Pilot (Arrow)

"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of Arrow and its pilot episode. It aired on October 10, 2012.

Synopsis
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. Back in Starling City, Oliver slowly reconnects with those closest to him, his devoted mother Moira, beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy Merlyn, but struggles with his ex-girlfriend Dinah Laurel Lance, who blames him for her sister's death. Oliver has brought back many new skills from his time on the island and despite the watchful eye of his new bodyguard John Diggle, Oliver manages to secretly create the persona of Green Arrow a vigilante archer to right the wrongs of his family and fight the ills of society. As Green Arrow, Oliver will atone for the past sins of his family while he searches for the personal redemption he needs.

Plot
After a shipwreck that claims the life of his father, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his mother Moira, his younger sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home but sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he has become, he tries to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, Laurel, for cheating on her with her sister, who also died in the shipwreck. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly masquerades as a hooded vigilante archer Green Arrow by night, attempting to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory as his late father had entrusted him to do before his death. Oliver's first personal task is to take down corrupt millionaire Adam Hunt, who has scammed millions from various people in Starling City. Laurel's father, police detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest green arrow. Meanwhile, Oliver's mother is revealed to have an agenda against her son, having orchestrated the kidnapping to determine what his father told him after the shipwreck.

Trivia

 * Apart from the main characters this episode marks the first appearances of Walter Steele, Sara Lance and Robert Queen, although the latter two are only through flashbacks.
 * The episode was viewed by 4.14 million.
 * The episode received a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
 * Oliver and Robert got shipwrecked in 2007, Oliver spent 5 years on the island, and returned during 2012.

Filming

 * Many scenes were filmed at BB Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia in Canada. Also filmed there was Smallville, a former DC superhero show shown on The CW, based on Superman comics.
 * Hatley Castle was used to shoot as the Queen Mansion. This again shares with Smallville, being filmed as Luthor Mansion.
 * Scenes were filmed in Gastown, Vancouver.
 * Filming came to an end on April 3, 2012.

Quotes
Tommy: "Now, by my rough estimate, you have not had sex in 1,839 days. As your wingman, I highly recommend Carmen Golden."

Oliver: "Which one is she?"

Tommy: "The one that looks like the chick from Twilight."

Oliver: "What's Twilight?"

Tommy: "You're so better off not knowing."