Arrow 7x2 : The Longbow Hunters review

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

This week's episode of Arrow begins with a new opening dialogue piece in which Oliver narrates the past couple of months. A nice touch I thought if nothing else. We learn that a lot of the prisoners are now afraid of Oliver after the ending of last week's episode. We also learn that he was taken to the same place that Bronze Tiger was taken last week for 2 days as a punishment for what he did. All seems to be going okay for Oliver..well about as good as it could possibly get to be honest. Things on the outside are also not so good as The Longbow Hunters arrives in Star City. Working with Diaz they steal a battery which Felicity and ARGUS (mainly Diggle) continuously clash over throughout the episode. Felicity wants Diaz dead for what he did to Oliver, her William and everyone else in Star City. Dig on the other is not so convinced that's the way to do things and as I said the two bicker throughout which especially heats up towards the end as ARGUS attempt the retrieve the same battery earlier stolen by The Longbow Hunters on board a train. John Diggle really shines in this scene as not only are the hunters on board but Diaz also as him and Dig battle it out Felicity struggles with her motives. She wants Diaz dead but Dig keeps telling her that won't bring back Oliver, that won't make things any better which is true. As Dig gets the battery Felicity struggles even more to uncouple the train leaving Diaz and The Longbow Hunters behind so Curtis steps in. This was proper intense and a good use of Felicity's character.

In prison Oliver tries to get info on Diaz from Brick and his crew who tells him that if he kills the main prison guard that we've seen around Oliver since last week's episode he will tell him everything he needs to know. Oliver agrees but of course tries to go about it in a different way. He tries to find info on the guard who's name is Peter Yorke. He's married with a kid which could be used as leverage. As the episode wades on Brick constantly questions Oliver's true intent and finally at the end of his tether Oliver with a knife in hand reverses it and makes it look like Officer Yorke stabs him before he's taken away by other guards and we see Brick nodding to Oliver who lays on the ground with a stab wound. This episode is good but not nearly as good as last week's premiere episode which was fast paced and frantic. This episode just feels almost baron at some points. Don't get me wrong there is some good to be found here, like Laurel and Dinah working together against a member of The Longbow Hunters which was pretty badass.

That being said we learn more about the flash forwards as it was Felicity who gave William the totem he has which just so happened to also include the co-ordinates for Lian Yu. Questioning why she would even do this Roy tells William it's best to just move on and later when they both dig up a grave inside is Oliver's bow which William takes in his hand. Inside also was a note but Roy ends up burning it once more telling William to move on, William doesn't look convinced which makes me wonder just what was on that note inside the bow?? These flash forwards are already my favorite part of this season honestly and it's going to be interesting to see just where they lead. Building on last week this episode is okay as there is some good character dynamics here and a solid narrative running throughout. 

★★★