Warning: Full spoilers for Arrow Season 7, Episode 17 below. If you need a refresher on where we left off, check out our review for Season 7, Episode 16.
As much as Arrow Season 7 has been a clear improvement over Season 6, the series has been in need of a good villain for a while. Ricardo Diaz and the Longbow Hunters fit the bill for a while, but they were clearly never intended to carry the show all the way into May. But now, thanks to the rise of dante and the Ninth Circle, we finally have that villain. In fact, we now have two worthy opponents for Team Arrow.
I was pleased with just how Dante-heavy this episode turned out to be. The character made a strong impression in his debut a few weeks back. Adrian Paul has just that right blend of charisma, menace and physicality to stand against Oliver Queen. This episode served as an even stronger showcase for Paul and his character. Arrowverse villains don’t come anymore suave than Dante.