Photo Credit: The CW
Arrow was once a cornerstone of The CW, ushering in a whole universe of successful superhero shows for the network.
However, the series lost a lot of momentum after season two, in part because of a lot of convoluted plots and weird characterizations. That all changed last year, when the show had one of its most exciting runs since the early days. Fans were full of hope and enthusiasm that the series was back on track after a jaw-dropping cliffhanger finale. Unfortunately, season six finally has many longtime viewers throwing in the towel, allowing Arrow to sink to series lows in the ratings every week. With the clock ticking on the once beloved drama, it’s time for the show to begin fixing some of the glaring problems.
Photo Credit: The CW
7. Fix the Black Canary
From the beginning, Arrow has been unsure of what to do with Laurel Lance. It’s about time that the show finally does one of the most iconic comic book characters justice. Katie Cassidy is a more than adept actress, but Laurel always seemed reduced to either love interest or minor character throughout the show’s run. Now, she’s playing a villain, Black Siren, but based on how adamant Quentin and Thea are about saving her, it seems inevitable she’ll become a hero. In the recent DC Comics, the Black Canary has been the lead singer of a traveling rock band and had a cool punk style. While it’s doubtful the show would ever commit to making the infamous hero a rock star, there shouldn’t be a reason to keep her from pursuing her own career.
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Laurel being a lawyer was always a lazy plot device meant to get Team Arrow into or out of any legal hot water depending on the season. It seemed like the show had actually figured out a place for her as the supportive friend to Oliver, but then she ended up killed off. Maybe it’s time for the series to consult current Batgirl and the Birds of Prey writers, Julie and Shawna Benson, to see how best to integrate Black Canary within a team.
Photo Credit: The CW
6. Better fight choreography
Arrow is meant to be the grittiest of all of The CW superhero shows, but it’s consistently been failing in crafting an awesome fight scene. There’s no excuse for the dip in quality considering Supergirl has been able to show off some innovative sequences despite the more complex powers involved. While it’s hard to work shooting arrows into an interesting fight scene, the show could definitely improve the hand-to-hand combat sequences.
Stephen Amell has shown off how talented he is at stunt work and his enthusiasm for it as well. Why Arrow couldn’t have gritty fight sequences like Daredevil is something fans have been asking for a while. If the series returns to having Oliver at the center of a fight, then it should be easier for the choreographers to focus on giving the Green Arrow better scenes compared to crafting battles for a team.
Photo Credit: The CW
5. Stop the hacking (and the magic)!
One of the big reasons Arrow stood out amongst the Arrowverse was how grounded the series was compared to the other shows. However, the complex hacking plots have increasingly become more and more absurd. The show is named after the vigilante, therefore the problems he faces should be ones he can fight. Yes, Felicity is a great hacker but large chunks of the season don’t need to include her spending the day typing on her computer. It’s time to let the Green Arrow shine once again and let him face off against Merlyn-type characters again.
Once in a while, it would be fun to see Constantine or Vixen drop by for fun, but the Damien Darhk arc was an example of why the show should also avoid the mystical. It’s time for the series to get back to its roots by letting Oliver take on street-level villains or wealthy assassins.
Photo Credit: The CW
4. Get rid of the new team members
This season, all of the “New Team Arrow” members have been insufferable. After Wild Dog sold out Oliver and the team, he has adopted this ridiculous attitude where he acts as though he wasn’t in the wrong. “This doesn’t change anything Hoss,” is a line that feels as though it’s uttered in almost every episode, and serves as a consistent reminder that Rene has overstayed his welcome. He’s joined by Dinah and Curtis, two characters that have failed since their upgrade to series regulars. The former has always felt like a Laurel Lance replacement and the arrival always felt so contrived. Her recent storyline involving Vigilante fizzled out before it even began since he was killed before his character was even developed.
Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl have both gained recognition for their LGBT representation with complex characters who aren’t entirely defined by their sexuality. Curtis has drawn the ire of many fans because he seems to be filling the quota for the show rather than trying to give him substantial representation. As a gay African American Olympian, Arrow could have had some interesting storylines with him, but instead, he’s mainly been relegated to a background character. It’s time to cut all of the new team members and put the focus back on the original cast.
Photo Credit: The CW
3. Have William begins his training
It’s doubtful Arrow is going to kill off William or find a new relative to ship him off to, so the series is going to have to find something for him to do. Angsty pre-teens rarely do well on genre shows, just look at how hated Dawn is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the series is going to have to work hard to avoid letting William go down that path. With Willa Holland poised to exit the show during the second half of season, it’s time to let her niece begin his training to step up as a new sidekick.
For a large part of this season, he’s mainly spent the time bonding with Felicity. It would be nice to see him spend some quality time with Oliver that doesn’t involve any brooding or secrets between the two. Supergirl and The Flash have both succeeded with strong family units which helps build up the backbone of their series.
Photo Credit: The CW
2. Craft a compelling villain to fight Arrow
Season one, two, and five stand out in Arrow because the main villains are all terrifying. When Oliver is forced to face off against some compelling bad guys, the series flourishes but the seasons dragged down by Darhk, Ra’s Al Ghul, and Helix have seen a serious dip in viewership. The Green Arrow is supposed to be good in fights where he can shoot his arrows and thrive in hand-to-hand combat. When he’s facing people he can’t touch, the show loses it’s greatest weapon of all: Oliver.
There are some great Green Arrow villains from the comics that have yet to be used in the series. Characters like Onomatopoeia or Constantine Drakon could make compelling enemies for a season seven. In fact, the former was created by Arrowverse regular, Kevin Smith, and he could be brought on to save the sinking ship that Marc Guggenheim has created.
Photo Credit: The CW
1. Felicity
Olicity has become one of the most contentious ships within the Arrowverse universe. A large number of fans love the relationship, but there’s an even bigger number of viewers who can’t stand the coupling. At this point, the series isn’t going to dump its main couple in favor of starting fresh but it could begin to fix the character of Felicity. Emily Bett Rickards was once an early highlight for the series, offering some much-needed levity to the bunker. However, when Arrow fully committed to her character as a love interest, it’s like the series completely forgot all of her characterizations. The coupling was used to fuel soap opera type storylines that made most viewers cringe at the contrived drama.
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How exactly can this be fixed? Take Felicity back to the beginning as a supporting player. At this point, the character and the actress take so much abuse online that she could take a break from being the center of controversy. Get rid of any relationship drama between Oliver and Felicity, in fact, treat their romance scenes like a procedural drama would. Allow the father-son relationship to take the spotlight while she gets to be casually supportive rather than add unnecessary drama. When Laurel Lance was at her best, she had become a confidant to Oliver who had shed some of the angst. It’s time for Felicity to take on a similar role.