Arrow Finally Answered A Question We've Had Since The Pilot

Only a couple of episodes are left in Arrow Season 5, which means that the series has some loose ends from the very beginning that need to be tied up ASAP. We can't say at this point how many will or will not go unresolved by the finale, but we do know that at least we'll have one question answered. A sneak peek for the "Honor Thy Fathers" episode has Oliver and Anatoly back on Lian Yu, and it reveals just how the Deathstroke mask ended up impaled on an arrow in the pilot. Check it out!

Apparently, Slade Wilson's Deathstroke mask came to be impaled with an arrow and left on display by none other than Oliver Queen when he and Anatoly returned to Lian Yu after their Bratva adventure. As this was before he discovered that Slade was very much alive, Oliver was understandably sad to see the mask of the man who had been a very good friend, prior to the whole "go crazy and attempt to murder" twist. The sneak peek indicates that he also seems to believe that the mask just washed up on shore after the sinking of the Amazo and propped itself up on the piece of driftwood; something tells me that we'll learn that it wasn't quite an act of nature that left the mask in that position to be arrowed by Oliver.

Viewers got their very first glimpse of the Deathstroke mask on Arrow way back in the first few minutes of the pilot, when Oliver allowed himself to be discovered and rescued by some nearby fishermen. The fishermen shuffled past the mask, presumably too curious about the signal to notice the first time they passed and then too distracted by Oliver's hair (which still wasn't the worst we've ever seen it) to notice the creepy mask with the arrow through it on their way back to their boat. We saw it, however, and it was the first of many Easter eggs about what was to come.

It makes sense that Arrow is revisiting the mask in one of the last episodes of Season 5, and not just because the time is now to start tying off loose ends from Season 1. Deathstroke will be returning in the flesh for the finale, and he'll join Oliver in action on the island once more. The reappearance of the mask in the flashbacks is a tantalizing way to tease his upcoming entrance back onto the scene.

We haven't seen Slade since back in Season 3, and it should be great/terrifying to see how Oliver's arguably greatest nemesis plays into the battle against Prometheus. He won't be the only baddie at least hypothetically on Oliver's side; Malcolm Merlyn and Captain Boomerang will be on the scene as well. Throw in Nyssa for a showdown with Talia, and we're in for an action-packed finale.

Tune in to The CW on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET to see the last few episodes of Arrow Season 5, and don't forget to check out our summer TV premiere schedule to discover all your viewing options now and in the coming weeks. Be sure to drop by our rundowns for cable/streaming and broadcast TV renewals and cancellations as well. Our TV season finale schedule can give you all you need to know about your shows ending.