Lian Yu (Arrow)
Oliver returns to Lian Yu for a final confrontation with Adrian Chase.
"Lian Yu" is the 115th episode of *Arrow* overall and the final installment of its fifth season, airing on May 24, 2017. Showrunners Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim wrote it, with Jesse Warn directing. The episode ends the flashback narrative that began with the series pilot.
In the present-day plot, Oliver Queen frees Slade Wilson and Digger Harkness from their A.R.G.U.S. cells on the island, recruiting them alongside Malcolm Merlyn and Nyssa al Ghul to rescue his kidnapped son William from Adrian Chase. Chase has assembled a force including Black Siren and mercenaries. During the mission, Harkness betrays the group, but Slade refuses to join him. Malcolm sacrifices himself to save Thea from a landmine, seemingly killing himself and Harkness. The team discovers the island is rigged with explosives tied to Chase’s heartbeat. Oliver confronts Chase, who reveals William is alive. Chase shoots himself, detonating the C4 and destroying Lian Yu as Oliver and William watch.
The episode was announced in March 2017 by Stephen Amell, with the title revealed the following month. It drew 1.72 million viewers, a 19% increase from the prior episode. Critics universally praised it, often calling it the series’ best. IGN’s Jesse Schedeen gave it a perfect 10, calling it a “masterpiece” that brought Oliver’s story full circle. The A.V. Club’s Alasdair Wilkins awarded an “A,” noting the episode’s strength came from tying together the show’s entire history.
- Episode
- Season 5, Episode 23 (115th overall)
- Written by
- Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim
- Directed by
- Jesse Warn
- First broadcast
- May 24, 2017
- Network
- The CW
- Viewers (millions)
- 1.72
Lore & Background
The episode revolves around Oliver Queen's desperate search for his son William, kidnapped by Adrian Chase. Chase has gathered an army including Laurel Lance / Black Siren and mercenaries, returning to the island where Oliver's journey began: Lian Yu. Oliver teams up with Malcolm Merlyn, Nyssa al Ghul, and releases Slade Wilson and Digger Harkness from their A.R.G.U.S. cells to fight Chase.
During the battle, Harkness initially betrays Oliver but Slade rejects a similar offer. Thea steps on a landmine, and Malcolm takes her place, seemingly blowing himself and Harkness up. Oliver catches Chase on a boat, where Chase reveals William and explains that if Oliver kills him, the explosives will kill everyone; if he does not, Chase will kill William. Oliver shoots Chase in the leg and rescues William, but Chase shoots himself, causing the island to detonate as Oliver and William watch in horror.
Reader's Guide
The episode received universal acclaim from critics, who hailed it as the best episode of the series. Praise focused on Stephen Amell and Josh Segarra's performances, the action scenes, the conclusion to the flashbacks, and Manu Bennett's return. Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave it a 10 out of 10, calling it a "masterpiece" and a high point for the series. Alasdair Wilkins of The A.V. Club gave it an "A" grade, noting it tapped into everything that came before and brought a decade's worth of story to an end. The episode was watched by 1.72 million viewers, a 19% increase from the previous episode. Its legacy is as a culmination of Oliver's five-year journey, tying together past and present while setting up uncertainty for the sixth season.
Did You Know?
- The episode was written by showrunners Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim and directed by Jesse Warn.
- It was first broadcast on May 24, 2017, on The CW.
- The episode ends the flashbacks storyline that had been running since the pilot episode.
- The episode was watched by 1.72 million viewers with a 0.6/3 share among adults aged 18 to 49.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote and directed the Arrow episode 'Lian Yu'?
The script was penned by showrunners Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim, while Jesse Warn sat in the director's chair for this season-five finale.
What happens in the present-day storyline of 'Lian Yu'?
Oliver Queen heads back to the island to confront Adrian Chase, who has kidnapped his son William and gathered an army that includes Black Siren and a group of mercenaries. To mount a rescue, Oliver breaks Slade Wilson and Digger Harkness out of their A.R.G.U.S. holding cells and assembles a team with Malcolm Merlyn and Nyssa al Ghul.
How does the long-running flashback arc conclude in this episode?
'Lian Yu' serves as the final chapter of the flashback sequence that started with the series pilot, bringing Oliver's time on the island to a full narrative close.
Who are the key allies Oliver brings together to save William?
He recruits Slade Wilson, Digger Harkness, Malcolm Merlyn, and Nyssa al Ghul, combining their skills to take on Chase's mercenary force on Lian Yu.
Why is 'Lian Yu' considered a milestone episode in Arrow's run?
As the 115th installment overall and the capstone of Season 5 (airing May 24, 2017 on The CW), it marks both the end of the show's central flashback framing device and a major turning point in Oliver's present-day story.
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