Arrow - Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Four

After a month hiatus, the Crisis crossover continues. More than any episode of the crossover, "Part Four" does feel the limits of a television budget as the big climactic moments feel a bit rushed and underwhelming. The return of Green Arrow (Stephen Amell), now revealed to be the Spectre (although not looking any different), helps free the Paragons from Vanishing Point on a two-pronged attempt to stop the Anti-Monitor. While Supergirl (Melissa Benoist), Ryan Choi (Osric Chau), and Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) attempt to prevent the the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) from opening the rift that allowed the Anti-Monitor into our universe 10,000 years ago (a plotline that ultimately never leads anywhere), the rest of the heroes head for the Anti-Matter Universe with a stopover in the Speed Force that offers a few scenes from the past and one more cameo from another alternate version of one of our heroes.

The episode isn't without it's bright spots such as another attempt by Lex Luthor to turn the situation to his own advantage, the surprise cameo by Ezra Miller, Ryan Choi fulfilling a purpose for the first time since being introduced, some of the flashbacks, and the writers making use of the paragon idea (not part of the original story) to help restart the universe. With one more episode to deal with the aftermath and a few final fights, "Part Four" wraps up the main battle with the Anti-Monitor and offers (yet another) final farewell for Oliver Queen (this time on his own show). For the climax of the event, it's odd that it should be the least satisfying of the crossover so far, but it still succeeds in what it sets out to do.