Join us each week as we review the latest episode of ARROW. Warning: the following review contains major spoilers for the newest episode of the show.
Episode 22: “This Is Your Sword”
Synopsis: Oliver/Al Sah-him finishes his training and is left with two final tasks to become the next Ra’s al Ghul. Ra’s threatens Nyssa and delivers some shocking news. Meanwhile, Malcolm makes a surprising offer to Team Arrow and Thea goes to see Roy.
In Starling City: Oliver/Al Sah-him learns the shocking truth about what it takes to become the next R’as Ahl Ghul: he must use the Omega to destroy Starling City to cleanse his past life. Oliver also learns that his friend Maseo gave the Omega to R’as after allowing it to destroy his home of Hong Kong. Oliver agrees to the demand of destroying Starling and marrying Nyssa, but the look on his face says otherwise.
Back in Starling, Diggle, Laurel and Felicity carry on the fight to defend the city. Diggle beats the crap out of a criminal which prompts an argument about what they should and should not do to defend Starling as well as whether Oliver is still the Oliver they knew. Thea meanwhile plots a trip to see Roy which Malcolm cautions her against. But, Malcolm has his own secrets as we soon find him meeting Oliver secretly in Nanda Parbat, both planning something mysterious.
Thea finds Roy, hiding out as a mechanic named Jason. He apologizes and they run off to spend time together. Back at Palmer Consolidated, Felicity visits the recently returned Ray who has her sign some forms. She does so without asking what they are but quickly leaves when she gets a text from Malcolm Merlyn. As it turns out, they are transfer of ownership for his company to her. Malcolm reveals to the team that Oliver joining the League is a hoax. They don’t believe him but he brings Tatsu with him as proof of what Oliver needs to happen next. Still dubious, Malcolm tells the team they have to believe him and to meet at Ferris Air to depart for Nanda Parbat.
Everyone arrives at the airfield including Felicity after having a heart to heart with Tatsu. In Nanda Parbat, Nyssa prepares to avoid getting married to Oliver even though R’as threatens her with a brutal death if she disobeys. The team arrive in Nanda Parbat, Tatsu donning the mask of DC character Katana, and begin to fight League assassins. Felicity tries to hack into the League’s mainframe. Maseo confronts Tatsu and the two fight. The Leagu’s fighter jet takes off to attack and A.T.O.M. arrives to help stop it. Ray destroys the jet and crash lands safely. As Maseo gets the upper hand and tells Tatsu to tell their son they love him, Tatsu stabs him and tells him to do it for them. Maseo dies in her arms and Tatsu weeps. At that moment, R’as and Oliver appear and show they still have the Omega and demand the team’s surrender.
In audience with R’as, the team learns of the upcoming wedding and are all in shock. Oliver signals that he is in on the plan. After sleeping together, Thea tells Roy about Oliver joining the League Oliver holds audience with Diggle and reveals he did what he had to but Diggle says he has lost trust and faith in his friend. R’as meets with Malcolm where Merlyn reveals to R’as that it was in fact Oliver who betrayed him to his friends, not Maseo. Oliver is confronted and denies Malcolm’s claims.Thea awakes to find Roy gone. At the auto shop, she finds he quit and left a note saying she needs to lead her life without him and leaves her his Arsenal suit.
Oliver and R’as arrive in the cell where Tatsu is taken away because she is inoculated. R’as then breaks the vial and has Oliver lock them in. They plead with Oliver that they believed in him. In the main hall, Oliver arrives for his wedding. The League present swords as Nyssa arrives in her gown. Underground, Oliver’s friends begin to succumb to the Omega. As the vows continue, Nyssa tries to stab Oliver but he stops her and the ceremony continues and the two are wed.
Flashbacks: In Hong Kong, the city burns as Omega ravishes the population. Oliver, Maseo, and Tatsu frantically try to save Akio and wonder why the Alpha doesn’t work on him. Maseo and Oliver infiltrate a military base to try and find a cure. On the base, they find the General and demand the cure. They shoot him to prove they are serious and take him with them to give the cure to Akio. They arrive too late and find Tatsu cradling her dead son.
Review: As we come to the end of the third season of Arrow, I am still struggling to figure out just what the hell is going on. The flashbacks are coming to a conclusion and the Maseo/Tatsu story arc is resolved. We now know how their son died as well as seeing their relationship come to an end. The side-plot involving Thea and Roy feels unnecessary and tacked on to justify Thea becoming Speedy next season, but I get why they did it. Oliver’s not so secret plan is coming to a close and I still cannot figure the end game. If the payoff to him marrying Nyssa and “killing” his friends using the Omega does not get a satisfactory explanation next week, I will be very disappointed. As episodes go, this one was full of action, some great use of A.T.O.M., but a sore lacking in Arrow himself which is what made the first two seasons so good.
Final Verdict:
Next on ARROW: My Name is Oliver Queen” airs May 20th: Everyone’s lives are in danger as Ra’s al Ghul puts forth his final plan. Oliver/Al Sah-him must decide if he’s strong enough to take on this new role and what it will mean for everyone on Team Arrow, and his soul.