Loved It? Hated It? What did you think of "The Fallen?"

[KSiteTV]

The server was down the whole time Arrow was on tonight, so no Live/Countdown thread... but you can post about the episode here!

[Haggard01]

I loved it or at least a good bit of it.

First Oliver or the actor Steven Amell I will say this is some of the best acting I've have seen from him in a while. The whole emotional scenes over Thea then the complete stone cold self when he ordered those members of the League to return and then how he faced Ras A Gul. Very well done acting.


On Malcolm again I have to say really some of the best acting I've seen and John Barrowman is very well talented actor. From the scenes of him falling to pieces in front of Thea at the hospital room and then a 180 with killing those League members in cold blood. Also at the end I really do believe it when Malcolm says he really does care for Thea he just has a sick way of going about it.

All the acting really was very well done this episode.

Oliver is now a member of the League and was it just me or did he look very bad ass in that suit towards the end. I'm so ready and worried at the same time for this version of Oliver.

On the flashbacks they are moving at a very quick pace finally. Well I figured that was happened to Akio and I actually like Maseo's reasons for becoming Sarab . I think they may have slightly improved since Slade Wilson for villain origins. Having that vial be released oh no this is not good. I'm also really starting to see Oliver in these flashbacks become more closer to his present day self.

Speaking of stuff in the past I'm glad the air plane discussion was actually about something other than that office scene recon. It was a very well acted on scene and Oliver and Felicity both had enjoyable performances. Which yea Oliver really has cared about his sister and always will.

Now the main thing that I have to get off my chest. The Olicty sex thing which was to long. That more of looked like something that belonged on HBO which it's not that what they did bothered me. No it does not but if your going to give me a scene that should be on a mature than give me a storyline to match that maturity of story telling. Is it that hard to do? Also one thing that bugged me and I don't why but considering how long they made that sex scene I feel sorry for Steven's wife who has to see it.

I know a lot of actors are married which I know that they are actors but I guess since Steven actually is more involved with the fan base and how much he speaks about his real life family. It almost seams wrong to put that much focus on Oliver and Felicity sleeping together just to please a portion of the fan base. So maybe those reasons are why I kind of feel they took it a little to far.

On Felicity herself she really does have plot armor because if Ras A Gul would have probably killed the annoyance rather than speaking to her. Also I'm glad Diggle and Malcolm pointed out how much of a stupid idea... no not stupid just plain suicidal her plan was. Plus the whole drugging Oliver and fit she threw at them both was like the writers really are having her act immature. For the record this again was one of those rare moments I was actually glad Laurel Lance showed up at the end which considering how she was last season and how that bad rap kind of has stuck with her that being happy she is around is something.

So yes I very much enjoyed the episode beside those things I've pointed out.


Also to end on a lighter note I had to chuckle when I saw the smoke signal that Maseo used.

[smllvllfn]

I really enjoyed this episode and has me looking forward to the rest of the season even more. It was fun seeing Felicity take charge. I was thinking something worse would happen to Thea because of the pit, but I'm fine with what they did. As far as the Oliver and Felicity scene, I thought it was handled fine. I actually thought it would have been a bit longer. It was pretty tame compared to some other sex scenes that have aired on the CW.

[screamthepoetry]

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time with this episode, it was by far a much better episode then alot this season. had its ups and downs so ill start with ups.
Pros:
The acting was great with almost every cast member in this episode, Steven Amell and John Barrowman especially. i literally felt overwhelmed watching malcolm break down crying over Thea.
The plot, while i think we can all agree alot of the episodes this season havent felt very cohesive, for the most part just putting characters in situations with the fact that the writers wanted them there without a whole lot of good reasoning behind how they got there. This episode seemed to be pretty cohesive minus the Olicity sex scene which i will discuss in a moment.
Ras Ollie Ghul! so we have it, oliver is now part of the league, and with what has been said seems like he will almost erase oliver queen. provides an interesting dynamic up till season 4.

Cons:
the Olicity sex scene...god can we please erase the olicity thing??? there was no romantic chemistry between these characters in season one, none until the end when it was forced in season 2 and now the entire season seems to be forced on this fact in season 3 with this sex scene and climax up to it almost building the relationship up as though there has been an epic romance all the way till this point. but there wasnt! if they wanted to do olicity then fine but please give us more to grasp onto as far as the chemistry then the fact that the writers will it!
Thea, why give her a very small amount of crazy and then put her seemingly back to normal so fast, kind of takes away from what malcolm was saying about the lazarus pit, those of us who have read the comics know what the pit does, but shouldnt they have elongated that a bit for the show?
and finally olivers new attire.. now he looks just like everyone else in the league..the showrunners could have made an excuse to give him something a bit unique dont ya think?

[historybuff77]

I loved it or at least a good bit of it.

First Oliver or the actor Steven Amell I will say this is some of the best acting I've have seen from him in a while. The whole emotional scenes over Thea then the complete stone cold self when he ordered those members of the League to return and then how he faced Ras A Gul. Very well done acting.


On Malcolm again I have to say really some of the best acting I've seen and John Barrowman is very well talented actor. From the scenes of him falling to pieces in front of Thea at the hospital room and then a 180 with killing those League members in cold blood. Also at the end I really do believe it when Malcolm says he really does care for Thea he just has a sick way of going about it.

All the acting really was very well done this episode.

Oliver is now a member of the League and was it just me or did he look very bad ass in that suit towards the end. I'm so ready and worried at the same time for this version of Oliver.

On the flashbacks they are moving at a very quick pace finally. Well I figured that was happened to Akio and I actually like Maseo's reasons for becoming Sarab . I think they may have slightly improved since Slade Wilson for villain origins. Having that vial be released oh no this is not good. I'm also really starting to see Oliver in these flashbacks become more closer to his present day self.

Speaking of stuff in the past I'm glad the air plane discussion was actually about something other than that office scene recon. It was a very well acted on scene and Oliver and Felicity both had enjoyable performances. Which yea Oliver really has cared about his sister and always will.

Now the main thing that I have to get off my chest. The Olicty sex thing which was to long. That more of looked like something that belonged on HBO which it's not that what they did bothered me. No it does not but if your going to give me a scene that should be on a mature than give me a storyline to match that maturity of story telling. Is it that hard to do? Also one thing that bugged me and I don't why but considering how long they made that sex scene I feel sorry for Steven's wife who has to see it.

I know a lot of actors are married which I know that they are actors but I guess since Steven actually is more involved with the fan base and how much he speaks about his real life family. It almost seams wrong to put that much focus on Oliver and Felicity sleeping together just to please a portion of the fan base. So maybe those reasons are why I kind of feel they took it a little to far.

On Felicity herself she really does have plot armor because if Ras A Gul would have probably killed the annoyance rather than speaking to her. Also I'm glad Diggle and Malcolm pointed out how much of a stupid idea... no not stupid just plain suicidal her plan was. Plus the whole drugging Oliver and fit she threw at them both was like the writers really are having her act immature. For the record this again was one of those rare moments I was actually glad Laurel Lance showed up at the end which considering how she was last season and how that bad rap kind of has stuck with her that being happy she is around is something.

So yes I very much enjoyed the episode beside those things I've pointed out.


Also to end on a lighter note I had to chuckle when I saw the smoke signal that Maseo used.

I thought this episode was awesome. I agree that both Amell amd Barrowman are good actors. Although, I'm still not understanding why Barrowman was made a regular. I'm not even sure that all his scenes in season 3 would add up to the equivalent of one episode. So, why?

Still don't really care all that much about the flashback virus storyline. However, I do enjoy the Oliver-Tatsu scenes. Her helping him on the tuck was a good scene. I hope to see a Oliver-Tatsu team up before the end of the season. Or seeing more of her in the present time would be cool.

On the plane scene, I can see why Amell liked it. It worked well. It helped that Felicity was acting like the Felicity I know and like, not the OOC Felicity we've seen for most of season 3. Anyway... the office scene. Like I've posted before, the office scene wasn't a recon. If you go back to 3x1 and listen to the "date" conversation it's clear the office scene wasn't reconned. The scene wasn't in anyway needed, but once again, not reconned. Not to mention that there isn't anything showing that Oliver remembers seeing the babbling girl in that office or that if he does, that he actually realizes it was Felicity.

The Olicity sex scene. I have to agree with smllvllfn, the scene was fine and very tame compared to the CW's usual sex scenes. And considering that scene is less than 2 1/2 minutes, and that's only counting from when they start talking about their relationship, it isn't too long. HBO? Have you actually seen a HBO sex scene? Not even a comparison. In fact, as I understand it, daytime soaps have racier sex scenes then what we saw tonight.

The comment about Stephens wife. Well, it's a bit silly. I'm not sure why you feel sorry for her. I doubt that if even Stephen does. She's an adult, if she doesn't want to watch an apparently really long 60 second sex scene, she doesn't have to. I'm sure she was fully aware that she was marrying a good looking actor that had sex scenes in the past and knew that he probably would again sometime in the future. It's a job. I'm sure she's fine. Trust me.

Felicity's plot armor. She doesn't need any. She was never in any danger, because she was never a threat to Ra's. I mean, this bad-ass mofo smiled after Felicity threatened him with war. This is what makes Arrow's version of Ra's Al Ghul so freaking awesome. He's not a in your face, over the top bad guy. His actually talking with Felicity is totally within character. He was being very generous. He stopped and told a woman he doesn't know, a very personal story about himself. So, that she could understand how important it was for her to take a opportunity for closure. Because it's something rare, something he never got to have. He didn't have to give her that. He could have had her thrown out on her ass. But the big softy that he is, wanted to give her what he didn't get. Have I mentioned how freaking awesome this guy is?

Awesome episode!

Btw, I'm ending on a confused note, because I'm not sure why Maseo/Sarab using a already established LoA signal is chuckle worthy...

Once again, Awesome episode!

[historybuff77]

Thea, why give her a very small amount of crazy and then put her seemingly back to normal so fast, kind of takes away from what malcolm was saying about the lazarus pit, those of us who have read the comics know what the pit does, but shouldnt they have elongated that a bit for the show.

I agree with this. It made it seem like Malcolm didn't know what he was talking about. And if he didn't know what he was talking about, why have him say it?

I disagree about the Olicity thing. While I would be just fine with Oliver not having a love interest, I think this pairing is being handled well. Because they DO have chemistry. Chemistry that the show runners and Stephen Amell apparently saw from the beginning. Chemistry so clear that this originally intended one-off character had new scenes written into the show for her. So, if you're a show runner and the classic Queen/Lance pairing from the comics doesn't seem to being going over well with a large 'chunk' of you audience. But you have a another female character that a large 'chunk' of your audience agrees with you, has good chemistry with your male lead. Why wouldn't you try this pairing? And if that large 'chunk' of audience makes it clear that they like this pairing, why would you suddenly stop it? Why risk alienating that 'chunk'? That would be bad business.

Afterall, every hero needs a love interest. It's like a rule.

[costas22]

I think we reached the bottom of the barrel as far as this season is concerned. This show has turned into an abomination of mediocre characterizations, bad writing and shipper pandering. I kept waiting for them to get their priorities straight since the season premiere, but they can't. Even in an episode that should have been all about Thea's near death and resurrection and Oliver making the difficult decision, it was more important to make it all about Olicity.

The bad:

- The blowoff to the Ray/Felicity relationship. Anticlimatic and incredibly convenient. What a waste this storyline was.

- The love scene. I might have been ok with its purpose, but I've struggled to buy Oliver and Felicity as star crossed lovers all season. The show has done a poor job at portaying them as such. Hell, it was just one week ago where Felicity was all lovey dovey with Ray on the Flash.

- Laurel's absence. What are they doing with her? Last week, she wasn't around when Roy said goodbye, even though she and he bonded when Oliver was presumed dead. This week, Oliver is leaving for good to join the League and she doesn't even get a goodbye? I don't care if they actually shot a scene with her and Ollie at the airport (which they did). The fact that they deleted it shows what little regard they had for it. This isn't a case of Lauliver vs Olicity. I just consider it a load of bs that after 2 years of the show telling us otherwise, Oliver and Laurel share no type of bond whatsoever. They've retconned the hell out of that relationship.

- Probably the worst of the lot. Ra's characterization. I read an interview by one of the showrunners (Guggenheim I believe), where he was excited that Ra's of all people prompted Felicity to tell Oliver how she felt. He can't see the absurdity of it?

- What was the point of Sara's death again? Does anyone even remember it happened? Will Malcolm ever be brought to justice for it?

The not so bad:

- A couple of scenes were well acted. Especially by Amell and Barrowman.

- The Maseo-Diggle scene.

- Thea's storyline looks interesting. Especially in regards to the side effects the Pit's revival will have.

And that's just about it. 4/10.

[DoubleDevil]

Thea's rushed into the ER, we hear a steady heartbeat and the first thing they do is hit her with a defibrilator? Wow! Even with my very limited knowledge that seems... Stupid? Considering after the defibrilator is when we start to hear heartbeat troubles. I agree with Costas22, the lack of Laurel seeing the integral part she played in Oliver's life season 1+2 is borderline blasphemy. While I did enjoy the Laurel/Felicity moments prior this season they could've just as easily cut Laurel's scene after Felicity's return, it's obvious there's little love for her. Last week Thea, the love of Roy's life, wasn't allowed to say goodbye to him but this week to sporn on Olicity Felicity is allowed to travel to Nanda Parbat in order to have sex and say goodbye to Oliver. I am glad Ray broke off the relationship and not Felicity but yes it was VERY anticlimatic and a total waste of that storyline. In the flashback, why the foodcart fight with Oliver? All that guy needed to do was open the vial which he could've done long before Oliver reached him. Good for the action, abominal for making sense. Glad I didn't stay up to watch the episode "live" but watched when I got up instead, disappointing.

[Quark]

The episode was good but it had potential to be amazing.

The flashbacks made the episode appear to be very disjointed. It doesn't help that the flashbacks aren't appealing to start with.

Ra's came across as quite weak this episode. First with his scene with Felicity and then when he was about to kill Maseo/Serab. It didn't make much sense either because in his next scene he said how everyone had to lose their previous identities to become part of the League.

Any scene Felicity was in was irritating. It also doesn't make much sense to me that the League of Assassins, amongst the most feared group of people in the world, can so easily be taken down. Even Felicity seemed to be able to take one down.

I'm also confused as to why they had to use Ray's plane. How have they been getting there in the first place? Why not just use a plane from ARGUS? It's how Oliver learnt to fly a plane, although in the 20 episodes of Arrow we have seen this season, flying lessons don't seem to part of any of it.

Malcolm just seems surplus to requirements. I do like how Oliver can give him orders though and Oliver is seeing him for the waste of space Malcolm really is. Malcolm's statement about Thea being the only child he had left just made me think and whose fault is that?

Also would have been great to see more Laurel.

Diggle was awesome in his little scene with Serab/Maseo.

Action scenes were good.

The acting from Stephen Amell was great. He has actually been doing pretty well in the latter half of the season.

[Julie***]

I liked the episode!

I agree with everyone about the level of acting from Amell and Barrowman. The scenes in the hospital were powerful!
I kind of was sad to see the relationship go between Ray and Felicity, because I thought they worked and were adorable and I don't think it was a waste of time. That being said, I still like Felicity and Oliver together.
I didn't think that the sex scene was too long. However it was somehow awkward to watch not because of it being to mature, but because of the actors. You could tell it was Emily Bett Rickards first love scene.
Now to Felicity, I loved her in the first two seasons, but she started to get on my nerves after the episode the climb. I think it got better the last two episodes including this one and the small crossover last week on the flash and I hope we get to see more of the Felicity we fell in love with.

I like this version of Ra's Al Ghul and I don't see him as weak, on that note I have to agree with historybuff77

I am exited to see where they go with the Thea storyline after the Lazarus Pit and the rest of the gang.

I have my biggest issue with the Hong Kong flashbacks. They are mostly too slow and just not fun this season, but I like Tatsu and everytime I see her with her Katana I get a excited.

[Backward Galaxy]

As a casual Arrow fan, I am entirely intrigued by this version of Ra's Al Ghul and his plans for Oliver. When they first cast Matt Nable, I thought he was a terrible choice, mostly by looks alone. He just didn't embody any of the characteristics I have come to associate with the character. Having watched his performance, he has totally won me over and I can admit that I was dead wrong. He's an excellent Ra's Al Ghul and one of the highlights of this season.

I think the Ra's Al Ghul plot has been very interesting in the way that it has escalated and in the way that it has totally overwhelmed the heroes in every sense of the word. It started as an offer, escalated to a threat, then Ra's framed the Arrow, then he outed him... and with each step he took, Oliver and the heroes were able to find a way to overcome. Yet, they were never able to strike back. It was always "take the punch-take the punch-take the punch", so with every victory, it never felt like they were gaining traction. You knew Ra's would come back, hit them even harder, ultimately culminating in Thea nearly dying. It's all been fascinating to watch, and I feel like there is still mystery behind it, because I still feel like we don't know what Ra's Al Ghul really wants. The current Ra's Al Ghul is effective, spry enough to beat Oliver Queen in one on one combat, and ruthless. Why is any of this even necessary? Is it all really just a test for Nyssa? Is it secretly his way of undermining Oliver? I'm loving it. Absolutely loving it.

The problem continues to be... everything else. Literally everything else. None of the other characters are particularly interesting, except maybe the one that just left the show. Emily Bett Rickards is a horrible actor, who seems incapable of delivering a single line of dialogue without choking back tears. The flashbacks are tedious and so disjointed that they're often difficult to follow. Additionally, since they've committed to flashbacks every episode, they often strain to connect what happened 5 years ago to what is happening in the show's present, and it comes across as a series of forced parallels. They really should consider going to a different format in season 4.

Add it all up and you get about ten minutes worth of legitimate 10/10 storytelling, surrounded by 32 minutes of uneven-to-unwatchable junk.

[dark sister]

If you cut Felicity's scenes you get a solid episode

[acer15]

Felicity is pissed that Oliver left for the league but it will be interested to see what they do to felicity the final 3 episodes. I do have 1 question for people who read the comics.
In the comics does Oliver ever leave the league and come back as just the Arrow?

[LLaneKent]

It was a good episode. Lazarus pit. Diggle and Maseo chat. Barrowman. Oliver and Felicity finally getting together (hopefully the angst and relationship drama can pepper down now- though I won't hold my breath). The beginnings of evil Oliver :P

Con: not enough screentime for Laurel. Thea was more like a sister to her than Felicity. I wish we had got to see her reactions.

[anac]

I really enjoyed last night episode I know everyone is getting tired of the whole Olicity thing, but I am a huge shipper so that was one of my favorite scenes the writers really handled it a lot better than the Laurel&Oliver scene in season 1. I really do think that Team Arrow is going to find a way to get Oliver out of his deal, and I think Nyssa will have something to do with that. My Con for this episode is that they never gave a name to the woman who was with Ra's AL Ghul I mean she must be important if she's there the writers of Arrow do nothing on accident. Overall the episode was amazing and heartbreaking because really Oliver Queen was giving up Oliver Queen and you could just see it written on his face. I can't wait to see what happens during the final episodes