'Arrow' Recap: 'Human Target,' Season 5 Episode 5

Last week, CW's "Arrow" had to leave one of their own in the hands of the enemy.

In order to save him, Team Arrow is going to need a little bit of outside help in "Human Target," the fifth episode of the fifth season.

Rene has been captured by Tobias Church and is undergoing heavy torture. Oliver asks his old friend Christopher Chance, the Human Target, for help. Felicity's not too happy when her secret boyfriend, Detective Malone, joins the ACU.

Church has been "conversing" with Rene for at least 20 hours. He'd run out of patience and is going to be moving on to new torture tactics. Team Arrow is aggressively searching for Church's location by shaking up his goons. Felicity still can't find Diggle meets the new recruits. He's been working with Lyla to try to find Rene.

In the flashback, Oliver is brought before the heads of Bratva to be welcomed into their folds. Evelyn and Rory have found where Rene was being held but he's already been moved.

Church has brought him out into the woods to dig his own grave. While digging, Rene asks him why he chose Starling City. Oliver shows up and saves Rene but Church already knows the Green Arrows identity.

Oliver can't leave the city to lay low from Church. He puts Evelyn, Rory, and Curtis on security detail to others and Diggle to debrief Rene. Which leaves Oliver wide open. Back at being the mayor, Oliver is trying to talk to councilmen into agreeing to a rezoning deal but past family mistakes are coming up against him.

After some afternoon delight, Felicity learns that Malone has been promoted to Oliver's anti-crime unit. Diggle tries to talk to Rene but he says he doesn't remember anything.

Church is confronted by the Prometheus for not leaving the Green Arrow alone. They try to kill Church but he's hired muscle that is able to take the Prometheus on.

Thea is not thrilled that Oliver has agreed to an off camera interview with Susan Williams. The interview is more like an agreement, a month without her attacking him so he can prove that he can help the city. Victor doesn't believe that Oliver is a true brother of Bratva. Rene asks Diggle to talk about the time he was tortured. The story gains him enough trust that Rene tells the reason why he was dishonorably discharged.

He also agrees to talk about his recent torture. Thea and Oliver visit the councilman again to blackmail him into changing his vote. As they're walking out the assassin attacks and shoots Oliver. In the chest. Multiple times.

Lance makes the announcement that Oliver has been pronounced dead. But it wasn't Oliver. The Human Target took his place in order to trick Church into believing the Green Arrow was out of the way.

In Russia, Oliver leaves the party to rescue a girl in the alley. Human Target gives Oliver some dating advice, including breaking the information about Felicity's new beau.

Diggle guides Rene through his torture memories until he remembers a vital piece of information. The team suits up, including Spartan and Wild Dog.

The team ambushes Church at the airstrip. Artemis and Mr. Terrific take on Church's muscle for hire, Rene fights the man himself until a bazooka blasts separates them.

Human Target takes the muscle for hire out when he gets the better of the two. The Green Arrow blocks off his escape route and is able to beat him.

Before he's knocked out, Church warns Oliver about Prometheus. Oliver makes a statement to the press to announce he's not dead.

Out in the Russian alleyway, Oliver is ambushed by men who were hired by Viktor. However, Anatoly has hired the Human Target to keep him safe. An informant shows Susan a picture of Oliver from his time in the Bratva.

While moving Church to prison, Prometheus strikes. Church tries to batter the Green Arrow's identity for his life. Prometheus takes the name but doesn't spare his life.

"Human Target" is another thrilling episode of "Arrow." It's always a good reminder that Oliver isn't immortal despite all the near death occurrences.

Watch the team recover from the most recent blow next Wednesday at 8pm and re-watch this episode here.

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