Oh hallelujah, a Felicity Smoak-centered episode!
Perhaps in lieu of her complete absence last week, the Arrow writers have now given us “The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak,” an entire episode that not only focuses on Felicity and her familial issues, but also offers flashbacks on her college days as a goth-girl “hacktivist.” And while the episode may not represent Arrow at its most inventive, I would be hard pressed to say it wasn’t fun to watch Emily Bett Rickard taking the reigns for once.
The episode starts with three parallel sparring scenes—Oliver and Roy, Laurel and her gym trainer and Thea and Merlyn. When Thea wonders aloud what “normal people” do in the morning, we get a humorous cut to Felicity struggling to finish her basic morning work-out routine (she manages to make it through five sit-ups). Her day becomes infinitely more complicated when her mother, Donna, comes for a visit. While Felicity has made reference to her family on a few occasions, this marks the first time we’ve seen either parent in person. And we quickly see why Felicity might be reluctant to have her mother meet her new colleagues—unlike her bright, yet reserved daughter, Donna displays complete technology illiteracy and continues to dress like a club-hopping twenty-something. What’s more, she’s far from hesitant in acting bubbly and flirtatious around the many handsome men in Felicity’s life, including Ray Palmer and Oliver (“How many millionaires do you know?” she asks at one point).
Ultimately, despite the amusing set-up, this dynamic plays out pretty much exactly how you would expect. Felicity quietly puts up with her mother’s antics until, in a moment of frustration, she lashes out against her for being so immature. The two are then put in grave danger and Donna demonstrates how much she truly cares for her daughter. In the end, they walk away from the experience with a newfound respect and appreciation for each other. No reinventing the wheel here.
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