It’s time to reveal some daddy issues on the latest Arrow episode. When a suspicious package shows up at the mayor’s office, it’s clear that Prometheus is ready to get to the end game here. Plus, Thea returns, and Rene gets a court date to gain custody of his daughter.
When Oliver hears that the package is from Simon Morrison, aka Adrian Chase’s birth name, he knows that it isn’t a bomb but something more sinister. When he opens the case, a body was inside. The body leads back to Oliver’s father, Robert Queen. Chase sent a flash drive through his father’s old attorney for Oliver. It had video footage of Robert accidentally pushing the guy into a vat of concrete. Chase is trying to unearth truths about Oliver’s father in order to punish him. But, Oliver is still working to get a step ahead of Chase this time.
Now that every criminal that Chase has put away has been released, Cody Rhodes reprises his role as Derek Sampson, the man who can feel no pain. Sampson is working with Chase to carry out his father’s mission. Before the hood got to him, Justin Claybourne was trying to weaponize tuberculosis. It looks like Chase is trying to do just that, or even worse; Chase is trying to release a disease with no cure. Thankfully, the Arrow team is here to save the day.
Oliver and Chase end up in a battle. It would make more sense for Oliver to get a little bit of help, but what fun would that be? Oliver finally got the upper hand this time. The lawyer didn’t just give Oliver a flash drive. Oliver tells Chase about how Justin Claybourne was going to disown him. Chase’s father knew that he was sick and was ashamed of him. Oliver knew that his father wasn’t perfect, but he always knew his father’s love. Robert Queen never would have given up on his children. And to that, Chase knows that he has been defeated. He lays down his sword and gives Oliver the chance to kill him, but Oliver takes the moral high ground and gets him to an Argus facility where he can face justice.
Rene has been spending more time with Quentin Lance in the mayor’s office and less time with Team Arrow as Wild Dog. Rene wants to be with his daughter again, but he’s afraid that he’s not what’s best for Zoe right now. When Rene gets a court date, he asks for Quentin to be there for moral support. He seems excited until he realizes that this court date is a hearing. Rene is going to have to testify, which means that his daughter is going to have a relive all of the tragedy that led them to this point. Quentin reminds Rene that he can’t abandon his daughter; Rene has a chance to decide how she remembers her father. He can make new memories with his daughter. Despite Quentin’s pep talk, Rene doesn’t show up.
Thea has returned, but she isn’t fully back. Oliver even invites her along on some Team Arrow business, but she isn’t ready for that right now. She’s happy just to see her family again. Oliver is changing his ways with those he loves. He kept a video their father made to Thea from his sister because he didn’t want her to feel burdened by it. After everything that Chase uncovered, Thea needed to see her father in this light once more. Robert Queen tells Thea that he’s proud of her and always has been. He knew that she would grow up to be a remarkable young woman. He then tells Thea that she’s stronger than her brother, and he’s going to need her more than she needs him. I’m glad Oliver showed Thea the video; she’s definitely strong enough to handle this now.
While it was only indirectly related to the story, the flashback this week gave us a glimpse into how Oliver got off Lian Yu. With the fifth season coming to a close, will Arrow continue the flashbacks in each episode? In any case, Oliver and Anatoly get to the island. Oliver tells him how him being a castaway will be much easier on his family. This way, they won’t ask why he didn’t return home sooner. Anatoly hooks Oliver up with some disguises, since in five years, Oliver wouldn’t have been able to get to a barber shop. Anatoly is going to send the ship to find Oliver on the island in 48 hours. Of course, it can’t be that easy. It looks like Oliver isn’t alone on the island, when a tranq dart hits him square in the neck and out of the jungle walks Konstantin Kovar.
