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The Arrow Squad podcasting trio is finally back together! There were many happy returns on this week’s episode of Arrow, so it was very well timed. Yes, we are here to discuss Arrow Season 4 Episode 6 “Lost Souls”, which originally aired on November 11, 2015. We got some sane Sara, sane Laurel, full-sized Ray, and some pant-wearing Felicity!
This wasn’t your typical episode of Arrow, I will admit that. It was an episode that shifted our focus from Oliver and his sort of generalized mission over to Felicity, who has had her moments in the spotlight, undoubtedly, but I really think that by bringing her struggles into focus this episode we got to see her as more than The Girl Who Got The Guy.
The fact is, for me, as a woman, seeing three candidates every week with the potential to be strong, female leads begins to feel a bit hopeless when their only role is to supplement Oliver’s existence. Much of Felicity’s turmoil in this episode was focused around how she lost herself in Oliver, but in the end she dealt with something that many women have to deal with. This idea of losing oneself in another person isn’t new, but it was refreshing to see it handled in one of the most mature ways I’ve ever seen it happen on television.
As we grow up, as we mature, as we take on more responsibility, it is natural to feel like our priorities are skewed when we are happy and other people in the world are suffering. Sometimes it’s difficult to accept the fact that I can be happy and still help those in need, and if I didn’t have people to keep me in check I might throw away all the good stuff (and the good people) that happen to me! So I was able to identify with Felicity’s struggle, and from the very beginning I could tell that she wasn’t blaming Oliver… it was more like he was the closest thing she could be frustrated with after being frustrated with herself.
I just appreciated that we took the time to explore Felicity’s frustrations, allow her the space to be a little stressed, unleash a bit of the fear she has about life, and for it to be done in a constructive way. We weren’t left with huge question marks, we weren’t left with characters at odds with one another, and we weren’t left with a sick feeling that communication is totally impossible on television.
Lost Souls
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
— The Lord of the Rings J. R. R. Tolkien
I love this poem from Fellowship of the Ring, used to describe Aragorn. Not all those who wander are lost. There were definitely some lost souls in this episode, and leading up to this episode, but Oliver says something very, very true about Ray at the end of the episode! He says that he’s happy to see Ray’s experiences haven’t changed him. Other than losing 8 months of his life, Ray is likely fascinated by his experiences! And he says as much when talking about cockroaches, of all things.
Sara, on the other hand, is still a lost soul. Ray might not know what exactly he wants to do next, but the options before him are much more tangible than those Sara has. Ray is of the “not all those who wander are lost” variety, while Sara is truly searching for her place in the world. She’s been snatched out of it twice, once literally! What’s next for that lost soul?
The Giveaway
We mentioned in the show that we are doing a giveaway of a season of Arrow! Your choice of season 1, 2 or 3, depending on which one you need to fill in holes in your collection. All the info on that can be found in this blog post!
Question of the Week
We got a good look at this magic box circuit board at the end of the episode. What is it? What does it mean? What is Damien Darhk planning??
Next Week
Season 4 Episode 7 “Brotherhood”
Feedback
Send in your thoughts, theories and reactions to each episode of Arrow by using our feedback page! You can type up an email, upload an audio file, or use the SpeakPipe widget on the page. Also, for serious, you need to get involved in our Facebook group. It is so much fun to read people’s opinions and reactions of news and new episodes.
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