There are spoilers ahead if you didn't catch the winter finale of the CW's Arrow. Keep that in mind before reading this article!
When we last left Oliver Queen on Arrow, he had been stabbed by Ra’s al Ghul and kicked off off a cliff. For most people this would result in instant death, but considering the show’s name and the fact that this isn’t Game of Thrones, it’s doubtful that Oliver will stay “dead.” However, despite the show returning from its winter hiatus tomorrow night, we’ll have to wait longer to find out how Oliver will return from these seemingly mortal injuries. In the meantime, series star Stephen Amell has decided to shoot down one of the recurring theories among Arrow fans.
In a recent interview, Amell mentioned that while there are several ways that Oliver could have survived the brutal battle, the mystical properties of the Lazarus Pit, a naturally-occurring phenomenon of chemicals from the comics, won’t be his savior. Here's what Amell told Collider:
“We just saw him fall. We’ve seen Oliver survive. So, [we don’t know] whether he went straight off the cliff, whether something broke his fall, whether he hit the ground. We have mystical herbs on the show that have healing powers. We’ve seen a Lazarus Pit, although that’s not something that’s going to be used for Oliver. I hope he survives. I like playing him.”
In the comics, the Lazarus Pit is capable of healing any injury. It also keeps those who bathe in it young and can resurrect the dead (might that have something to do with Tommy Merlyn’s upcoming appearance?). Ra’s al Ghul has been able to stay alive for hundreds of years by repeatedly bathing in the rejuvenating liquid. Ever since Ra’s was announced as the main Season 3 antagonist, it has been suspected that the Lazarus Pit would be incorporated into the show, and it was alluded to in “The Climb” when Ra’s stated that it had been 67 years since he was challenged to a trial by combat, even though he only looks to be in his 40s. Including the Lazarus Pit is an odd direction for Arrow’s typical grounded and realistic storytelling, but with the Mirakuru serum from Season 2 and The Flash opening up new possibilities, why not introduce the magical liquid that can cure everything?
The Lazarus Pit may be crossed off the list, but there are still several possible explanations for Oliver’s survival. Whoever finds him could use those wonder herbs that Team Arrow has used on several occasions to heal him. Another possibility is that Oliver’s injuries weren’t as devastating as originally thought, and the series might pull a Dark Knight Rises on us and have him slowly recover through sheer force of will. Regardless, if Amell and the show runners are to be believed, the Pit will appear eventually, so it stands to reason that we’ll see at least one person submerged in it.
The CW's Arrow returns to the schedule on Wednesday, January 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
