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* BodySushi: Apparently Tommy is into this, with Laurel even joking that he uses it as a pickup line.
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* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told by General Shrieve he can't stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for 'debriefing', but once the Omega is secured he'll be free to go anywhere in the world. From the look on Oliver's face, he clearly thinks the General is full of it.

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* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told by General Shrieve he can't stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for 'debriefing', 'debriefing' (which could easily be done in the local A.R.G.U.S headquarters), but once the Omega is secured he'll be free to go anywhere in the world. From the look on Oliver's face, he clearly thinks the General is full of it.
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** If Robert Queen had only explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and therefore been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.

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** This one also counts as a PlotHole as there's no InUniverse explanation: If Robert Queen had only explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and therefore been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.

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* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Slade brings up that if Oliver had been honest with him about how Shado died to begin with, maybe Moira wouldn't have died. It's hard to argue against that point, and Oliver doesn't try except to tell him [[BigShutUp that was enough talking about that]].

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* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot:
**
Slade brings up that if Oliver had been honest with him about how Shado died to begin with, maybe Moira wouldn't have died. It's hard to argue against that point, and Oliver doesn't try except to tell him [[BigShutUp that was enough talking about that]].that]].
** If Robert Queen had only explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and therefore been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.



* NeverSplitTheParty: Oliver can't help going to visit Slade in his one-man prison, only to find the [[SleepingDummy corpse of the guard lying under a blanket]] in his cell bunk. Oliver remembers the threat Slade gave against his loved ones and rushes back to Thea, but fortunately Slade hasn't found her yet.



* OhCrap: Slade Wilson is loose. For a specific moment, Ollie goes to Slade's cell, only to see his cell has been opened and a dead A.R.G.U.S. guard is in his place; Ollie realizes Slade is in the open and he left Thea on her own, while Slade's promise of killing all who Oliver loved comes back internally.
-->'''Slade''': YOU THINK I WON'T GET OUT OF HERE? I KEEP MY PROMISES!

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* OhCrap: Oliver can't help going to visit Slade Wilson is loose. For a specific moment, Ollie goes to Slade's cell, in his one-man prison, only to see his cell has been opened and a dead find the [[SleepingDummy corpse of the A.R.G.U.S. guard is lying under a blanket]] in his place; Slade's cell bunk. Ollie realizes Slade is in the open and [[NeverSplitTheParty he left Thea on her own, own]], while Slade's promise of killing all who Oliver loved comes back internally.
-->'''Slade''': -->'''Slade:''' (voiceover) YOU THINK I WON'T GET OUT OF HERE? I KEEP MY PROMISES!



* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had only explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.
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** The audience is introduced to John Diggle's brother Andy Diggle, foreshadowing the events of Season 4.

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** The audience is introduced to John Diggle's brother Andy Diggle, foreshadowing , setting up the events of Season 4.



* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had just explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.

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* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had just only explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, Oliver would have known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.
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* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had just explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, he could have saved hundreds of lives!

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* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had just explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, he could Oliver would have saved hundreds of lives!known Malcolm Merlyn was behind everything from the start and been in a position to intercept both earthquake machines before they even got to the Glades.
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* TooDumbToLive: The drug dealer in quick succession ignores [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Oliver's demand to stay away from his little sister]], [[DeathBySecretIdentity recognizes who he is]] and then [[UnderestimatingBadassery pulls a knife on him]].

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* TooDumbToLive: The drug dealer in quick succession ignores [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Oliver's demand to stay away from his little sister]], [[DeathBySecretIdentity recognizes who he is]] and then [[UnderestimatingBadassery pulls a knife on him]]. Oliver breaks his neck and throws him off the balcony.
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* TooDumbToLive: The drug dealer in quick succession ignores [[KnightTemplarBigBrother Oliver's demand to stay away from his little sister]], [[DeathBySecretIdentity recognizes who he is]] and then [[UnderestimatingBadassery pulls a knife on him]].
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-->'''Thea:''' How could you make me kill a friend?
-->'''Malcolm:''' He should not have told you that.
-->'''Thea:''' I ''trusted'' you. I let you ''into my life''. How could you have done this to me?
-->'''Malcolm:''' Because you are my daughter, Thea, and I care about you.
-->'''Thea:''' Oh, God, that's sick. And not even remotely true!
-->'''Malcolm:''' You do not understand the danger we face from Ra's al Ghul!
-->'''Thea:''' Just stop! Stop using him as an excuse. The only person that I'm afraid of right now is you.
-->'''Malcolm:''' Please, do not do this--
-->'''Thea:''' Oh, just stop. I will work with you to stop Ra’s. Because that's what my brother says we need to do. So I will be your student. I'll be your partner. Even if I ''have'' to, I will be your soldier. But [[PunctuatedForEmphasis never again]] will I be your daughter.
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* BreakTheCutie: Slade notes how Thea's eyes show she has been "touched by darkness" after finding out the truth about Sara.


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* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Flashback-Ollie decides to continue with the mission instead of returning to his family, capturing China White and recovering the bioweapon. But A.R.G.U.S. are not finished with him yet.

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* HeelRealisation: Flashback-Oliver realises how his actions have made a mess of the lives of his family and friends, and resolves to go home regardless of Waller's threats and try to fix things. However that means abandoning the mission, and when Maseo reminds him he could save many lives, [[AMillionIsAStatistic Oliver just says he doesn't know those people]]. It takes playing the VideoWill from his father to remind him of his duty.



* IHaveNoSon: Inverted with Thea and Malcolm.

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* IHaveNoSon: IHaveNoSon:
**
Inverted with Thea Thea, who makes it clear that while she is required to be Malcolm's student, she will never again be his daughter.
** Quentin regards Laurel lying about Sara's death a violation of the connection he's always had with her,
and Malcolm.says that from now on they will attend separate AA meetings.

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* DamselOutOfDistress: Slade puts a gun to Thea's head, but she quickly breaks free. Slade actually approves of how she has TookALevelInBadass since they last met.



* YouKnowTooMuch : Waller tells Oliver that anyone discovering his return will be killed. Ironically the one person who does gets killed by Oliver himself.
* YouGotSpunk: Slade notes with approval how Thea has TookALevelInBadass since they last met.

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* YouKnowTooMuch : Waller tells Oliver that anyone discovering his return will be killed. Ironically the one person who does gets killed by Oliver himself.
* YouGotSpunk: Slade notes with approval how Thea has TookALevelInBadass since they last met.
himself.

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** Quentin calls out his daughter for going to a high class law firm instead of helping people like she originally went into law for. She later tells Tommy that she's decided not to work there, referring to her working at CNRI at the start of the series.



* ChekhovsGunman: Our introduction to Andy Diggle, who will become relevant in Season 4.



* {{Foreshadowing}}: There's a fourth grave on Lian Yu.

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* {{Foreshadowing}}: There's {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Waller makes a comment about having a superior before we're introduced to General Shrieve.
** The audience is introduced to John Diggle's brother Andy Diggle, foreshadowing the events of Season 4.
** Oliver retrieves a pistol from
a fourth grave on Lian Yu.alongside Robert's, Yao Fei's, and Shado's. That's also a story that won't be told until Season 4.
** As well as the video file Robert left for Oliver, there's another one for Thea. The contents are finally revealed in the Season 5 episode "Honor Thy Fathers".
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* ChekhovsGunman: Our introduction to Andy Diggle, who will become relevant in Season 4.
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* BaitAndSwitchGunshot: Thea fires her pistol at Slade for a CommercialBreakCliffhanger. Then we see Slade back in his call complaining that she gave him OnlyAFleshWound.


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** The AuctionOfEvil takes place in the Foundry where Oliver will later make the Arrowcave. Also China White using QC businesses and associates for her operation foreshadows the corruption that Oliver will later confront.


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* GraveMarkingScene: Flashback-Thea visits Oliver's headstone to talk to her brother, as she mentioned doing in "Honor Thy Father", but actually to rendezvous with her drug dealer. Tommy sees this and calls her out over how she used to bring flowers to their graves, which she is shown to do later on. We then cut to Quentin visiting Sara's grave in the present. Laurel turns up at the same time and gets a roasting for lying to him after she reveals that she'd already told her mother about Sara's death.
* HandshakeRefusal: Maseo to Oliver after he refuses to continue with the mission to stop China White selling a WeaponOfMassDestruction.


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* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: An InvokedTrope when Thea is ready to shoot Slade in revenge for the death of her mother. Oliver tells her that Malcolm set this up so that she would become a killer like him.

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* CallBack: Slade is [[Recap/ArrowS2E10BlastRadius once again]] stopped from killing Oliver by getting whacked with a tree branch, this time by Thea instead of Sara.

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* CallBack: CallBack:
** The scenes on Lian Yu open with Oliver stickfighting with Thea, as per his first lesson from Slade.
**
Slade is [[Recap/ArrowS2E10BlastRadius once again]] stopped from killing Oliver by getting whacked with a tree branch, this time by Thea instead of Sara.



* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: Why Waller hasn't killed Oliver, because she needs his knowledge of Starling City and Queen Consolidated for the mission.



* CutPhoneLines: Malcolm tells Oliver that his satellite phone has been rigged to go dead right after their conversation.



** When a shootout interrupts her AuctionOfEvil, China White doesn't even bother looking in their direction as the ARGUS agents are gunned down by her men.

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** When a shootout ARGUS interrupts her AuctionOfEvil, China White doesn't even bother looking in their direction as the ARGUS agents are gunned down by her men.



* NeverSplitTheParty: Oliver can't help going to visit Slade in his one-man prison, only to find the corpse of the guard lying under a blanket in his cell bunk. Oliver remembers the threat Slade gave against his loved ones and rushes back to Thea--fortunately Slade hasn't found her yet.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Any chance Malcolm had of his daughter becoming a DaddysLittleVillain or at the very least a member of Team Arrow whose family ties he could manipulate to his advantage goes out the window.

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* NeverSplitTheParty: Oliver can't help going to visit Slade in his one-man prison, only to find the [[SleepingDummy corpse of the guard lying under a blanket blanket]] in his cell bunk. Oliver remembers the threat Slade gave against his loved ones and rushes back to Thea--fortunately Thea, but fortunately Slade hasn't found her yet.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Any chance All the worry that Malcolm had of would be TheCorrupter for Thea is for naught when his daughter becoming actions demonstrate to her what a DaddysLittleVillain or at the very least monster he truly is. In doing so he pushes her right back to Oliver and loses a member of Team Arrow whose family ties he could manipulate to have manipulated for his advantage goes out the window.own benefit.



** Thea tells Ollie that she's glad there are no more secrets between them, then asks why Sara's death was kept from her. Later Thea suspects from Ollie's response to Slade accusing him of keeping secrets that there is in fact more he's hiding from her.

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** Thea tells Ollie that she's glad there are no more secrets between them, then asks why Sara's death was kept from her. Later Thea suspects from Ollie's response to Slade accusing him of keeping secrets FacialDialogue that there is in fact more that he's hiding from her.



* SheIsAllGrownUp: On seeing the beautiful teenager she has grown into, Oliver notes that when he last saw Thea she was wearing pigtails.



* WellDoneSonGuy: Flashback-Ollie decides to hell with the mission and to return to his family to try and fix up the mess he has made of their lives. He then plays the message from his father calling on him to right his wrongs and save the city, and [[ChangedMyMindKid so is inspired to help Maseo after all.]]



* YouKnowTooMuch : Waller tells Oliver that anyone discovering his return will be killed. Ironically the one person who does gets killed by Oliver himself.

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* YouKnowTooMuch : Waller tells Oliver that anyone discovering his return will be killed. Ironically the one person who does gets killed by Oliver himself.himself.
* YouGotSpunk: Slade notes with approval how Thea has TookALevelInBadass since they last met.
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* SwissCheeseSecurity: Oliver easily walks into the Queen home.

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* SwissCheeseSecurity: Oliver easily walks into the Queen home. home, and gatecrashes the party despite wearing a hoodie that makes him stand out among the other partygoers.
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* EurekaMoment: When Thea snaps at her brother for treating her like a "tiny, fragile little object", Oliver realises that the cell they are stuck in was built for a much larger person that Thea.

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* EurekaMoment: When Thea snaps at her brother for treating her like a "tiny, fragile little object", Oliver realises that the cell they are stuck in was built for a much larger person that Thea.large adult male, and Thea can squeeze her hand through the bars to get them out (though he has to dislocate her arm to enable her to reach around the corner).



* FakingTheDead: After locking Oliver and Tara in his old cell, Slade says that bodies burnt beyond recognition but with their ID will be left in Starling City so that no-one comes looking for them.

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* FakingTheDead: After locking Oliver and Tara in his old cell, Slade says that bodies burnt beyond recognition recognition, but with their ID ID, will be left in Starling City [[SealedRoomInTheMiddleOfNowhere so that no-one comes looking for them.them]].
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* DrowningMySorrows: Quentin in the flashback. In the present day, he gave his liquor to Laurel, who in turn pours it away. Both times because of him coping the loss of Sara.

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* DrowningMySorrows: Quentin in the flashback. In the present day, he gave his liquor to Laurel, who in turn pours it away. Both times because of him coping with the loss of Sara.
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* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told by General Shrieve he can't stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for 'debriefing', but once the Omega is secured he'll be free to go anywhere in the world. From the look on Oliver's face, he clearly thinks he's full of it.

to:

* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told by General Shrieve he can't stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for 'debriefing', but once the Omega is secured he'll be free to go anywhere in the world. From the look on Oliver's face, he clearly thinks he's the General is full of it.

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* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told he can's stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for debriefing, but then he'll be allowed to go free. Oliver doesn't bother pointing out that they can do a debriefing right here in the United States, as General Shrieve is clearly full of it.

to:

* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told by General Shrieve he can's can't stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for debriefing, 'debriefing', but then once the Omega is secured he'll be allowed free to go free. Oliver doesn't bother pointing out that they can do a debriefing right here anywhere in the United States, as General Shrieve is world. From the look on Oliver's face, he clearly thinks he's full of it.



* TheBusCameBack: Tommy, Detective Hilton, Robert, Slade. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Diggle's brother. His character is treated in the episode with much of the same tone that the others are, but this is actually his first appearance.
* CallBack: Slade is [[Recap/ArrowS2E10BlastRadius once again]] stopped from killing Oliver by getting whacked with a tree branch.
* CallForward: The flashback scenes alluded so many of the important plot points in the first two seasons, namely;

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* TheBusCameBack: Tommy, Tommy Merlyn, Detective Hilton, Robert, Slade.Robert Queen, Slade Wilson. [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with Diggle's brother. His character is treated in the episode with much of the same tone that the others are, but this is actually his first appearance.
* CallBack: Slade is [[Recap/ArrowS2E10BlastRadius once again]] stopped from killing Oliver by getting whacked with a tree branch.
branch, this time by Thea instead of Sara.
* CallForward: The flashback scenes alluded so to many of the important plot points in the first two seasons, namely;



** Thea also scolded Tommy that "you're not my brother"...

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** Thea also scolded scolds Tommy that "you're not my brother"...brother".



** Oliver snaps the drug dealer's neck the same way he did to his Starling City captor in the pilot, and for the same reason (to protect his identity). A cop then jokes that the killer was a vigilante doing a public service.

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** Oliver snaps the drug dealer's neck the same way he did to his Starling City captor in the pilot, pilot episode, and for the same reason (to protect his identity). A cop Detective Hilton then jokes that the killer was a vigilante doing a public service.


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* PoorCommunicationKills: If Robert Queen had just explained what the Undertaking was in the video message he left for his son instead of just leaving him the List, he could have saved hundreds of lives!
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** Tommy himself sends said dealer at the beginning of the episode when he caught Thea buying drugs from him and scolded her afterwards. He also covers for Thea being at the party when Quentin questions her.

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** Tommy himself sends off said dealer at the beginning of the episode when he caught Thea buying drugs from him and scolded her afterwards. He also covers for Thea being at the party when Quentin questions her.
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** Before Ollie leaves the island, Slade throws out one last threat towards Felicity as departing words.

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** Before Ollie leaves the island, Slade throws out one last threat ImpliedDeathThreat towards Felicity as departing words.
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* MatchCut
** Robert Queen's gravestone to his actual grave on Lian Yu.
** Flashback-Thea putting flowers on Ollie and Robert's grave, to Quentin putting flowers on Sara's grave in the present day.
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* BlatantLies: Flashback-Oliver is told he can's stay in Starling City as he has to go back to China for debriefing, but then he'll be allowed to go free. Oliver doesn't bother pointing out that they can do a debriefing right here in the United States, as General Shrieve is clearly full of it.
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** When Thea returns to their home she claims to be fine and Oliver responds that he would be really worried if that was the case. Averted moments later when her father enters.
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* ArmorPiercingQuestion
-->'''Slade:''' How many people can Oliver Queen lose, before there is no more Oliver Queen?
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* DissonantSerenity
** When a shootout interrupts her AuctionOfEvil, China White doesn't even bother looking in their direction as the ARGUS agents are gunned down by her men.
** Slade calmly waits for Thea to put a bullet through his head, accepting that [[YouKilledMyMother she has every right to do so]].

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* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: After they nearly get killed by a swinging log BoobyTrap, Thea asks what psycho would set one up on the trail. Oliver replies, "Me."

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* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: After they nearly get killed by a swinging log BoobyTrap, BoobyTrap with SpikesOfDoom, Thea asks what psycho would set one up on the trail. Oliver replies, "Me.""
* YouKnowTooMuch : Waller tells Oliver that anyone discovering his return will be killed. Ironically the one person who does gets killed by Oliver himself.

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* AndYourLittleDogToo: Before Ollie leaves the island, Slade throws out one last threat towards Felicity as departing words.

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* AndYourLittleDogToo: AndYourLittleDogToo:
** When Maseo interrupts her AuctionOfEvil, China White orders her men to find his family and kill them.
**
Before Ollie leaves the island, Slade throws out one last threat towards Felicity as departing words.

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