Arrow season three episode 15 titled “Nanda Parbat” leaves us with something to chew on until it returns in March. Plus, Olicity ‘shippers should have a punching bag handy.
SPOILERS AHEAD (You’ve been warned)
“Nanda Parbat” opens, appropriately, on Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable) soaking in his primitive bath. His daughter, Nyssa (Katrina Law), comes in and announces that Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is still alive. Ra’s tells her that he already knows and that he knows Oliver is back in Starling City. They begin to argue about Oliver’s fate, and about Sara, Nyssa’s late lover. Ra’s tells her he never approved of Sara because he knew she would break Nyssa’s heart. Nyssa vows to end Oliver Queen.
In the basement lair of Verdant, Oliver, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) and Thea (Willa Holland) are busy training. John Diggle (David Ramsey) comes in and tells them that he has stepped up the club’s security and closed Verdant, in case the League of Assassins comes for them. Malcolm tries to convince Oliver to live at the lair, with Thea, but Ollie tells him they’re staying in the loft.
Meanwhile, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) tells Thea that Thea’s fighting style looks like Sara’s, which makes Thea uncomfortable. Away from the others, Diggle expresses concern for Oliver’s health, saying that he’s not sleeping enough. Oliver tells him they can sleep when they’re dead.
[Flashback] Oliver is being debriefed by the army. General Shrieve comes in and tells Ollie that the Alpha/Omega clean-up is the army’s duty now, not Amanda Waller’s. He tells Oliver he is free to go, shakes his hand and thanks him.
At Verdant, Roy talks to Thea. Thea confesses that she killed Sara, but Roy (Colton Haynes) already knows. Roy shares his experience of being drugged and killing someone, hoping to alleviate her misery.
In his apartment, Ray Palmer is (hot!) working on the suit that will allow him to fight criminals. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) shows up, saying he’s been missing too long. She begs him to get some rest and tells him it looks like he’s punishing himself for Brick taking half the city hostage. He dismisses her.
At her office, Laurel calls her dad, Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne), asking him to call her, even though they argued. After she hangs up, Thea comes in. She confesses to Laurel that she killed Sara under the influence of Malcolm’s drug. Laurel tells Thea she doesn’t blame her, she blames Malcolm. Laurel questions Thea’s willingness to work with Merlyn. Laurel tells Thea to start making the right decisions.
In Verdant’s basement, Laurel comes in while Oliver is training. She tests Ollie, saying she wants to find Sara’s killer. He lies and she confronts him about it. She argues that Ollie shouldn’t ally himself with Merlyn. She says something hurtful and leaves.
At the loft, Oliver confronts Thea about telling Laurel about Sara’s death. Thea tells him that they don’t have to worry about working with Malcolm Merlyn anymore. She says that the two of them are out of danger, but that Malcolm will face justice. Oliver figures out that she’s handed him over to the League.
In an alley, the Canary attacks Malcolm. He takes her down easily. She brings out a gun, but the League of Assassins shows up before she can shoot. They capture Malcolm and Nyssa tells Laurel that Sara’s death is avenged.
In the basement, Oliver tells everyone that they have to get Malcolm back from Ra’s al Ghul. Laurel and Felicity argue against it, but he tells them that Thea will be eaten up with guilt if they let Merlyn die. Laurel walks out and Oliver suits up.
[Flashback] The Yamashiro family and Oliver meet at the docks to head back to Japan, but they’re ambushed.
Back in Starling City, Nyssa is putting Merlyn onto a helicopter when the Arrow shows up to stop her. Merlyn fights for his escape while Nyssa fights Oliver. Oliver keeps Nyssa down while the chopper takes off with Malcolm.
In the lair, Nyssa is being held prisoner. Oliver asks everyone to leave so he can be alone with her. They’re worried he’s going to torture her to get Ra’s al Ghul’s location. Diggle warns him against torturing Nyssa but leaves. Nyssa tells Oliver that she’s happy to give him the location of Nanda Parbat, because she wants Oliver to go there and get killed for getting in her way of killing Malcolm.
Upstairs, Roy is marveling at the security system while Laurel is questioning the practice of taking prisoners. Felicity lets slip about the island prison. Oliver enters and says he knows where to go. Everyone tries to talk him out of going. Diggle asks everyone to leave, then questions Oliver, saying that he thinks there’s something going on that Oliver’s not talking about.
At Palmer’s apartment, Felicity returns and Ray tells her that he has been mysteriously locked out of Palmer Technologies’ computer system. Felicity tells him that she locked him out, but she’ll give him the password if he gets a meal and some sleep.
At Diggle’s apartment, Lyla asks John if he asked Ollie for an as-yet-unknown favor. They talk about Oliver going off to Nanda Parbat. Lyla figures out that John wants to go and tells him he should. Diggle asks if they can take the Argus jet.
At the lair, Thea confronts Oliver about going after Malcolm. He tells her that she doesn’t know what it’s like to have death on her conscience. Thea begs him to stay, but he says he’ll be back as soon as he can.
In the alley, Oliver runs into Diggle, who informs Oliver that he’s coming too.
At Nanda Parbat, Maseo brings Malcolm to Ra’s. Ra’s tells Malcolm that he’s disappointed in him. Malcolm begs Ra’s for a chance to prove himself, but Ra’s says he must pay for his crimes with pain and blood.
At Palmer’s apartment, Felicity is looking at Palmer’s artwork when Ray comes out of the bathroom in a towel. She gives him the password while trying to avert her eyes. He apologizes for his behavior and being so obsessed. Suddenly, Felicity kisses him. She says, “I’m sorry,” (for kissing him), but he says, “I’m not.” More kissing ensues.
Oliver and Diggle arrive at Nanda Parbat. Diggle asks Oliver again why they’re really there, just as flaming arrows are fired at them. They begin fighting their way in.
[Flashback] The Yamashiros and Oliver are still under fire. Oliver covers Maseo while he takes out some of the shooters.
In the lair, Laurel visits Nyssa. They talk about Merlyn’s impending death, and they share stories about Sara. They bond over how much they miss her.
Diggle and Oliver breach Nanda Parbat. Oliver tracks Malcolm, thanks to a device he planted on him months ago. They continue to take out guards until they find Merlyn bleeding, hanging over hot coals. Merlyn tries to warn them that it’s a trap, but it’s too late. Bars drop-down to lock them in, and Ra’s appears on the other side.
Oliver and Diggle wake up, chained in a prison. Diggle pushes Oliver to tell him the real reason they’re there. Oliver tells him that he’s haunted by his defeat at the hands of Ra’s, and he wants another chance to fight him. Diggle understands, then he asks Oliver to be his best man in his and Lyla’s wedding. Just then, Maseo comes in and says, “It’s time.” (If I were Maseo, I’d be pretty ticked off at Oliver. Maseo risked his life to get Oliver out of there, and now he’s back!)
[Flashback] Tatsu and Maseo get separated from Oliver and their son. Maseo yells to Oliver to get their son out of there. Oliver leaves with the boy, while Tatsu sobs.
Thea and Roy are in Roy’s car outside someone’s house. He explains they’re watching the family of the cop he killed. He tells her that he gives the family things, anonymously, to try to help alleviate his guilt. Thea thinks maybe she really is a killer because she chose to let Malcolm into her life and then sent him to his death.
Ray and Felicity are in his bed. Ray wakes up, gets an idea, and starts working again. He finishes the A.T.O.M. suit. He’s on the rooftop, in full gear. The jets fire up and he takes off, even flying past Felicity, who still sleeps.
Thea visits Nyssa. She tells her that she lied about who killed Sara and confesses. Thea opens the cage and gives her a blade, telling her to take vengeance for Sara’s death.
Oliver is brought before Ra’s. He begs Ra’s to kill only him, not Diggle. But Ra’s explains he doesn’t want to kill Oliver. He asks Oliver to take his place and become the next Ra’s al Ghul.
