With Anatoly’s return to Star City and Oliver’s secret identity revealed, life is just as complicated as ever in Arrow 6×02

After Oliver Queen’s (Stephen Amell) secret identity as the Green Arrow was revealed in last week’s season premiere of The CW’s Arrow, the second episode had a lot to follow up on. “Tribute” didn’t waste any time dealing with last week’s cliffhanger and started with Oliver having to directly address his identity as the Green Arrow. Naturally, he denied that he’s any sort of superhero and made a fun reference to Bruce Wayne. After publicly denying any connection to the Green Arrow, Oliver came face to face with FBI Agent Samanda Watson (Sydelle Noel). Agent Watson told Oliver that the FBI is investing him.

To further complicate matters, Anatoly (David Nykl) returned to Star City and had the Bratva kidnap several Markovian delegates. Team Arrow believed that Anatoly was behind the leaked photograph of Oliver. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and Curtis (Echo Kellum) immediately got to work trying to discredit the photo. After killing the remaining hostage, Anatoly revealed that he wasn’t behind the leaked photo of Oliver stating that he’s an “honorable man.” Felicity and Curtis successfully worked their technical magic and managed to convince the media that the leaked photo of Oliver was faked. Agent Watson, however, was not convinced and vowed to continue investigating Oliver.

RELATED | Arrow Roundtable 6×01 “Fallout”

“Tribute” also further developed Oliver and his son William’s (Jack Moore) relationship. William ran into trouble with bullies at school and got in a fight. After giving his son some advice on how to defend himself and becoming slightly closer to him, Oliver decided to give up being a vigilante and pass the mantle onto Diggle (David Ramsey). Diggle accepted Oliver’s offer. However, unknown to Oliver and most of the team, Diggle is suffering from degenerative nerve damage that he suffered while protecting Felicity on Lian Yu.

With the FBI closing in, Oliver giving up the mantle of Green Arrow, and Diggle hiding his injuries from the team, “Tribute” gave our roundtable plenty to talk about. So let’s see what they had to say!

Natalie (@amellxwood) – Film student. Zealous Arrow fan. Olicity are the ones who light my way.

Sars (@smoakoverwatch) – Writer, political science student, iced coffee enthusiast

Jon (@jonjoebailey) – Amateur painter, musician and magician

Amina (@emilysdeepika) – Could rant about TV shows for hours, opinionated, Olicity are my always

Penny (@SAEBRfan) – Proud mother of 4, Jane of all trades, who loves reading, sports, TV and Arrow

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1. It has now been clarified that Diggle has degenerative nerve damage. Do you think they’ll find a technological fix for him like they did with Felicity’s back? Would that be a satisfying direction to head in? Perhaps he’ll gain some cybernetic enhancements?

Natalie (@amellxwood): I definitely think that Diggle could get tech that will fix his degenerative nerve damage. As seen in this episode, Felicity wants to work towards building new technologies (probably leading to her own company). Felicity and Diggle have always been an instrumental friendship on the show and Felicity more than anyone understands how hard it is to lose a function you never thought you would lose. So I definitely think Felicity and Curtis’ storyline this season will tie in with helping Diggle.

Sars (@smoakoverwatch): That would be a really interesting development! It would also be a nice way to tie in the company Felicity’s hinted at starting with Diggle, and bring them together. I’m interested to see how his nerve damage will tie into the new role Oliver asked him to take up, if the enhancements will be able to help him when he’s out in the field or if we’ll see some growing pains.

Jon (@jonjoebailey): That is definitely is possible. I’m still curious as to what happened on the island. Whatever keeps him on the show.

Amina (@emilysdeepika): I do think it isn’t a coincidence that Felicity talks about starting up a company in the same episode that this is revealed about Diggle. I feel like they will expand on Felicity’s idea from last year to make more of the chip (or another technological tool) Curtis made for her and distribute it to help people, starting with Diggle. It would be a very nice way to tie in these two stories together.

Penny (@SAEBRfan): I think Felicity and Curtis, with their new company (yay!), will come up with a way to help Diggle. Any way there is to help Diggle, I’m on board. Really looking forward to see this play out.

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2. Whoa! Oliver directly referenced Bruce Wayne in this episode! Do you think this was just a fun name drop or will we actually end up seeing some of the Bat-Family characters in the Arrowverse?

Natalie: I think Oliver mentioning Bruce Wayne was just for fun. It took them 6 seasons to even acknowledge that he existed in this universe. And the Arrowverse is Arrowverse. They’ve always emphasized focusing on their own characters so I don’t think we’ll see Bat-Family characters but it was fun to finally at least hear that name on the show.

Sars: My logical side says it’ll probably just be a fun name drop, but we never know! I’m a huge fan of Batman so I’d really love to see the worlds collide. Seeing Bruce and Oliver interact would be so fun because of the similarities they share. Of course, it’s a little hard considering Fox’s Gotham, but the potential is exciting to think about.

Jon: I’M THE BIGGEST BATMAN FAN ON THE PLANET. I WENT NUTS WHEN HE DID THAT AND I WILL GO NUTS IF HE MAKES AN APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW. Considering Supergirl brought in a Superman, I wouldn’t rule out batman coming in. I’m always open to seeing many forms of Batman in cinema and television. Also, I’m still pulling for Stephen’s Arrow to appear in the Justice League. Fingers cross(over)ed.

Amina: I can’t say for sure whether or not we’ll actually see these characters show up but it was a really cool nod nonetheless that I thought was really amusing amidst Oliver’s “outing” as the Green Arrow.

Penny: It was a fun name drop wasn’t it? I really don’t see it happening but with this kind of show, who knows? It would definitely be cool. I think it’s always in the back of everyone’s minds, even the writers.

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3. Anatoly showed a ruthlessness in this episode that we had only seen hints of in previous seasons. Do you think he’ll eventually be a tentative ally of Oliver’s again or will they always be on opposite sides from now on?

Natalie: Anatoly has always been such a complex character and his scenes with Oliver have always been great as Stephen and David Nykl have great chemistry. I’m hoping to see them as allies again but I think that may be hard to do considering how severed their relationship has become. I also think that Anatoly mentioning that he didn’t go after William could be a clue for what could happen later in the season whether he goes after William himself or maybe someone who’s a greater threat.

Sars: I think it’s safe to say that the ship has sailed for Oliver and Anatoly to be what they once were. It’s pretty clear now that Anatoly intends to take Oliver down, and he even hinted at getting to him through William. I think that would be interesting to see, considering Oliver showed this episode that he’d have no mercy for anyone who targeted his son. If Anatoly went there, there would be no going back for these two former allies.

Jon: Of course they will be friends again. They were such great friends before. Eventually one will need the other. Also, Anatoly mentioned he is still an honorable man.

Amina: I definitely think Oliver is way too trusting when it comes to him. People and circumstances change and he shouldn’t be shocked that a mob boss is willing to throw him under the bus for his own personal gain.

Penny: The only way they would ever be tentative allies would be if they were fighting the same enemy. I really hate that their friendship is ruined. I love Anatoly.

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4. “You should go for the nose.” It was great to see Oliver and William bonding a bit more in this episode. Oliver even gave his son advice for dealing with bullies. Do you think Oliver will eventually start training William to replace him as the Green Arrow?

Natalie: I’m really enjoying Oliver and William’s dynamic so far. I love that they made some progress in the premiere and then Oliver being outed as the Green Arrow created tension again. It’s been great seeing Oliver taking on the responsibility of being a Dad and being progressive to have a good relationship with William which I think is going to be a building block of the season. I don’t think Oliver will eventually start training William to replace him as the Green Arrow. He’s very protective and I just couldn’t see him willingly wanting to have William take up his mantle.

Sars: I loved seeing William and Oliver bond in this episode. It’s really nice to see them adjusting to this new life they’ve been thrown into together. I think it might be a stretch to say Oliver would start training William as the Green Arrow now, considering he’s only about ten years old. Maybe a handful of years down the road if Oliver decides he wants to hang up the hood, he’d train him then. It’d be a really nice way to keep the Green Arrow legacy alive, but I just don’t think it’s something we’ll ever see.

Jon: I don’t think he wants that life for William. However he may have him train for self defense.
Amina: I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say he’s going to start training him, but it was really nice seeing Oliver’s protective instincts as a father come out at various points of the episode. I think it was what William needed as well because he’s constantly looking for signs that Oliver is there for him.

Penny: It would be great to see him training him to defend himself, but to replace him in the future? I’m not so sure William would want to pick up the mantle of the Green Arrow, at least not the way he feels right now, and it would be his choice. Also, training would be good regardless of William’s decision.

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5. Team Arrow has consistently had an issue with keeping secrets from each other. Now we have Diggle doing the same thing with his injury. When will Team Arrow learn that secrets cause more problems than they solve? Or are they hopeless?

Natalie: This storyline is interesting because Diggle has always been the one to try to have the team NOT keep secrets from one another. So now that he’s put in a position where he feels he can’t share with the team, it’s probably going to create a lot of tension down the road especially with him and Oliver. Who knows when the team will learn that secrets cause more problems than they can solve but then again, none of these problems are black and white. Anyone who has kept a secret on Arrow has always had their reasons and justifications.

Sars: It really does feel like they never learn, but secrets are such a big part of all of their lives. Diggle hiding his injury is definitely going to be interesting to watch unfold. Luckily, Dinah knows in case anything does go wrong, and hopefully she’ll tell Felicity or someone else on the team. It’d be interesting to see how everyone would react, especially Felicity considering she was with him at the time of the injury, and Oliver since he asked John to replace him.

Jon: Oliver has kept secrets based on the idea that it helps keep everyone safe or from learning something they shouldn’t. It’s ironic for Diggle considering he once told Oliver that “secrets have weight; the more you keep, the harder it is to keep moving”. I hope they get it together, however, I like Oliver’s logic.

Amina: Team Arrow trust each other implicitly so the keeping secrets thing isn’t about that. They’re all too self-sacrificing and noble to want to burden each other with their problems so they’ll always hide things to protect one another or seem okay. This is Arrow after all.

Penny: I think it’s an evolving issue. They want to protect each other so they sometimes keep things to themselves. I have hope they will learn not to hold back. If Oliver can evolve, they can. Let’s hope they learn fast.

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6. Despite not being any closer to knowing who leaked the picture of Oliver as the Green Arrow, that subplot seems to have been resolved for the time being. How do you feel about that? Will Oliver’s unmasking still impact both him and William moving forward?

Natalie: I’m glad that the subplot of the leaked picture was reset. We’re only on the second episode and this seems like it could be a season long storyline. It would have been way too soon and anticlimactic if it had been revealed in this episode. I think it will impact Oliver and William’s relationship moving forward along with Oliver and Felicity’s romantic relationship. Now that Oliver isn’t focused on the Green Arrow, he will have more time to focus on himself as Oliver Queen. But he will obviously have to come back and have to learn how he can simultaneously protect William and be the Green Arrow.

Sars: I definitely don’t think this subplot is closed for good, there definitely will be more coming out. For Oliver and William especially, given how William suffered directly from his classmates based on the leak. I’m sure he faces enough as it is being the son of the Mayor, and this investigation that’ll come up again. Hopefully we’ll get to see them grow closer as father and son before the investigation comes back.

Jon: It has to be either Chase or that involved party, including Artemis. I think it will affect him and William considering he just quit being the Arrow.

Amina: I think that’ll come back to haunt them as the season progresses. It seems to be someone with a vast experience in technology and who wants to mess with Oliver’s head…so we’ll see. Oliver’s unmasking will continue to impact him and William because everything is out in the open now and they’re more vulnerable to threats and problems but I have faith they can handle it and adjust with the help of the team.

Penny: FBI Agent Watson won’t be giving up, so I think the unmasking is just a matter of time because I truly believe Oliver will take back the GA mantle. Depending on how it happens, is the issue. It will definitely impact William. I really hope it turns out to be a good thing.

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7. Oliver wants to give up being the Green Arrow and has chosen Diggle to replace him. That’s a rather big step for him to take to protect William. How long do you think that will end up lasting? Will Diggle be up to the challenge despite his injury?

Natalie: I love and hate this storyline. I am so happy that Oliver has finally learned that he can ask his family for help and that he is not alone in this but at the same time, Diggle has a son too. Obviously JJ has both of his parents alive but it will be interesting to see how Diggle handles it moving forward. I don’t think it will last too long as his injury is going to have to be exposed to the team at some point. Diggle is so selfless and will want to help out Oliver is whatever way he can even if it is detrimental to himself.

Sars: I definitely see this going on for some time, but of course it’s not a permanent solution. I think Oliver knows that the Green Arrow is a huge part of him he can’t easily give up, even if he needs to consider William. Maybe when he does go back in the field, he’ll be more cautious and take less reckless chances than before. I think Diggle, despite his injury, is up for the challenge, especially after the speech Oliver gave him. He knows this is important to his friend and will want to honor his request.

Jon: I don’t think it will last. I mean, Oliver Queen is THE Arrow. Diggle can’t do what he does.

Amina: I don’t think it’ll last very long because that suit is a part of Oliver and he’ll never be able to let that go so he’ll find himself back in it sooner or later. Also, with Diggle’s injuries, it’s only a matter of time before this blows up in his face and Oliver finds out about it. To be honest, I’m anxious to see how Diggle will handle it.

Penny: It’s only going to be a matter of time before something happens. Diggle won’t be able to keep up the pretense that he’s fine. Whether he tells, or Dinah, or a team member gets injured, it’s going to break. One way or another.

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Final Verdict: Arrow continued to develop Oliver and William’s relationship in a compelling manner while also raising the stakes in Team Arrow’s public and secret lives

“Tribute” jumped right into dealing with the season premiere’s cliffhanger and immediately raised the stakes for Oliver even more by introducing an FBI investigation into his identity. Our roundtablers loved the continued development of Oliver and William’s relationship as father and son. Oliver choosing his son over his role as a hooded vigilante is a major shift for the character and one that should be interesting to watch develop over the course of the season.

David Nykl’s portrayal of Anatoly is always welcome on this show and his appearance in this episode definitely didn’t disappoint. Our roundtablers would love to see more of him and his complicated relationship with Oliver. The Bruce Wayne name drop was especially well-received even if it’s unlikely that Batman himself or other members of the Bat-Family will actually appear in any of the Arrowverse shows.

There was some uncertainty among our roundtablers about Diggle taking over for Oliver as the Green Arrow. With Diggle not coming clean about his injury, it puts both himself and the team at risk. It also puts Diggle’s son at risk.

Arrow partially reset the reveal of Oliver’s secret identity this week and further advanced the mystery surrounding who leaked the photo. Despite the partial reset, the writers introduced enough new elements to the mystery to keep us wondering what will happen next, who’s behind it, and what their motives are. Oliver passing the mantle of Green Arrow onto Diggle should also be interesting to watch unfold in the coming weeks.

ARROW returns next THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26th at 9/8c on THE CW.