The latest episode of The Flash brought and Grodd and his army of psychic gorillas to Central City. Thanks to Gypsy, Grodd was able to create breach and bring his army to The Flash’s stomping grounds. Grodd has only gotten smarter and more evil as time has gone on and that caused a heap of trouble for Team Flash. Luckily they had another speedster, Jessie Quick, to help with alleviating some of the damage.

“Attack on Central City” kicked off with an attack from a mind-controlled Gypsy. The fellow viber attacked Cisco and then Barry at STAR Labs but was temporarily put down by Harrison Wells. They capture Cisco’s love interest and place her in a chamber. When she comes to she is confused as to how she arrived in Central City and why she is there to begin with. The team quickly figures out that she was captured and used by Grodd. Cisco releases Gypsy and then asks her for help in defeating Grodd but she refuses as it “isn’t her fight”.

Jessie and Wally decided to use this moment in time to announce to Wells that Jessie is moving to Earth 1 to be with Wally. Apparently there is no better time than in the midst of a gorilla attack to announce that you are moving. Wells then went on to tell Wally he is dying (“he doesn’t have much time left”). Wally later tells Jessie what her dad said to him and she isn’t buying it and for good reason. He was lying to try and get her to stay home.

Meanwhile, Cisco’s vibe glasses get an upgrade and he can now see deeper into the future. He learns of Grodd’s plans to come across the bridge leading into the center of Central City. Unfortunately Grodd won’t be stopped. He uses Joe to get that message across clearly to Barry. Grodd makes Joe shoot himself in the head, luckily Barry was quick enough to stop the bullet in time. Joe was only grazed. Caitlin then comes up with idea to use Joe’s memories to figure out what Grodd’s next move is. When Grodd uses his psychic abilities he shares his own memories and thoughts with those he is controlling.

The team discovers that Grodd is now controlling a general who is in control of nuclear weapons. Barry then decides he has to kill Grodd. He doesn’t believe there is any other way to defeat as he is always bested by him. Barry believes it is the only way to save Iris but she won’t let him compromise his morals in order to save her life. Wells agrees and tells Barry that killing Grodd is not the answer. He has to find another way.

Together the team discovers a way to defeat Grodd. Barry figures out the 5 digit code (45127) and aborts the launch of nuclear missiles Grodd was trying to implode on Central City. Cisco then heads back to Earth 19 and finally gets Gypsy to help him out. The two head back to Gorilla City and pick up Solovar. They bring him back as Jessie, Barry and Wally are almost defeated by Grodd. Grodd and Solovar face off and Solovar is victorious. However, before Solovar can kill Grodd for betraying him Barry steps in and asks for mercy on Grodd’s behalf. Solovar agrees when Barry tells him that Grodd will be staying in Central City and never return to Gorilla City.

Barry sends Grodd to ARGUS with the help of Lyla Diggle and the gorillas return to Gorilla City.

The episode closes with a Gypsy/Cisco kiss, Jessie moving to Earth 1, Barry proposing to Iris and Wally encountering Savitar.

Other things you may have missed:

• H.R.’s Friend’s Day celebration (Earth 19’s version of Valentine’s Day)
• Cisco asking where his love donut
• Julian being in London catering to family matters

NEXT WEEK:

Savitar is in Wally’s mind. He is spying on the team to try and figure out how to escape from where Barry trapped him.

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The post ‘The Flash’ Recap: “Attack on Central City” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The past came back to haunt Oliver in the mid-season finale of Arrow. “What We Leave Behind” finally revealed who Prometheus is and brought back a beloved character.

In the previous episode we learned that Evelyn is working with Prometheus. In this episode we learn that she has been giving Prometheus intel not only on Oliver but the entire team. Evelyn brings Prometheus Oliver’s notebook (the one with his kill list back from when he was The Hood) and tells Prometheus she wants to be there when he kills Oliver; she wants to watch him die. Prometheus tells Evelyn he doesn’t wish to kill Oliver but he will uproot his life so much that he is going to wish he was dead. And boy did he live up to that promise in this episode.

After Felicity awkwardly introduced Billy as her boyfriend to Curtis and Oliver at the Mayor’s Christmas party, things really turned sour. Curtis gets into an argument with his husband Paul and then gets into a fist fight with Prometheus. He is seriously injured but his cover is blown. Not only does Prometheus know who he is but his husband now knows he is a vigilante and has been lying to him about it this whole time.

While he was being attacked by Prometheus Curtis was injected with Dycloserol. A man off Oliver’s list named Justin Claybourne, introduced the drug 4 years ago when Oliver was The Hood. Oliver went after this man and killed him when he would not lower the cost of the drug in order to save the community he purposely injected with tuberculosis. Oliver thinking Claybourne is Prometheus, heads back to the warehouse where he created the serum. There he ran into a trap from Prometheus. Wilddog and Evelyn are called to come to Oliver’s rescue and that is when Evelyn turns on them.

Evelyn helps Prometheus escape and Oliver informs the team of her betrayal. Rory warns Curtis about Evelyn and Paul overhears their phone call. Curtis finally comes clean and tells Paul he is working with The Green Arrow. Paul is then forced to give Curtis an ultimatum. Either he quits being a vigilante or their marriage is over. Unfortunately for Paul, Curtis has never felt more like himself then when he his Mr. Terrific. He can’t give up being a vigilante.

Billy, who doesn’t heed Felicity’s warning, goes off in search of evidence to bring in Prometheus. He can’t stop hunting the cop killer because it is who he is. Unfortunately for Billy, he is caught snooping around by Prometheus but not before he could send a picture of a baby to Felicity.

Prometheus takes Billy hostage and the SCPD is forced to go after him, this time with a shoot to kill order.

While Oliver and the team (with the help of Speedy, who seems to be coming out of retirement a lot) go out in search of Billy, Felicity runs the baby picture through facial recognition software. Turns out the baby and Prometheus are one in the same; they are the illegitimate son of Justin Claybourne. Prometheus is seeking vengeance for the murder of his father. Oliver finally puts the pieces of the puzzle together and goes back to the place where he murdered Prometheus’s father.

He arrives at the scene of the crime and discovers Prometheus is staging bodies exactly how Oliver left them 4 years earlier. The only difference is that Prometheus now stands in his father’s place. A battle begins and Prometheus leads Oliver into a room with mirrors. Oliver fires arrows into Prometheus’s chest only to realize he actually shot Billy. Prometheus pulled a play out of The Joker’s handbook and dressed Billy up in his suit and taped a weapon in his hand. Oliver had no way of knowing that it was Billy and reacted out of pure instinct. He returns to the arrowcave and tells Felicity that he accidently killed Billy. Felicity blames Prometheus and forgives Oliver, at least for now.

Oliver then tells the team that Prometheus said anyone Oliver goes near dies and that they should all get as far away from him as possible. The team refuses to leave his side.

At the close of the episode John gets a frantic call from Lyla and heads to their location only to be greeted by the feds. He was set up and is on his way back to prison.

After the team leaves Oliver is left alone in the arrowcave momentarily. As he nears the glass tubes where the suits are kept he is greeted by none other than Laurel Lance. How the hell is she still alive?!?!?!

Arrow returns Wednesday January 25^th, 2017.

To come on this season of Arrow:

Curtis will realize his full potential and the team will attempt another difficult Diggle prison escape.

Clip from the new episode coming Wednesday January 25^th:

For those that have the CW app (if you don’t download it, it’s free!), The CW has given app users an exclusive look into the next episode of Arrow which airs on Wednesday January 25^th:  Oliver is on a mission to find the Russian woman who trained both him and Prometheus. The team is slowly easing Laurel back into reality and filling her in on what she missed. Oliver gets Diggle a lawyer after he decides to fight his wrongful conviction.

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The post ‘Arrow’ Recap: “What We Leave Behind” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

DC Week’s 4 night crossover event continued on last night’s episode of The Flash. The invasion began in Central City when a spaceship landed in the center of town.

Barry approached the spaceship but was sent flying from a silver beam of light. Moments later The Dominators were unleashed, dashing off the spaceship. Lyla Diggle arrived in Central City shortly after the landing of The Dominators and she filled Team Flash in on what she knows. She then informed the team to stand down and let A.R.G.U.S. handle it.

Barry won’t back off that easily and heads out to Star City to recruit Team Arrow. While this is going on Iris and Joe watch as Wally reaches mock 2 during testing. Iris makes Caitlin and Cisco lie to Wally about his abilities hoping it will delay his use of his newly found superpowers.

Barry reaches Star City and saves Spartan and The Green Arrow from getting shot by a vigilante. He brings them both back to Felicity’s apartment and tells them about the invading aliens. Speedy aka Thea Queen walks in on their conversation and decides to come out of retirement to battle The Dominators. Oliver and Barry then have Felicity send a message to The Legends asking for their help.

The Legends arrive in Central City while Barry and Cisco go to Earth 38 and pick up Kara aka Supergirl. A new team assembles (Team Flash + Team Arrow + The Legends (minus Nate and Amaya who hang back to watch the wave rider) + Supergirl) and formulate a plan to take down The Dominators. Barry becomes team leader aka Oliver calls the shots and Barry repeats them. Oliver/Barry tell the team to prepare to train against Kara since she is an alien. The team battles Kara but nothing phases her.

While this is going on invasion continues. The Dominators ready a mind controlling device and prepare to use it on the president. They kidnap the president and take him back to a warehouse.

Barry learns that Snart died sacrificing himself for the team and also learns about the message he sent Rip in the future.

Wally shows up to try and train with the team. Iris is able to stop him from interfering. That is until he heads back to the lab and sees his test results; his powers are excelling and his body is adapting well to the changes. This only makes Wally want to get in the field more but Joe and Iris don’t want him to get involved, therefore Wally turns to an unlikely ally; HR. Wally tries to convince HR to secretly train him but HR turns him down not wanting to jeopardize his position with the team.

After his discussion with Barry, Martin starts having his visions again. Caitlin walks in mid-vision and Martin asks her to escort him back to his home to go see the woman in his visions. Martin arrives home and is finally able to confirm that the woman he is seeing in his visions is in fact his daughter. He is also still married to Clarissa.

Martin’s daughter is a direct result of Barry messing with the timeline. At least this aberration had a positive result for Martin. Unfortunately for the other members in the arrowverse it’s not the same story, which is why Cisco forces Barry to tell the team about his message and the changing of the timeline.

Diggle learns that he originally had a daughter and not a son. The rest of the team now distrusts Barry and therefore Barry sits out round one. Oliver refuses to go into battle without him and is forced to stay behind as well. The rest of the team lead by Kara go retrieve the president.

While in the field Kara tells the team about her x-ray vision. Mick being his usual repulsive self says he will call her skirt not Supergirl. That is right after he asks if she can see everyone’s giblets with her x-ray vision.

The team then heads into the warehouse and finds the president. Unfortunately for them it is a trap by The Dominators; the president was a hologram. They are then attacked by The Dominators and taken over by them.

Barry and Oliver have a heart to heart back at Star Labs. Barry shows Oliver the news article from the future where he goes missing. The news article from Barry’s future isn’t written by Iris West-Allen any more. What did Barry do in the future? Did he sabotage their relationship?

Oliver tells Barry that he isn’t a God and that he is going to make mistakes. What matters is that he learns from those mistakes. Moments later Barry and Oliver are alerted by Cisco that the team is under control of The Dominators. Barry and Oliver arrive on the scene and are attacked by their friends. They have to take them out one by one without killing them.

Seeing the trouble Oliver and Barry are in Wally goes out to help them. Wally gets injured by Kara when he tries to protect Barry. Ollie takes a now unconscious Wally and runs for cover while Barry challenges Supergirl to a race.

Ollie reaches a building but is cornered when he runs out of arrows. He is forced to compete in hand to hand combat with The White Canary aka Sarah Lance. On the other side of Central City Barry has Kara chase him back to the warehouse where The Dominators device is being held. Barry vibrates and Kara flies through him and the mind control device controlling the team breaking it, therefore breaking the mind control on them.

An injured Wally returns to Star Labs and is scorned by Joe and Iris. However all hope is not lost for Kid Flash as HR agrees to train Wally after he saw he was willing to sacrifice himself to save Barry and Oliver; he sees potential in the young speedster.

At the close of the episode Sarah is taken by The Dominators along with Ray, Oliver, Mick and Speedy.

TO BE CONTINUED ON ARROW!

More of what’s to come:

What remains of the crossover team searches to find its abducted members.

The Dominators play head games. Katie Cassidy aka Laurel Lance/Black Canary and Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke return for Arrow’s 100th episode. Who else will return for the 100th episode? Oliver’s mom? Tommy?

Look out for a recap of tomorrow’s episode of Arrow to find out!

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The post DC Week Continues – ‘The Flash’ Recap: “Invasion!” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Star City was not short of vigilantes in last night’s episode of ‘Arrow’. A new vigilante attacked and killed members of a human trafficking ring saving the young girl they were about to sell. He then hung two of their bodies out in the alley for the SCPD to find.

Throughout the episode the presence of this new vigilante makes Oliver question whether or not he should continue on the righteous path or go back to his old ways. The new vigilante is getting results much faster than he is. Ollie reveals his concerns to Susan Williams who reassures him that doing things the right way is the only way. Even if the results are harder to come by. She then goes on to invite him out for a friendly drink.

Thea is once again on Quentin patrol. Quentin comes clean to Thea telling her he never was on the wagon; he’s been drinking the whole time. He then hands her his letter of resignation for Deputy Mayor. Thea won’t let him get off that easily. She goes to talk to Quentin and show him that they are still here for him. That he is like family. Quentin then goes on to tell Thea about the blood and ninja star Prometheus left him. Why is Prometheus trying to frame him? Quentin says he is damaged goods and wants to stay away from Oliver and Thea for their safety. You think he would realize Thea hasn’t and won’t give up on him that easily. Thea brings Quentin to rehab and tells him the Deputy Mayor position will be waiting for him when he gets out.

While this is going on the new vigilante is stalking new prey; a group of robbers led by a former prisoner named Dunn. Oliver attacks the new vigilante before he kills Dunn. Dunn escapes and the new vigilante tells Oliver and company “If you’re not with me then you’re against me.” Oliver tells him that they are against him and in return the new vigilante tells Oliver he is a dead man.

The team then goes on the hunt for Dunn, hoping to find him before the vigilante does. During re-con Spartan goes AWOL and punches a guy a few times. He was unwisely taking out his frustrations on him because Spartan is now a fugitive and had to miss his son’s second birthday. Meanwhile Ragman and Artemis do some re-con of their own, trapping another man in the alley. The man tells them how Dunn picks a bank; he choose them based on their proximity to the SCPD. Unfortunately for Dunn the new vigilante finds them first and goes on the attack. Team Arrow arrives and the vigilante fires at them. Dunn is injured but once again escapes.

Ollie finds an injured Dunn in a hotel. The new vigilante goes on the attack, shooting up the hotel room. Ollie saves Dunn and keeps him safe until they can deal with the new vigilante. John then comes up with a plan to rob a bank in order to draw the new vigilante out. The vigilante sneaks up on Artemis and Mr. Terrific who are staking out in the arrow-van. He takes Terrific hostage and beats him up. He wants Oliver one on one. He then goes on to tell Ollie that he is not getting the job done because he isn’t taking it seriously. Ollie saves Curtis and takes on the new vigilante. He captures him momentarily but a smoke bomb goes off and the new vigilante gets away.

The Green Arrow delivers Dunn to SCPD and Thea tells Oliver about Quentin and the throwing star. Ollie thinks Prometheus knows he is the green arrow.

Back at the arrow-cave Wild Dog shows his sweet side after the mission and brings Lyla and John Jr. to Diggle for a party.

In Russia, Oliver has his own party of sorts’. Konstantine Kovar has… well forces Oliver to have dinner with him while he is captive. A week of capture, a week of torture and he still won’t give anything up. He is very impressed.

Later on in the episode we learn that Kovar’s maid is Tiana’s mother. The woman from the island who Oliver killed along with her brother. Tiana said Kovar was a monster. Kovar then throws out another hand from his bag of many tricks and gives Oliver the file of Pyotr Friedkin, the guy he killed jail and gave info on black market site now controlled by Bratva.

Done with the games Oliver pulls a knife on Kovar and tells him to release him. Kovar is able to trick Oliver and he is recaptured. Kovar beats up Ollie and he learns Bratva made a deal with Kovar.

There seems to be a lot of double-crossing going on in the arrow-verse. Speaking of…

Artemis is a double agent! She is working with Prometheus!!!! But why? What does he have over her? Or does she know him? Who is Prometheus?!?!?!

Next Week:

Heroes v Aliens 4 night crossover event! Crossover palooza!!!!

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‘Arrow’ Recap: “Penance”

The post ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Vigilante” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Everyone in the arrow-verse is seeking penance. Oliver for all the people he has killed, Felicity for all the people she blew up, Lance for his alcoholism, Diggle for killing his brother… the list goes on and on. This week’s episode of ‘Arrow’ taught us a great lesson. We have to keep the guilt from our past mistakes from swallowing us up in whatever way we can.

Oliver has made a lot of mistakes and a lot of tough choices along the way. “Penance” revealed Oliver’s third and final test in his initiation to Bratva. Oliver gets himself put in a Russian prison for the night in order to get information on Constantine from Pyotr Friedkin. After threatening Friedkin’s family he is able to get the information he needs. Friedkin asks him to kill him shortly after. Oliver completes the deed and is finally initiated into Bratva. “[with Russian accent] Welcome to Bratva Oliver.”

Back in Star City Oliver goes to talk to Rory who hasn’t shown up for training since Felicity told him the truth about Havenrock. Rory tells Oliver that he has to leave the team. He understands what Felicity did wasn’t her fault but he can’t bare the constant reminder. Later on in “Penance” Felicity talks to Rory and it still results in the same conclusion. He won’t come back to the team. Therefore, Felicity must make a tough call and sends the team after Church when Oliver goes rogue to save Diggle.

Church stole a device and rigged to blow up the evidence vault. He and his crew then take ceased weapons and then proceed to obliterate the vault. The DA and Lance escape with their lives all while Oliver and the team are brawling. They thought they could stop Oliver from breaking out Diggle. That was their first mistake. Rule one, do not get in Oliver’s way.

Oliver then steals a molecular device from palmer tech and with the help of Lyla heads to the military prison where Diggle is being held. Unfortunately the mission does not goes as planned and Lyla tells Oliver to abort the mission. Mr. Queen is having none of that and attacks a guard in order to get all the prisoners returned to their cells. He then uses the anti-molecular device to break Diggle out of prison. However the two run into trouble when they reach the extraction point but that doesn’t stop them. Harness + Lyla flying a military plane = mission success.

Back in Star City Church is at ACU (Anti-Crime Unit) headquarters trying to take out every person in the building. Felicity makes another difficult call and sends the team in after him. Lucky for her Rory comes back and helps the team goes after church.

At ACU headquarters the team blows up the building to save the ACU members. Rory uses himself as a shield and absorbs the blast. Curtis is stabbed in the back and Wild Dog takes on Church to allow the team to get to safety. Church and crew takes him hostage as Quentin saves the rest of the team. They are forced to leave Wild Dog behind.

Back at the arrow-cave Felicity can’t find Wild Dog using her tracking system. Unbeknownst to her he is being tortured for information in a warehouse. Rory calms her down and tells her that they will find him. He also promises to help keep the guilt from this and Havenrock from swallowing her up if she promises to do the same for him.

Next Week:

The team sets off to find Wild Dog.

Church learns that Oliver is The Green Arrow.

Mayor Oliver Queen is shot.

Another enemy arises.

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‘Arrow’ Recap: “A Matter of Trust”

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The post ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Penance” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Trust has been a major theme in the last two episodes of Arrow. After recruiting a new team, Oliver quickly loses said team due to his inability to trust them and vice versa. His Bratva (Russian) style training tactics didn’t really help either. Only able to trust himself, Oliver is forced to face Ragman, the lone survivor of Havenrock who is out for revenge.

Amartech, the company offering to help with a health event for Mayor Queen has been doing some dirty dealing. One of which was giving Damien Dhark the bombs that blew up Havenrock. Hence why Ragman is slowly taking out members of the company. The CEO gets a taste of his fury when she is meeting up with Tobias Church. Oliver joins in the fight and let’s Church almost kill him in hopes of recruiting Ragman to team arrow. He is successful as Ragman saves his life.

After Church’s encounter with The Green Arrow, Prometheus confronts Church and tells him to lay off The Green Arrow; he wants him for himself.

We also got to see Diggle in action. Unfortunately he and his unit are ambushed by his lieutenant who are stealing the last known bomb. The young solider is killed and Diggle is taken hostage. He is then thrown into a cell with Floyd Lawten aka Deadshot. Well a hallucination of Deadshot.

Lyla visits Diggle and he tells her he isn’t well. He feels he deserves to be punished for killing his brother and clearly has severe PTSD because of it. Lyla then turns to Oliver for help; she wants him to break Diggle out of prison.

Mayor Queen hires Quentin as Deputy Mayor and that causes a political frenzy. Luckily Thea is there to handle it on Oliver’s behalf and puts that reporter in her place. Putting his trust in Quentin, Oliver realizes he needs to do the same with the new team.

Team Arrow assemble!… errr suit up. I’m gonna leave the catch phrases to Mr. Queen.

The team: Oliver, Evenlyn Sharp (Starfire), Curtis Holt (Fair Play), Rene Ramirez (Wilddog) and Rory Regan (Ragman) team up to take down Derrick Samson played by Cody Rhodes. Samson is a stardust dealer who was first attacked by Sharp and Wilddog and falls into chemicals becoming practically indestructible. The stardust drug mixed with the chemicals changed his body composition giving him enhanced strength and the inability to feel pain. Samson steals a molecular device in order to make everyone else like him and take back Star City from Church.

In action Curtis is saved by Rory when he is trying to disassemble a bomb. The Green Arrow also figures out how to make Samson immobile; he slices his tendons. Score 1 for new team arrow! As a reward Oliver shows the recruits the arrow cave.

This episode also showed us how Oliver gained his definition of trust. We are taken back to Russia where Oliver is mid-initiation into Bratva. He gets the team of guys he is with to work together to ring the bell. Next thing he knows they are all shot and killed. Oliver is then asked to trust Bratva and Anatole. He hesitates but later learns that all the recruits except himself were criminals who escaped justice. Oliver is then cut on his back by his Bratva brothers showing his trust in them not to kill him with his back turned.

Felicity puts her faith and trust in Rory not to kill her when she tells him the truth about Havenrock. She was the one who diverted the bomb from a highly populated area to the smaller region of Havenrock. Rory looked heart broken when he told her. Will this be too much for him? Will he leave team arrow? Will he seek revenge against Felicity even though it wasn’t her fault?

Felicity’s other half Billy Malone (Detective Malone) summons the Green Arrow with a fake B&E radio call. He then goes on to tell Oliver about Prometheus.

There was a lot of great comic relief in this episode. Curtis provided most of it a usual but Felicity and Oliver had some zingy one-liners. Especially the mention of hockey masks. Great TMNT Casey Jones reference.

Next Week

Oliver attempts to break Diggle out of prison but the new team is preventing him from doing so.

Church is planning something big and the team goes after him.

SIDEBAR: CROSSOVER PALOOZA (aka Flash-Arrow-Legends-Supergirl crossover) IS COMING!

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The post ‘Arrow’ Recap: “A Matter of Trust” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.