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The Best Episodes of Arrow Season 3

Every episode of Arrow Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Arrow Season 3!

Binge this in 16h 20m•Peaking at 9.5/10

Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Arrow Season 3 Episode 1 - The Calm
    8.7/10(6588 votes)

    #1 - The Calm

    S3:E1

    With crime at an all time low, Oliver decides to take a break and asks Felicity on a date. However, they're interrupted when a new drug dealer take the name of Count Vertigo and targets the Arrow for death. Meanwhile, Diggle becomes an expectant father and a scientist tries to acquire Queen Consolidated before Oliver can retake his family's business.

    Director:Glen Winter
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Arrow Season 3 Episode 2 - Sara
    8.3/10(4944 votes)

    #2 - Sara

    S3:E2

    A mysterious archer known as Komodo appears in town and begins skewering businessmen. Meanwhile, Oliver worries about Thea, which forces Roy to tell him the truth about why she left town; and Ray Palmer pursues Felicity. In a flashback, Oliver is assigned his first kill and the target is his best friend, Tommy.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writers:Jake Coburn, Keto Shimizu

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  3. Arrow Season 3 Episode 3 - Corto Maltese
    8.1/10(4622 votes)

    #3 - Corto Maltese

    S3:E3

    Oliver tries to track down Thea in Corto Maltese as Diggle searches for a missing field operative. Meanwhile, Felicity adapts to her new job.

    Director:Stephen Surjik
    Writers:Erik Oleson, Beth Schwartz

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  4. Arrow Season 3 Episode 4 - The Magician
    8.3/10(4680 votes)

    #4 - The Magician

    S3:E4

    Nyssa believes that Malcolm killed Sara and goes after him to avenger her lover's murder. Oliver discovers that he has no choice but to stop her, despite Laurel insisting that he avenger her sister's death. Meanwhile, Thea returns to Starling City and settles in... until Nyssa discovers that she's Malcolm's daughter.

    Director:John Behring
    Writers:Marc Guggenheim, Wendy Mericle

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  5. Arrow Season 3 Episode 5 - The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak
    8.2/10(5074 votes)

    #5 - The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak

    S3:E5

    Felicity's past as a crusading hacker is revealed when someone uses a super virus that she designed to bring Starling City to a standstill. Meanwhile, Oliver and Thea work on their new relationship, and Felicity's mother pays a visit.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writers:Ben Sokolowski, Brian Ford Sullivan

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  6. Arrow Season 3 Episode 6 - Guilty
    7.9/10(4408 votes)

    #6 - Guilty

    S3:E6

    A killer is murdering his victims and attempting to frame Ted Grant. The Arrow finally comes to his aid after Laurel protests her trainer's innocence. Meanwhile, Roy goes to Felicity for help determining if he killed someone under the influence of Mirakuru.

    Director:Peter Leto
    Writers:Erik Oleson, Keto Shimizu

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  7. Arrow Season 3 Episode 7 - Draw Back Your Bow
    7.8/10(4582 votes)

    #7 - Draw Back Your Bow

    S3:E7

    The Arrow is stalked by an ex-police officer who he rescued during the Mirakuru siege and has become dangerously obsessed with the hero. Meanwhile, Ray asks Felicity to accompany him to a business dinner, and Thea is forced to hire a new DJ for Verdant.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writers:Wendy Mericle, Beth Schwartz

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  8. Arrow Season 3 Episode 8 - The Brave and the Bold (II)
    9.0/10(6685 votes)

    #8 - The Brave and the Bold (II)

    S3:E8

    A crossover event that began on "The Flash" concludes with Oliver teaming with the Flash to stop a boomerang-wielding killer who plants five bombs in the city that are set to explode at the same time.

    Director:Jesse Warn
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Arrow Season 3 Episode 9 - The Climb
    9.5/10(12843 votes)

    #9 - The Climb

    S3:E9

    Ra's al Ghul sends Nyssa and her lieutenant to Starling City to inform Oliver that the League will kill 50 people a day until Sara's murderer is turned over to them. With time running out, Oliver finally identifies the killer... and realizes that he can never turn them over for execution. Meanwhile, Ray shows Felicity his new project.

    Director:Thor Freudenthal
    Writers:Jake Coburn, Keto Shimizu

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  10. Arrow Season 3 Episode 10 - Left Behind
    8.3/10(4902 votes)

    #10 - Left Behind

    S3:E10

    With Oliver gone, Diggle, Arsenal, and Felicity have their hands full dealing with a new crime lord: Brick. Meanwhile, Ray prepares his battle armor, and in Tibet, a mysterious figure finds Oliver's body.

    Director:Glen Winter
    Writers:Marc Guggenheim, Erik Oleson

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  11. Arrow Season 3 Episode 11 - Midnight City
    7.8/10(4378 votes)

    #11 - Midnight City

    S3:E11

    Brick takes three city aldermen hostage and demands that Mayor Castle turn the Glades over to him in return for their safe return. Meanwhile, Felicity turns to Ray for help when she needs a helicopter, and Laurel realizes that she may be in over her head with her new crime fighting carer.

    Director:Nick Copus
    Writers:Wendy Mericle, Ben Sokolowski

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  12. Arrow Season 3 Episode 12 - Uprising
    8.4/10(4635 votes)

    #12 - Uprising

    S3:E12

    Brick and his men take over the Glades, and the police are helpless to stop them. With Oliver nowhere to be found, the team seems helpless. Meanwhile, Oliver tries to convince Tatsu to return with him to Starling City, and Malcolm's past before his training at Nanda Parbat is seen.

    Director:Jesse Warn
    Writers:Beth Schwartz, Brian Ford Sullivan

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  13. Arrow Season 3 Episode 13 - Canaries
    8.2/10(4427 votes)

    #13 - Canaries

    S3:E13

    Vertigo causes Laurel to hallucinate an epic fight that pits her Black Canary against her sister Sara. Meanwhile, Chase surprises Thea and Roy warns Thea to stay away from Malcolm.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writers:Jake Coburn, Emilio Ortega Aldrich

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  14. Arrow Season 3 Episode 14 - The Return
    8.2/10(4503 votes)

    #14 - The Return

    S3:E14

    Malcolm puts Oliver and Thea in a dangerous situation that lands them on Lian Yu with Oliver's former enemy Deathstroke. In a flashback, Oliver and Maseo return to Starling City to retrieve the Omega bio weapon.

    Director:Dermott Downs
    Writers:Marc Guggenheim, Erik Oleson

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  15. Arrow Season 3 Episode 15 - Nanda Parbat
    8.7/10(5295 votes)

    #15 - Nanda Parbat

    S3:E15

    Thea betrays Malcolm to the League, but Oliver sets out to rescue his lover's killer so that Thea won't suffer the guilt of arranging for a parent's death. In the past, Oliver and the Yamashiros are released from custody, but Amanda Waller has other plans.

    Director:Gregory Smith
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Arrow Season 3 Episode 16 - The Offer
    8.2/10(4364 votes)

    #16 - The Offer

    S3:E16

    After hearing Ra's al Ghul's offer, Oliver returns to Starling City and contemplates whether he should accept it or not. Meanwhile, Quentin turns against the Arrow, and a new villain--Murmur--comes to the city to get revenge.

    Director:Dermott Downs
    Writers:Beth Schwartz, Brian Ford Sullivan

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  17. Arrow Season 3 Episode 17 - Suicidal Tendencies
    8.3/10(4313 votes)

    #17 - Suicidal Tendencies

    S3:E17

    While the Arrow tries to track down the imposter killing criminals, Amanda calls Lyla in for a Suicide Squad mission and Diggle insists on accompanying his new wife. However, the Squad soon discovers that their rescue mission isn't what they expected. Meanwhile, Ray learns that Oliver is the Arrow and sets out to bring him in for his crimes.

    Director:Jesse Warn
    Writer:Keto Shimizu

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  18. Arrow Season 3 Episode 18 - Public Enemy
    8.7/10(4906 votes)

    #18 - Public Enemy

    S3:E18

    Ra's makes his next move against Oliver by reveling the Arrow's secret identity to Quentin. Left without alternatives, Oliver has no choice but to surrender. Meanwhile, Ray is injured in an attack and Felicity must take a risk to save his life.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writers:Marc Guggenheim, Wendy Mericle

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  19. Arrow Season 3 Episode 19 - Broken Arrow
    8.9/10(5381 votes)

    #19 - Broken Arrow

    S3:E19

    After Roy confesses that he's the Arrow, Oliver is forced to lie low as Quentin continues his quest to prove that Oliver is the real Arrow. Meanwhile, a metahuman kills two bank guards and Oliver is forced to turn to Ray--as the Atom--for help.

    Director:Douglas Aarniokoski
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Arrow Season 3 Episode 20 - The Fallen
    8.6/10(5076 votes)

    #20 - The Fallen

    S3:E20

    Oliver has no choice but to accept Ra's's offer to resurrect Thea. In return, Oliver must become the Heir to the Demon.

    Director:Antonio Negret
    Writers:Wendy Mericle, Oscar Balderrama

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  21. Arrow Season 3 Episode 21 - Al Sah-him
    8.3/10(4543 votes)

    #21 - Al Sah-him

    S3:E21

    Ra's sets out to transform Oliver into his perfect heir. Meanwhile, Nyssa and Laurel draw closer, but their mentor/student relationship is threatened when Ra's sends men to bring his errant daughter back to Nanda Parbat..

    Director:Thor Freudenthal
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Arrow Season 3 Episode 22 - This is Your Sword
    8.6/10(4861 votes)

    #22 - This is Your Sword

    S3:E22

    Ra's tells Nyssa that she must marry Oliver or face death. Meanwhile, an unexpected ally travels to Starling City to ask Diggle, Felicity, and Laurel to help infiltrate Nanda Parbat. In the past, Maseo and Oliver try to find the cure for Akio before it's too late.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Arrow Season 3 Episode 23 - My Name Is Oliver Queen
    8.1/10(5865 votes)

    #23 - My Name Is Oliver Queen

    S3:E23

    With time running out for Starling City, Oliver tries to stop Ra's from unleashing the bioweapon and killing millions.

    Director:John Behring
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"The Calm" is the best rated episode of "Arrow" season 3. It scored 8.7/10 based on 6588 votes. Directed by Glen Winter and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/8/2014. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Sara".