The Ninth Circle makes a move for a classified DoD drive and forces Diggle to make contact with the last person he ever wanted to; his stepfather. Meanwhile in the future, Felicity discovers some very bad news.

This is pretty much a straight down the middle, meat and potatoes episode and that’s actually a really good thing. In the past, Arrow has lost its balance when it gets too complicated. Here we’ve got three things going on at once: Diggle family angst, the overall plot and a nicely handled flash forward. The episode does all three really well.

The flash forward first, which bookends the episode and continues to make the future a fun place to be. The revelation on who Diggle’s sons work for is especially nicely done and the episode closes, again, with the feeling that the future plot really doesn’t deserve to finish this season. It’s a fun, dystopic beat and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go with it.

The Emiko/Dante plot also has a ton of fun stuff going on. Not only do we get a really nicely handled jailbreak/fight but we get some smart insight into Emiko herself and a really cleverly handled finish to the Dante plot line. Also a startlingly violent one which sets Emiko up as genuinely dangerous and out of control without lessening her as a character.

Finally, the Diggle(s) plot not only continues the running gag about how John is this close to being a Green Lantern but also gives Ernie Hudson a bunch to do. He’s great as Diggle’s step-dad, simultaneously smug and sanctimonious and deeply likeable. David Ramsey and he have great chemistry and while the ending is a touch predictable it‘ also sweet natured and heart felt.

Verdict This is classic Arrow; cheerfully violent, fast paced and character driven. We’re officially in the home stretch now and this episode sets up the end game very nicely. Tough, clever, fun stuff. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart