Arrow Season 8 Review: 6 Ups & 1 Down From 'Prochnost'

Ups...

6. The Past Influences The Present (And The Future)

Can we ever truly escape our past? That's the question that 'Prochnost' continually posed us with, and it did so in an effective manner as multiple characters throughout the episode found themselves struggling with that very question.

Oliver's attempts to shield William and Mia from the Bratva may have appeared like he was just a concerned father who simply didn't want his children anywhere near the danger, but the fact of the matter is that he didn't want them to discover his dark days as 'Kapuishon'. Similarly, Laurel's struggles with the possibility of betraying Oliver at The Monitor's request also left us wondering if Black Siren was truly a figure of the past, or if this bird was incapable of changing her spots. And finally, Roy's concerns over donning the hood once more also stemmed from his fear that he would give in to his bloodlust all over again.

It really must be said that all three of these narratives were very well storylined, and simply highlighted how this season once again successfully managed to use Arrow's rich past to influence current narratives. But it wasn't a case of nostalgia for the sake of nostalgia, it was a series of compelling character arcs centred on three of the show's most important characters - all of which successfully proved that the past doesn't have to define us.