Arrow 6x18 : Fundamentals review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it

This weeks's episode begins inside the SCPD facility as we see Green Arrow in action against a bunch of cops all under Diaz's thumb. But within moments I realize something about Oliver he's in his old Arrow suit from season 1 and that really is the basis of this episode. It's a nice throwback to previous seasons even if it does come at the cost of Oliver being drugged by Vertigo but more on that later. At the bunker Oliver and Felicity talk about the possible impeachment of the mayor and after noticing something about the SCPD camera feed Felicity learns of Diaz's location prompting Oliver to want to go it alone. This is when Dig walks in having been told by Felicity to come see her about his implant as it needs upgrading. Turns out it doesn't need upgrading it was just her way of getting Oliver and Dig to talk and they do but it's short lived. Oliver seems very distant in this episode in general and it upsets Felicity which leads her to take William on a trip to a science fair. This is when the episode really gets underway however as in his office Oliver speaks with council man Collins and little does he know that while they shake hands he is being drugged with Vertigo by the council man so it turns out he too is under Diaz's thumb. This leads to the absolutely best part of the episode however as back at the bunker after talking with Quentin Oliver begins to hear some banging and clanging so he picks up a gun and who walks into the bunker once the elevator opens? none other than Adrian Chase yes Prometheus from last season. Presumed dead after shooting himself point blank in the head Oliver and him fight inside the bunker leaving Oliver no other choice but to kill him again. Turns out Adrian's just a hallucination that Oliver is suffering from the effects of Vertigo. Adrian isn't the only thing Oliver sees however as he walks out of the bunker he walks into the Queen House living room from season 1 and 2 only to see Laurel who talks to him in what was a really emotional scene at least for me as I was always a big fan of Laurel on this show, it even shows Laurel on her death bed telling Oliver that she didn't have to die. As working with him was a big mistake. Adrian Chase really nails home the point that everything and everyone that Oliver comes into contact with dies and it's easy to see that he has a serious point. Speaking of Adrian Chase he just hangs around in the background as a figure in Oliver's head to telling him what to say. Oliver ever the busy mayor has a board meeting to attend and arrives late (as per usual) and this is when everything starts to fall apart for him as he tries to show the board the evidence he has on Captain Hill and the DA he tells everyone that he got it from the Green Arrow leading to them all calling him the Green Arrow.

Back at the bunker again however Oliver still suffering from hallucinations runs into his old self from season 1 and he says those now famous lines. 'You have failed this city' he tells him that he failed by bringing people into the fold as it was just supposed to be him and his mission to rid the city of it's scum. This is when the scene from the beginning takes place but not before Felicity enters the fold and convinces him to stand down and fight another day. The episode ends however with Diaz once again as he is in SCPD Black Siren appears and asks why he doesn't just kill Oliver to which he says that soon everyone will know that Star City will be up for the taking and Oliver Queen will be out of the picture. Coming off last week's stellar episode I didn't expect much from this but honestly it blew me away at some points. Those hallucination scenes were really well done and added so much to the episode. Just try to stay away from drugs next time eh Mayor Queen?

★★★★