Spoilers Arrow - Season 4

[Gryffindorian]

Those old scenes at the end seemed incredibly off and obviously prerecorded before they had any idea who was in the grave and what this episode would even be like.

But the writers already knew who was going to die. Even the producers had talked to Katie Cassidy about Laurel's death.

I mean, the whole episode was about how heroes shouldn't give in to anger and should act better than villains and all that and then at the end those old scenes are essentially "Fuck it, let's just kill him."

The difference is that Ruvé Adams is the mayor of Star City (as much as she is the wife of Damien Darhk) , so killing her would've just made things difficult for Oliver and company and made Diggle a wanted criminal.

 

[sojourner]

Did Diggle switch guns/ammo after shooting the guys in the front of the limo? Because if not, he's already up for murder.

 

[dahj]

But the writers already knew who was going to die. Even the producers had talked to Katie Cassidy about Laurel's death.

They didn't know when they shot that scene back in episode one.
Katie Cassidy was told when they were shooting episode 16.

 

[Mr Light]

Enjoyable episode. I liked the replacement Canary. This episode felt very retro, like earlier in the series, not only for the Season 1/2 in between flashback but the general tone and story and lack of magic or crazy comic book stuff.

I did think that Felicity and Oliver's burning rage about killing Darkh in the ending scene felt very out of place given their behavior in the rest of the episode. They all seemed to be moving on and not choosing irrational anger. It's like the actual funeral itself brought it all back and pissed them off or summat.

 

[dahj]

I liked the replacement Canary.

Her name was Evelyn Crawford Shaw.
Evelyn Crawford is Starling in the New52 Birds of Prey, Black Canary's friend and first recruit and later

Spoiler: spoiler BoP

a traitor

 

[Christopher]

I did think that Felicity and Oliver's burning rage about killing Darkh in the ending scene felt very out of place given their behavior in the rest of the episode. They all seemed to be moving on and not choosing irrational anger. It's like the actual funeral itself brought it all back and pissed them off or summat.

I noticed that too. The problem is that the scenes were replayed from earlier episodes -- the Barry scene from the season premiere, the first half of the limo scene with Felicity from the midseason premiere. So the producers may have had some different assumptions about the intended tone when they wrote those scenes months ago.

 

[Morpheus 02]

i really liked this episode... as some mentioned, the different reactions to Laurels death, and how the characters have to help each other emotionally through this.

John & Felcitiy's touched me... 2 people who are good friends, but still sorry they hurt the other. Emily Beckett Richards has great chemistry with everyone...but nice to have a cross gender emotional scene that did NOT involve some kind of romantic/sexual tension.

Also, really liked Paul Blackthorne's reaction as well (dramatically speaking; as a dad, it would tear me up)

It was weird not having a 5 years previous flashback, but definitely worked for me...and certainly allowed Katie Cassidy to work more.

 

[Mr Light]

I've always found the missing years flashbacks to be tedious, so it was great to take a week off

 

[Commander Richard]

The island flashbacks would have been better if they focused on Ollie's transition from rich playboy to trained fighter instead of the convoluted stuff we've been getting.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

A couple of trivia notes about the doctor: Her name was Dr. Schwartz, presumably a nod to legendary DC editor Julius Schwartz. And she was played by Venus Terzo, who voiced Jean Grey in X-Men Evolution.

Or, Dr. Schwartz could have been named after Beth Schwartz, the co-writer for this episode. It works either way.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Or, Dr. Schwartz could have been named after Beth Schwartz, the co-writer for this episode. It works either way.

Here ya go (named after her dad):
https://mobile.twitter.com/SchwartzApprovd/status/725542482910408704

 

[Gryffindorian]

I wasn't paying much attention the first 45 minutes until Diggle killed Andy. Felicity made a joke about Phil Collins. Har, har. Dahrk stole Rubicon, plans to destroy humanity and start a new world.

 

[Commander Richard]

They didn't go to Yellowknife after all.

They're under the dome.

 

[Mr Light]

I wasn't clear, is Thea's boyfriend in on it or just a hapless putz?

 

[Christopher]

So who's that Fortuna character, the shaman? I assume she's someone from the comics.

Stephen Amell did a pretty good Matt Ryan impression for a moment there. I'm glad they're at least keeping Constantine in play in a nominal sense (quite literally nominal, since they're just using his name).

I wasn't clear, is Thea's boyfriend in on it or just a hapless putz?

He was taking the yellow pills that brainwash people into compliance. Mayor Ruve Adams (Darhk) gave them to him, telling him they were vitamins. So he's an unwitting dupe.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^ he was being kept in the darhk so to speak...

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Fortuna couldve been Madame Xanadu - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Xanadu

 

[Vendikarr]

I didn't catch the first name of the shaman last night, but DC did have a character named Anna Fortune - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Fortune

 

[sojourner]

When it was revealed that they were going to an underground casino, what with all of the tuxedo's I thought they were going to use Zatanna. Maybe have her be the blackjack dealer. Her comicbook costume would have fit right in, just have her put put on the top hat after they leave the table.

 

[Nerys Myk]

DC All Access has her first name as "Esrin". Doesn't seem to be an existing character but brings to mind Madame Xanadu.