Welcome to Hong Kong

"Welcome to Hong Kong"
Information
Season 8 » Episode 2
Episode number	162 of 170
Original airdate	October 22, 2019
Written by	Jill Blankenship Sarah Tarkoff
Directed by	Antonio Negret
Guest stars
Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance/Black Canary (special appearance by) Audrey Marie Anderson as Lyla Michaels Andrea Sixtos as older Zoe Ramirez Charlie Barnett as older John Diggle, Jr. Kelly Hu as Chien Na Wei/China White Rila Fukushima as Tatsu Yamashiro Lou Ticzon as David Chin
Chronology
Preceded by	"Starling City"
Followed by	"Leap of Faith"

"Welcome to Hong Kong" is the second episode of the eighth season of Arrow, and the one-hundred-sixty-second episode overall. It aired on October 22, 2019.

Synopsis

Oliver, Diggle, Laurel, and Tatsu seek out an important person within The Monitor’s plan. Connor has a heart to heart with his brother.

Production

Preparation ran from July 12 until July 22, 2019. Shooting ran from July 23 until August 2, 2019.

Trivia

• The title of this episode references the last line from "Unthinkable" that is said by Amanda Waller after Oliver finds himself in Hong Kong and gets recruited by her.
• Similarly to previous episode, this episode also has many references and callbacks to previous episodes, mainly from flashbacks of season 3.
  • When Diggle and Oliver goes to a café, the shots have very much resemblance to the ones in "The Calm", where Oliver tries to send email to his his mother. When they get access to A.R.G.U.S. computer, Oliver also says how it would've been nice to know that ten years ago.
  • China White and Alpha-Omega virus return as the main plot in this episode.
  • When arguing about using the Alpha-Omega virus as bait to lure Chien Na Wei, Tatsu reminds Oliver how Maseo made the same gamble, referencing to the events of "Midnight City".
  • Chien Na Wei talks about their previous fight to Tatsu, that happened in The Climb and resulted in Tatsu's loss.
  • Tatsu and Oliver talk about Akio's death that happened in "This Is Your Sword", which is the main reason Tatsu became a vigilante in Hong Kong after her exile from the Crescent Order. Tatsu also reminds Oliver how grief and anger made him torture General Shrieve for hours, referencing what happened in "My Name Is Oliver Queen".
  • Oliver mentions that he and China White have been enemies from the start. China White was the first recurring villain Arrow had, first appearing in "Honor Thy Father".