Synopsis:
It is revealed that the Count escaped from prison during the earthquake in the Glades. Afterwards, the Count begins poisoning Starling City with the Vertigo drug; Diggle and the assistant district attorney are among the infected. When the ADA collapses in court, the Count kidnaps him en route to the hospital and reveals to the city that the cure to their sickness is to take Vertigo. In court, Laurel uses an affair between Moira and Malcolm to cast doubts on Moira's defense. Ultimately, Moira is found not guilty by the jury; she later learns that Malcolm Merlyn, alive and well, had rigged the trial. Merlyn also reveals that he now knows Thea is his biological daughter. Felicity is able to locate the Count and Oliver manages to save the ADA, but at the expense of allowing the Count to escape. Later, Felicity is captured by the Count when she discovers how he has been infecting the city. In order to protect Felicity from being injected with Vertigo, Oliver is forced to break his promise and kill the Count. Meanwhile, Blood is informed by one of his aides that his test subject—Cyrus—has survived his injection. In a flashback to the island, Shado and Slade rescue Oliver and Sara, after Dr. Ivo and his men travelled to the island to locate the stone arrowhead left by the Japanese soldiers.
Well...that was a bit cheesy. Arrow has always suffered with poor villains, and The Count was no exception - he appears to be an attempt to bring a little Joker madness to the Green Arrow world. Unfortunately, the way he's played in the TV series is weak and inconsistent - is that a British accent he's attempting? Also, last time we saw him he was in a mental hospital, and devoid of all sanity - now, all of a sudden, he's quite sane, and was held in prison, only to escape when the earthquake struck the glades.
Slade's burns should have been an interesting sympathy point for the character - instead, he now physical looks like the mask he used to wear. And, also, Two-Face. Have the Green Arrow writers been plundering the Batman universe for inspiration?
It was also surprising that the court case wasn't dragged out more - apparently, it only takes a week to try someone for 503 murders. Additionally, why on earth would Laurel be prosecuting if she's been personally connected to the Queen family? Someone say "conflict of interest".
The ending - I always suspected that Merlyn might be alive. But this was a bit cheesy. Despite that Moira attempted to foil him - effectively betrayed him - he just appears from nowhere, calm, and delivers a soap opera ultimatum - Thea is his daughter!
As a gritty TV series this episode was woefully undermined by bad character and plotting from the comics.
It is revealed that the Count escaped from prison during the earthquake in the Glades. Afterwards, the Count begins poisoning Starling City with the Vertigo drug; Diggle and the assistant district attorney are among the infected. When the ADA collapses in court, the Count kidnaps him en route to the hospital and reveals to the city that the cure to their sickness is to take Vertigo. In court, Laurel uses an affair between Moira and Malcolm to cast doubts on Moira's defense. Ultimately, Moira is found not guilty by the jury; she later learns that Malcolm Merlyn, alive and well, had rigged the trial. Merlyn also reveals that he now knows Thea is his biological daughter. Felicity is able to locate the Count and Oliver manages to save the ADA, but at the expense of allowing the Count to escape. Later, Felicity is captured by the Count when she discovers how he has been infecting the city. In order to protect Felicity from being injected with Vertigo, Oliver is forced to break his promise and kill the Count. Meanwhile, Blood is informed by one of his aides that his test subject—Cyrus—has survived his injection. In a flashback to the island, Shado and Slade rescue Oliver and Sara, after Dr. Ivo and his men travelled to the island to locate the stone arrowhead left by the Japanese soldiers.
Well...that was a bit cheesy. Arrow has always suffered with poor villains, and The Count was no exception - he appears to be an attempt to bring a little Joker madness to the Green Arrow world. Unfortunately, the way he's played in the TV series is weak and inconsistent - is that a British accent he's attempting? Also, last time we saw him he was in a mental hospital, and devoid of all sanity - now, all of a sudden, he's quite sane, and was held in prison, only to escape when the earthquake struck the glades.
Slade's burns should have been an interesting sympathy point for the character - instead, he now physical looks like the mask he used to wear. And, also, Two-Face. Have the Green Arrow writers been plundering the Batman universe for inspiration?
It was also surprising that the court case wasn't dragged out more - apparently, it only takes a week to try someone for 503 murders. Additionally, why on earth would Laurel be prosecuting if she's been personally connected to the Queen family? Someone say "conflict of interest".
The ending - I always suspected that Merlyn might be alive. But this was a bit cheesy. Despite that Moira attempted to foil him - effectively betrayed him - he just appears from nowhere, calm, and delivers a soap opera ultimatum - Thea is his daughter!
As a gritty TV series this episode was woefully undermined by bad character and plotting from the comics.
