Josh recaps Season 4 Episode 20 of Arrow, where Team Arrow takes some time off so that Oliver is able to learn some magics of his own in order to stop Darhk and his Genesis plan. Things aren’t as laid back as they would hope though–Diggle deals with Andy causing more trouble, while Thea winds up in Creepy-ville USA with Alex. Darhk, meanwhile, has plans for nuclear detonations. See our thoughts on the episode Genesis after the recap!
Arrow Recap, Season 4 Episode 20: Genesis
Arrow begins with some of Darhk’s men concerned because Darhk is now free from prison, and they worry because they didn’t help him while he was behind bars. Darhk then shows up, and it seems Darhk is quite upset. But he seems to want to move along, and is happy to hear that his project Genesis is still on schedule. After hearing things are going ahead as planned, he murders a couple of his council members. He then announces that its time to begin the final phases of Genesis.
At the Arrow Cave, Team Arrow tries to figure out what their next move is. Oliver has been in contact with Constantine, and it looks like Oliver will be heading to Hub City to learn how to counteract Darhk’s magic from a friend of Constantine’s. Meanwhile, Team Arrow takes some time to lay low.
Felicity Heads to Learn Magic with Oliver
Felicity pays a visit to Oliver, and is curious about Oliver’s mission. He seems worry about Darhk’s magic idol possibly taking his soul, given things don’t go well. Felicity then says that she is going along with Oliver, and already booked a plane and room(s).
So the two arrive at their destination, and they have to play some high-roller gambling tables for some reason. Felicity seems to be having some fun at the table, making some decent bets at Blackjack. They also meet who they are looking for at the Blackjack table — Esrin Fortuna, Constantine’s contact.
Esrin reveals she is immortal, and Felicity seems impressed. Esrin takes Felicity and Oliver into a room, which turns out to be a different plane of existence, according to Esrin. She also reveals herself as a Shaman. Esrin provides some information regarding Darhk’s idol–he has to kill to get his power. Esrin explains that Oliver might be able to repel Darhk’s magic, but he needs less darkness than light inside, otherwise it actually might help Darhk.
Ersin decides to train Oliver by exposing him to Darhk’s magic in low doses. She tells Oliver to focus on the light, and he does pretty well at first. She increases the intensity, and Oliver winds up in an illusion, fighting various baddies. All the while, Esrin tries to tell him to resist the darkness. He has flashbacks of various bad events in his life, and Esrin is disappointed in Oliver’s abilities. She says there is nothing more that can be done for Oliver.
Back at the casino, Oliver seems to think that Felicity is the one that brings the light. He seems to be accepting that he is always going to have his dark side. Felicity tries to tell him that he and anyone can change.
Diggle Can’t Help But Pursue Andy, and Nearly Pays For it in the End
Diggle, meanwhile, heads to visit his wife at her hideout. Diggle is sent on a diaper run for the baby since he is off duty right now. But on his run, he finds a location on Andy. Diggle finds it time to investigate. He finds Andy, and Andy takes some shots at him. The two take shots at each other, and Andy eventually flees.
Diggle gives chase, and Lyla gives him a call, letting him know that she has found Andy. Diggle tells Lyla he is chasing him. Lyla tells him to back off, but Diggle seems to keep on pressing forward.
Diggle follows Andy into a small industrial building, and Andy and another man gets the drop on Diggle. Diggle is knocked out and then chained up. Andy tells Diggle that Darhk is on the way, but Andy is supposed to “prep” Diggle. Andy stabs Diggle with a torture tool.
Diggle is released to be moved, but when his restraints are removed, Diggle jumps into action, taking down Darhk’s men, but still doesn’t kill Andy. Diggle leaves.
Diggle makes it back to Lyla, and she is really mad at him.
Darhk then frees Andy, and it looks like Andy got a tracker onto Diggle. Letting Diggle get away was all part of the plan. Andy then pays a visit to Diggle and Lyla’s semi truck that has been driving around, which is where Lyla and the baby have been hiding out. He shoots a bazooka at the truck from a humvee looking vehicle. Darhk then uses his powers to stop the truck. Diggle then tries to lure the men away, and Lyla tries to take on Darhk. Darhk gets inside the truck, and looks for the baby. Diggle has it strapped to him though.
After a motorcycle chase, Diggle is surrounded, but saved by Felicity, hitting some men with a van. Felicity takes the baby, while Diggle chases down Andy. Green Arrow shows up after his magical journey to rescue Lyla. Darhk uses his magic on Oliver to try to drain him, but Oliver seems able to resist. Darhk then vanishes, and Oliver tends to Lyla.
Meanwhile, Diggle grabs Andy, still refusing to kill him. Andy eggs him on. So much so that Diggle shoots Andy. Oliver catches up to Diggle, who is mourning the death of his brother.
Back at the Arrow Cave, Oliver tells Felicity that he was able to repel Darhk’s magic. He says he was able to hear the good people in his life in his head to channel the light. Meanwhile, Lyla wakes up, and seems to be fine. Diggle tells Lyla that he didn’t have a choice in taking down his brother. Lyla then freaks out, saying Darhk took “it” — which turns out to be Rubicon, something she was supposed to be protect, which she had hidden in her arm. It apparently was supposed to be used to prevent nuclear launches, but can be used to launch them–to create a new world.
Thea’s Not-So-Relaxing Vacation with Alex
Thea, meanwhile, has been spending time with Alex, and wakes up to find him missing from their bed. Thea seems concerned, and gets up to investigate. She finds him just fine making breakfast in the kitchen though.
Thea and Alex go for a walk, and she seems concerned this place is “too perfect.” She also seems to not have a cell phone reception. She thinks things sound off, like everything is playing on a “loop.” Alex tries to calm her down.
Back at their vacation home, Thea is freaking out, and Alex is really trying to calm her down. Alex is about to take some “vitamins” but when Thea knocks the bottle from his hand, it looks like they are Darhk’s mind controlling pills. It turns out Alex got them from Darhk’s wife. Thea demands to know where she is, and runs out of the house.
She tries to flee, but sees Hive soldiers wherever she goes. We then see she is being held in some sort of force-field, unable to escape.
His Thoughts on Arrow, Season 4 Episode 20: Genesis
I had a feeling Andy would be meeting his end this episode. I didn’t think Diggle would be the one to do it, but I, in a dark way, sort of am happy it was Diggle. Andy had caused so many problems for Diggle and Oliver, that he deserved to be put down. Especially after Diggle was so willing to trust him.
When Oliver was training, I thought that Felicity might be the one who takes over the training, becoming the “light” that would take down Darhk. She has always been the brightest part of Team Arrow, so I thought it made sense. Also throughout the episode, it seemed like Felicity might still be thinking about getting back with Oliver, since she makes a couple references to how people can still change–even saying he could. She also seems to recognize that he can have light in him. It certainly looks like the door might open back up eventually.
Thea seems to be stuck in some psycho, “Truman Show” world. Alex seems to have come under the influence of Darhk’s magic now, taking the yellow pills we have seen before with Hive’s men.
Darhk, meanwhile, seems to have most of his pieces in place. He has potential nuclear capabilities, and all the magic and soldiers in the world to carry out his personal mission. Hopefully Oliver is able to channel his light side to defeat Darhk’s magic, as right now that seems to be their only hope.
One interesting note this episode–there weren’t any flashbacks. I can’t remember the last time an Arrow episode didn’t have a flashback.
Her Thoughts on Arrow, Season 4 Episode 20: Genesis
When Oliver kept talking about how Felicity was the one with the light, I totally thought they would change it up so that Felicity would be the one to get the powers. I mean, everyone else on the team has physical powers, why not Felicity? I thought it would be a great way to give her some capabilities to help out with the team when they need more people to physically fight, and don’t necessarily need someone behind a computer screen. In fact, I’m disappointed that when it was revealed that Oliver had too much darkness and nothing could be done for him, that Esrin didn’t turn to Felicity and say that she could sense the light in Felicity and that she should be the one to train. I mean, Oliver already has his fighting skills, why does it necessarily need to be him that acquires magic skills? Why should be get to double up on “powers”?
Another outcome that I’ve considered might come from the acquisition of these magical powers is this: You know how people with dark powers strengthen their power by killing others? What if people with light powers have the ability to give people life, and draw energy from that? Maybe Oliver’s newfound powers will be able to resurrect Laurel.
As for Darhk’s Genesis plan, well, who thought it was a good idea for Thea to date a guy that works for Darhk’s wife — and not bring him in the loop about her true identity?? And what ever happened to him going to work for Felicity? Obviously, Alex was inevitably going to come under Darhk’s power. Maybe things would have been different if he had actually known what was going on, and could act as a double agent. But with Alex in the dark (no pun intended) why would anyone trust him?
Anyway, now that we know that the implementation of Darhk’s plan is imminent, it looks like things just got more exciting!
Scenes from Arrow, Season 4 Episode 21: Monument Point
It looks like on next week’s Arrow, we are going to have some nuclear launches, and Oliver and the rest of Team Arrow will have to see if they can stop them. Meanwhile, Malcolm Merlyn might be playing both sides still, seemingly giving Green Arrow or someone else information regarding Darhk’s plan. He certainly likes to play both sides.
Preview of Season 2 Episode 21 of Arrow
I loved this episode, especially the resolution of the Andy situation. That guy was driving me nuts.
I always figured it was going to have to be Diggle who killed Andy. It didn’t seem right to have any other character do it.