3: The Problems With Her Death
It’s not only the decision to kill Laurel off that is problematic: it was also how it was executed. I will give credits to Damien for being a man of his words as he swore to Quentin that if he betrayed him, he would go after Laurel. The fact that he used Oliver’s arrow to kill Laurel made that death scene even more painful and heartbreaking. But what followed was where the death became more than just tragic as it had many issues. In her final moments in the hospital as she is talking with Oliver, a scene where Cassidy and Amell delivered outstanding performances, she brings up something that makes her death feel like a service to something else.
“I’m really glad that you found Felicity and I hope you can find your way back to her. And Ollie I know I’m not the love of your life, but you’ll always be the love of mine.”
Now stay with me, because I know what some might be thinking. It’s not a secret that I’ve never been in favor of the Oliver and Felicity romance on the show, it’s just not for me, but it’s 100% acceptable if you do love it, there is nothing wrong with that. However, it’s a fact that whether you love it or not, this relationship and Felicity Smoak has become the biggest focus on the show which is a discussion for a different day. The thing that stings the most is that not only do we get reminded that Laurel has a big – if not the biggest – heart ever, but her death was used as a way to bring back that relationship. I understand that the message she was giving to Oliver was that she is happy that he was able to found happiness again because we can all agree that this man has gone through hell in more ways than one. However, for her final moment in life, to write a final dialogue like that, just looks like her death was an encouragement to restore that romance. Let’s remember that the episode doesn’t even feature a final big Black Canary moment, only that she was going to put on that mask one last time before she took the DA offer. As heartbreaking as her death was as well as Cassidy’s fantastic performance in the whole episode: it’s a disservice and an unfair death. There were other aspects that made this death so troublesome, but we will get to that later.
