I only read AV club for a handful of shows, since I don't watch that much, but it's all shipping, all the time.

Yeah, there've been a few episodes where I was really hoping it wasn't a murder, especially if I kind of liked the character who would be most likely to end up buying it. But I've become rather resigned to it by now

Good point. We'll see how it plays out

I think he mentioned that it will be addressed on the show, but I don't remember

A new spin on the "my friend died and now I can no longer do the things I have once done" speech

Maseo appears to be on Ollie's level. And Tatsu may be better than either of them

Okay, I don't particularly remember that scene, but how could she NOT know Ollie was the arrow, after all their time together in the flashbacks? Besides, it's her job to know a lot of that stuff

Felicity didn't like it that Ollie was killing people, but at least those were really bad people. Merlyn on the other hand committed mass murder on a bunch of innocent people for no reason, and mind controlled Thea into murdering Sara. Besides that, do they even really need Merlyn's help? Maybe, I don't know. They…

I think part of what makes this confusing is that the comics canon has recently changed, and/or soon will be changing. For instance, Flash's origin had actually changed to become more like the show's premier in the comics. And Green Arrow has had a few people he's been working with in the comics.

Sara frequently talked about her inner demons. And part of the point of the last few episodes has been Laurel realizing that (supposedly) she didn't really want to do this because of her demons, but for herself and to help others

I thought it was their loft, using his money? As long as their name's on it, that should protect them

They're not supposed to try to implement both plans at the same time…

At least one incarnation of Black Canary was a brunette donning a blonde wig.

Haha, that would be awesome.

Stephen Amell has mentioned this on FB; according to him, "losing everything" as a billionaire still leaves him with a fair amount of money

Absolutely. But that again doesn't make him an addict, which is an important factor.

(Apparently, I may have gotten a bit mixed up with Disqus not showing me all relevant comments. Sorry if that creates any confusion.)

What evidence is there for that? I don't remember him talking about how pumped up he was, or how thrilling running all over the city is.

I would have to rewatch it to know for sure, but my impression was that for a while, she played the whole "This will make you more effective and help save lives" card, and he went with it.

That's where the training montage on the island comes in