The Magician

For the titular character, see Malcolm Merlyn.

"Malcolm Merlyn is in Starling City."

—Nyssa reveals to Oliver that Malcolm Merlyn is still alive

"The Magician"
Information
Season 3 » Episode 4
Episode number	50 of 170
Original airdate	October 29, 2014
Written by	Wendy Mericle Marc Guggenheim
Directed by	John Behring
Chronology
Preceded by	"Corto Maltese"
Followed by	"The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak"

"The Magician" is the fourth episode of the third season of Arrow, and the fiftieth episode overall. It aired on October 29, 2014.

Synopsis

A furious Nyssa confronts Oliver about Sara. When Oliver learns Malcolm Merlyn is alive, he suspects Malcolm killed Sara. Oliver and Nyssa join forces and go after the Dark Archer, intent on bringing Sara's killer to justice but at the risk of killing his sister's father. Laurel keeps her distance from Nyssa, as she blames her sister's death on her involvement with the League of Assassins. Meanwhile, Oliver and Roy work on repairing their respective relationships with Thea, who has returned home. Back in Nanda Parbat, Nyssa discusses Oliver with her father, Ra's al Ghul.[src]

Plot

Moments after Nyssa arrives asking about Sara, she admits that Sara had come due to the league and Oliver begins to tell her about Sara but she is able to guess for herself the truth. Oliver apologizes and Nyssa asks if it was an arrow. Nyssa then asks where is Sara's body and upon learning about the location, Nyssa leaves.

Oliver heads out to meet Thea, but he is a bit late. Thea tells him that she is going to bring back the Foundry from Queen Consolidated. Oliver asks if she is seeing someone and asks why she is different. She hedges however.

Flashback has Oliver following a target who was claimed to be a terrorist. He doesn't like that he is Waller's gun.

Laurel is standing in front of her sister's grave when Nyssa walks up. Laurel greets her in surprise as Nyssa walks forward and begins speaking to the grave. Laurel tells her that Sara died with Arrows in her chest and then blames Nyssa and her father for Sara. Nyssa tells her how she had found Sara and loved her. Nyssa then tells her that the jacket was a gift for Sara and how she isn't fit to wear it. Roy is following Nyssa and she stops at an abandon home. Roy texts Oliver the address. He shows up and learns that the place Nyssa is at was Sara's safe house. Oliver spots a can and comments how it was Sara's favorites. Oliver then learns that Sara was chasing after rumors of Malcolm Merlyn being alive.

Heading to the foundry, Nyssa talks to Roy, Oliver, and Dig. Nyssa tells them that Moira had told the league that Malcolm was alive. Sara found Merlyn and had a blank piece of paper in her boot. Nyssa then asks about flame and tells them that the ink is called "ghost ink". They are able to read the note. Laurel approaches her father at work and begins to talk about Sara. However she doesn't tell him that Sara is dead, but gets the information. Nyssa followed and so they both get the information.

That night, Oliver, Roy, Dig, and Nyssa head to the location. Nyssa splits from the team immediately whilst everyone else splits up separately. Nyssa found someone she thought was Jenson but it was in fact Malcolm as Jenson was dead. Malcolm sets a gas bomb and rushes off. Oliver shoots an arrow at him but he just smirks and rushes off.

Oliver returns to the foundry and tells Laurel what happened. Laurel wants Oliver to kill Merlyn but he refuses. Nyssa goes off after Laurel. Oliver then sends Roy to go watch Thea. Oliver then leaves to look at the streets as Dig uses the program Felicity wrote.

Oliver remembers how he killed a man in Hong Kong. He also removes a USB from the man.

Nyssa tells Laurel that she understands and loved Sara too. Laurel tells Nyssa that she needs to get Merlyn no matter what. Roy approaches Thea upstairs who was hard at work. He offers to help her out as friends and former co-workers.

Dig sends Oliver to where Merlyn is supposedly hidding. However the place is empty as Malcolm figured out his trick. He asks him to meet him elsewhere in public without their masks, alone.

Oliver heads there and looks around. He doesn't spot Malcolm right away. Malcolm walks up and tells Oliver that Ra's Al Ghul planted a bounty on his head. He said that he came back because of Thea, who he had protected during the siege. He claims to have kept his distance from Thea since then. He then swears on Thea's life that he is not Sara's killer before walking away.

Oliver meets up with Thea and asks her if she is okay. She is confused and he tells her that he learned what Moira must've been talking about. Thea lies about who saved her the night of the siege and he tells her that Malcolm is alive. He asks if she's okay.

Nyssa heads to the foundry and learns that Malcolm swore on his daughter's life. He then admits that Thea is Malcolm's daughter pissing off Nyssa. She rushed off to go kill Malcolm.

Years ago, Oliver returns and found out that it was just him and his handler. He didn't like that he had to kill that day.

Oliver then notices the son playing on the computer and asks to use it. He asks to use it, and instead of trying his family, checks what he got from the dead person.

Roy and Thea leave the club when Nyssa shows up and tranqs Roy. Nyssa then says that she is there for her not Roy.

Malcolm is in his apartment when he wonders if Thea is there. He then notices purple smoke from a distance. He then rushes off.

Oliver learns via Dig and Laurel about how to find Thea and Malcolm.

Thea threatens Nyssa. The Arrow cuts Thea free and they begin to fight as Thea rushes off. Malcolm then shows up and shoots at them so as to clear up the matter. But Nyssa doesn't care and ends up getting caught. Malcolm tells Nyssa that he thought it was her father who killed Sara as Oliver won't shoot. Malcolm then begins to walk away but Oliver aims at him. He then decides to not kill him.

Returning to the foundry, Nyssa punchs Oliver as Oliver tells them that Malcolm didn't kill Sara. Oliver then tells Nyssa that the league can't go after Malcolm while he is in Starling. Nyssa walks away pissed off. Felicity then returns from Central City.

In Hong Kong, Oliver tells Amanda that he saved the airline. Oliver then admits that he knew Fryers worked for Amanda. Amanda is pissed and Oliver's threatens to release the files if she goes after the man's family. Oliver then learns that he had saved a woman two years before and wanted to know why.

Laurel is working out at the gym when Nyssa approaches her. Laurel tells her that it kills her that he's still out there. Nyssa tells her that Laurel is now strong, something she wouldn't have said in the cemetery.

Quentin tries calling Sara and gets her voicemail. He tells the voicemail that he was worried about her and loved her.

Oliver approaches Thea at the club and found her cleaning. Oliver tells her that he would always check on her. Roy walks up and Oliver leaves. Thea then says that cleaning was kinda zen. He then apologizes for not stopping the woman. Thea complements his moves and she gives him the job of assistant manager, with the job being purely platonic. Thea then walks away to take a call. It was Malcolm calling to check on her.

Nyssa returns to the League headquarters and tells her father that Malcolm is alive. She admits that Sara is dead and it appears to be Malcolm's work. Her father then tells her that due to Oliver's protection, he is now at war with the league.

Cast

Main Cast

• Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/The Arrow
• Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance
• David Ramsey as John Diggle
• Willa Holland as Thea Queen
• Emily Bett Rickards (credit only)
• Colton Haynes as Roy Harper/Arsenal
• John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn/Dark Archer
• Paul Blackthorne as Quentin Lance

Guest Starring

• Matt Nable as Ra's al Ghul
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Amanda Waller
• Katrina Law as Nyssa al Ghul
• Karl Yune as Maseo Yamashiro

Co-Starring

• Michael Kopsa as Sillhouetted Man
• Brandon Nomura as Akio Yamashiro
• John Wardlow as Adam Castwidth

Production

Preparation ran from August 1 until August 12, 2014. Filming ran from August 13 until August 22, 2014.

Trivia

• The episode's title references Malcolm Merlyn's nickname in the League of Assassins.
• This episode take place after the events of "Going Rogue", prior to Felicity's return towards the end of this episode.
• Nyssa's advice for Laurel to turn her hips, since it's where the power comes from, is the same advice Oliver gave Diggle in "Burned".

Goofs

• The Grind & Jolt Cafe where Oliver and Thea talk has "CC Jitters" labeled on its coffee cups.

Gallery

Promos

Arrow 3x04 Promo "The Magician" (HD)

Promo

Arrow 3x04 Promo "The Magician"

Extended Promo

Arrow - Episode 3x04 The Magician Sneak Peek 1 (HD)