top Olicity moments of 2018 #9: 6x21: We’re gonna save each other - 55/100
Not gonna lie, my enjoyment of this scene is diminished by the horrible lighting and camera angle choices. Like, I get that it’s daylight, but I’m pretty sure they could have positioned them in such a way that their faces weren’t half in shadow?? Especially when the camera is close up on the shadowed side??! And honestly these particular up-close camera angles are not at all flattering for either of them. Like, who said it was a good idea to film SA from below?? Pretty difficult to make these two people unattractive, but the camera and lighting people in this scene really tried their hardest.
Also, I’m just generally not a fan of Oliver’s defeatist attitude that haunted him throughout season 6. It’s on full display here. Basically, in my opinion, this scene is saved mainly because of Felicity’s lines. And EBR’s and SA’s acting.
Felicity: Let me worry about me and William; let me at least take that off your plate.
and then he does the thing with the arms, grabbing her hands. YES. IT IS GOOD.
Also I love the blocking here, reminiscent of 2x14’s “You’re not gonna lose me.”
Annoyingly, his words in this scene are basically the opposite of that. He’s basically saying, “I cannot handle losing you, so instead you’re gonna lose me.” Hmm. I just made myself mad lol. But anyway the hand touching is very nice.
Oliver: That’s not how wedding vows work
I very much appreciate any and all references to their marriage, sigh.
Felicity: Well we didn’t exchange vows. But if we did, exchange means go both ways. We fight for each other, Oliver, we protect each other. We’re gonna save each other.
SO MUCH THIS. This is my favorite part of the whole thing. Felicity is trying to do her usual pep talk thing, because she believes there is another way, and she musters just the right energy and passion and it’s super beautiful because it’s not only rooted in partnership and friendship, it’s rooted in marriage!!!!!! And I love it
Oliver: You can’t save anyone from behind bars.
ughhh the defeatism, the dismissiveness. yuck.
Felicity: We’ll get you out, just like we got John out.
She makes things so simple, and always has, remember, Oliver?? LISTEN TO HER.
Oliver: You can break out of prison, Felicity, but then what, you know? I’m not abandoning the two of you, I can’t make the two of you fugitives…. Felicity: We’re going to be okay.
UGHHH her face, the way she says this...his defeatism is wearing her down.
Oliver: John and I have been talking, and if I go to prison, I need you and William to go into ARGUS protective custody. Felicity: Oliver. We’re not...we’re not there yet.
Her face, her voice, everything...heartbreaking! It’s all getting to her: the thought of him going to prison, the thought of having to go into protective custody, but - I think - most of all the fact that he seems to be giving up. HE NEVER GIVES UP. But here he is, doing it. HEARTBREAKING.
Oliver: We cannot live in denial, all right? We have to have a plan. I can handle losing my freedom. I cannot handle losing you and William.
And then she just lets him hug her, but rather than being a hug of hope, it’s a hug of defeat. Felicity is clearly heartbroken.
And (sorry to do this to y’all, but I gotta point it out) the music?? It’s basically the 2x22 “You are not alone and I believe in you” music. The ultimate Felicity pep talk music. The hug Oliver gives her here? It’s basically timed to the music so that he goes in for the hug right at the same time that Felicity goes in for the 2x22 hug (you know - THE hug). (Go ahead and watch it if you’d like: the hug comes right around 1:55) Except this time, it’s not Felicity giving Oliver a pep talk - it’s Oliver basically giving Felicity an anti-pep talk. (Or Felicity giving Oliver a failed pep talk.It ultimately comes down to the same thing.)
So while I like the feels in this scene, and I LOVE Felicity’s fighting spirit (which honestly we did not see nearly enough of in season 6), I don’t like what it all boils down to. It very clearly belongs to the season 6 arc of Oliver losing hope and giving up, and I just hated that lol.
(thanks so much to @cokewhiteconiglietto for your beautifully bright and hi-rez clips!)
