We’ve had a few weeks to sit on ‘Arrow’’s midseason finale cliffhanger “The Climb,” and while we won’t know the full outcome of Oliver’s duel with Ra’s al Ghul until the latter half of January 2015, Starling City won’t be slacking in the meantime. Get a look at ‘Arrow’'s 2015 return, with the first full synopsis for “Left Behind!”

You’re warned of minor spoilers for ‘Arrow’ season 3, as well as its 2015 return, but for anyone who thought Laurel might have rushed her attempts at vigilantism, Oliver’s apparent injuries will force her to don the black mask and lipstick even sooner than expected. The CW has released the first synopsis of January 21 return “Left Behind,” in which Malcolm Merlyn has some bad news for the team, Thea seemingly starts to clue in on her brother’s secrets, and ol’ Ray Palmer gets back to work on that A.T.O.M. suit:

“Left Behind”

THE TEAM DEALS WITH OLIVER’S DISAPPEARANCE — In the aftermath of Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) fight with Ra’s al Ghul (Matt Nable), Diggle (David Ramsey) and Arsenal (Colton Haynes) continue to protect the city in the Arrow’s absence. However, after three days without hearing from Oliver, they begin to fear the worst may have happened to their friend. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) refuses to believe that Oliver could be dead until Merlyn (John Barrowman) pays the team a surprise visit. Thea (Willa Holland) suspects there is something more behind Oliver’s disappearance and asks Merlyn for a favor. Meanwhile, Ray (Brandon Routh) tests a part of his new suit and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) takes up the mantle of the Black Canary.

We’re hard-pressed to imagine that ‘Arrow’ will keep Oliver Queen out of the game for long, but it seems as if Starling City will need all the help it can get, training or no. What do you think? Will Laurel successfully take up her sister’s mantle, or wind up with even more bruises? What might Malcolm Merlyn have to say on Oliver’s fate? Check out our first teaser of ‘Arrow’'s January 21 return “Left Behind” below, and give us your predictions in the comments!

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