Several corrupt police officers are about to keep drug money for themselves when Tobias Church walks in. He puts on brass knuckles and punches the leader, Officer Keating, until he’s knocked out. He declares himself in charge.
Pike and another officer check out the scene. They realize that Keating was only at the site in the first place because of corrupt activities. The other officer suggests that Pike could give Quentin Lance his badge back.
Later, Oliver holds a press conference to reveal a statue commemorating Laurel Lance a.k.a.Black Canary. He says that as long as they keep those who have fallen in their hearts, there will always be better days ahead. Then he reveals the statue. A group rides up on motorcycles and starts shooting people at the conference. Oliver starts to fight, but remembers there’s a camera and surrenders to them.
Back at Arrow Headquarters, Thea, Quentin, Felicity Smoak and Curtis Holt try to figure out how they can find Oliver and help him. Felicity suggests that it’s a job for Speedy.
Oliver fights off one of his kidnappers just as Thea arrives to save him. They head out together. Because there’s an alarm system that will blow everything up, Oliver says that they’ll have to leave and come back for the other politicians who were kidnapped.
Felicity searches for the blueprints so that Oliver and Thea can get by the alarm system. While they’re waiting, Thea calls Oliver out on the kidnapper who he killed. Oliver tells him that if he’d shown less restraint in the past, Laurel might still be alive.
In a flashback, Oliver sits by Laurel’s side in her hospital bed. She asks him to promise her that he’ll make sure she’s not the last Canary. She says that way a part of her will always be alive.
A group of cops who Quentin trusts accompany Oliver in a rescue mission to get the remaining hostages. Oliver arrives just in time to stop Tobias for hitting one of them with a bat.
Oliver chases Tobias onto a helicopter. Once the helicopter is in the air, Tobias pushes Oliver off. Oliver saves himself by shooting an arrow that bursts into a parachute.
Oliver holds a press conference and announces the formation of an “anti-crime unit” consisting of the four officers that Quentin vouched for. He explains that they will work directly under him to save the city.
At the end of the episode, police officer sees a masked vigilante in an alley. When the vigilante shoots him with an arrow, he asks, “Green Arrow?” The vigilante replies, “No. I am not Green Arrow.”
Pretty brutal & awesome for the season premiere, right? Season 1 Oliver Queen is back. This makes me happy