(Spoiler alert. Please do not read on if you have not watched Wednesday’s Season 4 finale of “Arrow,” entitled “Schism.”)
After a season of trying to bring down Damien Darhk, Team Arrow took one last stab at it, as the fate of the entire world rested in the balance.
On the Season 4 finale of “Arrow,” Darhk (Neal McDonough) made quick work of Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and her friends, easily stealing her laptop, which contained the anti-Rubicon codes he needed to detonate every single one of the Earth’s nuclear missiles.
That’s right, Team Arrow has suddenly been thrust onto the world stage, tasked with saving much more than their too-often under-siege city.
But of course, they have to save Star City first. While Oliver (Stephen Amell) tapped into his inner politician and gave the citizens of his city the inspirational speech it needed it hear, Felicity and Curtis (Echo Kellum) used line-of-sight to trick the first missile headed for the city to detonate before it could get within reach of any real damage. Science!
Meanwhile, Oliver, armed with the faith and hope of the entire population of Star city to shield him against Darhk’s magic, engaged in a hand to hand battle against the sorcerer. In a moment of inevitability, Oliver broke his “no killing” rule and struck Darhk through the heart with an arrow, telling his defeated foe he left him with no choice. Seeing as how Darhk has been literally trying to destroy the world, it’s hard to not let Oliver slide just this once.
Over on missile duty, Felicity showed how merciless she could be too as she convinced ex-boyfriend turned Darhk minion Cooper (Nolan Funk) to give up his spot at the terminal, even knowing Darhk would kill him as soon as he took his fingers off the keyboard. But she saved the world, so, “Sorry, Coop,” just about says it all.
Gathered back after their latest victory at Team Arrow headquarters, goodbyes were on deck as Diggle (David Ramsey), Thea (Willa Holland) and Lance (Paul Blackthorne) each turned in their respective costumes and allegiances and prepared to leave town.
After his rousing speech, Star City’s city council ask Oliver to take the office of mayor, and he finally accepts, taking on a brand new role in protecting his city.
“Arrow” Season 5 will return in October.