Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

by Sylvester P Barzey

It’s been about four weeks since the Capes exploded onto the big screen in Zack Snyder’s “Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice” and ever since that movie came out, do you know what I’ve been doing? 

Defending it, like I’m a mother bear and every hunter in the forest has it out for my little cub. Every forum or online comic group I’ve been in has had countless trends bashing the movie because some fans feel that it didn’t live up to its hype. 

I love the movie, which is why I defend it, but you can only explain why Lex hated Batman so many times before you give up on the topic altogether. So, today I will state that I will no longer be the masked defender of Zack Snyder’s Clash of DC Titans. No, I’m not gonna defend it here or anywhere for that matter. What I am going to do is talk about Snyder’s Superman. 
Ever since Zack Snyder allowed Superman to snap Zod’s neck at the end of Man of Steel, people have had problems with the new cinematic Superman. The main question being asked is: “Why is he so dark?” Much like any Superman fan, I remember that Saturday morning cartoon where Superman hovered in the sky and the people cheered. 

I remembered Christopher Reeve and his boy scout smile. For years, Superman was here for “Truth, Justice, and The American Way”. I remember a happier, hopeful Superman. Yet, just because I remember him, doesn’t mean that’s who we need or really want at this point in time. The golden age Superman died and from his ashes has come a more modern day, realistic Superman.

This Superman wasn’t created by Zack Snyder, he was polished up, and packaged for us, but he has been around in comics for some time now. From the pages of "Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel" to "Superman Earth One: Year One", and on the Cover of "Injustice: Gods Among Us". A powerful, realistic Superman has been waiting for his chance to make it to the big screen, all Zack Snyder did was open the door for him. We live in dark times, where people question The Justice System, where people have given up hope on a real Presidential Candidate. With that said, you would think the world would need to see hope on the screen, someone that is taking all the bad things that are happening in their life and putting on a smile, and pushing forward. 

Then again we got that in 2006 with Brandon Routh in Superman Returns, that was a Superman filled with hope, one that wanted to make up for leaving the world behind for five years. We had a Superman that overcame all odds, a Lex Luthor who was a criminal mastermind with a scientific plan to take over the world! And you know what?
Everyone hated it. Can we blame the writers? Maybe. 

Can we blame the cast? Maybe.

Can we blame the outdated concept? Yes!

Why should the movies be shining a light on an outdated Superman, when the modern stories are far more compelling. As a Superman fan, I’ve always enjoyed his stuff, but even I can admit it all got to be a bit old. To me, Superman always seemed to be missing something, and after watching Zack Snyder’s movies and reading some alternative stories and some of the current stories, I realized he was missing a touch of humanity. His morals and beliefs were so big that they were truly unrealistic or unrelatable. 

No matter what happened he pushed forward and kept going. That’s not how the real world works, that’s not how human beings work, and while he is an Alien, he was raised by humans so those are the traits that would be shown by him. When faced with a problem, yes humans can push through, but more often than not, we step back and regroup. When faced with a problem we at times doubt ourselves, we may even give up. 
Now I don’t want Superman to give up, but I want to see him go through his emotions like a normal person would, I want to relate to The Man Of Steel. His father is dead, his whole planet is gone, the only person he could relate to wanted to take over the world, and now after years of helping, the world has turned their backs on him. 

Zack Snyder gave us a Superman that was real, one with problems and pain. This Superman was doubted by his people, hated by the government, and hunted down by Batman. Yet, still he was trying to make sense of it all, still he was trying to look for a better tomorrow, still he died for us.

The question shouldn’t be “Why is he so dark?” Because the world is dark, at times it’s painful, and filled with sadness. The question should be why aren’t we accepting of a Superman who faces the world with real human emotions? Is there something inside of us that doesn’t want to see our hero lowered to our level? 

Do we not want to see our emotions on the big screen? Or are we really still holding onto The Man of Tomorrow.

When we should be embracing The Man of Today.

The Geekcap: 12 Monkeys "Year of the Monkey"

The episode begins with an overview of the past year about a man (Cole) who traveled through time to stop the plague caused by the Army of the Twelve Monkeys. Joined by a woman (Cassie), they sought to save the world only to be stopped by the man considered to be his brother (Ramse). However, while fate stated that this enemy would die, the man changed history by rescuing his friend and saving the woman by transporting her to the future. With the two now separated by decades, there is nothing they can do.

In Budapest 2016, a recovered Ramse is being chased be vehicles before they trap him on a bridge. Men then approach him at gunpoint led by Olivia who has finally tracked him down. According to her, it is stated that Ramse must die after he has served his purpose, so the army now seeks to kill him to maintain the line. Ramse, however, has other plans as Cole secretly detonates the vehicles and take down the men to save his friend. He turns a gun at Olivia to demand the virus, but additional men arrive on motorcycles to fight off the time travelers since the Witness has spoken of Ramse’s death. Desperately, Cole and Ramse jump off the bridge into a river to escape.

After they escape, Olivia orders the men to protect the virus since Jennifer Goines is watching over it at the moment. One of the guards protests since that was not ordered by the Witness, but Olivia persists. Meanwhile, Cole and Ramse sneak back to their secret hideaway. Thanks to Jones’ injections from time travel, Ramse is able to heal faster and age slower, though Cole still maintains that he’s an old man. Ramse fears that since the Witness knows the future, they will always be on the run from a person who is one step ahead. Cole maintains that since he has no idea is Cassie made it to the future, it is up to him to stop the virus. Ramse argues against him since that will still mean the loss of his son. Cole lashes out at his friend, saying that if Ramse is against Cole’s plan it might be easier if they just kill each other. Instead, he offers that they split up to make it harder for the army to track them. Unfortunately, they cannot hide forever, since they were already tracked after three months. When Cole points out that they weren’t tracked in Berlin, the two deduce that they somehow placed a tracker inside of Ramse to find them. The two then plan to find a way to remove the tracker before going their separate ways. For what it was worth, Ramse assures his friend that he believes Cassie made it to the future.

In 2043, Cassie wakes up after being unconscious for four days. Jones had managed to remove the bullet albeit rather crudely. She informs Jones that Ramse was responsible for advising the army though Cole refused to shoot his friend. Cassie admits that she shot Ramse and, despite being a doctor herself, felt no difficulty in doing so. She asks about the men outside whom Jones refers to as The Messengers, similar members of the army, who now want their machine. Jones then injects herself with her formula to prevent time from altering her before the women are interrupted by Deacon who brings them to the Messengers.

Jones: Grieving over who we were only gets in the way of who we need to be.

The Messengers begin to send their own subject through the machine with an old bone with the help of Jones. She advises against it, but the group is adamant on completing their mission. As seen before in Jones’s tests, the machine obliterates the subject. The group finds that Jones had encrypted the terminal to only partially splinter the subjects without her hand. The Messengers then threaten Cassie to force her to comply, but Jones reminds them that the entire system was created based on a recorded message Cassie has yet to send. Without her, there is no time travel. The Messenger then states that whatever is meant to be will be and prepares to demonstrate by killing Cassie. Suddenly, a man is able to unlock the encryption, sparing Cassie’s life for now. The Messengers then plan to send another subject through the machine. This one leaves successfully.

Back in Budapest 2016, Cole meets up with a professor Dr. Kalman who previously worked with the army but had rejected the work of global destruction thanks to Ramse. Cole then informs the doctor on the tracking device inside of Ramse and asks for his help in removing it. The doctor at first refuses to work with them, but Cole states that they have a duty to the people who make their lives better, like he had owed to Cassie who saved his life and made him better.

In 2043, Deacon takes Cassie away, revealing that his connection to the army is necessary. Cassie quickly notices the discoloration of his skin and deduces that he has Wilson’s disease. If untreated, he will certainly die and that’s only if his men don’t notice. Cassie offers to return to her time to retrieve the medicine needed for him as long as he helps her escape. Deacon refuses to listen to Cassie although she further states that the army was responsible for the destruction of the world if he continues to help them.

In 2016, Dr. Kalman detects the tracking device and, despite the conditions, proceeds to help remove it from Ramse. He only requests that Cole move out of the room as the sight of a gun makes his hands shake. With some difficulty, he removes the tracker but manages to paralyze Ramse with the medicine. At this moment, the doctor delivers a message that the plague is set to begin in a matter of days on the Chinese New Year, on the year of the monkey thanks to Jennifer Goines. By delivering the message, the doctor seeks protection from the virus in exchange for killing Cole. Cole, however, gets the jump on the doctor and is forced to shoot the man.

In 2043, Deacon confronts Cassie on helping him. Unfortunately, her only option is for her to kill her guard for them to escape. The two snatch weapons from the body and then release the rest of West 7 as well as a few soldiers including Marcus Whitley to help take back the base.

Back in Budapest, Cole apologizes for the loss of Ramse’s son but plans to take his own path to stop the virus. Ramse then reveals that Jennifer Goines has the virus in New York since he believes that Cole will stop at nothing anyway and probably die. This time, it will happen under his friend’s watch. The two then head to New York.

Deacon: Believe me when I say Do No Harm died 30 years ago.

At New York, Jennifer Goines walks the streets and wanders into a speed-dating session. To her unsuspecting partner, she reveals a vial of the virus that will be used to kill the world. While he is understandably frightened at her apocalyptic rantings, she then offers him a chance to save the world by shooting her now with a gun she carries. When he refuses, she leaves once the timer goes off to switch dates. The man then calls 911.

In 2043, the West 7 plan to quickly storm the base as the Messengers keep sending more subjects to the past. Unfortunately, they’ve sealed off the lab. Marcus and Deacon then figure that through the power system outside the lab, they could, in theory, overload the machine causing a reaction that would take out everyone in the room. The two work to overload the machine while Cassie warns Jones to get down. The group successfully overload the machine, but the final Messenger makes one final move to kill Jones. He’s then shot by Deacon as Marcus and Cassie helps Jones. Jones reveals that the Messengers sent back six subjects, but it could take months before they can recreate the machine. Either way, the mission will continue.

Back in New York, Cole and Ramse search for Jennifer in the middle of a Chinese New Year celebration. The two then split up to find the woman and stop her from releasing the virus. Cole finally spots Jennifer staring at an image of a monkey, and the two give chase through crowds and up a building. She finally stops and reveals the virus when Cole points a gun at her. She’s relieved to see someone try to stop her and orders her to kill him. Cole refuses to kill Jennifer and instead asks for the vial. Suddenly, additional guards with guns from the army arrive, stating that the Witness has spoken for her to fulfill her purpose. In the meantime, Ramse is knocked out in an alley.

Cole tries to convince Jennifer to make a choice, but the guard states that this is only coming from a man who tried to change fate before by rescuing Ramse. In the end, fate will occur. At that instant, all of the guards are shot down by a surprise appearance from a returning Cassie. She then reveals that she was sent from 2044 after spending eight months in the future. From tracking down a police report from the 911 call, Jones and Cassie were able to track the virus to Jennifer. Cassie orders Cole to move in order to kill Jennifer to stop the virus. Cole then turns his own gun on her, refusing to let her kill Jennifer.

The Geekcap: Supergirl "Better Angels"

Supergirl and Alex are forced into battle with Supergirl trying her hardest to reach to her sister. Unfortunately, she proves no match for Alex’s kryptonite weapons. Suddenly, a weak J’onn arrives with the women’s mother Eliza who beseeches her daughter. Hank protects Eliza’s mind, but Alex is still aiming to kill Supergirl. Eliza then states that Alex was always the strongest one of them, and her father would be proud to see the woman she became if he were alive. Her mother’s words are enough to shock Alex out of Myriad, surprising even Non and Indigo.

The group then return to Cat’s old station where they fill in Alex and Eliza on Supergirl’s plan: to broadcast a message of hope to inspire the people out of Myriad. Maxwell Lord theorizes that Supergirl’s message of hope can kickstart a part of the human brain to fight against Myriad’s programming, much like Alex breaking through after hearing her mother. Supergirl proclaims to the city that while their loved ones may be in danger, while an evil force is out to steal their free will, while they have no idea if they can win, they must maintain hope. For someone like her who has lost everything she lost, Supergirl says, they need to hope. The group then infiltrate the broadcast signal to have the message play throughout National City’s stations and even phones. One by one, the city breaks free of Myriad’s control thanks to Supergirl’s message. Non and Indigo, meanwhile, plot a new plan outside of Myriad, one that involves the destruction of the entire human race that Supergirl now protects.

Supergirl: Now, in each and everyone of you, there is a light — a spirit — that can not be snuffed out. And won’t give up. I need your help again. I need you to hope.

National City returns to normal as Kara, James, and Winn return to work at Catco. Winn first apologizes for the things he had said, but Kara understands that he had no control over what he said. Jimmy also confronts Kara on what happened right before, when they kissed. Kara immediately feels distressed at kissing him without his free will, but Jimmy reveals that he was aware of what happened. Before they can go further, Cat interrupts them to return to work.

Back at the DEO, Lucy and the agents clean up the residue from the fight with Supergirl. General Lane arrives to ascertain Superman’s condition since he is now being kept at the DEO. Lucy states that they will keep him until he comes to, like they are taking care of J’onn. General Lane, however, states that they will now take J’onn into custody since he is still a fugitive from the agency. Lucy argues against this decision, believing it to be a similar form of hatred the Kyrptonians had for the humans, but General Lane is adamant to lock up the Martian. Lucy then speaks to J’onn, who ultimately agrees with the general’s decision since he ultimately understands a father’s desire to protect his daughter.

Alex cleans up her lab with Supergirl’s help when they are visited by Eliza. She asks Alex what was the real reason for Alex and J’onn’s visit. Alex reveals to her mother that Jeremiah is actually alive. Once the coast is clear, Alex plans to search for him in Project Cadmus with J’onn. However, Lord then arrives to deliver less comforting news. With reports of several citizens getting headaches, Lord discovers that the Myriad wave is still active. If left to grow as it is, the wave will eventually grow to take out every one on the planet.

The DEO work to track the source of Myriad’s wave with Lord calculating that they have only four hours before destruction. Whatever the risk it may be, Supergirl states that she will fight Non and Indigo to take out Myriad. Lord, however, admits that without any allies on her side, the feat might end up being a suicide mission. Supergirl, nevertheless, accepts her fate so long as Lord not disclose this information to Alex.

Back at Catco, Kara then speaks to Winn, stating that she is thankful for him always being by her side in both her first day of work and her first day as Supergirl. She’s then called in by Cat where she tells her boss that she was always a role model for being one of the kindest people she knew in the midst of a prickly exterior. Cat immediately questions if something is wrong with Kara, but Kara maintains that she’s simply seizing the day. James then talks to Kara in desire to finish their conversation from earlier. Kara, however, refuses to talk further about their kiss, stating that these interruptions prove they likely were not meant to be. She then leaves without offering him any further argument.

Cat: Okay, so that was either my eulogy, or your dictated 

suicide note. Is there something you need to tell me?

Supergirl returns to the DEO where she then speaks to J’onn. She dislikes the agency locking up J’onn, but he’s more concerned about why she’s acting this way. He had heard James talking to Lucy about her behavior. Supergirl then confides in J’onn about the mission, believing she is not likely to return home. Since she never had a chance to say goodbye to those she cares about on Krypton, she’s taking her time with the ones she loves on Earth.

The DEO tracks the wave to Nevada where General Lane reveals is the location of Fort Rozz, the same place as its original discovery. The general states that rather than attempt to move a giant alien ship, they merely activated its concealment programming to hide it. Supergirl plans to head to the location before J’onn announces that he will accompany her. General Lane objects to the fugitive’s help, but J’onn insists as an ally to Supergirl and the DEO. After J’onn easily breaks through his restraints, the two leave with Supergirl refusing to say goodbye to Alex. If she said goodbye to her, she would never leave.

The two arrive at Fort Rozz and are confronted by Non and Indigo. Non states that the other Kyrptonians have been placed in pods preparing for the journey off of Earth while they shall destroy Supergirl and the Martian Manhunter. The four fight as the rest of the city begin to suffer under Myriad’s wave. Indgio manages to stab J’onn, but the Martian is able to rip Indigo in two. Meanwhile, Supergirl and Non face off, eventually leading to a standoff with their heat vision. Supergirl unleashes her full power and overcomes Non, leaving him on the ground. However, the remaining half of Indigo reveals that since Fort Rozz is unable to launch, they cannot stop the wave.

With no other options and little time left, Supergirl informs Alex back at the DEO that she plans to fly Fort Rozz outside Earth’s atmosphere to save the planet. Alex warns her that outside the atmosphere, Supergirl may not be able to return. Supergirl insists that there is no other way and asks Alex to tell Jeremiah when she finds him that everything she did as Supergirl was made possible because she knew the Danvers. With great effort, Supergirl lifts the massive prison over the planet and tosses it into space, losing consciousness as she drifts out of the atmosphere. At the last instant, a pod, Kara’s pod that brought her to Earth, rescues her, piloted by Alex.

Supergirl wakes up in the DEO with Alex delivering the good news that she had saved the world to the adulations of the agents. General Lane comes to inform her that the president herself has also given J’onn a full pardon and reinstated his position as head of the DEO. Upon seeing Lucy’s disappointment on losing her work at the DEO, J’onn announces that, instead, he will plan to work with Lucy, refusing to keep anymore secrets. Secretly, however, General Lane gives Lord the Omegahdon, the power source to Fort Rozz.

Alex: You're not the only badass in the family.

At Catco, Kara chats with Clark, who is otherwise fine despite a massive hangover. He proclaims he is proud of her when Cat suddenly stops in with a box and starts packing Kara’s things. Kara at first tries to find out what she did wrong, but Cat leads her to a new larger office. Cat admits that Kara has been her best assistant for the past two years and reveals that she will now have a position in the company. When Kara asks what she will do, Cat responds that she could present a plan for her future for them to discuss before finally pronouncing her name correctly.

The group including Winn, Alex, J’onn, and Eliza head to Kara’s apartment where they celebrate Kara’s victory. They start to set the table where Eliza sets another place for Jeremiah when he shall return. James then arrives to present Kara with his favorite picture of her: one of her as just Kara. The two then kiss before Alex requests that Kara do the champagne “trick,” using her strength to squeeze the cork out of the bottle. Before they can drink, however, the group spot a flaming figure hurtling toward the city. Kara and J’onn immediately fly out to examine it, only to find another Kryptonian pod. Kara opens the pod and is shocked at what she finds.

Super-Notes

• With Project Cadmus still a presence and another Kryptonian pod on Earth, could we be hinting at the appearance of Superboy?
• Also, Fort Rozz may have been sent flying into space, but the prisoners are still on the loose!

The Geekcap: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Paradise Lost"

In present day, Malick returns to the same mansion to be welcomed by his daughter Stephanie. She then informs him that the Hive had called the Inner Circle of Hydra to meet at their home to present his arrival. While his daughter sees this as an exciting prospect especially since the hive is a looker, Malick is nervous as the Hive says that he will reveal his true self.

In Coulson’s office, he ponders over the situation with Ward returning. May enters remarking how he didn’t kill Ward enough the last time. Coulson feels some guilt over how he felt when killing Ward, but May adds that at least this time around, she will have a chance to kill him again. In the lab, FitzSimmons, Mack, and Daisy examine the remains of a corpse eaten by the Hive. Both Fitz and Simmons note that whatever Ward is now is the creature from the other planet which possessed Ward’s body and created the corpses. Daisy wonders if it has Ward’s memories, why hasn’t it tried to attack them yet, but Simmons is more worried about the plans it has for their world as it destroyed Maveth. Mack casually asks Daisy about her last vision with Charles, but before she can answer, they are summoned to Coulson’s office.

Coulson gives them the rundown on their latest missions since Malick’s takeover of the Transia corporation. They note that Transia overlaps with a company known as GT Agrochemical, the only company they have that taps into agriculture. Coulson has noted that after Transia’s takeover, military vehicles began moving equipment out of GT Agrochemical. The team plans to take the Zephyr One to the facility while Lincoln and Daisy take the quinjet to South Dakota. Lincoln reveals that he knows an Inhuman from Afterlife who may know something about the creature from Maveth.

Malick then reveals to his daughter about the vision given to him from Charles. He witnessed his own death in being torn apart from the inside by the Hive. Meanwhile, in 1970, Malick and his brother visit an older Daniel Whitehall in jail who remarks on a possible realignment of Hydra. While the boys have come of age for the choosing ceremony, Whitehall offers them a position in his group where he has long since abandoned the worship of the creature or the sacrifice to the portal. Malick argues for the sake of his father’s traditions, but Whitehall places doubt in his head as to how his father survived years of the ceremony without being chosen. He asks the boys to take a look at their father’s copy of Paradise Lost.

Back in the present, Stephanie doubts that the Hive would kill her father considering he was responsible for bringing him back. Malick, however, believes that the Hive will sacrifice him to demonstrate its power to the Inner circle. Stephanie reinforces him, reminding him how he told her to “man up” after her mother’s death. He must remind the Hive how important he is.

While Daisy is still haunted by her glimpse into the future, Lincoln fills her in on the man they are visiting. Although he was at Afterlife, he never went through terrigenesis and was caught stealing from the archives after ranting about a second coming of an ancient Inhuman who could raise the dead. Lincoln believes he was mostly bitter about not getting powers but still warns that they need to be careful around him.

In the lab, FitzSimmons analyze the remains and inform Coulson on finding organisms that fed on human flesh. They believe that the creature controls these organisms and possibly uses them to reanimate its own dead flesh. Mack then informs them that they are near the site and that Giyera has been spotted.

At Malick’s home, the Hive examines the area. He tells Malick that he is impressed by his daughter’s beliefs and that she will be a key figure in his plan. Malick then takes the time to remind the Hive how he was the one who brought it back and also asks about its previous hosts. When pressed further, however, Malick backs off as the Hive explains everything will be clear soon.

The team prepares to face against Giyera with Fitz creating specified weapons that require fingerprint grip to shoot. While the Inhuman cannot control biological beings, he can use any item against them. Coulson reminds them that since Giyera spent years in special-ops, the Inhuman is dangerous without powers. May then spots a room on the site which doesn’t seem to have any systems.

Lincoln and Daisy meet up with James, the potential Inhuman, in his off-the-grid home. Right before they approach the site, however, Daisy steps on a landmine. Lincoln tries to reason with James, but the man just believes that he and Daisy were sent by Jiaying to take find him. Despite Lincoln’s earlier warning, Daisy uses her powers to pressure the land mine down while they escape the explosion. She then causes a mini-earthquake to weed out the other landmines while Lincoln blasts James against a wall.

In the past, Nathaniel confronts his brother after finding his father’s copy of Paradise Lost. Inside the book is a white stone with a notch. Their father would put the stone in the bag and feel for the notch, ensuring that he would never be chosen. Malick doesn’t believe their father would do that, but Nathaniel resigns himself to the fact that their father was a coward. Malick then vows that they will be better men than their father and tosses the stone into the pond, promising his brother that they will continue together until the end.

In the present, Malick begins a meeting with the Inner Circle about the Hive’s return. The Hive arrives to the surprise of the members who recognize him as Grant Ward. The Hive insists that Ward is merely a vessel for him to return thanks to Malick. To free any doubts, the Hive transforms into his true self as tentacles begin to emerge from his head. Back at GT Agrochemical, the team examine a destroyed lab section with fossilized insects.

Daisy and Lincoln interrogate James on the ancient Inhuman, but James imply ridicules Lincoln about how a guy like him could be deigned to receive powers. Daisy reveals to James that Jiaying and Afterlife are dead to soften him up while Lincoln finally offers him a terrigen crystal.

The team are then ambushed by Giyera, but Coulson quickly leads him to a vacant room with May, forcing the two to fight hand-to hand. The two are evenly matched until May knocks him unconscious. They then transport him back to the Zephyr One where they trap him in the pod so he is unable to use his powers. Fitz then tracks the vehicle’s movements to an oil rig on the Dutch-Germany border. The team heads there.

Coulson: “Hydra’s in the oil business now? They’re not even trying to avoid the bad guy clichés.”

James reveals to Daisy and Lincoln a Kree device he stole from the archives. From what he gathers, it was a device stolen by the ancient Inhuman after the Kree were killed or driven out by the Inhuman revolt. The Inhuman was one of the first designs meant to command the other Inhumans, but, with the combined efforts of both human and Inhuman, he was eventually banished. The Afterlife Inhumans were said to be descendants from these very Inhumans, leading James to believe they want to bring the creature back. Daisy insists that they don’t, and James offers to trade the device for the crystal. At the last instance, Lincoln takes the device without giving James the crystal, believing that James does not deserve powers. James then badgers Lincoln by saying that with those electric powers he may actually end up killing someone. He then reveals to Daisy that Lincoln’s last relationship ended after she nearly died. The two then leave.

James: "Looks like you're the muscles and the brains, huh? He's just the haircut."

Malick then speaks with his daughter, thanking her for giving him his confidence. She then shows that the Hive gave her a gift for her loyalty: a copy of Paradise Lost. From that title, Malick then understands what the Hive wants from him.

On the Zephry One, Simmons finds that the lab was studying birds and insects and other invasive species. While he could have been burning evidence of the work, Simmons believes the creature could also fear them, a possible weakness. She then deduces that the creature does not simply control the organisms that fed on flesh but is in fact a parasite made up of the organism. Coulson, having killed Ward, feels responsible for this return and confides in Fitz that the murder was more of a payback rather than a necessity. Fitz insists that they had no alternative, but Coulson believes that this murder is coming back to haunt them. Meanwhile, Mack interrogates Giyera who simply spouts that they are working to a common goal for those worthy.

Malick examines his father’s old copy of Paradise Lost when he is confronted by the Hive and Stephanie. The Hive reveals that Malick kept his father’s old stone to use in the choosing ceremony to spare himself. That choice then left Nathaniel to be sacrificed, and the Hive now confronts this past as Malick’s brother. Malick tries to defend what happened, but the Hive insists that he was selfish like their father. Malick tries to appeal to his daughter, but she tells the Hive to do what he must. The Hive then kisses Stephanie before feeding on her as well, showing Malick true sacrifice.

Once Lincoln and Daisy return to their ship, Daisy demands that Lincoln tell her about what happened to his previous girlfriend. Lincoln reveals that every Inhuman feels a sense of emptiness. Daisy tried to fill it by searching for her parents, but Lincoln filled it with vodka and anger. His previous girlfriend had attempted to calm him down until one day when they had a fight. He was preparing to drive off when she came with him to talk him down. In the next instant, they ended up wrapped around a telephone pole. That night, they were visited by Gordon who revealed that they were watching him. He took the two to Afterlife where they saved the girl’s life and gave Lincoln a new purpose. Despite his issues, Lincoln vows that he would never hurt Daisy and also agrees that they can’t keep secrets from each other. With that promise, Daisy tells Lincoln about her vision of the ship, that someone on their team will die. 

On the ship, Giyera forces a ship seatbelt through the pod door allowing him to escape. He steals a gun from Fitz only to find that Fitz had removed the ammo. Unfortunately, he still manages to fight off Fitz and Mack before making his way to front of the jet. May prepares to fight him, but Giyera instead hijacks the planes controls, forcing the plan off course and knocking everyone aside and unconscious. He then forces the plan to land in a secret landing facility managed by Hydra. With Simmons unconscious, May manages to send an alert to Daisy and Lincoln before Giyera knocks her to the floor.

Daisy and Lincoln receive the warning with Daisy immediately worried that the entirety of their team has been taken captive. Lincoln then reminds her of the Secret Warriors initiative, and, despite her worry about the future, they could probably save the team. With no other choice, Daisy plans to unite the team.

Meanwhile, the Hive approaches Malick about the capture of the SHIELD team. Now that Malick has made his sacrifice, they can truly work together to the end. 

The Geekcap: Supergirl "Myriad"

At the DEO, Non orders Lucy Lane to release the prisoners. One prisoner in particular, Maxima, fights back against the agents who captured her. Lucy informs her that Myriad has begun and offers her a position with Non and the Kryptonians as rulers of Earth. Maxima, who is spited after Superman refused her as a mate, welcomes the offer, only to then fight Supergirl. Supergirl eventually takes down the alien but is caught off-guard when Lucy fires back with Kryptonite bullets. Supergirl tries to reach her but is forced to fight back, using her old spaceship to blast Lucy and the other agents and trap the remaining prisoners. After painfully extracting a Kryptonite piece from her body, Supergirl flies to the Fortress of Solitude.

Supergirl looks for Superman, only to be informed by the robot Kal-Ex that he is involved in space travel. She demands the robot tell her about Myriad, but protocol prevents him from discussing it. Supergirl reminds him that he is bound to serve her family, and if he does not share the information, the Kryptonian heritage as they know it will be lost. He then shows an image of her mother Alura who explains the origins of Myriad. With the devastation facing Krypton and its leaders refusing to act, Astra and Non created a system that would bring the world under their line of thinking, a form of mass mind control which led to their imprisonment in Fort Rozz. She also reveals that they kept this information secret to prevent anyone from enacting this technology for their own selfish gain. Unfortunately for Supergirl, there is no way to stop it. Meanwhile, thirty miles outside Midvale, Alex and Hank hide from the military by disguising as a mother and son.

Supergirl flies back to Catco to find her co-workers acting as mindless drones to a Kryptonian coding on computer screens, including Winn and James. She is informed by General Lane that the military is now sealing National City in quarantine in order to protect the outside cities, though she is less optimistic about what to do. 

Suddenly, Cat Grant arrives acting as though everything is normal and surprised to see Supergirl instead of Kara. Not only that, she also seems oblivious as to what has happened. The two then spot hordes of people marching to the center of the city. Supergirl is messaged by Clark that he is on his way, but he too falls under the control of Myriad. With even Superman failing, Cat and Supergirl wonder how to beat this, until Maxwell Lord shows up at their door with a new form of technology.

Lord explains that Non is using Lord technology stolen from last Christmas which allowed the billionaire to create a countermeasure. He then deduces that Superman, being raised since by humans since he was a baby, fell under Myriad by being too human, unlike Supergirl who grew up on Krypton. Cat remarks that she wasn’t affected, but Lord reveals that he fashioned ion blockers in the earrings he gave her. He refused to give it to the DEO after Alex left, ridding the organization of all the people he trusted. With the entire city turned against them, Lord says there is only one thing they can do: kill all the Kryptonians.

At an undisclosed location, Non and Indigo discuss their plans with Myriad working according to their design. Indigo, however, notes that Kara still poses a threat to their plans since she already assisted in taking down Astra. Non does not immediately desire to kill his niece, but Indigo warns him that he may have to in order to save his plan.

Alex and Hank arrive at the home of Alex’s mother Eliza who questions why Alex is sneaking around with a little boy. The boy then changes back to Hank Henshaw which shocks Eliza even more in seeing the man who took her husband. Alex then quickly informs her mother that Hank is, in fact, a Martian shapeshifter named J’onn J’onnz who met Jeremiah before Hank died. J’onn informs Eliza that her husband saved his life and that he is dedicated to protecting Alex. Alex then asks her mother for supplies since they are now fugitives from National City. Eliza then informs the two that something worse is happening in their home city.

Supergirl is immediately reluctant to kill fellow Kryptonians but hears his plan with no other options. Lord informs her that he has developed a plan should Superman or she go rogue by setting off a Kryptonite bomb engulfing the city in Kryptonite radiation. Cat reminds him that Supergirl would also be affected, but Lord claims that if Supergirl flies the bomb, she could save herself. However, she would be unable to live in the city. After Cat persists, he also reveals that the bomb could kill up to eight percent of the city population or 300,000 people. Cat objects to the blatant sacrifice of innocent lives, but Supergirl agrees since it’s the only way to stop Myriad.

At the Danvers household, Eliza speaks with J’onn, who reveals that Jeremiah’s apparent last thoughts were of his daughters. She is then delighted to hear that he is, in fact, a big green man and bombards him with many questions on how he keeps his Martian stasis on earth. Alex converse with Kara who fills her in on the details of Myriad. She also refuses Alex’s request to help since she could prove vulnerable to Myriad. J’onn, however, says he will go since he is immune and, he reminds Alex in secret, Jeremiah needs her.

At Catco, the three are visited by Non who tries to reason with Kara to join their side. He argues that, through Myriad, the world can act as one mind to solve all the problems of mankind. He then uses James and Winn to argue for him, stating that Non had ended more crime in one minute than Supergirl had since she arrived. Supergirl argues that before Astra died, they forgave each other, and she would not want Non to hurt her niece. Non, regardless, then forces Winn, James, and another woman to jump off the balcony. Supergirl saves the men but cannot save the woman, leading her to further consider Lord’s plan.

With General Lane and the President’s permission, Lord plans to set the bomb off. Supergirl questions what turned Lord into this kind of man. Lord reveals that the CDC which failed his parents were warned by him that their services would fail, but that he did nothing to prevent their deaths anyway. He has since vowed that if there should ever be a danger that he would rush into action, just as she does as Supergirl. Similarly, they have to act now.

Maxwell Lord: “I swore from that moment on that if I could protect people, if I could save them, I wouldn’t wait for permission, I would act — just like you do every time you jump on the window and save the day. We act, you and I. We’re more alike than you think.”

Indigo has another talk with Non as he plans to pave his way on Earth. She then berates him for thinking to small in only taking over one planet. With this technology at their disposal, they could take over the galaxy. Back at the Danvers house, Alex plans to go with J’onn despite his refusal. She reminds him that the last time she saw her father walk from her life, she could do nothing about it. Now she wants to take action, especially if J’onn’s telepathy could help protect her from mind control. Eliza says goodbye to the two when Alex almost tells her about Jeremiah, but J’onn stops her. The two fly to National City.

Back at Catco, Cat muses with Supergirl over the view as Cat marvels at the people who used to walk below and wonders which ones will be sacrificed for Lord’s plan. Supergirl states that she does not want to sacrifice the people but feels she has no choice in a problem her mother could not even solve. Cat tells her that everyone has let fear guide them, but Supergirl was the one to inspire people to stand up for things even if they were afraid. She remarks that Supergirl even inspired her to open up to people, including her assistant Kara who helped forged a new relationship with her son. The people need to know that hope is stronger than fear, and Supergirl proved that by simply being herself. The two then embrace, giving Supergirl an idea.

Alex and J’onn arrive in National City with J’onn struggling to keep Myriad from Alex. Indgio then appears and fights the Martian. J’onn initially hold his own, but Indgio surprises him with a tendril to his gut. With Alex captured, J’onn returns to his natural form and falls unconscious. Alex then succombs to Myriad.

Just as Lord prepares his bomb, Cat and Supergirl arrive with a new plan: hope. Lord, at first, shrugs that faith, but Supergirl tells him that to honor his parents as well as hers, they must try a plan that doesn’t sacrifice the lives of thousands.

Cat Grant: “I believe you can change everyone out there. Not by violence. Not by fear. Just be Supergirl. That’s all anyone has ever needed from you.”

Indigo and Non then take Alex to their lair where Non plans to have Alex awake in watching the city fall, a form of revenge from her having killed Astra. Alex states that before Astra died, she refused to use Myriad after Non used the Black Mercy. When hearing Astra’s and Kara’s connection to family, she comes up with a plan to hurt both of the Danvers.

Using Cat’s old TV station, Supergirl, Cat, and Lord plan to broadcast a symbol of hope to the people in order to break them free of Myriad. Lord calculates that the older broadcast system of the technology will block them from Indigo but remains skeptical that this plan will work. Supergirl then hears a sound outside and finds Alex in a Kryptonite battle suit. Non has forced Supergirl to either kill or be killed by her sister who now wields the same Kryptonite sword that was used to kill Astra. 

Super-Notes

• Maxima from the planet Almerac makes another live-action appearance after apparently trying to take Superman as her mate. DC fans will remember this from her appearance not only in Smallville but in Superman: The Animated Series as well!
• Cat Grant may not be interested in Harrison Ford, but her actress Calista Flockhart might-she's married to him!
• According to Non, there may actually be a Central City on this Earth after all. Looks like Barry was wrong!
• This marks the first reference to the president in the Supergirl series as well as the first instant where that president is actually a woman.

The Geekcap: Legends of Tomorrow "Progeny"

Rip approaches Rory who is still in captivity. He apologizes for forcing Snart to nearly kill him and asks that he forgets his anger at his former partner. Rory rejects his act and instead states that he wants to kill them both. Rip then reveals to the team that they are in the year 2147 where they are hoping to track Vandal Savage before a hostile takeover. With the United States now under a single unit known as the Kasnia Conglomeration since 2080, the team must infiltrate a corporate board meeting. Before they enter, the group takes a look at the 22^nd century which Rip refers to as the world’s zen for about five years until a dictator named Per Dageton unleashes a devastating virus. Ray spots a variation of his ATOM suit flying and then stopping a criminal as an autonomous yet somewhat tyrannical robot.

At the board meeting, Rip sneaks into witness the meeting where the group discusses how to deal with the world outside the conglomeration. While the world is chaotic outside, they refuse to be wooed into chaos themselves, despite the edge of Vandal Savage among them. Rip trails Savage until he spots him talking to a young boy named Per Dageton, the same one who grows up to unleash the virus. Rip and Snart then deduce that the only way to save the future is to murder a child.

The team immediately has their own qualms about murdering a child with Snart and Rip arguing for the benefits. Rip states that there is no way they could alter the timeline which is set in motion after the Per Dageton’s father’s death. Once he unleashes a pandemic, he quickly conquers the remains of humanity, and once he achieves that, Savage kills him. Rip, however, downgrades their mission to simply kidnapping the boy which is not much better to some of the members. They plan to split up into a team to kidnap the boy while Ray plans to learn about his robotic technology.

In the midst of this plan, Kendra remembers back to 1920 with Carter. The two lived in marital bliss until Kendra feels that Savage is close to finding them. Carter offers to take some time off, but Kendra is insistent that they could be in danger. Suddenly, a small boy, their son, comes to see his father return home. He briefly asks what’s wrong when Kendra replies that everything is fine and that she loves both of them very much.

In their separate missions, Snart and Sara tail the boy surrounded by body guards while Ray, Jax, and Stein explore a museum. Snart and Sara successfully take out the body guards and kidnap the child while Ray learns that about the museum’s origins from his own great-great-great-great granddaughter. Ray is shocked that his technology will be used for destruction and even more surprised to know that he had a child. However, he then remembers that the last person he had relations with “ghosted” him before he left 2016, perhaps even having his child. Without a father, Ray believes, his family ended up creating technology for mayhem.

In another flash to the past, Kendra remembers her and Carter preparing to leave in 1920. Carter easily creates forgeries for them to leave town, but Kendra is left mourning the fact that they are leaving another life behind them. She regrets leaving a life and friends behind them for continuously looking over their shoulders for Vandal Savage forever, especially for the sake of their son. Carter reassures her that there is another thing that will last just as long: his love for her.

Sara, Snart, and Rip keep Per Dageton under sedative while contemplating their next move. Unfortunately, Rip finds through Gideon that removing the boy from the time line does not change Savage’s rise to power, and that killing him might be the only way to have an effect. Sara is wary about this and believes that Rip could make a difference by simply talking to the boy. After all, if someone like her with two trips to the League and bloodlust could change, so can a child. She then pays a visit to Rory, remarking that the situation of nearly killing a kid reminded her of him. Rory refuses to be lenient to anyone, but Sara still defends Snart since, in the end, he chose not to kill his partner. Rory merely responds that killing a child is not very hero-like.

Per Dageton’s father searches for his son, leading him to find the legends as people who do not register on a list fifty years old. Savage emerges and says they are not from this time, and they currently have his son. The father questions how could they know Per Dageton is still alive, but Savage replies that the legends are weak. At that moment, Rip nearly prepares to kill Per Dageton but simply wakes him up and takes him to another ship. He leaves without informing the team and cutting off their communication, preventing the team from stopping whatever he plans to do.

The team realizes that they would be unable to track Rip’s location and then question what Rip is planning. Ray doesn’t believe that Rip would kill a boy, but Stein is fearful what Rip would do for his son. Kendra has a final vision to the past when she remembers telling she and Carter telling their son the story of Vandal Savage and their reincarnated histories. Ray then asks her what she has been seeing when she reveals that she keeps seeing Carter. She then feels guilty over her relationship with Ray considering her old feelings for Carter. At this notion, Ray reveals that he likely left his own child in 2016 which led to the creation of robots that will eventually destroy the world. He fears that she will think less of him, but the two instead feel conflicted in their relationship. Sara, meanwhile, talks to Snart and tries to convince him to talk to Rory since he obviously feels guilty.

Rip finally brings Per Dageton to a lake where he talks about his son who he reveals to have been killed. Per Dageton realizes that he was brought there to be killed but remarks that Rip does not have the resolve to kill him. Rip eventually gives in and instead beseeches to the boy. If there was goodness inside him to spare the child, there must be some goodness in Per Dageton to become the man his father wants him to be.

Back at the Waverider, Savage’s forces led by Per Dageton’s father attack the ship, forcing the legends to fight back. Ray attempts to fight the robots but cannot master their advanced technology. Firestorm agrees to fight them off while Ray and Kendra shut them down from the source. Once Ray and Kendra arrive, however, they are encountered by his descendant who plans to have them arrested. Ray then reveals that he is his ancestor, only to have her reveal that her ancestor was Sidney Palmer, Ray’s brother who likely went to work for Felicity at his company and sold his technology. Kendra then beseeches to the woman that if she is indeed a Palmer, she will do what’s right. Together, they shut down the robots.

Stein: He's right. We have super powers.

At the fight, Savage holds Sara hostage to force the team to stop. However, Rip arrives with Per Dageton and demands an exchange. Against Savage and his son’s wishes, Per Dageton’s father agrees to the trade, the groups part ways. Snart finally goes to talk to Rory since everyone seems to want them to talk. Rory says that talking will not help the situation, so Snart agrees that the two should fight out their feelings.

Kendra and Ray then confront each other on their relationship. Ray reveals that he did not father a child with Kendra remarking on how much she loves that he never gives up. She ultimately states that they should continue their relationship, and that while Carter is her past, Ray is her future. At the Conglomerate, Savage then sets Per Dageton down the path to eventually murdering his own father and letting Savage take over Kasnia. Gideon reports to Rip that instead of years later, Per Dageton eventually spreads the pandemic in a matter of days. While he may have done the right thing in sparing a boy’s life, Rip still wonders whether it was worth the consequences.

Snart and Rory continue their fight. When Rory’s about to win, he suddenly stops, no longer desiring revenge on Snart. He then informs the team that since he was not able to retrieve Rip for the Time Masters, they will eventually send the Hunters. Once that happens, they are all doomed.

The Geekcap: Arrow "Eleven Fifty-Nine"

At the Diggle apartment, Andy opens a vault to reach for a hidden gun. Diggle spots him and questions why he was moving secretly. Andy reveals to him that he was meeting with Malcolm Merlyn, who still believes that Andy is a part of HIVE, to discuss a plan to break Dahrk out of prison.

At the lair, the team goes over this new knowledge. Thea states that Malcolm believes that Dahrk is on the winning side and will fight against them to likely protect her. From the new connection, Malcolm will likely try to steal back Dahrk’s idol which they keep in the bunker. Oliver reveals to the team that he has seen the idol before on the island. Before he can discuss it, Thea shows Oliver the news on Ruve Adams’ acceptance speech. Laurel and Thea state that Oliver doesn’t owe her anything, but Oliver insists on going as gracious loser part of the election tradition. They still remind him that he did not lose but was blackmailed out of the race.

During Ruve’s acceptance speech, a reporter comes to talk to Oliver. Oliver protests that he is no longer a candidate, but the reporter reveals that Oliver garnered 48% of the vote through write-in votes. Ruve then stops to talk to Oliver who congratulates her on the victory. Oliver nevertheless says that he has the city’s best interests at heart. Ruve then confronts Laurel and commends her on the work on the Damian Dahrk case. The newly-elected mayor then offers Laurel a position as district attorney with the original district attorney moving up in rank as deputy mayor.

On the island, Oliver prepares Taiana to fight the soldiers. Taiana is heartbroken at the idea that they must murder their way to survival, but they have no choice. She looks to an old picture of her and her brother, surprised at a time they were happy. Oliver admits that he also carried a picture of someone he loved that he would look at for hope, but the best thing they need to do is stop looking at the past. They make their way to the soldiers.

Oliver, Diggle, and Andy track a remaining HIVE convoy while Laurel and Thea protect the idol. Both Laurel and Thea believe that Malcolm will sooner or later try to steal the idol from the lair. Laurel casually refers to her offer to be district attorney, which Thea responds would be a good way to keep an eye on Mrs. Dahrk. Laurel, however, wonders how she can be a DA and the Black Canary. Meanwhile, Thea proclaims that she no longer will have anything to do with her father considering his selfish choices. Suddenly, Malcolm appears with some remaining League acolytes fighting off Laurel. Thea tries fighting him off but ultimately hesitates from killing him. He takes advantage of her hesitation and knocks her out to steal the idol. Oliver, Diggle, and Andy meanwhile tag the vehicle only to find that it was a trick to distract half the team away from the lair.

Oliver and Diggle return to the bunker. Malcolm has disappeared, and the team can’t track him with his skills. Diggle suggests asking Andy about any connections, but Oliver is a bit reluctant to put Andy in the position. Diggle says that Andy is already in a compromising position, and asking them would only help the cause. Laurel then finds out from Oliver that the real reason is because Oliver is starting to doubt Andy’s loyalty given the distraction. Laurel warns Oliver that if he should press on this issue, it may start an argument that he and Diggle cannot recover from in the end. She then receives a message from her dad.

Back on the island, Taiana distracts the soldiers before she and Oliver shoot the guards and steal the prison keys. Taiana releases and arms the prisoners who plan to take on the soldiers.

Laurel then meets up with Lance at a Chinese restaurant where Lance has been picking up some phrases thanks to Sara. They discuss Laurel’s possible job change. Lance is against her taking it while Laurel states that it would be a good opportunity to keep an eye on Ruve. Lance then clarifies that should she take the job, she’d be under non-stop surveillance and could no longer be the Black Canary. If she takes the job, she could no longer be a vigilante.

Andy then informs the team that he found Malcolm in an old factory. The group follows Andy to the location where they spot a figure that looks like Malcolm and give chase. They stop by a corner where Oliver and Andy are trapped behind a wall with an automatic firing squad that shoots arrows at the two. Andy dives to protect Oliver when the rest of the team catches up to the two. The figure gets away when Andy warns that this means Malcolm’s on his way to Dahrk.

At jail, Malcolm sneaks in to deliver the idol to Damian Dahrk. Dahrk has promised Malcolm that should he deliver the idol he and Thea will be safe from whatever Genesis has planned for the rest of the city. Unfortunately, Dahrk notices that there is a piece missing. Without it, the idol is useless.

Damian Dahrk: Don't be so high-handed.

Diggle patches up Andy in the bunker where the younger Diggle is still nervous about Dahrk gaining the idol. Diggle reveals to his brother that he has hidden a piece of the idol, so they are safe at this point. Oliver then comes and warns Diggle against telling Andy about the missing piece. Diggle still trusts Andy despite this. Laurel meanwhile decides to go to the jail as ADA to search for the idol.

On the island, Oliver and the prisoners successfully take out the soldiers. Unfortunately, he still has to contend with Reiter in the catacombs. Taiana says that he is no match for Reiter with the idol which gives Oliver the idea to simply trap him with a cave-in.

The police investigate the cells around Dahrk for the “possible contraband.” In the midst of the search, Dahrk subtly threatens Laurel which the ADA refuses fear. At Diggle’s apartment, Andy appears to be searching for something. Oliver catches him in the act, but Andy claims that he was looking for surveillance. Oliver instead believes that he is searching for the missing piece to deliver to Dahrk. Before Oliver can torture him, Diggle arrives to stop the fight and throws Oliver out of his place. Oliver warns that they can’t trust Andy.

At the bunker, Diggle rebukes Oliver for attacking Andy by reminding him that it was his idea to rescue Andy in the first place. Oliver states that he himself is proof that people cannot return from the darkness, but Diggle states that some men change while Oliver is stuck in his self-pity, the reason why Felicity left him. Laurel returns with no news about the idol, but Thea fortunately has hacked into the prison security footage to keep an eye on Dahrk. Laurel then confronts Oliver on the situation with Diggle when she reveals that she is planning to reject Ruve’s offer. Oliver, however, reminds her that she wanted to be the District Attorney for years and only became the Black Canary to avenge Sara’s death. Now that Sara’s alive, the city needs more heroes without masks, something Laurel can do as DA.

Oliver: This city has enough heroes with masks on. With Ruve Adams as mayor, it needs a hero without a mask. It needs Laurel Lance. 

In the prison, Murmur secretly hides the idol for Dahrk in the midst of the prison’s books. At Dahrk’s call, the prisoners fight against the guards and hold the remaining police officers in hostage. Laurel notes that she can’t prosecute Dahrk without first getting him into custody, meaning she has to suit up as the Black Canary for one last time.

At the jail, Lance distracts the police guard by arguing and literally fighting with a lieutenant officer while the team plus Andy sneak to save the hostages. Laurel and Thea take on the prisoners which include Murmur until they are confronted by Malcolm. Thea tells Laurel to go ahead while she deals with her father. The rest of the team make it to Dahrk’s room where they fight off the remaining prisoners. Thea is unable to beat Malcolm, who tells her that without her bloodlust she will unable to ever beat him.

The team nearly defeat the prisoners until Dahrk holds Andy at gunpoint. They surrender to Dahrk only to have him reveal that Andy was a part of his plan. Andy had secretly obtained the final piece of the idol after hearing that Diggle had hidden it and retrieves it for Dahrk. Thea shoots at Dahrk, but that only provides the villain with a blood sacrifice with the help of some fallen prisoners. Dahrk regains his magic and proceeds to freeze the heroes in place. He then reveals that through Andy’s connection he learned about Diggle’s secret identity and, through the Green Arrow’s rescue of William, he learned about Oliver. He tosses Diggle and Thea aside, leaving Oliver with one clear shot. Dahrk stops the arrow and then proceeds to stab Laurel, fulfilling his threat to Lance about any betrayal. Oliver rushes her to the hospital, where she is quickly taken to the emergency room. Dahrk, Malcolm, Andy, and the prisoners escape.

On the island, Taiana asks Oliver about his picture which leads him to showing his old photo of Laurel. She then makes him promise that if she dies, he should go to Russia to find her family. She then promises that if he dies she will find Laurel. The two then set off the explosions which leave Reiter trapped in the catacombs with the idol.

Lance returns to the police station only to reprimanded by an officer for attacking the police. He remains coy hearing the news of the hostages’ rescue until the officer reveals that the Black Canary was gravely injured. He quickly makes his way to the hospital.

Felicity arrives at the hospital to see Laurel’s condition. The doctor says that she will be fine and allows the group to talk to her. Laurel reveals that this was supposed to be her last mission before working as district attorney, and that being the Black Canary was what ultimately made her feel alive. She then personally asks Oliver to take something out from her second pocket, only to have Oliver find his old photo of Laurel. Laurel reveals that she has kept it since he returned to remind her of good times. She finally says that she is glad that he found Felicity, and that while she was not the love of his life, he was the love of hers. She then asks him to do something for her. Before we can learn what that request was, she begins to convulse wildly. The doctors attempt to save her, but she is finally pronounced dead at 11:59. 

Arrow Notes

• Malcolm's nickname "The Magician" returns in this episode which is not only a reference to an episode title from season three, but also Malcolm Merlyn's codename in the comics.
• Diggle refers to being shot at by arrows as a "weekly basis." Sounds like Team Arrow is starting to become self-aware!
• Dahrk references the homo magi as the creators of the idol. The homo magi are a magical race of human beings which includes many famous DC characters including Zatanna.
• This episode formally reveals that it is Laurel who was in the grave from the season opener. RIP Black Canary.