The Bad
The Main Plot
Yeah that sounds like a bit of a sucker punch I know but in all honesty, the main plot thread was never what interested me this season and Ra’s never even touched the charisma and tragedy that Slade Wilson brought to the show in season two. Oliver having to struggle with his identity as the Arrow and as Oliver Queen was enough of a narrative dance and a satisfying one that adding a third identity to the list just became overwrought and stuffed.
The main plot also suffered because it wasn’t until the last five episodes or so that it truly came into focus. Malcolm’s role in it all, Thea dying, Roy leaving town to save Oliver-all of these moments should have amounted to something more significant and instead it became nothing more than a power play between Ra’s and Oliver.
Felicity
No, internet, I didn’t mean Laurel, but I’ll get to her in a while. There is a reason why Felicity was a fan favorite (including my own) for the first two seasons of the show. She injected the series with a much needed and much appreciated dose of heart. The show has a tendency to lean towards the brooding and she was a breath of fresh air.
It would seem that good things don’t last and the near character assassination in season three was appalling. Aside from moments with Ray Palmer and a few others at the start of the season, Felicity wasn’t just moping along with the rest of them, she was written to be the upstanding voice of reason that more often than not came off just as poorly self-righteous as Oliver in his worst moments. Emily Bett Rickards wasn’t given any favors, proving she’s much better suited for lighthearted charm and comedy than angst.
The Angst
What an overall dour season. I’m not saying the show needs to emulate the tonality that The Flash has been rocking but it also didn’t need to strike such a somber note throughout. The season would have greatly benefited from moments of levity rather than trying to make every moment serious. It became redundant-something that the show as a whole has a problem with. How many times do we need to see a “will they, won’t they” moment between Oliver and Felicity? And we get the point that Oliver has massive trust issues but does every other episode need to drive that point home?
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