“Who Are You?”: Three Elements of a Great Arrow Episode
By Amy Woolsey
Arrow returned from winter break this week firing on all cylinders. Here are three reasons why “Who Are You?” is the season’s best episode so far.
Note: If you missed the latest episode of Arrow, go ahead and watch it. We’ll wait. If you need a refresher, Culturess has a recap here.
Like any show that is required to churn out 23 episodes a year, Arrow has experienced its share of highs and lows – shocking cliffhangers and cheap deaths, exhilarating duels and aimless flashbacks. Since the incredible second season, it has failed to achieve any real consistency. Yet, when it’s going strong, there are few shows on TV I’d rather be watching.
Take this week’s episode. Depicting the repercussions of the midseason finale’s twists, “Who Are You?” advanced the overarching plot, offering a glimpse at where the show is headed, while crafting a satisfying, streamlined story of its own. In essence, it represents Arrow at its finest.
These are three things that made “Who Are You?” top-notch television:
A good villain
No, Laurel Lance wasn’t miraculously brought back to life after being killed by Damian Darkh last season. Honestly, it’s a good thing; at this point, a resurrection would’ve felt like a cop out. But it was still nice seeing Katie Cassidy again, if only for an episode.
The best antagonists tend to have some sort of intimate connection to the protagonist, providing concrete personal stakes (hence why Deathstroke/Slade Wilson was compelling and Ra’s al Ghul wasn’t). Black Siren serves as a vehicle through which to illustrate Oliver’s internal conflict. Not only does she resemble his deceased friend, dredging up dormant memories and feelings, but she resembles him, another condemned soul in search of redemption. She forces Oliver to confront his murky past and reevaluate his worldview.
She’s also just entertaining. Cassidy clearly had a blast breaking bad, chewing scenery without straying into camp. In a way, Black Siren allows her to play facets of Laurel that the show never fully explored, the darkness underlying her righteousness; she isn’t a foil so much as a kindred spirit, a mirror version. Although we still think killing off Laurel was a mistake, this goes a little way to making up for it. To its credit, Arrow hasn’t tried to gloss over her loss or its impact on the other characters.
Team bonding
Even producer Marc Guggenheim admits the show fumbled Oliver and Felicity’s break-up. It felt arbitrary and contrived, undermining years of hard-won character development, as if the writers didn’t know how to deal with a long-term romantic relationship. (The other CW superhero shows have struggled in this area as well.) Ultimately, though, it seems to have been the right call. After spending two seasons bogged down in maudlin angst, Oliver and Felicity are fun again.
Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards in Arrow season 5, screenshot courtesy of The CW
“Who Are You?” puts them at odds with each other, but this time, their quarreling feels organic and meaningful. As they argue about what to do with Black Siren, underlying tensions rise to the surface, reflecting their disparate mindsets. Whereas Oliver is starting to accept the possibility of good, Felicity is becoming disillusioned and guarded, shattered by the deaths of Laurel and Billy. It’s a neat reversal: for so long, Oliver relied on Felicity to act as his moral compass, but here, he’s the optimistic one. Crucially, the show doesn’t take sides, presenting both points of view as reasonable.
Curtis and Rene’s storyline doesn’t carry the same weight, but it’s a refreshing respite from the usual life-and-death, save-the-city plots. Their interactions in this episode make good use of their polar-opposite personalities, Rene’s sarcasm pushing the earnest Curtis to a breaking point, while bringing them together in a convincing way. Their scenes also contain some of the episode’s best banter (Rene: “You know how people say, I hate to say I told you so? I don’t hate it. I freaking love it”).
Thematic resonance
The central theme of “Who Are You?” is evident in the title: what defines a person? What makes someone good or bad? How does adversity shape us?
Those questions run through each storyline, as the characters face various quandaries that test their values. Oliver offers mercy to Black Siren, believing she (and he) can change. Felicity takes matters into her own hands, determined to avenge Billy, before deciding to trust Oliver. Curtis questions whether Team Arrow’s mission is worth risking his life and sacrificing his relationship with Paul. Adrian bends the rules to help Diggle (“He’s a good man,” Oliver assures him) and covers up Billy’s murder in the name of preserving order.
As ludicrous as the situations are, Arrow’s willingness to engage with thorny moral issues lends at least a veneer of substance to the comic-book action. Diggle’s plotline is especially intriguing (not to mention oddly relevant), promising an examination of power and justice that’ll hopefully be more effective than the current mayor arc.
Related Story: Arrow Recap: S5E10 “Who Are You?”
Arrow airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on The CW.