Last night’s Arrow starts out with a typical bank robbery. There are masked men, an easy to open safe and somebody gets hurt. A group called the Royal Flush gang has hit banks across Sterling City. An undercover officer is injured in the robbery. Rather than callously disregard the injured officer, one of them shows concern, expressing that this wasn’t part of the deal. With the damage already done, the robbers take their money and escape. Oliver and Thea’s relationship seems to be getting better. Tommy has an interest in Laurel, who still has feelings for Oliver. He seeks advice from Thea. Oliver receives a call from John to meet him at the hospital about an officer named Stan Washington who was injured during a bank robbery by the Royal Flush Gang. The mistakes of his father’s past come to light in the form of a former worker named Russell. Oliver’s father promised outsourcing to China only to close the factory a day later, putting Russell and several others out of work. Oliver suspects Russell to be a part of the Royal Flush gang. He decides to give him a chance to change his ways going as far as to offer him a job. Russell refuses as he still holds a grudge against Robert. Suspecting the conversation will go no further, Oliver exits the restaurant but not before discreetly slipping a listening device into Russell’s pocket.
Laurel's relationship with Tommy might be moving along better than with Oliver
Tommy throws a fundraiser party for CNRI to show Laurel that there is more to him than just money. Laurel sees this as only an excuse to get her into bed and blows him off. Tommy tries to divulge his feelings to Laurel but his chances are seemingly dashed when Laurel goes off with a rich donator when he asks her to dance. Seeing Tommy is disappointed by this, Thea tries to cheer him up. However, she has had one too many drinks and begins to think that his earlier conversation was some sort of declaration of affection towards her. Tommy gently lets her down which upsets Thea. Laurel has a change of heart when she sees Tommy tending to a sick Thea. It seems she might give him a chance now that she has seen that he is capable of actual sincerity.
Later, Oliver arrives at the party much to his mother’s surprise and resentment. Moira expresses her disappointment in her son for breaking his promise to attend a previous engagement. Oliver’s busy schedule has put a strain on his relationship with his family so he’s been missing out on a lot in their lives. He then receives a call during their conversation and has to leave which he apologizes for. Unfortunately, his quick departure doesn’t bode well with his mother.
Too little too late. Arrow fails to save a family man down on his luck
After listening to the device he put on Russell, Oliver makes the connection of the family to his father. Russell has been robbing local banks to make ends meet. Oliver intervenes and tries to right his dad’s wrongs but his assistance comes too late. During the family’s last heist, Russell throws himself in the path of a shotgun blast from the security guard to save his son’s life.
For a moment, I was worried that Arrow may soon begin to run stale with its “hit list” formula, making the character into something out of Assassin’s Creed. It was nice a change of pace for the series with last night’s episode. With convincing from John Diggle, Oliver decides to help people in need rather than check off corrupted businessmen like a grocery list. It was interesting to see him give the guy Russell a chance to deter from a life of crime. Maybe seeing the father sacrifice himself to save his son will make Oliver see there is more to his life as Arrow than vengeance.
