Arrow Review: Collision Course (Season 6 Episode 14)

I miss not being annoyed at an episode, and Arrow Season 6 Episode 14 “Collision Course” is not making a case for a change in sentiment.

Part of the annoyance stems from one specific story arc that is seemingly doubled down on in “Collision Course,” leading to the newbies crossing lines that can’t be uncrossed.

There was a time I remembered liking the newbies and was curious about how this civil war arc would fare, and how they would get back to OTA. That curiosity is long gone and in its place is the annoyance and never-ending questions about why this is happening, and what’s the endgame for Rene, Dinah, and Curtis.

Was the plan to get the newbies to be petulant, hypocritical, and stubborn in a way that can’t be walked back? Because if that’s the case, it’s a success!

It’s one thing to hear them repeat on a weekly basis since the team break-up that their trust was betrayed by OTA. It’s a whole other thing to see what they do to Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle. The way Dinah, Curtis, and Rene use OTA’s weaknesses goes against what their goal presumptively is — to save the city.

The moment Rene brings up William during his confrontation with Oliver is maddening, especially considering he is just baiting him to get him close enough to plant the tracker. Add that to the newbies’ plan to mess with Diggle’s implant and Rene shooting at Felicity, and it’s a wonder how it’s expected that they will be forgiven.

When you mess with the beloved and core characters of the show on such a deep and personal or physical level, there’s no way to take their actions back. Their justifications feel flimsy and so unclear that it doesn’t help their case or gain them any sympathy.

Their actions, along with their motivations, are frustrating.

The hour provides plenty of evidence of the newbies’ hypocrisy and arrogance when it comes to how they view themselves against OTA. That’s amplified to an annoying point when Curtis tries to talk Dinah off the ledge by saying that if she kills Black Siren, she’ll be “just as bad Oliver.”

It’s something Arrow often does, and it’s stunning considering that Oliver has grown so much. These characters try so hard to shortchange that growth that we’ve seen through the years in a way that ultimately just makes them look bad.

While OTA is dealing with the borderline insufferable newbies and an increasingly messy villain issue (in that it’s hard to tell where this is going or what motivations are), Oliver as Mayor deals with the possibility of Star City going into financial collapse.

The threat of collapse ties into the continuing issues Lance has with his frustrating decision to house the woman who he has deluded himself into believing can replace his daughter (which is a whole other issue on its own).

At this point, I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record.

Black Siren says it explicitly — she’s not his daughter and doesn’t want to be in any way, shape, or form. Lance should just listen to her. But of course, he doesn’t, and that lands everyone in the position of losing a villain with information about the $70 million that could save the city.

That’s not to say there aren’t highlights in the hour. Namely, the increasing amount of OTA scenes we get. It’s always great to see the trio heading out on missions in the field and working together.

There’s also that wonderful treat in the form of a quick Queen-Smoak family moment as Felicity teaches William about thermodynamics while baking cookies. It’s a cute little dose of calm and domesticity in the middle of Oliver and Felicity’s increasingly chaotic life outside of their home.

With Rene down for the count for what I can guess is a while and the newbies claiming they are done with OTA, it’s entirely possible we’ll be getting a shift in focus…hopefully. It would be a nice reprieve from the aspects of the story that aren’t working.

A Few Stray Observations

• OTA in their van heading to the cabin to talk some sense into Lance brings back memories of season 2 when OTA drove through Star City during the mirakuru siege. Good times. Great villain.
• “I don’t wanna hear your name or see your face ever again.” Honestly, same.

So, what did you think of Arrow? Anyone else frustrated with the newbies? Can anyone tell me what their motivations are? Does anyone think of a way that can bring them back onto the team without doing mental gymnastics?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Arrow airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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