Arrow: Oliver and Laurel's Identity Crises

In last night's episode of Arrow, Laurel (as Black Canary) was given a dose of Vertigo which [...]

By Emily Donn

Arrow 301 color (2)

In last night's episode of Arrow, Laurel (as Black Canary) was given a dose of Vertigo which revealed her deepest fear was Sara. Specifically Sara hating her, being angry at Laurel for taking on the mantle of Black Canary. The audience was rewarded with a sister vs. sister battle. Visually, every overhead and distance shot gave a more interesting visual. A Canary vs. Canary fight. It might have been someone fighting their own twin. Or clone. Or themself.

In the first episode of this season, we were treat to a similar battle. Ollie vs. Arrow. Since Vertigo reveals the user's deepest fear, it begs a simple question. Do Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance fear the same thing?

Arrow was afraid of the possibility that he can't be Oliver Queen as well as Arrow. That he can't be who he is while being who he wants to be. Laurel was afraid that she wasn't living up to Sara's legacy. That she could not be who she wants to be, she had to accept being who she is. While these two fears are grammatically opposites, in reality, aren't they the exact same thing?

Both Ollie and Laurel have an ideal in their heads of who they want to be, and that is what inspires their superhero alter egos. For Oliver, that is a combination of people he has learned from. Yao Fei, Slade, Shado, Maseo, and probably others we have not even met yet all help inform who Arrow is. He is the best of all of them. Laurel only has one guide, her sister. She's not creating someone new, she is being someone who already was. But she is not Sara. So can she be Black Canary?

When Arrow had to face Ollie while under the influence of Vertigo, he eventually managed to gain control over his fear, therefore over the drug. But he is still questioning his duel identity, still struggling with his feelings that he can't be both himself and his ideal. The fear is gone, but not the question.

In episode 13, we saw Laurel confront her fear of living up to Sara's memory. She's made the decision to be her own version of Black Canary, to be herself. Does that put her one step ahead of Ollie, if he is still questioning his fear and she no longer questions hers? Or will this internal struggle return for Laurel, like it has for Ollie? Only time will tell.

Both Ollie and Laurel have demonstrated fear of the battle between who they want to be and who they are. Apparently, they are far more alike than they have ever realized. Perhaps that means they will be a stronger team than either of them realizes.  

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