Arrow season 3 midseason finale review: Sara Lance's killer revealed; is Oliver Queen dead?

Though the midseason finale episode of Arrow season 3 answered a lot of questions, it left fans on a cliff-hanger.

Season 3 started with a mystery over Sara's killer, who was identified in fall finale episode. Also, the much anticipated fight between the Green Bow and Ra's Al Ghul's ends, with one of them falling off the cliff.

Major spoiler ahead

Thea Queen, Oliver's sister killed Sara Lance

Felicity finds that 12 out of the 13 DNA markers on the arrow Caitlin (from The Flash) tested, point towards Oliver's involvement in Sara's murder. But Oliver is convinced that it was Malcolm Merlyn's plan all along, which turned out to be true.

Thea was drugged by Malcolm Merlyn, and she fired arrows into Sara, even though she wasn't consciously aware of what she was doing.

Arrow confronts Thea, who put on a fight, and then escaped while warning the vigilante to stay away from "me and my father".

Once Malcolm gets wind of this confrontation, he visits Oliver with a video of Thea in an archer's costume, murdering Sara on the rooftop.

Malcolm also tells him of a Votura plant/drug that can compel people to execute one's wish, with no recollection thereafter. Thus, Ra's al Ghul is after Sara's murderer, Thea.

Malcolm suggests that Oliver take the blame for Sara's murder and face a "trial by combat", against the Demon's head himself. In simple words: Kill Ra's and all blood debts are forgotten.

Before leaving for the big fight, Felicity asks Oliver to kill the League of Assassins leader. She says that she doesn't think he is not capable, but fears that he won't, because of his humanity.

Oliver replies saying, he knows exactly two things about himself: "He will do whatever it takes to save his sister." When Felicity asks, what's the other thing? Oliver says, "I love you".

Arrow vs Ra's al Ghul

The fight between Oliver and Ra's Al Ghul begins at the top of a cliff, which was seemingly similar to a Batman Begins sequence.

The Assassins leader had the upper hand throughout the fight, with Oliver trying to strike back a few times.

Al Ghul says, "You are the farthest anyone has stood against me. After whispering some mystical grace, Ra's delivers a final strike running his sword through Oliver's rib cage, and pushes the Green Arrow over the cliff.

In the last scene Oliver is seen falling off the cliff, and the episode ends.

Is Oliver Queen dead?

Comicbook website speculates that Oliver may survive the deadly blow because of Lazarus Pit.

According to the website "Lazarus Pits are a naturally-occurring phenomenon in the DC Universe; think of it as a natural spring with restorative powers... very restorative. They can help cure and heal those at death's door, or keep a healthy person young seemingly indefinitely."

"I think there's a way to do it," executive producer Marc Guggenheim told the website about the Lazarus Pit.

"That's not necessarily to say that we will do it but yes, I think there's a way to do it that's in keeping with the show, but that's a far cry from me saying 'Yes, we're going to do it'," Guggenheim concluded.

A new promo released shows Arrow's body, down the cliff, and voice over says, "Oliver Queen is dead".

Arrow season 3 returns on Wednesday, 21January on The CW.