After a two week hiatus, Arrow returned this Wednesday with a heartfelt tribute to Laurel Lance, and her legacy as the Black Canary. This episode was filled with flashbacks, touching goodbyes from Team Arrow and someone looking to dishonor her name. Here are some highlights of episode 19. 

The episode picked up right where episode 18 left off with a tissue worthy scene between Officer Lance and Oliver Queen. Officer Lance walks into the hospital room where Laurel’s lifeless body lay in bed. The doctor, with horrible timing, informed Quentin Lance that only family was allowed in the room. A very apologetic Oliver instructed the doctor that he was “her father,” and took the bag of her belongings. A distraught Officer Lance, seeing Laurel dead, caused him through the episode to go into a spiral of denial (something even fans are in).

Quentin Lance enlisted the help of Nyssa to gather her belongings to bring her back to life from the Lazurus Pit. He kept the hope for Laurel to come back after his other daughter Sara (The Canary) was not only brought back to life, but managed to escape death twice. Seeing Quentin Lance in his state of denial was heartbreaking and the way his eyes beamed with hope after thinking Laurel was alive based on reports of Black Canary roaming around Star City. He quickly found out that “The Black Canary” camera footage, is in fact the work of an imposter. Once again he is faced with defeat to bring back Laurel and, finally at her funeral, he is able to officially grieve her loss with his ex-wife by his side to say goodbye to their daughter.

Team Arrow took the loss of their fallen team member and friend hard each taking the blame for Laurel’s death. Oliver feels the heavy weight of losing his first love and friend as is seen in flashback scenes between the two after the death of their friend Tommy (back in Season 1). Oliver, unable to speak at Tommy’s funeral and going into his self-pity party, had Laurel there to remind him of the good in each other which will save Star City. Oliver, always the one to run away from his problems or avoid them all together, leaves Laurel a letter about him returning to Lian Yu (where season 2 picked up at). 

John Diggle I feel takes the death of Laurel the hardest amongst the team. He feels that he is the most to blame as his own brother (Andy) betrayed his trust, and that he didn’t listen to Oliver’s gut feeling about Andy. John goes on the war path and pays a visit to Ruve Adams, Damien Darhk’s wife, who is Mayor of Star City. Arrow (Oliver Queen) is able to stop him and witnesses John’s anger first hand, as he slams his fist along Adam’s limo. Oliver reminds John of who Laurel was as a person and what she believed in. If there as one theme seen throughout the episode, it would be to “maintain Laurel Lance’s and Black Canary’s legacy.” This was translated beautifully by Oliver’s speech at Laurel’s funeral, and Team Arrow is looking to avenge her legacy by taking down Damien Darhk. 

Notable Items to Keep in Mind: 

• The young woman that stole “Black Canary’s” device and posed as the vigilante looks to be the next member to join the team. Will she be the “New Canary?” Only time will tell what the writers and producers have in store for us.
• Will Oliver Queen be going dark in order to take down Damien Darhk? This will be an interesting twist.

Next Weeks Promo