Arrow - S3E5 - The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak
Five years before Felicity joined Team Arrow, she was a student writing some of the best hacks with her friend and boyfriend. When her boyfriend uses a program she wrote to break into a government database and attempts to delete student loans, the two are arrested, but he takes the fall for writing the code.
In present day, Felicity’s code is used to shut down the city for cyber terrorists. The only one with worst timing than the terrorists is Felicity’s mom, who shows up for a surprise visit moments after Ray Palmer arrives at Felicity’s apartment.
Meanwhile, Thea is settling into a new penthouse purchased with Malcolm’s money. Oliver isn’t crazy about it, but he’ll deal. Laurel continues to struggle with Sara’s death and finally confides in her trainer.
Thinking that her ex killed himself in prison, Felicity is shocked when he appears alive and well. He not only takes credit for the cyber attacks, but he takes Felicity and her mother hostage, trying to force Felicity into helping him. The standoff leads to a rather cliched reconciliation between Felicity and her mother, but I’ll allow it considering we get such an awesome origin story for Felicity and she manages to have a huge part to play in saving herself.
As great as the origin story was - and it was fantastic - the real WTF moment comes at the end when Ray awakens from a dream (memory?) of killing Sara on that rooftop.
Oh, Roy. Say it ain’t so.
