Arrow season 8, episode 3 review: Leap of Faith

“You owe me a debt, I’m here to collect.” Spoilers for Arrow season 8, episode 3 follow.

Oliver heads to Nanda Parbat to learn more about Mar-Novu, but hits a snag: the Green Arrow has killed most of the League of Assassins.

Separated from Oliver, Diggle and Lyla head on a mission by themselves with Diggle unaware of Lyla’s association with Mar-Novu.

Speedy returns

Man, it’s so nice to have Thea return. Who would’ve thought that sentence would be a thing when this series began in 2012? She brought a heart to the series that really wasn’t properly appreciated until she was gone. Now, that she’s back though, even for possibly only one episode, it feels like there’s a void that has been filled. She’s one of the characters who has consistently not put up with Oliver’s guff and it’s nice to see that once again in this episode. There’s a sweet humor to their interactions that feels authentic and wonderfully acted by Willa Holland and Stephen Amell.

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Not only has Thea returned though, but Talia returns as well. Given that she’s possibly the only one that would be able to help Oliver, it makes perfect sense that she returns in this episode. This season has done a great job so far about bringing back legacy characters in smart ways and it does so yet again in this episode.

The main struggle in this episode stems from the three of them going up against The Thanatos Guild. The Guild has played a relatively minor role in the show, but it has staying power in the mythos due to its relation to Thea and Roy. Seeing them return in such important light is interesting, and also a not subtle way to show that Oliver is approaching his death. He’s literally fighting against a cult named after death, it’s not subtle at all.

Overall though, this part of the episode plays out so well because of Oliver and Thea’s reunion. Thea knows Oliver probably better than any other character of the show and is able to teach him the things that he needs to learn. To quote Oliver, “When did you stop being my baby sister?” She’s as competent as ever in this episode and that extends to helping Oliver work through his doubts and fears.

Diggle on mission

Where this issue falters a bit is by not having Diggle with Oliver and having him on a separate mission. It’s what plagued his storyline in season seven and it’s not a great decision here either. Both Oliver and Diggle are good on their own, but are made better when together. The only reason that this storyline has any interest whatsoever is that we now no longer trust Lyla. It’s going to hurt so badly when John finds out he’s being betrayed.

That’s the reason why this plotline works at all, we don’t trust Lyla anymore and John has to deal with his PTSD from the destruction of Earth 2. The story isn’t the most interesting thing to happen on the show, not even close, but there’s an ever-present feeling that there’s more than meets the eye to what’s happening.

Even if it’s not the most interesting thing happening, it’s starting to explain why John adopted Connor Hawke though. It wasn’t simply some random adoption, it builds the mythology of both characters in a very organic way.

The future in their hands

William and Mia were the best parts of the flash-forwards last season and continue to be so this season. They haven’t interacted much one-on-one until this episode, which makes their interaction in this episode all the more special. It’s emotional and honest and perfectly fits both of the characters, while also building who they are as people. It’s wonderful to see them together again.

Other than those two though, this episode effectively builds the threat of the Deathstroke gang even more so than it was last episode. Even though it builds the threat, it still manages to show that they aren’t unbeatable, which is necessary to make it believable if Team Arrow does, in fact, beat them in the end. Right now though, JJ has killed Zoe and suddenly, the team has been brought into the present in a genuinely shocking moment.

Arrow delivers another solid episode, despite a lacking B-plot, and builds a lot of momentum due to the shocking final scene.