Team GATV Midseason Roundtable: Arrow Season 5 So Far

What has been the most successful aspect of Season 5?

MELISSA: The flashbacks have been strong and also, while there is room for improvement, the fight scenes have been good. Last year, every time the team went out, Oliver got lost in the pack. They’ve done a much better job of focusing on and showcasing his skill this year.

CRAIG: I think the show has fairly successfully returned to its roots. Green Arrow is the dark vigilante who tries to save his city, now with the added layer of Oliver Queen himself saving his city in another way. As I mentioned, the show has done a good job of keeping me at the edge of my seat and wondering, and it’s really found its own identity again, which I appreciate. The show feels like Oliver Queen’s show again. The introduction of new vigilantes, good and bad, have added layers to the show and complications that could and should lead to successful plotlines, and I feel they already have in many ways. Giving James Bamford more episodes to direct has also been a positive step, as he has an eye for action (obviously), which also gives the show a more explosive feel.

STEPHANIE: The most successful aspect has been making Season 5 feel like Season 1 without the learning curve. Oliver has taken charge of cleaning up his city from drug dealers and crime lords and corrupt cops by doing what needs to be done even when it means reverting back to his Season 1 habits. Oliver as mayor has also been working quite well because it shows his versatility, smarts, and ability to redefine himself in the public eye in a way that hadn’t been fully explored.

In addition, I’ve enjoyed seeing Thea flourish outside of her Speedy persona, similarly to her nightclub owner phase. While it was a cool moment when she showed up in her suit toward the end of these episodes, I hope she holds strong in her conviction to stay out of the vigilante life and live life on the terms she chooses.

MATT: Trying to define the series by its lack of superpowers is a good start. Also, the return to villains that more closely match what Oliver is capable of. It’s a bit of a yawn that we’ve got yet another archer, even if their whole shtick is an intentional comment on Green Arrow, but the whole magic of the thing last season was a big let-down. As much as I enjoyed Neal McDonough in the role, they pretty well lost the script on what to do with him by the end of the season. So, more grounded threats with Church and Prometheus make for more compelling stories.