25 most heartbreaking Arrowverse deaths of all-time

25. Malcolm Merlyn

Malcolm Merlyn is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains to ever grace the Arrowverse with his presence. The dreaded Dark Archer, his reign of terror throughout Arrow‘s first season made him indescribably chilling, while his ability to return from the dead earned him the nickname “The Magician”.

That’s what made his apparent death in the Season 5 finale all the more significant. Standing there, across from his daughter – who hated him for all the horrible deeds he had committed over the years – and fully aware of the fact that she had stood on a landmine, there was no time to plan some elaborate scheme, just time to act. With that, he pushed her out of the way and took her place, reminding her that, in spite of everything he had done, he would do anything for his daughter.

Though it never took place on-screen, he presumably stepped off the landmine, allowing it to explode and take Captain Boomerang and Adrian Chase’s henchmen with him – saving Thea in more ways than one.

At this point, Malcolm had become a corny caricature of what he once was (Season 4 had that effect on most people), but none of us were opposed to one last act of defiance from him in the Season 5 finale – especially if it meant saving the life of our beloved Thea. And though a heroic end for a recurring villain, it’s ambiguity was the ultimate tribute to a man who cheated death more times than anyone else on the show.