Diggle checks on Oliver. The cure isn’t working, Oliver fears, but Felicity still has hope. The alarm she set sounds, Slade’s men have arrived to kill them. As the men arrive, Roy awakens, but his powers are no more. Oliver shoots an arrow and sends everyone down to safety. Felicity hesistates, and Oliver grabs her and they leap down as the cavalry arrives. Dig’s ex-wife comes with a helicopter and blasts the tower.  Starling City is in chaos. The Arrow cave is compromised. The city is going to be blasted at dawn, and yet she still came. Oliver wants Lyla to go back to Argus and buy them some time. While they filll as many injection arrows as possible with the cure, and stop more killings.

Thea kills the last of the attackers. Merlin isn’t dead, he’s fine thanks to a Kevlar vest. She tells him to get on with it and kill her, but he doesn’t intend to do that. Her brother also held him at gun point he reveals, Tommy. He lacked the conviction to pull the trigger, but not Thea. He may be proud of her, but she cannot look at him.

Quentin reminds his officers to remember their training, and take clean shots. The sounds from the radio don’t sound good. The city is in chaos and their fellow officers are in danger. They have a right to fear, but he reminds them to be the heroes he knows they are and sends them out. He reminds his daughter Laurel to remain inside. Sara is saying how she doesn’t want Laurel involved, when Laurel sneaks up on her and is tranqed.

Roy has a huge gap in his memory. Felicity tells him that he was out the entire time. Oliver reasons that they will need an entire army to administer the cure, which is a good thing, since its an army that Nyssa al Ghul has brought. Sara must have called her girl in. Felicity isn’t happy that seven assassins have been called in, but Sara invited them in. Oliver worries about the price, but Sara has already paid it. She is more than willing to do anything to protect her father and sister, and rejoining the assassins is a small price. Oliver tells her that they have the cure, and it works, but Sara believes that to fight the unthinkable you must be willing to do the unthinkable. Nyssa is ready for action, and they’ve tracked Slade to his high rise. Roy may have lost his Mirakuru powers, but he still has training, and Oliver gives him a red mask. A friend once told him “If you survive a crucible you grow stronger for it,” he instill that on him. He asks about Thea, but Oliver tells him that she was headed out of the city before this mess started.  If they’re going to fight together, then they’re going to do it Oliver’s way. The League does not take prisoners Nyssa says, but Oliver is firm that tonight they will.

Merlin cautions Thea that the city is dangerous at the moment, but she thinks her psychotic father is as well. She points out the fact that she tried to kill him. Roy calls, and she’s shocked to hear him. She tells him that she is at the train station. He asks her to meet him at his place, and she agrees. Merlin asks if its Roy, and he finds it interesting that she would run to him after trying to run away from all the lies and half truths. He tells her that Roy is no different than Oliver and her mother, and if she doesn’t believe him then she should go to Roy. She plans to do just that.

Team Arrow makes its move against Slade’s men. Canary comes up through the elevator, clearing rooms as she goes, and Arrow makes his way to the conference room. Slade thinks they must have quite a bit of faith in the cure to have just the two of them come alone, but they haven’t come alone. The assassins break through the windows, and as chaos ensues, Slade makes a getaway. Arrow stops Canary from dealing a death blow to Isabel. She taunts him, and Nyssa snaps her neck, telling him that it is his weakness that is allowing his city to burn. Oliver admits to Sara that he cannot get close enough to hit Slade with the cure.

Past. Sara and Oliver are held hostage on the tanker. Another person has disappointed Slade, he brings forth another prisoner to try out the Mirakuru. Oliver makes a last stitch effort, telling him that he knows that he blames him for Shado’s death. Shado’s spirit yells in Slade’s ear, fueling his fire. Oliver tries to make sense of it all, telling him that Shado loved them both, he wouldn’t want them to fight, to kill eachother, but Shado tells him to kill Oliver. Below, Anatoly prepares to fire on the tanker. As Slade draws his gun, and Anatoly fires.

Quentin finds Laurel as she awakens. She tells him that she saw Sara with that woman, the one that took their mother. One of Deadstroke’s men has broken into the precinct. Quentin tries to hold him off, but he’s tossed aside, and the man grabs Laurel.

Amanda Waller prepares her drones to strike out Starling City. The drones are en route.

Quentin wants to know why Slade has such a hard on for the Queens, but Felicity doesn’t spill the beans. He’s not pleased to see  Nyssa, but Sara assures him that she’s an ally today. He’s willing to work with anyone to get Laurel back. News that Laurel was taken does not make Sara or Oliver very happy, and Felicity has more bad news. Felicity tells them that all of Slade’s men are headed out of the city via the tunnel. Slade knows Waller’s tactics as well as they do. Luckily with all of the enemies in one place they can pick them off, and hopefully before Argus levels the city. For now, Laurel has to come second with saving the rest of the city, which does not make Quentin too happy, maybe he didn’t get the memo that if the drones drop their bombs Laurel will die anyways, they all will. Quentin respects that Arrow was on this whole no kill kick, but now is not the time for that strategy. Felicity thinks he’s wrong, but Oliver knows that he’s right. He’s been fighting with one arm behind his back, and that cost his mother her life. He tried to end this all in the past by killing Slade, and Felicity thinks that was a mistake. He has a choice and he doesn’t have to repeat history.

The news reports that residents are urged to stay indoors, and that Mayor Blood may be among the casualties. Thea arrives at Roy’s and she’s distant. Roy understands though, he admits that he hasn’t been himself for these past months and he apologizes for it. He tells her about the Mirakuru, and she already knows about it. Roy tells her that he is fine. She asks about the Arrow, he said he would take care of Roy. Roy tells her that he doesn’t know about the Arrow, but that he’s done with all of that. She hugs him, relieved. He asks her if something has happened, but she claims its nothing. She wants to get away, to start over. He receives a message from Oliver, its go time. He tells her that he has to take care of something before he goes. He asks her if she trusts him, she says she does. He promises that when he gets back that they’re getting away forever, but that kiss goodbye, seemed more permanent.

Oliver takes Felicity to his house, she doesn’t know why they’re there. He tells her that she has to stay for her own protection. He promises to come and get her when its all over. She wants to know why, and he tells her that he needs her to be safe. She doesn’t want to be safe, she wants to be with him, with the others. He reveals that Slade took the woman that he loves, but he took the wrong woman. Light bulb. Oliver admits that he loves her, he asks if she understands, and she says a simple yes as he walks away.

Lyla and Diggle make a run for it. Lyla hesitates, and Diggle reminds her that he loves her. She’s glad to hear it as they head in.

Things aren’t going according to plan for Waller. She loses communication with Easy company. Her agent reasons that the tunnel they’re in may be causing the interference, but the case of the dead that they’ve come down with is more likely the cause. Slade’s men have killed all of them. Team Arrow arrives like Gangsters to the tunnel. Oliver warns them to take no kill shots, to allow the cure to do its work. Slade’s men have scented blood in the air, and they go on the offensive. Oliver holds his team until the last minute, before he unleashes them and their fury of arrows.

Lyla and Diggle take out an Argus guard. Diggle unlocks the Suicide Squad. Although Deadshot would love to play, there’s the little tick tick boom issue with their heads. Lyla asks for their faith in her. Lyla hands out the toys, and Diggle warns no dropping bodies. Harley Quinn is not among the released.

The fight in the alley continues at its crazy pace. Arrow and Canary are machines, administering cures all over the place. Roy is keeping pace with them. Nyssa saves Canary, and nearly gets taken out herself. Quentin saves her. Looks like the two are playing nice.

Past.Water rushes in after the attack. Oliver capitalizes on the chaos. He tries to get Sara out, but she doesn’t want to leave without him. Slade is after the Mirakuru, but Oliver tries to keep it away from him. Sara jumps into the fray, to get tossed aside, and sucked out the side of the ship as Oliver watches helpless to save her.

Thea goes through Roy’s apartment, packing. Under his bed she finds his bow. Ruh-roh.

Waller orders the drone be prepped to fire. Lyla, Dig and the Suicide Squad hold the room at gun point. Waller asks Lyla if she is willing to risk so many innocents, and how will she explain it to her son, or is it daughter. Lyla has some explaining to do. Waller congratulates Dig on his upcoming heir.

Slade places a call to Oliver, of course he isn’t fighting with his men. Oliver tells him that his army is no more, but Slade reveals that he has once again missed the point in the exercise. Slade tells him that he has the one that he loves, and he will meet him where he tells him or he will kill her. Oliver tells him that he is done playing games. Slade always thought that he had a thing for stronger women, but now that he has met her, he sees her appeal. He says that his Felicity is quite lovely. Slade took Oliver’s carefully laid bait.

The drone has arrived.

Slade taunts Oliver about slitting Felicity’s throat. Oliver follows his sweet voice right to Slade. He finds Slade with his blade at Felicity’s throat. Slade tells him to put down his bow, and he does. He has one of his men bring out Laurel. Slade plans to take from Oliver all that he took from him. Oliver knows that Slade sees Shado, and he asks how she looks in his delusion. She was young, kind and beautiful. Oliver knows that Shado would be horrified if she knew what he’s done in her name. Slade thinks that he did what had to be done, and when the floor is slick with Felicity’s blood, then Oliver will finally know how he feels. Oliver already knows how he feels. He knows what it is to hate, to want revenge, and now he knows what it feels like to have his enemy so distracted he doesn’t see the danger in front of him. Felicity plunges a syringe into Slade’s neck. Oliver knew that Slade had bugged his house, that he would be listening, so he gave Felicity the syringe knowing that if he told her that he loved her that Slade would hear and come for her. Sara kills the man holding her sister, and he tells her to get them out of there.

Past. Poor Sara. Slade asks how many  times is Oliver going to watch her die. The two fight in the water of the sinking ship. Slade mocks Oliver that he cannot kill him. Now, the Mirakuru isn’t what made Slade hate Oliver he says, and he will make him watch his city burn before he kills him. Past. Slade has the upperhand on Oliver. Now, its more of an even fight. Past. Oliver gets tossed around. Now. Slade tells him that there is only one way to end this all, but with his death it will prove that Oliver is indeed a murderer. Past, the ship collapses, trapping Slade. He tells Oliver that it doesn’t matter if he sticks him with the cure, he will make good on his promise. Sara was only the first, he will kill all the women in Oliver’s life. Oliver chooses to stab him in the eye with an arrow. Before he can make sure Slade is dead another explosion rocks the ship and knocks Oliver out. Now. Oliver manages to ensnare Slade with a few cable arrows, wrapping him up with a pillar. Whether he lives or dies, Slade thinks he’s a winner.

Oliver makes a call to Waller. He tells her that Slade and his threat has been neutralized, to call back the drones. Waller ends her Mexican Standoff, dropping her guns and recalling her drones.

The Assassins’ ship is preparing to disembark. Quentin and Laurel have come to say goodbye to Sara. He doesn’t understand why she’s leaving, tells her that she doesn’t have to. For once in her life, she’s making her own decisions. Nyssa vows that she will protect Sara with her life. Laurel says her own goodbye to Sara. She knows that it isn’t the last that she’s seen of her. Sara gives Laurel her leather jacket before heading off. Quentin tells Laurel not to get any ideas. He tells Laurel that he needs to get some Pepto on the way, that his stomach is a little upset. Laurel jokes that Sara will be fine. Quentin knows that that she will be, and he begins to cough. He coughs up blood, falling to the ground as he struggles to breathe. That little throw by Slade’s man earlier, when he took Laurel did some internal damage. Laurel calls for help, begging her father to stay with her.

Roy returns home to find Thea gone. She left him a note on his bow bag that she found, telling him that she made a mistake. She thought she could be with him, but she is no longer Thea Queen. Thea Queen was trusting, but she does not trust him. Thea Queen was weak, and she refuses to be so. Thea has gone to her father. She tells him to not to try to find her, she doesn’t even know where she is going. All she knows is that she is never coming back. Roy pulls the mask from his pocket.

Slade awakens in a cell. He is as far from the world as Oliver could put him. Oliver didn’t kill him because he had the strength to let him live. Slade knows that Oliver is a killer, he made him. Oliver admits that he was a killer because of him, but he also made it home and back to his family because of him. Over the last year he had faltered, but without killing he brought down Slade. He thanks Slade for making him a hero. Slade warns that he keeps his promises, as Oliver closes the door on Slade’s prison. Felicity remarks about the beauty of the island. Dig wonders if the prison will be enough to hold him. Oliver is sure that Argus’s super prison below ground can hold him and anyone else they have to send there, because he is sure there will be more. First on the agenda is getting Queen Industries back. Felicity jokes that he may have to get a real job since he’s broke now. Dig goes to wrap things up, and Felicity congratulates Oliver on the way he outfoxed Slade. She touches on the unthinkable of them as a couple, and admits that he made her believe for a moment too, that he really sold it. They both did. Oliver asks about the news about Dig and Lyla, but Dig isn’t spilling. Felicity has one last question, if Oliver spent five years on the island, when did he learn to fly a plane.

A whole new set of flashbacks seem to be in order. Oliver wakes after the ship. A pair of asian men with guns arrive for him, and he is brought downstairs. Amanda Waller introduces herself as he gets in her car, and she welcomes him to Hong Kong.  

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Slade give Thea his handkerchief, as she pours out her heart break. He tells her its not an easy thing to recover from, and sometimes you never do. Thea notices that she’s no where near home, as Slade kicks her out of his car, and she runs headlong into the Mask.

Digg notices that with Oliver’s new no kill method, the jails are overflowing. Roy tries to concentrate on his archery skills, but he’s far from a natural. He wonders if telling Thea wouldn’t have been a better alternative. Felicity mentions that when she last revealed the secret the guy was struck by lightning, poor Barry. Oliver tells him that if Thea knew she would be put into danger, that she’s less of a target if she stays in the dark. Felicity tries to get Oliver to focus on Queen Industries since he’s been skirting his duties of late. Oliver has Slade on his mind, but Felicity tells him he can’t avoid his duties forever, and wonders if he even knows where his business suits are anymore, teasing that perhaps they’re behind a cool glass case like his Arrow garb is.

Past. The group prepares to hand over Hendrick. They’re divided, knowing that it’s effectively sentencing him to death. Sara wonders if its an opportunity to kill Slade.

Oliver rushes to his board meeting, and finds just Isabel waiting. She planned for his tardiness and told him an earlier time, wanting to ensure that he was there since he is the face of the company. Moira pays her son a visit. She wants him to attend her debate later, even though there is still a rift between them. Oliver plans to play the part that he’s been assigned. Oliver looks for Thea, who is missing from the debate. Sebastian Blood tells Oliver that she may have been caught up in his security traffic. Laurel gives Blood an apology for the nasty things she said about him, and he forgives her, blaming her addictions for the paranoia.

During the debate Moira and Blood go head to head when a question comes in from Thea. She’s being held hostage and the question is memed on the screen “How much is Thea Queen’s Life Worth?” Diggle tries to calm Roy, telling him that they will find Thea as media swarms her. Blood suspends his campaign to find Thea. Lance asks Moira if there is anyone who would want to harm Thea, and Merlin comes to mind, but she says only the victims. Isabel brings out the claws to protect the Queens. Isabel tells Oliver that the board vote has to go on even amidst the crisis, and he hands over his power to her to handle the company business. Oliver turns his attention back to Thea. Felcity has tracked Slade’s car to the last known place Thea was spotted. Sara has gathered some pit viper venom to knock Slade out and Oliver lets Roy off his leash to save Thea.

Sara tries to get a bomb disarmed, and goes over her plan. Slade takes Hendrick, and Hendrick takes out Slade, and they take the ship.

Roy delivers some hits to Slade, but they have little effect. Slade wants to play with Oliver’s fears, but Oliver tells Roy to call Lance to arrest Slade, and he shoots an arrow into his chest, full of pit viper venom. Slade awakens in jail. Lance wonders what Slade wants with Thea. Sara tells him that Oliver has no idea she’s been working with Arrow. Moira and Oliver head down to the station, but Slade has proof that he’s been out of the country, just recently returned, so he couldn’t have kidnapped Thea.

Oliver pays Slade a visit. He tells him that he’s being called Deathstroke and he likes the name, finds it fitting. Slade stonewalls where Thea is concerned, so Oliver asks how he got off the island. It was a brutal leaving, and he would have died if not for the Mirakuru in his veins. It rejuvenated everything but his eye. He tried to let go of the island, but it still has a hold of him, like it does Oliver. Oliver tells him that Sara never did anything to him. Shado is dead because of his choices, not hers, not Thea’s. He begs for her life, and Slade relishes in that guilt, but it isn’t enough. Slade is a free man.

Slade Wilson gives a statement, offering a 5 million dollar reward that leads to Thea Queen’s captors. Diggle tails Slade, but he loses him. Sara rides in on a bike, but the car they’re following turns out to not be the right one. Roy loses him in the streets as well.

Thea waits, and Slade pays her a visit. He tells her that Oliver and Moira are worried about her. She threatens him, and he laughs it up. She asks what he wants with her, but he wants nothing. He tells her that she’s free to leave whenever she wants. She worries that his men will shoot her if she leaves. They won’t he tells her, they were just keeping her there until he returned. As she goes to leave, he entices her by dangling her brother’s secrets in front of her.

Felicity wonders the next move. Diggle wants to wait for Oliver. Roy is posing a mutiny. He feels that every move that Oliver has made, has been an utter mistake. Sara thinks that he blames Oliver, because he lost Slade.

The police sweep the Queen house for clues, and Moira talks about Thea as if she was already dead, remembering her as a child coloring on the walls. Oliver tries to get his mother to get some sleep. Moira asks if Thea is still alive. Oliver knows that she is. She tells him that she woke up every day for five years as a mother who lost her son, and she cannot do it again. She blames herself for the predicament that Thea is in. Moira spun her lies thinking that she was keeping her family safe but it was all lies. She tells him that you protect your children, never thinking that you can be your worst enemy.  The divide between Oliver and his mother closes just a little bit.

Sara prepares her trade. Slade gives her Ivo and Oliver and takes Hendricks, but he smells the bomb before they can get away. He doesn’t think the blast could kill him, he’s not so sure that the same could be said for Sara. He threatens to shoot Sara like Ivo shot Shado, but Oliver stands in his way, as does Shado’s memory.

Roy wants to go out to look for Thea, but Diggle tries to stop him. His rage makes him dangerous, and he pins down Diggle. Sara fires a shot at Roy, threatening to shoot him in the chest with the next one. Oliver arrives in the middle of the chaos. He points more finds at Oliver and his inaction,  and he’s ready to leave Team Arrow. Felicity finds more bad news.

Isabel conducts her meeting as acting CEO, and Oliver interrupts. Isabel sends the committee out, so she can have a private pow wow with him.  His temporary appointment allowed the committee to vote for her permant appointment. His company is now hers. Slade planted her to draw him back to Starling City, the sins of the father, she taunts him, and shows that she’s not just a pretty face with some butt kicking moves of her own. But Oliver gets her pinned down, and he wants answers. Oliver keeps her pinned, and she sings. Everything has gone according to Slade’s plans. She tells Oliver that if he doesn’t come alone, then Thea dies.

Olliver prepares to get his sister. Diggle and Sara want to come along, but he knows that they cannot for fear what Slade will do to Thea. Felicity tells him to get Thea and not to hold back, to end it once and for all. Arrow goes in swinging and takes down Deathstroke’s men and finds an empty warehouse. As Arrow handles the men Deathstroke stops a prisoner transport. He kills the guards and offers the prisoners a proposal. Felicity calls Arrow and tells him that Thea is fine, she walked into precinct a short time before. She’s safe, but she’s not likely fine.

Oliver, Sara and Diggle rush down to the precinct. They tell Oliver that Thea was just a diversion, that he high jacked the prisoner transport. Moira and Oliver rush to see Thea. She confesses that Slade told her his secret, really her secret, that Merlin is her father.

Shado tells him that death is too good them, that being trapped there on that island is more befitting. He tells them what she said, and leaves them to rot.

Thea walks the streets alone, Roy gets the heck out of Starling City. Lance is offered a deal to avoid losing his badge if tells Police and DA the identity of the Vigalante, but unfortunately he doesn’t know it. Lance is arrested on conspiracy charges.

Blood is in a panic about his candidacy being ruined. Moira is getting the sympathy vote if nothing else. He may be Slade’s right hand man, but he’s not in the know about Slade’s obsession with the Queens. Isabel’s crazy is showing though, and with the acquisition of Queen Industries they can mass produce Slade’s serum.

Oliver returns to his lair and finds Diggle and Felicity. He was so worried about what Slade would do to him that it never occurred to him what he would do to himself. He feels that he can’t stop Slade from doing anything, but his team has faith in him. He’s not alone in his fight, and now they fight back.

Laurel listens to the report that Thea fingered Slade Wilson in her kidnapping. Slade pays Laurel a visit. He assures her that he isn’t interested in hurting her, but wishes to make Oliver Queen suffer. He tells her that Oliver isn’t the man that she thinks he is, but the Arrow, and you can just seen Laurel’s hamsters practically falling off their wheels.

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Some suits brace for impact, but they're no match for someone in boots.

Felicity greets Moira, but it quickly slips into awkwardness. Isabel isn't happy to see her, but I'm not sure she's ever really happy. She pulls Oliver aside, and thinks that Moira is bad for the company's image, even though she was just acquitted of all her crimes.  Digg tells Oliver of a break in.

Lance assess the situation, some speedy burglars, by his assessment. The video shows only one perp, but Lance thinks there has to have been three because of the amount of damage done to the door. Barry Allen from the CSI Unit says that it's just one guy, one guy with super strength, and the guards neck proves it. Barry thinks that the centrifuge was what was stolen.  His theory and knowledge is enough to impress Felicity. Lance suggests that Felicity contact Arrow about the robbery.

Past, Slade, Shado Sara and Ollie deal with their escape. Shado isn't sure that she holds the key to some savior submarine. She also questions Oliver about Sara, and is just a touch jealous.

The centrifuge is the only thing missing, and Felicity finds further footage proof that it was indeed one guy who did the job. Barry sets up shop at Felicity's suggestion, and although Oliver is leery, its not just Barry that he's worried about. Are the centrifuge and the submarine from Ollie's past connected? I think they must be.

Oliver apologizes to his mother for the office reception earlier, and he's got an idea how to get things normal: a party, because that's what the Queen's are known for. Thea can't agree more. Oliver promises to take care of everything, the boy does know how to throw a party after all.

Barry puts his CSI skills to use, and finds some clues the burglar tracked in. His thoughts soon go onto the Vigilante, and he's overly interested in him. Felicity's guard goes up, and Barry reveals his tragic background. The info comes back from the shoes, sugar.

Roy and Thea answers Sin call, she's looking for Arrow's help, but Thea offers up Roy's, she'll be his sidekick though.

Merlin is a little upset about his lack of invite, but Moira's more worried about their secret love child. Thea is all he has left, Tommy being dead and all, and he urges her to tell Thea the truth soon.

Their robber just robbed a blood bank, and his crimes mimic another of their "cases". Barry continues to worry Oliver, and he sets Digg to look into the kid further, while Digg wonders what Oliver is hiding about his past.

Meanwhile Arrow goes into action after their super strong burglar. He manages to catch up with the guy, only to be thrown from the speeding truck with nothing to show for his trouble.

While Felicity patches up Oliver, he finally spills about the connections. On the island he came across many people like one he was up against tonight, but they all died, and Oliver thought that he destroyed the drug behind the transformation and everything in a lab on the island. The last component they need to make super soldiers is a sedative. Oliver gives her one of his arrows with the burglar's blood on it. It's seen better days, all dented up, but it still has his DNA on it, and more importantly will reveal the sedative their using. Felicity takes it to Barry so they can analyze it and figure out where the next hit will be. After a little misunderstanding of Felicity's and Oliver's relationship, Felicity invites Barry to be her plus one to Oliver's party.

Sin takes Thea and Roy to Max's house so they can check it for clues on his disappearance. Someone is watching Max's apartment.

Past, the group finally finds the submarine.

Oliver busts Barry. He is a CSI but his bosses have no clue he's in Starling City. Barry finishes the story he started earlier with Felicity. His mother was killed, but not by his father, like the authorities thought. At age 11, Barry watched his father fight some blurred figure, and he got caught up in it, only Barry ended up 20 blocks away from the fight. No one believed his story about his father, thinking it was a cover. Since that crime, he's looked into the cases that no one believes could happen. Barry leaves in shame over his lies.

The Queen's make an appearance at their party, and Felicity pulls Oliver aside, telling him that he has more than just her to apologize to. Moira's party is a bust, there is barely anyone in attendance. Sin calls Roy, Max has been found and he makes excuses to leave without Thea. Oliver asks Felicity for a dance, but not for himself,  for Barry. He's made amends and made Felicity happy in the process. Summer, always a bright spot, does a basic I told you so to Oliver. Moira and Summer barely sheath their claws when faced.

Past, the group gets Slade on the ship as they look for the drug. They find what they're looking for, but they're missing the sedative, and without it Sara is sure Slade would die.

Moira thanks her son for his efforts, glad that her children believe her. Oliver leaves for the office, and Moira can't bring herself to tell Thea the truth about her paternity.

Barry gets the shakedown from his boss, and has to go back home in a flash. He tells Felicity that the sedative is ketamine, and the two say goodbye.

Sin nearly gets hauled away by the police. Max's body has been found, the cops told her that it was an OD, though Sin knows that he never touched drugs, as a frequent blood donor. Roy manages to snap a picture of the body before the two get away.

Felicity tracks down the likely source of the Ketamine, but she cautions Oliver about going upagainst their burglar again. His muscle density is too much for Oliver's arrows, but Oliver is sure he can prevail, having done so before.

Past, they prepare to  inject Slade, without any other options. he's gonna die if they do nothing, and if he's injected he has a small chance. Injection it is, but it looks like a very painful process.

Roy takes his concerns about Max's OD to Arrow. Arrow cautions him to stay away, but Roy refuses, and Oliver is forced to slow him down with a quick arrow to the leg.

Merlin gets past all of Moira's security guards. He's ready to claim his daughter, but Moira isn't ready to roll over. She has someone up her sleeve Ras Al Ghul, the league of shadows was very happy to hear that Malcolm was still alive. Seems Grul wants to kill him himself. Such a small slip of the tongue got Merlin into a heap of trouble, and he's forced to run.

Arrow comes face to face with the burglar who's been gathering up supplies, and he is one beast of a man, tossing poor Oliver around like a ragdoll. He gets a double shot of the some vials. Past, Slade's body rejects the change, and he bleeds out of his eyes. Digg and Felicity find Oliver, his pupils are dilated, and they have no way of knowing what he was injected with, the vials are coded.

Barry misses his train, and gets abducted at the train station. He awakens in Arrow's batcave, with a passed out Oliver still in Arrow gear on the slab next to him. felicity asks him to save Oliver. Well, that's one way to initiate him into the club.

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Oliver gets away from Laurel and the cops with the help of another vigilante, who used a sonic device to shatter the glass. He explains what happened, and Felicity and Dig wonder why he would risk going to Laurel's when she'd declared him public enemy #1.

In the past, Shado plays with her corpse while Slade and Oliver leave the former med student to her findings.

Officer Lance gets a murder call. Mathis is back, and the cops have been keeping it quiet that he's on the loose again. Lance is to stay away, but as he looks at the body it's clear that's not going to happen.

Felicity has found some police report that link to their mystery girl. Oliver vows to put a stop to her and all the vigilantes. Officer Lance calls Felicity. Officer Lance wants to play commissioner Gordon, and since Felicity vouched for The Vigilante, he's out on a limb asking for The Vigilante's help to catch Mathis, the Dollmaker. When will The Vigilante give up that retarded name and take up his proper one? I'm really tired of not being about to call him the Green Arrow, or even just Arrow.

A pretty girl, a dark street, she's about to be a victim. Seriously, if she isn't killerbait, I'm not sure what is. Mathis claims her.

Felicity scans Lance's file. And Digg, digs in. They have two days they think to catch Mathis. They start with his attorney. And instead of putting their search for Oliver's mystery lady on hold, he goes to Roy, and enlists his help.

Lance goes to his daughter to check on her, and grab some files. Laurel worries over her father, the last time he hunted Mathis took its toll, and she worries his guilt is justifying a vendetta. Lance points out he may not be the only one.

Thea goes to visit her mother. Thea's lisp drives me absolutely batty as she tries to give her mother some retail therapy as if new clothes will change the wrongs of her actions. At least Moira is ready to pay the piper.

 Lance goes to visit Mathis' attorney, but he's not really interested in answering questions, claiming that his former client is in prison. The Vigilante comes with his own questions, and he's a bit more heavy handed. The attorney squeals, and gives up the museum as a possible place to find Mathis. There, they only find some bait: a newspaper article where he was arrested, a doll, and a telephone. The phone rings and the Dollmaker taunts Lance as the Vigilante asks for a trace. Lance is forced to listen as Mathis' latest victim becomes a doll, and Felicity's trace takes too long to save the girl.

The latest doll is found, and Felicity is unable to hack into the offline system. The Vigilante is forced to head in and extract the information, and this time he has a tagalong, Lance. Looking over the toxicology reports, Lance sees a familiar ingredient from the case six years ago, and after some quick research from Felicity, they've found how the Dollmaker is choosing his victims.

Past. Shade worries over Oliver, and nearly slides down a hill. Oliver grabs him just in time.

Roy goes looking for the black leather clad girl. He doesn't get her, but he gets information on her friend, Sin.

The skin cream is very high end, and there are only four stores that carry it, but they need to narrow the potential victim pool down quickly. Felicity volunteers to be killerbait.

Slade and Oliver see a real life game of battleship being played.

Felicity goes on her skin cream buying mission, and Lance sees into the heart of the Vigilante, understanding him more than he thought. Felicity spots someone following her, and she thinks shes in the clear, and she is for a moment, until Mathis grabs her in an alley. The Vigilante shoots Mathis, and Felicity gets banged up a little. Digg stays with her, as Lance gives chase. Mathis knocks him down, and the Vigilante comes as backup, but the ever bumbling police department is on his heels. The Vigilante gets away, but so does Mathis, and Lance gets arrested for obstruction.

Felicity delivers the bad news about Lance, and she tells him that she hacked into the beauty store email and notified them that the Dollmaker's prefered face cream is defective so they pull it from the shelf.

Oliver heads to his mother's trial, where she's thrown a curve ball. The opposing counsel is seeking the death penalty. Oliver assures his mother that no one will take her from him.

Past. He's surrounded by gunfire. That little Battleship game, has moved from ships to Oliver and Slade.

Laurell gets her father off, and she's not exactly happy about his new playmates. He tells her that her anger is off base, that what's going on with her isn't about The Arrow, yay finally someone calls him by his proper name. Laurel of course lashes out at her father and tells him to stay away from the Mathis case.

Roy tracks down Sin. When he asks about her leather clad friend she takes off, and of course he follows. Lots of running later, someone gets the better of him in the cloak tower.

Lance comes across a crazy in the parking lot, who happens to be a taser wielding Mathis. Unfortunately, Lance isn't his only taser victim, so is Laurel. As much as I love Katie, Laurel gets on my nerves a lot lately, and seeing her twitchy on the ground fills me with joy. Maybe when the Arrow comes and saves her we can finally get over this whole vilification of Arrow chapter of her life.

Thea deals with club problems, because she's worried about her mother. Felicity alerts him to a new issue, that Lance and Laurel are in trouble. He's off, to try to stop him.

Roy wakes up to a double team, but the girls let him go when they see his text message from Thea alerting him of Lance and Laurel's abduction.

Lance pleads with Mathis to let Laurel go. But of course he's not willing to. He pours his concoction into the tube to make his latest creation. Arrow comes to the rescue, and he some pretty blonde backup. Together they take care of Mathis, and Blondie makes sure he'll never craft another doll again, while Lance gets Laurel out of there. Laurel has a mini breakdown, and admits she was laying the blame on the Arrow instead of on herself. Tommy warned her to stay away, and he died because of her.

Lance puts Laurel to bed, and Arrow comes to check on her. A bridge has been formed with that little rescue, for all of them.

Moira's lawyer plans strategy, but Moira isn't ready to let all of the skeletons out of the closet. She finally has her family back, and she isn't ready to lose them. Could the pretty Blondie have anything to do with it?

Speaking of Blondie. She's being called home, but she isn't ready to go home. And when the messenger refuses to lie for her, she kills him.

Oliver and Company try to figure out their next move where Blondie is concerned.

Past. Oliver awakens in prison, aboard the ship. Is this where he learned those wicked Salmon ladders? Only time will tell.

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Things are getting good now

Season 1 of Arrow was strong enough to develop a loyal following and receive positive reviews from critics. Thus far, Season 2 is shaping up to be even better. Keeping things short and sweet, here are 6 reasons (in no particular order) on why you need to tune in.

1. 1. No more Romeo - Season 1 placed much emphasis on the love connection between Oliver and Laurel. Every week, it was one pining after the other, or both, with little to no action ever taken. This time around, there's none of that to slow down the pace of the story.
2. 2. China White - Kelly Hu is back and serving up some ferociously fierce action sequences. Though she's been arrested and placed into police custody, odds are good that China White will be back to wreak some more havoc. There is never a dull moment when China White is involved!
3. 3. Roy Harper, Covert Operative - From the moment Colton Haynes debuted on Arrow, it was evident that he would have much to offer. Haynes would not have left a solid gig, Teen Wolf, just to be a piece of eye candy. As of episode 2, Roy Harper has now agreed to provide intel to the Hood on the ongoings of the Glades. All that young-blooded potential will now be harnessed and viewers are likely to be treated to a whole lot of character growth (and flawless bone structure).
4. 4. Impending doom - Flashback Oliver is currently basking in a love affair with Shado, but considering that Present-Day-Oliver does not make any mention of her, one may infer that this love story is going to end in a devastating, possibly violent manner. Fasten your seat-belts, folks, a crash is coming!
5. 5. Kevin Alejandro - Alejandro is portraying Sebastian Blood, a charismatic new villain that very well may be this season's "Big Bad." Arrow has already demonstrated its ability to have a fascinating, complex villain with John Barrowman's Malcolm Merlyn. Following in those footsteps, Sebastian Blood is a man whose intentions are not cliched into the usual villainous endeavours of money and power. Blood is a man passionate about bringing about improvement to the impoverished lives of the citizens of the Glades. His dislike for Oliver Queen stems from his perception of Queen as being another privileged corporate scumbag unconcerned with the welfare of others. A champion of the people lives long enough to become a villain? You won't want to miss this!
6. 6. Dearest Felicity - Felicity may be seen by some as the Xander of Arrow, given that she often has the most entertaining lines. But this season, she has long since adjusted to being a part of this spy team. She is taking no nonsense from Oliver, having already told him off for being oblivious to the romantic woes of Diggle. Empowered womyn will cheer at her disdain for being placed into the role of secretary, an occupation she is highly overqualified for (it's a cover - but still, point 1 for feminism). Felicity is a vivacious, intelligent, hilarious character that is growing in confidence and strength. But her occasional fumbling over words (often leading to unintentional innuendos) will never cease to bring about laughter.

Arrow airs on Wednesdays at 8/7 c on the CW.

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Stephen shows us yet another great workout. As if Arrow wasn't a great enough show, those little workouts of his are truly a sight to behold.

Roy plays chicken with some of the Triad, interfering with a hijacking, and gets his pretty little ride shot up and smashed up in the process. And in the end it didn't matter, because China White got the truck anyways. And all Roy got is framed.

At the club, Oliver decides to launch the crusade 2.0. Thea gets a call that Roy is in custody, and she's not the least bit surprised. Roy in the mean time is getting put over the coals by Laurel over a red arrow. Laurel feels betrayed by "The Hood," and she's only interested in taking him down.

Thea bails Roy out. Laurel has the charges dropped, and she presses Oliver to get him info about the Vigilante, telling him that he has to be stopped. She's barking up the wrong tree though. Oliver has a little heart to heart with Roy, and his iron grip may have just set off an alarm and compromised his identity. Roy isn't planning on stopping anytime soon, better off dead than in the hospital. The Triad have all but killed the hospital supply, and only Roy has done anything to stop them.

Olly flashback time. Slade goes over his little recon map, trying to figure out why the men are on the island. He tells Shado that Oliver needs someone to save him from his memories, and she takes him away.

Oliver goes to check out just how dire the hospital. Oooooh and looky looky its Kevin Alejandro! A very outspoken citizen, Sebastian Blood speaking out against the Glades hospital. Oliver is planning to atone for his families crimes, and help rebuild. Blood instantly turns the people against him, and Oliver is forced to make quick getaway.

Felicity doesn't want to to play secretary, but the need for her to have this secret identity is crucial. And although she won't get him coffee she agrees to make a reservation for himself, Digg and Carly. Digg is hiding something! It'll come out soon enough.

As Oliver hears the bad press, he has another flashback. Shado washes away the blood from his hands. He fears the island is changing him, and although Shado tells him that nothing can make you something your not, that where there is darkness there is also light, that the killer stands beside the hero. They're both inside, and then they shed their clothes.

Felicity fills Oliver in on the next scheduled shipment to the Glades, and Oliver plans to take action. The motorcycle group tries to the shipment, but the Vigilante is there to assist. China takes action and makes off with one truck, when low budget wolverine, the Bronze Tiger distracts the Vigilante. He and Olly battle, until the cops come and ruin everything. Olly is forced to make a quick getaway, but not before Laurel has spotted him. Does she know who the Vigilante really is, or is she really that dense?

Oliver regroups in his lair. Nothing he does is making anything better. Felicity finally spills the beans, Digg and Carly split. Being a part of this double life took its tolls on his life as well.

Roy cleans up at the club. Thea gives Roy his final check. She can't keep watching him get hurt, and so she gives him an ultimatum. They're both stubborn as heck, and yet both right in what they need. Roy may love Thea, but he'll save the city, because he has hero tendencies.

Oliver invites Sebastian Blood into his office to meet. Oliver tries to set the record straight. Although Oliver is ready to change public opinion and help the Glades, but Blood thinks he's part of the problem. Oliver is ready to be the solution, and they come up with a game plan to open a few eyes. Blood is surprised by the gesture, and is willing to play ball.

Slade interrupts naked time, and the trio set out. Slade cautions Oliver to not fall for Shado, that she's a distraction and going to get him killed.

The Vigilante comes to visit Laurel, but she's done with the disguises. She wants him to be taken down. She blames him for Tommy's death. She saw him run away from Tommy, too busy fighting a duel with Merlin to save one, if only she knew the blow she just dealt. Poor Oliver, he already has more guilt that she could imagine over Tommy's death.

Oliver's benefit looks like a smash hit, bringing Laurel and Blood together. Oliver as normal is tardy to the party. But before he can make an entrance, Felicity calls and tells him that the next shipment already arrived. Blood plans to crucify their tardy host, making a grand speech about standing up and breathing new hope int the city. Completely unaware that he is doing just that.

Oliver arrives in time to shoot up some of Shen's peeps, but she's not even batting an eyelash over it. The cops close in on the Vigilante's position, unaware they're taken Felicity's bait, and she's led them astray. The Vigilante isn't working alone, and Digg gets one of the trucks away. Oliver searches for Bronze, and China goes after Digg. A good taser arrow takes down Bronze. But Digg may have a little more trouble with China. The Vigilante comes in time to arrow cuff China, and she sees he's changed, in the past she'd already be dead. She tells him that he'll never be a hero, but he's not in it for the glory.  

Oliver watches the story on China's arrest, the police get most of the credit, but Vigilante does get a nod. Oliver apologizes for wrecking Digg's lovelife, for being so self involved with his own catharsis that he couldn't see the dominos falling. And before they get into hug territory, Digg retreats. And Oliver hears Blood's harsh words, wrecking his public image further.

Slade leads them to the place that the men were headed to, and Oliver finds out why. There's a hidden little cave, with soldiers from over 60 years prior. Which leads to a bigger mystery, and that little trinket Oliver gave to Thea.

The Vigilante sneaks up on Roy in the alley. Roy is ready to be Robin, but the Vigilante isn't ready to play Batman. He wants Roy to be his eyes and ears, and nothing more for now. Roy is game. He goes inside and makes up with Thea. He tells her that he's done with the hero roleplay, but he still has a red arrow in his pocket.

The Vigilante goes back to Laurel. He tells her that he lost someone too, and that he would give his life to bring that person back. Laurel warned him to stay away, but knew he wouldn't and she has him trapped. In come swat and the Vigilante is surrounded, for now.

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We start the new season with Oliver running though the forest. Dig and Felicity make their way to the island. Felicity immediately steps on a land mine, while Dig thinks to Disarm it. Oliver stops him , and makes quite the tarzan-esque rescue. Oliver is back in his old Island haunt, and not exactly unhappy to have company. He's not ready to go back to Starlight City, failing at all he set to accomplish. They don't want the Hood to come back, they need Oliver.

Flash back to 5 years prior. And Oliver spares with Slade, he cracks him good when Oliver is distracted. The island is under attack.

Starlight City is in shambles, and there's a new player in town, a sullen girl named Isabel. Whedon Star alert! It's Summer Glau!

Thea and Roy make out until she sees his wounds. She's less than happy that he's putting himself in danger. But before they can really get into it, Oliver returns, and distracts her. She's still angry over her mother's homicidal streak, but happy her brother is home. She looks good with herself all together.

Laurel has joined the district attorney's office, and she looks a little too friendly with her new boss, as the mayor makes some hefty claims, his speech is interrupted, and the place is quickly made to resemble swiss chess. When one of the gunmen threaten the district attorny, Laurel makes short work of him, but another gunman disarms her, and walks away. I think Laurel could use a change of pants after that.

Daddy comes to take a statement from the DA and see what his daughter saw, but apparently he wasn't the one in charge of the investigation. Laurel and Oliver catch up, he apologizes for leaving, but Laurel doesn't blame him. They both needed to sort things out, and Laurel sees their tryst as a betrayal. So many regrets between the two of them, but there is no future in the past, and they forge ahead.

Oliver sees the act of violence today as a copycat without his finesse. He's not ready to don the hood yet, he has personal work to do.

The Hoods watches the news desiring to see their acts heralded, but all they are reporting on is Oliver's return. They decide that Queen must fall.

Roy tries to reach out to a distracted Thea. He tells her about his trainwreck family and how even as bad as they were, he would do anything to see them again. But Thea sees it differently. She's punishing her mother for her actions, and Roy suggests she think about how much shes hurting herself.

 Oliver meets with Isabel, and shes just all so sunny. She plans on winning at all costs. And just as she tells him of the hole he's really in The Hoods arrive and  shoot up the place. Oliver manages to get Isabelle out of the room and too safety. Felicity nearly isn't as lucky, as Oliver has to take a lucky leap to save her. Oliver apologizes for the shootup, and not even the danger has soften Isabel in the least. Felicity blames Oliver for not taking on the gunmen, but Oliver isn't ready for the body count after Tommy. Tommy died thinking he was a murderer and even though he isn't, every death he causes dishonors Tommy's memory. He needs help to save his company and he's determined to get it.

Back to flashback. Shado separates from the group, and is snatched up, with only a hood left behind.

Oliver goes to visit his mother. There's nothing but bad news on his mother's front, but she's glad that he's finally taking control of the company. She tells him not to trust Isabel, and that the weight of the world doesn't have to be on his own shoulders. It's a family business, and Thea isn't his only family.

Roy asks Thea if she's seen her mother, and of course she has not. The Hoods come in and shoot up the club looking for Oliver, and Roy can't just sit around and watch that happen, not when Thea is in danger and he springs into action. Everything is all well and good, until Thea becomes a hostage. It's a Mexican standoff, and Roy is helpless as they drag Thea off.  Oliver arrives too late to do anything, the police are already there, and Thea long gone. He heads down to his "batcave," where Felicity has made some improvements. Felicity gets to searching with the tiny bit of intel they have on Thea's kidnappers, and she's bearing gifts as well with a shiny new bow. All thoughts on zero body count are gone. Thea will be saved at all costs.

Back to flashbacks. Slade and Oliver have located Shado who is being tortured. The boys rush in to save her, but who's going to save Oliver from himself, as he bashes in one of the aggressors head with a rock. How very caveman.

Thea is being held in a church as The Hoods plot what to do next. Some of them want to murder Thea, while some of the others want to let her go. She finally sees her mothers motivation. Her mother did what she did out of fear. And before the lead hood can shoot Thea, The Vigilante comes to her rescue. The lead Hood tries to get away with Thea, telling Oliver that there was no justice for people like them, until he showed them how to get it. Oliver shoots him, but saves him before he can fall to his death. The Vigilante is trying out something new, his opposition gets to live.

Oliver goes to visit Tommy, and it seems that Laurel had the same idea. They agree that they can't be together but not really apart. They're further apart than Laurel could know though. They know that Malcolm killed Tommy, but Laurel blames the Vigilante for it all, not knowing that he's standing next to her.

Thea finally goes to see her mother. After her near death experience she's had a chance of heart, and they hug it out.

Isabel continues to be her most charming self, threatening him with poverty. He's not ready to give up without a fight. He's got a white knight in his pocket in the form of Mr. Steel, who's managed to even the planning ground. Oliver and Isabel will be 50/50 partners. And she might just be a smidge impressed.

Slade tells flashback Oliver that they weren't working alone, so who's behind them is still the question.

Thea makes call to Roy, and tells him of the mommy bonding time, and makes a delightful offer. He goes to stop a crime in progress before heading to Thea's, but a masked girl kicks some serious butt.

Oliver choses a new course of action for the Vigilante. He's moving into hero territory, and needs a new name.

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