Can we say redemption? I think it’s safe to say that fans of Arrow—those of us who have been there from the very beginning, like me—can officially rejoice over the true return of one of our favorite shows. The season four premiere of Arrow put the show back on track, which couldn’t have been executed any better, and that’s including all the set up for the season. Oliver and Felicity’s domestic bliss is cut short when his team needs the Arrow to fight a new threat in Star City, Damien Darhk, and more on the season four premiere of Arrow: “Green Arrow.” Spoiler alert.
Domestic Bliss/Proposal Interruptus
Last season on Arrow, the season finale concluded with the image of Oliver driving off into the sunset with his love, Felicity, leaving his days of vigilantism behind him. This meant that Diggle and Laurel aka Black Canary 2.0 were left to hold down Star City—formerly Starling City, for those who missed the memo. And though they recruited Thea aka Speedy to help out, given her newly acquired hand-to-hand combat skills thanks to her maniacal father Merlin, with a new, imminent threat in Star City they had no choice but to interrupt Oliver and Felicity’s domestic bliss.
After a hilarious fake-out opening scene of Oliver seemingly running through a thick forest, like on Lian Yu, we finally see Oliver emerge from the woods near his suburban community on a jog back to his shared home with Felicity. Hey, even the critics of their romance would have to admit those two are kind of adorbs together. And just when Oliver was planning to take that final leap with his love—you know, pop the question—that’s when Speedy and Laurel crashed the party with the old “the city needs you” guilt trip. Of course it worked. Besides, both Oliver and Felicity could only take so many brunches with the neighbors and exchanging recipes. It was time to get back to business, not that sneaky Felicity ever really stopped working with the team to begin with.
The Takeover
Every season of Arrow there is villain, and this season won’t be any different. This time, Damien Darhk, the still very mysterious archrival of Ra’s Al Ghul—I bet you thought you wouldn’t hear the name this season—has assumed that role. Apparently, over the past six months that have passed since Oliver and Felicity left Star City, well trained, well armed assassins dubbed by the media as “ghosts” have been terrorizing the city, hitting landmarks and whatnot. These “ghosts” of course, have been working for Damien Darhk, who originally was believed to have left Star City in season three upon Ra’s Al Ghul’s arrival with the biological weapon that was supposed to wipe Star City off the map.
Unfortunately, Oliver’s return to Star City, even for good reason, didn’t necessarily mean a welcome party. Rightfully so, Diggle still has some issues trusting his once best friend after the whole he-had-my-wife-kidnapped-and-my-child-endangered thing. Who could blame him, right? Then there’s also Captain Lance. No surprise there. His up and down relationship with Oliver/the Arrow, with more downs than ups, is once again on the fritz, particularly since he feels Oliver responsible for both of his daughters’ predicaments: Sara being dead and Laurel suiting up as the Black Canary. Captain Lance also blames the Arrow for unleashing a litany of other monsters in Star City, whom delusionally believes would not exist if weren’t for the Arrow’s existence. Sorry, Captain. Monsters exist no matter if there are vigilantes or not.
Green Arrow
Despite an initial attempt to lay low for the sake of segueing seamlessly back into his domestic lifestyle shortly after handling Damien Darhk and the “ghosts,” Oliver quickly realized that he was fighting a losing battle with himself. His purpose in life is to protect Star City and he was only deluding himself to think otherwise. So, with that resolve, he finally suited up in his upgraded suit—thanks to the magic work of Cisco Ramon—and faced off with Damien Darhk for the first time. Well, needless to say, that didn’t go well; for neither of them, but mostly the Arrow. Luckily Diggle—who was sporting a new badass costume, by the way—was close by and was able to provide the much needed assist aka saved his best friend from getting killed. With another near death experience behind him and a renewed sense of purpose, the Arrow decided to make his intentions known to Star City when he proclaimed on a live television announcement that the Green Arrow is officially here. We’re getting back on track with the comics, and all is looking up on the Green Arrow front. Nerds rejoice!
Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8:00pm CST on CW.