Arrow
Season 4 Episode 3: “Restoration”
Directed by Wendey Stanzler
Written by Wendy Mericle, Speed Weed
Created by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Paul Blackthorne
The CW
Air Date: Wednesday, October 21st, 2015, 8:00pm

Last week’s Arrow ended so creepy, with Laurel (Katie Cassidy) digging up her sister (corpse played by Caity Lotz), while Thea (Willa Holland) nervously looked on. The reason for the digging? Well actually, Laurel wanted to help Thea find out exactly what was going on with her crazy Lazarus Pit after-effects. She set someone on fire. Luckily, he didn’t die. Unluckily, he turned into Anarky (Alexander Calvert). No wonder everone is worried about her. An old family friend, Jessica Danforth (Jeri Ryan), decides to run for mayor of Star City. It would have been quicker to put a bullseye on her back. H.I.V.E. tries to kill her, then kidnaps her daughter. Oliver (Stephen Amell) tells Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) that he will run for mayor, inspired by Lance (Paul Blackthorne) and Jessica. Felicity has to downsize at Palmer Tech, but figures out how to not do that, saving her new future sidekick, Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum).

Spoilers below.

Arrow 4.3 “Restoration” review: Talk about father-daughter issues. Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) might be the worst dad ever. The girls (all three of them) arrive at Nanda Parbat. Merlyn is confusing. He tells them flat out no (to Nyssa’s relief) to resurrecting Sara. Then tells Thea there’s a sage in the mountains (lie). Then sets his men on her so she will kill them and satisfy the bloodlust. Then tell the girls he will resurrect Sara (to Nyssa’s horror). What? Why is he the craziest dad in the history of dads? So Sara pops up all feral, ready to kill Thea. Why? Because the only way to satisfy the bloodlust forever, is to kill the person who killed (or almost killed) you. Bananas. And he knew it too. Nyssa (Katrina Law) gets herself locked up for destroying the Lazarus Pit. I’m actually glad she did that. Because it really is a tempting “get out of dead free” card.

Diggle (David Ramsey) and Oliver get into trouble going half-cocked on their own into 2 different situations. Felicity yells them into submission, to at least try to work out their issues. Diggle fesses up about his 2-year secret investigation, and Oliver says sorry 100 more times.

Damian Darhk (Neal McDonough) is still causing havoc around town. He brings in Jeremy Tell / Double Down (JR Bourne), a weird meta who can peel his tattoos off and kill people with them. Cue the awesome way Felicity saves Holt, revealing the Green Arrow secret (not all of it). You’re supposed to keep your eyes open while spraying rifle fire, Felicity!

I love metas in Star City.

Felicity! It’s Ray! Can you hear me? I’m in your phone!

This episode was great, despite the fact that Merlyn is pretty much an alien at this point.

Arrow airs Wednesday nights at 8pm ET on The CW.

The CW’s synopsis:

Arrow
Restoration (Ep# 403)
LAUREL TAKES HER SISTER TO NANDA PARBAT — The growing tension between Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey) puts both their lives at risk when they go after Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) and a H.I.V.E. deployed meta-human. Meanwhile, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) talks Thea (Willa Holland) into returning to Nanda Parbat to ask her father (John Barrowman) to put Sara (guest star Caity Lotz) into the Lazarus Pit. However, Laurel is surprised when Nyssa (guest star Katrina Law) refuses to do it. Wendey Stanzler directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Speed Weed (#403). Original airdate 10/21/2015.

Video

Arrow 4×03 Promo “Restoration” (HD)