'Arrow' Season 8 Episode 4 creates new origins for the Canary Network and sets up 'Green Arrow and the Canaries' spin-off
The Canary Network, a rebellion group / female support system, were major players in 'Arrow' Season 7's flashforwards. Founded by Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy), the Canaries were a huge influence on the 2040 Team Arrow and now in Season 8 Episode 4, their origins undergo a major change.
In the new timeline that Episode 4 'Present Tense' has created, the Canary Network is founded by Dinah and Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) after the future Team Arrow tells them about the role the Canaries played in the future. Determined to prevent the dystopian future of Star City 2040 from coming about, Dinah and Laurel have now decided to start the Network early, without waiting for things to get worse.
Fans have been eagerly waiting to see how the flashforwards would fit into the greater story of Season 8 and now we know that the whole point of the 2040 timeline was to be a warning for the heroes of the present. As Dinah puts it in the episode, now that they know what their worst looks like, Team Arrow can try to be their best.
Thankfully, Dinah and Laurel aren't going to be alone in their fate-changing initiative. We've known for some time now that a spin-off series tentatively titled 'Green Arrow and the Canaries' is in the works and this episode lays the groundwork for that show.
The spin-off will focus on Dinah, Laurel, and Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara) as they take over as protectors of Star City. With Oliver Queen / Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) predicted to die in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths', it looks like the Canary Network will take Team Arrow's place with the future team fighting alongside the heroes of the present.
Joseph David-Jones, who plays Connor Hawke in the 2040 timeline, had previously confirmed to MEAWW in an interview that his character's story won't be ending in Season 8 and he could have a major role to play in the spin-off. We're not completely clear on how the whole time-travel thing is going to affect the future of Star City, especially considering the younger versions of future Team Arrow are all still around in the present, but we'll probably get more answers before the spin-off comes out.
'Arrow' Season 8 Episode 5 'Prochnost' will air on The CW on November 19.