Dead to Rights

"Dead to Rights" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of Arrow. It aired on February 27, 2013.

Synopsis
Oliver discovers that Deadshot is still alive, and his next target is none other than Malcolm Merlyn. Malcolm invites Tommy to a special benefit honoring him, but Tommy is hesitant to make an appearance. However, Oliver tries to convince him otherwise. Meanwhile, Oliver still struggles with balancing his newly-renewed relationsip with McKenna Hall, and his other job as "The Hood".

Plot
The scene opens with an assassin named Guillermo Ballera arriving in town via helicopter. Arrow is waiting and the two proceed to fight, with Arrow eventually killing him with an arrow to the chest.

Dig is helping to train Felicity so she can handle herself in tough spots. Queen returns and asks Felicity to hack his phone so they can find out who Ballera was in town to kill.

During an islaand asks for rescue. It doesn't seem that they can call out.

Queen calls Lance as Arrow with word about the hit going down the following day. Lance tells him to call back with a name.

We see the Triad and Deadshot organizing the hit on Malcolm. It is to take place when Malcolm receives his award.

Tommy tells Laurel he's decided to go to his father's award presentation.

Before the ceremony Malcolm asks Moira if they can talk after the ceremony. Malcolm is introduced as the city's Humanitarian of the Year. We see that Triads are posing as waiters.

Queen and Hall talk about fitting a possible relationship into already busy lives.

Felicity finally gets into Ballera's phone and Dig tells Queen. Queen bails on his date and calls Lance with the name.

During Malcolm's speech he admits to failing his city thus far but promises to be better. The Triads turn off the power and people begin to exit. Malcolm realizes what is happening and heads to the second floor with Tommy. Arrow fights off the Triad gunmen and moves to his panic room. Arrow then gets into a fight with the Triad boss. Malcolm fights off a few would-be attackers and his son his stunned by his father can do. Arrow finally gets the jump on the Triad boss, but as he stands over her with arrow drawn Hall comes up from behind him with a gun. Deadshot manages to hit Malcolm several times in the chest through the window, but he's wearing a vest. Arrow is able to escape Hall by shooting a fire extinguisher. Malcolm has been nicked and Deadshot is using his trademark poison bullets. Arrow tries to explain to Tommy what is happening to his father, but Tommy doesn't trust him. Arrow is forced to reveal his true identity to his friend and then help with a life-saving blood transfusion.

Afterwards Lance and Hall asks Tommy why he listened to the Hood. Tommy says he has no idea who the masked man really is.

In the flashback Wilson realizes that Queen has the radio tuned to the soldier's channel. They hear Fyers talking to his off-island benefactor and hear a reference to Scylla, a monster from the Odyssey. Wilson wants to meet this monster.

Queen tells Dig about Deadshot being the reason Malcolm is in the hospital. He's upset his brother's killer is still alive.

Wilson and Queen see that Scylla is an anti-aircraft missile launcher.

Queen arrives at the hospital. He runs into Hall, who says she's willing to give it a try. Queen agrees.

Malcolm wakes up and Tommy tells him what happened. Malcolm tells Tommy that after his wife died he found a man who helped him make sense of his life. He says his plan now is to help make the city a better place. Moira arrives at the door and Tommy leaves them alone. Malcolm tells her he wants to find "the traitor in our midst."

Tommy and Queen talk. Tommy asks if he was every going to tell him the truth about his alter ego. Queen say he wasn't.

Laurel's mother arrives at her door saying she needs to talk, but Laurel tries to refuse any conversation with her. Her mother proceeds to tell her that it's important - that she thinks Sara may still be alive.

Triva

 * Assuming the episode takes place in real time, McKenna's line that Fall Out Boy "broke up together" may or may not have been true; at the time of filming (January 17 – January 28), the band had been dispersed for over 3 years. However, on February 4 they announced they would begin to form again as a whole, 23 days before the episode aired (February 27).

Production
Preparation ran from January 8 until January 16, 2013. Filming ran from January 17 until January 28, 2013.