Arrow 3x04 "The Magician" Review

"I'm Not A Killer Anymore."

The Hype

Arrow is picking up a lot of steam this season.  Nyssa Al Ghul returns to Starling city and plays a key role this week, it looks like she's going to have a much bigger part this season. The conflict on the show is really building up and we're getting a lot of groundwork for this seasons big bad Ra's Al Ghul. The Flash is also really starting to impress me, this gets me that much more exited for the big crossover episode.

The Review

Arrow continues on it's win streak this week with another powerful episode. Malcolm Merlyn has earned his reputation as a bad ass and sure knows how to make an entrance, . I can't stress how much i'm glad to have Thea back as a regular in the series, the dynamic of her and Malcolm Merlyn is very interesting, as he's presented as a good guy and a loving father, but you have to remind yourself of what he's done and how our characters see him.

Laurel also gets a little time this week, and she seems to be having the same struggle Oliver had long ago, to kill or not to kill? We see her training at the boxing club, but no updates on Wild Cat but this episode has a lot going for it already and couldn't handle anymore sub plots. Speaking up Felicity Smoak's absence was notable this week. If you don't watch The Flash, Felicity actually spent this time in Central City with Berry Allen. It was a brilliant way to write her out of a already stuffed episode and at the same time benefiting both shows.

This is the first time since i'v been actively watching the series that the score has really stood out to me, the music accented the story very well and added a lot of excitement, especially in the scene with Team Arrow finding out that Merlyn is still alive. I was very surprised to see Thea's reaction to the attack by Nyssa and how easily she was captured, but i actually love how it played out, because 5 months training with her evil daddy isn't a crucible and doesn't completely change a person.

The flashbacks weren't great this week but with everything going on in the present it can afford to not accomplish a lot this week, However it is nice that Amanda Waller continues to have a part in the series and maybe shell have some ties to The Flash as well. Overall this was a great episode. The conflict is growing as Oliver continues to be tested as a hero.

The Verdict

Another great episode that's sure to impress

8.0/10