As a dedicated fan of Arrow since its inception in 2012, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions upon hearing Marc Guggenheim‘s recent reflections on the show. The conclusion of Arrow in 2020 marked the end of an era for many fans, including myself. However, reading about Guggenheim’s regrets regarding certain storylines and character arcs has piqued my interest.
Back in 2020, I watched as “Arrow” drew its final chapters on The CW. Characters like Oliver Queen and John Diggle continued to appear in shows like “The Flash,” but it had been almost five years since Stephen Amell’s Green Arrow wrapped up his eight-season saga. Recently, Marc Guggenheim shared some insights into aspects of the show that didn’t quite meet his expectations. He reflected on what could have kept Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance alive and why Season 4, the one where she met her unfortunate end, remains his least favorite part of the series.
Marc Guggenheim Regrets Arrow Killing Off Laurel Lance
Katie Cassidy played the role of Laurel Lance in all seasons of “Arrow,” becoming a regular again in Season 6 to portray Earth-2’s Laurel. However, Earth-1’s Laurel, who had been part of the show since its beginning in 2012, was fatally stabbed by Damien Darhk in the episode “Eleven-Fifty-Nine.” During an interview on “The Showrunner Whisperer,” Marc Guggenheim shared that if he had anticipated “Arrow” would last as long as it did, Laurel from Earth-1 would still be present in the series. He expressed that her character would have continued to be a part of the story.
As someone who has worked in television production for many years, I can honestly say that making the decision to end a character’s journey prematurely is never an easy one. In the case of Laurel, it wasn’t my call, and I genuinely believe that if we had known the show was only going to last for two and a half seasons instead of five, things would have been different.
As a dedicated fan, I cannot help but reflect on my disappointment when Laurel met her untimely demise in 2016. The backlash from the fandom was immense, and at the time, Marc Guggenheim defended the decision, reminding us that Arrow was initially only planned for five seasons. But fortunately, Katie Cassidy managed to continue gracing our screens with her presence in Arrow, and I assume she welcomed the chance to portray a Laurel with a completely different personality. Nevertheless, my thoughts often wander to the potential storylines had Earth-1 Laurel survived the events of Season 4.
Marc Guggenheim Doesn’t Like Arrow Season 4’s Tone
Marc Guggenheim expresses remorse over the events concerning Earth-1 Laurel as part of his broader concerns with the tone shift in “Arrow” Season 4. In his own words, the decision to adopt a less serious approach after three seasons of heavy storytelling was not successful:
Personally, I’d have to admit that Season 4 isn’t my favorite Arrow season. Looking back, there were certain elements that didn’t quite gel, and some storylines felt misplaced. Don’t get me wrong, there are undeniably some fantastic episodes in this season. But as a whole, I believe the attempt to introduce a lighter tone wasn’t the best fit for Arrow.
Guggenheim expressed regret over how they handled Season 4’s storyline for Arrow, wishing they had been more flexible in their approach. He admitted that they adhered too closely to the initial plan in certain instances. However, he made it clear that he wouldn’t alter the Season 4 finale, “Schism,” despite his past regrets.
I’m really fond of the final episode of Season 4. Our goal was to create an epic showdown with numerous extras, reminiscent of The Dark Knight Rises climax. I believe we managed to achieve that. Additionally, the groundwork we laid for introducing The Atom and Ray Palmer paid off impressively. While not every season reaches perfection, this finale is one of my favorites.
If you’d like to watch “Arrow” again, you can do so with a Netflix subscription, which also provides access to many other DC films and series. Alternatively, keep in mind that most new DC TV productions will be exclusive to Max subscribers.
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2024-07-25 05:37