Leave it to the writers of Arrow to keep fans on their toes with subtle elements  of surprise. Not to mention the tying in of previously opened storylines and characters into the “Bigger Picture.” Overall, the episode was well put together and the continuation of remembrance of Laurel Lance is evident in what is the second to last episode of Season 4. 

Seems like Felicity is having a very bad day: being terminated by the Board of Directors with Palmer Technologies, the fate of the world on her shoulders and her father being on Damien Darhk’s hit list for being the only person to stop the Genesis Plan. Felicity is one to never allow bumps in the road to stop her, agrees to help her father, Noah Kuttler “the calculator”, steal  from her old company in order to gain enough technology to hack into the Rubicon, and to stop the end of the world.

This comes after she helps save her father from H.I.V.E, and learns that her father tried to steal technology from her company. Together they sneak into Palmer Enterprises and break in to steal the technology needed to prevent Genesis. I found the father-daughter interaction humorous and fun to watch like the constant reminder from Felicity that seeking her Noah’s help to steal from her former company was not a “father and daughter bonding experience.”

Felicity’s day is about to get a whole lot worse when she is forced to play “God” so to speak when one of the nuclear missiles is launched.  She chooses for the missile to land in Havenbrook which kills tens of thousands of people instead of millions or perhaps even the entire world (with the exception of the H.I.V.E chosen).  Felicity, always one to hold onto her humanity, feels the guilt of killing innocent lives and basically choosing to kill them. I am curious to learn how this will effect her. Will she be able to move past her choice or continue to be and work alongside vigilantes?

Oliver Queen has his own problems on his hands, Damien Darhk. While Felicity and her father work on saving the world, Oliver is on the hunt for Damien Darhk to find his totem that charges Darhk’s powers. Fans learned last episode that Darhk is only able to absorb his powers by death and by the tens of thousands deaths caused by the missile on Havenbrook. Darhk has more than enough mystical power to take on his enemies and try to his hand again with the Genesis Plan.

Notables: 

• Thea learns the real reason why she was selected to be saved and kept in H.I.V.E.S  “Ark” so to speak. Sort of “predictable” if you ask me, but Malcolm had his hand in keeping her there. He claims he was being a father and wanting to keep his daughter alive.
• Anarky snuck into H.I.V.E.S Ark to take on Darhk. His plan is to blow up the air tanks, which supplies oxygen to the survivors. This causes them to suffocate underground and die with the rest of the world. Anarky was unable to go forth with his plan and is stopped by both Malcolm and Thea.
• Alex is killed by Anarky.  How will this effect Thea? Looks like she is either brainwashed or snapped in next weeks episode promo holding a gun to Green Arrow.