Spoiler Discussion Thread

[apinknightmare]

12 minutes ago, nksarmi said:

Oh I meant the show. And I was thinking of some tweet or comment about "there has been a lot of BC on the set lately" or something to that effect. It's left me looking out for Baby Canary ever since. I feel a little foolish now. But maybe they just meant all the talk of St. Laurel would make me feel like I was seeing Black Canaries?

One of the Vancouver paps mentioned there being a BC on set a lot after Laurel died. 

[dtissagirl]

Most of her scenes ended up in the cutting room floor when she was alive, it probably didn't change after she died?

[jay741982]

41 minutes ago, Thundercatmary said:

I kinda like the more subtle Olicity moments etc, everyone knows they still love each other and based on the casino ep Felicity's thoughts have changed since the break up so who knows, maybe she'll play secretary for him over the hiatus. ;)

Mayor Office make up sexy times please! And then more sexy times!

[Morrigan2575]

37 minutes ago, nksarmi said:

Oh I meant the show. And I was thinking of some tweet or comment about "there has been a lot of BC on the set lately" or something to that effect. It's left me looking out for Baby Canary ever since. I feel a little foolish now. But maybe they just meant all the talk of St. Laurel would make me feel like I was seeing Black Canaries?

 

24 minutes ago, apinknightmare said:

One of the Vancouver paps mentioned there being a BC on set a lot after Laurel died. 

that was Ken Pursuit who said that after the BC in the finale pictures hit twitter.  I'm guessing he was trolling because there was no BC since 419.

[Guest]

But didn't someone here actually say they saw BC on set? I can't remember who it was. Maybe the crew were trolling the paparazzi after the Laurel death leaked.

[Carrie Ann]

I don't think the poster saw the BC; they thought they overheard "Black Canary arriving" on someone's walkie, IIRC.

[BkWurm1]

Eek, you guys in the seven hours I was away from the board created like 6 pages of freaking out content. Kind of glad I didn't have the chance to join the countdown, lol. 

2 minutes ago, Carrie Ann said:

I don't think the poster saw the BC; they thought they overheard "Black Canary arriving" on someone's walkie, IIRC.

I thought Canadagraphs had a picture of her (stunt double) exiting a car but the outfit mostly covered up. 

[apinknightmare]

15 minutes ago, Angel12d said:

But didn't someone here actually say they saw BC on set? I can't remember who it was. Maybe the crew were trolling the paparazzi after the Laurel death leaked.

There was definitely a picture of some one wearing the boots getting out of a car, but whoever it was was mostly obscured by someone standing in front of her (and maybe an umbrella?).

[Chaser]

I'm wondering if the terrible reception to Baby Canary caused them to cut it or if in editing they realized they were already at overkill with the Buckles worship. 

[Guest]

I guess they cut the scenes then? Good. I had enough of them making her a Saint and suddenly Oliver's moral code. LOL.

[HighHopes]

9 minutes ago, apinknightmare said:

There was definitely a picture of some one wearing the boots getting out of a car, but whoever it was was mostly obscured by someone standing in front of her (and maybe an umbrella?).

I was the poster-- and while I couldn't get a photo of the entire costume because by the time I realized what was happening she was hidden by multiple people (and yes, later an umbrella when she was at the food tent). But it was 100% The Black Canary costume. Even my sister who has been a very casual watcher since season three recognized her. They also did mention "Black Canary" over the walkies. Maybe they did just have her there to fool people but I'm not sure why they would? She's the one on the far left.. 

Edit: Canadagraphs post about seeing her too. 

 

Edited May 26, 2016 by HighHopes

[Mellowyellow]

5 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

Eek, you guys in the seven hours I was away from the board created like 6 pages of freaking out content. Kind of glad I didn't have the chance to join the countdown, lol. 

I thought Canadagraphs had a picture of her (stunt double) exiting a car but the outfit mostly covered up. 

Hehe I was asleep and woke up to a forum meltdown about SA's interview while I was trying to make breakfast.

[Guest]

That picture definitely looks like baby BC to me. She's tiny. They obviously cut the scenes. Probably because everyone hated the baby BC thing. LOL.

[HighHopes]

I mentioned before that judging from her height she looked too tall to be Baby Black Canary-- but it could have been possible as I was sitting on the ground. But the mask I saw was more Laurel's and less like the Baby BC's. 

[apinknightmare]

18 minutes ago, HighHopes said:

I was the poster-- and while I couldn't get a photo of the entire costume because by the time I realized what was happening she was hidden by multiple people (and yes, later an umbrella when she was at the food tent). 

Thanks for clearing that up. I made a mess out of those memories, haha.

[Chaser]

I hope that they are setting up Olicity for the S3 they should have had. The friendship, the first dates. 

Then they elope in the 100th episode.

[Chaser]

Since Flash has no intention of using Candice Patton, can we get Iris as Olivers Press Secretary?

[Guest]

26 minutes ago, Chaser said:

Since Flash has no intention of using Candice Patton, can we get Iris as Olivers Press Secretary?

Oooh, and then Iris and Felicity could be best friends. I'd like that. One thing I hope for on the crossovers is Iris and Felicity actually talking and working together. 

[kismet]

1 hour ago, Angel12d said:

I guess they cut the scenes then? Good. I had enough of them making her a Saint and suddenly Oliver's moral code. LOL.

Whoever said it here or on the Episode thread was right. When she was alive on the show, most of her scenes wound up on the cutting room floor. Despite all the mentions of her, I'm not surprised that in her death her scenes still grace more floors than screens.

But her gravestone, Stick, Buckle Suit & the Photo made the finale - I know we didn't get matching nails & lipstick, so the important parts of her role got screentime in the finale.

Edited May 26, 2016 by kismet

[looptab]

There were a number of things that didn't play out as expected or at all. The Black Canary sigthing, for once; JB's quotes from COH2 made me worry that Malcolm would do something but he was pretty unconsequential.  SA's quotes were blown out of proportion ;)

Also, the cavernous space turned out to be what I speculated at the very beginning, before newer infos made me go back and forth.  I didn't think Felicity would be there as well, though. :)

[Belinea]

For the record, do the people of Star City wonder where OQ was during the fight at night? I mean only the GA was there and the guy giving the speech seemingly not...

And btw: Since I seem to be incapable of finding it, when does the production for season 5 begin again? In 6-8 weeks?

Edited May 26, 2016 by Belinea

[dtissagirl]

1 hour ago, Belinea said:

And btw: Since I seem to be incapable of finding it, when does the production for season 5 begin again? In 6-8 weeks?

The two places I know of that post legit productions dates have nothing on any Berlanti show so far. They update frequently, so it's worth keeping the links handy:

https://www.dgc.ca/en/british-columbia/avails-and-production-lists/production-list/

http://www.creativebc.com/crbc-services/motion-picture-services/in-production

[apinknightmare]

2 hours ago, Belinea said:

And btw: Since I seem to be incapable of finding it, when does the production for season 5 begin again? In 6-8 weeks?

In one of SA's FB live videos with PB, they mentioned returning to set the first week in July, although I don't know when they'll actually start filming.

[Soulfire]

SA commented in one of the live interviews he did yesterday for Turtles press that they're back filming Arrow July 5th.

[Belinea]

@dtissagirl, @apinknightmare, @Soulfire: Thanks :-)

[Orion]

In a transcript of SA at the con in England that TV ECHO (thank youu TV ECHO for doing that and everything else you bring to the board.) put up in the in the news thread SA said that there would be a return to grease paint. BA designed his mask so could this be a sign that at least a few changes are going to happen because of The Flash's finale?

Really hoping they keep the Flash mess over on the Flash but that sounded like a hint that that won't be the case.

[TwistedandBored]

I hope the theme for next season is no powers. 

[Belinea]

9 minutes ago, Orion said:

SA said that there would be a return to grease paint

Hopefully something in the flashbacks. Because for real, how insulting would it be for your own audience to go back 2 years because of the storytelling of another show.

[way2interested]

Idk, from listening to how he said it, it sounds like he said it as a joke. He was joking how his theme for s5 is "everything old is new again," and then started listing hypothetical things that they could get back to towards the audience from good idea (OTA, street fights) to worse idea (grease paint) to get a rise out of the audience. It didn't really sound like a confirmation to me. 

[HighHopes]

34 minutes ago, Belinea said:

Hopefully something in the flashbacks. Because for real, how insulting would it be for your own audience to go back 2 years because of the storytelling of another show.

Eh, for me 2x09 was the last truly great episode of Arrow. So I would love to be able to re-do the series from that point. (Kidding. Sort of). 

[Morrigan2575]

4 hours ago, Orion said:

SA said that there would be a return to grease paint. BA designed his mask so could this be a sign that at least a few changes are going to happen because of The Flash's finale?

He was kind of joking about that, at least in my panel. Basically he said return to basics (cheers), more OTA (cheers), more S1 fighting  (cheers), then he tossed in the grease paint (cheers). I think he just kept going with S1 stuff trying to see when the audience would draw the line.

For the record, he actually got a good deal of support from the grease paint, I know I cheered.

Edited May 26, 2016 by Morrigan2575

[SmallScreenDiva]

Wasn't there a point last night where he and Thea weren't wearing their masks but had their hoods on? When they were fighting the Ghosts in the lair? I thought that was pretty interesting. It made sense because they were ambushed. Speaking of the lair ... unless they killed all the Ghosts there are now more people with knowledge of the Green Arrow's not-so-secret hideout.

[Soulfire]

Transcribed from one of Emily's lounge sessions at COH2 --

Quote

Q: ”What do you know about Season 5?”

EBR: “I actually don’t know much. I think Felicity will be out of the bunker more…  I don’t know much. I haven’t asked.”

A fan comments how “we all know there’s going to be a separation” between the team [in 4x23].

EBR: “I mean, I think so, I think that’s how it’s going to start – yeah, I guess I know that, but also I don’t think it’s how it’s going to stay. So that’s why I, like, don’t know anything. Because how we like, you’ll see at the end of the season, I don’t want to give anything away, you’ll see at the end of the season like, why and where we all line up that way, uhm… it’s always the why that’s more interesting than the what."

 

(I'll try getting more things up when I can.)

Edited May 26, 2016 by Soulfire

[Tallis]

It just occurred to me that if Barry's idiocy does affect the Arrow timeline then maybe that's why we're getting Roy back for a few episodes. If things changed for Arrow from the point when Barry was first supposed to come to Starling and now doesn't then maybe Roy never leaves.

[kismet]

behind on most of the thread, but just caught @tv echos spoiler post. Is it just me or is "ingratiate" sort of a passive-agressive word choice by SA? In my experience the word has a negative connotation. You're not willing working with this person. they are basically forcibg themselves on you with bribery. it could be good bribery, but still you owe this person - you didn't choose them.

I would think integrate, join, work with, or another more positive word would be a better choice. I really get the feeling that as much as he likes his coworkers, SA is not pleased that TA is growing again.

Perhaps he just meant a different word or the interview got it wrong. But I doubt it. I think were in a SA phase of interviews where he'll just say one thing but mean a lot more with his intentional choice of words. He finally got his team back, no spinoffs and he still has to make room for  new guy on the team.

Honestly, I feel like SA. I'm so over new people on Arrow. EK is funny and does good BTS stuff. But I really hope his screentime as the hero du jour of the season is minimal. Cuz it does not need any new people. And I'll be pissed if he gets to go into the field and screws up the stunt scene dynamics again. 

[looptab]

Thinking about that BC sigthing during the filming of the riot scene, could it be that they shot something with her that they are going to put into a later episode? Kinda like they did in the first Cupid episode, where they flashed back to the night of the siege and OTA in the van. Obviously that particular scene was shot during 307, but maybe they want to do something similar and shot it beforehand?

[Sunshine]

Maybe TPTB were setting up the paps so people would be less likely to believe them in the future? :-p  The added bonus was creating buzz for the show at the same time.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Sunshine

[Nijntje]

The LOT finale didn't air in Canada until this week (after the Arrow finale), so I wasn't sure when Sara would be returning and thought maybe it was her helping out during the fight even if she didn't contact the rest of Team Arrow.

On 2016-05-28 at 1:15 PM, looptab said:

Thinking about that BC sigthing during the filming of the riot scene, could it be that they shot something with her that they are going to put into a later episode? Kinda like they did in the first Cupid episode, where they flashed back to the night of the siege and OTA in the van. Obviously that particular scene was shot during 307, but maybe they want to do something similar and shot it beforehand?

Maybe a flashback for next season? It would save some money if they filmed a scene now instead of having to recreate it later when they want to show a flashback in next year's Arrow or LOT.  But I don't know if it is common practice to film something for the next season or for another show while filming the current season.

Spoiler tagged just in case people haven't seen LOT finale yet:

Spoiler

And I'm thinking based on the LOT finale that maybe the team doesn't leave on the Waverider right away. They could take care of some business and try to prevent whatever they were warned about before they leave. That would give Sara time to join the fight against DD.

[Morrigan2575]

On 5/28/2016 at 4:15 PM, looptab said:

Thinking about that BC sigthing during the filming of the riot scene, could it be that they shot something with her that they are going to put into a later episode? Kinda like they did in the first Cupid episode, where they flashed back to the night of the siege and OTA in the van. Obviously that particular scene was shot during 307, but maybe they want to do something similar and shot it beforehand?

I think you guys are giving that scene more importance that it warrants. Most likely it was just done as part of the City getting behind Oliver/GA.  

[looptab]

11 hours ago, Nijntje said:

Maybe a flashback for next season? It would save some money if they filmed a scene now instead of having to recreate it later when they want to show a flashback in next year's Arrow or LOT.  But I don't know if it is common practice to film something for the next season or for another show while filming the current season.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking of.

10 hours ago, Morrigan2575 said:

I think you guys are giving that scene more importance that it warrants. Most likely it was just done as part of the City getting behind Oliver/GA.  

No, it's just that the idea popped into my mind and wanted to ask whether it's something they would do - logistically speaking.

[Midnight Lullaby]

On 28 May 2016 at 10:15 PM, looptab said:

Thinking about that BC sigthing during the filming of the riot scene, could it be that they shot something with her that they are going to put into a later episode? Kinda like they did in the first Cupid episode, where they flashed back to the night of the siege and OTA in the van. Obviously that particular scene was shot during 307, but maybe they want to do something similar and shot it beforehand?

I don't think they can because they have to credit the director for the scene? Like with 3x09/3x10 they had the dream sequence in 3x10 that was partially the same goodbye scene of 3x09 but they had to reshoot the whole thing even if obviously it would have been more practical to shoot them both the same day.

[tv echo]

I know it's early, but...

PRELIMINARY SUMMARY OF SEASON 5 SPOILERS:

S5 Synopsis
-- The CW's S5 synopsis: “After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the North China Sea. He returned home to Star City, bent on righting the wrongs done by his family and fighting injustice. As the Green Arrow, he protects his city with the help of former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), computer-science expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), his vigilante-trained sister Thea Queen (Willa Holland), former police captain Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), and brilliant inventor Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum). But sinister players with a connection to Oliver’s past will push the team to its breaking point, threatening everything Oliver’s worked for and his legacy as the Green Arrow." (EW article dated May 19, 2016, page 37 of Spoilers thread)

S5 Pre-Production and Production Start
-- MG (on Feb. 6, 2016): "We’ve reached the point in the season where, yes, we organically start talking about ideas for the next season.  We’ve got some interesting ones for 5!" (MG tumblr post, page 31 of Spoilers thread, and page 360 of Social Media thread)
-- On Apr. 8, 2016, the Arrow writers were already discussing pitches for S5. (ArrowWritersRoom tweet, page 360 of Social Media thread)
-- Per DR (in May 2016 interview), the actors return for S5 on July 5, 2016. (Video of The Lowdown with Diana Madison, page 408 of Social Media thread)
-- Per SpoilerTV, S5 production start date is July 13, 2016. (SpoilerTV article, page 408 of Social Media thread)
-- Per YVRShoots, Arrow S5 has filming dates in Vancouver from July 13, 2016 - April 20, 2017.  (YVRShoots tweet, page 383 of Social Media thread)

General S5 Spoilers
-- Per WM, the S4 finale title, "Schism" (423) hinted at "the ultimate setup" to what the show will explore in S5, particularly with Oliver. (TV Guide article, page 35 of Spoilers thread)
-- Per WM, the S4 finale is "a good clue" for what Season 5 is about. WM: "We talked about Season 4 as a soft reboot and I think Season 5 will see some big changes on the show." (TV Guide article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “There’s nothing we really do in the [season 4] finale that introduces a big bad for next year. We do throw a little hook in there that will very much excite people for season 5, but it does not have to do with the big bad.” (EW article, page 38 of Spoilers thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2  (on May 15, 2016), SA said that the nukes will play a part in S5. (Morrigan2575 tweet, page 1050 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), SA: "So maybe the theme for season 5 can be 'everything that's old is new again.' ... Some old school stupid training sequences. Shirtless for no reason. Kill a bunch of guys... Maybe some greasepaint." (Video of SA panel at COH2, page 406 of Social Media thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): On whether he wants the supernatural element to continue in season 5, SA: "I think it was a good element for season four. I think that ultimately, we are always going to be at our best when we do what we do best... which is, you know, we’re the superpowerless superhero show. Right? And we haven’t been for a couple of years now for a variety of reasons, all of which are important and have helped build the universe on The CW. But at the same time, I do think we’re at our best when we are doing what we do best." (ComicBook.com article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): SA: “I’ve heard that our big bad, our villain, is something that you can really only do once you’re in the fifth, sixth or seventh season of a TV show. ... “As far as I know, they don’t have superpowers. I’ll tell you that.” (Variety article, page 37 of Spoilers thread and page 167 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Per WM, we'll find out in S5 what Laurel said to Oliver in 418 right before she died. (TVLine article, page 35 of Spoilers thread, Variety article, page 998 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Collider article, page 149 of Starling City Times thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): SA: “‘Supergirl’ is coming, but we don’t have to introduce a new show next year. In Season 2, it was the introduction of ‘The Flash’ and crossovers there, and last year there was a lot with ‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ and we don’t have to do that this year because ‘Supergirl’ is already established... So I would like to focus on a lot of the stuff that I think ‘Arrow’ does very well.”  (Variety article, page 37 of Spoilers thread and page 167 of Starling City Times thread)

S5 Flashbacks
-- Per WM on Jan. 20, 2016, they have not really begun to talk about plans for S5 or beyond, she thinks they are likely to get a 5th season, and the flashbacks could potentially end at S5. (ComicBook article, page 120 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Per SA, the show was "built to be five years long" but he doesn't think it'll end after season 5.  However, they built in a "five-year story." They still have so much to get done in the flashbacks because the flashbacks were built to be only five years.  (SA panel from Dallas ComicCon 2016, page 318 off Social Media thread)
-- On S5 flashbacks, WM: “We know what we’re working up to ... The season will be easier to break because we have an endpoint, and we work backwards from there.” Also, WM: "I don’t want to tip too much ... but it’s a very good possibility that we’ll finally find out how Oliver got that Bratva tattoo and how he learned to speak Russian.” (TVLine article, page 35 of Spoilers thread)
-- Brian Ford Sullivan (after 422): "Taiana name dropping someone called 'Kovar.'  Read into that what you will. #ArrowSeason5." (BFS tweet on May 18, 2016, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- As for a trip to Russia in his Season 5 flashback future, SA: "I would watch the [season 4] finale!" (ComicBook article dated May 25, 2016, page 38 of Spoilers thread)
-- At MCM London Comic Con (on May 28, 2016), on the future of the show after the 5-year flashbacks end, WH: "We're probably not going anywhere...our show is like a onion, every season you open up another layer. ... From your guy's response, as well as the networks response to our show and the creation of all the others that are interlocked into another it's kinda going to be a never ending cycle for awhile. I don't think anything is going to happen." (Mirror.co.uk article, page 38 of Spoilers thread)

Team Arrow
-- Per WM, approaching S4 finale “was less about plot and more about unanswered questions about character stuff. We’re going to take the team to a pretty dark place [so] it’s much more about, ‘Where are we going to pick these guys up?’ [in the fall]. The character arcs that we built this season, we knew exactly where we wanted every character to end, and it was in a very sort of morally grey place. So they’re asking themselves some pretty profound questions.” (TVLine article, page 35 of Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “There’s always possibly going be more new members of Team Arrow, but I don’t know yet... I know obviously Echo Kellum is joining us as a series regular, so we’ll see if he can ingratiate himself into the team." (EW article on May 27, 2016, page 38 of Spoilers thread)
-- On how 423 paved the way for S5, DR: "What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. That's the big theme. You are going to see a team that's more fractured than it ever has been. The elements that remain of that team, ultimately, in Season 5, will be the strongest of the strong. I'm excited, because you are going to see a team stronger than it has been." (ComicBookResources article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)
-- At MCM London Comic Con (on May 28, 2016), on how S4 ended and what this means going forward, WH: "[When Oliver left] the team had to find their own place in the team. ... Now they need to find their own place in their own lives. ... It's not like we're not going to be back together. ... Probably sooner than you think." (Mirror.co.uk article, page 38 of Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity (Olicity)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), SA "I think that Emily - Oliver & Felicity's relationship is, um - it's in a very mature place - that's where we leave it. And I think there's a little bit of certainty towards the end of the season as to what the future's going to hold for them... But I don't know if we have any firm resolution. We certainly don't have the type of firm resolution that we had in season 3 where they were literally driving off into the sunset. We certainly don't have that this year." (Video of SA panel at COH2, page 406 of Social Media thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- At HVFF-Chicago (on Mar. 12, 2016), fan asked if we're going to see Oliver going back towards the darkness now that he's lost both Felicity and his son (sent him away). SA: "I think that if we're talking about a five-year journey, we're talking about Oliver being very, very,  you know, lethal and dark in the first season and then, you know, building towards, you know - that didn't work. And the method where he just, you know, 'I'm not going to kill anyone regardless, it doesn't matter, I've got to strive for something different', that doesn't seem to have worked either. So maybe in Season 5, we can see the medley of the two, because, um, you know, he has people in his life that, um, in the latter parts of this season, really push him towards a place he really didn't think they'd be comfortable with him going. And we see some of his, um, some of his teammates and friends going to places where he never expected that they would. So I think we're going to see, hopefully, more of the finished product of Oliver in Season 5 that he can use going forward. The two extremes don't seem to work." (Video of SA solo panel at HVFF-Chicago 2016, page 343 of Social Media thread)
-- At HVFF-Chicago (on Mar. 12, 2016), SA said that he would like a new bow and that he actually needs a new bow. Then he said: "I think that there would be a very good reason in Season 5 to go back to a very particular type of bow. And you'll have to wait, you'll have to wait and see how that will unfold." (Video of SA solo panel at HVFF-Chicago 2016, page 343 of Social Media thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 14, 2016), SA said that there might be a costume change in S5. (Lauren Winter @lozwinter tweet, page 388 of Social Media thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), SA said that there is a theme we’ll see at the end of S4 leading into next year’s overarching theme for Oliver that he was adamant about wanting for Oliver. (Soulfire post, page 404 of Social Media thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): On whether there's a relationship or aspect of Oliver that he hasn't gotten to explore yet that he's hoping to explore in season 5, SA: "The public visage and version of Oliver Queen within Star City is something that we really haven't touched on. And I think that something happens in the finale that will help change that." (ComicBook.com article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): On next season, playing that flashback Oliver that came right into season 1, SA: "I mean, that'll be fun, man.... Maybe he'll lie just in complete juxtaposition to the Oliver that we see in season 5 in the present day. Or maybe they'll start to line up together again. You never know. Things change." (ComicBook.com article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), EBR said that Felicity was removed as CEO but still owns Palmer Tech, she doesn't know when Smoak Tech happens, and she assumes that more Palmer Tech will be coming in S5. (Evil Nicole@morrigan2575 tweet, page 5 of Monument Point thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- We won't see how Diggle will come back from shooting Andy and lying to Lyla until S5. (MIrror.co.uk article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- At Wizard World Minneapolis (on May 7, 2016), DR: "oh by the way, we'll have a new helmet, coming next season. It'll be a Cisco creation... That'll be a storypoint next season."  (Video of DR panel at Wizard World Minneapolis 2016, page 398 of Social Media thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 13, 2016), DR said that Diggle's new helmet has an open visor in the front so that you can see his face. (Morrigan2575 post, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- DR said that Diggle will have a new helmet next season.   (Extra Facebook Q&A with DR, page 406 of Social Media hread, and Video of DR on The Lowdown with Diana Madison, page 408 of Social Media thread)

Quentin Lance
-- On Quentin's relationship with original Team Arrow, PB: "Each year, the dynamics change. This is probably going to have much to do with setting up the next season’s dynamic between the characters. From season to season, there’s always a little subtle shift in the relationships between everybody. This is going to create a whole new world next season, given that everybody is now in a world without Laurel. It’s a game-changer, obviously, and it’s a relationship-changer, for sure." (Collider article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Quentin's relationship with Oliver, PB: "The shift in the relationship between Lance and Oliver is great. There’s an element of father figure there, but only to a degree because Oliver knows the world and Lance is just a small part of it. Lance is always going to revere him, in that sense. So, it would be nice to see some development, in that way." (Collider article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)

Donna Smoak
-- CR: “I’ve relished every moment playing Donna since season 3 when I was lucky enough to start being a part of this show but, we have no agreement in place for me to continue further. Things can, obviously, change but as of right now, I have no plans to return for season five."(Emertainment Monthly article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)

Curtis Holt 
-- Per TVLine (on Apr. 4, 2016), EK has been promoted to series regular for S5.  (TVLine article, page 146 of Starling City Times thread)

Roy Harper AKA Arsenal
-- At Justice Squad Convention in Paris (on May 7-8, 2016), per CH, Roy will be returning for a few episodes in S5.  (Flora Mineway@Slytherimpala tweet, page 36 of Spoilers thread)

Sara Lance AKA White Canary
-- At Justice Squad Convention in Paris (on May 7-8, 2016), CL: "Yes, hopefully I will be back in the next season of Arrow."   (Flora Mineway@Slytherimpala tweet, page 36 of Spoilers thread)

Liza Warner AKA Lady Cop
-- MG: "As for Lady Cop, she’ll be returning next year.  (She’d be back this year, but Rutina is doing a pilot.)." (MG tumblr post dated Feb. 6, 2016, page 31 of Spoilers thread)

Venediktov Family
-- Taiana's last name is Venediktov. (ER tweet, page 381 of Social Media thread)

"James"
--  For S5, Arrow is adding the series regular role of “James,” an “irrepressibly charming” contemporary of Oliver’s who is described as “a man on a mission” — out as he is to avenge a tragic, violent loss from his own, years-ago past. The casting call seeks an actor of any ethnicity, in his late-20s to 30s and who comes across as a physical threat. The character is said to “just as easily shake your hand as your best friend or break your neck as your worst enemy — and you never know which one is coming. Either way, he’s more than capable of having a good time as he does it.” (5/2/16 TVLine article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)
-- Per Matt Mitovich, "James" audition scenes are not with Felicity. (MMitovich tweet, page 1034 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Raven?
-- In response to question of which character from the DC Universe she'd like to see on Arrow, WM: "The other character that I am just a big fan of is Raven from Teen Titans. She’s very dark, very interesting... I’m a huge fan of Teen Titans Go! It might sound strange, but it’s one of my favorite DC shows. I just think Raven is an interesting character who would be worthy of being on Arrow or of having her own series." (Emmys article, page 55 of Hopes and Fears thread)

Sydney Palmer?
-- Per MG, Ray Palmer's brother Sydney is "a potential Arrow character",  but "we’ve actually been talking about seeing [Sydney] in Legends Season 2.” Also, Ray and Syd are not twins, but just happen to have “an uncanny similarity,” (TVLine article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)

Flash/LoT/Supergirl/Vixen Crossovers
-- Per CW Pres. Mark Pedowitz (on May 19, 2016), Arrow, Flash, LoT and Supergirl will join up for a giant annual crossover story - "the biggest one ever."  (IGN article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether The Flash S2 finale will affect Arrow S5 in any way, SA: "Possibly. I mean, we're dealing with a very interconnected universe. Um, so clearly the events that happened in The Flash finale could affect us in season 5. It does not affect our [season 4] finale though. Our finale is a standalone event." (Video in germery@smoaksqueen tweet, page 38 of Spoilers thread)
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), SA said that the nukes will probably be brought up in S3 of Flash and S2 of LoT. (Morrigan2575 tweet, page 1050 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "Future appearances of Vixen will depend on (a) Megalyn’s availability and (b) if we have a compelling story to tell. ..." (MG 02/06/16 tumblr post, page 31 of Spoilers thread)
-- Per MG, Laurel will be appearing in Season 2 of the Vixen animated series, in an episode that takes place before 415. (MG tweet, page 32 of Spoilers thread)

Edited May 30, 2016 by tv echo

[bijoux]

5 hours ago, tv echo said:

-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): SA: “I’ve heard that our big bad, our villain, is something that you can really only do once you’re in the fifth, sixth or seventh season of a TV show. ... “As far as I know, they don’t have superpowers. I’ll tell you that.” (Variety article, page 37 of Spoilers thread and page 167 of Starling City Times thread)

...
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 15, 2016), SA said that there is a theme we’ll see at the end of S4 leading into next year’s overarching theme for Oliver that he was adamant about wanting for Oliver. (Soulfire post, page 404 of Social Media thread)
-- At CW Upfronts (on May 19, 2016): On whether there's a relationship or aspect of Oliver that he hasn't gotten to explore yet that he's hoping to explore in season 5, SA: "The public visage and version of Oliver Queen within Star City is something that we really haven't touched on. And I think that something happens in the finale that will help change that." (ComicBook.com article, page 37 of Spoilers thread)

...
-- At City of Heroes 2 (on May 13, 2016), DR said that Diggle's new helmet has an open visor in the front so that you can see his face. (Morrigan2575 post, page 37 of Spoilers thread)
...

Liza Warner AKA Lady Cop
-- MG: "As for Lady Cop, she’ll be returning next year.  (She’d be back this year, but Rutina is doing a pilot.)." (MG tumblr post dated Feb. 6, 2016, page 31 of Spoilers thread)

...

"James"
--  For S5, Arrow is adding the series regular role of “James,” an “irrepressibly charming” contemporary of Oliver’s who is described as “a man on a mission” — out as he is to avenge a tragic, violent loss from his own, years-ago past. The casting call seeks an actor of any ethnicity, in his late-20s to 30s and who comes across as a physical threat. The character is said to “just as easily shake your hand as your best friend or break your neck as your worst enemy — and you never know which one is coming. Either way, he’s more than capable of having a good time as he does it.” (5/2/16 TVLine article, page 36 of Spoilers thread)
-- Per Matt Mitovich, "James" audition scenes are not with Felicity. (MMitovich tweet, page 1034 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

First of all, thanks for your hard work collecting the spoilers as always, @tv echo.

1. The thing with the big bad feels like it will be someone the team has crossed paths with in the present timeline. Meaning it's not somebody random and it's not someone with a past grudge. It's someone who strikes directly because of the teams actions. And I won't lie, it does make me cast suspicious glances in Malcolm's direction.
2. I'm assuming the next two points are connected and that the overarching theme refers to Oliver's public life.
3. It's not that I'm advocating for the current helmet, but isn't part of its purpose identity concealment? You don't get much of that if his face is clearly visible. It should be changed, no argument there, but can't it have a tinted visor, one through which Dig can see, but he can't be easily seen?
4. I completely missed that Lady Cop will be back. To be honest, I'm not really sure how she ended up.
5. I'm starting to get a feeling that "James" will be a flashback character. Maybe Oliver's superior in the Bratva.

[BkWurm1]

Quote

 “I’ve heard that our big bad, our villain, is something that you can really only do once you’re in the fifth, sixth or seventh season of a TV show. ...As far as I know, they don’t have superpowers. I’ll tell you that.”

A team of villains? A group formed out of the show's past?

[Thundercatmary]

Of maybe an already established character that goes bad.

[BkWurm1]

Any guesses?

[bijoux]

29 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

A team of villains? A group formed out of the show's past?

I don't think it's a team, just him being vague on the sex of the villain. Due to his wording I definitely think it's someone they've crossed paths with since Oliver came back in 2012.

[catrox14]

My guesses:

Zombie!Moira
Zombie!Tommy
Helena
McKenna

[bijoux]

If you're throwing out zombies, here's something to freak out over - ZombieLaurel. To be clear, I don't think she's coming back ever. 

[Password]

I wouldn't mind Zombie Tommy.  The only other person I want back is Moira but not Zombie Moira.