Arrow
Season 4 Episode 19: “Canary Cry”
Directed by Laura Belsey
Written by Wendy Mericle & Beth Schwartz
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Paul Blackthorne
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, April 27th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last time on Arrow, the gang got wind of Damien Darhk’s (Neal McDonough) impending escape and go to stop him. Andy turned on them at the last minute, not surprising to Oliver (Stephen Amell), but devastatingly surprising to Diggle (David Ramsey). Darhk finally got his revenge for Lance’s (Paul Blackthorne) betrayal by stabbing Laurel (Katie Cassidy) with one of The Green Arrow’s arrows. She seemed to be doing fine in the hospital, and had a raw heart to heart with Ollie telling him she loved him, and telling him a secret. She passed unexpectedly.

Spoilers below.

Arrow 4.19 “Canary Cry” review: “Canary Cry” was incredibly sad as expected. The aftermath of the death of Laurel Lance was mixed with flashbacks Ollie and Laurel dealing with Tommy’s death from season 1. Everyone in this episode was affected as Laurel was an integral member of the team, and someone that everyone leaned on.

Diggle: John blames himself completely for Laurel’s death. He didn’t listen to Oliver’s warnings about Andy (although I still feel like Darhk is forcing Andy somehow). He has a lot of anger and cannot get to Darhk and Andy right now, so he attacks the Mayor and almost kills her, stopped by The Green Arrow.

Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards): Laurel’s death brings her back to the team. She feels like if she had been there, she may have been able to prevent this. She also feels guilty about a moment’s hesitation when Diggle was blaming himself.

Lance: He is done. He has lost a daughter… again. But this time he lost the daughter he never has lost before – his “rock.” He tries to get Nyssa (Katrina Law) to resurrect her, and is turned down. He vows to find another way. He does not want to give up hope. And when there is a new Black Canary sighting, he thinks she is not really dead… and is hurt all over again.

The standout of this episode was Paul Blackthorne. There is so much death (and not death) on the show, and it is mostly met with stoicism and pained grief faces, or raging vows of revenge. Blackthorne breaking down in the hospital was the most realistic depiction of true grief I have seen on this show.

I was not a fan of the fake Black Canary storyline as it seemed rushed and kind of unrealistic (even inside a supernatural superhero show), however, it did provide the vehicle for Laurel to be publicly proclaimed a hero as the Black Canary to protect her legacy. That was a really nice moment in the midst of the terrible moments – a shining little light that Oliver handled perfectly.

I am impressed with the growth of Nyssa as a character. In the past she had been portrayed as a petulant child ready to kill for revenge, and raging against her father for her own legacy. But her relationships with Sara, Laurel, and Oliver have matured her, and now that Ra’s al Ghul and Merlyn are gone (and out), and she is the head of the League of Assassins, she has come out as a poised wise woman, doling intelligent advice.

Finally, although it did bother me that Barry had his speed in the repeated graveside scene, the non-continuity can be forgiven, as I think it would be near impossible to connect the shows perfectly all the time. Plus, this Arrow episode could be set a little bit in the past from The Flash. Barry only lost his speed 2 episodes ago. The time lapse isn’t that big.

Arrow airs Wednesday nights at 8:00pm ET on The CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

Arrow
Canary Cry (Ep# 419)
OLIVER, LANCE AND TEAM DEAL WITH LAUREL’S DEATH — Oliver (Stephen Amell) and the team struggle to come to terms with Laurel’s (Katie Cassidy) death, especially Diggle (David Ramsey) who is overwhelmed with guilt for choosing to believe Andy (guest star Eugene Byrd) had changed. Meanwhile, Lance (Paul Blackthorne) refuses to believe his daughter is really gone and asks Nyssa (guest star Katrina Law) to help bring her back. A recent Black Canary sighting in Star City only seems to prove his theory that Laurel isn’t actually dead. Laura Belsey directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Beth Schwartz (#419). Original airdate 4/27/2016.

Image Gallery

Videos

Arrow | Inside Arrow: Canary Cry | The CW

Captain Lance and the team struggle to come to terms with their grief on a new Arrow, TONIGHT at 8/7c.

Arrow | Canary Cry Scene | The CW

Nyssa gives Captain Lance some unsettling news on a new episode of Arrow, tonight at 8/7c!