Arrow season 3, episode 9, “The Climb,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the episode with fellow fans.
Arrow‘s mid-season 3 finale had a bit of everything. We finally learned the identity of Sara’s killer, we got to see Ra’s al Ghul in action, a declaration of love was made, and a main character died.
Yes, it was a biggie.
Sara’s killer
Let’s start with the big mystery that’s hung over the first half of the season: Sara Lance’s murder. The episode opened with Nyssa informing Oliver that he had 48 hours to present Sara’s murderer to Ra’s al Ghul, or the League would begin killing innocent citizens of Starling City. And the League does not make empty promises.
This pushed Felicity to get the DNA results from the murder weapon from S.T.A.R. Labs and run the sample against the SCPD database. The result? A 12-of-13-point match for one Oliver Queen. The team quickly realized that the sample matched Oliver because he was related to the owner of the DNA — Thea.
But even when the Arrow obtained security footage of Merlyn and Thea flying into Starling City from Corto Maltese the night before Sara’s murder, Oliver couldn’t believe his sister was a murderer. This led to the Arrow confronting Thea in her loft — and, of course, she fought back before fleeing, proving that she is a lying liar who lies.
Merlyn later confronted Oliver about the Arrow paying Thea a visit. Oliver, certain that Merlyn was behind Sara’s death, is angry enough to kill despite his no kill status. But Merlyn is always 10 steps ahead and has taken precautions: he has footage of Thea killing Sara — something the League would no doubt be interested in seeing. Merlyn drugged Thea, making her suggestible but without any memory of the events. Having Thea kill Sara was nothing more than a ploy to motivate Oliver to fight and kill Ra’s al Ghul, thus freeing him, Thea, and Malcolm of all blood debts.
There’s definitely something that leaves this writer cold about Sara’s death not being about her.
Anyway, Oliver is forced to take the blame for Sara’s murder to protect Thea from the League’s wrath, so he challenges Ra’s al Ghul to trial by combat. Which leads to…
The Demon’s Head
On the top of a snow covered mountain, Nyssa and Maseo — yes, that Maseo — watch on as shirtless (it’s the CW tradition) Oliver and Ra’s go toe to toe.
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Oliver claims two swords while Ra’s fights bare-handed, stealing Oliver’s swords from him. Ra’s truly is a master, as he completely schools Oliver and pushes him to the edge of the cliff.
For a brief moment, Oliver looks like he might catch Ra’s unaware and throw him over the ledge Lion King-style, but Ra’s punches him in the throat, stabs him, says a prayer while Oliver’s loved ones flash before his eyes, and then…
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Yes, Oliver Queen is dead.
Is there a Lazarus Pit nearby?
A declaration of love
Before leaving for his fight of doom, Oliver shares farewells with his loved ones. He hugs Thea, shakes hands with Dig, tells Roy to look after Thea, and then has a really lovely scene with Felicity.
She says she knows him better than to ask him not to go, so instead she tells him to kill Ra’s. Oliver says that whatever else he is, he knows two things: 1) He will do whatever it takes to protect his sister. 2) He loves Felicity.
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Flashbacks
In the Hong Kong flashbacks, we learn that China White was after a chemical agent. But while Oliver and Maseo were out trying to get it back, China White appeared at Maseo’s home and fought Tatsu. When Oliver and Maseo returned home, Akio tells his father that China White took Tatsu.
With Maseo as a member of the League in the present day, the Hong Kong flashbacks just got twice as interesting.
Other notes
Ray revealed to Felicity that he regretted the kiss they shared because the love of his life was killed in front of him during the Mirakuru soldier invasion. He was never supposed to kiss another woman again — until he was kissing Felicity.
He also shared his A.T.O.M. exosuit, telling Felicity that he was to protect the people of the city, and he wants her help. Yes, Felicity definitely has a type.
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Dinah Lance also arrived from Central City and a combination of a mother’s intuition and Laurel’s terrible lying skills tipped her off to Sara being dead. Laurel begged her to keep the secret from Quentin, and at Sara’s grave, Dinah told Laurel to make those who killed Sara suffer.
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