‘Arrow’: The Top 5 Worst Things Malcolm Merlyn Has Done

Ever since their initial falling out at the end of Season 1, the Green Arrow and the Dark Archer have been reluctant allies. After all, Malcolm is the father (and ninja trainer) of Oliver’s beloved sister Thea. They have learned to put their differences aside in her best interests. But lately, Malcolm’s been breaking bad in very uncool ways. With recent episodes proving Malcolm’s glove is off, and in honor of ‘Arrow’ recent Season 5 pick-up, it’s time to countdown the top five worst things Malcolm Merlyn has ever done.

#5 – Training Thea

There is perhaps no one in the entire series who has meant more to Oliver Queen than Thea. She’s his little sister. Assuming he’s roughly ten years or so older than her puts him in sort of a parental position, making him especially protective of her. After struggles with drugs and alcohol, Thea was finally on the righteous path when she told the reins of Verdant. That’s when Malcolm Merlyn comes in, reveals he’s her father, and teaches her to become formidable martial artist, and, subsequentially, a vigilante.

While some people make the argument that Thea was headed down a dangerous road and that Malcolm’s training taught her discipline, she was actually doing pretty well. One could argue that her mother’s death could’ve triggered a renewed dependency on drugs like Vertigo (oh God, please don’t bring either Count Vertigo back), Thea’s character arc had grown past that immature behavior. Thanks to Malcolm Merlyn, the Green Arrow has to worry about his baby sister getting magic-choked by Damien Darhk or gut-punched by a Mirakuru thug every night. And if it wasn’t for her training, she never would have nearly died, and she never would have turned into a weird Lazarus Pit vampire. Thanks, Malcolm!

#4 – Loving Thea

But even worse than the training is Malcolm’s sudden and immense care for Thea once he reveals he’s her father. Now that his son Tommy is dead, he has focused all of his attention on Thea, and will kill, maim, or torture anyone that lays a finger on her. While Oliver may care a whole lot for Thea, he at least demonstrates some restraint; Malcolm Merlyn is an unhinged mass murderer who once led the League of Assassins. So, yes, one of the the worst things Malcolm Merlyn has done is love Thea.

#3 – Refusing To Give Up The League Of Assassins

But here’s the worst part: when Thea needed him most, Malcolm wouldn’t have it. Oliver orchestrated a deal for Nyssa al Ghul and her followers to give the Lotus, a healing potion, to Thea Queen in exchange for Malcolm’s role as the leader of the League of Assassins. Anyone who cared one ounce for Thea would have taken the deal, but Malcolm isn’t anyone. He loves Thea (probably) as much as Oliver does, but he loves power more. Luckily, Oliver spared his life in a duel, but we learned Malcolm isn’t such an okay guy after all.

#2 – Carrying Out The Undertaking

I alluded to this earlier, but something Team Arrow somehow seems to forget is that their reluctant ally once killed a bunch of people in the economically disadvantaged part of Star City known as the Glades. It was a terrorist attack orchestrated by the city’s evil elite, including Malcolm, to start the city, or at least part of it, anew. Did it work? Only partially. In fact, it was Oliver’s first major victory. But, alas, Malcolm Merlyn still used earthquake machines to kill poor people. And yet, it gets worse.

#1 – Telling Damien Darhk About Oliver’s Son

One thing that separates villains from monsters is their ability to separate adults from children in their crimes. Malcolm may have killed a whole lot of people in the Undertaking, but he didn’t specifically target children. But in the most recent episode of ‘Arrow’, he was the reason for the kidnapping of Oliver’s son’s kidnapping by Damien Darhk. Darhk’s a psychopath, but things aren’t personal for him, unless it’s spelled out. Malcolm gladly spelled it out for him when he told him that Oliver has a young son in another city, and he seized the opportunity immediately. Luckily, Team Arrow got the boy back, but the gloves are off. The Green Arrow isn’t messing around with Malcolm Merlyn anymore.

Though he started off a little fishy and turned out to be a pretty bad guy, Malcolm has been on a fairly redemptive journey ever since. He helped Oliver for the sake of Thea, even if his ninja training has become a huge endangerment to her. But after informing Damien Darhk, an arguably soulless mystic, about Oliver’s son, there is no trusting this man. After his recent unforgivable acts, ‘Arrow’ is setting up Malcolm Merlyn to not only be the Big Bad of the next season, but of the entire series.

‘Arrow’ and Malcolm Merlyn returns on Wednesday, March 23rd at 8/7 central on the CW.

Alex Ward

Alex Ward

Alex Ward is a writer and high school teacher from Cleveland, but to write for Heroic Hollywood, he must become… something else. Twitter: @tiboonda