If I have not watched a single episode Arrows before “Draw Back Your Bow” and not knowing what network it aired on, I still believed I’d peg it to a CW show. That’s not to say that this episode was bad but it just goes to show that the writers have a keen sense that viewers want to see more of Felicity and Oliver’s romance. The tug-of-war relationship is certainly tense and can’t really form as it’s Arrows fashion, Oliver must not be happy. Once. That’s why it is vital to have an enticing supporting cast like Ray Palmer and newcomer Carrie Cutler (tonight’s antagonist, Cupid).
Love and commitment are themes that run through the pulse of this hour in both the present and flashback sequences. Back in Hong Kong we are shown how deep Tatsu’s love is for her husband Maseo when she single-handedly takes down a group of gang members while searching for him. There’s certainly more to this storyline than meets the eye, as I’m sure we’ll see in future episodes, but tonight’s emotional beat resonates perfectly in today’s context. That’s something we’ve not been able to say lately because Hong Kong’s story is stagnant at best.
Cupid, a deluded lover who kills villains in an try to gain Arrow’s affection, has stepped on Arrow in every situation and he needs Felicity to help track him down. Unfortunately for Oliver, Felicity throws a dinner party with Ray and asks to take the night off. Of course, the cards are on the table, Felicity is there to track them down and overhear Arrow’s attempts to talk to Cupid. It turns out that what he says to Cupid, and subsequently Felicity, is a reaffirmation in his belief that he should be alone. This obviously flew in the face of his true feelings for Felicity. This is the moment when he finally pushes Felicity towards Ray Palmer once and for all.
Honestly, can we just discuss Ray Palmer for a minute? Whoever convinced Brandon Routh to accept the role deserves a raise and a high five because he’s so spectacular. His easy charm, endless purse strings and devilish good looks are as perfect for Oliver as we have ever seen. Add to that the proven fact that he looks like a stand-up futurist driving to make the city a better place and you have a character ready to seduce Felicity. He’s also pretty good with salmon ladders. While she may have had a less than stellar storyline unto herself (even though we do get glimpses of certain exoskeleton suits), her ability to hopefully get Oliver to act on Felicity is precisely what this show needs.
As for the rest of the episode it had its ups and downs. While I’m usually another huge Team Arrow fan, Diggle and Roy found it unnecessary tonight. The only positive contribution they’ve is getting together at Diggle’s for Thanksgiving dinner. As for Thea, her club’s relaunch is problematic until an odd blonde DJ guy shows up to save the day and steals a kiss. I understand we did not want to lose touch with Thea, but this storyline is quite a waste of screen time. Well, at least no Laurel this week, who deserves a jump in grades there.
By the end of the episode, we’re nowhere near resolution to the “Will They Won’t They” storyline that’s been teased for us all season. This is not a bad thing as if I’ve learned something from years of listening to my fiancé talk Vampire Diary it is because The CW knows how to weave romance.
Grade: B+
