Arrow

 

Arrow, an American superhero television series, unfolds the gripping tale of Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy turned vigilante armed with a bow and arrow. Developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg, it serves as the inaugural series of the Arrowverse, interconnecting with other DC-related shows. Premiering on The CW on October 10, 2012, Arrow spans eight seasons, concluding on January 28, 2020.

The narrative centers on Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who, after five years stranded on the mysterious Lian Yu island, returns to Starling City to combat crime. His quest for justice weaves through intricate relationships with characters like John Diggle, Felicity Smoak, and the Lance sisters. The series ingeniously blends present-day events with flashbacks to Oliver's transformative island experience, crafting a multi-layered storytelling approach.

Arrow's evolution introduces iconic DC characters, portraying Oliver's journey from "The Hood" to the Green Arrow. Each season confronts new challenges, from facing the deadly Undertaking to battling formidable foes like Deathstroke and Damien Darhk. The show navigates Oliver's personal struggles, including love, loss, and the weight of his alter ego.

Receiving critical acclaim, Arrow's success led to the development of the Arrowverse, expanding the DC television universe. The series boasts intricate storytelling, intense action sequences, and a stellar ensemble cast. Its impact extends beyond Star City, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of superhero television.

As the legacy of Oliver Queen resonates through each season, Arrow stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of superhero narratives, captivating audiences with its blend of darkness, redemption, and the unyielding spirit of a hero.

Cast and characters

• Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / Arrow / Green Arrow, a billionaire playboy turned hooded vigilante-hero who is initially known as the "Hood", "Vigilante", and simply "Arrow". He is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. He survives on an isolated island for five years after the sinking of his father's yacht. Oliver returns to his home city with a mission—to right the wrongs of his father and save the city from the crime that has grown in his absence. Amell was one of the first actors to audition for the role, and Kreisberg felt that he "hit the target from the outset" and "everyone else just paled in comparison". In season six's finale, Oliver confesses he's the Green Arrow and is sent to prison where he's known as "Inmate 4587". The actor, who was already in shape from Rent-a-Goalie, did physical fitness training at Tempest Freerunning Academy in Reseda, California. Amell received archery training as well, which included watching a video on how archery has been displayed inaccurately or poorly in television and film before learning the basics of shooting a bow. For Amell, the appeal of portraying Queen was that he saw multiple roles tied to the same character: "There's Queen the casual playboy; Queen the wounded hero; Queen the brooding Hamlet; Queen the lover; Queen the man of action, and so on". Amell also portrays Dark Arrow (Oliver's Earth-X doppelganger) in the sixth season's crossover "Crisis on Earth-X".
• Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance / Black Canary (seasons 1–4; guest: season 5–8) and Laurel Lance / Black Siren / Black Canary (seasons 6–8; recurring: season 5), based on the DC Comics character of the same name, an attorney turned vigilante and former girlfriend of Oliver Queen. Cassidy said she was drawn to the show by Berlanti, Nutter, Kreisberg, and Guggenheim, whom she called smart, creative, and edgy. She was the first primary character to be cast. Cassidy sees her character as a "caregiver" to her family, which led her to become an attorney. She said, "I think that she's very, very driven, and she has a huge heart ... she's sensitive. She has really strong morals and values, and she expects everybody to live up to them the way that she does". The Earth-1 version of the character dies near the end of season four, but Cassidy returned as a series regular from season six as the Earth-2 version of the character who first appeared in the spin-off show The Flash.
• Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn (season 1; recurring: seasons 7–8; guest: seasons 2–3 and 6), Oliver's best friend, the son of Malcolm Merlyn and boyfriend to Laurel Lance. His character dies in season one's finale but Donnell reprises his role as hallucinations and flashbacks in subsequent seasons, and also portrayed his Earth-X doppelganger Prometheus and a posthumous impersonation by Human Target in season six. Donnell returns in the eighth and final season as Merlyn's Earth-2 doppelgänger and is brought back to life by Oliver when he restored the multiverse in the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event.
• David Ramsey as John Diggle / Spartan, Oliver's partner, confidant, and bodyguard, who becomes part of their vigilante team. Named after comic book writer Andy Diggle, and created specifically for the show, Diggle was designed to be Oliver's "equal in many respects". Guggenheim further explained that Diggle's mutual abilities are a means of setting him up early in the series as a confidant for Oliver's vigilante persona.
• Willa Holland as Thea Queen / Speedy (seasons 1–6; recurring: season 8; guest: season 7), Oliver's younger half-sister; based on a DC Comics character with similar traits. The character is later revealed to be the daughter of Malcolm Merlyn. Holland exited the series in season six. Guggenheim stated that the door is always open for Holland to reprise her role as Thea. After departing the series in the sixth season, Holland returned in a special guest star role during season seven. Melissa Benoist had auditioned to portray Thea but was ultimately cast as Supergirl instead.
• Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen (seasons 1–2; guest: seasons 5 & 8), Oliver and Thea's mother. She is murdered at the end of season two, but was brought back by Oliver after he restored the multiverse.
• Paul Blackthorne as Quentin Lance (seasons 1–6; recurring: season 8; guest: season 7), Laurel and Sara Lance's father and Starling City police detective. The character is partly based on the DC Comics character Larry Lance. The character dies in the sixth-season finale, but his death is averted after Oliver restored the multiverse.
• Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak / Overwatch (seasons 2–7; recurring: season 1; guest: season 8), an IT technician at Queen Consolidated who later becomes part of Oliver's vigilante team, adopting the codename 'Overwatch'. She is loosely based on the character of the same name, from the 1984 Fury of Firestorm comics run. The character goes on to develop a romantic relationship with Oliver, with the pair marrying during the "Crisis on Earth-X" crossover event. She becomes stepmother to Oliver's son, William and mother to their daughter Mia. During season four she works as CEO of Palmer Tech, and in season seven founds her own company, Smoak Technologies. Rickards was initially cast as a one-off guest star but was promoted to a series regular for season two, after becoming a recurring character throughout season one. Describing the character's personality, Rickards stated "Felicity is really focused, and I think that focus can be overpowering. The whole bubbly/awkward thing is a product of the focus. I don't think they're parts on their own." In March 2019, Rickards announced she would be leaving the series ahead of its final season. She returned as a special guest star for the series finale.
• Colton Haynes as Roy Harper / Arsenal (seasons 2–3 and 7; recurring: seasons 1 & 8; guest: seasons 4 & 6), a character based on the DC Comics character of the same name. He is also Thea Queen's romantic partner. Haynes was moved to series regular status at the beginning of season two, following his recurring appearance in season one. Haynes left the series after season three when his contract ended, and later appears as a guest star in the fourth, sixth, and eighth seasons (attributing his departure from to his mental and physical health at that time), but returned as a regular for season seven.
• Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke (season 2; recurring: season 1; guest: seasons 3 & 5–6), a mercenary and international terrorist. He is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Bennett was initially cast as a recurring character for season one, before receiving series regular status during season two.
• John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn / Dark Archer (seasons 3–4; recurring: seasons 1–2; guest: seasons 5–8), a wealthy businessman who is the father of Tommy and Thea. He serves as Oliver's nemesis. He is based on the DC Comics character Merlyn. After being a recurring guest star for the first two seasons, Barrowman became a series regular in season three. Barrowman reprised the role in season five during the crossover event "Invasion!" and later with his character's apparent death occurring off-screen, and again in season seven's crossover "Elseworlds" in a hallucination.
• Echo Kellum as Curtis Holt / Mister Terrific (seasons 5–7; recurring: season 4; guest: season 8), based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Holt is a technological savant, inventor and medal-winning Olympic decathlete, who works with Felicity at Palmer Technologies. Kellum was upgraded to series regular in the fifth season. Kellum exited the series during season seven, but returned for the finale and later appears as a guest star in season eight.
• Josh Segarra as Adrian Chase / Prometheus (season 5; guest: seasons 6 & 8), based on the DC Comics characters Adrian Chase and Prometheus. The new Star City district attorney, he is later revealed to be season five's arch-villain Prometheus.
• Rick Gonzalez as Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog (seasons 6–8; recurring: season 5), a dishonorably discharged Marine with an estranged daughter who joins Oliver's vigilante team. He is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Gonzalez was promoted to series regular from season six.
• Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake / Black Canary (seasons 6–8; recurring: season 5), an undercover detective in Central City who later joins Oliver's team, taking on the Black Canary mantle. Harkavy was promoted to series regular from season six.
• Kirk Acevedo as Ricardo Diaz (season 7; recurring: season 6), a drug lord recently released from incarceration who terrorizes Star City, and targets Oliver. Acevedo was promoted to series regular for season seven.
• Sea Shimooka as Emiko Queen / Green Arrow (season 7; guest: season 8), Oliver's paternal half-sister and a vigilante who takes over the Green Arrow mantle after Oliver's imprisonment.
• Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak / Blackstar / Mia Queen / Green Arrow (season 8; recurring: season 7), Oliver and Felicity's daughter in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. McNamara was promoted to series regular for season eight.
• Ben Lewis as adult William Clayton (season 8; recurring: season 7), Oliver and Samantha Clayton's son in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. Lewis was promoted to series regular for season eight.
• Joseph David-Jones as adult Connor Hawke (season 8; recurring: season 7), Ben Turner's biological son, Diggle's adopted son and an agent of Knightwatch in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. David-Jones was promoted to series regular for season eight. Jones previously appeared in Legends of Tomorrow as John Diggle Jr. / Connor Hawke.
• LaMonica Garrett as Mar Novu / The Monitor (season 8; guest: season 7), a multiversal being testing different Earths in the multiverse in preparation for an impending "crisis". He made his first appearance in the Arrowverse crossover "Elseworlds".
• Garrett also portrays Mobius / Anti-Monitor, the Monitor's polar opposite, an evil being dedicated to ending the multiverse.