Team GATV Roundtable: Looking Back At Arrow Season 6 & Forward To Season 7

What advice, if any, would you give incoming showrunner Beth Schwartz?

CRAIG: Well, one thing is for sure: Beth has been with the series from the beginning, and she knows the lore and these characters. If I were to offer any advice? I’d say to remember that people watch Arrow for different reasons, so again, catering to only one fan group can get dangerous. Know that sometimes not everything you do will be loved, but there is certainly an Arrow that has a little something for everybody. Stephen and others seem really excited about Beth’s appointment, so I’m confident that she will do a great job.

STEPHANIE: I’m sure she’s been given much more intelligent advice, but I’d say to remember why you fell in love with the show and let that shine through this season.

MATT: Break the season well. If needed, separate things up into mini-arcs with clear goals and finishes finally tying together. If there’s one thing Arrow has struggled with in the last few years it has been strong plotting. If there were a way to ask for less episodes on the season, that would be great. But considering 23 episodes is locked in, tight plotting is the biggest key to keeping things fresh and exciting.

MELISSA: Trust your characters. Be true to them. Growth and change is not the same thing as forcing them to zig to further plot movement when the past has taught us they would zag. Let who they are guide the writing, not the other way around. There’s still plenty of room for surprises without sacrificing character for plot twists.