Arrow season 6, episode 22 recap: Nowhere to hide
The second to last episode of Arrow this season continued the show’s hot streak by raising the stakes and setting up a final confrontation between Diaz and Oliver.
“The Ties That Bind” was an excellent installment of Arrow, funnily enough by being the opposite of last week’s excellent episode. Whereas “Docket No. 11-19-41-73” was gripping because it was all mounting tension, tonight’s adventure was all action.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=areUG0I3zXk
For the cold open on, the show delivered Diaz’s (Kirk Acevedo) promise to wipe out Oliver (Stephen Amell) and everyone he loves. Team Arrow was on the back foot the whole episode. As a result, they forced to take to some extreme measures, a few of which will likely have a big impact on the show’s seventh season. And most importantly, it set the stage for what should be an insane finale.
The week’s episode began with Diaz launching attacks against both Team Arrows. Diaz’s kill squads were successful defeated, but Curtis’ (Echo Callum) boyfriend was shot and the Bunker was torched. After everyone’s families were secured, Oliver called a meeting at the Other Bunker and the group agreed to take out Diaz together. Oliver met with Anatoli (David Nykl) and they hatched a plot to get Diaz out of his base. The plan worked but Curtis took on Diaz solo and got stabbed. Before the team could take out Diaz, SCPD arrived so they had to pull back.
“I should have done this months ago.”
Team Arrow discovered that Diaz left Curtis alive to save a flash drive necklace and decided to go after it. Their plan involved sending Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson) in SCPD HQ, where Diaz was embedded, with Felicity’s digital sniffer. Growing increasingly unstable, Diaz killed a fellow Quadrant member. As the files were being copied, Felicity realized they were Diaz’s financial records. Mid transfer, Lilah was found out and Team Arrow had to come in to save her. Diaz led a large group of henchmen and dirty cops to attack the Other Bunker.
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While Diaz’s character has been uneven this season, he was very compelling this episode. Kirk Acevedo smartly underplayed the character’s increasing instability. He seemed like he was consumed by incredible rage and was barely holding it together. It also helped that Anatoli and the Quadrant leaders pointed out how his rash behavior was setting him for a fall. It would’ve been silly for them to follow him blindly now.
And though he should gone all out to kill weeks ago Oliver, I appreciated how fully he dedicated to changing tactics. It’s clear that Diaz is out for blood and won’t be satisfied by anything else. That clarity really serves his character well.
I was less satisfied with the two Team Arrows reunited with so quickly. I get that they buried all of their hatchets out of necessity but it felt unrealistic for everyone to fall in line behind Oliver with everything that’s happened. Despite there being mistakes on both sides, Oliver’s poor leadership led them to their current predicament. Had he put aside his pride and delusions of self-sufficiency, the two groups could’ve taken out Diaz weeks ago. Hopefully, a more fleshed out reunification will take place next week.
“This is a conversation that happens because I love you.”
Everyone escaped except Oliver and Felicity, who were waiting for Diaz’s drive to decode. Oliver and Diaz had a confrontation which left the Dragon buried in burn debris. The Other Bunker’s self-destruct mechanism kicked in and blew up the building but Diaz escaped. Oliver apologized to Felicity for being so self-centered. Diaz killed another Quadrant member and seized control of the organization. Seeing no option, Oliver went to FBI agent Samanda Watson (Sydelle Noel) for help. She agreed to step in if he confessed to being Green Arrow and he did.
While this episode of Arrow failed to bring Oliver and his team together convincingly, it did a good job of addressing Olicity’s issues. For a while now, Oliver has treated Felicity poorly, pushing her away increasingly self-destructively quest to topple Diaz. In this episode, he finally admitted how essential she is to his mission and it was very satisfying. It was also great to see Felicity slam Oliver for criticizing her for taking risks given everything he’s done in the last six seasons. I’m hoping this episode will signal the end of lone wolf Oliver.
While it made sense under the circumstances, I was surprised that Oliver cut a deal with the Feds. Especially since he’s not contacted any of his super friends during the Diaz crisis. I feel like a speedster, a teleporter and a nigh-invincible flying superwoman could’ve taken out a group full of gangsters and corrupt cops.
Next: Arrow season 6, episode 21 recap: The People v. Oliver Queen
1Still, pretending the rest of the Arrowverse doesn’t exist, Oliver calling in the Federal government makes sense.Even a reunited Team Arrow can’t take down a small army. But if the FBI brings in enough firepower to stop Diaz, there’s no way their letting Oliver walk. Since that’s the case, Diaz might end up winning even if he loses. No matter what, Arrow will be done defending Star City after next week’s season finale.
Arrow airs on The CW Thursdays at 9 pm.