‘Arrow’ season 2, episode 5 video: Is Malcolm Merlyn back?

Given the oh-so ominous fact that we never saw a body when Malcolm Merlyn “died” at the end of “Arrow” season 1, the question in the title is one that has floated in the mind of many fans. The news already came out earlier this fall that John Barrowman was going to return in some shape or form later this season as the famed villain, but it was not clear whether it would be in flashbacks or scenes in the present day.

For at least a few seconds, the sneak peek below from Wednesday night’s “League of Assassins” may actually do a pretty good job at convincing you that Merlyn is alive. Someone with a pretty good grasp on fighting skills comes into what appears to be Oliver Queen’s home, dressed in a very similar outfit to that of the Dark Archer.

The scene that erupts from here is a violent one, with Oliver and Sarah Lance (who are both dressed in their street clothes, and not as their alter egos) being both forced to defend themselves. They do so, and soon after that it is revealed that this man is not Malcolm Merlyn at all. And as soon as they try to question him just to figure out what is really going on here, the man disappears. How convenient, right?

If you are an “Arrow” fan, this episode is going to be a must-watch in that it provides you with a little bit more backstory into where the Canary came from following Oliver seemingly watching her wash away into the ocean. You know that she has to have quite the story to tell, and this will be a great opportunity for us to hear it.

Do you think that Malcolm is still alive, and that this arrival is in some way tied to him coming back to “Arrow”? Share some of your thoughts on the subject below, and click here if you want to read more on the Black Canary discussion that we had last week surrounding the gravitas of the reveal.

Photo: The CW, video via ET Online