Is it just me or did the writers make Oliver a lot more stupid this season?

Not true. Diggle/Thea didn't share their opinions either.

I noted this in another thread… But I came into the episode knowing that the EP who wrote this episode intended for her to be in the wrong so I went into that episode with that mindset so I wouldn't call it 'reactionary'.

Yeah I don't really give a damn about Curtis' opinion. But that doesn't change the fact that narratively, it was Curtis who got the last word, it was Curtis who was presented as the one who was right.

Is it though? The damage is done, but at least don't ignore it. It's something that happened and the show should honor it because otherwise it's completely ableism.

I guess it's a good thing the show didn't want to preach about sexism.

Thus another reason Arrow should never do a PSA episode…

IMO both Dinah and Wild Dog are unoriginal. This is why I want the revolving door of newbies to stop. We don't need new characters who are generally cookie cutter characters. Why not let the show explore what they currently have? There are so many dynamics left to explore with Oliver, Diggle, Felicity, Thea, Lance…

Kinda overshadowed by the fact that Curtis shut her down and told her people should be open to debates though. So clearly, her wanting to be productive and not pick sides was the 'wrong' thing to do.

I agree. The episode just didn't quite hit this level of nuance with what they did w/ Felicity, unfortunately.

According to Guggenheim [TVLine]:

You mean like getting shit done? lol Which makes me realize she's done a lot in the last few episodes:
- Save Diggle
- Suss out Black Siren and punch her in the face
- Help find a bomb in Russia before it detonated
Etc.

Don't you think he'd be too afraid to take a stand? :p

Since everyone including the characters on the show (except for Oliver for inexplicable reasons) don't like Susan, can Felicity run her over with her trusty van?

IDK man… If she betrays him I'd like Felicity to run her over with her trusty van

I know the show wasn't anticipating this at all… But airing this episode on a day where senate repeals a law making it more difficult for mentally ill people to buy guns? Ugh.

That would make her entire character's existence pointless.

And that's what bothers me. Felicity was completely OOC when she didn't take part in the debate. She's an opinionated woman who doesn't shy away from debates (as shown previously), Guggenheim has lost sight of the characters he created. Pathetic.

The fact that everyone is telling Oliver not to trust Susan shows me that Susan's going to 'prove' everyone wrong and Oliver will be right in having faith in her as a weak attempt at a plot twist…

POINT. haha :p