Arrow "Dead To Rights": Shockers

Arrow's mid season hiatus of Dead to Rights really was everything that it (and Stephen Amell) promised it would be. It delivered emotional moments, funny moments, shockers and truths in its one hour run nicely. Every scene fit together to build the episode plot up and some for the story arc. Just saying that life for some characters in Arrow will never be the same. What to say about an episode that is so jam packed and guest star filled? Well there was somewhat of a Doctor Who reunion with John Barrowman and Alex Kingston, although they never met. Dead To Rights also saw the return of earlier villains of China White and Deadshot as they band together on the "must kill Malcolm Merlyn" band wagon. So let's get into it.

With the hit Moria put out last episode, an assassin arrives in the city and Oliver awaits for him. In attempt to stop him and found out the target, Oliver kills the assassin without learning anything. He does manage to grab the phone and bring it back to his hideout and get Felicity on cracking it. Back in his everyday persona (you know when hes not the hood), he goes to Tommy's birthday dinner at Laurel's. They are having a good time until Tommy's dad shows up with a gift and invite to a gala in his honor. Like any son tossed to the side, Tommy isn't too happy to see Malcolm and makes his father leave. On the other side of the city the plot thickens as China White tracks down Floyd Lawton (Deadshot remember?) and the league of the Uprising gathers for the final step in their plan. After a tip from Felicity, Oliver continues on with his investigation, which leads him to The Jade Dragon. After a "nice" talk with the man in charge he figures out that the triad is gearing up to take someone out. Oliver finds out that the target is Tommy's dad and sets out to save him.

Dead to Rights was a really well done episode of Arrow as it used what it had fantastically. Like the friendship between Tommy and Oliver and how close these two really are despite Tommy dating Laurel. Arrow has been briefly touching this since Pilot. Only Oliver can talk Tommy into going to the galla congratulating his father and only Tommy could make Oliver save his father. In addition only these boys can hurt each other deeply which was seen in the final scene of Dead to Rights. As for Malcolm we finally got more into his head and why he does what he does. In addition to showing us his softer side, like during his speech and looking for Tommy during the fire alarm. Now for the baddies, they were well used in Arrow this week and neither were they defeated as Oliver didn't exactly defeat them. As for flashbacks, they weren't really of import other than showing us some of Oliver's tech skills that he somehow acquired.

Now what didn't work? Well everything kinda did, but there was no Thea this week. As for Quentin, I think he basically is becoming Oliver's errand dog as painstakingly helps the Hood. I kinda wish this would turn into a partnership instead, something like Resse and Carter in Person of Interest (which I recently just watched). Also, Arrow, thanks for making my soul hurt a little with that moment between Tommy and Oliver. Oh, and the for the hiatus.

So I look forward to seeing how Arrow plays all this out when it returns with The Huntress Returns on March 20th. Now for the line of the night, and that goes to, drum roll please, *insert drum roll*, "Check Please". No one suspects an American man to speak prefect Chinese, which is why Oliver just sat there as the goons searched for him. The scene wrapped up nicely with Oliver asking for the check. The runner up was the Gilligan's Island reference from Slade. See you all later and enjoy the hiatus.

How do you think this will change Oliver and Tommy's relationship? Are you excited to see the Huntress return to Arrow this soon?