantel of Black Canary – certainly her holding her sister’s stuffed shark and staring at her leather jacket indicate that the seed has been planted. Komodo – Simon Lacroix (Matt Ward) turns out to be a rather disappointing villain. I did love that Felicity traced his burner phone because Lecroix calls his mother in Quebec! However, I was disappointed by the motorcycle duel. I was impressed by the stunt work, don’t get me wrong, but the scene itself is quite pointless. Why run at each other like that on your motorcycles? Other than it looks cool? I mean, standing still while the other guy races at you, just makes sense – stand still and aim. Furthermore, Oliver makes several passes without doing anything except race by Lacroix. Why not at least try to punch him? Knock him off his bike?

The fight scene during Ray’s fundraiser is a great one. I love Roy and Oliver fighting together now. There’s a great move when “Arrow” jumps out the window and twists around to shoot an arrow to swing off of – it’s just such a great moment of complete commitment on his part. Naturally, Laurel shows up once Komodo is captured. She tries to shoot him, even though Oliver tells her that revenge won’t make it better. Luckily for Laurel, he’s taken out the bullets. Lacroix, of course, has an air tight alibi.

Both Diggle and Felicity refer to Sara as family in the episode. As so often in Arrow, it comes back to family. Diggle also tells Oliver that he’s like family to him as well. Oliver confesses to Diggle that he doesn’t want to “die down here” and Diggle tells him simply, “Then don’t.” Amell’s performance is powerful and restrained. In several scenes, he clearly has tears in his eyes, yet he never lets them fall. But by the end of the episode, he is ready to get his sister back. For me, this begs the question of if you can have family in that way, why not a relationship? The episode ends with Malcolm (John Barrowman) watching Thea train, and she calls him “Dad.” Is it too late for Oliver? Has Thea found a new family?

What did you think of the episode? Are you concerned about the changing dynamics of the team? Do you like this new angry Laurel? Was this a fitting enough send off for Sara? Should someone tell Quentin? Was it just too soon for Oliver and Felicity? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!  

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.