:''For the event of the same name, see [[The Undertaking (event)]].''
:''For the event of the same name, see [[The Undertaking (event)]].''
{{Episode
{{Episode
|name= The Undertaking
|name= The Undertaking
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|image=Oliver Queen in the Arrowcave after learning Walter is alive.png
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|image= Oliver Queen in the Arrowcave after learning Walter is alive.png
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|season= 1
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|epnum= 21
|number= 21
|number= 21
|airdate= May 1, 2013
|airdate= May 1, 2013
|writer= [[Jake Coburn]]<br/>[[Lana Cho]]
|writer= [[Jake Coburn]]<br/>[[Lana Cho]]
|director= [[Michael Schultz]]
|director= [[Michael Schultz]]
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|guests= [[Jamey Sheridan]] as [[Robert Queen]]<br/>[[Colin Salmon]] as [[Walter Steele]]<br/>[[Chin Han]] as [[Frank Chen]]<br/>[[Ray Galletti]] as [[Dominic Alonzo]]<br/>[[Emily Bett Rickards]] as [[Felicity Smoak]]<br/>
"'''The Undertaking'''" is the twenty-first episode of the [[Season 1 (Arrow)|first season]] of ''[[Arrow]]'', and the twenty-first episode overall. It aired on May 1, 2013.
==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
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Finding it difficult to mend fences with [[Tommy Merlyn|Tommy]] and [[John Diggle|John]], [[Oliver Queen|Oliver]] instead focuses on crossing another name off the [[The List|list]]. While digging through a [[Harold Backman|crooked accountant]]’s laptop, [[Felicity Smoak|Felicity]] discovers a transaction that could help Oliver find [[Walter Steele|Walter]]. To reconfirm the lead, Oliver gambles that Felicity can be counted on in the field for the first time. In a flashback, [[Malcolm Merlyn|Malcolm]] reveals to [[Robert Queen]] and [[Frank Chen]] painful details surrounding his [[Rebecca Merlyn|wife]]’s murder, and how that shaped his plans for [[the Glades]]. Meanwhile, Tommy stuns [[Laurel Lance (Earth One)|Laurel]] with the truth.
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{{Synopsis|Finding it difficult to mend fences with [[Tommy Merlyn|Tommy]] and [[John Diggle|Diggle]], [[Oliver Queen|Oliver]] instead focuses on crossing another name off [[The List|the list]]. While digging through a [[Harold Backman|crooked accountant]]'s laptop, [[Felicity Smoak|Felicity]] discovers a transaction that could help Oliver find [[Walter Steele|Walter]]. To reconfirm the lead, Oliver gambles that Felicity can be counted on in the field for the first time. In a flashback, [[Malcolm Merlyn|Malcolm]] reveals to [[Robert Queen]] and [[Frank Chen]] painful details surrounding [[Rebecca Merlyn|his wife]]'s murder, and how that shaped his plans for [[the Glades]]. Meanwhile, Tommy stuns [[Laurel Lance (Earth-1)|Laurel]] with the truth.|http://thefutoncritic.com/listings/20130410cw18}}
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==Cast==
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===Starring===
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*[[Stephen Amell]] as [[Oliver Queen|Oliver Queen/Hood]]
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*[[Katie Cassidy Rodgers|Katie Cassidy]] as [[Laurel Lance (Earth-1)|Laurel Lance]]
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.
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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.
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With Felicity posing as a card shark and was obviously caught for the plan, as Dominic destroyed Felicity's communicator which she states to Dominic he will be upset when he meets her partner. The Hood then infiltrates the casino, and after being beaten and threatened, Dominic reveals that Walter was killed as soon as he was delivered to the person who hired him. Oliver informs his family, and Moira immediately confronts Malcolm, who reveals that Walter is alive.
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With Felicity posing as a card shark and was obviously caught for the plan, as Dominic destroyed Felicity's communicator which she states to Dominic he will be upset when he meets her partner. The Hood then infiltrates the casino, and after being beaten and threatened, Dominic reveals that Walter was killed as soon as he was delivered to the person who hired him. Oliver informs his family, and Moira immediately confronts Malcolm, who reveals that Walter is alive.
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Oliver suspicious of his mother's reaction to the news of Walter's death followed her and was listening in, discovers that Tommy's father is heading the secret organization that kidnapped Walter and wants to do something horrible to the Glades. When Felicity returns to the Arrowcave, Oliver tells her to hack into Malcolm phone records to ascertain Walter's location. Confused about what's going on, she starts to ask questions, but Oliver just asks her to find Walter. As the Hood, Oliver frees Walter and reunites him with their family. Meanwhile, Oliver is at the hospital, Malcolm approached him and has to disguise his rage at Malcolm's questioning of Walter's condition knowing he's only trying to ascertain if he can be tied to the crime. Then he's approached by Laurel, who wants him to tell Tommy that Oliver doesn't have feelings for her anymore and he refuses, implying it's one lie too many with all the others he has to carry.
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Oliver suspicious of his mother's reaction to the news of Walter's death followed her and was listening in, discovers that Tommy's father is heading the secret organization that kidnapped Walter and wants to do something horrible to the Glades. When Felicity returns to the Arrowcave, Oliver tells her to hack into Malcolm's phone records to ascertain Walter's location. Confused about what's going on, she starts to ask questions, but Oliver just asks her to find Walter. As the Hood, Oliver frees Walter and reunites him with their family. Meanwhile, Oliver is at the hospital, Malcolm approached him and has to disguise his rage at Malcolm's questioning of Walter's condition knowing he's only trying to ascertain if he can be tied to the crime. Then he's approached by Laurel, who wants him to tell Tommy that Oliver doesn't have feelings for her anymore and he refuses, implying it's one lie too many with all the others he has to carry.
Oliver, then, goes to Diggle and apologizes, telling him he was right about everything, including his mother's involvement in the Undertaking and he needs Diggle's help to finish this.
Oliver, then, goes to Diggle and apologizes, telling him he was right about everything, including his mother's involvement in the Undertaking and he needs Diggle's help to finish this.
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In a flashback, Robert Queen is shown disagreeing with Malcolm's proposed "Undertaking", which would involve levelling the Glades and kill thousands of people in an effort to rebuild the area and remove the crime. Moira is completely unaware of what the private meetings are about. Robert tells Moira what Malcolm wants to do, and she insists that he finds away to stop it, because she doesn't want any of them to be responsible for that much death. He tries to prevent it with Frank Chen. They make a plan to meet up in China and prevent Malcolm being able to rebuild after he destroys the Glades. Unfortunately, Chen sells him out to Malcolm (much like Moira later does to Chen). As a result, Malcolm has a bomb planted on the Queens' yacht just before Robert and Oliver set off. The last thing Robert sees on before his voyage to China is his wife waving to him from the docks.
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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. Moira is completely unaware of what the private meetings are about. Robert tells Moira what Malcolm wants to do, and she insists that he finds a way to stop it, because she doesn't want any of them to be responsible for that much death. He tries to prevent it with Frank Chen. They make a plan to meet up in China and prevent Malcolm being able to rebuild after he destroys the Glades. Unfortunately, Chen sells him out to Malcolm (much like Moira later does to Chen). As a result, Malcolm has a bomb planted on the Queens' yacht just before Robert and Oliver set off. The last thing Robert sees on before his voyage to China is his wife waving to him from the docks.
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
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*Ted Kord is referenced in a flashback scene. In the comics, Ted is the second [[Wikipedia:Ted Kord|Blue Beetle]]. Kord was intended to appear in the third season, as said by Andrew Kreisberg, but because DC had "other plans" for the character, he was replaced by Ray Palmer/The Atom.
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*[[Ted Kord]] is mentioned in a flashback. In the comics, Ted is the second [[Wikipedia:Ted Kord|Blue Beetle]].
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**According to [[Andrew Kreisberg]], Kord was intended to appear in the [[Season 3 (Arrow)|third season]] but because DC had "other plans" for the character, he was replaced by [[Ray Palmer|Ray Palmer/The Atom]].
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*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 [[Wikipedia:Geo-Force|Geo-Force]].
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*In a flashback scene, Malcolm reveals that [[The Undertaking (event)|The Undertaking]] will be performed with the "[[Markov Device|Markov device]]". This is a reference to the seismologist Brion Markov, who in the comics is the hero [[Wikipedia:Geo-Force|Geo-Force]].
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*When Oliver brings Laurel pizza, 5 years ago, she mentions "[[Ray]] and [[Jean]]". In the comics, Ray Palmer is a superhero, [[Wikipedia:Atom (Ray Palmer)|The Atom]], and [[Wikipedia:Jean Loring|Jean Loring]] was his girlfriend, then wife and later his psychotic ex. [[Jean Loring]] does in fact later appear, however she is much older and only knows Oliver through being friends with Moira. Additionally [[Ray Palmer|Ray Palmer/The Atom]] himself appears later but again is a few years older and has no previous connection to Oliver. Both Ray and Jean also do not appear to know each other as they never appeared in the same season nor mentioned each other, additionally Ray mentioned he was engaged to a woman named [[Anna Loring]] before meeting [[Felicity Smoak|Felicity]].
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**[[Brion Markov]] himself appeared in the next episode, {{Ep|Darkness on the Edge of Town}}, though only as a scientist.
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*This marks the first episode to feature flashbacks for someone other than Oliver.
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*In a flashback from 5 years ago when Oliver brings Laurel pizza, she mentions their friends "[[Ray]]" and "[[Jean]]". In the comics, Ray Palmer is a superhero known as [[Wikipedia:Atom (Ray Palmer)|The Atom]], and [[Wikipedia:Jean Loring|Jean Loring]] was his girlfriend, then wife, and later his ex, who eventually becomes insane.
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*Later the details that Malcolm's flashback references to Robert were retconned in how he found out about Rebecca being murdered.
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**[[Jean Loring]] appears later in [[Season 2 (Arrow)|Season 2]]. However, she is much older and only knows Oliver through being friends with his mother, [[Moira Queen|Moira]]. Similarly, [[Ray Palmer]] appears in [[Season 3 (Arrow)|Season 3]] but has no previous connection to Oliver.
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***Ray and Jean do not appear to know each other as they never appeared in the same season nor mentioned the other. Additionally, Ray revealed in {{Ep|The Climb}} that he was engaged to a woman named [[Anna Loring]] until her death.
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*[[File:Starling_Rockets_sign.png|thumb|Starling Rockets sign|224x224px]]At the end of the episode when a [[Unidac Industries]] truck is transporting the [[Markov Device]], it passes a sign saying "ENTERING [[Star City|STARLING CITY]] HOME OF THE [[Starling City Rockets|ROCKETS]]".
==Production==
==Production==
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Preparation ran from March 6 until March 14, 2013. Filming beganon March 15 and ended on March 26, 2013.<ref>[https://twitter.com/mguggenheim/status/313750482134908928/photo/1 Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) - Twitter]</ref>
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Preparation ran from March 6 until March 14, 2013. Filming ran from March 15 until March 26, 2013.<ref>[https://twitter.com/mguggenheim/status/313750482134908928/photo/1 Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) - Twitter]</ref>
Finding it difficult to mend fences with Tommy and Diggle, 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.[src]
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 shark and was obviously caught for the plan, as Dominic destroyed Felicity's communicator which she states to Dominic he will be upset when he meets her partner. The Hood then infiltrates the casino, and after being beaten and threatened, Dominic reveals that Walter was killed as soon as he was delivered to the person who hired him. Oliver informs his family, and Moira immediately confronts Malcolm, who reveals that Walter is alive.
Oliver suspicious of his mother's reaction to the news of Walter's death followed her and was listening in, discovers that Tommy's father is heading the secret organization that kidnapped Walter and wants to do something horrible to the Glades. When Felicity returns to the Arrowcave, Oliver tells her to hack into Malcolm's phone records to ascertain Walter's location. Confused about what's going on, she starts to ask questions, but Oliver just asks her to find Walter. As the Hood, Oliver frees Walter and reunites him with their family. Meanwhile, Oliver is at the hospital, Malcolm approached him and has to disguise his rage at Malcolm's questioning of Walter's condition knowing he's only trying to ascertain if he can be tied to the crime. Then he's approached by Laurel, who wants him to tell Tommy that Oliver doesn't have feelings for her anymore and he refuses, implying it's one lie too many with all the others he has to carry.
Oliver, then, goes to Diggle and apologizes, telling him he was right about everything, including his mother's involvement in the Undertaking and he needs Diggle's help to finish this.
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. Moira is completely unaware of what the private meetings are about. Robert tells Moira what Malcolm wants to do, and she insists that he finds a way to stop it, because she doesn't want any of them to be responsible for that much death. He tries to prevent it with Frank Chen. They make a plan to meet up in China and prevent Malcolm being able to rebuild after he destroys the Glades. Unfortunately, Chen sells him out to Malcolm (much like Moira later does to Chen). As a result, Malcolm has a bomb planted on the Queens' yacht just before Robert and Oliver set off. The last thing Robert sees on before his voyage to China is his wife waving to him from the docks.
Trivia
Ted Kord is mentioned in a flashback. In the comics, Ted is the second Blue Beetle.
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.
In a flashback from 5 years ago when Oliver brings Laurel pizza, she mentions their friends "Ray" and "Jean". In the comics, Ray Palmer is a superhero known as The Atom, and Jean Loring was his girlfriend, then wife, and later his ex, who eventually becomes insane.
Jean Loring appears later in Season 2. However, she is much older and only knows Oliver through being friends with his mother, Moira. Similarly, Ray Palmer appears in Season 3 but has no previous connection to Oliver.
Ray and Jean do not appear to know each other as they never appeared in the same season nor mentioned the other. Additionally, Ray revealed in "The Climb" that he was engaged to a woman named Anna Loring until her death.
Starling Rockets sign
At the end of the episode when a Unidac Industries truck is transporting the Markov Device, it passes a sign saying "ENTERING STARLING CITY HOME OF THE ROCKETS".
Production
Preparation ran from March 6 until March 14, 2013. Filming ran from March 15 until March 26, 2013.[1]
