'Arrow' Finale Review: The iconic show takes a final bow, delivering the perfect ending to its 8-season story
Spoiler alert for 'Arrow' Season 8 Episode 10 'Fadeout'
It's not an easy task saying goodbye to a series as influential as 'Arrow' and honestly, we're still processing the fact that this day has finally come. But whether we like it or not, the final episode of 'Arrow' is here and so it's time to review this show for the last time.
The series finale was primarily a tribute to Oliver Queen aka Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) and his legacy as the very first hero of the Arrowverse, a hero who inspired so many both on and off camera. If we were to start talking about all the ways in which 'Arrow' changed the way people look at superhero shows, we'd be here all day so let's not get into that.
Suffice to say, this final episode was the perfect cherry on top of one of the best treats we've ever had on television. Just as Oliver couldn't accept his death till he knew that his loved ones would be safe, we couldn't say goodbye to the show without knowing that our beloved characters would have the happy endings they deserve and on that count, the finale ticked all the boxes.
There's nothing in this episode that we could call a drawback. It's a truly fitting tribute to the Emerald Archer, with a guest cast that outnumbers the regular cast showing up to pay their respects. The episode even managed to resolve long-running plot threads like the connection between John Diggle (David Ramsey) and John Stewart, the Green Lantern (spoiler alert, they're the same person).
From Oliver and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) to Thea Queen (Willa Holland) and Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), everyone got to exit the stage leaving us with the satisfaction that their lives ahead may not be perfect but they will be the best they can be. Though he couldn't bring back everyone he lost, Oliver managed to resurrect a number of people who were important to him including his mother Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson), his best friend Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), and father-figure Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne).
By doing this, he managed to give his children a chance to grow up with their grandmother, their Uncle Tommy, and even their Aunt Emiko (returning guest star Sea Shimooka), who was also among the resurrected. He even managed to eradicate crime in Star City, ushering in an era of peace that would last at least 20 years, which is when the sequel series 'Green Arrow & the Canaries' will be picking up the torch.
In the end, both Oliver Queen and his show leaves behind a simple enough message: anyone can become a hero so long as they pull their socks up and choose to do the right thing. In the process of delivering that message, 'Arrow' gave us eight years of exceptional television but now it's done and the world will be just a little poorer without it.
The final episode of 'Arrow' aired on The CW on January 28.