Billionaire playboy Oliver Queen returns home to Starling City after being marooned on an island for five years and presumed dead, attempting to reconnect with those closest to him -- and creating a vigilante personae to right the wrongs of his family.
After Oliver gives an ultimatum to a powerful criminal he finds himself squaring off against ruthless mercenary China White. Oliver bristles when his mother asks him to take on a leadership role in his father's company.
Oliver goes up against a skilled sniper codenamed Deadshot after one of Arrow's targets is shot right in front of him. Moira tries to be a better parent to Thea, and Oliver learns of his friend's relationship with Laurel.
Oliver suspects that a man about to be executed for the murder of his wife has been framed, and turns to Laurel to help prove the man innocent. Meanwhile, Oliver tries to convince Diggle to join his quest.
Oliver asks Laurel to defend him when he is arrested by Detective Lance, who is convinced he is the hooded vigilante. Meanwhile, he recalls when he first fell into the hands of a military force on the island.
After a group of brazen bank robbers set their sights on Starling City, Diggle prompts Oliver to expand the scope of his mission -- which is not so easy after Oliver learns his family owes the criminals a debt.
Oliver witnesses an attack on the street that puts his mother in harm's way, leading him to infiltrate the mob to put a stop to the hits. Meanwhile, Oliver makes a connection with the daughter of the mob boss -- unaware of her connection to the attack.
Oliver and Helena attempt to make their personal and professional lives work together, despite Diggle's concerns that she cannot be trusted. Meanwhile, new intel on his wife's secret dealings stirs Walter's suspicions.
While Oliver suffers a loss of confidence after a defeat at the hands of a dangerous enemy, Laurel calls on the hooded vigilante to help investigate the suspicious death of a firefighter.
As Oliver tries to bring Christmas back to his family a skilled archer begins assassinating people from his list, suggesting that he may know more about his father's dealings than Oliver himself does.
Oliver's list leads him to a man who was once Diggle's commanding officer, but who is now suspected of involvement in a series of armored truck robberies. Meanwhile, Tommy's father tries to reconnect with him and Laurel, and Thea has questions about her mother's past.
Thea is arrested when she is caught with a drug called Vertigo and could face time in prison. Oliver tries to help by searching for the dealer; and Laurel agrees to defend Thea in court. Meanwhile, Felicity tells Oliver some disturbing news about Moira. (TV Guide)
When a vicious criminal is released from prison, he targets the Hood as a first step in seizing control of the criminal underworld. Oliver objects to Diggle's plan to follow his mother, and Detective Lance uses his daughter to get at the vigilante.
Starling City is hit by a ruthless jewel thief who threatens innocent people to do his dirty work. Oliver and Diggle dare each other to ask out their respective crushes, and Laurel and Thea track a pickpocket.
Oliver learns that a guild of assassins has targeted a high-profile person in Starling City, and seeks to discover the identity of their quarry. Meanwhile, Tommy struggles with his father's desire to repair their relationship.
Helena Bertinelli returns to Starling City and asks for Oliver's help exacting her revenge against her father -- threatening those close to him after he refuses. Laurel and her father are conflicted by the reappearance of her mother, who has a shocking claim about her sister.
After a slumlord is kidnapped, Oliver must find a man who is murdering those he believes have failed the people of the poor neighborhood -- and broadcasting it on their Internet. Meanwhile, Thea debates whether to continue her relationship with Roy, Malcolm draws closer to Moira's secret, and the Lances search for their missing child.
The death of a woman leaving Oliver's club on Vertigo demonstrates a more potent and addictive form of the drug, which Oliver fears will tear the city apart. Diggle asks an old friend to go after Deadshot, and Detective Lance sets his sights on Tommy and the club.
When Deadshot returns to the city Oliver must decide whether to prioritize the assassin who murdered Diggle's brother, or the criminal who is targeting the life of an innocent young eye witness. Meanwhile Roy tries to find the Hood, and Tommy makes a decision about his relationship with Laurel.
Felicity goes undercover into an illegal casino in the hopes of finding a lead on Walter. Meanwhile, Laurel learns the truth about Tommy's decision, and in the past Malcolm reveals his long-term plan for the Glades to Robert Queen.
As the Undertaking nears, the Dark Archer massacres a lab full of Malcolm Merlyn's employees to cover his tracks. Roy searches for the Hood, and Oliver remembers his attempts to prevent Fyers from shooting down a commercial airliner on the island.
Oliver determines to confront Malcolm before he can enact the Undertaking, further straining his relationship with Tommy and Moira. Thea risks her life to get Roy out of the Glades, and the Vigilante calls on Detective Lance to help save the city.
