Arrow
Season 5 Episode 8: “Invasion!”
Directed by James Bamford
Written by Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Echo Kellum, Paul Blackthorne, Josh Segarra, Audrey Marie Anderson, Rick Gonzalez, Joe Dinicol, Madison McLaughlin, Grant Gustin,
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, November 30th, 2016, 8:00pm

Last night was the 2nd night of The CW’s epic 4-show crossover of Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and they are in the midst of an Alien invasion! And not the good Supergirl kind.” In the last few minutes, the Dominators beamed up Diggle, Thea, Ray, Sarah, and Oliver (David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, and Stephen Amell), after a crazy battle between mind-controlled everyone against Barry (Grant Gustin) and Oliver.

Spoilers below.

Arrow 5.8 “Invasion!” 100th Episode review: Oliver is home and engaged to Laurel (Katie Cassidy)… in his mind. The reality is that they are all asleep in pods. It’s a joint dream state. Mom and Dad (Susanna Thompson and Jamey Sheridan) are alive and proud. His dad and he are held up in an alley (a bit Batman, don’t you think), but a hooded guy saves them. Sarah comes and gets a jolt about a canary.

In the real world, Cisco and Felicity (Carlos Valdes and Emily Bett Rickards) go to HQ so Cisco can figure out where they are. Rene (Rick Gonzalez): “So you’re one of them… metahumans.”

Cisco vibes their location. “A little Alien, a little Star Trek, JJ Abrams style, and a whole lot of tech.” Felicity and Curtis think they can hack it.

Cisco: “Your tech guy quotes movies, huh. Real… original.” I love you on every show, Cisco.

Fake Lance (Paul Blackthorne) tells Oliver about the Fake Hood. He’s remembering his real life. Ray and Sarah have flashes of each other when they meet. He goes to the lair, and meets the Green Arrow – Diggle and fake Felicity.

Oliver runs back and decides he wants to be with Laurel. He doesn’t care. Diggle shows up freaked out with the memories, and then so does Deathstroke.

Funny moment: Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) telling Thea how great Tommy is doing as a doctor in Chicago (on a few series).

Thea wants to stay – she wants her parents and she wants to be happy. And Oliver lets her. I don’t blame her. I would stay too. But of course she relents – she loves her big bro.

Thea against Malcom, Oliver against Deathstroke, Sarah against ___Damain Darhk. They go to the “Smoak screen” and see the way out. Right before he leaves, Oliver looks back and sees his mom, Felicity, Laurel, Tommy, his dad, and Roy. They wake up and are in outer space. This is definitely the craziest circumstance our heroes (legends) have ever been in. They find a little ship to escape, but many alien fighters follow them, and they don’t know how to drive the thing. It seems doomed until…

Nate Haywood (Nick Zano) shows up in the Waverider saves the day, complete with a quip about Oliver shopping at Alien Gap. Good one.

Some thoughts:

– It is so funny and kinda awesome how Supergirl makes an entrance with a stance and the wind blowing where there is no wind. I too need my own personal fan.

– I LOVED seeing Moira Queen again.

– This was the best way to have an #Arrow100.

– My how far Arrow has come! From regular old vigilante crime-fighting to powers to aliens.

– Best. Week. Ever.

And finally…

What a wonderful 100th episode! And one of the best episodes of Arrow ever.

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

The CW crossover conclusion ends tomorrow with DC’s Legends of Tomorrow at 8:00pm ET.

The CW synopsis:

Arrow
Invasion! (Ep# 508)
ARROW CELEBRATES 100 EPISODES; THE EPIC SUPERHERO CROSSOVER CONTINUES — Oliver (Stephen Amell) wakes up to a life where he never got on The Queen’s Gambit. Robert (guest star Jamey Sheridan) and Moira Queen (guest star Susanna Thompson) are alive and well. Laurel (guest star Katie Cassidy) is his loving fiancée and their wedding is imminent. Everything seems perfect, but Oliver starts to notice small imperfections that make him question this new reality. Meanwhile, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and the recruits take on a new threat with help from The Flash (guest star Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (guest star Melissa Benoist). James Bamford directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti and written by Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle (#508). Original airdate 11/30/2016.

Videos

Arrow | Inside Arrow: Invasion! | The CW

Arrow | Invasion! Scene | The CW