Oliver’s old cell mate menaces the newly reformed Team Arrow.

This is BIG fun, and really cleverly placed in the season. To have this episode be the first challenge Team Arrow faces is a really smart play. So too is the return of William’s grandparents and an actual William plot! A good one too, as the world’s most placid teenager is revealed to be justifiably pretty bloody furious at his dad and mom for the choices they’ve made. This gives Amell in particular a chance to really stretch and for the show to explore a side of Oliver we often haven’t seen. This is one of the very few things he can’t deal with and the way his emotional constipation combines with his son’s rage, not to mention the touching final moments, is really impressive.

The fact the big bad is Stanley also helps a lot and officially ties off the prison plotline from the top of the season. This is the conclusion of the show’s rebuilding process and it leaves it in a really interesting place. We’re down a team member (Echo Kellum will be sorely missed but I suspect we’re going to see Curtis again), everyone’s on the government payroll and for the first time, the city seems to be turning to face its problems and get ahead of them.

Psych! Flashforward time! Which, again sees some welcome acceleration. Also the Mia Smoak reveal is great and suggests we’re going to get a lot of future stuff shortly. Regardless, it feels complementary to the main plot as opposed to a distraction and that’s to be welcomed.

Verdict: Tightly plotted, fun and assured, this is Arrow on top form. Recommended. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart