30 greatest Arrowverse episodes, ranked

Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 10

Lian Yu (Arrow season 5 episode 23)

Arrow came full circle with the conclusion of its fifth season as Adrian Chase’s master plan culminated back where it all began for Oliver’s emerald journey – Lian Yu. The island had played such a major role in the Green Arrow’s life so it was only fitting that when the five-year flashback narrative drew to a close, it still had a major role to play in the present. Just as Prometheus had been claiming, Oliver was stuck in an endless cycle of repetitive violence and with the past mirroring the present, it was hard to deny that.

With all of Team Arrow kidnapped by Chase, Oliver turned to his former friend and enemy, Slade Wilson – ending a multi-year rivalry between the pair and finally bringing Deathstroke back to the show. The remainder of the episode would prove to be a thrilling face-off between the heroes and the villains as Oliver struggled with the possibility of killing Chase and saving his son.

While an emotional phone call between Oliver and his mother brought an end to the five years worth of island flashbacks, the show-stopping showdown with Prometheus brought an end to the incredible fifth season and left us with the best cliffhanger in Arrowverse history.

“Lian Yu” was a love letter to the best of Arrow‘s five years, paying tribute to the past while thrilling us in the present and setting up an intriguing future. With Arrow staples Katie Cassidy, Susanna Thompson and Manu Bennett all returning for the episode, it was more like a series finale than anything else. And when the dust settled, it was clear that the writers had succeeded in redeeming themselves after the horrific fourth season.