Arrow 2.6, 'Keep Your Enemies Closer' Review

Arrow Tv Show

rating: 4.5

Arrow continues its solid streak of episodes with 'Keep Your Enemies Closer', one which had plenty of strengths to it, namely focusing so much on Diggle. The past several episodes have somewhat sidelined Diggle, but he came back in a big way and acted as the main driving force for the story. As Oliver put it later on in the episode, this time it was he who backed up Diggle rather than the other way around. The renewed focus on Diggle and his search for Deadshot was definitely the main highlight of the story. It also went a long way towards Diggle's development as he seemed to finally be able, at least for the time being, move past his anger at his brother's death, allowing him to react rationally during his scenes with Deadshot. On the character development front, Summer Glau's Isabel finally got some depth as Oliver began getting to know her better. In her earlier appearances we didn't get much of a read on her because she was very cold and distant with Oliver, but the episode allowed us to peek behind that and see who she is, at least a little bit for now. We learnt where she came from and part of what has made her the woman she is now, displaying more personality than she's shown before. Even though Summer Glau was portraying this character, 'Keep Your Enemies Closer' was the first time I gave much thought towards Isabel. I still have to wonder though whether she's just playing some game with Oliver, weakening his defenses so she can somehow swoop in and take over Queen Consolidated when he least's expects it. It was a welcome change of pace to see Oliver take a back seat from the main action as well. Thanks to the focus being on Diggle, we got to see Oliver more as Oliver than the Hood/Arrow, enhancing his own development through his scenes with Isabel and Felicity. Though I have to admit, I don't quite care for Felicity's jealousy at the moment, but I also agree with her that Oliver's fling with Isabel seems rather weird and quick. I expect this to be played up further of course, but for the moment I don't totally buy it. Though Oliver didn't have quite so much to do in the main storyline, his step back allowed for the flashbacks to gain some more momentum. After last week's reveal that Oliver and Sarah are in the company of Dr. Ivo many fans began wondering what that meant for the series. At the moment, it seems that this could be a way Arrow introduces the audience to the world of superpowers. If Ivo is correct with the Japanese experiments and they did succeed in creating some form of super soldiers, it will be interesting to see how that is developed in the present timeline. However, I do have to wonder how Sarah made it from hostage/prisoner to Ivo's seemingly second-in-command. I had just assumed she was broken down during her captivity to be just another soldier, not Ivo's right hand officer. Even the captain of the ship called Ivo out on it. We'll just have to wait and see Sarah's own flashbacks for this to be revealed. An interesting theory to consider is if Deathstroke gains his hands on this formula in the future, perhaps accounting for the abilities he possesses from the comics. Between this and the particle accelerator mentioned several times in the previous episodes, the world of Arrow seems ripe for the super powered heroes and villains to appear. Another quick positive to the episode was the absence of Laurel who still remains the show's weakest link. After the hypocritical stances she's taken lately coupled with her own weak storyline, it was refreshing to see her placed on the backburner for more exciting and significant developments. Also, more elements from the DC Universe appear; Amanda Waller made her debut, played by another Spartacus veteran Cynthia Addai-Robinson, the Queen's lawyer is revealed to be Jean Loring, wife of The Atom, and criminal organization H.I.V.E was introduced. Arrow is certainly becoming less afraid of introducing elements from the comic book universe and it is all shaping up rather nicely at this point. 'Keep Your Enemies Closer' only has me more excited for where this show is headed.
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Richard Church has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a diploma in Television Writing and Producing. He is an aspiring writer for short stories, novels and screenplays. He is also an avid fan of comic books and graphic novels.