Sins of the Father (Arrow)

**"Sins of the Father"** is the 13th episode of *Arrow*'s fourth season (episode 82 overall). Ben Sokolowski and Keto Shimizu wrote it, Gordon Verheul directed, and it aired on February 10, 2016. The central conflict: Nyssa al Ghul offers Oliver a Lazarus Pit antidote called Lotus—but only if he kills Malcolm Merlyn.

**Plot** On Lian Yu, Taiana is furious that Oliver killed Vlad. When Oliver shows her a marked rock, she takes it, hoping to trade it to Reiter for her freedom. Instead, Reiter seizes the stone and locks them both up, telling Taiana she must kill Oliver or die herself. The two begin plotting to escape by killing Reiter and his men. Reiter tells Oliver they will dig beneath the island for what he seeks.

Five years later, Nyssa tells Oliver she'll give him the elixir if he kills Malcolm. Meanwhile, Felicity confronts her father, Noah, about his past; he hands her a USB drive proving some of his crimes. The team debates whether to kill Malcolm, eventually deciding to meet him and hand the League's ring to Nyssa. Laurel tries a different approach: convince Malcolm to voluntarily give Nyssa his power in exchange for the elixir. Nyssa agrees but warns she'll kill people if Malcolm refuses.

Oliver asks for a sample of Lotus to test it. They apply it to Thea, and some of her scars heal. Oliver, Diggle, Laurel, and Malcolm meet Nyssa to give her the ring—but Malcolm snatches it and summons assassins to attack. Nyssa and her fighters escape; Oliver stops Malcolm. The team decides to intercept and neutralize Nyssa's group. Felicity takes Noah to Palmer Tech labs, but it's a trap. Oliver confronts Malcolm for breaking the deal; Malcolm refuses to yield power and reveals he knows Oliver has a son.

To restore peace, Nyssa challenges Malcolm to a duel. Before it begins, Oliver invokes the right of the husband to take Nyssa's place, since he is still her husband. He swiftly defeats Malcolm, cuts off his hand with the League's ring, knocks him out, and gives the ring to Nyssa. She gives him the elixir, becomes the new Ra's al Ghul, and Thea is healed.

Noah meets Felicity. She confronts him for abandoning her; he admits the police are after her and Lance. Police arrive and arrest him. Seeing the darkness in her new role, Nyssa brings Malcolm, Oliver, and Laurel together, takes her ring, and throws it into a fire, disbanding the League.