Arrow is returning this October for one final 10-episode run. After “Crisis on Infinite Earths” wraps up and all the dust has settled from the events of the crossover, this hit CW series will officially call it quits after 8 seasons.
When Arrow began, it took some queues from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. These borrowed elements range from its somewhat grounded tone to even some of its story-beats. It’s sort of hilarious, in a good way, when you think about how far this series has come. We started with a dude with a bow and a list full of people who failed Starling City. Now, that same dude is seemingly on a road-trip across the multiverse with a powerful being known as The Monitor to prepare for a cataclysmic, multiverse-ending event. Oh, and he’s destined to die at some point during this too.
Safe to say, Arrow’s final season is a little hard to predict. While all of the episode title reveals have been intriguing, we still don’t specifically know how anything will go down this season. But, that won’t stop this writer from wildly speculating on what we could see in Arrow’s last run:
1) Josh Segarra Will Return As Adrian Chase… But He Will Be Another Earth’s Green Arrow
Many Arrow fans, especially those who hopped off the bandwagon during that dreadful season 4, look at Deathstroke as the series’ best antagonist. While the Arrowverse’s Deathstroke was amazing in just about every way, I would have to give the nod to Josh Segarra’s Prometheus.
Segarra played the role with so much intensity and smugness that it was hard to look away from the screen any time he appeared. Segarra’s Prometheus was the Joker to Stephen Amell’s “Walmart Batman”. And fans adored every moment of it. That is until the character was killed off in the Arrow season 5 finale.
Someone who thought I was dissing Beyonce this weekend referred to me as Walmart Batman. I’m going to put it in my bio, because I think it’s amazing.
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) April 16, 2018
Fans have clamored for Segarra to return in a major way since his character’s demise. His brief appearance in the season 6 episode “Fundamentals” was a welcomed sight, but it was still a one-off appearance. Arrow season 8 could change that.
This whole season will probably be a pre-cursor to “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, meaning that a decent chunk of it will revolve around The Monitor and Oliver Queen traversing across the multiverse in search of other potential allies in the upcoming war. The final season will also feature a ton of fan-service, and I’m not using that term as a derogatory way either (I’ve never understood why that is used as an insult these days). That means we’re due to see many easter-eggs, homages, throwbacks, and any other synonym you can find for callbacks this year. Segarra’s already confirmed to appear this season, but what if he plays a decent role in “Crisis on Infinite Earths”?
Due to the multiverse and Crisis shenanigans, we could see a version of Adrian Chase that never became the homicidal maniac we knew on Earth-1 but instead, he has taken up the green hood. Watching Segarra return and once again act as an ally of Oliver Queen would be an entertaining concept to explore.
2) The Flashforwards Are Set In An Alternate Timeline/Earth
Full disclosure, I’m a fan of the flashforwards. Is it a little depressing to know that Star City goes down the toilet due to vigilantism? Most definitely. But, I think if we give the story and its characters a few more episodes, it’ll start to grow on people. That’s because I think this arc is about showcasing that not all is lost after Oliver is gone. His legacy lives on and the city will eventually be saved by those sharing his sense of morals.
That all being said, a lot of people will read what I just wrote above, shake their heads in disapproval, and continue to groan each time this particular narrative appears on their TV screen. And that’s totally cool. You do you. Actually, you might like this theory.
What if it’s revealed that these flashforwards are from another Earth who has had a similar timeline? It would fix any time-related plotholes Arrow has created and, just like the Prometheus theory above, give another twist on the Green Arrow mythos leading into Crisis. This is one of the more unlikely theories out there that heavily contradicts almost every other pick on this list but, it’s worth mentioning for those who just want to block this storyline out from their memories.
Before we go on, I noticed I said: “It would fix any time-related plotholes Arrow has created”. I just want to point out that, for once, Barry Allen had nothing to do with these timeline issues.
3) Oliver Queen Doesn’t Die In The Crisis
Okay, for this theory, you can take everything I’ve said about Oliver being killed in Crisis and toss it right out the window. While you’re at it, go ahead and beat it with a bat, like that epic scene from Office Space.
It’s the classic “too on-the-nose to actually happen” storyline, right? Oliver Queen is destined to die in “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, he’ll spend the whole season going through the stages of grief, and he’ll go into the crossover with the burden knowing he’s toast. It’s all just too easy.
Felicity leaving with The Monitor and her being ecstatic about meeting up with someone seems to be the only foreshadowing we’ll get of this theory. Maybe Oliver somehow cheated his pre-determined fate after Crisis and is hiding out on another Earth, waiting to see his wife for 20+ years?
4) Diggle Finally Gets His Ring
Of all the possible theories on this list, this is the most unlikely. It’s also probably one of the most popular theories on here.
John Diggle, played by David Ramsey, has been long theorized to be the Arrowverse’s version of John Stewart AKA one of the two most recognizable Green Lanterns in DC Comics. For years, fans have wanted to see the man who gives out more expert advice than Dr. Phil get that powerful green ring and head out to become Earth-1’s Green Lantern. I think this even includes Ramsey himself. While at SDCC, Ramsey was asked if we’ll see more of Diggle as a father in season 8. The actor replied (via Cinemablend):
“Yes. And Diggle’s relationship with his own father as well. There will be loose ends tied up. The relationship between he and his sons, I think we’re going to find out about. There’s a lot in ten episodes we’ll be finding out. And Lyla is a pivotal piece in these upcoming ten episodes. And then ultimately what happens with the Green Lantern mythos. I think all those are going to be answered in ten episodes.”
Well, that last part is certainly uh… something to note. At least he didn’t outright spoil the season, unlike Mark Ruffalo, who spoiled the ending of Avengers: Infinity War.
Arrow writers know this is an extremely popular theory as we had two pretty big teases of Diggle becoming Green Lantern in season 7. First, we had the “Elseworlds” crossover. John Wesley Shipp’s Barry Allen finally managed to break through and stick around on Earth-1. Once he saw Diggle, he remarked that he’s shocked that John wasn’t wearing his ring and that things must be different on this Earth. It was a nice little “Wait, what did he say?” moment for the more die-hard DC Comic fans out there.
A few episodes later, we saw Diggle’s stepfather, General Roy Stewart. That’s your Diggle-Stewart connection. Hopefully, Ramsey wasn’t lying and we finally get an answer on this long-running fan theory. If it isn’t addressed, I’m convinced that the Arrow writers hate us. Or DC Comics won’t allow them to use the character, even if the name “Green Lantern” is never mentioned.
I’m not sure which one of those reasons is more depressing.
5) Mia Smoak Finally Takes The Green Arrow Mantle
Mia Smoak was introduced in season 7 and her reception has been… mixed so far. I might be wrong but I don’t think the majority of fans particularly hate the character. They just don’t enjoy the flashforwards and Mia’s ability to be likable one moment only to be audibly annoyed at her CW-esque dialogue the next.
Whether you are a fan of the character or not, I have a feeling this is the most likely theory on this list. Since the season 7 premiere, we’ve been building on a few themes. Legacy, living up that legacy, a cycle of violence, etc.
In my opinion, this is all building up to that moment where it all finally clicks. Mia Smoak becomes the hero she is supposed to be. She saves Star City and officially takes up the Green Arrow mantle, vindicating Oliver Queen’s legacy in the process.
It would be the perfect ending to this series (again, this is coming from someone who likes the flashforwards). It shows that although Oliver lost the battle for Star City, it wouldn’t always be that way because of the good he’s instilled in others. It’s also something Oliver has stated on multiple occasions that he could never do. Like this scene from The Flash’s pilot episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPc1vVYHtxw
It’s a neat way to bookend the series, with another door opening for the next generation of the Green Arrow.
I know we’re all over the place on these theories and trust me, it’s killing me too. Half of them contradict the others, in some way, shape, or form. It’s just that this season is hard to theorize about. And that’s a great thing as it gives me an extra layer of hype going into the final season premiere a few months from now. It’s been one crazy series filled with spectacular highs and unspeakable lows (season 4). To put it bluntly, although it probably should end from a storytelling perspective, it still sucks to see it come to a close.
What Arrow theory do you hope to see come true in the final season? Let us know in the comments below!
