"Emerald Archer" is the twelfth episode of the seventh season and 150th overall of the American television series Arrow, based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, revolving around billionaire playboy Oliver Queen as he returns to Star City, after having been shipwrecked for five years, and becomes a bow-wielding, hooded vigilante who sets out to fight crime and corruption. It is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with the other television series of the universe. The episode was written by Marc Guggenheim and Emilio Aldrich and directed by Glen Winter.
| "Emerald Archer" | |
|---|---|
| Arrow episode | |
 Oliver fighting Chimera | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | Glen Winter |
| Written by |
|
| Production code | T27.13662 |
| Original air date | April 2, 2019 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
The episode stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen. The episode uses the framing device of a documentary. It aired on The CW on April 2, 2019, to a live audience of 1.04 million viewers. The episode was met with mixed reactions from critics. The episode guest stars several former cast members including Willia Holland and Paul Blackthorne.
Plot
editIn an effort to be more transparent with the public, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) allows a camera crew to follow himself and others associated with Team Arrow around and film a documentary titled Emerald Archer: The Hood and the Rise of Vigilantes. A vigilante named Chimera, begins to attack various vigilantes in Star City, including Ragman (Joe Dinicol), the Huntress (Jessica De Gouw), and the new Green Arrow (Sea Shimooka).
Oliver's son William Clayton (Jack Moore) returns home from the witness protection program. William reveals to Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) that he was expelled from school. Meanwhile, Oliver debates Mayor Pollard (Laara Sadiq) about vigilantism but is interrupted by Chimera. During the attack, Dinah saves Pollard using her Canary Cry, accidentally revealing her identity as the Black Canary. When Team Arrow arrives and helps Oliver capture Chimera, Pollard arrests them, prompting Oliver and Dinah to turn themselves in and resulting in Pollard deputizing Team Arrow as part of the SCPD.
In 2040, it is shown that Blackstar (Katherine McNamara) is watching the documentary on Oliver. With intel gained from the documentary, Blackstar and Connor Hawke (Joseph David-Jones) find discover the location of the now abandoned Team Arrow bunker.
Production
edit
"Emerald Archer" was written by Emilio Aldrich and executive producer Marc Guggenheim and directed by Glen Winter.[1] The episode is presented as a mockumentary.[2][3] The episode features several nods to various people involved with both the Green Arrow comics and series including Beth Schwartz, Kevin Smith, and David Nutter.[4] It is the 150th episode of Arrow, making it a milestone episode.[5]
The episode is critical of the police system, while also questioning the in-universe vigilantes.[5]
Casting
edit"Emerald Archer" stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen alongside David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes, Kirk Acevedo, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Sea Shimooka, and Katie Cassidy Rodgers as John Diggle, Felicity Smoak, Roy Harper, Ricardo Diaz, Curtis Holt, Rene Ramirez, Dinah Drake, Emiko Adachi, and Laurel Lance respectively.[6][1] To celebrate reaching 150 episodes, "Emerald Archer" features several returning characters from the series including former series regulars Paul Blackthorne and Willa Holland as Quentin Lance and Thea Queen respectively.[7][8] Caity Lotz and Bex Taylor-Klaus who recurred in the second season appear as Sara Lance and Sin respectively.[4] Jessica De Gouw returns as Helena Bertinelli via archive footage.[9]
Jessica Heafey guests as the director of the documentary.[3] Kelsey Grammer guest stars as the narrator of the documentary.[2] Jack Moore appears as a child version of William Clayton, while Ben Lewis appears as the adult version in the flash forewords.[10] Katherine McNamara guest stars as Blackstar.[11] Joseph David-Jones guest stars as Conner Hawke.[11] David-Jones previously appeared as the character in the Legends of Tomorrow episodes "Star City 2046" and "Marooned".[12][13] Venus Terzo appears as Dr. Schwartz.[14][9]
Release
edit"Emerald Archer" was released on The CW on April 2, 2019, to a live audience of 1.07 million live viewers.[1][15] The episode had a decrease of ninety thousand viewers from the 1.18 the previous episode, "Past Sins".[16] The following episode, "Star City Slayer", gained twenty thousand viewers.[17] When accounting for seven day DVR viewership the episode gains an additional 620 thousand viewers for a total of 1.69 million.[18]
Critical reception
edit"Emerald Archer" was met with generally positive reactions from critics.[19][5][20] Though, the mockumentary format held more mixed opinions.[3][20] IGN's Jesse Scheeden described the episode as "fun" and "memorable" rating it a 9.1/10. Scheenden felt that the episode "hit all the right emotional notes." He praised the episode taking on a different format and praised the directing.[3] Writing for Den of Geek, Delia Harrington rated the episode a 4/5. She praised the episodes format calling it genius. Harrington felt that while the episode did not go overboard with the amount of fan service that it included, it still had a fun amount.[19]
The A.V. Club's Allision Shoemaker was far more negative rating the episode a C-. She felt that the episode was disappointing and unfunny, though she did praised the appearance of Paul Blackthrone as Quentin Lance.[20] In a review for the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Meet the Legends", Shoemaker cited "Emerald Archer" as an example of a poorly done mockumentary.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Emerald Archer". CW50 Detroit. February 2, 2019. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Edwards, Chris (January 18, 2019). "Arrow's 150th episode will have a major twist". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Schedeen, Jesse (February 5, 2019). "Arrow Episode 150: "Emerald Archer" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Anderson, Jenna (February 7, 2019). "'Arrow': Easter Eggs and DC Comics References in "Emerald Archer"". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c Abad-Santos, Alex (February 10, 2019). "Arrow, a show about vigilante justice, used its 150th episode to argue that vigilantes are bad". Vox. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Flook, Ray (February 3, 2019). "'Arrow' s7e12 "Emerald Archer" Preview: Lights! Camera! Too Much Action!". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "Arrow's 150th episode brings back old characters and delivers killer twist". Digital Spy. February 5, 2019. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Barnhardt, Adam (February 4, 2019). "'Arrow' Recap: The Team's All Here in "Emerald Archer"". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Drum, Nicole (February 4, 2019). "'Arrow': Every Character Who Returns in "Emerald Archer"". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Agard, Chancellor (January 17, 2019). "'Arrow' episode 150 is shot like a documentary about the Green Arrow". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Burlingame, Russ (February 5, 2019). "'Arrow': "Emerald Archer" Ending Explained". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Kevin (February 19, 2016). "DC 'Legends' Connor Hawke is Joseph David-Jones, Watch Debut". ScreenCrush. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Li, Shirley (February 26, 2016). "'Legends of Tomorrow' recap: Like father, like son". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Venus Terzo - Actress". TV Insider. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Rejent, Joseph (February 5, 2019). "'The Bachelor,' 'The Neighborhood,' 'The Passage,' all other shows hold: Monday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Rejent, Joseph (January 29, 2019). "'Magnum P.I.' adjusts up: Monday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Rejent, Joseph (February 12, 2019). "'The Bachelor' adjusts up, 'Man with a Plan' adjusts down: Monday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (February 20, 2019). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'Manifest' Tops All Telecasts in Adults 18-49 Percentage Gains". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Harrington, Delia (February 5, 2019). "Arrow Season 7 Episode 12 Review: Emerald Archer". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c Shoemaker, Allison (February 5, 2019). "Arrow celebrates hitting episode 150 by underlining all its own shortcomings". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Shoemaker, Allison (January 22, 2020). "Allow the Legends Of Tomorrow to re-introduce themselves in a raucous post-Crisis premiere". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.