Now I realize why I haven’t written anything regarding Arrow thus far this season and its not because I haven’t watched any episode, it’s because up until this Wednesday’s episode, I’ve been waiting for a breakthrough. “Penance” might just be that breakthrough this season. Warning, spoilers ahead…
As Arrow nears that magic number of 100 episodes, with it comes a sense of just going through the motions and searching for a new identity as the show’s dynamics have shifted from one season to another. Every series goes through something like this. With everyone with the exception of Felicity going off on their own, Oliver has been busy recruiting and rebuilding a new team to protect Star City. This new team unlike its predecessors is very much a work in progress.
There were two main storylines in “Penance”, one dealing with breaking Diggle out of the military prison and the other centers around Tobias Church. Diggle’s wife Lyla approaches Oliver and Felicity to help her free Diggle much to Felicity’s objection of having Oliver getting involved which she thought was for selfish reasons. Oliver is able to break Diggle out in a very Nolan-esque, Dark Knight kind of way with a tether and airplane escape exit. This was pretty impressive and cool given a television shows limited budget, so kudos to the producers for going all out in this dramatic sequence.
After new Team Arrow capture an associate of Church, they deliver him to the SCPD along with a special package. Quentin and D.A. Adrian Chase later deliver this package to the SCPD warehouse where it explodes. This gives Church and his thugs an opportunity to break in and steal what they need. Quentin and Chase are able to escape along with most of the team with the exception of Rene who stays behind to fight Church only to lose badly.
With Rene now captured, Church begins to torture him both for his sadistic pleasure and for information on the Green Arrow. Oliver returns from his mission after Felicity notified him of Rene’s disappearance and he vows to the team that they will find and rescue Rene. While it’s clear that Church is at the very least the first half villain, let’s keep an eye on Chase. He has already accepted Team Arrow and their “vigilante” ways. I can certainly see him getting more involved. Chase’s story is only just beginning. But as the season progresses, his may end up being the most intriguing and most challenging one for Oliver and his team to deal with.
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
