Arrow season 3, episode 4, “The Magician,” aired tonight. Read our recap and discuss the episode with fellow fans!
Heir to the Demon
The episode opens with Nyssa finding out Sara is dead. When Oliver tells her where Sara is buried, Nyssa leaves. Oliver has Roy follow her.
Meanwhile, Oliver meets Thea, who reveals she has investors to help her buy back the foundry — so, unlike Oliver, she’s not broke. Oliver continues trying to work out why Thea is so different, but she asks him just to be her big brother.
At Sara’s grave, Nyssa finds Laurel. Nyssa kneels and says a prayer, then offers Laurel her and her father’s condolences. But Laurel doesn’t want them because she blames Nyssa for Sara’s death. Nyssa, though, says she loved Sara with all of her soul and tells Laurel she’s not fit to wear Sara’s jacket.
Target: Merlyn
Roy tracks Nyssa to a safehouse, where Oliver confronts her. Nyssa reveals that the safehouse was Sara’s, so Oliver looks through a bag and finds a camera. They agree Sara’s target is likely her killer, though Nyssa reveals that Sara was only in Starling to confirm that Malcolm Merlyn is alive.
In the foundry, Nyssa fills Team Arrow in on Merlyn’s status with the League, and Oliver shows Diggle and Roy photos of Merlyn that Sara took. Nyssa helps them read a blank piece of paper Sara was carrying in her boot; when held over fire, ghost ink with Sara’s notes appears. They learn that Sara reached out to her father while in town.
At SCPD, Laurel asks their father about Jansen — the lead Sara came to him about. Lance reveals he gave her the man’s last known address. Nyssa arrives then and Laurel confronts her. During the conversation, Nyssa realizes Lance doesn’t know about Sara and disapproves, though continues the lie.
Team Arrow follows the lead to a monastery. They split up, and Nyssa draws on who she believes is Jansen — but it’s Merlyn. A fight ensues, and Merlyn flees — but not before Oliver tags him with a tracking arrow.
Meeting of the archers
In the foundry, Oliver tells Laurel about Merlyn. Laurel wants Oliver to kill him and thinks Sara would want that as well. Diggle sets to tracking Merlyn while Nyssa speaks with Laurel. Nyssa reminds Laurel that she loved Sara too and promises Sara and Laurel that she will find Merlyn. Laurel tells her to kill him since Oliver won’t.
Upstairs, Roy finds Thea working and offers to help, fulfilling his mission to look after her in case Merlyn reaches out.
Meanwhile, Diggle tracks Merlyn to a factory. Oliver heads there without telling Nyssa. But the factory is empty — Merlyn calls Oliver and demands they speak, alone, in a public place. At the meet, Merlyn says he would have nothing to gain by killing the lover of Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter when he’s in hiding. He also reveals that he protected Thea on the night of Slade’s attack and swears on Thea’s life that he didn’t kill Sara.
Kidnapping
The next day, Oliver reveals to Thea that Merlyn is alive. Thea plays shocked, while Oliver continues worrying about her.
Later, Oliver tells Nyssa that he’s convinced Merlyn didn’t kill Sara since he swore on his daughter’s life. Nyssa demands to know who Merlyn’s child is, and Oliver tells her. Nyssa, though, doesn’t buy Merlyn’s innocence.
That night, Nyssa confronts Roy and Thea outside of Verdant. Roy tries to stop her, but she tranquilizes him and takes Thea. She sends up a smoke signal, which both Merlyn and Laurel catch — as well as its meaning.
Nyssa apologizes for bringing Thea into the middle of her fight and says that while her father is the Demon, Thea’s father is the devil. Oliver then arrives and cuts Thea down. Thea runs.
Nyssa attacks Oliver and they fight until Merlyn interrupts. Cue a three-way battle. Merlyn stops Nyssa, but Oliver disarms him. Merlyn tells Oliver to kill him if he doesn’t believe him about Sara. When Oliver doesn’t shoot, Merlyn starts walking away — and Oliver draws. Merlyn points out that no prison can hold him, so the only way to stop him is to kill him. Oliver drops his bow and Merlyn flees.
Introducing the Demon
In the foundry, Nyssa hits Oliver. Oliver puts Malcolm under his protection, making him an enemy of the League. Nyssa leaves as Felicity returns from Central City.
On her way out of town, Nyssa finds Laurel boxing. Nyssa, clearly impressed with Laurel, reiterates her promise.
At SCPD, Lance calls Sara’s phone and leaves her a message saying he loves her.
After Oliver assures Thea that she’s safe and Roy apologizes for not stopping Nyssa, Thea offers to hire Roy as an assistant manager. Their talk is interrupted when Malcolm calls, and Thea thanks him for taking care of her.
Meanwhile, Nyssa returns to her father. Nyssa says Sara is dead and she has sworn a blood oath to avenge her. Ra’s al Ghul says Merlyn will face justice for his crimes against the code. Nyssa protests, but Ra’s says Sara was never truly one of them. He also declares that protecting Merlyn is an act of war.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong…
Oliver stalks and kills a target, as ordered, though he takes a jump drive from his body. According to Maseo, he’s a terrorist Amanda Waller wants dead.
At Maseo’s, Oliver is upset about killing without knowing why. Maseo, though, doesn’t believe they need to know. Oliver bribes Maseo’s son into using his computer and plugs the jump drive in. When Maseo comes back, Oliver demands a meet with Waller.
Oliver accuses Waller of trying to take down the flight he stopped from crashing while on the island. The man Oliver killed was Fyers’ handler — Fyers was one of Waller’s. Waller, though, had her reasons for shooting down the plane.
