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As Oliver meets his mother for lunch, the man she is speaking with, Mr. Caponi, is shot and killed by a passing motorcyclist. Oliver rushes after the assassin, but cannot catch up. Several of mob boss Frank Bertinelli’s men have been murdered, and while Frank suspects the Triad, Detective Lance believes it’s a mob war. Both are unaware that it is actually Bertinelli’s daughter, Helena.
Oliver learns that Caponi worked for Bertinelli, so he decides to infiltrate the family and meet with him. Frank offers to help Queen Consolidated, but must leave before the end of their conversation. Frank sends Helena out to dinner with Oliver to discuss the deal. At the restaurant, Nick Salvati, Frank’s associate, threatens the owner to force him into repaying a bill. In costume, Helena intervenes, along with Arrow, and he knocks off her helmet to see her identity.
Tommy attempts to woo Laurel with takeout and she agrees to go on a date with him. His credit card is declined at the restaurant. To clear up his financial drama, Tommy pays a visit to his father, who turns out to be the Well-Dressed Man. Tommy later confesses to Laurel that he has been completely cut off from his family’s money.
Oliver follows Helena to the grave of her deceased fiancée and there Salvati abducts the two. Salvati mentions that he was the one who killed her fiancée after finding evidence that he was talking to the FBI. Helena confesses that it was her computer and a throwdown ensues, with Helena killing Salvati to protect her secret. Oliver and Helena end the episode in a liplock, with her aware of his identity as Arrow.
Tropes applying to this Episode:
- The Atoner: A minor case, as Quentin feels bad that he “wrongfully” accused Oliver of being The Hood and considers his warning to Oliver about the Bertinellis to make them square.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Walter returns home to Moira, even before he hears she's been shot.
- Big Damn Kiss: The episode ends on one between Oliver and Helena.
- Bringing Running Shoes to a Car Chase: Despite arriving on his own motorcycle, Oliver chooses to chase the drive-by shooter by cutting directly across the block on foot and trying to intercept the shooter, which he actually would have if he hadn't been blocked off by a garbage truck at the last moment. Afterwards he has to pretend he was trying to get the license plate.
- The Bro Code: Tommy makes a point of letting Oliver know he's dating Laurel so he won't hear it from someone else at the wrong time. Oliver's voice catches for a moment when giving their relationship his blessing.
- Call-Back:
- Oliver asks Quentin if he suspects he’s “the Hood guy” again.
- Moira recalls being told in the pilot episode that the son she lost might not be the same as the one who was returned to her.
- Chekhov's Skill: Take note that Malcolm in his alter ego is introduced by training as a competent fencer.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Oliver says that it’s not his responsibility to take on organized crime shakedowns, but after some light prodding from Dig, he rescues a family from Bertinelli’s goons.
- Commonality Connection: Oliver and Helena’s similar backstories of tragedy shaping them to be vigilantes cause them to feel as if they‘re the only ones who can understand each other.
- The Confidant: Thea tells her brother that if he's not willing to share his secrets with his family, he at least needs to find someone he can share them with so he won't be so lonely. Oliver then goes to visit Helena, who as it turns out already knows his secret.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Helena doesn't like being fobbed off with the job of taking a celebrity playboy to dinner (and Oliver isn't happy either, because he was actually there to get information from her father). They're both surprised to find themselves enjoying each other's company.
- Dramatic Irony:
- Thea’s surprised how accepting Moira is of Oliver’s secretiveness. The audience of course knows that she’s trying not to be a Hypocrite.
- When Oliver tells Thea he failed to get the shooter's license plate (his excuse for running off) Thea tells her brother to stop playing The Hero as he's clearly not very good at it.
- Dramatic Unmask: Three times in the episode.
- First, when the shooter’s revealed to be female.
- Second, with the biggest
Shocking Moment, is that when Tommy’s father takes off his fencing mask to reveal the face of The Well-Dressed Man. - Lastly, Oliver punches the visor of Helena’s helmet, revealing her identity to him.
- Enemies List: Helena crosses a photo off The Big Board in her hideout after killing someone.
- Eyes Never Lie: Helena realises Oliver is someone who has been "forged in the crucible" of pain and loss from his eyes.
- Fighting Fingerprint: After fighting the Hood in one scene and watching Oliver fight in another, Helena realizes they're one and the same.
- If You Ever Do Anything to Hurt Her...: Tommy comes by to let Oliver know that he's having dinner with Laurel. Oliver says that's great, then adds: "If you hurt her I'll snap your neck. *beat* I'm just kidding."
- Intertwined Fingers: Done as a Friendship Moment when Laurel comforts Tommy after his father cuts him off from his trust fund.
- It Was a Gift: Oliver notes Helena's cross necklace, a gift from her fiancée. Also a Chekhov's Gun, as she loses the necklace while fighting Salvati in the restaurant, revealing her Secret Identity to him.
- Just Friends: Lampshaded by Tommy when he's asking Laurel out."Okay, this is all happening for us in the wrong order. You know, first we're friends for many years, and then briefly we are Friends with Benefits—extremely excellent benefits. And now I am just hoping that we can be two people sitting at the same restaurant at the same table at the same time. See, when I see it like that, it doesn't sound so scary, does it?"
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: Oliver feels badly for having to lie to his family and even abandon his injured mother to chase the assailant.
- Meaningful Echo: After Neck Snapping Salvati, Helena tells Oliver that “No one can know my secret” calling back to the first episode.
- The Mole: Frank and Salvati suspected Helena’s fiancé to be an FBI informant, but the latter was taken aback to discover it was Helena the whole time.
- Morality Chain: Diggle, as usual, reminds Oliver to do the right thing.
- Mythology Gag: Helena's fiancé was named Staton, after writer couple Joe and Hilarie Staton.
- "Not So Different" Remark:Oliver: Your father killed your fiance.Helena: And what did your father do to you? Isn't the Man in the Hood fighting to set things right? Why is your vendetta more valid than mine? We're the same, you and I.Oliver: No, we're not.Helena: Hiding in plain sight. Concealing our anger with smiles and lies. Don't lie to me, Oliver. You feel the same as I do, I know it.
- Not So Stoic: Helena breaks down in tears when she realises that Oliver is someone she can share the truth with, having hidden her pain and anger for so long.
- Revealing Hug: When Oliver hugs his mother in the hospital, we see the Death Glare on his face as he contemplates what he'll do to the shooter who put her there.
- Samus Is a Girl: Quentin and Oliver both assume the shooter to be a he. Ollie pointedly says “he” is a dead man right before the audience learns that it’s Helena.
- Trespassing to TalkHelena: I'd ask how you got in here, but the Starling City vigilante comes and goes as he pleases, doesn't he?
- Tastes Like Friendship: Tommy brings takeout for Laurel, knowing she's working late. Turns out she's already ordered pizza, which she later takes out of the fridge for Tommy when he turns up admitting he's now broke thanks to his dad.
- We Used to Be Friends: Moira is noticeably bothered when the Well-Dressed Man turns up in her bedroom to see if she's all right, so he cites this trope. It's not until The Reveal that he's Tommy's father that we realise he's not just a fellow conspirator, but a long-time family friend.
- Wham Shot: The Well-Dressed Man is Malcolm Merlyn, Tommy's father.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Thea is not impressed that Oliver left their mother bleeding on the street to go running after the shooter, especially since he has to give a lame excuse like trying to get a license plate.
- When Oliver discovers Helena is behind the killings, he wants to know why. Diggle points out the "why" of a killer is never something that's concerned him before, especially when Oliver was going all-out to avenge what happened to his mother, and asks why it should be different just because the killer is a beautiful woman he's dating.
- You Killed My Fiancé: Helena finds out her father ordered the murder of her fiancé and his right-hand Salvati carried it out. The latter is dead by the end of the episode.
