Arrow season 4, episode 9, “Dark Waters,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the episode with fellow fans.
Oliver Queen versus Damien Darhk
When H.I.V.E. attacks the Queen campaign-sponsored cleanup up of the bay, Oliver decides enough is enough. He meant it when he said his fight with Darhk would be in the light, so he reveals Darhk’s name and picture to the media. This, unsurprisingly, infuriates Darhk, so he crashes Oliver’s holiday party and kidnaps Thea, Felicity and Diggle. Laurel was not at the party, though, so she remains free.
Oliver has no luck tracking Darhk down on the streets, so he turns himself over to Darhk in exchange — he believes, anyway — for his loved ones’ freedom. However, as Darhk reminds Oliver, he’s a bad guy; he’s going to gas the three anyway. However, when the gas starts flowing, Black Canary and “The Green Arrow” interrupt (The Green Arrow being Malcolm).
They free everyone, and even Quentin and some SCPD officers arrive to help with the escape. Quentin has officially blown his cover, which doesn’t bode well for his lifespan. Meanwhile, Malcolm as the Green Arrow blows Darhk up, but not before he says a spell. (Yes, he survives. Shocking no one.)
Damien Darhk is proving himself to be the most formidable and intimidating villain Team Arrow has faced yet. When he makes a threat, he follows up on it.
Olicity
Mama Smoak is back in town for the holidays, and while she’s decorating, she finds Oliver’s engagement ring in the decorations. She shows it to Felicity, who proceeds to freak out.
At the holiday party, after meeting Curtis and his adorable husband, Felicity realizes Oliver was going to propose in the season premiere and confronts him about it. He says he needed to rethink some things after they returned to Star City — but before he can say more, Darhk attacks the party. Later, when Oliver visits his loved ones in Darhk’s captivity, Felicity tells Oliver that she would have said yes had he proposed.
After everyone is rescued, Oliver gives a speech in front of the city and proposes to her. Felicity, of course, accepts. However, when Oliver and Felicity drive off in a limo, they’re surrounded and shot up by Ghosts. Oliver gets the limo away, but Felicity has been shot by then.
The advancement of Oliver and Felicity’s relationship was quite sweet — so of course something horrible had to happen. Let’s just remember that it’s likely not Felicity in the grave; besides it being too obvious, it hasn’t been six months since the season premiere, when the graveside scene occurs. This is more than likely a fake-out and the true identity of whoever is in the grave will come in the back half of season 4.
Also worth noting
- Felicity discovers that Donna and Quentin are dating.
- Damien Darhk is moving into stage 4 of H.I.V.E.’s plan. He’s got a huge bunker filled with actually growing corn. It’s been synthesized via algae from the bay, hence attacking the cleanup.
- H.I.V.E.’s drugs have worn off, but Andy is still as hostile and devoted to Darhk as ever. Diggle finally decides that he will treat Andy as Andy is demanding to be treated.
- While Oliver and Felicity are getting shot at, Damien is visiting his family for Christmas.
Watch a promo for the next episode
