It starts strongly - alternating Oliver's enshacklement with his father's final instruction to "Survive!" - and keeps the jeopardy level high, refusing to let the tension disperse.
This episode is a giddy, triumphant embrace of the show's comic book roots, and it proves decisively that Arrow doesn't need superpowers to create a heightened, more epic reality.
From terrific action sequences to some incredibly poignant moments, the episode wrapped up this season's most pivotal storylines and set the stage for a stellar season 2 in a way that was both cinematic and substantial.
The episode is so fast-paced, so laser-focused on its goals, that the characters - never mind the viewers - never have a chance to catch their breaths.
Not all of our questions from the season bore answers, including any real setup for 'Arrow's second season, but tonight's conclusion "Sacrifice" more than delivered on the series' exceptional potential, past and present alike.
