Arrow - Season 3 Episode 9 - The Climb review

It's time to rejoin season 3 of Arrow, as the hour has come for a showdown with Ra's al Ghul himself and Sara's killer finally is revealed

Episode 9 – The Climb

It's time for the mid-season showdown and it's another doozy.

It's full of revelations. The first of which is: Thea killed Sara under the control of Malcolm Merlyn to so that he could record it and pit Oliver against Ra's al Ghul who will win the duel and clear any blood debts, including Malcolm's (I assume that works because he's Thea's father, but he's no blood relative of Oliver's)

So yeah, Malcolm Merlyn is still the glorious b*stard we always knew him to be. And he's using Thea.

Also, Ray Palmer had a girlfriend who died during Slade's attack and now is planning to shrink a load of weapons and form it into an OMAC/ATOM suit. It's interesting that he reveals that to Felicity, considering their relationship is actually one of the most awkward on the show.

Also, Dinah finds out that Sara died, and is of course upset, but more upset that Quintin still doesn't know. If TV has taught us anything is that truth will come out eventually. Especially after Laurel starts to become the new Canary.

Oliver finds out about Thea having gone with Malcolm Merlyn, she lies to him (and gee, I wonder where she picked that skill up, it's not like HER WHOLE FAMILY HAS THE HABBIT) but Oliver sees through it, and eventually forgives her, able to what he feels he has to do in order to save her life

So, we come to the duel. And really, it's only mid-season, Ra's was never gonna lose this fight. In fact he pretty much slaughtered Ollie the entire fight, eventually stabbing him through the chest, and kicking him off the mountain. Yeah… If you think Ollie's gonna stay dead, I have this bridge I'd like to sell you.

In China, we discover that China White has procured a virus called Omega that can wipe out an entire city. When Oliver and Maseo find her man on the inside, China White goes after his family, kidnapping Katana.

Obviously something happens later on resulting in Maseo joining the League of Assassins, as he was a prominent member in the present.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. was heavy on revelations and action, and the Flash took a more personal approach. Arrow managed to hit a great balance between the two, and I'll give it credit for the slower moments which work in this show's favour more than either of the others.

Rating 9.5/10

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