Arrow
Season 3 Episode 23: “My Name Is Oliver Queen”
Directed by John Behring
Written by Marc Guggenheim, Jake Coburn, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg
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, May 13th, 2015, 8:00pm

It’s the finale!!! If you have NOT watched the finale, do not venture any further. There WILL be spoilers!

Last week’s Arrow was pretty sad. We see the death of Akio, and having come to love him as Oliver (Stephen Amell) did, and seeing his distraught parents (Karl Yune and Rila Fukushima as Maseo and Tatsu), hurt us as well. We knew he must have died, since Maseo had given himself over so completely to the League, but did not know the manner until now.

Maseo brought the bio-weapon to Nanda Parpat and to Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable)! That revelation is where the Al Sah-him mask unravels before us, but only to us. It was a plan hatched with Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman).

But he still goes through with the facade and marries Nyssa (Katrina Law). And then seemingly lets all his friends die of the virus in a dungeon?

Thea (Willa Holland) finds Roy (Colton Haynes) and tries to give him the Arsenal suit. He gives it back and lets her go.

Arrow 3.23 “My Name Is Oliver Queen” review: Ok. They didn’t die.

Ray (Brandon Routh): “Not that I’m complaining, but shouldn’t we be dead by now?”
Merlyn: “I believe the words you’re searching for are thank and you.”

And here comes (drum roll please), The Flash! Complete with Flash music, of course.

Barry Allen: “Thank you Felicity. You just outed my secret identity to a supervillain. (To Merlyn) No offense.” Silly Barry. Everybody knows your non-secret identity.
Merlyn: “None taken.”

This is why I love Grant Gustin and Barry Allen and The Flash. He brings the fun.

We heard the origin of “failed this city.” I literally squealed. And the flashbacks are not my favorite parts of the show. I don’t know if it was clever writing, or just increasing investment by me for the show, or a happy accident… but the flashbacks started off very exciting because of the whole shipwreck, but then I got a bit disinterested. As time went on and the timelines got closer together, little by little, they became more interesting to me, until this episode. In “My Name is Oliver Queen,” I was equally engaged in the flashbacks as the present. I really hope they revisit season 1 as the new flashbacks, thus bringing back Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell). That would mess with my head a bit, but would be way awesome!

There is a plane crash, soon after Oliver shouts, “My name is Oliver Queen.” Cue squeal again.

Ra’s al Ghul wants Damien Dark dead (Who?), besides wanting to poison all of Starling City with the virus. Always multitasking, that Ra’s al Ghul. I think that was a bit of setup for seasons to come, or maybe for one of the spinoffs, because it was not explored much.

The final battle between Ra’s and Oliver is set to epic music that belongs in a Lord of the Rings trilogy… and it fits.

Yay to scientific Ray, looking to the nano for an antidote.

Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne) is off the wagon but on Team Arrow again and for now.

What do you think is the better name for Thea? Red Arrow or Speedy?

That was certainly a twist at the end, and then another twist, and then a funny twist.

Should I be more specific?

The mantle was passed on, a main character was shot, and then saved by somebody unexpected.

And then… another twist that I did NOT see coming! Then an explosion! Bananas! (Writer’s note – I tend to use “bananas” to express when I feel a finale or episode or scene is crazy and wonderful).

Um… are Nyssa and Oliver gonna get a divorce? Or go to a “state that can annul a Nanda Parbat marriage?”

It ends well – very well. It is mentioned in the “Inside” clip below, that the director of this finale, John Behring, also directed the season 2 finale. I remember how blown away I felt during that finale, and this did indeed, replicate that. Guys – Kreisberg, Berlanti, Guggenheim… lock this guy into some sort of finale contract – quick!

Looking forward to season 4! Ya think I used enough exclamation points in this review? I don’t think so!!! I could not even write in paragraph form!

The CW’s synopsis:

My Name is Oliver Queen (Ep# 323)
THE HEART-STOPPING SEASON FINALE — Everyone’s lives are in danger as Ra’s al Ghul (guest star Matt Nable) puts forth his final plan. Oliver/Al Sah-him (Stephen Amell) 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. John Behring directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Andrew Kreisberg and teleplay by Marc Guggenheim & Jake Coburn (#323). Original airdate 5/13/2015.

Videos

Al Sah-Him’s ascension to Ra’s al Ghul is almost complete. Don’t miss the season finale of Arrow Wednesday at 8/7c!

This season finale won’t be holding back. Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim dives into Wednesday’s Arrow season 3 finale!