Arrow: Season 1 Episode 5 Review – ‘Damaged’
Last episode’s “An Innocent Man” was a heavy-handed musing on the morality of vigilante justice. Diggle was initially vehemently opposed to Oliver’s actions, denouncing him as a criminal and murderer. However when Oliver revealed that he defeated the assassin that killed Diggle’s brother, an act accomplished outside of the law, Diggle reconsidered the offer to team up with the hooded archer as an opportunity to do good and that the end justifies the means.
Continue reading for full spoilers on Arrow Season 1 Episode 5 “Damaged”:
As the season progresses, one of the questions many viewers may ponder is why no one in Starling City has made the connection that the timing of Oliver’s return coincided with the emergence of the hooded vigilante. Rather than leave this loose end hanging, the writers have taken preemptive measures to address this very issue in “Damaged”.
In a surprising turn of events, it was Oliver’s intention to be caught on security camera footage taking the archer’s hood out of a garbage can. Oliver’s orchestrated arrest was the first step in his elaborate plan to refute claims he could be the vigilante. Attaining Laurel as his attorney, wearing the ankle bracelet, throwing the house party and even taking the lie detector test were all deceptive sleight of hand ploys.
Oliver was able to pass the polygraph test by admitting to a version of the truth. Oliver didn’t steal millions of dollars from Adam Hunt, he deposited the money in the victim’s bank accounts. When asked if he was the hooded man in the picture, he thought of his mentor Yao Fei instead of himself. Oliver did confess he killed someone but only to Sara’s death aboard the ill-fated yacht.
As many viewers surmised at the end of the last episode, Diggle would don the green hood to prove Oliver could not be the vigilante. And he looked pretty bad-ass in the costume! What makes Diggle a great sidekick is how his humanity is like an anchor that keeps Oliver from drifting into darkness. Diggle’s function as a trusted confidante allows the viewer access to Oliver’s inner most thoughts, which would be incredibly awkward if it were spoken in the voice over narrations. Further, Diggle is the one person that can see through Oliver’s manipulation and call his partner out on his lies.
Oliver is highly adept at playing different versions of his persona and telling people what they want to hear. He can be the carefree party-goer, his old former self. He can also embrace his tortured soul; the broken man that survived life on “Purgatory”. What Oliver didn’t account for in his plan is how hard it is to deceive the closest people in his life. Thea is unable to reconcile the way Oliver has been acting since his return. The arrowhead gift for Thea was an oversight as was his answer to the question if he ever been to Iron Heights prison. There are aspects of truth in his confession to Laurel about his time on the island that explain his inner demons which he is coming to terms with. The final conversation between Diggle and Oliver was important because even if the viewer can accept Oliver as a murderer of criminals, it’s harder to accept our anti-hero as being deceitful to those that care for him. Oliver corrects Diggle’s assumptions: his lies have in-fact weighed on his conscience and he has considered the ramifications.
Although the island flashbacks haven’t been as engaging the last couple of episodes, they do serve multiple functions: as an origin story, an extension of the themes explored and counterpoint to present day Oliver. This episode’s flashback is the strongest in recent memory. We witness Oliver’s first arrow shot; it’s interesting to note that’s he’s not a naturally gifted archer. What cannot be trained is Oliver’s will and inner fortitude to conceal the location of Yao Fei’s lair despite being tortured by Deathstroke. The showdown between Deathstroke and Yao Fei is easily the best choreographed fight on the show to date. As they say in show business, always leave the audience wanting more.
Overall, this was a strong episode that revolved around deception, lies and the value of truth. What do you think of Laurel’s on/off relationship with Ollie? Are you interested in why Moira salvaged the remains of the Queen’s Gambit? Do you know what is in the pouch that Yao Fei gave to Oliver? What are your thoughts on Deathstroke? Are you enjoying the show’s formula and pacing so far?
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Posted on November 8, 2012, in Arrow, Comics, Television and tagged Arrow 1x05, Arrow 1x05 Review, Arrow Damaged Review, Arrow Episode 5, Arrow S1E5, Arrow Season 1 Episode 5 Review, Arrow TV Series, Arrow TV Show, Arrow TV Show Review, CW Arrow, DC Comics, Deathstroke, Diggle, Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen, Stephen Amell. Bookmark the permalink. 7 Comments.
Sidekick Reviews 
Arrow is my top new show of the season! I’m happy they didn’t kill Deathstroke off after one episode and I’m excited for the direction this show is taking especially next week when Mr. Diggle convinces Oliver to abandon his “List” temporarily to take down the Royal Flush Gang.
It was cool how Deathstroke caught the arrow and then breaks it in his hand. It’s gonna take some serious firepower to take him down. I’m looking forward to giving the “List” a break for the time being and for Oliver to tackle some serious villains.
Well, let us also remember that every incarnation of Deathstroke has him be a tough guy to knock down. You can only focus the main plotline in any series for so long before you get mental eyestrain. So a break in the scenario is definitely warranted. FYI, I’m fairly certain that, if the series had failed to pick up a full season, that would have been the stopping point.
Nice touch that he caught it right before it his his eye but you’ll know he’ll be short one soon enough. Can’t wait for Royal Flush Gang, Firefly, Count Vertigo, and who knows who else?
I heard some casting news that I’m really excited about. I just hope they’re are part of a big story arc, not just one episode.
My friend, as good as this series has been, I think that this episode is where it is finally hitting its stride. What I keep loving about this series is how it keeps applying real-world logic to comic book scenarios (will anyone notice that the Hood popped up right after Oliver got back? How long before someone figures out who he is?), which makes for some fine storytelling. This episode applied that rubric better than any we’ve seen so far.
Now as to your questions, here are my answers. Laurel and Ollie’s relationship mirrors a good many that I’ve known in my life. You know in your heart that nothing good can come from it but you also know that there’s ultimately no denying the love. Throw Tommy Merlyn into that mix and it’s only going to get more complicated from here. By the way, love the Black Canary reference with the mention of the fishnets! Why Moira even bothered to pull that ship out of the water IS an interesting question that I didn’t even think of. Offhand, I’m thinking two things: leverage on her bosses or that ship had something valuableon it that she couldn’t keep away from. No idea what’s in Yao Fei’s pouch, but I am VERY interested about that picture of him in a Chinese military uniform. As for Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke the Terminator, the first thing I noticed was that he had both of his eyes. If you know the comics (or watched the Teen Titans cartoon where Ron Perlman did his best Vincent Price impersonation in voicing the character), you know that he’s missing his right one. Think I know how he’s going to lose that one here. Hell yes I am enjoying this series’ pacing and formula. It’s built like a modern day Shakespearean tragedy (no coincidence that the project Moira housed the Queen’s Gambit in referenced Will’s very last play) with all the intrigue, backstabbing, tragedy, and bloodshed that implies. Can’t wait for next week!
Hey buddy, it’s amazing how strong this series is after only 5 episodes. It’s only going to get better. I appreciate your perspective on Laurel and Ollie’s relationship. It helps me understand where they are coming from. It’s evident that Laurel cares for Ollie when she checked in on him after the shooting in the previous episode and representing Ollie at the trial. There’s just something about their chemistry that’s not quite there yet for me. That’s very observant about Yao being in the military uniform. I did notice the Shakespearean reference to Moira’s project/company. Literally, it’s also the windstorm that destroyed the Queen’s Gambit’s sabotaged voyage.
I’m actually not familiar with the comics or the Green Arrow DC universe. From what I heard, people who know the comics can see all the pieces in plain sight and they are enjoying seeing everything come into place. I think the pacing is fantastic. Each episode moves the story forward with a strong focus on establishing the characters. I’m so looking forward to next week too!