SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Lost Canary," the latest episode of Arrow.
Arrow is saying goodbye to Laurel Lance -- again. In "Lost Canary," the latest episode, Laurel reaffirmed her identity as a hero but made the difficult decision to return to Earth-2 to face her deadly past.
After Emiko Queen leaked photos of Laurel working with Ricardo Diaz, the villain-turned-District Attorney fled her position. Worse, she went back to what she knew: thieving. She teamed up with Shadow Thief, her partner-in-crime from her days working with Diaz, and went on a crime spree. Even as the women of Team Arrow attempted to woo her back, she relentlessly turned them down -- and even tried to kill them, though her heart wasn't in it.
In an effort to get through to Laurel, Felicity called Sara Lance back from DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Though it took a couple of tries, Sara eventually said something that resonated with Laurel. Sara explained her Earth-1 history of becoming an assassin and allowing her family to believe she was dead; using her own personal experience, she conveyed that redemption is a journey, not a state of being.
Laurel pretended that Sara's word hadn't reached her, but looked troubled in her more private moments. Nevertheless, she agreed to steal and sell a bomb with Shadow Thief. On this mission, Sara, Felicity Smoak and Dinah Drake teamed up to stop her. Felicity reminded her that people would die as a result of Shadow Thief's job. When that didn't work, Felicity told her to start with her, only for Sara and Dinah to stand by Felicity's side.
Fortunately for everyone involved, Laurel couldn't bring herself to kill her former teammates. She turned on Shadow Thief, who had already called in reinforcements. The women of Team Arrow were forced to fight their way out, but were able to overcome their foes and destroy the bomb in the process.
Back at the bunker, Laurel revealed her intention to return to Earth-2 and truly begin her journey of redemption by righting the wrongs of her villainous past. As a parting gift, Felicity gave Laurel the Black Canary costume that Earth-1's Laurel once wore. They all said their goodbyes, and she left to make good on her promise.
However, Laurel won't be gone forever. In a flash-forward sequence, she saved Mia Smoak from an assassin hellbent on killing vigilantes. With a few other Canaries at her side, Laurel swooped in wearing the Black Canary costume and used her cry to stop the assassin. She then told Mia she looked like her mother and let the girl return to Felicity and the rest of the team.
Airing Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT on The CW, Arrow stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, Rick Gonzalez as Wild Dog, Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary, Colton Haynes as Arsenal, Kirk Acevedo as Diaz and Katie Cassidy as Black Siren.