Arrow 6x08 "Irreconcilable Differences" - sometimes it's all about the journey, but Arrow could use a new takeoff point

As Arrow rounds into the midseason finale and also out of the events of "Crisis on Earth-X", there is a specific urge for the show to return to some kind of status quo. Granted, after six years, the status quo on a series is bound to shift a few times but remain fundamentally familiar in some way for new and continued viewers. There are some interesting decisions made over the course of "Irreconcilable Differences" but most of the motions in play feel more like they've been made more out of style than substance.

It is rather odd to re-engage again with law enforcement trying to link Oliver and the Hood/Arrow/Green Arrow's identity again, but with this attempt being more successful than the few attempts that Quentin Lance has dropped a few times over the years. Samanda Watson as a concept is an interesting one by having the show try to actually tell a story where someone is actually trying in earnest (until they tell us otherwise) that they truly wish to make Oliver Queen pay for his numerous crimes of violence and vigilantism. It's just that much of the work is left to background machinations, and it's not until this episode where some of her veiled threats takes hold with something tangible

There's something to be said about another act of repetition that reinforces certain themes or actions, but it feels like at a fundamental basis, the simple repetition of "Oliver Queen pushes people away" has had a varied history over the course of the show. Many times it's made to justify some more drastic changes in storytelling. As one could argue with season six, the act of Oliver pushing people away can be attributed to the mounting pressure of his day job as mayor and the greater scrutiny that is being the Green Arrow. But sometimes, it feels as if the move was made simply to strengthen the imagery of a team falling apart as another assembles with purpose.

Having Wild Dog be the weak link of the group is an interesting one at that, because it does imply everyone has been doing their homework on and off the pages of the script. It's a powerful reaction as the group recoils from the fact that one of Oliver's more loyal acolytes would be the reason for his downfall, though for attentive viewers it is the most understandable and logical avenue the show could take. Luckily, the show doesn't linger on the mystery suspect (who Oliver believed it was one of the three of Curtis, Dinah, and Renee) and spends time on the fallout of the who and why of it, along with the newer members of Team Arrow astonished and overreacting about the secret surveillance conducted by Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle. It is telling that the original three did not bat an eye as they spied on the newer recruits. In another interesting act of repetition, Team Arrow's bunker itself is also under secret surveillance by Cayden James (why no one bothered to sweep for bugs is beyond me though, after learning they also stole Curtis' tech) and manipulating the team to his full advantage.

The theme of distrust continues further into the episode as Black Siren abducts Lance, simply to use him as a bargaining tool for Team Arrow to abscond with an item from under ARGUS care. As the two not-father-daughter duo continue to talk, they begin to seemingly imprint on each other in the quieter moments. Despite the animosity, the two begin to share some kind of bond over their dead counterparts, as if the two of them could somehow carry on some kind of daddy-daughter relationship no matter how homicidal it becomes. It gives a bit to depth to Black Siren as it makes it appear as though she isn't a simple henchman or malevolent force when she spares Quentin despite orders to kill him from Cayden James. Or we could just be watching a triple or quadruple cross unfolding.

Either way, distrust or not (which is a well Arrow goes to time and time again), what will be interesting in the months ahead will be to see what actually happens from the split of the newbies and the original Team Arrow. It's safe to say that Dinah, Curtis and Rene have added a lot to the strength of the show and it would be a shame if they actually left the show. There's almost no doubt in my mind by season's end the team comes back together while they whittle down Cayden James' team of villains by means of divide and conquer. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for them, right? It's just, how will the show arrive at that destination? I hope some of the focus of the show will remain on the newbies as they forge their way in a new world divorced from Oliver Queen, even if for a while; they deserve their time to shine, fail, and learn. Hopefully not too much of the focus is kept on Oliver, Felicity and Diggle, as it feels like the show would simply mine and hit the same beats from previous seasons.

Although nothing about "Irreconcilable Differences" particularly excites me during its hour, the storytelling potential that can spawn from it is more exciting in of itself. Although sometimes we have to accept Oliver Queen as a distrusting man at his core and will push people away as an instinct and we must accept this fact, sometimes what he does will spawn some interesting storytelling from it. If not in execution, then at least in theory, I suppose. I liken it to having to deal with something like airline travel to reach your vacation destination. It's a complete headache and something you hate in the moment, but once it has passed, there's hopefully something hopeful, exciting, or fulfilling on the other end of it.

Miscellaneous thoughts:

• Despite being neutral about "Olicity", I do have to say the hijacking of Barry and Iris' wedding was kind of rude if anything. At least the reception scenes in the start of this episode were a little more bearable and had some great character work otherwise.
• That being said, hopefully the show doesn't fall into the same traps in seasons 3 and 4 with Oliver and Felicity despite them being married now.
• I think it's a little depressing that the episode that lacks Samanda Watson's presence is the strongest one yet as the team actually has to deal with the consequences of her investigation instead of having her appear for a scene or two and everyone brushing her off.
• Dinah and Vincent (Vigilante) is almost the same as Oliver and Felicity to me, as in they don't really register much and aren't too offensive but other than manipulating Dinah and working with Cayden as a baseline, I don't really see much chemistry between the two of them to pull much off.