Arrow Season 8 Review: 5 Ups & 2 Downs From 'Reset'

Downs...

2. Rewriting The Reset

Much like we've seen with every episode of Arrow this season, 'Reset' was so strong that one of the only real drawbacks (if it can even be called that) was incredibly minor. Nonetheless, the repetitive nature of the episode made it rather obvious as it went on, so it's worth flagging up.

In a Groundhog Day-themed episode such as this, consistency is key and, for the most part, 'Reset' pulled it off really well. However, there were one or two moments that didn't fit with the logic we had come to know about this specific time-loop.

Take the replays of Oliver waking up on the couch for instance. This was a fixed moment that, unlike the rest in the alternate reality, couldn't be altered - simply because it was the beginning. It usually played out with Oliver waking up to the sound of the TV before William, Mia and Connor came barging in. It all happened rather abruptly as their dialogue inexplicably drowned out the sound of the TV in the background.

However, when Oliver woke up the final time, he did so incredibly slowly and actually took the time to turn off the TV with the remote and wait a couple of seconds before the kids stormed in. As he hadn't done anything to change the reality yet, this should have played out exactly as normal with the trio arriving immediately. And on that note, having him use the remote to turn the TV off actually drew attention to the fact that the device mysteriously silenced itself the first few times.

Again, not a big deal but an obvious one due to the repetition.