Tonight could have very easily been a chance for the writers to take a week off and write a filler episode for the show which can sometimes happen when you have to execute a 23 episode arc, but 'Code of Silence' proved to be one of the better episodes of this season and much more fun than I thought it would be. The fight scenes were meticulously choreographed with plenty of great stunt work and we got plenty of unusually long takes for scenes, which something network TV shows rarely get a chance to do. I just had so much fun watching everything come together. James Bamford not only proved to give us phenomenal fight scenes, but he directed this episode almost to perfection. I would welcome many more episodes directed by him.
The premise seemed pretty formulaic as Darhk hired a 'demolition team' to kill all of team Arrow by blowing up a few buildings they would show up in. After awhile, you tend to predict that wherever they show up there will be the 'shocking' twist of having that be the next building to be blown up, but I wasn't too bothered by it. It was Bamford's choice of filming these long and uninterrupted fight sequences in different areas that made it worth while. Seriously, watching him flawlessly weave from hero to hero throwing punch after punch was a joy to see. I also love the moments when the team would go immediately from talking politics in dress suits to suiting up in their spandex to fight crime, it felt like something right out of the comics.
I also found myself enjoying Janet Kidder's few moments to shine as Ruve Adams AKA Damien Darhk's wife. The idea of having her go up against Queen for mayor seemed clichéd at first but it should make for some tension for the show without having the main character to wear a costume. As the team shut down pretty much all of what Darhk's demolition team tried, they were forced to call a meeting which apparently also included Malcom? So is he officially working for Darhk now? Knowing Malcom he's probably just getting on Darhk's side for a reason, but we shall see in the coming weeks.
Not working for Darhk anymore is Quentin, who notably found his way back into the show this week as he dealt with Donna and the trust problem they have with each other. Sound a whole lot like Oliver and Felicity? Well, it should. Although the link between the two couples was spelled out for us perhaps a few too many times tonight, it worked pretty well. Seeing the preview for next week seems to me like they will take the Oliver and Felicity issue a step further. With that said, I really liked how Thea reacted to finding out about Oliver's son. Maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise knowing she responded well to Oliver revealing himself to be the Green Arrow, but I just expected there to be a bigger dramatic moment like Arrow often does. Either way, I like the way that was handled.
Darhk took Malcom's information of William and turned it into a hauntingly creepy way to end the episode as we saw him having a 'play date' with Darhk's daughter. Quite a way to end an episode huh? Especially after seeing the heartwarming gift Curtis made for Felicity. Another scene which could have fell flat but it hit just the right amount of emotions for me. Hearing Oliver call Curtis terrific was a nice touch as well, knowing his comic book identity. In all, this was a phenomenal episode that really worked on almost every level. I never thought fight scenes at a theater for political debates could look so awesome, but I guess I shouldn't underestimate Bamford's ability. The addition of Diggle's repeller type thing was cool, as was the scene in which Laurel and Quentin escape from an exploding building all in one long take. Wow tonight was just awesome. Well done Arrow. Well done.
+Stunts/fight choreography
+Political debate setting worked well
+Good link between Donna/Quentin and Felicity/Oliver
+Demolition team served purpose well
+Really sweet/touching gift from Curtis
+And then brutal WTF ending with William
9.6/10
The premise seemed pretty formulaic as Darhk hired a 'demolition team' to kill all of team Arrow by blowing up a few buildings they would show up in. After awhile, you tend to predict that wherever they show up there will be the 'shocking' twist of having that be the next building to be blown up, but I wasn't too bothered by it. It was Bamford's choice of filming these long and uninterrupted fight sequences in different areas that made it worth while. Seriously, watching him flawlessly weave from hero to hero throwing punch after punch was a joy to see. I also love the moments when the team would go immediately from talking politics in dress suits to suiting up in their spandex to fight crime, it felt like something right out of the comics.
I also found myself enjoying Janet Kidder's few moments to shine as Ruve Adams AKA Damien Darhk's wife. The idea of having her go up against Queen for mayor seemed clichéd at first but it should make for some tension for the show without having the main character to wear a costume. As the team shut down pretty much all of what Darhk's demolition team tried, they were forced to call a meeting which apparently also included Malcom? So is he officially working for Darhk now? Knowing Malcom he's probably just getting on Darhk's side for a reason, but we shall see in the coming weeks.
Not working for Darhk anymore is Quentin, who notably found his way back into the show this week as he dealt with Donna and the trust problem they have with each other. Sound a whole lot like Oliver and Felicity? Well, it should. Although the link between the two couples was spelled out for us perhaps a few too many times tonight, it worked pretty well. Seeing the preview for next week seems to me like they will take the Oliver and Felicity issue a step further. With that said, I really liked how Thea reacted to finding out about Oliver's son. Maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise knowing she responded well to Oliver revealing himself to be the Green Arrow, but I just expected there to be a bigger dramatic moment like Arrow often does. Either way, I like the way that was handled.
Darhk took Malcom's information of William and turned it into a hauntingly creepy way to end the episode as we saw him having a 'play date' with Darhk's daughter. Quite a way to end an episode huh? Especially after seeing the heartwarming gift Curtis made for Felicity. Another scene which could have fell flat but it hit just the right amount of emotions for me. Hearing Oliver call Curtis terrific was a nice touch as well, knowing his comic book identity. In all, this was a phenomenal episode that really worked on almost every level. I never thought fight scenes at a theater for political debates could look so awesome, but I guess I shouldn't underestimate Bamford's ability. The addition of Diggle's repeller type thing was cool, as was the scene in which Laurel and Quentin escape from an exploding building all in one long take. Wow tonight was just awesome. Well done Arrow. Well done.
+Stunts/fight choreography
+Political debate setting worked well
+Good link between Donna/Quentin and Felicity/Oliver
+Demolition team served purpose well
+Really sweet/touching gift from Curtis
+And then brutal WTF ending with William
9.6/10