I actually didn't have high hopes for this week. I figured that the extended time away from Star City in the present would take away from the tension building within the team up against the league, but I was dead wrong. It was one of the best episodes of the season and it brought back so many characters we have grown to love over the course of 2 and a half years. It even featured the original opening music and logo we had the past two seasons, and that would be for one big reason, Slade is back.
It was fun to see Oliver and Thea's relationship go to a new level by training alongside each other. Obviously it has been a rough few weeks for Thea, finding out about her brothers vigilantism and now that she was brainwashed and killed a close family friend, Sara. Willa Holland's chops were in full effect this week. She was given a lot of difficult emotional material and she handled it incredibly well. It was devastating to see her reaction to the truth about Sara's death. I think we all hope Slade is wrong and that only good things are ahead for Thea. I never thought I would say that.
The flashbacks were in Star City this week so we got to see appearances from almost everybody. Diggle and Felicity both had their close encounters with Oliver. I wouldn't say it felt forced because the writing went for the comedic approach. It was really nice to see Tommy again. Colin Donnell was one of the bright spots to season 1 so I love when he cameos. Tonight also saw a bumpy relationship between Laurel and Quentin in both the past and present. Laurel may have had a right to be worried, but she didn't have a right to keep Sara's death from her father. So I'm pretty much with Lance on this one. But it was still sad to see their relationship once again go sour.
The final interaction between Slade and Thea was pretty cool. The characters have had so much history, even if it's not all face to face, it was cool seeing Oliver finally outsmart Slade after all these years. But Slade is right, how many more people are going to die before there is no Oliver Queen? In 2 and a half seasons he has already lost so many people. But tonight felt like the end of a chapter with Slade. I hope that we will see Deathstroke return in some capacity in the future. To cap it off the last scene at the apartment with Malcom, Thea, and Ollie was also very telling. Thea has come into her own this season and standing up for herself was nice to see. They are almost hinting at the student (Thea) defeating the master (Malcom) by the end of season 3.
+Willa Holland's best performance
+Old foes & friends return
+Thea stepping up her game to Slade & Malcom both
+Morbid, but incredibly acted all around
+End of a chapter
10/10