‘Arrow’ Recap: Prometheus Unmasked
Warning: This recap for the “Fighting Fire with Fire” episode of Arrow contains spoilers.
After months of misdirection, it looks like the writers of Arrow got the drop on fans expecting Vigilante’s identity to mirror his comic book origins and be revealed as Adrian Chase. It turns out that Adrian Chase is, in fact, Prometheus — and he continues to draw Oliver closer into his trust while continuing to spin his web of revenge.
The Plot
Impeachment hearings for Oliver get under way for covering up Green Arrow’s involvement in the death of Billy Malone. Thea goes to Felicity for leverage against the councilmembers who are a part of the trial. Meanwhile, Vigilante tries to kill the mayor and almost succeeds when he shoots up his limo. Vigilante is confronted by Prometheus who warns him off by saying, “Oliver Queen is mine!” before revealing to us that Prometheus is Adrian Chase. Oliver decides that Green Arrow needs to take the blame for Billy’s death and, in doing so publicly, sways the hearings his way; he will not be impeached. Thea apologizes almost blackmailing someone (she didn’t press send) and resigns rather than continue down the dark path of political backstabbing; Felicity, however, fully joins the hacktivist collective, Helix. Susan Williams reputation gets restored just as Chase kidnaps her, presumably to torture Oliver some more.
Related: ‘Arrow’ Star Juliana Harkavy on Black Canary’s ‘Desire For Justice’
The Flashback
Anatoly invokes “Demand an Exam” — a Bratva ritual that prevents them killing him and Oliver and giving them a chance to challenge Gregor’s leadership. Oliver breaks into Kovar’s mansion and retrieves a laptop proving that Gregor took money from Kovar that he shared with Bratva, but also a secret bribe that he hid from them. A gun battle breaks out as Gregor loyalists fight Anatoly and the remaining Bratva captains.
Getting Better
It’s always good to remember — when plot twists abound and bullets are flying like there was an ammo sale at Costco — that the reason we return week after week is because of the characters. There’s a new and wonderful dynamic at play as the team has ballooned in size. Every member is deeply flawed but, slowly, they are finding that the solution is bonding with the rest of the team.
Take, for example, Rene and Curtis; one is hot-headed, the other is timid. They learn from each other, often in surprising ways. Curtis uses Rene’s insensitive jabs at him to redirect his energy to perfecting his T-Spheres. Rene learns a measure of tact when he realizes he’s crossed a line by saying, “You’ve got to give yourself a pair of balls?” His immediate backpedaling is hilarious and illustrates how character arcs don’t necessarily have to be accompanied by a four-minute, heartfelt speech from Ollie.
Hey, Ladies
Last week, Oliver accused Thea of acting like their mother, Moira, and this week, Thea herself notices that her willingness to stoop to any level to protect the mayor is very much like when she had the bloodlust from the Lazarus Pit. She resigns rather than go further. Felicity, by contrast, makes almost the opposite decision, despite getting a stern talking to from Diggle. He calls her super-power “Empathy. Big, reflexive, pure empathy.” She probably believes that this empathy has nothing to do with embracing Helix, but the question remains: Will she remain the empathetic heart of the team? Or will the ends continue to justify the means? And how ugly will that get?
Quiverful of Thoughts
*Dr. Schwartz is back — one of the few people outside of the bunker who knows Oliver’s identity. If you don’t recognize her from her previous appearances on the show, you might recognize that she’s the voice of Jean Grey from the early ’00s X-Men: Evolution series. Truly old animation fans might recognize the voice of female Ranma from the English dub of Ranma ½ from the late ’80s.
*Line of the Night: “Anatoly — why bother?” “I did not want to die in hospital basement.” “…Fair.” David Nykl and his dry, dry delivery should be in everything all of the time.
Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
