After last week’s jaw dropping cliffhanger, it’s hard to see how this episode would top the reveal of Slade Wilson but the writers have managed to do it. While Slade Wilson is hanging out at the Queen mansion, introducing himself to Oliver’s family while getting a house tour from Thea, Oliver’s barely concealed feelings of anger, fear, and distrust are making everyone except for Slade feel uncomfortable.
However, most of this episode takes place on island time as the narrative takes a break from vigilante duties to explain how he came to be. Starting off with a training montage, this episode shows Oliver honing his skills as an archer thanks to a rigorous routine by Slade. Though Slade, Sara, and Oliver seem to be fully prepared for their heist of the freighter, Sara and Oliver are still worried about the Mirakuru in their possession and in Slade. The three agree to burn it while Oliver and Sara agree that Oliver has to kill Ivo before he can get to Slade. They then discuss what to tell their families if one of them doesn’t make it - Oliver wants to his family to know he changed from the irresponsible boy who got on the boat but Sara wants her family to remember her how she was.
Oliver’s guilt over Shado’s death is a recurring theme throughout the episode, though, as Oliver has a terrifying dream where Shado asks why he chose Sara over her while stabbing him repeatedly. His guilt, however, proves to be the reason behind what he does as he “hoods up” for the first time, wearing Shado’s hood. This is also teases the appearance of Slade as Deathstroke.
As they kick their plan into action, the two men have a touching moment on the beach while Slade tells Oliver, “When we first tried to get off this beach, it was as strangers. Now, it’s as brothers.” Their moment is cut short as Oliver’s plan to be bait gets him taken back to the freighter. When injected with sodium penthathol (truth serum), everything seems to be going poorly as Oliver reveals everything. But as the ship goes in to overdrive to find the other two, Oliver breaks out of the spell brought on by the truth serum and meets Sara and Slade on the deck, completely opposite of where he told Ivo they’d be.
Everything quickly erupts into chaos as Sara frees the prisoners while Oliver hunts down Ivo and Slade takes care of his men down in the engine room. Oliver finds Ivo trying to make a call to his wife, whom apparently doesn’t remember him. Desperate, he manipulates the situation to make Oliver feel guilty about Shado’s death, trying to make him take the blame. When he doesn’t take the bait, however, it’s revealed that Slade has been hiding in the shadows and he knows a twisted version of the truth. It proves to be his undoing as he attacks Oliver. Though both Oliver and Ivo escape, before Oliver can ditch the boat with Sara and several prisoners, Slade manages to recapture and imprison him.
In real time, Oliver is following Moira and Thea around as they give Slade a house tour. Subtly dialing Felicity, he reaches the other members of his team as they train Roy in the foundry. Though they originally think it’s a butt dial, Sara panics when she recognizes the voice of Slade Wilson. The team goes into action, infiltrating the Queen mansion easily and quickly while Diggle maintains watch on the outside.
When confronted with the sight of Sara and Roy, Slade decides to end his visit with the Queen family and head home. As Oliver walks him to the car, he asks Slade about his motives. “Five years ago, I made you a promise. Do you remember that, kid? Well, I’m here to fulfill it,” he tells him cooly before driving off.
In a final island flashback, Slade has taken control of the freighter and initiated himself as captain. Taking Oliver out of his cell, he plans to have Ivo kill him the way he killed Shado but cuts his hand off at the last minute. When Oliver questions why he doesn’t kill him, Slade tells him, “You cannot die until you have suffered the same way that I have suffered, ‘til you have known complete despair. And you will, I promise.”
At the mansion, Moira tells Oliver that his behavior was noticed and not appreciated and if that is how he’s always going to be, he needs to stop coming around. As Oliver walks away, the scene pans to reveal a surveillance system set up by Slade during his house tour.
Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.