One of the most intriguing questions in the CW’s superhero show Arrow is when and how Laurel Lance, the lawyer and love interest of Oliver Queen, discovers his secret identity as the vigilante known as the Arrow.
The answer is revealed in the 11th episode of the second season, titled “Blind Spot”, where Laurel finally puts together the clues and signs that have been pointing to Oliver’s double life.
In this article, we will explore the episode when Laurel finds out, the clues and signs leading up to her revelation, and the impact and consequences of her finding out.
The Episode When Laurel Discovers Oliver’s Secret Identity
The episode “Blind Spot” aired on January 22, 2014, as part of the second season of Arrow. The main plot of the episode revolves around Laurel’s investigation of Sebastian Blood, a mayoral candidate who is secretly working with Slade Wilson, the main antagonist of the season. Laurel suspects that Blood is behind the murder of his mother and the creation of an army of super-soldiers using a serum called Mirakuru. However, her efforts to expose him are thwarted by Blood’s connections and influence, as well as by Oliver’s distrust of her due to her past drug addiction.
The episode also features a subplot involving Roy Harper, Oliver’s protégé who has been injected with Mirakuru and struggles to control his enhanced strength and aggression. Oliver decides to train Roy and teach him how to be a hero, while also keeping him away from Laurel, who is Roy’s girlfriend.
The climax of the episode occurs when Laurel is kidnapped by Blood’s henchmen and taken to an abandoned building, where she is confronted by Blood himself, wearing a skull mask that he uses as his alter ego, Brother Blood.
Laurel manages to escape from her captors and runs into Oliver, who has arrived to rescue her. However, before they can leave, they are attacked by Slade Wilson, who reveals himself as Deathstroke, another masked villain who has a personal vendetta against Oliver.
Oliver and Slade engage in a fierce fight, while Laurel watches in horror. In the midst of the chaos, Laurel notices something that changes everything: Oliver and Slade have extensive scarring on their bodies that match exactly with those of her sister Sara, who is also a vigilante known as the Canary. This leads Laurel to realize that Oliver is the Arrow and that he and Sara have been working together to fight crime in Starling City.
The Clues and Signs Leading Up to Laurel’s Revelation
Laurel’s discovery of Oliver’s secret identity is not entirely surprising, given that there have been several clues and signs throughout the show that hint at his double life. Some of these clues and signs are:
1. Oliver’s disappearance and return
Oliver was presumed dead for five years after his yacht sank in the North China Sea. He returned to Starling City in 2012, claiming that he had survived on a deserted island called Lian Yu. However, his story was full of inconsistencies and gaps, and he often lied about his whereabouts and activities. At the same time, a mysterious hooded archer began to target criminals and corrupt individuals in the city, using a list of names that Oliver had inherited from his father.
2. Oliver’s skills and injuries
Oliver displayed remarkable skills in combat, archery, hacking, languages, and survival, which were not consistent with his previous persona as a spoiled playboy. He also frequently suffered injuries that he tried to hide or explain away with implausible excuses. For example, in the first episode of the show, he was shot with an arrow by John Diggle, his bodyguard who later became his ally. He claimed that he was shot by a poacher while hunting on his property.
3. Oliver’s connections and allies
Oliver had several connections and allies that were related to his vigilante activities. For instance, he had access to a secret base under his nightclub Verdant, where he stored his equipment and met with his team. He also had a close relationship with Felicity Smoak, an IT expert who worked at Queen Consolidated, his family’s company. Felicity helped Oliver with hacking, research, and communication. She also had a crush on him that was obvious to everyone except him. Additionally, Oliver befriended Barry Allen, a forensic scientist who later became the Flash. Barry helped Oliver with some cases and also discovered his secret identity.
4. Oliver’s involvement with Sara
Sara Lance was Laurel’s sister who was also presumed dead after the yacht accident. She was actually alive and had become a member of the League of Assassins, a group of elite killers led by Ra’s al Ghul. She returned to Starling City in 2013 as the Canary, a masked vigilante who used sonic devices and martial arts to fight crime. She also rekindled her romance with Oliver, whom she had been involved with before the accident. Laurel was unaware of Sara’s survival and identity until she saw her face under the mask in the episode “Heir to the Demon”. She was also unaware of Oliver and Sara’s relationship until she walked in on them kissing in the episode “Time of Death”.
The Impact and Consequences of Laurel Finding Out
Laurel’s finding out about Oliver’s secret identity had a significant impact and consequences on her character and the show. Some of these are:
Her desire to confront Oliver and reveal her knowledge
Laurel did not immediately tell Oliver that she knew his secret. Instead, she waited for the right moment to confront him and express her feelings. She finally does so in the episode “The Man Under the Hood”, where she visits him at his home and tells him that she knew he was the Arrow. She also told him that she understood why he did what he did, and that she was proud of him. She also asked him to trust her and let her help him.
Her relationship with Oliver and the Arrow/Canary team
Laurel’s finding out about Oliver’s secret identity changed her relationship with him and his team. She became more supportive and sympathetic of his mission, and also more involved in his cases. She also developed a friendship with Felicity, who had previously been jealous of her. She also reconciled with Sara, who had initially resented her for finding out. She also became closer to Roy, who had also learned Oliver’s secret and joined his team Arsenal.
Her career and destiny as a hero
Laurel’s finding out about Oliver’s secret identity also influenced her career and destiny as a hero. She decided to use her skills as a lawyer to help Oliver and his team in legal matters, such as clearing his name when he was accused of being the Arrow by the police. She also decided to follow in her sister’s footsteps and become a vigilante herself. She trained with Ted Grant, a former boxer who was also a vigilante known as Wildcat. She also inherited Sara’s sonic device and leather jacket and adopted the name Black Canary. She eventually became a full-fledged member of the Arrow/Canary team, fighting alongside Oliver, Sara, Roy, Diggle, and Felicity.
Conclusion
Laurel Lance’s discovery of Oliver Queen’s secret identity as the Arrow was one of the most pivotal moments in the show Arrow. It occurred in the episode “Blind Spot”, where she noticed the scarring on Oliver and Slade’s bodies that matched Sara’s.
It was the result of several clues and signs that had been hinting at Oliver’s double life throughout the show.
It had a significant impact and consequences on Laurel’s character development, relationship with Oliver and his team, career, and destiny as a hero.
It also marked the beginning of her transformation from a lawyer to a vigilante, from Laurel Lance to Black Canary.
