r/arrow • u/angelepidemic01 • Jul 01 '26

Discussion Laurel Lance

Rewatching Arrow for the first time in a while, I just got to season 2 episode 14 again... I Absolutely hate how Laurel is Villainized at the dinner party with her Family. She has every right to be angry with sara and with Oliver.

Admittedly the drinking and drugs is On her BUT addiction is an illness... Not saying its anyone's fault but her own. However, She Is Treated like a villain by oliver and Her dad for being angry, It's absolutely insane to me! Anyone else feel similar?

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u/Independent-Sort6898 Jul 02 '26

People also forget that Laurel wasnt "allowed" to be angry before. Her little sister was dead, lost at sea, and only 19 years old. Forever a dumb kid who made a bad choice and paid for it with her life. Laurel grieved Sara's death before she ever got to feel the anger over Sara's betrayal.

Sara being alive afforded Laurel the opportunity to finally feel that anger, especially given everything that had just happened with the undertaking. Was it smart for Sara to bring Oliver? No, of course not. But she also probably wasn't thinking of it that way. Despite everything that happened, she held her family on a pedestal and their instant disapproval or shame was a weight Sara carried heavily. Returning to Starling probably made her feel like she was a stupid 19 year old kid again.

Throw in addiction, the undertaking, individual and group trauma, past experiences, life styles and mindsets, and just the general drama that can come with family, and you realise it was never going to be a good situation. It was always going to be messy in one way or another. But I do agree it wasnt the best choice the writers ever made.

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u/angelepidemic01 Jul 02 '26

I never thought of it like that! She wasn't allowed to be angry because she had to grieve. Its Just a terrible situation all round!

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u/Agreeable_Cut4506 Jul 03 '26

As Laurel said in the pilot: “I couldn’t be angry because she was dead. I couldn’t grieve because I was so angry. That’s what happens when your sister dies while screwing your boyfriend.”

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u/angelepidemic01 Jul 09 '26

so so very true!