Arrow: An Innocent Man

Right off the bat, I have a problem. Perhaps it's been in the first three episodes as well, but this is the first time I've noticed it. In the pre-credit, pre-opening intro sequence, Oliver refers to his father's 'dying wish.' The dude took his own life, how it that a dying wish?? Oliver must have some psychological damage if that's how he's remembering that incident. Creepy.

Anyway, when last we left our anti-hero he had saved bodyguard Diggle from poison and brought him to his underground hideout. Oh, screw it, let's call a spade a spade - it's the Arrowcave, and we all know it. There he revealed he was Arrow. Diggle appears to be less than cooperative.

Curious. In the previous episode I was almost positive Diggle knew this already, and Oliver must have as well. Miscommunication. Between the writers? Or mischaracterization for Diggle? I find it makes him seem not as bright as I thought him, troubling. And disappointing. For most of an episode at least.

When Oliver meets with him later in the episode at Big Belly Burger, he offers up the explanation that he believes his father shot himself to atone for his crimes. This boy needs a therapist. In the comics, there has always been the joke that Green Arrow was a wannabe Batman with a bow. Now, psychologically, the show has made him Batman. Not happy.

The Big Belly Burger chat also connects Deadshot to Diggle's brother's shooting, and in another nice nod to the comics, the brother is Andy, Andy Diggle being a former Green Arrow writer. Well, John Diggle has made a decision. We'll see how that works out. One thing is for sure, he's no Speedy.

The Monument Point, Iron Heights, and Bludhaven name drops were also nice. But I have to say, much like the home city's name change, I don't care for the newspaper's either. Although, really, who reads newspapers any more? But still, the Daily Star has a lot more pizazz than the Starling City Star. Awkward, and silly. What was so wrong with the name Star City?

Despite the subplots continuing to move along the ongoing storyline, this episode has the icky feeling of a fill-in issue in the comics. The main plot of this episode seems much less important than those subplots. This isn't a lawyer show with a vigilante in it, this is a vigilante with a lawyer in it, ya know? I don't like being strung along.

Hopefully next week's episode with possibly Deathstroke will be a step in a better direction. Of course that's if Oliver gets out of jail... ah, that would be telling. Maybe we'll also find out what's up Tempest. See you next week, same Arrow time, same Arrow channel. Hmmm... Scratch that, I just got carried away after that Arrowcave comment. ;-)