An Innocent Man

"Because I know you will do anything to save an innocent man's life."

—The Hood talking to Laurel

"An Innocent Man"
Information
Season 1 » Episode 4
Episode number	4 of 170
Original airdate	October 31, 2012
Written by	Moira Kirland Lana Cho
Directed by	Vince Misiano
Guest stars
Colin Salmon as Walter Steele Byron Mann as Yao Fei Gulong Roger Cross as Lucas Hilton Annie Ilonzeh as Joanna De La Vega T.J. Ramini as Jason Brodeur Lane Edwards as Peter Declan Kirby Morrow as Matt Istook William C. Vaughan as Rob Scott John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn
Chronology
Preceded by	"Lone Gunmen"
Followed by	"Damaged"

"An Innocent Man" is the fourth episode of the first season of Arrow, and the fourth episode overall. It aired on October 31, 2012.

Synopsis

Oliver still hasn't figured out how to get back into Laurel's good graces; however, after a late-night bonding session with Thea, Oliver receives the inspiration he needs. Looking into a suspicious murder case, Oliver realizes an innocent man, Peter Declan, was framed by one of the targets on his list. As The Hood, he asks Laurel to help prove Peter's innocence. Meanwhile, Walter asks one of his employees, Felicity Smoak, to look into a $2.6 million withdrawal that Moira made without his knowledge.^{[citation needed]}

Plot

John awakens in Oliver's hideout, where Oliver offers John a chance to fight at his side and help Starling City. John turns him down, labeling him a murderer. Later, while watching the news, Oliver discovers a connection between Peter Declan, a death row inmate, and Jason Brodeur, one of the men on The List. In his Hood persona, he enlists the help of Laurel to prove Peter innocent before he is executed. Working together, the pair uncover the truth, but Jason has his bodyguard stage a prison break so that he can have Laurel and Peter killed before the truth is revealed. Oliver sneaks into the Iron Heights Prison dressed as a guard, with a ski mask to hide his face, and saves Laurel and Peter. Peter's supervisor Matt Istook ultimately confesses to Peter's innocence. John meets with Oliver and agrees to work with him so that he can both protect the city and keep Oliver from losing his humanity. However, Detective Lance arrests Oliver on suspicion of being The Hood, after seeing footage of him recovering his disguise from a garbage bin before the recent Deadshot confrontation. Meanwhile, Walter discovers that Moira has been keeping the salvaged and sabotaged family yacht hidden in a warehouse. Malcolm also calls a meeting with Moira, having discovered The Hood was not targeting the rich, but The List.

Production

Preparation ran from July 31 until August 9, 2012. Shooting ran from August 10 until August 21, 2012.

Trivia

• Oliver mentioned Blüdhaven, referencing a city in the comics. It temporarily served as the home and base of operations for Nightwing.
• Peter Declan was held in Iron Heights Prison, a prison located near Keystone City, the Golden Age Flash's base of operations in the comics.
• T.J. Ramini and Paul Blackthorne would later work together in the video game Star Wars Battlefront II alongside Arrow alum Janina Gavankar.
• Katie Cassidy, Lane Edwards, William C. Vaughn and Kirby Morrow previously appeared on Supernatural.
• Roger Cross, Lane Edwards and Kirby Morrow previously appeared in the Stargate franchise.
• Kirby Morrow went on to play the coach in The Flash episode "The Fury of Firestorm" in addition to playing Officer Petrocelli on Supergirl.

Behind the scenes

• Originally the episode was titled "Salvage".