Arrow 8x5 : Prochnost review

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

Arrow's final season returns from it's little hiatus where we see Oliver training Mia in the bunker. He has her shooting tennis balls like he used to and even introduces her to all of the different arrows that are used for different scenarios. At the end of the last episode Oliver learned that with some plutonium he could use it to create a weapon strong enough to defeat The Monitor. Also at the end of the last episode The Monitor tasked Laurel with betraying Oliver and in return he'll restore Earth-2. Laurel meets up with Lyla who she finds out is working with the cosmic god. Lyla tells Laurel that she must get the plans for a general in Russia who is building the actual weapon that Oliver intends on getting also. Laurel agrees and along with William, Mia and Oliver set off for Russia. Back in Star City Dig recruits a familiar face in the search for plutonium which turns out to be none other than Roy. Diggle convinces him to even rejoin the team as he tells him that in the future he learns to control his bloodlust. The two end up retrieving the plutonium which now leaves only Oliver's mission to complete the weapon that can supposedly stop The Monitor. 

After arriving in Russia Oliver, Mia, William and Laurel are greeted by Anatoli who is now a bar owner. Supposed to still be in Corto Maltese he returned home after Ricardo Diaz's murder as now it was safer. He tells them all about the General who has the plans for the weapon but says it will not be easy to retrieve as he is at a Russian Fight Club which houses all kinds of dodgy dealings. Oliver forbids his kids from going and goes with Laurel and Anatoli instead making an offer to the General. In return for his plan he will fight in his club and take out his biggest draw. The General agrees and Oliver gets to work beating the fighter. Everything seems to be going too easy however as the plan hasn't exactly hit the ceiling yet. It does pretty soon enough as just as he is about to get the plan Mia and William are brought into the room by none other than the BRATVA. They all know of Oliver which confuses Mia to no end. Both father and daughter are taken and placed in captivity for the time being. Mia is tasked with something that Oliver did many years previous. Take out a number of men in under 60 seconds and ring a bell. She is actually unsuccessful which was surprising as I was expecting a last minute resurgence. The main BRATVA member points his gun at her but it's empty. Turns out he just wanted to test them and be sure all they did want was the plans for the weapon. 

The episode draws to a close as Oliver and Mia return to Anatoli's bar where their relationship really heats up even more. Oliver mentions how he made a promise to Felicity that he will keep their kids safe no matter what. And just because they are older in front of him that makes no difference as he stands by his decision and promise. Things begin to look a little brighter however as a plan gets put into place to get the plans once and for all. All it's going to take is a diversion, some fighting and a strong sense of style. Oliver and Mia go into the fight ring together against 6 guys while Laurel and Anatoli work on getting the plans which the BRATVA are about to sell. In short the plans are retrieved by Laurel who I fully expected to keep for herself but she didn't. Seeing Mia and Oliver kick ass together was a pride filled moment and only further put their relationship as a vocal point of this season. Anatoli being back and on the side of Oliver was so good to see again as them being enemies for so long just felt wrong. The episode ends with Lyla who we see on top of a building waiting for Laurel to return with the plan. Laurel does return but not with the plan as she says she is not that person anymore. She also says how she'd hate for Lyla's family to find out she is working with The Monitor. This is when Dig and Oliver walk into scene before all 3 end up being shot in the neck with some dart. They all fall to the ground as Dig asks ''what have you done Lyla??'' before it cuts off. An interesting way to end the episode as the impending Crisis only gets nearer and nearer. This episode was really, really good. Oliver and Mia's relationship is the perfect balance of sweet and powerful. Roy being back is always a good sight and just the overall vibe this season has been really strong. I once more look forward to next week.

★★★★