Arrow 7x8 : Unmasked review

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

Arrow's mid season finale has come and gone and with it we get teases for the  present and future. It begins where we see a mysterious woman waking up to train and boy does she train hard. While making a blended up drink she sees the news on TV talking about Oliver and how will Star City accept the Green Arrow now that his identity is out in the open. Seconds later we see the same woman suiting up herself in the Green Arrow suit complete with bow before it cuts to the logo. More on who she is later though as it is a rather big reveal. The flash forwards return in this episode and after learning who Felicity last talked with William Dinah and Zoey go in search of someone named Black Star. They end up at a fighting ring where it just so happens Black Star is one of the main attractions where people come to bet on fights. After offering her some money Black Star talks a little and tells that that she knew Felicity but only threw work as she acted as a broker for her and helped her get various things. William who is convinced Black Star isn't telling the truth later goes with Dinah and Zoey to her office (a messy office at that) and tries to find out more about her. Turns out she has the same blueprints found in Felicity's belongings which includes a map of Star City and a way to level the city via a bomb. Felicity sure was hiding a lot from everyone but she was murdered it seems. 

Oliver makes his first public showing since he got out of Slabside by attending an party for inmate's right where he is the guest of honor given his time spent in prison himself. It's short lived however as an Arrow fired at one of the guests killing him in cold blood. This is pinned on the new Green Arrow but Rene is not convinced since it is totally out of character for the masked hero to kill someone like that. Oliver ends up meeting Max Fuller a returning character from a couple of seasons ago who had it out for Oliver and indeed Tommy Merlyn after Oliver slept with his wife (ex-wife now) and attempted to bring him down. He tells Oliver that all that is in the past and it is now time to look to the future. Turns out though that Fuller was the one who ordered the hit on two targets and Oliver himself as the two meet and he gets to close to finding out what is going on. Oliver ever the hero actually ends up suiting up again but this time he does it in accordance with the SCPD in an attempt to redeem himself and be a better hero for the people of Star City. So with his old season 4 Green Arrow suit on but with no hood up Oliver infiltrates Max Fuller's party and aids Dinah and the SCPD in taking him down. Back at the main SCPD building and the Mayor questions Dinah's actions. She threatens Oliver and even tries to threaten Dinah by suggesting she hands in her resignation but Dinah backs up her decision by saying that the DA will side with her and also Oliver is now working with the SCPD. He will do what he can to aid them all in accordance with Captain Drake. So that's a tease for the future.  
                         
But what about the tease for the present that I mentioned?? well the episode comes to a close as we see that same woman from the start of the episode standing over a grave. The camera pans around to reveal Robert Queen's headstone. So Oliver has a half sister who is also the Green Arrow?? I have no idea what this means for the rest of the season but it is interesting. Especially since The Longbow Hunters will be back and Diaz I'm sure will return also. Oliver's reaction to him having a half sister should also be pretty intense. Overall this was a fine episode. It was never going to be as good as last week's obviously but for a mid season finale it did offer a lot of looks at stuff to come in the back half of the season. Arrow's main continuity will continue in 2019 and for now all I can say is until then Mr Queen it has been fun to be on this journey with you once more. 

★★★