Arrow - Nanda Parbat - Review

Arrow, “Nanda Parbat,” contained a lot of surprises. The teleplay was written by the team of Erik Oleson and Ben Sokoloski and the story was written by Sokoloski and Wendy Mericle. The stunt-laden episode was directed by Gregory Smith who also captured some terrific character shots. Smith is perhaps better known as an actor, but his other directing credits include Rookie Blue and Saving Hope, and based on this episode, I suspect his directing credits to grow.

I have to say that I’m surprised to see Thea (Willa Holland) expose her secret so quickly to everyone. Kudos to the show for not dragging that out! We also see Ray (Brandon Routh) go for his first spin the Atom suit, and we see Ray and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) take their relationship to the next level. However, while those might have been exciting highlights of any episode, the biggest jaw dropper in this episode is clearly Ra’s Al Ghul (Matt Nable) offering to make Oliver (Stephen Amell) his heir.

The episode begins Ra’s soaking in what must be his Lazarus Pit – the water from which he claims his long life. He tells Malcolm (John Barrowman) the story of having seen an illusionist in 1854 and then again at the illusionist death some 50 years later, confirming his unnatural longevity. Nyssa (Katrina Law) comes to Ra’s to tell him that Oliver is still alive, but of course, Ra’s already knows this. Nyssa is clearly gunning for Oliver, and still angry with Ra’s for not giving Sara’s death more weight. However, it’s clear that Ra’s was not happy that Sara hurt his daughter and wasn’t very loyal to the League either. I’ve been slow to warm up to Nable in the part, but he’s really excellent in it, especially in this episode.

In Starling, we get another terrific sequence of Malcolm sparring with both Thea and Oliver. As always, Malcolm also gets the great lines. He’s particularly hard on Oliver, telling him “You’ve spent years preparing to bring a bow and arrow to a sword fight.” He also tells them that they have to act in unison in order to win, and this is an important lesson for the whole Arrow team.

I loved Diggle arriving and Malcolm calling him John. Diggle (David Ramsey) pauses and says, “My friends call me Dig. You shouldn’t even speak to me.” Ramsey is simply outstanding in this episode. He is very much the soul and conscience for the entire team – and souls are an important theme in this episode too. Diggle is not alone in not welcoming or wanting Malcolm to have any part in the team, but Oliver is convinced that Malcolm is the only way that they can defeat Ra’s.

Thea is trying to cope with the guilt over Sara’s death. Holland is also outstanding in this episode. She confesses to Roy (Colton Haynes), who admits that he knew. However, before she can get angry with him for not telling – which would have been tedious! – he confesses his own story about killing the cop under the influence of mirakuru. Clearly one of the reasons she’s not mad about them keeping the secret about her killing Sara is because she now wishes she didn’t know. Roy tries to tell her that it will get easier, but she doesn’t want to listen, not believing that it’s the same because he doesn’t have to see the cop’s family almost every day. Thea also doesn’t feel that she deserves for the guilt to become easier to bear. I loved seeing at the end of the episode how Roy has tried to make it up to the cop’s family.

Thea also confesses to Laurel (Katie Cassidy), and again, I was really pleased with the direction the show went with Laurel’s reaction. Rather than being angry at Thea, she understands that Thea didn’t do it on purpose. However, Laurel is angry that Thea should continue to have anything to do with the person Laurel really does blame: Malcolm. Laurel tells Thea that she does have a choice when it comes to working with Malcolm: “What happened wasn’t your fault, Thea, because it wasn’t your decision. If you want to make this right? What you do from now on? That is” her choice. And of course, what Thea decides to do on an impulse is to turn Malcolm over to the League, not acting in unison, but on her own, which puts everyone at risk.

Laurel then confronts Oliver. She catches him lying to her face about finding Sara’s killer and call him on it. Oliver points out he was worried for Thea after Laurel went after LeCroix and Malcolm – and later after she tries to kill Malcolm, Oliver tells her “This is why I keep secrets from you. Because you let your emotions dictate your actions and it is going to get you killed.” Laurel assures Oliver that she doesn’t blame Thea but wonders at him keeping Malcolm under his protection. She tells him she can’t believe she “was ever in love with him.” There’s a beautiful shot here of Oliver with the Arrow costume behind him as she storms out of the lair. It’s a nice visual to underscore not only how much Oliver has changed but how much he’s also lost.

Laurel defies Oliver and goes after Malcolm. Once again, I was glad the show didn’t make it even a remotely evenly matched fight. Malcolm isn’t wrong when he tells Laurel she’s “just embarrassing” herself. Naturally, this entire encounter leads to Malcolm being captured by the League and Nyssa being captured by Oliver. Once again, by not fighting together, their plans go awry. I really liked the fight between Nyssa and Malcolm, especially coming so quickly after the one with Malcolm and Laurel – which hardly qualified as a fight. Malcolm also throws some hard truths at Nyssa. Malcolm tells her that Ra’s doesn’t care about Sara’s death and the only reason he wants Malcolm is because of the Undertaking. He also throws it in her fact that her relationship with Sara cost her any chance of being her father’s heir.

Laurel has to confront what she’s feeling. Interestingly, she is able to connect with Nyssa over Sara. As happens after a death, Sara’s memory is fading for Laurel and her hatred for Malcolm has become one way to keep Sara alive for Laurel. Nyssa insists that Sara would want to be avenged. Laurel is disturbed that she can’t remember Sara’s smile – she’s slipping away. Nyssa tells her she remembers Sara laughing in the face of one of Ra’s’ demonstrations of power. It says a lot about Sara that she would laugh at such a moment.

Oliver insists that he has to save Thea’s soul because knowing she’s killed her father will destroy her soul. Diggle tries to stop Oliver from torturing Nyssa, telling him that he can’t save Thea’s soul at the cost of his own, but Nyssa is still furious with Oliver, and therefore is happy to tell him were Nanda Parbat is, so he can go to his death. Laurel wonders if taking prisoners isn’t crossing a line, but Felicity blurts out “Actually, Oliver has a whole prison on Lian Yu” and in typical Felicity fashion realizes, “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that…”

Both Diggle and Felicity prove once again that they know Oliver better than he knows himself. They both know that Oliver is not going after Malcolm for Thea’s sake – or at least that’s not his primary concern. The team is united that Oliver shouldn’t go. Roy points out that Thea having her brother die won’t help, Felicity points out that he promised not to die the last time – and I loved how fierce she got about it, and Laurel calls it a suicide mission. Thea doesn’t want him to die for her. Oliver tells Thea that she’ll regret what she’s done once she’s had a chance to cool off. And then he reminds her and us that he’s responsible for the death of both of their parents, and he knows what it’s like to carry that guilt and he doesn’t want that for her. Oliver tells Thea that she’s a good person and “the only reason that you think you can live with Malcolm’s death is because you don’t really know what it’s like to take a life.” Thea really isn’t a killer.

Diggle insists on going with Oliver to Nanda Parbat. I loved the scene between Diggle and Lyla (Audrey Marie Anderson). She protects Diggle’s soul in the same way he tries to protect Oliver’s. She knows him: “You might have hung up the uniform, Johnny, but you’re still a soldier.” She saw how much Diggle blamed himself when he thought Oliver had died, and she doesn’t want him to have that regret again. It’s hilarious when he asks to borrow the ARGUS jet and then tells Oliver that he has to let him come because Oliver doesn’t own a jet anymore.

Perhaps my favorite Diggle/Oliver scene of all time takes place while the two are chained to the floor. Amell and Ramsey are both wonderful in this scene. Oliver wants to take responsibility for everything and Diggle won’t let him. Oliver is finally able to admit to what’s really been driving him. All he can see and hear when he closes his eyes is the fall. He tells Diggle, “I couldn’t live knowing there was someone out there who beat me.” Oliver knows it’s “egotistical and insane,” but Diggle disagrees. He points out that in order to risk his life every day, saving people, Oliver has to believe he’s invincible – just like a soldier going into battle. These two truly are brothers in arms, and Diggle goes on to prove that as he asks Oliver to be his best man: “I always assumed if Lyla and I ever got married again that Andy would be by me side. When I lost my brother, I never thought I’d get another one.”

This episode is quite carefully crafted and we get three scenes that mesh together nicely at the end of the episode. We see Malcolm face Ra’s on his knees. Ra’s recounts meeting an illusionist at the height of his powers who was both magnificent and powerful and then again when he was near death. Malcolm is the magician after all, and Ra’s points out that even magicians can’t cheat death. Malcolm begs for his life, even offering to come back into the League as one of Ra’s’ horsemen. Ra’s tells him to face his “death with honor – or at least dignity.” Just as Malcolm taunted Laurel with embarrassing herself, he embarrasses himself here. Ra’s tells him that his crimes “can only be paid in agony and blood.” Curiously he doesn’t say death. Malcolm is beaten and hung over a fire to be used as bait. Malcolm does at least try to warn Oliver and Diggle that it’s a trap, but it’s too late to prevent their capture.

When Oliver is brought before Ra’s, he too is forced to his knees in front of him. However, Oliver does not beg for his own life, but he is prepared to beg for Diggle’s. Ra’s tells Oliver, “You have tasted death and you wanted more. The truth is everyone and everything must come to an end. Even for one such as me.” Oliver kneels in front of Ra’s’ sword.

This scene is intercut with Thea going to Nyssa. The guilt of having turned in her own father has indeed caught up to her. She actually confesses to Nyssa. She tells her, “I am the one who fired those arrows into her chest, and when I made the deal to give up Malcolm, I promised you your vengeance, so take it.” She opens Nyssa’s cage and hands Nyssa her sword, and we see Nyssa hold her sword to Thea’s throat in the same way as her father holds his to Oliver’s throat.

However, in a huge twist, we see Ra’s drop his sword. He tells Oliver: “You have shown tremendous strength, fortitude, and power. No, Mr Queen. I don’t want to kill you. I want to be the next Ra’s Al Ghul.” This is a very interesting proposition. If Oliver were to take over the League, what’s to prevent him from recasting it in his own image? To do good without actually murdering people? Or he could simply disband them, right? It’s an interesting puzzle!

I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure how the flashbacks actually fit in with this episode. General Shrieve (Marc Singer) apologizes to Oliver for the long and invasive interrogation and then lets Oliver and Maseo (Karl Yune), Tatsu (Rila Fukoshima), and Akio (Brandon Nomura) go. I loved the scene in the docks when Oliver says he hates boats and promises to send his company jet for Akio once they’re home. Naturally, they don’t get away, but are ambushed by ARGUS men. The highlight, for me, of that fight is Tatsu throwing a rebar through a guy! Of course, if the General was serious about helping Oliver get home, he would have simply handed him a cell phone to begin with. Regardless, the ambush ends with Oliver running off with Akio by himself. We must be getting closer to the incident that drove Maseo and Tatsu apart.

And finally, I’ve saved some of the best scenes for last. Although, I’m curious to see what the general reaction is to the consummation of Ray and Felicity’s relationship. They certainly have undeniable chemistry together. Felicity is hilarious as she comes to find him in his apartment where he has immersed himself in his work. However, he’s so exhausted he’s started making stupid and potentially dangerous mistakes.

        In order to stop him, she cuts off his access to his own server. She tells him “this whole situation has gone from endearingly eccentric to creepily not okay.” She is going to make him eat, shower, and sleep. And of course in typical Felicity speak, she gets herself into a little double entendre trouble: “After dinner and a shower, I’m taking you straight to bed…. PUTTING you…” and then to herself: “why do I do that?” I’ve missed her little slips! And in this case, she actually does end up taking him straight to bed!

I loved her wandering around his apartment, talking to herself, and then being embarrassed and flustered when he comes out half dressed from the shower. He admits that she was right. He tells her: “I trust your judgment. In fact, I depend on it.” It’s the kind of validation that she’s been looking for. She mutters, “well, that’d make you the only one.”

        He goes on to say, “I can be as obsessive and stubborn as the next billionaire, but I do appreciate when someone calls me on it.” Something that Oliver is and something that Oliver never really appreciated. Oliver may consider Felicity’s input, but he certainly doesn’t seem – at least lately – to act upon it. Ray goes on to tell her, “When I’m with you, just you, I don’t’ think about work or the mission.” How long has Felicity wanted to hear that she came before the mission? That she mattered? And that’s why she is the one to kiss Ray.

It seems clear that Felicity is good for Ray. He wakes up afterwards while Felicity is still asleep, with a breakthrough and finishes the Atom suit. We see him jump off his building and go zooming past the window where Felicity is sleeping. Did anyone else get a real Ironman feel to how he zipped off his building? I can’t wait for the Atom’s first meeting with the Arrow! I’m also dying to see Oliver’s reaction to Felicity’s new boyfriend. And how will Felicity divide her time now? Will she need to set up a shadow command post to help the Atom? Is there any chance he’ll be asked to join the others in the lair?

Once again, to finish, a quick shout out to the stunt team for some great work from the sparring between Malcolm, Oliver, and Thea at the beginning to the flaming arrow ambush into Nanda Parbat. What did you think of the episode? Were you happy to see them address Thea’s secret so quickly? Were you shocked by Ra’s’ proposition? Were you shocked to see Felicity sleep with Ray? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.