Arrow: 6 Things To Know About the Final Season From an Emotional Panel at San Diego Comic-Con
It’s the end of an era for the Arrowverse, as the cast of Arrow did their final lap at San Diego Comic-Con 2019.
Among the cast members there were Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez, and Katie Cassidy Rogers. The cast was joined by Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim and co-executive producer, stunt coordinator, and director, James Bamford.
The flagship Arrowverse series started their final Comic-Con panel with more than a bit of emotion and fondness from the cast, producers, and fans alike, as the time to say goodbye gets closer to the end.
Here are a few things we learned from Arrow’s final panel and a few highlights:
1. It Was a Time to Pay Tribute to The Show That Started It All
While Comic-Con panels are usually for teasing what’s ahead, the Arrow panel (justifiably) took a beat to look back on the 7-year journey into the final season.
When asked about the creators’ undertaking at the beginning of the series and the casting of the titular vigilante, Marc Guggenheim stated that Stephen Amell was always their choice.
Marc Guggenheim: The moment [Stephen Amell] opened his mouth, I knew we were going to be okay.
Meanwhile, tributes from Amell’s castmates about his work and dedication to the role and the cast and crew on set, specifically from David Ramsey, left a few misty-eyed.
David Ramsey: There would not have been any comic book heroes, not just DC, on TV, after Smallville, without Stephen Amell.
2. We Will Be Meeting Adult JJ!
Marc Guggenheim announced that Russian Doll’s Charlie Barnett will be joining the cast for its final season as Diggle’s eldest son, John Jr. aka JJ.
Thanks to the flash-forward scenes during Arrow Season 7 Episode 19, “Spartan,” we discovered that Connor doesn’t exactly have the most comfortable relationship with his older brother and that JJ has also taken up the mantle of Deathstroke.
Hopefully, with Barnett’s casting, we’ll be getting more insight into that entire dynamic.
3. Emily Bett Rickards’ Absence Was Definitely Felt
It was honestly hard not to notice the presence of a particular member of OTA, and both the audience and cast acknowledged it.
Stephen Amell: The panels feels a little incomplete without [Emily Bett Rickards] here.
Though there’s no promise that she’ll return, it’s been stated that Felicity’s presence won’t be erased from Arrow in its final season.
4. Double the Superman?
As Crisis on Infinite Earths gets mentioned, Legends of Tomorrow’s Brandon Routh crashes the panel, announcing that he will be reprising his Superman role. In a different time/dimension, perhaps?
5. One Final Prop Hand Off
A few Comic-Cons ago, a young girl named Sarah went up to the microphone in Ballroom 20 for a fan question. When she explained that she was undergoing treatment for cancer, Stephen Amell promptly got off stage and handed her his necklace with a promise that she’ll return it to him the following year.
Last year, Sarah returned, necklace in hand, and approached the microphone again. This time, the handoff was his necklace for his earliest bow.
Sarah made her trek back to the microphone once again this year and handed back the bow as the Arrow actor hands her the final trade, an essential piece of Arrow history: Oliver’s first suit from Arrow Season 1, ending the tradition and adding another layer of emotions to the show’s final panel.
6. Is There a Happy Ending In Sight For Oliver Queen?
The Green Arrow himself stated during the panel that there will be a happy ending. Of course, that response was met with laughter from fans. Could we hope to see a (well-earned) happy ending for the hero that’s given up so much for the Arrowverse?
I guess we’ll all find out in ten episodes as Arrow begins its final season on a new day and time, Tuesday, October 15th at 9/8c on The CW.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.