Arrow 8x3 : Leap of Faith review

Be warned there will be *SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it. 

Nanda Parbat. That's the location of this week's episode of Arrow and once again it's a really enjoyable throwback to past seasons of this show. Beginning with the re-introduction of Thea Queen who first starts off fighting with Oliver. They both notice who each are and sit down by a fire to discuss everything that's happening. Oliver tells Thea that he is here to learn more about a cosmic being known as Mar Novu. He tells her that he has seen the future and that something is coming and that he will die. Thea's reaction at first was absolutely god awful but it's soon fleshed out more as she mentions how Oliver has cheated death so many times over the years. We learn what Thea has been doing and she with Nyssa's help has destroyed all the Lazarus Pit's over the world. Nyssa isn't here however as she's away doing League work apparently. With Nyssa away Oliver knows that he needs help from an Al Ghul..so Talia will have to do. And Talia Al Ghul it is as Oliver and Thea find her. The entire set up is fast but we're never truly told the location of where this all is happening which was a bit confusing. Talia agrees to help Oliver as she does owe him a debt. Talia mentions how all of her father's old scrolls and information is back at the catacombs and that is the next location they have to go to. In the catacomb the scroll detailing information on Mar Novu (The Monitor) just so happens to be laying on a table. All of this is cut short as Athena who is an enemy of Thea and who wants to restart the League Of Assassins rushes in and a chaotic brawl takes place. Talia, Oliver and Thea escape but not before learning of a sword that is inside a crypt of one of the very first Ra's Al Ghul's laying there for someone who is worthy to wield it. 

The future scenes continue throughout and with the Deathstroke gang gaining momentum in the city Mia's underlying fear of losing William is put to the forefront and it's really great. She comes up with a plan to stop JJ and save the city but it's deemed too reckless by the rest of the team. More on this a bit later as it plays into the ending which is a total WTF moment. More throwbacks to Arrow are put into place here as the mountain area where Ra's Al Ghul left Oliver for dead in season 3's mid season finale is re-introduced. I still remember that moment very fondly as at the time it was genuinely shocking. Oliver and Thea even have to climb some of the mountain which leads to them reconnecting more and talking about their family. Oliver's hero speech of sacrifice and what it means to him is heartwarming. Both eventually return to ground and earlier as Talia went off on her own she is soon re-captured by Athena and along with Oliver and Thea are forced to lead her and her followers into the crypt. Inside Talia gets to the sword first but Thea is soon behind. Being the heir of the demon Thea challenges Talia to a duel while Oliver fights off Athena and her followers outside of the crypt room. Thea ultimately defeats Talia in combat forcing her to yield. On the outside Oliver learns that The Monitor is possibly causing everything that is to come but for what purpose? he says that if he truly is behind it all he will stop him. Talia reemerges and tells Thea that it is her destiny to wield the sword and command her own group of followers. Thea denies Talia and says that she is going to make her own League Of Heroes which was interesting and hopefully something that is picked up on in the future. 

The episode draws to a close as Thea and Oliver say what could very well be their final goodbyes to one another. Oliver and Thea hug it out and Oliver's emotions really shine through. Back in the future Mia's plan is put into place and as she shows up to take down JJ it looks like it's actually working at first. But as JJ gets the upper hand on her Zoey saves her but with nobody there to save her she ends up getting stabbed and left for dead in Mia's arms. Connor loses it and tackles JJ to the ground. JJ says his brother doesn't have the guts to kill him but just as it looks like he is about to do so a giant white light flashes before everyone. William, Mia, JJ and Connor even Oliver. What follows is one of the most WTF moments in Arrowverse history in my opinion as inside the bunker Oliver is there with Dinah and Diggle but they are not alone. Also there are Mia, William and Connor from the future now standing in the present. Brought here by The Monitor?? possibly but the episode ends with Mia saying ''Dad??'' as everyone looks at one another in amazement.Wow talk about shocking and wanting to make sure the next episode is a must see. The Talia / Thea stuff in this episode was really good. Nyssa was badly missed if I'm being honest but it didn't completely derail the episode. Oliver challenging maybe challenging The Monitor for not being entirely truthful is something that is building really nicely now and I'm sure it'll end in a giant confrontation. The ending was absolutely wild like I mentioned and as a whole this episode was really enjoyable. A bit disjointed in parts and definitely the weakest overall thus far but with the ending blowing the rest of the season wide open and everything else I mentioned I just know the remaining episodes are going to be spectacular. 

★★★