Following the destruction of Earth-2, Arrow season 8, episode 2 picks up in the aftermath of their rushed exit before the anti-matter wave swallowed them whole, leading Oliver and Laurel to begin to understand what was lost.
We had a chance to watch Arrow season 8 episode 2 early, and you do not want to miss this! We’re only two episodes in, but each episode of Arrow‘s final 10-episode season is clearly going to have much more at stake, and the tension will grow as the crossover grows nearer.
‘Arrow’ 8×02 screener secrets
Arrow season 8, episode 2 is a solid outing and continues to build on the premiere and raise the stakes for everything that is at risk if “Crisis on Infinite Earths” comes and the heroes are unprepared. Meanwhile, the flash-forwards continue to disappoint, but they shed some light on the relationship between Connor and JJ, while leaving off on a cliffhanger that should at least liven them up a bit.
Montage
The episode opens with not only a new introduction by Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), but with a montage to really put Oliver’s journey in perspective for himself and for the fans. If this is any indication, Arrow season 8 is going to continue to honor the past seven seasons, and isn’t going to forget anything Oliver or the other heroes have been through in order to keep their city — and the world — safe.
Oliver’s decision
Arrow season 8, episode 2 is another heavy episode, arguably more so than the premiere, in which Oliver realizes what is at stake when “Crisis on Infinite Earths” comes to pass. Despite being emotionally heavy, it’s a fantastic episode with too many callbacks to Arrow season 3 than I could count.
As we saw on Earth-2, Oliver still desperately misses Felicity and Mia (and William, too, but you know how that is). He’s still struggling with his decision to leave his family to help the Monitor, even though he’s fully aware of the deal he struck to keep Barry and Kara safe during “Elseworlds” the year prior. Even though Emily Bett Rickards is no longer on the show, Arrow is very much keeping Felicity and her importance to Oliver, in particular, alive.
Her absence is very thoroughly felt as the show finishes up without her. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Felicity had been part of this season. How would it have changed to accommodate her role in Oliver’s life and on Team Arrow? Many of the scenes I’d expect Felicity to take part in with Oliver and being written to build on the relationship with Oliver and Diggle.
The realization of loss
Laurel’s journey in this episode is, by far, my favorite, and it gives such great, in-depth insight into how far she’s come since being Black Siren on The Flash season 2 and Arrow season 5. After losing her home, her entire planet, and everyone she loved on Earth-2, Arrow wastes no time digging into her grief and the trauma that has just been inflicted upon her.
Katie Cassidy-Rodgers said, in our interview with her, that Laurel is a very emotional person, and that was an understand for Laurel’s story on this episode. How does one come to terms with the fact that everything she’s known is gone, especially in such an awful way? The surface is only scratched during this hour.
Crisis and familiar faces
More so than the premiere, this episode really drives the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” story forward, and it’s clear much of the set-up for the crossover will be done on Arrow, as Oliver Queen is deeply intertwined with the Monitor and his plan. Plus, there’s a jaw-dropping revelation about the Monitor that begins to tie everything together.
Like on the premiere episode, Arrow season 8, episode 2 is full of familiar faces. Tatsu AKA Katana returns as Oliver, Diggle, and Laurel work on the Monitor’s next mission, lending her invaluable hand to Oliver and his journey once more. On the other hand, Lyla returns to help one of the characters deal with the events of the premiere.
(For those hoping to see the Earth-1 versions of Dinah and Rene, this is not your episode. There’s not even a glimpse of the present day Star City.)
Arrow season 8, episode 2 airs Tuesday, October 22 at 9 p.m. ET!
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