Arrow
Season 3 Episode 20: “The Fallen”
Directed by Antonio Negret
Written by Wendy Mericle, Oscar Balderrama
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Brandon Routh, Paul Blackthorne
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2015, 8:00pm

The review of Arrow 3.20 “The Fallen” is coming right up. But first, a little (or a lot) recap of last week. Spoilers!

Tons happened last week. We said goodbye to Roy Harper aka Arsenal (Colton Haynes), as he took the Arrow rap for Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne) does not buy it for one second, and even though nobody should because of a few holes in TV continuity, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) is able to walk out with Oliver.

Poor Roy! He is attacked (and has a really nicely choreographed fight while handcuffed), and then attacked again seemingly fatally. Oliver is devastated, until he is let in on Roy, Diggle (David Ramsey), and Felicity’s (Emily Bett Rickard) fake-your-own-death plan. Roy drives off to futures unknown.

There is a big bad this episode in the form of a metahuman who can emit radiation from his eyes. Oliver certainly can’t run around as the Arrow, so Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) dons his Atom suit (after the cutest high-five ever) and goes to fight, but is clumsy. Oliver gives him some inspiring advice, then controls the Ray puppet, until finally Ray can fight on his own.

Crossover squeal! Ray brings the metahuman to Central City and Cisco (Carlos Valdes), where there is another adorable high-five between these BFFs, and they realize that this meta was not in the vicinity of the particle accelerator when it exploded. What?

The crazy end is Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable) running a sword through Thea (Willa Holland). Oliver is going to go apeshit!

Arrow 3.20 “The Fallen” review: His apeshit is sobbing by her “fallen” bedside as the doctor tells him Thea is on life support and there is no hope. Except that there is. Oliver can accept the inevitable and become the new leader of The League of Assassins. Then Thea will be restored in The Lazarus Pit. Felicity, Diggle, and Malcolm accompany him to Nanda Parbat. Even Malcolm would rather Thea be dead than the something else she will be when she comes back.

It is all ritual and ceremony resurrecting Thea. She leaps out, almost animal-like, then confusion sets in. The things she says will surprise you.

The flashback mission doesn’t go well. In the future, Maseo (Karl Yune) finally reveals to Diggle (and us) what happened to his son. No details, but a reveal, nonetheless. We get glimpses of the flashback Maseo.

Olicity fans rejoice! Olicity fans lament! Such is the nature of their relationship with each other and our relationship with them.

Felicity is a badass here. maybe she should join the league. Ra’s is definitely impressed. I was impressed too.

There are definite tears. There has to be, now that there is no more Oliver Queen.

Intense episode — finale-worthy. I can’t imagine what the finale will be like after this episode. I would also like a Ra’s al Ghul spinoff, because Matt Nable is perfect in this role.

Really? Only three more Arrows?

Arrow airs Wednesday nights at 8pm on the CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

BACK TO NANDA PARBAT — Ra’s al Ghul (guest star Matt Nable) finally makes Oliver (Stephen Amell) an offer he can’t refuse. The team joins Oliver on his journey to Nanda Parbat where a heartbroken Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) decides to take matters into her own hands. Antonio Negret directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Oscar Balderrama (#320). Original airdate 4/22/2015.

Videos

Arrow – The Fallen Trailer

Darkness will rise Wednesday on an all new Arrow at 8/7c!

Arrow – Inside: The Fallen

“There is a sacrifice greater than dying.” Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim teases tonight’s game-changing episode of Arrow!

Arrow – The Fallen Clip

Can the Lazarus Pit bring Thea back? “ŽArrow is all new Wednesday at 8/7c!