Quentin Lance’s guilt

Poor Quentin. Throughout the episode, it is revealed that he killed (or least thought he did) Laurel 2 to save Dinah. They kept this secret from the rest of the team until Black Siren reappears at the precinct, blowing up the place.  Each time she appears, her theme “Laurel, not Laurel” (5x10) plays in different instruments versions either in horn or flute or a combination. (6 times in total.  The only character theme that has reappeared that many times in an episode outside of Oliver was Barry Allen in 2x08!) 

Quentin believes that she is coming for him and so confesses to the team that he killed Laurel while “Ashamed” (1x10) plays.  A hauntingly beautiful and appropriate theme.

After the flashback to that event, Lance says: “I killed my baby girl” as the Laurel/Quentin string theme plays.  “Have to Kill” is originally from 1x02 where Laurel tells Quentin that her job is to fight for what is right, just like he taught her.  This theme comes back in Season 5 as Quentin mourns Laurel’s death “Lance Goes to Rehab.”

Quentin later talks to Oliver about this guilt as that theme returns.  Even though his head knows it’s not his Laurel, his heart tells him that she is Laurel.  Oliver tries to explain that she is a different person and that Quentin is still a good father, as he himself struggles to be a good father to a son who blames him for his mother’s death. As Oliver wonders whether he should let William live with his grandparents, oboe begins to play as Quentin tells him “just be his father.” A beautiful moment between fathers.

Oliver Queen and those he loves

As the episode unfolds, different characters are revealed to be alive in various states. The team is revealed first in a fighting sequence and then following is Felicity arriving with Big Belly Burger. This leads to a cute scene as Oliver invites her to join him and William for dinner. Felicity declines as not to confuse William in his grieving and angry state (dealing with Samantha’s death and living with a father who is a stranger). She does promise another night which makes Oliver very happy. During this part, a version of the Olicity theme “the one I love” plays in the piano. It is subtle as the rhythm and the instrumentation (piano) are the same yet it starts with a fifth instead of a fourth. (Distance between notes) The other difference is that the theme is in major and the third interval is a major seventh instead of a minor seventh. A major seventh almost always resolves up. This little difference indicates promise. It is not the full blown theme and yet the hints and the signs are there that Oliver and Felicity are back together or will be soon and in a good place.

The most important relationship being established in this episode is Oliver with his son William. William is confused and angry blaming Oliver for Samantha’s death. During one of their scenes, Williams shares about his nightmares and that Oliver is the bad man responsible in both life and those dreams for his mother’s death. This crushes Oliver. During this time, the piano plays the theme “Big Mistake” (2x20). “Big mistake” first appears when Oliver finds out that Samantha is pregnant. It is the theme that returns when Oliver finds out William in the Flash and when Thea found out about him in 4x14. Now it is just the theme for the two of them, as they learn and navigate what it means to be father and son.

Near the end, it is revealed that Thea is in a coma from the Island explosions. Oliver enters her hospital room to visit her as “purest heart” (2x21) plays. Nothing is said out loud but the music explores Oliver’s feelings as he sees his sister comatose. One of the things that is very consistent in the show is Oliver’s deep love for his sister. “Purest heart” is how Oliver views Thea. This theme is first heard in 2x21 when he says to her: “Out of all of us you have the purest heart…There has not been a day I did not cherish you as a sister.” The music switches to a new horn melody as Slade enters. Slade and Oliver discuss being fathers and being caught between the man that the people need and the father their sons need. Strings take up the slow version of the Arrow theme over horn and guitar harmonics, often used for emotional beats with Oliver since 1x05 (“I forgot who I was” and numerous other tracks)

Near the end, Oliver gives William a beautiful speech about always being there as his dad. Piano (Oliver’s instrument) plays a new melody over strings and guitar harmonics. As William thaws, piano and horn play a variation of Oliver’s slow Arrow. The notes slightly change but it is very similar. Like the Olicity theme previously, it hints at something changing and getting better.

Extra Notes:

- Mr Terrific has his own new theme in the horn at the beginning when he throws his T spheres into the missile.

- The first three notes (but not all 4) of Diggle’s motif plays right before he misfires. I think this could be significant since not everything is quite cooperating the way it should be with his injury.

- As many of you know I had an injury this past week which means I can’t type well or write or play my cello for at least a month or two. I am going to be getting surgery on Monday and I want to thank everybody for their prayers, support, and love. I had half of this one done already and thanks to dictation on my phone and typing with one hand, I was able to finish the rest. I honestly don’t know how much of Arrow music notes I will be able to do over the next few weeks. They may be a few comments here or there instead. I will say that the music so far in the first two episodes have been fantastic by Blake Neely and I look forward to seeing what will happen this season!