Arrow S03E11 Recap: Midnight City

Felicity tries to talk Oliver out of his duel. She isn't worried about that he can't beat him, but that he can't kill him, that it isn't in his make-up anymore. Oliver tells her that he'll stay, and that he loves her. Someone is clearly dreaming. Felicity and Oliver kiss, and she jumps back in horror as blood pours out of his mouth, and a knife is in his gut.

Oliver awakens. Maseo brought Oliver to the cabin. He didn't realize that he and Tatsu were still in contact. She reveals that they haven't been. Maseo comes in and sees Oliver up and about, when he shouldn't be. He helps him back to bed. If Ra's finds out that Maseo helped him, he'll kill him, but Maseo tells him not to worry about that. Maseo warns him that his concern should be for his home, and what its become in his absence.

A girl runs, from her would be attacker. He tells her that had she chosen a different alley she would have been free. Black Canary arrives on the scene and tells the girl to run. The guy meets Black Canary head on, but Laurel is no Sara, and he gets the upper hand on her, telling her that this is Brick's town now. Lucky for Laurel, Arsenal arrives, and takes out the trash. It's time they have a little chat.

Roy patches up Laurel, stitches and all. Dig taught them how to suture, but he's clearly not as talented as Felicity. He tells her that her grief isn't enough to help her out there, he's had a lot of training. Dig is on the same page, she's certifiable if she thinks she can wear her sister's mask. She knows he's right, but Oliver, the Arrow is gone. She thinks that Canary sends the same message, but Diggle points out that they don't fear her, they fear her sister.

Felicity sits at her desk, when Ray comes in. She thought he would be there later, but he had the meeting moved up with the new threat in town. Felicity hopes that he means to help with his money, and not a suit that shoots lasers. Ray makes a joke, and tells her that his suit can't actually fire the beams of light since she won't fix his nanite chip. Felicity isn't interested in assisting him on his suicide mission.

Thea runs into Chase. He's there to get his gear, but she's there to just do her job. He asks if they're okay after their moment, but she claims that he thinks too highly of his kissing skills. He teases that she must have a pretty high opinion of them too, unless she needs a reminder. Merlyn arrives and Thea runs out the meet him. He went by her apartment to see how her packing was going, but she's not packing. She can't leave until she knows what happened to Oliver. Merlyn tells her that they're in danger and she's not ready for the truth. She's just sure she's not ready to leave Starling City. Roy oversees the whole exchange.

Quentin meets with Laurel. He asks if she's heard from her sister. He thinks that Sara is back in town. Before Laurel can stick her foot in her mouth, the meeting begins about Brick. Brick has been a huge problem, and all of the men that were sent after him were taken out. They need more men, which means more money. Ray and Felicity arrive. He's made a large donation, and although that will help, he thinks that the National Guard should be called in. Brick arrives and causes havok. He wants the mayor, and orders the death of everyone else. Ray moves to protect Felicity in the shootout, as he, Quentin and Laurel take out as many guys as possible. After the chaos is over, Ray points out that this is the exact reason he needs a suit.

Back in the cabin, Maseo pours some tea and heads out. Oliver tells Tatsu that she cannot let him go back to Ra's. Maseo blames himself, and sometimes death is preferable to the agony of life.

Hong Kong, five years ago. Maseo and Oliver stake out a club. They think that they know where Tatsu is being held. Oliver asks if he would do anything to get her back, and he would. The pair are disarmed and pulled in by guards. China White is waiting for them, and Maseo had a deal with her, betraying Oliver. He wants to see his wife, but once he does, he'll hand over the thing she desires.

Quentin checks on Felicity, but she's worried about his heart. He's fine he tells her, but he noticed that no one in a hood came to their rescue. Felicity tells him that Oliver is gone, which doesn't make sense to him since Sara is back. That admission confuses Felicity. Someone tell him now. Quentin tells her that a masked blonde has been taking out Brick's men. Felicity admits that she's sort of been out of the loop lately.

Laurel goes to question one of Brick's thugs. He was doing pretty well for himself before joining up with Brick. He refuses to talk, and Laurel playfully warns that she has another heel still. She asks about his role in a death, but he claims to know nothing about it. She tells him his file says otherwise. He's not one for taking the credit for crimes he didn't commit, but Laurel reminds him that she can charge him with whatever she wants, especially after his little stunt, and he would be held until the trial. She would hold him in the same prison of the family of the murder victim. If she does that he won't last a day, but she's willing to take that gamble unless he tells her where she can find Brick. He doesn't want to play, but Laurel is serious and he really has no options, so he tells her what she wants to know.

Merlyn returns home, and Roy has followed him. He's not sure why Merlyn wants Thea to leave, but thinks that he should stay away from her. Merlyn thanks him for his human. Roy wasn't joking. Merlyn is poison, and he put a bullseye on Thea when he had her kill Sara. Merlyn tells him that she will never know about Sara. Roy knows Thea, and he knows that she will not stop until she knows the truth, and when she figures it out, she will leave him. Roy knows from experience. Merlyn points out that its a family matter, and Roy isn't family.

Felicity looks after Ray's wounds. She knows that the fight couldn't be easy for him. Ray admits that it brought back memories of Anna, but then it became about protecting Felicity. He admits that he went about the suit project all wrong. At first it was about avenging Anna, but it became about protecting the people he cares about, namely her. Can we all say awwww together?

Roy and Laurel suit up, and she's taking Sara's weapon. Dig thought that they were on the same page, but Roy tells him that Laurel found out where Brick was with the hostages. They have to move, and do it soon if they plan to save any of them. Dig wants Laurel to talk him and Roy through to the location, but Laurel refuses to back down. She knows she's not her sister, but she's not staying home either. Dig warns Roy to stay close to Laurel.

Brick and his men head to another location. They didn't get their hands on the mayor, as they had planned. Arsenal fires a few arrows, stopping the vehicles. Canary comes from above to rescue the people, as Brick goes after Arsenal. Laurel manages to open the doors for the hostages before Brick double backs. Lucky for her he doesn't like to hit women, so he tosses her aside, and gets the van moving again. Arsenal fires an arrow into Brick, and he retaliates by shooting one of his hostages.

The news reports that Brick is still at large as the Police and Quentin watch. A bruised Laurel arrives, and Quentin pulls his daughter aside as they show footage of what he thinks is Sara. They've been running footage of her and Arsenal all night. He asks if Sara has made contact, and Laurel tells him that she hasn't. Someone let Quentin in on the fact that his other daughter is dead, the fact that he can't tell that Black Canary Laurel isn't Sara is ridiculous. Brick makes a call to the Mayor. He's a little upset over the city vigilante problem. Brick quotes Shakespeare to her. He wants to parlay with her in person. She refuses to negotiate, especially not in person. She's already going to one funeral, and warns her that she'll attend many more if she isn't at their designated meeting place.

Merlyn pays Thea a little visit, and no she isn't packing. He doesn't want to lose her, but telling the truth is a little difficult. Merlyn tell her that they're on the run from Ra's because thinks Merlyn betrayed his code. He joined up with Ra's after the death of his wife, and it lead to the death of his son. Thea is all he has left, and he doesn't want to lose her too.

Laurel listens to more news reports on her laptop about her fallen co-workers. Felicity pays Laurel a visit, and she came to ask her if things are okay. Laurel figures that she came to talk some sense into her, but Laurel isn't sure she has to bother. Brick killed someone in front of her, and she thought that being Sara would make it hurt less, but it didn't. It hurt more. She won't be wearing the mask anymore. She's not strong enough to fight for Sara. Felicity tells her that maybe it isn't about Sara, or Oliver or those they've lost. Maybe they do this for the people who are still there, the ones who need them.

The Mayor prepares for her meeting with Brick. He's cocky and confident driving out into the open with no care that the area is surrounded by the police. His collateral insures that they won't act hasty. He asks Ray why he's there, if its merely to look important. Brick thinks he has the city in the palm of his hand, but the night is still young. Brick tells him that all of his money won't help him, but Ray has a lot of money. Brick wants all of the police presence out of the Glade. It's an absurd request, they can't abandon an entire district.

Quentin calls to Felicity, and tells her Brick's demand. They need all the help they can get immediately. The Arrow may be gone, but she thinks she knows where she can find the Canary.

In the mountains, the storm has passed. Maseo prepares to leave, but Oliver tells him that he doesn't have to leave, he can still have a life. Maseo claims to not want one. Tatsu stops him. She still loves her husband, and she kisses him goodbye. Maseo hesitates to leave, as Ra's men come out of the trees. The jig is up, they've been found. Maseo waits by the fire as the men barge in, Oliver and Tatsu are nowhere in sight. They ask what he's doing there. Maseo tells them that he was told to find and bring back Oliver's body, but he found tracks and followed them to the cabin, where there was no further sign. He makes to leave, when the men hear Tatsu. One goes to look, and she cuts him down with a sword. Maseo springs to action, killing the others as Oliver stays in hiding.

Past. Maseo tells him that Tatsu is the mother of his son, and Oliver shouldn't judge him. Oliver is so judging him. Matseo hands over the item China White wanted, and claims it to be the real deal, but she tests it. She finds it to be a fake, and orders all of them to be killed. Maseo, Oliver and Tatsu spring into action, and get away into the club with Oliver leading the way, grabbing a gun. The trio make it out of the club.

Roy beats himself up over the death. The man died because of decision that he made, but Dig tells him not to blame himself. That death is on Brick. Dig pours them a drink, and shares with him a ritual that he and Oliver use to do when they had a rough night. They take the drinks, and Roy realizes that they can't win this battle without Oliver, that Felicity was right. Felicity and Laurel arrive, and Felicity admits that she was wrong, which doesn't happen often. Laurel tells them that they talked to her father, and the Mayor is going to cave to Brick's. It's up to them to make this right. Oliver's mission may be over, but theirs isn't. This is their home, and they need to protect it.

Quentin argues with the Mayor. He thinks that she's making the wrong decision, and he refuses to be the one to give the order. If she wants to doom a district, she's going to be the one to make the actual call. “Sara” calls her father. Laurel uses a voice machine to apologize to her father. She tells him that she's there to help. She needs to know everything that he has on the hostage, no matter how insignificant. He tells her that he isn't holding back any information, but if they don't move quickly, the one with the pace maker won't make it. That information helps, they may be able to track him that way. Roy tells Laurel to gear up.

Felicity drops in on Ray's meeting, interrupting him. She needs the keys to his helicopter. She promises not to crash it. Ray isn't confident in her aeronautic abilities, since she didn't know that helicopters don't have keys. She asks him if its on the roof, and he admits that it is. She runs off to retrieve the helicopter, and he plans to hold her to the no crash promise.

Diggle flies the helicopter with Canary and Arsenal inside. He hasn't flown for over five years, and Arsenal hopes its like riding a bike, as Felicity plays navigator from their lair. The trio arrive via chopper, and the bad guys get the call that there's a copter in the area when its pretty much too late. Canary and Arsenal spring into action, kicking butt along the way. Laurel's canary is so ungraceful compared to Sara. I get that she's no trained assassin, but still, it's just not pretty to watch. Arsenal and Canary make it to the hostages, and they get them out, but Brick catches up to them and cuts Canary off from the pack. She needs a getaway, and Brick is hot on her trail. He just may make an exception for his dislike of hitting women for her. He thinks that he'll keep the city safe, but Canary isn't buying it. The copter is in place, and Canary leaps from the window, catching the ladder as Diggle flies away.

Maseo returns from burying the bodies, they won't be found. Oliver knows that he plans to return to Ra's but points out that Ra's won't accept him back. Maseo slices his own throat, he'll claim it was inflicted by Oliver when he escaped. Oliver tells him he can just come back to Starling City with him. He turns his back, and prepares to leave his friend and his wife once more. Maseo is clearly torn about it, and he hesitates outside.

Past. Maseo is happy to be home with son and wife. Oliver pulls him aside. If he had a fake virus sample, and planned to use it he should have told him. Maseo admits that he didn't know it was fake. Amanda Waller knew he would try something like that and must have switched out the samples before he took it. Oliver can't believe he was willing to risk so many people dying for his wife. It was for his wife, for his family, and there isn't anything he wouldn't do for them. Tatsu thanks Oliver for helping to save her life.

“Sara” goes to see her father. He tells her that because of her the hostages were saved. The police are being pulled out of the Glades anyways. Brick has the home address of every city council member he revealed, and she caved. “Sara” goes to leave, but Quentin stops her, asking her to join him for dinner at her favorite Chinese restaurant. She tells him that she can't, but he sees it as avoidance. She promises to tell him what's wrong, but not tonight.

Merlyn sits on Thea's balcony. He asks if she's ready to leave, but she's not leaving. He told her they were in danger, and who was after them, but not why. He did, he said that Ra's Al Ghul wanted them dead. He will want them dead anywhere, so why not stay and fight. He taught her to stand her ground, to stay and fight, and Ra's should be the one to fear them. Merlyn agrees to stay.

Felicity tells Ray that his helicopter is back. It wasn't crashed, and it did have keys. She gives him his nanite chip as a peace offering. The reason he couldn't get the chip to function is that he needed a quantum processor. The end result is elegant. He thought she wasn't going to help him on his suicide mission, but she hopes if she does he won't die.

Chase heads into the club and makes another excuse to see Thea. He's cheating on her with another club. He heard a rumor that she was headed out of town, but she has no intention of that. Chase goes to collect his hard drive, and makes a call. He's one of the assassins. He calls Maseo and tells him that Merlyn isn't planning on skipping town. Maseo plans to pass along the message to Ra's.