Episode Title: “The Candidate”
Starring: Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Paul Blackthorne, Emily Bett Rickards, Jeri Ryan
Directed by: John Behring
Network: CW
Oliver and the rest of the team continue to take out various Ghost operations run by Damien Darhk. Family friend Jessica Danforth (Jeri Ryan) comes to town and announces to Oliver that she plans to run for Mayor, despite the fact that the last several mayors have been murdered. At the press conference to announce her candidacy, she is attacked by Lonnie Machin, an anarchist working for Darhk. Oliver gives chase but Machin eludes him. Later while questioning a group of street hoods for information, Thea becomes overly aggressive, breaking a man’s arm.
Back at the Arrow Cave, Oliver confronts Thea leading to a fight between the two. Oliver tells Thea that Malcolm Merlyn warned him about the effects that the Lazarus Pit could have on Thea which is leading to her out of control behavior. Lance puts Danforth and her daughter under police protection…which we know means trouble. Sure enough, Machin kills the two cops guarding Danforth’s daughter and abducts her. Oliver and Thea rescue the girl but once again Thea loses it, setting Machin on fire and nearly killing him. However, on the way to the hospital Machin kills two paramedics and escapes, leaving behind a symbol painted in their blood which Captain Lance reveals as meaning anarchy.
Unknown to Oliver, Laurel wants to take Thea back to Nanda Parbat to see if the League of Assassins can cure Thea. But Laurel has another reason for going as we will find out in the grisly final scene. In other developments, Felicity, now the CEO of Palmer Technologies is forced by the Board of Directors to cut dozens of jobs to save costs. One of those fired is a brilliant computer technician inventor Curtis Holt. But Felicity eventually rebels against the Board, claiming that Holt has developed technology that will fix the struggling company.
Ok to start with, Felicity’s new best friend at Palmer Technologies, Curtis Holt, is actually based on DC Comics hero Michael Holt, better known as Justice Society member Mr. Terrific. Too early to tell if Holt will play a costumed role or simply a behind the scenes supporting role, but with Ray Palmer currently missing Holt provides the inventive character that the team can use in their crime-fighting efforts. I loved Felicity standing up to the Board and re-hiring all the people they forced her to fire. Great moment for her character!
And if you didn’t already figure it out from the anarchy symbol inside the ambulance, Lonnie Machin will portray Anarky, best known as a Batman villain. His unpredictable character is in complete contrast to Damien Darhk’s more calculating antagonist. Has anyone noticed that through these first two episodes that Oliver seems to have lost his fighting edge? Darhk was able to defeat him last week and he needed Thea’s help to defeat Machin. Heck, even Thea went toe-to-toe with Oliver. Did his time away from Star City erode his skills?
And that final scene with Laurel and Thea? Well you have to see it for yourself but it certainly answers one major question. This was a great episode which introduced a new villain, a new potential hero, and forwards the DC TV Universe in a big way.
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