The Undertaking


 * For the event of the same name, see The Undertaking (event).

"The Undertaking" is the twenty-first episode of the first season of Arrow. It aired on May 1, 2013.

Synopsis
Finding it difficult to mend fences with Tommy and John, Oliver instead focuses on crossing another name off the list. While digging through a crooked accountant’s laptop, Felicity discovers a transaction that could help Oliver find Walter. To reconfirm the lead, Oliver gambles that Felicity can be counted on in the field for the first time. In a flashback, Malcolm reveals to Robert Queen and Frank Chen painful details surrounding his wife’s murder, and how that shaped his plans for the Glades. Meanwhile, Tommy stuns Laurel with the truth.

Plot
Oliver tracks down an accountant, Harold Backman, for the secret organization and steals his laptop in order to redistribute all of his money back to the people he stole from. While decrypting the laptop, Felicity uncovers a link to Walter a $2 million transfer was made to Dominic Alonzo, a underground casino owner who was hired to kidnap Walter. With Felicity posing as a card sharp, the pair infiltrate the casino, after being beaten and threatened, Dominic reveals that Walter was killed. Oliver informs his family, Moira immediately confronts Malcolm, who reveals that Walter is alive. Oliver, who was listening in, discovers that Tommy's father is heading the secret organization, and uses Felicity to hack into his phone records to ascertain Walter's location. As Arrow, Oliver frees Walter and reunites him with the family. Meanwhile, Laurel goes to Tommy to get the truth about why he left, and Tommy reveals that he believes she is meant to be with Oliver, who still loves her. In a flashback, Robert Queen is shown disagreeing with Malcolm's proposed "Undertaking", which would involve leveling the Glades and kill thousands of people in an effort to rebuild the area and remove the crime. As a result, Malcolm has a bomb planted on the Queens' yacht just before Robert and Oliver set off.

Trivia

 * Ted Kord is referenced in a flashback scene. In the comics, Ted is the second Blue Beetle.
 * Also in a flashback scene, Malcolm reveals that The Undertaking will be performed with the "Markov device". This is a reference to the seismologist Brion Markov, who in the comics is the hero Geo-Force.
 * When Oliver brings Laurel pizza, 5 years ago, she mentions "Ray and Jean". In the comics, Ray Palmer is a superhero, The Atom, and Jean Loring was his girlfriend, then wife and later his psychotic ex.
 * The fight in the apartment complex in Blüdhaven is an hommage to the Indonesian action/martial-arts movie The Raid: Redemption. Oliver fights off a dozen opponents in the hallway similarly to the protagonist of that film. The final thug is taken out by bashing his head repeatedly against a pillar, referencing the final shot of the hallway fight in The Raid: Redemption.

Production
Preparation ran from March 6 until March 14, 2013. Filming began on March 15 and will end on March 26, 2013.

Featured Music

 * Your Heart Keeps Burning by Adam Agin
 * Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
 * Through the Walls by Gary Go