30 greatest Arrowverse episodes, ranked

Best Arrowverse episodes – No. 4

Streets Of Fire (Arrow season 2 episode 22)

Slade Wilson’s revenge was taken to the next level in the penultimate episode of Arrow‘s second season when his army of Mirakuru soldiers flooded the streets of Starling City. The sudden attack caught everyone off-guard as the super-powered henchmen destroyed the SCPD and raised hell in the train station. But with corrupt mayor Sebastian Blood in charge, the National Guard was not called in and thus, Starling was well and truly under siege.

However, the threat merely resulted in the rise of the city’s greatest heroes and, in doing so, allowed some of the show’s most important characters to experience a redemption of sorts. The recently-demoted Officer Quentin Lance helped rally what was left of the SCPD and highlighted his expert leadership when he suggested they work with The Arrow instead of against him – a bold move that ultimately earned him his promotion back. Similarly, his daughter, Sara, returned to the city and overcame her demons by showing herself to the public (and Laurel) as she actively saved a child, revealing that The Canary could be a hero too.

“Streets of Fire” felt like a season finale in and of itself. It did a great job of highlighting the threat by making this huge city seem incredibly claustrophobic, as literally nowhere was safe. The intensity was high and, as a result, the stakes felt real. Furthermore, there were some really moving scenes throughout, with Oliver training Laurel how to use his bow and Felicity’s powerful monologue both acting as powerful bookends to the episode.

In spite of the tremendous odds that were stacked against them, the heroes rose to this challenge and, although they faltered at times, they never failed to show strength, courage and determination. Due to this internal conflict, the episode did a tremendous job setting the table for the incredible season finale.

Speaking of which…