Arrow (2012 — 2020)

Arrow (2012–2020) is a popular American superhero TV show, developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg, based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. This costumed crime-fighter was originally created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp. The series is the first of its kind in the Arrowverse, and shares continuity with other related television shows. It offers audiences a fresh perspective on the Green Arrow character, as well as other familiar faces from the DC Comics world. While Oliver Queen / Green Arrow was previously featured in the TV show Smallville (2006-2011) on The CW, the producers decided to start fresh and cast a new actor for the role. Critics have responded positively to Arrow, resulting in multiple awards and nominations. A spin-off series titled The Flash premiered in October 2014, which then led to other spin-offs and media within this shared universe.

In the first season, Oliver reunites with his loved ones in Starling City after a long absence. Adopting the persona of ‘The Hood’, he spends his nights hunting down individuals from his late father’s list with help from John Diggle and Felicity Smoak. However, Malcolm Merlyn’s plot, known as ‘The Undertaking’, puts the city in danger. The season also delves into flashbacks of Oliver’s time on the island, where he forges alliances and enemies such as Slade Wilson. In the second season, Oliver takes on a new moniker, ‘The Arrow’, after Tommy Merlyn’s death leads him to swear off killing. As Slade threatens the city, Oliver struggles to juggle his vigilantism and duties as CEO of Queen Consolidated. The return of Sara Lance as ‘The Canary’ and the introduction of A.R.G.U.S and Amanda Waller complicate matters further. Meanwhile, flashback sequences reveal another threat on Lian Yu and shed light on Oliver’s feud with Slade.

Season three follows a series of unfortunate events for Oliver, including Sara’s murder and the loss of his family’s company to Ray Palmer. Feeling that he cannot lead a normal life while being The Arrow, he gets caught up in a conflict with Ra’s al Ghul in order to protect his sister Thea. Meanwhile, Felicity takes on the role of vice-president at Palmer Technologies (now renamed) and Laurel decides to follow in Sara’s footsteps as Black Canary. In season four, Oliver and Felicity have relocated to Ivy Town but return to Star City (formerly known as Starling City) to combat terrorist group H.I.V.E., led by Damien Darhk. During this time, Oliver also takes on the moniker ‘Green Arrow’ and runs for mayor. However, things take a turn when he discovers he has a son named William and decides to keep it a secret from Felicity, leading to their breakup. Tragically, Laurel is killed by Darhk who has plans to set off nuclear weapons. The season’s flashbacks show Oliver escaping Lian Yu only to be recruited by Waller for a mission in Hong Kong where he must stop the release of a deadly pathogen.

During season 5, Oliver and Felicity enlist a fresh team of vigilantes to assist their mission, including former detective Dinah Drake, now taking on the mantle of Black Canary. As he tackles his break-up with Felicity and the challenges of being both mayor and superhero, Oliver must also confront the threat of serial killer Prometheus. Additionally, this season introduces an alternate version of Laurel Lance, known as Black Siren from Earth-2, who was first seen in The Flash’s second season. In the flashbacks for this season, Oliver journeys to Russia where he learns from Talia al Ghul as he becomes a member of the Bratva before eventually returning to Lian Yu. During the sixth season, Oliver faces the challenge of juggling his vigilante duties with his responsibilities as mayor and father to William after the death of his son’s mother. Alongside this, he reunites with his former flame Felicity, with their romantic journey culminating in marriage during the Arrowverse crossover event. However, a new danger presents itself in the form of a malicious hacker named Cayden James and his criminal organization. After James is killed by Ricardo Diaz, tensions rise within team Arrow, ultimately resulting in their disbandment. As a last resort, Oliver turns to the FBI for assistance and strikes a deal that results in him being imprisoned and publicly revealed as Green Arrow.

In season seven, Felicity seeks new allies to help catch Diaz and release Oliver from prison. After his defeat of Diaz and release from prison, Oliver and his team are deputized by the SCPD. His half-sister, Emiko Queen, takes up the mantle of Green Arrow; although it is later revealed she is actually the leader of terrorist organization the Ninth Circle. The season also includes flash-forwards twenty years into the future, where we see William as an adult receiving a mysterious message. Along with Oliver’s former allies, he works to protect the city from a cyber attack alongside his sister Mia, who is revealed to be Felicity and Oliver’s daughter. In the eighth and final season, the Monitor recruits Oliver to join him in preventing a looming Crisis. In a strange turn of events, William, Connor Hawke, and Mia mysteriously time travel from 2040 to present-day Star City. During the Crisis, Oliver makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes the Spectre in order to defeat the Anti-Monitor. After their final battle, a new universe is created at the cost of Oliver’s life.