Cast Members Stephen Amell, Right, And Katie Cassidy Attend A Panel For 'Arrow.'
Cast members Stephen Amell (R) and Katie Cassidy attend a panel for "Arrow" during the CW television portion of the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills, California July 30, 2012. Reuters

"Arrow" Season 3 premiered Oct. 8 on The CW, with an episode called "The Calm." Viewers get to see what happened to Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) in Hong Kong through scattered flashbacks. This article recaps the highlights of the new season opener. Watch the promo video for the next episode to see if you're intrigued enough to look forward to Arrow 3x2.

Spoiler alert: This feature contains Arrow Season 3 spoilers for those who have not watched 3x1. Read at your own risk.

Here are the highlights of Arrow Season 3, Episode 1 ("The Calm"):

- Some very nice stunts from Oliver Queen opens the episode. The Arsenal, aka Roy Harper aka Red Arrow (Colton Haynes) shows up, looking awesome in his new costume. The Arrow calls him his "partner."

- Dig (David Ramsey) is now a dad to a baby girl. Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson), known as Harbinger at A.R.G.U.S. gives birth toward the end of the episode.

- Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) is in a much better place - for now. Everyone is almost unbelievably cheery, in fact. Perhaps this is why Arrow Season 3, Episode 1 is called "The Calm."

- Newly promoted Captain Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne) shuts down the hit on The Arrow. He's far from being in perfect shape, though.

- Peter Stormare ("Prison Break") is the New Count Vertigo, Werner Zytle. The Canary, Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), surprises Oliver when she shows up to help out.

- Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) meets Felicity Smoak, and they are in the same wavelength, in a "Talk Nerdy To Me" kind of way.

- Ollie tells Felicity Hong Kong is just one of the places where Oliver spent his five years before coming back to Starling City. And then the new Count Vertigo strikes and ruins the date.

- The Oliver vs Oliver sequence must be one of the best stunts seen on the show (and there are many), and the poetry in the idea that Oliver fears himself couldn't be missed.

- Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) makes a cameo appearance. (Arrow Season 3 will see more of him.)

- A mysterious character (fans are guessing John Barrowman's Malcolm Merlyn or Ra's al Ghul) shot arrows at Sara, and Laurel sees her body drop to the ground. Is Sara Lance really dead? Fans will know soon enough.

- Also in Arrow Season 3, Episode 1 are: Maseo Yamashiro (Karl Yune), his wife Tatsu Yamashiro [Katana in DC Comics] (Rila Fukushima), and Amanda Waller [Mockingbird in DC Comics] (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). Thea Queen or Thea Merlyn (Willa Holland) is "keeping in touch," but she is not the episode.

The next new episode of Arrow Season 3 airs Oct. 15 on The CW. From the title, "Sara," viewers could tell what it's going to be about.

WATCH: Arrow Season 3, Episode 2 Promo Video ('Sara') | The CW on YouTube

Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) is shot with an arrow and fell off a rooftop in this promo clip. Catch an image of a deeply distraught Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy).

Arrow Season 3 airs Wednesdays on The CW.

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