Sacrifice

Sacrifice is the twenty-third and the final episode of the first season of Arrow. It aired on May 15, 2013.

Synopsis
Oliver and John race to stop Malcolm Merlyn from unleashing his vengeance on the Glades. However, they run into a roadblock after Detective Quentin Lance picks up Felicity for questioning. Tommy and Oliver’s already tumultuous relationship takes a turn for the worse after Oliver makes a confession about Laurel. After hearing of the danger in the Glades, Thea races to find Roy, inadvertently putting herself directly in the line of fire for Malcolm’s devious plan. On the island, Oliver, Slade, and Shado are locked in a life-or-death struggle against Fyers as his missiles lock on a full Ferris Air jetliner.

Plot
Malcolm imprisons Oliver and leaves him to die, but he manages to escape and return home. In a flashback, Fyers fires a missile at an approaching airliner, but Oliver and Shado manage to override the coordinates and destroy the missile. Afterward, Oliver kills Fyers. In the present, Oliver confronts his mother about the Undertaking, which prompts her to hold a press conference and reveal to the city her involvement with Malcolm and the plan to destroy the Glades. Tommy sees the press conference, and Malcolm reveals that he is the other archer to the dismay of his son. Detective Quentin Lance, with help from Felicity, is able to dismantle the earthquake device. John and Oliver go after and disable Malcolm, who gloats that there is a second device shortly before he loses consciousness. The device activates and begins to level the east side of the Glades. Thea goes into the Glades to save Roy, who works to help others who are trying to escape the earthquake. Laurel is trapped in her office, but Tommy arrives to rescue her. Laurel escapes, but Tommy is caught by falling debris. Oliver arrives too late, Tommy is fatally wounded and dies after apologizing and thanking Oliver for not killing his father.

Production
Preparation ran from March 28 until April 8, 2013. Shooting ran from April 9 until April 18, 2013.

Behind the scenes

 * Originally the episode was titled "52 Wells Street", but was changed due to sounding too "artsy".
 * Unidac Industries is a reference to Unidac, a company in the TV series, Wiseguy.
 * Papp Street, under which one of the Markov Devices is located, is a reference to George Papp, one of the co-creators of the character, Green Arrow.
 * The abandoned subway Detective Lance enters, Puckett Station, is a reference to Kelley Puckett, one of the co-creators of Connor Hawke, who in the comics is Oliver's son and the second Green Arrow.
 * As Roy is running through the Glades, a Kord Industries sign is seen. In the DC comics, Kord Industries is led by Ted Kord, the alter ego of the superhero Blue Beetle.