Led by Liza Warner, China White & Cupid break out of prison. While in transit the trio kill their prison guards, let the other female prisoners on the bus off and hijack the bus back to Star City.

While this is going on Oliver pays a visit to Amanda Westfield, Prometheus’s mother. He asks her to give him her son’s name so that he can help him. She refuses to do so because she doesn’t want her son to be caged up like an animal.

After that failed mission Oliver is cornered by Susan Williams. She flat out asks him if he is The Green Arrow. He tells her no. Shortly after Oliver divulges this information to Thea who then tells Felicity. Thea has Felicity hack Susan’s laptop and place evidence of plagiarism on it. Pulling something out of Merlin’s playbook, Thea then passes this information along to Susan’s boss and gets her fired. Susan then tells Oliver about her evidence and that she was planning to go public with that information but now she can’t because she has been discredited.

While Susan lost her job, Dinah got herself one. She is now a member of the SCPD. There she learns about Quentin’s personal vendetta with Liza Warner. Warner is former SCPD and Quentin had thought he had convinced her to turn over a new leaf. We later learn that she turned back because she saw Quentin working for Damien Darhk.

Liza, China White and Cupid take out members of the triad in hopes of finding information on where Tobias Church left his 100 million dollars. While hunting the trio of villainous woman, The Green Arrow is surrounded by ACU and told he is being arrested for the murder of Detective Billy Malone. He is able to escape capture by using a flash/smoke bomb from his bow. Oliver finds out that Prometheus sent Pike Billy’s autopsy that had information connecting The Green Arrow’s arrows with the death of Malone.

Oliver as mayor is able to get Pike to back off and the team goes after Cupid and the lot. Dinah now equipped with the Black Canary mask, given to her by Felicity, is able to knock down China White after she shoots Wild Dog. However, the ladies came prepared with their own group of thugs. Luckily Pike had the ACU track The Green Arrow and arrived on location to arrest all three women.

Unfortunately the big battle has just begun. Prometheus leaked information to the media that Mayor Queen and D.A. Adrian Chase covered up the murder of Detective Malone. Oliver now faces possible impeachment.

Next Week:

Prometheus and Oliver face off

Suggested Articles:

‘Arrow’ Recap: “Bratva”

A Second Chance For Black Canary – ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Second Chances”

Laurel Lance Returns – ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Who Are You?”

The post Liza Warner, China White & Cupid Team Up – ‘Arrow’ Recap: “The Sin Eater” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Last week’s episode of Arrow showed us Bratva in 2017 and 2012. We start off in 2012 where Talia and Oliver are having a little target practice on low level drug dealers. She tells Oliver the man who embraces the dark is never without sight.

Back in Star City Quentin returns and sets up an interview with Susan Williams to address his absence and his stint in rehab. Diggle is then released from prison after he was exonerated. Unfortunately Walker also released himself from prison. He and his team broke out of custody and stole a nuke to sell to the Russians. This then forced the team, including Dinah, to take off to Russia. Well, all of the team except Rene who is babysitting Quentin. Rene and Quentin practice interview questions. Quentin gets fired up after Rene mentions his late daughter Laurel, leaves and tells Rene to be gone by the time he gets back.

When the team arrives in Russia Oliver is not welcomed by Anatole; he is greeted with a fist to the face. A member of Bratva and former brother of Oliver’s, Alexi Lenov was killed by Slade because of Oliver. He broke his oath and is told to go home by Anatole.

Later on in the episode Oliver meets with Anatole to make amends. Anatole still owes him for killing Gregor. Oliver asks for Anatole’s help. He offers if Oliver will help him. Oliver refuses and so does Anatole.

Felicity with her new found courage and knowledge (Pandora Files) ropes Curtis and Rory into going under cover as Bratva to get a location on Walker and the nuke. Rory tells Felicity that he is worried about her and that she needs to use that powerful information wisely. As Uncle Ben once said “with great power comes great responsibility”.

The team finds Walker and Oliver, Diggle and Dinah go after him. Oliver and Diggle are ambushed by Walker and his men. Dinah saves them by using her powers and they take a man hostage. They torture him to get information on the buy. Diggle goes rogue and beats Walker’s man to a pulp without getting information from him. Oliver is then forced to take Anatole up on his offer in order to gain his help with Walker.

The episode then jumps back to 2012 where Oliver goes after the man who sold drugs to Thea in Starling City years ago. He kills all the dealers.

Jumping back to 2017 Dinah reminds Oliver that he has more to offer than his past mistakes. Oliver tells Felicity and Diggle that they need to remain good. Anatole arrives with information on the buy. The team goes on the move again.

Ragman and Dinah use their powers to neutralize Walker and his men and take back the nuke. The Bratva orders them to drop their weapons. Unfortunately the team discovers the bomb wasn’t in the van and that it is in a hanger and armed. Felicity has to shut it down or she will have another Haven Rock situation on her hands. Rory realizes the bomb can’t be disarmed so he wraps his rags and himself around the bomb to absorb the shock. He survives the blast and saves the day.

Diggle has Walker at gunpoint but he lets him live so that he can face trial.

The team celebrates Russian style with Bratva. Dinah becomes Anatole’s favorite American (sorry Diggle) because she can hold her vodka. Anatole then tells Oliver that his oath to Bratva is for life. It isn’t temporary.

The episode then jumps back to 2012 Russia again. This time Anatole is in a hospital bed after being beaten to a pulp because he questioned Gregor about his loyalty. Oliver offers to kill Gregor for him.

The team returns to Star City and Oliver finally seals the deal with Susan. Quentin also has his interview with Susan and all goes well because Rene told her to go easy on him. He told her a story of when Quentin told him he could be more than a thug when he was a kid and caught him tagging a building.

When Rory gets back to Star City his rags no longer work; they got destroyed in the blast. Therefore he decides to leave for now and asks Felicity to let the team know.

Felicity receives a text from Kojo and confirms that she plans to continue with Pandora. What trouble will she get herself into? Will she be able to get out of it? Who else is in those Pandora files?

Susan “The Snake” Williams is still looking into Oliver’s past in Russia. She is beginning to piece together that Oliver is The Green Arrow. What does this mean for their relationship? More importantly, what will she do with that information?

Next Week:

The team needs to change their approach to save the city.

Suggested Articles:

A Second Chance For Black Canary – ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Second Chances”

Laurel Lance Returns – ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Who Are You?”

‘Arrow’ Recap: “What We Leave Behind”

The post ‘Arrow’ Recap: “Bratva” 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!!!!

Suggested Articles:

Prometheus Sends Oliver A Message, ‘Arrow’ Recap: “So It Begins”

‘Arrow’ Recap: “Human Target”

‘Arrow’ Recap: “Penance”

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

Last night’s episode of ‘Arrow’ “So It Begins” slowly began to unravel clues as to who Prometheus is. The episode kicked off with Spartan (Diggle) and The Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) following Church’s cell phone to a message left by Prometheus. After finding the phone and listening to Prometheus breathe heavily into the other end of the line, all the torches in the building went out and flames on the floor displayed “And so it begins”.

Later in the episode we learned exactly what Prometheus was talking about. The menace killed a mother of two and continued to drop bodies throughout the episode. The team, well Oliver and Diggle, tried to work out a way to decode Prometheus’s message before a 5^th body turned up. Unsuccessful, Oliver once again learns that he can’t do this by himself and conjures up the team to take control of the chaos in an outdoor mall after Prometheus was apparently spotted there.

Riding down on Oliver’s line, which much be awesome, the team of Artemis (Evelyn Sharp), Mr. Terrific (Curtis Holt) and Wild Dog (Rene Ramirez) rescued civilians while Spartan, Oliver and Ragman (Rory Regan) disarmed other civilians. The team saves the city for the moment and heads back to the arrow-cave.

Back at headquarters Felicity enlisted the help of Curtis to decode what message Prometheus is trying to send Oliver. They discovered he is killing people whose names, specifically the letters in their names, rearrange to names on Oliver’s former kill list. Yet another thing Oliver didn’t disclose to his team. Rory, Rene and Curtis were mad but Evelyn took it hard. Oliver was the one who stopped her from seeking her revenge and killing the person who murdered her parents. However, the team had to temporarily overlook this deception and get back to work. Using the algorithm uncovered by Curtis and Felicity, the team was able to figure out who Prometheus may be targeting next. Each team member was then assigned to guard a person.

Trying to reach out to Evelyn, Felicity tried to get her to open up when she is on the subway for guard duty. Not wanting to hear Felicity anymore she turns off her com. This proved to be a huge mistake as Evelyn ran into Prometheus and was forced to fight him. Lucky for her Felicity tipped off Oliver and he arrived in the nick of time to save her and the man she was guarding. Unfortunately Prometheus escaped and left a present (a bomb) behind. Unable to disarm the bomb in time the three escaped the subway via parachute arrow before it exploded. Evelyn then chose to give Oliver a second chance after this incident; he did save her life after all.

In hopes of catching Prometheus, Felicity stole the throwing star left at the crime scene from Billy’s desk. She discovered that the throwing stars have a specific and rare type of alloy. Digging deeper Felicity determined that Prometheus gathered the arrows from Oliver’s murders in previous years and melted them down in order to make his own weapons. The only way that he could have had access to that was if he had access to the SCPD weapons vault. Therefore, unveiling that he is a member of the SCPD.

Later on she came clean to Billy about taking the throwing star and the fact that she works for The Green Arrow, hence her late nights and frequent disappearances. Billy told her she is a criminal but accepts it and her because it’s for a good cause. That went much better than anyone thought.

Later on Lance was visited by Prometheus; he woke up after an alcohol induced blackout with a cut on his arm and a throwing star on his coffee table. Why didn’t Prometheus kill him? Does he know Prometheus? Is this a warning of his impending death?

“So It Begins” also showed us the beginning of Bratva’s war with Konstantin Kovar. In Russia, Anatoly taught Oliver how to make a bomb. The two are ambushed by Kovar’s men moments after Oliver almost blows himself up. Kovar has declared war against Bratva and Oliver was forced to go undercover as his former playboy self to blow up Kovar’s new casino.

Oliver and Ishmael Gregor are captured by Kovar when trying to blow up his casino. Gregor was killed but Oliver is left alive. Could Kovar or a relative of his be Prometheus exacting his revenge on Oliver? If so, what did Oliver do to Kovar?

Next Week:

A new vigilante arrives and starts killing people. Like the team really needs this now.

Suggested Articles:

‘Arrow’ Recap: “Human Target”

‘Arrow’ Recap: “Penance”

The post Prometheus Sends Oliver A Message, ‘Arrow’ Recap: “So It Begins” 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.

Suggested Articles:

‘Arrow’ Recap: “A Matter of Trust”

Arrow Season 5 Premiere Recap: “Legacy” *SPOILERS*

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!

Suggested Articles:

Arrow Season 5 Premiere Recap: “Legacy” *SPOILERS*

The Flash Season 3 Premiere Recap: “Flashpoint” *SPOILERS*

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