This week’s Arrow finally introduced a character that many have been waiting to see as Vixen made her live-action debut from the CW Seed animated series set in this universe, to help Oliver and the team in rescuing William from Damien Darhk.
As someone who loved her animated show, it was a true highlight to see Megalyn E.K. get to reprise Vixen and this time in live-action. It’s one thing to see her powers in animation, but seeing it on Arrow was a lot of fun and visually it fitted in with what we have seen before in terms of magic or meta-human powers. While we didn’t get context to how they know each other, as the big Laurel/Black Canary fan that I am, it was a beautiful moment to see that she and Mari know each other. Maybe Season 2 of Vixen will tell how they know each other, speaking of which, if you haven’t seen Season 1, I highly recommend checking it out. The writers did a good job with how much Vixen was in the episode and the role that she played with taking down Damien’s source to magic. I don’t when we’ll see her again, but hopefully it’s sooner rather than later because this is a character that they can do so much with.
The episode focused a lot on the people around Oliver reacting to the fact that not only does he have a son, but that he kept it a secret because of Samantha. Felicity’s reaction couldn’t have been more obvious, mostly because we saw that scenario play out in the crossover last year. However, it was Laurel’s reaction that was powerful to watch because for those that may have forgotten this “tiny” little detail: she and Oliver were still together when he decided to cheat on her with Samantha. It would have been appropriate if Oliver had at any point in this episode actually given her some form of apology, but with this show, I suppose it’s a little too much to ask for. At least she got to express those emotions and have her dad there to comfort her. While this episode was a lot about Vixen, it was a good one for Laurel too which is a huge plus. I’m mixed with how they concluded the William story — for now — with Oliver’s video message to him, which feels so unsafe for so many reasons. It just feels obvious that it will somehow come back to bite him in the butt, a lot.
But for all the great that there was in this episode, there were some weak spots too, including the lack-lusting flashbacks that I have given up hope on. What I still do hold out hope for is that this show finds something new for Malcolm Merlyn to do because if this episode proved anything, it’s that he has no purpose here anymore. It’s painful that it’s even a fact because John Barrowman is incredible, but his character is not getting anything to do in the show anymore. Something else that is truly not working on this show – get ready with the criticism in the comments good folks – is the Oliver and Felicity relationship. First of all, it’s a major disappointment how the writers failed with Felicity’s handicap situation as she is able to walk again at the end of the episode. Despite that I have said she needed to go through something majorly traumatic, I almost wish they hadn’t bothered putting her in a wheelchair if it was only going to last for 4-5 episodes. However what’s done is done and it makes me appreciate the winter finale even less because it shows that Arrow isn’t brave enough to put Felicity through something big.
But what is more bothersome is that “Taken” proves once again that this show is depending way too much on this relationship and quite honestly, Felicity as a character because she isn’t the same character I became a fan of back in Season 1 and 2. I didn’t necessarily cheer and celebrate over their breakup because like Felicity’s wheelchair situation, it’s almost a guarantee that it’s only temporary. I did respect Felicity’s decision though for getting out of this relationship, despite her behavior earlier in the episode about the William reveal, which was maybe a little too cold. However, their romance is just not doing it for me and it’s not what I’m tuning in for every week. Even though I always hope that one day, we do get the iconic relationship that is Green Arrow and Black Canary, a part of me could easily get behind Oliver and Felicity having a romantic relationship, but not to the point where it’s taking over the whole show. That’s the main problem here — not that they are together (even though it has its many flaws), but how much this show is depending on it. It’s hard to say where they will go from here, whether they will get together or not, but one thing is
Besides that storyline, Malcolm and those flashbacks, “Taken” was one of the more enjoyable episodes this season because of Vixen as well as the focus that some of the other characters got. When the show doesn’t focus so much on their relationship and deliver things like they did tonight with everything else, that’s when Arrow shows its true potential that I know it can have. These remaining episodes will definitely be something I look forward to see what they do with because even though Damien is down for now, the battle is far from over.
Arrow returns with all new episodes on Wednesday, March 23 at 8/7c on The CW.
[Photo: Bettina Strauss/ The CW]
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