Arrow 7x17 : Inheritance review

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

Finally after weeks of waiting we are treated to an Emiko origin episode. Starting with a young Emiko who we see walking down a hallway to her apartment home. We hear a familiar voice arguing with a woman. It's Robert Queen who tells young Emiko that she and her mother will have to go someplace else. Upset by this Emiko asks why but doesn't really get a right response. Instead is told that life isn't fair and that she should do as told. Back in present day we're treated to some brother/sister training time as Oliver and Emiko duke it out together at her hideout. They both seem to get the upper hand on one another which was good. On the way out of the building however Emiko notices something, or someone following her in a dark hoodie. She runs away at first but then fires off an arrow in the direction the person was hitting them in the shoulder. Turns out it's none other than Laurel who last time we saw was outed as Black Siren by Emiko. Laurel pays Oliver a visit soon after this and tells him of the things his sister has done and is doing currently. She also says how Oliver is continuously blinded by family. Which is a fair point as Oliver has been this way since season 1. He's constantly trying to not only protect but change a family member's views for the better. Not long after being told what his sister has been doing and that she may in fact be the killer of Ricardo Diaz, Oliver pays Emiko a visit and asks her about what she's been doing. Surprisingly she tells him the truth. Not about Diaz but she does tell him that she's working with Dante. Taken completely off guard Oliver and the rest of the team back at the bunker learn of a group named The Ninth Circle after Lyla managed to get a blood sample. 

More flashbacks of a young Emiko are scattered throughout the episode as we're show how she came to meet Dante, what her life was like and how she got involved within The Ninth Circle. She even goes to visit Robert Queen hoping to get the go ahead to work for his company. But she gets turned down as he says Queen Consolidated will be inherited by Oliver. And we all know how that went. He sends her on her way but not before mentioning how he has a trip planned for China on the Queen's Gambit. Back in present day and Emiko gets a brand new outfit for her next mission with Dante and The Ninth Circle. She is slowly but surely becoming the Red Arrow of the comics. Complete with red gear and red arrows. The mission is a success as they acquire some materials. But Oliver and co are not far behind as Felicity used her newly made Archer programme to track down Dante's location. Upon their arrival Dante blames Emiko for them showing up saying that she lead them here. He pushes her to the side and tells his guys to take her. Rene and Oliver come to the rescue and all go back to the bunker including Emiko who steps foot in there for the first time. Of course this has just been a part of her and Dante's plan all along as Emiko planted a disruptor in the bunker which causes Archer to go offline. Oliver once again tries to get his sister to come around but she leaves saying that she is with her family. Her real family as her father abandoned her. The team eventually learn of The Ninth Circle's plan for the materials they got earlier. They're going to set of drones into the air containing gas that is to be spread around the city. And it's here where Oliver and co show up once again stopping the drones all but for one which sets off in an abandoned house of all places. This entire scene felt so similar to the other earlier in the episode that I felt like I was just watching it from the beginning again. Minus the drones it went pretty much the exact same way with Dante leaving and Oliver and Emiko interacting. It was fine but a scene could've easily been taken out and replaced with Emiko going to Oliver for help, only for it to be a lie. That would've worked better in my opinion at least. 

The episode draws to a close as we see Laurel in her office watching something on her laptop. She's on the news having seemingly been identified as a criminal herself. Based on a picture of her and Ricardo Diaz together from last season. Emiko enters the room and the two argue before Laurel tells her to get the hell out of her office. But it doesn't end there oh no. It ends with one final flashback to a young Emiko. And this scene right here is probably one of the most important scenes not just this season but the entire shows. As we see Emiko walk with something in her hands. In the background on the TV we see that the Queen's Gambit has gone down with Oliver and Robert seemingly dead. The camera turns to reveal what is in Emiko's hands and it's the plans for the Queen's Gambit's destruction. So seemingly Emiko was given a way to inform Robert Queen of Malcolm Merlyn's plan to have him killed but did nothing to stop  her father and brother in Oliver from a watery grave. She was so upset with him which is understandable as he did indeed abandon him but wow, that scene just blew the whole Queen's Gambit scenario wide open. Overall this episode was strong all be it flawed at times. Emiko as I stated before in previous reviews is amazing and one of my favorite characters this show has ever introduced. I do wonder if she will turn on The Ninth Circle though and re-join with Oliver as the end season approaches. Arrow now goes on break until April 15th so until then Team Arrow!

★★★