The Emerald Archer returns! Get ready, because Arrow The Complete Second Season is now available to own on Blu-ray!

Following the tragic events resulting in the death of his best friend Tommy, Oliver has withdrawn from the city he had sworn to protect. With help from his allies, he forces his way back into the world that has torn him apart. When a mysterious new vigilante known only as “The Canary” arrives on the streets of Starling City, Oliver will be forced to confront the sins of the past. Who is pulling the strings in Oliver’s town? And what does it have to do with his past decisions?

Episode Highlights

City of Heroes: More secrets about Oliver’s time on the island are revealed as his long lost love Sara returns to Starling City! You might be asking yourself, “wait, didn’t she die on the boat?”. The mystery as to Sara’s whereabouts will lead to more questions, and to more answers that hit hard for several main characters throughout the sophomore season. The Canary has arrived, and she is everything we could have hoped for! Before he can deal with the revelation that his past love is still alive, Oliver must find a way to refocus his efforts on self redemption, and repair the damage brought on his city by Malcolm Merlyn.

Heir to the Demon: Sara’s return to Starling hasn’t gone unnoticed, and her former associates in the League of Assassins want her back! Confronted by Nyssa, the daughter of Ra’s Al Ghoul, Sara must fight to protect the people she loves.

The Scientist/Three Ghosts: The next big DC Comics hero has arrived in Starling city, and his appearance will stop you in your tracks. Barry Allen, aka The Flash, arrives to offer his assistance as a forensic scientist. Sparks quickly fly between Barry and Felicity, and Barry’s presence and overall intentions are questioned by Oliver. Not only do these two episodes act as the first appearance of Barry Allen on Arrow , but the characterization was enough for the Powers-That-Be at the CW to give approval for a full pilot episode for a Flash spin-off. Grant Gustin will charm you as Barry, and you really don’t want to miss the moment when lightning finally strikes!

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller has made her presence known in Starling, and has tasked some of the most ruthless killers and psychopaths in the city with a new black ops mission (under the supervision of Diggle and his Ex-wife/Argus Agent Lyla)! Featuring appearances by Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, and Shrapnel, the team must act quickly to stop a deadly nerve agent from falling into the hands of a known terrorist. This episode is filled with Diggle backstory, and provided a great opportunity for the supporting cast to take the spotlight.

Seeing Red: Hands down the most emotional episode of the season, Oliver is forced to choose between saving Moira or Thea from certain death at the hands of Slade Wilson. Deathstroke strikes hard and places Oliver in an unwinnable situation. Featuring shocking flashbacks and the revelation that Oliver has a son that he doesn’t know exists, actress Susanna Thompson will pull at your heart strings as you see just how far a mother will go to protect her children.

Noteworthy Mentions

One of the most impressive elements of this series is the creative team and talent’s sheer determination to consistently best themselves. These individuals are always finding new and better ways to do things, from story elements, to epic fight sequences, to stunts that go way beyond what we typically see on television. I believe that this is the reason why the show has become such a solid hit with fans, who can’t wait to see the next new crazy thing that Team Arrow can bring to the small screen.

With standout performances by Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Colton Haynes, and Emily Bett Rickards, you will believe that ordinary people can stand up against the evils of the world. Manu Bennett stole the season as the villainous Slade Wilson, and took the Arrow/Deathstroke dynamic to a whole new level. His threat to Oliver was not only believable, but perfectly executed by the creative writers and producers.

Special Features

• From Vigilante to Hero- Documentary highlighting Oliver’s journey from fighting injustices to becoming Starling City’s resident savior.
• How did they do that?! The visual effects of Arrow – Explores how Season 2 has raised the bar for action and effects, showing how the creators can make anything the writers dream up come to life.
• Wirework: The impossible moves of Arrow – See how the intense and elaborate fight sequences are shot for maximum realism.
• Arrow 2013 Comic-Con Panel
• Deleted Scenes from Season Two
• Gag Reel

Overall

Season One of Arrow laid the groundwork for some big moments in Season Two, and it is nice to say that the follow-through did not disappoint. The epic second year took the world building element to the extreme, and opened up the DC television universe to a world of possibilities. Thanks to the success of Arrow , fans will now be treated to a plethora of new comic book related shows. If you missed the bandwagon when the show first started airing, Season Two will easily get you hooked.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Arrow: The Complete Second Season – 5 out of 5 episodes that make Arrow worthy of joining the live action version of Justice League.

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