Team GATV Roundtable: Talking Arrow Season 6 So Far

Are there still too many people on Team Arrow?

MELISSA: Are there too many on the team? Yes, because even though the number of people on the team this year has felt like less of a problem, I know that feeling was only achieved by the team constantly being down a body or two all season long. All the same problems brought by an overly large set of masks are right there waiting once the team is back to full capacity. Soon we will be back to fighting faceless thugs that don’t matter, watered down repetitive fights, and redundant skill sets. It was already happening to a degree even with the reduced numbers.

I think it’s very telling that the best fight sequences, like Oliver fighting bad guys in a restaurant kitchen or Diggle in the limo, were scenes that did not showcase the whole team.

On top of the masked fighters, the show also needs to find a way to balance in Quentin and Thea and upcoming guest characters like Roy and I’m not confident it can. Every year there seems to be someone overexposed.

Last year Rene was the one the show tried to shove down my throat with too much enthusiasm; this year Dinah is everywhere. She’s the ranking police Lieutenant and liaison for any and all police matters or crime scenes, Quentin’s confessor, Diggle’s confidant, the unofficial leader of the newbies and she also has her whole personal arc about her not so dead, former boyfriend just happening to be Vigilante who is now part of a villain cabal.

In having a Villains vs Heroes’ match up this season, the show is trying to justify the need for a large team despite a long history proving how unwieldy it is. A smaller team would mean a more balanced cast, tighter writing and better stunts.

That said, I don’t expect anything to actually change.

MATT: No, I don’t think so. I like this group and the mix.

CRAIG: Yes. I get that every action sequence cannot feature Stephen Amell, but when you have, what, 6 people on the team, it can be done with more like three.

STEPHANIE: Team Arrow doesn’t necessarily have too many people, but there are too many repeated functions that make it feel crowded. Overwatch provides tech support and maintains a bird’s eye view during missions. Very important. Green Arrow provides the leadership. Also very important. But Spartan, Wild Dog, Black Canary, and Mr. Terrific are all just muscle. Sure, Mr. Terrific has his T-spheres and Black Canary has her canary cry, but their skill sets aren’t unique enough to show how each individual is necessary to success.