Season 6 Spoiler Archive

[tv echo]

Now that Season 5 is done, it's time to move forward to Season 6.  Believe it or not, I already have a collection of spoilers for next season, which will be posted shortly.

This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New SPOILERS ONLY Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread.

[tv echo]

This summary is current (updated) through May 2017...

SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Renewal and Scheduling
-- Arrow was renewed for S6. (TCA Winter Press Tour, Jan. 8, 2017: RottenTomatoes article, page 244 of Mind Your Surroundings thread, and TVBytheNumbers article, page 197 of Starling City Times thread)
-- For S6, Arrow moves to Thursdays at 9pm ET, after Supernatural. (Network & Digital Upfronts, May 18, 2017: SpoilerTV article, page 222 of Starling City Times thread)
-- CW President Mark Pedowitz: "'Arrow' withstands the NFL... We felt it was a very different audience than 'This Is Us.'" (Network & Digital Upfronts, May 18, 2017: Los Angeles Times article, page 223 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: "We believe we have the best superhero programming anywhere... We'll never have more than four at one time, there'll be a rotation of some sort. And this programming will last as long as people watch it." (May 18, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 301 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: “We believe we have the best superhero programming around, anywhere... Our belief is we’ll never have more than four DC shows at a time, as far as that goes. So we’ll always have a rotation of some sort. ... This programming will last as long as people want to watch it. As long as we have quality programming, which we have thanks to Greg Berlanti[.] ... But it will last as long as people want to watch it. … It will keep going. Quality matters in this case.” (May 18, 2017 TVBytheNumbers article, page 301 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- In response to fans' concern that Arrow's move to Thursday signals the end of the show, MG tweeted: "Not at all. Look at Supernatural -- it's moved 8 times. And I think Arrow's always been a 9 PM show." (May 18, 2017 MG tweet, page 570 of Social Media thread)
-- SA tweeted: "I've been waiting 5 years to be behind Jensen & Jared." (May 18, 2017 SA tweet, page 570 of Social Media thread)

S6 Producers/Directors/Writers
-- MG: "We’re always working to improve diversity in the writing and directing ranks. That said, I view the current statistics regarding racial diversity to be as concerning as those for gender diversity – and vice versa. This year, 50% of Arrow’s directors were 'diverse' (female and/or non-white) and we’re looking to do better in Season 6. We’re aiming for similar diversity in Legends’ directors in Season 3." This was in response to following fan post: "I'm not on Twitter, so I can't respond there, but I saw the discussion about feminism that occurred last night (4/30), and wanted to say I'm glad you so adamantly stated that feminism is about equality. I'm looking forward to seeing this equality reflected in your shows' directors. So far, only 16 of Arrow's 115 episodes, and 5/33 LOT episodes, have been directed by a woman (14% and 15%, respectively). Can we expect a more equal ratio next season?" (May 1, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 564 of Social Media thread)
-- MG tweeted: "This year, Arrow's directing slate was 50% diverse (racial and gender). Next year we plan to improve on that." and "Nice try. But the S2 writing staff had only three white men on it. More than 50% diverse." and "I neglected to mention the incredible number of female directors who we offered episodes to this year who turned us down." (May 1, 2017 MG tweets, page 564 of Social Media thread)
-- Per MG, director Joel Novoa (who directed 519) will be returning for S6. MG: "Oh, we're bringing him back for sure!" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tweet, page 1 of New Spoilers thread, and May 1, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 564 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether Wendey Stanzler and Glen Winter will return to direct in S6, MG: "Wendey will be back for Season 6. Unfortunately, Glen is busy with Flash and Supergirl.  But I love them both.  Extremely talented, wonderful people." (May 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Spiro Skentzos tweeted: "So excited to be joining the #Arrow writing staff for #arrowseason6 & becoming part of the @CW_Arrow @DCComics @TheCW @ARROWwriters family!" (May 12, 2017 spirographo tweet, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “James Bamford, the fight coordinator, is now not only a director, but is essentially moving into a producer/director role starting next year. It’s something we’ve never had on the show before, and I think it’s going to be incredibly valuable.” (HVFF-Chicago, Mar. 25, 2017: Bambamfans article, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "James Bamford [will] be doing more work on the show next year - he's just brilliant." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)

S6 Episode Order and Planning/Production
-- Eric Goldman tweeted: "While they are doing more shows with shorter runs, [Mark] Pedowitz says he feels the DC shows lend themselves to 22-23 episode seasons. #TCA17." (TCA Winter Press Tour, Jan. 8, 2017: TheEricGoldman tweet, page 243 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether he'd like a shorter season order for Arrow (like LoT's 17 episodes), MG: "Oh yeah. A thousand percent. I don't think it will ever happen, but yes. As a writer, I would certainly not complain. It definitely helps. With Arrow, one of the things that we're experimenting with like with the B story in Season 5 is we had the Tobias Church (Chad L. Coleman) storyline at the beginning of the season that gave an identity to the first five episodes of the season. That was a little different from the longer arc of Prometheus (Josh Segarra). That's a long way of saying that one of the things we're trying to experiment with on Arrow is doing these mini-arcs in service of the larger 23-episode story that allows you to tell a story with a beginning, middle and end that isn't necessarily 23 episodes long. Maintaining that intensity over 23 episodes is not easy." (Apr. 4, 2017 Mashable article, page 57 of Spoilers thread and page 286 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how many episodes will be written before filming resumes in July, MG: "Generally speaking, we try to have 4-5 scripts written before production begins. And we usually have about 2 episodes broken beyond that." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Arrow going into S6, MG: "It's crazy, yeah, Arrow's going into Season 6. We are, uh - we just pitched to the studio yesterday our season-long plan. Um, it's, uh - it's exciting. And Legends is going into Season 3." (May 2, 2017 Ace The Cloak podcast, page 564 of Social Media thread)
-- On May 10, 2017, SA tweeted: "Had a wonderful 2 hour discussion about #Arrow S6 yesterday with our team. But before we get there... we are ALL NEW TONIGHT!!" (SA tweet, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On May 24, 2017, papp tweeted: "Arrow season 6 begins filming July 10th." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 1533 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Synopis
-- From May 18, 2017 Arrow press release at Upfronts: "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), Deputy Mayor Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), brilliant inventor Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), and his new recruits, street-savvy Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez) and meta-human Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy). Oliver has finally solidified and strengthened his crime-fighting team only to have it threatened when unexpected enemies from his past return to Star City, forcing Oliver to rethink his relationship with each member of his “family”. Based on the characters from DC, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”), Marc Guggenheim (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “Eli Stone”), Wendy Mericle (“Desperate Housewives,” “Eli Stone”), Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Eli Stone,” “Warehouse 13”) and Sarah Schechter (“The Flash,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”)." (Network & Digital Upfronts, May 18, 2017: The CW press release in Velocity23 post, page 222 of Starling City Times thread)

Transition from S5 to S6
-- On whether there's going to be a big time jump between S5 and S6 or just the usual few months, MG: "The usual few months. Tied to broadcast." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "The season premiere of Season 6 will have a flashback." Interviewer: "The island? Or just a flashback?" MG: "To the island. Um, if you take me literally at my word, then yes, back to the island." (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: May 24, 2017 Access Hollywood video, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- S6 may be a reaction to S5. MG: "I think, every season is always a reaction to the season that came before it. Um, and certainly that's been the case for the last three years, where - you know, Season 3 was incredibly dark. Um, I often describe it as oppresively dark. So we felt a real need to sort of shift, ah, things to, ah, the lighter side in Season 4. And once we did that, once we sort of recalibrated the show from a tonal perspective, it gave us the freedom to do Season 5 in a way that felt like - for lack of a better word - a different kind of darkness. Rather than darkness coming from people dying and grief and, you know, this - Season 3 really began with, you know, Sara's death - Sara Lance's death, and that, you know, really sort of cast a pall over the whole season. You know, Felicity was crying a lot towards the end of Season 3 and whatnot. Um, the darkness we were trying to get to in Season 5 was less emotional and more psychological." (Apr. 7, 2017 USA Today's The Mothership podcast, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he'll be writing Arrow comic series between S5 and S6 like he did with 2.5, MG: "To be honest, writing Season 2.5 was awesome, but very nearly killed me. That said, there’s something in the works that might scratch your itch." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll get another Arrow Season 2.5 style comic, MG: "No plans at the moment.  2.5 was a lot of fun, but it kinda nearly killed me.  That said, there are preliminary talks in the works that should scratch your itch – but not in comic form." (May 1, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We're going to have a big bang of an ending [for Season 5], and we're not going to know really the outcome until the end of season 6." (Apr. 24, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how S5 finale set up S6, WM: "We’re going to go out on a big cliffhanger, so that part is definitely going to be helping us galvanize the premiere. Because we’re closing such a big chapter, I think there are going to be some really new and exciting questions. What we’re really trying to do is set up a new dynamic in season 6. That will speak in so many different ways — on the ground level, we’re going to be rethinking how we tell stories because the flashbacks aren’t going to be what they were. We don’t have to service that backstory in the same way that we had to, so the way the show is written and broken is malleable at this point. By the same token, where all the characters are is an opportunity to redefine and for everybody to look back, reflect, and then start to look forward about where they want to go and where do they have the most impact in our lives? How are they going to be the best heroes they can be?" (May 9, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Okay Stephen said there's definitely the usual time jump in 6x01 but we'll get flashbacks explaining what happened." (HVFF-London, May 27, 2017): Smoakin_F tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On S5 finale, EBR: "I think you can look forward to the things you love, which is, a lot of heroic events, a lot of explosions, definitely death, and, um - I hope that all of you don't breathe through the whole thing, but live through it." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of EBR/JS/KC panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what EBR said: "Emily on the finale: there's a lot of explosions and definitely death. Yikes." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: JoAnne_Rowney tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Theme
-- SA: "The theme for Season 5 is legacy. From what I understand, the theme of Season 6 is family." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread, FanFestNews article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and lschin12 tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- MG: "You’ll see Lian Yu in Season 6." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per MG, the loft set will be back in S6. (Apr. 5, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread) 
-- On the likelihood of seeing the Queen mansion again, MG: "We burned it down in the Arrow Season 2.5 comic." (Apr. 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether S6 will feature more established DC characters, MG: "Totally possible." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan wishing for more mysteries in S6, MG: "We’re trying!" (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan asking for episode where the female characters actually do something together (go out to dinner, a spa date or even an undercover mission by themselves), MG replied: "It’s absolutely possible.  That said, you’ve probably noticed by now that the 'down time' in the lives of all our characters, male and female, isn’t really a place where the show lives." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan requesting a Dinah/Felicity bad-ass women team-up sometime, plus Thea and maybe Lyla, MG: "I’m  all for it!" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I’m generally not in favor of a musical episode of Arrow.  Flash did it so well and if we were to do a “concept” episode, I’m inclined to do something that hasn’t been done." (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 570 of Social Media thread)
-- On the possibility of doing a musical episode in S6, MG: "My attitude... is that Flash already did it and did it so well. Um, I think if we were inclined to do a - for lack of a better word - a device episode, um, I would - I'd rather go in a different direction and do something that hasn't been done before. Um, you know, so if we're going to get clever, we're going to try some type of device or [unintelligible word] narrative, uh, narrative machine, um, I'd be, you know, more interested in doing something non-musical." (Apr. 7, 2017 USA Today's The Mothership podcast, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Helix will be around possibly into Season 6, WM: “It’s a thread we leave dangling." (Apr. 26, 2017 TVLine article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she envisioned for the future of the show after S5, WM: "I think that’s an excellent question. I think that we’ve closed a chapter here in [Seasons] 1 through 5, and it’s very much been about Oliver looking back at his legacy and his family and where he’s come from. I think Season 6 and onward is going to be him thinking about who is he and where he’s going. Where does he go from here? And he has got a whole new team of people now to work with, and I think that will be a big part of it as well." (Oct. 28, 2016 CRB article, page 47 of Spoilers thread and page 215 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "We're going to try things in Season 6. They're going to work. We're going to try things in Season 6 that aren't going to work." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "Season 5 was about trying to get back to some of the nuts and bolts of Arrow, right? The way we started - kinda being, uh, street level crime fighting. Away from some of the magic, I think, and some of the supernatural things we kinda got into in Seasons 3 and 4 particularly. And I think we did a good job with that... I'm not exactly sure how that theme will continue in Season 6. The island, as you know, is gone. So there's no more flashbacks... So that's 7, 8 minutes or so of television, of storytelling, that now we have to get into. And, um, so there're other stories to tell. I mean, Diggle particularly is married to the leader or ARGUS. That's a great story. What is going on with the Suicide Squad? Um, how does - how do the prisoners on ARGUS, in ARGUS, how does that [film?]? ... That story alone is a six-episode arc if you wanted to go there. Then you have these other new characters. So I think, you know - I think we're going to delve into a lot of the other supporting characters next season. I don't know that for sure, but 8 minutes of television is a lot of storytelling." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- MG: "Last year, when we sort of realized we're going to go past Season 5, we basically made a collective decision that Season 5 would be the final year of flashbacks... Next year, in Season 6, what we'll end up doing is we'll do some episodes without any sort of flashbacks. We've [also] established over the first four seasons of proof of concept that we can do flashback stories that don't involve what I call the island narrative, even when he's not on the island. ... We still want to make that part of our storytelling, because we do like them. We like when those non-island flashbacks sort of illuminate what's going on in the present day. That'll always be a part of the show and a part of the show's storytelling structure. It just won't be telling a serialized story." Also MG: "We would totally do other characters," noting that Curtis would be a good character to center flashbacks on. MG: "We might even do a flashforward. You never know!... I think it would be fun to do it with Oliver. It might be fun to do it with Diggle." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 11, 2016: IGN article, page 42 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "We’re canceled after season 5. No, I’m kidding. We’ve talked about a lot of different things. It’s a little early to talk about season 6 and beyond, but I think one of the things that we feel very confident about is that we’ve demonstrated the show’s capacity to do flashback stories that aren’t always tied to what we call the island narrative. I imagine that in season 6 and beyond what you’d see is, where the storytelling calls for it, we would intercut a flashback story that just wasn’t tied to Oliver’s five years away from his home. Also this year, as we’ve dome in years past, we’ve periodically broken away from what I call the island narrative to tell other flashback stories. And who knows? You may even get a flash-forward story." (Oct. 4, 2016 Entertainment Weekly article, page 45 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “My instinct is that we’ll shake some stuff up as we always do in season six. Last year, we experimented with episodes that didn’t have any flashback components. We’ve been experimenting all along with episodes that have flashback components that aren’t tied to a serialized narrative. The way I look at it is those are all now tools that we have in our toolbox. We can do episodes that flash back to an non-island period, we can do episodes that don’t have flashbacks, we do a mini-arc of flashbacks, we might even do a flashforward one day. More than anything, it will just open up our storytelling opportunities if we could choose for each episode an approach that’s appropriate.” (Oct. 12, 2016 Nerdist article, page 46 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Next year, in Season 6, what we'll end up doing is we'll do some episodes without any sort of flashbacks. We've [also] established over the first four seasons of proof of concept that we can do flashback stories that don't involve what I call the island narrative, even when he's not on the island." Also MG: "We still want to make that part of our storytelling, because we do like them. We like when those non-island flashbacks sort of illuminate what's going on in the present day... That'll always be a part of the show and a part of the show's storytelling structure. It just won't be telling a serialized story." (Jan. 8, 2017 ComicBook article, page 51 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I think, going forward flashbacks are still a part of the show and we’ve seen in plenty of episodes we’ve done non-island, non-Russia flashbacks with Felicity…and we’re doing that again on 5.13, we’re going to flashback to Renee’s period before he was Wild Dog. That’s a tool in our toolbox. I don’t think we have an expectation to do a flashback every single episode of season 6, but again, it’s part and parcel of the show and we’ll just continue going on the way we are." (Jan. 9, 2017 Collider tweet & article, page 51 of Spoilers thread)
-- On the end of the island flashbacks after S5, MG: "I do welcome the shift. I think one thing we’ve been talking about — at this time of the year, we always start talking about next season and one of the things we’ve been saying is that when you go past five years, you have to shake things up and you have to change things around and I think telling a flashback story in five years was always our game, and I’m just excited that we’re sticking to it and I’m excited that it’s a chance to really open the show up next year. One of the things we love doing are those non-island flashbacks stories. We really have always enjoyed them and the fact that we’ll have the room and space to do them, again not every episode but as often as we want to is really enticing." (Jan. 9, 2017 Collider article, page 51 of Spoilers thread)
-- On what S6 will look like without the island flashbacks, MG: "We're already sort of talking in broad strokes about season 6, and I - I just think it'll be nice. Um. You know, the flashbacks have always been the hardest part of the show. You know, they're the hardest part to write and they're the hardest part to produce because it's really like doing, you know, one-and-a-half shows. Um. So, you know, I think it'll just allow us to be a little lighter on our feet in terms of the narrative. And I think, you know, it'll also be nice to see, you know, that money that we spend on the flashbacks end up on the screen in the present day, you know, in other ways. I really want to, like, you know, push the  -you know, I think the production value of Arrow has always been very, very high, but I feel like there's an opportunity next year to really push it - push it forward, uh, you know, even more. Um, and also, you know, like 513, um, we always, you know - even since season 1 - done, you know, what I call nonlinear flashbacks or the, you know, the non - you know, non-Lian Yu, telling-single-story flashbacks, um, you know, which we still want to keep as part and parcel of the show's, uh, you know, narrative, you know, narrative tool box. Um, so that - that won't change. But I think - I think it'll be good." (Mar. 1, 2017 Fake Nerd Guys podcast interview with MG, page 538 of Social Media thread) 
-- On S6 flashbacks, MG: "Basically, we will end the island story very definitively. Um, next year, our approach to the flashbacks will be very different. It'll be episode-specific flashbacks. So - and they won't be every episode. It'll be, if there's a reason to flash back, we'll absolutely do so. We will be having those kind of flashbacks in 601, the sixth season premiere." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: MYM Buzz video, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what MG said: "Everyone's excited to be done with flashbacks. They will be few and far between in S6. More relevant and not every ep." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- Per WM, she and MG have focused more on choosing new characters for flashbacks versus discussing how flashforwards would fit.  WM: "At least for the immediate future, we haven't talked about flashing forward as much as we have flashing back from different character perspectives... The nice thing is we've used the device on the show for five seasons. We have it in our tool kit now. I think we'll use it whenever it's appropriate, whenever it feels right. For me, I think it would be really fun to do a villain and see it from a villain's point of view, because that's such a shorthand for getting inside the head of the bad guys."  (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 11, 2016: IGN article, page 42 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "One of the things we talk about a lot is, 'Well, if we can't do this in season five, not only are these stories we could do in season six but how else are we setting up season six?' Because you have to be thinking about the end game, and when you're thinking about the end game of season five, those are the seeds of the next chapter. There is no question, everything you're saying is absolutely correct. It is going to be a reboot. Even as we're writing season five, and like I said, it is an answer to season one, it's also the closing of that chapter. When we come back for six, we're really looking down the barrel of, 'Okay, well we don't know how many more seasons we have. We hope we have a season six, we hope we have till season ten,' and you want to start planting, the same way we did in season one, those seeds for what is going to sustain the show for another season or two or three or four. ... That is a tricky endeavor, but it's also exciting because it gives you an opportunity to radically rethink the show. Not too radically, because you want it to still feel like Arrow, but we have a lot more real estate now because we won't have flashbacks in every episode. We do have the luxury of having created that structure in the past, and if we want to use it for the one of our characters or for a new character, to get into their heads or to understand their back story more deeply, we have the advantage of having that in our arsenal to use. A lot of questions are raised, and I think we'll be answering those while hopefully really setting some of that stuff up in the finale this year. It's going to be a good challenge." (Oct. 4, 2016 Empire article, page 45 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "I feel like we are going to stick the landing with Oliver and ending that chapter... I hope the fans agree. We've had a really fantastic time writing this season; it's been a blast. Moving forward into season 6, we're not calling it a reboot, because really the show is called Arrow and it's still about Oliver and his team, and that's not changing, but we don't have the flashbacks. What that's going to allow us to do is keep that device when we want it, but we don't have to keep pushing the five year storyline down the road. It gives us a lot more real estate to play around with, a lot more space to hopefully bring in some cool villains and to tell new character stories, and we have a lot of new characters on the show whose backstories we haven't really had the chance to experience." (Apr. 24, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Here’s the thing. There’s so much story on the show, and it’s really exciting for the writers and for everyone on the creative side to be thinking, 'Wow, we really have a lot more real estate to play with.' We always have so much story and we’re always pushing story. It’ll be great to have this extra space to play around in. That said, the flashbacks have worked so well on the show, they’re not going to be gone forever. We’re obviously not going to be going back to Lian Yu and we’re not going to be telling the story of the five years that Oliver was gone, but we might get some glimpses into the backstories of other characters, which would be really fun." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “Moving into season 6, we’re not calling it a reboot because the show’s still called Arrow and it’s still about Oliver and his team, so that part’s not changing, but we aren’t going to have the flashbacks... It gives us a lot more real estate, a lot more space to hopefully bring in some cool villains and tell some cool character stories — and we have some new characters on the show whose backstories we really haven’t had an opportunity to experience. We saw a little bit of Wild Dog’s, we haven’t seen that much of Dinah’s. If we bring in anybody new or we’d love to have Ragman back at some point as well, we can use the flashback device to tell other people’s kind of islands, if you will. And that part is very exciting.” (Apr. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Flashbacks, or some variation thereof, will always be a theme in the show, but it doesn't always have to be my flashbacks. Maybe we go to some flashforwards. Who knows? They have a much harder driving force behind them this year because we literally have a list, no pun intended, of all this stuff that we have to get done." (Oct. 5, 2016 IGN article, page 46 of Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I think that going forward in Season 6, flashbacks in some way, shape or form, and that sort of - that story within a story, will always be a part of the show. But Oliver's journey and that five years that he was away, and the wig, thank god, after this year, will be retired... Maybe it's a flashforward, maybe there's episodes with no flashbacks. I couldn't tell you. But after this year, and there will be an after this year, despite those epitaphs, there will be some type of change." (HVFF-Atlanta, Nov. 20, 2016: Video of full SA panel in BeautifulBallad article and periscope livestream link of full SA panel in smoaksqueen tweet, page 49 of Spoilers thread)
-- On what the flashbacks ending mean for S6, and what he hopes to see moving forward, SA: "I am open and excited about any possible idea, whether that’s a simple flash-forward narrative that we carry through the season, which I think we did to varying degrees of success in season 4. If that means that simply the flashbacks do not exist anymore and it allows us to expand the universe in terms of focusing more on other people’s backstories, not even necessarily flashbacks of people’s home life, just their life outside of the Arrow cave, I think that’s interesting. We can do that because, quite simply, we have more time, we have more pages, we have more chance for dialogue. I know they’re kicking around some ideas, but truthfully I have no earthly idea if there is any sort of element that we will be bringing into season 6 or if we just simply acknowledge that we pitched the show as a five-year origin story and we got to do it, which I think in and of itself is an accomplishment. There’s not a ton left on television from new shows from 2012. Just the fact that we made it that far is worth patting ourselves on the back for, ever so briefly." (Feb. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 53 of Spoilers thread) 
-- SA: "I don't think that flashbacks on the show are done. I think they'll exist in a different way. And I think we'll see a lot more episodes that we saw - we saw a couple of episodes this year with no flashbacks. So think they'll be something that'll be used to tell stories. And maybe they'll involve me... I think we've closed the book on shipwreck rescue. But that doesn't mean we can't zip back to before getting on the boat. And that doesn't mean we can't zip back to unseen things in Season 1 through Season 5. And that doesn't mean we can't use the flashbacks as we used them with Rene this year. Or with Dinah. Or as we've done with Diggle and Felicity and anyone. I mean, one of the things that I'm most excited about for the show is that I think, at no point in the history of the show have we had such a deep and talented, uh, capable cast. And I'm very, very excited to hand over that 8 minutes of every episode that had to be all me. That's very exciting." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Nocking Point party video in Huchgirl tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "The island, as you know, is gone. So there's no more flashbacks... So that's 7, 8 minutes or so of television, of storytelling, that now we have to get into." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)

Team Arrow
-- On whether Team Arrow make it through the season finale in one piece, WM: "That is a great question that will not be answered until Season 6." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Rick Gonzalez, who plays Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog, and Juliana Harkavy, who plays Dinah Drake/Black Canary, have been promoted to series regulars for S6. (Apr. 13, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 1481 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 216 of Starling City Times thread)
-- SA: “Everyone’s conflicted [about Oliver's then decision to kill Adrian Chase]... One of the things that we’re doing, which I think we tend to do a relatively decent job of, is we are laying some elements in place in how crazy his decisions are that really could lay the basis for a huge source of conflict next year. But yeah, [Oliver’s] going off the deep end a little bit, which is the hallmark of a good villain.” (Mar. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article)
-- DR: "Uh, oh, and next season, there's so much story! You guys like the new recruits? Really, honestly, don't give me - you like the new recruits? (Mixed reaction and very little clapping) Well, there's new blood. You got to flesh out those stories. I said it a million times. I think Warner Brothers, CW, and the writers and cast agree, I think the strength of the show is Oliver, Diggle, Felicity. (Some fans cheer loudly and clap) I think everyone agrees with that. And I think that's always going to be the core. But there's a lot of other story to tell... There's a lot of stuff still yet to be told. I mean, what's great about the show is that these characters are so rich, a lot of them in their back story that we're creating on Arrow, that you can spend three or four episodes on one character, right? So there's a lot of stuff that you can tell." (HVFF-Chicago, Mar. 26, 2017: jbuffyangel video of DR panel, page 56 of Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- On how a show would be boring if the characters had no problems, MG: "Seriously, like, if I get [unintelligible word] on twitter one more 'Can Oliver & Felicity get married, have babies, and go to Bed Bath and Beyond?' - like, that's not a good episode." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: video of IndieWire's Fan Favorites Showrunners panel, page 557 of Social Media thread)
-- MG retweeted the following media tweet with comment: "Some context..." Media tweet from Wondercon: "'If I get pitched another 'Can Oliver & Felicity get married and go to Bed Bath & Beyond'?' @mguggenheim on plots that would kill drama." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Apr. 4, 2017 damianholbrook and MG tweets, page 551 of Social Media thread)
-- MG tweeted: "In the @ARROWwriters room and they are actually pitching on the Olicity Bed Bath and Beyond episode. #expiredcoupons." (Apr. 4, 2017 MG tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG tweeted: "In the @ARROWwriters room and they are actually pitching on the Olicity Bed Bath and Beyond episode. #expiredcoupons." (Apr. 4, 2017 MG tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG tweeted: "While I appreciate the mental gymnastics to get to a place of sexism, the BBB joke was based on actual requests we get." and "Is there a similarly rich history of people not knowing how to take a joke?" (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Apr. 4, 2017 MG tweets, page 551 of Social Media thread)
-- MG replied: "Y'know what? I think I can make that happen!" to fan who posted: "Dear Marc, here is a thought. When a relationship breaks up and then you get a new boyfriend, you change the bedding in your bedroom. It's weird to sleep with the new guy in the same sheets. Any woman will tell you this. So, I'm thinking wondering when Oliver and Felicity get back together again, could you please lobby for some new linen? P.S. I have no idea where they can buy that... Hugs to you, sir. We all love Oliver Queen." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Now, [Oliver & Felicity are] working together in the context of not knowing what their future is, romantically. ... I think both sides provide — having them together and apart —  certain types of storytelling opportunities. This season has certainly given us different ones. But I think ultimate the key thing, and I think is true for so many series, especially ones where you’ve been fortunate enough to go to 100 episodes and beyond, that you have that central core relationship and as writers you have that opportunity to explore it. And you can take it many different directions. We definitely have some ideas about where we’re headed in Season 6. We’ll see where that goes." (Dec. 19, 2016 Blastr article, page 50 of Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report of what SA said: "Stephen said that hypothetically (if Felicity is still alive), #Olicity wouldn't rush their relationship next season. (1/2)" and "He also said that a #Olicitiy crossover wedding is a good idea and asked who we had been talking to when we suggested it. (2/2)." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: lschin12 tweets, page 1536 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "I was going thru the HVFF IG tag and someone asked SA who would get married first: Olicity or Westallan. He said probably Westallan. I'm not sure that would have been his response if they were already talking married Olicity in S6." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: May 29, 2017 Chaser post, page 1537 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When fan asked for an Olicity quote with his autograph, SA wrote "Please say yes" on pic of him with fan and EBR. (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Alice160383 tweet, page 581 of Social Media thread)
-- Media report: "Olicity baby? Stephen also apparently told fans if there was an Olicity baby he'd go for a girl called Moira." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: May 29, 2017 Mirror Online article, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- On what needs to happen in S6, DR: "And we got to see what happens with Oliver and Felicity. Clearly."  Interviewer: "Olicity. As everyone likes to call it." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Interviewer mentioned that fans sometimes complain that Arrow gets too dark. DR said that you can't please everyone. He then said that he thought fans preferred Arrow to be darker. He mentioned the beginning of S4 when Oliver was all cheery and happy with Felicity in their home life, and fans were booing that. However, DR added: "Though I do think that they need to get their act together. I think we have to kind of - yeah, I think we have to kind of make a decision on that one, you know.... (Interviewer interjected, "They're like the Ross and Rachel of Arrow.") Yeah, yeah. I think they should, you know, be like John and Lyla. They're together and no one makes a big fuss about it. And that's just that. Go on and get on with your lives." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "I think we should make a decision on Oliver and Felicity. Get them together or apart. One or the other. Get that out of the way! And, uh, just make a decision... But for me, if they're together, they should kinda be like, uh - like - like Diggle and Lyla. It's just a matter of fact they're together. No bid deal. Whatever. Keep it moving. You know what I mean? So - or they're apart. I think, just for me, there's a storyline there that just has to be fleshed down. Finally. Alright? To me." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- On where this will all leave Oliver at the end of S5, going forward into S6, MG: "Uh, I don't want to spoil too much. I would say, certainly Chase is trying to, you know, manipulate Oliver into being the kind of person that he believes Oliver to be. Um, so, on a very sort of elemental level, the season finale is about, 'Can Oliver, you know, prove Chase wrong?' 'Can Oliver prove to Chase that he's not the person that Chase believes him to be?' So, um, I don't want to spoil sort of the answer to that, but, um, believe it or not, we're already starting to talk about Season 6 and, um, one of the conversations Wendy Mericle and I were having yesterday was, 'What is the state of Oliver's, you know, willingness to kill, post-Season 5?' Um, and, I think, uh, you know - I think you'll have to tune in to Season 6 to find out the answer to that. But I'm, you know - I'm very excited about the fact that we're - you know, at the end of Season 5, getting into Season 6, really getting into, I think, some very nuanced, uh, sort of storytelling. I mean, the - the psychology on the show has become in my mind deliciously messy, um, if not - like I said, we've moved away from sort of very binary sort of storytelling, where it was either left - Oliver was faced with the choice of going left or right. You know, now it's a choice between going left, right or tomato... the path before him is a lot less clear cut. Um, and sort of to that end, one thing we want to do, moving into Season 6, is really evolve Oliver, um, and - and put him in some positions that we haven't put him in before. Um, you know, one of the things I'm proud of is that, you know, I'm very glad that people are responding to Season 5 the way they're responding to it. Um, you know, and I can't think of too many TV shows that, uh, have had this kind of, you know, season, uh, five years into their run.Um, and we're not finished yet. We're still - we never take our foot off the gas. We really, uh, try very hard to make each season the best season we possibly can." (Apr. 7, 2017 USA Today's The Mothership podcast, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "We’ve been talking about Oliver seeing a psychologist literally since Season 1.  Maybe one day it’ll happen." This was in response to following fan post: "Oliver lost for 5 years has suffered and in these last five years has suffered too! 10 years of suffering. Doesn't Oliver need psychological help? such as a psychologist? one day, will we see him go to the psychologist?" (Apr. 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there was any chance we will see a return of the magic Oliver used in S4, MG: "You never know, but it feels like a one-off." (May 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver will complete his emotional journey of finding himself and be at one with himself by the end of S5, WM: "You know, I don’t know that anyone who has two identities is ever going to be fully a cohesive person, as this season explored. What I do think he is going to end with is this sense of peace about the last five years and what he put himself through. He’s going to go into Season 6 with this degree of experience and this level of wisdom that we’ve never seen him own before. I think he’s always had it, but he’s now at this place where he’s done enough good both as the mayor and as Green Arrow that he can speak from this place of confidence. He’s a little bit older, a little more mileage and a lot more experience. That’s a new role for him to play. That’s something we’re very excited to see him grow into." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “Oliver is moving toward forging a new legacy... He’s put this past and this burden from his family to rest and he’s moving forward to redefine that in season 6. It’s all new, and he’s got this wealth of experience and knowledge to draw from now, and a team to work with.” (Apr. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver comes back from everything Prometheus has done to him, WM: "That’s one of the things we wanted to do was bring him to his lowest point this year. He’s going to have to, in some ways, let go of all of this, and let go of the past. Really the answer to that question will be in the premiere of season 6, which is how is he going to start rebuilding and what is his new legacy going to look like? He’s going to have to start rebuilding, because Chase has left pretty much everything in tatters." (May 9, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver being able to explain his frequent accidents, injuries, and how often he seems to be harassed or taken hostage, WM: “The mayor’s office has gotten really good at covering up all that stuff, but it’s a good question... I think we’ll be able to find story ways to skirt past that, but it highlights what’s going to be a central question for season 6, which is, how can he do both? We’ve played with that in the past in different ways before, but I think that the success of what he’s done in the mayor’s office and his ability to have impact is going to raise those stakes to a different level and hopefully create some great stories.” (May 10, 2017 ComicBook article, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if there was ever a time when he wanted to punch Oliver in the face, SA: "Um, like today? (Audience laughs) No, I mean, look, I do like playing a character that has flaws, for sure, because flaws are what make us interesting. Um, I haven't talked with the producers a lot about Season 6, but one of the things that I did say is that, based on everything that has happened this year, everything about the introduction of the team and relying on other people and not just getting yourself in a predicament and immediately drilling down and saying 'I'll handle it by myself.'  I said, going forward, Oliver has to learn that's not the right way. If we're still doing that after everything that's happened this year, people are going to be like, 'well, he's never going to learn, I'm probably going to change the channel.' ... And I think it's very important that, next year, he learns those lessons. And you start to - it would be nice to see someone be irrational and, like, brick-headed, and have Oliver go, 'ehh, maybe think about this for a little bit for the following reasons.' I think that would be a more interesting thing to play going forward with the show." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- When asked what trait of Oliver he would want to get rid of, SA: "Uh, eyeshadow. No. Any trait of Oliver that I would get rid of? Uh, I would just say that Oliver is a very - he's a very linear thinker. He's a very task-oriented person. And, based on the nature of our show, he doesn't take a lot of time to stop and relax. You know, in our penultimate episode this year, Felicity says to Oliver - she's like, 'How's this going for you? You don't know how to relax.' 'It's torture, it's awful, I hate it.' It would be nice if that wasn't something that he [needed?]- conflict and strength and adversarial people in his life [to feel normal?-unintelligible words]." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- When asked how he thought Oliver would cope as a full-time dad (if something happened to Samantha), SA: "Um, that would be a very interesting story, I'll tell you that much. I think that - I think that Oliver is more equipped to be a father than maybe he realizes... And I think - I hope that he would do a good job. Um, but that would certainly be an interesting dynamic... Yeah, it's too bad that at the end of the season, everybody died." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread, and JoAnne_Rowney tweet, page 581 of Social Media thread)
-- On May 29, 2017, SA posted pic of himself with mustache and beard, and tweeted: "Season 6 Training." (SA tweet, page 1537 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- On whether EBR will be returning as a main character in S6, MG: "Yes." (May 1, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan who requested confirmation that EBR isn't going anywhere, MG replied: "I can confirm." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he knows what Felicity's main arc is going to be in S6, MG: "Yup." (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Felicity's S6 storyline, MG: "I don’t want to over-hype anything – I’ve been burned before – but we have a storyline for Felicity in Season 6 that we wanted to do in Season 5 and that fans have been clamoring for. (And before you hit me back, NO we’re not doing it because fans were clamoring for it.)" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Felicity's big plans to turn her company into a beacon of hope and help everyone (medically), MG: "It hasn’t been dropped.  We still want to tell that story." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether, with the island flashbacks coming to an end, this means we will get some flashbacks of other characters, specifically Felicity's childhood or even more goth Felicity in MIT, MG: "That’s absolutely the intention – non-Oliver flashbacks." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I'll take it." This was in response to following fan post: "FELICITY FLASHBACKS THAT IS ALL PLEASE AND THANK YOU. I WILL FORGIVE YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR --OKAY SOME OF YOUR-- MISDEEDS." (Apr. 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “There’s two lines in the sand that I’ve drawn for Arrow for myself... I can’t speak for Greg [Berlanti] or for Wendy [Mericle], but for as long as I’m involved with the show, the two things I never want to do is kill off Thea [Willa Holland] and put Felicity in a mask and a costume. Those, to me, are two lines that I just think are a bridge too far. Thea, because we’ve taken so many family members away from Oliver, and Felicity because when you put a character like that in a costume, I think it diminishes who that character is and it makes the idea of superheroics seem silly.” (Mar. 28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 283 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether he ever sees himself "killing felicity in normal reality," MG: "No, but only because (a) she’s a fictional character and (b) I don’t want to go to jail." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's any chance we'll see a Felicity/Thea/Dinah only mission come S6, MG: "We’d love that!" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan requesting a Dinah/Felicity bad-ass women team-up sometime, plus Thea and maybe Lyla, MG: "I’m  all for it!" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- Felicity may seek a future away from Team Arrow. WM: "We hinted at it last year, which is when she had quit the team and she was like, I'd really like to do something. There are other ways to do good in the world and to fulfill her own personal mission, and going forward, especially in coming seasons, that is something she very much wants to do, and we really want to explore for her... We talk in the writers room a lot about giving Felicity something that is not on the team and has nothing to do with Oliver and is very much her own thing, and that's something I think we really look forward to in season six." (Apr. 26, 2017 Eonline article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Felicity in action is something we all love. The writers love it. We all love to see Emily [Bett Rickards] picking up a weapon and doing something badass. [laughs] I think she wears it really well, and I know the fans love to see it. She’s going to be in the action. We’re heading into the finale. Felicity is always at the center of everything, right along with Oliver. She’s definitely going to be in the middle of the fight, for sure." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether this is a new direction for Felicty, WM: "She’s definitely heading towards new directions, especially with what we’re talking about very loosely in the writers’ room with Season 6. She’s going to be taking on some new roles. Whether or not those new roles lend themselves to guns and that sort of fighting, I can’t tell you, but she’s a badass in everything that she does, whether that involves a weapon or not… That’s how we see her, and that’s what we like to see her doing." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Emily isn't going anywhere." (Mar. 27 or 28, 2017 SA tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EBR: "We're working towards Smoak Technologies, I can't say when but I'd say that's going to happen." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Mirror Online article and JoAnne_Rowney tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Smoak Technologies, EBR: "Well, I do think it's definitely in the [platform?] for the story that'll [unintelligible word] eventually. But I can't tell you when because I think it's sort of one of those things where [unintelligible words-something about if there's time for it, etc.]... But it has to happen, because didn't we see it in Legends? So it does have to happen." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of EBR/JS/KC panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether she'd like to see Felicity suit up, EBR: "I already feel she's a superhero... just without a mask. I've never felt that she needed that." She added that Felicity's abilities - hacking and helping the team - made her a hero, rather than powers. EBR: "I'm happy to listen to those who want to argue, but I will always think Felicity at her core is a hero anyway... She doesn't need to get a suit." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: May 29, 2017 Mirror Online article, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what EBR said: "I told Emily I'm excited for Felicity's arc on #Arrow S6, I hope it's a great one and she said she's excited too." (HVFF-London, May 27, 2017): itakha2015 tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- On whether DR will still be a series regular in s6, MG: "Absolutely." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he knows what Diggle's main arc is going to be in S6, MG: "Yup." (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether they'll plan a good storyline for Diggle next season, MG: "First, thanks for the kind words.  We have a cool story in mind for Diggle in Season 6, but to be honest, the nature of Arrow is never for our characters to have it too easy." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On the Diggle/Dinah chemistry, Natalie Abrams: "Well, when I asked Wendy Mericle about it, Wendy was like, that was purely just the result of great chemistry between two great actors working off of each other. But she says she's not ruling it out in the future." (Apr. 28, 2017 EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 218 of Starling City Times thread)
-- DR said that they'll explore more of what the Spartan helmet can do in S6. (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "I pitched, along with James Bamford... We pitched Carl Weathers for Diggle's father. Wouldn't that be great? I mean, I don't know if it would work. Carl's doing what he's doing now. He has a huge resurgence in his career. Um, but it'd be nice to get Carl Weathers. Apollo Creed as Diggle's father. ... I think there's been some discussion about Carl Weathers as finally a parent for John Diggle." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, 586 of Social Media thread)
-- When asked about Diggle's attitude toward metahumans, DR said that metahumans are just "out of [Diggle's] wheelhouse." For that reason, he thought it would be interesting if Diggle's doppelganger turned out to be a metahuman. (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "I think John Diggle is the most evolved character in the series. Comparing him to Oliver, he is just a regular man. But his sense of loyalty and responsibility is what makes people stick to the character." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: UPR Dialogue article, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "And, um, so there're other stories to tell. I mean, Diggle particularly is married to the leader or ARGUS. That's a great story. What is going on with the Suicide Squad? Um, how does - how do the prisoners on ARGUS, in ARGUS, how does that [film?]? ... That story alone is a six-episode arc if you wanted to go there." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)
-- DR: "Diggle and Lyla. She's the leader of ARGUS, for god's sakes. Like, what does that do to their household? His son grows up to be Connor Hawke. Gimme a break! That's like rich. We can do some time-travelling... Who the hell is Diggle's doppelganger? Right? I'm just saying. I'm not a writer... Was Diggle hatched or does he have parents? Have we seen his parents, for god's sakes? Everyone has parents on this show, except for John Diggle... So there's a story." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)
-- Fan said that Diggle started from a military man/bodyguard to now a family man/vigilante known as Spartan, and asked if he expected that or liked that. DR: "Well, a couple of things. Number one, practically, Diggle could no longer run around while you had Speedy in a red leather outfit, Green Arrow in a green leather outfit, the Canary in a black leather outfit, and Diggle in jeans and a bomber jacket. You just couldn't do it, right? He had his Glock and everyone else was a superhero. So practically he had to get some sort of concealment and armament, and we wanted to make sure that was some - in some way practical with his character, so we made kevlar and camouflage and [unintelligible words]. We have to find out what the heck this helmet does by the way, which is another story. Anyway, um, Diggle has been through his catharsis. He has been through his Afghanistan. He has been through his island. Arrow is a character that - the character's being created. I think that the Diggle-Lyla relationship and Diggle as a character is probably about three or four years more evolved than Oliver. He's adjusted to the idea of being both a father and a vigilante. Oliver's still struggling with that. He's still trying to figure out how to be true to his family, have a relationship, be a vigilante, deal with his darkness. He's still figuring that stuff out. Diggle has - he's been through that. And that's why he's such a wonderful friend to Oliver. Because he can mentor him. And he can deal with his post-traumatic-stress syndrome, which is exactly what Oliver's been dealing with. So - and he understands that as a soldier. So I think, um, Diggle has made the adjustment. So how is - how was that done? I think, just understanding the character. I think John Diggle is a very evolved character. Probably the most evolved of the group." (Puerto Rico Comic Con, May 27, 2017: LosCriticologos video of DR panel, page 584 of Social. Media thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- In response to fan requesting a Dinah/Felicity bad-ass women team-up sometime, plus Thea and maybe Lyla, MG: "I’m  all for it!" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "You're going to see some conflict between Diggle and Lyla... Lyla is the leader of ARGUS. She has her finger on the Suicide Squad. How does that impact a man like John Diggle, when they cohabitate? I'm looking forward to them exploring that; what Flashpoint did to the couple. We're talking about that at the end of the season [Season 5] and more next season [Season 6]." (Mar. 19, 2017 TVInsider article, page 55 of Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "You know, I think there's going to be some conflict between Diggle and Lyla. Lyla's his wife, who's the leader of ARGUS, has her finger on the pulse of the Suicide Squad. So we have to explore some of that. We already talked a little bit about that in Season 5. So I think in Season 6 and coming seasons come up, I think that's just ripe, right? He lives with the new Amanda Waller. He lives with her. So, um, I think that's just built-in conflict. And, um, just what happens with those criminals from ARGUS - um, I think that's just built-in story. So, we'll be exploring that." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR interview, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- DR said that he thought the whole Diggle/Lyla and ARGUS story was "untapped" and needed to be explored. (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan asked if Cheetah (ARGUS prisoner) will appear in S6. DR said that it was part of that whole story potential Lyla being the new Amanda Waller, ARGUS and ARGUS prisoners that needs to be explored. DR thought that we'll see some of the ARGUS prisoners being integrated into the story in S6, not necessarily Cheetah and not necessarily the Suicide Squad, but he didn't know how yet. (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan asked if they'll take Lyla down a dark road and force Diggle to choose between his affection and love for his wife and his obligation to Oliver. DR: "You just wrote a six-episode arc in Season 6. Thank you very much... That's a great question. That's a great story. My short answer is 'yes' because we've already talked about that. That's clearly where much of the story's going to be going in Season 6 because we already touched on that in Season 5. Um, how much we want to explore it is the question. Um, I don't know if Amanda - if Lyla will become Amanda Waller - if she'll go that road, go that dark. And, you know, Diggle is one to talk. You know, it's not like he's not a vigilante. I mean, he is. So it's - but he has his own code and his own sense of righteousness. But I think you'll see the family quarrel first. And, um, I don't know if they'll take it as far as him having to decide between Oliver and Lyla, but I - I think we'll see some of that element. It's a 26 - 23, I'm sorry - show season. So we're going to touch on that for sure in Season 6." (Harrisburg Comic Con, May 20, 2017: Next Level Radio video of DR panel, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- On Apr. 17, 2017, Audrey Marie Anderson tweeted: "Excited to announce I’m doing a second season of Ice! @AudienceNetwork #ICE." (aud_anderson tweet, page 29 of Arrow Stars In Other Roles thread) [AFFECTS HER AVAILABILITY]

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- In response to fans expressing concern that we don't lose Thea (WH) and Lance (PB) as regulars next season, MG: "Paul and Willa are still regulars." and "You won't." (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr posts, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “There’s two lines in the sand that I’ve drawn for Arrow for myself... I can’t speak for Greg [Berlanti] or for Wendy [Mericle], but for as long as I’m involved with the show, the two things I never want to do is kill off Thea [Willa Holland] and put Felicity in a mask and a costume. Those, to me, are two lines that I just think are a bridge too far. Thea, because we’ve taken so many family members away from Oliver, and Felicity because when you put a character like that in a costume, I think it diminishes who that character is and it makes the idea of superheroics seem silly.” (Mar. 28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 283 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether there's any chance we'll see a Felicity/Thea/Dinah only mission come S6, MG: "We’d love that!" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan requesting a Dinah/Felicity bad-ass women team-up sometime, plus Thea and maybe Lyla, MG: "I’m  all for it!" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I ship that, too!  (Assuming you’re referring to Rene and Thea.)" This was in response to following fan post: "Wild Queen in season 6 please and thank you." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- In response to fans expressing concern that we don't lose Thea (WH) and Lance (PB) as regulars next season, MG: "Paul and Willa are still regulars." and "You won't." (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr posts, page 58 of Spoilers thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- On whether EK will still be a series regular in S6, MG: "Absolutely." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK posted pic of himself as Mr. Terrific with KC as Black Siren in posed shot, and tweeted: "Hope you all are having a Terrific Tuesday! #TerrificSiren #SneakPeak #Season6 #Arrow." (May 30, 2017 EK tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread
-- On whether Curtis will be back in S6, EK: "You know, they keep telling me I will, but you never know. (Laughter) It’s like, 'I’m back!' and then dead on episode 2. You’re like, 'Nooooooo! Why?!?!' (Laughter)." (Apr. 28, 2017 TrunkSpace article, page 218 of Starling City Times thread)
-- EK: "In Season 6, you’ll definitely see more of Curtis’ personal life and some of the shenanigans he gets into outside of the team." (May 3, 2017 CBR article, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if Curtis survived the island explosion, EK replied: "You know, they really keep us in the dark. We don't get our scripts until probably three or four days before we start shooting. Um, as far as I know, I'm still working next season. But I would not - anything can happen, you know, they call you up, like, 'hey, brother, you're dying in episode 1, just wanted to let you know.' But, um, I think, um, you know, a lot of us will survive, you know, and come back and try to pick up the pieces of the fallout of that ending - um, I don't want to spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen it. But, yeah, you know, I think it's going to be a great season. The way we ended is going to lead off to some really cool things for Season 6, and I think you'll see us really dealing with that ending, like, in a really in-depth way." (MCM London Comic Con, May 27, 2017: Flicks And The City video of EK interview, page 578 of Social Media thread)
-- On the impracticality of Mr. Terrific's hair and make-up, EK said that even SA's mask takes 20 minutes to apply, so none of it makes sense.  EK also said: "I think that's definitely something we're addressing next year. In a not so subtle way. Like, I won't be wearing braids next year. Um, and, we're just trying to make the mask more efficient and just help the process. ... So I feel like, as far as the 'canon' goes, you know, um, Marc said something really funny. He's like, uh, 'Curtis is a meta-human. His only ability is he braids his hair instantly.' (Laughs) ... Yeah, you see, I was saying there's an African speedster somewhere that people don't know about that comes to do it. But, um, Curtis and Felicity could've created some machine... that did it really quick.... Hopefully, they address it. That'd be really cool." (MCM London Comic Con, May 27, 2017: Flicks And The City video of EK interview, page 578 of Social Media thread)
-- On Curtis' failed marriage to Paul, EK said that Curtis still loves Paul, but that he will need to get out and date a little bit, and then see "if he can possibly rekindle his relationship."  EK: "But you'll definitely see him move on in some capacity from that." (MCM London Comic Con, May 27, 2017: Flicks And The City video of EK interview, page 578 of Social Media thread)
-- EK: "Curtis is going to get into the dating scene. He's going to get a job, you know. He's going to help Olicity maybe happen again." (MCM London Comic Con, May 28, 2017: prince mojo video of EK interview, page 584 of Social Media thread)
-- Per EK, there will be more T-spheres and other tech coming from Curtis. He also thought that we'll see Curtis work on that salmon ladder next season. (MCM London Comic Con, May 28, 2017: prince mojo video of EK interview, page 584 of Social Media thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- Rick Gonzalez, who plays Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog, has been promoted to series regular for S6. (Apr. 13, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 1481 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 216 of Starling City Times thread)
-- On whether we'll see another Rene flashback this season, MG: "We know very specifically what each episode's flashback content is going to be and we're not going to see another Rene-specific flashback this year." WM: "Maybe Season 6." (Feb. 15, 2017 TVGuide article, page 53 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I ship that, too!  (Assuming you’re referring to Rene and Thea.)" This was in response to following fan post: "Wild Queen in season 6 please and thank you." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “[W]e have some new characters on the show whose backstories we really haven’t had an opportunity to experience. We saw a little bit of Wild Dog’s, we haven’t seen that much of Dinah’s.” (Apr. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG tweeted: "Hope becomes reality. Back for season 6!!! ??" (May 29, 2017 RG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Rory Regan AKA Ragman
-- MG: "Totally a chance of seeing Rory again.  We love the character and we love Joe.  We discussed bringing him back at the end of Season 5, but the story took us in another direction.  Still totally on the table for Season 6." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Rory Regan will return for the finale, MG: "Season 6, I’m afraid." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Rory Regan can return, MG: "We love Rory.  If Joe is game, we’ll absolutely have him back." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “If we bring in anybody new or we’d love to have Ragman back at some point as well, we can use the flashback device to tell other people’s kind of islands, if you will. And that part is very exciting.” (Apr. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)

Dinah Drake (FKA Tina Boland) AKA Black Canary
-- Juliana Harkavy, who plays Dinah Drake, has been promoted to series regular for S6. (Apr. 13, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 1481 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 216 of Starling City Times thread)
-- On whether we will finally hear someone call Dinah "Black Canary" before this season ends, MG: "Nothing beyond 514's reference.  But in Season 6…" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I’ll be honest… I’m not wild about either line of dialogue, iconic or not.  Sorry." This was in response to following fan post: "marc will we see dinah say any iconic black canary lines like "let them hear the black damn canary" or "one canary cry coming up" i love juliana's black canary (the most lol) you're doing great with her!" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 562 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether there's any chance we'll see a Felicity/Thea/Dinah only mission come S6, MG: "We’d love that!" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan requesting a Dinah/Felicity bad-ass women team-up sometime, plus Thea and maybe Lyla, MG: "I’m  all for it!" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see Black Siren working together with Dinah Drake or will they hate each other, MG: "[P]art of the fun of bringing Katie back is seeing her character interact with Juliana’s. Make of that what you will, too.  :)" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether E2 Laurel and Dinah will become frenemy and bond over their losses of the men that they loved and whether Black Siren will join Team Arrow, MG: "I guess I’m gonna have to ask you to watch Season 6…" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan's suggestion that episode title for Siren/Canary episode could be "Scream Queens," MG: "That’s pretty great.  I may steal that." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “[W]e have some new characters on the show whose backstories we really haven’t had an opportunity to experience. We saw a little bit of Wild Dog’s, we haven’t seen that much of Dinah’s.” (Apr. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the Diggle/Dinah chemistry, Natalie Abrams: "Well, when I asked Wendy Mericle about it, Wendy was like, that was purely just the result of great chemistry between two great actors working off of each other. But she says she's not ruling it out in the future." (Apr. 28, 2017 EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 218 of Starling City Times thread)
-- JH posted pics from her S6 promo shoot, and tweeted: "A little #BehindTheScenes action from our @CW_Arrow #Season6 promo shoot. So fun! ☺️?? #Arrow #bts #getreadyforit." (May 28, 2017 JH tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

E1 Laurel Lance 
-- MG: "Um, you know, I mean, it's funny like, when we killed off Katie Cassidy's character, Laurel, uh, last year, and - I will say, the hardest part of killing off a character is, you are basically firing someone from their job. So - forget about the fans for a second - the hardest thing, bar none, is having that conversation. Um, and actually, it's funny, when we had that conversation with Katie, we said, you know, first of all, the show does flashbacks, it's a big universe, there's time travel, there's all kinds of realities - and, Katie's coming back as a series regular in Season 6. Um, we weren't shining her on when we had that conversation a year ago. It turned - it was true. Um, you know, not every show obviously can do that." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: video of IndieWire's Fan Favorites Showrunners panel, page 557 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether we can see E1 Laurel in flashbacks, now that KC is back as a regular, MG: "In fact, I do think so." (May 2, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the Laurel/Oliver flashback scene in 522 was just a one-off or whether it will have deeper meaning in S6, MG: "As part of the flashback, the Laurel/Oliver scene was designed to help set up their reunion once Oliver returned to Starling City – i.e., the Pilot." (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 570 of Social Media thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- KC will be returning as Black Siren in 522 and 523 and then will continue as a series regular in S6. MG: “One of the things that most excites us about Arrow is that we go where the story takes us. Last year, the story took us to the tragic death of Laurel Lance. This year, our midseason finale reintroduced us to Laurel’s doppelgänger, Black Siren. We were so taken by Katie’s fearless interpretation of this character that we knew her story was not yet finished. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Katie back to Arrow as Black Siren, though as her appearances on Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow this season show, she never really left the family.” (Mar. 27, 2017 Deadline, Variety and TVLine articles, and MG, JarettSays and GreenArrowTV tweets, page 56 of Spoilers thread)
-- When asked to promise that we'll get Black Siren in at least 13 episodes in S6, MG: "I can promise you that." (May 2, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I can tell you that we have no plans to kill Black Siren.  We’re crazy, but not that crazy." (May 4, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On why Black Siren can't go by the name Dinah, MG: "Because we have another character called Dinah and the show is confusing enough as it is." (May 4, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren's name, MG: "When we script Black Siren, we use the name Black Siren." (May 4, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "We’ve been 'slugging' Black Siren as 'Black Siren' in our scripts, but I’m getting tired of that, so we’ll probably start calling her 'Laurel' in Season 6." This was in response to following fan post: "Really happy to see both Dinah and Laurel in the Arrowverse, and Juliana and Katie have been stellar so far this season. I'm really excited to see how their story arcs play out next season. Can you tease, Black Canary/Dinah is to Black Siren like ____ is to _____? Also does E2 Siren go by Laurel?" (May 3, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Black Siren will be S6's Big Bad, MG: "Hmm, I don't know if I should answer that. Uh, I will say, she's gonna have a very significant presence as an antagonist, let's put it that way." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: MYM Buzz video, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I do.  And I agree with your reaction re Katie’s performance." This was in response to following fan post: "Hey Marc! I'm going to be honest here. I was never the biggest fan of Laurel Lance. It started out as dislike but grew to indifference. But now that Katie Cassidy is coming back as Black Siren, my interest piqued, because I think Katie plays a good antagonist. She did a good job in 510 and in the Flash episode last year. So I am hoping Black Siren is kept as an antagonist/villain in Season 6. Besides I think it is time for a female big bad in Arrow, don't you?" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren becoming a member of the Legends, MG: "That was something we had talked about. For us, the whole conversation about bringing Katie back as a series regular on “Arrow” began with her performance in the midseason premiere. We briefly spoke about bringing her on 'Legends,' but I think from a story perspective we would get far more mileage out of her interacting with the cast of 'Arrow.'” (Apr. 4, 2017 Variety article, page 1466 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 
-- MG: "If watching Katie’s performance as Black Siren in 510 gave us ideas and made us excited about the prospect of more Black Siren, then I agree with you, we caved like spelunkers." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 552 of Social Media thread)
-- MG: "I’m extremely excited.  Katie is a delight to work with and the story potentials for Black Siren are extremely enticing." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether for S6 flashbacks we could see Earth 2 for more of Black Siren backstory, MG: "Totally possible." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On how they will approach Black Siren's origins, MG: "You’ll learn more about her backstory in Season 6." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "As for Black Siren, we have a lot of ideas we’re excited about. That’s the whole reason we asked Katie to come back." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether fans who fell in love with E1-Laurel will appreciate the stories and or ideas they have planned for E2-Laurel in S6, MG: "I honestly don’t know." (May 9, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Black Siren will get a new suit or costume, MG: "I like her current one!" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Black Siren will get a poster now that E2 Laurel is a series regular, MG: "I love her costume.  Posters are the province of our friends at the CW." and "That's up to the CW." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr posts, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether E2 Laurel and Dinah will become frenemy and bond over their losses of the men that they loved and whether Black Siren will join Team Arrow, MG: "I guess I’m gonna have to ask you to watch Season 6…" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see Black Siren working together with Dinah Drake or will they hate each other, MG: "[P]art of the fun of bringing Katie back is seeing her character interact with Juliana’s.  Make of that what you will, too.  :)" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan's suggestion that episode title for Siren/Canary episode could be "Scream Queens," MG: "That’s pretty great.  I may steal that." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On having Black Siren fight with or aganst Sara on LoT, MG: "Katie is already a series regular on Arrow, which logistically and contractually makes it impossible for her to be a series regular on Legends, as well.  But we love having Caity and Katie in scenes together, so…" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Black Siren will be part of the 4 show crossover event this fall, MG: "I’m not sure.  We haven’t started figuring out the crossover yet apart from some very broad strokes." (May 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what MG said: "THERE IS NO WAY IN A GAJILLION YEARS THAT BLACK SIREN AND OLIVER WILL BE A THING." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what MG said: "MG reiterated again the importance of chemistry. Carly and KC do not have it with SA. Not something you can predict." In response to another fan asking whether MG actually said that, or whether we are assuming he meant them, fan tweeted: "he said that." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread, and Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 1461 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what MG said: "MG was genuinely puzzled as to why Oliciters care so much about BS/KC coming back. I shared our concerns about their toxic fans." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "What I love the most about Black Siren is seeing Katie Cassidy play a badass. [laughs] I mean, she was a badass before as Black Canary, but playing this other role with this darkness to it… it’s just a very interesting color for her to play, as she did Laurel, which she did an amazing job. She brings so much to this role, and it’s really seeing Katie really nail the ins and outs of this character. I think the other interesting thing about it and my favorite part is the impact that it has emotionally on the people who knew Laurel before she was unfortunately killed in Season 4. What does it mean to see this person who looks exactly like this person you loved and have them come back and be evil? It raises all kinds of questions for the people who knew her best, and that part is just absolutely rich character territory that we can play with and we’re really excited about doing that going forward." (Apr. 26, 2017 CBR article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK posted pic of himself as Mr. Terrific with KC as Black Siren in posed shot, and tweeted: "Hope you all are having a Terrific Tuesday! #TerrificSiren #SneakPeak #Season6 #Arrow." (May 30, 2017 EK tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread
-- Per KC, Arrow's S4 decision to kill off Laurel was tough, but the right decision and "it's led me to a really awesome opportunity, and not necessarily gone. So, keep watching. KC added that she thinks that she'll have "more time to give to [her fashion blog] this next year." (MCM Hannover Comic Con, May 20, 2017: DarkSchnegge Reviews video, page 572 of Social Media thread)
-- On a possible encounter between Black Siren and Sara Lance, KC: "I think thats something we'll definitely get to see next season... The different relationships, how each character will react. I don't know how Black Siren will react... I think she's very mysterious." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: MoviePilot article, page 583 of Social Media thread)
-- Matt Mitovich: "3:30. Arrow news. Katie Cassidy will be back in the final two episodes of the season [5]. And she'll be a series regular for Season 6. You heard it here. Go read the story on TVLine dot com - www.tvline.com. Katie Cassidy back to being a series regular on the show Arrow. Uh, I'm going to make you go read our story on the website to see who she will be playing, 'cause she has played several different versions of her character." Michael Ausiello: "Now, is it a real series regular thing? Is it like all 23 episodes?" Matt Mitovich: "We do not know." (Matt and Michael then talked about how KC was a "series regular" this season across all the Arrowverse shows and noted that she appeared in a total of half a dozen episodes.) Michael Ausiello: "I mean, it's probably fair to say that she'll be on more than half a dozen episodes. If she's a series regular, that usually means at least 13. Even if it's a fractional series regular, it's at least, like, 13 episodes." (Mar. 27, 2017 TVLine's Ask Ausiello Live video, page 56 of Spoilers thread)
-- On KC's return as Black Siren next season, papp tweeted: "From what I heard shes a villain next season." (Apr. 10, 2017 pursuit23 tweet, page 1475 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- On what he thought of Deathstroke's story arc from the beginning to recent events, Manu Bennett: "Ah, it's interesting, you know, sometimes as an actor, you know, you kinda have to be thick-skinned and realize, you know, there's a whole bunch of things that are going on, that may or may not enable, uh, the producers to do, you know, certain things. Sometimes they're concentrating on other characters. You know, sometimes they're not allowed to - to involve your character, you know, which I found out from Marc Guggenheim, you know, that basically they had to hold off on Deathstroke because of the potential of him being used in the movie world. You know, he's going to be used in the Batman movie and whatnot. But, uh, since there's been an issue with that production, they got the opportunity to bring Deathstroke back. So, you know, it's a very popular character. You know, the fans are out there who wanted this return for a long time. Uh, you know, I've had really great discussions with Marc Guggenheim about the type of relationship that is going to emerge now - you know, now that Slade has supposedly evolved. (Interviewer interjects that they haven't seen the S5 finale yet) Well, here you go, mate. I'm going to spoil your week. Uh, yeah, yeah. Basically, you know, Slade is straight-faced in saying the mirakuru has worn off. You know, so it's going to be interesting to see now that Oliver's looking at the Slade that he knew in Season 1 of Arrow, you know, pre-the mirakuru. So, it's kind of like this - you know, can you forgive -  as Slade will say in the upcoming episode... Why does England have to be a week behind [unintelligible words]? ... It's crazy. But simply, it's simply a scenario of Slade is back, as Slade, you know, not as Deathstroke. So, you know, how can Oliver reconcile a relationship with somebody who ended up being through so much? But, you know, it's as though you got to the end of like Othello or great Shakespearean tragedy. And instead of everybody suddenly dying, it's like, 'oh wait up, the truth is -' and everyone's going like, 'huh? oh? what? hey?' Where to now, you know? And so it's just interesting, you know, because Slade is back as Slade, not Deathstroke. You know, is he?" (MCM London Comic Con, May 28, 2017: Geektown video of MB interview, page 584 of Social Media thread)
-- MB: "I mean, there's been no - there's been no, uh, agreements yet or any sort of sign-off on me returning to the show yet for Season 6. But, you know, I know their intention's to flesh out, you know, more of a storyline with Deathstroke. And the fans obviously want it as well. So, yeah, it'll be interesting the discussions we'll have in coming weeks to sort of see what the potential is. ... With Slade in Season 6, you know, even though I don't know what the - what the current status of where they're going to take the character is, uh, there's incredible potential to, um - to really... put the audience in the hot seat, 'cause they're going to sit there knowing, 'wait up, Slade killed Oliver's mother,' you know, 'how can they be talking to each other, and be in the same space even?' You know, but the episode you're about to get in the U.K. is going to explain how that actually does start to happen, even in that one episode." (MCM London Comic Con, May 28, 2017: Geektown video of MB interview, page 584 of Social Media thread)

Samantha and William Clayton
-- After SA said that the theme of S6 is family, fan asked: "So we're going to see William again?" SA replied: "Sure." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of SA panel, page 583 of Social Media thread)

S6 Big Bad
-- On whether they already know the identity of the villain for S6, MG: "Yes.  We’re already planning out Season 6." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether they already know who's going to be the villain of S6, MG: "Yes, we do." (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the S6 villain will be teased during the S5 finale, MG: "Kinda?" (May 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there will be a name-drop to tease who the next big bad is for S6, MG: "Maybe there already has been…" (May 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG (joking about Alien: Covenant movie): "Okay, I admit it: The big bad for Arrow Season 6 is named Covenant." (May 12, 2017 MG tweet, page 1523 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Adrian Chase AKA Simon Morrison AKA Prometheus
-- Fan report on what Josh Segarra said: "'Please tell me you're coming back next season.' 'There's a surprise...'" and "I asked him if he was in s6 and initially said 'of course' but then he quickly said 'i can't tell you!! There's a surprise!!'" (HVFF-London, May 27, 2017: kitsuwons tweets pages 1535 and 1710 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

The Vigilante
-- On the identity of the Vigilante, MG: "We’ll answer that question in Season 6." (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see the Vigilante any more in S5, MG: "Not in Season 5, unfortunately.  But you’ll get an identity reveal in Season 6." (May 1, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the real identity of the Vigilante, MG: "We know the answer to that... You probably will not get the answer to that in season 5.” (Mar. 3, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 54 of Spoilers thread)
-- On the identity of the Vigilante, MG: “We know who it is, but we were kind of intrigued by the idea of having a mystery that led into the next season... We were excited at the prospect of just letting this play out for a little while longer, and it gives us something cool to do in Season 6. ... As a general rule, I’m not a fan of mystery characters who when you take off the mask the audience goes, ‘What a minute, I’ve never seen that person before in my life,' ... I’m probably not spoiling anything by saying whoever’s underneath the Vigilante mask, you’ve seen that person before.” (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: Mar. 26, 2017 ScreenerTV article, page 56 of Spoilers thread)
-- On the identity of the Vigilante, MG: "We know who it is. But, one of the things that kinda intrigued us is - we've never really done a mystery, apart from the flashbacks, we've never really done a mystery in the present day that stretched over multi - two seasons of the show. Um, and, in many ways the identity of Vigilante has a - has a - more of an effect on other characters in the show than Oliver. And right now, it's - it's all about Oliver." (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: MT of Sandy video, page 57 of Spoilers thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- Fan report from talking to MG: "There's a high chance of Anatoly being a villain in S6 too. He's great to work with and his history with OQ is undeniable." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: Fangirlw_oChill tweet, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- Oliver's crumbling friendship with Anatoly (David Nykl) will be dealt with in the future, but not this S5. WM: "We'll definitely see the fallout of that at some point... That's a thread we're sort of leaving dangling for a moment, but the idea that Oliver has an enemy out there and an enemy with a presence in Star City, there's no way we can't pick that up at some point, and we also want to. Anatoli's someone who's been close to Oliver for years, we love the actor, and it's got the potential for some really great stories." (Apr. 26, 2017 Eonline article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's any hope of repairing Oliver's relationship with Anatoly, WM: "I think if it’s ever going to be repaired it will be very difficult and hard-fought. Oliver has crossed the line, and Anatoly has as well. What’s interesting about the story we built to in last week’s episode [518] was Oliver didn’t know quite how far gone Anatoly was. The fun will be when we do bring him back — which we are definitely hoping to — is digging a little more deeply into what corrupted him." (Apr. 26, 2017 Variety article, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)

Noah Kuttler AKA The Calculator
-- On the likelihood of seeing Noah again, MG: "Season 6, hopefully." (Apr. 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)

Cayden James
-- Cayden James is the most skilled hacker in the world and the founder of Helix. He was locked up by ARGUS. (519 producer's preview video in CW_Arrow tweet, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether it was a coincidence or for a reason that we didn't see Cayden James' face in S5, MG: "It was deliberate. :)" (May 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "?? [half-smiling emoji]" This was in response to following fan post: "The head of Helix, I'm guessing we will be seeing him in season 6. Considering Felicity helped free him, any chance we will see her want to take him on? It would be within her personality to do that!" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if Alena or the mysterious Helix leader will be coming back in S6, MG: "?? [half-smile emoji]" (May 9, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)

Alena AKA Kojo Sledgehammer
-- Alena has a connection to Cayden James, the founder of Helix. (519 producer's preview video in CW_Arrow tweet, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if Alena or the mysterious Helix leader will be coming back in S6, MG: "?? [half-smile emoji]" (May 9, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)

Nyssa al Ghul
-- MG: "If I get married in Nevada and Nevada is subsumed into the rest of the union, I’m still married." This was in response to following fan post: "Nyssa and Oliver were married through the League, correct? If the League was disbanded, shouldn't Nyssa and Oliver no longer be joined in matrimony under their law? Why does Nyssa still call him husband?" (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 570 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether the "release" of the marriage between Oliver/Nyssa is actually going to happen in 523 or whether it was just discussion, MG: "We talked about it for the finale, but there wasn’t space for it." (May 17, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)

Lonnie Machin AKA Anarky
-- On the chance that we'll see the return of Anarky, MG: "Not in Season 5, but totally a possibility for Season 6." (Apr. 8, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)

Christopher Chance AKA Human Target
-- On whether there could be more appearances by Human Target, MG: "Totally possible there will be more Human Target." (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- In response to Wil Traval asking if Human Target will return, MG tweeted: "Hells yeah. Would love to have you back!" (Apr. 13, 2017 WT and MG tweets, page 58 of Spoilers thread)

Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot
-- Michael Rowe (who played Deadshot) said that he believed Deadshot had earned Diggle’s trust before he died and that he’d like to “draw Diggle down a darker path.” He also said he believed Deadshot and Diggle’s stories were “very similar at this point,” primarily in relation to the death of Diggle’s brother. He also believes tempting Diggle could spark a new conflict with Oliver. MR: “And I don’t think [Deadshot] has a beef with Arrow, but [he] could have one if he gets Diggle going down a darker path." (Planet Comicon, Apr. 29, 2017: May 1, 2017 ComicBook article, page 218 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Interviewer said that Michael Rowe "is" Floyd Lawton, a/k/a Deadshot, on Arrow. MR: "Yes. At least I was... (Interviewer interjected that it was the Arrowverse) Yeah, let's get real. There's like multiple earths, there's flashbacks, there's magic, there's time travel, so anything's possible."  Interviewer then said that, with the popularity of the Suicide Squad movie, maybe The CW will bring him back. MR: "You never know." (Planet Comicon, Apr. 29, 2017: Notes and Nerds video of MR interview, page 587 of Social Media thread)
-- MR: "I don't think we'll ever see the Suicide Squad again. Maybe like a Secret 6 storyline or something like that... (Interviewer said it was probably because they won't be able to get Harley Quinn on Arrow) Yeah. I just think that name now has been branded for film stuff and it's sorta like, they're working on that. Um, but, I'll tell you this, man, I know Deadshot's one of the hardest guys in that universe to kill, so I feel like he'll keep popping up here and there, one way or another." (Planet Comicon, Apr. 29, 2017: Notes and Nerds video of MR interview, page 587 of Social Media thread)

Malcolm Merlyn
-- When asked to explain news that JB revealed he wouldn't be part of DC universe next season, MG tweeted: "Not really.  Whether John participates next year is entirely up to him." (Apr. 30, 2017 MG tweet, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JB confirmed that Malcolm is "no more" and won't be back in S6. He also said that he was "sad and upset" about it. (May 24, 2017 JB facebook video, page 1534 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On upcoming projects and returning to the DC universe, JB: "No, I [unintelligible words]. And there's a reason. 'Cause I haven't - that's why - well, put it this way - I'm looking at my sister... Um, I'm going to - all I'm going to - you saw the musical episode, yes? If you haven't, I'm not going to spoil anything. But. There was something said in the musical episode - if something happens to you in that world, it happens to you in the real world. You know what I'm talking about? What? (Fan says, 'you die') Come up and say that. (Fan says, 'you die in that world, you die in the real world') (audience gasps) That's all I'll say. I'm so sad. Uh, I won't be part of the DC universe next season. (Audience reacts) Someone's applauding! Thank you. (Responds to fan's unintelligible question) I will not be part of the DC universe next season. (Lots of groans and boos from the audience) You can all get on twitter when the episode airs. I haven't told you what happens, so - yeah." Also, JB said that he's doing a lot of traveling, he's doing a movie in the UK, he and his sister have the next sequence of their book series coming out, and they're looking at doing another series of Torchwood comics. JB added: "That's it, really, and I'm around doing things - looking for another job... I just dropped a bomb. You all are like, 'oh my god.' Don't worry, I'll be fine." (Planet Comicon, Apr. 29, 2017: Steve Erickson video of JB panel, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked to confirm whether or not Malcolm will be coming back to Arrow, and whether or not Malcolm is in the season finale, JB: "I cannot answer any questions that are due to plot, but I can tell you that I am not going to be part of the DC universe next season." (Wizard World Minneapolis, May 6, 2017: Jon Foss video interview with JBarrowman, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if Malcolm is going to be killed off, JB: "I have no idea." Female interviewer objected, saying that JB just said he can't answer plot questions, but male interviewer said that he was trying to trick him. JB: "Dude, I've been doing this for 30-odd years. You can't trick me." When asked if he's coming back, JB: "I can answer direct questions, and I don't know." (Wizard World Minneapolis, May 6, 2017: Jon Foss video interview with JBarrowman, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if Malcolm will ever cross over to Supergirl, JB said "I don't think so" and that "it's not my decision."  (Wizard World Minneapolis, May 6, 2017: Jon Foss video interview with JBarrowman, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what JB said: "John Barrowman tells crowd at #PlanetComicCon he will NOT be part of DC universe next season. ?? #Arrow #Flash" and "SPOILERS!!!! Says it's because he died in Flash musical episode so will die in Arrow as well" and "In an ep of the Flash, there was a psychic who dumped everyone into a musical dream sequence. It was form of counseling." and "But he told Barry & Iris if they died in musical they'd die in life, too. Malcolm died in episode. Barrowman says this is why he will die." and  "Barrowman says yes, because he died in musical episode of the Flash also has to die in 'real life'." (Planet Comicon, Apr. 29, 2017: Pilarcita tweets, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Papp tweeted: "Well since John Barrowman decided to confirm it already maybe I should spoil how he goes out ?? #Arrow." When asked if Thea kills him, papp tweeted: "No but the scene involves Thea lol" and "Im only going off words, meaning always translate little different on TV but yes from what I know believe he saves Thea or sacrifice himself." When asked if Malcolm saves Thea and dies a hero's death, papp tweeted 'thumbs up' emoji and "Keep in mind Im going off what i saw, don't care enough to go back & check the scene sequence to make sure haha." (Apr. 30, 2017 pursuit23 tweets, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)

Other Possible Returns or Debuts in S6
-- On whether we'll ever Arsenal/Roy Harper again in Arrow, MG: "I certainly hope so!" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the chance we can see Jessica De Gouw come back as Huntress, MG: "We talk about it literally every single year.  I love Jessica and I love the Huntress.  Really determined to make it happen in S6." (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Totally want to bring Helena back." This was in response to following fan post: "Is there any chance of ever seeing Helena back on Arrow? Or has the door closed for that character? (if not, you should consider a new Birds of Prey show with her, hawkgirl, and black siren. wink wink.)" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the likelihood of seeing Tommy Merlyn again, MG: "Depends on Colin's commitments to Chicago Med." (Apr. 11, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether China White is still alive or whether she was shot down by Frank Pike, MG: "Still alive!" (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 556 of Social Media thread)
-- On what character from the comics does he still want to bring on Arrow that he hasn't yet, MG: "The Question remains my white whale as far as Arrow is concerned." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he means Renee or Vic when he says the Question, MG: "I grew up with Vic, but I’m so glad Renee took up the mantle." (Apr. 19, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On possibly bringing Vic Sage (aka The Question) into the Arrowverse eventually, MG: "I pretty much bring up Vic in every meeting I have about characters I want to see on Arrow.  Perhaps one day… (Renee would be cool, too.)" (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- Per Mark Pedowitz, The CW anticipates that it continue with the 4-show crossover in December 2017. MP described the 4-show DC crossover as The CW’s version of the Doctor Who Christmas special — an event people can anticipate. (Jan. 16, 2017 Seat42F article, page 246 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per Mark Pedowitz, the four-part crossover between Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow is an annual affair, confirming that it will air again in November. Per MG, "last November's crossover gave The CW its most-watched week in six years." (May 18, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 301 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: “We do not aim to do a five-way crossover... Black Lightning, at this time, is not part of the Arrowverse. It is a separate situation. But there will be a big fourth quarter crossover with all four of the shows that are on in the fall.” (May 18, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 222 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Although not yet officially confirmed, there's a strong chance of seeing a true 4-way crossover with Supergirl, Flash, LoT and Arrow in S6. Andrew Kreisberg: “Next year, we’re hoping to do a true four-way crossover... The great thing about our dear friends at the CW and Mark Pedowitz picking the shows up as early as they did has allowed us to start building the schedules for next season.” Explaining that the shows continue filming other episodes while shooting the crossovers, AK: “One of the big things we learned from two years ago, which made the crossovers this year slightly easier, was building in shut-down days, where shows just went dark. The single hardest factor in doing the crossovers is actors’ availability because the shows keep going on. You’re basically juggling four shows worth of schedules. ... The thing that we didn’t really plan on — because we weren’t aware that we were going to switch Supergirl from CBS to CW and it was really going to be part of it — that was the one show that didn’t have built-in shut-down days, so all the other ones did... Melissa [Benoist] ended up being heavily in Flash and then in Arrow, so Supergirl was the one we needed to shut down the most and it was the one that we didn’t have any opportunity to. Now that we’ve gotten the early pickup and we’ve started designing the seasons, we’re building in those dark days, and actually more dark days on Supergirl than the other shows, to make it a little easier.” (Feb. 24, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 259 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Paley Center tweeted: "About the huge crossover episodes, will there be another one this year? Andrew Kreisberg says they're gonna try to do a FOUR WAY crossover!" and "Stephen Amell says CW President Mark Pedowitz affirmed that they'll continue to do crossover episodes." (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: paleycenter tweets, page 55 of Spoilers thread)
-- AK intimated plans for a four-series DC crossover in the near future, following an ambitious multi-series crossover this past season.  Also, SA chimed in: "I was having dinner with [CW President] Mark Pedowitz—he comes up to Vancouver every year—and I go, ‘Mark, are we going to do a crossover every year?’ And he goes, ‘You’re f*cking right we are!’”(PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: Deadline article, page 273 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether they have a plan for next season's massive crossover event yet, MG: "We know some stuff, but I wouldn’t call it a 'plan' as yet." (May 9, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what sounds cooler for a crossover: Injustice-type storyline or Crisis on Infinite Earths, MG: "Crisis." (May 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 570 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether Black Siren will be part of the 4 show crossover event this fall, MG: "I’m not sure.  We haven’t started figuring out the crossover yet apart from some very broad strokes." (May 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)

Other Arrowverse Crossovers Generally
-- On whether they're going to do more small crossovers between shows in S6 like they did in S3, MG: "I love those.  We’ll do more if the story warrants it." (Apr. 15, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 292 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "We’ve talked about it.  And we’re very proud that we have so many strong women to make it possible." This was in response to following fan post: "The Arrowverse has really expanded over the years and with it a real repertoire of badass women. Have you ever thought of doing a crossover that mainly featured your female cast? Would love to see the likes of Supergirl, Vixen, White Canary, and Felicity take on the likes of Black Siren, Killer Frost, Dr. Light, and Talia." (May 3, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- As for future mini cross-show visits, Andrew Kreisberg ruled out one idea: cameos from Earth-1’s Kara on Arrow or The Flash, Earth-38’s Oliver Queen on Supergirl and so on. The producers have discussed seeing the doppelgängers, but “the problem with that is if we do that once, we’re going to open the floodgates of insanity,” AK said, adding that there would have to be “a really good story” for such an appearance. (Feb. 25, 2017 TVLine article, page 260 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether we might ever see Earth-1 versions of Supergirl characters pop up on Flash and Arrow, or different versions of Arrow, Flash or LoT characters pop up on Supergirl, per Andrew Kreisberg, the show's producers decided not to mess with alternate realities on Supergirl for fear of muddling the narrative and not having a good enough story reason. AK: "The problem with that is it feels to us like if we do that once, we're going to open the floodgates of insanity... It's like Supergirl's over here, and it's its own show. Technically speaking, it's just another Earth, the same way Earth-2 is or Earth-3 or Earth-19. So technically speaking, there should be an Alex Danvers on Earth-1, or Earth Prime. But if we start doing that, I just feel like… Not that all hell hasn't broken loose already, but unless we had a really good story for it..." Also, per AK, you can easily turn these alternate worlds and heroes into an overused and boring gimmick: "The more you start to do that stuff, the more it can very easily become annoying or like, 'Here we go again'... Even on Supergirl itself, like Chyler [Leigh] got the opportunity to play a White Martian [impersonating Alex]. Already built into our show, there's already characters playing different versions of themselves. It could very easily spiral out of control." (Feb. 28, 2017 IGN article, page 262 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

LoT in the Arrowverse
-- The consequences of the Legends’ actions [in LoT S2 finale] will not reverberate throughout the full Arrow-verse. MG: “There will be an explanation in season 3 [of Legends of Tomorrow] about why you’re not seeing dinosaurs running through Central City... We’d rather keep the shows separate in that regard.” (Apr. 6, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 288 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On possibly doing a prequel or follow-up to the "Star City 2046" episode of LOT, MG: "We talk about a follow-up a lot. I’d love to do it!" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On whether they ever considered having Dinah Lance Sr./Alex Kingston suit up as Black Canary, MG: "Maybe in Legends?" (Apr. 10, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren becoming a member of the Legends, MG: "That was something we had talked about. For us, the whole conversation about bringing Katie back as a series regular on “Arrow” began with her performance in the midseason premiere. We briefly spoke about bringing her on 'Legends,' but I think from a story perspective we would get far more mileage out of her interacting with the cast of 'Arrow.'” (Apr. 4, 2017 Variety article, page 1466 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 
-- On having Black Siren fight with or aganst Sara on LoT, MG: "Katie is already a series regular on Arrow, which logistically and contractually makes it impossible for her to be a series regular on Legends, as well.  But we love having Caity and Katie in scenes together, so…" (Apr. 14, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 58 of Spoilers thread)
-- On a possible encounter between Black Siren and Sara Lance, KC: "I think thats something we'll definitely get to see next season... The different relationships, how each character will react. I don't know how Black Siren will react... I think she's very mysterious." (HVFF-London, May 28, 2017: MoviePilot article, page 583 of Social Media thread)

Black Lightning
-- Mark Pedowitz: “We do not aim to do a five-way crossover... Black Lightning, at this time, is not part of the Arrowverse. It is a separate situation. But there will be a big fourth quarter crossover with all four of the shows that are on in the fall.” (May 18, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 222 of Starling City Times thread)
-- GB's new DC Comics series, Black Lightning, moved from Fox to The CW and got an official pilot order, thus filling the final pilot slot on The CW's roster this season. (Feb. 3, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter and Variety articles, page 253 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- If Black Lightning is greenlit for 2017-2018, sources close to The CW Network explained that the 5 Berlanti DC TV shows (Arrow, Flash, LoT, Supergirl, Black Lightning) would be staggered throughout the year, rather than scheduling five separate nights of superhero programming. (Feb. 3, 2017 Variety article, page 253 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Black Lightning is one of the TV shows rumored to get an early series pickup. (Apr. 12, 2017 ComicBook article link in Apr. 13, 2017 ComicBook tweet, page 291 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Black Lightning, starring Cress Williams, produced a short pilot presentation and is being eyed for a midseason run. (May 1, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 295 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Black Lightning was ordered to series by The CW. The show follows Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), a former vigilante who hung up his suit years ago and now works as a teacher. But with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he will be pulled back into the fight as the legendary Black Lightning. It is executive produced by Greg Berlant and Sarah Schechter, along with co-creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, who is serving as showrunner. (May 10, 2017 Variety article, page 298 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Black Lightning pilot description: "Based on the DC Comics character, the story follows Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), who made his choice to hang up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend — Black Lightning. Team: Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil will write and executive-produce with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. Cast: Cress Williams, Nafessa Williams, China Anne McClain, Christine Adams." (Apr. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 292 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Official Black Lightning trailer posted. (Network & Digital Upfronts, May 18, 2017: Black Lightning trailer video in Velocity23 post, page 300 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "That’s a larger question.  We tend to take these things one opportunity and/or story at a time." This was in response to following fan question: "With Black Lightning possibly joining the universe and the animated shows for Vixen, Constantine and the Ray will crossover happen more oft." (Apr. 26, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 1 of New Spoilers thread)

Looking Beyond S6 
-- On whether he would want to see a flash-forward to Oliver’s death, and whether it’s a flash-forward to a year from now, 10 years from now, whatever, if that is something that would ever interest him, SA: "Yeah. I think that the key to a story like that is that — look, Green Arrow was obviously pitched as a five-year origin story, but we’re breaking the flashback story as we go along. There’s always an overarching plan, but it generally has to go season to season. Like, I don’t think we knew at the beginning of the season that at the end of season 2, Oliver would end up in Hong Kong. We don’t necessarily know that stuff, and that’s just the nature of episodic television in 23 episodes a year. I think that the critical element, if we ever did something like a flash-forward, would be to make sure that we understood the precise beginning point and end point of that story and all the things that went into it, because I think that if we try to piecemeal it together, especially because it’s a flash-forward, that it just wouldn’t work. You know what I mean? We’d have to know the end game if we did something like that. I mean look, I’ve always had a very specific idea for how the series would end. It came to me at some point during season 1, and whether it’s through a flash-forward or whatever, I just hope that we end up getting to do that." (Feb. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 53 of Spoilers thread) 
-- SA: "I think we have the stuff in place for a nice, long run." (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: thesuperboytheater video, page 56 of Spoilers thread)

Edited February 20, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from June 2017 to July 19, 2017 (pre-SDCC and non-SDCC). This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New SPOILERS ONLY Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread.

ADDENDUM #1 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Scheduling
-- Arrow S6 premieres on Oct. 12, 2017. (Jun. 8, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 310 of Mind Your Surroundings thread, and SA and Arrowwriters tweets, page 587 of Social Media thread)

S6 Producers/Directors/Writers
-- First two directors of S6 will be James Bamford and Laura Belsey. (Jul 5, 2017 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Wendey Stanzler will be returning to direct another episode in S6, MG: "Absolutely! Ep. 611." (Jul. 5, 2017 MG tweet, page 1552 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "We're going to have James Bamford on as a producing director on the show, which is something new." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Jul. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, ComicBook video of SA interview, and smoaksqueen tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report: "David will be directing an episode!" (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: ShippingAcademy tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report of what DR said: "I ASKED DAVID ABOUT DIRECTING AND HE WAS LIKE IM NOT DIRECTING yet IM JUST SHADOWING. HE SAID HE WANTS TO DIRECT THE MUSICAL EPISODE" and "THEN SAID HE HAS TO TALK STEPHEN INTO IT FIRST." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweets, page 596 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jun. 5, 2017, Arrow Writers tweeted: "We're back!!! ??Today is the first official day of season 6 for us. Time to get plotting... #Arrow #ArrowS6." (Arrowwriters tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Episode Order and Planning/Production
-- Filming of S6 begins July 7, 2017. (Jul 5, 2017 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA confirmed that they will have started shooting S6 before SDCC this year. SA: "We will have been in production for a good 10, 12 days of the show before San Diego Comic Con, yeah." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jun. 27, 2017, James Bamford tweeted: "Day 1 of official prep for Arrow episode 6.01.....and we are off to an explosively creative start!" (JamesBamford tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Transition from S5 to S6 (Cliffhanger Resolution)
-- MG: “One thing I got to say about the Arrow finale is, you know... A lot of the discussion that we’ve had and a lot of the discussion I see online is very binary. It's very - like, people either live or they’ll die. And, uh, I probably shouldn't spoil this, but, um, there are other consequences that can come out of what happened at the end of 523. And, uh - while everyone is focused on one thing, you know us on Arrow, we may be doing something else.” (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who survived the explosion in the S5 finale, MG: "Um, and I will say, like, just - in the interest of, you know,  the whole, uh, series regular of it all, um, a few things to - I know everyone's like trying to, uh, determine who survives, who dies, what is the result of the cliffhanger, um, you know, based upon people's contractual status? And I would say, uh, don't - that's not necessarily a good idea. And the example I like to point to is, um, that was true, say, in Walking Dead, which, you know, they kinda had a season finale similar - uh, similar to where you had a group of characters, you know, all of whom were, uh, series regulars in a dire situation at the end of their season. And, uh, just because they were series regulars did not mean that everyone came out of that cliffhanger alive, as we know - spoiler alert for people who haven't, you know, seen Walking Dead." (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, and Jun. 23, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 3 of Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "No matter what, our hope is that finale was powerful and also very destructive. It literally did blow up Oliver’s past, but I think in many ways it’s a reset for all of the characters. It was traumatic. It’s a big traumatic event that will definitely have huge reverberations throughout the whole season really for Oliver, but for everybody. The show is still centered around the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen, but these other characters are coming into their own and there will be more stories this year. We have no flashbacks that we have to service, so there will be more real estate to explore the characters in addition to Oliver." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "I saw that Marc tweeted that the, uh, cover script for episode 601 is 'Fallout.' And, um, it's very much a - it's very much, uh, about what happened on the island and how it affects everyone that survives. Yeah." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On the island destruction affecting Arrow, SA: "Yeah. I mean, it's a cataclysmic event. Right? It has repercussions for every single person that survives. Um, which could be nobody." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I can say that the impact of the [Season 5] finale is going to be felt throughout the season... You know, there's always like a cataclysmic moment in every one of our seasons that influences everything. And, uh, you know, for us, uh, it was the explosion on the island. Um, if anyone survives, they didn't survive without either emotional and/or physical scars." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Jul. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, ComicBook video of SA interview, and smoaksqueen tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Theme of Family
-- On whether there's a theme for the new season that they're leaning into, WM: "We do. We’re really leaning into this idea of family, and what it’s like to deal with your own biological family, but also to deal with your found family, and the natural emotional conflicts that arise when you have to choose between or balance both of them. Oliver and everybody else, all of our main characters will be grappling with that." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "William is a very important part of Season 6. How Oliver adjusts to being a dad. How the people around him adjust to him being a dad. How the people around him adjust to William. Uh, is a - is a central, integral part of Season 6. It's really - it's a lot about family." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel and alwaysx1314 tweet & video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- In response to fan who wanted to see the Queen Mansion again, MG tweeted: "It burned down in Arrow Season 2.5." (Jun. 17, 2017 MG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG said that they weren't radically changing the format. He also mentioned changing things up to keep the show fresh and said that the show has "earned the right to try new and different things". However, he said that he doesn't believe in changing things up just to change things up, and that it "has to be driven by the story... It can't be a format change just to be a format change. That's the cart dragging the horse." He then added one idea he had for S6 would be an outlier episode. He also said that there will be another topical episode in S6. (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the Arrow bunker is still intact, WM: "There’s always going to be some fallout, but I’d say by the time we see them in the premiere, it’s intact, but for how long is a really good question." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether the show is a reboot now going into S6, WM: "Reboot is one of those words. It’s so funny. I think in some ways yes, I do, but I also think that word can get misconstrued very easily. This show is evolving and it’s exciting because it is a new dynamic this season without the flashbacks. I know I keep saying we have more real estate, but we’ve been in the writers’ room for three weeks and it’s been amazing how different the show feels. There’s just a lot more freedom. It’s actually very exciting because we can take this show to different places now and to different directions. I’ll repeat it, but it really is exciting to have the time and the space to talk about these other characters. We were always sort of pressed, and moved stories so quickly. We’re still moving stories that same way, we just have a little more space to explore other points of view and other characters. It’s fun." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "And we have somebody returning to the show this year that we have not seen since Season 1." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, and maggiekenneyand felicitysmxak tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and jbuffyangel and felicitysmxak tweets, page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When asked for 2 truths and 1 line about S6, SA: "Well, I've only read Episode 601, um, so okay -  hang on, I can do it. Um. Uh. There is a single Big Bad this year. Um, there will be a giant, uh, rift between Oliver and one of the original team members. And, Oliver - his identity as the Green Arrow is revealed. You guys have no idea what's going on." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, Soulfire post, ShippingAcademy tweet and latinasmoak tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said about 2 truths and 1 lie about 601: "Stephen joked about needing to think about it for a minute since he’s known for giving good answers to that question, then slowly gave out the following responses: 'Oliver and Slade have a scene together in the present day; Diggle deploys his gun and it doesn’t work; Thea is in a present day scene where [Oliver and Thea] speak to each other.' He was particularly careful with his wording with the Diggle answer, so I’m 99% sure that’s a truth."  (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "DR two truths& a lie: in the 523 explosion someone dies; in season 6, someone dies; also in season 6 someone gets married." However, fan later reported the following: "David totally fails at the 'two truths and a lie' game - he revealed to a member of our group later on that all the answers he gave onstage were truths." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: jedichick04 tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what DR said: "I asked David what's in store for Diggle in S6: there will be some Diggle & Lyla stuff but also a big fracture in the team." and "I pushed a little on the fracture & asked if it's between Oliver and Diggle. He said yes (smashed his fists together)" and "Then David added that it will be a big conflict like Civil War (re the movie)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- On whether they will still have some sort of flash back or flash forward element, WM: "Absolutely. One of the advantages is we know how to use that device and we’re going to use it for different reasons this season, which will be fun — different characters, different points of view." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what's happening with flashbacks in S6, SA: "There are, uh, flashbacks in the first episode that take us back to the immediate aftermath of the events in the finale, which is, um, one of the reasons that I had to shave my beard, so I could match up with 523. The other reason was because it was disgusting... But, uh, there are no flashbacks in the second episode. I think that flashbacks are going to be something we deploy - you know, how occasionally in the course of five seasons it typically has been Oliver's flashback? Sometimes there have been episodes with no flashbacks. And sometimes we've had flashbacks where we focus in on, um, Diggle or Felicity or Rene. Um, I think that's what will happen this year - that we will have the occasional flashback... but we aren't telling a linear story anymore about Oliver's time on the island. We brought that one full circle." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- More on S6 flashbacks, SA: "They're a piece of the episodes that have always been important, whether it's, you know, illuminating something in a flashback to help us learn a lesson in the present day. Um, I feel like, even though we're done that linear story, they are part of the show's DNA. So I would expect to see them on a relatively regular basis. Maybe." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Will have flashbacks just not the island. Focus on supporting characters." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweet, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Team Arrow
-- On whether Team Arrow can still operate after Green Arrow became Public Enemy No. 1 last season, WM: "Right. That will be an ongoing question throughout season 6. They are all going to be grappling with the fallout from that and there’s even more fallout to come in season 6 that will definitely raise the stakes for that question; it’s a very prescient question. As usual, you’re thinking ahead. But this is going to be a big thing for all of them... We really wanted the team to explore a lot of the questions that Oliver explored in season 1. That’s what we’ll be trying to focus in on in season 6." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether the team will suffer from PTSD after surviving the island explosion, JH: "I imagine so. This is a team that seems to be good at getting traumatized and re-traumatized again and again and sort of using it to bounce back. This is just another one of those things. In real life as well, a lot of times trauma and bad things that happen, they bring you closer together, so I think this is exactly what they needed and what she needed to put that anger and that fire back in her. They might be a little bruised and beaten up, but I have faith that it’s going to make them all stronger in the end." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah suiting up means Team Arrow is still intact moving forward and whether they can still operate next season, JH: "I’m not quite sure how the team comes back together after the explosion, but I do believe that whether they’re together or separate, they all have a common goal, so they will all come back together in some way. Even if they’re not all there, they will always prevail together somehow." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- When fan asked what Billy Joel song will Olicity dance to at their wedding, MG replied: "If there is a wedding and if there is a reception, it would be 'This Night.'" (Jul. 17, 2017 MG tweet, page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen says the song he would use to describe Olicity is 'Come On Eileen.' #Arrow." and "He said its cause it makes you feel good and makes you wanna dance. It lifts your spirit." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: TheFlashPodcast tweet and latinasmoak tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Papp report on what SA said in 2015: The song "Come On, Eileen" is special to SA, maybe related to when he met or proposed to his wife Cassandra. (Mar. 25, 2015 Canadagraphs article linked in June 27, 2017 DrSpaceman10 post, page 1547 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen said to us as huge Oliver and Felicity fans, he thinks we're going to enjoy Season 6." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: dust2dust34 tweet, page 1546 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan asked: "When are you going to get your life together and marry Felicity?"  SA replied: "Tell you what, I go to these panels all the time, and I've fielded clearly tens of thousands of questions since I've been on the show. And I'll tell you... any time a little tiny girl comes up there dressed as Felicity, I get really nervous. So when's Oliver going to get his life together and marry Felicity? I mean, mmm - maybe in Season 6. Or maybe not." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in Heidi_shaparra tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan asked, if there's ever an Olicity wedding, whether he would make an exception and dance. SA replied: "Oh, you mean like a slow dance? ... Ah, yes, slow dancing doesn't count. I can slow dance for sure. I'm not gonna, like, it's a wedding, first dance, 'eh'... Emily's already done a slow dancing scene on the show. Didn't she have - she had an awesome slow dancing scene with Grant in one of his first episodes... I don't know if I could top that... I can. I'm kidding. I can. For sure." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in dust2dust34 tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel's report on what SA told her daughter and her: "Lauren: will we have to wait all season for Oliver and Felicity to get married? SA: No. I don't think so. #HVFFNashville" and "Me: Crossover wedding? SA: (hesitant) I can't tell you that. Me: I'm on the right track? SA: Yeah I think so." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweets, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "I asked if SA prefers a small olicity wedding or a big one. He said small with someone from the team officiating." and "He said 'small intimate wedding' and he had a little smile on his face." and "Asked about a possible in the field wedding with Oliver in the GA suit. He said 'No way.'" (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: CharmingWords23 tweets, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said after signing Olicity 520 flashback scene pic with "Not tonight?... But soon" autograph: "okay so i (meaning alejandra as translator) asked him to write an olicity quote from s6 he looked at the thing for like a whole ass minute and then he wrote something n i was trying to read it and he said 'okay it's not a quote more an... idea.'" (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Jul. 8, 2017 aurora_borealix tweets, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said after signing Olicity 520 flashback scene pic with "Another night" autograph: "I  ASKED FOR AN OLICITY QUOTE FROM 601... HE SMIRKED AND SAID ITS AMBIGUOUS... THEN HE BLUSHED AND SAID ITLL MAKE SENSE AND RUBBED MY ARM AND WINKED." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweets, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA wrote as part of autographing her Olicity 416 fake wedding pic: "Stephen wrote on my autograph 'Next time it counts' ASKLAJDLAB." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: romancebooknerd tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1555 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "For S6 Stephen wants for Olicity to be together and vigilanting together and no drama." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: SophieLimbourg tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "He and Stephen have talked about how Oliver and Felicity could be more like Diggle and Lyla - less drama, more facing the world together." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: ah_maa_zing tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "@david_ramsey is awesome!With a coy smile he shared #ArrowSeason6 spoiler, a wedding. And yes it's the one we're thinking #olicity" and "While getting an autograph from David Ramsey at HvffPortland I asked if there were any spoilers he could share for season 6, he said 'yes, there will be a wedding.' And gave me a coy smile. I asked if it was the one I was thinking and he nodded, smiling." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: Lukens_Julie tweets, page 1547 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "I told DR I love OTA, Original Team Arrow, and he said that's good, really good, since there's a wedding." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jedichick04 tweet, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "As he was signing, I told him, 'I want you to know that I’ve been a fan of the show from the beginning. And I especially love OTA, Original Team Arrow.'  I had nothing on my mind besides sharing some positivity about the show and his role on it. So naturally that’s when he made my brain explode by turning and smiling at me and saying, 'That’s good, really good. Since there’s going to be a wedding.'  Then he gave this little smirk and wink and teased me about 'keeping it under wraps,' and sent me on my slightly stunned way. I had to take a minute before I joined my friends over on the (surprisingly short) Stephen VIP line." Also from same fan report: "The group of us decided to grab some lunch while we had a chance. During lunch, we discussed the various spoilers we’d already picked up – the wedding (which David had mentioned to two of us) and the interesting tidbit about Diggle being the Green Arrow for part of the season." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "Asked David for anything from new season. He asked if I liked weddings and that's all he'd say." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: StaceyOwen81 tweet, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WH: "Thea's weird. She will never actually find love. I feel like - well, that's just the nature of the show. C'mon! Stephen's never actually going to be like... I mean, Stephen is [unintelligible word] I mean, Oliver Queen. There's no show with a happy-go-lucky Oliver Queen. We tried that in Season 4. It didn't work." DR: "I think they will... Oliver's changing." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: Video in Jun. 26, 2017 austencello tweet, page 594 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what EK said: "I also wanted to mention that question and answer that Echo had about Curtis and Olicity. If you were in the room, you would have heard the lighthearted joking aspect of Echo’s answer, and even from the question-asker herself.  It wasn’t so much that Echo was saying Olicity aren’t together and need Curtis’s help, it’s that Curtis would happily aide and abet another Olicity date night. Which, considering how the last one ended, I’d be in full favor of." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- Even with Adrian Chase dead, Oliver’s battle to conceal his secret identity is far from over. Rumor has it he will be dogged by a curious FBI agent this season. (Jul. 12, 2017 TVLine article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “This season, we’re trying to give you a different version of Oliver... Because of the journey he went on in Season 5, he finally got to a place where he was ready to follow everyone’s advice and discard the past and move on with his life. The Oliver Queen that you'll meet in 601, um, he's still the Oliver you know and sometimes love. But he's - he has a different sense of himself. Um, you know, one of the ways we are, uh, you know, sort of describing it is, typically in Act 4 of any given episode, uh, someone is giving Oliver advice. And in Season 6, I think you'll see Oliver giving the people in his life the advice. For a change. You know, he's been through five years of being, uh, this superhero and then he went through, as he says at the beginning of every episode, five years in hell, uh, before that. So, you know, he's got 10 years of very heavy experience, uh, to start to bring to bear, um, and that's something we're kind of interested in - uh, seeing, you know, more of a mentoring kind of Oliver, um, as the various people in his life face their challenges.” (Jun. 22, 2017 EW Superhero Insider podcast and Jul. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 3 of New Spoilers page)
-- SA: "Oliver has an apartment this year." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and alwaysx1314 tweet & video of SA panel, page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread, CharmingWords23 and maggiekenney tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and jbuffyangel and CharmingWords23 tweets, page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA said that they might be returning to the recurve bow on the show. (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On comics' Oliver Queen being more lighthearted and humorous than tv's Oliver Queen, and how he thinks the show might play out differently if his Oliver was more like comics Oliver, SA: "The kind of idea when we started the show was that this was someone who had gone through something incredibly - incredibly traumatic. He was basically dealing with PTSD. Um, and just the sort of tone and tenor of what they were looking for was a lot more serious. I myself am not serious at all. I would love for him to be a little bit more humorous. And, you know, one of the things I've talked about with the producers this year is - there have been some basic, uh, tenets of Oliver Queen that have existed through five seasons. Typically, when things start to go wrong, he becomes very single-minded and he becomes just, you know, uh, sort of tunnel vision and, you know, pushes everyone away. One of the things I said to the producers, you know, assuming that some of the cast are alive for Season 6, I've said, it's going to be very important, you know, that if Oliver doesn't take away lessons from Season 5 and doesn't, you know, keep doing the things that have led to this catastrophic event, the character stops being interesting to me. So I hope that part of that, you know, in our future - in Season 6 and if we have seasons beyond that - I hope that part of that is that we get back to a lot of the - a lot of the tenets that people recognized from the comics. And that, of course, is, you know, humor and, um, you know, a socially conscious, um, slightly liberal, um, superhero... The comics version, he has some really interesting qualities that make him unique, and I hope we get to explore more of those." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "Um, obviously, the Oliver Queen that a lot of people know from the comics, um, if they were familiar with that character before they were familiar with my iteration of the character, um, is a lot more, I guess, you know, idealistic, politically-driven a little bit, and, you know, funny. He smiles. And, um, obviously the character that we met in Season 1, you know, I had just gone through a horrific series of events. And, you know, now he's a little bit more well-adjusted. So I would hope that, as that happens, the character still gets to evolve a little bit. I think that would push him more towards the areas that people are familiar with in the comics. A sense of humor. You know, a light-heartedness. That being said, our show is our show. And bad things happen all the time. So, um - but hopefully, we get some of those overtones this year. And, you know, beyond." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val and Amie Bohannon videos of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "There are, uh, flashbacks in the first episode that take us back to the immediate aftermath of the events in the finale, which is, um, one of the reasons that I had to shave my beard, so I could match up with 523. The other reason was because it was disgusting." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mod: "Goatee, man?" SA: "It's so gross." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val and Amie Bohannon videos of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan asked if SA would keep his facial hair/beard and curl his mustache so that he'll more closely resemble the roguish comics GA. SA replied: "I'm going to have to alter the beard for the beginning of the season, but we have given consideration to possibly growing it throughout the year... Oh god, I'm so over this beard... Yeah. We're thinking about maybe growing it a little bit over the course of the year." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 8, 2017, fan tweeted: "DAVID, STEPHEN, AND EMILY ALL START FILMING ON MONDAY. (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 596 of Social Media thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- Per WM, Helix’s status is very much “a dangling thread, and we don’t like to leave those hanging around... It’d be a great, sort of built-in story for Felicity to revisit these people, who are not very happy with her, let’s be honest. We left that open-ended on purpose, for sure.” (Jun. 8, 2017 TVLine article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "I was trying to think of something to ask SA that hadn't been asked and settled for asking about Felicity/William" and "First he said, "She's dead" ????????? I told him it wasn't funny" and "Then he said it was a "safe bet" they'd have some scenes. He seemed reluctant to give anything else away." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: CharmingWords23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1555 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "He also wants for Felicity to have a completely independent storyline outside of Oliver." and "He talked about how it was important for Felicity to have her own SL and 'power' independent of Oliver, much like Lyla re Diggle." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: SophieLimbourg and ah_maa_zing tweets, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what EK said: "Echo said he's excited about Smoak Tech, said it's been talked about since season 4 (for him)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: Duckyrose09 tweet, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 8, 2017, fan tweeted: "DAVID, STEPHEN, AND EMILY ALL START FILMING ON MONDAY. (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 596 of Social Media thread)

William Clayton
-- On whether we'll see Oliver playing a bigger role in his son's life in S6, SA: "Yeah, yeah. William is a very important part of Season 6. How Oliver adjusts to being a dad. How the people around him adjust to him being a dad. How the people around him adjust to William. Uh, is a - is a central, integral part of Season 6. It's really - it's a lot about family." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, and alwaysx1314 tweet & video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he's most looking forward to in playing Oliver as a father, SA: "I mean, uh, I've loved all of the scenes that I've had with Jack, who plays William on the show. Um, I'm excited that, you know, not only - not only are they, you know, going to learn about having a father-son relationship - I think we're going to explore that in Season 6 - but he also knows that Oliver is the Green Arrow. So there's a lot of interesting layers and dynamics. Um, I'm just excited to, you know, have to teach him a lesson, you know what I mean? And I think that - I think that, uh, you know, as a father, Oliver will definitely try to be better than what he's been as a person because, based off of what we've heard so far today, he doesn't have his life together at all. So hopefully he can be a good example for William. I mean, I've read Episode 601 and there's some interesting stuff between Oliver and William in it. And I'm just - I'm very excited to get into those scenes and to drill down to find the cool moments that maybe even aren't on the page." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and video in austencello tweet, page 1546 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan said that she looked forward to seeing Oliver's relationship with William and that she hoped we'll see William bonding with Felicity, Diggle and Thea now that William knows Oliver is his father and the GA. On what we might expect to see, SA: "Well, that's a great question. It's a really good question. And I can't expound on any of it. You know. Very excited to have Jack on board playing William and I, you know - we will see him in Season 6. And, uh, those are always really fun scenes to shoot... I can't really say anything else." (Jun. 28, 2017 SA facebook video, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1549 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "I was trying to think of something to ask SA that hadn't been asked and settled for asking about Felicity/William" and "First he said, "She's dead" ????????? I told him it wasn't funny" and "Then he said it was a "safe bet" they'd have some scenes. He seemed reluctant to give anything else away." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: CharmingWords23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1555 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "He expects Diggle to help and advise Oliver with the William stuff (assuming William stays)." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: SophieLimbourg tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- Per WM, Dinah will be getting a new love interest, but it won't be Diggle. WM: “Not Diggle... That’s what’s so much fun.” (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1560 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On 2 truths and 1 lie about 601, SA: "Oliver and Slade have a scene in the present day... Diggle, uh, fires and misses someone, as in, like, he deploys his gun and it doesn't work... And, uh, Thea is in a present day scene where we speak to one another." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and heroesfanfest tweet & video of SA panel, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what DR said: "I asked David what's in store for Diggle in S6: there will be some Diggle & Lyla stuff but also a big fracture in the team." and "I pushed a little on the fracture & asked if it's between Oliver and Diggle. He said yes (smashed his fists together)" and "Then David added that it will be a big conflict like Civil War (re the movie)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "OMG! David gave me a HUGE SPOILER bc I guessed a major storyline for the first 6 episodes. My heart is still racing!" and "What would Dig do if Oliver needed to 'out' himself? 'He'd become the Green Arrow. Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you this because... you just guessed the plot for the first 6 episodes of Season 6. Good guess!'" (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: hotcookinmama2 tweets, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 
-- Fan report on what DR said: "So, I think I got a spoiler that no one else got, but I can’t add a break cause moble Tumblr, so I’m doing an old fashioned scroll down. There’s my Diggle that DR signed. I told him that I had been holding out for a real Spartan Pop and he told me that Diggle will be the Green Arrow for part of the season! Then said that was a big spoiler and gave me a hug. God, I hope he’s not gonna get in trouble for me posting this but ahhhhhhhh." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emmilynestill tumblr post, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "The group of us decided to grab some lunch while we had a chance. During lunch, we discussed the various spoilers we’d already picked up – the wedding (which David had mentioned to two of us) and the interesting tidbit about Diggle being the Green Arrow for part of the season."  (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "David doesn't get to keep the scruff ????." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: alwaysx1314 tweet, page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "DR: You will see at least one Diggle relative this season. (And he added it'll be important)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: jedichick04 tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "David said 'diggle was hatched' and then said you will see a diggle relative this season that will be important for the storyline."  (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "When do we get to know Digg's mom & dad? David-We've been talking about this for S6. You will see a Diggle relative this season. At least 1." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: snarky_bee tweet, page 1555 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "Diggle's got a secret. Who knows about secrets? Oliver. So they'll be dealing with that. Then he added..." and "...that Diggle is injured in episode 1 (I think he said that episode). More injured than anyone realizes. Not sure it's the same as secret." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: scu11y22 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "He expects Diggle to help and advise Oliver with the William stuff (assuming William stays)." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: SophieLimbourg tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what JH said about a possible Diggle/Dinah hookup: "Diggle is her brother. She admires him. She would never do that." @JulianaHarkavy  about people worrying over Diggle x Dinah" and "ALSO @JulianaHarkavy says Dinah would NEVER get in the way of Dyla so get the worry out of your heads!!! 'Dinah is all about loyalty.'" (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: latinasmoak tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 2, 2017, JBamford posted pic of DR sitting alone in Arrow Bunker, studying a paper, with comment: "Working on Sundays made better joined by @davidpaulramsey." (JBamford instagram post, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 6, 2017, DR posted pic of himself, with beard, with JH, with straightened blondish hair, with comment: "Are we super excited for the beginning of #arrow or what?!? #arrowseason6." (DR instagram pic, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 8, 2017, fan tweeted: "DAVID, STEPHEN, AND EMILY ALL START FILMING ON MONDAY. (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 596 of Social Media thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- jbuffyangel report on what DR said: "I asked David what's in store for Diggle in S6: there will be some Diggle & Lyla stuff but also a big fracture in the team." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- On 2 truths and 1 lie about 601, SA: "Oliver and Slade have a scene in the present day... Diggle, uh, fires and misses someone, as in, like, he deploys his gun and it doesn't work... And, uh, Thea is in a present day scene where we speak to one another." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and heroesfanfest tweet & video of SA panel, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WH: "Thea's weird. She will never actually find love. I feel like - well, that's just the nature of the show." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: Video in Jun. 26, 2017 austencello tweet, page 594 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- On what does Dinah and Quentin’s relationship look like moving forward, WM: "In season 5, we wanted to explore this idea of someone taking on his daughter’s mantle and what would that look like? That moment where he does say, 'Yes, she is the Black Canary,' that is a moment that is certainly one of the steps toward this costume and the evolution of that character. In season 6, it will be building on that and capitalizing on that and also exploring it further." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Dinah will look at Quentin as a surrogate father, JH: "I like that. I really like their relationship. I think it’s a really sweet relationship. They have a lot of common ground [with their police background], but also because they both lost people close to them recently, I think Dinah has a lot of empathy for Lance and vice versa. I do feel like that’s a relationship I’d like to see nurtured next season." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- Pic of Curtis as Mr. Terrific posted. (Jun. 24, 2017 aimeenicolas instagram post, page 1544 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what EK said: "Echo said he's excited about Smoak Tech, said it's been talked about since season 4 (for him)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: Duckyrose09 tweet, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- Fan report on what RG said when signing autograph: "He mentioned that they will address Zoe and Rene in Season 6." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: Austencello tumblr post, page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what RG said: "Rick says he would love to see more rene/lance scenes in s6 and trying to get his daughter back, he's hoping that's the plan." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Rory Regan AKA Ragman
-- On whether Ragman (played by Joe Dinicol) will return, SA: "I thought Ragman fit in really well, even though we don't, you know - our show isn't as much the metahuman show. Hopefully, Joe comes back... I thought he was terrific." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- Pics of Dinah in her new Black Canary costume posted. (Jun. 24, 2017 aimeenicolas instagram post, page 1544 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Jun. 24, 2017 Primal Slayer post, page 1546 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Pic of Dinah in her new Black Canary suit posted. (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1560 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what they were going for with this costume versus the last two Canary costumes we’ve seen, WM: "I can tell you what my favorite parts of it are and what I think it says about the character. Last season, she wasn’t a full fledged superhero, you could say. She was, she had this power, she had this ability, she was part of the team, but really what this costume signifies more than anything is that she is now a full-fledged member of the team. She was before. But she’s now owning it in a different way. We had talked about having the costume at various points last season and it never felt right. It felt that we wanted to save it for a special occasion, and the premiere seemed like a really good place to do it. She needs something tactical. She has this meta power, but she also has the bo staff, so we just felt it was right for her to have something that was definitely more than a nod to the DCU character, but also something that was distinctive from what we’ve seen before. This really fits the bill. Maya Mani, as usual, did an amazing job with it. My favorite part is actually the subtle hint of the gold and yellow lines in it." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Dinah feels about suiting up as BC now, WM: "I think the combination of the costume and this new confidence she has as being part of the team is — this is it, she’s come into her own very much so. It’s a good step forward for her character, but it’s also really representative and a good step forward for the team. People we brought in at the beginning of last season — probably, if they make it off the island — some of them will become full-fledged members of the team. That’s a very different situation than we’ve had in the past. In a way, we’re closing the circle on what we started in episode 501 and 502 last season, which was introducing these new characters and really bringing them along under Oliver’s tutelage. This is going to be the culmination, for her, of where she ends up." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what is the catalyst of Dinah suiting up, WM: "We haven’t gotten the specific story for it at the moment, but it’s something that I think [we’ll explore]. We have an intervening five months between the finale and where we pick up in the premiere and I think we will take the opportunity to tell the full story of it. But I think yes, the island and everything that happened in the finale has driven her to this point. But at the same time, it’s really the team and this sense of her being a part of something. She was adrift before, but now she’s part of a family and part of this bigger force in the world." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what kind of hero will Dinah be now after initially being driven by revenge, WM: "She’s fighting for her family now, and that family extends beyond the team. It’s going to grow into something that basically represents the city for her. This is her new home. As someone who basically wandered the earth for revenge, these are higher stakes for her now. Star City and the team mean a lot to her." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Dinah/BC and Team Arrow can still operate after Green Arrow became Public Enemy No. 1 last season, WM: "Right. That will be an ongoing question throughout season 6. They are all going to be grappling with the fallout from that and there’s even more fallout to come in season 6 that will definitely raise the stakes for that question; it’s a very prescient question. As usual, you’re thinking ahead. But this is going to be a big thing for all of them, and there’s a question of she’s a cop as well as the Black Canary. How is she going to balance that? How is she going to keep that secret? How is she going to live her life and still fight crime at night? We really wanted the team to explore a lot of the questions that Oliver explored in season 1. That’s what we’ll be trying to focus in on in season 6." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Black Canary will be getting a new love interest this season, WM: “I would say yes for that, but I’m not going to tell you with who, because that’s a fun story we’re very excited about." Also WM: "Not Diggle... That’s what’s so much fun.” (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1560 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what does Dinah and Quentin’s relationship look like moving forward, WM: "In season 5, we wanted to explore this idea of someone taking on his daughter’s mantle and what would that look like? That moment where he does say, 'Yes, she is the Black Canary,' that is a moment that is certainly one of the steps toward this costume and the evolution of that character. In season 6, it will be building on that and capitalizing on that and also exploring it further." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On who will someone like Black Siren feel about Dinah suiting up as Black Canary, WM: "That’s a great question. I’ll just say this: She’s probably not going to like it very much. [Laughs] I mean, I don’t know how much research she’s done about her Earth-1 Laurel, but I would have to say that I think there’s going to be some sparks flying there." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On putting wearing the BC costume for the first time, JH: "I think the first time I put on the costume was the first time it felt really real for me. It was the first time I ever really saw myself as a superhero. When you’re acting the part, but you’re not in the costume, it’s an internal thing. Once it became physical with the costume, I actually felt quite emotional. It gave me a newfound sense of purpose for the role." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On her favorite part of the BC costume, JH: "I just love the lines of it. Especially when you have a staff, it looks like the whole thing is moving even when you’re still. The texture is really cool. It’s almost something out of outer space." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether it is difficult to move in the costume, JH: "It does take a few minutes to get used to moving because you move differently. Your posture changes, it’s just a totally different way of walking with the suit on. But the material that they use is a really stretchy kind of leather, and it has a lot of give at the joints, so you can still jump, you can still run. It actually almost makes you feel like you go faster, like when a wet suit makes you go faster in the water; you almost feel like that in this suit. It’s actually not that hard to move in, it’s just a little different." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Dinah feels now about suiting up, JH: "I think the fact that she’s in the costume at all says a lot about where she is, mentally and emotionally, in terms of wanting to take on the role and being ready to step into it. One of the first things she ever said about the team was they were in Halloween costumes. She’s cool, she’s not a costume girl. The fact that she now takes it seriously, it shows that this team really means something to her now, it’s important to her and she wants to be part of it. This is her letting go." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what kind of hero will she be now, JH: "It’s justice. She wants the right thing to be done. I believe, and I’ve decided it’s true for myself, that anger that caused her to seek revenge for four years, that’s still in her and that’s what causes her cry to warp and come out. I think it’s still there, but she’s just trying to channel it into good. She also is fighting for friendship, because now she’s on a team. Before she was on her own and it was all about her and her mission. Now she’s going to be fighting for Team Arrow and not just herself." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Dinah will struggle to balance her cop life with her vigilante life, JH: "I think it’s definitely something she’s going to have to learn how to do well. It’s also important that she help as many people as possible; that’s her cause, that’s her purpose. The police force allows her to do that, it also allows her to disguise what’s happening with Team Arrow, so she is going to definitely want to keep that as part of her mission." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she hopes to explore more of Dinah's backstory this season, JH: "Absolutely, yeah. We saw one part and one piece of what brought her to the team, but Dinah’s a really complex person. She has a lot of facets that make her her, and I would love to show those because we don’t really know her. We haven’t had five seasons to get to know her. She popped up. I think it would be nice to give the audience that knowledge about her as a person." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she hopes to see with Dinah next season, JH: "I am really hopeful that she’ll become stronger as a fighter. One of my favorite things about Dinah and about the Black Canary is she’s such a skilled fighter and athlete. This season, I want her to settle into her power and settle into herself and become the most ferocious badass that she’s ever been. I’m really excited for that, just to train and to see her become a real hero." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how the island explosion will affect Dinah and whether the team will suffer from PTSD, JH: "I imagine so. This is a team that seems to be good at getting traumatized and re-traumatized again and again and sort of using it to bounce back. This is just another one of those things. In real life as well, a lot of times trauma and bad things that happen, they bring you closer together, so I think this is exactly what they needed and what she needed to put that anger and that fire back in her. They might be a little bruised and beaten up, but I have faith that it’s going to make them all stronger in the end." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah suiting up means Team Arrow is still intact moving forward and whether they can still operate next season, JH: "I’m not quite sure how the team comes back together after the explosion, but I do believe that whether they’re together or separate, they all have a common goal, so they will all come back together in some way. Even if they’re not all there, they will always prevail together somehow." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On WM's mentioning that there’s love in Dinah’s future, JH: "Really? [Laughs] Good!" (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there is anyone she's rooting for Dinah to be with, JH: "I’m so curious now! Oh my God, my stomach just dropped. No, I have no idea. [Laughs] I didn’t know she was ready. Wow, that’s so exciting. At this point, I can’t see it, but that’s so exciting. I’m going to be just as surprised as you guys." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah will look at Quentin as a surrogate father, JH: "I like that. I really like their relationship. I think it’s a really sweet relationship. They have a lot of common ground [with their police background], but also because they both lost people close to them recently, I think Dinah has a lot of empathy for Lance and vice versa. I do feel like that’s a relationship I’d like to see nurtured next season." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Black Siren will feel about Dinah taking the Black Canary mantle, JH: "Well, I think it’s going to be quite a battle. [Laughs] To be honest, I don’t know what the interaction between those two is going to be, but I do think she’ll see it as a challenge." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what JH said about a possible Diggle/Dinah hookup: "Diggle is her brother. She admires him. She would never do that." @JulianaHarkavy  about people worrying over Diggle x Dinah" and "ALSO @JulianaHarkavy says Dinah would NEVER get in the way of Dyla so get the worry out of your heads!!! 'Dinah is all about loyalty.'" (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 25, 2017: latinasmoak tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 6, 2017, DR posted pic of himself, with beard, with JH, with straightened blondish hair, with comment: "Are we super excited for the beginning of #arrow or what?!? #arrowseason6." (DR instagram pic, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp posted pic of JH as BC and tweeted: "#Arrow shot scenes last night w/ most of the cast, incl. Juliana Harkavy in her new Black Canary outfit." (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp posted pic of JH and KC on set, and tweeted: "#Arrow stars Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary and Katie Cassidy as Black Siren get their hair set for a scene last night." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

E1 Laurel Lance AKA Black Canary
-- MG posted pic of production art of "Black Canary Memorial Display" for 601, and tweeted: "Production art starting to come in for Arrow Season 6…" (Jun. 23, 2017 MG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- On Black Siren's role in 523, MG: "I will say, Black Siren went back and forth. We had, uh - we had discussions about whether or not she should be allied with Chase at the end or allied with Oliver at the end, um, albeit begrudgingly. Um, and we, uh, you know, went back and forth and debated the pros and cons of it. Um, and we really felt that, you know, true to Evil Laurel's character, uh, she wouldn't, uh, help Oliver, you know, out in the circumstance. It would make more sense that she would be aligned with Chase, who she actually has to thank for her freedom from getting out of the Pipeline, um, where she was being held captive on Flash. Um,so -  it also gave us more - you know, more interesting places to go with her character in Season 6." (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “I don’t know if there’s any question about whether or not the [idea] of redemption will come up; it has to... Her father is there. Oliver is there. Everyone is going to be asking whether or not it’s possible to find a little piece of Laurel, the Laurel Lance they knew and loved, in there somewhere.” That said, WM: “I think she’s interesting as a [villain]... Black Siren is a badass.” (Jul. 12, 2017 TVLine article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who will someone like Black Siren feel about Dinah suiting up as Black Canary, WM: "That’s a great question. I’ll just say this: She’s probably not going to like it very much. [Laughs] I mean, I don’t know how much research she’s done about her Earth-1 Laurel, but I would have to say that I think there’s going to be some sparks flying there." (Jul. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1562 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "And now, of course, you know, we have a version of - a different version of Laurel Lance with us this year." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Black Siren will feel about Dinah taking the Black Canary mantle, JH: "Well, I think it’s going to be quite a battle. [Laughs] To be honest, I don’t know what the interaction between those two is going to be, but I do think she’ll see it as a challenge." (Jul. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, KC posted pic of herself, with blonde hair, sitting in makeup chair, with comment: "Back at it! #arrow." (KC instagram post, page 596 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp tweeted: "I can confirm E2 Laurel was on set." (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp posted pic of JH and KC on set, and tweeted: "#Arrow stars Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary and Katie Cassidy as Black Siren get their hair set for a scene last night." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big Bad
-- On Arrow S6 news, TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "I can tease that the next, yet-to-be-cast Big Bad has been on many a fan’s wish list." (Jun. 29, 2017 TVLine article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, fan tweeted: "@StephenAmell and new big bad on viaduct aa we speak doing fight scene." When asked who was the new Big Bad, fan tweeted: "No clue but his outfit is all black with red chest and back plate and full helmet." (kerri5577 tweets, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Richard Dragon?
-- Arrow casting call notice: "[RICARDO DIAZ] Male. 30s - 40s. Diverse. Hardened ex-con recently released from prison fro crimes he didn't commit. Ricardo uses his freedom and 25 million dollars in settlement money to establish control over Star City's criminal underworld. He's a martial arts and fighting expert honed by years of life on the street and in prison...7/13 FRACTIONAL SERIES REGULAR." (Jun. 14, 2017 kasperco77x post on Arrow reddit, page 1540 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Ricardo Diaz is the New 52 incarnation of DC Comics character Richard Dragon: "A new version of Richard Dragon is introduced following DC's The New 52 2011 continuity relaunch. A character identifying himself as Richard Dragon first appears in Green Arrow #23 (2013)... In Green Arrow #31, he appears leading a team of Green Arrow's enemies, referred to as the Longbow Hunters. In Green Arrow #32 the character identifies himself as Ricardo Diaz, Jr., the namesake son of a drug kingpin who had been killed by John Diggle (posing as Green Arrow). He revealed that after his father's death and the fall of his criminal empire he sought out and found the League of Assassins where his sensei taught him to become a living weapon. He claims that when his sensei also taught him patience and compassion, which he perceived to be a weakness, he killed his sensei and took his name. Diaz/Dragon places a 30-million-dollar bounty on Green Arrow, which three members of the Longbow Hunters (Brick, Killer Moth, and Red Dart) intend to split. Green Arrow is able to defeat all of them with the help of his young half-sister, Emiko. Green Arrow is then reunited with his old partner, John Diggle, after Dragon attempts to kill Diggle by defenestration. In a fight against both Arrow and Diggle, Dragon is able to significantly injure both of them, but is ultimately defeated." (Wikipedia article in lemotomato post, page 1540 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

The Question?
-- The Question's hometown is Hub City. The original version of The Question was Vic Sage, an ace investigative reporter who dons a faceless mask to gather the answers he could never get in his civilian disguise. His origin has been tweaked, but the most common telling is that Vic was raised in an abusive orphanage and when he was old enough left to study journalism. He was later approached as a reporter by an old professor and mentor named Aristotle Rodor, who tipped Sage off about a potentially toxic substance being sold to unknowing countries as medical supplies, and gave him some of the substance to use as a mask. After putting a stop to the operation, he decided to keep the mask and identity. Renee Montoya, an officer of the Gotham City Police Department, has also used the alias in the years after her mentor, the original Question, died. Vic Sage and his protégé Renee Montoya played a big part in the weekly series 52, which had Vic contracting lung cancer and eventually passing his mantle down to Renee. The following stories with Renee tied her closely with the new Batwoman, who she frequently teamed up with in more ways than one. The most celebrated DC comics series on the Question was the one introducing him into the DC Universe in a self-titled 1987 series by Denny O’Neil and Denys Cowan. The series had the titular character trained by Richard Dragon in martial arts, and also in the ways of Eastern philosophy. Vic underwent a transformation of character as he adjusted to new beliefs that were less black-and-white than his previous characterization. The Question's biggest claim to fame outside of comics was as a recurring character on Justice League Unlimited. In that version, he's played up as a conspiracy theorist who often works around and outside of the Justice League, trying to expose the secrets of Project Cadmus. He's also romantically involved with Huntress in the show, a callback to the Huntress story "Cry for Blood" when Vic Sage helps Huntress learn to contain her rage. (Jun. 14, 2017 Blastr article, page 1540 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Cayden James/Helix
-- Per WM, Helix’s status is very much “a dangling thread, and we don’t like to leave those hanging around... It’d be a great, sort of built-in story for Felicity to revisit these people, who are not very happy with her, let’s be honest. We left that open-ended on purpose, for sure.” (Jun. 8, 2017 TVLine article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Susan Williams
-- On what was the objective of Susan Williams because her storyline ended with the breakup and whether her research was going to be revealed, SA: "Um, yeah, that - that storyline did end rather abruptly, but that doesn't mean that it's over. I certainly had a blast working with, uh - I certainly had a blast working with Carly and hopefully there'll be a chance to do that in Season 6 because obviously she knows stuff. And, um, that's always very interesting." (Jun. 28, 2017 SA facebook video, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1549 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Nyssa al Ghul
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- SA: "I don't know if we'll see flashbacks of Slade. Um, we could. I can report that Manu Bennett is back to being a part of the show and I think we'll see him multiple times this year. Which is awesome." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, and alwaysx1314 tweet & video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On 2 truths and 1 lie about 601, SA: "Oliver and Slade have a scene in the present day... Diggle, uh, fires and misses someone, as in, like, he deploys his gun and it doesn't work... And, uh, Thea is in a present day scene where we speak to one another." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and heroesfanfest tweet & video of SA panel, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Con report on what SA said: ";@manubennett is back to being a part of the show, and we will see him several times' @StephenAmell." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: heroesfanfest tweet, page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Manu is back to being a part of the show and will be seen multiple times."  (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: CharmingWords23 and felicitysmxak tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "But Deathstroke. You know, the producer of Arrow rang me at 3 o' clock yesterday morning, when I was asleep. The phone rang and it was Marc Guggenheim. Anyway, that's about Season 6. You'll see."  (MCM Dublin Comic Con, Jul. 1, 2017: Angie Adams video of MB panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what has been his most fun/challenging scenes that he's done as Slade on Arrow so far, MB: "Uh, I think the comeback at the end of Season 5 has been really wonderful. You know, it's returned Slade back to the, uh, relationship with Oliver, with the no mirakuru involved stuff. So you know the crazy's stuff gone, so we're back to business as usual, you know, which is nice. It's a nice way to sort of get back to that origin part of the relationship. And, you know, the fans want more and who knows what Season 6 holds." (MCM Belfast Comic Con, June 25, 2017: Kevin's Videos video, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- MB: "But you know what? It was a journey with Stephen Amell, who set up the genesis of that show. The kind of journey for me that [unintelligible words] halfway through 3, 4, and now I'm back again to 5. And it's gonna be interesting what happens in the next season, kid. (laughs) It's gonna be really interesting." (MCM Belfast Comic Con, June 25, 2017: xForeverLost10x video of MB panel, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what MB said: "Today at MCM Dublin, Manu Bennett confirmed he, as Deathstroke, would play a part in Arrow season 6." (MCM Dublin Comic Con, Jul. 1, 2017: iamthelivingpotatooverlord tumblr post, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what MB said: "MB: it was interesting to get call to comeback  'I'd killed his mother! What harder comeback is there?' But he's not sure if he's in S6." and " #shc3 @manubennett wants spin-off 2B extreme version of #Deathstroke rather than 'watered down version' on @TheCW due to violence." (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: tanavip tweets, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "I think a Deadshot Deathstroke team-up is in the books! Mike and Manu!"  (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: tanavip tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, papp tweeted: "Glad to see Manu is back to his old self, cool as fuck & just shooting the shit." (pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot
-- Fan report on what DR said: "I think a Deadshot Deathstroke team-up is in the books! Mike and Manu!"  (Super Heroes Con III, Jun. 3, 2017: tanavip tweet, page 586 of Social Media thread)
-- Michael Rowe: "Me coming back to Arrow or any of those shows is always a possibility. You're talking about a universe where they deal with time travel. There's all kinds of flashbacks. There is, you know, ways to bring people back to life. There's ways to go to alternate Earths, like you've seen in The Flash. We had fancy plans for Deadshot. But it wasn't the producers or anybody involved in with the shows. It went way higher than that. It was just an executive decision to slow down Deadshot's role on TV so they can focus on Deadshot in the film - Suicide Squad film. I feel like we have unfinished business with it. It's just, will they let us get back to that? I don't think Deadshot died in that explosion. Maybe that's just me giving the character a lot of credit. I just know he's notoriously hard to kill. And, um, I have my own sort of theories on what happened in that situation. You didn't see a body. They just had to sort of remove him quickly from the show because of the business. And, um, there'd be a lot of fun ways to bring him back and, uh, revisit some of these storylines that we originally had. And one of the major ones would be Deathstroke, Deadshot - either versus or team up. And me and Manu, we're pretty fired when we get together in real life, so we'd love to see us through those characters end up in the same scenes and scenarios together. I think that'd be really fun, really interesting." Also Michael Rowe: "They wanted to bring the Suicide Squad out and they used Arrow like a laboratory to test the Suicide Squad. And it worked real well, but then it sorta got taken away from us, unfortunately, to be graduated to, like, A-list actors and ‘let’s put all our money into it,' and that’s just how the industry works, you know. In hindsight it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It helped me get my ass in gear. I produced my own film, I wrote my own film, I started on this project. I did a bunch of other cool things that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if I was locked into that show. So, it was kind of a gift, to be honest with you. But I love playing the character, and if they ever called me, I would enjoy revisiting that.” (Jul. 11, 2017 ComicBook article & video, page 233 of Starling City Times thread)

Derek Sampson
-- When EW's Kyle Anderson requested that they bring back Cody Rhodes, one of his favorite VOTW, MG replied: "He absolutely is, by the way. I mean, we love him, we love his performance. He is an incredibly sweet guy. Super talented. Yeah, uh, we're - I mean, he's one of our faves, so, um, you know, I would not rule out at all seeing a lot more of him in Season 6." (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Cody Rhodes: “There was discussions for me to come back. Although I’m not privy to any behind the scenes discussions of Arrow, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Derek Sampson returns in some fashion. I think they were very happy with me. I know I was happy. What a team with Greg Berlanti[,] Marc Guggenheim and everyone else there. Stephen Amell works so hard. He and I have built a friendship based on Stardust. So I hope to return. I took it very seriously and tried my best and hope people enjoyed it.” Jun. 21, 2017 Channel Guide Magazine article, page 231 of Starling City Times thread)

Malcolm Merlyn
-- On whether Malcolm Merlyn is going to be on the new season of Arrow, JB: "Do you want the honest answer? (Audience yells, "Yes!") No. I'm very upset about it. You, too? C'mere, give me a hug. (Hugs child fan) Your mom loves Malcolm Merlyn? Where's your mom? ... No, Malcolm's not going to be back... Without going into - I love the show. I know that characters have to change. I know that characters have to killed off, shows must change, they must grow and develop. I get it. But... (sighs) what I don't - didn't agree with was the way they killed him. Because my feeling is that they did it because they didn't want any fans knowing that he really was dead. Because they - he died off camera. 'Cause when I had the conversation with them, I actually said to them, 'Will he be coming back? I want you to tell me.' They said, 'No, we don't have any intention of bringing him back.' So there you go." (Awesome Con, Jun. 17, 2017: Christopher E. Filby video of JB panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)

Tommy Merlyn
-- On possibly returning to Arrow, Colin Donnell joked: "Everybody comes back, except for Tommy. Nobody's ever dead on Arrow, except for Tommy. He's literally the only character that's not been back, like, in an actual way." He then added: "I have the fortunate blessing of being a busy working actor, so, uh, you know, probably not. But I didn't say never. (Dean Cain interjected, "Can't say never.") Never say never. So chances are really low." (Supanova Sydney, June. 16, 2017: lmkf91 video of Colin Donnell and Dean Cain panel, page 589 of Social Media thread)
-- Per Colin Donnell, he's open to returning to Arrow, perhaps in an alternate reality as a villain. CD: "I never say never to making more appearances with my friends on Arrow... I think he's got to be a bad guy ... I have a thing for wanting to play villains." (June 6, 2017 Bay939 article, page 231 of Starling City Times thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- When EW's Kyle Anderson asked about the mega, 4-show crossover next season, MG said that they've already had some discussions and that he, GB and AK will have their first meeting to talk about it "next week." They have some "exciting ideas," although it'll be hard to top aliens. MG added: "Very early on in the process of doing last year's crossover, Greg said that there's probably no way to get bigger than aliens. So the best way to make the crossover - next year's crossover, this year's crossover - uh, you know, especially epic is, if you can't increase the sort of, you know, bombast, increase the emotional, uh, stakes and the emotional payoffs. Um, so, that's a very oblique, uh, comment on where our heads are at, here for this season." (Jun. 22, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and EW's Superhero Insider podcast, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “If we end up doing what we’re talking about doing, it’s going to be pretty cool... The crossover is always the most challenging thing we do, but it’s also the most fun. Every year we feel the pressure [to top ourselves]. I feel like each crossover has topped the previous one. Topping last year’s, that’s a high bar, if for no other reason than what do you do that’s bigger than aliens? We’ve got some very, very exciting ideas…. Very early on in the process of doing last year’s crossover, Greg [Berlanti] said there’s probably no way to get bigger than aliens, so the best way to make the [next] crossover especially epic is if you can’t increase the bombast, increase the emotional stakes and the emotional payoffs, so that’s a very oblique comment on where our heads are at for this season.” (Jun. 30, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I think the idea this year, from what I understand is, uh, you know, last year they said four-night crossover, but in a lot of ways, Supergirl was just kind of a lead in to The Flash. So I think that this year they really want to get everyone involved. It's not going to be a four-night - well, I guess, four-night, but Legends and Flash are on the same night. I think they want to get everyone involved in every show. And, uh, I like having the anchor. We have the anchor this year, Thursday night... I would rather be last than first. I'd rather be last than first, second or third. We get to be the conclusion." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Jul. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, ComicBook video of SA interview, and smoaksqueen tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he'd like a Civil War-type mega crossover, SA: "I love the idea of everyone being on opposing camps for the crossover." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Black Lightning in the Arrowverse?
-- Black Lightning comic book creator Tony Isabella: “There are some smartass lines in there, and I love writing smartass lines, so I love the fact that’s a little bit of me in there, that they're doing that... I love the tone of the show. I had read a script, which, I think, was the second draft when the show was at Fox. I’m sure there will be some changes for the CW, but the Fox script was really edgy, and not fantasy-edgy like Arrow. Real-world edgy. Police brutality, driving while black, the gang. It really is real-world edgy and the more of that they keep, I think the more the TV show will work. ... Jefferson Pierce is a middle-aged superhero, and a reluctant one. He doesn’t want to be a hero,” Isabella said. “A lot of superhero comics these days are so self absorbed, every issue the heroes are fighting their old enemies. They’re not actually doing stuff for the community, and that’s what I want to change. Those are the characters I want to write.” (Jun. 5, 2017 iDigitalTimes article, page 313 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On why Black Lightning producers don't plan on crossing over Black Lightning with the Arrowverse so early in the series, Black Lightning comic book creator Tony Isabella: “We talked about that, not that I have any say in it. I said early on, ‘You know, I’m a little tired of Black Lightning being subservient to other characters. I don't like him teaming up with Batman and Superman. They pretty much give him orders.’ We could always change it later on.” (Jun. 5, 2017 iDigitalTimes article, page 313 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- While Black Lightning won't be an official part of the Arrowverse, the EPs aren't ruling anything out. Salim Akil: "The storytelling is a little bit more political. It’s topical, and it’s a little grittier. It doesn’t mean that down the road there won’t be visits." (June 14, 2017 The Mary Sue article, page 311 of Mind Your Surroundings thread, and Jun. 15, 2017 ComicBookStore article, page 312 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how Jefferson is a different hero than Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, or any of the Legends of Tomorrow, EP Salim Akil: "Well, one, he’s older. [Laughs] He’s got aches and pains, he’s not as useful, and that is something that is unique. Two, there are not many superheroes going into Chicago, going into Watts, going into the areas and dealing with the issues that Black Lightning is going to deal with, and I think that’s unique. His villains are people that viewers hear about and read about every day. I think that’s unique. The third thing is he’s black. [Laughs] We don’t have a lot of black superheroes. I’m happy about it, because there’s a resurgence of it, but it’s still not totally representative of our culture, so amongst all the different so-called black superheroes, Jefferson stands alone and unique in the fact of who he is as a person. Again, he’s a father, he’s older, he’s wiser. To your point, he’s spent years doing this and then he hung it up. He’s a husband, he’s a principal. He is a man of man colors, no pun intended. That’s what makes him so identifiable so you can relate to him. His uniqueness doesn’t just rely on the fact that he’s a black superhero; his uniqueness is that he’s as human as everybody in America. That’s what makes him a beautiful character to explore." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether Jefferson hails from this earth or an entirely separate universe that’s not connected to the other CW superhero shows, EP Salim Akil: "Jefferson is on planet earth 2017-2018. From my perspective, the reason that we walk down this road was because, let’s all be honest, the majority of people may know the title Black Lightning, but they don’t really know who Jefferson and Black Lightning is, and I felt like it was very, very important for us to get to know who he is and who this character is and what his wants and needs and vulnerabilities are before we start introducing a lot of other things into that. That’s the main reason: I want people to get to know this family. I want them to get to understand what kind of villains that he’s fighting. There ain’t many superheroes down in the ghetto, or so-called ghettos. The communities that Jefferson and Black Lightning is trying to save is the communities like Chicago, Watts, all of the things that we see on television, those are very real villains and very real heroes. We want to explore through Jefferson and Anissa and Jennifer’s eyes, and Gambi’s eyes, we want to try to understand these communities not just as victims, but as hard-working people, blue collar people, who are caught in some very f—ed up circumstances, but it doesn’t make them less than, and we shouldn’t ignore them. One of the things that Black Lightning will do, and Jefferson will do, is be able to introduce the humanity of the people who are caught in these communities. So I didn’t want to distract from that, and I didn’t want to distract from us getting to know Jefferson, Jennifer, and Anissa, or Black Lightning, Thunder, and Lightning. I wanted people to get to know them first. ... Now, you know, everything is possible. But hopefully this season everybody will just get to know them and get to respect them and accept them for who they are before we start making other moves." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether there’s a future in which they could cross over to the other CW superhero shows, EP Salim Akil: "Yeah, I’m not opposed to it at all." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how Black Lightning, as a show, is different from the other superhero shows, EP Salim Akil: "Well, the obvious answer would be that it’s black folk, right? I don’t know if there’s another black family on The CW, but that’s too easy because ultimately the difference is that it’s where they live and the subject matter and the true Americaness of who this family is. Seeing through the eyes of Jefferson, Anissa, and Jennifer, to really see that these are Americans striving to be better people, to be good people, to live a life that is not only good for themselves but additive to their community. I hope that if we’re successful, we’ll be able to all look at Jefferson and his daughters and be as proud of them as we were when we saw President Obama and his wife and children in the White House. It was a proud moment for us, regardless of how you felt about his politics. That moment said something about America that we had been saying was possible, and what we stood for for a very long time. One generation up out of Jim Crow, we had an African-American president whose name was Barack Hussein Obama. That says a lot about who we are as Americans, and I hope that this family, people will look at this show not as, “Oh, there’s the black superhero family,” but, “Hey, there’s an American superhero family and we can identify with them,” and I think that that’s what makes it different." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how Black Lightning, as a show, is different from the other superhero shows, EP Salim Akil: "There is no African-American superhero with a family, with an ex-wife, who is a teacher and a proud member of his community. And this show will be grounded more in reality than some of the others." (Jul. 17, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 326 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On the decision to not make Black Lightning part of the Arrowverse right now, EP Salim Akil: "It was a mutually agreed decision. I'm excited about it. Black Lightning has in its own ways disappeared from the DC universe. Those who knew, know. We have an opportunity to reintroduce him to the public. I didn't want anything to get in the way of that. I want people to get to know who Jefferson Pierce is, who Black Lightning is. I wanted them to get to know him in a world they recognize. It gives us the opportunity to express ourselves and for me to express myself in a way that's different and unique. The CW and [producers] Warner Bros. Television and [Greg] Berlanti and Akil Productions came to that conclusion and it's an exciting one." (Jul. 17, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 326 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how Black Lightning differs from the other CW superhero series, Cress Williams: "What makes it different is that really we’re a family drama. The origin story aside, they don’t have the ties of a family that’s keeping them tied to reality. Our show is also just really dealing with a grass roots superhero who is not trying to save the world, he’s trying to save his community. The fact that he just has the real world ties make it different." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether he thinks it's better that Black Lightning isn't part of the Arrowverse, Cress Williams: "I kind of like the fact that it’s in a separate world of its own for a number of reasons. One, it’s the logistical fact that we’re shooting in Atlanta and all the other Arrowverse shows shoot in Vancouver, so logistically that would be very, very complicated to make it work. But also, again, we’re a different type of show. I’ve told people we’re a family drama with superpowers on top of it. Then, I’m really more intrigued about what happens as my daughters develop abilities. When it’s all said and done, when we’re really up and running seasons down the line, you’re going to have a show with three superheroes on it, so it’s not a solo show, but it’ll almost be like a team. So I’m really excited about unwrapping all of that more than combining universes." (Jul. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 324 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Looking Beyond S6 
-- Fan asked that, if he could pitch the ending of the show, what would it be. SA: "And as for the ending, I can't tell you because I have a very, very specific idea for what it is. And they're going to listen to me. So I can't spoil it. But I've told it to a couple of people and they hear it and they're like, 'yeah.' So you'll have to keep watching for like 6, 7 more years." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Edited July 18, 2017 by tv echo
UPDATED WITH NEW SPOILERS THROUGH JULY 9.

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from or associated with San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), July  20-23, 2017...

ADDENDUM #2 (SDCC EDITION) TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Directors
-- DR mentioned that he shadowed James Bamford during shooting the first episode. As to whether or not he'll direct an episode, he said that that was an "executive decision" and that he had no idea because he's just a "cog in the wheel." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I shadowed Bam - James Bamford - for episode 601. If the gods allow it, and Greg Berlanti, you'll see if I directed a scene." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I shadowed James Bamford, our esteemed fight choreographer turned director now turned producer-director on our show for 601, just to look at directing and other stuff - I'm not directing an episode." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Planning/Production
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "Marc admitted Season 6 is the hardest season to talk about. He compared it to the Walking Dead’s problem last year. They are shooting 6x02 and they are writing 6x04. They are breaking 6x05 and 6x06, which will be a two parter, and they are already starting to talk about the crossover." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Transition from S5 to S6 (Cliffhanger Resolution)
-- TV Guide (Damian Holbrook): "Season 6 will kick off five months after Prometheus, aka Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra), triggered all those explosives - before killing himself in front of Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Oliver's son, William (Jack Moore). So when the show returns, we should learn pretty quickly the fates of Oliver's entire team.: Diggle (David Ramsey), Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), Lance (Paul Blackthorne), Thea (Willa Holland), Rene (Rick Gonzalez), Curtis (Echo Kellum) and Dinah (Juliana Harkavy) were all on the island when the bombs went off." MG: "And they're all in jeopardy... Who knows who will be back?" (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "We pick up five months after the finale. Uh, we always try to do the season premiere narratively with the same time gap that broadcast us. So there's about a five-month time gap between the season finale and the season premiere. We're doing that again this year, but we are gonna, over the course of the episode, flash back to the moments right before and right after the finale. So you will get to see, you know, who lives and who dies. But you will also get it in this very piece-mealed out iteration." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Every year we always jump high. Uh, there's always a five-month gap usually between the season finale and the season premiere. And we always try to honor that real-life time jump. But what we are gonna do is, in the midst of the episode, we're gonna flash back to the moments right before and right after the, uh, finale of Season 5." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "There are several different fallouts. Um, that's why the title of the season premiere is actually 'Fallout.' Because a lot of it, uh, you know, the premiere deals with the repercussions of what happened on Lian Yu at the end of Season 5. And there's - you know, I don't want to spoil anything because I think a big part of the fun of the premiere is seeing what happened, who lived, who died. Um, I will say that there are also other kinds of consequences, apart from just living and dying. There's other things also that can and do happen, uh, as a result of the explosions." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see right away who survives and whether we'll see Oliver reacting to the potential loss, WM: "I think you're gonna see both. Um, we will get answers. You'll know by the end of the premiere who made it and who didn't. And you'll see Oliver mourning. You'll see some - you'll definitely see him going through a grieving process." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On surviving the island explosion, WM: "I think it's fair to say that there's gonna be consequences for sure. And some people will have a lot more to deal with in that respect than others. And, you know, we're not going to do something with that big of a cliffhanger and not pay it off." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "What we saw at the end of Season 5 with the island blowing up and everyone in jeopardy, that there will be serious consequences for everybody, especially Oliver and some will be more, you know, impacted by that explosion than others." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: WarnerChannelLatAm video of red carpet interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We can say for sure that obviously that explosion was a big one and, uh, we went out with a bang as we promised and, uh, that will have consequences, and some will be more serious than others... Not everybody's going to come back, yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "And, you know, everybody who comes out of the island and survives and those who don't, there will also be consequences for the survivors. So everyone's going to deal with that issue... There's going to be both, you know, consequences - I guess, what can I say - medical. There will be that and there will be - yeah, there will be fatality. Someone does not come back at all. Yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We do the same thing that we've done every year, which is that we stick with the times. We pick up five months after the - after the Season 5 finale. We have flashbacks in the first episode to the aftermath of the explosion. And, um, I can't say anything else.... I mean, I can't." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video interview with Arrow cast in Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “We flash back to the immediate aftermath of 523." It’s also going to affect Oliver “deeply.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 28, 2017 fangirlish article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We flash back in 601 to the immediate aftermath of the explosion. Um, I am all over the writers, in a good way. Having watched Lost twice, and having so many questions still, I want to make sure that we properly unpack the aftermath of the explosion. How did it affect people? Who lived? Who died? What happened to them? We need to make the aftermath of that explosion the critical, like, fulcrum point of Season 6. Otherwise, what was the point of Chase blowing up the island?" When asked if there will be any burn injuries, SA: "Not that I know of... I don't know if we're delving into any burn injuries, but there are injuries." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "The only thing I can tease is that in we - in episode 601, we flash back to the immediate aftermath of 523." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Where do we find Oliver at the beginning of Season 6? We find him at a little bit of an impasse with trying to be a dad. Uh, we also begin the unpacking of what happened in 523." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DR, the show will pickup 5 months after the events on the island and fans will know "pretty quickly" what happened to everyone. DR: "There's been some damage that's happened from the island, not just the explosion, but some of the repercussions it's going to take the rest of Season 6 to deal with... People will pay a price. That explosion, some have said it's much ado about nothing, but it was worth it because of the damage." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "The explosion profoundly affects people on the show, particularly Diggle... I shadowed James Bamford, our esteemed fight choreographer turned director now turned producer-director on our show for 601, just to look at directing and other stuff - I'm not directing an episode. And we went back to the island and we shot what happened on the island with the explosion. And we'll see the, uh, repercussions of what happened on the island throughout the season, Diggle particularly. The other people are affected, but Diggle specifically." When asked if it was physical or emotional, DR: "Both. Both. And what that does to him, what it does to the team, what it does to his family... I think in Season 6 you'll see Diggle broken in a way you've never seen him before, and it starts in 601. It starts in the first episode. So I think you're going to see a dramatic change in Diggle's, uh - in what Diggle has to deal with on an emotional and physical level. In a way we haven't seen."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "We pick up five months from the island and, um, it affected the characters in a profound way. Um, clearly, Oliver has a situation and, um, everyone in that - on that island who suffered through that explosion, um, will be paying a price, Diggle particularly." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how long they're stranded on the island before they're rescued, DR: "That's a producer question." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DR, you'll know in the first episode who lives and who dies. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I will say, there's been some damage that's happened from the island. Uh, not just the explosion but some of the repercussions that, um, it's going to take the rest of Season 6 for people to deal with. And, um, not just emotional but physical, but physical, um, injuries as well. So people will pay a price. I mean, even though that explosion, you know, some have said already it's much ado about nothing because they kinda see who survives, blah blah blah. But there's, um - it was worth it in terms of the suspense that it caused, because there's, um, a great deal of damage." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's any reaction to the decisions that Oliver made prior to the island explosion, DR: "No... I don't think we question in terms of his leadership and what his leadership brought us to in terms of those decisions - those executive decisions he made bringing us to this point. That's not what's in question. I think what's, uh - what comes out of the island - decisions that he has to make personally that comes out of the island, uh, we start questioning that, I think. And, um, again ... I can't express enough, Diggle is profoundly affected, particularly in Season 6, by what happened on the island." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who survives the island explosion, WH: "Who knows? And also on this show there's a bunch of other things that can happen than being dead, as well as, even if you're dead, it doesn't mean anything. So... it sucks that we have literally nothing that we can say to you guys, but also now whatever happens in the beginning kinda also means nothing because anything is possible. Like, it's just - I have nothing else I can say on this subject." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "This is gonna be an interesting season in terms of picking up where we left of and trying to see who survives the island and how they survived the island and what does that mean to the team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "We find her [Dinah], um, definitely recovering from Lian Yu. You know, at the beginning of Season 6, everybody is - is finding their footing. Uh, you know, we had these huge massive explosions, so it's a recovery." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- KC: "And I think that going into some - there will be some flashbacks, obviously, of what happened, how they got off the island. I think there'll be some opportunities to see Black Siren and the Black Canary again. And definitely moments that I think that are shocking, and people are going to be very surprised." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Synopsis
-- WBTV's SDCC synopsis: "With the future of the team left hanging in the balance, Arrow gave new definition to the phrase 'blowing up the show.' The emotional showdown between Oliver Queen and Adrian Chase was the perfect conclusion to a stellar fifth season of The CW’s gritty DC Super Hero series. Now, the focus shifts to uncovering the fate of each and every member of Team Arrow. Could anyone have possibly survived an island-wide explosion, or has the book closed on them, as it has on Oliver’s five-year flashback story? Returning to San Diego Comic-Con for a sixth consecutive year, cast members Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Paul Blackthorne, Katie Cassidy, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Rick Gonzalez and producers will be on-hand for an eye-opening conversation about the upcoming season. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow’s season six premiere moves to its new night on  Thursday, October 12, at 9/8c on The CW...." (Jun. 29, 2017 Newsarama article, page 320 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Official SDCC program description: "Arrow Special Video Presentation and Q&A... With the future of the team left hanging in the balance, Arrow gave new definition to the phrase 'blowing up the show.' The emotional showdown between Oliver Queen and Adrian Chase was the perfect conclusion to a stellar fifth season of The CW's gritty superhero series. Now the focus shifts to uncovering the fate of every member of Team Arrow. Could anyone have possibly survived an island-wide explosion, or has the book closed on them, as it has the five-year flashback story? The cast and creators will be on hand for an eye-opening conversation about the upcoming season. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow's season premiere is Thursday, October 12 at 9/8c on The CW. Arrow: The Complete Fifth Season is available now on digital and will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 19." (Jul 8, 2017 SDCC's Saturday programming schedule, page 322 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

S6 Sizzle Reel and Promotion
-- Arrow's SDCC trailer showed Oliver, William, Slade, Black Siren and Dinah, but no one else, in present day. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: CWTV's video of Arrow Comic-Con trailer in CW_Arrow tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In Arrow's SDCC trailer, Slade says to Oliver: “We walk in two worlds. We can only do that for so long." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: CWTV's video of Arrow Comic-Con trailer in CW_Arrow tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On shot in Arrow's SDCC trailer where Diggle and Felicity are running from the explosion, JBamford: "That's real @EmilyBett and real @david_ramsey with real explosions." (Jul. 23, 2017 James Bamford tweet, page 1568 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Tone
-- MG: "I'm a big believer that you always try to swing for the fences. At the same time, the more you make it about the fence swinging, the more you take your eye off the ball, to continue the metaphor. So, um, we really are just focusing on the elements that worked last year - you know, the gritty crime stories, the grounded tone." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WM: "I think what we really wanted to do was talk about what the successes were last year and make sure that everyone knows we're going to double down on that and try to do the same kind of thing but even better in Season 6." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "The tone will be the same. I think we found our metier in Season 5 with respect to making it dark, keeping it gritty,  differentiating it from Flash and Supergirl and Legends and Black Lightning now." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On this season's tone as compared to S5, WM: "It's going to be the same. I think what we found in Season 5 is this is what works on Arrow. We have now Flash, we have Supergirl, we have Black Lightning... we have Legends. And every one of them has a slightly different tone and does slightly different types of stories. What we found we do really well is do the crime drama and... you know, with a little bit of levity [some unintelligible words-might've mentioned Felicity]. And we're continue to do - you know, we're going to double down on what we think made Season 5 successful." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “We’re going to really double down on that this year... What we found we really do really well is gritty crime drama with a little bit of levity with Curtis and Felicity. I think it was pretty successful in Season 5.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether the expanded universe of metahumans (following The Flash) will affect Arrow going forward, WM: "We explored metahumans and magic a little bit in Season 4. And I think we took away from that in Season 5 is, it exists, it's part of the universe that is there, it's not necessarily - it's not right for our show. So I think, even though, if we get a new character and we bring them in, and they have to have a metapower, we'll try to make it as grounded as possible. But that's really Flash's whole thing and they do it so well. I don't want to step on their toes. Let them do their thing." WM added: "We always try to ground it. I think that what's fun about it is that we can do those grounded stories and the reaction - all our characters know about these things. They know about superpowers. They know about metas. And their reaction can be really what our reaction would be under the same circumstances, which is, uh, this is a [unintelligible words], what is happening out in Central City? What's going on?" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Every season we learn something. I think for me, Season 1 and Season 4 were probably the biggest - ... Season 1, we knew - you know, we didn't know if the show was going to work or not. And it did. And we sort of figured out, okay, this is is what's working and we doubled down on that in Season 2. And Season 4, we drew the opposite lesson. These are the things that maybe don't work on the show. And even though the season was successful, it was controversial. And so, when that happens, you know, we look at it [unintelligible word], ... well, let's try [unintelligible words]... you're constantly trying to figure out, well, what is this new direction we can go in? ... And how do we make it still Arrow?" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On going onto other Arrowverse shows and changing his tone, SA: "Well, I don't change my tone. I feel like that's one of the issues we ran into on the show, for me, from a creative perspective, is like, let's bend to this world. Let's not. Let's - it's called the Arrowverse. Like, let's just do what we do. Right? But, I mean, going toward the shows, it's great. Um, there are people who work on Flash and Supergirl and Legends that have job they were hired for from Arrow and they're promotions. And it's like, it's really cool going to work for those people. And every set has a different vibe. Right, like, people are like laughing and joking on the Flash set. And, you know, the Supergirl set's kinda like - it was a lot of like them finding themselves last year because it was their first year. And our set's just like a metronome. You know, here you go, here you go, do it, do it, do it. So it's really cool to go and work with new people." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "[Season 6 will be] a continuation of what we started on Season 5. Season 5 was really a return to form - a return to this kind of grass - gritty, grassroots kind of show that was rooted in a sense of reality... And the audience, I think, responded to that in Season 5... I was sitting in one of the rooms when Wendy Mericle and Marc Guggenheim were there, talking about tone. It was kind of a tone meeting. And they were really saying, you know, take it even higher. And that's your mandate - they were speaking to the crew and directors... You've been mandated to take this even higher than Season 5 - that groundwork we've laid in Season 5 to go even higher. So, um, I think that's gonna - that's gonna kinda reflect and resound through all the characters, um, I think, in general." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Theme of Family
-- MG: "The theme is family. Both, uh, found families and biological families... Last year we did a whole - really a whole season of building up this new team. And this year, uh, we're going to take the team out for a spin." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Access Hollywood video of red carpet interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Well, you know, Season 5 was really about building up this team... And by the end of the season, we had Team Arrow 2.0, in a really formidable, you know, tightly knit way. In thinking about Season 6... we really wanted to double down on this concept of family and groups and found families." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights, Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On S6 theme, MG: "Yeah, um, it's family. Uh, it's both biological families and found families. Last year was very much about the building up of this team, Team Arrow. Uh, you know, we saw new faces in the bunker and, uh, by the end of the season, that fraught relationship with Oliver and the recruits had really gelled into a very cool, you know, working relationship. Um, but off the events of the season finale, we're, you know, we're screwing up that a little bit. We're playing around with it. So, I would say, last year we built a car and this year we're taking the car out for a spin." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked to elaborate on the family theme of S6, MG: "Yeah, I can say, you know, there's several different forms of family. Uh, you know, there's the biological, sort of nuclear family. But there's also found families. Uh, last year we really spent the whole season building up this new iteration of Team Arrow. Um, and the way I like to describe Season 6 is, um, you know, last year we built a car over the course of the season and this year we really take the car out for a spin." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "I'll say this, you know, last year we sort of built up this team... this new Team Arrow. Um, and when we say the theme of Season 6 is family, we were also talking about sort of the found families of a team like Team Arrow. So, uh, I would say, without spoiling anything too much, it would really be interesting if there was a team of villains, uh, to go up against our team of heroes." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EW's Natalie Abrams: "[Wendy Mericle] teases that the new season explores the conflicts between the family you're born into and the one you make along the way (or, you know, the one you fight crime with)." (Print issue of Jul. 21/28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly, Arrow article in Comic-Con Preview section, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "And the theme will be family. Found family. Biological family. What the differences between those are." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Family. We're talking about family this season. And what - you know, found family. Everyone on the team who comes out of the explosion has been a part of this found family of a team and, at the same time, they have their own families... So it's really talking about that and figuring out where those boundaries are and exploring those ideas." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “[Season 6’s] theme is family.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "This year's theme is family. Like, um, the family that you're born with and the family that you make along the way." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: WarnerChannelLatAm video of red carpet interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On S6 theme, SA: "Family. The family that you're born with and the family that you make along the way." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I think you'll see a lot of stuff about family this year."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "Season 6, I think the theme is family. And, um, you will see a lot of interesting stories about family, particularly not just families outside of the Arrowcave but within the Arrowcave. I'm looking forward to that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "And, uh, the theme this year is family. And so, uh, immediately reading the scripts now, I'm starting to see, like, the threadline of how the characters are finding themselves in that position. And, you know, uh, I look forward to, I guess - and I've said this before - the trajectory of Season 5 was so strong, the momentum was so powerful, that it just thrust us into this idea of what they've created for Season 6. And, um, it's palpable in what each character's going through in their journey now - um, and some people for the better, and some for the worse." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- Per MG, the new season is something of a reboot after Oliver’s now 10-year journey is complete. MG: “We always said that season 5 would end as a culmination not just of season 5, but of the first five years of the show and the last 10 years of Oliver’s life... We’re going to double down with the things that resonated with people in season 5 — the dark, gritty, really grounded storytelling, but we are going to see a really different Oliver Queen. We’re looking forward to telling some very different kinds of stories with Oliver.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Every year, to varying degrees, we always put the characters through sort of, you know, grinder. And I think what made Prometheus such a [unintelligible word] character, apart from Josh's incredible performance, was that he really put Oliver through the meat grinder. Um, we've got some pretty cool meat grinder moments planned for this season, so, uh, hopefully, we'll be, you know, here next year and  you guys will be like, how do you top so-and-so." When asked if he meant for Oliver or for the entire team, MG: "Actually, for the entire team. That was the big - I will say, the big - I won't say, revelation, but the big creative choice that we made was that this year, the consequences have to be felt not just by Oliver, but by the entire team. And that's a big part of the engine that drives Season 6." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “How do we top Prometheus? I ask myself that question every day... I’m a big believer that you always try to swing for the fences. At the same time, the more you make it about the fence swinging the more you take your eye off the ball. I think a big part of Arrow is, every year to varying degrees we always put the characters through some kind of grinder. What made Prometheus’ character — apart from Josh [Segura’s] incredible performance — was we really put Oliver through the meat grinder...  We’ve got some pretty cool meat grinder moments planned for the season. Hopefully we’ll be here next year and you guys will be asking, ‘How do you top so and so?’ The big creative choice that we made was, this year, the consequences have to be felt not just by Oliver but by the entire team. That’s a big part of the engine that drives Season 6.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "[MG:] 'I will say I think 6B will be very different from 6A. I don’t know if this plan will come to fruition but we really shaping Season 6 as A, B and C. It’s really three big movements. We always go into it with a plan. Sometimes we stick to it to a fault.'” (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel on what MG said: "We shifted gears a bit and went back to discussing Season 6. Marc said, 'The struggle for me is finding new ways to surprise people. I’ll give you an example – in Season 6 we obviously know the island blew up and everyone was on it. Everyone is just thinking about who lives or dies. There’s other stuff that comes with that.' I offered up injuries or PTSD as examples, to which Marc mysteriously replied, 'Or all sorts of interesting things.' Intriguing… Marc’s goal is try and defy expectations by giving a twist to the expected. He said one of his favorite quotes is from Stan Lee, 'Give people what they need. Not what they want.' He added, 'If you give people what they want they are not surprised and they get bored very quickly. There’s something actually very unsatisfying getting everything that you want as a viewer.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "I asked if mixing up the characters, like more Felicity and Thea, was something they were going to continue in Season 6? Marc said yes. He loves mixing up the pairings." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We avoid the term 'reboot' because it sets an expectation that - we don't want to reinvent - we're not reimagining the show from the ground up, which a reboot sort of implies. But what we are doing is taking what we've learned from Season 5 that worked really well - and it was very much the end of a chapter. I mean, it was 1 through 5, and Season 5 had such great stuff to work with because we could answer Season 1. And what we're doing now in Season 6 is setting up a whole bunch of new questions for the audience, for the characters. So, soft reboot, maybe?"  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "What originally drew me to the show and drew me to the comic book character in the first place was the social justice angle. He was someone who fought for the little guy and would, you know, help the helpless, give a voice to people who didn't have one. That's a part I really like about him... You know, we explore that variably on the show. But it's one of those things we're going to do a little more of in Season 6, and I'm really excited about that part." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: WarnerChannelLatAm video of red carpet interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "You know, when I was sitting here last year at this time, I knew exactly how Season 5 was going to go and how it was going to end. I know how Season 6 is going to end, but I do not know how we get there. It's a bit of a different year in terms of how we're building things, how we're introducing people, what the threat is, and I'm excited for it." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Every show has its ebbs and flows... I felt like, by the time Season 4 rolled around, we tried to be a bunch of things, as opposed to just being our show. And I felt like Season 5 was our show. So for Season 6, we can't recapture the emotional gravity of Season 5. It's impossible, right? There's Season 1. There's Season 5. And there's whatever the last season is. Right? That's not to say Season 6 can't be better than Season 5. I'm working my ass off to make sure it's just as good, if not better. But it won't have the same emotional weight as Season 5." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We won't be able to match the emotional gravity of Season 5 until the final season of the show. Whenever that is. Not to say that Season 6 can't be better." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Arrow will ever have a musical episode, SA: "5, 10, 15 minutes after never. Never... We can't do a musical episode ever. Never." WM agreed, saying the show was too dark. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We hit the ground running, right? It feels like from the Season 5 momentum - it feels like when we start with 601, like, there haven't been - well, a couple - but nothing has made my jaw drop in the first three scripts that I've read. Um, but concurrently, like, they're really tight and they're really moving the story forward... I feel like we're using the license that we've earned over five seasons to play it slow with some stories." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "[T]he trajectory of Season 5 was so strong, the momentum was so powerful, that it just thrust us into this idea of what they've created for Season 6. And, um, it's palpable in what each character's going through in their journey now - um, and some people for the better, and some for the worse." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- MG: "Um, you're going to still see flashbacks. It won't be in every episode. And they won't be serialized. They'll be character-specific." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Even though we aren't telling serialized flashbacks this year, we are going to still be doing flashbacks... With the other characters. So, you know, you could be seeing people just only in the past." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Access Hollywood video of red carpet interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel on what MG said on not having to do Oliver's island flashbacks: “[MG:] 'Yeah, it’s such a sigh of relief. Those flashbacks were hard. They were hard from a writing perspective. They were hard from a production perspective. It really was like doing one and a half shows. And also some of our favorite episodes have been the ones where we did the non serialized flashbacks.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “We’re not going to be doing the Oliver-centric [flashbacks] any more... so we have the opportunity to do it from different points of view. Black Siren would definitely be one we want to do on the show.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WM reiterated that it'll be the same show but they'll have "more real estate to play with," they won't have the same flashbacks as before, and that they'll "be able to tell different stories from different characters' points of view." She stressed that they're not calling it a "reboot, but it will feel different in some ways". However, it'll still be Arrow. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video interview with Arrow cast in Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "There will be flashbacks, but they won't the same, Oliver-centric flashbacks to what he did on the island or what happened to him leading up to his return to Star City - Starling City, I should say. Um, but because we're not telling that story any more, we'll have a lot more real estate to talk about characters and also more flashbacks from the point of view of other characters. That's one of the parts of Season 6 that will feel different." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On more Oliver flashbacks, WM: "When we say the flashbacks are over, what we’re really saying is they’re not going to be Oliver’s story on the island or anywhere else five years ago. That story is done, but we will still see flashbacks maybe to other parts of Oliver’s background.” SA: “If they want to flashback before [2008], then they better have good CGI because five years have taken a toll on me." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On giving flashbacks to other characters, WM: “The thing we’re most excited in the writers rooms is getting flashbacks to other peoples’ points of view, so we might see… whoever survives the island, we might see their flashbacks.” SA: "We have the deepest bench right now that we’ve had in the history of the show and to take eight minutes per episode that I was in and give them to someone else, that’s really nice.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We have so much more real estate now to talk about other people's backgrounds... Oliver's story on the island or anywhere else in the last 5 years, that story is done. We will still see flashbacks to other parts of Oliver's background. The thing we're most excited about in the writers room, is getting flashbacks from other people's point of view. Whoever survives the explosion, we might see their flashbacks. We were always really married to telling Oliver's story, which was fantastic, and now we get to change it up." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I'm not sad, we told the story. I think flashbacks from 2008-2012 are done and if they want to flashback before then, you better have good CGI... Five years have taken a toll on me. Personally, I'm excited they're done. We have the deepest bench we've had on the show and to take 8 minutes I had and to give them to someone else, that's really nice." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Team Arrow
-- MG: "Well, you know, Season 5 was really about building up this team... And by the end of the season, we had Team Arrow 2.0, in a really formidable, you know, tightly knit way. In thinking about Season 6... we really wanted to double down on this concept of family and groups and found families." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights, Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Last year was very much about the building up of this team, Team Arrow. Uh, you know, we saw new faces in the bunker and, uh, by the end of the season, that fraught relationship with Oliver and the recruits had really gelled into a very cool, you know, working relationship. Um, but off the events of the season finale, we're, you know, we're screwing up that a little bit. We're playing around with it. So, I would say, last year we built a car and this year we're taking the car out for a spin." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Uh, last year we really spent the whole season building up this new iteration of Team Arrow. Um, and the way I like to describe Season 6 is, um, you know, last year we built a car over the course of the season and this year we really take the car out for a spin." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I'll say this, you know, last year we sort of built up this team... this new Team Arrow. Um, and when we say the theme of Season 6 is family, we were also talking about sort of the found families of a team like Team Arrow. So, uh, I would say, without spoiling anything too much, it would really be interesting if there was a team of villains, uh, to go up against our team of heroes." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the "meat grinder" moments this season will be for Oliver or for the entire team, MG: "Actually, for the entire team. That was the big - I will say, the big - I won't say, revelation, but the big creative choice that we made was that this year, the consequences have to be felt not just by Oliver, but by the entire team. And that's a big part of the engine that drives Season 6." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see more new members of Team Arrow this season, MG: "Um, good question. I'll say - that's very clever, like, how do I answer that without, uh, revealing who lives and who dies? ... I'll say that, regardless of what the size of the team is, post-Season 5, we're not looking right now to add additional people to it." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "Marc answered, 'They were all the same level of difficulty or easiness. What’s always the hardest is the casting. We were four for four. The original plan with the newbies was very different. The original plan was we were going to cycle a whole bunch of newbies throughout the season. And then we’ll keep whoever pops.' This totally surprised me and I said it sounded similar to the rotating Season 1 love interests. Arrow rotated many women throughout the season to see who worked best with Oliver (Felicity). Marc agreed and said much to their surprise each new cast member was great. They didn’t want to get rid of anybody." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Family. We're talking about family this season. And what - you know, found family. Everyone on the team who comes out of the explosion has been a part of this found family of a team and, at the same time, they have their own families... So it's really talking about that and figuring out where those boundaries are and exploring those ideas." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "[Oliver's] had this five years of experience being - you know, getting advice and taking wisdom from all kinds of places... Starting in Season 6 we wanted to sort of flip that dynamic and see him in a more, I don't know, paternal role... He's that way with the team and he's going to be, you know - whichever of the team survives - and he's going to be that way with his son as well. And it's just a new, interesting dynamic that will keep the character fresh and, hopefully, keep the show fresh as well." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "This is the deepest bench we've ever had on the show. It makes me really bullish about our ability to carry on." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Diggle's physical and emotional effects from the island explosion, DR: "Um, it's that detrimental. It's that life-changing, yes. And it has a potential effect on the whole team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's any reaction to the decisions that Oliver made prior to the island explosion, DR: "No... I don't think we question in terms of his leadership and what his leadership brought us to in terms of those decisions - those executive decisions he made bringing us to this point. That's not what's in question. I think what's, uh - what comes out of the island - decisions that he has to make personally that comes out of the island, uh, we start questioning that, I think. And, um, again ... I can't express enough, Diggle is profoundly affected, particularly in Season 6, by what happened on the island." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "I'm excited for, uh, you know, however the team reassembles itself, I'm excited for them to be a stronger unit. Um, you know, I think that we went through some trauma together on the island and the outcome, you know, is, uh - we're gonna need to put the pieces back together. And I think that just makes us stronger and better. So, just getting closer to everybody and the relationships being more complex, and delving into our friendships some more. I'm looking forward to that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- On where Olicity's headed this season (assuming Felicity survives), MG: "I'm going to give a very unsatisfying answer to the Olicity fans, which is - you know, we sort of set Oliver and Felicity on a certain trajectory, starting with 520, and we saw a little bit of it in 523, and we're just, you know - we're continuing it. Uh, I will say that the events of the finale did throw a little bit of a wrench into, you know - into their slow rekindling of their relationship." When interviewer asked if it threw a wrench into their plans to immediately go get dinner after, MG: "Yeah, that clearly did not happen. You know, island blew up and then, you know, 'oh, let's grab some food,' you know, 'we're in the South China Sea, maybe get some good Chinese food.' Didn't happen."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread. and Jul. 24, 2017 ComicBook article, page 1572 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "I think Stephen really enjoys working with Emily... Those two have undeniable chemistry. We've always written toward it, even when we were writing away from it, you know?" (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- TV Guide: "All of Oliver and computer whiz Felicity's flirty reconnecting in the season's final episodes are just baby steps, kids!" MG: "'Getting them back into a full-on relationship by the finale would have felt ridiculously rushed... This is just going to be the latest chapter of their lowercase-r-relationship." TV Guide added: "If Felicity survives." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "Marc reiterated again that there will not be a Bl&ck Siren, Oliver and Felicity love triangle. A love triangle does not remotely interest him. He agreed they settled on Oliver’s great love in Season 2 and it is Felicity." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Olicity, WM: "If she survives, it's something the fans love, obviously it's a core component of the show and if she pulls through and comes out of that explosion, there's no way we can't address that question." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When TVLine's Michael Ausiello pitched as an idea for the mega crossover a double wedding with Barry & Iris and Oliver & Felicity, WM replied: "I can't tell you that's going to happen." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver & Felicity's relationship, SA: "Did she live? ... Well, like assuming - ... They're in a great - they're in a good spot. But, uh, William is a thing. Not in a bad way. But, like, if they're going to be in a relationship, he's not a baby. He's in, like, 6th grade. It's a thing." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what we can expect from Olicity, SA: "Their relationship is in a decent place, assuming she survived... No, they're good, they're good. They have a, uh - again, taking for granted some things... (pauses and covers his face with his right hand for a moment)... Um, they're in a good spot." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the status of Olicity, SA: "Did she live? Uh, assuming [that she lives]... they're in a decent - they're in a tremendous place. William is a thing. In a good way. But William's a thing."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Olicity, SA: “They’re in a tremendous place. William is a thing – in a good way. But William’s a thing.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 28, 2017 fangirlish article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Yeah, William's not a baby. He's in 6th grade." On whether that's mess with Olicity, SA: "It's a thing. It's not messing with us, but it's a thing." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet interview with SA in Jul. 26, 2017 ComicBook tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "If [Felicity's] alive, I hope that they reconcile the involvement of William (Jack Moore) and then get married... I mean, he proposed already. He's been sitting around. Waiting. So hopefully that happens." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: TV Guide article, page 1566 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Media report on what SA said: "@StephenAmell teased that (assuming Felicity lives), Oliver & Felicity are in a really great place when we start season 6. #Arrow #Olicity." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: fangirlishness tweet, page 1566 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Media report on what SA said: "'Assuming she lives they're in a tremendous place. William is a thing, in a good way, but a thing'-SA re #Olicity." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: starlingcityj tweet, page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When asked what we might see happen with Oliver & Felicity next season, since they've been on a long journey back to each other, SA and EBR just looked at each other for a long moment. Then interviewer read a twitter question asking for two truths and a lie about Oliver & Felicity's relationship next season. SA: "Oh my god, I did two truths and one lie at a con in Nashville a few weeks ago and I caught a rash of sh*t, so I'm gonna pass." EK: "Figure two lies and a lie?" SA: "Emily's got it." EBR: "They're already married. They're getting married. They're never getting married." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ET facebook live video interview with Arrow cast, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Media report on what EBR said: "Just as Stephen Amell said he wanted an Olicity wedding next season on Arrow, Emily Bett Rickards aka Felicity seems to confirm it. The Arrow cast were talking all things next season at San Diego Comic Con on Saturday when they were asked to play two truths and one lie. Emily's go came around and she was asked about season six. Choosing to give fans what they wanted she opted for a cheeky wedding tease, but instead of going for the usual variation of the game she decided to answer: 'They're already married, they're never getting married, they're getting married.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Mirror UK article, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan reports on what EBR said: "EBR did a 2 truths/1 lie thing in one interview and it's confusing me. She said Olicity is a) already married, b) getting married, c) never getting married. We know they are getting married so IDGI. Haha." and "From what I heard, EK suggested she switch it or change it up or something. I think she switched it.  After SA apparently said something to her about expecting a call Monday morning." and "Yeah, she wound up telling two lies and a truth." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Angel12d, Chaser and apinknightmare posts, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what she thinks the chances are of Oliver & Felicity completely rekindling their relationship because it seemed to be going that way at the end of S5, EBR: "Well, I mean, what do you want? To be honest, like, I feel like we go right now with, you know, [sixes?], we really do go by demand at this point. There's obviously, you know, creative juices funneling the story, but I feel like we're so grateful to have such dedicated fans and - um, I don't think 'dedicated' but involved? (EK interjected, "Yeah.") And I think the involvement because they've started that way - I mean, I don't think for every show - but for ours, it really works. I think you can't [unintelligible word] the fans all the time, [unintelligible words]. It kinda depends on how it can be [unintelligible words] (EBR draws circle in the air with her fingers)." EK added: "I echo those sentiments."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- After cast concluded ET interview by telling audience to watch S6 on Thursdays at 9, SA said: "There's going to be nudity this year." Other cast members (including EK and EBR) said simultaneously: "A lot of nudity." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ET facebook live video interview with Arrow cast, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA and EBR said: "Stephen: There's gonna be nudity this year. Emily: A lot of nudity." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017:  andyouloveher88 tweet, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- MG: "We're not like rebooting the show. Uh, in fact, we're going to double down on a lot of the things that I think really resonate with people in Season 5... The dark, gritty, you know, grounded storytelling. But we are going to see a different kind of Oliver Queen. Uh, you know, the last 10 years have really changed him, particularly Season 5. And we're looking forward to telling some very different kinds of stories with Oliver." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "A big thing that we talked about in the writers room, uh, during Season 5 was how Season 5 had to be the culmination of not just five seasons of the show, but 10 years of Oliver's life - the five years he spent in hell, as he always says at the beginning of every episode, and the five years he's now spent on the show. And, one of the cool things about Season 6 is, we really sort of flip the dynamics... Over the first five seasons, we sort of saw often that Oliver would be dealing with something and it either would be Felicity or Diggle - sometimes Lance or Thea, but usually Felicity or Diggle - who would give some piece of advice and help work him through with his crisis of the week. Uh, this year we're flipping the dynamic on its head, and it's Oliver being the one to dole out the advice and to sort of be the wiseman [wizened?] sage, uh, in those scenes. And that's kinda cool, but it's the result of Oliver''s hard-won experience over the last 10 years." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "I added I felt like Oliver learned what it’s like being left out of the decision and not being in control of someone’s choices. Marc answered with an emphatic YES. 'I always say that Oliver is a total hypocrite. A lot of the show survives and is successful for all the hypocritical choices Oliver makes. That said, I will say this about Season 6 - I think the events of Season 5 have really changed him and he’s a much more evolved character in Season 6.' I asked if we’ll be seeing Oliver more centered and Marc explained, 'Yeah, that’s really what Season 5 was all about - letting go of the past, learning from the past and the previous ten years. So the emotional stories that we are telling in Season 6 are of a very different quality.' He continued, 'In many ways, I think Oliver (it’s not so much that he takes on a mentor role), but there’s always a scene in Act 4, usually where Oliver is dealing with something, and Felicity gives him a piece of advice or Diggle gives him a piece of advice or Thea or Lance. There’s always people giving Oliver advice. In Season 6 we are trying to flip that dynamic. It’s Oliver giving people advice because he finally has the benefit of 10 years of hard won experience.' I added, 'He’s starting to get it,' and Marc enthusiastically agreed." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver as a father, WM: "It's really changed things. I mean, we're really trying to take Oliver as a character in a new direction. He's had this five years of experience being - you know, getting advice and taking wisdom from all kinds of places... Starting in Season 6 we wanted to sort of flip that dynamic and see him in a more, I don't know, paternal role... He's that way with the team and he's going to be, you know - whichever of the team survives - and he's going to be that way with his son as well. And it's just a new, interesting dynamic that will keep the character fresh and, hopefully, keep the show fresh as well." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On his social media promise that if they got to S6, we'd see Oliver with a goatee, SA: "I'm so sorry, but I had to - we flash back in 601 to the immediate aftermath of 523, so I had to take the horrible beard that I grew for hiatus and trim it down. That's not to say we couldn't grow one over the course of the year... Maybe." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "The subtle changes in Oliver this year have been really satisfying for me as an actor. I want new things to happen for him. You know what I mean? And they seem to be. Which is good." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "And every year there are like - I love those subtle changes. Like, in Season 5, Emily and I talked about trying to make our relationship a little more adult, so to speak. And in Season 6, it's been really cool to - what's the word I'm looking for here? - um, there's instances where Oliver would've barked an order, and now it's just an acknowledgment. He looks to someone and they know what he wants them to do. And I like that. Just the little things." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver's headspace in S6, SA: "He misses all of his friends... Actually, his headspace is actually pretty good. Um, it's fun coming back every year and talking to the writers, Wendy Mericle in particular, who's the Executive Producer, talking about all the little subtle changes. Like, whereas seasons past, Oliver would've given an order, now it's more, I'll look and then an acknowledgment, which I think is important. The little things. The nooks and crannies." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he wants Oliver to focus on for his future, SA: "It sounds like an easy answer, but it's character growth. You know what I mean? Like, this first episode of Season 6 was our 116th episode, and I want to do new stuff with the character." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what's the biggest lesson that Oliver has learned, SA: "That life is fragile... Well, I mean, he lost his dad, he lost his mom, he lost his best friend. Um, life is fragile." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what's driving Oliver at this point, SA: "Star City. It's always Star City. There's a good speech in the pilot about Star City is doing better. Um, he says something like, pretty cool about, like, people are not only moving here but they're staying here because they feel safe. So from that standpoint, um, it's been a couple of years since we put the city in, like, dire straits. But, yeah, Star City - making it better." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On where he wants to see Oliver go, SA: "It's in the nooks and crannies. Like, we have a scene - I can't spoil... We have a scene where I'm talking to someone on the team and instead of barking a direction, I changed it so I just look at them and they acknowledge what they have to do. So it's little things like that... It used to be, I'd come back to the Arrowcave, I'd yell at people, I'd walk away. Trying not to do that anymore, because if we're still doing that, then what was the point of Season 5? You know, what was the point of Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5? You know, you gotta grow up, all the way." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Diggle's physical and emotional effects from the island explosion will affect his relationship with Oliver, DR: "Well, I think you're going to find the tables are going to turn. Diggle's going to start having secrets now. Right?" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- An evil Nazi counterpart of Green Arrow will appear on The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- On whether there'll be any progress with Felicity in the workplace, EBR: "Um, I think Felicity needs a job. She needs to be employed. I think that she's a - ...  I mean, she sees these guys every day and I think she's gettin' - not bored, but, um, I think she just needs some income and probably some different social experiences with different people. So hopefully we get to see her, you know, not so much in the Helix area, maybe not going down the rabbit hole, but maybe working with Curtis a little bit more... If they're alive." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ET facebook live video interview with Arrow cast, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and smoakinthief tweet, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Felicity's career in S6, EBR: "Well, assuming she's alive... I think that Felicity needs a job, a day job. I suspect she'll be running out of money. That girl wears [bitchin'?] clothes.... Um, I think that she needs to sort of have the passion that she carries inside of her, like genetic code - she needs to be able to exercise that more often. [She mentions Helix and working with Kacey Rohl last season here, but I couldn't hear what she said exactly]... Yeah, it would be interesting to see Felicity sort of like doing work, maybe even if she's still in the bunker, but doing a different type of - I don't want to say 'occupation.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EBR: "I would like to see Felicity sort of, you know, honestly, work with Curtis more. Because - because this was my debate. I am totally sincere. I had a conversation that was mostly based on the fact that Curtis has taken all of Felicity's jokes. (Laughs) And I was like - and I was like, 'but I'm down, as long as they get to have them together.' Which is really just a long con for us working together. Which is really just a long con for us hanging out more together. Which is why we're at this [unintelligible word] together." EK added: "Yeah, we keep hoping that if they see us together, they'll make more scenes. They'll see the chemistry that we have." EBR: "I think just the opposite. My career is over after this interview." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Whedonopolis and Showbiz Junkies videos of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what they want for their characters going forward, good or ill, EK: "I would like Curtis not to get stomped on by like 17 people. Every scene. That would be nice, to see him kick some butt." EBR: "I'm pushing for Felicity and Curtis to have more scenes together and more [unintelligible words]." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK mentioned WM's quote about how Curtis and Felicity complement each other's skill sets, saying: "She's like, 'Felicity's the software, where Curtis is the hardware.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

William Clayton
-- On whether William will be a big part of the storyline this season, MG: "Jack is amazing. He's a great little actor. He's not even that little any more... I will say, you know, I don't want to like spoil what happens, you know, particularly with Samantha, but I will say that, again, in keeping with the theme of family, uh, we would be remiss if we didn't, uh, play into this new relationship between Oliver and William." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Access Hollywood video of red carpet interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver's next major undertaking being a father, MG: "There's a lot of interesting stuff to be explored now that William has been kidnapped twice and Chase has exposed Oliver as being William's father." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: “We’ve spent a lot of time in the writer’s room talking about Oliver’s relationship with William and the potential pitfalls that surround that... It was scary to us, because you’ve got a character who’s all about running around punching and killing people. What’s he going to be like as a dad? The way we chose to address this creative challenge was to really tell the story of Oliver and not shy away from the fact that Oliver does have this dual identity. We’re not moving away from it, we’re actually heading towards it.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the challenges of bringing in and avoiding the pitfalls of having a kid on the show, MG: "That's a great question and it's a question we've spent a lot of time talking about, because, you know, it is a huge third rail, you know, bringing on a kid - especially with a superhero show that's grim and gritty. Um, I will say, I gotta to give a lot of credit to Stephen. Um, watching dailies between him and Jack, who plays William - um, it's great. It's like, oh, this could've been a disaster, but the performances really ground it. And that's the answer to your question. It's like we can write whatever, but like if we don't have great actors who really sell the reality - the emotional reality of that relationship, it falls flat. So, um, thanks to Stephen and Jack for, you know, helping us avoid what could be a serious ending mistake." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver will juggle being a dad and his other duties, MG: "I will say, we spent a lot of time in the writers room talking about the relationship with William and, quite frankly, the potential pitfalls of [unintelligible words], because a lot of times, particularly in the 5th or 6th season of a show, like, the kid comes on. You know, and that's a little - it was scary to us, quite frankly, because you've got a character who is all about, like, punching and killing people. Uh, what's he gonna be like as a dad? And for us, you know, the way we chose to address this problem or this creative challenge was to, uh, really tell the story of Oliver and William in as realistic way as possible. And not shy away from the fact that Oliver does have this dual identity. And not shy away from the fact that William went through an incredibly traumatic experience at the end of Season 5. So we're not moving away from it. We're actually going to head on towards it. And that is providing a lot of the story fuel, uh, for that element of the show." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "So how is Oliver handling being a father? Marc answered, 'Ever since we introduced the William storyline in 2x20, we have noticed that ever since Stephen became a father it has really changed his performance. We always say we write towards what we’re seeing in dailies. And Jack, who plays William, is really really good.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “[Season 6’s] theme is family... The last thing we saw was Oliver reunited with his son under pretty tragic circumstances. For us, going forward, thinking about ‘what is the challenge we haven’t seen a superhero go through on any of these shows’ is them being a parent. I can’t tell you exactly how that’s going to shake out but I can tell you he’s going to learn about being a father.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WM: "I think, for us, going forward, really thinking about, well, what is the challenge that we haven't seen a superhero go through on any of these shows? One is being a parent. So, I can't say exactly how that's going to shake out, but, I can tell you, Oliver Queen is going to learn about being a father, whatever that means." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We've never seen a superhero on TV with a son... I don't know how you would do it. It raises a whole bunch of questions, so year we're gonna go down that road." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "[Oliver's] had this five years of experience being - you know, getting advice and taking wisdom from all kinds of places... Starting in Season 6 we wanted to sort of flip that dynamic and see him in a more, I don't know, paternal role... He's that way with the team and he's going to be, you know - whichever of the team survives - and he's going to be that way with his son as well." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Where do we find Oliver at the beginning of Season 6? We find him at a little bit of an impasse with trying to be a dad. Uh, we also begin the unpacking of what happened in 523." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "It's cool that we've given Oliver new things to play this year. We've never seen Oliver as a dad. And not only that, but a struggling dad. And, um, Jack, who plays William - I was incredibly nervous after reading 601 because he and I had never really done a scene together. I've sat with him while we played with toys. And I've held him very close on a boat. But have we ever done a scene? We hadn't, right? So my first day was four scenes with Jack, and I was f**kin' nervous, because that's a lot of angst in the William basket. And he was equal to the task. He was really good and continues to be really good. A really fine young man and fine actor." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “We haven’t seen Oliver as a dad... And not only that, but a struggling dad.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 28, 2017 fangirlish article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "My first day on Season 6 was four consecutive scenes with Jack, who's William. And I was incredibly nervous. Way more nervous than he was. Because he was an unknown quantity... He and I had never really acted together. We had a scene where I was holding him close and he was looking scared. We had a scene where he was playing with action figures. But he's 12 in the story and 14 in real life. And I was like - I was like, I hope he's good. Because we're putting a lot of eggs in his basket for the beginning of Season 6. And he was equal to the task. He was fantastic." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see more of Oliver's struggle with fatherhood, SA: "Yeah... Well, I mean, William - he's not a baby. He's like, uh - we play him in the show like he's 12 years old. He's in 6th grade... It's very interesting to see Oliver as a dad because William is not totally diggin' it. Yet. And he's going through some stuff. So it's tough." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ET facebook live video interview with Arrow cast, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what kind of dad will Oliver be, SA: "He's doing his best, you know. My first day on set for Season 1 [tv echo: I think he meant Season 6], I had four scenes with Jack, who plays William. And I was worried, frankly, I was nervous, because we had never really done a scene together. I had held him on the boat and we played with action figures together, but we had never really like shot a scene together... And not only was he equal to the task, but he exceeded my expectations. He's a fantastic actor." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how does being a dad change Arrow, SA: "He's not the best dad. No, but I've said this a bunch of times today. My first day on season 6 - and you see it a little bit in the footage that you saw - it was all with Jack, who plays William. And he and I had done a couple scenes together, but he and I had never really acted together. And I was really legitimately nervous because I didn’t know. Not only was he equal to the task, but he exceeded my expectations. He's a wonderful young man and a terrific actor. And I'm loving my scenes with him. But, you know, to be on episode - to start on episode 116 and to be able to do fun new stuff as Oliver has been a real joy so far this season. But yeah, he’s a sh*t dad.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights, Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Um, you know, really one of the only things I can talk about for Season 6 is that he has interactions with William, and him as a dad is something I've never really been able to play, save for sparing moments in 523 and 408 - maybe The Flash's 208. Um, so I'm really, really excited I'm getting to play some new stuff." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Oliver as a dad has been very cool. You know, my first day on the show this year was like four scenes with Jack, who plays William. And, man, he was like - I was really nervous because we had never really like shared a scene and acted a scene together. And David was there the entire day because he was shadowing, uh, James Bamford, who directed the first episode. And, uh, Jack was good. He was really good." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Oliver being a dad is my favorite part of Season 6 thus far. Um, and it's certainly what I've had to play to most." He again repeated what he's said before about having to shoot four scenes with Jack Moore the first day, how nervous he was, and how great Jack was as William. He said that he left that day "feeling so bullish about Season 6." However, on William's relationship with Oliver, SA: "It's not great right now. It's not great. Um, he's, uh, unhappy with Oliver for a couple of reasons. Uh, and he calls him 'Oliver' - which should be all you need to know about how things are." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver & Felicity's relationship, SA: "Did she live? ... Well, like assuming - ... They're in a great - they're in a good spot. But, uh, William is a thing. Not in a bad way. But, like, if they're going to be in a relationship, he's not a baby. He's in, like, 6th grade. It's a thing." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Yeah, William's not a baby. He's in 6th grade." On whether that's mess with Olicity, SA: "It's a thing. It's not messing with us, but it's a thing." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet interview with SA in Jul. 26, 2017 ComicBook tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Assuming [that Felicity survived]... [Oliver & Felicity are] in a decent - they're in a tremendous place. William is a thing. In a good way. But William's a thing." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Olicity, SA: “They’re in a tremendous place. William is a thing – in a good way. But William’s a thing.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 28, 2017 fangirlish article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- On the Spartan suit, DR: "There may be more iterations. Diggle's suit seems to be ever evolving, the helmet especially. So yeah, I think there's gonna be some more modifications of the suit and the helmet specifically." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle's parents, DR: "You'll be seeing at least one parent this season." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On reading the 601 script: DR: "I was happy... I think what you'll see is a logical conclusion to the finale. But I was excited because you get to see Diggle in a different way. So I was excited for my character." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "The explosion profoundly affects people on the show, particularly Diggle... I shadowed James Bamford, our esteemed fight choreographer turned director now turned producer-director on our show for 601, just to look at directing and other stuff - I'm not directing an episode. And we went back to the island and we shot what happened on the island with the explosion. And we'll see the, uh, repercussions of what happened on the island throughout the season, Diggle particularly. The other people are affected, but Diggle specifically." When asked if it was physical or emotional, DR: "Both. Both. And what that does to him, what it does to the team, what it does to his family... I think in Season 6 you'll see Diggle broken in a way you've never seen him before, and it starts in 601. It starts in the first episode. So I think you're going to see a dramatic change in Diggle's, uh - in what Diggle has to deal with on an emotional and physical level. In a way we haven't seen."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "The explosion affects all of us. It specifically affects Diggle in an emotional and physical way that's going to play out throughout the season... There's a long-lasting effect of what happened on the island for him, that affects him and the whole team... And it begins in 601. We flash back. We see the explosion. We see exactly what happens. And, um, my man Diggle gets some of that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "Diggle has, for the past six seasons, kinda been secondish in command, um, when Oliver's been gone - the de facto  leader of Team Arrow, right? Married once, divorced, married again to the same woman. Has a child. Four tours in Afghanistan. Sergeant-Major. Probably a more evolved character on the show. And there's a perception that he can get through it all. And, um, I think... and we talked about this to some degree, Marc and Wendy and I - I think we're going to see, uh, Diggle for the first time deal with some things that, um, he can't handle. Even greater than the death of his brother, the death of Canary, both of which he blamed himself for, went to prison for, got out. Um, Diggle's been a little bit of a Superman emotionally and even physically. And, um, I think - I think we have to see a broken Diggle. And I think you'll see that. And you will. Even beginning in 601, uh, Diggle's dealing with something specific he had that he's never had to deal with before." On whether we'll see PTSD, DR: "Oh yeah... You'll absolutely see Post Traumatic Stress... He'll definitely be experiencing that. Without a doubt... And this will affect the team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "The explosion profoundly affects Diggle. Profoundly affects Diggle. ... This will be an interesting season for Diggle... Diggle is probably the most evolved character on Team Arrow... He's been through four tours, Sergeant-Major, married, divorced, married again to the same woman, has a child, vigilante, father. You know. We have to break Diggle... I think in Season 6 you'll see Diggle get broken in a way he hasn't been broken before. You know, it starts in 601 and I think it's gonna - a certain amount is gonna continue throughout the season. And, um, we'll see exactly what that means... But I think it's an arc for Diggle that we haven't seen. It's even beyond his brother coming back to life, killing his evil brother, and it leading to the death of Canary. All that stuff is great drama. But I think, Season 6, you're gonna see something from Diggle's physical and emotional [unintelligible word] that you've never seen before. And it starts in 601." DR also said that he brought this up with MG and WM, but they were in agreement and "on board" with it. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "We pick up five months from the island and, um, it affected the characters in a profound way. Um, clearly, Oliver has a situation and, um, everyone in that - on that island who suffered through that explosion, um, will be paying a price, Diggle particularly. ... I can't express enough, Diggle is profoundly affected, particularly in Season 6, by what happened on the island." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked if his physical change is anything like what happened to Mayor Poole on Blue Bloods,  DR: "Um, it's that detrimental. It's that life-changing, yes. And it has a potential effect on the whole team." When asked how it will affect his relationship with Oliver, DR: "Well, I think you're going to find the tables are going to turn. Diggle's going to start having secrets now. Right?" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "Specifically for Diggle, I think, um - I think, uh, he's going to lose some things. You know. This relationship is going to change, I think, between he - between Oliver and I. I'm going to need him in a way I don't think I've needed him before. Some of the mentor/student aspect of our relationship." SA: "A tremendous scene the other day. It's a flashback." DR: "Maybe." SA: "It was nice because it was a little bit inverted.to what the normal Oliver/Diggle scene is. Like, I felt like I was playing Diggle's role. You know what I mean? It was really cool." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "We have to deal obviously with the relationship between Diggle and Oliver. ... And I think also you'll see some role reversals, in terms of him having secrets as opposed to Oliver having secrets, and Oliver having to help him. You know, and now that relationship's kinda shifted a little bit, now it's Diggle that's in - that needs to be mentored." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We're gonna see a broken Diggle this year. And we're gonna see a role reversal.You know, he's gonna be dealing with some real secrets, and, um, like Oliver usually is - that has to be brought out of the darkness by Diggle. You'll see Oliver kinda using that role for Diggle. He will become the mentor, I think. Diggle needs him now." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet Arrow cast interviews in Jul. 26, 2017 TV Guide article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Diggle and Oliver, DR: "I'm looking forward to some of this role reversal. Maybe you (indicating SA) mentoring Diggle a little bit. Diggle needing your steady... (SA interrrupted, "Oh my god, I want to spoil something.") ... Maybe. Maybe he does." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what parenting advice he can give Oliver, DR: “Well, I think - I think he and Lyla’s parenting philosophy is that, this is who they are. And, uh, what they do helps protect American interests and, um, that’s that. They’re soldiers. And everything else is after that. So , um, I think that would be his talk to Oliver - that even though he has a son, this is what he does, and that’s it. And I think he’s made his amends - his peace with that, Diggle has. So I think that would be his advice. That’s hard advice, but I think that’s how he gets out of bed every night knowing that he has a wife and child that could be compromised because of what he does.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 31, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the chemistry between Dinah and Diggle, DR: "You gotta do something with his wife first. That's an issue. Clearly... (Interviewer interjected, "You can't touch that relationship.") ... So you can't touch that. But, um, there's clearly [unintelligible word] is great." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- DR: "Diggle absolutely has some unresolved issues with Lyla. We're gonna explore that - listen, he's a vigilante married to the leader of ARGUS who has her finger on the pulse of the Suicide Squad. That's just good drama, if your really want to go into it. You know, it's a six-episode arc just by itself... Also, just in terms of how they see justice... There's a philosophy you have to have in order to be the next Amanda Waller, which Lyla Michaels is. So, um - and Diggle doesn't share that. And that's the 800-pound gorilla in the room in terms of their relationship. So we're going to get into that... If he had died on the island, he would have died with unresolved issues with Lyla, for sure." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 31, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Diggle's marital problems with Lyla, DR: "No, we're going to play with that all of Season 6... That's big, a big big arc. Whatever you call this vigilante team and being married to the leader of ARGUS, that's easily a six episode arc right there, isn't it? That's just good storytelling. We're gonna play with that a lot more. This couple's been married once, divorced, married again. We're going to play with that relationship a lot this season." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the Diggles have resolved their marital issues, DR: "No. We're going to play with that all of Season 6. That's big, right? That's a big, big, big arc. You know, whatever you call this vigilante team, Team Arrow, um, whatever, and being married to the leader of ARGUS, that's easily a 6-episode arc right there, isn't it? I mean, she has her finger on the pulse of the Suicide Squad. And that's just good storytelling. So we're going to play with that a lot more. And this couple has been married once, divorced, married again. So this is a mature couple that's been through it before. And there was a great scene last year where they had a conversation on the couch and they kinda reached this stalemate and, um, came up against this 800-pound gorilla in the room - and actually mentioned it saying this has been our Achilles' heel. So we're going to play with that relationship a lot this season." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 26, 2017 BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "We have to answer this question about ARGUS and, uh, what that does to their marriage. This man who's married to the leader of ARGUS with her finger on the Suicide Squad. We have to deal with that, you know, in a real way. And, um - and a son who grows up to become in the universe, you know, Connor Hawke." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "Diggle and Lyla, we have to deal with that. Him being married to the leader of ARGUS, who has a finger on the pulse of the Suicide Squad. We have to deal with that. That's gonna be some nice dramatic stuff." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "Diggle's always been kind of a nuts-and-bolts guy. And the world kind of expanding into superpowers and metahumans and aliens in the crossover. I think that's all out of his element. Uh, it's a place we can play with, but I think it's, uh - it's also ultimately a source of contention for him and his wife... He tries to keep things very, uh... how do you defend a world in a world where people can move faster than light, right? He tries to struggle with that. And I think, um, his wife is - we'll find out she's part of that problem, to him. Because she has her finger on the pulse of some of these metahumans. Suicide Squad. ARGUS is our - our SHIELD, so to speak. So I think we're going to see some of that conflict in Diggle of trying to bring some normalcy into his life, of being married to the leader of ARGUS and dealing with [four?] more metahumans. Now [unintelligible words] on our team, with Dinah. So you'll see some of that this season. But I think the big thing for Diggle this season is really, uh, some things that are going to happen to him personally and physically, that I think are going to change his life monumentally, and his relationship with Dinah - uh, with Lyla." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Diggle will ever have a conversation with Carly again, DR: "I don't know... The more important question is his relationship with his wife. Um, you know, Diggle being married to, uh, the leader of ARGUS, who has her finger on the pulse of the Suicide Squad, I think is just good storytelling. So we're going to explore a lot of that in Season 6." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- On Thea's mindset after the island explosion (whether she'd think it's okay because she was helping people or whether she'd be like WTF?), WH: "Um, I think it can really go one of two ways for her, especially depending on if she's alive or not at the beginning of the season. Um, I think that she's just going to try to grapple with every piece of information that she's been given over the last, like, six months really. She's gotten handed a lot of information about herself, and about her family. And then also, her father just stepped on a mine for her. So I think her main focus, if she were to be alive and well in the beginning of the season, would be to kind of grapple with all of that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she wants to explore with Thea moving forward (assuming she survives), WH: "The only thing that I love about Thea is how strong and independent she's always been, so I'd really like to keep on that trajectory with her... You know, I can't have anything other than hopes of that without saying anything that could potentially spoil something. Or I might be dead, so who knows." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WH: "My favorite part about [Thea] has always been her independent strength, um, so I just hope she keeps up that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet Arrow cast interviews in Jul. 26, 2017 TV Guide article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WH: "I love Rick [Gonzalez], so I wish Thea would be a little nicer to him... Did she have to be so mean, it's kind of really rude. That one, hopefully in season 6, who knows. Who knows who's around? Who knows anything! My hope for season six is that Thea would be nicer to his character." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we can assume Thea's alive since WH was at SDCC, WH: “See, don’t assume that. That’s the thing though. We’re pulling a Walking Dead right now where they did the same one season where everyone was kind of up in the air about who was going to die – and it was clear that it was going to be somebody. But, you can’t let anybody have any indication on who that is so everyone has to be here. Don’t read into this, by any means. This is not the answer.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 15, 2017 ShowbizJunkies article, pae 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Now that Thea’s made some peace about her family’s past and her parents, on whether that will that affect her if she does move forward, WH: "You know, I really hope that she just continues taking herself into more strong, independent areas of her life rather than succumbing to kind of the amount of turmoil that she’s been under. She’s done a very good job, I think, of inevitably taking all the struggle and the torment and everything that she’s kind of been through and channeling that into something positive. Or, at least trying to. I really hope that she continuously does that and doesn’t succumb to any kind of negative things. ... My favorite part about her is that she always has evolved and taken things very strongly and independently as a woman, rather than dependently. She’s never really become dependent on any certain person or thing, really. For a second it was Roy but even there she found her own independence. So, I think it’s really important the fact that she’s at least one of the strong, independent female characters in the show. My biggest hope for her is that she always stays that way.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 15, 2017 ShowbizJunkies article, pae 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there is anyone she hopes for Thea to have more scenes with or she wishes in the past Thea had been able to have more of a relationship with, WH: "I'd always hoped that she'd be a lot nicer to Rick Gonzalez's character. Um, that's something that I really want to happen. Um, and more Felicity time. More hanging out with Echo and David. I mean, I miss everybody in the bunker, totally. It's not like I don't want to be down there. Just circumstance really. Things happen, you know, and it makes sense here and there, blah blah blah. So, um, who knows. Who knows what's going on. Again, I got nothing for you when it comes to Season 6. Can't allude to any future things, just hopes and dreams." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread, and Aug. 15, 2017 ShowbizJunkies article, pae 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report of what WH said: "WH was asked about Theas relationship with Malcolm and it didn't sound like the interviewer knew Malcolm was dead. She misses the bunker, working with the other actors. There was kind of a pause there and I was reminded about the rumors of problems leading to an episode cut." and "The question was who do you want more scenes with future or wanted more in the past. She mentioned Felicity than EK then DR, then said she missed being down in the bunker working with everyone." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Chaser posts, pages 1568 and 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Quentin Lance
-- On more Rene and Quentin, MG: "That friendship was the big surprise of the year for so many people - including us... Their dynamic was really great together. I keep saying there could be a Lance/Rene spinoff show." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "'Wild Dog grew on people,' Marc said. 'Yeah, it was sort of all of sudden. I realized I was starting to like him. I think you were very wise with pairing him with Curtis and Lance,' I responded. Marc said it was one of the great surprises of the season, 'We really do write to the dailies and we were seeing this great stuff between Rick and Paul. Let’s write more of that! We were joking by the end of the season that we had the makings for a spin off. Like an odd couple type of comedy.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "With Black Siren on the scene, it's going to get complicated for Lance [Paul Blackthorne], and Dinah's going to be a big part of that." (Print issue of Jul. 21/28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly, Arrow article in Comic-Con Preview section, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the sweet moment in the finale when Quentin acknowledged Dinah as the Black Canary and what she'd like to see for her relationship with Quentin, JH: "Well, if Quentin is still around, um, then, I love that dynamic. I love that sort of, like - it's almost like a paternal thing that, you know, Quentin has with Dinah. Uh, I just think that's really sweet. I would love to see that continue. And I also love that they have the police force in common. They have a common goal. So, I think they're a great alliance." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she's looking forward to with her character's new dynamic with Quentin, KC: "I think Black Siren - in terms of my back story, what I've personally done, you know, uh, she has a very - she lost her father, um, you know, when she was like 14. I think that they will start to bond and actually grow closer. I think there's, you know, a chance for redemption for her and, uh - you know, it's so funny, whenever Paul and I do a scene together now, we're just - we're like, 'what the hell?' I'm like, 'Paul, what do I do with this?' Literally, he''ll be like, 'I don't know, darling, I'm so confused right now because I'm so used to you being my daughter and now you're not, so I'm just as messed up and confused about it too.'  I think it makes scenes like that as an actor more interesting almost. You just have to be present and listen and, you know, you play off of one another. And as long as you've done the script analysis and done your part in working [unintelligible words]. That's why I love working with - sorry, I love working with Paul. Like, he is that type of actor and so it gives us a lot of time to play [plan?]." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- On how Curtis braids his hair so fast to become Mr. Terrific, MG joked: "We are going to reveal in a future episode that he was actually in [The Flash's] Central City the night of the particle accelerator explosion and has been a secret metahuman this entire time." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Curtis gets his hair braided so fast when he becomes Mr. Terrific, MG joked: "He's a metahuman, guys. That's his superpower." EK: "Worst superpower ever." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EBR: "I would like to see Felicity sort of, you know, honestly, work with Curtis more. Because - because this was my debate. I am totally sincere. I had a conversation that was mostly based on the fact that Curtis has taken all of Felicity's jokes. (Laughs) And I was like - and I was like, 'but I'm down, as long as they get to have them together.' Which is really just a long con for us working together. Which is really just a long con for us hanging out more together. Which is why we're at this [unintelligible word] together." EK added: "Yeah, we keep hoping that if they see us together, they'll make more scenes. They'll see the chemistry that we have." EBR: "I think just the opposite. My career is over after this interview." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Whedonopolis and Showbiz Junkies videos of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK: "I hope that [Curtis] and Felicity get into some more shenanigans with each other, and that he, you know, gets his love life... back on path." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet Arrow cast interviews in Jul. 26, 2017 TV Guide article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what they want for their characters going forward, good or ill, EK: "I would like Curtis not to get stomped on by like 17 people. Every scene. That would be nice, to see him kick some butt." EBR: "I'm pushing for Felicity and Curtis to have more scenes together and more [unintelligible words]." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK mentioned WM's quote about how Curtis and Felicity complement each other's skill sets, saying: "She's like, 'Felicity's the software, where Curtis is the hardware.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK said he hoped that Curtis and his husband Paul can find their way back to each other. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Whedonopolis and Showbiz Junkies videos of press roundtable interview with EBR and EK, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- EK: "[H]is greatest skill is his ability to figure out solutions to complex problems." On what he brings to Team Arrow, EK: "He brings a lot of optimism and light to the darkness surrounding the team." On how he feels about Oliver as a boss, EK: "Oliver is tortured, but you see that he's trying to get to a good place... As a boss, he leads by example and he's fearless, but he definitely has some rough edges still." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 233 of Starling City Times thread)
-- Arrow's Mr. Terrific will make a guest appearance on The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- On more Rene and Quentin, MG: "That friendship was the big surprise of the year for so many people - including us... Their dynamic was really great together. I keep saying there could be a Lance/Rene spinoff show." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "'Wild Dog grew on people,' Marc said. 'Yeah, it was sort of all of sudden. I realized I was starting to like him. I think you were very wise with pairing him with Curtis and Lance,' I responded. Marc said it was one of the great surprises of the season, 'We really do write to the dailies and we were seeing this great stuff between Rick and Paul. Let’s write more of that! We were joking by the end of the season that we had the makings for a spin off. Like an odd couple type of comedy.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "I did a scene and I felt like I was in a different chair, this time." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "Obviously, I've been instructed I can't say much. All I can say is what I'm hopeful for. What I'm hopeful for is that, given our theme this season is family, how do we explain that story in terms of Rene? We obviously know I'm coming back, but in what capacity? So, and that part I can't say how, but I can just say I'm hopeful for that maybe the trajectory that we left off in 5, we can grow into in 6 and see where that leads... And I think we have - we kinda blazed the trail and kinda left a light pathway for us to kinda continue to move through. I'm very proud of Season 5." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of RG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "I hope to see [Rene] become a dad and maybe that could - being with Zoe would make him whole again." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet Arrow cast interviews in Jul. 26, 2017 TV Guide article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Wild Dog's greatest skill, RG: "He's a weapons expert... But hand-to-hand combat is a very close second." On what he brings to Team Arrow, RG: "Brutal honesty. Is he abrasive? Maybe. But Rene holds no punches when it comes to how he feels." On how he feels about Oliver as a boss, RG: "Is this a trick question? ... Oliver is a gigantic pain the you-know-what. But the Green guy has Rene's respect... always." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 233 of Starling City Times thread)
-- RG joked about the negative fan reception to his character, saying: "It was great. At first, everyone was kinda like, 'I hate him.' ... 'I hate him.' So I'm like, I tell my wife, 'They hate him. Why? Like, he's cool. Like, he's a rebel. Like who does not like a rebel?' ... 'No, he's like ruining the missions.' And I'm like, 'So what? Like, he knows what he wants. That's cool.' And so that kinda saddened me. I was like, 'ah, man, we're giving them kinda like a young Wolverine and they don't like it.' ... But I think as the season progressed, they were able to understand why he did what he did. I think I won some people over. I think there's still some people I need to win over. So I think Season 6 is where I'm gonna nail it. And they'll be like, 'okay, that's my favorite.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of RG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: “I think what I loved about what the writers did with Rene was show that we established him as being not a brute, but just someone who, like, can get his hands dirty. He’s single-minded in that realm. But the other side of Rene is someone who can be intellectual, who can be administrative, who can be someone that can help in many other areas and is unpredictable in that way. And I think that juxtaposition, um, kind of makes it fun to play, and I think it keeps the characters and the relationships in the show on its toes. Because you never know who he can interact with and how that relationship can grow. I think him being with Quentin Lance is a great example of that. Um, you know, we’ve established him in Season 5 creating a lot of friction with the rest of the characters, but the one character that you probably never would think he could have a great connection with is Lance. Then when you think about it, he'd probably has the best connection with Lance because Lance understands loss and pain. And they both have deep pain within them, so they can connect on that level, they can understand the sense of loss, and then they can help each other.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of RG interview in Aug. 3, 2017 ComicBook article, page 236 of Starling City Times thread)
-- RG: "What I'm hoping for, just personally for me, like, going back to Season 5 and just kinda seeing how Rene was set up and, you know, all the feelings that, you know, and the struggles that he had. I really like the idea that Rene started off really rough around the edges and - and just had a lot of pain and stuff. And - and I love the idea of the team helped him to kinda open up in a way. So I'm hoping that maybe for this season we kinda see more of him opening up, more of him kinda becoming more whole and being more of an asset to the team. And, who knows, maybe there's room for him to be a dad again. I don't know. I mean, he still has his daughter out there in the world. So, I don't know, that'd be kinda cool to see." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- Dinah survived the island explosion and will be suiting up as Black Canary in S6. (Print issue of Jul. 21/28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly, Arrow article in Comic-Con Preview section, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "Marc confirmed Dinah Drake survives because 'we’re not going to kill three canaries in a row.'” (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "I said my favorite newbie is Julianna. Marc agreed she is phenomenal and said we’ve only glimpsed what she’s capable of as an actor. This will be her break out year. I did ask if Dinah’s love interest was someone we knew or someone new, but Marc couldn’t answer that. Gave it my best shot! Sorry folks! We’ll just have to tune in to find out." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "With Black Siren on the scene, it's going to get complicated for Lance [Paul Blackthorne], and Dinah's going to be a big part of that." (Print issue of Jul. 21/28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly, Arrow article in Comic-Con Preview section, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the chemistry between Dinah and Diggle, DR: "You gotta do something with his wife first. That's an issue. Clearly... (Interviewer interjected, "You can't touch that relationship.") ... So you can't touch that. But, um, there's clearly [unintelligible word] is great." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "We find her [Dinah], um, definitely recovering from Lian Yu. You know, at the beginning of Season 6, everybody is - is finding their footing. Uh, you know, we had these huge massive explosions, so it's a recovery." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "I think that Dinah is really becoming more of a team player. Um, she has a little more of a soft spot in her heart now because she has people that she loves around her. Uh, she's also developing a new passion for justice for her city, for her profession as a cop. So all of those things are going to, um - to affect sort of how she composes herself." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On donning her new BC costume, JH: "The first day we had it done and stood in front of the mirror, I wept... I felt the responsibility of playing that character. It just felt so empowering and it was a really special moment." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah's greatest skill, JH: "Physically, her sonic cry... But on a large scale, her intuition." On what she brings to Team Arrow, JH: "Brute strength - and great hair." On how she feels about Oliver as a boss, JH: "He's a team player and he'd never ask them to do something he wouldn't do himself." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 233 of Starling City Times thread)
-- On whether she practices the Canary Cry in front of a mirror and whether she does the full scream every time, JH: "Every day. No, I learned the hard way that that's not what you do if you want to speak the next day. But, um, what I do is, I'll usually mouth it. I will - I will practice in a mirror. But, um, if - it just depends. If you're already in an action scene and you have to scream, sometimes the scream will just come out, you know, and you go with it. Sometimes if you just have to stand there and scream over and over, you just want to sort of pretend. Um, but it's a silent scream. You know. It's an internal scream." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what Dinah is motivated by now (since she was motivated by revenge last season), JH: "I think she's motivated more by justice now than by revenge. And, because she is sort of part of a team and she's not on her own anymore. Uh, you know, she's fighting for her new family as well, so it's jst not like a solo mission anymore." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "I'm just excited to explore her interest in other people for the first time, not just herself. You know, she's not out for justice just for herself personally. She wants to help the people in her city. She wants to help her team. And, um, she is letting people help her for the first time. So I like exploring those sides of her." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of red carpet Arrow cast interviews in Jul. 26, 2017 TV Guide article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how her BC is different from the previous BC, JH: "I think - I feel like she's set apart in the fact that she has a different story... I mean, she comes from such a different place. You know, her back story, her reason for being on the team. Um, like we were saying, her motivation was revenge and she has this anger... I think that sets her apart. You know, they're just totally different characters, even though we're playing the 'same' character. We're so different. So I don't - it's not a conscious effort to be different. Um, it's just trying to be true to Dinah and who she is. Yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah getting a new love interest, JH: "I am just as surprised as everyone else. I didn't know... Dinah, she's so dynamic. and thats one facet of her we haven't seen yet. The whole journey started because she lost her love. I'm excited for her." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 24, 2017 TooFab article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah's relationship with Oliver will evolve, JH: "Between Black Canary and Green Arrow? I - I think so.  I - you know, again, she's really part of the team now. She's decided to commit [come live?] here. She's got the costume on. And she's serious about it. So she's with Green Arrow. Like, he is the head of the team and that's the captain and she is - she's with him, yeah, so I think their friendship, their dynamic is going to grow and get closer, yeah. Not in a romantic - just as a team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the sweet moment in the finale when Quentin acknowledged Dinah as the Black Canary and what she'd like to see for her relationship with Quentin, JH: "Well, if Quentin is still around, um, then, I love that dynamic. I love that sort of, like - it's almost like a paternal thing that, you know, Quentin has with Dinah. Uh, I just think that's really sweet. I would love to see that continue. And I also love that they have the police force in common. They have a common goal. So, I think they're a great alliance." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with JH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On her new BC costume, JH: “It’s awesome... Maya [Mari] did an awesome job. It looks amazing. It almost looks like — even the bow staff that goes with it — it looks amazing and moving and fluid. It’s comfortable, which is also great. It makes you feel like a total badass. Maya had the whole costume designed but there were bits and pieces that asked, ‘How does this make you feel, how does this make you stand,’ so there was a bit of playing around. When we finally landed on it, it just it felt right. It is her.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On playing BC, JH: "I did a lot of research... I really wanted to make it my own. I’ve been slowly reading to see — I didn’t want to be too influenced.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: “Being part of a team, having a family for the first time and not just being out for revenge but actually, having a purpose. For her city, and her family — it’s going to change her, soften her in some ways, which is cool because I like playing that. She’s such a badass, she’s so hard, she has something now inside that’s like a soft spot.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah having a new love interest in S6, JH: “I love the idea of her having a love interest. I think it’s a side of her we haven’t really seen before. All we know of her love life is that she had a terrible experience and lost someone she really cared about. I think it will be good for her.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah's relationship with Diggle, JH: “I loved it. I really hope it continues. They have a closeness. They get along well. They’re real with each other. I would love to see that relationship evolve.” Their relationship will not be evolving past friendship, however, as some fans may have wondered. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah will continue to clash with Black Siren, JH: “Yes. I love our fighting! Our fight scenes last year were so fun to shoot. I imagine so, yeah.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On fan reaction, JH: “It’s been really welcoming. It’s been very warm and positive and supportive. Any negativity that I’ve experienced - I can’t even really say that is has been negative, because I get where it was coming from. A lot of it was loyalty to a character fans now believe is gone. You can’t be upset for someone’s loyalty to a character, as an actor that’s a gift to see fans care that much.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 10, 2017 CBR article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- On why they're bringing Black Siren on full-time next season, TV Guide: "According to Guggenheim, Katie Cassidy's killer return as Earth-2's Laurel in the season's 10th episode inspired 'all these different stories for us.' Among them: a rivalry with Felicity, Lance having to deal with his dead daughter's evil look-alike and, thanks to that awesome Canary-on-ex-Canary fight in the finale, a big beef with Juliana Harkavy's Dinah. This is all good with us if we get more delicious villainy from Cassidy." MG: "Katie's phenomenal, and you can tell that she's really enjoying playing this iteration of Laurel." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On working BS into the storyline this season, MG: "I tell you, it's really organic... We have a really, really cool villain in Black Siren and Katie's interpretation of her is absolutely phenomenal. It's the whole reason why we decided to bring Katie back onto the show... She comes back in - she comes in really - literally with a bang." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Access Hollywood video of red carpet interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's going to be a redemption arc for Black Siren, MG: "Having given a lot of thought both to getting the question and to the question itself, I'm kinda like - you gotta understand, it's been five years of Arrow and five years of a lot of, like, 'when are Oliver & Felicity going to get together?', 'when is Laurel going to become Black Canary?', 'when is Black Siren going to be redeemed?', and I'm like - I'm sorta like much more interested in answering and talking about the stories that we're telling now, as opposed to the stories we may tell in the future - or may not tell in the future." When reporter commented that it sounded like they weren't going to redeem Black Siren, MG: "We talk a lot about, you know, whether or not we should redeem her, how we would do so, um, but again, right now, it's - ... You know, one of the advantages of having a show, knock on wood, that you know is staying on the air, um, you can have a long con, you can make long-term plans. I mean, look at the - like, the William storyline. That storyline started out in Season 2 and it's really only coming into fruition in Season 6. So, that to us is - you know, the thing that excites us as writers, we really like planting seeds that, you know, don't come to fruition for a couple seasons. At the same time, uh, it's again - it's the advantage of having a long-running show. You know, I've worked on shows where you were like always on the verge of cancellation. You had to do everything immediately. And now we get a chance to - we get to take our time with it." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "'Was Black Siren on the island?' I legit couldn’t remember. Marc said, 'Yes she is, but we know she survives. We wouldn’t bring Katie back just to kill her again.' I said, 'That would be a serious jerk move if that’s what you did.' Marc laughed and agreed. I told him that I love Black Siren evil and he agreed with my sentiment. I explained, 'What I like about Black Siren is that she’s evil, but you guys do a nice job threading the undercurrent  that she’s having an emotional reaction to Lance - Marc interrupted, 'Wait until you see the premiere.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbu (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)ffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "Marc reiterated again that there will not be a Bl&ck Siren, Oliver and Felicity love triangle. A love triangle does not remotely interest him. He agreed they settled on Oliver’s great love in Season 2 and it is Felicity." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether BS is a full-on villain this season or whether we might see her come to the side of good and join Team Arrow, WM: "Well, she's a full-on villain. We're gonna - yeah, she's a good badass and we like that, and we're gonna ride that train for as long as we can, and then we'll see what happens in the future." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with WM, EBR and KC, page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- WM: “We’re not going to be doing the Oliver-centric [flashbacks] any more... so we have the opportunity to do it from different points of view. Black Siren would definitely be one we want to do on the show.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether they've already fleshed out Black Siren's back story, WM: "We know what that back story is and, I think, this really speaks to the flashbacks of - we're not going to be doing island-centric ones any more, so we'll have the opportunity to do ones from different points of view. That's, uh - that would definitely be a top one that we'd want to do." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Laurel's Earth-2 doppelganger, Black Siren, won't be pleased there's a new Black Canary. (Print issue of Jul. 21/28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly, Arrow article in Comic-Con Preview section, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what it's like playing off of KC's Black Siren in a new dynamic, SA: "We really haven't had a scene yet, actually. I'm so glad that Katie's back... I'm interested to see what they do. I don't know what's they're going to do with her character." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When the panel was asked how it affected them to have a different version of Laurel on the show, there was a momentary silent pause. Then EBR: "We have a powerful new villain on the show. We're going to have to kick some butt." KC: "Yeah, I'm coming after you." SA: "Yeah, you come in like a wrecking ball. Like in the first episode. Like the Miley Cyrus song. Like a wrecking ball." KC: "Shaking it up a bit." Mod then asked KC how it was being back and if it was like putting on an old pair of jeans. SA interjected: "Katie doesn't wear old jeans. They may look distressed, but they're brand new." KC then said, "You know me so well." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Whatever is left of Team Arrow will quickly confront a very familiar villain in the premiere, Black Siren (Katie Cassidy). SA: “You come in like a wrecking ball in the first episode." KC: “To be honest with you, I’m obviously so excited to be back... It feels like I never left. It’s been home and we’re a family. It’s definitely been pretty easy just getting back into the swing of things. It’s interesting the dynamic between Black Siren and other characters, Team Arrow, and the different points of view that she has. It’s a parallel exactly opposite to Laurel, or Black Canary. But it’s good.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- KC: "And I think that going into some - there will be some flashbacks, obviously, of what happened, how they got off the island. I think there'll be some opportunities to see Black Siren and the Black Canary again. And definitely moments that I think that are shocking, and people are going to be very surprised. And I think it'll be really interesting things to be able to explore her world and her back story. It's like peeling an onion and peeling back the layers, and why she is the way that she is. And I think it'll bring some characters closer, for sure." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she's looking forward to with her character's new dynamic with Quentin, KC: "I think Black Siren - in terms of my back story, what I've personally done, you know, uh, she has a very - she lost her father, um, you know, when she was like 14. I think that they will start to bond and actually grow closer. I think there's, you know, a chance for redemption for her and, uh - you know, it's so funny, whenever Paul and I do a scene together now, we're just - we're like, 'what the hell?' I'm like, 'Paul, what do I do with this?' Literally, he''ll be like, 'I don't know, darling, I'm so confused right now because I'm so used to you being my daughter and now you're not, so I'm just as messed up and confused about it too.'  I think it makes scenes like that as an actor more interesting almost. You just have to be present and listen and, you know, you play off of one another. And as long as you've done the script analysis and done your part in working [unintelligible words]. That's why I love working with - sorry, I love working with Paul. Like, he is that type of actor and so it gives us a lot of time to play [plan?]." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she knows everything about what happened to Black Siren or whether she's learning it bits by bits, KC: "No, I think we're learning bits by bits. I've always [unintelligible words] uh, character, I had to make up my own back story, which is a lot of detail - would take hours, not that you would understand my notes or anything. Um, but I think this season we'll definitely learn more about where she comes from and her story." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked about a possible partnership and friendship between BS and BC, KC: "I think that [BS/BC friendship] would be really interesting." KC then added: "As more time goes on... I think we'll gonna, you know, reveal more about Black Siren and where she comes from and why she is the way that she is. And I think there will be some characters that actually sympathize with her, empathize... with what she's gone through. Still have some redeeming qualities. Um, but in terms of the being partners, that would be awesome." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there are any similarities between E1-Laurel/BC and E2-Laurel/BS, or whether they're just stark opposites, KC: "Uh no, I actually find a lot of similarities between them. They're both obviously incredibly, incredibly strong women. Um, they're just from two different ends of the spectrum, I guess. And I do think, you know, they're both very, uh, incredibly driven. I mean, nothing will stop them or get in their way to what they're trying to accomplish. And I think, you know, hardheaded and - I think, 'strong' is just a great, great word to describe them, just in different ways." On whether she has a preference between the two characters, KC: "Oh, I don't have a preference. I have to say, I love - I love being a part of Team Arrow and being there every day. I kind of - I miss being there like that, in that aspect... But the fact that I can come in as a villain and play the antithesis, I - it's so much fun. So much fun playing evil. So it's kind of - it's kind of, um - I don't know if I have a preference. They're both, you know - and post [unintelligible word], it's nice to have a fresh - to play a - it's almost like a new character. Um, it is a new character, but it's fresh and it feels like it's fresh, and I feel like, you know, from everyone's point of view and the dynamic between the characters and their reaction to Black Siren, um, I think keeps everything fresh, and for the other actors as well. There's a lot to, um - a lot of her background to explore." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- KC was asked something like how far in advance they're told what happens and she said that she found out the episode before that Laurel was going to die in S4. KC: "For this season, I sat down and had lunch with Wendy and Marc. We were on the same page already in terms of, you know, I think, obviously, Black Siren and Earth-2 Laurel - a lot darker, um, just a little more rough, like rugged, I guess. And, uh, if I have ideas, if they have ideas, like we throw them - you know, we toss them around... The other day I talked to Marc and I was like, 'hey, what would happen if Black Siren time traveled and saw Laurel face to face.' Does that make sense? That would just be so bizarre and cool at the same time. Uh, certainly for at least an episode. Um, but this season I think is about family and I just think - I think that, uh, Black Siren and Earth-2 Laurel, there's a lot to explore in terms of her back story and where she came from. She's gone through a lot, and she lost her father at a young age - the back story that I've done. She watched her father, uh, burn to death in front of her. She was forced to watch him burn to death in front of her, uh, at the age of 14. So she set out to find - again, this is, like, as an actor, I'm going off into this other world - to find her father's killer. And she ends up obviously turning dark and evil. I'm sure something will happen in the back. They'll write something and it'll be like, oh, her father and her survived, and I'll be totally off base. Okay. But, um, no, it's interesting - it's an interesting process. But yeah, they definitely let us, you know, throw around ideas and they talk to us a little bit in advance. But sometimes you just never know. It's television. Anything can happen." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On a chance for BS redemption, KC: "Absolutely. I think that there's definitely a chance for redemption for her. And it's interesting, when I think of Black Siren, she does this evil manipulative thing and that's just her - it's almost her defense mechanism, and it's her habit. It's the place that she's used to going to. But if you get - break that down and get through her walls, I think that she is like, you know - she has this sad story and the other characters will be able to see that and have sympathy or empathy for her. And, you know, it may end up bringing them - end up bonding with them and maybe be able to [deepen into a back story with some other person?]." On whether there's actually a possibility that Black Siren will meet Earth-1 Laurel, KC: "I don't know. I think it - I pitched it to Marc and he was like, 'oh, I love that.' So... I think it would be cool. It would be so confusing but awesome. Um, anything is possible with this show with time travel... He did not turn it down. However, I can't confirm that it's going to happen either." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with KC, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On a chance for Black Siren redemption, KC: "Yes, I do think there's a chance at redemption for her. Um, I think there will be people who understand once she has the opportunity and once we learn, you know, what she's gone through, why she is the way that she is, I think people will be able to relate to it, you know, have sympathy for her, you know, and probably help her. I think there's a chance at really helping her get back to who she is at her core and potentially not be so crazy and, you know, have a good side to her. But I think as time goes on we'll learn - we'll learn that." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of KC interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 235 of Starling City Times thread)
-- On whether we'll see why Black Siren reacts to Oliver the way that she does KC: "Yes, think the more we learn about her back story and what her relationship was like with Oliver, absolutely. I think everything will make sense in the end and not necessarily make her as bad of a person. You might be like 'Oh, okay that makes sense.'  But, yes, I do think we'll know more." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of KC interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 235 of Starling City Times thread)

Big Bads
-- On who will be S6's Big Bad, TV Guide: "Sounds like Guggenheim is saving that news for Comic-Con!" MG: "We're not really prepared to talk about who the big bad of the season is yet. It's not necessarily a safe bet that there's only going to be one." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "I'll say this, you know, last year we sort of built up this team... this new Team Arrow. Um, and when we say the theme of Season 6 is family, we were also talking about sort of the found families of a team like Team Arrow. So, uh, I would say, without spoiling anything too much, it would really be interesting if there was a team of villains, uh, to go up against our team of heroes." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Well, you know, Season 5 was really about building up this team... And by the end of the season, we had Team Arrow 2.0, in a really formidable, you know, tightly knit way. In thinking about Season 6... we really wanted to double down on this concept of family and groups and found families. So, towards that end, we started thinking in terms of a group of villains, something we’ve never done on the show before. Um, so, we're gonna have a few familiar faces, like David Nykl is coming back, uh, to reprise his role as Anatoly, and as we know from episode 518... and he's coming back with a literal vengeance. Um, and we want to, you know - we're not going to tell you everything in this panel, uh, but we - we can tell you that, uh, one of the other members of this villainous cabal is going to be played by Michael Emerson. And we could not be more excited.... We are really, really thrilled. And you can also expect a really cool announcement, uh, not now, uh, about, uh, a character, uh, whose character's name is Richard Dragon from the comics, who will also be among our villains that we'll be seeing this year. Um, so you'll be seeing a lot of different villains throughout Season 6. And more so than any kind of villain of the week thing. These are, you know, characters that we'll be seeing really throughout the season. Uh, we've never done that before." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "'Are you releasing the Big Bads tomorrow?' Marc hesitated, 'Yes – some of it. We’re going to do something a little different this year in terms of the Big Bads.' Hmmm… mysterious." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the new villain(s) for S6, EW's Natalie Abrams: "I’d put good money on getting some solid info Saturday during the show’s panel at Comic-Con." In the meantime, WM teased:  “As usual, every season we want to try to up the stakes and do something different... This will be something we’ve never seen before. The villain will be hopefully as dynamic and as interesting as the ones we’ve had in the past. These people, or this person, won’t just be somebody that’s a thorn in Oliver’s side, but it’ll effect the whole team personally and very directly.” And on whether Cayden James and Helix could be the culprits she speaks of, WM: "You never know... They are still in the wind. We don’t like to leave those threads dangling.” (Jul. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “It’s going to be the biggest of all big bads, I can say that... I’m going to be very cagey about that one, sorry.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how they can top Prometheus, WM: "I do think it was a combination of, we had a great new villain that did something we hadn't seen before. He could fight, obviously. He was also very psychological, he would mess with Oliver's head. So that piece was new. And I think what we'll be trying to do in Season 6 is taking the lesson from that, which was, we had a new approach from our villain. We'll do the same thing in Season 6. We'll see villains doing things we haven't necessarily seen them do before. And the second piece of it is casting. You can't - Josh Segarra was so amazing because he came across like such a boy scout for the first half of the season and he played that so well. And then, you never know what you're going to get from an actor. You can watch the audition tapes, and we had many conversations with him about it. He brought this edge and this menace and this crazy psychopathy to the back half - it blew everybody away. We're hoping to get just as lucky with our casting this year." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: ShowbizJunkies video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "I think we've learned a lot from Season 5. And one of the things we'll be doing with, and looking to do with, the villain this year is - you know, Season 5 we had Prometheus and the two key things we had there were Josh Segarra's performance... but also he pushed Oliver in a different way. He was psychological and he really messed with Oliver's head. And looking for a new way to explore that, I think that will be the key to cracking Season 6." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how they follow up Prometheus in S6, SA: "We don't follow it up with one villain. Does that make sense? You a fan of 24? ... Yep... Not an actor from that show, although Paul Blackthorne being a villain would just be tremendous on a number of levels. Uh, it's more about the way they introduced him on 24." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Richard Dragon
-- MG: "We are really, really thrilled. And you can also expect a really cool announcement, uh, not now, uh, about, uh, a character, uh, whose character's name is Richard Dragon from the comics, who will also be among our villains that we'll be seeing this year." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG teased that Richard Dragon will also appear as part of this “villainous cabal.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Um, you know, what I really like about our interpretation of Richard [Dragon] is, he’s very grounded. Like, he’s not a flamboyant Big Bad. He doesn’t wear a costume. He really is, you know, a crime lord, sort of in the, you know, Tobias Church model. But, uh, with Tobias, we really only saw him for like five episodes, so we were excited about the prospect of doing like a cool, gritty crime lord, uh, but for a longer period of time. We’ve never really done that on the show before. So it’s different."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what opportunities does Richard Dragon present as opposed to some other villains in the past, WM: "I think the thing we get out of Richard Dragon is a different way of approaching what worked last season, which was a very - we liked that we went back to this gritty crime drama for the show, and Richard Dragon gives us an opportunity to do that. He's from the streets, he's a fighter. He's from - you know, more from the Glades side of town. He's a gang leader. And we're going to use that to our advantage and also explore new territory. I mean, we've seen Oliver go up against a lot of people, but nobody quite like him." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

The Vigilante
-- On the mystery of  the identity of Vigilante, MG: "It will be solved this season. Um, we were really intrigued by, you know, the idea of having a mystery that actually bridged two seasons... But you'll get an answer for sure this year." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Access Hollywood video of red carpet interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I think you're going to get an answer to who Vigilante is sooner rather than later. Um, but we were really enticed by the idea of having a mystery that didn't resolve itself during the season... We've never actually done that before... We've known from the start who Vigilante was, but we've really enjoyed just waiting for the right moment to make that reveal." When asked if the reveal will catch fans off guard, MG: "You know, that's always the goal. I mean, truth be told, like, you know, we sort of go into every mystery knowing that there's a lot of smart people out there, someone's going to figure it out. Um, but, uh, no one - I mean, people will occasionally tweeted me with guesses. No one's guessed correctly yet. So that makes me slightly hopeful that we'll be able to still surprise some people." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the Vigilante could be someone we know, like Earth-2 Tommy Merlyn, MG: "Yeah, we keep trying to get Colin back on the show, um, but he's busy on Chicago Med. Um, for sure, we're big believers that if you have a mystery, like some type of whodunnit, or in the case of Vigilante, who is it, uh, it's always really unsatisfying if the answer to the mystery is 'yes, it's some person you've never seen before.' So, uh, you can probably expect that whoever's behind that mask or underneath that mask, uh, is a face that is familiar to you." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the identity of Vigilante, MG didn’t necessarily turn down a fan theory that he’s Tommy Merlin (Colin Donnell) from Earth-2, though explained it’s hard to find time in the Chicago Med actor’s schedule to return. MG: “You can probably expect that whoever is behind that mask is a face that is familiar to you,” Guggenheim added. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- Per Warner Bros, David Nykl, who plays Anatoly Knyazev, will return in S6. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Warner Bros. press release, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "So, towards that end, we started thinking in terms of a group of villains, something we’ve never done on the show before. Um, so, we're gonna have a few familiar faces, like David Nykl is coming back, uh, to reprise his role as Anatoly, and as we know from episode 518... and he's coming back with a literal vengeance." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights, Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: “What I can say for sure is, Anatoly left Oliver with a promise last season. He’s going to leave some guys in Star City. Oliver is going to pay for that betrayal. Have we ever left you dangling for more than a season on that stuff." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see Anatoly this season, WM: "I'm going to let you wait for the panel... But I can say for sure is, we left Anatoly with a promise - he left Oliver with a promise last season of he's going to stay - he's going to leave some guys in Star City and Oliver's going to pay for that betrayal. Have we ever left you dangling for more than a season on that stuff? Nah." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- On the new villain(s) for S6, EW's Natalie Abrams: "I’d put good money on getting some solid info Saturday during the show’s panel at Comic-Con." In the meantime, WM teased:  “As usual, every season we want to try to up the stakes and do something different... This will be something we’ve never seen before. The villain will be hopefully as dynamic and as interesting as the ones we’ve had in the past. These people, or this person, won’t just be somebody that’s a thorn in Oliver’s side, but it’ll effect the whole team personally and very directly.” And on whether Cayden James and Helix could be the culprits she speaks of, WM: "You never know... They are still in the wind. We don’t like to leave those threads dangling.” (Jul. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Warner Bros: "Michael Emerson will join the series in the recurring role of an unnamed mystery character that has yet to be announced. The Emmy®-winning actor is known worldwide for playing both the enigmatic Benjamin Linus from Lost and the high-tech billionaire Harold Finch in Warner Bros. Television’s Person of Interest." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Warner Bros. press release, page 1567 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "Um, and we want to, you know - we're not going to tell you everything in this panel, uh, but we - we can tell you that, uh, one of the other members of this villainous cabal is going to be played by Michael Emerson. And we could not be more excited.... We are really, really thrilled." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he can tease about Michael Emerson's character, MG: "We're just lucky to have him on the show, quite frankly, because we've been huge fans of his... We are talking about him playing a character who's got a lot more nuance than the typical creepy guy role that he is often cast in. Um, and we've had a lot of creative discussions with him. And I think that's one of the things that has excited us and has excited Michael is that we really want to create a character in consultation and in conjunction with him. Uh, it's not just, 'hey, here's the script, go.' Uh, it's a real interesting, two-way back and forth."  (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Michael Emerson will recur as an unnamed mystery character that has yet to be announced. However, it seems likely that Emerson is playing Helix leader Cayden James. When EW recently asked whether Helix and Cayden James would return in S6, WM left the door open: “You never know... They are still in the wind. We don’t like to leave those threads dangling.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether it's fair to say that Michael Emerson will be villainous, WM: "I think it's fair to say, he's going to be, you know, morally compromised." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On why they wanted Michael Emerson, WM: "Well, he's obviously tremendously talented, and he has a huge amount of cred in this universe. He was on Lost and then on Person of Interest. And he's beloved by everybody involved, the studio and the network. And we feel that he's just a great get and we're really lucky to get him." Also WM: "Well, he's gonna be on the show... He's a complicated character, I'll tell you that. He's going to be playing a complicated guy... He's gonna do some good things and some bad things too." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with WM, EBR and KC, page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA joked: "I'm a big fan of Michael Emerson, and I'm f**kin' fired up... I'm going to hate to kill him." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, Michael Emerson tweeted: "I think I'm Vancouver-bound! Excited to join a fabulous success like @ArrowCWTV. I'll just keep my head down and try to make a contribution." (ME tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Alena AKA Kojo Sledgehammer
-- WM said that Kacey Rohl will be returning in S6. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights, Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report: "Alena from Helix is coming back." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: JustAboutWrite tweet, page 1568 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Rory Regan AKA Ragman
-- On whether we'll see Ragman again, WM: "Rory is great... If the right story comes along and if the actor's available, and all these magical things come together, we'd love to have him back." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Nyssa al Ghul
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "I immediately asked if Nyssa would guest on Legends of Tomorrow. Marc answered 'I always want to get Nyssa with Sara because I ship them very hard, but that said, we really want to explore some new romantic territory for Sara this year. Anytime you can get Caity and Katrina on screen together it’s gold, but at the same time- ' 'Katrina is hard to get ahold of,' I offered. Marc agreed, 'Yes, she is hard to get ahold of especially since she has the new Crackle show. Katrina is amazing. She’s always gonna work. What’s nice about Legends is we have time travel. We’ve had her on the show before and we’d love to have her again. It’s always a question about finding the right opportunity with the right story.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- In Arrow's SDCC trailer, Slade says to Oliver: “We walk in two worlds. We can only do that for so long." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: CWTV's video of Arrow Comic-Con trailer in CW_Arrow tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade Wilson back to being a good guy, TV Guide: "Sort of." MG: "I promised Manu two years ago that the next time we saw Slade, we would essentially redeem him." (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "Um, you're going to still see flashbacks. It won't be in every episode. And they won't be serialized. They'll be character-specific. Um, I'll give you one example. Um, we are - mainly because I've been trying to figure out the right opportunity to make this announcement - but, as you saw in the trailer, Manu Bennett is back for the season premiere. Um, but he's also coming back for a special two-part episode, uh, in the first half of the season, where we're really going to be - you know, really focusing hard on his character, you know, post everything he's experienced on the show. Um, and we intend to do a Slade Wilson flashback story. As part of that - as part of that event." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade Wilson, WM: "I can tell you that, you know, Stephen announced that he's going to be back on the show this season. Whether he's going to be in present day or flashbacks, I'm going to leave that to your imagination." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with WM, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade Wilson's return, WM: “Whether he’s in present day or flashbacks I will leave to your imagination. I will definitely tell you that we really enjoyed having him back at the end of Season 5. He brings a chemistry and excitement to the set, and the fans love it. We’re excited about having him back.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see the idea of Slade Wilson's son being alive and out there as a story thread coming up, WM: "I can't tell you exactly that, but what I can say is that the theme this season is family and Slade will definitely be - whether it's in flashbacks or present day, we're not 100% sure yet, he'll be dealing with similar - a similar sort of debate and similar thematic territory." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Slade's son, Joe Wilson, will become Jericho from the Tales of the Teen Titans, WM: "How can I say this? This is tricky... We will not see Jericho, but Stephen [Amell] announced that we will see Slade in season 6. The theme [of season 6] is family, so we'll delve a little more deeply into Slade's family." It was SA who proposed leveraging Slade with information about his son during 523, saying: "I pitched that idea in season 5... I knew in season 5 that we were going to end on the island. I knew that we were going to end the flashbacks and we were going to end the present day on the island...I pitched the idea that that was a bargaining chip for Oliver and the writers were like, 'That's awesome!' I remember in episode 114, I remember us talking about Joe and it seemed like a good idea." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: BuddyTV article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Manu Bennett is involved in the show." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On why bring back Deathstroke, SA: "Arrow, the Green Arrow, is only as good as Deathstroke. Right? Like, your hero is only as good as your villain. Whether or not he's a hero or a villain, the Green Arrow will only ever be as good as Deathstroke allows him to be." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Malcolm Merlyn
-- On Malcolm Merlyn not returning next season, MG reminded us that "death is not an impediment to any character reappearing on any of the [Arrowverse] shows... We've got time travel, we've got parallel universes and we've got flashbacks." TV Guide added: "And since Merlyn technically died off screen, we've got hope!" (Scan of Arrow article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1563 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Malcolm could return, MG: “That’s up to John. We told John when we called him to tell him about the events of the finale, every single person on all the shows has come back in some shape or form. We’ve got flashbacks, we’ve got time travel, we’ve got parallel universes. Goodbye is never goodbye. He has an open invitation to return to the show any time he wants.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see John Barrowman, MG: "You know, honestly, that's up to John. Um, totally up to John. We told John, uh, when we called him up to tell him about the events of the finale, we said, listen, every - quite frankly, every single person on all the shows has come back in some way, shape or form. We've got flashbacks, we'v got time travel, we have parallel universes. Like, you know, good-bye is never good-bye. Um, and he has a, uh, open invitation to return to the show any time he wants." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Raisa (the Maid)
-- On whether there's any chance we may see Raisa in S6, MG: "Yes, you're going to see Raisa the maid in Season 6... She's the Big Bad of the year. Yeah. No, I'm kidding. She's not the Big Bad of the year, but I want her to be. Uh, she's out on parole after her shoplifting conviction - and that's also a joke. But, uh, no, Raisa's gonna be back and we couldn't be more thrilled. It just makes perfect sense, given the storytelling. Raisa, I have to say, has always been this little fan favorite character. Um, so we couldn't be more excited about it." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Media report on what MG said: "Marc Guggenheim just confirmed that #RaisaTheMaid is coming back!!!!." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: GreenArrowTV tweet, page 1566 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Kathleen Gati (Raisa) tweeted: "I am so happy to be #Home on #Arrow I loved my #Arrow family during the pilot shoot & it is a joy to work with @StephenAmell and gang again!" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: gatitweets tweet, page 1566 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Helena Bertinelli AKA The Huntress
-- On whether we'll ever see the Huntress again, MG: "Every season we talk about it... I want to say absolutely because Jessica's, you know, expressed an absolute willingness to come back. We always want to - Jessica's a favorite actor of mine and the Huntress is a favorite character of mine. Um, so, I want to make it happen in Season 6. We've got some plans for the later half of the year - as we always do - that she would fit into very well. So we'll see. Also, Jessica's an incredibly talented actress who works a lot, so our schedule and her schedule have to align." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the Huntress could return, MG: “I want to say, ‘Absolutely.’ Jessica De Gouw has expressed an absolute willingness to come back. Jessica’s a favorite actor of mine, and the Huntress is a favorite character of mine. I want to make it happen in Season 6. We’ve got some plans for the later half of the year that I think she will fit into really well, so we’ll see.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- MG: "I can tell you that, on Monday, we're going to go in and pitch the crossover to the studio, that I'm really excited about the story that we are hoping to do, if we can get the studio to agree with us that it's a good story to tell. If we end up doing the story that we're doing, uh, it will - I think it will be bigger than last year's. And, quite frankly, we really went into the crossover discussions for this year without a lot of confidence that we could beat aliens. Like, how do you top aliens? But I actually think we got an idea that is even bigger and cooler than aliens. And at the same time, we got some really big, I will say, emotional moves that will happen in the crossover. So the crossover is gonna be something that is really game-changing for all five shows - I'm sorry, all four shows. Uh, I was thinking ahead to next year where it's probably five. Uh, but it's pretty big and we really - every year we try to do the crossover bigger and more ambitious than the previous year. And we're on track to do that again this year." He also confirmed that we'll see more of the crossover in Supergirl. MG: "This year it's a true, four-way crossover... This year it is truly across all four shows." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the mega crossover, MG: "Well, we're going in on Monday to pitch to the studio... What we're going to be pitching to them is a four-show crossover, not a three-show crossover, that is even bigger than last year... We hit upon an idea which is, I think- its' really huge, it has big emotional stakes, and, uh, it's something that the comic book fans in particular will really, really dig. So that's all I can really say about it." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "We can tease a - the biggest crossover we've ever done, uh, not just in terms of the number of shows - it's four shows this year, you know, last year we did three shows with Supergirl sorta kissing into it, but this year it's a proper four-way crossover... I didn't think we'd be able to top aliens, but I actually think we've got an idea that's bigger than aliens. Um, it's going to be a nightmare to produce... I think title alone will blow people away. I wish I could tell you what it is." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “We’re pitching a four show crossover, not a three show crossover that is even bigger than last year, which I think is really saying something. We’ve hit upon an idea that I think is really huge. It has big emotional stakes and is something I think the comic book fans, in particular, will really dig.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 7, 2017 CBR article, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the upcoming mega crossover, WM: "I can tell you, basically, it's going to be very much rooted in the DCU. It's going to be an epic story that I think fans will be really excited about, particularly comic book fans. And that's all I can tell you." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video interview with Arrow cast in Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- TVLine's Michael Ausiello pitched as an idea for the mega crossover a double wedding with Barry & Iris and Oliver & Felicity. WM: "I can't tell you that's going to happen... I'm just gonna say that the crossover's going to super cool this year, and it's gonna be pulled from a very cool DC story that the fans are gonna know about when they hear it. They're gonna be very excited. And it's, you know, we have to get bigger and better. And this one will not disappoint." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the big crossover, Melissa Benoist: "It will be - I mean, they're all massive. Every time you do it, they're so daunting and I don't know how we get them done, but I know sort of the premise and I know it's gonna make a lot of fans happy.  Two big events happen that people are gonna lose their minds about." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of Melissa Benoist interview in Jul. 28, 2017 karameltrash tweet, page 334 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- MG: "It remains a very high priority for me to have Megalyn on Legends, uh, so that her iteration of Vixen can interact with Maisie Richardson's iteration of Vixen. That's definitely on my, you know, creative bucket list, for sure." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray, the Ray will be fighting Nazis as well as doppelgängers of our beloved superheroes. Supergirl's Melissa Benoist will be guest-voicing as Overgirl, the Earth-X version of the Girl of Steel. Other supervillains will include evil Nazi counterparts of The Flash and Green Arrow. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- In The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray, more light-hearted guest appearances will include The Flash's Cisco, Arrow's Mr. Terrific and fellow CW Seed star Vixen. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse
-- An evil Nazi counterpart of The Flash will appear on The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- The Flash's Cisco will make a guest appearance on The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow in the Arrowverse
-- MG: "It remains a very high priority for me to have Megalyn on Legends, uh, so that her iteration of Vixen can interact with Maisie Richardson's iteration of Vixen. That's definitely on my, you know, creative bucket list, for sure." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "I immediately asked if Nyssa would guest on Legends of Tomorrow. Marc answered 'I always want to get Nyssa with Sara because I ship them very hard, but that said, we really want to explore some new romantic territory for Sara this year. Anytime you can get Caity and Katrina on screen together it’s gold, but at the same time- ' 'Katrina is hard to get ahold of,' I offered. Marc agreed, 'Yes, she is hard to get ahold of especially since she has the new Crackle show. Katrina is amazing. She’s always gonna work. What’s nice about Legends is we have time travel. We’ve had her on the show before and we’d love to have her again. It’s always a question about finding the right opportunity with the right story.'" (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)

Supergirl in the Arrowverse
-- Supergirl's Melissa Benoist will be guest-voicing as Overgirl, the Earth-X version of Supergirl in The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Black Lightning in the Arrowverse
-- Black Lightning EPs, Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil, have no plans for crossovers with the likes of Supergirl or The Flash anytime soon. They want to train a bigger spotlight on the character in a present-day story. Salim Akil: "We want to expore the real world... We're not in Metropolis. We're putting the show in a city that you will identify with." (Scan of Black Lightning article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On how Black Lightning will be tonally different from Arrow and Flash, EP Salim Akil: “Our villains are not necessarily aliens or other people with superpowers, they’re the villains that we know every day... One-hundred and twenty-five shootings in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend — those are bad guys. Somebody needs to address that, and we haven’t seen any superheroes in the ghettos of America. So, with this character at least you have a superhero who’s sort of going into this era that needs it most of all, but you also have a man who’s educating that community as well. That’s how it’s different.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Jul. 26, 2017 TVLine article, page 333 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Vixen in the Animated Arrowverse
-- MG: "It remains a very high priority for me to have Megalyn on Legends, uh, so that her iteration of Vixen can interact with Maisie Richardson's iteration of Vixen. That's definitely on my, you know, creative bucket list, for sure." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Vixen will make a guest appearance on The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Freedom Fighters: The Ray in the Animated Arrowverse
-- Freedom Fighters: The Ray's SDCC trailer featured evil Nazi versions of Green Arrow, Flash and Supergirl. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: CW Seed video of Freedom Fighters: The Ray trailer, page 330 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Launching this fall, The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray, will be the first time a gay metahuman headlines his own show. EP Marc Guggenheim promises a show filled with "a classic story about a normal guy who gets superpowers, with all of the complications and wish fulfillment that entails." The Ray will have a love interest too, but, "in true superhero fashion, his obligations are a complication for his love life." TV Guide: "The course of true comic book love never did run." (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "It's called Freedom Fighters: The Ray for a very specific reason... which is we knew we wanted to establish the Freedom Fighters and Earth-X. In Multiversity, Grant Morrison came up with an idea we really responded to: The Freedom Fighters are made up of various minorities targeted by Nazies - women, gay men, Jews. We wanted to honor that idea. At the same time, it's an origin story about the Earth-1 iteration of They Ray." (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- In The CW Seed's new animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray, the Ray will be fighting Nazis as well as doppelgängers of our beloved superheroes. Supergirl's Melissa Benoist will be guest-voicing as Overgirl, the Earth-X version of the Girl of Steel. Other supervillains will include evil Nazi counterparts of The Flash and Green Arrow. Also, more light-hearted guest appearances will include The Flash's Cisco, Arrow's Mr. Terrific and fellow CW Seed star Vixen. (Scan of Freedom Fighters: The Ray article in TV Guide Magazine's SDCC 2017 cover issue, page 325 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per MG, Melissa Benoist plays an evil version of Supergirl on The Ray. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with MG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- At SDCC preview night, a few minutes of footage from DC's Freedom Fighters: The Ray were shown, in which The Ray and the rest of the Freedom Fighters have to deal with a rival team of superhumans: Arrow, Flash and Supergirl, all of whom are working for the Nazis, and have costumes to match. (Jul. 21, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 329 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- 4YE tweeted: "And yes, pretty sure that was @StephenAmell's voice in the Freedom Fighters preview!" (Jul. 19, 2017 4_Y_E tweet, page 328 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Edited August 15, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from July 24, 2017 (non-SDCC) to September 5, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #3 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Producers/Writers/Directors
-- Per MG, Joel Navoa will direct 605. (Aug. 3, 2017 MG tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per IMDb, Gregory Smith will direct 604. (IMDb link in Aug. 7, 2017 tv echo post, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 23, 2017, Antonio Negret tweeted: "Mahalo #Hawaii, you've been awesome. Up next? #Vancouver...#CanYouGuessTheShow? #Soon." (antonionegret tweet, page 1588 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Transition from S5 to S6 (Cliffhanger Resolution)
-- On who lived and who died from Chase's explosions, MG: "It's a slow reveal... We're going to intercut between the present, which is five months after the finale, and flashbacks that take us to the minutes right before and right after the finale." (Aug. 24, 2017 TV Guide article, page 350 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "The whole idea behind the cliffhanger is that there are consequences to the explosions on the Island that affect Oliver and affect the surviving members of his team. Spoiler alert: we didn't kill off everyone except for Oliver and one person... He still will have a team, just the question is what is the composition of that team, and how are they all affected by the trauma of what happened at the end of last year. I like to say, for us, it's more than a binary thing of who lives and who dies. There are consequences that we're also playing around as a result of what happens at the end there." When asked how many deaths, MG: "Both Laurel [Black Siren] and Dinah survive. Beyond that, you've got to tune in and watch." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "When we pick up, Star City in and of itself is in a reasonable place. And we also kind of left it where Green Arrow was Public Enemy No. 1. And the idea of vigilantes and their role within the city and whether or not the public supports them, that does also play a role." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- SA: "I feel like we hit the ground running this year. I really do. I feel like we took the momentum of Season 5 and carried it into the first couple of episodes of Season 6. One of my favorite parts about - my jaw has not dropped when I've been reading a script. That happens every once in a while. It happened last year with episode 509. It was like, 'oh my god, he kills Billy.' Rest in peace, Billy. Um, but, uh, no - the first, like, three scripts that I've read, they're really tight, they're really action packed, they're really moving the story forward. But it also feels like we're taking our time, which is something I feel like we've earned. Um, taking our time is cool." (Aug. 18, 2017 Hollywood Outbreak podcast interview with SA, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Papp report on 601 filming: "Arrow started filming season 6 of Arrow last month in a few locations. The two that I caught up to them at was in North Vancouver, in Princess Park that they were using as part of Lian Yu. ... On set that day was everyone that we saw at the end of season 5 who were on the island actively trying to get out together. People I saw on set that day included Emily Bett Rickards, Willa Holland, David Ramsey, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Manu Bennett and Anna Hopkins. I DID NOT see Katrina Law, but I did see a person dressed as Nyssa al Ghul there. I also never saw Katie Cassidy, Lexa Doig or Madison McLaughlin there. ... All that said, who I saw, and didnt see does not mean 1 way or the other who did or didnt die in the episode, as much of what they filmed on this day was simply showing what everyone did in the final minutes before Adrian Chase threw a Donald Trump sized temper tantrum & blew up an entire island. I do know from things I do know about this episode and others so far, 1 person from the lists above is in a coma, and as of the time of writing this, nothing has changed with the character coming out of it, or being killed off yet. I suppose if/when they finally decide that will decide if/when the cast member playing the character decides on returning or not. ... The best shots I got were of Emily Bett Rickards when she was finished shooting the entire scene, and wasnt in a rush to get back to her starting spot. In the pics, you can see Felicity is clearly covered in a variety of scratches. ... The only shot I know anyone got that day of Manu Bennett on set as Deathstroke was from twitter user @ArizonaJake ... A few days later, I managed to catch up to Arrow shooting a scene on the Georgia viaduct. Tis is of course the same viaduct they used for that impressive Deathstroke army marching into Starling City back in season 2. On this day, they had several of the cast there shooting a variety of scenes on the bridge. While most of the shooting while I was there consisted of two actresses and their stunt doubles doing a fighting scene, others were in fact there, and did film at various times.... albeit, mostly after I left. ... Katie Cassidy, Julia Harkavy, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Echo Kellum & Paul Blackthorne were all seen on set, along with most of their stunt doubles as well. ... The majority of shooting took place with Harkavy, Cassidy & their stunt doubles. Below, at the bottom, is a quick video of 1 of the takes of the stunt team working thru the sequence." (Aug. 10, 2017 Canadagraphs article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Synopsis
-- CW DCTV S6 description (per iTunes): "As the Green Arrow, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) protects his home, Star City, with the help of former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), computer-science expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), his Thea Queen (Willa Holland), Deputy Mayor Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), brilliant inventor Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), and his new recruits, street-savvy Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez) and meta-human Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy). In Season Six, Oliver has finally solidified and strengthened his crime-fighting team only to have it threatened when unexpected enemies from his past, including Black Siren (Katie Cassidy), return to Star City, forcing Oliver to rethink his relationship with each member of his 'family.' With the team left hanging in the balance, the focus shifts to the fates of every member of Team Arrow." (Sep. 5, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 357 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

S6 Trailers and Promotion
-- Arrow S6 producer's preview posted. (Aug. 30, 2017 S6 producer's preview video, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DCTV "Super Season" trailer includes a scene of Oliver in a suit, tightening up his tie, and saying "This might be a late night." (Aug. 30, 2017 DCTV "Super Season" Trailer video and smoaksqueen tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 352 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Aug. 29, 2017, when fan asked for another S6 trailer, MG tweeted: "Hmm. That could happen. Closer to premiere though." (MG tweet, page 1589 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Tone
-- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, the Arrow team “found their mojo” last year, as “they got back to what the first and second season of that show was.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Adweek article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "It's very hard to talk about Season 6 because of the way Season 5 ended. Season 5 was, you know, such a cliffhanger in terms of, you know, almost everyone on the show being, uh, placed in jeopardy. One thing I've discovered is it's really, really difficult to talk about, uh, Season 6 without spoiling anything... I think the thing I like about Season 6 as it slowly starts to develop is it really feels like a continuation of Season 5... The first five seasons were always - we always said, we wanted each season to have its own identity and to be able to sort of tune in, you know, randomly to any episode and then, you know, immediately know which season - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - you were watching... I guess with Season 6 I kinda lost interest in doing that. I was more interested in - I really like the version of the show that we were doing in Season 5. I felt like, we leaned into a lot of our strengths and, uh, I think, you know, when we were talking about Season 6 and planning it out, I started thinking more in terms of like, rather than doing it different from Season 5, just doing it better than Season 5. Uh, I became more enamored with the idea of topping Season 5 rather than do something radically different from it." (Jul. 28, 2017 BelleRinger video of Belle Gaudreau's interview with MG, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- CW President Mark Pedowitz: "I'm looking forward to where Oliver goes and where that character arc now that, spoiler alert, potentially one of the people survive on the island, become a father, and recognize that he is the Green Arrow." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On the possibility of having an all-girls mission during S6 of Arrow, MG: “You know, we always talk about that — across all the shows. And it’s totally possible... But truth be told, I wouldn’t want to do it unless we could figure out a way to get Sara (played on Legends by Caity Lotz) in there as well. One of my favorite episodes was 406, where we had Speedy, Black Canary and Canary all fighting side-by-side-by side together, and that was a blast. Seeing three badass women was really, really awesome. [An all-girls mission] is on our ‘bucket list,’ but I really want to figure out a way to get Sara in there as well.” (Aug. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When asked to describe S6 in three words, SA posted: "So far... how about... 'it's your turn.'" Arrow was shooting 605 at the time. (Aug. 30, 2017 SA facebook Q&A post, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 619 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "-Here's how she says the convo went down. When he was signing my bag he asked if she was excited for the new season. She was like, 'I am but I'd be even more excited if I knew that I was going to actually like Oliver again.' He chuckled and she added 'Cause last year was a bit rough.' He stopped and looked at her and said 'Yeah, last year was rough. I know what you're...' Then he kind of stopped himself and said, 'I know, but I'm telling you, you're going to like him again. I guarantee it. I know the first five, no wait, six episodes and you're going to be happy.' She thanked him and went to move on and he was like 'I'm serious. I GUARANTEE it! Trust me.' She says he was very emphatic about the whole thing." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On S6, DR (to SA): "I thought your answer at Comic Con was really good. Like, you know, the first few episodes, it's kinda like a slow burn, there isn't anything to make you go like, 'wow!' [They] kinda made you go like, 'oh, it's kinda ramping up, ramping up'... It's a 23-show season, so there's a lot of story. There's a ton of story. Ton of story." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- Cammien Ray tweeted: ".@EchoK says there's a "Gotham City-esque" thing this season. .@Willaaaah says Curtis died on the island and he needs to shhh #DragonCon2017." (Dragon Con, Sep. 2, 2017: CammienRay tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When fan asked when Nightwing would be brought into the mix, EK said that was a producer question but then added: "I will say that, um, there could be a Gotham City-esh, -esque type thing that happens this season." WH joked that "Echo doesn't make it from the island, so he doesn't know what he's talking about." EK then tried to backtrack: "I don't know if it's true or not, but I know it could happen. ... You know, Ra's al Ghul was a Gotham-esque type - ... Nothing is like - I think it might just be the possibility that some aspect [some unintelligible words due to audience noise]." Later, when fan asked which character from the DC comics they would want to put on Arrow, EK and JS both said Batman. Then everyone teased EK about his earlier spoiler tease. Then EK said that Batman was more likely to appear on Gotham than on Arrow. WH said that EK has no idea what he's talking about and that's why she kept going "Shhh!" (Dragon Con, Sep. 2, 2017: Hank Garner video of Arrow panel with WH, EK and JS, page 623 of Social Media thread)

Team Arrow
-- MG: "[Oliver] still will have a team, just the question is what is the composition of that team, and how are they all affected by the trauma of what happened at the end of last year." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "What I really like about the show... what I like is, Felicity at the helm. Right? At the computers. And she can be there with Curtis now. Whatever... And the team out doing their thing. They meet a big brick wall. 'Felicity, we need you to move it.' She hits the [unintelligible word] button... The wall moves. We go in there. We do our Mission Impossible thing. And that's the fun of the show, I think... Just a street-level, braniac over here sitting on her remote-control thing, and we go out and we kick butt... And that to me is Arrow." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)

Original Team Arrow ("OTA")
-- DR: "If Diggle and Felicity wasn't there, then [Oliver] would either be dead or on the run." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "You know, the writers - and I was told this by Greg Berlanti to my face - what works is what they write to. Right? Um, which is smart. Because you never know what works. So - and things are so fragile, in terms of trying to put things together and make it organic. You just never know what's organic, as a director or writer. Two actors get together and all of a sudden it clicks. Felicity, Oliver and Diggle just clicked. We just clicked. There was no - there was nothing pretentious about it. It was just - it just happened, you know, and they wrote to it. And the more they wrote to it, the more people liked it. And that was it. It was that simple. As you know, Emily was supposed to be - what - two episodes or whatever, and, um, there was something about that chemistry between she and Stephen. They wrote to it, and you guys liked it. And it just happened more and more and more. So it's, uh - they'll write to whatever works. In terms of me, Oliver and Felicity, it just clicked." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- On Olicity, MG: “We put them on a very specific trajectory at the end of season 5... It would be very schizophrenic for us to suddenly take them off that trajectory.” However, MG: “There is not a single romantic kiss between any two characters in the season premiere.” (Aug. 17, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan's pleas for spoilers, SA wrote next to his autograph for her the words "100% no" and "It's a key." Fan tweeted: "The "100% no" was him being cheeky about not giving her a spoiler." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 2, 2017: LuluLemonLime83 tweets, page 1592 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "As you know, Emily was supposed to be - what - two episodes or whatever, and, um, there was something about that chemistry between she and Stephen. They wrote to it, and you guys liked it. And it just happened more and more and more." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- On Aug. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "It's #Olicity date night." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 21, 2017, when fan asked who would be filming "tomorrow," papp tweeted emojis of a dark haired male, a blonde female and a plate of spaghetti. (LuLuLemonLime83 and pursuit23 tweets, page 1586 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 22, 2017, fans tweeted: "Arrow filming at The Terrazza" and "EBR was wearing a pink dress."  and "Stephen's car & trailer  were there as well. he went in and out of his trailer." When asked if SA was wearing a tux or suit, fan tweeted: "a suit." (Sandwood and newdividev tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 23, 2017, when fan asked if they were done with the Olicity date at La Terrazza, papp tweeted: "It was one scene last night." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- Pic of SA on the set of Oliver's new apartment posted. (Aug. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When fan asked about getting the "classic elements" of Oliver Queen into the next couple of seasons, now that they were going into S6, SA: "Well, I think some of the more classic elements can start to - uh, can start to come to the forefront now because, you know, we really are - I mean, we've always been telling our own story, but we are not conjoined any more to his back story. Um, the thing that I've always asked myself, whenever I'm reading a script this year, and it comes down to an Oliver-based issue, is: is he handling it like someone who's learned lessons along the way? Um, if he's not, then we change it. Because if he hasn't evolved, if he hasn't taken away stuff from everything that's happened over the past five years, including and especially what happened at the end of Season 5, then if I were a viewer, I'd be like, 'alright, enough with this guy.' Seriously. I mean, what does it take for you to start learning lessons and to start being more inclusive and to start relying on other people and to start being honest and maybe relax and loosen your grip a little bit? If it's not an island explosion with everyone you love on it, then what's it gonna be? The destruction of Earth? So that's what I really ask myself this year. Like, am I approaching this like someone who has learned lessons?" (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On where Oliver stands now on killing/no kiling, SA: "Well, I like the shades of gray. Um, well, he didn't kill Chase because that ultimately was the goal, you know... There's a hierachy of importance for him, you know. His family. His friends. His city. And, if you get in the way of that, and you're willing to use lethal force, in our world, it will be returned in kind. Um, which I think you know, it's not how I like to live my life. But I think for the Arrow, in our show, that's more interesting." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- SA: "What we're dealing with this season is that there's kind of a villain for every character. You know, normally we have a Big Bad villain. This year, there's kind of a villain for every character. And I say that because there's a villain for Green Arrow, but there's also a villain for Oliver Queen." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We have a cauldron of, um, almost a Legion of Doom this year, in terms of baddies. And as you begin to look at the baddies that develop this season, understand this, each character has one. So each of these baddies belongs to one of us... And Stephen's interesting - or Oliver's interesting because he's probably going to have one for Oliver and one for Arrow." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- On whether there are any plans for Felicity to start up her own company, Smoak Tech, in S6, MG: “That was something we wanted to do last year, and then we got sort of seduced by the Helix storyline... I would say that people wanting that storyline will be happy, but for reasons that I think will be very obvious, it can’t be called Smoak Technologies. And all those clever readers who are like, ‘That’s because she’ll be changing her last name to Queen,’ it’s not Queen Technologies, either.” (Aug. 9, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I'm here with Sars and Gabrielle [two fans]. And, um, they're trying to get spoilers from me for Season 6 and telling me they're not going to tell me anything, but that someone came earlier, said the exact same thing and immediately told them. So I told them that Felicity's good at math. And they're like, 'yeah, yeah, we know that.' I'm like, 'it's important.' So there." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 2, 2017: Video in smoakoverwatch tweet, page 1592 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We see that the helmet was a Star Lab creation. And now since there's a Smoak Enterprises coming up and, you know, there's stuff happening with Curtis and Felicity in terms of what they're creating, and the T-Spheres and other things, there's been a conversation, like, maybe the helmet came out of that. You know, came out of this kind of conglomerate creation with - between Felicity and Curtis. So it kind of stalled what we would see with the helmet." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRIck video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, Jen_McDonnell tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Flash 405: EBR's Felicity will appear in The Flash's episode 405, titled "Girls Night Out." Katee Sackhoff's DC Comics villain, Amunet Black, AKA Blacksmith, will debut in this episode. (Aug. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 347 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: Flash EP Todd Helbing: “It’s really fun. The girls [including a visiting Felicity Smoak] go and have a night out in Central City alone, without the guys. And they get into some trouble.” On the possibility of the outing being a bachelorette party for the potential future Mrs. West-Allen, Helbing (with a laugh): “Possibly.” (Aug. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 349 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Aug. 26, 2017, Danielle Nicolet posted pic of herself, EBR and Candice Patton all dressed up. (daninicolet instagram post, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Aug. 28, 2017, papp tweeted: "Saw Felicity get dropped off at #theflash set this morning." (pursuit23 tweet, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: CW's "Together With Texas" charity promo included shots of EBR wearing an off-shoulder fancy blue dress, standing with CP, CG, DP and CV. (Sep. 1, 2017 CW "Together with Texas" video in CW_Arrow tweet, page 619 of Social Media thread and page 353 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 3, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR wearing all black outfit on Flash set. (page 356 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 4, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR and DP as Killer Frost, both wearing all black outfit, with comment: "[NEWS] Emily Bett Rickards filming Flash 4.05? We're going to have girls working on the field?" (Olicity_News tweet, page 355 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- We'll see a bit of a role reversal between Oliver and Diggle, as the latter deals with some real secrets of his own. (Aug. 24, 2017 TV Guide article, page 350 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per DR, Diggle's always been the Obi-Wan or Yoda figure to Oliver because his purpose was to guide our hero into his full-fledged superhero-ness. DR: "He was more mature. He had already been through his catharsis - his island. He had dealt with his demons. Um, he was married, once, twice, had a child. He was probably five years more advanced than - philosophically - than our main character. But now our character's there. Oliver's there... But we can observe Oliver and say, he's fully fledged Green Arrow, right? So what do you do with a character like Diggle now? ... You kill him... This is what happens to the Yodas... And that's the thing that takes your hero to the next level... And me and Marc were having this conversation about it and, um, he said, 'Well, number one, you're never going to die. But, I totally understand what you're saying.' Either you do something with that character or you change him by making something happen to him. Right? Dramatically... So you're going to see - and I said this at Comic Con in San Diego - something's going to happen to Diggle this year, this season, that's - and it's not just some thing - some things are going to occur in Diggle that's never happened before. And Diggle's going to be changed. And that's going to affect the relationship with his wife, with his family, with his friends. And he's still him at the core. And that makes a great arc for us to get back to. You're going to see some real changes, um, that he has to experience, going beyond Canary's death, beyond killing his brother, beyond Oliver kidnapping his wife. All those things are probably going to pale in comparison to the things that... Diggle experiences this season... Some of this stuff will connect us to his past, but most of it is about, um, what's happening to Diggle presently and in the future. So this is going to be a big season for Diggle." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and LuluLemonLime83 tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per DR, Diggle survives the island explosion but there's "a price to pay" and what he has to experience affects the whole team and his relationship with Lyla. There's also a role reversal with Oliver. DR: "But now Diggle's going to make some choices that we've never really seen him make. And he's going to need Oliver in a way he hasn't before." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who would be his favorite superhero to play, DR: "And Diggle's would probably be Arrow. Which by the way is going to be very interesting, come the first few episodes of the season. That's another big nugget." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "Diggle has to put on a different suit this season. I split it... I'll let you guys fill in the blanks." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 2 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We have a TA on the set that's a Marine. We tried very very hard to give honor to our men and women of the armed forces through the way Diggle acts, the way he conducts himself... And to that end, when Diggle puts on the Arrow suit... when he does, we were very concerned with how he fights. We didn't want it to look as [bul_? unintelligible word] as Arrow. We wanted it to be straightforward, very efficient, um, like a service man or woman would be. Right? We want to get to the end of the fight. So that was very important, with Bam, myself... And even in Diggle's regular fighting, whether he has the Arrow suit or not... we didn't want it to look like the rest of the League of Assassin-trained folks. So, um, that reflects in the suit. He has Kevlar, and he has a belt and a gun - a smart gun and a regular gun. So we didn't want him to be what Wild Dog was, with guns blazing everywhere. We wanted it to be like a service man. Right? He's very specific. He's well-trained. And so we didn't want a whole lot going on with the suit. And, um - so we wanted it to reflect his military roots. So I don't think I would add anything... Now, it's interesting thing that you bring up the suit. Because I just had a fitting for a new suit. So there will be a change to Diggle's suit. But even in that, it will still reflect his military roots. So it won't get too wild and crazy. We won't see a whole lot of the matte, [unintelligible word] mask, Kevlar and armor everywhere. That's not Diggle. He's a U.S. service man, and we want him to stay true to those roots." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 2 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle's relationship with Oliver, DR: "The bromance continues. Though the bromance... will be tested. Yeah, it's gonna be tested. And it should be, because brothers - that's what happens to brothers, right? They fight, they love each other, they fight, they love each other.. And it makes good drama." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether Diggle and Oliver will ever face off or fight each other, DR: "Interesting you say that... I would say that Diggle in his current incarnation can't really match Oliver. Oliver's top three fighters in the world. You know, Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, maybe there's somebody else in the DC Universe that's non-powered... Sara Lance? Really? Okay, Sara Lance. Okay, so, you know, there's your top three, right? I don't think Diggle's there. Not even close. Um, but there will be again some changes that's going to challenge their relationship. Not that it's going to take him on par as a fighter. It's going to challenge their relationship. In a huge way. ARGUS, ARGUS, ARGUS... ARGUS is big. We kinda played them down a little bit, but they're SHIELD in our universe, and that's no small thing. You know, they're very important to our universe." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 2 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle's parents, DR: "There's been talk of Carl Weathers. I don't know if that's going to happen. But there's been talk of that. It may or may not happen." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We see that the helmet was a Star Lab creation. And now since there's a Smoak Enterprises coming up and, you know, there's stuff happening with Curtis and Felicity in terms of what they're creating, and the T-Spheres and other things, there's been a conversation, like, maybe the helmet came out of that. You know, came out of this kind of conglomerate creation with - between Felicity and Curtis. So it kind of stalled what we would see with the helmet." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRIck video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, Jen_McDonnell tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- Per DR, Diggle survives the island explosion but there's "a price to pay" and what he has to experience affects the whole team and his relationship with Lyla." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DR, they're going to continue with issue of the "800-pound gorilla" that's in Diggle/Lyla's relationship. DR: "She's Amanda Waller, right? The new Amanda Waller. And her husband is a vigilante. So that whole how we walk this line in their distribution of justice is a distinct point in their marriage. So I think that we're going to continue to explore that." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "-At his panel, he got more into the Lyla/Argus stuff and how it's going to challenge his bromance with Oliver. He talked about tension between them and said 'Argus, Argus, Argus. I can't say it enough. It's this universe's version of SHIELD.'" (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "#Arrow's @david_ramsey is a precious unicorn who must be protected at all costs. (Also, he says good Dig/Lyla stuff coming 607)." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Jen_McDonnell tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- WH: "I have zero information about season six, other than the fact that it's happening... I feel like my character has grown up with me in a lot of ways and I like to pretend that I'm more mature than she is, but I don't even know if that's a true statement or not — we've definitely grown a lot in the last five years." (Comic Con Honolulu, Jul. 29, 2017: Jul. 30, 2017 K5TheHomeTeam article, page 612 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp tweeted that WH returned to shoot a couple of hospital scenes and hasn't been seen since. (Sunshine post, page 1574 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp tweeted: "Is Willa Holland ever coming back to film more Arrow, like hmmmm wtf." In response to papp tweet, fan tweeted: "I believe she is still on a limited episode number like last year." Papp concurred, tweeting: "Yep." (pursuit23 and ChristineBenyon tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- When asked if PB has been filming recently, papp tweeted: "He has." (Aug. 4, 2017 pursuit23 tweet, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When asked who should give the eulogy if their characters had been killed in the island explosion (we know both survived), both KC and RG picked Quentin Lance. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 3, 2017 TV Guide video smoaksqueen tweet, page 613 of Social Media thread)
-- LoT 305: Paul Blackthorne is "hoped to appear" as Quentin Lance in Season 3, episode 5, though that's "not officially locked in." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- DR: "We see that the helmet was a Star Lab creation. And now since there's a Smoak Enterprises coming up and, you know, there's stuff happening with Curtis and Felicity in terms of what they're creating, and the T-Spheres and other things, there's been a conversation, like, maybe the helmet came out of that. You know, came out of this kind of conglomerate creation with - between Felicity and Curtis. So it kind of stalled what we would see with the helmet." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRIck video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, Jen_McDonnell tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- Dinah will embrace her role as the new Black Canary, as she and Black Siren hash out their differences. (Aug. 24, 2017 TV Guide article, page 350 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On being the third person to take on the Black Canary mantle (after CL's Sara and KC's Laurel), JH: "You know I'm always a little bit nervous, like as an actor. I don't even know if it has anything to do with this role. As an actor you're always scared you're going to lose your job, or that you might not have one, so I just take every moment as such a blessing that I'm on the show. I hope it continues forever, and if it doesn't, even if I had done one episode as the Canary it would've been fulfilling for like a lifetime " (Jul. 28, 2017 ComicBook article, page 235 of Starling City Times thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- Per WM, one of the biggest of the team of villains this season is Black Siren. WM: "And we're very excited to have Katie Cassidy back on the show. And it's a great villain because it really speaks to the emotional state of everyone on the show, particularly with respect to Oliver. This is an old friend of his, coming back to do some evil. So it's going to have some resonance." (Aug. 30, 2017 S6 producer's preview video, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Black Siren and White Canary will meet, LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "I don’t know. We haven’t broken that story yet. Our docket is full of characters that we know we have to see. We haven’t really been able to get to the ones that we would like to see." On whether Sara is aware that Black Siren is running around, PK: "I would save that question for Marc and the Arrow [writers]. We unfortunately don’t get to get that deep into her backstory before she’s pulled back in, Godfather III style, into the world of being a time traveling captain." (Aug. 21, 2017 DCLegendsTV article, page 348 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- 605 episode title is "Deathstroke Returns." (Aug. 18, 2017 MG tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread, and Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- It appears Oliver will make good on his offer to his frenemy, Slade Wilson, in trade for his help against Adrian Chase, seeing as Arrow is currently seeking an Aussie lad to fill the guest-starring role of an “introverted, moody and naturally athletic” teenager. (Aug. 9, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "It's interesting because, you know, like, there's like a whole bunch of new characters on that show. To be honest, in the first episode - which I can't really talk about, can I? But there was this moment where I'm meant to be with the rest of them. You know, and the scene was written that, you know, the group and Slade/Deathstroke run off together. And I said to - I said to Marc Guggenheim - I said, 'Is this going to be a musical?' (laughs) ... No, but I asked him, I said, 'It sort of doesn't feel right, does it?' Marc agreed with me and so there's a very specific scene where I say - it's in the trailer, there's a trailer that's out now for Season 6. (Cut to video clip from trailer where Felicity runs up to Slade and says, "Hey, Oliver says there's a boat on the eastern shore," and Slade replies, "You lot won't make it in time. I'll take my own chances.") ... And I say, 'I'm gonna - I'm gonna' - what's the word? I say, uh, 'you guys will never get off this island in time' or something like that. 'I'll take my own chances.' Yeah, and I walk off. And I'm kind of just wanting to preserve the strength of the relationship between Slade and Oliver, just on that level, because it's such a sort of stand-alone little relationship, that I just don’t want to get caught up in the group and be like ‘Hey, high five! Yeah!’ Anyway, you'll see it in the first episode.” (MCM Manchester Comic Con, July 29-30, 2017: Video of MYM Buzz interview with Manu Bennett in Aug. 11, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade's "We Walk in Two Worlds" line from the S6 trailer, Manu Bennett: "You know, it's interesting, when I was looking at Steve's face when I did that scene, I looked at Stephen. I didn't look at Oliver. I looked at Stephen Amell. And when I played the scene, I wanted to find as much truth in it as I could. And I remember looking at Stephen - like he's got kids and I've got kids, and half the time I kind of like have this mixed relationship with Stephen Amell. He's kind of a quiet guy, and he and me don't talk that much, to be honest. Right? He's very busy. Everyone wants to talk to him. He's number one on the call sheet. And we don't - we don't really talk that much. We shake hands. We know we work well together. We know it. I know he knows it. And I know it. But when I was looking at his face in that scene, and it's such a great line - 'We walk in two worlds, you and I, but it can’t go on forever.’ What a statement. What a great statement to say to another man. You know, and it can mean so many things. But when I looked at Steve, it was - one thing that - one thing that - because I don’t know him that well, but I’ve watched his Twitter feeds and stuff over the last couple of months, and he was on holidays and he was with his kids. And I’ve got three girls. And, like, you know, as an actor, it’s such a bullsh*t world - sorry, kid. Right? All this fame or whatever the hell it is, you know, it makes no sense. It makes no sense, but we have to live with it. And he has to live with it. And I know that once he went to Hawaii and stayed in a hotel and he got so hit by fans all over the place that he had to move out of that hotel and go to another hotel. And, you know, I know that in his real life that he probably struggles with that fame. Right? So when I said to him that line, I kind of slipped out of being Slade and Oliver. I slipped - I sort of meant to be Manu and Stephen Amell. And I looked at him and I said to him, ‘We live in two worlds, you and I. But it can’t go on forever.’ And I spoke to him, and it was a beau - it was a really great moment. But not on my shot. When I did it on my shot, I was a bit tense. I did two takes myself and both times I went 'ah f**k', I'm just too - they shot my direction first. I wish it was like Crash - like the movie Crash - when they had De Niro and Pacino, they put two cameras on them, so they could get the real moment. They shot me, then they shot him. And when they shot Steve's side, I got it right." (MCM Manchester Comic Con, July 29-30, 2017: Video of MYM Buzz interview with Manu Bennett in Aug. 11, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 1, 2017, Manu Bennett posted pic of himself as Slade Wilson sitting by a window, with comment: "The Sun Never Sets #Arrow Season 6 #sladewilson #deathstroke." (manubennett instagram post, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Big Bads
-- Per WM, there will be a team of villains this season.  (Aug. 30, 2017 S6 producer's preview video, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "What we're dealing with this season is that there's kind of a villain for every character. You know, normally we have a Big Bad villain. This year, there's kind of a villain for every character. And I say that because there's a villain for Green Arrow, but there's also a villain for Oliver Queen." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA and DR said: "-Both he [SA]and DR mentioned that there's going to be a Legion of Doom-like set of villains, and every character gets one. Oliver and the Green Arrow each get one." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We have a cauldron of, um, almost a Legion of Doom this year, in terms of baddies. And as you begin to look at the baddies that develop this season, understand this, each character has one. So each of these baddies belongs to one of us... And Stephen's interesting - or Oliver's interesting because he's probably going to have one for Oliver and one for Arrow." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)

Ricardo Diaz AKA Richard Dragon
-- Kirk Acevedo has been cast as Ricardo Diaz, a/k/a Richard Dragon, for a season-long recurring arc. Character description: "A hardened ex-con recently released from prison for crimes he didn’t commit, Ricardo Diaz (Acevedo) is bent on taking over Star City’s criminal underworld. A master in hand to hand combat, honed by years of life on the street, Diaz has yet to meet a foe he can’t take down." (Aug. 15, 2017 Deadline article & tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 20, 2017, Kirk Acevedo tweeted: "The Dragon is coming 2 Star City!" (kirkacevedo tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

The Vigilante
-- On the identity of the Vigilante, DR: "Yes. I know exactly who he is... Here's a hint. We have a cauldron of, um, almost a Legion of Doom this year, in terms of baddies. And as you begin to look at the baddies that develop this season, understand this, each character has one. So each of these baddies belongs to one of us... And Stephen's interesting - or Oliver's interesting because he's probably going to have one for Oliver and one for Arrow." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- WM: "This character that we’re having [Michael Emerson] play is somewhat similar to people has has played in the past... But we had many conversations with him about how to make it different, and what elements we could bring to the character to change it up.” Also WM: “He is a dream to work with, and I think he’s doing an amazing job... We’ve seen some dailies of some of his episodes and he’s just fantastic. He’s a really understated, subtle actor, and that brings a different energy on set. It’s great.” (Aug. 27, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 16, 2017, Michael Emerson tweeted: "Vancouver lives up to its' rep as a lovely city-- scenic and cosmopolitan. Im getting such gracious treatment at @CW_Arrow great cast&crew!" (ME tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Samanda Watson
-- Arrow has cast Sydelle Noel in the recurring role of Samanda Watson, an FBI agent who will be investigating Oliver Queen's connection to the Green Arrow. Per the EPs, Samanda is "intelligent and poised with a no nonsense attitude." She is a woman who won't rest until Green Arrow's secrets are revealed. (Aug. 4, 2017 Variety tweet & article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 4, 2017, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "Wrestling w/ sum Gorgeous Ladies. Evolved N2 protecting a Black Panther, 2 taking down Mr. Queen 4 shooting an Arrow #NewBio #WhatsNext???????." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)-- On Aug. 31, 2017, Sydelle Noel posted pic of her actor's chair on set with comment: "Back in #Vancouver ???? shooting another ep. of @cw_arrow It's pretty cool to be apart of a show you watch. Tune in this fall to see what goes down between me and the #GreenArrow and his crew." Sitting on her chair is an Arrow script dated July 31, 2017, for an Added Scene for 603-Next of Kin. (sydellio instagram post, page 1591 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 5, 2017, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "My @CW_Arrow fans!... I'm currently taking a tour of the bunker! OMG! ?Wish I could post a pic. #Fan #Arrow." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Rory Regan AKA Ragman
-- On whether Ragman will be returning to Arrow, Joe Dinicol: "You know, what, man? I don't know. My guess would be maybe, at some point? I honestly don't know. So, uh, you know, the show is - it's an amorphous thing... Team Arrow is very full right now... I'd love to go back and play with them at some point." (Showmasters' London Film & Comic Con, Jul. 28, 2017: DC World video of interview with Joe Dinicol, page 612 of Social Media thread)

Vincent Sobel 
-- On Aug. 10, 2017, Clayton Chitty posted throwback pic of himself as Vincent Sobel in cop uniform. (clayton_chitty instagram post, page 1582 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Nyssa al Ghul
-- On Aug. 30, 2017, when fan asked if Nyssa made it off the island, papp tweeted: "Her double was on set so probably." (pursuit23 tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Malcolm Merlyn
-- On Aug. 12, 2017, John Barrowman posted: "I am surprised and very happy to hear Marc Guggenheim's comments about Merlyn's future in the Arrowverse because in a very decisive phone conversation we had with Wendy Mericle, I was led to believe that there were no plans to bring Merlyn back. If they have changed their mind, awesome! I have LOVED playing Malcom Merlyn and was SO disappointed to be told the news of his death and to no longer be part of a fantastic team and show. If they want me back, they just have to ask! The ball is back in their court. Write Merlyn an amazing storyline and I will be there." (JohnBarrowmanMBE facebook post, page 614 of Social Media thread)
-- On Aug. 12, 2017, in response to JB's post, MG tweeted: "I didn't say anything in that interview Wendy and I didn't also say in that phone call. Glad you're willing to come back." (MG tweet, page 614 of Social Media thread)

John Constantine
-- DR: "So, as far as Constantine, it's like I heard, yes, we want to bring him back. And this stuff kind of gets mixed up in other decisions that are so far above me and Stephen. Like the thing with the helmet, like, I didn't know that until I asked a producer, what's happening with the helmet. And they're like, oh, by the way, we thought about that. It was a Star Labs creation, but we're thinking about doing this. So the same with Constantine." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRIck video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, Jen_McDonnell tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Constantine will be returning to Arrow, Matt Ryan: “I don’t know. That is a question I’m getting quite a lot... It was actually really great to kind of reprise the character of Constantine on Arrow and if the opportunity arose again I don’t think I’d say no to it. I’ve been lucky enough to have been busy since then so the opportunity hasn’t arisen, but who knows?” This article was based on an interview that was done at HVFF-London on May 27 or 28, 2017. (Aug. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, page 33 of Arrow Stars In Other Roles thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- The 4-show crossover will be a two-night event, kicking off on Monday, Nov. 27, with Supergirl at 8pm ET, followed by Arrow at 9pm ET, and then concluding on Tuesday, Nov. 28, with Flash at 8pm ET, followed by LoT at 9pm ET. Arrow is moving to Monday just for this week. (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Deadline article and Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- CW President Mark Pedowitz: “Last year’s (crossover) was the most successful week in CW history in terms of ratings and everything. We felt in this particular case we had Flash on Legends paired, so it was better to make it a two two hour movies –a miniseries- we thought this was the best way to go. We had a lot of conversations with producers and marketing people. Next year, we might go back to four nights.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Deadline article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: “Last year’s crossover was our most successful week I believe in CW’s history... We felt that in this particular case, we already had Flash and Legends paired. It would be better and tighter in terms of storytelling to make it like a two-night, two-hour miniseries. We thought this was a tight, concise way of doing it. Next year, we may go back to four nights.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: "It's a full four-episode crossover." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: “What’s the joy of having the third Avengers? It’s the fun of having everybody get together, that’s the fun of it. You get to see a whole different thing. They’re all big episodic productions, but this will be even bigger.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article & tweet and IGN article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mark Pedowitz: “I do not want to give it away... I don’t want to give any spoiler alerts but let me just say, romance is in the air." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Nerdist article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread, and Entertainment Weekly article & tweet and IGN article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Greg Berlanti confirmed that romance does play a role in the 4-show crossover.  GB: “That is true... Our way of making the show bigger this year was to go even more personal, so it’s a big life event for a few different people on the show.” When asked if there was a wedding, GB repled: "There are many life events that happen." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Greg Berlanti: "Our way of making the show bigger this year was to go even more personal... so it’s a big life event for a few different people on the show. There are many life events that happen." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: ComicBookMovie article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When asked to elaborate on MP's comment that romance in the air, MG: "I really can't, actually... I will say this, [Thursday] we’re going to pitch the network on what the crossover is... There’s just no way that we can top aliens last year, so [we figured] let’s up the emotional content. At the very least, we know we can bring the emotion. I’m not saying the emotion is romantic, necessarily. I’m just saying, we start from a place of, we wanted there to be some really big emotional turns for our characters. One of the differences about the crossover this year as opposed to years past is, we’re doing some big character moves that affect all four of the shows.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Nerdist article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: “If we end up doing what we’re talking about doing, it’s going to be pretty cool,... The crossover is always the most challenging thing we do, but it’s also the most fun. Every year we feel the pressure [to top ourselves]. I feel like each crossover has topped the previous one. Topping last year’s, that’s a high bar, if for no other reason than what do you do that’s bigger than aliens? We’ve got some very, very exciting ideas…. Very early on in the process of doing last year’s crossover, Greg [Berlanti] said there’s probably no way to get bigger than aliens, so the best way to make the [next] crossover especially epic is if you can’t increase the bombast, increase the emotional stakes and the emotional payoffs, so that’s a very oblique comment on where our heads are at for this season.” (Jun. 30, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article quoted in Aug. 2, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "We’re really approaching this big four-part event as two back-to-back two hour movies, and I think when you look at it through that lens, it becomes less important for the Supergirl episode to feel like a Supergirl episode and the Arrow episode to feel like an Arrow episode, which was always our approach in the past." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: ComicBookMovie article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- The Arrowverse Crossover episodes will kick off with Supergirl’s “Greater Foes.” The plot will continue with Arrow’s “Greater Loss” Episode before we head deeper with The Flash’s “Greater Threat” episode. The story will wrap up with DC Legends of Tomorrow’s “Greater Menace” episode. (Aug. 20, 2017 TheDCTVshow video and Aug. 21, 2017 SegmentNext article, page 347 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG posted pic of top part of someone's leather costume and tweeted: "Already starting work on Arrowverse Crossover 2017." (Aug. 11, 207 MG tweet, page 343 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "I'm getting the full rundown on the crossover on Wednesday. But I got the elevator pitch. And in my head, I'm like, how are you guys gonna top aliens? What's that? Okay. Oh my god. No, you're not. We are? But how? I don't know. I can't be. I am? Alright." DR: "Yeah, I know. It's gonna be like, um, is that Oliver Queen? (Mimes removing mask) No, it's John Diggle!" (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: The Face of Doe video of full SA panel, page 622 of Social Media thread)
-- DR: "Um, in the crossover, there'll be a wedding... There'll be a wedding coming up." When fan asked if it was Barry & Iris' wedding, DR: "I ain't saying." When fan said she wanted it to be Oliver & Felicity, DR: "Um. Okay. Okay." When asked if fan would be happy with the wedding, DR: "Well, you'd be happy with either one of those, right? You'll be happy." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 2, 2017: Video in LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1592 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 353 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- Arrow: On the possibility of having an all-girls mission during S6 of Arrow, MG: “You know, we always talk about that — across all the shows. And it’s totally possible... But truth be told, I wouldn’t want to do it unless we could figure out a way to get Sara (played on Legends by Caity Lotz) in there as well. One of my favorite episodes was 406, where we had Speedy, Black Canary and Canary all fighting side-by-side-by side together, and that was a blast. Seeing three badass women was really, really awesome. [An all-girls mission] is on our ‘bucket list,’ but I really want to figure out a way to get Sara in there as well.” (Aug. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Flash 405: EBR's Felicity will appear in The Flash's episode 405, titled "Girls Night Out." Katee Sackhoff's DC Comics villain, Amunet Black, AKA Blacksmith, will debut in this episode. (Aug. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 347 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: Flash EP Todd Helbing: “It’s really fun. The girls [including a visiting Felicity Smoak] go and have a night out in Central City alone, without the guys. And they get into some trouble.” On the possibility of the outing being a bachelorette party for the potential future Mrs. West-Allen, Helbing (with a laugh): “Possibly.” (Aug. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 349 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Aug. 26, 2017, Danielle Nicolet posted pic of herself, EBR and Candice Patton all dressed up. (daninicolet instagram post, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Aug. 28, 2017, papp tweeted: "Saw Felicity get dropped off at #theflash set this morning." (pursuit23 tweet, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: CW's "Together With Texas" charity promo included shots of EBR wearing an off-shoulder fancy blue dress, standing with CP, CG, DP and CV. (Sep. 1, 2017 CW "Together with Texas" video in CW_Arrow tweet, page 619 of Social Media thread and page 353 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 3, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR wearing all black outfit on Flash set. (page 356 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 4, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR and DP as Killer Frost, both wearing all black outfit, with comment: "[NEWS] Emily Bett Rickards filming Flash 4.05? We're going to have girls working on the field?" (Olicity_News tweet, page 355 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- LoT 305: Paul Blackthorne is "hoped to appear" as Quentin Lance in Season 3, episode 5, though that's "not officially locked in." Also, Wentworth Miller is returning as a "bizarrow" version of Captain Cold. And LoT EPs are still "actively campaigning" for Matt Ryan's Constantine to appear on LoT. (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse
-- EBR's Felicity will appear in The Flash's episode 405, titled "Girls Night Out." Katee Sackhoff's DC Comics villain, Amunet Black, AKA Blacksmith, will debut in this episode. Amunet is a "steely and badass boss of an underground black market for supervillains. Amunet uses every means possible, including the long list of metahumans under her thumb, to ensure her illicit enterprise thrives." (Aug. 21, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 347 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Flash 405, Flash EP Todd Helbing: “It’s really fun. The girls [including a visiting Felicity Smoak] go and have a night out in Central City alone, without the guys. And they get into some trouble.” On the possibility of the outing being a bachelorette party for the potential future Mrs. West-Allen, Helbing (with a laugh): “Possibly.” (Aug. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 349 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- The CW's "Together With Texas" charity promo included shots of EBR wearing an off-shoulder fancy blue dress, standing with CP, CG, DP and CV. (Sep. 1, 2017 CW "Together with Texas" video in CW_Arrow tweet, page 619 of Social Media thread and page 353 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Aug. 26, 2017, Danielle Nicolet posted pic of herself, EBR and Candice Patton all dressed up. (daninicolet instagram post, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Aug. 28, 2017, papp tweeted: "Saw Felicity get dropped off at #theflash set this morning." (pursuit23 tweet, page 351 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 3, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR wearing all black outfit on Flash set. (page 356 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 4, 2017, fan tweeted pics of EBR and DP as Killer Frost, both wearing all black outfit, with comment: "[NEWS] Emily Bett Rickards filming Flash 4.05? We're going to have girls working on the field?" (Olicity_News tweet, page 355 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow in the Arrowverse
-- Damian Dahrk will be returning to LoT. MG: “[Legends of Tomorrow season 3] is a different Damien Darhk than the one you saw last year. This is the post-Arrow season 4. We pick up after he’s been killed. We have a fun way to bring him back.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Aug. 3, 2017 ScreenRant article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- This new iteration of Damian Darhk will be the leader of a new group of villains on LoT. MG: "We're going to have a group of villains that's going to have little bit more of a rotating membership." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "Damian Darhk is going to be the leader of this group [of villains] in the way Thawne was sort of the boss last year for the Legion of Doom. This group is distinctly led up by Damien... We have a fun way to bring him back that kind of plays into the season-long mythology." Also MG: "We want to give you the sense of a group like we did last year, because that was a lot of fun... There'll be a little bit more rotation, also so we can give you a little bit more of a variety." He said he does have a name for this group of supervillains that he would "like to see referenced on the show." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- A version of The Flash's Gorilla Grodd will appear on LoT this season. It will be a post-Gorilla City Grodd. (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Paul Blackthorne is "hoped to appear" as Quentin Lance in Season 3, episode 5, though that's "not officially locked in." Also, Wentworth Miller is returning as a "bizarrow" version of Captain Cold. And LoT EPs are still "actively campaigning" for Matt Ryan's Constantine to appear on LoT. (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 339 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When fan said that she would love to find out what happened to Damian Dahrk's daughter Nora on LoT (since she was orphaned on Arrow), MG tweeted: "Then you're gonna be happy." (Aug. 18, 2017 RaissaDevereux and MG tweets page 346 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether Black Siren and White Canary will meet, LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "I don’t know. We haven’t broken that story yet. Our docket is full of characters that we know we have to see. We haven’t really been able to get to the ones that we would like to see." On whether Sara is aware that Black Siren is running around, PK: "I would save that question for Marc and the Arrow [writers]. We unfortunately don’t get to get that deep into her backstory before she’s pulled back in, Godfather III style, into the world of being a time traveling captain." (Aug. 21, 2017 DCLegendsTV article, page 348 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether Mari will appear on LoT at some point, LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "We’ve certainly entertained the idea countless times ourselves. It’s not for lack of desire." (Aug. 21, 2017 DCLegendsTV article, page 348 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Black Lightning in the Arrowverse
-- Black Lightning is getting 13 episodes this season. (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: SydneyBucksbaum tweet, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On the decision to not have Black Lightning be a part of the Arrowverse, Mark Pedowitz: "If [the showrunners] wish to bring it in, that is their call... We had a long discussion with the studio, Mara, Salim and myself. We were fine with them making it separate from the Arrowverse, they have a different point a view. If they end up wanting to go that way, that will be their decision." (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 337 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Vixen in the Animated Arrowverse
-- On whether Mari will appear on LoT at some point, LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "We’ve certainly entertained the idea countless times ourselves. It’s not for lack of desire." (Aug. 21, 2017 DCLegendsTV article, page 348 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Looking Beyond S6 
-- MG: “We’ve already started talking about ooh, we have a shape for season seven already... This is the earliest we’ve ever had an idea for a season that far ahead, but it’s come out of our conversations about season six.” Beyond S7, it may be time to begin thinking about giving Arrow a proper series finale. However, when that inevitable time comes, MG would not require long-term planning to deliver the ending he, GB and AK have planned. MG: “I think we’ve always had an endpoint in mind... We’ve always known how we want to end the show. That end point doesn’t require X number of seasons. If we had to, we could work towards it as long as we knew with enough leeway, we could work towards the moment we’ve been talking about since day one.” (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: SlashFilm article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- The Arrow creative team actually has already conceptualized an idea for S7, which MG said is "the earliest we've ever had an idea for a season that far ahead, but it's come out of our conversations about Season 6." The topic came up when MG was asked if there is a plan for bringing Arrow to an end, and he said the writing team has always had "an endpoint in mind." MG: "We've always known how we want to end the show. That endpoint doesn't require X number of seasons," he said. "Let's say the ratings completely tank and Season 6 is the last season; we could work toward it as long as we knew with enough leeway. We could work toward the moment that we always knew about since Day 1. I always say when you get into any season, especially at this point, the ratings and the feedback and the network -- my instinct is we'll get sense halfway through the season how many more seasons we think we might get. We have a lot of ideas that can expand or contract depending."  (TCA Summer Press Tour, Aug. 2, 2017: IGN article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Interviewer asked if they were thinking in terms of Supernatural-distance for the Arrow series. MG said that "it's too far in the horizon." But he then quoted SA saying, "what's the point of doing the first five if you're not going to do the second five." MG also mentioned TVD ending at around S8. He then said that he doesn't know "what numbers we have to do in order to stay on the air through Season 10"  and that it's not just about live ratings any more but also about streaming ratings. He said that Arrow's live ratings went down 20% from S4 to S5, but that it's streaming ratings went up 17%, so that it's only a 3% loss over the course of Seasons 4 to 5. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG said that he was talking with Andrew Kreisberg about an "arena" idea for next season's crossover (Arrow S7). (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Edited September 9, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from September 6, 2017, to September 17, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #4 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Episode Order
-- MG confirmed that Arrow S6 will have 23 episodes. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

S6 Producers/Writers/Directors
-- Per MG, "a great percentage of the directors are all returning people." Last year, they had a lot of new directors. For both Arrow and LoT, they try to make sure that 50% of the directing slate is diverse, which he defined to mean "basically anyone who's not a white guy. Either a person of color or a woman." This season there are only 1 or 2 brand new directors. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per MG, James Bamford has been promoted to "the producing director on Arrow in Season 6." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread) 

S6 Planning/Production
-- Per MG, in planning the 23 episodes, they talk a lot in terms of "tentpoles" or "chapters" (not "log lines" for episodes). Also, they generally think of the season in terms of 4 "narrative acts." They also plan for the mini breaks. They know that episode 8 is the crossover and episode 9 is the midseason finale, although that isn't "written in stone." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On or before Sep. 6, 2017, MG said that they're in the process of breaking 609. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Transition from S5 to S6 (Cliffhanger Resolution)
-- Per TVLine, "[p]icking up months after that explosive finale, the Season 6 premiere will gradually reveal who did and did not make it back to Star City alive, punctuated by flashbacks to the fiery aftermath - at which point new threats bear down on Oliver[.]" (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per TV Guide, S6 resumes in current time to answer to question of which members of Team Arrow survived the explosions on Lian Yu and then flashes back to revisit the aftermath of last season's finale. (tv echo post on Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2017 issue of TV Guide Magazine, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Trailers and Promotion
-- Arrow S6 "Everything Has Changed" promo featured Oliver, William, Slade Wilson, Black Siren and explosions. (Sep. 13, 2017 Arrow "Everything Has Changed" trailer video, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- CW Arrow S6 producers' promo: @TiffanysTweets' interview with MG and WM, (S6 producers' preview video in Sep. 15, 2017 CW_Arrow tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Theme 
-- On S6 theme, MG: "It's family. It's not just, like, biological family, although that's a big component of the season, but it's also, like, sort of found families and, like, the families one develops as opposed to the one - you know, the family that one gets born into." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

S6 Generally
-- EW's Natalie Abrams visited the Arrow set on Sep. 1, 2017, and saw a "fascinating new set." (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast and Sep. 1, 2017 NatalieAbrams tweet, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Interviewer asked if they get a bump in budget with each additional season of Arrow. MG: "We don't get a bump. In fact, Warner Bros. does what's called a neutral budget, which is, once you factor in everyone's contractual and union required raises, that's your budget. So it's the same money that you had in Year 1, you have in Year 6, just adjusted for inflation.That said, um, we did get a new sound stage for Arrow this year. Because you move the money around. It's the same bucket, but how the money gets apportioned." Interviewer asked if the new sound stage was a villain lair or what. MG: "I will tell you, there's a sound stage that we have - that we've had since Season 1 - that we're losing due to construction around the area, and very soon it's going to become too noisy to shoot in it. So what we're doing is, we're destroying the stuff that we shoot on that sound stage, and somebody reconstructing... yes... We're writing to it." So they're doing something they normally couldn't do. MG then talked about making "lemons out of lemonade" and about how some great ideas came out of production challenges. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Interviewer said that the reason Arrow is successful is because of the characters and asked MG if he ever thought of having an episode about, like, a dinner party, where the characters are just arguing about movies, doing this and that, etc. Interviewer then mentioned that his fave scene in the Avengers movie was when the Avengers sat around talking about who can lift Thor's hammer (no action). MG: "Did my line producer put you up to this? ... I think in Season 6 of Arrow, we now have, quote, unquote, the right to try an experimental episode like that. And, um, I'm certainly more intrigued by doing an episode like that, as opposed to a bottle episode where we're trying to tell a regular story but we're just doing it in all of our standing sets and doing it on the cheap.... Certainly, that would be cool. I would love to do just a pure, character-based episode." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per MG, they'll do another topical episode this season, like they did the gun violence episode last season. MG: "I really want to tackle Black Lives Matter and I have a story idea for that." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread) 
-- In response to someone asking whether there are any black writers in the Arrow writers room to help engage the Black Lives Matter subject, MG tweeted: "We'll be bringing someone in." (Sep. 7, 2017 MG tweet, page 1596 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On why he couldn't do the Arrow intro at a comic con, SA: "It's the biggest spoiler that I could possibly drop about the show. Sorry. I would get in so much trouble." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: Video clip in MyFutureQueen tweet and alannalionheart tweet, page 1603 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and Pure_Fandom and alannalionheart tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "If you follow me on social media, you might have noticed that I’ve had a little more time off than I normally do. That’s just kind of where the story is this year [and] I’ve really enjoyed it." Per SA, S6 will mark“a new chapter” for Arrow, adding: "In the early part of the season we undertake a storyline and we stick to it. [But] that’s all about to change starting Monday!” (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA told EW's Natalie Abrams that they're going to stay focused on stories within the limits of Star City. (Sep. 15, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 363 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- Interviewer mentioned that when he announced that he was going to interview MG, he got a lot of questions. MG then asked, "A lot? Or a-locity?" Interviewer said that, yes, he did get multiple questions about that. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Interviewer then asked if we'll see more romance this season (fan question). MG: "This is a coy way of finding out about Oliver and Felicity... Yeah, there's definitely some romance this year. Definitely some romance this year. I'm being very coy about it. I'm going to be as coy as the question." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread) 
-- Fan reports on what DR said: "David just said he's officiating two weddings in the crossover." and "Also we asked him if we were gonna see more OTA. That's when he mentioned the weddings." and "Also he didn't say same time and same day of the crossover. He just said crossover.It can mean two weddings in two episodes SO STOP ASSUMING." and  "And last but not least when I asked are we getting OTA he said during the crossover diggle is officiating two weddings so ..."(HVFF-NY, Sep. 16, 2017: Smoakin_F and TheSweetest T tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 364 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "while in line for david's  autograph, he said that there's going to be 'two weddings'" and "the two weddings thing is not specified for the crossover eps. it was just like i general. i DO NOT want Olicity to have to share their day." and "he just said "there's gonna be 2 weddings" so im assuming at some point this season olicity will be married hopefully someone else will ask!." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 16, 2017: inBRADYiTrust12 tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- On Mayor Queen's secret child causing a PR scandal, WM acknowledged that the idea of a scandal “is a great idea,” but said, “We are definitely exploring this notion of what is it like for Oliver to have a kid and be in the spotlight in the city. We are going to be using that as a platform to tell some stories, because it’s just a natural place to go. It gives us an opportunity to tell political stories from a different perspective.” (Sep. 13, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1599 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: “You will see a new Arrow suit this year." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "It’s a strange thing. Oliver actually this season is a very contented individual... At least so far. Methinks that will probably change, based on just 120-some episodes of history. But I’ve seen three episodes and he’s smiling a lot more….. It’s nice as an actor to not be a stick in the mud all the time.” (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "According to Stephen Amell, Oliver Queen's theme song is 'You Oughta Know' by Alanis Morrisett." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: multiversemagic tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- Interviewer then turned to the fan questions that he received, saying: "Putting a lot together, there were a lot of questions about Felicity. I think that, from what I deduced, and I've probably already figured this out, and you know this, is that people really care about her. That's what I got from Twitter." MG: "I'd say that's accurate." Interviewer: "So what can you tease - obviously she's going to be back this season. That's obvious. What can you tease, if anything?" MG: "We are actually - last year we wanted to, uh, do her own business story, and we got sidetracked by this Helix storyline that we came up with for her. But we're finally doing a business this year. Um, in fact, um, one of the questions I get a lot on Twitter is, 'what does so-and-so do for money? what does so-and-so do for money?'" ... We have another storyline for her in the back half of the year that, uh, I quite frankly don't want to spoil. But, uh, it involves... It involves a situation that is separate from the team. Um, because one of the things - ... Not a solo episode. It's actually a storyline... It's really because, you know, for us, we don't want to - we always want to try to avoid Felicity only getting defined by her relationship to Oliver or her activities on the team. You know, we want to try to give Felicity as much of an outside life as possible. Um, while at the same time, still have the storylines feel like they're, you know, organic and part of the show." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

William Clayton
-- WM: “We have this amazing story that is going to tie in with Oliver’s dealings with his own son, as he helps Slade find Joe Wilson.” (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Mayor Queen's secret child causing a PR scandal, WM acknowledged that the idea of a scandal “is a great idea,” but said, “We are definitely exploring this notion of what is it like for Oliver to have a kid and be in the spotlight in the city. We are going to be using that as a platform to tell some stories, because it’s just a natural place to go. It gives us an opportunity to tell political stories from a different perspective.” (Sep. 13, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1599 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- Fan report on what DR said: "Digg character will less be a leader." (HVFF-New York, Sep. 17, 2017: LostInStereoLiz tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "What is Diggle going to do next season? @david_ramsey says he'll be going through emotional turmoil." (HVFF-New York, Sep. 17, 2017: heroesfanfest tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "They're still not done with the effects of Flashpoint for Diggle." (HVFF-New York, Sep. 17, 2017: TheFlashPodcast tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "@david_ramsey on Dig in #Arrow S6, "We're still not done with some of the stuff with flashpoint...and who his parents are...'" (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: autumnnoelkelly tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- On Sep. 14, 2017, Audrey Marie Anderson tweeted: "Getting on a plane for Vancouver. Saying goodbye never gets easier." (aud_anderson tweet, page 1601 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 15, 2017, Audrey Marie Anderson tweeted: "Look for Lyla. Episode 606!" (aud_anderson tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- MG refused to confirm or deny whether or not Thea's going to survive the island explosion. Interviewer quoted MG's previous quote about how Thea's never going to die on Arrow. MG joked about how he's said a lot of things that he's gone back on. He referenced a previous S1 quote by him, AK and GB about how there would never be super powers on Arrow. Both he and the interviewer said that things change. MG noted that Thea was on 14 -16 episodes last season. MG: "Willa had asked us, you know, to reduce her work load, and we accommodated her." Interviewer: "So it's similar this year. Anyway - I won't make you answer." MG: "Yeah." He then referred back to how they're working with everybody's situations (regular cast and guest cast), what stories they want to tell, and what the cast wants to do (like, in terms of how many episodes they want to do, or other things they want to do). (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- RG hopes that his character makes if off the island. If so, then he hopes that the writers will continue to explore the storyline of Rene trying to get his daughter back. He also hopes for more scenes between him and Paul Blackthorne.  RG loves the "look of the original Wild Dog" but he "wouldn't not be open to an upgrade" if they ever gave him one. (Sep. 15, 2017 HeyUGuys article, page 239 of Starling City Times thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- Per TVLine, "Dinah's new Black Canary costume brings with it a new swagger." (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether Dinah will finally, fully embrace the Black Canary identity or struggle with that, WM: “One of the things that Julianna [Harkavy] has been bringing this season is exactly that... She’s no longer the newbie on the team, she has a definite point of view — and I can tell you that that point of view and her new swagger is going to have some real consequences for the team down the road. Look out for that in the middle of the season.” (Sep. 13, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 1599 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA told her that each of the villains this year are kinda paired with a member of Team Arrow, like Anatoly is a villain for Oliver, and Black Siren is a villain for Black Canary. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On donning the BC costume, JH: "Well, we found out pretty soon into season five that there would be a costume. It was funny because we were actually trying to find a place where it would be the right time for her to be in full costume and it just didn't feel right. We knew we had to wait and that she was still coming into her own and still wasn't fully accepting the mantle. So, when it was time to actually do it and put it on, it was actually quite emotional the first time because I felt like I had grown as a person in real life as well as how Dinah came into her own and was ready, so yeah, it was a very cool and exciting moment to put it on." (Sep. 14, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On using the device that allows Dinah to control her powers better, JH: "I think it's going to part of her training as she improves as a fighter and uses her skills as a more powerful and controlled weapon. It was just a stepping stone for her to expand her abilities and that will continue for sure as she works on getting better and stronger." (Sep. 14, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what we should expect from Dinah when Arrow returns for S6, JH: "Well, Dinah is definitely finding herself in season six. She's learning how to recover after what happens at the end of season five, come back together, and become a solid unit with everyone. She's settling in and the theme of season six is family, so she's learning how to become a team player and not just focus on her own endeavours anymore and build a unit with the team." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she'd be interested in exploring more of Dinah's backstory, JH: "Definitely. As you mentioned, she came in so late last season, she kind of appeared as an enigma nobody knew with a meta power which allowed her to become the Canary and be part of the team but her story was only told in bits and pieces. I think she's a very dynamic character and I think she has a lot going on in her personal life, so it will be great to explore that so people can feel like they know her more." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On whether the Black Canary/Black Siren rivalry will be an ongoing plot ploint in S6, JH: "Absolutely. I'm not sure where it's going to go in season six but I think her reemergence is definitely going to have an impact on the team. The fact that it's going to be Siren vs. Canary and the new against the old makes for a really cool dynamic that they're going to keep playing with." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On whether she'd be interested in exploring on the show the comics romance between GA and BC, JH: "[Laughs] I love everything that pays homage to the original comics and I think that's really cool but in terms of the show and what Dinah is going through, I don't know if she's ready for something like that with Oliver or anyone. I think if that were to happen, it would be so far down into the future. I don't know if it would even happen! But if it does, I think it would be very cool as it's such a great homage to the original stories." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Regarding JH's response to a GA/BC romance question in the Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article: Fan tweeted: "This is what caters to comic stans and insults viewers of the show. Thanks for showing where you stand though." JH tweeted: "O not at all! I'm fascinated by the comics, so I am intrigued by any element of the show that incorporates them. Be it a costume, dialogue, ... or characters. But I equally respect the individual identity of the show, its core, & all u guys. The short answer 4 all this was 'no.'" and "Not at all my intention. I'll be more conscious of that in the future, thank you." Fan tweeted: "My statement was just about the HUGE separation between comic fans and fans of the show that you probably don't know about." and "Ok, Understood." and "I truly appreciate that Julianna seriously ??." (Sep. 15-16, 2017 TheSweetestT and JH tweets, page 625 of Social Media thread)
-- On who she'd like to see Dinah cross paths with in the big 4-show crossover, JH: "I would love to see Dinah interact with Barry Allen just because their energies are so different. They shoot The Flash right next door to us so I've now befriended a lot of those people in real-life. I'm really excited to work with them and I can't wait for the crossover. It's coming up soon actually." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she'd like to see Dinah follow the first Black Canary by making the leap to a show like LoT, JH: "I think Dinah and Black Canary are so connected to Arrow and that story and mythology, I just don't know if I would fully drop her out there because that's her team and they're part of what forms her at this point in the game. I would love to have her be part of the other shows to go save some lives on other worlds and stuff. That would be fun!" (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether, as the show's third Canary, she was ever concerned with how the fans would react to her, JH: "I didn't know what to expect. I guess I did expect that some people might be upset or surprised by the change but it was very few and far between in terms of negative reactions. Fans were very supportive for the most part and anybody who was upset did seem to do it out of love for the show and character which I can't be mad at anybody for. As an actor, that's a really good thing to see. It was really a very positive experience with the fans." (Sep. 15, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what makes Dinah stand out, JH: "She came in as an individual and now she’s part of a team, and seeing her being part of the team, you know, she just approaches things differently and I think she’s a natural leader. I feel she doesn’t consciously try to be the leader, and it’s not that she doesn’t respect that they have a clear captain, but she does have a sense of “I am the leader”, and I think she tries to take the reins somewhat." (Sep. 15, 2017 Flickering Myth article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what she wants to see in S6 with Dinah, JH: "Definitely more scenes of seeing her train and training her physical strength. I think we should explore her as an athlete, as she’s a very skilled athlete. So just training her physically is what I’m very excited about. And also see how her relationships with the other characters grow and maintain." (Sep. 15, 2017 Flickering Myth article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA told her that each of the villains this year are kinda paired with a member of Team Arrow, like Anatoly is a villain for Oliver, and Black Siren is a villain for Black Canary. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per TV Guide, Team Arrow is going to need strong numbers to go up against Black Siren (Katie Cassidy), plus another villain being billed as the most dastardly the show's heroes have faced yet. (tv echo post on Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2017 issue of TV Guide Magazine, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren, SA: “She looks exactly like Laurel Lance, she is Laurel Lance... Laurel Lance is the most famous dead person in Star City, so eventually, at some point, if she is reintroduced into public life, how do we unpack that? I’m excited for that. That’s the dynamic I think could be interesting.” (Sep. 14, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1600 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA made the point that "Laurel Lance is the most famous dead person in Star City." So if Black Siren is reintroduced to public life (either by being redeemed or by being full on villain), then how will the show unpack that? That she is alive and is the bad guy. EW's Kyle Anderson noted that that would affect Oliver both as Mayor and as Green Arrow. (Sep. 15, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 363 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- Interviewer asked if Slade Wilson was going to be redeemed or what. MG: "The way I like to think of Slade is, you know, that - we basically showed the audience at the end of Season 5 that the mirakuru's out of his system. So now we're dealing with a Slade Wilson's that's sort of in possession of all of his marbles. Um, but to me what makes the character so interesting is, he's never black or white. You know, he's never pure good or pure evil. He's complicated. Um, so to me, he's a character that's - it's not that he's beyond redemption, it's that you never know what you're going to get with him." MG said that, for a time, DC told them that they had plans for Deathstroke so Arrow couldn't use him, but then that changed at the end of the year. He knew that they were going back to Lian Yu at the end of S5, so he went to DC and got permission to use Deathstroke for the S5 finale and S6 premiere, as well as a Slade Wilson-centric story, the two-parter in S6: "Episodes 5 and 6 this year, where the flashbacks will be from Slade's perspective, and it's very much a Slade-Oliver two-hander." MG said that they just have "to operate within the requirements of DC." (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per TVLine, "Slade will invite Oliver to make good on his Lian Yu promise." WM: “We have this amazing story that is going to tie in with Oliver’s dealings with his own son, as he helps Slade find Joe Wilson.” (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 15, 2017, MB posted pic of himself as Deathstroke with John Davidson, Arrow's Director of Photography, with comment: "Enjoy what you see on #Arrow - send a THANKS to this guy @jdcamera the show's fantastic DOP! (Director Of Photography) Free trip to Starling City for those who guess what's missing in this image!!!???" (manubennett instagram post, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 16, 2017, MG posted pic of himself as Deathstroke with Harrison Arts designer, with comment: "Q: Who designed the Deathstroke costume? A: @harrisondarkarts (With the man himself)." (manubennett instagram post, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Joe Wilson AKA Kane Wolfman
-- Liam Hall has been cast to play Slade Wilson's son, who will appear in the two-part Slade Wilson adventure. The son of one of the Green Arrow’s greatest foes, Joe Wilson has followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the secret Australian military agency, A.S.I.S. After years of brutal combat, Joe now finds himself in a remote Kasnian prison under the alias, Kane Wolfman, fighting for his life. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Slade Wilson's son has been cast. Liam Hall (Camp, Lucifer) will play Joe Wilson, not to be confused in Grant Wilson (who appeared in LoT's "Star City 2046" episode). This is the Joe Wilson who was mentioned in S1 of Arrow, when Slade told Oliver that he made Billy Wintergreen the godfather to his son Joe. He's grown up now and he's joined the Australian secret service (intelligence service), just like his dad. After years of brutal combat, Joe finds himself in a remote Kaznian prison under the alias "Kane Wolfman," fighting for his life. It will be a two-parter Slade Wilson adventure. (Sep. 15, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 363 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Manu Bennett posted pic of Liam Hall with comment: "Joe Wilson - son of Deathstroke #sladewilson is being played by Australian actor @liamhall_ #Arrow." He also tweeted: "My promise, to my son #Arrow casts Australian Actor Liam Hall @_liamh_ as the son of Deathstroke, Joe Wilson." (Sep. 9, 2017 manubennett tweet and instagram post, page 1597 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big Bads
-- Per MG, they've talked about having a Big Bad for the first half of the season and a Big Bad for the second half of the season, and last year, they "flirted" with it with Tobias Church, who was the Big Bad for the first 5 or 6 episode, but at the end of the day, it's one television season and they want it to feel like one big narrative arc. That said, he hinted that they're doing things "a little differently" for the Big Bad in S6. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Each of the villains this season is basically matched to someone on the team, like Anatoly with Oliver or Black Siren and Black Canary -and the same can be said of Vigilante. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA told her that each of the villains this year are kinda paired with a member of Team Arrow, like Anatoly is a villain for Oliver, and Black Siren is a villain for Black Canary. List of S6 villains: Vigilante, Anatoly (will be back "with a vengeance" this year), Richard Dragon (Kirk Acevedo, hardened ex-con hellbent on taking over Star City's criminal underworld, master in hand-to-hand combat), Samanda Watson (Sydelle Noel, FBI agent investigating Oliver's ties to the GA), and mystery villain (Michael Emerson, might or might not be Cayden James). (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per TV Guide, Team Arrow is going to need strong numbers to go up against Black Siren (Katie Cassidy), plus another villain being billed as the most dastardly the show's heroes have faced yet. (tv echo post on Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2017 issue of TV Guide Magazine, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

The Vigilante
-- Vigilante will finally be unmasked. WM: “Who he is and what he’s up to is very personal... He’s got a very close connection to one of our series regulars that I really hope will blow the fans’ minds.” (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On the Vigilante, SA: “I know who he is, ... I’m not going to tell you who he is, but I will tell you Vigilante is a villain, if you want to call him that, for a member of the team as well.” (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA told her that each of the villains this year are kinda paired with a particular person. The same can be said for the Vigilante. SA now knows who the Vigilante is, but wouldn't tell Natalie who he is and said only that the Vigilante is a villain, "if you want to call him that," for a member of the team as well. Natalie thought it was really interesting that SA's words hedged whether the Vigilante is a villain. She also reminded Kyle that the Vigilante doesn't know that Oliver and GA are the same person. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- On landing Michael Emerson for Arrow, MG: "We have been talking to Michael forever... And we talked to him a lot last year. We got really close last year but things didn't work out with his schedule, um, and, you know, he was just coming off Person of Interest and I think he wanted a little time off, which is very understandable. And basically we just came back around and we said, 'hey, remember us?' Um, and he could not be more lovely and could not be more fantastic on the show. His dailies are starting to come in and, um, he's Michael Emerson." MG refused to answer the interviewer's questions as to whether or not ME was the Big Bad of S6 and how many episodes he was pitched for. MG said only that ME knows exactly how many episodes he's going to be in on Arrow and that ME will have to fly in and out of Vancouver to shoot his episodes, although they're trying to bunch the shooting of his scenes together. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, SA told her that each of the villains this year are kinda paired with a member of Team Arrow, like Anatoly is a villain for Oliver, and Black Siren is a villain for Black Canary. Also per Natalie, Anatoly will be back "with a vengeance" this year. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 16, 2017, in response to fan who hoped that Anatoly can work things out with Oliver, David Nykl tweeted: "Me too... and villian is such a judgy word. What about Person Of Alternate Opinion? #ArrowSeason6." (DNykl tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Samanda Watson
-- WM: “Oliver is going to be in some hot water, in a way we haven’t seen before, and Samandra[sic] Watson is going to be spearheading that cause... She’s going to get very close to the truth about what Oliver has been up to.” (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 7, 2017 Sydelle Noel tweeted pic of herself in front of her Arrow trailer, with comment: "Classic 'Go Head Forehead' pic in front of your trailer. @cw_arrow SamandaWatson #Arrow." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Roy Harper AKA Arsenal
-- In response to fan saying she missed Roy on Arrow, Colton Haynes tweeted: "Roy's coming back very soon ??." (Sep. 9, 2017 FillTheVoid24 and ColtonLHaynes tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan reports on what DR said: "@david_ramsey says @coltonlhaynes is coming back to #thearrow #hvff. Also says that he (David) is known for giving spoilers."n(HVFF-New York, Sep. 17, 2017: multiversemagic and heroesfanfest tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Other Possible Returns or Debuts in S6
-- On Sep. 12, 2017, Celina Jade posted: "New York! I'll miss you! Next stop... Vancouver! :)." (celinajade instagram post, page 1598 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 13, 2017, talent agent tweeted: "Congrats to @angelorenai for booking a role on @CW_Arrow!! #ETeam #Vancouver #Tv @DCComics." (Emilio Salituro@LucasAgentE tweet, page 1600 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- EW's Natalie Abrams asked Andrew Kreisberg if we'll get more Supergirl involvement in the 4-way crossover this year. AK replied that Kara and Alex are going to be in the center of it all throughout the four hours. They're really leaning into Danvers sister stuff this year on Supergirl and the crossover will be no different. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When asked about his favorite high-tech arrow, SA: "My favorite high-tech arrow. I mean, I like the - I like the bolo arrow a lot. And, um, I like the arrow I use in the crossover this year." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: Video clip in autumnnoelkelly tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "His extra time off will change starting Monday. Guessing crossover filming." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: jodfoster tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen gave me a line from the upcoming crossover: "General, would you care to step outside.'" (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: georgishly tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan reports on what DR said: "David just said he's officiating two weddings in the crossover." and "Also we asked him if we were gonna see more OTA. That's when he mentioned the weddings." and "Also he didn't say same time and same day of the crossover. He just said crossover.It can mean two weddings in two episodes SO STOP ASSUMING." and  "And last but not least when I asked are we getting OTA he said during the crossover diggle is officiating two weddings so ..."(HVFF-NY, Sep. 16, 2017: Smoakin_F and TheSweetest T tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 364 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "while in line for david's  autograph, he said that there's going to be 'two weddings'" and "the two weddings thing is not specified for the crossover eps. it was just like i general. i DO NOT want Olicity to have to share their day." and "he just said "there's gonna be 2 weddings" so im assuming at some point this season olicity will be married hopefully someone else will ask!." (HVFF-NY, Sep. 16, 2017: inBRADYiTrust12 tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 6, 2017, SA tweeted: "Just got briefed on this years giant crossover event. [blushing emoji]" (SA tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 8, 2017, SA said in a facebook live that he just got briefed on the crossover. He then laughed and said: "If you don't hear from me for, like, five, six weeks, it's because they've cloned me, so I can be in more than one spot at one time. And I wouldn't ever want to send my clone just to talk to facebook live, just in case my clone's evil. That's how it normally works in movies. I don't know how it'll work for me. Maybe he'll be a good guy. Maybe he'll be nicer than I am. I'm not sure." (SA facebook video, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 9, 2017, MG tweeted pic of what looks like a crushed gray helmet(?), with comment: "Sharing a work-in-progress for this year’s Arrowverse crossover confident that no one will speculate on it…" (MG tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 11, 2017, MG tweeted pic of square piece of unfolded, many-folded dark fabric, with comment: "Another WIP for the Arrowverse crossover…." (MG tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 15, 2017, MG tweeted pic of brownish face mask with goggles, with comment: "Another Arrowverse Crossover tease. The Legends hour of the crossover officially begins prep today." (MG tweet, page 363 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- Freedom Fighters: The Ray: The Ray, Carlos Valdes tweeted: "This was a lot of fun to work on. I love the alternate versions of these characters. Can't wait to see the whole thing." (Sep. 7, 2017 Tha_Los tweet, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse [POSSIBLY BIG 4-SHOW CROSSOVER EVENT]
-- On whether Barry & Iris will get married, AK: "They are finally going to get married this season and then it’s going to be: Can they stay married with everything that’s coming up against them?” (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Supergirl in the Arrowverse
-- EW's Natalie Abrams asked Andrew Kreisberg if we'll get more Supergirl involvement in the 4-way crossover this year. AK replied that Kara and Alex are going to be in the center of it all throughout the four hours. They're really leaning into Danvers sister stuff this year on Supergirl and the crossover will be no different. (Sep. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Freedom Fighters: The Ray in the Animated Arrowverse
-- On Freedom Fighters: The Ray, Carlos Valdes tweeted: "This was a lot of fun to work on. I love the alternate versions of these characters. Can't wait to see the whole thing." (Sep. 7, 2017 Tha_Los tweet, page 360 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Looking Beyond S6 
-- Interviewer asked if they were thinking in terms of Supernatural-distance for the Arrow series. MG said that "it's too far in the horizon." But he then quoted SA saying, "what's the point of doing the first five if you're not going to do the second five." MG also mentioned TVD ending at around S8. He then said that he doesn't know "what numbers we have to do in order to stay on the air through Season 10"  and that it's not just about live ratings any more but also about streaming ratings. He said that Arrow's live ratings went down 20% from S4 to S5, but that it's streaming ratings went up 17%, so that it's only a 3% loss over the course of Seasons 4 to 5. (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG said that he was talking with Andrew Kreisberg about an "arena" idea for next season's crossover (Arrow S7). (Video interview with MG in Sep. 6, 2017 Collider article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Edited September 18, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from September 18, 2017, to September 30, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #5 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Trailers and Promotion
-- CW's Arrow S6 trailer posted, with some new dialogue by Oliver, William and Slade. (Sep. 28, 2017 CW_Arrow video & tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Space Channel's Arrow S6 trailer posted. (Sep. 26, 2017 SpaceChannel video & tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA posted pic of official S6 poster, featuiring Oliver as GA drawing back his recurve bow, with the slogan "LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY" and premiere date of 10/12/17. (Sep. 30, 2017 SA instagram post, page 631 of Social Media thread and page 241 of Starling City Times thread)

S6 Theme 
-- MG: "The theme of the season is family, but it's all the different interpretations of the word." Per EW, MG was hinting that thiis applies not just to Team Arrow but also to the trio of villains, consisting of Michael Emerson's mystery man, David Nykl's Anatoly, and Kirk Acevedo's Richard Dragon. (Scan of Arrow blurb from Entertainment Weekly's fall preview double issue in Sep. 18, 2017 JJ928 post, page 1606 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- RG: "So, I think the most important thing that fans should know, too, is that season is about family. So, last year was legacy, so we saw how that would be chipped at by Prometheus in terms of legacy and who [Oliver] is as a person and what he has built. Whereas this year is about family, so, I think fans should keep in mind and see where could become a major component in this season, and how that could pertain to us as a group, Team Arrow, and also Oliver, what he’s been through. So there’s a lot of stuff there." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- On Sep. 19, 2017, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "Today I have the privilege of christening a brand new set. Ha! 1st! #SoCompetitive @CW_Arrow." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- On S6 flashbacks, SA: "Sometimes we have flashbacks. Sometimes we don't. Um, like, for example, this year we tell the origin - not the origin story, but we tell - we, uh, fill in some pieces for Slade Wilson's story... I think a couple of other people are going to have flashbacks. I have not had a flashback. But they probably just don't want to have to pay for a wig, because I burnt the other one." (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)

Team Arrow
-- On whether there'll be a split in the team if Oliver is off trying to redeem Black Siren, DR: "Interesting you say 'split.' Um, things are going to be happening to the team this season. I don't know if it'll all be because of Black Siren or not, but the team will have - there will be some crises of the heart, um, that's team-wide. As opposed to just looking at OTA or the individual set. But, um, there will be some philosophical differences." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- In their Arrow S5 Finale Podcast Commentary: MG: "Ump! There's our Olicity kiss." WM: "There it is. Twitter, go crazy - or went crazy. (Laughs) It did go crazy." MG: "Yeah, we, uh - we had all these thoughts and ideas and even some plans about the Oliver-Felicity relationship at the end of the season. But when we hit upon the - this whole Lian Yu gambit, um, we realized, there's really not going to be any time for, uh, a whole lot of lovey-doveyness." WM: "No, but we definitely wanted to bring it in for a landing and set up the fact that they had put their past behind them in, uh, episode [520] and here we - you know, we're back with [unintelligible words-their comfortable being?] back together." ... WM: "[Here's the scene] between, uh, Samantha and Felicity - and just putting to bed any sort of - our goal here was really to establish that there's no - we're not building a triangle of any sort whatsover, (MG interjects, "no") that Samantha has long left Oliver in the rear view. And we really wanted to set up that Felicity and Oliver - you know, it's obvious that they still have this chemistry and they're still in love with each other. And it's also fun - it's fun to put something like that, an observation like that, in the mouth of someone who's essentially an outsider [unintelligible word] to the team." (Sep. 19, 2017 ComicBook article and Sep. 20, 2017 olicitymafia tweet, page 1607 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 240 of Starling City Times thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papps and fans posted pics of 607 shoot on that day, showing Oliver & Felicity together (with their arms around each other) at a Thanksgiving Food Drive outside of Star City Police, Oliver at the podium with Felicity and William next to him, and some b-t-s shots of SA and EBR on set. Felicity is not wearing a ring. (Sep. 21, 2017 HollywoodNorth.buzz article, and pursuit23, Canadagraphs, lemon_buzz, CammienRay, QueenSMOAK_93, Lady_of_Time10, snarky_bee, FrogPhoto, greeneyedmads and LanaBett_ tweets, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and pages 1608-1610 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Two Weddings & a funeral...." and, on whether the two weddings are WestAllen and Karamel, "Mon El is already married" and, on whether the second wedding is Olicity, "Stealing the West Allen thunder" and "Two weddings, kinda upstages a solo wedding to me." Also, on who is getting married and who dies, papp tweeted: "No one from #Supergirl." (pursuit23 and lemon_buzz tweets, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ah, The 2 wedding thing was legit, the only opinion part was how the olicity wedding joins in . Like how they write that part." (pursuit23 tweet, page 375 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked whether the Olicity wedding happens in the Arrow episode, papp tweeted: "It doesn't." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked if both weddings happen in the same episode, papp tweeted: "They do. Right after the funeral." Papp also tweeted: "Not one wedding, two. But hey it’s in a beautiful location." (lemon_buzz tweets, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked if the couples get married at the same time, or one after the other, papp tweeted: "One and then another." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, the following was posted on Reddit: "Amell has been DM'ing Ken for 6 years lol He is really upset the spoiler is out" and "Ken told him he should blame David for trolling about it for 4 months" and "They're filming the wedding in a public park" and "all the paps will be there and will get pictures of it. It was inevitable. Stephen was more mad there's a leak in production" and "If you care, Thea was in a coma from Ep 1. She woke up in Ep 7 when they were celebrating Thanksgiving. (but she's not in the crossover)" and "EXT. CENTRAL CITY - PUBLIC PARK - WATERFRONT - O.6 SECO- ... Diggles and Barry walk through park ( vomits ) > Barry and Iris get married also Felicity and Oliver  Wedding 2x" and "EXT WALKING PATH - PUBLIC PARK (C.C., 2017) ... Post funeral parting of the ways..." and "EXT WATERFRONT - PUBLIC PARK (C.C. 2017) Diggle marries the two couples." (Reddit screengrabs in Soulfire post, page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- On his S6 bow, SA: "It's a lot like the Season 1 bow. And not really for any particular reason. I was just like, 'guys, it's time, it's time.' I wanted it to go a little old school. You know what I mean? So I was like - my pitch to them was, let's do a recurve and let's pretend that Cisco made it." (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)
-- On whether, this season or sometime in the future, he'll ever get "that traditional goatee," SA: "I think this is going to end up being the promise that Salt Lake City makes me make this year. I promise you, before the series - not the season, but the series - ends, we will have at least one shot of the iconic goatee. It's like I can't help myself, getting in trouble at these things. Always so much trouble. Always so much trouble." (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, fans reported: "One of the pap people said there was an arrest filmed and there is a photo on twitter of a "Mayor Green Arrow" protest. ??" and "From what i heard Oliver gets arrested and exposed as GA." (leopardprint and Velocity23 posts, page 1609 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, fan tweeted pics of protesters holding signs that said "Green Arrow & Mayor Justice," "Love 4 Mayor Queen" and "I love Mayor Green Arrow." (smoaksqueen and FrogPhoto tweets, page 1609 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted that no one was arrested on set that day while he was there. (Canadagraphs tweet, page 1610 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 23, 2017, SA: "I have not had a flashback." (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- Flash 405: The “Girls Night Out” episode is the respective bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris. Per EW's Natalie Abrams, "Cisco’s best-laid plans go awry with the guys, while a familiar face crashes the girls’ party." (Sep. 28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 19, 2017, papp tweeted: "And yes, Emily Bett Rickards is working on #Flash today too :) #yvrshoots." and "Sadly no. It's more of Iris's girls dinner." When asked which Flash episode EBR was filming for, another papp tweeted: "Lemon buzz told you , the girls episode." (lemon_buzz and pursuit23 tweets, pages 366 and 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 20, 2017, Candice Patton posted pic of herself as Iris, with comment: "clinging to the wall bc of social anxiety when @emilybett says don't move. ?? FLASH is back October 10." (candicekp instagram post, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ok so who is excited for a crossover scene involving ONLY Iris, Felicity, and Kara?" (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 25, 2017, when asked whether Felicity will be in the Flash and LoT parts, fan/papp(?) tweeted: "Yes she is in each episode." (SecretSpoils tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, fan tweeted: "Best part of Day 3 of @CW_TheFlash crossover... watching @EmilyBett and @CavanaghTom dancing outside the trailer to The Beach Boys. #winning." (a_hodgie tweet, page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 29, 2017, Candice Patton posted pic of coffee order, with comment: "Why is em bett so good to me. #nightshoots." (Pic of Candice Patton post in ElisaQueen tweet, page 1618 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

William Clayton
-- EW: "In the wake of the island explosion that appeared to kill, well, everyone, Oliver (Stephen Amell) will be forced to step up as a father to William (Jack Moore) ...so it's not hard to do the math as to who perished." (Scan of Arrow blurb from Entertainment Weekly's fall preview double issue in Sep. 18, 2017 JJ928 post, page 1606 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- PursueNews: "EW’s fall TV preview special double issue contained new details about Arrow season 6. Going by the conversations with EP Marc Guggenheim, it looks like the death of Samantha Clayton (Played by Anna Hopkins) is certain and it forces Oliver Queen to be the Father William (Jack Moore) never had."  (Sep. 18, 2017 PursueNews article referencing EW's fall tv preview issue, page 1605 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- DR: "Diggle survives. But, he comes away from the island, um, with some very, very serious - there's some repercussions that he suffers, um, that really affects the whole team. I mean, in a very, very serious way... Diggle very specifically, um, comes away in Season 6, uh, with some things that he's carried from the island that ends up affecting the whole team... I think, what happens to him on the island, uh, and how he has to face it - we're going to see Diggle become someone he's never really had to bec - that he never really was before. Make some choices that are very un-Diggle-like." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I will still be Spartan, but I will also be someone else." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "We are looking at getting Diggle some different digs." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DR, there will be a role reversal with Oliver and Diggle where Diggle will be the one needing advice. (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- On Sep. 20, 2017, when asked if WH was filming 607, papp tweeted: "Kind of" and "1 scene." When fan joked about her being in a coma and finally waking up, papp tweeted: "Dunno about her waking up but they need her lifeless body to film at the very least." (pursuit23 tweets, page 6 of New Spoilers thread, and pursuit23 tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 26, 2017, the following was posted on Reddit: "If you care, Thea was in a coma from Ep 1. She woke up in Ep 7 when they were celebrating Thanksgiving. (but she's not in the crossover)." (Reddit screengrab in Soulfire post, page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 28, 2017, when asked if Thea, Quentin and BS will be in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Thea I think is still in a coma, the other two maybe." When asked why Thea is still in a coma, papp tweeted: "Cus she doesn't want to film Arrow, & wants to do as few eps as possible. She asked for less Eps last season." (pursuit23 tweets, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 28, 2017, when asked if Thea, Quentin and BS will be in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Thea I think is still in a coma, the other two maybe." (pursuit23 tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- On what he'd like to see for Rene in S6, RG: "I’d like to see that the seed we planted in season five, of Rene being a father, I hope that can come to fruition. I’d like to see him become a father and win that battle. I think he’s someone who has suffered a lot. He’s never really had a great hand in life. The one thing that is a positive in his life and giving him a chance to grow is being a part of Team Arrow. It’s helped him turn the tide and find purpose in his life. So, I’m hoping, that along with being a part of Team Arrow, I’m hoping that he can become a dad again. To complete that circle and see what that looks like. To be a vigilante and a dad at the same time would be awesome." (Sep. 18, 2017 Bleeding Cool article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Rene was blown up on the island, RG: "Ha! Well, I hope not. Listen, they made me a series regular and they brought me back, but, you know, the interesting part about this show is, like, Marc [Guggenheim] and Wendy [Mericle, the producers] have a way of crafting the story using flashbacks and different ways of telling a story without having to, you know, keep a character alive. So, I mean, that’s the truth. There’s so many characters that have left and disappeared and come back. So, in this universe anything’s possible. So, everyone has to tune in to see." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On being a series regular for S6, RG: "The workload is the same, pretty much, I would imagine. You know, I was really surprised last season, with the way they introduced Team Arrow and how involved we were last year. It was really exciting. Because I really felt included in the entire season, you know. I felt, as a new character, and as a new actor on the show, I was immediately thrust into the world of Arrow and everything that was happening. And that was exciting, because in turn, we were instrumental in kind of using the new season 5, you know, creating a new energy and a new vibe. So that was great. ... I look back on season 5 and I’m proud of it. I feel like we delivered a really strong season, you know, where there’s a lot of action, there’s a great story, great episode, great storylines, and that culminated in a really epic season finale. So, I’m excited. I’m excited about returning and kind of staying on the trajectory we created with season 5. I think we did a really great job of kinda like, you know, establishing the theme and our strengths." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Wild Dog will get a new costume, RG: "I don’t know. I don’t know, man. That would be cool. I wish. That would be amazing. You know, I mean, Oliver did have different costumes in the first seasons, right? So he had different ones. So if they made me one, I wouldn’t say no. And I do think that original costume was iconic, and it pops, and it looks super freaking cool, so, if we stayed with that I’d be fine with that too." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who he'd like to have more scenes with, RG: "I think the only person I haven’t really done scenes with is Felicity. I remember talking to Emily [Bett Rickards], like, ‘we haven’t really had our scene yet.’ You know? So, hopefully, maybe, there will be something really cool where I get to work with ‘blondie’. There could be something cool there." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- Per EW, Black Siren may actually be on the path to redemption, if she doesn't kill Team Arrow first. KC: "She's at a crossroads... The thing that will really [get through to] her is family." (Scan of Arrow blurb from Entertainment Weekly's fall preview double issue in Sep. 18, 2017 JJ928 post, page 1606 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Black Siren's return, DR: "That's going to be an interesting storyline when she comes back. Particularly with Oliver, there's a  - there's a sense of guilt - particularly he and Diggle share. And we'll see, you know, maybe there's a way that Oliver feels he can save her, cause she is Laurel, though she's not the Laurel we knew. Um, so there's some storyline there that they're going to work out." Per DR, it would be difficult for Oliver not to try to save Black Siren, because redemption is what made him a hero. (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Video of Fanisma interview with DR in Sep. 20, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 21, 2017, when asked if Laurel/Black Siren/KC was in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Not as far as I've been told." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 28, 2017, when asked if Thea, Quentin and BS will be in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Thea I think is still in a coma, the other two maybe." (pursuit23 tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- SA: "Sometimes we have flashbacks. Sometimes we don't. Um, like, for example, this year we tell the origin - not the origin story, but we tell - we, uh, fill in some pieces for Slade Wilson's story." (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "I've just come back from Vancouver. I just shot episode 5 and 6 of the sixth season of Arrow. Episode 5 is called 'Deathstroke Returns' and episode 6 is called 'Promises Kept.' So there's a lot of material that's just been put into two episodes and, uh, it really - it worked me. It worked me as an actor. I haven't felt that worked since some of the stuff that I've done on Spartacus, you know, some of the really harrowing stuff. You know, there's so much content in these two episodes that evolves a whole new side of Slade that, you know, I don't know whether the fans are going to like it or not, to be honest, because it's so personal. But, if I had to back myself, with the way that I am as an actor and the way that I try to portray truth of a character, it's [gotta][gonna] be something new for the audience, I think. But, you know, [unintelligible word] watch that silly box in the living room, to feel something, just to feel it, then I know that what I did for the character was, I put him on the edge and I kept on pushing him toward the edge. Because we all live on the edge in some way or the other, you know. And I think if you can - if you, as an artist, you can give it up, if you can put yourself out there, and the people can actually feel it - you know, a lot of people are going like, well, these kids are like, 'alright, please, Deathstroke,' stuff like that, and wow - but, you know, you'd be surprised what's really going on in here and here (pointing to head and heart) when you watch that screen. It's like when you listen to music, you know, like, uh, it's not just the words that's going on, it's the melody, it's the signal that's coming through the radio or whatever, it's how it hits you emotionally in your head and in your heart. So, you know, I think there's stuff that I've done in this latest season that's going to be, uh - it's going to be kinda compelling. But how it's going to compel the audience, I'm not quite sure. I find my son, and there's a whole bunch of ramifications to that. Yeah. So who knows? Maybe in a year or two, Arrow will be my favorite show that I've done." (MCM Scotland Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: MYM Buzz and lordsasomepicgamer videos of MB interview, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "I shot what's going to be episode 5 and 6 of Season 6 of Arrow... Well, Season 6 and episode 5 and 6 - is all about discovering what that is that Slade carried with him before the island, with his son Joe... It's going to be interesting because, you know, the dimensions that Slade's got, you know, Deathstroke, Slade, Slade on the island with Oliver, Slade with mirakuru, Slade going nah-nah with, uh, you know, Shado talking over his shoulder telling me, you know, to do all these horrible things. You know, all of those dimensions are going to be complete - well, they're sort of left behind. You know, the mirakuru-Shado stuff is kinda left behind and we end up - well, you know, the end of the last season - who watched the end of Season 5? So Oliver came in and said, 'hey, you know, I've got information where your son is.' So Season 6, we pick up from that point. And between Oliver and I, there's this whole new dimension about being fathers and having sons and, uh, it's gonna be really interesting because, you know, it's not so much - it is about action still, it's still about how the sort of drama you're used to in Arrow, but it's going to reveal, you know, the real heart of the matter for Slade. And in a way I was kinda quite confronted by this sort of performance because it was so much more personal... I was really, really happy with it, you know. We finished about a week ago. And the director was really happy with it. Really happy with it. And Steve was like, 'good one.' ... We did some really good work together, so I'm really looking forward to it coming to the screen and I think you guys will be given a new dimension, which I think you're going to enjoy. I hope you're going to enjoy." (MCM Scotland Comic Con, Sep. 24, 2017: epoc252 video of MB panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Joe Wilson AKA Kane Wolfman
-- Manu Bennett: "I find my son, and there's a whole bunch of ramifications to that." (MCM Scotland Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: MYM Buzz and lordsasomepicgamer videos of MB interview, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "I shot what's going to be episode 5 and 6 of Season 6 of Arrow... I meet my son.... So there's this one scene where Slade's sitting there with his son, and they're camping, and Slade's like, you know, 'hey kid, just you and me out camping.' And then suddenly Slade disappear - anyway, I can't tell you. (Audience laughs) It's a really cool storyline, and it starts off with my son Joe. And it kinda gives you a lot of information about, you know - when I was doing sort of Slade on the island, there was only one time that I ever, ever talked about who Slade was before the island. And there was this one scene that was over like a campfire and I was talking to Oliver, and he was talking to me about how the yacht went down and his girlfriend's sister who he was having an affair with was on the boat. (Audience chuckles) And Slade was sitting there going like, 'okay, kid, you're a bad boy.' And, uh - but I turned around and I said to Oliver - you know, because he wanted to know about Billy Wintergreen. Does anyone remember this scene? Arrow fans? ... Okay, so remember, I was sitting there and he said to me, 'How'd you end up on the island, Slade?' And I said, 'well, you know, there was this Australian forces mission and I came to the island with a guy called Billy Wintergreen, you know, and this guy Fyers is running the operation on the island, and anyway, we got caught, you know, and we're getting tortured or whatever, and Billy Wintergreen gave in and he betrayed us.' And I turned around and I said, 'he was the godfather of my son Joe, and yet he betrayed me.' But at the moment that I talked about my son Joe, in that moment, it was kinda just like this one little brief moment where you - ... it just made you think that Slade Wilson had this life beforehand, but it was only a [bit that] went like that. And I remember in that moment, I felt this personal - more personal connection to the Slade than just the current stuff going on on the island. It was just this one bit. Well, Season 6 and episode 5 and 6 - is all about discovering what that is that Slade carried with him before the island, with his son Joe. And there's a kid that was cast as my young son, probably about your age as well (indicating young child fan who he had asked up on stage)... He was a wonderful, wonderful young actor as well. Everything was in his eyes. I was really amazed by what a good actor this young kid is. Everything's in his eyes. I sat there and it was like playing chess with a 10-year-old. You know, it was wonderful. It was awesome, it was awesome... It's going to be interesting because, you know, the dimensions that Slade's got, you know, Deathstroke, Slade, Slade on the island with Oliver, Slade with mirakuru, Slade going nah-nah with, uh, you know, Shado talking over his shoulder telling me, you know, to do all these horrible things. You know, all of those dimensions are going to be complete - well, they're sort of left behind. You know, the mirakuru-Shado stuff is kinda left behind and we end up - well, you know, the end of the last season - who watched the end of Season 5? So Oliver came in and said, 'hey, you know, I've got information where your son is.' So Season 6, we pick up from that point. And between Oliver and I, there's this whole new dimension about being fathers and having sons and, uh, it's gonna be really interesting because, you know, it's not so much - it is about action still, it's still about how the sort of drama you're used to in Arrow, but it's going to reveal, you know, the real heart of the matter for Slade. And in a way I was kinda quite confronted by this sort of performance because it was so much more personal... I was really, really happy with it, you know. We finished about a week ago. And the director was really happy with it. Really happy with it. And Steve was like, 'good one.' ... We did some really good work together, so I'm really looking forward to it coming to the screen and I think you guys will be given a new dimension, which I think you're going to enjoy. I hope you're going to enjoy." (MCM Scotland Comic Con, Sep. 24, 2017: epoc252 video of MB panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When adult male fan asked what his favorite scenes to shoot on Arrow were, MB: "To be honest, these latest couple of episodes... Having Slade Wilson sitting next to a young kid, with a young boy that's his son and actually opening up as Slade Wilson... There's nothing that's been betrayed as Slade in that capacity... But then it takes the story to a contemporary Joe - a Joe that looks more like you. (To fan who asked question) Stand up for a second. See, in Arrow, I started off with a kid that looks like this (indicating child male fan) and I end up with a kid that looks like that (indicating adult male fan). Spoiler alert. But, you know what I mean? He goes from one thing to another thing, and then that's part of the real great drama of these two episode thing that's going to happen on Arrow." (MCM Scotland Comic Con, Sep. 24, 2017: epoc252 video of MB panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Big Bads
-- Per EW, MG hinted that the S6 theme of family applies not just to Team Arrow but also to the trio of villains, consisting of Michael Emerson's mystery man, David Nykl's Anatoly, and Kirk Acevedo's Richard Dragon. (Scan of Arrow blurb from Entertainment Weekly's fall preview double issue in Sep. 18, 2017 JJ928 post, page 1606 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- RG: "I have no idea what the plans are in terms of the villains this season, and how that pertains to us. But I do think that WB said that there is going to be a personal vendetta with the new villains against Team Arrow. So how that comes into play, I have no idea. And it’ll be interesting to see, like, there’s a couple of different villains this season, how they come into play, and how they kind of disrupt Star City is gonna be interesting." (Sep. 18, 2017 Den of Geek article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- In 602, Anatoly returns to Star City "with a deadly agenda." (Sep. 28, 2017 AmellDaily tweet and Sep. 29, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DN: "I just did Arrow episode 602 a couple of weeks ago. I know I'm going to be in 609 coming up at the end of the month. I think they're currently filming 605, so Season 6 is getting made fast, as fast as we can!" (Four State Comic Con, Sep. 9, 2017: Sep. 17, 2017 The Long Coat Mafia Podcast video, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DN: "This year, Season 6, we just started filming about a month ago. I already did one of the episodes, and I got another one coming up." (Four State Comic Con, Sep. 9, 2017: Sep. 17, 2017 The Long Coat Mafia Podcast video, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what fans can expect from Arrow S6, DN: "Lots of villains. And, uh, lots of personal stories with, uh - between the characters. Oliver and Anatoly have known each other for a long time, and their relationship has taken a turn for the worse. So, uh, this is where they're - this is where I'm going at least. This is where the relationship between the two of them is going this season." (Four State Comic Con, Sep. 9, 2017: Sep. 17, 2017 The Long Coat Mafia Podcast video, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Anatoly has evolved on Arrow, DN: "Yeah, absolutely. He started off as a prisoner in pretty rough shape. Then he came into - returned to Russia and came into the Bratva and, uh, as the story unfolded, you know, he became the [Russian word] - became the godfather.of the Bratva. Now, uh, as the story evolves, it's gonna go to different places and, uh, you guys will see what happens." (Four State Comic Con, Sep. 9, 2017: Sep. 17, 2017 The Long Coat Mafia Podcast video, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Samanda Watson
-- On Sep. 18, 2017, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "Back in Vancouver shooting @CW_Arrow On a mission to take as much pics with the cast as possible for #Arrow fans. #AskAndYouShallReceive." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 19, 2017, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "Today I have the privilege of christening a brand new set. Ha! 1st! #SoCompetitive @CW_Arrow." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 24, 2017, Rick Gonzalez and Sydelle Noel posted b-t-s pic of SA, SA's wife, JH, JH's husband, RG, SN and actor Pej Vahdat on rooftop, with comments about Sunday football squad. (officialrickg tweet and sydellio instagram post, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, Sydelle Noel posted pic of Arrow cast nesting dolls, with comment: "Was tempted to take this as a souvenir, but I do want to be invited back. #NextTime ? @StephenAmell." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 1614 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- The CW/WB announced that this year's crossover is titled "Crisis on Earth-X'" and unveiled a custom comic book cover designed by Phil Jimenez. This cover showed a massive fight scene, Barry & Iris in wedding garb at the bottom, and the following superheroes around the border: The Flash, Firestorm, Heat Wave, The Atom, Zari, Wild Dog, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Supergirl, The Ray, Killer Frost, Vibe, White Canary, Mister Terrific, and Vixen. (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine and DC Comics articles, pages 368 and  370 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- EW has confirmed that Prometheus will appear in the four-way crossover, but he’s the Prometheus from Earth-X, otherwise known as Prometheus-X. However, there are no plans for Josh Segarra to return as Prometheus, which raises the question: Who is under that mask? EW's theory: Quentin Lance.  Another theory: Roy Harper. (Sep. 29, 2017 Entertainment Weekly tweet & article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 382 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- TVLine's Michael Ausiello: "It has been well reported it is a true 4-show crossover. And not as 'This is the Flash episode! And now this is the Legends episode' as last year’s was. (I’ve been told you won’t be able to tell what specific Arrowverse show you are watching, it’s a seamless 4-episode event.)" (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 371 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Barry & Iris' wedding is the reason that the superheroes reunite for the 4-show crossover. (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 368 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- The premise of the mega crossover is that Barry and Iris’ long awaited wedding pulls together all their friends, whether from this Earth or otherwise, only to be gatecrashed by evil versions of Kara, Oliver and Barry from Earth-X, alongside a fourth mysterious masked bow-wielding villain. (Sep. 21, 2017 io9.gizmodo article, page 1611 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Maggie says yes to Alex’s proposal on Supergirl, TVLine's Michael Ausiello: "I’m not going to completely ruin the surprise for you, Kevin, but I will say that the CW drama is casting a reverend to preside over a 'ceremony' in Episode 308. Looking for more proof? The network’s official description for the show’s Oct. 9 premiere involves Alex and Maggie discussing their /impending nuptials.' So… you do the math. (ETA: Or, in light of today’s breaking news, it could be this wedding the clergyman oversees.)" (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 371 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Russell Tovey has been cast to play the live-action version of The Ray in this year's mega crossover. (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 369 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MG: "It's a four-show crossover – not a three-show crossover – that is even bigger than last year, which I think is really saying something... We've hit upon an idea that I think is really huge, it has big emotional stakes, and is something that I think the comic book fans in particularly will really dig." (Sep. 21, 2017 Digital Spy article, page 368 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "I don't know if you guys saw the announcement yesterday, but, uh, the title of the crossover this year is called 'Crisis on Earth-X,' which is based off of a very well-known DC Comics storyline, 'Crisis on Infinity Earth.' And, um, when I read the crossover this year, the only thing I will say is that - you know, when we first did the crossover back in our third season, Flash first season, it was very much like it's an episode of Flash where I show up and it's an episode of Arrow where he shows up. And even last year, it was like, you know, Flash showed up on Supergirl, but then it was an episode of Flash, an episode of Arrow, and then an episode of Legends. This year it's just a four-hour movie... Technically, it goes, Supergirl, Arrow, Flash, Legends. But you're not supposed to be watching the Supergirl hour and going, 'okay, this is the Supergirl hour.' It's just the first hour of the crossover. And when I - I don't know, I can't spoil it, other than to say - when I read the crossover scripts this year, I felt compelled to e-mail the, uh, sort of the - the original team of Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim, and the e-mail just simply said, 'guys, thank you very much for this opportunity, 'cause it's going to be really, really cool.'" (Salt Lake Comic Con, Sep. 23, 2017: Video of SA panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 629 of Social Media thread)
-- Grant Gustin: "Last year was an alien invasion, so it was pretty intense... But it sounds like this one will hopefully be more fun. It won't be impending doom necessarily that brings us together, it'll hopefully be a more fun reason that brings us together!" (Sep. 21, 2017 Digital Spy article, page 368 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Melissa Benoist: "I know the premise and I know it's going to make a lot of fans happy... Two events happen that people are going to lose their minds about." (Sep. 21, 2017 Digital Spy article, page 368 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 19, 2017, Larry Teng posted behind-the-scenes pics of (1) crossover directors, with comment: "#Crossover director posse. @james2bambamford @belfastjesus @gregorythesmith @supergirlcw @cw_arrow @cwtheflash @cw_legendsoftomorrow," and (2) Arrowverse producers, directors & writers sitting around square table, with comment: "Four shows recreating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. #crossover ??@tyharron." Teng is director of Supergirl crossover episode. (tengstagram instagram posts, pages 366 and 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "Legends starts crossover Tuesday. Flash starts tomorrow." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ok so who is excited for a crossover scene involving ONLY Iris, Felicity, and Kara?" (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surrouindings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, when asked if Laurel/Black Siren/KC was in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Not as far as I've been told." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "Candice/Iris will be in the Legends and Arrow portions as well." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, per papp, Alex and Sara will have scenes together. (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "I don't know about you, but I'm kind of excited to see Wentworth Miller and Chyler Leigh film together." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 21, 2017, per papp, Kara, Alex and Winn will be in the crossover, but not Mon-El. (lemon_buzz tweets, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 22, 2017, papp tweeted: "Alex is integral to the crossover storyline and will be involved a lot with Legends, the Green Arrow and the Flash." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 371 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 24, 2017, papp tweeted LoT filming notice for North 40 Dog Park on Sep. 26, with comment: "Looks like #LegendsofTomorrow starts filming its DC crossover episode - Crisis on Earth-X - in Delta on Tuesday, September 26th." (yvrshoots tweet, page 373 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Wentworth Miller is back already for some more CW DC Crossover goodtimes." (pursuit23 tweet, page 373 of Mnd Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Two Weddings & a funeral...." and, on whether the two weddings are WestAllen and Karamel, "Mon El is already married" and, on whether the second wedding is Olicity, "Stealing the West Allen thunder" and "Two weddings, kinda upstages a solo wedding to me." Also, on who is getting married and who dies, papp tweeted: "No one from #Supergirl." (pursuit23 and lemon_buzz tweets, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ah, The 2 wedding thing was legit, the only opinion part was how the olicity wedding joins in . Like how they write that part." (pursuit23 tweet, page 375 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, fan/papp(?) tweeted: "Regarding the weddings they save the best for last." and "Weddings in general." (SecretSpoils tweets, page 374 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ya to be fair he doesnt seem like he wanted to stay on it" in response to fan who tweeted: "Awww Stein dies :(." (pursuit23 and karamelalways tweets, page 374 of Mind Your Surroundings threads)
-- On Sep. 25, 2017, when asked whether Felicity will be in the Flash and LoT parts, fan/papp(?) tweeted: "Yes she is in each episode." (SecretSpoils tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked whether the Olicity wedding happens in the Arrow episode, papp tweeted: "It doesn't." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked if both weddings happen in the same episode, papp tweeted: "They do. Right after the funeral." Papp also tweeted: "Not one wedding, two. But hey it’s in a beautiful location." (lemon_buzz tweets, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, when asked if the couples get married at the same time, or one after the other, papp tweeted: "One and then another." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 376 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, on where the weddings will take place, papp tweeted: "Central City weddings & funeral." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, on whether Alex feels weird about attending the wedding since she was supposed to get married, papp tweeted: "She’s Kara’s +1." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 379 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, SA tweeted pic of inside Star Labs chamber, with comment: "Not a bad green room. Crossovers... Day 7." (SA tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 379 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, the following was posted on Reddit: "Amell has been DM'ing Ken for 6 years lol He is really upset the spoiler is out" and "Ken told him he should blame David for trolling about it for 4 months" and "They're filming the wedding in a public park" and "all the paps will be there and will get pictures of it. It was inevitable. Stephen was more mad there's a leak in production" and "If you care, Thea was in a coma from Ep 1. She woke up in Ep 7 when they were celebrating Thanksgiving. (but she's not in the crossover)" and "EXT. CENTRAL CITY - PUBLIC PARK - WATERFRONT - O.6 SECO- ... Diggles and Barry walk through park ( vomits ) > Barry and Iris get married also Felicity and Oliver  Wedding 2x" and "EXT WALKING PATH - PUBLIC PARK (C.C., 2017) ... Post funeral parting of the ways..." and "EXT WATERFRONT - PUBLIC PARK (C.C. 2017) Diggle marries the two couples." (Reddit screengrabs in Soulfire post, page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, fan tweeted: "Best part of Day 3 of @CW_TheFlash crossover... watching @EmilyBett and @CavanaghTom dancing outside the trailer to The Beach Boys. #winning." (a_hodgie tweet, page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 27, 2017, papp tweeted: "Told Arrow finally starts filming the crossover on Friday." (pursuit23 tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 28, 2017, when asked if Thea, Quentin and BS will be in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Thea I think is still in a coma, the other two maybe." (pursuit23 tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 28, 2017, fan tweeted pics of Oliver/GA and Jax/Firestorm both wearing metal neck collars, with comment: "Darlings, help me out. what do you think are those metal things around their necks? & why are they there?" (latinasmoak tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 28, 2017, SA was shooting for the Flash episode of the crossover. (HollywoodNorth.buzz article, page 383 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 29, 2017, SA tweeted: "Landed in Alberta. Haven’t slept yet. Normally, this would be problematic, but I worked w Victor Garber recently. This gives me superpowers." (SA tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 383 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 29, 2017, papp tweeted: "Where has 4-way DC Crossover been filming? Private land which used to be Youth Detention Centre." (yvrshoots tweet, page 383 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Sep. 29, 2017, Candice Patton posted pic of coffee order, with comment: "Why is em bett so good to me. #nightshoots." (Pic of Candice Patton post in ElisaQueen tweet, page 1618 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 30, 2017, JBamford tweeted: "Thank you @EmilyBett @candicekp @dpanabaker @CavanaghTom @OfficialfranzD @officialrickg Dom & Victor for such a lovely Fraterday! ❤️" (JamesBamford tweet, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 383 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- Flash 405: On Sep. 19, 2017, papp tweeted: "And yes, Emily Bett Rickards is working on #Flash today too :) #yvrshoots." and "Sadly no. It's more of Iris's girls dinner." When asked which Flash episode EBR was filming for, another papp tweeted: "Lemon buzz told you , the girls episode." (lemon_buzz and pursuit23 tweets, pages 366 and 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405:On Sep. 20, 2017, Candice Patton posted pic of herself as Iris, with comment: "clinging to the wall bc of social anxiety when @emilybett says don't move. ?? FLASH is back October 10." (candicekp instagram post, page 367 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: The “Girls Night Out” episode is the respective bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris. Per EW's Natalie Abrams, "Cisco’s best-laid plans go awry with the guys, while a familiar face crashes the girls’ party." (Sep. 28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse 
-- 405: The “Girls Night Out” episode is the respective bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris. Per EW's Natalie Abrams, "Cisco’s best-laid plans go awry with the guys, while a familiar face crashes the girls’ party." (Sep. 28, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 380 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: Barry & Iris' wedding is the reason that the superheroes reunite for the 4-show crossover. (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 368 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: The premise of the mega crossover is that Barry and Iris’ long awaited wedding pulls together all their friends, whether from this Earth or otherwise, only to be gatecrashed by evil versions of Kara, Oliver and Barry from Earth-X, alongside a fourth mysterious masked bow-wielding villain. (Sep. 21, 2017 io9.gizmodo article, page 1611 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow in the Arrowverse
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 24, 2017, papp tweeted LoT filming notice for North 40 Dog Park on Sep. 26, with comment: "Looks like #LegendsofTomorrow starts filming its DC crossover episode - Crisis on Earth-X - in Delta on Tuesday, September 26th." (yvrshoots tweet, page 373 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Wentworth Miller is back already for some more CW DC Crossover goodtimes." (pursuit23 tweet, page 373 of Mnd Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 25, 2017, papp tweeted: "Ya to be fair he doesnt seem like he wanted to stay on it" in response to fan who tweeted: "Awww Stein dies :(." (pursuit23 and karamelalways tweets, page 374 of Mind Your Surroundings threads)

Supergirl in the Arrowverse
-- Mega Crossover: On Sep. 22, 2017, papp tweeted: "Alex is integral to the crossover storyline and will be involved a lot with Legends, the Green Arrow and the Flash." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 371 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On whether Maggie says yes to Alex’s proposal on Supergirl, TVLine's Michael Ausiello: "I’m not going to completely ruin the surprise for you, Kevin, but I will say that the CW drama is casting a reverend to preside over a 'ceremony' in Episode 308. Looking for more proof? The network’s official description for the show’s Oct. 9 premiere involves Alex and Maggie discussing their /impending nuptials.' So… you do the math. (ETA: Or, in light of today’s breaking news, it could be this wedding the clergyman oversees.)" (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 371 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Freedom Fighters: The Ray in the Animated Arrowverse
-- Mega Crossover: Russell Tovey has been cast to play the live-action version of The Ray in this year's mega crossover. Official character description: "Raymond 'Ray' Terrill was a reporter who discovered a group of government scientists working on a secret project to turn light into a weapon of mass destruction. But before he could report on his findings, the project head exposed Ray to a 'genetic light bomb.' The bomb failed to kill him and instead gifted Ray with light-based powers. With these abilities, Ray realized he could go beyond reporting on injustice — he could take action to help stop it. Calling himself The Ray, he was recruited by Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters to fight violence and oppression wherever it exists." (Sep. 22, 2017 TVLine article, page 369 of Mind Your Surroundings thread) 

Edited October 1, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from October 1, 2017, to October 12, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #6 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

Transition from S5 to S6 (Cliffhanger Resolution)
-- MG: "In some ways episode 6.01 feels like episode 5.24. It’s certainly a fresh start for Oliver, but for the rest of the show it feels like a continuation of Season 5." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he would say if asked who survived the explosion other than Oliver, Black Siren, and Black Canary, MG: "I would just go dead, dead, dead, dead, dead." On what he would say if asked whether Thea survived the island explosion, MG: "Dead. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that without giving anything away. Part of the fun of the first episode, the structure of the first episode, is we jump ahead our traditional five months. We come in, it’s five months later. The first flashback is actually to - you saw the explosions from the point of view of Oliver on the boat. We’re going to go a few minutes before the explosions and catch up to that moment from the perspective of being on the island." On whether we can assume that Artemis died, MG: "Oh, no. I wouldn’t assume that. Here’s the thing: It’s a weird position as a showrunner, because I feel like there’s more going on in the season premiere than just, 'This person’s alive, this person’s dead, this person’s alive, this person’s dead.' It wasn’t the motivation behind us telling the story of the season premiere. At the same time, because of that structure - beginning in present day and flashing back to five months earlier - you’re going to get some card turns as a result of the flashbacks, and you’re going to get some card turns as a result of seeing someone in the present day." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We can’t go out with a finale of that scope and size and have everybody come out hunky dory. That would not be cool. The ramifications of what happened at the end of the season really will be felt throughout the year. We will know who’s alive and who’s not at the end of the premiere. But just because someone doesn’t die doesn’t mean they’re not gonna feel the impact of that event emotionally and possibly physically as well. ... Having some kind of physical consequence to say, running through a bomb, might have something to do with it. It’s war. It brings, in a very grounded way, the reality of what they do. I think it’s easy in a superhero show to get sucked into this idea that they’re invulnerable and they don’t get hurt, but we’re going to see in season 6 that that’s definitely not the case." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "The last time we saw Oliver, he was standing on this boat with his poor son, William, watching everybody he loves possibly go up in flames. It’s very much where we pick up in the premiere. We’re going to see that exact moment. We’re going to come back to that. We’re also going to jump the normal amount of time. We’re going to pick up the island in flashbacks. We are going to see where Oliver is in Star City, as well. We’re going to get the benefit of seeing him in both places, psychologically, emotionally and physically. This season is very much, especially in the first half, about picking up those pieces and the fallout from that. Prometheus left a big trail of destruction in his wake." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We're going to pass the normal amount of time and we will see what happened... We're going to use the flashbacks to tell the story of what happened on the island in the aftermath. ... It's nice to have the real estate and liberty to play around with that structure... It's such a great device and now we can use it in different ways. So we're going to start right there with the premiere." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how they decided who to kill off and who to save, WM: "We knew we wanted to blow up the island. That much we knew, that was from the very beginning of Season 5. That was always sort of a symbolic and visual cool thing to do. It sort of evolved into what it became with Prometheus kidnapping everybody and taking everybody there. One of the reasons we wanted to do that was because we didn't want the city in jeopardy again. We'd done that so many times, and it felt like Season 5 was more personal. It's about Oliver's legacy and his past and his team and the people that he loves. It felt like the right thing to do. ... In terms of Season 6, there were certain story points we wanted to put in motion, specifically for Oliver. Knowing what we were working up to and how that was going to have an effect on him in Season 6, it was actually a pretty easy thing to decide." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DC All Access' Hector Navarro, "everything has changed" as a result of last season's island explosion. He can't say more because it's a spoiler. Also, some members of Team Arrow get new costumes. Five months have passed and we're learning what happened and we're learning about Oliver dealing with the fallout of the explosion. Hector: "And who do you think shows up? None other than Black Siren. That's right. Quentin Lance's evil doppelganger daughter. And he's got a secret that he's been hiding about her."  Also Hector: "And the ending of this episode will leave your jaw agape. Like this (makes shocked, mouth open, jaw-dropping facial expression)." (Oct. 9, 2017 DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, the EPs would not tell her who lived and who died, other than to say that death is not necessarily the worst fate that one could face from the explosion. She referenced MG's responses ("Dead, dead, dead.") that were reported in yesterday's EW article. However, she noted that Oliver is forced to step up as a father this year (implying that Samantha died). The premiere will pick up in present day, but the flashbacks will pick up right before the explosion. (Oct. 6, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Trailers and Promotion
-- CW Arrow S6 sizzle reel posted, featuring Oliver, William, Raisa, Black Siren, Anatoly, Samanda, Dinah, Diggle, Shado, Ricardo Diaz, Joe Wilson, Slade Wilson, Alena, and Michael Emerson's character. (Video in Oct. 10, 2017 CW_Arrow tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Tone
-- On the show's dark and gritty storytelling shining through, SA: "It shone through last year for sure. Our show works best when it focuses on the city limits of Star City and what happens within them. We can’t fly to outerspace, and we can’t time travel aside from when we shift to Monday night in November for the crossover. The crossover is like a standalone episode to me, it’s like an episode out of time - no pun intended, and no spoilers given. Look, we have a crew and a batch of directors and cinematographers that have gotten really good at going, “Okay, what’s the best way to do this,” and the answer is almost always practically. That, to me, is what separates us from the other shows. It doesn’t make it better, but we do it practically. If you saw at the end of the Comic-Con teaser that came out, the last frame is the Green Arrow diving off of a bridge. You know how we did that? Stunt double dove off a bridge and he loved it. He’s like, 'How many more times can I do this?' That’s how we do things. With the villains this year, they’re all street level guys. Anatoly cut his teeth on the streets of Russia, and Richard Dragon cut his teeth on the streets in Star City, and whatever gaggle of villains is on the way, they’re focused on the goings on that happened here." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Theme 
-- MG: "The theme of the season is family, but it’s all the different interpretations of the word family, and it’s about groups and about loyalties, and some of those loyalties are good and some of those loyalties are bad, and some of those people comprising the family are good people and some of them are bad people and some of them are conflicted people." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "The theme is family. The way I would like to think of it is, last year we spent a whole season really building up this team, this new Team Arrow, and this year we’ve got the team in place - what sort of damage can we do? So much of Arrow lives in the challenges and trials that we put the characters through. I would say in the past five seasons, it’s always been, well, what meat grinder can we put Oliver through? And I think at this point, we’ve almost put him through just about every conceivable thing, so we got very intrigued by the idea of, what is Oliver’s reaction when the people closest to him go through something difficult?" (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- On whether this season is more about the PTSD people will suffer as a result of what they went through, MG: "I think there’s certainly a component of that, and PTSD can be a theme, and certainly a theme that is very present in the season premiere. At the same time, I do feel like now that we’re in the midst of breaking [episodes] 5 and 6, it’s safe to say that the season has its own identity. I always say season 5 is not required viewing for season 6. At the same time, I think in the sixth season of the show, you can pretty much assume that people are not jumping on having never seen the previous five years." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there are any particular comic book story lines that they're being inspired by this year, MG: "I can tell you I’ve been reading Jeff Lemire’s Outsider Wars. It’s very different from being necessarily inspired by it, because I don’t want people to read that and go, like, 'Oh, they’re definitely doing Outsider Wars,' but that’s a story that I’ve been reading lately, and I did recently go back and re-read Longbow Hunters really as a tuning fork, to recapture the scent, if you will." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- On whether we'll get more character-centric flashbacks, MG: "Yeah, I mean, for us, that’s the beauty part. In the first five years, we always really enjoyed doing the character-centric flashbacks as opposed to serialized flashbacks, so we’re definitely going to do them. It’s another arrow in our quiver, and it’s another storytelling device that we have that we do enjoy going to. For us, it’s when it’s appropriate. We’re really doing it on an episode by episode basis. Just like last year in 513 for the gun episode, it was really helpful for the present day story about guns to tell the story about the roles gun played in the death of Rene’s wife, so when it’s relevant and informs the present day story, just as we always have, we’ll continue to do so." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Because we don't have to do the five-year story of Oliver's past, we can jump forward and pick up five months later with Oliver in Star City and then we can also use flashbacks to tell the story of what happened on the island... It was our first experiment in not having the traditional flashback structure and it was super exciting and really fun to write. It's new and different." (Oct. 6, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We are going to keep them [flashbacks]; we’re gonna use them in a different way, though. The fun of season 6 is that we are really freed up. We have that device if we want it and we know how to break those stories and we know how to work that into the way we do this show. But the fun will be that we get to see other people’s flashbacks. 'Hey, what were some of the other characters’ back stories?' We know that, for instance, Black Canary and Black Siren will both be on the show this year, so what are their back stories?" (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We're going to use them [flashbacks] only as the story will dictate - only as needed and when it fits the story because we're not locked into telling the five-year story of Oliver anymore. It's been an adjustment creatively in a lot of ways, but a good one. It's opened up the opportunity to tell stories from different points of view and to get into the backstories of some of the other characters, which is fantastic." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I know that it allows us to explore interesting things like, as an example, what happened to Slade from the moment that he was stabbed through the eye on the Amazo until he showed up in Star City. That, to me, is a super interesting story. Slade and Joe is another really interesting story. I feel like maybe we have one more flashback. The one thing that I’m sure of is that Oliver’s flashback story is done. I don’t know what we would do. In my mind, we’ve closed the book from when we set sail on the Gambit to when I come back to Star City. I don’t know what purpose from a pushing the story forward we would get from flashing back to in between season 2 and season 3, ya know? I don’t know. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, because it could certainly happen." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Team Arrow
-- MG: "[L]ast year we spent a whole season really building up this team, this new Team Arrow, and this year we’ve got the team in place - what sort of damage can we do? So much of Arrow lives in the challenges and trials that we put the characters through. I would say in the past five seasons, it’s always been, well, what meat grinder can we put Oliver through? And I think at this point, we’ve almost put him through just about every conceivable thing, so we got very intrigued by the idea of, what is Oliver’s reaction when the people closest to him go through something difficult?" (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We feel that Oliver's chapter in the first five seasons has been closed. We have the opportunities to tell stories about some other people from the team -- those that survive... We're going to use that to our advantage and take that opportunity to explore some other villains and some other relationships that we didn't have the opportunity or real estate to deal with previously." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DC All Access' Hector Navarro, some members of Team Arrow get new costumes. (Oct. 9, 2017 DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "At the risk of spoiling what happens, at the end of Season 5 I don’t think that we’ve ever had a deeper roster of talent on the show and a more capable group of actors to build out what’s going on in Star City. So I don’t think we really have anything to prove." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- On Oliver and Felicity's journey this season, MG: "I will say this: There is absolutely no kissing in the season premiere. There is not a single romantic kiss between any two characters in the season premiere." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether it is fair to say that they are going back down the Olicity path, MG: "I can certainly say this: We put them on a very specific trajectory at the end of season 5. I think it would be very schizophrenic for us to suddenly take them off that trajectory." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether the S5 finale kiss between Oliver & Felicity was a launch point for the rekindling of their romance, WM: "I can say depending on the outcome of who dies and who doesn't, yes. That kiss was significant. I can't tell you much more than that, but we specifically wrote that in there as either a tragic ending or a really great beginning." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there are new places for Felicity (assuming she survives) and Oliver to go to in their relationship that we haven’t seen in the first five seasons, SA: "Well yeah, of course, because Oliver’s a package deal now. It’s Oliver and William, right? So yeah, there are definitely places where we can take it." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mega Crossover: Per WM, the crossover is "really Oliver's (Stephen Amell) story... It's Oliver and one other character in the Arrow-verse's story. It really explores the question of true love, and what does that look like? It's emotionally really compelling, and you're going to be surprised by what he learns and how he learns it and who he learns it from. It's pretty crazy stuff, I'm not going to lie." (Oct. 4, 2017 TV Guide article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread, and Oct. 4, 2017 TVGuide tweet, page 1621 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 10, 2017, papps and fans posted video clips and pics of LoT filming Diggle officiating at WestAllen and Olicity weddings, Oliver & Felicity kissing, and several Arrowverse characters, including Kara, Alex and Sara, attending a funeral. Oliver is dressed casually, Felicity is wearing a pink coat, Barry is wearing a suit and tie, and Iris is wearing a dark coat. (pursuit23, OutlawHobbies, queensbett, myrosycandy, LanaBett_, Paigeota, alwaysbett, diggletron, Helianthus027, Canadagraphs, yvrshoots, justjaredjr and lemon_buzz tweets, DailyHive article, DigitalSpy article and Soulfire post, page 8 of New Spoilers thread, pages 1627-1629 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and pages 391-392 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: From Oct. 10, 2017, Canadagraphs filming report: "With the crossover episodes almost done filming, the cast of The Flash and Arrow found themselves shooting a scene on LOT today with no LOT cast in the scenes. The scene consisted of The Flash cast Grant Gustin as Barry Allen and Candice Patton as Iris West, along with Arrow cast members Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak and David Ramsey as John Diggle shooting a scene in downtown Stanley Park for the much hyped double wedding between the commonly shipped duos West Allen & Olicity. ... While The Flash characters looked dressed for the occasion, it was pretty clear Oliver and Felicitys wedding plans were pretty spur of the moment, as they were both dressed in casual clothes. ... The ceremonies were officiated by John Diggle. For reasons that I am sure the storylines will eventually explain, neither of the couples friends or family were in attendance. The couples instead, acted as each others witnesses. The scene starts with Diggle appearing, clearly after Barry speeds him  there. Diggle freaks out, then goes and vomits, before coming back to the two couples, and after a brief talk, starts the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the two couples kiss, then the scene ends. ... Earlier in the day scenes were shot with Oliver, Felicity, Barry & Iris along with characters from Legends Of Tomorrow and Supergirl. I will have a blog on that shoot at a later date.... but for now.... enjoy shippers." (Canadagraphs blog post, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mega Crossover: From Oct. 11, 2017, yvrshoots filming report: "SPOILER ALERT: And then at the end there will be a quiet impromptu ceremony on the water with Diggle (David Ramsey) seemingly officiating the marriages of The Flash’s Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton) plus Arrow’s Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), filmed on the Stanley Park seawall yesterday. Hope it’s legal." (HollywoodNorth.buzz article, page 1629 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- MG: "Oliver by design was created and written as a character who was always being held back by his past, whether it be his family, his father's death or his time on Lian Yu and Hong Kong and Russia down to all the mistakes he's made in the first 100 episodes of the show... So the goal coming into Season 6 is to really write Oliver from a different perspective. He's made peace with his demons [and is] moving forward not just with a sense of being free from the bonds of the past, but also with the benefit of knowledge and maturity." (Oct. 11, 2017 Syfy article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what guilt Oliver is dealing with in the wake of the island explosion, MG: "Well, it’s not even just guilt, quite frankly, because the truth is, now we make a joke of it, like Oliver feeling guilty is a drinking game. We even make jokes of it in dialogue, like there’s a line about it in 604, he says he’s the foremost expert on guilt and regret, so it’s certainly a component of the show, but what is exciting for us about season 6 is we told a story in season 5 that was very deliberate about Oliver moving on and letting go of his past, and he kept saying - again that was another drinking game - “I keep being drawn back into the past, drawn back into the past.” Before the island exploded, I think he’d had these experiences, finally culminating with his conversations with Slade, where he was ready to finally put the past in the past and move forward, and we’re really continuing him on that forward trajectory to the point where the emotional stories that we’re telling with him this year are new, they’re from a fresher perspective, they’re not based upon the past, they’re based upon things that are happening to him right now in the present. So as opposed to a guilt-based story just by its nature is always backward-looking, because you feel guilty about something, these stories are much more perspective looking, or at least much more in the moment and in the present." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver can operate as the Green Arrow this season considering he was made Public Enemy No. 1 last year, MG: "Honestly, I think there’s a good argument to be made that he can’t. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that, at least for us, he can." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver never really defeating Prometheus last season, MG: "I don’t know if we had been seeing it so much as a defeat. Obviously, Prometheus was 10 steps ahead of him at every turn, but it’s weird because we handed the hero a defeat while also handing Oliver this really important personal victory. If you go back and watch the last few episodes of Season 5, hopefully you’ll see a real turn that Oliver takes as a person. He chooses not to kill Prometheus it really is a culmination of 'I’m going to move on from my past. I’m going to leave all these things that had been haunting me in the past where they belong, and I’m going to move forward as my own man.' ... Yes, it was a defeat for Oliver as a hero because the hero should always get the villain, but it was a victory for Oliver as a person because he finally became the person that I think he always wanted to be." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver will still be Mayor, WM: "Yes, we left him as the mayor and he will still be the mayor. We are going to continue that storyline through season 6 as well. I think Oliver works as a mayor. There’s going to be something big that happens in the premiere that is going to certainly cast some doubt on his ability to continue to do that job, but, it’s a world that we like and that we think has worked on the show well." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there's a restored confidence, SA: "There is with Oliver. I mean, I bristle at the notion that all of a sudden he’s, like, smiley and happy-go-lucky. But I think that there’s a way to fill Oliver with a little more contentment without domesticating him in the way that we did a bit in Season 4. With a lot of the ways that he approaches things now, he just seems a lot more comfortable in his own skin. ... You know, the most transformative moment in my eyes, for Oliver, was before everything happened. He had the opportunity to kill Chase and he simply says, 'That’s who I was. That’s not who I am anymore.' And if the underlying issue really was blaming himself for his father’s death and he has forgiven himself, he has absolved himself of that, and that’s led to a lot of brighter days for me this year." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Oliver, at the beginning of the season, he’s very at peace, even though obviously what happened on the island was so catastrophic and has left him in a new position as a dad, and in a very different position as a friend, and a brother. That being said, his mindset actually reminds me a lot - if there was a corollary to it - it would be right around the start of our fourth season, but it’s not because he’s left the life. I think that he’s made his peace with all of the things that it entails. He feels as though he’s doing his best. The most important thing for me this year, and this is how I approach every scene that we have - I was just reading episode 606 and I thought to myself, 'This is interesting, but if he does this this way, has he learned his lessons?' I think about this being a new chapter in so far as we had our five year backstory and it coincided with the end of season 5, but now everything he does, if he doesn’t apply some sort of lesson that he has learned over the past five years, then it devalues that experience." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we're seeing a lighter Oliver this season, SA: "I wouldn’t say light. I hate that word, I don’t mind that you use it, but I think it’s a more mature version of Oliver that looks at a situation, makes a decision, and then lives with it. It’s a lot less of that angst and the guilt and the brooding. That all comes back to being part of, 'What did you learn in season 5?' The biggest thing that I take away is, in episode 523, when Chase wants me to kill him, and I say to him, 'That’s who I was, that’s not who I am anymore.'" (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "That’s one of our big hooks at the end of the first episode. The idea of Green Arrow being Public Enemy No. 1, and to a further extent, the role of vigilantes in Star City, is a big focus point of the early part of the season. But it does make things difficult. Oliver being the Green Arrow is less a problem than how a certain individual is targeting him." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "We haven’t gotten into a ton of mayoral stuff. Look, the mayor’s office is running. His approval rating is good. We haven’t had a major city tragedy that he has had to respond to - well, that’s not true, we have had one, but there hasn’t been an event that has thrust him into the spotlight as mayor. There’s been an event that has thrust him into the spotlight as Oliver Queen, but it’s not anything really as it pertains to the mayor." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

William Clayton
-- MG: "I don’t want to spoil whether or not William’s mother is alive. I will say that Oliver will be taking a greater role in William’s life than he had up to this point. It’s a real different kind of show this year. We’ve got scenes with Oliver and William that we’ve never done before. We’re always talking about how we avoid repeating ourselves and change things up – William is definitely a big part of that answer." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver being a dad, WM: "I think this is the area of the show that is the most interesting of the season, because I don’t think we’ve really ever seen a superhero be a father, especially on television, and it’s a very particular challenge. There’s a whole different level of risk and consideration. He has a child now that he is responsible for and it changes the way he looks at his job — both his day job and especially at his night job — so it’s a whole different calculus and it opens up all kinds of different avenues for stories we haven’t seen before, which in a season 6 show is really important. ... I think it’s just fun to see Oliver grappling with this. Parenthood is hard and it’s a lot easier to punch the bad guy than it is to figure out how to help your kid through math homework or bullying, whatever it is that they’re going through that week. I think the fun of it is seeing Oliver go through a learning curve with respect to how to be a good dad. It’s something he’s never had to do before and it’s something that doesn’t really fit in the paradigm of what we’ve seen him do successfully in the past." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "It's really the question of can a superhero be a father? How is Oliver Queen going to be a good father?... Initially, he's not good at it. Part of the fun of the first half of the season is seeing him grapple with these issues of a 12-year-old boy really giving him a run for his money. It's not easy and we've never seen Oliver deal with this. He's always been a son and everything on the show has been through the lens of Oliver as a son and his father's legacy. Emotionally, it's new territory. This isn't a supervillain, it's a 12-year-old boy." (Oct. 6, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Something I'm personally most excited about is seeing Oliver try to be a father. The truth is this is not his wheelhouse. He's never been a dad before. He's known for a little bit that he has a son, but it's not something that he's ever really had to take responsibility for or be a part of William's life in any way. ... [William] (Jack Moore) has been traumatized on this crazy vacation called kidnapping... William is not going to forgive him easily for withholding that information. That's a big deal. So that relationship is going to be really complicated and not easy. I think it's just fun to see a character like Oliver Queen, who we've known for five seasons, being bested by a 12-year-old boy, just emotionally. In that sense that he's inexperienced - parenting kicks your ass, and we're going to see Oliver have to go through that." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "One of the things we're exciting about exploring this year is his relationship with his son... We leave the finale last season knowing that it's him and his son watching the island go up and seeing that horrible explosion and, like the audience, not knowing who lives and who dies. That is something that's very much at the forefront of Oliver's mind, his son and how's he going to protect his son from the fallout of what happened on the island. And going forward, the general fallout of his being the Green Arrow and how [William] knows that now... We've never seen a superhero try to be a parent and the complications that ensue as a result of that." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "He's completely traumatized as any 12-year-old boy would be having witnessed what he's seen... In the first nine-to-ten episodes this season, we're going to be exploring what is the fallout of that. And like what Oliver went through in Season 1, it's PTSD. We're not going to call it that or go into the psychological details so much but we're definitely exploring how this kid has been traumatized and, in some ways, Oliver is responsible for that." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "One of the show’s stock and trade is to talk about family. Oliver has always been very dedicated to his family. Like Moira in the pilot, she loved him more than anybody in the world, and, yet, she was the one who had him kidnapped and tortured. ... For Oliver, he’s never been a father before. He’s known about William. We’re really going to get the opportunity to explore what it’s like for a superhero to be a father and have the joy of that, but, also, the burden of that. It is a liability. If people know about that, the child is vulnerable. That’s not something Oliver is happy about." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per THR, Oliver will turn to someone else for advice on his new role as a father - someone who survives the island explosion. (Oct. 6, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On exploring Oliver's paternal side, SA: "First of all, I’d be a little more worried if [Oliver’s son] was like five or six, but we’re playing him as like a sixth or seven grader. Jack has been super equal to the task and it’s just been great. I remember when I read the [premiere] and it was just a bunch of Oliver calling William 'Sport.' Like, 'Hey, Sport!' And I got [co-showrunner] Wendy Mericle on the phone and she goes, 'I know what you’re going to say. I know what you’re going to say. Oliver’s never going to call him Sport. You find what you’re comfortable calling him. It can be what you call your [own] kid, it can be "Buddy," it doesn’t matter.' ... Immediately after that my first full day of work was a full day with Jack, and I was really taken with it — and, you take this with a grain of salt, apparently the studio and the network were really taken with it, too. So I think it’s a really interesting dynamic for Oliver to have to examine." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Oliver’s doing his best, but obviously he’s learning on the fly. This is not a situation where William went from an infant to a toddler to - he’s on the verge of being a teenager now and Oliver has had to step in. William has also had to deal with seeing things for the first time in his life that would traumatize anybody. So Oliver is doing his best, but William is a reluctant participant, so to speak." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- On what he would say if asked whether Thea survived the island explosion, MG: "Dead. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that without giving anything away." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Thea's reduced presence last season, MG: "We love Willa, we love Thea the character and we particularly love Thea's relationship with Oliver... That said, Willa came to us at the end of season four and she, very honestly, expressed a desire to cut back how many episodes a season she was doing. She's a member of our family, and we wanted to honor that request. That's what happens when you have a show that goes over a hundred episodes, people start to say, 'hey, I would like to pull back,' some people don't want to renew their contract. There's a whole host of different things that start to come into play and you work that into the story telling." (Oct. 7, 2017 ComicBook article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what's next for Thea, MG: "All I'll say really, and you can interpret this however you want, is Willa is back on the show and we are doing flashbacks from people's perspective that does not always include Oliver's... I'll let you extrapolate from that what you will." (Oct. 7, 2017 ComicBook article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- Per DC All Access' Hector Navarro, five months have passed and we're learning what happened and we're learning about Oliver dealing with the fallout of the explosion. Hector: "And who do you think shows up? None other than Black Siren. That's right. Quentin Lance's evil doppelganger daughter. And he's got a secret that he's been hiding about her." (Oct. 9, 2017 DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Evelyn Sharp AKA Artemis
-- On whether we can assume that Artemis died, MG: "Oh, no. I wouldn’t assume that." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- WM: "In the writers’ room, we wanted Dinah to feel like a full-fledged member of the team. Having those new threads, it’s a symbol that she’s really come into her own as a vigilante and as a member of the team. Last season, by design, she felt like part of the team. She was new and had a big ax to grind. She had come in a dramatic way. She wasn’t fully herself when we met her because she was on this mission of revenge and down this dark rabbit hole. That’s not who she is any more. We’re going to see Dinah having a little more fun, and also have the fun of seeing someone who is a vigilante, but also a cop. Having somebody in the SCPD in that role is something we haven’t done in the show before. We’re thrilled about seeing her in both worlds." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "I think over the intervening months and as a result of her witnessing what happened on the island, she's [Dinah/BC] going to go through a similar transformation and really be not just a full-fledged member of the team but an actual believer in the cause... We haven't seen that side of her. She's always been a skeptic and now she's not." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We've never had someone who's a vigilante but also working for the police... Lance has moved in those worlds a little bit but now we have someone who's actually a cop and doing that." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "But the fun will be that we get to see other people’s flashbacks. 'Hey, what were some of the other characters’ back stories?' We know that, for instance, Black Canary and Black Siren will both be on the show this year, so what are their back stories?" (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- On whether Black Siren is part of the cabal of villains, MG: "I don’t want to say." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether they plan to show how the two Laurels differ, MG: "We definitely want to share with the audience Black Siren’s backstory and how the worlds are different. We’ve talked about, like, do we do a flashback? I’ll be honest, in my mind right now, and this may be sharing too much of my process, but it’s a little weird to do a flashback to a parallel universe on a show that’s not Flash, so until we crack that, I can’t promise that, but it’s very important for the arc of the year for the audience to understand where Black Siren is coming from. The thing is, we’ve really taken to just calling her Laurel, because this is Laurel. It’s just a different Laurel than the one we knew for four years." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren, WM: "She's a true villain... The arc of the season for her will be finding that little kernel of the Earth-1 Laurel Lance somewhere inside of her that can be drawn out to maybe start her on a different path. But this is really a nature vs. nurture question. How do people turn evil or turn good? On Earth-1, Laurel was a person who wanted to make the world a better place, but on Earth-2 she went down a completely different road. Why? ... We answer that question." Per WM, Black Siren is "a force in season six." Also WM "would never rule her out as becoming a big bad." (Oct. 6, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Black Siren is such a great, complicated character. It’s fun to have Katie Cassidy back on the show. She’s done an amazing job with that character. For her, we have gone down that road in terms of redemption. I think the difference here is she may be the Earth-2 Laurel, but she is still Laurel. It’s really a question of Laurel inside this version of Black Siren, drawing her our and seeing if that’s truly who she is. This season is really about parenting and family. One of the things that Oliver is going to be exploring is the question of nature versus nurture. Why is Laurel from Earth-2 so evil, when Laurel on Earth-1 is not? We will answer that question through the course of the season and figuring out if she really is incapable of redemption. We don’t answer that for quite a while." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "But the fun will be that we get to see other people’s flashbacks. 'Hey, what were some of the other characters’ back stories?' We know that, for instance, Black Canary and Black Siren will both be on the show this year, so what are their back stories?" (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "The fun of bringing her back is exactly what you just pointed out, which is that she's Laurel, not Laurel. Everyone knows her, she looks familiar to Oliver and anyone who makes it off the island and has known her in the past - I'm going to be cagey - but she's not. It raises this really interesting question for Oliver about nature versus nurture. This season really is about family and about parenting. With respect to Laurel in particular, you have her on Earth 1 and she was Laurel who founded CNRI and wanted to make the world a better place. On Earth 2, she's the devil. How did that happen? Is it possible that there's any of that Earth 1 Laurel in her somewhere that could be drawn out? That's really the question, I think, for her character this season." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DC All Access' Hector Navarro, five months have passed and we're learning what happened and we're learning about Oliver dealing with the fallout of the explosion. Hector: "And who do you think shows up? None other than Black Siren. That's right. Quentin Lance's evil doppelganger daughter. And he's got a secret that he's been hiding about her." (Oct. 9, 2017 DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what Oliver sees and feels when he looks at Black Siren and vice versa, SA: "Oliver is, ironically, the most hopeful one despite the fact that she allied herself with Adrian Chase - who had offered to break her out of prison, so I understand where she’s coming from. But the fact is he’s sort of hopeful, 'If there’s a bit of Laurel in there, I want to find it.' He’s more empathetic to the struggles for [Quentin] Lance, you know, and anyone that has a history with Laurel. He knows that [Black Siren] is not a good person necessarily, but he hopeful that there’s something in there." TVLine: "Meanwhile, Oliver to her is nothing." SA: "Nothing." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Black Siren being redeemed, SA: "[Of Team Arrow,] Oliver, ironically - and despite the fact that she allied herself with Adrian Chase - is the most hopeful one... He’s like, ‘If theres a bit of Laurel in there, I want to find it.'” However, the feeling is not at all mutual. Per SA, stone-cold Black Siren feels “nothing” when she looks at the other Laurel Lance’s loved ones, Oliver included. (Oct. 3, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 385 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether Oliver still sees Laurel in Black Siren, SA: "Yeah, he does. When we last left Black Siren, because I didn’t really interact with her at the end of last year, so in the middle of our year, it was, where’d you put her? I sent her to S.T.A.R. Labs because I want to make sure that if there’s any part of the Laurel that we love in there, we can find it. That’s very much how he feels about Black Siren. How can you not? How can you look at someone and see the Earth-2 doppelgänger of a person that was such an important part of your life and not have it affect you that way? The interesting thing is people ask me, 'How’s it like working with Katie again?' I haven’t had a scene with her. I don’t know when it’s going to happen. I’m looking at the landscape of it all. One of the things I’m actually really excited for this year, at some point, is if we really are truly going to have Black Siren back on the show, she looks exactly like Laurel Lance, she is Laurel Lance, Laurel Lance is the most famous dead person in Star City, so eventually at some point, if she is reintroduced into public life, how do we unpack that? I’m excited for that. That’s the dynamic I think could be interesting." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On BS' possible redemption, KC: “I really hope they decide to do this…there is a chance of redemption for her…I think that it would be interesting and really hard but a lot of fun at the same time.” (Megacon Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, 2017: Oct. 3, 2017 OmegaUnderground article, page 1621 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- MG: "We love Manu, and working with him. There is a reason he’s a favorite of so many fans. It was something that we had always wanted to do – and I just watched episode 6.06 which is the second part of the Slade Wilson story – and it is a deep dive. You’re going to get a lot of Slade Wilson and hopefully some insight into his character that will be revealing some layers to him that you didn’t know were there." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "I will tell you those [Slade Wilson] episodes -- we've filmed them -- are fantastic. They're also about fathers and sons, and it's a really great storyline that's informed by Oliver's experience... Slade is in a very different place now." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "He [Oliver] can never fully trust Slade... That's what makes the episodes and the stories really cool and dynamic to tell." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "Well he still killed Oliver's mom. There's no way he's ever getting over that. I think the truth of it is, with or without the Mirakuru, Slade is always unpredictable. And even though Oliver enlisted him to help defeat Prometheus at the end of Season 5, the truth is he's still unpredictable. You don't know what he's going to do next, and that's something that I think Manu Bennett really brings to the role to keep it interesting. At the same time, he and Oliver are in a different place than they were in Season 2. They're both more mature, they've both evolved as characters and as people. I think the common ground, the touchstone that they're going to have this season is that they have sons. The episodes really center emotionally around fatherhood and the question of 'How far does the apple fall from the tree?'" (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver owes Slade one, WM: "I don’t think he owes him one. Slade killed Oliver’s mother. Slade has a long way to go before he has any pull. I do think what is interesting about the relationship and the dynamic is that Oliver can never fully trust Slade. Slade is who he is and he’s never going to be fully trustworthy. Oliver enlisting him in the defeat of Prometheus is just the beginning. Speaking of redemption, if Slade ever has any hope of that, he’s got a long way to go with Oliver." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver and Slade's relationship moving forward, SA: "I wouldn’t say frenemies. I think that one of the things we really focus on is that Slade Wilson, throughout the course of the Season 2 flashbacks and what we saw present day, was drugged. He was a character that was under the influence of something. So now we are back, Oliver believes, to the version of Slade that we met in Season 1." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade regaining clarity, SA: "Yeah, and then became a comrade, and a confidant, and an ally of Oliver’s. That being said, there are certain things that you cannot un-see, and certain things that you cannot undo. So I can think that he is honorable, and I can look to him for help, and I can maybe even trust him, but I can’t really forgive him. Which doesn’t mean that I’m angry, just again — certain things you can’t un-see." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "The new storyline on Arrow is, uh - you know, at the end of Season 5, you know, Slade was asked to help Oliver out to find his son, to help get his son back. Uh, so, in Season 6, uh, Slade asks Oliver if he'll ask him - if he'll help him to find his son. So what Season 6, the Deathstroke/Slade Wilson character is about, is that he has a son called Joe - Joe Wilson. And, uh - yeah, Joe's a bit of a naughty boy. And, uh - but it's a really well-written two episodes. It's going to be episodes 5 and 6 of Season 6. It's called 'Deathstroke Returns' and then episode 6 is called 'Promises Kept.' And it's a very interesting new take on Slade Wilson/Deathstroke, but the relationship with his son is something that's opening up a whole new can of worms and a whole bunch of new storylines. There's a mention of Slade Wilson's wife - or ex-wife - another son as well. So, I think they're opening up kind of new avenues in which to take the Slade Wilson/Deathstroke sort of storyline. Yeah." (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Sep. 30, 2017: Oct. 4, 2017 Tribulations Chimériques video of MB/DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 633 of Social Media thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "I never thought that they could repair the relationship between Oliver and Slade after Slade killed his mother. You know, usually when you kill somebody's mother, that kinda puts the end of that friendship. But somehow they managed in one episode at the end of the 5th season to dispel the whole idea that Slade was evil on the basis that the mirakuru wore off. And what's happening in Season 6 is furthering that kind of return to sort of an eye-to-eye level between Oliver and Slade. You know, the deflection now is about Slade's son, Joe." (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Sep. 30, 2017: Oct. 4, 2017 Tribulations Chimériques video of MB/DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 633 of Social Media thread)

Joe Wilson AKA Kane Wolfman
-- Manu Bennett: "So what Season 6, the Deathstroke/Slade Wilson character is about, is that he has a son called Joe - Joe Wilson. And, uh - yeah, Joe's a bit of a naughty boy. And, uh - but it's a really well-written two episodes. It's going to be episodes 5 and 6 of Season 6. It's called 'Deathstroke Returns' and then episode 6 is called 'Promises Kept.'" (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Sep. 30, 2017: Oct. 4, 2017 Tribulations Chimériques video of MB/DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 633 of Social Media thread)
-- Manu Bennett: "And what's happening in Season 6 is furthering that kind of return to sort of an eye-to-eye level between Oliver and Slade. You know, the deflection now is about Slade's son, Joe." (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Sep. 30, 2017: Oct. 4, 2017 Tribulations Chimériques video of MB/DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 633 of Social Media thread)

Big Bads
-- On why a cabal of villains, MG: "It’s more along the lines of, if you’re going to do stories that are about this group, Team Arrow, tell a story about a group of antagonists. It’s not just about check off boxes in terms of like thorn, thorn, thorn; it’s more like group versus group. The theme of the season is family, but it’s all the different interpretations of the word family, and it’s about groups and about loyalties, and some of those loyalties are good and some of those loyalties are bad, and some of those people comprising the family are good people and some of them are bad people and some of them are conflicted people." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "What we found really successful in Season 5 was the gritty, keeping things located in the city, keeping whatever the crimes are within Star City and very ground level. We’re going to continue in that vein. There will be a lot of street crime. A lot of guys from the criminal underground are going to be coming at them. But, there are going to be some surprises, too. The big bad of the year is not necessary going to be operating in that world, so they are going to be getting it from all sides." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We do have a different female villain early in the run who is different than anything we've ever seen on the show and very cool... We're always looking for good female villains in the DCU to try to bring onto the show and in season six, that will happen more. We're looking for that now more than ever." (Oct. 6, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I was actually talking with Emily [Bett Rickards] about how much I’ve loved the writing this year and it just feels like it’s patient, and it feels like coming off what I thought was a very strong season, we’re very clear and satisfied with who and what we are as a show. That’s allowing us to really do that slow burn build out of, there’s a villain over here and a villain over there. I love it, because I do love the big bad of it all, I love the concept of one lynchpin that you line up your season against. I’d also be incredibly wary of doing that after what Josh [Segarra] did as Prometheus. His relationship to Oliver, and to a larger extent the show, was so personal and so well executed by the writers and Josh that if we tried to do it again, how would you do it? Save for zombie Moira showing up, what would you do? So I like it. I think the actors that we have with Kirk Acevedo, Michael Emerson, and David Nykl, who is a tremendous villain, by the way. We know Anatoly is this really nice guy, but I have a scene with him in episode 602 and it’s just cold-blooded." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Ricardo Diaz AKA Richard Dragon
-- WM: "The cool thing about the villain [Ricardo Diaz] this season is we wanted to make him a different sort of villain than we'd seen before... We got Adrian Chase last season and I think collectively, at least on the writing staff, that's tough to top. He was such a great villain and such a great presence. This season we wanted to do something a little bit different." Also, while he may not have a connection to Oliver, per WM, "that doesn't mean there isn't a connection in there somewhere between him and maybe some other people on the team." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Kirk Acevedo, SA: "Haven’t seen him and haven’t worked with him yet [as of this Sept. 17 interview]. It’s really interesting this year. There are a number of big-time players that I have yet to have a scene with." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

The Vigilante
-- On why the Vigilante's identity was kept under wraps, MG: "In part because we’ve never done it before. As we were working on the back half of Season 5 we kept thinking 'when are we going to turn this card over?' As we were building the season we realized there was no good place where we would reveal who Vigilante is without it feeling forced. We don’t have a perfect record on this, but we try very hard not to force things on the show. Carrying a mystery across seasons is a luxury a lot of network shows don’t have. So we decided to wait and do it in Season 6." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We are super psyched about that character [the Vigilante] and about the stories that we have planned. He’ll definitely come back. We left that dangling deliberately in season five knowing that we would bring that character back in season 6. He’ll have a really cool story line, not just in respect to the city, but also with respect to a particular member of the team. We’re intrigued and we’re kind of going through the casting process right now. We’re very excited about it." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "I can't tell you when or who or how but I can tell you that question [of the identity of the Vigilante] will be answered in the course of Season 6... And I think it's going to be awesome. We're really excited about who we've gotten and the storylines we're working on. It's gotten bigger than we anticipated and it's going to be awesome." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the Vigilante reveal, WM: "I can definitely tell you it's not right away, but it will be happening. We're so excited about it. We're excited about the casting, we're excited about the stories. It was one of those things where we didn't know how far we were going to be able to take it, and it's evolved into kind of a bigger story arc than we thought, which is always exciting because you get to take the character in new directions, and it's going to have an impact on our characters. That's when you know the story is really working and things are really in sync. I think it's going to be really surprising. I don't think the audience is going to see it coming. At least I hope they don't. It's just going to be fun." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We’re excited about that [the Vigilante]. We left that thread dangling in Season 5. We are definitely going to ask the question of who he is and who he is involved with. He won’t make an appearance initially. The reveal of who is he will take everyone by surprise." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I know who he is! I’m not going to tell you who he is, but you talked about how Anatoly is really a villain for Oliver and Black Siren is a villain in a lot of ways for Quentin or Dinah, Vigilante is a villain - if you want to call him that - for a member of the team as well." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- On whether Cayden James is part of the cabal of villains, MG: "I don’t want to say. Nice try. Nice try. Straight up, I know it’s hard to talk about season 6. It’s really hard. I feel the pain of those Walking Dead folks." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what makes Michael’s top-secret character a worthy adversary, WM: "He’s super-smart. He’s one of the most intelligent villains we’re going to have on the show. Michael Emerson himself just brings this level of malevolence, intelligence and unpredictability. He’s not physical, and he’s not able to hold his own against Green Arrow or anyone who survives the island. But, he can do things in an unpredictable way. The show has been on for five seasons and we wanted to change it up in Season 6. We were looking for someone who could do things, who could wreak havoc and commit crimes and cause problems for Oliver in other ways." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We’re super thrilled to have him [Michael Emerson]. He’s been tremendous and brings so much to the role and has all these ideas and he’s just been a great, collaborative partner in the process of figuring out his character. His character is definitely going to be a bad guy and is a bad guy we haven’t seen on the show before, I think it’s safe to say he’s really going to give Oliver and Felicity in particular a run for their money. He’s very soft-spoken. He’s very intelligent. And all of that is different than any of the villains we’ve had on the show in the past." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, we'll see Anatoly back this season. Per Natalie, he comes back with a vengeance and he's pissed at Oliver/Team Arrow, but Oliver may not be able to kill Anatoly.  (Oct. 6, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We know Anatoly is this really nice guy, but I have a scene with him in episode 602 and it’s just cold-blooded." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the Oliver/Anatoly dynamic this season, SA: "It’s pretty interesting because we’ve got a scene where Anatoly just kills a guy in cold blood and Oliver is right there and Oliver says don’t move, points an arrow at him and says don’t move, and Anatoly says, 'You know as well as I do that you won’t kill me,' and just walks off. Anatoly has an interesting power over him that I don’t know a lot of other villains — if any villain at all — has ever had. Oliver didn’t kill Chase for a very specific reason, because estate’s what Chase wanted, but he tried to kill Malcolm, and he killed Slade once upon a time, and then put him away in prison, and then he went on this anti-killing thing, but he still killed Ra’s al Ghul and still killed Damien Darhk. Anatoly is this weird gray area of a guy that he loves and respects too much." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "Anatoly has an interesting power over [Oliver] that I don’t know a lot of other villains — if any villain at all — has ever had... Oliver didn’t kill Chase for a very specific reason, because that’s what Chase wanted, but he tried to kill Malcolm, and he killed Slade once upon a time, and then put him away in prison, and then he went on this anti-killing thing, but he still killed Ra’s al Ghul and still killed Damien Darhk. Anatoly is this weird grey area of a guy that he loves and respects too much.” (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DN talked about the evolution of the Anatoly character on Arrow and how he was brought back on the show. He also said that the EPs keep things close to their chest and that it's a constant surprise what happens to his character. Per DN, Anatoly was originally a prisoner and friend of Oliver, but they are "becoming enemies." (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Sep. 30, 2017: Oct. 4, 2017 Tribulations Chimériques video of MB/DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 633 of Social Media thread)
-- DN: "All I can say is that Oliver and I are not friends any more. And that's a big problem for him." (Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show, Oct. 1, 2017: Tribulations Chimériques video of DN/CC panel, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)

Onyx
-- A rogue black ops team lead by Onyx (played by Chastity Dotson) breaks into Kord Industries and steals something lethal in 603. (Oct. 6, 2017 SpoilerTV and GreenArrowTV articles, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Samanda Watson
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Sydelle Noel will play FBI agent Samanda Watson, who's determined to prove some sort of connection between Oliver and the GA. She's not really a part of the villain cabal, but she is another foe for Oliver. (Oct. 6, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sydelle Noel's FBI agent being an adversary, SA: "Sydelle Noel (GLOW) has been really, really, really fun to work with. ... Oliver can’t so much as open his mouth to say boo without her bulls–t detector going off. She is thoroughly and utterly convinced of exactly what he is, and the ironic and funny thing about that is, of course, she’s precisely right. ... The interesting thing about her character is she doesn’t just put one piece together. She puts alllll the pieces together." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 5, 2017, when asked to describe her Arrow character in three words, Sydelle Noel tweeted: "Hmm...? poised, intelligent and a badass." (sydelle_noel tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Roy Harper AKA Arsenal
-- On what brings Roy Harper back to Star City, WM: "For us, it’s really going to come down to Thea. We talked a lot in the writers’ room about what Roy has been doing in the years he’s been away from Star City. Right now, the idea that we’re toying around with is he’s gotten himself into some hot water. When he comes back, it’s for a couple of reasons. It’s probably to ask for some help and also because he and Thea have some unfinished business in the relationship department. That’s a relationship that we felt Season 4 played very well and it’s something we’d like to continue and see where we go." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- Andrew Kreisberg: "Yeah, well, it is a true four-way crossover. One of the things that we worked out is a four-hour story, and Kara and Alex are at the center of it through all four hours. One of the things we’ve been doing a lot this season is getting back a little bit to season 1 and really making it Danvers sisters-centric, so a lot of what’s going on this season is Kara and Alex doing things in tandem, and the crossover won’t be any different." (Oct. 2, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 385 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- WM: "It’s going to be, in some ways, interestingly kind of relevant to current events in a way that the show doesn’t always have that kind of synergy. It’s going to feel much more like a mini-series or two movies. It’s a four hour event; it is a true crossover. The way we’re telling the stories, though, is different than we’ve done it in the past. It’s great for the fans and an even bigger headache for everybody who has to make it happen on the other side." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per WM, the crossover is "really Oliver's (Stephen Amell) story... It's Oliver and one other character in the Arrow-verse's story. It really explores the question of true love, and what does that look like? It's emotionally really compelling, and you're going to be surprised by what he learns and how he learns it and who he learns it from. It's pretty crazy stuff, I'm not going to lie." (Oct. 4, 2017 TV Guide article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread, and Oct. 4, 2017 TVGuide tweet, page 1621 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "Getting to do the final episode is a huge treat. This season more than last, they’re all like part of a two-hour movie and, which means that we have the gigantic third act Avengers fight in the middle of the city. We also get to do the most tragic and heart-wrenching part of the story, which is weird ’cause normally we’re the funny show. We’re supposed to be the silly goofballs traveling through time, but just the way the story broke this year, we deal with the most heart-wrenching moment of [the episode]. The whole point of doing this show is doing something new every week, and with the crossover the new thing that we try on is tragedy." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 388 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "The crossover is a hard dose of reality... We do have some really fun episodes. We have an Amblin alien that young Ray discovers in the '80s. We have Helen of Troy in Hollywood, a wacky Caper in the '30s. The crossover is a reminder that it's not all a big lark. There are some evils that really take a personal toll on our team. ... The crossover for us, it's not a Legends episode. It's not an anything episode... Last year I felt like each of the shows maintained their spirit with other characters. This year we made a real concerted effort to make it an amalgam of all the shows. It's something unto itself and that's the thing that's really cool and really scary about it. It's not four episodes of TV. It's like a movie." (Oct. 8, 2017 IGN article, page 390 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "The thing that I will tell you about the crossover is that for the very first time…. You know, when we first did them it was just Arrow and Flash, it was kind of simple. And even when we did them last year, it was like, 'We’re doing an episode of Supergirl, and then an episode of Flash, and then an episode of Arrow, and then an episode of Legends.' This year it is a four-hour movie. The note that I got when I was speaking with one of our producers is, 'When you tune in, aside from the opening graphic, stylistically, if you didn’t know what order the shows were in, you shouldn’t be able to tell.' Like, it’s just one through line." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Our show works best when it focuses on the city limits of Star City and what happens within them. We can’t fly to outerspace, and we can’t time travel aside from when we shift to Monday night in November for the crossover. The crossover is like a standalone episode to me, it’s like an episode out of time - no pun intended, and no spoilers given." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 1, 2017, when asked if the two weddings take place right after the funeral or if there's time in between, fan/papp(?) tweeted: "Funeral --> Goodbyes to Legends / Danvers --> Weddings." (SecretSpoilers tweet, page 383 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 2, 2017, papp tweeted: "#LegendsofTomorrow & #Arrow are both off today as productions tho the cast are scattered about on other shows." (pursuit23 tweet, page 385 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 3, 2017, fan tweeted video clip of EBR, CPatton, DPanabaker and MBenoist walking out of Boorman Archery & Archery Museum, with comment: "Danielle, Melissa, Candice and Emily filming a scene for the crossover." (DPanabakerLA tweet, page 385 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 4, 2017, papp posted pic with comment: "#Arrowverse crossover: Don't think it's the wedding today. Are Earth-X Nazis in Canada Post Building. Circus is near Pacific Central Station." (yvrshoots tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 4, 2017, papp posted pics of Earth-X Nazis from Arrow filming of crossover "at the former Canada Post Building in a blacked-out set in the bast parking lots. There are Earth-X Nazis on set."  (HollywoodNorth.buzz article, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 4, 2017, SA tweeted: "The people I’m sitting with. The wardrobe I’m wearing. I never woulda thunk it. #Crossovers." (SA tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 5, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Supergirl is filming in studio at Flash's CC Jitters. Most #Arrowverse cast there." (pursuit23 tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 5, 2017, papp tweeted: "Oh boy looks like Alex is getting over a breakup in the crossover #Supergirl." (pursuit23 tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 6, 2017, papp tweeted: "Hearing a rumour that a couple weddings might be being shot today. #HaventLeftTheHouseToConfirmSoDontShootTheMessenger." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1623 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 7(?), 2017, MG tweeted: "Assuming Cavanaugh is a problem for Sc 39, shoot with double in ful... l face mask. BUT please shoot in such a way that we can edit out/do... wn his material - ie I'd probably want to lose the 'how many times... have I killed you' beat? ... Okay. Todd just informed me it's Sc 14. Nuclear option - we pick th... at up later somewhere at VFS with dressing that ties it in to post... office. (MG tweets, page 388 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 7, 2017, SA tweeted: "5 days. 4 shows. 3 workouts. 2 earths. 1 crossover. Quite a week. Ready for the weekend." (SA tweet, page 388 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 10, 2017, Shethority posted pic of EBR as Felicity and CL as Sara together. (shethority instagram post, page 633 of Social Media thread and page 390 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 10, 2017, papp tweeted that he got autographs that night from SA, GG, CL, DPanabaker and JJordan. In response, fan tweeted: "The 2 shot a very short scene (basically seconds) w a former male co-star in 1 take." (Superman_33 tweet, page 391 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 10, 2017, papps and fans posted video clips and pics of LoT filming Diggle officiating at WestAllen and Olicity weddings, Oliver & Felicity kissing, and several Arrowverse characters, including Kara, Alex and Sara, attending a funeral. Oliver is dressed casually, Felicity is wearing a pink coat, Barry is wearing a suit and tie, and Iris is wearing a dark coat. (pursuit23, OutlawHobbies, queensbett, myrosycandy, LanaBett_, Paigeota, alwaysbett, diggletron, Helianthus027, Canadagraphs, yvrshoots, justjaredjr and lemon_buzz tweets, DailyHive article, DigitalSpy article and Soulfire post, page 8 of New Spoilers thread, pages 1627-1629 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and pages 391-392 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- From Oct. 10, 2017, Canadagraphs filming report: "With the crossover episodes almost done filming, the cast of The Flash and Arrow found themselves shooting a scene on LOT today with no LOT cast in the scenes. The scene consisted of The Flash cast Grant Gustin as Barry Allen and Candice Patton as Iris West, along with Arrow cast members Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak and David Ramsey as John Diggle shooting a scene in downtown Stanley Park for the much hyped double wedding between the commonly shipped duos West Allen & Olicity. ... While The Flash characters looked dressed for the occasion, it was pretty clear Oliver and Felicitys wedding plans were pretty spur of the moment, as they were both dressed in casual clothes. ... The ceremonies were officiated by John Diggle. For reasons that I am sure the storylines will eventually explain, neither of the couples friends or family were in attendance. The couples instead, acted as each others witnesses. The scene starts with Diggle appearing, clearly after Barry speeds him  there. Diggle freaks out, then goes and vomits, before coming back to the two couples, and after a brief talk, starts the ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, the two couples kiss, then the scene ends. ... Earlier in the day scenes were shot with Oliver, Felicity, Barry & Iris along with characters from Legends Of Tomorrow and Supergirl. I will have a blog on that shoot at a later date.... but for now.... enjoy shippers." (Canadagraphs blog post, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- From Oct. 11, 2017, yvrshoots filming report: "Invitations to Barry Allen and Iris West’s wedding are what triggers this year’s 4-way DC Crossover of Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. Production is filming people fleeing from the WestAllen wedding in 'St. Paul Church' in downtown Vancouver today. What goes wrong? Earth-X doppelgangers crash it in a 4-hour movie that will air across two nights at the end of November. ... So the wedding doesn’t happen as planned. Most of the crossover will be superheroes battling their evil Earth-X doppelgangers. ... SPOILER ALERT: And then at the end there will be a quiet impromptu ceremony on the water with Diggle (David Ramsey) seemingly officiating the marriages of The Flash’s Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton) plus Arrow’s Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), filmed on the Stanley Park seawall yesterday. Hope it’s legal." (HollywoodNorth.buzz article, page 1629 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 11, 2017, Supergirl will shoot outside St. Andrews Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street. From filming notice: "Scenes of people fleeing a wedding are filmed on all sides of this church." (Oct. 7, 2017 electric_g tweet, page 388 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 11, 2017, papp posted pic of WestAllen congrats message outside St. Paul Lutheran Church (renamed St. Andrews Wesley United Church), with comment: "Saw this today at the #Supergirl set today. So West Allen fans have that at least that they didn't share. #TheFlash." (canadagraphs tweet, page 393 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 11, 2017, fan tweeted pics of Melissa Benoist as Overgirl on the outside of the church. (Iridescent_Anny tweets, page 393 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 11 and 12, 2017, papps and fans posted pics and video clips of Supergirl filming WestAllen wedding at "St. Paul Lutheran Church" (actually, St. Andrews Wesley United Church in real life), including pics of Iris in her wedding dress, Felicity, Kara, Alex, Sara, Joe West, and people fleeing the church. (lemon_buzz, ThemysciraBound, supergirlonline, smoaksqueen, Talentedkatz, Popgoestheworld, canadagraphs, FrogPhoto and yvrshoots tweets, pages 394-395 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Mini Crossovers
-- LoT 309-310: Matt Ryan will reprise his role as John Constantine in episodes 9 and 10 of LoT. EP Phil Klemmer: "His appearance in episode 310 will involve the following: a revisiting of Arrow season four and the events following that season’s finale episode; a confrontation with this season’s Big Bad on Legends — the name we’ve only heard whispered until now Mallus; some hot sex — something that has been in short supply on the Waverider thus far in season three; and Damien Darhk (Neil McDonough), because how can you do an episode about dark magic and not have Damien Darhk? More than anything, the episode promises to be scary as you know what — tonally it’s The Exorcist meets One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Demonic possession in a mental institution, what’s not to love?" (Oct. 9, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article and ComicBook tweet & article, page 390 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 11, 2017, papp posted pic of WestAllen congrats message outside St. Paul Lutheran Church (renamed St. Andrews Wesley United Church), with comment: "Saw this today at the #Supergirl set today. So West Allen fans have that at least that they didn't share. #TheFlash." (canadagraphs tweet, page 393 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 11 and 12, 2017, papps and fans posted pics and video clips of Supergirl filming WestAllen wedding at "St. Paul Lutheran Church" (actually, St. Andrews Wesley United Church in real life), including pics of Iris in her wedding dress, Felicity, Kara, Alex, Sara, Joe West, and people fleeing the church. (lemon_buzz, ThemysciraBound, supergirlonline, smoaksqueen, Talentedkatz, Popgoestheworld, canadagraphs, FrogPhoto and yvrshoots tweets, pages 394-395 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow in the Arrowverse
-- Per THR, Victor Garber, who plays Martin Stein, will be exiting LoT during its current third season. (Oct. 11, 2017 Deadline article, page 393 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Matt Ryan will reprise his role as John Constantine in episodes 9 and 10 of LoT. EP Phil Klemmer: "His appearance in episode 310 will involve the following: a revisiting of Arrow season four and the events following that season’s finale episode; a confrontation with this season’s Big Bad on Legends — the name we’ve only heard whispered until now Mallus; some hot sex — something that has been in short supply on the Waverider thus far in season three; and Damien Darhk (Neil McDonough), because how can you do an episode about dark magic and not have Damien Darhk? More than anything, the episode promises to be scary as you know what — tonally it’s The Exorcist meets One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Demonic possession in a mental institution, what’s not to love?" (Oct. 9, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article and ComicBook tweet & article, page 390 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: LoT EP Phil Klemmer: "The crossover is a hard dose of reality... We do have some really fun episodes. We have an Amblin alien that young Ray discovers in the '80s. We have Helen of Troy in Hollywood, a wacky Caper in the '30s. The crossover is a reminder that it's not all a big lark. There are some evils that really take a personal toll on our team." (Oct. 8, 2017 IGN article, page 390 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Supergirl in the Arrowverse
-- Mega Crossover: Andrew Kreisberg: "Yeah, well, it is a true four-way crossover. One of the things that we worked out is a four-hour story, and Kara and Alex are at the center of it through all four hours. One of the things we’ve been doing a lot this season is getting back a little bit to season 1 and really making it Danvers sisters-centric, so a lot of what’s going on this season is Kara and Alex doing things in tandem, and the crossover won’t be any different." (Oct. 2, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 385 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 5, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Supergirl is filming in studio at Flash's CC Jitters. Most #Arrowverse cast there." (pursuit23 tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 5, 2017, papp tweeted: "Oh boy looks like Alex is getting over a breakup in the crossover #Supergirl." (pursuit23 tweet, page 387 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 11, 2017, fan tweeted pics of Melissa Benoist as Overgirl on the outside of the church. (Iridescent_Anny tweets, page 393 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Looking Beyond S6 
-- MG: "The way it tends to work with Arrow is that as we get into the back half of the year, past the midseason premiere, we're still breaking the current season, but in the writers room our minds will wander to the next season... That has happened even earlier in our process than as is typical. We actually already have ideas for things we want to do Season 7. We're way ahead of where we typically are with those ideas." (Oct. 11, 2017 Syfy article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 241 of Starling City Times thread)

Edited October 12, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This thread is for archived spoilers only - commentary on spoilers should go in the Spoiler Discussion thread...

SUMMARY OF 601 SPOILERS:

S6, Episode 1: Fallout
-- Production code: 601.  Shoot Dates: July 7-19, 2017. Director: James Bamford. Writers: Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle.  Airdate: Oct. 12, 2017. (Jul. 7, 2017 MG tweet, June 16, 2017 SA tweet and Jul 5, 2017 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and Jun. 8, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 310 of Mind Your Surroundings thread, and SA and Arrowwriters tweets, page 587 of Social Media)
-- 601 synopsis: "THE AFTERMATH — Oliver (Stephen Amell) deals with the fallout of the explosion on the island. James Bamford directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle (#601).  Original airdate 10/12/2017." (Sep. 22, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Arrow's SDCC trailer showed Oliver, William, Slade, Black Siren and Dinah, but no one else, in present day. It showed a scene where William points at Oliver when Oliver asks him about the bad man. It showed a scene where Slade says to Oliver: “We walk in two worlds. We can only do that for so long." It also showed Diggle and Felicity running away from the explosion in a flashback scene on the island. (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: CWTV's video of Arrow Comic-Con trailer in CW_Arrow tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 601 sneak peek video posted, featuring what happened on the island right before the explosion. (Oct. 12, 2017 CW_Arrow tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 601 sneak peek video posted, featuring Black Siren and minions storming the police station. (Oct. 12, 2017 601 sneak peek video in Velocity23 post, page 1630 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 601 promo pics posted, showing Oliver, William, Raisa, Dinah/BC, and Black Siren. (GreenArrowTV and TVLine photo links, page 7 of New Spoilers thread and page 1609 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 601 dialogue tease: “Nice outfit. Except for I would’ve gone with fishnets.” (Oct. 12, 2017 ArrowWriters tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Picking up months after the explosive S5 finale, the S6 premiere will gradually reveal who did and did not make it back to Star City alive, punctuated by flashbacks to the fiery aftermath. (Sep. 7, 2017 TVLine article, page 6 of New Spoilers thread and page 358 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether there's going to be a big time jump between S5 and S6 or just the usual few months, MG: "The usual few months. Tied to broadcast." (Apr. 6, 2017 MG tumblr post, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "We pick up five months after the finale. Uh, we always try to do the season premiere narratively with the same time gap that broadcast us. So there's about a five-month time gap between the season finale and the season premiere. We're doing that again this year, but we are gonna, over the course of the episode, flash back to the moments right before and right after the finale. So you will get to see, you know, who lives and who dies. But you will also get it in this very piece-mealed out iteration." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of MG interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Every year we always jump high. Uh, there's always a five-month gap usually between the season finale and the season premiere. And we always try to honor that real-life time jump. But what we are gonna do is, in the midst of the episode, we're gonna flash back to the moments right before and right after the, uh, finale of Season 5." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "In some ways episode 6.01 feels like episode 5.24. It’s certainly a fresh start for Oliver, but for the rest of the show it feels like a continuation of Season 5." (Oct. 12, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On who lived and who died from Chase's explosions, MG: "It's a slow reveal... We're going to intercut between the present, which is five months after the finale, and flashbacks that take us to the minutes right before and right after the finale." (Aug. 24, 2017 TV Guide article, page 350 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On whether this season is more about the PTSD people will suffer as a result of what they went through, MG: "I think there’s certainly a component of that, and PTSD can be a theme, and certainly a theme that is very present in the season premiere. At the same time, I do feel like now that we’re in the midst of breaking [episodes] 5 and 6, it’s safe to say that the season has its own identity. I always say season 5 is not required viewing for season 6. At the same time, I think in the sixth season of the show, you can pretty much assume that people are not jumping on having never seen the previous five years." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he would say if asked who survived the explosion other than Oliver, Black Siren, and Black Canary, MG: "I would just go dead, dead, dead, dead, dead." On what he would say if asked whether Thea survived the island explosion, MG: "Dead. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that without giving anything away. Part of the fun of the first episode, the structure of the first episode, is we jump ahead our traditional five months. We come in, it’s five months later. The first flashback is actually to — you saw the explosions from the point of view of Oliver on the boat. We’re going to go a few minutes before the explosions and catch up to that moment from the perspective of being on the island." On whether we can assume that Artemis died, MG: "Oh, no. I wouldn’t assume that. Here’s the thing: It’s a weird position as a showrunner, because I feel like there’s more going on in the season premiere than just, 'This person’s alive, this person’s dead, this person’s alive, this person’s dead.' It wasn’t the motivation behind us telling the story of the season premiere. At the same time, because of that structure — beginning in present day and flashing back to five months earlier — you’re going to get some card turns as a result of the flashbacks, and you’re going to get some card turns as a result of seeing someone in the present day." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "There are several different fallouts. Um, that's why the title of the season premiere is actually 'Fallout.' Because a lot of it, uh, you know, the premiere deals with the repercussions of what happened on Lian Yu at the end of Season 5. And there's - you know, I don't want to spoil anything because I think a big part of the fun of the premiere is seeing what happened, who lived, who died. Um, I will say that there are also other kinds of consequences, apart from just living and dying. There's other things also that can and do happen, uh, as a result of the explosions." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: “The Oliver Queen that you'll meet in 601, um, he's still the Oliver you know and sometimes love. But he's - he has a different sense of himself. Um, you know, one of the ways we are, uh, you know, sort of describing it is, typically in Act 4 of any given episode, uh, someone is giving Oliver advice. And in Season 6, I think you'll see Oliver giving the people in his life the advice. For a change. You know, he's been through five years of being, uh, this superhero and then he went through, as he says at the beginning of every episode, five years in hell, uh, before that. So, you know, he's got 10 years of very heavy experience, uh, to start to bring to bear, um, and that's something we're kind of interested in - uh, seeing, you know, more of a mentoring kind of Oliver, um, as the various people in his life face their challenges.” (Jun. 22, 2017 EW Superhero Insider podcast and Jul. 7, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 3 of New Spoilers page)
-- On what guilt Oliver is dealing with in the wake of the island explosion, MG: "Well, it’s not even just guilt, quite frankly, because the truth is, now we make a joke of it, like Oliver feeling guilty is a drinking game. We even make jokes of it in dialogue, like there’s a line about it in 604, he says he’s the foremost expert on guilt and regret, so it’s certainly a component of the show, but what is exciting for us about season 6 is we told a story in season 5 that was very deliberate about Oliver moving on and letting go of his past, and he kept saying - again that was another drinking game - “I keep being drawn back into the past, drawn back into the past.” Before the island exploded, I think he’d had these experiences, finally culminating with his conversations with Slade, where he was ready to finally put the past in the past and move forward, and we’re really continuing him on that forward trajectory to the point where the emotional stories that we’re telling with him this year are new, they’re from a fresher perspective, they’re not based upon the past, they’re based upon things that are happening to him right now in the present. So as opposed to a guilt-based story just by its nature is always backward-looking, because you feel guilty about something, these stories are much more perspective looking, or at least much more in the moment and in the present." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan who hoped there would be no flashbacks in 601, MG tweeted: "There are flashbacks. Sorry." (Jun. 17, 2017 MG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "The season premiere of Season 6 will have a flashback." Interviewer: "The island? Or just a flashback?" MG: "To the island. Um, if you take me literally at my word, then yes, back to the island." (PaleyFest, Mar. 18, 2017: May 24, 2017 Access Hollywood video, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On S6 flashbacks, MG: "Basically, we will end the island story very definitively. Um, next year, our approach to the flashbacks will be very different. It'll be episode-specific flashbacks. So - and they won't be every episode. It'll be, if there's a reason to flash back, we'll absolutely do so. We will be having those kind of flashbacks in 601, the sixth season premiere." (WonderCon, Apr. 1, 2017: MYM Buzz video, page 57 of Spoilers thread)
-- On Olicity, MG: “We put them on a very specific trajectory at the end of season 5... It would be very schizophrenic for us to suddenly take them off that trajectory.” However, MG: “There is not a single romantic kiss between any two characters in the season premiere.” (Aug. 17, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article & tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver and Felicity's journey this season, MG: "I will say this: There is absolutely no kissing in the season premiere. There is not a single romantic kiss between any two characters in the season premiere." (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Manu Bennett is back for the season premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Clevver News videos of full Arrow panel, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- jbuffyangel report on what MG said: "'Was Black Siren on the island?' I legit couldn’t remember. Marc said, 'Yes she is, but we know she survives. We wouldn’t bring Katie back just to kill her again.' I said, 'That would be a serious jerk move if that’s what you did.' Marc laughed and agreed. I told him that I love Black Siren evil and he agreed with my sentiment. I explained, 'What I like about Black Siren is that she’s evil, but you guys do a nice job threading the undercurrent  that she’s having an emotional reaction to Lance - Marc interrupted, 'Wait until you see the premiere.' 'Is it awesome? What are you most excited for everyone to see? Because Bam is directly and I’m so excited.' 'Bam is crushing it. We’re gonna release a trailer tomorrow that gives you a glimpse of some of the amazing stuff that Bam has shot. It’s crazy huge. It’s total madness,' Marc said." (SDCC, Jul. 21, 2017: Jul. 22, 2017 jbuffyangel tumblr article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "The last time we saw Oliver, he was standing on this boat with his poor son, William, watching everybody he loves possibly go up in flames. It’s very much where we pick up in the premiere. We’re going to see that exact moment. We’re going to come back to that. We’re also going to jump the normal amount of time. We’re going to pick up the island in flashbacks. We are going to see where Oliver is in Star City, as well. We’re going to get the benefit of seeing him in both places, psychologically, emotionally and physically. This season is very much, especially in the first half, about picking up those pieces and the fallout from that. Prometheus left a big trail of destruction in his wake." (Oct. 12, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We're going to pass the normal amount of time and we will see what happened... We're going to use the flashbacks to tell the story of what happened on the island in the aftermath. ... It's nice to have the real estate and liberty to play around with that structure... It's such a great device and now we can use it in different ways. So we're going to start right there with the premiere." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- WM: "We're so excited about having that device free to play with. In the premiere... five months will have passed since the island blew up. At the same time, we're going to use the flashbacks to go back and see what happened on the island and who lived and who died. That part - having the freedom and the real estate creatively to use that - is fantastic." (Oct. 10, 2017 TV Guide article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see right away who survives and whether we'll see Oliver reacting to the potential loss, WM: "I think you're gonna see both. Um, we will get answers. You'll know by the end of the premiere who made it and who didn't. And you'll see Oliver mourning. You'll see some - you'll definitely see him going through a grieving process." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of WM interview in Jul. 29, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the survivors of the island explosion, WM: "I think it's fair to say that there's gonna be consequences for sure. And some people will have a lot more to deal with in that respect than others. And, you know, we're not going to do something with that big of a cliffhanger and not pay it off." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver comes back from everything Prometheus has done to him in S5, WM: "Really the answer to that question will be in the premiere of season 6, which is how is he going to start rebuilding and what is his new legacy going to look like? He’s going to have to start rebuilding, because Chase has left pretty much everything in tatters." (May 9, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 2 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver will still be Mayor, WM: "Yes, we left him as the mayor and he will still be the mayor. We are going to continue that storyline through season 6 as well. I think Oliver works as a mayor. There’s going to be something big that happens in the premiere that is going to certainly cast some doubt on his ability to continue to do that job, but, it’s a world that we like and that we think has worked on the show well." (Oct. 6, 2017 RottenTomatoes article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On William, WM: "He's completely traumatized as any 12-year-old boy would be having witnessed what he's seen... In the first nine-to-ten episodes this season, we're going to be exploring what is the fallout of that. And like what Oliver went through in Season 1, it's PTSD. We're not going to call it that or go into the psychological details so much but we're definitely exploring how this kid has been traumatized and, in some ways, Oliver is responsible for that." (Oct. 9, 2017 IGN tweet & article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per DC All Access' Hector Navarro, "everything has changed" as a result of last season's island explosion. He can't say more because it's a spoiler. Also, some members of Team Arrow get new costumes. Five months have passed and we're learning what happened and we're learning about Oliver dealing with the fallout of the explosion. Hector: "And who do you think shows up? None other than Black Siren. That's right. Quentin Lance's evil doppelganger daughter. And he's got a secret that he's been hiding about her."  Also Hector: "And the ending of this episode will leave your jaw agape. Like this (makes shocked, mouth open, jaw-dropping facial expression)." (Oct. 9, 2017 DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I saw that Marc tweeted that the, uh, cover script for episode 601 is 'Fallout.' And, um, it's very much a - it's very much, uh, about what happened on the island and how it affects everyone that survives. Yeah." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On 2 truths and 1 lie about Season 6, SA: "Well, I've only read Episode 601, um, so okay -  hang on, I can do it. Um. Uh. There is a single Big Bad this year. Um, there will be a giant, uh, rift between Oliver and one of the original team members. And, Oliver - his identity as the Green Arrow is revealed. You guys have no idea what's going on." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, Soulfire post, ShippingAcademy tweet and latinasmoak tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On 2 truths and 1 lie about 601, SA: "Oliver and Slade have a scene in the present day... Diggle, uh, fires and misses someone, as in, like, he deploys his gun and it doesn't work... And, uh, Thea is in a present day scene where we speak to one another." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and heroesfanfest tweet & video of SA panel, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "We do the same thing that we've done every year, which is that we stick with the times. We pick up five months after the - after the Season 5 finale. We have flashbacks in the first episode to the aftermath of the explosion. And, um, I can't say anything else." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video interview with Arrow cast in Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We flash back in 601 to the immediate aftermath of the explosion. Um, I am all over the writers, in a good way. Having watched Lost twice, and having so many questions still, I want to make sure that we properly unpack the aftermath of the explosion. How did it affect people? Who lived? Who died? What happened to them? We need to make the aftermath of that explosion the critical, like, fulcrum point of Season 6. Otherwise, what was the point of Chase blowing up the island?" When asked if there will be any burn injuries, SA: "Not that I know of... I don't know if we're delving into any burn injuries, but there are injuries." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of SA interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We hit the ground running, right? It feels like from the Season 5 momentum - it feels like when we start with 601, like, there haven't been - well, a couple - but nothing has made my jaw drop in the first three scripts that I've read. Um, but concurrently, like, they're really tight and they're really moving the story forward... I feel like we're using the license that we've earned over five seasons to play it slow with some stories." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I feel like we hit the ground running this year. I really do. I feel like we took the momentum of Season 5 and carried it into the first couple of episodes of Season 6. One of my favorite parts about - my jaw has not dropped when I've been reading a script. That happens every once in a while. It happened last year with episode 509. It was like, 'oh my god, he kills Billy.' Rest in peace, Billy. Um, but, uh, no - the first, like, three scripts that I've read, they're really tight, they're really action packed, they're really moving the story forward. But it also feels like we're taking our time, which is something I feel like we've earned. Um, taking our time is cool." (Aug. 18, 2017 Hollywood Outbreak podcast interview with SA, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "The only thing I can tease is that in we - in episode 601, we flash back to the immediate aftermath of 523." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "There are, uh, flashbacks in the first episode that take us back to the immediate aftermath of the events in the finale, which is, um, one of the reasons that I had to shave my beard, so I could match up with 523. The other reason was because it was disgusting." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I'm going to have to alter the beard for the beginning of the season, but we have given consideration to possibly growing it throughout the year... Oh god, I'm so over this beard... Yeah. We're thinking about maybe growing it a little bit over the course of the year." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On where he wants to see Oliver go, SA: "It's in the nooks and crannies. Like, we have a scene - I can't spoil... We have a scene where I'm talking to someone on the team and instead of barking a direction, I changed it so I just look at them and they acknowledge what they have to do. So it's little things like that... It used to be, I'd come back to the Arrowcave, I'd yell at people, I'd walk away. Trying not to do that anymore, because if we're still doing that, then what was the point of Season 5? You know, what was the point of Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5? You know, you gotta grow up, all the way." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "It’s a strange thing. Oliver actually this season is a very contented individual... At least so far. Methinks that will probably change, based on just 120-some episodes of history. But I’ve seen three episodes and he’s smiling a lot more….. It’s nice as an actor to not be a stick in the mud all the time.” (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Where do we find Oliver at the beginning of Season 6? We find him at a little bit of an impasse with trying to be a dad. Uh, we also begin the unpacking of what happened in 523." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "That’s one of our big hooks at the end of the first episode. The idea of Green Arrow being Public Enemy No. 1, and to a further extent, the role of vigilantes in Star City, is a big focus point of the early part of the season. But it does make things difficult. Oliver being the Green Arrow is less a problem than how a certain individual is targeting him." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "I mean, I've read Episode 601 and there's some interesting stuff between Oliver and William in it. And I'm just - I'm very excited to get into those scenes and to drill down to find the cool moments that maybe even aren't on the page." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: Video in WeAreSecondU tweet, page 1545 of Spoiler Discussion thread, and video in austencello tweet, page 1546 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "My first day on Season 6 was four consecutive scenes with Jack, who's William." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "It's cool that we've given Oliver new things to play this year. We've never seen Oliver as a dad. And not only that, but a struggling dad. And, um, Jack, who plays William - I was incredibly nervous after reading 601 because he and I had never really done a scene together. I've sat with him while we played with toys. And I've held him very close on a boat. But have we ever done a scene? We hadn't, right? So my first day was four scenes with Jack, and I was f**kin' nervous, because that's a lot of angst in the William basket. And he was equal to the task. He was really good and continues to be really good. A really fine young man and fine actor." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: “He’s not the best dad... My first day on season 6, it was all with Jack, who plays William. We had never really acted together, so I was really legitimately nervous because I didn’t know. Not only was he equal to the task, but he exceeded my expectations. To start on episode 116 and to be able to do fun new stuff as Oliver has been a real joy so far this season. But yeah, he’s a sh— dad.” (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what kind of dad will Oliver be, SA: "He's doing his best, you know. My first day on set for Season 1 [tv echo: clearly, he meant Season 6], I had four scenes with Jack, who plays William. And I was worried, frankly, I was nervous, because we had never really done a scene together. I had held him on the boat and we played with action figures together, but we had never really like shot a scene together... And not only was he equal to the task, but he exceeded my expectations. He's a fantastic actor." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of TVLine's interview with Arrow cast in MichaelAusiello tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Um, you know, really one of the only things I can talk about for Season 6 is that he has interactions with William, and him as a dad is something I've never really been able to play, save for sparing moments in 523 and 408 - maybe The Flash's 208. Um, so I'm really, really excited I'm getting to play some new stuff." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Showbiz Junkies video of press roundtable interview with SA, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On KC's Black Siren, SA: "Yeah, you come in like a wrecking ball. Like in the first episode. Like the Miley Cyrus song. Like a wrecking ball." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Flicks And The City video of Arrow panel highlights and Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "Asked Stephen to describe 6x01 in three words. Setting. The. Table." (HVFF-Portland, Jun. 24, 2017: ShippingAcademy tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said after signing autograph with "Another night" quote: "I  ASKED FOR AN OLICITY QUOTE FROM 601... HE SMIRKED AND SAID ITS AMBIGUOUS... THEN HE BLUSHED AND SAID ITLL MAKE SENSE AND RUBBED MY ARM AND WINKED." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweets, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "-Here's how she says the convo went down. When he was signing my bag he asked if she was excited for the new season. She was like, 'I am but I'd be even more excited if I knew that I was going to actually like Oliver again.' He chuckled and she added 'Cause last year was a bit rough.' He stopped and looked at her and said 'Yeah, last year was rough. I know what you're...' Then he kind of stopped himself and said, 'I know, but I'm telling you, you're going to like him again. I guarantee it. I know the first five, no wait, six episodes and you're going to be happy.' She thanked him and went to move on and he was like 'I'm serious. I GUARANTEE it! Trust me.' She says he was very emphatic about the whole thing." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "I shadowed Bam - James Bamford - for episode 601. If the gods allow it, and Greg Berlanti, you'll see if I directed a scene. But I shadowed him. And in shadowing him, we went back to the island and we show what happened in the explosion. You're gonna really like the episode." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I shadowed James Bamford, our esteemed fight choreographer turned director now turned producer-director on our show for 601, just to look at directing and other stuff - I'm not directing an episode. And we went back to the island and we shot what happened on the island with the explosion. And we'll see the, uh, repercussions of what happened on the island throughout the season, Diggle particularly. The other people are affected, but Diggle specifically." When asked if it was physical or emotional, DR: "Both. Both. And what that does to him, what it does to the team, what it does to his family... I think in Season 6 you'll see Diggle broken in a way you've never seen him before, and it starts in 601. It starts in the first episode. So I think you're going to see a dramatic change in Diggle's, uh - in what Diggle has to deal with on an emotional and physical level. In a way we haven't seen." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of DR interview in Jul. 25, 2017 TV Fanatic article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On his reaction to reading the 601 script: DR: "I was happy... I think what you'll see is a logical conclusion to the finale. But I was excited because you get to see Diggle in a different way. So I was excited for my character." SA: "I based my reaction off of the last scene, and I read the last scene and I go, 'huh.' ... Stephen Amell confirms Season 6 based on 'huh.'" (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with SA, DR and WH, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "I think in Season 6 you'll see Diggle get broken in a way he hasn't been broken before. You know, it starts in 601 and I think it's gonna - a certain amount is gonna continue throughout the season. And, um, we'll see exactly what that means... But I think it's an arc for Diggle that we haven't seen. It's even beyond his brother coming back to life, killing his evil brother, and it leading to the death of Canary. All that stuff is great drama. But I think, Season 6, you're gonna see something from Diggle's physical and emotional [unintelligible word] that you've never seen before. And it starts in 601." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: KSiteTV video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DR: "Diggle has, for the past six seasons, kinda been secondish in command, um, when Oliver's been gone - the de facto  leader of Team Arrow, right? Married once, divorced, married again to the same woman. Has a child. Four tours in Afghanistan. Sergeant-Major. Probably a more evolved character on the show. And there's a perception that he can get through it all. And, um, I think... and we talked about this to some degree, Marc and Wendy and I - I think we're going to see, uh, Diggle for the first time deal with some things that, um, he can't handle. Even greater than the death of his brother, the death of Canary, both of which he blamed himself for, went to prison for, got out. Um, Diggle's been a little bit of a Superman emotionally and even physically. And, um, I think - I think we have to see a broken Diggle. And I think you'll see that. And you will. Even beginning in 601, uh, Diggle's dealing with something specific he had that he's never had to deal with before." On whether we'll see PTSD, DR: "Oh yeah... You'll absolutely see Post Traumatic Stress... He'll definitely be experiencing that. Without a doubt... And this will affect the team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Seat42F video of press roundtable interview with DR, page 4 of New Spoilers thread and page 1569 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On who would be his favorite superhero to play, DR: "And Diggle's would probably be Arrow. Which by the way is going to be very interesting, come the first few episodes of the season. That's another big nugget." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "DR two truths& a lie: in the 523 explosion someone dies; in season 6, someone dies; also in season 6 someone gets married." However, fan later reported the following: "David totally fails at the 'two truths and a lie' game - he revealed to a member of our group later on that all the answers he gave onstage were truths." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: jedichick04 tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and jedichick04 tumblr post, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "OMG! David gave me a HUGE SPOILER bc I guessed a major storyline for the first 6 episodes. My heart is still racing!" and "What would Dig do if Oliver needed to 'out' himself? 'He'd become the Green Arrow. Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you this because... you just guessed the plot for the first 6 episodes of Season 6. Good guess!'" (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: hotcookinmama2 tweets, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 
-- jbuffyangel report on what DR said: "I asked David what's in store for Diggle in S6: there will be some Diggle & Lyla stuff but also a big fracture in the team." and "I pushed a little on the fracture & asked if it's between Oliver and Diggle. He said yes (smashed his fists together)" and "Then David added that it will be a big conflict like Civil War (re the movie)." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: jbuffyangel tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread and page 1554 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On their reaction to reading the 523 and 601 scripts: EK: "As just a fan, it was so cool to read that episode, regardless of my fate or not. It was just so cool to see them come full circle like that. And really to close that chapter like that. And for there to be Deathstroke involved. (IGN interviewer interrupted, "And back this season.") And back, yeah." RG: "It was a great culmination to, I felt, like a really strong season. I felt like, from the moment we all showed up on the team and to the end, I think we were giving fans great momentum. And I think that momentum will carry itself to Season 6. So, how that happens? Can't say." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: IGN video of interview with EK, JH and RG, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- RG: "This is gonna be an interesting season in terms of picking up where we left of and trying to see who survives the island and how they survived the island and what does that mean to the team." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- JH: "We find her [Dinah], um, definitely recovering from Lian Yu. You know, at the beginning of Season 6, everybody is - is finding their footing. Uh, you know, we had these huge massive explosions, so it's a recovery." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- KC: "And I think that going into some - there will be some flashbacks, obviously, of what happened, how they got off the island. I think there'll be some opportunities to see Black Siren and the Black Canary again. And definitely moments that I think that are shocking, and people are going to be very surprised." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Aug. 14, 2017 DC All Access video of red carpet interviews with Arrow cast members, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On changing a 601 scene, Manu Bennett: "It's interesting because, you know, like, there's like a whole bunch of new characters on that show. To be honest, in the first episode - which I can't really talk about, can I? But there was this moment where I'm meant to be with the rest of them. You know, and the scene was written that, you know, the group and Slade/Deathstroke run off together. And I said to - I said to Marc Guggenheim - I said, 'Is this going to be a musical?' (laughs) ... No, but I asked him, I said, 'It sort of doesn't feel right, does it?' Marc agreed with me and so there's a very specific scene where I say - it's in the trailer, there's a trailer that's out now for Season 6. (Cut to video clip from trailer where Felicity runs up to Slade and says, "Hey, Oliver says there's a boat on the eastern shore," and Slade replies, "You lot won't make it in time. I'll take my own chances.") ... And I say, 'I'm gonna - I'm gonna' - what's the word? I say, uh, 'you guys will never get off this island in time' or something like that. 'I'll take my own chances.' Yeah, and I walk off. And I'm kind of just wanting to preserve the strength of the relationship between Slade and Oliver, just on that level, because it's such a sort of stand-alone little relationship, that I just don’t want to get caught up in the group and be like ‘Hey, high five! Yeah!’ Anyway, you'll see it in the first episode.” (MCM Manchester Comic Con, July 29-30, 2017: Video of MYM Buzz interview with Manu Bennett in Aug. 11, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Slade Wilson's "We Walk in Two Worlds" line, Manu Bennett: "You know, it's interesting, when I was looking at Steve's face when I did that scene, I looked at Stephen. I didn't look at Oliver. I looked at Stephen Amell. And when I played the scene, I wanted to find as much truth in it as I could. And I remember looking at Stephen - like he's got kids and I've got kids, and half the time I kind of like have this mixed relationship with Stephen Amell. He's kind of a quiet guy, and he and me don't talk that much, to be honest. Right? He's very busy. Everyone wants to talk to him. He's number one on the call sheet. And we don't - we don't really talk that much. We shake hands. We know we work well together. We know it. I know he knows it. And I know it. But when I was looking at his face in that scene, and it's such a great line - 'We walk in two worlds, you and I, but it can’t go on forever.’ What a statement. What a great statement to say to another man. You know, and it can mean so many things. But when I looked at Steve, it was - one thing that - one thing that - because I don’t know him that well, but I’ve watched his Twitter feeds and stuff over the last couple of months, and he was on holidays and he was with his kids. And I’ve got three girls. And, like, you know, as an actor, it’s such a bullsh*t world - sorry, kid. Right? All this fame or whatever the hell it is, you know, it makes no sense. It makes no sense, but we have to live with it. And he has to live with it. And I know that once he went to Hawaii and stayed in a hotel and he got so hit by fans all over the place that he had to move out of that hotel and go to another hotel. And, you know, I know that in his real life that he probably struggles with that fame. Right? So when I said to him that line, I kind of slipped out of being Slade and Oliver. I slipped - I sort of meant to be Manu and Stephen Amell. And I looked at him and I said to him, ‘We live in two worlds, you and I. But it can’t go on forever.’ And I spoke to him, and it was a beau - it was a really great moment. But not on my shot. When I did it on my shot, I was a bit tense. I did two takes myself and both times I went 'ah f**k', I'm just too - they shot my direction first. I wish it was like Crash - like the movie Crash - when they had De Niro and Pacino, they put two cameras on them, so they could get the real moment. They shot me, then they shot him. And when they shot Steve's side, I got it right." (MCM Manchester Comic Con, July 29-30, 2017: Video of MYM Buzz interview with Manu Bennett in Aug. 11, 2017 ComicBook article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Papp report on 601 filming: "Arrow started filming season 6 of Arrow last month in a few locations. The two that I caught up to them at was in North Vancouver, in Princess Park that they were using as part of Lian Yu. ... On set that day was everyone that we saw at the end of season 5 who were on the island actively trying to get out together. People I saw on set that day included Emily Bett Rickards, Willa Holland, David Ramsey, Echo Kellum, Juliana Harkavy, Manu Bennett and Anna Hopkins. I DID NOT see Katrina Law, but I did see a person dressed as Nyssa al Ghul there. I also never saw Katie Cassidy, Lexa Doig or Madison McLaughlin there. ... All that said, who I saw, and didnt see does not mean 1 way or the other who did or didnt die in the episode, as much of what they filmed on this day was simply showing what everyone did in the final minutes before Adrian Chase threw a Donald Trump sized temper tantrum & blew up an entire island. I do know from things I do know about this episode and others so far, 1 person from the lists above is in a coma, and as of the time of writing this, nothing has changed with the character coming out of it, or being killed off yet. I suppose if/when they finally decide that will decide if/when the cast member playing the character decides on returning or not. ... The best shots I got were of Emily Bett Rickards when she was finished shooting the entire scene, and wasnt in a rush to get back to her starting spot. In the pics, you can see Felicity is clearly covered in a variety of scratches. ... The only shot I know anyone got that day of Manu Bennett on set as Deathstroke was from twitter user @ArizonaJake ... A few days later, I managed to catch up to Arrow shooting a scene on the Georgia viaduct. Tis is of course the same viaduct they used for that impressive Deathstroke army marching into Starling City back in season 2. On this day, they had several of the cast there shooting a variety of scenes on the bridge. While most of the shooting while I was there consisted of two actresses and their stunt doubles doing a fighting scene, others were in fact there, and did film at various times.... albeit, mostly after I left. ... Katie Cassidy, Julia Harkavy, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Echo Kellum & Paul Blackthorne were all seen on set, along with most of their stunt doubles as well. ... The majority of shooting took place with Harkavy, Cassidy & their stunt doubles. Below, at the bottom, is a quick video of 1 of the takes of the stunt team working thru the sequence." (Aug. 10, 2017 Canadagraphs article, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On May 29, 2017, SA tweeted pic of himself with a beard and the comment: "Season 6 Training." (SA tweet, page 1537 of Spoiler Discussion thread) [tv echo: Beard may have been for only Code 8 filming.]
-- On Jun. 23, 2017, MG posted pic of production art of "Black Canary Memorial Display" for 601, and tweeted: "Production art starting to come in for Arrow Season 6…" (MG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jun. 27, 2017, James Bamford tweeted: "Day 1 of official prep for Arrow episode 6.01.....and we are off to an explosively creative start!" (JamesBamford tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 2, 2017, JBamford posted pic of DR sitting alone in Arrow Bunker, studying a paper, with comment: "Working on Sundays made better joined by @davidpaulramsey." (JBamford instagram post, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 4, 2017, fan tweeted: "@yvrshoots filming notice up for Arrow next week up in North Van! Looks like just one day of shooting Wednesday:)" and, on Jul. 5, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow season 6 in North Vancouver's Princess Park - Lian Yu in finale - on Wednesday, July 12. Thx @loveshipper621." (loveshipper621 and yvrshoots tweets, page 1552 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 6, 2017, James Bamford tweeted: "Last day of prep for episode 6.01.....Arrow season 6 premiere. Wow....it's huge. Tomorrow we shoot. ??Boom." (JBam tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, James Bamford tweeted: "Not much happens at 0545 am......unless you count insane day we are about to embark on. It's here....1rst day of shooting. ???" (JBam tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
- On Jul. 7, 2017, MG tweeted: "Arrow's sixth season begins production today. @MericlesHappen @JamesBamford @StephenAmell." (MG tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 6, 2017, DR posted pic of himself, with beard, with JH, with straightened blondish hair, with comment: "Are we super excited for the beginning of #arrow or what?!? #arrowseason6." (DR instagram pic, page 595 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, KC posted pic of herself, with blonde hair, sitting in makeup chair, with comment: "Back at it! #arrow." (KC instagram post, page 596 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, when asked who was filming that day, papp tweeted: "I know Willa, Katrina, Emily not even in Vancouver so not them"; and when asked who was already there, papp tweeted: "Paul, David, Julianna." (pursuit23 tweets, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 7, 2017, a flight attendant posted a pic of SA, who's shaved his beard off, on board headed to Nashville for HVFF. (theacb123 instagram post, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 8, 2017, SA said: "Day 1 of production was yesterday... Day 1 of production for me is not until Monday. That's the first time in six seasons that, you know, I haven't - I wasn't there to start it off. But they very kindly gave me a day off because I wrapped filming on Code 8 at 6 o'clock in the morning on Thursday morning. I wanted like a day. Can I have a day? Please." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 8, 2017, fan tweeted: "DAVID, STEPHEN, AND EMILY ALL START FILMING ON MONDAY. (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: emilyxbrochu tweet, page 596 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 9, 2017, SA tweeted: "I start shooting my 116th episode of Arrow tomorrow. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!" (SA tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 9, 2017, papp tweeted: "Got #autographs from #Arrow stars Stephen Amell, Josh Segarra, Echo Kellum and Rick Gonzalez this weekend." (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 10, 2017, DR tweeted: "Wrapped the 1st day of season 6 of one of the greatest shows with the greatest cast, crew & fans television has seen. Ever   #ArrowSeason6." (DR tweet, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 11, 2017, papp tweeted about WH: "She works her first day on Weds." (pursuit23 tweet, page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- On Jul. 11, 2017, papp tweeted that EBR started filming that day. As for KC, papp tweeted: "She filmed friday doesnt work again until later in week." (pursuit23 tweets, page 597 of Social Media thread)
-- Notice of Filming (dated Jul. 4, 2017) stated that Arrow will film at Princess Park on Jul. 12, 2017: "A small crew arrives at Princess Park to prepare for filming. This will include laying cable and placing trees on stands on pathways east of the main parking lot. We will also be adding set pieces resembling an airstrip to the open area across the bridge at this time. ... Filming takes place within Princess Park in the small clearing across the bridge. The scene consists of several actors running and taking cover. There will be several audible popping sounds during this time as well as exposed replica weapons...." (Jul. 12, 2017 Velocity23 post, page 3 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, papp posted EBR pic and tweeted: "A bloodied Emily Bett Rickards on the set of #Arrow today in North Vancouver. Lots of cast there, but do any die?" (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, papp tweeted: "As well as Echo Kellum, Rick Gonzalz, Juliana Harkavy aaaand Anna Hopkins." (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, papp tweeted: "Got #autographs today from #Arrow returning guest stars Anna Hopkins aaaaand Manu Bennett." (canadagraphs tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, papp tweeted: "Paul Blackthorne, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett & Manu Bennett so far been spotted at north van park set." (pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, papp tweeted: "Huge explosion from #Arrow S6 set in North Vancouver's Princess Park. Lian Yu blowing up again? Walked past Diggle earlier. Hope he's OK" and "Another SPFX explosion at #Arrow Season 6 set in North Vancouver's Princess Park. This one much less startling." (yvrshoots tweets, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 12, 2017, fan posted pic of Manu Bennett in his Deathstroke costume and tweeted: "Caught a glimpse of @manubennett as Deathstroke on the set of #Arrow today in North Vancouver." (realarizonajake tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp posted pic of JH as BC and tweeted: "#Arrow shot scenes last night w/ most of the cast, incl. Juliana Harkavy in her new Black Canary outfit." Papp also tweeted: "I can confirm E2 Laurel was on set." (canadagraphs tweets, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, papp posted pic of JH and KC on set, and tweeted: "#Arrow stars Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary and Katie Cassidy as Black Siren get their hair set for a scene last night." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1564 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 14, 2017, someone posted video clip of a man falling from the sky and being caught by another man, and tweeted: "Stunts for DC - Arrow." (MattagneJames tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, DR tweeted: "Bamford:Ok guys, let's throw someone off of this bridge! ARROWSTUNTCREW: YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! ArrowSeason6." (DR tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow on downtown Vancouver's Georgia Viaduct again tonight. Expect some spectacular stunts." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, fan tweeted: "@StephenAmell and new big bad on viaduct aa we speak doing fight scene." When asked who was the new Big Bad, fan tweeted: "No clue but his outfit is all black with red chest and back plate and full helmet." (kerri5577 tweets, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 15, 2017, papp tweeted: "Glad to see Manu is back to his old self, cool as fuck & just shooting the shit." (pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp tweeted that WH returned to shoot a couple of hospital scenes and hasn't been seen since. (Sunshine post, page 1574 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 28, 2017, James Bamford posted pic of editing room, where screen shows scene of GA inside what looks like a warehouse building, with comment: "Here we are again....this time cutting episode 6.01 with Tom....#Arrow." (JBamford instagram pic, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 13, 2017, SA tweeted: "Just finished watching 601 - 603 of Arrow. My heart is full." (SA tweet, page 1598 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 26, 2017, the following was posted on Reddit: "If you care, Thea was in a coma from Ep 1. She woke up in Ep 7 when they were celebrating Thanksgiving. (but she's not in the crossover)." (Reddit screengrab in Soulfire post, page 1615 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 28, 2017, when asked if Thea, Quentin and BS will be in the crossover, papp tweeted: "Thea I think is still in a coma, the other two maybe." When asked why Thea is still in a coma, papp tweeted: "Cus she doesn't want to film Arrow, & wants to do as few eps as possible. She asked for less Eps last season." (pursuit23 tweets, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 12, 2017, MG tweeted 601 production art of six costumes in glass cases. (MG tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Edited October 12, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This thread is for archived spoilers only - commentary on spoilers should go in the Spoiler Discussion thread...

SUMMARY OF 602 SPOILERS:

S6, Episode 2: Tribute
-- Production code: 602. Shoot Dates: July 19-August 1, 2017. Director: Laura Belsey. Story: Adam Schwartz. Teleplay: Marc Guggenheim & Beth Schwartz. Airdate: October 19, 2017. (Jul. 20, 2017 MG tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 602 synopsis: "ANATOLY RETURNS TO STAR CITY — Oliver (Stephen Amell) tries to balance being the mayor, the Green Arrow and a father to William (guest star Jack Moore). Anatoly (guest star David Nykl) returns to Star City with a deadly agenda. Laura Belsey directed the episode with story by Adam Schwartz and teleplay by Marc Guggenheim & Beth Schwartz (#602).  Original airdate 10/19/2017." (Sep. 28, 2017 AmellDaily tweet and Sep. 29, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 602 promo video posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle and Samanda Watson. (Oct. 12, 2017 CW "Arrow Tribute Trailer" video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 602 promo video, featuring impromptu press conference given by Mayor Oliver Queen: "Photos can be doctored. They could've put Bruce Wayne's head on that body." (Video clip in Oct. 18, 2017 CW_Arrow tweet, page 1634 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 602 sneak peek video posted, featuring Anatoly's attack on Oliver's meeting with press corps. (Oct. 19, 2017 602 sneak peek video in Soulfire post, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 602 producer's preview posted. (602 producer's preview video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 602 promo pics posted, featuring Oliver, Anatoly and Dinah. (Oct. 7, 2017 SpoilerTV and GreenArrowTV articles, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 602 dialogue tease: "I don't think you understand how this whole 'rescue' thing works." (Oct. 19, 2017 Arrowwriters tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- GreenArrowTV tweeted: "There’s a new #Arrow title card for 602 representing the many members of Team Arrow. I like it." (Oct. 17, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 1633 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per DCTV's Hector Navarro, after CH 52 revealed the identity of the GA to be Oliver Queen, Mayor Queen holds a press conference and "there is a name drop to a famous DC hero that I don't even know how they were able to do it, so you gotta listen for it because it's awesome." The FBI sends one of its top agents to investigate this claim that the GA is Mayor Oliver Queen. How will it end up? Hector doesn't know, but he does know that "Agent Samanda Watson is damn good at her job, so watch out, Ollie and friends, because this might not end up so great." Also, Hector said: "Curtis has a secret job in tech that he didn't tell anybody about. Curtis is the best. He's been doing his own thing on the side." Also, Hector said: "Dinah is concerned about Diggle's skills in the field. What's going on with Diggle? You gotta watch the episode the find out." (Oct. 16, 2017 DCTV's DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- ComicBook editor James Viscardi tweeted: "HOLY WOW. This week’s #Arrow is going to light the Internet on fire. MAJOR DC name drop & big things for #Oliver #Felicity #Diggle & more." (Oct. 17, 2017, JimViscardi tweet, page 1633 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- TVInsider's Damian Holbrook tweeted: "whoa... VERY interesting name-check in this week's #Arrow." Carina MacKenzie reply tweeted: "IT IS THE BEST AND @StephenAmell WROTE THE LINE." (Oct. 17, 2017 damianholbrook and cadlymack tweets, page 1633 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per TVInsider's Damian Holbrook, Black Canary and Black Siren fight "like three times" in 602. (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley tweted: "Tomorrow night's Arrow is...definitely a doozy. I may have sworn at my TV at one point out of sheer surprise." and "One of the most balanced episodes in a long time." (Oct. 18, 2017 lah9891 tweets, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- THR's Sydney Bucksbaum tweeted: "Oh wow the end of this week's #Arrow is NUTS. No spoilers, but I truly have no idea where this is going, and I'm super excited about it." (Oct. 17, 2017 SydneyBucksbaum tweet, page 1633 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oliver/GA pic reveal at the end of 601, MG said that we've never seen Oliver caught so red-handed before and that we'll see in 602 how that's handled. MG: "Next week's episode will show you, I think, how he's handling it differently and how we're, as writers, handling it differently." (Oct. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver will handle the media leak of his GA pic, SA: "I love the way that he handles it. We end the first episode with people being like, 'Oh God, look at this, this is a photo,' and I was so pleasantly surprised to see the next episode [602]. I come in and talk with the reporters, and one of the things that I’m enjoying doing as mayor this year, and Oliver as a character to a certain extent, is I’ve tried to up the charm factor a little bit. He should be a little more comfortable in his shoes as a public figure. He steps in and deals with the press in a very, very relaxed way. Quentin says to him, 'You seem pretty good with this,' and Oliver’s like, 'I’ve been here before.' In that scene, we get to do the coolest name drop that we’ve ever done not the show, which I was really fired up about. What he hasn’t counted on is the one FBI agent that will just stop at nothing to prove - Special Agent Watson [Sydelle Noel] just thinks I’m full of sh—. She is 100 percent sure. If Lance in season 1 was 100 percent sure, Special Agent Watson is like 400 percent sure that he is totally f—ing lying and that he is the Green Arrow and she doesn’t care." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "We know Anatoly is this really nice guy, but I have a scene with him in episode 602 and it’s just cold-blooded." (Oct. 10, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1626 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "I’ve been really impressed [with Season 6]; there’s a really pivotal moment at the end of our second episode and when I saw it I thought to myself, 'OK, this is interesting. Are we going to follow through with it?' And we really do. We followed through with it. There’s a maturity there that I’m very proud of." (Oct. 5, 2017 TVLine article, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Anatoly has an interesting power over [Oliver] that I don’t know a lot of other villains — if any villain at all — has ever had... Oliver didn’t kill Chase for a very specific reason, because that’s what Chase wanted, but he tried to kill Malcolm, and he killed Slade once upon a time, and then put him away in prison, and then he went on this anti-killing thing, but he still killed Ra’s al Ghul and still killed Damien Darhk. Anatoly is this weird grey area of a guy that he loves and respects too much.” (Oct. 5, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "But, uh, there are no flashbacks in the second episode." (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 8, 2017: Pia Val video of SA panel, page 3 of New Spoilers thread, and CharmingWords23 tweet, page 1553 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "We hit the ground running, right? It feels like from the Season 5 momentum - it feels like when we start with 601, like, there haven't been - well, a couple - but nothing has made my jaw drop in the first three scripts that I've read. Um, but concurrently, like, they're really tight and they're really moving the story forward... I feel like we're using the license that we've earned over five seasons to play it slow with some stories." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "I feel like we hit the ground running this year. I really do. I feel like we took the momentum of Season 5 and carried it into the first couple of episodes of Season 6. One of my favorite parts about - my jaw has not dropped when I've been reading a script. That happens every once in a while. It happened last year with episode 509. It was like, 'oh my god, he kills Billy.' Rest in peace, Billy. Um, but, uh, no - the first, like, three scripts that I've read, they're really tight, they're really action packed, they're really moving the story forward. But it also feels like we're taking our time, which is something I feel like we've earned. Um, taking our time is cool." (Aug. 18, 2017 Hollywood Outbreak podcast interview with SA, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "It’s a strange thing. Oliver actually this season is a very contented individual... At least so far. Methinks that will probably change, based on just 120-some episodes of history. But I’ve seen three episodes and he’s smiling a lot more….. It’s nice as an actor to not be a stick in the mud all the time.” (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Fan report on what SA said: "-Here's how she says the convo went down. When he was signing my bag he asked if she was excited for the new season. She was like, 'I am but I'd be even more excited if I knew that I was going to actually like Oliver again.' He chuckled and she added 'Cause last year was a bit rough.' He stopped and looked at her and said 'Yeah, last year was rough. I know what you're...' Then he kind of stopped himself and said, 'I know, but I'm telling you, you're going to like him again. I guarantee it. I know the first five, no wait, six episodes and you're going to be happy.' She thanked him and went to move on and he was like 'I'm serious. I GUARANTEE it! Trust me.' She says he was very emphatic about the whole thing." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On who would be his favorite superhero to play, DR: "And Diggle's would probably be Arrow. Which by the way is going to be very interesting, come the first few episodes of the season. That's another big nugget." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: EZStreetRick video of part 1 of DR panel, page 622 of Social Media thread, and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "OMG! David gave me a HUGE SPOILER bc I guessed a major storyline for the first 6 episodes. My heart is still racing!" and "What would Dig do if Oliver needed to 'out' himself? 'He'd become the Green Arrow. Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you this because... you just guessed the plot for the first 6 episodes of Season 6. Good guess!'" (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: hotcookinmama2 tweets, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 
-- On Dinah looking into Diggle's secret in 602, JH: "Definitely. That’s what Dinah does, she’s a detective, and she’s going to get to the bottom of it. She’s going to make that one of her goals." On whether this will drive them apart or bring them closer together as colleagues, JH: "You know, I think it could do both. Any time there’s a wedge or a secret put between two people in a group, it’s an obstacle — but there’s also a chance to get over it and become closer." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah taking it upon herself to figure out what's wrong with Diggle, JH: "She does. Dinah really honors the fact that he was one of the first people to take her in. They have a close friendship, and they’re a team, so when one person is affected, everyone is affected. She takes it upon herself to make sure he’s OK and and get to the bottom of what’s happening." And on being concerned about Diggle being in the field with her when he isn't at 100%, JH: "She is. I think that’s partially why she wants to get to the bottom of what’s going on with him. She knows that she – or anyone on the team – could get hurt if something’s wrong with him. She’s concerned and maybe just a little bit annoyed." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- In 602, Dinah gets involved in a storyline that could affect Team Arrow. JH: "With what's happening with Diggle (David Ramsey)? Right, right. I think Dinah is very aware of that and wants to get to the bottom of it quickly. Because with this team, if one person is compromised the whole team is compromised and it's gonna be a matter of loyalty versus honesty. I think that's a really tough one for Dinah. Because she was keeping her secret with Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), it's like she doesn't want to be hypocritical, but on the other hand, somebody could get hurt." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- David Nykl: "I just did Arrow episode 602 a couple of weeks ago. I know I'm going to be in 609 coming up at the end of the month." (Four State Comic Con, Sep. 9 or 10, 2017: Sep. 19, 2017 Cosplay Spotlite with Captain Kyle video, page 7 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 20, 2017, MG tweeted: "Arrow Ep. 602 is in production." (MG tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 22, 2017, SA said that they're "halfway through the second episode." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video interview with Arrow cast in Entertainment Weekly article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 22, 2017, RG: "I did a scene and I felt like I was in a different chair, this time." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 24, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming in studio today #yvrshoots @olv @WhatsFilming Saw Emily Bett David Ramsey & Echo return from SDCC so good bet they working." (pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 26, 2017, SA posted pic of vehicles parked behind a building, including a trailer and first aid truck, and tweeted: "Episode 117." (SA tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 26, 2017, Mayor of New Westminster posted pic of Star City Mayoral seal wall plaque and tweeted: "#newwest City Hall has been transformed for the filming of Arrow. Guess that makes me the Mayor of Star City." (jonathanxcote tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp posted pic of South Hall building on street and tweeted: "#Arrow filming in South Hall in south Vancouver today." (yvrshoots tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, when asked if KC is still filming or still just playing with Carlos, papp tweeted: "She's had more days with Carlos than work this ep." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp tweeted: "Is Willa Holland ever coming back to film more Arrow, like hmmmm wtf." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, Michael Emerson tweeted: "I think I'm Vancouver-bound! Excited to join a fabulous success like @ArrowCWTV. I'll just keep my head down and try to make a contribution." (ME tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, papp tweeted that SA, DR and JH filmed that day. (Chaser post, page 1574 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 27, 2017, SA posted facebook video in which he said: "I beat the sh*t out of five guys. And it's in the kitchen." (SA facebook video, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 1, 2017, papp said that SA, DR, EBR, EK, JH and RG were filming. (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 1, 2017, SA posted video clip of Green Arrow fighting several men in what looks like a warehouse district. (SA facebook video, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Sep. 13, 2017, SA tweeted: "Just finished watching 601 - 603 of Arrow. My heart is full." (SA tweet, page 1598 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Edited October 19, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from October 12, 2017, to October 20, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #7 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Producers/Writers/Directors
-- Per MG, James Bamford will be "directing four different episodes for us... and he'll also have a hand in all the episodes that he's not directing." (Oct. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- James Bamford gave a detailed interview to Culturess on how stunt work prepared him for directing. (Oct. 18, 2017 Culturess article, page 242 of Starling City TImes article)
-- Despite directing multiple episodes of both The Flash and Supergirl, Kevin Smith doesn't believe that he’ll ever be able to direct an Arrow episode, saying: “I talked to [Marc Guggenheim] once after a panel at the Paley Center, I was the moderator for the Paley Center CW panel at the Hollywood and Highland complex. And so afterwards, I was talking to Marc, and I was like, ‘Hey man, fans keep saying they want me to direct an episode of [Arrow], I would love that, I wrote Green Arrow.’ He knows that. And he goes, ‘Yeah, you know, Arrow is very dark. Legends [of Tomorrow] would be good for you,' he said with a laugh. So, I don’t think they’re ever gonna let me near Arrow, which is totally fine.” (Oct. 18, 2017 ScreenRant article cited in CBR article, page 402 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

S6 Tone
-- In response to comment about the reflective nature of S5, MG: "Um, what's the opposite of reflective?... Last year was all about the show and Oliver moving on from the past, so very much by design, Oliver is no longer being reflective. He's leaving the past in the past in season six. It's freed us up as storytellers, but it's really done wonders I think for Oliver as a person. He handles things differently now. He kinda has his s--t together, and that's very much by design." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Generally
-- MG: "Going into season six, we only have so much energy and bandwidth to dedicate towards the preserving its surprises," Guggenheim admitted. "That's not to say that we don't care about surprises -- we totally do, and we're always trying. There's stuff coming up to season where we're taking people's names out of credits, we're issuing false script pages, we're issuing false casting breakdowns. We're still doing our thing to try to keep the surprises intact, but it's a little hard to do. I also think that we live in a world where if you really, truly, desperately want to know something, there are means of finding out. And if you want to not be spoiled...well that's a lot easier." (Oct. 12, 2017 ComicBook article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- MG: "You are definitely still getting flashbacks, they just are not serialized... And they're not in every episode. We've always used the flashbacks to hopefully illuminate the present day story, or comment on the present day story, so we do that when we feel like we've got a present day story that benefits from them. And when we feel like we don't need it, we don't do it. But there were a bunch of cast members on that island, and you know, the ones who didn't make it off the island, it's nice that they've got an avenue for us to still see them." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Team Arrow
-- On how GA becoming Public Enemy No. 1 last season will make Team Arrow’s job more difficult this season, EBR: "Superheroes can wear a mask for only so long. They’re undercover already, but they have to go into super lockdown in a way. They have to try new tactics and operate missions in different ways and not everyone is going to be playing the same role." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Dinah's loyalty should lie with Oliver or with the team at this point, JH: "I think it's always sort of a balance with the two. Oliver is always the head of the team and the very first thing the team needs to respect together in order to make it work is that Oliver is the captain. But on the other hand, as a member of the team, you also have to be sensitive to the other members of the team and if they have their own personal struggles and their own things. So it's a balancing act, being true to the team, true to Oliver and then also honoring what everybody's going through as an individual." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "I think this season the team is really going to come together, as a whole and then the individuals within it are going to develop as well and their relationships are going to get deeper. You’re going to see Dinah becoming close with, I think, many members of the team, but Diggle and Dinah, they’re friends, they’re close and I think that that’s the first relationship that we’re going to sort of see more of this season and it’ll change and it’ll grow." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On having Diggle take over as GA, JH: "It’s definitely something that we’re going to have to entertain at least for a little while, until we can figure something else out for Oliver... The team is going to have to try to adjust. They’re going to have to try to realign their positions on the team and refocus their strengths and just try to make it work.” (Oct.19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver passing the GA mantle to Diggle, JH: "Any time that the hierarchy gets shaken up, it's going to put a fault into the foundation and everything is going to shift... If somebody else is now the head, then how does the chain of command fall? The team is going to have to figure out how to restructure themselves and relearning everyone's strengths. Because without the captain, that's all you have to rely on." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "This season I have more time to interact with everyone on the team. She has reinvested herself as a fully committed member of the team... She embraced her mantle so we're really getting to see her relationships with everybody expanding and getting deeper." And that's why she's been able to take on more of a leadership role on the team. JH: "It goes hand-in-hand with Dinah's personality. She is a fighter, she is a natural leader... She also has a lot of respect for the hierarchy of the team, so she's not trying to take over but she has a stronger voice and it's been a lot of fun to get to know that voice more and use and flex it and see how it fits into the rest of the team. She's become a stronger version of herself." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- EW's Natalie Abrams: "Also, in photos coming up from the next episode, we see Oliver and Felicity kissing. So maybe he's back to focusing on that relationship, now that William is settled. So, uh, yeah, that's where we're heading." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what he can tease about the Olicity relationship going forward, SA: "It looks good. We had a nice moment between them in the premiere that set the table — they pushed the pause button because Oliver’s relationship with William was more important, and the immediate aftermath of Samantha’s death was obviously very traumatic for him, so it’s Oliver’s responsibility to make sure that William getting comfortable with Oliver was the most important thing. But there are flickers. They’re obviously in love with one another, but they just haven’t pulled the trigger on the full-fledged back-together let’s-go-for-it." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether there is more trust between Oliver & Felicity after everything they’ve been through, SA: "They have so much history together that it’s just a matter of when’s the right time? There’s a dynamic that cannot be ignored with William. Oliver loves Felicity — and I think he hopes she loves him — in a way that they will always be there for each other. It’s been five months since Lian Yu, so if it takes another five months, or another five years, then hopefully they’ll still feel the same way." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Diggle will start to struggle as the GA because being the leader of Team Arrow is harder than you think and because he's hiding an injury. She said the question is, can Oliver really stay away from the team. She asked that question of SA. Per Natalie, both SA and DR think it's not a permanent thing that Oliver stays away from Team Arrow, but they don't know. But for right now, this is the new normal and Diggle is the GA. Oliver is really out, except for one time in an upcoming episode (604), where Oliver has to come back into the team "in a different way... Stephen says it's a surprising way that you wouldn't expect." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Oliver is more focused on his son and more focused on being the mayor: "Also, in photos coming up from the next episode, we see Oliver and Felicity kissing. So maybe he's back to focusing on that relationship, now that William is settled. So, uh, yeah, that's where we're heading." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Last year was all about the show and Oliver moving on from the past, so very much by design, Oliver is no longer being reflective. He's leaving the past in the past in season six. It's freed us up as storytellers, but it's really done wonders I think for Oliver as a person. He handles things differently now. He kinda has his s--t together, and that's very much by design." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "Oliver's life is never going to be sunshine and roses because that doesn't make for good television and certainly not in keeping with this particular show, but you had a friend who just kept making the same mistakes over and over again and never moved on and never evolved and never got their s--t together, you'd probably stop being friends with that person... So the way I like to describe it is like if Oliver did a lot of really good work in therapy. Just because you did a lot of good work in therapy doesn't mean that life isn't going to throw you a lot of curveballs. It doesn't mean that everything's going to go your way, but it does hopefully mean that when bad things happen, you approach those bad things in a different way than you would have prior to the therapy." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "To be very blunt about it, because Oliver has his s--t together and the essence of drama is conflict, the most resonant stories are going to come out of people who are not Oliver, because like I said, Oliver's going to be dealing with stuff, but he's dealing with stuff from a much more zen kind of place, a much more evolved kind of place than maybe some of the other characters. So we're going to get to see Oliver be more of a mentor than we've seen in the past. (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Oliver will handle the fact that a photo of Oliver as Green Arrow leaked to the media in the S6 premiere, SA: "I love the way that he handles it. We end the first episode with people being like, 'Oh God, look at this, this is a photo,' and I was so pleasantly surprised to see the next episode. I come in and talk with the reporters, and one of the things that I’m enjoying doing as mayor this year, and Oliver as a character to a certain extent, is I’ve tried to up the charm factor a little bit. He should be a little more comfortable in his shoes as a public figure. He steps in and deals with the press in a very, very relaxed way. Quentin says to him, 'You seem pretty good with this,' and Oliver’s like, 'I’ve been here before.' In that scene, we get to do the coolest name drop that we’ve ever done not the show, which I was really fired up about. What he hasn’t counted on is the one FBI agent that will just stop at nothing to prove - Special Agent Watson [Sydelle Noel] just thinks I’m full of sh—. She is 100 percent sure. If Lance in season 1 was 100 percent sure, Special Agent Watson is like 400 percent sure that he is totally f—ing lying and that he is the Green Arrow and she doesn’t care." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oliver giving up being the GA (at the end of 602) and whether he still gets the urge to go out there, SA: "That’s been the cool thing about this season is that he can’t. You say him giving up the mantle is the game changer, but William is the game changer. The father-son dynamic can’t possibly can’t get any stronger than that. For all of the things that Oliver’s dad did wrong, and for all the things that we have since learned about him, Oliver still reveres him and holds him up to such a high standard, so that relationship is so important. I give it to Diggle; I don’t give it to him with a heavy heart, I give it to him with a full heart. I give it to him expecting him to be able to handle it. I like the idea that I give it to him because the city needs a Green Arrow, right? The Green Arrow can be more than one person. The Green Arrow is a symbol and his team is a symbol. The fact that we are pushing Star City in the right direction is something that is important to me because I don’t want the city to get destroyed every year, because then what’s the point of what we’re doing? We’re a team of vigilantes that are the definition of insanity, because we’re just doing things over and over again and hoping for a different result. Obviously I don’t know what’s going on with Diggle, but I give it up and there’s not a lot of angst. ... It’s been a very strange time for me on the show, because we’re talking about going on four episodes now where I’m really out of the mix, and that’s been challenging for me, because I prep myself to work all the time, but we had — without getting into details — a story line last year where in the aftermath of Oliver being tortured by Chase — the big torture, making him reveal his animal instincts and that he enjoyed killing at one point — the producers and I had a lot of back and forth after that about how long that should affect him, because in one iteration, he just jumped right back on the horse. I was like, 'Well, if we don’t follow the through line of that affecting him, then what was the point? What was the point of it happening if it doesn’t have consequences?' So I like that he’s given the mantle to Diggle and that’s been the show since then. That, to me, is really cool." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether he realistically sees Oliver really never suiting up again, SA: "No. Look, I remember one season of 24 when Jack Bauer had been taken prisoner, Jack was in China. They’re like, 'Well, how long of this season is Jack going to be in China for?' and the producers were like, 'He’s landing like six minutes after it starts. The show is the show.' Our show’s the show, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t surprise people. If he suits back up again, it doesn’t mean that all of a sudden it goes back to the status quo." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver is prepared to take a step back as a leader or is he still active with Team Arrow in certain ways, SA: "He’s out. He’s totally out. We have an instance where he has to hop back in, but it’s not in the capacity that people would expect him to. It’s in an episode called 'Reversal.' He does have to hop back in, but other than the occasional visit, he’s out." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Because of his 10 years of experience, on how he thinks Oliver is a different leader this year, SA: "He gives some advice to Diggle and a little bit with Felicity, but I can’t remember the last — there have been major characters on the show that I have not interacted with for several episodes. It’s really different, it’s been an adjustment for me." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Even though he's no longer Green Arrow, on what kind of pressure Samanda puts on him moving forward, SA: "At the end of 602, I wanted to play it where I deny this, but then I also politely threaten her. I’ve had this done to me in business before, where someone says something nice to you, but then you step back for a second and go, 'Wait a second, did that person just threaten me?' I’m not going to say who did it, but they’re really excellent at it, so I wanted to bring that same feeling into that scene where I sit down and say, 'Look, you’re wrong. What you’re doing is, you’re barking up the wrong tree, but if you’re right, how far do you think a person like that would go to protect the people closest to him?' So we’re playing real cat and mouse, but I haven’t really dealt with her since. What I like is, she’s starting to poke at other people on his team. She’s on absolutely everybody." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver's days as GA are over, SA explained his lighter work load early in the season: "In the early part of the season we undertake a storyline and we stick to it. [But] that’s all about to change.” TVLine noted that he was headed into production on 607 at the time. (Oct.19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On his favorite part of the season so far, SA: "Omitting the crossovers - they're so heavy on my brain right now - I'd have to go with a scene between Mr. Ramsey and I (a series of scenes actually) in an upcoming episode. No specific number." (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When fan asked him about Oliver interacting with Black Siren, SA: "When it happens this year, you'll be the first to know."  (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- SA: "He gives some advice to Diggle and a little bit with Felicity...." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Felicity will be suffering PTSD in the wake of the island explosion, EBR: "In terms of affecting her, she just goes right back into the team and is hopefully trying to find her purpose in starting a company and maybe doing some good in the world again." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what characters (other than Diggle) would she like to see Dinah interact with, JH: "Definitely Felicity. I think that they’re the two women on the team and in the bunker together and I love Emily [Bett Rickards] and I love working with her, so — on a personal level and for Dinah’s sake — I think more interaction with her would be great. Honestly, other than that, I think I would just like to show a little bit of her relationship with everyone, because the team is so interesting because of the dynamics, so it would just be nice to explore all of them, you know? Curtis and Renee… There’s a comedic element there, and they bring out Dinah’s lighter side. Hopefully, we’ll get to see a little bit of everything." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

William Clayton
-- MG: "The performances of William and Oliver are spectactular, and also because it's something you haven't seen on the show before, and I think when you get into the sixth season of a show, we as writers are always looking for ways of keeping the show the show you know, but at the same time doing things you've never seen before, and certainly seeing Oliver with his son and being a father, instead of being a brother, instead of being a son as we've seen him before. It's different, and I think it's very resonant." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On Oliver as a father, MG: "I would say he's better than you expect. He doesn't exactly have a lot of role models. He doesn't have a lot to work off of when it comes to being a parent. He's pretty much on his own here... I gotta say, even if we wanted to write Oliver as a terrible father, I don't think it would play because truth be told, Stephen exudes so much parental warmth in those scenes that even when Oliver's like, maybe not giving the exact best advice, it's so hard to really criticize him as a parent because the unconditional love he shows for his son is just so apparent—no pun intended." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Diggle will start to struggle as the GA because being the leader of Team Arrow is harder than you think and because he's hiding an injury. She said the question is, can Oliver really stay away from the team. She asked that question of SA. Per Natalie, both SA and DR think it's not a permanent thing that Oliver stays away from Team Arrow, but they don't know. But for right now, this is the new normal and Diggle is the GA. Oliver is really out, except for one time in an upcoming episode (604), where Oliver has to come back into the team "in a different way... Stephen says it's a surprising way that you wouldn't expect." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we'll see any personal Diggle flashbacks this season, MG: "We are going to do character-centered flashbacks... and we’re very cognizant of the fact that we’ve never done a non-military flashback for Diggle. It’s something we talk about a lot but we have to marry it to the right story." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On his favorite part of the season so far, SA: "Omitting the crossovers - they're so heavy on my brain right now - I'd have to go with a scene between Mr. Ramsey and I (a series of scenes actually) in an upcoming episode. No specific number." (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "He gives some advice to Diggle and a little bit with Felicity...." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On what kind of PTSD people will be suffering in the wake of the island explosion, DR: "Right after Oliver and his son, probably of the team, easily Diggle is the most affected. There’s a major physical deficit that he has that we play out for a good portion of the beginning part of the season. It affects him, it affects the team and his relationship with Oliver and his wife. He gets injured, he’s injured in this whole catastrophe and he’s hiding it." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah/Diggle, JH: "I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about that, seeing people have a lot of theories…. Yeah, Dinah and Diggle are friends. Dinah and Diggle are almost best friends. Or at least for Dinah, Diggle is her best friend, she’s her family. She’s an intense person and she’s pissed [about what he’s hiding], so her intensity shines through even more. Any time you have two actors in an intense space, it could seem like something else, but no, I can assure everyone that Dinah’s intentions toward Diggle are pure — and vice versa." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread andpage 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- In 602, Dinah gets involved in a storyline that could affect Team Arrow. JH: "With what's happening with Diggle (David Ramsey)? Right, right. I think Dinah is very aware of that and wants to get to the bottom of it quickly. Because with this team, if one person is compromised the whole team is compromised and it's gonna be a matter of loyalty versus honesty. I think that's a really tough one for Dinah. Because she was keeping her secret with Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), it's like she doesn't want to be hypocritical, but on the other hand, somebody could get hurt." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On working with DR, JH: "Well, working with David has been amazing because he is truly one of the most talented, just kind and awesome people that I’ve met ever, anywhere. So it’s been really wonderful and an honor just working with him and learning from him. And the scenes have been really fun, because they’re really charged scenes, they’re really loaded, and Diggle and Dinah are two fierce characters. They’re friends, but there’s a lot of fire there, so I think the scenes have been fun to film for sure and, from what I hear, they’ve been fun to watch, so that makes me happy." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "You’re going to see Dinah becoming close with, I think, many members of the team, but Diggle and Dinah, they’re friends, they’re close and I think that that’s the first relationship that we’re going to sort of see more of this season and it’ll change and it’ll grow." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether switching from guns to arrows will solve or compound Diggle's degenerative neurological condition, JH: "I think it could do both." (Oct.19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Diggle continuing to hide the secret of his injury from the rest of the team "definitely concerns" Dinah. JH: "It gives her even more reason to want to make sure that Diggle's going to be okay and figure out what's going on... That's a big loss, not having Oliver so to have the new Green Arrow compromised as well, she's concerned, for sure." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "Dinah is just a ball-buster so if she sees something like that, she's going to go for it and she's going to hone in and get to the bottom of it. Diggle is one of her closest friends and she's concerned, and this is her way of showing it... She doesn't want the team to get hurt if he's compromised. She takes it upon herself to make sure nobody gets hurt." But she adds that Diggle telling her the truth about his injury "is a step in the right direction." Because she kept her own secret after Lian Yu that was exposed and she's been through the experience of losing someone, "she just has a lot of love in her heart and a lot of trauma, so she wants him to be okay. It's all coming from a place of love." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- This season will see Dinah getting a love interest, but JH reassured ComicBook.com that it probably won't be with who you're expecting (not Diggle). (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle/Dinah, JH: “Building that relationship has been one of my favorite things about this season... I know there’s a lot of speculation as to what that relationship is. To me, I think it’s really a very deep friendship. I think Dinah finds a kindred spirit in Diggle and cares for him a lot. Once she can open herself up to somebody, if you are in her heart, you’re in. And I think seeing Diggle compromised, it’s really opened her up as a person and as a character and let her show some of her vulnerability. I really love what they’ve given to Dinah and Diggle.” (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 20, 2017, DR posted pic of himself in his GA suit, with comment: "@StephenAmell until your return my friend... I accept. #arrowseason6." (DR instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, Audrey Marie Anderson tweeted: "Landed in South Africa. Filming the last five episodes of ICE in the Mother City!!???? #ICE @IceAudience." (aud_anderson tweet, page 34 of Arrow Stars in Other Roles thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- When asked about WH's contract status for S6, MG: “She’s on a similar deal as she was last year.” Last season WH dialed back her commitment to 14 out of 23 episodes. However, MG wouldn’t zero in on her exact episode count for S6. (Oct. 14, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Oliver feels guilt over Thea's coma, SA: " Interestingly enough, I don’t know a ton about that story line. When we see her in the premiere, she’s not unconscious, because if she was unconscious or if she looked as though she was clinging to life, Oliver’s reaction would’ve been very different, and Slade’s reaction would’ve been very different. In actuality, when they happen upon her, it just appears that she’s dead, like dead dead, like been dead for a minute. So her being in a coma, I don’t know where Oliver’s head is with that. In my mind, something miraculous happened on the island and Oliver having seen what he’s seen over the course of his time away and his time back, be it aliens or super speed or people flying or what have you and people resurrected, I think that whatever state she’s in, Oliver just effectively expects a miracle of some type." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 14, 2017, regarding the same day TVLine article, papp tweeted: "Well she's been in a coma since the first episode soooo." When asked if she's been on set once already, papp tweeted: "Once since the first ep." (pursuit23 tweets, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming in studio today ( Not Crossover )" and "Big day both Willa and Katie filming today!" (pursuit23 tweet, page 1634 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Quentin Lance
-- On how her relationship with Quentin evolves this season, JH: "Their closeness does come from their time on Lian Yu. They were together on the island, and together they kept the secret of Lance shooting Black Siren from everybody, and because of that they developed a closer friendship." And whether there's any weirdness between the two of them about Dinah becoming the Black Canary, JH: "Because Dinah did take up that mantle – and she is so connected to Lance’s daughter – I think there is a paternal relationship with him. I think he gets a sense of closeness from Dinah because there are similarities to Laurel." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- DCTV's Hector Navarro: "Curtis has a secret job in tech that he didn't tell anybody about. Curtis is the best. He's been doing his own thing on the side." (Oct. 16, 2017 DCTV's DC All Access video, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- On Oct. 14, 2017, Andy Poon posted pic of new Wild Dog costume, with comment: "This is the best picture I can find of the Wilddog 2.0 suit that debuted on last nights season premiere of Arrow. Another fun concept illustration to work on with costume designer Maya Mani. This one was a bit challenging to work the iconic Wilddog graphic into the top of the suit itself without being too obvious. Great job from the Arrowverse costume and prop as usual! Hope there will be some better picture soon and maybe sharing the concept!" (andypoondesign instagram post, page 634 of Social Media thread)

Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary
-- On WM's comment that Dinah's new swagger will have “consequences down the road," JH: "I actually had a mini panic attack when I read that! [Laughs] Like, “What does she do? What does she do?!” She said it happens around midseason, so I should find out soon. But I can gather what she’s saying — Dinah’s confidence sort of borders on cockiness. She has swagger, she does, and she can piss people off, so… we’ll see!" (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah being more embedded and having a greater voice on the team this season, JH: "And that has been great. She definitely has come into the team stronger this season. Because of what she went through on Lian Yu and just the time she spent becoming comfortable as part of the team, her voice is stronger. She’s also accepted the role of Black Canary, whereas last season she was apprehensive. She owns it as her own space now. The louder and stronger her voice is, the more there is for me to work with." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah settling into Team Arrow, JH: “The time they had together on Lian Yu definitely brought them together as a team...She’s also been fighting, training and had time to develop her craft. It’s been six months together and six months getting stronger for her.” (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah officially taking over the mantle of Black Canary, JH: "I think that’s one of the biggest things that has changed for Dinah this season: she’s let go of her reluctance to fill that position and has become a solid part of the team. She realizes that the team wants her there, and she wants to be there. Her duty is to justice – her duty is to protecting the city and making a solid team. She’s embraced it and become proud to be the Black Canary." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On continuing to explore Dinah's background, JH: "In Season 6, Dinah has more time to show herself as a whole, complete character, so other aspects of her life: her personal life, other sides of her emotionally besides just when she’s fighting on the team. So Season 6 is going to give her an opportunity to expand and fully develop. It’s been a lot of fun filming this year because she has a lot more substance and a lot more meat, and she’s dealing with a lot more on the team. She’s dealing with a lot more emotionally. So it’s just been a year of growth for her." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "I’ve been lucky... Any decision that I’ve made for Dinah, they’ve decided to go with. Any energy I bring, they decide to roll with it, or else it was already their initial plan. It’s been great; I can play and make her whatever I want and it just falls into what already is. It’s a symbiotic relationship between what’s written and how you decide to play it but it all falls together in the end." (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the DC You Black Canary miniseries influencing her portrayal of Dinah, JH: “She’s a complicated and multidimensional character... In the comics, she’s in a band and when I was reading about her initially, that was one of my favorite things about her. Even though you might never see her in a band on the show, to me there are all these layers that make her such a strong person that I’m really excited for people to see that." (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On comics Dinah being something of a rock star and whether she'd like to see that side of her come out on Arrow, JH: "It’s so funny you say that, because I always say that that’s one of those things that is in my head all the time, but you might not see one screen. In my head, Dinah goes home and she jams on her guitar and she likes music and I don’t know if that’s something that we actually would ever delve into on the show, but that’s one of my favorite parts about the character. I have a Dinah playlist on my phone that I listen to at the gym. I don’t know why, but that just really spoke to me when I found out she was in a band in the comics. I was like, “Oh, that’s amazing!” She definitely has a musical aptitude. That’s just one of those little things that we don’t have anything in there yet, but I think that’s one of my favorite parts about the character." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll be seeing Dinah as more of a cop this season, JH: "For sure, yeah. I think that the SCPD is really — she’s really passionate about it. She’s on Team Arrow and that’s sort of what she does off the clock, but that is her home. That’s her base. She’s a cop at heart, and she was promoted this year. She’s a good cop. She’s a detective, and I think she’s going to continue to blossom in her career. I also think she’s going to try to use it to help out Team Arrow and walk that line between being a cop and being a vigilante. It’s like a delicate balance, but she’s learning how to master it." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "This season I have more time to interact with everyone on the team. She has reinvested herself as a fully committed member of the team... She embraced her mantle so we're really getting to see her relationships with everybody expanding and getting deeper." And that's why she's been able to take on more of a leadership role on the team. JH: "It goes hand-in-hand with Dinah's personality. She is a fighter, she is a natural leader... She also has a lot of respect for the hierarchy of the team, so she's not trying to take over but she has a stronger voice and it's been a lot of fun to get to know that voice more and use and flex it and see how it fits into the rest of the team. She's become a stronger version of herself." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- This season will see Dinah getting a love interest, but JH reassured ComicBook.com that it probably won't be with who you're expecting (not Diggle). (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Dinah will be getting a love interest soon, JH: "Yeah, that might be in her cards this season... She's really focusing on the team and her work and her promotion at the SCPD but she needs balance and time for herself and getting her life up and going again. She sort of shut her personal life off and this is what I'm most excited about this season, to see all of the different layers of her. She's not just one note, she's more multidimensional this year. She's exploring more now." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what's ahead for Dinah's personal life, JH: "I think it's time for her to find a little balance. She's so obsessed by her pursuit of justice, it fuels her. And while it's great to have that most of the time and for the show, it's great to see, I'm also really excited to see the other side of her. She's a complex person. I have my own little backstory for her that's just in my own mind, so to be able to maybe see it through is really fun. And this year, I think that a love interest would be part of that. I'd like just seeing another side, a softer side..." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we might see a love interest for Dinah this season, JH: "That could be in the cards too, you know? I think that definitely something that after all these months fighting and on the island and just sort of blowing stuff up with the boys, I think it would be nice to see her settle in a little bit to something. That could be on the table for her. I think where last season she absolutely was still grieving, she absolutely was kind of out of her mind a little bit, and so the team reeled her in, so that was not so much on the table for her. She needed to get herself figured out. Now, this season, she’s got her job going strong, she’s more settled into Team Arrow, and I think she might like a little personal time as well with somebody." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah/Diggle, JH: "I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about that, seeing people have a lot of theories…. Yeah, Dinah and Diggle are friends. Dinah and Diggle are almost best friends. Or at least for Dinah, Diggle is her best friend, she’s her family. She’s an intense person and she’s pissed [about what he’s hiding], so her intensity shines through even more. Any time you have two actors in an intense space, it could seem like something else, but no, I can assure everyone that Dinah’s intentions toward Diggle are pure — and vice versa." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle/Dinah, JH: “Building that relationship has been one of my favorite things about this season... I know there’s a lot of speculation as to what that relationship is. To me, I think it’s really a very deep friendship. I think Dinah finds a kindred spirit in Diggle and cares for him a lot. Once she can open herself up to somebody, if you are in her heart, you’re in. And I think seeing Diggle compromised, it’s really opened her up as a person and as a character and let her show some of her vulnerability. I really love what they’ve given to Dinah and Diggle.” (Oct. 19, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion threa
-- On Dinah looking into Diggle's secret in 602, JH: "Definitely. That’s what Dinah does, she’s a detective, and she’s going to get to the bottom of it. She’s going to make that one of her goals." On whether this will drive them apart or bring them closer together as colleagues, JH: "You know, I think it could do both. Any time there’s a wedge or a secret put between two people in a group, it’s an obstacle — but there’s also a chance to get over it and become closer." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah taking it upon herself to figure out what's wrong with Diggle, JH: "She does. Dinah really honors the fact that he was one of the first people to take her in. They have a close friendship, and they’re a team, so when one person is affected, everyone is affected. She takes it upon herself to make sure he’s OK and and get to the bottom of what’s happening." And on being concerned about Diggle being in the field with her when he isn't at 100%, JH: "She is. I think that’s partially why she wants to get to the bottom of what’s going on with him. She knows that she – or anyone on the team – could get hurt if something’s wrong with him. She’s concerned and maybe just a little bit annoyed." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- In 602, Dinah gets involved in a storyline that could affect Team Arrow. JH: "With what's happening with Diggle (David Ramsey)? Right, right. I think Dinah is very aware of that and wants to get to the bottom of it quickly. Because with this team, if one person is compromised the whole team is compromised and it's gonna be a matter of loyalty versus honesty. I think that's a really tough one for Dinah. Because she was keeping her secret with Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), it's like she doesn't want to be hypocritical, but on the other hand, somebody could get hurt." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Dinah's loyalty should lie with Oliver or with the team at this point, JH: "I think it's always sort of a balance with the two. Oliver is always the head of the team and the very first thing the team needs to respect together in order to make it work is that Oliver is the captain. But on the other hand, as a member of the team, you also have to be sensitive to the other members of the team and if they have their own personal struggles and their own things. So it's a balancing act, being true to the team, true to Oliver and then also honoring what everybody's going through as an individual." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVinsider article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- JH: "Dinah is just a ball-buster so if she sees something like that, she's going to go for it and she's going to hone in and get to the bottom of it. Diggle is one of her closest friends and she's concerned, and this is her way of showing it... She doesn't want the team to get hurt if he's compromised. She takes it upon herself to make sure nobody gets hurt." But she adds that Diggle telling her the truth about his injury "is a step in the right direction." Because she kept her own secret after Lian Yu that was exposed and she's been through the experience of losing someone, "she just has a lot of love in her heart and a lot of trauma, so she wants him to be okay. It's all coming from a place of love." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Diggle continuing to hide the secret of his injury from the rest of the team "definitely concerns" Dinah. JH: "It gives her even more reason to want to make sure that Diggle's going to be okay and figure out what's going on... That's a big loss, not having Oliver so to have the new Green Arrow compromised as well, she's concerned, for sure." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Dinah's reaction to learning that Diggle agreed to become Green Arrow, JH: "I think Dinah’s really flexible. On many levels, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, so when it comes to justice and when it comes to these things… She goes with it, but — again, because she knows that there’s something happening with Dig — there might be a little bit of reluctance. Ultimately, I think she’s going to find a way to… She’s going to try to become her best self. She’ll need to fight harder and do more, because — without Oliver — the team really needs to be at their best. But the Diggle thing is concerning."  (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how long Dinah can keep Diggle's secret to herself, JH: "Well, I think she’s going to do her best to honor Diggle’s privacy, but also, it’s very concerning to her, because it could put the team at risk if he’s compromised. So I think she’s going to do what she can to sort of keep it, monitor it and see how it goes, but ultimately her loyalty is to the team. You know, she doesn’t want anyone’s life to potentially be lost because someone’s hurt, so she’s letting it go for now but I think she will definitely readjust if she needs to." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On working with DR, JH: "Well, working with David has been amazing because he is truly one of the most talented, just kind and awesome people that I’ve met ever, anywhere. So it’s been really wonderful and an honor just working with him and learning from him. And the scenes have been really fun, because they’re really charged scenes, they’re really loaded, and Diggle and Dinah are two fierce characters. They’re friends, but there’s a lot of fire there, so I think the scenes have been fun to film for sure and, from what I hear, they’ve been fun to watch, so that makes me happy." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see Dinah get to interact as closely with another character (other than Diggle), JH: "Definitely! I think this season the team is really going to come together, as a whole and then the individuals within it are going to develop as well and their relationships are going to get deeper. You’re going to see Dinah becoming close with, I think, many members of the team, but Diggle and Dinah, they’re friends, they’re close and I think that that’s the first relationship that we’re going to sort of see more of this season and it’ll change and it’ll grow." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what characters (other than Diggle) would she like to see Dinah interact with, JH: "Definitely Felicity. I think that they’re the two women on the team and in the bunker together and I love Emily [Bett Rickards] and I love working with her, so — on a personal level and for Dinah’s sake — I think more interaction with her would be great. Honestly, other than that, I think I would just like to show a little bit of her relationship with everyone, because the team is so interesting because of the dynamics, so it would just be nice to explore all of them, you know? Curtis and Renee… There’s a comedic element there, and they bring out Dinah’s lighter side. Hopefully, we’ll get to see a little bit of everything." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how her relationship with Quentin evolves this season, JH: "Their closeness does come from their time on Lian Yu. They were together on the island, and together they kept the secret of Lance shooting Black Siren from everybody, and because of that they developed a closer friendship." And whether there's any weirdness between the two of them about Dinah becoming the Black Canary, JH: "Because Dinah did take up that mantle – and she is so connected to Lance’s daughter – I think there is a paternal relationship with him. I think he gets a sense of closeness from Dinah because there are similarities to Laurel." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Black Canary vs. Black Siren, JH: "They just so vehemently hate each other, and they've been chasing each other down after Lian Yu, and Dinah has this extra chip on her shoulder... And Black Siren has a major grudge against Dinah as well. So it's just going to get even more heated and more exciting... I don't think they'll be becoming friends anytime soon." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether “clashing canaries” will be a recurring theme throughout the season, JH: "Yeah, they keep getting away from each other! We definitely can look forward to more of that; that battle has not been fully fought yet. I personally love shooting those scenes, Katie [Cassidy] and I have a blast. The funny thing is how much we do love each other, so we’ll fight viciously and then be like, 'Oh, you’re hair looks really good!'We’re such girls — and then we go back to battling each other. We’re loving it." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how the Black Canary vs. Black Siren rivalry plays out in the episodes to come, JH: "It definitely doesn’t die down. There is a lot of bad blood between Siren and Canary. It’s fun to watch those fights – they’re very charged because of the history of where they came from and what they’ve been through. People who like those fights can definitely come to expect more of them, and they’ll get bigger and better." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see more BC/BS conflict in the episodes ahead, JH: "I think so. I think that that’s a battle that hasn’t been finished yet, and they have so much history between them and there’s just so much to resolve. So yeah, I think we can probably expect a rematch." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On doing more of her own stunts this year, JH: "First of all, my stunt double, Ivett [Gonda], is amazing. She’s an Olympic tai kwan do fighter, so she’s just incredible. Because of that, I’m learning a lot from her about how to kick, and through my actual training with the stunt team. That being said, I definitely want to learn from her so I can do what she does, because I think it takes it to another level when you can do your own stunts. When it’s something that she’s doing I’ll stand to the side and mimic her, and if I want to try it, she’ll show me. As a result, I’ve been able to do a lot more this year, which has been one of my big goals this season." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether she's worked with either Kirk Acevedo or Michael Emerson yet, JH: "Coyly] They might have stepped in once or twice…. Yeah, I’ve seen them around. Kirk is like an old friend of mine — we did Walking Dead together — so it’s really cool to have him on the set. He is so good, like just his voice… he can say one word and be captivating." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- When fan asked him about Oliver interacting with Black Siren, SA: "When it happens this year, you'll be the first to know."  (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Black Canary vs. Black Siren, JH: "They just so vehemently hate each other, and they've been chasing each other down after Lian Yu, and Dinah has this extra chip on her shoulder... And Black Siren has a major grudge against Dinah as well. So it's just going to get even more heated and more exciting... I don't think they'll be becoming friends anytime soon." (Oct. 20, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1637 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether “clashing canaries” will be a recurring theme throughout the season, JH: "Yeah, they keep getting away from each other! We definitely can look forward to more of that; that battle has not been fully fought yet. I personally love shooting those scenes, Katie [Cassidy] and I have a blast. The funny thing is how much we do love each other, so we’ll fight viciously and then be like, 'Oh, you’re hair looks really good!'We’re such girls — and then we go back to battling each other. We’re loving it." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how the Black Canary vs. Black Siren rivalry plays out in the episodes to come, JH: "It definitely doesn’t die down. There is a lot of bad blood between Siren and Canary. It’s fun to watch those fights – they’re very charged because of the history of where they came from and what they’ve been through. People who like those fights can definitely come to expect more of them, and they’ll get bigger and better." (Oct. 19, 2017 Variety article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether we'll see more BC/BS conflict in the episodes ahead, JH: "I think so. I think that that’s a battle that hasn’t been finished yet, and they have so much history between them and there’s just so much to resolve. So yeah, I think we can probably expect a rematch." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1636 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming in studio today ( Not Crossover )" and "Big day both Willa and Katie filming today!" (pursuit23 tweet, page 1634 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- In 605, Slade (Manu Bennett) returns and asks Oliver for help in tracking down his son. When they learn Joe has been taken hostage by mercenaries, their mission to save him gets complicated by a terrible revelation that could shatter Slade’s hopes of reunion forever.(Oct. 19, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG promises “some really cool Slade Wilson flashbacks that I’m really excited about.”  (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Big Bads
-- WM warns that the big bad this season will be unlike anything Oliver has come up against before. WM: "He's using his brain. That's a different kind of enemy for Oliver to face... He can't punch this guy and call it a day. It's going to take a lot more than that." (Oct. 13, 2017 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Ricardo Diaz AKA Richard Dragon
-- On whether she's worked with either Kirk Acevedo or Michael Emerson yet, JH: "Coyly] They might have stepped in once or twice…. Yeah, I’ve seen them around. Kirk is like an old friend of mine — we did Walking Dead together — so it’s really cool to have him on the set. He is so good, like just his voice… he can say one word and be captivating." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

The Vigilante
-- In 605, the Vigilante reappears in Star City. (Oct. 19, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- MG: "Michael [Emerson]'s a delight to work with... He's fit into the cast beautifully as we knew he would. But yeah I think in a world where it's hard to keep secrets, we're trying to keep this character in particular a bit of a mystery." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she's worked with either Kirk Acevedo or Michael Emerson yet, JH: "Coyly] They might have stepped in once or twice…. Yeah, I’ve seen them around. Kirk is like an old friend of mine — we did Walking Dead together — so it’s really cool to have him on the set. He is so good, like just his voice… he can say one word and be captivating." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, Michael Emerson tweeted: "Oops-- meant @morganlibrary Not a computer genius-- I just play one on tv ;-)." (MichaelEmerson tweet, page 1633 of Spoiler Disussion thread)

Samanda Watson
-- On how Oliver will handle the fact that a photo of Oliver as Green Arrow leaked to the media in the S6 premiere, SA: "I love the way that he handles it. We end the first episode with people being like, 'Oh God, look at this, this is a photo,' and I was so pleasantly surprised to see the next episode. I come in and talk with the reporters, and one of the things that I’m enjoying doing as mayor this year, and Oliver as a character to a certain extent, is I’ve tried to up the charm factor a little bit. He should be a little more comfortable in his shoes as a public figure. He steps in and deals with the press in a very, very relaxed way. Quentin says to him, 'You seem pretty good with this,' and Oliver’s like, 'I’ve been here before.' In that scene, we get to do the coolest name drop that we’ve ever done not the show, which I was really fired up about. What he hasn’t counted on is the one FBI agent that will just stop at nothing to prove - Special Agent Watson [Sydelle Noel] just thinks I’m full of sh—. She is 100 percent sure. If Lance in season 1 was 100 percent sure, Special Agent Watson is like 400 percent sure that he is totally f—ing lying and that he is the Green Arrow and she doesn’t care." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Even though he's no longer Green Arrow, on what kind of pressure Samanda puts on him moving forward, SA: "At the end of 602, I wanted to play it where I deny this, but then I also politely threaten her. I’ve had this done to me in business before, where someone says something nice to you, but then you step back for a second and go, 'Wait a second, did that person just threaten me?' I’m not going to say who did it, but they’re really excellent at it, so I wanted to bring that same feeling into that scene where I sit down and say, 'Look, you’re wrong. What you’re doing is, you’re barking up the wrong tree, but if you’re right, how far do you think a person like that would go to protect the people closest to him?' So we’re playing real cat and mouse, but I haven’t really dealt with her since. What I like is, she’s starting to poke at other people on his team. She’s on absolutely everybody." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Samanda, DR: "She makes it very difficult. She’s on it. She reminds me of this show I used to do called Dexter and this guy named Doakes was on Dexter’s cases. He eventually got killed because he was so close. I mean, no one knew it like he knew it. He pieced it all together. She’s like that; she’s really, really sharp. Does she make it difficult for the team? Very difficult." (Oct. 12, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)

Alex Faust 
-- Per IMDb, Alex Faust (played by Dominic Bogart), who debuted in 601, will return in 603. (DB's IMDb link in tv echo post, page 1632 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- Crossover episode titles: Supergirl 308 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1; Arrow 608 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2; The Flash 408 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3; and Legends of Tomorrow 308 - Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4." (Oct. 17, 2017 Spoiler TV article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 399 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On the big 4-way crossover, MG: "It truly is a movie event. Um, this year, because of the way it's being aired, as sort of two two-hour blocks, we very intentionally abandoned the conceit of previous crossovers... This year, we're like - we're being sort of show-agnostic. We just broke one big four-part, four-hour story. Um, and we did it without any regard to which show things had to happen in, because, for us, you know, as far as we're concerned, when this airs, yes, on your DirecTV grid, it will say, you know, hour 1 is Supergirl, hour 2 is Arrow, hour 3 is Flash, hour 4 is Legends, none of these hours will actually have, like, the Legends title card. They will all have the Crisis - a special new Crisis on Earth-X title card.  Um, as far as we're concerned, it's basically the Crisis on Earth-X event. Um, it's not, you know, an individual episode of Arrow, it's not an individual episode of Flash, it's one big four-hour monster." (Oct. 13, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "I'll say that there are going to be things that people are going to look at and go, oh, that's ripped from the headlines!... Our intention truly was to recapture some of that magic that we felt as kids reading the annual Justice League/Justice Society crossovers that DC used to do. For example, the cover image that we published, that's an homage to Justice League of America 207, which was actually the 20th anniversary crossover between the Justice League and the Justice Society. They would do it every year, the same way we do our little Arrow-verse crossover every year. So we were just looking to tell a really big fun cool story, so yeah, it would feel to me describing it as being topical would be a little bit false advertising." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "It's going to be a four-hour event across all four shows, Supergirl, Arrow, Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. And, uh, we wrap it on Thursday... We wrap on Thursday. And - but it'll be like a soft wrap because I think we're going to owe some scenes, uh, post Thursday. But we're in the midst of it... This year it's a massive undertaking." He's already seen dailies from all four shows. (Oct. 18, 2017 Comedy Film Nerds podcast, page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per MG, they got the idea for this year's crossover earlier than usual: "We knew sort of very early on, even, I would say, as early as, like, the end of last season, uh, sort of what the emotional terms, uh, of the crossover were going to be. And the actual idea probably came together, you know, quite a few months ago at this point... Andrew Kreisberg and I each sort of separately had this notion of let's do something that's in the Crisis space... Both Andrew and I sort of independently hit upon this idea of what if we did something with parallel Earths? Um, and we settled upon Earth-X, which is the, uh, Earth that is - ... In the Arrowverse, it's so bad that it doesn't have a designation. That's why it's 'X,' as opposed to the other 52 Earths. And, uh, it's overrun by Nazis... We had come up with this long before Charlottesville. Long before Nazis sort of, you know, unfortunately, re-entered the, uh, public consciousness... It's a fun, big, you know, comic book come to life. We're not trying to make any sort of political statement. Besides, I don't think - truth be told, it's like, you know, someone asked me, like, 'well, it sounds very topical.' It's like, they're Nazis. Like, there's nothing... I'm sorry, like, there's a lot of things in our world that we can debate. And, you know, I'm a former attorney. I see facets and nuances in everything. There's - if there's one thing in, you know - in this whole world that is, I think, not subject to - (host interrupted, "that we can all agree on") - we clearly can't, but, you know, objectively, that's not up for debate, it's Nazis. Nazis are bad, period, full stop. So, you know, unfortunately, yes, there are people who, you know, including the President of the United States, who can debate whether or not, you know, Nazis are very fine people. Um, but this is something, truth be told, I don't - I draw the line at any sort of like seeing other sides. There is no other side... It's really a big - it's a big comic book come to life." (Oct. 18, 2017 Comedy Film Nerds podcast, page  403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Russell Tovey's The Ray will be introduced as a live-action iteration during this season's four-show Arrowverse crossover event in November and then leap into his own animated series, Freedom Fighters: The Ray, on the digital platform. (Oct. 16, 2017 TVInsider article, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- SA: "Concurrently, if you think you can cobble together the plot from looking at photos on the internet, you're wrong." (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When fan asked what was biggest laugh on set he's had this season, SA: "Melissa Benoist in the Legends hour of the crossover. We'll talk about it after they air." (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On what superpowers he would borrow from his super friends, SA: "Clearly the Supergirl cornucopia of powers would be my first choice. And franky... the only reasonable choice. On a more serious note, working with Melissa Benoist over the crossovers has been an absolute treat. I think everyone is going to love the Oliver / Kara dynamic. (Even if they hate it.)" (Oct. 19, 2017 SA facebook post & comments, page 635 of Social Media thread and page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 12, 2017, papp posted video of Supergirl filming guests arriving at "St. Paul's Lutheran Church" for the WestAllen wedding; Kara, Alex and Sara in front of the church; and wedding guests fleeing from smoky church, guided along by Iris, Joe and Felicity. (Celebrity WotNot video, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 12, 2017, Flash reddit fan posted pic of Overgirl, Supergirl's Earth-X doppelganger, atop the church. (Oct. 17, 2017 ComicBookMovie article, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 12, 2017, SA tweeted: "50 minutes until we’re back!!! I’ll tweet along even though I’m filming a 9 page scene on the biggest set we’ve ever built." (SA tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 397 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 13, 2017, SA tweeted: "What an awesome day with @TheCWSupergirl Crew. Today was a tall order and they were equal to the task." (SA tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 397 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 13, 2017, SA posted b-t-s pic of himself wearing a white dress shirt and suspenders, with former Arrow/current Supergirl makeup artist, commenting: "Reunited and it feels so good!" (SA facebook post, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 13, 2017, SA tweeted: "Episode 601 - 607: I don’t eat dairy... 54% of way through crossover: Can someone please get me a grilled cheese sandwich & double double." (SA tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 13, 2017, SA tweeted pic of something that looks like blue quilted material with part of pic covered up, with comment: "Been waiting the whole crossover for this scene. Such a treat." (SA tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 14, 2017, SA tweeted: "I’d like to thank @MelissaBenoist for my favorite on set moment of all time. It’s a mortal lock for the blooper reel. #Legendary." (SA tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 14, 2017, Aisha Tyler posted pic from crossover showing Barry and Iris in wedding garb, along with Oliver, Felicity, Sara and Kara in wedding guest garb, inside Star Labs. (aishatyler instagram post, page 397 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 14, 2017, papp tweeted: "Got #autographs from #chicagomed star Colin Donnell when he was in Vancouver for #Arrow crossover #Supergirl #DCTV #TommyX." (bettricci tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 16-17, 2017, there will be LoT filming at 1502 Granville St. From filming notice: "We will be filming several daytime stunt fight sequences on the 1500 block of Granville Street, underneath the bridge. The scenes will revolve around our heroes battling an invading army of German Soldiers. ... Filming a montage scene of an invading army walking along the 500 block of Beach Crescent toward Granville St. We will be using heavy gof for this scene. ... Filming more stunt fight scenes under the bridge." (Oct. 12, 2017 cuckoologic tweet, page 397 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, papp tweeted: "Crossover: Earth-X Nazis & Vllains under Granville Bridge today in downtown Vancouver." (yvrshoots tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, fan tweeted pic of LOT shooting crossover fight scene (between Flash and Earth-X Flash?), with comment: "Plenty of action sequences currently being shot atm under the bridge for #LegendsOfTomorrow." (winesocietygals tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, papp posted pics and report on LOT shooting mega crossover at Stanley Park. From papp report: "On this day, we caught Caity Lotz as Sara Lance and Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory shooting scenes with Arrow stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen and Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak, Flash stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, Candice Patton as Iris West, and Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers and Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers. The scene the group was shooting was for the representatives from each group to seemingly say their good byes to each other after a funeral for LOT member and former Flash member Victor Garber as Dr. Martin Stein. Garber recently announced he was leaving the show to take on a Broadway role. ... The scenes seem to be divided into 4 or 5 smaller parts. ... A scene where Arrow, Flash & Supergirls cast are talking together & saying their goodbyes to Kara & Alex. Kara then pulls out a device she was given by The Flash member Cisco Ramon to transport between worlds. She then opens a portal and seemingly her and Alex go thru it, leaving the Arrow and Flash couples there to talk...and likely is the lead up to the wedding scenes. ... Another scene had the Arrow and Flash couples coming across the park with Kara to meet up with Alex, presumably just before the Supergirl sisters departure. ... We then saw a scene where Alex & Sara are walking along, alone together thru the park, before they are met by Mick Rory. The pair share a quick chat, before Sara and Mick leave together, leaving Alex alone watching them leave. ... Another scene saw all 8 cast in a scene together with the Flash, Supergirl and Arrow pairings all facing the Legends duo, before Mick turns and walks away. ... Eventually, the cast of Legends and Supergirl wrapped, and the production moved on with the cast of Arrow and The Flash for those other scenes I blogged about earlier." (Oct. 16, 2017 Canadagraphs article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, papp tweeted pics and report of crossover shooting of fight scene between GA and either Earth-X GA or Prometheus X, with comment: "SPOILER ALERT: Arrow/Stephen Amell vs X for #Arrow #TheFlash #LegendsofTomorrow #Supergirl crossover." From filming report: "Stephen Amell was on set this morning as the Green Arrow to do a stunt fight with a villain from Earth-X on top of a van. Saw Mr. Terrific. And Citizen Steele. And others spotted the Flash and Reverse Flash." (yvrshoots tweet and Hollywoodnorth.buzz article, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, fan tweeted pics and video clip of Alex stunt scene for crossover, with comment: "She had a badass•beating people up•stunt scene where it ended with Alex shooting a Nazi in the face while looking the other way...so cool." (Iridescent_Anny tweets, page 398 of Mind Your Surroudings thread)
-- On Oct. 16, 2017, fan tweeted pic of crossover shooting fight scene under Granville Bridge, with comment: "Stormtrooper dudes from #LegendsofTomorrow on set rehearsing for a fight scene in the park." (winesocietygals tweet, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, papp tweeted pic of GA, Flash, Captain Cold and Citizen Steel, with comment: "DC mashup today under Vancouver's Granville Bridge. #Arrow #TheFlash #LegendsofTomorrow #Supergirl crossover." (yvrshoots tweet, page 399 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, papp tweeted pic of White Canary, Vixen and Wild Dog, with comment: "DC mashup today under Vancouver's Granville Bridge. #Arrow #TheFlash #LegendsofTomorrow #Supergirl crossover" (yvrshoots tweet, page 399 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, SA posted pic of himself as GA sitting on the curb next to GG as the Flash. (SA instagram post, page 399 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 17, 2017, Tala Ashe posted pic of herself as Zari with Mr. Terrific and Black Canary. (talaashe instagram post, page 400 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, fan posted pics and video clips from LoT filming of crossover fight scenes, featuring the Green Arrow, Spartan, White Canary, Citizen Steele, the Flash, Reverse Flash, Black Canary, Mr. Terrific, Killer Frost's stunt double, and Nazi stormtroopers. (ThemysciraBound tweets, pages 399-401 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, papp tweeted pics of Flash, Reverse Flash, and Captain Cold on LoT set during crossover filming. (canadagraphs tweets, page 401 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, when asked if Colin Donnell was there for Arrow in-studio shoot, papp tweeted: "He filmed for crossover and left Sat." (pursuit23 tweet, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, papp posted filming report from Supergirl filming of crossover scenes in front of church where WestAllen wedding is scheduled to take place. From filming report: "The 2017 Arrowverse crossover episodes, all titled "Crisis On Earth X" have been filming through most of October in Vancouver, and last week I caught up with the Supergirl crew shooting part of their segment of the 4 episode event. ... On this day, they shot a variety of scenes. In the morning they shot a scene on a roof with a Earth X character named "Overgirl" that I missed due to their scheduling and other commitments I had. ... When I got there in the early afternoon they were prepping to shoot a scene out in front of the the St. Andrews Wesley Church. The scene sees Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers and Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers having a chat when Legends Of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz as Sara Lance arrives, says a few words to Alex, before going into the church, leaving Kara to tease & grill Alex about the clear flirtatious conversation the pair seemingly had. Its been strongly rumoured the 2 characters may be hooking up in the episode after the very publicly posted departure of Floriana Lima as Maggie Sawyer leaves Alex's love life with a vacancy, much to the growing fanbase of fans who like Maggie & Alex together. ... After they shot this scene, all 3 actresses wrapped their day there, and left, making way for the production to prepare for their final scenes of the day, on the other side of the church that didnt even have any Supergirl cast in it, as The Flash and Arrow stars were on hand for the shoot," (canadagraphs article, page 402 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 18, 2017, papp posted pics and filming report from LoT crossover filming of Arrowverse heroes facing off against Earth-X Nazi stormtroopers. From filming report: "What a feat of scheduling by this year’s Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl crossover.  A dozen cast gathered on set under Vancouver’s Granville Bridge on Tuesday: Arrow’s Stephen Amell (the Green Arrow), Echo Kellum (Mr. Terrific), Rick Gonzalez (Wild Dog), Juliana Harkavy (Black Canary). The Flash’s Grant Gustin (the Flash), Legends of Tomorrow’s Caity Lotz (the White Canary), Brandon Routh (the ATOM), Wentworth Miller (Captain Cold), Dominic Purcell (Mick Rory), Nick Zano (Citizen Steel), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (Vixen), Tala Ashe (Zari). And that’s not counting the cast playing Earth X villains." (yvrshoots tweets and Hollywoodnorth.buzz article, page 402 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 19, 2017, Caity Lotz posted live video of herself with SA and Chyler Leigh. CL said that they're almost done filming the crossover. However, SA said that he won't be finished shooting the crossover until mid-November: "Well, it goes until tomorrow for me, but then my next episode is condensed. And then we have a lot of additional footage for Oliver and other people, um, that I have to film as well." (caitylotz video in dinahxfelicity tweet, page 402 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 20, 2017, SA said that he officially finished working on the crossover "yesterday." But he's got a lot of work to do for Arrow still. (SA facebook video, page 635 of Social Media thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- On how long we'll have to wait to see White Canary and Black Siren meeting, MG: "That’s a good question. I would say right now we don’t have a story planned, to have Sara and Laurel together… we always love to do that, and obviously that’s a confrontation that would be really awesome… it’s just a little tricky because the Legends are running around time, and because of the nature of the crossover this year, we just didn’t have the opportunity to tell that story. ... I would say it’s on our bucket list, but we don’t have any plans to do it at the moment. We’d certainly like to!" (Oct. 20, 2017 DCLegendsTV article, page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Freedom Fighters: The Ray in the Animated Arrowverse
-- Centered on gay journalist Ray Terrill, voiced by Russell Tovey, Freedom Fighters: The Ray will follow the Golden Age hero's exploits after being exposed to a "genetic light bomb" by a secret government group trying to covert light into a weapon of mass destruction. Packing some seriously illuminating abilities, Ray suits up to help Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters team. From just-released key art, you can see that the Ray has some very cool colleagues in what looks like Black Condor, Phantom Lady and a few others. Tovey's Ray will be introduced as a live-action iteration during this season's four-show Arrowverse crossover event in November and then leap into his own animated series on the digital platform. (Oct. 16, 2017 TVInsider article, page 398 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Edited October 23, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This thread is for archived spoilers only - commentary on spoilers should go in the Spoiler Discussion thread...

SUMMARY OF 603 SPOILERS:

S6, Episode 3: Next of Kin
-- Production code: 603.  Shoot Dates: August 1-11, 2017. Director: Kevin Tancharoen. Writers: Speed Weed & Oscar Balderama. Airdate: October 26, 2017. (Aug. 1, 2017 MG tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 603 synopsis: "DC CHARACTER ONYX VISITS STAR CITY — A rogue black ops team led by Onyx (guest star Chastity Dotson) breaks into Kord Industries and steals something lethal. Oliver (Stephen Amell) struggles to connect with William (guest star Jack Moore) so he reaches out to a surprising source for help. Kevin Tancharoen directed the episode written by Speed Weed & Oscar Balderrama (#603).  Original airdate 10/26/2017." (Oct. 6, 2017 SpoilerTV and GreenArrowTV articles, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 603 promo posted, featuring Diggle as the Green Arrow. (603 promo video in Starfish35 post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 603 producer's preview posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle, Curtis, William, and Felicity. (Oct. 26, 2017 producer's preview video, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 603 sneak peek 1 posted, featuring Oliver asking Felicity's help because William is having trouble with math. Oliver says that his best subject in school was "charm." Felicity gives him advice. Oliver says, "You make things so simple. Always have." (603 sneak peek 1 video in Oct. 26, 2017 TVInsider article linked in DamianHolbrook tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 603 sneak peek 2 posted, featuring Diggle/GA, Dinah, Curtis and Wild Dog in the field, chasing after Alex Faust. (Oct. 26, 2017 603 sneak peek 2 video, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1645 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 603 promo pics posted, featuring Oliver, Felicity, Olicity kiss, Quentin, Samanda, Rene, Dinah, Diggle, Curtis, and Onyx. (Oct. 19, 2017 SpoilerTV and TVLine articles, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 603 dialogue teases: "“So the man who took down Damien Darhk is bested by arithmetic.” and “Whoever your understudy is, he might want to brush up on his archery.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Arrowwriters tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Hypable's 5 teases about 603: "Diggle is now the Green Arrow / Heavy is the head that wears the Hood / Team dynamics are in flux / Star City is going anti-vigilante… again / Oliver and Felicity take a step (or three) forward." From Hypable preview: "Much of the episode deals with Diggle’s personal journey toward accepting his worthiness to take on the mantle of the Green Arrow. A heart-to-heart between Oliver and Diggle, in which their roles are reversed from the usual pep talks, sees Oliver show his unwavering support for Diggle. ... With Oliver departing the team and leaving Diggle in charge, it’s no surprise that the team would have to adjust to the new chain of command. But with Diggle struggling to make snap decisions and Dinah keeping his nerve damage a secret from the rest of the team, Team Arrow isn’t as united as usual. One member of the team even asks Oliver to return, but he refuses. ... With Oliver stepping back from vigilante duty, he has more time to focus on his duties as mayor. It’s a good time for him to put all his attention on his day job because a Star City council member plans to introduce anti-vigilante legislation. ... Oliver is in a tight spot with this: if he takes a soft stance on vigilantes, that will make him look more suspicious to Agent Watson. However, Oliver refuses to ask Diggle to don the Hood then support legislation that puts him in danger, so Oliver and co. must figure out another approach. ... With William stressing over a math test, Oliver realizes he isn’t the best equipped to support his son’s academic pursuits. He turns to Felicity for help, asking her to tutor William. And, well, things progress from there." (Oct. 25, 2017 Hypable article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1643 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted pic of 603 promo still of Oliver & Felicity in the loft, with comment: "Just watched Thursday's #Arrow. This is a really wonderful scene:..." He also tweeted: "It's just a nice scene. Nice things are said. And casual Felicity looks ?? [fire emoji]." (Oct. 25, 2017 MattMitovich tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1642 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When fan asked how much we'll love the Olicity scenes in 603, on a scale of 1 to 10, TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald tweeted: "18." (lindsayjoane tweet, page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, in 603, Diggle will start to struggle as the GA because being the leader of Team Arrow is harder than you think and because he's hiding an injury. She said the question is, can Oliver really stay away from the team. She asked that question of SA. Per Natalie, both SA and DR think it's not a permanent thing that Oliver stays away from Team Arrow, but they don't know. But for right now, this is the new normal and Diggle is the GA. Oliver is really out, except for one time in an upcoming episode where Oliver has to come back into the team "in a different way... Stephen says it's a surprising way that you wouldn't expect." For now, Oliver is more focused on his son and more focused on being the mayor. Natalie: "Also, in photos coming up from the next episode [603], we see Oliver and Felicity kissing. So maybe he's back to focusing on that relationship, now that William is settled. So, uh, yeah, that's where we're heading." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- GATV tweeted: "Just finished screening Thursday’s new #Arrow. Ended with another jaw-dropper. Great team dynamics. O/F stuff in preview pics makes sense." (Oct. 25, 2017, GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1642 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- GATV tweeted: "Also, props to #Arrow for getting a great kid actor in Jack Moore. Scenes w/@StephenAmell are always great, 603 scenes w/@EmilyBett are too." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1642 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When asked to rate 603, GATV tweeted: "9 just because the villain story is kinda meh." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan asking if we're going to like what Oliver gives to Felicity in 603, and if it is a game changer for them going forward, GATV tweeted: "Yes and yes." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan saying that he's not gonna blindly hate Olicity until given reason to, GATV tweeted: "My feeling too, including from myself at times. The negativity for #Arrow this week is unwarranted - it’s good!" (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan hoping that the show gets Olicity right this time, GATV tweeted: "It seems like they might :)." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- GATV also confirmed that the pic of Oliver bringing a Big Belly Burger bag of food to Felicity's loft is in 603. (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- When asked if Black Siren, Slade and Thea are in 603, GATV tweeted: "No, no and no." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per IMDb, Alex Faust (Dominic Bogart), who debuted in 601, will return in 603. (DB's IMDb link in tv echo post, page 1632 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- SA: "[N]othing has made my jaw drop in the first three scripts that I've read. Um, but concurrently, like, they're really tight and they're really moving the story forward... I feel like we're using the license that we've earned over five seasons to play it slow with some stories." (SDCC, Jul. 22, 2017: Video of interview with SA, DR and RG in Jul. 25, 2017 ComicBook article, page 4 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "Um, but, uh, no - the first, like, three scripts that I've read, they're really tight, they're really action packed, they're really moving the story forward. But it also feels like we're taking our time, which is something I feel like we've earned. Um, taking our time is cool." (Aug. 18, 2017 Hollywood Outbreak podcast interview with SA, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- SA: "But I’ve seen three episodes and he’s smiling a lot more….. It’s nice as an actor to not be a stick in the mud all the time.” (HVFF-NY, Sep. 17, 2017: TVLine and ArrowverseTV articles, page 6 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per fan report, SA: "I know, but I'm telling you, you're going to like him again. I guarantee it. I know the first five, no wait, six episodes and you're going to be happy... I'm serious. I GUARANTEE it! Trust me." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Diggle feels about being the GA, DR: "Well, part of this beat has been tread before, right? It’s something that Diggle honors and takes very, very seriously, so much in fact that the physical deficiency that he has, he’s going to great lengths to hide it from the team and fulfill the call that’s been placed on him by Oliver. So he takes it very, very seriously. He’s quite honored by it and he takes it with pride." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Diggle handles being a leader out in the field, DR: "Again, this ugly head of this physical limitation really rears its head in the field and it becomes glaringly obvious to the team that he has a problem, so he has to hide, he has to conceal it, he has to make excuses. He hides it from everyone, which is very unlike Diggle. But even as we roll through this, because he wears this mantle for several episodes, he becomes the leader he was at the beginning of season 4. He becomes a very sound leader." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Fan report on what DR said: "OMG! David gave me a HUGE SPOILER bc I guessed a major storyline for the first 6 episodes. My heart is still racing!" and "What would Dig do if Oliver needed to 'out' himself? 'He'd become the Green Arrow. Oh, man, I'm gonna tell you this because... you just guessed the plot for the first 6 episodes of Season 6. Good guess!'" (HVFF-Nashville, Jul. 9, 2017: hotcookinmama2 tweets, page 1556 of Spoiler Discussion thread) 
-- RG: “I think ultimately, he doesn’t dislike the idea of Diggle being the Green Arrow and controlling things. I just think there probably is a little piece of Rene inside of him that’s like, ‘Well I could totally lead this team too.' ... And that’s just who he is. He’s someone who walks to the beat of his own drum who believes in himself and thinks that every decision he makes is the right decision. And that’s what I love about him.” However, while Wild Dog would be happier in a leadership role, it sounds like he’ll respect Oliver’s choice. RG: “At the same time, he’s from a military background so he understands his superiors and how to respect the chain of command. And I think he does respect Oliver and Diggle immensely." (Oct. 26, 2017 IBTimes article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On having Diggle take over as GA, JH: "It’s definitely something that we’re going to have to entertain at least for a little while, until we can figure something else out for Oliver... The team is going to have to try to adjust. They’re going to have to try to realign their positions on the team and refocus their strengths and just try to make it work.” (Oct.19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether switching from guns to arrows will solve or compound Diggle's degenerative neurological condition, JH: "I think it could do both." (Oct.19, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Dinah's reaction to learning that Diggle agreed to become Green Arrow, JH: "I think Dinah’s really flexible. On many levels, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, so when it comes to justice and when it comes to these things… She goes with it, but — again, because she knows that there’s something happening with Dig — there might be a little bit of reluctance. Ultimately, I think she’s going to find a way to… She’s going to try to become her best self. She’ll need to fight harder and do more, because — without Oliver — the team really needs to be at their best. But the Diggle thing is concerning."  (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how long Dinah can keep Diggle's secret to herself, JH: "Well, I think she’s going to do her best to honor Diggle’s privacy, but also, it’s very concerning to her, because it could put the team at risk if he’s compromised. So I think she’s going to do what she can to sort of keep it, monitor it and see how it goes, but ultimately her loyalty is to the team. You know, she doesn’t want anyone’s life to potentially be lost because someone’s hurt, so she’s letting it go for now but I think she will definitely readjust if she needs to." (Oct. 19, 2017 CBR article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1638 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Jul. 30, 2017, papp tweeted pic of Arrow filming notice for filming on Aug. 3 at Orpheum Theater on 601 Smithe Street. Notice read: "Filming scenes inside the Orpheum Theater. The scenes will include some stunt fighting, atmospheric smoke and simulated gunfire. ... Filming in the alleyway behind the Orpheum Theater. Scene involves a couple of armed men chasing after another man down the alley." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 1, 2017, papp said that SA, DR, EBR, EK, JH and RG were filming. (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 4, 2017, when asked if PB has been filming recently, papp tweeted: "He has." (pursuit23 tweet, page 1579 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 10, 2017, Clayton Chitty posted throwback pic of himself as Vincent Sobel in cop uniform. (clayton_chitty instagram post, page 1582 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 31, 2017, Sydelle Noel posted pic of her actor's chair on set with comment: "Back in #Vancouver ???? shooting another ep. of @cw_arrow It's pretty cool to be apart of a show you watch. Tune in this fall to see what goes down between me and the #GreenArrow and his crew." Sitting on her chair is an Arrow script dated July 31, 2017, for an "Added Scene" for 603-Next of Kin. (sydellio instagram post, page 1591 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Sep. 13, 2017, SA tweeted: "Just finished watching 601 - 603 of Arrow. My heart is full." (SA tweet, page 1598 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 20, 2017, DR posted pic of himself in his GA suit, with comment: "@StephenAmell until your return my friend... I accept. #arrowseason6." (DR instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 22, 2017, Chastity Dotson tweeted pic of Onyx comics page, with comment: "Get ready for some #BlackGirlMagic!! Only 4 more days until #onyxadams comes crashing in!! 10/26 on #ArrowSeason6 on #cw. #dccomics #tunein." (itschasdotson tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Edited October 27, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This thread is for archived spoilers only - commentary on spoilers should go in the Spoiler Discussion thread...

SUMMARY OF 604 SPOILERS:

S6, Episode 4: Reversal
-- Production code: 604.  Shoot Dates: August 14-24, 2017. Director: Gregory Smith. Writers: Sarah Tarkoff & Emilio Ortega Aldrich. Airdate: November 2, 2017. (Aug. 14, 2017 MG tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 604 synopsis: "BLACK SIREN STRIKES AGAIN — Just as Oliver (Stephen Amell) starts to get things in order, Black Siren (Katie Cassidy) launches another attack on the citizens of Star City. Gregory Smith directed the episode written by Sarah Tarkoff & Emilio Ortega Aldrich (#604).  Original airdate 11/2/2017." (Oct. 12, 2017 SpoilerTV and GreenArrowTV articles, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 604 producer's preview posted, featuring Olicity date, Felicity and Alena. In this preview, WM says that Oliver & Felicity switch roles, where Oliver works the comms while Felicity is out in the field. (Nov. 2, 2017 CW_Arrow tweet & 604 producer's preview video, page 10 of New Spoilers thread and page 1650 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 604 sneak peek video posted, featuring Felicity and Alena. (Nov. 2, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article and 604 sneak peek video, page 10 of New Spoilers thread and page 1650 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- 604 sneak peek 2 video posted, featuring Black Siren luring a strange man. (604 sneak peek 2 video, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 604 promo posted, featuring Black Siren. (604 promo video, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- 604 promo pics posted, featuring Team Arrow in the field (including Felicity but minus Oliver), Black Siren, and an Olicity date. (GreenArrowTV, TVLine and SpoilerTV articles, page 9 of New Spoiler thread)
-- 604 dialogue teases:  “Maybe doing this solo wasn’t such a good idea.” and "In case you’re curious about why I’m here, it’s not nostalgia." (Nov. 2, 2017 Arrowwriters tweets, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- DCTV's Hector Navarro: "Later this week on Thursday, on an all-new Arrow, the 'S' has hit the fan because Black Siren attacks, right when things were going swimmingly. Olicity is back and in full effect. That's right, Oliver and Felicity are back at it. And that's when Black Siren decides to launch an attack on the citizens of Star City. And Felicity - she might be spreading herself too thin. I'm going to be real - it's a lot to do. And Oliver knows from experience, it's a lot to try to have it all and do it all. That's why he's taking a step back and letting Diggle take the role of the Green Arrow. He stepped up. Dig is now Arrow. And what about Felicity? Where does that leave her? Well, she's still trying to do everything. She's Overwatch. She's now going to be the girlfriend role and Oliver is the boyfriend role, so now Oliver might have to help out Felicity in this. So we're going to see what happens. And guys, guys, I'm so incredibly excited about this - uh, one of my favorite actors of all time, from one of my favorite shows ever, is appearing in this episode of Arrow. And I cannot tell you who they are and what role they're playing, because it's a spoiler. But man, oh man, tune in and watch it, and maybe we can talk about it afterwards." (Oct.30, 2017 DC All Access video, page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Oliver is still active with Team Arrow in certain ways, SA: "He’s out. He’s totally out. We have an instance where he has to hop back in, but it’s not in the capacity that people would expect him to. It’s in an episode called 'Reversal.' He does have to hop back in, but other than the occasional visit, he’s out." (Oct. 19, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Per EW's Natalie Abrams, Oliver is really out of Team Arrow, except for one time in an upcoming episode, where Oliver has to come back into the team "in a different way... Stephen says it's a surprising way that you wouldn't expect." (Oct. 20, 2017 Entertainment Weekly's Superhero Insider podcast, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- After the Olicity kiss in 603, SA: “They are back together... Right now, they’re back together, but I don’t know [what’s next].” They will not be restarting this relationship from square one. EBR: “I don’t think they can... I just don’t think you can with anyone you have history with and someone you really, really care for. It’s usually one to 100. They do really love each other and they’ve hopefully solidified their friendship and hopefully can grow off the base of that.” However, they will face their fair share of challenges, especially when Felicity’s past comes back to haunt her during next week’s episode [604-Reversal] - something she chooses to face alone. EBR: “She refuses the team’s help for 75 percent of it... As we’ve seen before, Felicity doing that doesn’t always end up in her favor and is also nearsighted. It has to do with stealing some tech. It is one of my favorite episodes ever. I had one of the best times filming that episode, so hopefully you’ll like it.” Also, Oliver will question her decision not to rely on the team. SA: “They have a little bit of a back and forth because he says, ‘You can do what you want to do,’ and that’s a big thing with Oliver this year, is he trusts people to do their job... 'Do it, take over, go for it.’ And he and Felicity get into it a little bit because he says, ‘Look, you can do what you want, just don’t do it without backup. Use the team, that’s what they’re there for.’ The fact that she’s doesn’t gives him pause a little bit.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Per fan report, SA: "I know, but I'm telling you, you're going to like him again. I guarantee it. I know the first five, no wait, six episodes and you're going to be happy... I'm serious. I GUARANTEE it! Trust me." (Fan Expo Canada, Sep. 3, 2017: Trisha post, page 1593 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what Team Arrow's next face-off with Black Siren will look like, DR: "A couple of ways: It ain’t going to be just her. There’s always a group of bad guys. So it’s not going to be just her, so there’s that part of it. We always like bringing people up from the past; that’s a little nugget for you. So things will come back to bite us, so to speak. Black Siren is only part of that. I will say that in terms of how does it make it difficult for us? Because we love Laurel, because she is Laurel Lance to us, particularly to Oliver. I think Oliver’s journey has been one of understanding his own self-redemption, and he wants to redeem Laurel — the mistakes that he’s made with Laurel, to some degree, he thinks he can correct those through Black Siren." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what Black Siren is up to in 604, DR: "It’s all on Cayden James, man! It’s [Helix boss] Cayden James and Black Siren this week. You get to find out, 'Who is Cayden James?' Mmm-hmmm. So that’s happening. And also, Felicity feels as if she can handle Cayden James and this revelation without the team, so there’s a moment for her at the end of this that’s helped by Oliver. Again, you have Oliver playing this position of almost Diggle, to the whole team, in a lot of ways for the next several episodes. It’s a much more mature Oliver — not just with what he’s doing with his son, but giving Felicity the key last week…. And that extends further this week as he helps her realize she needs the team to handle the Cayden James revelation." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether she's worked with either Kirk Acevedo or Michael Emerson yet, JH: "Coyly] They might have stepped in once or twice…. Yeah, I’ve seen them around. Kirk is like an old friend of mine — we did Walking Dead together — so it’s really cool to have him on the set. He is so good, like just his voice… he can say one word and be captivating." (Oct. 19, 2017 TVLine article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread and page 1635 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 14, 2017, MG tweeted: "Arrow Ep. 604 starts production today." (MG tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 16, 2017, Michael Emerson tweeted: "Vancouver lives up to its' rep as a lovely city-- scenic and cosmopolitan. Im getting such gracious treatment at @CW_Arrow great cast&crew!" (ME tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 17, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming at Boundary Bay Airport." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 17, 2017, when asked about KC, papp tweeted: "Ya, big ep for her , at least 4 days in a row ! Lol." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 18,  2017, when asked if SA was there, papp tweeted: "no." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 18, 2017, papp retweeted KC post of herself as Black Siren at Boundary Bay Airport. (yvrshoots and kc tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 18, 2017, fan tweeted: "Lots of scenes by Boundary Bay Airport by different cast and crew." (hots4life tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 18, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow filming again today at Boundary Bay airport." When asked if SA was back to filming that day, papp tweeted: "he's not." (pursuit23 tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 19, 2017, fan tweeted pic of Arrow filming notice for Aug. 22 shoot in the La Terrazza Restaurant, at 1088 Cambie St. (electric_g tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 21, 2017, papp tweeted: "It's #Olicity date night." (lemon_buzz tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 21, 2017, when fan asked who would be filming "tomorrow," papp tweeted emojis of a dark haired male, a blonde female and a plate of spaghetti. (LuLuLemonLime83 and pursuit23 tweets, page 1586 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 21, 2017, JH tweeted video of herself wearing BC suit watching the solar eclipse. She also tweeted pic of herself wearing BC suit and eating a popsicle with note: "Thanks 4 bringin' some summer love 2 set today @sarahtarkoff and #EmilioOrtega... #Cloud9CottonCandy." (JH tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread and page 1586 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Aug. 22, 2017, fan tweeted: "They were shooting in the Kodak Parkade - looked like Dinah and Wild Dog (I work at Kodak and was watching a take through a door)." (RubyDogsMom tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 22, 2017, per Arrow filming notice, Arrow filmed in the La Terrazza Restaurant, at 1088 Cambie St., in the morning. (Aug. 19, 2017 electric_g tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 22, 2017, La Terrazza tweeted: "Sorry folks...closed today and tomorrow due to filming. But we will re-open on Thursday at 5pm!" (LaTerrazza tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 22, 2017, fans tweeted: "Arrow filming at The Terrazza" and "EBR was wearing a pink dress."  and "Stephen's car & trailer  were there as well. he went in and out of his trailer." When asked if SA was wearing a tux or suit, fan tweeted: "a suit." (Sandwood and newdividev tweets, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Aug. 23, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming in studio today." When fan asked if they were done with the Olicity date at La Terrazza, papp tweeted: "It was one scene last night." (pursuit23 tweet, page 5 of New Spoilers thread)

Edited November 3, 2017 by tv echo

[tv echo]

This summary includes spoilers from October 21, 2017, to November 1, 2017. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in The New Spoilers Only Thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Thread...

ADDENDUM #8 TO SUMMARY OF S6 SPOILERS BY TOPIC

S6 Tone
-- MG: "For sure, we are keeping with the grounded, you know, there's no metahumans -- there's street-level crime. Sometimes it's street-level crime with a high-tech component, as we've occasionally done on the show, other times it's street crime, with a very low-tech component and we really sort of mix things up this year." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Theme (Family)
-- On whether the team will really be cemented as a family this year, DR: "Yeah, there’s still some growing pains. There’s still some trust issues. This is probably the season where they really — this will be the bonding season even more so than last season. We still have to work through some trust. There’s a reason why Diggle hides this secret from the team and that has to do with trust." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Generally
-- On Oct. 30, 2017, JBamford posted pic of wall poster depicting graphic design of a skytrain with the words "ARRIVING 2018" and STAR CITY WHISPER LINE," with comment: "Shhhhhh....." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 10 of New Spoilers thread and page 1648 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

S6 Flashbacks and Flashforwards
-- MG: "You are definitely still getting flashbacks, they just are not serialized... And they're not in every episode. We've always used the flashbacks to hopefully illuminate the present day story, or comment on the present day story, so we do that when we feel like we've got a present day story that benefits from them. And when we feel like we don't need it, we don't do it. But there were a bunch of cast members on that island, and you know, the ones who didn't make it off the island, it's nice that they've got an avenue for us to still see them." (Oct. 12, 2017 Eonline article, page 8 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On flashbacks this season, DR: "We’ve talked about that, particularly with Diggle. I don’t think you’ll see the flashbacks attached to the central story the way they were before. It’s like you’re talking about your best friend in the present and then all of a sudden you’re talking about your best friend five years ago on the island. I don’t think it will be quite as attached to the central A story. But you have eight more minutes or so of storytelling. You still will see some flashbacks, but we won’t be married to it the same. This is what I know from the previous scripts, and what the producers have told us all personally is that you won’t be married to these flashbacks the way you were before. We will find some things out about Diggle. We’ve already talked about his parents this year. Hopefully we’ll see his parents. I don’t know if in flashback or in present day. I think you’ll see some flashbacks for the other characters as well. We already have a few in one of the episodes." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Team Arrow
-- On whether the team will really be cemented as a family this year, DR: "Yeah, there’s still some growing pains. There’s still some trust issues. This is probably the season where they really — this will be the bonding season even more so than last season. We still have to work through some trust. There’s a reason why Diggle hides this secret from the team and that has to do with trust." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle secretly "juicing" to get past his injury, DR: "[W]hat’s he’s doing will affect the whole team and his family. This will have a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the first part of the season." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On FBI agent Samantha Watson's investigation affecting the rest of Team Arrow, RG: "It remains to be seen what the repercussions of this onslaught of the government trying to find out who the Green Arrow is, and I think that’s obviously going to have a domino affect in terms of Team Arrow and how they’re going to respond to that." (Oct. 26, 2017 IBTimes article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted pic of Diggle/GA, Rene/Wild Dog, Black Siren, Dinah/BC and Curtis/Mr. Terrific, with comment: "And I leave you with this last gift. This might mean more than just a photo. MIGHT. ?? #jussayin." (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Oliver & Felicity ("Olicity")
-- On 604, DCTV's Hector Navarro: "Olicity is back and in full effect. That's right, Oliver and Felicity are back at it.,, And Felicity - she might be spreading herself too thin. I'm going to be real - it's a lot to do. And Oliver knows from experience, it's a lot to try to have it all and do it all. That's why he's taking a step back and letting Diggle take the role of the Green Arrow. He stepped up. Dig is now Arrow. And what about Felicity? Where does that leave her? Well, she's still trying to do everything. She's Overwatch. She's now going to be the girlfriend role and Oliver is the boyfriend role, so now Oliver might have to help out Felicity in this. So we're going to see what happens." (Oct.30, 2017 DC All Access video, page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the state of Olicity after 603, SA: “They are back together... Right now, they’re back together, but I don’t know [what’s next].” They will not be restarting this relationship from square one. EBR: “I don’t think they can... I just don’t think you can with anyone you have history with and someone you really, really care for. It’s usually one to 100. They do really love each other and they’ve hopefully solidified their friendship and hopefully can grow off the base of that.” However, they will face their fair share of challenges, especially when Felicity’s past comes back to haunt her during next week’s episode [604-Reversal] - something she chooses to face alone. EBR: “She refuses the team’s help for 75 percent of it... As we’ve seen before, Felicity doing that doesn’t always end up in her favor and is also nearsighted. It has to do with stealing some tech. It is one of my favorite episodes ever. I had one of the best times filming that episode, so hopefully you’ll like it.” Also, Oliver will question her decision not to rely on the team. SA: “They have a little bit of a back and forth because he says, ‘You can do what you want to do,’ and that’s a big thing with Oliver this year, is he trusts people to do their job... 'Do it, take over, go for it.’ And he and Felicity get into it a little bit because he says, ‘Look, you can do what you want, just don’t do it without backup. Use the team, that’s what they’re there for.’ The fact that she’s doesn’t gives him pause a little bit.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On 604, DR: " And also, Felicity feels as if she can handle Cayden James and this revelation without the team, so there’s a moment for her at the end of this that’s helped by Oliver. Again, you have Oliver playing this position of almost Diggle, to the whole team, in a lot of ways for the next several episodes. It’s a much more mature Oliver — not just with what he’s doing with his son, but giving Felicity the key last week…. And that extends further this week as he helps her realize she needs the team to handle the Cayden James revelation." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan asking if we're going to like what Oliver gives to Felicity in 603, and if it is a game changer for them going forward, GATV tweeted: "Yes and yes." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan saying that he's not gonna blindly hate Olicity until given reason to, GATV tweeted: "My feeling too, including from myself at times. The negativity for #Arrow this week is unwarranted - it’s good!" (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- In response to fan hoping that the show gets Olicity right this time, GATV tweeted: "It seems like they might :)." (Oct. 25, 2017 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 23, 2017, fan tweeted: "Should I go stalk #Olicity tomorrow?" and "I think they are setting up for a reception." (ThemysciraBound tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1640 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 23, 2017, Arrow Production Office tweeted a b-t-s pic of EBR, EK, RG and JH enjoying green-iced cupcakes. EBR is wearing a ring on her left ring finger. (ArrowProdOffice tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1640 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, fan tweeted pic of interior of room with fancy boxed-up room decorations and flowers, with comment: "After the #OlicityWedding. Nice centre pieces! #arrow." Fan also tweeted pic of wedding gifts. (gemmaquickfall tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted a b-t-s pic of himself with SA, and SA as Oliver is wearing a wedding ring. (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 27, 2017, papp posted video of LoT filming of crossover double wedding scene involving Diggle, WestAllen and Olicity. (canadagraphs tweets & video, page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Mega Crossover: On Oct. 29, 2017, papp posted another video of LoT filming of crossover double wedding scene ending with WestAllen and Olicity kisses. (canadagraphs tweet & video, page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow
-- MG: "I feel like Oliver underestimating his antagonists tends to be a bit of a theme in Arrow... We're trying to write Oliver from a more proficient place, which is not to say he's always going to make the right calls, and he's not going to make mistakes...but generally speaking we're trying to have Oliver raise his game from a tactical perspective. And you guys will tell us how successful we've been and how successful Oliver's been." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Diggle as Green Arrow is going to last, DR: "No. No, it’s Green Arrow. Stephen Amell is Green Arrow. It’s not going to last. Of course not, but I think it’s very interesting and it’s an interesting twist on how it fits into the ultimate theme of the season, I think it’s very clever. I think it’s an interesting detour. It also gives us some time with Oliver. I think it’s great, and he has some great writing. Stuff is happening between him and Deathstroke, and he and his son and he and Felicity. It’s awesome. I think holding it for the few episodes I have the mantle, that’s the appropriate amount of time." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Black Siren, DR: "I will say that in terms of how does it make it difficult for us? Because we love Laurel, because she is Laurel Lance to us, particularly to Oliver. I think Oliver’s journey has been one of understanding his own self-redemption, and he wants to redeem Laurel — the mistakes that he’s made with Laurel, to some degree, he thinks he can correct those through Black Siren." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted a b-t-s pic of himself with SA, and SA as Oliver is wearing a wedding ring. (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch
-- On 604, DCTV's Hector Navarro: "And Felicity - she might be spreading herself too thin. I'm going to be real - it's a lot to do. And Oliver knows from experience, it's a lot to try to have it all and do it all. That's why he's taking a step back and letting Diggle take the role of the Green Arrow. He stepped up. Dig is now Arrow. And what about Felicity? Where does that leave her? Well, she's still trying to do everything. She's Overwatch. She's now going to be the girlfriend role and Oliver is the boyfriend role, so now Oliver might have to help out Felicity in this. So we're going to see what happens." (Oct.30, 2017 DC All Access video, page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- In 604, Felicity’s past will come back to haunt her and she will choose to face it alone. EBR: “She refuses the team’s help for 75 percent of it... As we’ve seen before, Felicity doing that doesn’t always end up in her favor and is also nearsighted. It has to do with stealing some tech. It is one of my favorite episodes ever. I had one of the best times filming that episode, so hopefully you’ll like it.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Felicity and Curtis starting their own company, EBR: “It’s going to be Curtis and her working together and hopefully bringing tech into the world that can aid society in a better way... That’s Felicity’s goal. She has trouble trying to think of what necessarily they’re going to invent to kick off the company, but she figures it out around episode 5-ish.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On 604, DR: " And also, Felicity feels as if she can handle Cayden James and this revelation without the team, so there’s a moment for her at the end of this that’s helped by Oliver. Again, you have Oliver playing this position of almost Diggle, to the whole team, in a lot of ways for the next several episodes. It’s a much more mature Oliver — not just with what he’s doing with his son, but giving Felicity the key last week…. And that extends further this week as he helps her realize she needs the team to handle the Cayden James revelation." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- Flash 405 extended promo posted. (Oct. 31, 2017 TV Promos video, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: Promo pics posted, featuring Felicity, Iris, Caitlin/Killer Frost, Cecile, Joe, Barry, Cisco, Harrison, Dibney, and Amunet. (Oct. 27, 2017 GreenArrowTV article and Oct. 28, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405 gifs of scenes involving Felicity posted. (WindofChange post, smoaksqueen tweet and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1648 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Flash 405: AK: "We started with the concept of 'wouldn't it be really funny if Barry goes for a bachelor party with the guys, and Iris goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever and the girls end up saving the city'?... That was where the episode started from, and that's where it ended up." (Oct. 30, 2017 ComicBook article, page 407 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: The connection between Killer Frost and Amunet will be explored in-depth during the 5th episode of The Flash. Killer Frost returns during the bachelorette party, which leads to an interesting, if not enlightening, night for the ladies. Danielle Panabaker: “When Killer Frost shows up, Iris has a lot of compassion for Killer Frost and a lot of compassion for Caitlin and is pivotal in helping Caitlin reconcile herself with her past and some of the mistakes that Killer Frost made." (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 405 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: Amunet Black (Katee Sackhoff) left a (perfectly punctuated) threatening message at Caitlin’s door at the close of The Flash 404, which is teeing up next week’s episode where Killer Frost comes out to play. Killer Frost had been working for Amunet at her underground black market for super villains during the hiatus. AK: “When you meet her, you’ll be like, ‘Oh, yeah! That’s who left that message!' ... Katee Sackhoff is so amazing in the show. What she’s done and the performance that she has brought to the character is so beyond anything you’d expect from her. I think people are really going to be delighted. She is most definitely not playing Starbuck.” Next week’s hour also features the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris, for which Arrow‘s Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) comes to town. AK: “We wanted to do something we had never done before... I think it’s the first episode we’ve ever done where Barry doesn’t wear the suit. We started with the concept of, ‘Wouldn’t it be really funny if Barry goes for the bachelor party with the guys and [Iris] goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever, and the girls wind up saving the city?’ That was where the episode started from and then that’s where it ended up.” (Oct. 31, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

William Clayton
-- Jack Moore's birthday is April 2, 2003. (FamousBirthdays website link in tv echo post, page 113 of Clock Tower Theater thread)

John Diggle AKA Spartan (AKA Green Arrow for now)
-- On finding out Diggle was going to be the GA, DR: "I found out from Marc [Guggenheim]. Marc and I had a nice conversation about it. He told me that and told me some other things he wants to do in the later part of the season. We talked for almost two hours on the phone. The things they plan on doing this season — and it’s always a slow burn because it’s 23 episodes, so there’s all these dips and valleys and all these places. Thank God for the fans because they have to hold on for 23 episodes, that’s a long road. So there are a lot of dips and a lot of valleys, but where they want to take their relationship — particularly between Oliver and Diggle — is just a great place." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Diggle feels about being the GA, DR: "Well, part of this beat has been tread before, right? It’s something that Diggle honors and takes very, very seriously, so much in fact that the physical deficiency that he has, he’s going to great lengths to hide it from the team and fulfill the call that’s been placed on him by Oliver. So he takes it very, very seriously. He’s quite honored by it and he takes it with pride." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On how Diggle handles being a leader out in the field, DR: "Again, this ugly head of this physical limitation really rears its head in the field and it becomes glaringly obvious to the team that he has a problem, so he has to hide, he has to conceal it, he has to make excuses. He hides it from everyone, which is very unlike Diggle. But even as we roll through this, because he wears this mantle for several episodes, he becomes the leader he was at the beginning of season 4. He becomes a very sound leader." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether Diggle as Green Arrow is going to last, DR: "No. No, it’s Green Arrow. Stephen Amell is Green Arrow. It’s not going to last. Of course not, but I think it’s very interesting and it’s an interesting twist on how it fits into the ultimate theme of the season, I think it’s very clever. I think it’s an interesting detour. It also gives us some time with Oliver. I think it’s great, and he has some great writing. Stuff is happening between him and Deathstroke, and he and his son and he and Felicity. It’s awesome. I think holding it for the few episodes I have the mantle, that’s the appropriate amount of time." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "We’ve talked about [flashbacks], particularly with Diggle... We will find some things out about Diggle. We’ve already talked about his parents this year. Hopefully we’ll see his parents. I don’t know if in flashback or in present day. I think you’ll see some flashbacks for the other characters as well. We already have a few in one of the episodes." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On whether he was surprised by Diggle being GA for an extended period of time, DR: "I think that’s a great way of putting it. I was surprised. There was a realistic sentiment to me taking over. The fan base was mixed, and so was Team Arrow, so the sentiment within the fiction was realistic. Diggle was compromised and immediately Rene called him on it and went to Oliver, and this was not Diggle picking up where Oliver left off. He has some faults, and I’m glad. As human and “to the ground” as you can make a show about about a man fighting crime with a bow and arrow [Laughs], we’ve made it that way. Diggle had problems in the field, people questioned his leadership… and then there is reversal of the Oliver/Diggle relationship, with Oliver now kind of taking on that role of offering sage advice. I thought it hit all the right notes. ... But yes, I was surprised, pleasantly, that they really committed themselves to giving me even a different fighting style. This is something Bam [supervising stunt coordinator James Bamford] and I have always talked about, that Diggle is a military-trained guy so there’s not a lot of elliptical, roundhouse [moves]. This guy goes straight forward, breaking bones, trying to end the fight. We wanted to show that difference between the way those two fight as well." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether we can expect complications from Diggle secretly "juicing" to get past his injury, DR: "Big-time complications. You’re seeing Diggle in a different way, right? Diggle has always been kind of the bastion of integrity — I mean, this man wanted to go to prison over the guilt he felt over the Canary’s death and his brother’s death. He’s been the model of morality. And now all that stuff comes into question. I think it’s a good arc for Diggle and a good arc for the team, because what’s he’s doing will affect the whole team and his family. This will have a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the first part of the season." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On whether Diggle's guilt level rises with each passing episode he doesn’t come clean to Oliver about his compromised situation, DR: "I think that Diggle is a man of mission, and once the mission takes hold, it’s “whatever you have to do to complete it.” I say that with a caveat that Diggle has always been the one saying, 'You do whatever you have to do, but once you cross that line of morality, maybe you want to talk about how these choices affect the mission.' But Diggle takes this [Green Arrow] mantle very, very seriously. He takes Star City very, very seriously. Diggle had a great line many years ago that went, 'Secrets are like weights — the more you have, the harder it is to move." And for Diggle it becomes less about his guilt and more about, “I have to have these drugs to continue the mission.” So we’re going to see a Diggle that becomes someone we haven’t really seen, in the sense that his moral compass gets comprised. You would think that, as your question implies, he is a man who’d feel some guilt, that it starts to haunt him, but it’s more, 'I have to continue this charade.'” (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)

Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger 
-- On how Lyla feels about Diggle being the GA, DR: "The issue of trust is very serious between them, as it is with he and all the team members. I go back to this physical limitation that he suffered in the explosion on the island that really does affect his whole life — his life with the team, his life with Lyla — because he goes about making some choices that are not honest, and that also strikes a particular chord between he and Lyla because of how much he has ridiculed her position as the new Amanda Waller, and the issues of walking that very thin line of light and dark, and playing with morality and all this other stuff, particularly with someone like her, who has her finger on the Suicide Squad. He’s had some real questions about that. Now he’s not walking the talk, so to speak. So the issue of trust comes up in a real way between them and the first part of it is because of what’s happening with him in hiding a secret. The second part of it is the same 800-pound elephant that’s been in the room: The fact that he works as a vigilante and she’s the new Amanda Waller. What is that all about? That ground hasn’t been settled yet." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Diggle secretly "juicing" to get past his injury, DR: "[W]hat’s he’s doing will affect the whole team and his family. This will have a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the first part of the season." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread) 
-- On Oct. 27, 2017, Audrey Marie Anderson tweeted: "Base camp. #CapeTown #farawayfromhome." (aud_anderson tweet, page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Thea Queen AKA Speedy
-- On the possibility of "WildQueen," MG: "I’m always ‘shipping Thea and Rene... Yes, there will be Thea and Rene scenes." (Oct. 26, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Quentin Lance
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted a b-t-s pic of himself with PB. (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific
-- On Felicity and Curtis starting their own company, EBR: “It’s going to be Curtis and her working together and hopefully bringing tech into the world that can aid society in a better way... That’s Felicity’s goal. She has trouble trying to think of what necessarily they’re going to invent to kick off the company, but she figures it out around episode 5-ish.” (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog
-- On the possibility of "WildQueen," MG: "I’m always ‘shipping Thea and Rene... Yes, there will be Thea and Rene scenes." (Oct. 26, 2017 TVLine article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On the new Wild Dog suit, RG: "I think what we did was we definitely honored the comic book and kept it very close in Season 5... I think that’s an accomplishment in itself because not many other comic book films and TV shows do that or are even capable of doing that. But we managed to pull it off, and I think Season 5 was special, especially with having Wild Dog and his energy and just even the way he looked.” Also RG: "I think that this season I have to give props to [costume designer] Maya Mani and [concept illustrator] Andy Poon for creating a suit that I feel like gives a tip of the hat to last season." There’s also a sort of Easter egg in the Wild Dog suit that RG wasn't sure fans have noticed: “I haven’t seen any of the fans point out the Wild Dog in the suit because it’s in there... Maya specifically in the design kind of created, with the paneling and the way the suit looks, [a way] to kind of show off the dog and I challenge people to see if they can pick that out. To me it’s really cool, and I think it kind of lends to the energy of Team Arrow and the way everyone else looks, but at the same time, still giving Rene his own bite, no pun intended.” (Oct. 25, 2017 IBTimes article, page 243 of Starling City Times thread)
-- RG: “I think ultimately, he doesn’t dislike the idea of Diggle being the Green Arrow and controlling things. I just think there probably is a little piece of Rene inside of him that’s like, ‘Well I could totally lead this team too.' ... And that’s just who he is. He’s someone who walks to the beat of his own drum who believes in himself and thinks that every decision he makes is the right decision. And that’s what I love about him.” However, while Wild Dog would be happier in a leadership role, it sounds like he’ll respect Oliver’s choice. RG: “At the same time, he’s from a military background so he understands his superiors and how to respect the chain of command. And I think he does respect Oliver and Diggle immensely." (Oct. 26, 2017 IBTimes article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

E2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren
-- On 604, DCTV's Hector Navarro: "Later this week on Thursday, on an all-new Arrow, the 'S' has hit the fan because Black Siren attacks, right when things were going swimmingly. Olicity is back and in full effect. That's right, Oliver and Felicity are back at it. And that's when Black Siren decides to launch an attack on the citizens of Star City." (Oct.30, 2017 DC All Access video, page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what Team Arrow's next face-off with Black Siren (in 604) will look like, DR: "A couple of ways: It ain’t going to be just her. There’s always a group of bad guys. So it’s not going to be just her, so there’s that part of it. We always like bringing people up from the past; that’s a little nugget for you. So things will come back to bite us, so to speak. Black Siren is only part of that. I will say that in terms of how does it make it difficult for us? Because we love Laurel, because she is Laurel Lance to us, particularly to Oliver. I think Oliver’s journey has been one of understanding his own self-redemption, and he wants to redeem Laurel — the mistakes that he’s made with Laurel, to some degree, he thinks he can correct those through Black Siren." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- DR: "It’s all on Cayden James, man! It’s [Helix boss] Cayden James and Black Siren this week [604]. You get to find out, 'Who is Cayden James?' Mmm-hmmm. So that’s happening." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted pic of Diggle/GA, Rene/Wild Dog, Black Siren, Dinah/BC and Curtis/Mr. Terrific, with comment: "And I leave you with this last gift. This might mean more than just a photo. MIGHT. ?? #jussayin." (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke
-- From 606 synopsis: "As Slade (guest star Manu Bennett) continues to uncover clues about his son’s last few years, Oliver (Stephen Amell) makes a big decision." (Oct. 27, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- When reporter asked about Deathstroke's origin story, Manu Bennett cautioned that the CW version of the origin story is not the same as the DC comic book series. MB: "So the CW version of this is not exactly on the same page or the same time frame as what the comic book origin story is. So when Marc Guggenheim has said, 'We're going to discover the origin of Deathstroke,' he's talking about a different origin. You know, kind of like Shado... The origin story of Slade on Arrow, the tv show? Then Shado's a big part of that. She wasn't really the component of the DC one. So, yeah, this origin story is more about Slade and his son. I think you kind of have to keep that in perspective. But was it amazing? Yeah, it was such a new spin. I like to characterize through experience... It was interesting to play a fatherly kind of presentation of Slade because it was completely different realm to just Slade with Oliver on the island. This real father-son scenario is new territory. I've enjoyed it." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MB: "I just did this really wonderful two episodes with Liam Hall, who's playing my son - Slade Wilson's son - on Arrow. So we have this, uh, wonderful episode 5 and 6 of Season 6 of Arrow... [T]here was Slade and Oliver on the island, right? Which everybody bought into - they bought into that bond. But Slade and his own son? It's got a whole different variation of vulnerabilities, um, you know, responsibilities, uh, fears - losing control of a child of your own, you know... I was so happy at the end... So were the directors, 'cause the two directors who worked the two episodes, you know. They were so happy, that we worked so hard to make it something wonderful." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MB: "And Oliver's going to go help me find my boy. I didn't say that. I didn't just say that." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MB: "And Marc Guggenheim kinda, like, opened up the doors to so much more. And I can't give you any spoilers on that. But honestly, the way that these two episodes open a door is interesting, you know. There's a potential future." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- When reporter asked about an upcoming Slade Wilson adventure, MB: "You know, uh, Marc Guggenheim has been, you know, fairly, you know, honest with me about - about the way that he's been... constrained, you might say, in terms of how to include Deathstroke, you know, in the Arrow series. Uh, you know, Warner Brothers adult company, you know, the film branch, have, you know, made it... not possible to use certain characters on the Arrow TV show. The Suicide Squad. Harley Quinn. All these characters have been - you know, that pass of the prison cell and Harley Quinn was inside there. You know, and you had Deadshot, and you had all these other characters that could've been fleshed out more. But, you know Warner Brothers parent company had said, 'ah, we're going to use them on the films and so, therefore, you gotta step back using them on the TV series. Which is kind of like a shame, but, you know, part of, you know, who am I to say? You know, that's - at the end of the day, that's their property and they're going to treat it in the way they think is best in order to make the impact... But, you know, it is the way it is. But being on television, you know, the possibilities of television - Marc Guggenheim and I talked about a Deathstroke TV series, you know, and it would be awesome. You know, we could make it R rated. You know, we could maybe leap onto something - another network platform that we could be at that level. You know, make it Logan - Logan-esque and all that sort of stuff. You know, we can do it. You know, Marc Guggenheim and I could write that series. But it's not really - it's not our property to say. You know, but I know the fanbase out there would be keen for it... But who am I, man? Just a small guy from New Zealand." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MB: "Well, you know, there's sort of some speculation going on right now about Slade's back on Arrow and Joe Manganiello's been offered to do a Deathstroke film, which is great for Joe. He's a wonderful guy. I've met him a couple times. Just a wonderful guy. You know, awesome physique. He'll fit a Deathstroke costume amazingly... And he'll have his own take on it, you know. And I wish him the very best... It'll be interesting to see how, with all that great production quality, you know, what they can bring visually to the character. But I will say, being able to do a character on television and have several series to flesh out a Slade Wilson, you know, then you can play with a lot of the gray matter and, you know, manage to develop that wealth on the TV show. But, you know, on the big screen, there's going to be a new Deathstroke and, you know, between the two, there's always been this sort of ongoing story where Warner Brothers parent company, which is the feature film arm, have requested, you know, that certain elements of Arrow's world, uh, be finished - you know, things like Deadshot, Harley Quinn, the Suicide Squad, all those things that were gonna be part of the Arrowverse. But, uh, had to held back because of the reason of the film arm wanting to reserve that, you know, for the film... Who knows? That's their decision-making. That's their properties. They know what they're doing in their game, you know, so we just play ball." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 29, 2017: Geektown video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- MB: "Ah, listen, you know, the speculation of a Deathstroke TV series is, you know, based upon fan comments that have been going on, the fact that the fans would like to see that... Someone posted online and sent it to my twitter account, and I responded, 'yeah, that would be cool.' I want it to be R-rated, I want it to be dark, like Logan... To pay Deathstroke a real service in a TV series, I think you'd want to go darker than anything, you know... Maybe even make it look more international, you know, where he's sort of like an international soldier.... You know, I've had these conversations with Marc Guggenheim after the fact and, you know, Marc was very supportive of the idea, thought it was a great idea. You know, we bandied it about a little bit on twitter and people like Marv Wolfman weighed in, you know.... Also, Geoff Daniels, the Deathstroke illustrator - he weighed in. Everyone was going, 'good idea.' ... So who knows, you know? I mean, at this stage, I guess Warner Brothers is just looking at the feature film. They've announced it, so they're definitely focusing on that... Who knows what will happen after that? You know, maybe they'll get to that point and fans will be like, 'ahhh, yeah, more Deathstroke, more Deathstroke!' You know, if somebody asked me to do a TV series, I - I - you know, I'd definitely not want it to sit in the PG arena. I think, to really pay a homage to Deathstroke independently, you'd want to go hard. But Joe's got a shot at that, you know... I'm really keen to see how gritty that script's gonna be, you know? ... I wonder what it's rating is going to be. It'd be great if it was R rated. That would be great if it was like Logan. That was heavy, really heavy, you know... I'm probably just as excited as everybody else to see what it's gonna look like on the big screen. Wish it was me, Joe. (laughs) But good luck... Joe's a really wonderful guy and he'll have a shot at it." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 29, 2017: Geektown video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Joe Wilson AKA Kane Wolfman
-- Manu Bennett: "I just did this really wonderful two episodes with Liam Hall, who's playing my son - Slade Wilson's son - on Arrow. So we have this, uh, wonderful episode 5 and 6 of Season 6 of Arrow... which hopefully satisfied the way Marc Guggenheim wrote this compelling two-episode, you know, part of this next season of Arrow. Uh, Liam Hall - it was interesting, Liam and I met and, of course, very quickly you have to try and form a bond 'cause, you know, we met with maybe 48 hours before the camera was gonna start rolling. Um, and him and I got together in a hotel room and we started, as you do, acting beside each other. You know, and he's a young actor so therefore - and he's seen all my stuff and I could tell he was a little bit intimidated. You know, he's seen my Crixus and, you know, he was a huge fan of Arrow. And suddenly he'd come out of obscurity. He'd been living in Vancouver for two years as a young Australian actor trying to find a break and he hadn't really landed anything. So he had no real experience in the big game, you know what I mean? And he sort of - as we sat in the hotel room, I could figure some of - 'cause I've been through that - so I could figure where he was at on some of his, you know, personal, kind of, you know, uh, emotional limitations at the times, because I've been in that situation where you're nervous, you know, and you gotta just get rid of those nerves and start being kind of, like, tactile with your fellow actor. So Liam and I actually just sat there and  we did Meisner. We sat there and we looked at each other and we started saying the lines while we were studying each other as people, trying to notice from each other what we could see about each other, more deeply in each other's eyes, read the connection, you know. And we actually applied that, when it came to our first scene. And it worked so well... You have such a short amount of time to get ready in this scenario that, unless you're really connected to people, unless you can really get that connection in there, then you can tell whether they're father and son or not, or whether they're just acting father and son. And, after 48 hours of doing this kind of Meisner thing that we did together, you know, we got really, uh, really got connected in a way that I think, you know, fans are going to find this very interesting, because - there was Slade and Oliver on the island, right? Which everybody bought into - they bought into that bond. But Slade and his own son? It's got a whole different variation of vulnerabilities, um, you know, responsibilities, uh, fears - losing control of a child of your own, you know... I was so happy at the end... So were the directors, 'cause the two directors who worked the two episodes, you know. They were so happy, that we worked so hard to make it something wonderful. And Marc Guggenheim kinda, like, opened up the doors to so much more. And I can't give you any spoilers on that. But honestly, the way that these two episodes open a door is interesting, you know. There's a potential future." (MCM London Comic Con, Oct. 28, 2017: Super HeroNexus video of MB interview, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

Big Bads
-- On S6 antagonists, MG: "For sure, we are keeping with the grounded, you know, there's no metahumans -- there's street-level crime. Sometimes it's street-level crime with a high-tech component, as we've occasionally done on the show, other times it's street crime, with a very low-tech component and we really sort of mix things up this year." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- MG: "There's a method to our madness in terms of all the various differing casting things we've announced... We've got David Nykl back as Anatoly; that's going to provide a specific kind of antagonism. I will say Kirk Acevedo as Ricardo Diaz is absolutely phenomenal. He is just such a terrific, terrific character and a terrific bad guy. With season six and the way we're handling the enemies of Team Arrow, we're playing a bit of a long game, we have sort of a long-term plan that hopefully we can execute. But we were definitely recognizing that, coming into season six, we can't do the tried-and-true, easily meet the big bad in the season premier or the mid season finale. We have to change up our normal paradigms and then you build up the big bad in the back half of the year." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On the group of villains, DR: "Part of it, in terms of story, is taking our characters to another place. That’s the main thrust of it all. Why do you bring someone like Deathstroke back? Because it’s great sh— you can give to Stephen, because he takes our lead character to another place. The first reason is that it’s good stories, you get great stories by bringing these people back from the past and having some personal connection to our characters, and you get to take these lead characters someplace else. The second reason is, I think the audience has a connection to them because they’ve seen them before, they know their backstory, they know what they can do, they know that they’re a threat to our main characters. There’s great storytelling in bringing back these characters. To some degree, some of these characters are attached to some of the team members personally." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Ricardo Diaz AKA Richard Dragon
-- From 606 synopsis: "Meanwhile, the Green Arrow (David Ramsey) leads the team into battle against 'The Dragon,' a villain who is stealing valuable tech in Star City." (Oct. 27, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- MG: "There's a method to our madness in terms of all the various differing casting things we've announced... We've got David Nykl back as Anatoly; that's going to provide a specific kind of antagonism. I will say Kirk Acevedo as Ricardo Diaz is absolutely phenomenal. He is just such a terrific, terrific character and a terrific bad guy. With season six and the way we're handling the enemies of Team Arrow, we're playing a bit of a long game, we have sort of a long-term plan that hopefully we can execute. But we were definitely recognizing that, coming into season six, we can't do the tried-and-true, easily meet the big bad in the season premier or the mid season finale. We have to change up our normal paradigms and then you build up the big bad in the back half of the year." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On what sort of threat the Ricardo Diaz character (played by Kirk Acevedo) will present when he shows up in a few weeks, DR: "Hmmm…. I almost said something that would give it away but… Ricardo Diaz ends up being someone very important to Diggle specifically. His thread plays out on a relationship with Diggle particularly." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On how Ricardo Diaz will differ from S5’s Tobias Church, and whether Tobias was more of a thug, DR: "He was a street-level thug. There is a street element to Ricardo, but Ricardo is much bigger than Tobias Church, his tentacles are much longer. Tobias Church was really street-level." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 26, 2017, RG posted a b-t-s pic of himself with Kirk Acevedo. (CW_Arrow instagram post, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

The Vigilante
-- DR: "There’s something really big happening with Vigilante, really big. There are some big things for Vigilante. It’s tough for me to talk about Vigilante at this point and not give some things away besides to say his revelation will be — there’s some real intimacy with the way he’s revealed. It’s really going to be deep to find out exactly what he’s all about." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Cayden James [tv echo: I'm assuming for now that Michael Emerson is playing Cayden.]
-- DR: "It’s all on Cayden James, man! It’s [Helix boss] Cayden James and Black Siren this week [604]. You get to find out, 'Who is Cayden James?' Mmm-hmmm. So that’s happening. And also, Felicity feels as if she can handle Cayden James and this revelation without the team, so there’s a moment for her at the end of this that’s helped by Oliver. Again, you have Oliver playing this position of almost Diggle, to the whole team, in a lot of ways for the next several episodes. It’s a much more mature Oliver — not just with what he’s doing with his son, but giving Felicity the key last week…. And that extends further this week as he helps her realize she needs the team to handle the Cayden James revelation." (Nov. 1, 2017 TVLine article, page 10 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On 604, DCTV's Hector Navarro: "And guys, guys, I'm so incredibly excited about this - uh, one of my favorite actors of all time, from one of my favorite shows ever, is appearing in this episode of Arrow. And I cannot tell you who they are and what role they're playing, because it's a spoiler." (Oct.30, 2017 DC All Access video, page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Donna Smoak
-- TVLine confirmed that Charlotte Ross will reprise her role as Donna Smoak during a S6 episode. Further details about the guest spot are unavailable, but the series is currently in production on its midseason finale (609). (Oct. 23, 2017 TVLine article, page 1639 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On Oct. 21-22, 2017, Charlotte Ross posted pic with "#vancouver... On my way" and also tweeted: "#Vancouver nights ????." (CR tweet and CR instagram post in olicitymafia tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 24, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is shooting a wedding reception scene today...." and "#Arrow characters on set currently - Olicity, Team Arrow, Quentin, Thea, Felcitys mom AND dad." (canadagraphs tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)
-- On Oct. 25, 2017, Charlotte Ross tweeted pic of herself, with comment: "Headed to set ?? #arrow #mamasmoak." (charlotteross tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Noah Kuttler AKA The Calculator
-- On Oct. 24, 2017, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is shooting a wedding reception scene today...." and "#Arrow characters on set currently - Olicity, Team Arrow, Quentin, Thea, Felcitys mom AND dad." (canadagraphs tweets, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Anatoly Knyazev
-- MG: "There's a method to our madness in terms of all the various differing casting things we've announced... We've got David Nykl back as Anatoly; that's going to provide a specific kind of antagonism." (Oct. 26, 2017 ComicBook article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1647 of Spoiler Discussion thread)

Samanda Watson
-- On how Agent Watson will be making Diggle’s job harder, DR: "We haven’t played all of that out yet. We just did a great scene, she and I, where she calls me out to the carpet. She’s like, 'Let’s talk. You’ve been with him six years, it’s time for us to talk.' We just so happen to run into each other. I say, 'Hey, I have nothing to hide.' She will be formidable in how she makes trouble for the team." (Oct. 25, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 1644 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- On FBI agent Samantha Watson's investigation affecting the rest of Team Arrow, RG: "It remains to be seen what the repercussions of this onslaught of the government trying to find out who the Green Arrow is, and I think that’s obviously going to have a domino affect in terms of Team Arrow and how they’re going to respond to that." (Oct. 26, 2017 IBTimes article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Onyx
-- On Oct. 22, 2017, Chastity Dotson tweeted pic of Onyx comics page, with comment: "Get ready for some #BlackGirlMagic!! Only 4 more days until #onyxadams comes crashing in!! 10/26 on #ArrowSeason6 on #cw. #dccomics #tunein." (itschasdotson tweet, page 9 of New Spoilers thread)

Raisa (the Maid)
-- Kathleen Gati is joining the S2 cast of Ladies of the Lake (Amazon Video mini-series). She'll appear in three of the four episodes in the second season, which begins filming in late January. (Oct. 31, 2017 Soap Opera Digest article, page 34 of Arrow Stars In Other Roles thread)

Big 4-Show Crossover Event (Arrow/Flash/LoT/Supergirl)
-- AK: "It really truly is a four hour movie in a way that we've never done before. Starting even with the original Flash and Arrow one we did four years ago, the storylines were very loosely connected. Even last season, it very much felt like an episode of The Flash, and then it was definitely and episode of Arrow, and then definitely an episode of Legends. ... This time around, you won't know what show it is depending on what episode it is. There's a beginning to the story and there's an end to the story and it covers the four hours. For that, we're really proud. It's huge, it's the biggest thing we've ever done, and it's nearly killed all of us." (Oct. 30, 2017 ComicBook article, page 407 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Per RG, the upcoming 4-show crossover event is extremely relevant and, in many ways, mirrors the struggles happening today. RG: "When we talk about Nazis, we’re talking about a regime that was trying to eradicate people and, in an extremist way, impart their views on the world... In so many ways, you see that today. There’s so many different factions trying to impart their ideals onto others and there’s no inclusion happening. ... That’s the general idea when we’re talking about superheroes and supervillains, two sides trying to fight for their ideals," he adds. "Ultimately, we’re taking that idea and pushing it to the boundaries." (Oct. 31, 2017 Metro US article, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 22, 2017, James Bamford posted b-t-s pic of editing room with PC screen showing Barry in his Flash suit, with comment: "Editing hour 2 director’s cut of Crisis on Earth X with the talented @jessie_murray on a sunny Saturday in Burbank." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 403 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 22, 2017, papp tweeted video of LoT shooting stunt scene for crossover with Wild Dog navigating explosions to save someone. (canadagraphs tweet, page 404 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 22, 2017, papp tweeted link to LoT crossover filming report with pics. From filming report: "While lots of stunt people were on hand while I was there for characters like Green Arrow, Black Canary, Wild Dog, Mr. Terrific, White Canary and others from Arrow, The Flash and Legends Of Tomorrow, in the earlier scene I saw they did have two actual cast out there. Grant Gustin as Barry Allen aka The Flash and Tom Cavanagh, who may be playing any variation of Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne since he frequently plays variants of himself & with the slight change to the Reverse Flash outfit hes worn on The Flash in the past, its safe to assume this is the Earth X version of him. ... The Grant & Tom scene sees The Flash grab Toms character and throw him up against a wall.... after a moment or two of dialogue between the two, Barry lets the Tom Cavanagh character go. What does Toms character say to convince The Flash to let him go? ... Throughout the day, various stunt scenes were being practiced, and executed at the set. While I was there a Black Canary and Mister Terrific VS Nazis scene took place. ... I will have another blog post with photos of other stunt scenes including the Green Arrow, Wild Dog, and White Canary later, along with action scenes including Dominic Purcell & the much anticipated return of Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold." (Canadagraphs article, page 404 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 24, 2017, DR tweeted: "Was in the editing bay of episode 608 (EARTH X CROSSOVER) with the brilliant @JamesBamford. Everyone's SO good!!! Talkin 2 u, @StephenAmell." (DR tweet, page 405 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 27, 2017, papp tweeted video of LoT filming crossover fight scene involving Grant Gustin and Tom Cavanagh. (candagraphs tweet, page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 27, 2017, papp posted report on LoT filming of crossover scenes. From filming report: "Later in the afternoon, I had the luck of catching them shoot a scene in the made up garden they had built that had Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory filming a scene with a guy I personally hadnt seen on a set in a couple years, Wentworth Miller as Leonard Snart, aka Captain Cold. ... As most bloggers and youtube channels had noted, Wentworth was seen on set sporting some new threads.... and, as a few of those who didnt rush to get their articles out were able to also discuss.... he had some new glasses as well. Gone, the old goggles style glasses of years gone by, now Captain Cold is rocking glasses more in line with what his character wears in the comics. Also noticed, some type of weapons on his shoulder/arm area. ... The scene they shot was pretty simple. The duo were busy kicking asses, shooting their cold & heat guns at people.Whether its for the good guys, or the bad guys.... that still is yet to be determined. Guess we'll just have to wait & see if this was the Earth X versions of them, or the prime earth versions of them. ... Also shooting during the day was a stunt scene that I posted a youtube video of HERE where Rene Ramirez aka Wild Dog goes & saves someone from a field of bombs going off. ... Also caught shooting stunt scenes during this time was The Green Arrow and his Earth X counterpart.throughout the afternoon, White Canary & Black Canary stunt doubles could be seen practicing training routines for possible stunts later on." (canadagraphs tweet & article, page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 27, 2017, papp posted video of LoT filming of crossover double wedding scene involving Diggle, WestAllen and Olicity. (canadagraphs tweets & video, page 1646 of Spoiler Discussion thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 29, 2017, papp posted another video of LoT filming of crossover double wedding scene ending with WestAllen and Olicity kisses. (canadagraphs tweet & video, page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 30, 2017, SA posted a facebook message about raffling off the crossover poster to benefit The Clay Virtue Memorial Fund. In his post, SA said: "I got a movie sized poster of this years crossover artwork and got EVERYBODY to sign it. EVERYBODY! Even the people who aren’t on the poster even though they definitely should have been." In his video, SA said: "SA: "As you know, we have been shooting the giant crossover, Crisis On Earth-X. They gave me - you saw the artwork that came out, and I'm going to show you this in a second - they gave me a movie poster and I got everybody to sign it. And I mean everybody - even people who aren't on the poster, even though they definitely probably should have been." He then zoomed the camera in on EBR's, WH's and DR's signatures on the poster. (SA facebook post & video, page 637 of Social Media thread)

Mini Crossovers 
-- Flash 405 extended promo posted. (Oct. 31, 2017 TV Promos video, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405 promo pics posted, featuring Felicity, Iris, Caitlin/Killer Frost, Cecile, Joe, Barry, Cisco, Harrison, Dibney and Amunet. (Oct. 27, 2017 GreenArrowTV article and Oct. 28, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405 gifs of scenes involving Felicity posted. (WindofChange post, smoaksqueen tweet and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1648 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Flash 405: Amunet Black (Katee Sackhoff) left a (perfectly punctuated) threatening message at Caitlin’s door at the close of The Flash 404, which is teeing up next week’s episode where Killer Frost comes out to play. Killer Frost had been working for Amunet at her underground black market for super villains during the hiatus. AK: “When you meet her, you’ll be like, ‘Oh, yeah! That’s who left that message!' ... Katee Sackhoff is so amazing in the show. What she’s done and the performance that she has brought to the character is so beyond anything you’d expect from her. I think people are really going to be delighted. She is most definitely not playing Starbuck.” Next week’s hour also features the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris, for which Arrow‘s Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) comes to town. AK: “We wanted to do something we had never done before... I think it’s the first episode we’ve ever done where Barry doesn’t wear the suit. We started with the concept of, ‘Wouldn’t it be really funny if Barry goes for the bachelor party with the guys and [Iris] goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever, and the girls wind up saving the city?’ That was where the episode started from and then that’s where it ended up.” (Oct. 31, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405: AK: "We started with the concept of 'wouldn't it be really funny if Barry goes for a bachelor party with the guys, and Iris goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever and the girls end up saving the city'?... That was where the episode started from, and that's where it ended up." (Oct. 30, 2017 ComicBook article, page 407 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- LoT 310: Constantine's visit to LoT is teased on the cover page of the script for Episode 10, titled “Daddy Darhkest.” The image shows what would otherwise be an ordinary script cover bearing the show’s logo and some of the episode’s technical details. However, the background includes a red necktie and a lit cigarette, signature items belonging to DC Comics’ chain-smoking con man/magician. (Nov. 1, 2017 CBR article, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- LoT: On whether Connor Hawke (Joseph David-Jones, who debuted in LoT's S1 "Star City 2046" episode), could return on LoT, MG: "It would be awesome... That's totally a bucket list item for us. We've talked about eventually going back there and seeing it. There are still a couple of different ideas that we have related to that time period, but nothing [solid is planned]." Also MG: "We say this on Arrow where we do 23 episodes, but it's especially true on Legends where we are only doing 18: you run through the real estate really, really fast, so we always end every year with stories that we didn't get a chance to do." (Oct. 23, 2017 ComicBook article, page 404 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

The Flash in the Arrowverse 
-- Flash 405 extended promo posted. (Oct. 31, 2017 TV Promos video, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405 promo pics posted, featuring Felicity, Iris, Caitlin/Killer Frost, Cecile, Joe, Barry, Cisco, Harrison, Dibney and Amunet. (Oct. 27, 2017 GreenArrowTV article and Oct. 28, 2017 SpoilerTV article, page 9 of New Spoilers thread and page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- Flash 405 gifs of scenes involving Felicity posted. (WindofChange post, smoaksqueen tweet and LuluLemonLime83 tweet, page 1648 of Spoiler Discussion thread)
-- Amunet Black (Katee Sackhoff) left a (perfectly punctuated) threatening message at Caitlin’s door at the close of The Flash 404, which is teeing up next week’s episode where Killer Frost comes out to play. Killer Frost had been working for Amunet at her underground black market for super villains during the hiatus. AK: “When you meet her, you’ll be like, ‘Oh, yeah! That’s who left that message!' ... Katee Sackhoff is so amazing in the show. What she’s done and the performance that she has brought to the character is so beyond anything you’d expect from her. I think people are really going to be delighted. She is most definitely not playing Starbuck.” Next week’s hour also features the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Barry and Iris, for which Arrow‘s Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) comes to town. AK: “We wanted to do something we had never done before... I think it’s the first episode we’ve ever done where Barry doesn’t wear the suit. We started with the concept of, ‘Wouldn’t it be really funny if Barry goes for the bachelor party with the guys and [Iris] goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever, and the girls wind up saving the city?’ That was where the episode started from and then that’s where it ended up.” (Oct. 31, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 408 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- AK: "We started with the concept of 'wouldn't it be really funny if Barry goes for a bachelor party with the guys, and Iris goes for a bachelorette party with the girls, and the guys end up having the worst night ever and the girls end up saving the city'?... That was where the episode started from, and that's where it ended up." (Oct. 30, 2017 ComicBook article, page 407 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- The connection between Killer Frost and Amunet will be explored in-depth during the 5th episode of The Flash. Killer Frost returns during the bachelorette party, which leads to an interesting, if not enlightening, night for the ladies. Danielle Panabaker: “When Killer Frost shows up, Iris has a lot of compassion for Killer Frost and a lot of compassion for Caitlin and is pivotal in helping Caitlin reconcile herself with her past and some of the mistakes that Killer Frost made." (Oct. 26, 2017 Entertainment Weekly article, page 405 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)
-- On Oct. 28, 2017, Katee Sackhoff tweeted pic of herself as Amunet, with comment: "First look at #AmunetBlack Coming soon to @CW_TheFlash She makes Evil look So Good! ??" (kateesackhoff tweet, page 406 of Mind Your Surroundings thread)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow in the Arrowverse
-- Constantine's visit to LoT is teased on the cover page of the script for Episode 10, titled “Daddy Darhkest.” The image shows what would otherwise be an ordinary script cover bearing the show’s logo and some of the episode’s technical details. However, the background includes