“Arrow” is currently on its fourth season which means the five years worth of flashbacks will be running out next year. The flashbacks have become a familiar part of the show if the show does indeed go beyond five years, the writers will have to find a way to address the face that the five years of flashbacks are over. Here’s a few ideas in regards to what the show could do once the flashbacks run out.
#5 – Simply Cut Them Out
During the first two seasons the flashbacks were a great fit. They were fun in their own right but they also had a coherent connection to what was going on in the present. Things are a little less tight nowadays and flashback sequences seem to be weighing the show down.
After reaching the five season mark, the show will have caught up to itself and the flashbacks will no longer be necessary. Trying to shoehorn in something else could do more harm than good. Once the flashbacks are over it might be best to just focus on the present and nothing more.
#4 – Focus On Diggle Or Felicity
It’s probably safe to say that after five years of flashbacks we will have learned all we need to know about Oliver Queen’s past. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about Felicity Smoak or John Diggle.
Felicity and Diggle have been featured in the flashbacks before, but certainly not to the extent that Oliver has. Felicity has an interesting past as a hacker and we’ve barely even scratched the surface in regards to Diggle’s time in the military. Both characters are just as important to the show as Oliver is. And we would love to know a little bit more about what they were doing before they joined Team Arrow.
#3 – Flash Forwards
“Arrow” has us hooked this season thanks to a flash forward in the premiere which showed Oliver Queen standing over a grave. Who’s in there? The anticipation is killing us, and that’s the point!
Flash forwards are a fun way to build mysteries that keep the audience guessing. They also give the writers the chance to tell a story backwards which would keep things fresh for the show.
#2 – Focus On Deathstroke
Deathstroke was without a doubt the most epic villain “Arrow” has ever seen and fans have been dying to see more of him. There’s so much story to be told with the character and an entire season featuring flashbacks focused on him would definitely be satisfying.
Producer Marc Guggenheim has said that Slade Wilson is currently “tied up” in another DC project. But we’re holding out hope that someday he will be able to return to “Arrow” for the ultimate showdown with Oliver Queen.
When we last left Deathstroke he was locked up in a prison on Lian Yu. The story of him breaking out and going after Oliver Queen for revenge could be worth telling over an entire season of flashbacks if done right. Have the flashbacks show everything that Slade Wilson had to go through to get another chance at revenge on his ultimate enemy. Show his journey from Lian Yu to Star City. Show all of his remorse, all of his pain and most importantly, show his hatred for Oliver Queen.
The flashbacks could then culminate in another meeting between Deathstroke and the Green Arrow. You have to admit, a whole season worth of Slade Wilson-centric flashbacks sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
#1 – Explore The Multiverse
Now that “The Flash” has opened up the multiverse with Earth-2 the possibilities are endless. Parallel universes aren’t exactly the type of thing Team Arrow is familiar with, which is why it would be fun to introduce that new element to the show.
Having doppelgangers on “The Flash” has been a lot of fun so far and it could be just as fun on “Arrow” if done right. We know that on Oliver’s father, Robert Queen is the Green Arrow. But what about Felicity Smoak of Earth-2? Sara Lance? Laurel Lance? Diggle? Like we said, the possibilities are endless.
