ARROW - SEASON 8.3

REVIEW:  ARROW - SEASON 8, EP. 3:  "Leap Of Faith"


Oliver Queen's world travels landed him in yet another familiar place this week as he continues his final globetrotting journey before facing CRISIS.  Tonight, we see the return to Nanda Parbat, and more familiar faces.  In another part of the world, Diggle and Lyla work a mission to save Ben Turner's wife and kid, while facing uncertainty, and our Future Team Arrow hits back at Connor's brother JJ and the Deathstroke Gang.  Everything tonight being done by a leap of faith...in each other and themselves.

Ollie has travelled to Nanda Parbat for answers about The Monitor...what his intentions are, what his story is.  We see that he bumps into his sister Thea, who has been at war with Athena for control of Nanda Parbat.  They chat over what's going on, and Ollie shows Thea her niece Mia.  She misses home, but knows she had to close the Lazarus Pits.  Roy has been off the grid, and she hasn't seen him lately.  Ollie fills her in on the details, and she hasn't an answer, but knows who might.  They head out and eventually meet up with Talia al Ghul and the League of Shadows.  Ollie asks her about the Monitor, and while she doesn't know, has an idea as to WHERE Ollie might find an answer:  Ra's stronghold.  She leads them there, because she is owes a debt to Ollie.

Diggle and Lyla are chatting about what's going on with Ollie's mission, and watching the end of an entire world.  However, they find out that Ben Turner (our resident Bronze Tiger), is working a mission for ARGUS, and his wife and son, Sandra and Connor, have been kidnapped by a man named Abdul Mordoc, and held in Kasnia.  They can't risk Turner being exposed or killed, so they take it upon themselves to do the mission solo....though Diggle would've preferred Lyla sent in an ARGUS team to extract them.  It's their chance to spend some time with each other---while performing a rescue.  

We jump to the future, where New Team Arrow is trying to figure out what it was JJ wanted.  William managed to get away from JJ's troops, but not before he got what he came for:  the names of everyone involved in the Unification Initiative between Star City and the Glades.  JJ wants to destroy them all, and rule Star City AND the Glades under his thumb.  Mia's plan is that they go back to the Deathstrokes' hideout, and hit them before they have a chance to carry out their plan.  Not the wisest of decisions according to both Connor and Zoe, but nonetheless, they're a team and they stick together.  

Ollie, Talia, and Speedy are in Ra's underground catacombs, and come across an empty room.  Athena had stolen what she wanted, but left the very parchment they were looking for.  They manage to decipher it, and it mentions about a Phoenix rising.  Just then, Ollie burns the map, and it turns into another map.  Just as they're about to continue their quest, Athena shows up, ready to kill.  I should note that during this time, Nyssa is off on another mission, and not available.  Athena wants the map, and Talia hands it to her, and a battle ensues, with Talia using a smokescreen to help them escape.  She ended up memorizing the map, and it leads to another secret hideaway, where a sacred sword has been, which gives the wielder control over EVERYONE.  Ollie warns Speedy to stay behind at the camp.  Thea reluctantly agrees.

Checking back in with Diggle and Lyla, they have made their way to Kasnia, and work a party at Mordoc's place, discovering that he DOES have Sandra and Conner locked away.  They discuss the whole issue about John having watched a world die, not knowing if he can change the future.  Lyla tells him to just live for today, and make the most of it.  Everything will be fine as long as they have each other.  He's on board, and they doll up to crash this party at Mordocs, finding a way to break in and help Sandra and Connor escape.  They manage to break in, and get to Sandra and Connor.  John helps them, as Lyla creates a distraction for them.  She manages to take out a couple of guards before Mordoc's henchman, whom Lyla killed his father, recognizes her, and is about to kill her until John takes him out.  The mission accomplished, they get Sandra and Connor to safety, as they themselves head home.

Future Team Arrow enter's the Deathstrokes' hideout, and William needs time to hack into their system.  He and Mia talk, and she admits that she's doing this to protect HIM, because he is the only family she's got.  The Deathstrokes return, and it's finally showtime.  Mia enters to face JJ again, and they battle, but it doesn't go well, as JJ gets the drop on her.  He's got a knife to her throat, when Zoe comes in all Canary like, and diffuses the situation, only temporarily.  as JJ is disabled, Zoe asks if Mia...now bleeding, is okay.  As Mia says yes, Zoe is stabbed by JJ.  Zoe falls into Mia's arms, and she tries to keep Zoe alive.  Meanwhile, JJ and Connor fight, Connor determined to kill his brother.  As Mia holds Zoe, trying to get her to stay alive...she dies.  Connor gets JJ down, and is prepared to kill him...as a white light shines on all of them.

We circle back around to Ollie, who has now traveled with Talia to this new hideaway.  Talia, however, still seems to think Ollie is after the sword, and she nails him with a knockout dart.  When he awakes, Thea is there, and they make their way up the side of the mountain to cut Talia off at the pass.  During this time, Ollie and her have a long chat about what their parents would think of them.  Thea reminds him that they made their choices, and look how things turned out.  You can't go back to change them...just have to move forward.  They know the risks.  Eventually, they catch up with Talia, who was herself captured by Athena.  They enter the catacombs, and make their way down to where the sacred sword is.  Talia and Thea go to find the answer that Ollie is looking for, while he runs interference with Athena.  However, Talia and Thea fight over the sword, as Ollie manages to subdue Athena and her men.  Talia manages to wound Thea a little, but Thea gets the upper hand and manages to get Talia to yield, thus winning the challenge for control of the sword and all of Nanda Parbat.  They find the ancient document that says of the Monitor not being the one to save the CRISIS nor prevent it...but is instrumental in it actually happening.  Ollie knows that if he can stop him, he will.  Talia is about to depart for the League of Assassins, and Thea, now in control, tells her that it's better if the BOTH of them turn the League into a League of Heroes...especially in the wake of this upcoming CRISIS.  She agrees.  Ollie and Thea bid a tearful farewell, and as soon as Ollie leaves...there's a bright light.

When the bright light dissapates, they're back in the bunker...with some younger individuals.  Turns out---present and future meet, as Mia and William look upon their father, with Team Arrow looking upon the kids.


This season is definitely a sentimental journey for all us fans.  And tonight was no different.  While I was disappointed we got no Roy or even Nyssa...we got Thea.  And THAT was a big focal point for me.  It was LONG overdue for Ollie and Thea to have brother/sister time.  This whole episode was worth it.  We got to see how much Speedy has grown, and how she's become a complete person.  And to give Ollie some advice about life...nice twist.  For her to best Talia al Ghul in battle---was also nice.  Thea, being very well aware now of the upcoming CRISIS...decides that her and Talia need to work TOGETHER...unite Nanda Parbat into a heroic force.  So, Thea coming full circle was great.  Was also nice to see Talia..willing to play both sides to get her own foothold.  But in the end...she is bested by her better.  

Diggle and Lyla running what may very well be one last mission together before he actually finds out HER real role in all this, was sweet.  Leave to Lyla who not only consoled Laurel last week in regards to losing her own world, but to console John as well.  John is uneasy about his role in what's coming.  He feels it's bigger than him, and doesn't like that he has no control over it.  But Lyla assures him that whatever happens, as long as they're together, things will be fine.

The future Team Arrow just doesn't know how to get out of it's own way.  Mia, try as she might to be a leader, is making even bigger mistakes than Ollie did during his foray as Green Arrow.  It cost them Zoe, so it appeared.  As for Mia and William...their bond is stronger.  They have faith in each other.  Now that they, as their adult selves, get to see their father...it's going to be interesting this next episode.

Again, this season is just hitting us right in the feels.  We're seeing some old faces one last time, and saying goodbye to our Team, as they prepare for CRISIS...and Ollie's eventual passing.  This season has been quality thus far, with more fun stuff to come up to jerk some tears out of us.  

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Until next week...keep your sights on the bullseye!