War is declared on the streets of Star City, Thea’s life hangs in the balance, Oliver is tested where his loyalty will stand and fathers’ do unspeakable things this episode. 

Oliver Queen

Nessa holds her offer to save Thea, if Oliver kills Malcom Merlin; Nessa pulls the “I’m still your wife” card after the two were married by Ra’s A Ghul back in season 3. Oliver is given a small sample of the elixir to ensure it’s healing abilities to save Thea, if he produces Malcolm Merlyn to her.

Oliver puts his own plan into motion after Nessa and Malcolm fight one another, over their own pride, leaving Thea’s life still in the balance. Oliver knows that being Ra’s is more important to Malcolm than his own daughter’s life. Diggle comes to Oliver to talk about the looming topic in the entire episode, “Malcolm Merlyn needs to die.” Oliver continues to struggle with this idea, which I myself found interesting.

Malcolm Merlyn has been nothing but selfish, with evil tendencies. He tried to kill people of Star City back in season 1 and killed Sara. The war between Malcolm and Nessa pours into the streets of Star City, and innocent lives are taken. Oliver sedates Nessa and takes her prisoner until a ‘Trial by Combat’ is declared. Oliver, now the one to pull the husband card, takes Nessa’s place to fight Malcolm Merlyn for the ring of The League of Assassin. He is given the elixir to save Thea’s life after defeating Malcolm and helping Nessa become Ra’s.

Malcolm Merlyn 

Oliver informs Team Arrow about Nessa’s offer to save Thea’s life. Laurel is clearly on board to kill Malcolm, being the man that killed her sister, Sara. Oliver also divulges this information to Malcolm himself. Malcolm is skeptical about the elixir that could save Thea. He is under the impression that Nessa is playing a game and wants only to kill him.

Malcolm agrees to meet Nessa to trade his life for the elixir after he witnesses the elixir’s healing abilities first hand. He brings his own army to the ring to take down Nessa, hoping to obtain the elixir and kill his foe. His plan fails after Oliver intervenes to save Nessa after she retreats. This leaves Nessa time to escape along with the elixir, and Malcolm is left empty handed.

He declares war with Nessa and tells Oliver that the power of The League extends to the whole world. He does not want that power to land in the hands of Nessa. Oliver offers  a ‘Trial by Combat’ for the ring that will hold leadership of The League of Assassins. After Oliver stands in for Nessa, he is defeated and has his hand sliced off. In which the ring is given to Nessa and Malcolm’s life is spared. However, Malcolm does not take his defeat lightly and Nessa’s reign; he vows to hurt Oliver in another way. Knowing that simply killing Oliver will not due him justice, he teams up with Damien Darhk. Divulging that Oliver has a son.

Nessa 

Laurel comes to Nessa with her own offer, that the duty to kill Malcolm will be hers. “It wont be Thea’s life that is forfeit,” claims Nessa when she calls her army to appear before Laurel. Nessa declares war on Star City if Oliver does not hold up her offer to kill Malcolm.

After the war is spilled onto the streets of Star City, Nessa is taken hostage by Team Arrow. Laurel comes to her in hopes to talk Nessa into saving Thea’s life for the good rather than having her life being used as a bargaining chip. Nessa becomes Ra’s after Oliver defeats Malcolm in Trial by Combat. Nessa, not wanting to be like her own father, dismembers The League of Assassins and melts the ring of Ra’s.

Felicity Smoak 

Felicity attends dinner with her father (The Calculator) after he has been estranged from her for 18 years of her life. Her father claims he was protecting her from his criminal past. Felicity putting two and two together after their conversation, and finds out that “The Calculator” is in fact her own father. Not to mention, her father knows it was his daughter he was up against last mission he had. Her father, wanting Felicity to believe he is not a bad guy, offers a record to earn her trust back.

Felicity tells Team Arrow about her father being “The Calculator” and informs that her father knows about her work with vigilantes (Team Arrow). She also seeks advice from her mom after her lunch with her father. Her mother reminds Felicity of the man her father is and not to be fooled by his claim that he has changed. Felicity at the end of the episode has her own father arrested for trying to take down Star City.

Notable Moments 

• Oliver asks Felicity to marry him.
• Damien Darhk is now aware of William (Oliver’s son)
• Thea is officially cured of her bloodlust

Promo for Episode 4×14