Team GATV Roundtable: Talking Arrow Season 6 So Far

What do you think of the current state of Oliver Queen on the series?

STEPHANIE: I’m oddly proud of him. Oliver has grown into a responsible father. A competent politician. A wise sometimes-vigilante. I’m curious to see where he has to go from here. On Supergirl, they’ve tackled the eternal “Can she have it all?” question more than once, so I think it would be rather interesting and unique to see Arrow further tackle (or admit they are tackling) the same topic with a male character at the center. We saw it a little bit at the beginning of the season with Oliver retiring as Green Arrow to be a better father, but with him suiting back up as Green Arrow, this is the perfect time for a deeper exploration of the question.

MATT: This seems to be the series fighting with itself. In ways, it’s trying to push Oliver forward. Yet, we keep finding ourselves treading over the same ground. There is some realism to the idea that people don’t really change, but Oliver seems to find himself coming back to the same choices quite often. I like to see an Oliver who wants more. Plus, the genuine idea that he would give up being Green Arrow to pursue injustices as the mayor is a fascinating thread to pull on. Of course, we all know that’s not likely, so I’m interested and concerned with where Oliver goes now that the bulk of the team has been disbanded.

MELISSA: I’m very happy with the growth we’ve seen in Oliver this season, a new stability and maturity that is so refreshing after years of uneven starts and stops and lessons that had to be relearned. He asks for help, he listens, he accepts he can’t do everything and that he isn’t invincible. He’s not without his flaws of course, but this year, he’s the one others lean on, the steady rock and mentor to those closest to him and for a while, the one supporting others in their mission to save his city.

Who he is now is nearly unimaginable compared to the PTSD riddled man that returned from the island bent on a solo, likely suicidal mission. Now his life is full. He’s a father, husband, friend, brother, mayor and even when faced with betrayal, he had empathy for Rene and gave him another chance, something inconceivable from the man to whose earliest actions involved him declaring on the show, “No one can know my secret” followed by a snapped neck.

CRAIG: As I said, I’m curious to see how he will explain the being Green Arrow thing to William again, but I think Oliver is growing up a lot. I like his role as the Mayor, and I’m so glad he’s back with Team Arrow.