Heir to the Demon

"Heir to the Demon" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Arrow, and the thirty-sixth episode overall. It aired on February 5, 2014.

Synopsis
As Laurel continues to unravel, Oliver and Quentin try to convince Sara to stay in Starling City and finally reunite with Laurel and Oliver. However, Sara's fellow League of Assassins member, Nyssa, comes to bring Sara back to the fold, but when Sara refuses, Nyssa kidnaps Dinah. Realizing she's putting her family in danger by staying in town, Sara considers re-joining the league.

Plot
The episode begins with a woman at an airport going through security. While her credentials are being checked, an A.R.G.U.S. alert pops up on the computer screen telling the airport guard that there is a security threat. Another guard appears behind Nyssa, telling her to place her hands in the air. Complying, she does so, only to instantly disarm the guard, and take down other security personnel who attack her.

In Queen Consolidated, Moira, with Oliver, Thea, and Walter, is being introduced to what is going to happen now that she is starting a mayoral campaign against Sebastian Blood. In another room, Felicity approaches Walter and states that Tempest had made a monetary withdrawal into Starling National Bank. Walter says he will ask Moira about it, and thanks Felicity for bringing it to his attention. Mark Francis approaches Oliver and says that he will need to withdraw his support from Sebastian, to which Oliver says he will tell him. Oliver then receives a call from Quentin Lance.

Oliver arrives at a hospital room where Laurel, Quentin, and Dinah are in. Laurel refutes her father's belief in that she overdosed, but that she merely fell unconscious. A nurse comes in and states that they need to check Laurel's eye, as there could be some hemorrhaging from her hitting her head when she passed out. As Oliver departs, he kisses Laurel on the cheek, and a briefly glances into her "damaged" eye (and seeing a yellowish reflection in the pupil). As they depart, Laurel holds Quentin back, and tells him that she vividly saw Sara, even though she espouses that she was only hallucinating.

Back at the Arrowcave, Oliver comes in to see Sara is doing pull-ups on the salmon ladder as Felicity and Diggle watch. Felicity mentions to Oliver that Sara has been doing that for an hour. Oliver states to Sara that she saved Laurel's life. She asks how he found her, to which he replies that he would never lose her again. She then says that she has to leave, as the League of Assassins will be coming after her. Oliver tells that her family needs her, including him. He then asks that Felicity retrieve Laurel's blood-work from the hospital.

In a flashback six years ago, Quentin is on the phone with something work related and cooking dinner, as Dinah cheerfully tells him to hang up and spend time with the family. Sara arrives from college for a 3-day weekend, and is warmly greeted by her family which is a rare luck students have but these guys that do my assignment can grant one with. She then quickly texts Oliver that she has arrived home.

Back in the present, Quentin is sitting at a diner, and Sara arrives. Quentin tells her that she just can't keep popping up every time one of her family is in trouble, as it's not the way to live, and that she needs to face things. Sara hugs him, and then walks out. While walking down an alley, Oliver watches her leave, and is surprised when Nyssa appears from the roof. She walks towards Sara with a dagger in her hand. Oliver steadies his bow, prepared to shoot. When Nyssa is close to Sara, she surprisingly kisses her. Oliver lowers his bow.

Nyssa wants to bring Sara "home" to the League of Assassins, but the Arrow won't hear of it. Sara takes him aside and tells him to trust her.

Felicity pays Moira a visit to talk about Tempest. She has figured out that Malcolm is Thea's father. Moira tries to emotionally manipulate Felicity, pushing her not to tell Oliver this information because he will hate her for it. She says they "all have to keep secrets".

Sara tells Nyssa she had to make sure her family was safe and says she doesn't think she go back to the killing. Nyssa reminds her she swore an oath and mentions that she saved Sara's life. They discuss their romantic feelings. Sara wants Nyssa to ask her father for her release. Sara says "do what you have to", but Nyssa leaves peacefully.

Diggle shows up and tells everybody that Laurel had snake venom in her blood, but no drugs. Oliver thinks Nyssa did it to bring Sara back to town.

Flashbacks show Sara and Laurel talking about Oliver. Laurel tells her sister she and Oliver are looking for apartments and thinks a marriage is around the corner. Sara warns her about the possibility Oliver isn't ready to settle down, which outrages Laurel. The two sisters get into an argument, which makes Sara text Oliver about their meeting down at the docks.

At the hospital, somebody grabs Dinah from behind and throws her into a van driven by Nyssa. Sara and the Arrow follow closely behind on his motorcycle. Sara jumps on top of the van but is knocked off by Nyssa, who gets away.

Sara and the Arrow tell Quentin what happened with her mother and Nyssa. Sara thinks Nyssa wants her back romantically. Nyssa calls Sara and gives her one-day to return.

Back in the flashback Laurel mentions moving in with Oliver after his "boat trip". Quentin is skeptical of her boyfriend. They see a news report that the Queen's Gambit is missing.

Felicity finds out the venom had to be acquired locally from the zoo. They are able to track down a license plate which may be connected to Nyssa.

Sebastian calls Oliver and tells him he understands why he's pulling his support. Moira and Sebastian meet and he warns her to get out of the race. He says he doesn't like the idea of destroying his friend's mother.

Quentin asks Sara where she met the Arrow. She doesn't give him a straight answer. An assassin shows up. The Arrow, Sara and Quentin take him out, but he quickly kills himself with a poison.

Before Moira's campaign event, Oliver asks Felicity what is going on with her. She tells him she doesn't have much family and she's worried about losing him. She says she knows something about his family.

Nyssa calls Sara. Sara tells Nyssa if she lets her mother go she'll return with her. Sara is standing at her grave, looking at a vial of poison.

Quentin tells Laurel he needs to tell her something about her sister. Just then Sara calls and says she's found her mother and needs his help. She tells him not to tell the Arrow. Quentin leaves without telling Laurel anything.

Walter brings Oliver to the stage. It appears Felicity has just told him. Oliver seems shaken and his intro starts out slowly and emotional. He whispers "I know" to his mother as he hands her the stage.

Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle return to the Arrowcave and finds the poison missing. Oliver thinks if Sara kills Ra's al Ghul's daughter they'll all be in trouble.

Quentin rushes in to rescue his wife. Sara walks in behind him and her mother is beside herself. Sara tells her she has to go and tells her father and mother to leave. Sara stumbles to the ground. She has poisoned herself and collapses in Nyssa's arms. She tells Nyssa she can't take the killing anymore. Quentin rushes in and asks for paramedics. He pulls a gun on Nyssa but is quickly dispatched. The Arrow shows up and goes arrow-for-arrow with Nyssa. They go back and forth but eventually the Arrow gets her in a headlock. Sara stumbles over and tells him not to kill Nyssa. The Arrow rushes to her as he gives her a treatment. She pops up, seemingly saved. Sara begs Nyssa for "no more killing". Nyssa responds with "In the name of Ra's al Ghul, I release you".

Nyssa and The Arrow then soon vanish as the police, Quentin and Dinah then soon arrive where they embrace Sara happy that she is alright. However, unaware to them Laurel is revealed to be standing from a short distance and begins shaking her head surprised to see that her sister is alive.

Oliver confronts his mother. She says she lied about Thea to protect her from Malcolm. He responds that lies are what she is and now she's made him a liar. He says Thea can never find out and tells her that they no longer have a relationship. "Privately, you and I are done".

Laurel is furious with her family for keeping Sara from her. She blames Sara for everything that's gone wrong in their family, saying, "You got on that stupid boat with my boyfriend. You didn't call us to tell us that you were still alive, even though it probably would have saved mom and dad's marriage. And you brought some crazy assassin into Starling City who nearly killed mom and who poisoned me. You. You stole my whole life away from me.". She then demands that Sara leave. It's worth noting that no one but Quentin knew at the time about Sara's experience with the league of assassins and no one at the time knew at all about Sara being on the island with Oliver.

We flash back to Moira coming to the Lance home and telling Laurel and Quentin that Sara was on the boat as well.

Slade tells Sebastian he'll take care of the Moira Queen situation.

Sara goes to see Oliver. He tells her to give Laurel some time. She tells him "I'm home" and they passionately kiss.

Production
Preparation ran from November 18 until November 26, 2013. Shooting ran from November 27 until December 10, 2013.

Trivia

 * This is the first episode of the series to show flashbacks which do not feature Oliver. It's also the second in the series to focus on events that do not take place on the island.
 * Colton Haynes was said to have filmed a fight scene with Katrina Law, however it was ultimately cut. This was a scene eventually cut from the episode where Oliver tells Roy to go to the hospital to watch over Laurel and ends up facing off against Nyssa, and losing in the process.
 * This is the first episode of the series to feature the entire Lance family.
 * "Heir to the Demon" explicitly refers to Nyssa, the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, however it also cleverly refers to the idea that Thea is also the "heir to the demon", the "demon" specifically being Malcolm.
 * This is also the first DC media to feature Ra's al Ghul's second daughter Nyssa, as most media features Talia, who is known as a love interest of Batman.
 * It was an amazing story and "Heir to the Demon" - it's a great visual treat...Essay writing service