Arrow S3 E1 - 'The Calm' Review

A Man Cannot Live By Two Names.
Arrow returned for season three in a big way with 'The Calm', as relationships changed and new threats and mysteries arose. 
Picking up months after the Siege, we see a well-oiled Team Arrow taking out a criminal truck, showcasing Arsenal in his brand new (incredibly bad-ass) costume in the field with Dig and the Arrow. It's an explosive introduction and sets the pace from the start. I enjoyed seeing what the group dynamic would be like during a time of relative peace, although naturally this was disturbed repeatedly throughout the episode.
Werner Zytle posed the threat in episode one, as he assumed the mantle of Vertigo and went around taking over Starling's criminal network. Vertigo was an entertaining villain and certainly an upgrade on Seth Gabel's interpretation of the character. I liked how the writers used him as a plot device to highlight Oliver's worst fear - himself. It might have been cliche, but it was a nice idea which didn't outlast its welcome. Zytle's harassment of our heroes also allowed them to show off their talents as a crime-fighting unit, which was always a pleasure to watch.
I found the relationship arcs in this episode to be a bit of a mixed bag. I didn't really understand why Dig changed his mind so fast about deciding his own future once Sara was born, nor did it make much sense to me just how rapidly Oliver U-turned and chose not to pursue Felicity. I mean geez guys, let yourselves be happy for one minute! Roy was also criminally underused and sidelined, a trend that I hope doesn't catch on moving forward.
Finally, the cliffhanger ending of this episode was truly shocking and awesome, a twist which came straight out of left field and spiced up the series debut for once. I like the Canary as a character, but it didn't make sense for her to return so I'm glad the writers killed her off like they did, as it sets up a fun whodunit.
Overall, 'The Calm' is a great first episode and continues the momentum from season two as questions emerge and action is unleashed.

STARRING: Arsenal, The Canary, Vertigo

AWESOME MOMENTS:

• Oliver taking HIMSELF down!! punch the air moment
• The Canary's brutal murder!!!! THE HORROR!!!
• Ray Palmer's charming performance
• Anything involving Arsenal was F***ING AMAZING!!
• That RPG-cafe scene was original and very well done!

EASTER EGGS:
- 52nd Street - DC's New 52 Reference
- Vincent Steelgraves is probably a reference to Professor Steelgraves, a minor foe of Green Arrow and Black Canary.  First appearing in the 1974, Steelgraves ran a smuggling ring that specialized in advanced technology like aging rays, which the show references when Oliver and Roy confiscates Steelgraves' rocket powered grenades. Steelgraves was once defeated by a amnesiac Krypto the Super Dog
- One of the "talking heads" that appear on Channel 52 is Ken Lawson.  Lawson previously played Wesley Dodds aka The Sandman on an episode of Smallville
- In the comics, Maseo is the husband of Tatsu Yamashiro, who eventually becomes the superheroine Katana.  Maseo and his brother, Takeo, both proposed to Tatsu at the same time.  Tatsu chose Maseo, spurring Takeo to join the Yakuza in anger.  Takeo later attacks Maseo and his family at their home with a mystical sword called Soultaker and calls for Maseo to duel him for Tatsu's hand.  Maseo is killed in the resulting struggle and his soul became trapped within Soultaker.  After Tatsu takes the sword and uses it to defeat Takeo, she discovers that she can still speak to Maseo via the blade.
- Although the history of Count Vertigo has come up in past columns, this new Vertigo shares his name with the most recent iteration of the villain. Werner Zytle's family once ruled the fictional country of Vlatava, but as a child, he was forced to flee to Canada after his family lost their fortunes. Zytle became involved in organized in organized crime and used the profits to return his family to power. After kidnapping Shado, Zytle came into conflict with Green Arrow in the pages of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's run on Green Lantern
- One of Zytle's gang members is named Greg Osborne.  In the comics, Osborne is a corrupt CIA agent and foe of Green Arrow.  Osborne first appears in the opening issue of Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters, blackmailing Green Arrow into hunting down Shado for him. Later, Osborne brainwashes Roy in an attempt to assassinate Oliver.  However, Roy breaks free and kills Osborne with the help of Green Arrow and Shado
- The good Dr. Lockhart, seemingly Starling City's only doctor, makes an appearance this episode.  This is Lockhart's sixth appearance on the show
- Ray Palmer is better known to DC fans as the Atom, a longtime member of the Justice League.  In the comics, Palmer uses a piece of white dwarf star matter to shrink in size but retain his weight and normal strength. At first, the Atom fought a number of diminutive aliens and weird science foes in his home town of Ivy Town, where he also taught as a professor.The Atom briefly had his own series in the 1960s and later shared a comic with Hawkman, whom he was good friends with. Palmer also marries and later divorces his longtime love interest Jean Loring, who appeared last season on Arrow as Moira's attorney.  Later adventures saw Palmer fighting alongside a tribe of six inch Amazon dwellers, and briefly leading the Teen Titans after getting de-aged into a teenager.  Palmer also leads a team of heroes in taking Deathstroke down after he kills Palmer's protege and successor, Ryan Choi. In the New 52, Palmer has yet to assume the mantle of the Atom, although he does still have the ability to shrink in size.  Palmer currently appears in the pages of Futures End, investigating the death of Stormwatch along with Hawkman, Frankenstein and Amethyst. Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Ray's been mentioned in the New 52.  In a first season episode, Laurel mentioned that her friends Ray and Jean recently got engaged.  It's doubtful that she's referring to the same person, though.
- As mentioned above, Tatsu is the superheroine known as Katana in the comics. After her family was killed at the hands of her husband's brother, Tatsu took up the sword that killed her husband, hoping to fight for justice. Originally appearing in the pages of Brave and the Bold, Katana became a mainstay member of the Outsiders, a team of superheroes that acted largely under Batman's supervision. In the New 52, Katana's origins are largely unchanged, although allies consider her to be possibly unstable as she talks to her sword.  In the New 52, Katana becomes a member of the Birds of Prey, and later the Justice League of America, the latter of which Green Arrow also belongs to.  After the JLA is disbanded in the aftermath of Forever Evil, Katana and Green Arrow both become embroiled with the Outsiders War, a conflict between various weapon-themed tribes.  Katana discovers that the Outsiders were involved with her husband's death, and assists Green Arrow in rooting out the corrupt tribes at its core.
- "Oh frak." - Felicity utters a curse from Battlestar Galactica shortly before Ray Palmer smarms the pants off of the board of Queen Consolidated
- During his presentation to the board, Ray uses his belt buckle as a projector.  In the comics, the Atom's size changing was originally controlled via a special belt
- Palmer's grand plan for Starling involves a rebranding of the city as "Star City".  In the comics, Green Arrow operates out of Star City.  Producers noted that they changed the city's name from Star to Starling to give the show a more realistic feel. However, that hasn't stopped the show from referencing the city's comic name in several other episodes
- One of the boxing teams is wearing "Team Wildcat" robes. In the comics, Wildcat is a professional boxer turned superhero
- Ferris Air is one of the boxing match's sponsors and has several signs hanging above the boxing ring. Please note that the Ferris Air logo seen here is the same logo that appears in the 2011 Green Lantern movie.
- One of boxing match's other sponsors is Ostrander Rum, a reference to legendary creator John Ostrander. Among Ostrander's many contributions to DC lore is the modern iteration of the Suicide Squad

RATING: 8/10