How Arrow Brought Tommy Merlyn Back

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How Arrow Brought Tommy Merlyn Back from the Dead

By Meagan Damore

Published May 4, 2018

In the latest episode of Arrow, Colin Donnell reprised his role as the late Tommy Merlyn -- with a twist.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for "Docket No. 11-19-41-73," the latest episode of Arrow.

Tommy Merlyn resurfaced in "Docket No. 11-19-41-73," the latest episode of Arrow, but he's not back from the dead. In a surprising turn of events, Wil Traval returned as Christopher Chance, the Arrowverse's resident master of disguise. Chance, aka Human Target, posed as Tommy to shift suspicion off of Oliver during his trial.

The beginning of the episode found John Diggle in Kasnia, where he staged a one-man rescue. He fought an entire battalion by himself just to rescue Chance. In return, Chance repaid his favor to Diggle by helping Oliver out of a damning trial.

As the trial went on, things took a turn for the worse for Oliver and the disassembled members of Team Arrow. Rene Ramirez gave a particularly damning testimony, as Ricardo Diaz personally held his daughter hostage. However, just when it seemed over, the "Green Arrow" came crashing through the ceiling of the court house.

This alleged Green Arrow lowered his hood to reveal Tommy underneath, with Colin Donnell reprising his role as the character. Nevertheless, Chance was really the man in the mask. He even gave a testimony of his own, explaining that he used the destruction of the Glades as an opportunity to fake his own death and become the Green Arrow full time. He explained that he was intervening in the trial so that Oliver could avoid prison, unlike Roy Harper did back in Season 3.

The judge ordered "Tommy" arrested. En route to the police van, though, Spartan and Wild Dog intercepted him. They knocked out his escort of corrupt cops and absconded with the police van. As they drove off, Chance removed his mask and introduced himself to Rene.

At the end of the episode, Chance got to flex his disguise skills a second time. In his second outing, he posed as the judge overseeing Oliver's trial. He later confirmed that the judge was in Diaz's pocket all along, which meant that he intervened at another crucial moment. As he left, he joked that he'd see them again "next year," suggesting that he won't return again this season.

Airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Arrow stars Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Emily Bett Rickards, Rick Gonzalez, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Kirk Acevado, Paul Blackthorne and Katie Cassidy. The Season 6 finale arrives May 17.