(Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you have not yet watched the midseason finale of “Arrow” entitled “The Climb.”)
The folks behind The CW’s “Arrow” know how to end a midseason finale. The idea is to leave fans breathless and on the edge of their seats, consumed with anxiety and excitement and a healthy dose of when-does-this-show-come-back-again-oh-my-god-I-can’t-wait-that-long!
With “The Climb,” they absolutely got it right.
Death seemed to be the theme of the night, with two major developments arising in the death of Sara Lance (Caity Lotz). First, the very fact that she is dead has been kept close to the chest, but now Sara’s mother Dinah (Alex Kingston) knows, and so does Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) sister Thea (Willa Holland). At this point it’s starting to feel like Sara and Laurel’s father Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) may be the only one who doesn’t know yet.
But that wasn’t the biggest revelation about Sara’s death. That came when viewers learned who was behind her death. Thanks to a drug from her own father Merlyn (John Barrowman), it was Thea who wound up killing Sara.
Merlyn told Oliver he was going to tell Ra’s al Ghul (Matthew Nable) who killed Sara, knowing full well that Ra’s would send down the League of Assassins and Thea wouldn’t stand a chance. The only way for Oliver to stop him was to take the blame himself.
This set up a cliffhanger battle between Oliver and Ra’s, where Oliver learned that he was completely outmatched. So much so that it certainly appeared like he died. As in dead. As in Ra’s killed the star of the show and tossed him off a cliff. So what do you do now?
But anyone who knows their DC Comics history knows that Ra’s al Ghul and resurrection go hand in hand, thanks to his handy Lazarus Pits. Could one be in Oliver’s future, or was his death a fake-out? Superheroes are notoriously hard to kill; even those without superpowers.
It was certainly convincing enough to fans online, who took to Twitter in huge numbers, sending the midseason finale skyrocketing up the trending charts.
TheWrap has gathered some of the best Twitter responses to “Arrow’s” shock-filled midseason finale.
This is me…after watching #ArrowMidSeasonFinale @CW_Arrow … I just…I can’t… 🙁 @amellywood pic.twitter.com/0g9ILDgACn
— Nan Paez (@nanzakradganza) December 11, 2014
Did they really just end arrow like that? #ArrowMidSeasonFinale — King Malik (@bradfordsgomez) December 11, 2014
To everyone who’s going to start making “cliffhanger” jokes, you can just stop now. #ArrowMidSeasonFinale — Amy Marie (@Amy_Marie97) December 11, 2014
I am emotionally exhausted after watching #ArrowMidSeasonFinale and I can’t believe I have to wait until January to see what happens next.
— Stacey O’Neale (@StaceyONeale) December 11, 2014
To everyone who’s going to start making “cliffhanger” jokes, you can just stop now. #ArrowMidSeasonFinale
— Amy Marie (@Amy_Marie97) December 11, 2014
This is what tv needs…more men sword fighting shirtless. #andinkiltsclearly #ArrowMidSeasonFinale — Alicia Prevost (@GraveDancer40) December 11, 2014
I can’t take it in. #ArrowMidSeasonFinale pic.twitter.com/KoHWm43g7j — Tharif (@ThariFaizal) December 11, 2014
Is there a support group available for #ArrowMidSeasonFinale survivors? Like can we get together? Maybe tell some jokes about Laurel?
— BlackEyedGurl (@BlackEyedGurl) December 11, 2014
That cliffhanger was like the cliff hanger of all clifhangers. And there was even a cliff incolved too! #ArrowMidSeasonFinale @amellywood
— Ryan Sullivan (@RSully1326) December 11, 2014
I know he survives but HOWWWWW LIKE U GET STABBED AND PUSHED OFF A CLIFF AND UR STILL BREATHING????? #ArrowMidSeasonFinale — Promise Me. (@SmoakingSheo) December 11, 2014
My reaction to the Arrow mid season finale.. #ArrowMidSeasonFinale pic.twitter.com/A2zVZl4Q1z — ANTHØNY (@SpeakingReality) December 11, 2014
THE LAST IMAGE HE SAW WAS FELICITY. HE LOVES HER SO MUCH IT HURTS! #Olicity #ArrowMidSeasonFinale
— Promise Me. (@SmoakingSheo) December 11, 2014
GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN´T BREATHE. OMG OMG OMG. THAT WAS PERFECT. #ArrowMidSeasonFinale
— ↕ OH FRACK! ↕ (@OlicityDreams) December 11, 2014