Arrow (TV Series)

From Iwe

Arrow
Season one title card
Genre	Superhero Drama Action Crime Mystery
Based on	Characters published  by DC Comics
Developed by	Greg Berlanti Marc Guggenheim Andrew Kreisberg
Starring	Stephen Amell Katie Cassidy Colin Donnell David Ramsey Willa Holland Susanna Thompson Paul Blackthorne Emily Bett Rickards Colton Haynes Manu Bennett John Barrowman Echo Kellum Josh Segarra Rick Gonzalez Juliana Harkavy Kirk Acevedo Sea Shimooka Katherine McNamara Ben Lewis Joseph David-Jones LaMonica Garrett
Composer(s)	Blake Neely
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	8
No. of episodes	168 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	David Nutter (pilot) Sarah Schechter Wendy Mericle Andrew Kreisberg Marc Guggenheim Greg Berlanti Beth Schwartz Jill Blankenship
Producer(s)	J. P. Finn Wendy Mericle Todd Pittson Ben Sokolowski Keto Shimizu Glen Winter James Bamford Jon Wallace Jennifer Lence Carl Ogawa
Location	Vancouver, British Columbia
Cinematography	Glen Winter Gordon Verheul Gregory Middleton C. Kim Miles Corey Robson
Editor(s)	Kristin Windell Andi Armaganian Paul Karasik Jessie Murray Thomas Wallerstein Carol Slutz
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	40–43 minutes
Production company(s)	Berlanti Productions DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Television
Distributor	Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Broadcast
Original network	The CW
Picture format	HDTV 1080i
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	October 10, 2012 – present
Chronology
Related shows	Arrowverse
External links

Arrow is an American superhero television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, and is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with other Arrowverse television series. The series premiered in the United States on The CW on October 10, 2012, and was primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In January 2019, The CW renewed the series for an eighth season, which premiered on October 15, 2019. In March, it was announced this would serve as the final season of the series, consisting of ten episodes which would contribute to the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event.

Arrow follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who claimed to have spent five years shipwrecked on Lian Yu, a mysterious island in the North China Sea, before returning home to Starling City (later renamed "Star City") to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. Throughout the series, Oliver is joined by others, among them former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), I.T. expert and skilled hacker Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), former assassin Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), aspiring vigilante Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), Oliver's sister Thea (Willa Holland), and attorney-turned-vigilante Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy). During the first five seasons of the show, characters from Oliver's past appear in a separate story arc based on Oliver's flashbacks. Starting with season seven, a series of flash-forwards focus on Oliver's children William and Mia, exploring how present events would affect their future and Green Arrow's legacy.

The series takes a new look at the Green Arrow character, as well as other characters from the DC Comics universe. Although Oliver Queen/Green Arrow had been featured in the television series Smallville from 2006 to 2011, on The CW, the producers decided to start clean and find a new actor to portray the character. Arrow has received generally positive reviews from critics. The series has received several awards and multiple nominations.

In October 2014, a spin-off TV series titled The Flash premiered. This was the first extension of the shared universe that would be known as the "Arrowverse". The Flash was later followed in 2015 with Vixen and Supergirl, in 2016 with Legends of Tomorrow, in 2017 with Freedom Fighters: The Ray, and in 2019 with Batwoman, which are all part of the same shared universe.

[edit] Plot

[edit] Episodes

Main artcile: List of Arrow episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired		Rank	Average viewers (in millions)
			First aired	Last aired
	1	23	October 10, 2012	May 15, 2013	130	3.68
	2	23	October 9, 2013	May 14, 2014	128	3.28
	3	23	October 8, 2014	May 13, 2015	135	3.52
	4	23	October 7, 2015	May 25, 2016	145	2.90
	5	23	October 5, 2016	May 24, 2017	147	2.21
	6	23	October 12, 2017	May 17, 2018	181	1.76
	7	22	October 15, 2018	May 13, 2019	172	1.58
	8	10	October 15, 2019	January 28, 2020	TBA	TBA

[edit] Cast and characters

Main article: List of Arrow characters and List of Arrowverse actors

• 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 (main: seasons 1–4) and Laurel Lance / Black Siren / Black Canary (main: seasons 6–8^[a]), 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. 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 season four's end, but Cassidy returned as a series regular for 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 (main: season 1), 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.
• 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 (main: seasons 1–6), 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.
• Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen (main: seasons 1 & 2), Oliver and Thea's mother. She is murdered at the end of season two.
• Paul Blackthorne as Quentin Lance (main: seasons 1–6), 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 season six's finale.
• Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak / Overwatch (main: seasons 2–7). Introduced as an IT technician at Queen Consolidated she 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 will return in a guest capacity for the series finale.
• Colton Haynes as Roy Harper / Arsenal (main: seasons 2, 3 & 7), 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 and sixth 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 (main: season 2), 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,
• John Barrowman as Malcolm Merlyn / Dark Archer (main: seasons 3 & 4), 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 (main: seasons 5–7), 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 season finale.
• Josh Segarra as Adrian Chase / Prometheus (main: season 5), based on the DC Comics characters Adrian Chase and Prometheus. The new Star City district attorney, he is later revealed to be the arch-villain Prometheus in season five. He is considered as one of the best Arrow villains; Chase committed suicide at the end of season 5 as a last-ditch effort to prove a point to Oliver, that everything he touches, dies.
• Rick Gonzalez as Rene Ramirez / Wild Dog (main: seasons 6–8), 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 (main: seasons 6–8), 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 / Dragon (main: season 7), 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 (main: season 7), 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 / Green Arrow (main: season 8), Oliver and Felicity's daughter in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. Promoted to series regular for season eight.
• Ben Lewis as Adult William Clayton (main: season 8), Oliver and Samantha Clayton's son in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. Promoted to series regular for season eight.
• Joseph David-Jones as Adult Connor Hawke (main: season 8), Ben Turner's biological son, Diggle's adopted son and an agent of Knightwatch in the flash-forwards set in the 2040s. 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 (main: season 8), 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.

[edit] Production

[edit] Development

[edit] Design

[edit] Music

[edit] Release

[edit] Broadcast

[edit] Home media

[edit] Reception

[edit] Critical response

[edit] Ratings

Arrow's premiere episode drew 4.14 million viewers, making it The CW's most-watched telecast of any show on any night in three years, and The CW's most-watched series premiere since The Vampire Diaries in 2009. In its second episode, Arrow became the only new network drama in the 2012–13 season to hold its ratings in both adults 18–34 and adults 18–49 from its premiere to its second week. In Australia, the premiere received 1.32 million viewers, making it the third most-watched broadcast on the network that night. The UK broadcast was the highest-rated telecast of the week on Sky 1, with 1.85 million viewers. In Canada, the first episode got 1.32 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched airing of the night and the twenty-third of the week.

Season	Timeslot (ET)	Episodes	First aired		Last aired		TV season	Rank	Evg.	18–49 rating (average)
			Date	Viewers (millions)	Date	Viewers (millions)
1	Wednesday 8:00 pm	23	October 10, 2012	4.14	May 15, 2013	2.77	2012–13	130	3.68	1.2
2		23	October 9, 2013	2.74	May 14, 2014	2.37	2013–14	128	3.28	N/A
3		23	October 8, 2014	2.83	May 13, 2015	2.83	2014–15	135	3.52	1.3
4		23	October 7, 2015	2.67	May 25, 2016	2.19	2015–16	145	2.90	1.1
5		23	October 5, 2016	1.87	May 24, 2017	1.72	2016–17	147	2.21	0.8
6	Thursday 9:00 pm[b]	23	October 12, 2017	1.52	May 17, 2018	1.35	2017–18	181	1.76	0.6
7	Monday 8:00 pm (ep. 1–17) Monday 9:00 pm (ep. 18–22)	22	October 15, 2018	1.43	May 13, 2019	0.95	2018–19	172	1.58	0.5
8	Tuesday 9:00 pm[c]	10	October 15, 2019	0.84	January 28, 2020	TBD	2019–20	TBD	TBD	TBD

[edit] Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.

[edit] Other media

[edit] Digital comics

[edit] Arrow (2012–13)

[edit] Arrow: Season 2.5 (2014–15)

[edit] Arrow: The Dark Archer (2016)

[edit] Blood Rush

[edit] Video games

[edit] Novels

[edit] Guidebooks

[edit] Arrowverse

Main article: Arrowverse

[edit] Spin-offs

[edit] Constantine

[edit] Notes

a. ^ Although Cassidy is billed as a "special appearance" in season 8, she is still considered a series regular for season 8.

b. ^ For episode 8 ("Crisis on Earth-X Part 2"), the show was moved to Monday 9:00 pm to fit the chronology of the crossover.

c. ^ For episode 8 ("Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Four"), the show was moved to 8:00 pm on Tuesday January 14, 2020 to fit the chronology of the crossover.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Template:Arrowverse Template:Green Arrow Template:Black Canary Template:The CW Programming Template:DC Comics TV