Arrow Season 4: 12 Big Questions We're Asking After 'Broken Hearts'
Love is dead.
Good news: Arrow is back.
Bad news: it's still a bit of a mess, and one that's going to continue dividing its fanbase.
After a month off the show returns with Broken Hearts, and very heavily deals with the broken hearts of Oliver and Felicity, after the latter very literally walked out on the show's hero in the last episode before the break.
The relationship drama is the focus of half the episode, and it's the part that's going to cause division and frustration amongst fans. At this stage, where it's still refusing to fully commit to a resolution either way, and dedicating large chunks of episodes getting in the way of the overarching story, means it doesn't do much to serve the characters or the plot, whatever your view on Olicity.
The other half of the episode is the preliminary hearing of the case against Damien Darhk. Neal McDonough is so magnetic as the villain that all he has to do is sit there in silence, and he still stands out and holds your attention. It's an improvement on Arrow's previous attempt at a court scene, and the more interesting part of the episode.
Aside from that, there was the return of Cupid to Star City, although her arrows were designed to kill love rather than create it, while Diggle and Thea had small but fun supporting roles and the flashbacks, well, they happened.
We're nearing the Season 4 endgame, and that means we're left with lots of questions.
12. Cupid. Why?
It's Cupid, stupid. Or, for the obvious childish joke, Cupid IS stupid.
Ok, that out of the way, it's difficult to see why the writers thought bringing Cupid back was a good idea. I mean, I understand she helped paint the painstakingly obvious tension between Oliver and Felicity and helped them realise their feelings, while giving some overwrought speeches on what love actually means, but surely there were other ways to achieve that?
Her particular brand of insanity felt out of place in this episode, and even then hasn't really been built up enough for us to care about her motivations - especially when the events that have lead to her crusade against love took place a year ago.