Arrow Review: The Offer (Season 3 Episode 16)

Arrow finally returned last night with “The Offer,” an episode that left everyone yelling WHAT? HOW? or DAMMIT RA’S!

The offer to become Ra’s Al Ghul should have been met with a quick “Thanks, but no thanks,” from Oliver, but instead, he actually takes the time to consider it.

I can’t really blame him, since his reasoning seems to be pretty sound. He’s made very little progress with Starling’s crime problem in the past three years, which was his main goal in the first place. On top of that, his friends and family keep dying, and he can’t seem to find a way to be with the woman he loves.

Ra’s Al Ghul: “Oliver Queen is a man destined to be alone.”

When facing the harsh truth that he could very well spend the rest of his life fighting an uphill battle which will ultimately leave him all alone… well yeah, it makes sense that he would stop to consider taking an offer that would give him a life and family of sorts outside of Starling. This episode gave us a very humanizing crisis for Oliver, as he typically seems so firm in his beliefs. We saw a major change in him, and it was pretty refreshing. Even heroes have their moments of doubt.

Oliver, for all his bluster about justice and nobility, has lived an assassin’s life before. He knows better than anyone that there are layers under every killer, and sometimes those layers aren’t all bad. The League of Assassins could be the same, under the right leader. Just look at Maseo!

Back in Starling, Thea is having an existential crisis of her own.

Thea: “I’ve been trying to remember who I was before mom died. Before Malcolm. And I don’t recognize her.”

Of all the characters on Arrow, Thea has definitely seen the most change. From a drugged out brat to a slightly unhinged warrior, it’s been a long journey for our favorite Queen girl. You have to sympathize with Thea when it comes right down to it. Her mother died, and she was completely adrift, especially considering her brother was still lying to her in a big way. Then Malcolm comes along and offers her stability and security. Two things she desperately craves.

To find out that it was all a lie and Malcolm was only using her? It would mess with anyone’s head. Let’s just hope Roy can help her sort things out before she does something crazy like asking Nyssa to kill her again.

Speaking of Nyssa, can I say how much I LOVE that she’ll be sticking around to train Laurel? This show needs more badass ladies being besties, so I’m absolutely on board for this new friendship.

Olicity shippers got a few good moments in too, which is never a bad thing.

Oliver realizes that Felicity has moved on with Ray, and it’s yet another reason for him to consider Ra’s offer. If he can’t be with the love of his life, it might be time to leave her behind too, right? Wrong. I’m actually glad that Felicity kicked some sense into him about that, since it was Oliver’s choice not to be with her. If he’s feeling upset or lonely, it’s his own fault.

Finally, let’s talk about those two major twists of the night. First off, the offer turns out of the less of an offer and more of a mandate, as Ra’s doesn’t take Oliver’s rejection very well. Killing people while posing as the Arrow is definitely one way to get Oliver to leave his life in Starling behind.

Malcolm: Ra’s Al Ghul doesn’t offer, he orders. Oliver… don’t delude yourself into thinking you have a choice.

Now that Ra’s Al Ghul is parading around in green, tarnishing the Arrow’s good name, it could mean trouble for Oliver and his team.

The second twist came in the resurrection of Shado, during the Hong Kong flashbacks. I need answers on this now! Mostly because if Shado was alive this whole time, then couldn’t Slade’s little meltdown last year have had an easy solution…?

Tell us your thoughts in comments below! And be sure to give “The Offer” your own rating! 

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Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.