We analyze Amell's comment and the revelation after the jump.
WARNING: This story contains spoilers.
Story by Matt Cummings
As the CW's Arrow bowed out last week to end Season 3, a ton of questions were raised about what lies in store for Season 4, some of them causing quite the stir on the Interwebs. For one, the episode - titled, My Name is Oliver Queen - showed The Arrow (Stephen Amell) walking away from both the title of Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins as well as his hero persona. The episode felt like a series finale, as Queen/Arrow/the former Ras drove off into the sunset with long-time friend/now lover Felicity Smoke (Emily Bett Rickards).
But questions remain. We know Arrow is returning next year with Amell, and with Damien Dahrk poised as the next bad guy Queen will take on, it shouldn't be too long before we see Oliver put on the green suit once again. But in doing so, that could undo all of the events of Season 3, in which the real Ras destroyed Queen's reputation and name to force him to become the new Ras. Show runner Greg Berlanti will need to do more than simply return the suit to Queen in order for fans to not cry foul.
To add to the confusion, there's this quote from Amell courtesy of E!, which makes it clear what isn't happening next season:
"Arrow is done. No more Arrow suit. I've worn it for the last time."
Obviously this calls into question the very nature of the show. If Queen isn't the Arrow, who will be? What will Oliver's role be in the new season? Oliver's sister Thea (Willa Holland) has stepped in to the role of Speedy, so take her off the books as the new Arrow. And with the rumors of John Diggle (David Ramsey) possibly becoming Green Lantern, who is left to take on the role of The Emerald Archer?
Retiring the Arrow persona could open up some new opportunities for Amell and Queen, but does Berlanti see Arrow evolving into something else? Could Arrow be the code name or equivalent of Marvel's SHIELD or SWORD, whereby a team of heroes operate under the name? One might also look at The Flash episode where Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) showed a newspaper article from the future showing Queen fighting crime. Could he truly become The Green Arrow instead? We've heard word that Season 4 will be lighter, more like The Flash, which could mean Queen could don a more traditional suit like Justin Hartley did in Smallville.
But don't be surprised if Berlanti continues to take bold chances with his growing superhero franchise - maybe we'll see Green Lantern join up next season? Either way, fans should get ready for another major change that could finally give fans since day one what they've been hoping for: a traditional Green Arrow.
What say you, Sandwich-ers? Do you buy Stephen Amell's comments that he's done with the Arrow suit? Or will he return in another suit, another character, or something else entirely?
Arrow Season 4 premieres this Fall, as will The Flash Season 2 and Season 1 of CBS' Supergirl. The Flash/Arrow spinoff Legends of Tomorrow will premiere as a midseason replacement in early 2016.
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