After a very long six-week hiatus, ARROW returns tonight on The CW. I know I am not the only one who is on the edge of my seat, dying to know what happened to Felicity and what the consequences of that tragic ending on the winter finale are going to be. However, we did have six weeks to get over the shock of our dear IT queen getting shot and talk about it endlessly, so I imagine you ARROW fans had more than enough time to come up with a million different theories, right?
Well, so did we. Just like we did for FLASH, a few colleagues and fellow fans of the Green Arrow have sat down to discuss the main plot points of season 4 so far – and let’s be honest, there is a lot to discuss. So sit back, relax and take a look at what we came up with.
DAMIEN DAHRK
LUCIANA MANGAS: I know he is controversial and he is ruthless, but Damien Dahrk is probably my favorite villain to date. Mostly due to Neal McDonough’s incredible performance, this version of the iconic super bad is basically evil reincarnated, but he is also charming and so funny. McDonough plays this amazingly scary character with such lightness and grace that – even though I hate his guts and want him to die a painful death when the time for that finally comes, especially after what he did to Felicity – I can’t help but sit up straighter and pay attention and be completely delighted to see the magic he brings to my screen every week. I have no idea where they are going with this character, now that Oliver is hell bent on getting justice for Felicity, but I can’t wait to see what happens next and what his master plan actually is.
MELISSA SMITH: I first remember Dahrk (and H.I.V.E) from TEEN TITANS. He was a 20-years-old and looked like a teenager. He was never a big character, so the fact that Dahrk is so different on ARROW does not bother me in its departure from the graphic novel canon. Neil McDonough is such a good actor that he makes the character his own, leaving the Titans version in the dust.That being said, introducing a “magical” character into the ARROW-verse is a tough issue to resolve. Unlike many of his contemporaries like Superman and The Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow has no superpowers. He’s just a guy who can fight and design arrows that do cool things. In fact, none of TEAM ARROW (that we know of) has superpowers. Having them fight a magical immortal gives them an almost-impossible challenge. At least R’as al Ghul fought hand-to-hand. That, you can defeat (theoretically).It will be interesting to see how they end up defeating Dahrk. I have a theory as to how I’d like to see that happen. Read below under “Expectations.”
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Let me preface this by saying I think Neal McDonough was the perfect choice to play this Big Bad. He’s a great choice to play any villain, really: Loved him as slimy Sean Cahill on SUITS, loved him when he showed up as one of the many people after Scully’s Platonic Alieum Miracle Baby on THE X-FILES… But I’ve been offended by this character beyond just the normal “love to hate” super-evil reaction, thanks to some decisions by the creative team at ARROW that I just can’t support. At this point, regardless of how great McDonough is, I just want to forget Damien Darhk.
I feel like I could write an epistle on this one, but in an effort to keep this roundtable from turning into my own personal soapbox, I’ll just say this: There was no need to go there with the gas chambers in ARROW’s winter finale. Making matters worse, they had Felicity, a Jewish character, in that chamber — and after making a big deal about it being Chanukah (yes, in the real world, it was Chanukah then, too) earlier in the episode. There was also no need for the gray prison uniform that was far too close to what actual nazi gas chamber victims would have worn. Respecting the memory of those killed during Holocaust is very important to me — not just as a Jew but as someone who has studied that dark period in history extensively, even taking it as my personal responsibility to retell on one of the survivors’ stories — so, as a general rule, I like it kept out of fiction. There are very rare cases where I can accept its use as a storytelling device, but this wasn’t one of them.
If the only way to take your villain in a 100% fictional world up a notch is to have him worship Hitler, you’re doing it wrong. Sorry, ARROW. I’m not impressed.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: Damien Dahrk is the villain we’ve been waiting for, and Neal McDonough was the absolute perfect casting choice. After last year’s villain fell fairly flat in terms of scariness (which is really kinda the number one thing you look for in a villain, wouldn’t you say?) the show really needed to come back strong in that regard. Thankfully, they delivered in spades. While not necessarily the most physically imposing villain, Dahrk’s creepiness factor more than makes up for it. The addition of the supernatural makes the stakes even higher – the viewer legitimately questions whether, and ultimately how, Oliver can beat him.
In addition to Dahrk’s villainy-nous and creepiness, there is the added ambiguity of his purpose. What does he want? What is his goal? Why does he have a super-freaky cornfield underground? What is he going to do with it? Throw in the recently-revealed family dynamic, and it leaves us with a lot of (good) questions about Damien Dahrk. The mystery surrounding him is a good one, it’s one we want answers to. I’m invested in Dahrk and this storyline in a way I haven’t really been with a villain since Slade. And maybe even more so. Malcolm Merlyn and Ra’s Al Ghul didn’t really pass muster as scary villains who actually had the potential to do harm. Slade did, and now Dahrk does. So bravo, ARROW. This season’s Big Bad is big and bad and exciting. Definitely one of the most successful storylines of the season so far.
Next page: Oliver’s son…
OLIVER’S SON
LUCIANA MANGAS: Ugh, don’t even get me started on this storyline. I just really, really dislike the whole thing. It’s not even the kid, really – I would love to see Daddy!Oliver – it’s just that the way that this plot was introduced felt like it was a cheap cop out and a contrived way to create drama just for the sake of drama. And let’s face it, Oliver is being a complete idiot about this entire situation. After all they went through last year, you’d think he would have learned from his mistakes and that keeping secrets from those he loves never ends well. And I understand that he wants a chance to get to know his son and everything and I don’t judge him for it. But would it have killed him to share this with Felicity – the woman he claims to want to spend the rest of his existence with and loves more than life itself – at the very least?
This is a storyline that we can see how it’s going to end from a mile away. We already got a preview during the crossover and, while I didn’t agree at all with Felicity’s reaction then, I can’t blame her for not wanting anything to do with Oliver when she does find out. And let’s be honest here, she will find out and I am willing to bet it will be in the worst way possible. I thought she had overreacted a little during the crossover – because hey, the guy had just found out he was a father. Give him a little time to wrap his head around the fact, right? – but now, when he will probably have had weeks, if not months to tell her? It’s going to get very ugly, very fast because he deliberately chose to keep this vital information from his family. Jesus, Oliver! When are you going to learn?
MELISSA SMITH: This is a huge departure from the comic book where Oliver’s son is the Red Arrow whose given name is Connor Hawke. Of course, Oliver Queen in the comic books is over 40, so having a grown son isn’t that strange. Connor’s mom is Oliver’s ex, Sandra Hawke, aka “Moonday.” Since Oliver Queen of ARROW appears to be in his mid-30s, having a grown-up son would be a stretch. So why introduce a son at all? My guess is the answer to the next question…
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Oliver Queen is a fool. There, I said it. He was asked to lie to the woman he loves, right when he was supposedly turning over a new leaf, and he was like, “yeah, sure. I’ll lie to Felicity.” Cool, bro. I understand Oliver’s desire to get to know his son, but if he had to lie to someone, why couldn’t it have been Whatshername? “Sure, I won’t tell anyone about my kid.” Cross your fingers behind your back, and immediately share with Felicity when you’re back home. It’s not graduate-level Probability Theory, and I’d know since I studied it in a past life.
After everything that went wrong on the last season of ARROW, much of which was caused by Oliver’s lies, one would think it might have been time for our hero to have learned his lesson. One would would have thought wrong. So much for positive character development.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: So, as I was writing my notes before drafting, I came to this heading and simply wrote “nope.” And I half (okay, 72%) intended to just leave it there. Just… nope. I do not like it. I do not want it. I don’t buy the way they are doing it. I know I’m stuck with it, and I’m trying to view it as positively as I can, but so much of this storyline rings false to the characters and relationships the show has built. While I understand why the show constructed this the way they did, and even to an extent I can understand Oliver’s lie, I still don’t think it makes very much sense, and I maintain that there were at least five different ways this could have been handled while still coming across as dramatic and meaningful to the show’s landscape this season.
On top of that… I just don’t think ARROW is a show that is set up to have a kid in it. Kid storylines really don’t work unless they are part of the main plot. How is Oliver going to be superhero and dad? This is a show that should have saved the kid storyline for the series finale. Flashforward five years and show Oliver and Felicity and their triplets living happily ever after. I’m not interested in this story at all (beyond, at this point, the explosive fallout we’re sure to see for Oliver and Felicity.) Listen. I have a kid. I love my kid. I love the relationship my kid has with his father. But I just don’t care to see Oliver Queen as a father (right now), and I definitely don’t care to see whatever tropey storyline they throw at us with regards to the Baby Mama.
Next page: Who is in the grave?
WHO IS IN THE GRAVE?
LUCIANA MANGAS: I have been changing my mind every week about this since the premiere. One thing I am absolutely sure of, though. It can’t be Felicity. Yes, I know she has been shot and may be in mortal danger, but it’s not her. Come on, guys. Felicity is the heart and soul of this show. You take her out of the picture and there is no more ARROW. It’s simple as that. Besides, can you imagine what that would do to Oliver? The guy has suffered unimaginable pain during his five years away, lost both his parents very tragically, lost his best friend in another tragedy and nearly lost his sister – and that’s just naming a few of the traumatic events of Oliver’s recent past. If they were to kill the love of his life, Oliver would be set on a destructive path with absolutely no return. So nope. They are not killing Felicity.
For now, my money is on Captain Lance. As much as I like him, the way he is mixed up with Dahrk and everything just doesn’t bode well for our dear Captain. That and the fact that I just can’t see them killing anyone else from team ARROW. Can you?
MELISSA SMITH: My guess is William, son of Oliver and his college girlfriend, Samantha Clayton. Yes, Felicity was shot in the winter finale, but there’s a hole in the DC-verse that needs to be filled, and Felicity fits that bill (more about that later). If the grave had been Felicity’s, Barry would be more distraught. They are good friends. If the grave belongs to Samantha, they will have to do a lot of relationship-building to make the viewers care and to make Oliver willing to kill someone to avenge her death. So, my guess is that William will be murdered by Dahrk, and that will send Oliver into “killer mode.”
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Ok, I have no idea. For a while there, I thought maybe it could be Malcolm Merlyn. As much as I’d hate to see John Barrowman go, it just seems like there’s not a whole lot of story left for Malcolm. Between that and the recent reference to Captain Jack on DOCTOR WHO, I feel like Malcolm’s not long for ARROW’s world…But the more I think about it, the more I figure Malcolm’s the one Oliver vows to kill, not the character who’s already been laid to rest in the mystery grave.
So, who is it? It has to be someone that Oliver cares a lot about but with whom Barry doesn’t have a close relationship. That definitely takes Felicity off the list of possibilities, and I’d argue any core Team Arrow member is safe because of that, as well. That pretty much leaves either some part of Diggle’s extended family or Captain Lance, I think? No, I really have no idea.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: Someone whose last name is Lance. But for real. At the beginning of the season I had a list going, that I can’t remember the order of right now. But it had Baby Mama, both Lances, and even the kid on it. I think Mama Smoak was somewhere at the bottom of the list. But now more than ever I’m convinced it’s one of the Lances. I’ll briefly explain why.
Laurel: Laurel has no storyline this season. The closest she’s come was a couple episodes about resurrecting her sister. Meanwhile, she’s like the Roy of last season. She’s tying up loose ends, reconciling with people (her friendship with Oliver, her relationship with her dad), and pretty much acting as support to everyone else. Regardless of one’s opinion of her, you can not argue the fact that she has basically nothing to do onscreen this season other than being another body in the room (or fight). Also – killing the Black Canary would be shocking in a way this show hasn’t managed to achieve in a while. My one hesitation at claiming with certainty that it’s her is just that: I’m not sure the show is willing to go there. I *will* say, whether it’s her or Quentin in the grave, I think Laurel Lance will no longer be on Arrow (at least not as a regular character) come next season.
Quentin: See, originally I was more sure it was Quentin than Laurel. But now… he has a storyline, he has a new love interest. I’m just not sure. It definitely still could be him – he could sacrifice himself to save his daughter (there has been an awful lot of talk about daughters this season). He could have a redemption arc to make amends for working with Damien, and the end result is his death. Plus, as I mentioned, it would serve the purpose of allowing Laurel to exit stage left without killing her. Either way, my guess right now is that one of the Lances is in that grave.
Next page: Felicity Smoak…
FELICITY SMOAK
LUCIANA MANGAS: Like I said before, Felicity is the heart and soul of ARROW. She is the glue that keeps the show together and her character brings humor and light and love to the otherwise very gloomy world of Star City. Her development throughout the four seasons of the show has been nothing short of remarkable and that is, of course, due to the writing, but mostly, due to Emily Bett Rickards’ amazing performance. The young actress basically turned this show on its head and scored the role of leading lady of ARROW solely on her talent and charisma. Also, the chemistry she has with Stephen Amell is just absolutely incredible to watch and they make sparks fly on my screen. As my friend and fellow fan Meredith once said, Rickards has chemistry even with a brick wall and she manages to bring the best out of every single cast member in a scene.
I know Felicity can be a sore subject for some fans, but there is no denying that she brought something incredible to ARROW. I admit I am half excited and half scared to death for what they have planned for her, but I know Rickards will knock it out of the park, as she always does.
MELISSA SMITH: This is where I probably differ from a lot of viewers. Having read comic books for so many years, the Felicity/Oliver relationship is a huge change. Green Arrow and Black Canary have been a couple for as long as I can remember. Yes, I adore Emily Bett Rickards, and they make a great couple, and I definitely could live with it if they rode off into the sunset together… but Green Arrow and Black Canary have been a couple for decades, and Olicity practically has wiped that relationship out of existence.I understand that the TV division can do things that change the history of the comic books. LOIS AND CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN married off Lois and Clark and DC Comics followed suit. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a huge change.
How would I resolve the difference between Felicity/Oliver vs. Laurel/Oliver? I’d pull Felicity out of that limousine as a paraplegic. There’s a hole in the DC-verse where Oracle belongs… a computer genius who happens to be in a wheelchair. Oracle was the identity of Batgirl when she was paralyzed by The Joker and solved crimes with her computer skills as a member of the Birds of Prey. She since has had an experimental surgery that restored her ability to walk.
Rickards is a pleasure to watch, and I think that she could pull off her own BIRDS OF PREY spinoff. Pair her with Huntress, Batgirl, Katana (remember Maseo’s wife…that’s Katana.) Throw in a semi-reformed Catwoman and my favorite crazy girl, Harley Quinn, and that’s a show that I’d love to see! Then, Green Arrow and Black Canary could spar happily ever after, just like they do in the comics, with the added bonus of letting Katie Cassidy be funny.
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Felicity is the heart and soul of this series. She brings a light into the darkness and maintains her own sense of super without being one of the people in the big fight scenes. There are more ways than one to be a hero; and Felicity is the embodiment of that. Bonus: She’s a giant nerd, but that’s shown in a totally loving way so that the nerdiness is actually embraced, rather than portrayed as something negative. (For a reference, see also: the SAVED BY THE BELL variety of nerd.) That’s a good message to send to the rest of us nerdy girls out in the real world.
All gushing aside, rough times are clearly ahead for Felicity. I can’t wait to see what Emily Bett Rickards does with this material, even if it means there’s going to be even more chocolate than usual being consumed in my apartment. I don’t have much in the way of speculation on what’s going to happen with Felicity, although it’s obvious from recent spoilers that it’s going to be a bumpy road. I do, however, have one hope: May her injuries and the reactions to them be handled in a way that is honest and respectful. That’s all I ask.
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: I have so many Felicity thoughts. The overarching one is – I’m excited! I’m so excited for Felicity to have this huge, deep, meaningful, juicy storyline that’s about her. So many things have been teased: her injuries from the shooting, possibly a father storyline (remember all that talk of daughters?), the fallout from the Baby Mama Drama. It is looking a lot like the back half of the season is going to feature Felicity Smoak prominently, and I can not wait. I hope that however all these pieces play out and come together, we get to see Felicity feel things. We maybe get to see her get a little bit angry, a little down, pulling away from people only to realize (with help and support from her loved ones, of course) that she can rely on others. I want to see her adjust to a possible new way of life with grace and class. I want to see her deal with who her father has become. And I want to see her have her chance to be hurt and upset and mad at Oliver for this lie he’s told her, for this huge thing he’s kept from her.
And then I want them to kiss and make up and get married.
Next (last) page: Expectations for the rest of the season…
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
LUCIANA MANGAS: Well, for now I just hope the fall out of the winter finale won’t be too hard on Felicity, but that’s just wishful thinking on my part. From what we have seen in recent promos and spoilers, our IT queen has quite a difficult journey ahead of her. I don’t even want to think what it’s going to be like when she finds out about William. That said, I am really excited to learn more about Felicity’s dad and Darhk’s evil plans. Oh, and Roy is coming back too, so I am curious as to what circumstances will bring Arsenal back to Star City and how that will affect Thea.
MELISSA SMITH: What I’d love to see is that Damien Dahrk is Felicity’s dad. Maybe that’s how to fight Dahrk. Seemingly a family man, Daddy’s little girl might be able to divert him away from Team Arrow. Of course, that tactic hasn’t worked so well for Thea…
SHANA LIEBERMAN: Pain. That’s what I expect: pain. Someone we care about is going to die, Felicity’s going to have all these new challenges to face, and the fact that Oliver’s been lying to her about his baby daddy situation is likely to come out in the worst possible way. Lucky for me, I’ve suffered through television pain at the hands of sadistic minds like Joss Whedon, Eric Kripke, and Chris Carter, so I’m good to go. I think.
I want to forget Darhk ever existed, but he’s a big enough threat that getting rid of him within just this one season will probably not be a reality if the series wants to maintain any semblance of meaningful storytelling. So, I’m going guess ARROW will end its current season with some kind of massive cliffhanger, possibly with the emergence of yet another threat, while Darhk himself is presumed dead but not actually verified as such. What I’m saying here is basically, “buckle up folks: We’re in for a bumpy ride.”
MEREDITH ZYLBERBERG: Twists. I want twists, Arrow. Shock me. Surprise me. Throw something at me I don’t see coming.
Conflict: I want to see this Baby Mama/Kid stuff come to a head. I want to see appropriate responses and reactions from all the people involved.
Relationship development: Not just for Oliver and Felicity. I want more Diggle and Felicity. I want more Diggle and Oliver. I want more Thea and Felicity. I want more Diggle and Andy. Give me all the friendships and relationships.
Oliver Queen as a badass: Oliver’s skill and prowess as a fighter has been undercut to allow for a larger “Team Arrow.” And I got it, for a while. But this is his show. He’s the guy. We have seen him single-handedly take down a dozen men. He doesn’t need three other people to go looking for one bad guy. Let me see the ferocity of Oliver Queen reemerge. I love Diggle. I like Thea. Black Canary is a fighter… sure. But this isn’t their show. Don’t downplay Green Arrow’s capability as a fighter – a superhero – for the sake of others.
ARROW returns on January 20, at 8/7c on The CW.
