- "There are a thousand lawyers in Starling City. Why me?"
"We're both trying to help." - "What makes you so sure I'm gonna help you?"
"Because I know you'd do anything to save the life of an innocent man." - —Laurel Lance and The Hood on Peter Declan's case
"An Innocent Man" is the fourth episode of the first season of Arrow, and the fourth episode overall. It aired on October 31, 2012.
Synopsis
| Oliver still hasn't figured out how to get back in Laurel's good graces, but a late night bonding session with Thea gives him the inspiration he needs. Looking into a suspicious murder case, Oliver realizes an innocent man, Peter Declan, was framed by one of the targets on his list. As the Hood, he asks Laurel to help prove Peter's innocence. Meanwhile, Walter asks one of his employees, Felicity Smoak, to look into a $2.6 million withdrawal that Moira made without his knowledge.[src] |
Cast
Main cast
- Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/The Hood
- Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance
- Colin Donnell (credit only)
- David Ramsey as John Diggle
- Willa Holland as Thea Queen
- Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen
- Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance
Guest starring
- Colin Salmon as Walter Steele
- Byron Mann as Yao Fei Gulong
- Roger Cross as Detective Lucas Hilton
- Annie Ilonzeh as Joanna de la Vega
- TJ Ramini as Jason Brodeur
- Lane Edwards as Peter Declan
- Kirby Morrow as Matt Istook
- William C. Vaughan as Rob Scott
- John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn
Co-starring
- Genea Charpentier as Izzy Declan
- Glenn Ennis as Ankov
- Lesley Ewen as Judge Moss
- Evan Frayne as Jared Swanstrom
- Joshua Garcia as Young Guard
- Christie Laing as Carly Diggle
- Mi-Jung Lee as TV News Reporter
- Emily Rickards as Felicity Smoak
- Lee Vincent as CSU Tech
Plot
John awakens in Oliver's hideout, where Oliver offers John a chance to fight at his side and help Starling City. John turns him down, labeling him a murderer. Later, while watching the news, Oliver discovers a connection between Peter Declan, a death row inmate, and Jason Brodeur, one of the men on The List. In his Hood persona, he enlists the help of Laurel to prove Peter innocent before he is executed. Working together, the pair uncover the truth, but Jason has his bodyguard stage a prison break so that he can have Laurel and Peter killed before the truth is revealed. Oliver sneaks into the Iron Heights Prison dressed as a guard, with a ski mask to hide his face, and saves Laurel and Peter. Peter's supervisor Matt Istook ultimately confesses to Peter's innocence. John meets with Oliver and agrees to work with him so that he can both protect the city and keep Oliver from losing his humanity. However, Detective Lance arrests Oliver on suspicion of being The Hood, after seeing footage of him recovering his disguise from a garbage bin before the recent Deadshot confrontation. Meanwhile, Walter discovers that Moira has been keeping the salvaged and sabotaged family yacht hidden in a warehouse. Malcolm also calls a meeting with Moira, having discovered The Hood was not targeting the rich, but The List.
Production
Preparation ran from July 31 until August 9, 2012. Shooting ran from August 10 until August 21, 2012.[1]
Trivia
- This episode marks the first time that a main cast member was not present for the episode. The cast member not present was Colin Donnell (Tommy Merlyn). This leaves only six cast members to appear in every episode: Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen), Susanna Thompson (Moira Queen), Willa Holland (Thea Queen), Katie Cassidy (Laurel Lance), Paul Blackthorne (Quentin Lance), and David Ramsey (John Diggle).
- Peter Declan's story in this episode is similar to Henry Allen's, in which they both lost their respective wives, were framed for the homicide, and separated from their children in prison until their names were cleared by the hero.
- Rob Scott mentions to Oliver that he has 5 years of S.W.A.T. experience in the MCU of Monument Point. In the DC Comics universe, Monument Point is a city founded in 1803 near Washington, D.C..
- Oliver mentioned Blüdhaven, referencing a city in the comics which temporarily served as the home and base of operations for Nightwing.
Goofs
- When the train to Blüdhaven approaches the handcuffed Matt Istook, the signal light on the track turns green in the direction of the oncoming train. This is an error as the signal should be red in indicating the track is not clear in that direction.
- In the episode, Jason Brodeur's attorney introduced himself as Jared Swanstrom. However, he was credited as "Victor Swanstrom".
- Whilst interrogating Brodeur, Oliver shoots an arrow into his left hand. Later though as Brodeur is being arrested, his right hand is shown to be bandaged from the wound.
Behind the scenes
- The episode was originally titled "Salvage".[1]
References
| Arrow season 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Pilot" • "Honor Thy Father" • "Lone Gunmen" • "An Innocent Man" • "Damaged" • "Legacies" • "Muse of Fire" • "Vendetta" • "Year's End" • "Burned" • "Trust but Verify" • "Vertigo" • "Betrayal" • "The Odyssey" • "Dodger" • "Dead to Rights" • "The Huntress Returns" • "Salvation" • "Unfinished Business" • "Home Invasion" • "The Undertaking" • "Darkness on the Edge of Town" • "Sacrifice" | ||||