Final Impressions - Arrow

So I have done some first impressions for new shows, so I thought it was fair to give some final impressions on a show I have watched since the beginning in Arrow, which recently finish its Eighth and final season and this is what the show will be most remembered for to me. 

Launched a whole DC TV Universe

Easily the biggest achievement of this show is that it has launched a whole universe under its name with characters such as The Flash, Supergirl and Black Lightning. For a show that started off very gritty and realistic, to spawn this over the top super powered universe is something you would never see coming. 

Showed a Hero okay with killing

In pretty much all superhero stuff, our main hero is against killing and if they ever do it, it affects them deeply. But this show made Oliver Queen incredibly calm with killing his enemies, it is never his first option but he is okay with it and that is an interesting dynamic. It shows the development of the hero and how his methods compare to the villains sometimes blurs the lines of morality. 

Made John Diggle a comic book character and hopefully a Green Lantern

John Diggle was an original character created for this show and was introduced in the first episode as Oliver Queen's bodyguard. This leads Diggle to working with Oliver in his mission and it leads to a great bromance, since this Diggle has become an official part of DC comics and after the season finale of Arrow it seems he could become the Green Lantern of Earth Prime in the future. 

Showrunners listened to fans about romance

Oliver Queen has had many romances during his time as The Green Arrow but most of them didn't stick mainly because fans of the show didn't think they had chemistry, particularly, Laurel and Oliver in the first season of the show. After a bit of time fans campaigned for Oliver and Felicity Smoak to become a couple and then eventually the show delivered this and while it hasn't been smooth sailing, credit has to be that they listened to the fans. 

Had some of the best action scenes in any TV Show

For me the real highlight of Arrow has always been the action scenes involved. It is brutal and well choreographed to fit the actors and characters that they are playing. It stands above the majority of other TV shows and even some films on how impressive it is. 

The show made Oliver Queen to similar to Batman

Onto some things the show didn't do so well, is that the show ended up making the Green Arrow way too much like Batman. At the start of the 2nd season Oliver vows to stop killing just like Batman, which felt like the unique element of the show was gone. Then in season 3 the show adapted the League of Assassins story line with Oliver taking the place of Bruce Wayne. I mean these things are fine, it is just it makes it feel to close to Batman and makes sure the show feels less gritty and less unique to itself.

The show went to far towards superpowers

Yes I mean this show does exist in the same world as The Flash and Supergirl so I get it can't be as gritty and dark as it was before but the show just goes too far the other way. Like season 4 focuses on Magic and the final season on the multiverse so it just feels so different to where the first season started, where Queen goes around taking down criminals. 

Should have ended a few seasons ago

I think my main complaint with the show is the simple fact that it goes on for too long. Take Breaking Bad for example, an amazing show but knew when the story was finished and it had to end, this show didn't know that moment. From the very beginning they said they knew how and when they wanted to end finishing with the 5 year flashback story. But that finishes in season 5 and the show carries on for 3 more seasons which in my opinion are some of the weaker seasons. 

Overall

Overall, Arrow will go down as an important show, it even spun out a whole universe and gave us plenty of other shows. It has some great seasons and some weaker seasons but overall, Arrow is still a show I overall enjoyed and look forward to re-watching it all.