ARROW Season 3 Episode 20 Review: The Fallen - Warped Factor - Words in the Key of Geek.

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ARROW Season 3 Episode 20 Review: The Fallen

Margot Hitchcock explains why she's “Fallen” in love with this week's Arrow...


It's that time again! Wednesday evenings mean time to get my weekly Oliver Queen fix on. And this week was a BIG fix with lots of amazing things finally happening (can I get an “Amen!” from my #teamOlicity people?) and still a lot of question marks left for us to ponder until next week. Let's dive right into “The Fallen.”

So once again we find Team Arrow – in particular, Oliver – being hunted by the League, and this time it seems as though they've won by exposing Oliver's greatest weakness: Thea. And while I sympathize with Oliver about having to give up his freedom in order to save his sister, am I the only person concerned with the fact that now that he's called the hospital to help her, they have record that she's (1) been stabbed with a sword and (2) supposed to be in a coma? Who gets to explain why they kidnapped her from the hospital AND how she returned to Starling City with a miraculous recovery to her insurance company? That sounds like a pretty big problem to me, even compared to being hunted down by, as Felicity so wonderfully stated, “The League of Psychotic Murderers.” Just saying.

Then, conveniently prior to departing for Nanda Parbat, Ray and Felicity call it quits for good. So now all us Oliver/Felicity lovers can have no regrets for the hook-up we've been waiting 3 seasons to witness. Whew! Dodged a bullet there.

And while we're discussing Ray, I would like to just point out that he is getting cooler every single episode. I mean, how many men do you know that automatically can tell when something's wrong with his girlfriend? While most gentlemen would require hours of sulking, passive aggressive hints or even a full-blown tantrum, Ray sees Felicity frowning and knows immediately that something is up. Wow. Now that is a super-human ability if I've ever seen it. Then, he becomes even more of a superhero by not only recognizing and being “cool” with Felicity still loving Oliver, but he even offers the couple his private jet to run off and do he-can-probably-imagine-but-doesn't-want-to-think-about-it stuff with. Wow. The mark of either a very selfless and loving gentleman or a complete masochistic moron. I'll let you decide.

Okay, moving on. The crew departs for Nanda Parbat, but little did they know they were stepping into an episode of Game of Thrones. I mean, seriously, who invited Stannis and Melisandre?


They even have banners and everything. So the moral to this episode is clearly a leader is only as powerful as his priestess is crazy and sexy.

And then, just in case you weren't transported to the mythical world of George R. R. Martin already, we have a beautiful old best friend vs. new best friend battle of words between Maseo and John that conveniently ends with this line: “You know nothing, (Jon Snow/John Diggle).”

Okay, I admit that last one is a bit of a stretch. But before you take the time to really analyze, can we just jump ahead to my favorite person of this episode?

And the winner is … (drumroll)


Felicity Smoak, ladies and gentlemen!

Okay. So hands down, the best moments of this episode belong to Felicity. Why?
  1. She has some of the BEST one-liners we've seen all season.

    One of which includes TWO amazing references within one sentence: “Magic hot tub” and “League of Psychotic Murderers” (referring to the Lazarus Pit and the League of Assassins, respectively). Amazing. David Oliver really says it all here.

    She also sums up the hook-up of the century (mentioned below in point 3) with the phrase, “So … that happened.”

    We couldn't have said it better ourselves, Felicity.

  2. She is ballsy enough to stick it to Ra's Al Ghul all in the name of love.

    I can't think of many people who would eagerly yell at someone whose name means “Demon's Head,” much less many skinny, white girls who don't work out on the regular. This girl has nothing to protect her, but she fearlessly threatens the ruthless leader in his own home filled with hundreds of assassins, stating, “We will go to war to get him back.”

    **Side note: Is this foreshadowing for the next season? As in The League VS. Team Arrow (sans Oliver), Atom and possibly even the Flash? One can only hope.**

    Not only does Felicity verbally abuse this man, but she even tries to kidnap Oliver from underneath his nose. While we all knew this wouldn't work, we have to give home girl snaps for being brave and probably the most amazing girlfriend ever. Well done, Miss Smoak.

    And, finally, our favorite moment for Felicity … ever … occurs with:

  3. The Hook-Up

    This women gets the script, the sass AND the stud all in one episode. And she does it while keeping her boots on. You go, girl!

Yet despite this amazingly powerful woman's numerous attempts, Team Arrow leaves without their fearless leader, Oliver, who remains behind to embrace his new role as Al Sah-him. This decision leaves everyone at a loss, especially Diggle who usually has a one liner for everything. (Of course, if you're like me, you automatically assume that when he says, “Oliver, I don't know what to say,” what he's really saying is, “Oliver, you're making a huge mistake per usual, and I can't talk you out of it. So I'll stay silent.” Good move, Dig.)



Overall, I was well pleased with this episode. The only downside really at this point with the season is the flashback sequences. Does anyone else feel they're more like commercial breaks between the real action? I almost think they should include a disclaimer: Now back to your regularly scheduled plot progression.

So I'm excited to see where these last few episodes will take us this season. And honestly, I have no idea as to what is next for Team Arrow. But rest assured, I'm sure the writers of Arrow will have some surprises for us over the next couple of weeks. Until next week!

Margot Hitchcock is a huge supporter of all things relating to "nerd culture," in particular those involving superheroes and Disney. She loves books, movies, music and working out, and currently lives in Athens, GA, with her rabbit, Gigi.  

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