We are rapidly approaching the climax of season seven and once again, I was skeptical about an episode. Why risk losing the impressive momentum of The Ninth Circle invasion to a Black Siren-centric Birds of Prey chapter? It seemed as if "Lost Canary" was going to be a sizeable misstep on several fronts, yet I found myself genuinely enjoying it. There I said it. I loved seeing the Canaries in action. Despite some expected cheese and inconsistencies, it's an episode I will at least remember for being so unique and energetic. That's a good thing.
As far as the aforementioned cheese went, it's best to get that out of the way first. While this was, dare I say, one of Arrow's better written episodes, Shadow Thief (Carmel Amit) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy-Rodgers) didn't exactly have great chemistry or strong lines to reinforce their interactions. Shadow Thief's whole design (cool knives aside) was kind of lame and her character didn't leave too big of an impression. She served her part as a vehicle to send Laurel to the dark side and back to the light. Come to think of it, Laurel's quick-switch between being good and bad felt rushed, but ultimately understandable given the conditions she was put in and the length of the episode. Moreover, her final appearance in a particularly well-done flash-forward storyline solidifies her as a hero, which is fitting.
Sara (Caity Lotz) finally making her comeback was a fine moment indeed. Her interactions with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) were well-written, nostalgia-filled discussions. Dinah (Juliana Harkavy) was also in top-form, as the trio made the most of their time together, eventually being joined by a redeemed Laurel. It was just odd, but fun seeing the heroines together, trying to bring a friend back and engaging in some fisticuffs along the way. Director Kristin Windell won me over last year with her superb, well-shot fight scenes in "Doppleganger" and her stylistic, brutal approach to action scenes was evident this time around. From the opening hallway brawl that used creative camera jerks and the final storage house raid, there were plenty of superb fights to enjoy.
I was surprised that Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey) had any time at all. Meeting a familiar foe from earlier this season may have seemed tedious, but it did advance the Dante-front a lot better than it should have.
I have to say, I was pleasantly disappointed by "Lost Canary". It delivered in the most unlikely of places. It's villain of the week faltered, but hey, the action, the team-up and the flash-forwards fell into place.
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