The first half of "Arrow" season 5 may already be up, but the finale episode "What We Leave Behind" made a few choice reveals that could have fans of the series waiting fitfully for the midseason premiere. Clues as to who Prometheus is have brought Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) closer to finally unmasking the villain. But not without a heavy price.
Prometheus seemed to have the upper hand in that he was able to learn the secret identities of the members of Oliver Queen's team, with Evelyn's (Madison McLaughlin) betrayal. After the killings made by the "star-throwing killer" were found out to be not-so-random after all, but rather pointed to a target list of individuals that had been on Queen's original list, she felt that Ollie was such a fraud forbidding her from taking revenge on the one who killed her parents.
That may have been enough reason for her to sell out Team Arrow and side with Prometheus. And the ruthless killer used the information he got from Evelyn to get at Oliver. His strategy seems to be to hurt those around Ollie, indirectly delivering blows at the latter. Prometheus targets Curtis by throwing a dycloseral-contaminated star.
The substance is the clue that associates Prometheus to Claybourne Pharmaceuticals which had produced the tuberculosis drug several years back and used it unscrupulously by releasing tuberculosis bacteria as a weapon. When it broke out among the Star(ling) City's population, the owner of the company, Justin Claybourne, upped its price to make a killing in the pharmaceutical market. Ollie found out about it in his early vigilante days and tried to give the businessman a chance to redeem himself. But he was later found dead, which meant he had not met Ollie's terms.
It was revealed in "Arrow" season 5 episode 9 that the illegitimate son of the pharmaceutical magnate had nursed his hatred for the one who killed his father, promising vengeance when the time came. That had been four years back, and Prometheus finally got his chance.
After luring Oliver into the building which had once housed Claybourne Pharmaceuticals, he tried to exact his revenge but Ollie was able to overpower Prometheus and shot the latter's chest full of arrows. Here the tragedy is discovered.
When Oliver unmasks the hooded figure, it turns out to be Felicity's (Emily Bett Rickards) boyfriend, Detective Billy Mallone (Tyler Ritter). Billy does not have anything to do with Prometheus, and indeed he was investigating the case. But he was abducted and then forced into the same costume that Prometheus wears, hands bound and mouth taped. Oliver then gets to do the unenviable task of breaking the news about Billy to Felicity and his team. The real Prometheus escapes.
Another reveal which comes toward the end of episode 9 of "Arrow" is that Laurel (Kate Cassidy) is alive. Oliver discovers her at their hideout. And right away followers of the show are trying to explain it away, after all, avid followers would have seen the episode where Laurel was brutally stabbed. But if Flashpoint had a hand at this sudden resurrection of Laurel, fans say the comeback would be very much welcomed!
The midseason premiere of "Arrow" season 5 episode 10 is on January 25th. Whether Prometheus has something to do with Laurel's being back on the show is something to look forward to being answered.
