There are some big shockers on this week’s episode of Arrow! Take a look at Josh’s episode recap for Arrow to see what they are! This episode, aptly named State v. Queen focuses on Moira’s trial, and a returning villain–the Count! That is just the beginning of the surprises this episode. Come check out our thoughts on this week’s episode recap of Arrow‘s State v. Queen!
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Arrow, Season 2 Episode 7: State v. Queen Recap Overview
Need a quick Arrow episode recap of Season 2 Episode 7, titled State v. Queen? Here is a summary of events for the episode. Each event is linked to the more detailed Arrow episode recap for State v. Queen if you need more information!
- We see that the Count escaped during Merlyn’s Earthquake 6 months prior. In the present, Oliver and Thea head to Moira’s trial. Diggle seems to be coming down with a sickness, and Oliver sends him home.
- Oliver learns of Diggle’s illness being associated with Vertigo. Felicity tells Oliver of the Count’s escape. Thea testifies at Moira’s trial, which is damaging to the defense. The DA, meanwhile, has come down with the same illness as Diggle.
- Moira decides to face her secrets and testify. Laurel tries to convince her not to, as she knows the secrets that Moira has been keeping, and thinks they would seal the case for her.
- Felicity finds the Count, and Oliver tries to stop him. He frees the captured DA, but flees to avoid unnecessary killing. At the trial, Laurel drops the bomb that Malcolm Merlyn was Moira’s lover at one point in the past. Felicity is captured trying to investigate the flu trucks she found distributing Vertigo.
- Oliver saves Felicity, but is forced to kill the Count. Oliver makes it back for the verdict, and Moira is found innocent. We then find out some big shockers–Malcolm Merlyn is alive, rigged Moira’s trial, and is also Thea’s father
- In the flashbacks, Ivo tries to find the hosen arrowhead. Shado and Slade rescue Oliver, who in turn saves Sara. Shado has the mysterious hosen arrowhead, which seems to contain the location of a mysterious serum, which they may try to use to save Slade.
Arrow Episode Recap: State v. Queen, the Details
The Count is Back
Season 2 Episode 7 of Arrow begins with Moira six months ago, admitting in public working with Malcolm Merlyn. We see the prison that is evacuated, but the prisoners are left behind. We also see that Count Vertigo is in this prison, and we see Merlyn’s machine go off, breaking open an escape for the Count. We also see that it is the Count that frees the Doll Maker, which came into play a few episodes ago.
Back in the present, Oliver and Thea are escorted by Diggle to the court room for Moira’s trial. Meanwhile, Laurel learns that her co-counsel for the trial may have some evidence to hammer the defense with. Heading to the courtroom, Diggle is seemingly sick, and Oliver tells him to take the day off. The trial begins in the court room, with both sides making their case.
Thea Testifies
Diggle returns to Felicity’s office, and he is not doing well. He passes out, falling to the ground. Meanwhile, the Count has made a deal with a scientist. The Count is pleased when the scientist tries to get more money out of him, and the Count injects him with an OD of Vertigo.
Returning to Diggle, Oliver has come at hearing the news from Felicity–Diggle somehow has come in contact with Vertigo, which is what is making him sick. Felicity then tells Oliver that Count Vertigo escaped Iron Heights Prison. Felicity thinks that Oliver regrets not killing the Count. Oliver reassures her he is done killing. He gives Felicity his Vertigo antidote, and tells her to find any information she can on the Count, and he heads back to his mother’s trial.
At the trial, Thea has been put on the stand, and the prosecuting attorney questions her about how long it took for Thea to visit her mother. As he is questioning her, the prosecutor seems to be sick–similar to Diggle sick. He is able to make his point though–Thea was really angry with Moira’s decisions. He passes out though, and is escorted off in an ambulance–driven by the Count.
Meeting with her lawyer, Moira is told that she will have to testify. Oliver agrees, but she doesn’t want to, as some secrets will come out that she doesn’t want to. Oliver tells her that her secrets and lies got her in trouble in the first place.
Laurel’s Ace to Win the Case
Back with Diggle, he is not doing much better, and the antidote didn’t work. Meanwhile, Vertigo takes over network television, and he tells the city that Vertigo will cure the illness they are suffering from. The District Attorney takes it himself. Felicity tries to figure out where the Count is. They also try to figure out where the people came in contact with Vertigo. Meanwhile, Laurel has been put in charge of Moira’s trial.
Roy and Thea talk at the club, and Roy wants Thea to punch him–with some boxing gloves–to relieve some steam. She begins hitting him, and her emotions boil to the surface at the same time.
Laurel pays a visit to Moira, and warns her to not take the stand. Laurel shows her why–Moira seems to be concerned. Moira meets with Oliver and Thea, and tells them of her affair with Merlyn. In the court room, Laurel begins questioning Moira. She is aggressive, but seems a little broken up about it too. Outside the court room, Laurel runs into Oliver, and she tries to avoid him. Oliver confronts her though, and just asks if she is ok. She isn’t though, and leaves.
Felicity in Danger
Felicity is able to find where the Count is hiding. He is making some more Vertigo, and Arrow drops in. He springs into action, freeing the District Attorney, but leaves so he doesn’t have to kill anyone. Felicity and Diggle are still trying to figure out the pattern of people being poisoned. They figure out it may be a flu vaccination clinic. Diggle says he is going to investigate it, but Felicity refuses to let him, and goes herself. She gets captured by the Count though.
Oliver gets a call from the Count, and he has figured out that he is the Hood. Oliver rushes off to save Felicity, and Thea is asking where he is going, as the jury is about to make their decision with Moira. Oliver gives no explanation other than “I have to go”.
He finds the Count in his building. The Count warns him of a villain he has yet to encounter. The Count opens fire on Arrow and then takes Felicity, and threatens to inject Felicity. He demands that Oliver lower his bow. He still tries to inject her, and Oliver quickly reacts, killing the Count.
Of Course He is Still Alive
Back at court, Thea is upset that Oliver has been gone. He didn’t miss the verdict though, but the jury is back now. She is found not guilty. They rejoice, while Laurel seems shocked.
Back with Diggle and Felicity, Oliver thinks the verdict doesn’t make sense. Felicity figured out a treatment for the Vertigo thankfully. Oliver and Felicity talk, and she apologizes for forcing Oliver to kill again, but he doesn’t hold her responsible.
Sebastian Blood isn’t unhappy that the Count has died. We see he has his own group of men that he seems to be training for his own personal army. He also seems to have a creepy mask.
Moira is released from prison, and breathes some fresh air. She is taken to an empty parking lot for some reason. Malcolm Merlyn turns out to be alive. He tells Moira that he helped her get acquitted. He tells her of his inside man at the DA’s office. We also learn that through a DNA test, Thea is actually Malcolm’s daughter. Dun dun dun!
Flashback Time
In the flashback scenes, the group that is holding Oliver hostage finds the plane Shado and Slade hid in, and open fire on it. They have managed to flee, and the group decides to blow up the plane. Shado manages to stop the bomb. Shado and Slade decide to go save Oliver.
Oliver takes the kidnappers to the graves of the Japanese soldiers. Dr. Ivo demands to know where the hosen arrowhead is, and decides that Oliver may need some tuning up to make him talk, so he is taken outside. Shado and Slade show up, and are able to help.
Ivo comes out and he questions them about the hosen arrowhead. Oliver is freed, and he takes Sara with him, and they flee with Slade and Shado. Shado has the hosen. There are numbers on it, and Sara determines that the numbers are for a submarine, which has a serum on it. Slade is looking worse for the wear, and Oliver is hoping that the serum will help him. Meanwhile, Ivo executes one of the soldiers for failing him.
Josh’s Thoughts: Arrow, Season 2 Episode 7: State v. Queen
I really liked this episode of Arrow, although not because of the villain of the episode. The villain, The Count, seems way to weak of a villain for Oliver. Oliver is smarter, stronger, and more capable of fighting, so really it makes no sense how the Count stands a chance with Oliver. I guess his biggest weapon is the pain and suffering he can inflict on others, but still, once Oliver faces him, it’s basically a silly fight.
What I really enjoyed about the episode was the payoff at the end. I was certain that Malcolm Merlyn was still alive. I was just waiting for him to finally pop up again–and he finally did. It was interesting seeing that he was the one who saved Moira again, which means she is still stuck under his shadow. And then the bigger bomb–that he is Thea’s father! I always thought Thea’s hair was a little dark.
Another little thing I liked was the hint at what’s to come–with the mentioning of the particle accelerator coming online soon–I think this is a nod to the Flash coming up next episode.
I am curious as to where Sebastian’s character is going, and what he is doing with the four people he has being held. Are they willing participants in his shenanigans, or are they forced to participate? Are they brain washed? What exactly is he doing? Are they taking the serum we are learning about in the flashbacks?
Speaking of the flashbacks, Slade sure does look worse for the wear. I have not read the comics, but I have a feeling things with Slade are about to sideways from what I have heard from other people. I am wondering if it is the serum that does it. Overall, a very good episode I thought, and look forward to meeting the Flash next episode!
Violet’s Thoughts on Season 2 Episode 7 of Arrow: State v. Queen
Great episode of Arrow! There were so many things going on that were interrelated, and the show did a great job of pulling it off. By the previews, you would have thought that the highlight of this episode was supposed to be the return of the Count, but it turns out that his return took a backseat to all the other things going on this episode, especially the return of a far more important character: Malcolm Merlyn. As I predicted in my thoughts on the Season 1 finale of Arrow, Merlyn is still alive! Honestly, the show never really made it clear in the season finale that Merlyn was even dead, so I thought it was a given that he was still alive. Not only does Merlyn assure the acquittal of Moira, but the show provides an added twist: that Merlyn is Thea’s father! Well, good thing Thea and Tommy never hooked up, then. She seemed to have a crush on him last season! Is it a coincidence that Merlyn has returned just when we are learning about the serum that gives superhuman abilities? Did Merlyn manage to get his hands on some of that serum, and take some himself, and is that how he survived the fight with Oliver?
Going back to one of the less important aspects of this episode, The Count, Oliver is a little upset about having had to kill again, after he had made his vow not to. However, I don’t see what the big deal is. He only did it because Felicity was in immediate danger. Besides, what about all those guys who were killed in Russia from the bomb blast? I guess he’s of the mentality that whatever happens in Russia, stays in Russia? Even so, he’s shot tons of guys with his arrows, and even if he didn’t shoot to kill, it’s possible that they still died of their wounds. Which, in common law, that amounts to second degree murder, because he intended to cause grievous bodily harm to them. But, I digress.
It was cool seeing how the Dollmaker escaped: because the Count gave him the keys! So many familiar faces this episode, which made it a great one. I’m glad that Merlyn is back, and I wonder how long it is until someone besides Moira finds out about it. I’m also glad he’s back because that means there’s still a chance to have John Barrowman (who also played Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who) and Alex Kingston (who played Laurel’s mother in an episode last season, and River Song in Doctor Who) be in a scene together! I’m also glad that the show has seemed to return to the Sebastian Blood storyline. What exactly is he up to, and does Malcolm Merlyn have anything to do with it? With this one episode, Arrow just got that much better!
Scenes from Arrow, Season 2 Episode 8: The Scientist
Here are scenes from the next Arrow episode, titled The Scientist:
Scenes from Arrow, Season 2 Episode 8: The Scientist
What did you think of Season 2 Episode 7 of Arrow, titled State v. Queen? Let us know in the comments below!
