Arrow (7×12): “Emerald Archer”

Episode Description:

ARROW FILMS THEIR 150TH EPISODE AS A DOCUMENTARY ENTITLED “THE HOOD AND THE RISE OF VIGILANTES” NARRATED BY KELSEY GRAMMER — The 150th episode of “Arrow” showcases a documentary entitled “The Hood and the rise of vigilantism” starring Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), and the rest of Team Arrow. As a camera crew follows Oliver and team around to talk about their past as vigilantes and what the Green Arrow means to Star City, Oliver must also deal with William’s (guest star Jack Moore) return from boarding school as well as a new threat to the city. The episode will feature “documentary footage” captured by the BTS crew and interviews from those who have worked alongside the Green Arrow. The documentary is narrated by Kelsey Grammer. Glen Winter directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim & Emilio Ortega Aldrich (#712). – the CW

Well, this is a weird episode to write about. It’s shot like a documentary narrated by Kelsey Grammer—which is awesome by the way.

The doc opens with Quentin Lance talking about the police not being enough. Then a little intro of Oliver doing his thing with his friends. So it an actual episode, just sprinkled in among the meat is a little bit of highlights from the entire show and interviews with different people regarding vigilantism.

William makes a visit home. What’s with the cameras? To boost public opinion of the Arrow on the force. And apparently this documentary has been in the works since the Hood started but finally got more funding to finish it.

Oliver’s doing police work. Now things are getting exciting. We are watching Oliver and the police in action. There’s been a shooting. Oliver and Dinah find Rene there. He’s fine but whoever did it took Emiko.  Things are getting serious and Oliver wants the cameras off.

Back at SCPD, both Oliver and Dinah are unhappy to hear Rene is working as a vigilante again. Another mask as Rene so eloquently put it nabbed New Green Arrow. The mayor continues to hate on Oliver and vigilantism, so needless to say she isn’t happy to hear about an abducted vigilante.

Back at the Queen’s, William is way more moodier than he was before. He was the only kid left at school during Christmas break. He is very salty about being shipped off to boarding school, rightfully so.

The SCPD’s resources aren’t being helpful so Oliver asks Dig if he can uses ARGUS’s satellites to locate Emiko. In doing so Oliver tells Diggle about Emiko. They’ve possibly located her at an abandoned athletic club. Oliver and Dig are on the scene.  They don’t find Emiko but they find someone’s hideout or bat cave. This dude has all different vigilante masks—it would appear that he is hunting vigilantes.

Curtis found Chimera—I guess that’s what they’re calling that guy now. Shockingly he is held up in another abandoned building. This guy certainly has an MO. The kicker is that this building is Adam Hunt’s former building. Oliver dealt with him in season 1.

Even with the danger the cameras follow Oliver, Diggle and Dinah into the building. Oliver faces off with Chimera as we watch through the lense of the camera—very cool shot. Diggle helps fight of Chimera. He flees, or more like falls out a window but anyways they find Emiko and she warns Oliver that he is coming for him.

William has a playdate with Zoey, who knew they were friends, Rene certainly didn’t. It looks like something other than being home is bothering William. He tries to talk to Zoey but he can’t bring himself to do it.

Chimera is an anti-vigilante, a hunter, a predator. Everyone is worried now about Oliver. Emiko’s fine, possibly a concussion but no one will know now because she’s fleed. She’s escaped to her hideout where Rene finds her. He makes a joke about her being related to Oliver. And it turns out she is.

The mayor wants Oliver to speak at Town Hall. Dinah is trying to get him out of it. Chimera wouldn’t have any trouble getting to him there, Dig and Oliver hold an off the cameras meeting. Dig thinks they need to draw Chimera out and the meeting is the way to do it. Team Arrow needs to make its return—law or no law. Oliver went to jail for them and Diggle is ready to do the same.

Mayor Pollard continues to hate on Oliver at the town meeting. On the outside Team Arrow is suited up and Felicity is on the comms—it’s like the good old days. The meeting is cut short by Chimera like we expected. He wants Oliver’s metaphorically mask as he has stopped wearing one. But too bad for him he didn’t expect Team Arrow. It’s a fun little theatrical fight. The team’s back together and they look great. With help from each other they are able to best Chimera. But they get no chance to celebrate as SCPD arrives on scene to arrest Mr. T, Spartan and Wilddog.  The law is the law.

Kevin Meltzer is Chimera. Seven years ago, the Hood rescued him. He did sometime in a psych ward, once he was out and he started collecting masks, apparently he just collects them.

At SCPD, Curtis, Dig and Rene are locked up. DA Lance says there isn’t much she can do. They all said it was worth it. Dinah tries to step down and Oliver does the same. The Mayor respects their comradery, the DA will not press charges and they will all be deputized. WIth that news Oliver plans to rebuild the Arrow Cave better. They’ll be back better.

At the Queen residence we find out William has actually been expelled.

The episode closes with two people in the futured, Mia (Blackstar) and Connor watching the doc and using it to find the Arrow Cave. Connor Hawk and Mia Dearden, maybe?!?!

Catch Arrow Monday nights at 8pm on the CW.