'Arrow' Season 1 Episode 23 'My Name is Oliver Queen' Season Finale Review

Non Spoiler Review- A good episode of 'Arrow' and a nice way to finish the season but unfortunately this episode isn't quite the best episode of 'Arrow' which is something that is expected of a finale. There were a few great cliffhangers at the end of the episode though but these moments weren't quite enough to make the episode the best of the series. 

*******There will be Spoilers from this point on*******

Highlights of the finale 

1. Malcolm Merlin is the new Ra's al Ghul- What I saw as the biggest surprise was the reveal that Malcolm and Oliver had made a deal for Merlin to become the next Ra's Al Ghul in Oliver's place after the current Ra's was defeated. I was not expecting this and I like the new direction for the character because I really enjoy John Barrowman in the role and look forward to seeing him returnas Ra's hopefully.

2. Ray Palmer tests miniaturization- The end of the episode also features Ray Palmer testing miniaturization on his Atom suit to hopefully gain the prominent ability of the Atom in the comics. After he fiddles wiht the suit an explosion happns large enough to knock the P off of Palmer industries. Hopefully we will learn of Ray's fate in either 'Arrow', 'Flash', or the new spinoff 'Legends of Tomorrow'.

3. Oliver kills Ra's- A great moment of the episode was a fight between Ra's and Oliver similar to the fight in the midseason finale where this time Oliver prevails as the victor killing Ra's. The season has been leading up to this and I wonder if ra's will somehow reach the lazarus Pit and return to fight Team Arrow. 

4. Speedy- Thea dons Roy's arsenal costume and finally becomes Speedy her comic book counterpart. The season seems to have been teasing this and I'm glad to see Thea wear a costume. Hopefully she will get a new one next season but we will see. 

5. Flash saves Team Arrow from the League- Barry arrives to rescue those imprisoned in Ra's dungeon and hilariously takes out most of the League in a matter of seconds. I really enjoy when Arrow and Flash have these kinds of crossovers and look forward to more on the next seasons of both shows. 

6. Coast City- Coast City has been teased all season long in both 'Arrow' and 'The Flash'. Coast City is the hometown of Hal Jordan, one of the Green Lanterns so it is very possible we could see Green Lantern join this TV DC universe. There was even a reference to a missing pilot aka Hal Jordan in this episode. But it looks like Coast City will be a big part of 'Arrow' season 4 as Oliver is seen boarding a boat that originated fro Coast City in the flashbacks.

7. Oliver sabotages the plane- A moment somewhat ruined by the promos for the episode was that the plane delivering the virus began to malfunction when it is revealed Oliver sabotaged the plane and Ra's tells Oliver his name is Al-Sah-Him and that he is no longer Oliver Queen. To which Oliver responds "My Name is Oliver Queen". It was definitely one of the coolest lines of the finale especially the way it was delivered and it has larger meaning since this season has been about Oliver finding his identity. 

8. Oliver and Felicity happy ending- At the end we see Oliver and Felicity drive off into the sunset seemingly abandoning their lives in Starling. It makes you wonder how the series can continue into a fourth season with the hero seemingly retired.

9. Ray Palmer develops a cure- It was nice to see ray palmer develop a cure for the Alpha-Omega virus and distribute it throughout Starling using his nanotech, It was a cool moment for Ray as a scientist, etc. 

10. Felicity saves Oliver in Atom suit- Felicity gets to wear the atom suit as she rescues Oliver from almost being shot by a SCPD officer who was watching the fight between oliver and ra's and unaware of either person's identity. It was a cool moment for Felicity that was similar to what Pepper did in 'Iron Man 3' when she rescued Tony in his Mk 42 armor.