ARROW SEASON EIGHT (SO FAR) REVIEW ... SPOILERS

Season 8 Episodes 1-7:

Well, since the crisis is upon us, I wanted to go through and review what has aired of Arrow Season Eight so far, before the crossover begins. Going through, this will be a general consensus of all the episodes scrambled together, and not a one by one review of each episode. Also spoilers ahead for the final season of Arrow, so far.

Plot

After making a deal last year to save Barry Allen and Kara Danvers from the planet’s doom, Oliver made a deal with the omnipotent being, the Monitor to exchange his life during the coming inevitable crisis, for the lives of the Flash and Supergirl in the current, and the lives of all the infinite lifeforms in the multiverse.

Now, duty calls as Oliver has been gathering certain objects, and individuals to create a weapon which will now aid the Monitor stopping the pending crisis. Throughout these various tasks, the Monitor, aided by Lyla Diggle, has tested Oliver in his willingness to sacrifice himself, all the while gathering a team of heroes from the present and future of Star City to stop the crisis on Infinite Earths.

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What I liked about the plot of this season is that it has been pristinely streamlined. Every episode has managed to find a relevant place in the season, building upon a narrative of Oliver stopping the crisis and coming to terms with the idea that he will sacrifice himself in a couple of months.

I especially enjoyed how actively the Monitor was involved in the plot of the season. He was not a catalyst or an afterthought in this season, however, he is the creator of the narrative of the season. Every episode introduced an aspect that played into a larger plan which was so satisfying to see unfold. I also appreciated the mystery created with Oliver collecting the dwarf particles, the doctor, the plans, which lead to Oliver wanting to conspire against the Monitor. 

What I did like about Oliver and Laurel not trusting the Monitor is that it took into account the idea of Oliver not having blind faith. Not only did it bring into account Oliver being betrayed by many individuals in the past, it did also highlight Oliver seeing this whole situation as absolutely insane, and preparing that the Monitor may be a possible threat to what he thinks he is preventing.

I feel as though Oliver and Laurel learning their lessons was a slightly convoluted way of the two trusting the Monitor. I did like the idea that they had to learn of letting go and the concept of sacrifice through the use of bringing back Quinten, however, the Monitor explaining that in the scrolls from the League of Assassins that the Anti-Monitor was being referred to and not the Monitor would have flowed a little better as it would have placed full trust from Oliver and the team to the Monitor.

The future plot of the season was really well done as although it did have high stakes, its more tighter plot revolving around one gang, and four protagonists allowed for a clever tie into the present-day plot. It was also really awesome seeing future William, Mia, and Connor traveling back to present day. I hope that going into the crisis crossover that Mia, William, and Conner have a purpose to play, and that they were not just teleported back in time for the convenience of tying up loose ends.

Characters

   Oliver Queen

One of the best character arcs in the season is with Oliver getting over the guilt that he is putting his work as a hero over his family. Although Oliver knows that in his heart he has to do what is right and preserve the reality for his family to survive, he can not shake off the feeling that on an interpersonal level, he is failing, not a city, not a world, but his family, the ones that Oliver cares about the most.

It is almost ironic in a sense that although Oliver started his crusade as a hero alone, it would make sense that he could make a selfless act of sacrifice, but over his eight-year journey, he is finding it difficult to do so. Although this could make Oliver seem selfish in a sense of not wanting to let go, the idea that this doubt in his actions exists shows that he has grown to the point where he does have people he does want to live for.

   Future Team Arrow

William, Mia, and Conner have been some of the best characters introduced this season. I loved the way that they bridged the gap between Oliver’s pending doom and the legacy that he will leave behind. I loved the way that each character from the future team played well into the dynamics of the current team. William and Mia meeting Oliver was awesome, especially William getting over the fact that he held a lot of resentment towards Oliver for leaving him. I especially loved Conner interacting with Diggle, his adopted father wanting to aspire to become like Diggle.

Payoffs

In season eight, there have been so many characters who have returned, and everyone who has returned was bought back in meaningful ways which were not just surface-level fan service, however, their involvement added to the story.

On Earth-2, we saw Adrian Chase as the Hood, Tommy Merlin as the Dark Archer, as well as Moira and Malcolm back. It was interesting seeing how in this alternate reality, things played out to be a commentary on Oliver’s impact on the world, and the people around him. And how there are individuals who may have gone down a bad path, however, were saved by Oliver. The only contrary to that was Adrian, who on Earth-1 was worse off. 

Katana and Chyna White coming back were characters that I thought I would never see again, but they came back. I thought that Katana was reduced to nothing but an Easter egg in the arrowverse with her mask being on the Waverider, but we saw it on screen again.

Anatoly is a character that I always enjoyed seeing, and it was great seeing his relationship with Oliver circling around and the two becoming friends again after the events of season six, and seven. 

Thea I would say was my favorite character to see back. It was a shame that we never saw more of her, but the way that she was bought back in aiding Oliver in his quest to find out more about the Monitor war great. Because their mission was a relatively simple A to B, which allowed for some great bonding moments between the two. Talia coming back was also something that I thought was incredible and never anticipated.

Quinten was a character that I thought did not get the best sending off in season six. That is why I loved that the character was bought back and was given a proper send-off by Oliver and Laurel. It also served as a lesson for Oliver to learn the virtue of acceptance, and letting go. 

In the last episode, it was also really neat seeing Yao Fei return. Although it was a little outlandish to see the spirits of Fei, Fyres, and Wintergreen in the flesh, I could extend my suspense of disbelief as greater forces such as the Monitor would have been at play creating the high energy signatures, as well as a bringing back physically tangible spirits of villains past to test the strength of our heroes (in particular Mia) one last time before the crisis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Arrow season eight… so far, has been phenomenal. I really appreciated the way that this season has managed to incorporate fan service in a way which services the greater storyline in a meaningful way. The preparation for the inevitable crisis is such an intriguing storyline which does not parallel anything seen in the Arrowverse before. With such a strong narrative storyline, paired with great character moments with the great cast, this season of Arrow has been arguably the best season yet.

What are your thoughts on this season of Arrow so far? Comment below your thoughts and opinions. As always, thanks for reading, take care.