Review: Arrow, “Nanda Parbat” (Season 3 Episode 15)

Will Oliver be the new Ra’s Al Ghoul?

That’s the question we’ll all be asking ourselves as Arrow takes an agonizing three-week-long hiatus.

On “Nanda Parbat,” Oliver and Thea are back from the island, training with Merlyn to defeat Ra’s and his League of Assassins. But Thea is having a hard time adjusting to the news that her father forced her to kill Sara Lance. Oliver urges her to keep quiet about the secret, especially around Laurel, who has no idea who really killed her sister.

So naturally, Thea goes directly to Laurel and tells her the whole story.

The battle for Thea’s soul seems to be the overarching theme of the season. Whether she’ll turn out to be a ruthless killer like her father, or a benevolent protector like her brother. Roy plays an integral role in this battle of wills, and I loved seeing him struggle through his own past misdeeds to help Thea through hers. The scene with the family of the cop he killed was so touching.

But Thea’s guilt and anger will not be silenced, and she ends up contacting the League and turning Merlyn over. So much for the bonds of family, I guess.

Desperate to save Thea from killing her own father, Oliver and Diggle travel to Nanda Parbat, Ra’s Al Ghul’s secret lair, to save Merlyn’s life. I have to ask: Am I the only one who thinks Oliver is going a little far in the name of Thea’s clean conscience? The last time he fought Ra’s he literally died. Maybe Merlyn could have handled this one on his own? Just this once?

In flashback land, Oliver finally believes that he’ll be able to return home to his family after General Shrieve officially discharges him. Unfortunately, he is caught in a fire fight with Maseo, Tatsu, and their son before he can get his happily ever after. I just know this adorable little kid is getting killed soon, and I’m not ready for it. Why can’t Tatsu and Maseo just ride off into the sunset with their cute little family instead of heading down the road to heartbreak?

Meanwhile, Felicity plays mother hen to Ray, as he works himself to death finishing the A.T.O.M suit.

Felicity: “This whole situation has gone from endearingly eccentric to entirely not okay.”

The suit wasn’t the only thing taking off last night, as the affectionately dubbed Raylicity ship took sail too. A shirtless scene here, an adorable ramble there, and suddenly these two nerdy lovebirds are in bed together. I can practically hear the Olicity fans plotting Ray’s murder now…

Ra’s delivered the biggest shocker of the night however, when he offered Oliver the position as head of the League of Assassins. A big responsibility for a guy who claims not to be a killer anymore, don’t you think?

Do you think Oliver will become the new Ra’s? What’s next for Ray and Felicity?

Leave your thoughts in comments, and be sure to give “Nanda Parbat” a rating of your own.

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW