Depending on where you are at in the world, there has been plenty of time to get yourself in front of a screen and watch this episode. If you have yet to watch, STOP reading and go watch! It is one to not miss!

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I have watched Arrow since the show first aired in 2012. Besides the season premiere when Black Canary (played by Caity Lotz) is killed, this was one of the best opening season episodes! Filled with plenty of action and surprise (not as big as that one, but there were still moments of shock), and enough to show how great the rest of the season will be!

Dead or Alive?

It was nice to quickly have the suspense of who in the team was still around (and some costume changes too), but heartbreaking to know who did not get off Lian Yu (so far). One shocker was Thea. She is found to look dead and with Oliver’s reactions to have found her in the state she is, it seems to be confirmed. But later in the episode we find that she is still alive and has been in a coma the past five months with no change. Black Siren was left for dead after Quentin shoots her while saving Dinah. She quickly goes after the team and takes a prototype weapon made by Curtis. Samantha, William’s mother, is able to find Oliver before dying. She has Oliver promise to be William’s father as she dies in his arms.

Fatherhood

The episode brings up a lot about fatherhood. Slade, with the help from Oliver, finds information about his son and is off to Calgary to find him. Oliver helps Renee get another hearing for the custody of his daughter Zoe. And Oliver tries to keep his promise to be a father to William.

One moment in the episode Oliver consoles William after he has a nightmare finding that he blames him for Samantha’s death and not Adrian.  Oliver is clearly heartbroken and doesn’t know how to respond. He later tells William that he is not perfect but no matter what he would keep his promise and be there for him as a father.

Beginning Of Six

This season is sure to bring some curve balls everywhere. With not knowing fully who is alive or dead (Talia al Ghul, Nyssa al Ghul, Evelyn Sharp, and Digger Harkness), there are questions to be answered. Who is the head of the League of Assasins? (Malcom is dead. Who will be taking his place?) What prototype weapon did Black Siren take? And what is going to happen now that Star City has seen a picture of Oliver as the Green Arrow?

Best Moment

I love it went I see a cool effect or stunt. Like the boxing glove arrow, when Oliver takes out what looks like a compact but it’s the bow and it folds out in his hands, and just all the stunts period (love James Bamford and team!) This episode, the beginning has a great action sequence with the team fighting Alex Faust at the pier.  But before the action starts, we see two arrows making their mark and then Green Arrow makes his entrance by coming out of the water like he was paying homage to Aquaman. Couldn’t have asked for anything better than that opening!

Next episode October 19th!