'Arrow' Season 8 Episode 3's ending unites the present and future Team Arrows for a showdown with the Deathstrokes

In the episode, Oliver finds himself transported to the bunker where he is met by his very confused team only to have his own mind blown in turn when he realizes that the future Team Arrow has also been brought to the present

'Arrow' season eight's episode three had one of the most confusing endings in the series and it has left us with a lot of questions.

After some very emotional moments in both the main timeline and the future world of Star City 2040, Oliver Queen / Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) finds himself transported to the bunker.

Here he is met by his very confused team only to have his own mind blown in turn when he realizes that the future Team Arrow has also been brought to the present.

First a bit of backstory. In the episode, Oliver embarked on a quest to Nanda Parbat, trying to find answers about Mar Novu / The Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) and his true intentions.

After a very emotionally charged adventure with his sister Thea Queen / Speedy (Willa Holland), Oliver departs from Nanda Parbat with new information that the Monitor may not be preventing the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', in fact, he may be the cause for it. 

Meanwhile, the 2040 Team Arrow infiltrates the Deathstroke Gang's HQ only to be beaten (again). This time though, they take a major hit with Zoe Ramirez (Andrea Sixtos) being murdered by John "JJ" Diggle Jr (Charlie Barnett).

We did suspect that Zoe's death might happen at some point this season but that doesn't make it any less of a heartbreaking scene and her sacrifice causes Connor Hawke (Joseph David-Jones) to furiously attack his brother JJ.

Andrea Sixtos and Katherine McNamara in 'Arrow' (IMDb)

Just when Connor is about to kill JJ, he is teleported away along with Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara) and William Clayton (Ben Lewis) in a brilliant flash of white light.

In the present day, Oliver is also enveloped by white light and finds himself at the bunker, which brings us to the scene we mentioned earlier. 

Right now, we have no idea who or what brought these two teams together, though it stands to reason that this might be another one of the Monitor's lessons.

In a way, seeing his children all grown up might help Oliver find the resolve to face his impending death, especially since he tells Thea earlier in the episode that the only way he can die in peace is if he knows that his loved ones will be safe once he is gone.

The synopsis for the next episode teases a confrontation with Deathstrokes across time, with a new Deathstroke rising in the present while the future team deals with JJ in the future.

Here's the full synopsis for Episode 4 'Present Tense': "When a mysterious new Deathstroke appears in Star City, Oliver and Team Arrow insist on taking down this villain themselves. Reeling from the loss of one of its own, the future Team Arrow figures out a new way to stop JJ."

'Arrow' Season 8 Episode 4 'Present Tense' will air on The CW on November 5.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

‘Line of Fire,’ starring Peter Krause, airs every Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
2026-10-20T05:52:23.000Z
Five guest stars are set to join the HBO college comedy starring Steve Carell
2026-10-20T05:12:23.000Z
Thomas Vinterberg will direct the upcoming thriller, while the project comes from Joe Murtagh.
2026-10-20T05:12:05.000Z
Tom Holland is set to feature in a thriller he will produce alongside Sony Pictures
2026-10-20T03:33:38.000Z
The HBO period drama returns with new faces, including Jim Gaffigan as President Grover Cleveland
2026-10-20T03:11:24.000Z
Isla Gordon faces a new business rival as Kate Hudson takes on another role behind the camera.
2026-10-19T20:02:26.000Z
Gregory’s classroom needs help as ‘Abbott Elementary’ prepares to welcome two familiar TV faces.
2026-10-19T16:32:28.000Z
Jackson Lamb’s next mission takes shape as ‘Slow Horses’ expands its cast ahead of Season 6’s finale.
2026-10-19T14:50:03.000Z
Trina Vega’s story is far from over as Daniella Monet looks ahead to more ‘Hollywood Arts’ episodes.
2026-10-19T13:37:18.000Z
Season 2 of ‘Marshals’, starring Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, airs every Monday on CBS
2026-10-19T10:49:26.000Z