Oliver plays a very long game with very personal stakes. Quentin discovers Laurel’s true loyalties. Rene returns home but not to work. And Diaz makes his latest move.

Rene’s return this week gives you a stark reminder of just how recently this show was in the process of flaming out. The dismally handled cover version of Civil War that benched him a few short weeks ago remains one of the lowest points in Arrow’s history. The end of the same season though is starting to look like one of the high points.

Let’s deal with everyone’s favourite ‘I call everyone Hoss’ vigilante first. Rick Gonzalez is such an instantly likable presence that Rene’s struggle here really hits home. There’s no angst, no Oliver-esque bottling everything up. He’s back, but he is miles from okay. And instead of making a thing of it, he takes himself off the board and tells his colleagues why.

Wild Dog, it seems, is now officially the show’s designated adult.

It’s helped too by the great scenes he gets with Diggle, and the two former soldiers bonding over their shared damage is a very well handled moment. Likewise Diggle and Team Newbie’s entire plot, which culminates in one of the best action sequences we’ve seen so far this season. The drone’s eye view of the trucks being strafed as Curtis jumps off one is especially impressive.

And, amazingly, this week’s Oliver plot is also really really good. His elaborate, gorgeously byzantine attempt to bring Anatoli back onside is the sort of thing the 7th Doctor would nod approvingly at and shows the difference between Oliver and his opponent. Diaz will punch in a straight line through anything in his path to get to his target. Olly will buy the city block his target is on. Interestingly though, it’s Oliver that loses their brutal, bare-knuckled ‘Loser leaves town’ match precisely because he’s so straightforward. Diaz tells him it’s a fight, Olly fights. Diaz stabs him, Olly doesn’t see it coming. It’s a nice grace note, showing the fundamental decency of Oliver Queen that the show has all too often forgotten this year.

That’s why the ending works so well here. Because both men win and both men lose. Diaz gets incontrovertible, painful evidence he can’t take Olly in a straight fight. Olly discovers the depths Diaz will sink to. And the very people Olly’s pushed away may be the only ones that can save him. It’s a brave, big move the show finishes on and it’s one that feels earned and escalates the threat in every way. Olly’s going to need a hell of a lawyer…

Verdict: Tough, smart, fun and intense this is a different show to the shambling wreck of a few weeks ago. Buckle up for the season finale. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart