Ep 2. The Candidate

Oliver Queen and his team start to search for a new mayoral candidate for the city of Star City, following the tragic death of the last one. They find the ideal candidate in the young and charismatic blonde woman, Jessica Danforth. However, some unsavory characters do not approve of her candidacy and start to intimidate her into withdrawing her bid for office.

One of the most dangerous villains is Damien Darhk, the leader of a group called H.I.V.E. He owns a club and uses this platform to send a clear message to Jessica. Oliver, Felicity, and Diggle realize that it is time to step in to protect Jessica and ensure that the democratic process will not be hampered by corrupt actions.

While Jessica is busy preparing for an upcoming speech, her daughter, Madison, falls prey to the malicious group of villains. They kidnap her and demand that Jessica withdraws her name from the race for mayor. This prompts Oliver to lead a rescue mission to save Madison and ensure that the villains do not succeed in their evil plans.

Oliver and his team manage to retrieve Madison safely, but the incident leaves a lasting impact on Jessica. She suffers from PTSD and is not ready to take up the mantle of mayoral candidacy. With Jessica out of the race, Oliver's team has to find a new candidate that can keep the city safe and maintain social justice.

At the same time, Thea is struggling with the bloodlust that she received from her resurrection. She needs to find a way to channel her rage and control it before it controls her completely. She seeks the help of a doctor who has managed to cure several bloodlust-infected individuals in the past.

Oliver tries to help Thea, but he has more than just her bloodlust to deal with. He also discovers that the leader of H.I.V.E. Is in town and is planning to execute a big mission. Oliver and his team have to stop the villain before innocent lives are lost.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger, as Oliver receives a chilling message from the leader of H.I.V.E. The villain warns that Star City is in for some big trouble and that there will be dire consequences if Oliver and his team don't back down. The episode sets the stage for an action-packed season, full of twists, turns, and unexpected events.