While the 70s, 80s, and early 90s were all about sci-fi movies and TV shows like Star Trek and Star Wars, the 2010s are all about comic book shows and movies, and every indication shows that it may still be around for a while yet. Ever since Marvel laid the groundwork for a cinematic universe with the success of Iron Man, the world and Hollywood producers have paid attention to comic book projects. Billions of dollars in box office receipts later and it’s impossible to list movies currently playing in a theater or a network’s top 10 shows without mentioning a comic book adaptation. The CW Network joined the comic book bandwagon in 2012 with Arrow and since then has expanded its catalog with several more shows, most of them Arrow. Somehow, ifIron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Arrow launched the CW Superhero Universe.
Arrow was designed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. The trio sought to make a show based on Green Arrow, a DC Comics character who, unlike most comic book superheroes, is not a super-powered hero but an incredibly skilled archer and fighter. The Green Arrow first made its screen debut in Smallville, a show about the origins of DC character and comic book icon Superman. The trio wanted to create something different and show alongside him that Smallville couldn’t explore because the character wasn’t the focus of the series.
The show entered development in January 2012, and David Nutter, who had previous experience with Smallville, was brought in to direct the pilot. The show cast Stephen Amell as Green Arrow/Oliver Queen. The decision not to go with the alum Justin Hartley, who had portrayed Green Arrow in Smallville, was part of a creative decision to take the show in a different direction than Smallville and explore Green Arrow’s humanity in its universe. After a successful pilot screening, a full season was ordered by the network on October 22, 2012. Since its premiere, the show has aired for seven seasons and it is one of the longest running shows on television.
Synopsis
Arrow initially followed a typical villain-of-the-week formula with an overarching story that ends at the end of each season, but evolved over time. The overall plot of the series follows billionaire playboy, Oliver Queen, who returns to Starling City five years after his presumed death along with his father in a shipwreck. He returned to Starling City determined to right his father’s wrongs, which reignited his life as a vigilante.
The first season introduces the dynamic of Oliver’s relationship with his mother – Moira Queen, his sister – Thea Queen and his friends – Laurel Lance and Tommy Merlyn. While trying to maintain and redefine these relationships with his own public image, Oliver spends his nights as a vigilante, hunting down wealthy criminals in a notebook his father gave him. Oliver is aided by John Diggle and Felicity Smoak in his crusade and together they uncover a plot by Tommy’s father, Malcolm Merlyn, to destroy ‘The Glades’.
The show’s first five seasons are characterized by flashbacks detailing the unexplained five years of Oliver Queen’s life before we are introduced to him upon his return to Starling City.
After defeating Malcolm Merlyn and stopping his plan, the second season follows Oliver Queen’s life as a vigilante since he made the decision to stop killing criminals. He is, however, confronted by Slade Wilson, a man he spent time with on the island, Lian Yu. Slade attacks Oliver’s family and allies seeking revenge against the titular hero. The season unfolds with the story of his feud with Slade Wilson and his growth as a superhero, going up against a protege, Roy Harper.
The show’s third season sees Oliver face a new threat in the form of the iconic comic book character – Ra’s al Ghul. He is forced to sell his father’s company, Queen Consolidated, to Ray Palmer, a scientist and aspiring hero. Oliver also deals with his sister’s new discovery that Malcolm Merlyn is her biological father.
In season four, after a short period of retirement, Oliver and his team of vigilantes battle HIVE, a formidable group led by Damien Darhk. Through flashbacks, Oliver becomes familiar with the source of the magical power possessed by Damien Darhk. John Diggle learns that his brother who was presumed dead is in fact alive and Oliver discovers he has a son, William.
Oliver’s ineffectiveness working alone after Laurel’s death and Thea’s resignation is explored in season five. He recruits four young heroes who become part of the team and engage in the fight against crime in the city. He spends the season trying to balance his life as a hero and mayor of the city, facing the mysterious Prometheus. With the ground still fertile for criminals, new enemies loom for Oliver and the battle leads him to war against Ricardo Diaz, a rising criminal in the city. Oliver also faces rebellion from his team members who left the team to criticize his leadership methods.
The seventh season explores the aftermath of the war with Ricardo Diaz that led to Oliver Queen’s imprisonment. His team is responsible for protecting Star City, and Ricardo Diaz returns to exact revenge on Oliver. After the flashbacks ended in season five after recounting Oliver Queen’s five-year journey, season seven returns with flashbacks, twenty years in the future with Oliver’s son, William and Roy Harper .
Cast and characters
Arrow is a long-running show with an expanded world. As such, it has a long cast list, both as main and recurring characters. It also features many guest appearances.
Here is a list of some of the major cast members of the series:
Stephen Amell – Oliver Queen / Green Arrow
Stephen plays the billionaire playboy who becomes a vigilante. He was originally named ‘The Hood’ in the first season after returning to Starling City. For the role, Stephen underwent extensive physical training and was also trained as an archer, which is the Green Arrow’s primary weapon of choice.
Katie Cassidy – Lance Laurel / Black Mermaid / Black Canary
Throughout its run, Katie Cassidy has played several characters on the show. She first started out as Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen’s former girlfriend, who is a lawyer and ends up as a vigilante alongside Green Arrow. She takes the mantle of the Black Canaries after her sister, Sara Lance, who was also a vigilante. She is reimagined in the series as a new character, Black Siren after Laurel’s death at the hands of Damien Darhk.
David Ramsey – John Diggle / Spartan
One of the show’s main characters, John Diggle was introduced as Oliver Queen’s bodyguard and confidant after he returned to Starling City. He ends up being part of his vigilante team and takes on the Spartan persona.
Paul Blackthorne – Quentin Lance
Paul plays policeman and later police chief, Quentin Lance who has a complicated relationship with Oliver Queen and the Green Arrow. Paul’s is one of the show’s most beloved characters, but sadly the character passed away in the season six finale.
Emily Bett Rickards – Felicity Smoak / Overwatch
Perhaps the show’s most polarizing character, Felicity Smoak, who is played by Emily Bett Rickards, is a hacker who aids Oliver in his vendetta in season one before she is cast as a season regular and cast member. Oliver’s vigilance team in the second season. She is in love with Oliver Queen and eventually becomes his wife and stepmother to his son, William.
John Barrowman – Malcolm Merlyn / Dark Archer
John Barrowman plays Malcolm Merlyn, Tommy Merlyn’s father who is Oliver’s best friend and season one villain. After being a vital recurring character for several seasons on the show, he was killed offscreen in season five.
Other notable actors and characters from the series are Echo Kellum as Curtis Holt, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, Colton Haynes as Roy Harper, Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake, and Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson.
Seasons and episodes
The show has been airing since its premiere on October 10th , 2012. The first season had an average viewership of 3.68 million, but it suffered a slight dip in its second season. Around the seventh season, having lost most of its goodwill due to the show’s declining quality, it suffered its lowest average season viewership in the sixth season with 1.76 million viewers.
Each season has had 23 episodes except for the seventh season, which is expected to have only 22 episodes.
Arrow Season 8, Trailers, Release Dates
With Season 7 of the show still ongoing, there is currently no news regarding an eighth season. However, there is no indication of a cancellation and the show is expected to continue past its seventh season.
Other Facts About Arrow
The show has been nominated for over 50 awards since its premiere. However, he only managed to win 10.
Arrow served as a staging ground for other TV shows like Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash. He also rejected an animated TV show, Vixen.
The show has had several celebrity guests including Seth Gabel, Tahmoh Penikett, J. August Richards, Robert Knepper, Peter Stormare, Matt Ryan, Karl Yune, JR Ramirez, Dolph Lundgren and Jeri Ryan.
Each year there is an annual crossover with other CW Superhero shows like Supergirl, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.