5. Oliver’s trial
“Docket No. 11-19-41-73” was such a strong episode that it could have easily taken place during Arrow‘s glory days. Oliver’s entire trial was orchestrated by Diaz as an attempt to make the Green Arrow spend the rest of his life in prison. Even though we knew Team Arrow would find a way, the trial had us on the edges of our seats for the whole episode — and that’s because of the odds that were stacked against him.
These seemingly insurmountable odds made for some truly incredible moments. From Diaz threatening Rene’s daughter to Oliver’s heartfelt moments with William and Felicity, the episode did a great job of playing with our emotions. But the unlikely situation didn’t stop Oliver’s allies from coming up with a plan to help him. Thus, we saw Christopher Chance masquerading as Tommy Merlyn masquerading as the Green Arrow. Not only was it great to see Colin Donnell return to the show, his unforgettable entrance during the trial looked like it could save Oliver from prison.
But it didn’t stop there. We were on edge once again when Black Siren took the stand and turned against Diaz, giving the Big Bad a sly smirk down the camera. And finally, Chance’s second return as the Judge (which ultimately turned the tide) was another brilliant twist.
All season was building towards the trial of Oliver Queen. And with Diaz inserting himself into the equation and stacking the decks against the Green Arrow, the trial exceeded our expectations.