Arrow season 3, episode 21, “Al Sah-Him,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the episode with fellow fans.
Al Sah-Him
Over three weeks, Oliver is subjected to harsh conditions and training to become Al Sah-Him. Oliver Queen only lives in the past, he says.
Maseo interrupts a conversation between Ra’s and his heir with a captive: Diggle. Diggle claims he’s been held captive all along, never making it home. Ra’s orders Oliver to kill the prisoner, though Oliver refuses to kill an unarmed man. Cue a duel, in which Oliver wins and kills Diggle — only he’s not Diggle. Oliver, as it turns out, has been subjected to an ancient herb that subjects the user to hallucinations of their conscience. Oliver, though, has passed his test.
Ra’s later brings Oliver to the remains of a village and tells him about the person he arrived in Nanda Parbat with: Damien Darhk. They were both up to become the Heir, but our current Ra’s obviously won. Damien, in his defeat, fled Nanda Parbat with water from the Lazarus Pit and now runs H.I.V.E. He’s been a thorn in Ra’s’ side, so Ra’s tells Oliver that he must not have a Damien of his own.
Targeting Nyssa
In Starling City, Black Canary, with Nyssa’s help, catches a mugger. Instead of continuing training, though, they get milkshakes and burgers, and Laurel even convinces Nyssa to dip a fry in her milkshake. Laurel enjoys seeing Nyssa “normal,” but she kills the mood when she informs Nyssa that Oliver has become the Heir. Upset, Nyssa leaves in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Lyla, Diggle, Thea, Felicity, and baby Sara share a dinner and remember Oliver.
Laurel tracks Nyssa down and apologizes for keeping the secret. Nyssa in turn tells her why she was upset: Oliver will now come for her. Laurel convinces Nyssa to bring the news to Diggle and Felicity.
She tells them about brainwashing the League sometimes does, but Diggle and Felicity refuse to believe her. Nyssa, though, isn’t afraid to face her fate so suits up. After she leaves, Laurel convinces Diggle and Felicity to help. Laurel placed a tracker on Nyssa, so Felicity tracks it from Palmer Technologies while Diggle and Black Canary head out.
Heir vs. Heir
Thea lets herself into Palmer Technologies and pushes Felicity to tell her about Oliver. Thea wants to try to talk to Oliver, but Felicity tells her Oliver wants her out of harm’s way.
On the rooftop where Sara was murdered, Oliver confronts Nyssa. He is there to bring her back to Nanda Parbat. Nyssa refuses, and the two fight. Oliver gets the upper hand but is interrupted by Diggle and Black Canary, complete with Canary Cry. Oliver recognizes the bad odds and leaves.
Later, Laurel speaks to Nyssa. Nyssa says they shouldn’t have helped her, but Laurel is adamant that friends help each other. She also says that she didn’t recognize Oliver. But if Oliver could change, then so can Nyssa.
At Palmer Technologies, Diggle finds Felicity and they commiserate. Meanwhile, Oliver tells Maseo they need to draw Nyssa out now that she has allies.
The exchange
Malcolm Merlyn arrives at Thea’s, and Thea asks about Oliver. Malcolm fills her in, and after Thea insists she help, Malcolm asks what she needs from him.
At Lyla’s, Diggle and Felicity find baby Sara crying and Lyla gone. Oliver calls Diggle, giving him 30 minutes to exchange Nyssa for Lyla. At Nyssa’s, Diggle blames Nyssa for the situation though Laurel gets between them. Nyssa offers to turn herself in, but Laurel believes they’re better than trading one life for another.
Felicity, Black Canary, and Diggle bring Nyssa to the appointed place. Oliver doesn’t crack even when Felicity tries pleading with him. Nyssa hands herself over and Oliver frees Lyla. However, before the League can take Nyssa, they pull guns and begin fighting. Nyssa, though, is captured while Oliver and Diggle fight.
Oliver is about to kill Diggle when an arrow flies through his arm — Thea, in full costume, stands on higher ground, threatening to shoot again if Oliver doesn’t leave Diggle. Oliver pulls the arrow out and leaves.
Back at Palmer Technologies, the team realizes Oliver is truly lost to them. They will keep fighting, though.
Bride of the Demon
Oliver brings Nyssa to Ra’s in Nanda Parbat. Ra’s asks about something Nyssa has stolen — and finds it in the hilt of her sword — then instructs Oliver to kill her. Nyssa declares herself finally unafraid of her father. Oliver prepares to strike, but Ra’s stops him, saying he’s done what Ra’s couldn’t in breaking her. Spilling her blood would be extreme.
Rather, he sees benefit in keeping her alive — and marrying her to Oliver.
In Starling City, Felicity visits Thea at her place, and Felicity says she loved Oliver. Thea hadn’t known about them, and Felicity admits it was complicated. Felicity then tells Thea that Roy is alive and gives her his contact information.
Back in Nanda Parbat, Ra’s says that the final step of initiation to becoming the Heir is wiping out one’s former home. Ra’s reveals what Nyssa had stolen — the Alpha and Omega bioweapon — and says he must use it on Starling City.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong…
The city is in a panic as the virus begins to spread. Oliver, Tatsu, and Maseo blow up a truck from which Shrieve’s soldiers were injecting civilians with the virus. They head back to the apartment to collect Akio, only to find his guardian dead. Akio is still alive, so the group plans to flee Hong Kong under the cover of the chaos. However, on the road, Akio begins bleeding from the mouth — he’s infected.
Watch a promo for the next episode
