Leap of Faith (Arrow)
Oliver and Thea search catacombs; Diggle and Lyla on a mission.
"Leap of Faith" serves as the third installment of Arrow's eighth season, continuing the story of Oliver Queen, a billionaire turned vigilante archer. The episode exists within the Arrowverse, a shared universe of interconnected television series. Its script came from Emilio Ortega Aldrich and Elizabeth Kim, while series regular Katie Cassidy took the director's chair for the first time.
The narrative splits into three threads. In one, Oliver and his sister Thea Queen navigate a labyrinth of catacombs. Another follows John Diggle and Lyla Michaels on a covert operation. The third, set in 2040, involves Connor Hawke, Mia Smoak, William Clayton, and Zoe Ramirez confronting John Diggle Jr.
The main cast includes Stephen Amell as Oliver, joined by David Ramsey, Rick Gonzalez, Juliana Harkavy, Katherine McNamara, Ben Lewis, and Joseph David-Jones. Willa Holland appears as a special guest star, reprising her role as Thea Queen after leaving the regular cast in season six. Other guests include Audrey Marie Anderson, Andrea Sixtos, Charlie Barnett, Lexa Doig, and Kyra Zagorsky.
The episode aired on The CW on October 29, 2019, drawing 0.76 million live viewers and a 0.3/2 share among adults aged 18 to 49. Critical reception was generally positive. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 100% approval rating from 11 reviews, with an average score of 7.49/10, noting it as a "wistful installment" that bids farewell to Willa Holland. Allison Shoemaker of The A.V. Club awarded a B+, praising Thea's return and her evolved dynamic with Oliver. Delia Harrington of Den of Geek called it "Arrowverse-altering" and expressed genuine surprise at the show's renewed energy. Jesse Schedeen of IGN was more critical, rating it 6.1/10 and arguing the season dwells too much on the past. Chancellor Agard of Entertainment Weekly gave a B, applauding the show for not glossing over the emotional fallout from the season premiere.
- Series
- Arrow
- Season
- 8
- Episode
- 3
- Air date
- October 29, 2019
- Network
- The CW
- Director
- Katie Cassidy
- Writers
- Emilio Ortega Aldrich, Elizabeth Kim
Lore & Background
The episode follows three storylines. In one, Oliver Queen and his sister Thea Queen search through a cave system near Lian Yu, seeking information about the Monitor. They encounter Talia al Ghul, who initially helps them but later attacks Thea for the journal. Thea ultimately wins a fight for the journal, and Oliver deduces that the Monitor is causing an impending crisis. In a second storyline, John Diggle and Lyla Michaels track down criminal Farzad Qadir in Hong Kong, freeing Ben Turner's wife Sandra Hawke and son Connor. In a third storyline set in 2040, Connor Hawke, Mia Smoak, William Clayton, and Zoe Ramirez take on John Diggle Jr., leader of the Deathstroke gang. Zoe is shot but not confirmed dead—she is shown wounded but alive at the end of the segment. Before Connor can kill J. J., the group is mysteriously teleported to 2019, meeting Oliver, Diggle, Dinah Drake, and Rene Ramirez in Team Arrow's bunker.
Reader's Guide
The episode is notable as the directorial debut of series regular Katie Cassidy, who does not appear as her character Laurel Lance. It features the return of Willa Holland as Thea Queen in a special guest star role. The episode received generally positive reviews, with a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews. Critics praised the handling of Thea's character and the episode's reflection on the show's past while setting up future events. The episode was watched live by 0.76 million viewers with a 0.3/2 share among adults aged 18 to 49.
Did You Know?
- The episode title is a reference to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name.
- Katie Cassidy directed the episode but did not appear as her character Laurel Lance.
- Willa Holland guest-starred as Thea Queen after departing as a regular in season six.
- The episode features a storyline set in 2040 involving Connor Hawke, Mia Smoak, William Clayton, and Zoe Ramirez.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Leap of Faith (Arrow)?
Katie Cassidy, a series regular known for playing Laurel Lance, stepped behind the camera for this episode. It marked her first time directing an Arrow installment.
What happens in the episode Leap of Faith (Arrow)?
The story runs three parallel threads: Oliver and Thea Queen explore a network of catacombs, John Diggle and Lyla Michaels carry out a covert operation, and a separate storyline is set in the year 2040.
When did Leap of Faith (Arrow) air and on what network?
It premiered on October 29, 2019, on The CW as part of Arrow's eighth season.
Who wrote the script for Leap of Faith (Arrow)?
Emilio Ortega Aldrich and Elizabeth Kim co-wrote the episode, which is the third installment of season 8.
Where does Leap of Faith fit in the Arrowverse timeline?
It sits in Season 8, Episode 3 of Arrow, placing it late in the series' run and within the broader Arrowverse shared-universe continuity.
More in Arrow episodes 1-24
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