tv echo July 18, 2019 Share July 18, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers up to July 18, 2019 (excluding any SDCC-related spoilers, which will be included in a subsequent SDCC spoilers addendum). This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - PART 1 OF 5: S8 Renewal, Scheduling and Episode Order -- Arrow's 8th and final season will consist of a reduced order of 10 episodes. From joint statement by GB, MG and Beth Schwartz: "This was a difficult decision to come to, but like every hard decision we’ve made for the past seven years, it was with the best interests of Arrow in mind... We’re heartened by the fact that Arrow has birthed an entire universe of shows that will continue on for many years to come. We’re excited about crafting a conclusion that honors the show, its characters and its legacy and are grateful to all the writers, producers, actors, and - more importantly - the incredible crew that has sustained us and the show for over seven years." (Mar. 6, 2019 Deadline article, page 300 of Starling City Times thread, and Mar. 7, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 107 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Arrow will be moving to Tuesdays at 9pm (after The Flash) for S8. (May 16, 2019 Variety tweet & article, page 307 of Starling City Times thread and page 77 of Ratings & Scheduling thread) -- Arrow S8 will premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, at 9 pm ET. (Jun. 17, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 77 of Ratings and Scheduling thread) -- Per papps, Arrow filming dates are from July 11 to November 14, 2019. (Jun. 28, 2019 lemon_buzz tweet and YVRShoots article, page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 10, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow final season starts filming this Thursday [Jul. 11, 2019]...." and "#Arrow final season starts filming this Thursday...." (yvrshoots tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, blogger tweeted pic of 801 table read. (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Arrow Retrospective -- CW President Mark Pedowitz: "Arrow is ten episodes, plus a retrospective to celebrate the eighth season." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: ComicBook article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, The CW network will be honoring everything Arrow has accomplished since it premiered in 2012 with "a retrospective to celebrate the eight seasons." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- ET's Philiana Ng tweeted: "#Arrow will get a retrospective special following its 10-episode final season, with the cast and creative team looking back on the eight-year run. #Upfronts." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: Philiana Ng tweet, page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) S8 Showrunner and Writers -- When asked in March 2019 if she was going to Flash next season, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Nope. Staying at Arrow [grinning face emoji]." (Mar. 9, 2019, SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 111 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- EBR: "The incredible mind of my friend @schwartzapproved will be taking Arrow into its 8th & final season sending it off with pride, power and love." (Mar. 8, 2019 EBR instagram post, page 750 of Social Media thread) -- On Apr. 7, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Just created an #Arrow Season 8 folder. It's all happening..." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 11 of Spoilers thread) S8 Directors -- When fan asked, "Hey Marc who is the new arrow alumni to direct an episode?," MG tweeted: "I don't have WB's authorization to announce that yet. But it's really exciting!" (May 31, 2019 MG tweet, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- SA: "We have a great stable of directors for Season 8, especially because it's a limited run of episodes. And we have a new cast member directing, but that's not my news to share." (MegaCon Orlando, May 19, 2019: The One video of SA panel, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 759 of Social Media thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "@/JamesBamford is directing 4 episodes in Season 8 ??." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- DR: "I'll probably be directing again next season, which is good." (May 9, 2019 David Ramsey Instagram video, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 758 of Social Media thread) -- Fan report on what DR said: "@david_ramsey confirmed to me he will be directing an ep of #Arrow season 8." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25, 2019: sadfangirl tweet, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- KC and CL were part of the 2019 class of the Warner Brothers TV Directors Workshop. (Jul. 13, 2019 dailyejt tweet, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 16, 2019, KM tweeted: "From hunting shadows to shadowing?!? Thanks @cw_arrow @JamesBamford and @SchwartzApprovd for this opportunity to see the set through a new lens as a director shadow. Learning so much and being inspired by this fantastic crew and production. #TheRealTeamArrow ??????." Director James Bamford subsequently posted pic of himself with KM, with comment: "Super shadow @kat.mcnamara and myself just after witnessing another ground breaking performance from the dynamic duo of @stephenamell and @davidpaulramsey . #Arrow season 8 in full effect!" (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 763 of Social Media thread, and james2bambamford instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, director Antonio Negret tweeted: "Honored to be back in Vancouver, on a show near and dear to my heart. Can you guess which one? More importantly, are you ready." (antonionegret tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Synopsis -- Official S8 synopsis: "ARROW – 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, Oliver successfully saved his city with the help of his team including former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), computer-science expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), former protégé Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), street-savvy Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez), metahuman Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy), brilliant inventor Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum) and Earth-2 Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy). In the wake of discovering what his future holds, Oliver will find himself pit against his most challenging battle yet, one that will leave the multiverse hanging in the balance. In Arrow’s final season, Oliver Queen is forced to confront the reality of what it means to be a hero...." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: ComicBook and Showbiz Junkies articles, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) S8 Tone and Style -- In response to fan comment that we deserve an Arrow final season and not an intro to COIE, MG tweeted: "It's not an intro to Crisis. It's a celebration of the past seven years." (Jul. 17, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “Everything relates to what’s going to happen in our crossover episode, which we’ve never done before." (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Arrow, as you know it, has effectively ended. It’s a different show in season 8.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Episode 1 is an ode to Season 1, and episode 2 is an ode to Season 3... We’re playing our greatest hits.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen: Season 8 is about whatever the Oliver’s doing with the Monitor." (Supanova Sydney Jun. 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan reports on what SA said: “'Crisis on Infinite Earths begins before the cross-over' - @StephenAmell says at @MCMComicCon. 'Crisis began at the end of season 7.'" and "Crisis begins before the crossover- began at end of season 7" and "Question about crossover : he likes that the catering on the flash is better. He can say the next crossover is 5episodes. And that the crossover begins before the crossover." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25, 2019: getyourcomicon, sadfangirl and thisiselley tweets, page 22 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen said for him the Season 7 finale concluded the series. Season 8 is an encore celebrating the show and leading up to the crossover." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: ARROWTV_tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- When Tanavi asked if it will feel like a different show, DR: "To some degree. To some degree." Tanavi commented that that makes sense, with Olicity presumably not going to be there, and then asked if Diggle was going to be looking for "new buddies." DR joked: "Uh, no. Actually, Oliver and Diggle fall in love... to replace Olicity.... No, they're not going to find new partners. I mean - you know, I don't know that. That's a good question. Will they find -? First of all, they can't find anyone to replace Felicity Smoak, Overwatch, right? How do you do that? So I don't know exactly how that plays out. And I don't know if everything's linear... I don't know, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I think all that's on the table... I think, um, you know, multiple Earth things, I mean, all that stuff is, uh, stuff they're going to be playing with, I think... I mean, I think Crisis - Crisis does have a lot to do with actual [unintelligible word], so...." Tanavi then commented about maybe multiple Diggles and multiple OTAs, but DR didn't say anything. (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On how the upcoming COIE crossover will impact Arrow's final season, DR: "Multiple Earths... all of that if stuff they're going to be playing with, I think. ... 'Crisis' does have a lot to do with multiple Earths, so..." (May 28, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) S8 Theme -- From Official Arrow S8 synopsis: "In Arrow’s final season, Oliver Queen is forced to confront the reality of what it means to be a hero." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: ComicBook and Showbiz Junkies articles, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- MG: “Oliver [is told] he’s going to die, so each episode in the run-up to ‘Crisis’ has Oliver dealing with the various stages of grief that come with that discovery... So the theme really is coming to terms, acceptance.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Generally -- MG tweeted partial pics of two superhero suits, one black and one green/black, with comment: "Arrow's Final Season is in prep." He also tweeted about the green/black suit: "Not Oliver's" and "These are two different costumes." He then tweeted about his "Not Oliver's" comment: "Literally no one has read this tweet correctly." He subsequently tweeted the partial pic of the black superhero suit again, with comment: "So, this one was Oliver's..." And in response to fan saying that the other, green/black superhero suit must then be Laurel's new suit, MG tweeted: "It's not Laurel's. That said..." (Jul. 3, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, Jul. 4, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 5, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 13, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 17, 2019 MG tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “[We’re] taking the show on the road, really getting away from Star City. Oliver is going to be traveling the world, and we’re going to go to a lot of different places... Every time I see Oliver and the Monitor, it’s like, ‘Okay, we are very far from where we started.’ But again, that means the show has grown and evolved.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On final seasons being the time for familiar faces to return, EP Beth Schwartz: "We definitely have that in mind, honoring the series and getting all our favorites back." (May 10, 2019 TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 133 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On maybe bringing back old characters, EP Beth Schwartz: “There are so many characters [to consider]. So many characters... And we’re definitely thinking about all of that, because just as much as our fans want to see it, as people who have been on the show for a long time, we are also fans of these characters. So we’re going to make sure that everyone has a great final season.” Also Beth: "That’s the exciting part of next season, only having 10 episodes... We’ve [been] brainstorming and thinking about who we want back, because there are so many characters that we love.” And if everything goes according to the ambitious plan, “I think every episode is just going to be humongous... We’re going to fit it all in, and it’s definitely going to be an amazing season.” (Jun. 29, 2019 TVLine article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "The #Arrow bunker will be in Season 8 a bunch. There’s a guy in the bunker in the premiere that @StephenAmell wants to punch in the face." and "Stephen said it won’t be his bunker though. #Arrow." (Supa-Friends in Melbourne, Jun. 26, 2019: ARROWTV_ tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "At #Supanova #Sydnova @StephenAmell said he doesn't think we'll be seeing alternate versions of the characters in Season 8." and "Re: alternate versions, I asked them how they prepare for playing alternate versions of a character and that I hope we see alternate versions in s8. They both talked about Stephen playing Nazi Oliver." and "He didn't say definitely... He said he doesn't think we'll be seeing alternate versions. I guess once we see the premiere we might understand how they are proceeding." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: ARROWTV_tweet & replies, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Season 8 finale (might have) some call back stunts to the last few seasons." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Stephen roughly knows how Season 8 is gonna end, though he hasn’t read the actual script yet." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On S8, DR: "It is going to be awesome. Things you have not seen." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- DR: "Season 8 is going to be bananas. Some very interesting cameos. I do know about that." (May 9, 2019 David Ramsey Instagram video, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 758 of Social Media thread) -- DR: "But it's funny, we're talking about the next step, the next evolution of the show. Um, Stephen and I were talking. We both had conversations with the producers, and telling us exactly what they want to do with the next season. And it really is, um - it's exciting. I don't know how they're gonna do it, but whatever you think could happen, um, is probably something else." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- DR: "But the positive to it, I think, is that you can kind of do whatever you want, the next 10 episodes. So, um, that's exciting, right? Because you just have this big looming storyline in Crisis that's coming. You can kind of do whatever you want kind of between." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On one season left where they can go crazy, DR: "I think so, too. And the producers have said that, as well, and publicly, that it's almost like the gloves come off, right? You have 10 episodes, to go as big as you want and do whatever you want to do. I think that really takes the reins off in terms of storytelling." (Apr. 22, 2019 TV Insider article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 129 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On what we can expect from Arrow in S8, DR: "I don't know. I honestly don't know. The only thing we've been told is - they've said to us, we can do - because we have 10 episodes, we're gonna go - we can do almost anything we want. And that's what we've been hearing. We can do almost anything we want. I don't know what that means... I don't know what that means exactly, but we'll see." (May 9, 2019 David Ramsey Instagram video, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 758 of Social Media thread) -- On whether he knows how Arrow wraps up, DR: "Only pieces. And usually what's funny is that usually at the beginning of each season, we really do have an idea of where they want to go in terms of an arc. We have very little idea because they can do whatever they want this season. Ten shows, and every single episode is important." (Supanova Perth, Jun. 29, 2019: AccessReel video of DR interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From media recap of SA/DR panel at Supanova Perth: "There were also rumblings about the possibility of another series coming out of the woodworks which would play in tune with spin-off rumors with Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) at the wheel… as well as the idea of new characters coming into season eight that have been on television before but not necessarily on Arrow." (Supanova Perth, Jun. 29, 2019: Jul. 4, 2019 NerdsandBeyond article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashbacks & Flashforwards -- Per TV Guide's interview with EP Beth Schwartz, the 8th and final season of Arrow "will continue to flash-forward to Mia and William's adulthood in 2049[sic], with plenty more adventures on the way." (May 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 133 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) (Continued...) Edited July 19, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo July 18, 2019 Author Share July 18, 2019 (edited) SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - PART 2 OF 5: Original Team Arrow ("OTA") -- On losing one of the sides of the triangle of OTA, DR: "Yeah, we're losing the T from our OTA. Obviously, we all feel how we feel about it... Emily Bett's been fantastic. I remember making a comment years ago, of me and Stephen [Amell, Oliver] brooding in the foundry until Felicity showed up and that's just part of what Emily brings. But again, what I point to is being able to tell these big, big stories without being limited to anything that we had previously, that includes OTA. As wonderful as that is, you can have 10 episodes here where you can say and do whatever you want...canon and not canon. So I think as sad as we are, and she will be missed, I think it also gives us an opportunity to go some place we've never gone before." (Apr. 22, 2019 TV Insider article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 129 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- DR: "What does OTA mean after we lose the T and me and Oliver have to move on past that?" (Apr. 22, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 130 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Future Team Arrow ("FTA") -- When Arrow returns, we’ll see the young vigilantes experience the growing pains of forming a superhero team. EP Beth Schwartz: “They’re struggling with how to be a team for the first time." MG: "There’s also the feeling that these kids are just kids and they’re flying without a net. Future-Rene, Future-Dinah, and Future-Felicity are all gone, per the end of season 7, so they’re left to figure things out on their own.” (Jul. 11, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- For its August 2019 (first) monthly issue, EW posted pics of SA as Oliver Queen wearing what appears to be a new Green Arrow costume. (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG tweeted his previously posted partial pic of a black superhero suit, with comment: "So, this one was Oliver's..." (Jul. 17, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “Oliver [is told] he’s going to die, so each episode in the run-up to ‘Crisis’ has Oliver dealing with the various stages of grief that come with that discovery... So the theme really is coming to terms, acceptance.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EW, the final season finds Oliver working for the all-seeing extra-terrestrial the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) and trying to save the entire multiverse from a cataclysmic event. MG: “Oliver is going to be traveling the world, and we’re going to go to a lot of different places... Every time I see Oliver and the Monitor, it’s like, ‘Okay, we are very far from where we started.’ But again, that means the show has grown and evolved.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver's working for the Monitor and trying to save the entire multiverse, EP Beth Schwartz: “This is sort of his final test because it’s greater than Star City.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I've always thought that Oliver should, uh - Specifically because he is a superhero with no superpowers. I've always felt like he should die. That being said, it was very emotional doing those scenes. But he also might not die. So...." (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly video titled "Arrowverse Reunion..." and Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA found out what the show’s final scene would be at EW’s July 2019 cover shoot. SA: “I cried as [Marc Guggenheim] was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Based off of what @StephenAmell has read of the new season, the show finished for Oliver Queen at the end of season 7." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: tripandstumble tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Dream ending for Oliver Queen? Uh-uh. :)." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Will we ever have the legit 100% accurate GA goatie on the show now that it’s the final season? If we do, it’ll have to be a prosthetic. It’s...really not a good look guys. And at the end of the day, I still want my wife to be attracted to me." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Jul. 9, 2019, SA tweeted a copy of the following text message from James AD: "Hey Stephen, hope you had a great hiatus! As a heads up for you, we're scheduling you for a costume fitting after the cast read through tomorrow. Currently the cast read through is at 1300 tomorrow. See you tomorrow!" (SA tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 18, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself wearing a dark green/black suit, with comment: "Season 8 suit on the left. Season 1 suit on the right." (SA tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- EBR will not be returning as a series regular for S8. (Jun. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On whether she would like to return for the last season of Arrow, EBR: "I feel like Felicity has done her time. I don’t know if anybody is going to like what I’m saying, but I feel like Felicity has done her time. We knew this was coming for awhile – for over a year – so the whole thing is exactly what we wanted to happen. I trust the writers, and that’s in their hands." Interviewer: "When you have a goodbye like Felicity had, at the end of the season, you also don’t want to mess that up by coming back and taking away from that." EBR: "Yes, exactly." (May 24, 2019 Collider article, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Mod: "So the door - I read that the door's open if it's in the right way, would you come back?" EBR: "It's not completely up to me, but never say never." (MCM London Comic Con, May 26, 2019: Geektown video of Arrowverse panel with SA, EBR, DR and TH, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 760 of Social Media thread) -- On whether she would consider going back to TV and signing on for another potentially long-running series, or whether that is something that she thinks she'll take a break from for awhile, EBR: "I think I’m going to take a break for awhile, and do a little bit of theater, coming up in New York [Reborning at the SoHo Playhouse from July 5th through August 3rd]. And then, after that, I’m hoping to continue doing theater for a little bit longer. My friends are a bunch of creative geniuses, so no matter what, that’s the way I’m going right now. I’ll never say no to doing TV again. For now, life has changed dramatically, already." (May 24, 2019 Collider article, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On EBR, SA: “She’s supremely talented and awesome and carved out a space that no one anticipated. I don’t know that show works if we don’t randomly find her." SA added that continuing the Arrow tv series without Team Arrow’s heart is “not great. Arrow, as you know it, has effectively ended. It’s a different show in season 8.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Well, obviously, we go back and Emily's not a part of it. That's a big thing. You know, no one really wants to do that show. ... But yeah, I mean, there's that. No one really wants to do that." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread, and May 28, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what DR said: "I asked David at MCM London if they’d filmed more, and he said they hadn’t. But he did say he would be shocked if Em didn’t come back for crossover and finale." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Jun. 25, 2019 sadfangirl tweet, page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 script lists "Not (MOC) Felicity." (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mar. 30, 2019, EBR posted: "The time has come to talk of many memes. Of bows and arrows and superheroes and Olicity and Queens ... And why TGA is so damn hot And yes, canaries need more scenes... But wait just one minute before we go and do all that For this makes me out of breath To have this not small chat Felicity and I are a very tight two But after one through seven we will be saying goodbye to you ... I thank you all for the time we’ve shared The elevators we have climbed The monsters we have faced and scared And The burgers we have dined I will keep her in my heart for always And I hope that you can too Because she would not be alive if it weren’t for all of you [double hearts emoji] Love, Felicity and Me." (emilybett instagram post, page 117 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 752 of Social Media thread) -- On Mar. 30, 2019, EPs Greg Berlanti and Beth Schwartz issued joint statement: “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Emily since season one and in those past seven years she has brought one of TV’s most beloved characters to life. And although we’re heartbroken to see both Emily and Felicity leave the show, we’re completely supportive of Emily and her future endeavors. She will always have a family at Arrow.” (Mar. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 118 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 303 of Starling City Times thread, ETonline article, page 119 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread, and Entertainment Weekly article, page 120 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Mar. 31, 2019, when asked if the closing part of GB/BS's joint statement about EBR's departure ("She will always have a family at Arrow.”) mean that EBR will likely return for at least the sure-to-be-grand series finale, EP Beth Schwartz: "I cannot comment on that." (Writers Guild Foundation Festival, Mar. 31, 2019: TVLine article, page 11 of Spoilers thread and page 121 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 10, 2019, on EBR possibly returning as Felicity in S8, EP Beth Schwartz: "She is always welcome to come back, so I would be obviously more than happy to have her back next season." (TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 133 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 13, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz: "I'd be more than happy if [Emily Bett Rickards] came back at some point next season, so we’ll just have to see." (ETonline article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 134 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 13, 2019, on whether there is a possibility that Felicity could come back for the series finale of Arrow, EP Beth Schwartz: "I don’t know. I hope there is a way that can happen. She’s welcome to come back whenever she wants." (ETonline article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 134 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 16, 2019, CW President Mark Pedowitz: "Emily was terrific in the show and we believe that Beth Schwartz did a great job wrapping up the storyline last year. If Beth can find a way to bring her back that makes sense and Emily is available, we’d love to have her. Otherwise, I’m pleased with the way they said goodbye to the character." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: Deadline, Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide articles, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Oliver and Diggle -- DR: "The relationship between Oliver and Diggle will be explored even deeper next season and that’s just how these two guys have to put their differences aside. It’s something we’re going to get into more next season." (Apr. 22, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 130 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On whether there is something he and SA haven’t done on screen together that you’re dying to do, DR: "There are times in the past you’ve seen these guys have a drink together in the restaurant together. Being able to see that type of thing again with some levity, with 'Okay, we’ve grown. Yeah, we’re freaking different. It is crazy. Look at all this stuff we’ve been through. Look at the things we’ve accomplished. Now, let’s go kick some butt.' For this storytelling, it’s worth you seeing these guys actually shed some tears and not in anger, but in actual real understanding and compassion for each other. It’s been seven seasons, and I think these guys have earned it. I don’t think we’ve had that. We’ve had tears, but we’ve had it in anger, in fighting. We’ve had the handshakes afterwards, but there’s still something a bit hollow in that. We need something where you see these two guys really lay it on the line and then go out and save the city together — obviously now in the absence of Felicity, which I think lends itself even more to that being said because they don’t have Felicity’s genius to help them, so they need each other than they ever had before." (Apr. 22, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 130 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- 801 script lists John Diggle. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he wants Diggle to go out with a happy ending or in a blaze of glory, DR: "Um, in all seriousness... I know some of the answer to that, based on what I know about what happens ultimately to John Diggle. Um, so I would say, um, that it's both." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread, and May 28, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- DR: "You haven’t seen a lot of his backstory...and I think people are curious about it — particularly when you find out that his father’s name is Stewart, for God’s sakes, and he has a mother who’s alive and well, that he doesn’t call. These types of things make the character rich. I think that’s the type of stuff that makes a seventh or eighth season interesting — that there is more interesting story to tell. 'Is he Green Lantern? Is he not? What’s going on with his family?' You’re asking these questions at the end of the seventh season of a show. That’s a testament to the storytelling of the show, but I think John Diggle is a really rich character, and I think we’re still scratching the surface to all of his story, both backstory and future. I mean, he adopted a son at some point [in the flash forwards], and there’s conflict between his biological son and his adopted son. How did he play into that? Just tons of story left to tell." (Apr. 22, 2019 ComicBook article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 130 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On what he wants to see for Diggle and his family, DR: "Um, I think there has to be some - I know we will have some - some interesting things to happen between John Diggle and Lyla Michaels... You're going to have a good amount of Dyla... Yeah, there's going to be some stuff happening between them. And, um - and obviously, how Connor Hawke became their adopted child. There's a story there. And, um - and, you know, his own son John Jr., how he became the leader of this nefarious group in the future. What happened to that relationship? So we kind of have to touch on all of that. And, you know, if John Diggle does take on the moniker of the Green Lantern, does he take on also the moniker of perhaps becoming a Stewart? And if he does, what happens to that relationship with his father to let him to do that? ... There's a lot to tell with John Diggle. Um, John Diggle, to me, is just one of those characters where you know him but you don't know him, you know, you just haven't seen - this first time you saw his father... finally, yeah... and his last name is Stewart. You're like, what does that mean? You find out his father's alive and what his father says. Never seen his mother. So I think it's just a lot of story left for John Diggle." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On whether we will meet Diggle’s mom before the show ends, DR: "You guys found out when I found out that he had a mother. Yes, without a doubt. I think we’ll come to some conclusion as to what the first steps of this relationship between him and his stepfather mean to John Diggle." (Apr. 22, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 130 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On the buzz about Diggle becoming John Stewart AKA Green Lantern after 719 aired, DR: "Yeah, yeah. Well, we knew that buzz was coming. I mean, that was obviously one of the ideas of making him General Stewart and it's fun. I mean, there's some major Easter eggs dropping. Obviously, last season with our crossover and '90s Flash made that big comment of 'Where's your ring?' to John. And now we have John's stepfather being named Stewart. We'll see what happens with all that, but for now it's a lot of fun." (Apr. 22, 2019 TV Insider article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 129 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Diggle possibly having the Green Lantern ring. DR: "They continue to kinda tease this thing. Um, I don't know what's gonna happen with that. It's fun to tease it... I've said this before, I would love to jump into that John Stewart, Green Lantern, whole universe. But I don't know." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On whether we'll see Green Lantern, DR: "I have no idea. I really don't know... I don't know. Teasing, teasing, teasing. But there seems to be, um, no more than that at this point." (MCM London Comic Con, May 26, 2019: Geektown video of Arrowverse panel with SA, EBR, DR and TH, page 760 of Social Media thread) -- On Diggle becoming Green Lantern and past Easter egg teases that he's John Stewart, DR: "They continue to tease this thing... I don't know what's gonna happen with that... It's fun to tease it and I would love to jump into that mythos of John Stewart and Green Lantern, that whole universe. ... If John Diggle does take on the moniker of Green Lantern, does he also take on the moniker of becoming a Stewart, and if he does, what happens to that relationship between him and his father that led him to do that? There's a lot of story left for John Diggle." (May 29, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On what he still wants for Diggle that hasn't happened yet, DR: "Well, I think we have to answer the question of what happens with this Green Lantern business. I think we just have to make a decision about that. We've teased it now for years, really. And, um, so I think we have to make a decision about that and I think this season we will." (Supanova Perth, Jun. 29, 2019: AccessReel video of DR interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what DR said: "David said he's gonna be in all of season 8 of #Arrow, not just a part of it." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25, 2019: itakha2015 tweet, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger -- On Dec. 12, 2018, in response to GATV's asking whether there's any reason NOT to give "Lyla Michaels from some Earth a shiny blue costume with a red helmet" in the 2019 crossover, MG tweeted: "We've talked about it..." (MG tweet, page 71 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog -- 801 script lists Rene Ramirez. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Arrow EP Beth Schwartz retweeted RG's tweeting: "Done and done!" in response to the following Fan Fest Events tweet: "Who would @talaashe like to see on the Waverider? 'I would love @JulianaHarkavy and @officialrickg to come!'" (Fan Fest-New Jersey, Jun. 29, 2019: fanfestevents tweet, page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jun. 10, 2019, RG tweeted: "All the feels. Received the first episode of our last season of #Arrow today. Wow." (officialrickg tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- 801 script lists Dinah Drake. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Arrow EP Beth Schwartz retweeted RG's tweeting: "Done and done!" in response to the following Fan Fest Events tweet: "Who would @talaashe like to see on the Waverider? 'I would love @JulianaHarkavy and @officialrickg to come!'" (Fan Fest-New Jersey, Jun. 29, 2019: fanfestevents tweet, page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, blogger tweeted pic from Jul. 10, 2019 JH instagram story, with comment (English translation): "Photo of the 8x01 table read !! # Arrow." (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Earth-2 Laurel Lance -- In response to fan saying that MG's previously posted partial pic of a green/black superhero suit must be Laurel's new suit, MG tweeted: "It's not Laurel's. That said..." Also, when asked whether Laurel will get a new suit, MG tweeted: "[face with stuck-out tongue and winking eye emoji]." (Jul. 17, 2019 MG tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 script lists Laurel Lance. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When talking about 718, KC: "It’s a big episode, I think that you will find out a lot about Black Siren and her backstory, but they also leave it open to potentially exploring more of that, potentially in season eight, but it’s a huge episode. It’s fun." (Middle East Film & Comic Con, Apr. 13, 2019: Apr. 14, 2019 Gulf News article, page 11 of Spoilers thread and page 127 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- KC: “We’re doing our [eighth and] final season of ‘Arrow’, which will take us to November. I can’t say more yet, until I get the showrunners’ thumbs up, but there’s some pretty exciting things coming up for me.” (Middle East Film & Comic Con, Apr. 13, 2019: Apr. 14, 2019 Gulf News article, page 11 of Spoilers thread and page 127 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- From papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming: "We also saw a blond girl go in at one point that seemed to be wearing a mask. The person that was there with me when they went in thought it could be Katie Cassidy, and I was unable to confirm if it was her or not, but you can try to judge for yourself by the pics I added below. That said, I did hear two people for the cast referenced by crew while I was there. Katie Cassidy being one, the other was 'Josh' who could be Josh Segarra, as he was also announced as returning in the same article as Colin was mentioned in." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- 801 script does not list Roy Harper. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Roy will come back from murdering two innocent police officers in a blood rage, EP Beth Schwartz: "We will answer that a little bit in the finale. But we will get into it more next season. Roy has been through a lot on our series. We wanted to reveal what he’s been struggling with, and what his own adventure has been with Thea and Nyssa and going after the Lazarus Pits." (May 13, 2019 SyFy article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 134 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On which of his past roles he feels the most attached to, CH: "I would probably say Jackson in Teen Wolf. I know I’m on Arrow right now, but that was just such a special time for me." (Jun. 3, 2019 Pedestrian article, page 308 of Starling City Times thread) -- Panel mod's tweet on what CH and WH said: "The question on everyone’s mind for the #Arrow cast at #OzComicCon: Will you be back for the last season? @Willaaaah: TBD @ColtonLHaynes: I don’t know if I’m coming back next year yet." (Oz Comic Con Melbourne, Jun. 9, 2019: ClareKramer tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan tweet on what CH said: "The #Arrow panel is serving tea. #ColtonHaynes isn't sure he'll be back for the final season as the show has new characters + storylines #OzComicCon." (Oz Comic Con Melbourne, Jun. 9, 2019: therealcyclone tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan tweet on what CH or WH said: "Summary: They have released the bomb that Roy resurrected from the wells because the League of Thanatos follows behind them being a PIECE of plot, for NAD A. OK BETH. OK # Arrow." (Oz Comic Con Melbourne, Jun. 9, 2019: TodoArrow tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Thea Queen AKA Speedy -- On whether she will be appearing in Arrow's final season, Willa Holland: "I mean I don’t know but the door is always open. They left the door open which is very nice. ... There is always a possibility but I have no answer on that at the moment.” (May 31, 2019 Who article, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Panel mod's tweet on what CH and WH said: "The question on everyone’s mind for the #Arrow cast at #OzComicCon: Will you be back for the last season? @Willaaaah: TBD @ColtonLHaynes: I don’t know if I’m coming back next year yet." (Oz Comic Con Melbourne, Jun. 9, 2019: ClareKramer tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) (Continued...) Edited July 19, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo July 18, 2019 Author Share July 18, 2019 (edited) SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - PART 3 OF 5: Olicity's Kids -- The 8th and final season "will continue to flash-forward to Mia and William's adulthood in 2049[sic], with plenty more adventures on the way, but it's safe to say we've only really seen the beginning of Mia's journey to become a hero." EP Beth Schwartz: "She's been conflicted because she grew up understanding one narrative and then her life kind of blew up when she found out her mother was secretly still being a vigilante... Then seeing the old team and sort of connecting with Connor and Zoey and William and sort of establishing this new kind of team — she's the daughter of Oliver and Felicity so there's a hero naturally inside of her, so that's what's starting to come out." The development of the sibling relationship between Mia and William is something that EP Beth Schwartz is "excited to explore," especially given how prominent the theme of family has always been in Arrow: "Part of the show that was always my favorite was the Oliver/Thea (Willa Holland) relationship and the brother and sister dynamic... I always love the family dynamics. It was fun getting [Mia and William] together because their personalities are so different. Just having them be able to talk about what interesting parents they have and non-tradition childhoods — it's nice that they get to sort of lean on each other because no one else can really understand that." (May 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 133 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) William "Will" Clayton -- Ben Lewis, who plays William Clayton, has been promoted to a series regular for S8. (Jul. 17, 2019 Deadline and TVLine articles, page 1 of Spoilers thread) -- 801 script lists William Clayton. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mar. 7, 2019, Ben Lewis tweeted: "Proud to be a small, late-breaking part of the @CW_Arrow legacy. Thank you to @SchwartzApprovd, @RapaportCasting, @GBerlanti, the entire cast, crew & fans (!) for welcoming me so open-heartedly. LOTS to come in seasons 7 & 8! [green heart emoji]." (benlewishere tweet, page 111 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar -- Katherine McNamara, who plays Mia Smoak, has been promoted to a series regular for S8. (Jul. 11, 2019 Deadline, Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide articles, page 1 of Spoilers thread, pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 309 of Starling City Times thread) -- 801 script lists Mia Smoak. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "It’s been an honor bringing #MiaSmoak to life & joining the #Arrowverse. Congrats @StephenAmell & the @CW_Arrow family on an incredible accomplishment & the opportunity to finish the journey the way it deserves. So keep watching-we are going to kick ass ‘til the bitter end [green heart, bow and arrow, and black heart tweets]." (Mar. 6, 2019 Kat_McNamara tweet, page 750 of Social Media thread) -- From Jun. 7, 2019 open letter published in TV Guide, KM: "Beth and the writers at Arrow HQ have gone above and beyond in crafting Mia's story. They have created a woman who is complex, dark, troubled, and badass, yet who still manages to have a sense of humor and a heart of gold, albeit one a bit tarnished by the events of her life. This has made it an absolute dream to explore and create this woman, and I'm beyond excited to see where her journey may lead." (Jun. 7, 2019 TV Guide article, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 308 of Starling City Times thread) -- On Jul. 13, 2019, KM tweeted: "Hey, y'all! I just finished my first day back on Season 8 of Arrow. And I'm so excited to share this season with you all. There is some really, really epic stuff coming your way. And, uh, I can't wait for you guys to come back to 2040." (Kat_McNamara tweet & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming, KM, JDJ and AS were on set and left the set together at the end of the shoot day. (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 18, 2019, KM tweeted: "Hey angels and archers, sorry I won't be able to make it to @Comic_Con this year with the rest of the @CW_Arrow cast. I'll be on set until the wee hours of Saturday morning filming and won't make it in time. Enjoy the fun in San Diego and get ready for a kickass Season 8!" (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 763 of Social Media thread) Connor Hawke -- Joseph David-Jones, who plays Connor Hawke, has been promoted to a series regular for S8. (Jun. 4, 2019 Deadline tweet & article, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread, and Jun. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- 801 script lists Connor Hawke. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming, KM, JDJ and AS were on set and left the set together at the end of the shoot day. (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- TVLine: "Per multiple sources, we will catch an actual glimpse of grown-up John Jr…. but not until next season, when Diggle and Lyla’s son circa 2040 becomes a major recurring character on the show." (Apr. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 131 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- TVLine: "As we previously reported, a twentysomething, circa 2040 version of Diggle and Lyla’s son John Jr. will be a major recurring presence during the eighth and final season. Casting is underway." (Jun. 7, 2019 TVLine article, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Vimeo audition video for the role of John Diggle Jr. was posted by actor Derrick Dubois. The first audition scene is a scene between JJ and a "Canary" who knew his father (probably Dinah but could be E2 Laurel), and the second audition scene is between JJ and Connor. Audition Scene 1: Reader (off-screen): "John. Stop. This is over." Derrick Dubois (pointing a gun): "'S'up, Canary? How you been?" Reader: "Drop your weapon." DD: "Try again." Reader: "I'm not buying this tough guy act." DD: "You think this is some kind of joke? Don't think I won't hurt you just 'cause you knew my dad." Reader: "Your dad didn't raise you to be a punk to use one of those things. You want to end me, you better do it with your bare hands." DD: "Fair. (Puts down gun) I'm not going to hold back. You sure you want to do this?" Reader: "We don't have to do this. All you got to do is give back what you stole from that man." DD: "Why? It's worth more to me than that eight-figure bozo I stole it from. Why is he supposed to have all the fun?" Reader: "Tell me what happened to you. What made you this way?" DD: "Ask Dad. So, we gonna do this? Or you just want to Dr. Phil me all night?" Reader: "John, I know there's good in you. Let me help you. I don't think you're capable of doing what you're saying." DD: "Watch me." Audition Scene 2: Reader (off-screen): "Hey! What's up, brother? How you doing?" DD: "Good, man. Good. How you been?" Reader: "Alright. I'm alright. Hey, you remember Dad used to bring us to this place? How much we loved to ride in that roller coaster over there?" DD: "Yeah. We did." Reader: "Hey, thanks for meeting me. It's been awhile. Where you been?" DD: "Around, man. Around." Reader: "Yeah, well, I've been worried about you. Especially Dad." DD: "It's like what I said when I left. I'm not your problem any more." Reader: "You were never a problem. But I've heard about the people you're running with now - the trouble you might be into." DD: "Not your problem!" Reader: "John, you're my brother." DD: "Not by blood." Reader: "Why you always got to do that? Why you always got to be the villain?" DD: "Because you and Dad always got along better. My father always preferred you. I knew my place in our family, and it wasn't under that roof. So you still happy you reached out to me?" Actor Intro: DD: "Hi. My name is Derrick Dubois. I'm 5'11" and I'm from Dallas, Texas." Title Card: Derrick Dubois reading for JOHN DIGGLE JR. Clutts Agency-EDWARD 214-761-1400. (Apr. 18, 2019 Vimeo video of Derrick Dubois' audition scenes for the role of John Diggle Jr., page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Zoe Ramirez -- 801 script lists Zoe Ramirez. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jun. 2, 2019, AS posted bts pics of herself with other Arrow cast members, with comment: "Missing my Arrow fam SMRN ?? #LoveYouAll #FTA #HiatusBlues." (dresixtos instagram post, page 137 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, blogger tweeted (English translation): "The actress of Zoe in the future (Daughter of René) is already on the set. So the flashforwards already from the first capi we have them. OFÚ. I WANT TO OLIVER. # Arrow." (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming, KM, JDJ and AS were on set and left the set together at the end of the shoot day. (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) (Continued...) Edited July 19, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo July 18, 2019 Author Share July 18, 2019 (edited) SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - PART 4 OF 5: Mar Novu AKA The Monitor -- 801 script lists The Monitor. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) General Stewart -- In April 2019, Ernie Hudson said: "Worked on Arrow, um, and played a really fun character there. I'll probably go back next year." (Midwest Gaming Classic, Apr. 13, 2019: Apr. 14, 2019 Ghostbusters Medi-Corps video of EH panel, page 11 of Spoilers thread and page 128 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- In July 2019, on returning to Arrow in its final season, Ernie Hudson: "They called me already... They have a shortened [season], so I'll probably do a couple of those. I don't know if they're setting up for the next stage of Diggle's character or what." (Jul. 18, 2019 ComicBook article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Nyssa al Ghul -- Fan report on what KL and KM said: "Katrina is very open & willing to come back for the final season. Kat want's Mia to have her teacher around." (HVFF-Chicago, Apr. 21, 2019: Chris_Ford tweet, page 756 of Social Media thread) Moira Queen -- 801 script lists Moira Queen. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Malcolm Merlyn -- 801 script lists Malcolm Merlyn. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, blogger tweeted (English translation): "Barrowman on the way to Vancouver. I REPEAT. JOHN BARROWMAN PATH TO VANCOUVER # arrow." (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming: "When I returned later. Some fans were now there, and they pieced together to us what they had seen while we were gone. The only actors they had seen while we were gone were Stephen again, aaaaaaand John Barrowman? Now I was not there to confirm if what they say tey saw is a fact, but the fan I was talking to was well versed in his Arrowverse knowledge, so I feel confident he was not mistaken." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 14, 2019, papp tweeted: "Shot some pics of John Barrowman yesterday , I said good to see you back John. 'Well I can’t say why I’m back' I replied , No it’s good seeing you back in Vancouver, and don’t worry Rick already spoiled it by posting the call sheet." (pursuit23 tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 15, 2019, John Barrowman posted pic of himself with Colin Donnell, with comment: "Father and son. #merlyn #family #arrow #cw @cw_arrow @colindonnell jb." (johnscotbarrowman instagram post, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- Colin Donnell will guest-star in Arrow's final season. However, fans should expect a twist when they return, because this is Arrow. Per MG, CD is “not coming back as the Tommy we know." (Jul. 12, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 script lists Tommy Merlyn. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From papp's Jul. 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming: "But the 'I wasnt expecting to see you so soon' moment of the day came as former Arrow star, turned Chicago Med star, now back for quick drop in on Arrow, Colin Donnell. An article had come out just a couple hours before seeing him saying he would be back, and lo & behold there he was. But Tommy Merlyn looked a little different than the one we used to know, sporting a full beard. Oh that reminds me, 1 other thing I saw that I can not quite put my finger on what it means yet is... during lunch 2 stunt men in Green Arrow attire came out, 1 looking like how Oliver did, the other, had a big fake black beard on. make of that what you want. I have theories, but I wont post theories here." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 13, 2019, SA posted pic of himself and Colin Donnell, both with similar facial beards, with comment: "S1 Flashback." (SA instagram post, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 15, 2019, John Barrowman posted pic of himself with Colin Donnell, with comment: "Father and son. #merlyn #family #arrow #cw @cw_arrow @colindonnell jb." (johnscotbarrowman instagram post, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 16, 2019, Colin Donnell posted a pic of himself with Josh Segarra and RG, with comment: "I had to get out of the gym before these two destroyed it and me. #Arrow #WildDog #Prometheus #EarthX #Tommy." (colin donnell instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Adrian Chase -- Josh Segarra will guest-star in Arrow's final season. However, fans should expect a twist when they return, because this is Arrow. EP Beth Schwartz: “Adrian Chase comes back in a different way than expected." (Jul. 12, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 script lists Adrian Chase. (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From papp's Jul 13, 2019 blog report on Arrow 801 filming: "I did hear two people for the cast referenced by crew while I was there. Katie Cassidy being one, the other was 'Josh' who could be Josh Segarra, as he was also announced as returning in the same article as Colin was mentioned in." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 16, 2019, Colin Donnell posted a pic of himself with Josh Segarra and RG, with comment: "I had to get out of the gym before these two destroyed it and me. #Arrow #WildDog #Prometheus #EarthX #Tommy." (colin donnell instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke -- Manu Bennett: "Yeah, you now, my character, Deathstroke, I'm the one who taught Oliver Queen how to fight and, uh, had all the early - I'm like Darth Vader, you know what I - and he's like - but he's like Luke, my son. So we have this very tight relationship. We have sort of the fan favorite relationship. We're coming into the last season. I don't know, this is like a - producers give you a call and they say, 'hey, listen, we want to use you, and can you be here next week?' So, we'll see what happens. ... Well, these days the storyline can be leaked so quickly on social media that they like to keep everything completely quiet and, you know, because of my storyline, you know, as soon as they say anything or people would catch wind of it, it would be straight out there, you know... 'Deathstroke returns,' yeah." (Comic Con Ireland, Jun. 22, 2019: Weekend AM Virgin Media Television video of MB interview, page 762 of Social Media thread) Marrett Green -- 801 script lists "Marrett Green (Reporter)." (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Marrett Green is an actor, who portrayed various news reporters throughout the first and second seasons of Arrow. (Arrow wiki page link and IMdb page link in Jul. 12, 2019 tv echo post, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Alberto Vasquez -- 801 script lists "Alberto Vasquez." (Jul. 11, 2019 olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Floyd Lawton AKA Deadshot -- On whether he hopes to play Deadshot again on Arrow, Michael Rowe:"I've kinda let that hope go, because the business got in the way. Um, I would, you know. It would be fun to fire that character up again. I spent a lot of time with him. I really like playing him. Uh, but you know, it's unfortunate the way that business goes, that he sort of got taken off the table at a certain point. I believe that he's still alive, even on Earth-1. I don't believe that he got killed on the show. But whether the show will ever get permission or want to wake up that storyline before it ends, or bring him on another show, I have no idea. I don't have those discussions with anybody." (Jul. 9, 2019 The ManCave Chronicles w/ Elias podcast interview with Michael Rowe, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Bruce Wayne AKA Batman -- Fan report on what SA said: "It will be a real bummer if we don’t interact with Bruce Wayne before the end of #Arrow." (Supa-Friends in Melbourne, Jun. 26, 2019: ARROWTV_ tweet, page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) (Continued...) Edited July 18, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo July 18, 2019 Author Share July 18, 2019 (edited) SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - PART 5 OF 5: Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- On whether the 716 flashforwards episode was envisioned as a backdoor pilot for a possible spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz: "It was definitely meant to grow the world that we had already built and to see the next generation of what Oliver and Felicity and our present-day team have worked so hard for, and sort of see what happens in the future... We love those characters and would love to see them go on in some capacity after the show’s over, [possibly via crossovers with the remaining Arrowverse shows]... We were so happy, internally, about how it came out... We kinda love our future story.” (Apr. 5, 2019 TVLine article, page 11 of Spoilers thread and page 124 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- From media recap of SA/DR panel at Supanova Perth: "There were also rumblings about the possibility of another series coming out of the woodworks which would play in tune with spin-off rumors with Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) at the wheel." (Supanova Perth, Jun. 29, 2019: Jul. 4, 2019 NerdsandBeyond article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I have been able to facilitate great moments for people because they're a fan of the Green Arrow. And I'll miss that a great deal. But something tells me, even when I'm done, I won't be gone. If you've watched the Arrowverse, you should understand that." (Mar. 6, 2019 SA facebook video post, page 107 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread and page 750 of Social Media thread) -- Fan: "We are seeing the last of Arrow, Yes, we know that Earth-1's Oliver Queen is dying. But, in the future, will we see a different Earth version of you?" SA: "... And when I did the video announcing that we were going to wrap things up, I said, you know, I might be leaving the show, but no one's ever really gone. And, look, I owe so much to, in no particular order, The CW, to Warner Brothers, to Greg Berlanti, to David Nutter, to Andy Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, Beth Schwartz, James Bamford, Todd Pittson, and J.P. Finn, and the cast and the crew and everyone. I owe so much to them. So if, five years from now, they're wrapping up Show X and they go, 'You know what would be the cherry on top of the sundae? Would you come back?' What am I going to say? No? I mean, it’s a shitty idea that I'd say 'no.' Pardon my language. But you do what you can. I owe a lot to people, and if they need something from me, they can always have it." (MegaCon Orlando, May 19, 2019: The One video of SA panel, page 759 of Social Media thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "If they ever asked me to cameo/come back as Oliver Queen. Of course I would do it. Never say never." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) Edited July 18, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo July 26, 2019 Author Share July 26, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers revealed during or in connection with SAN DIEGO COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL ("SDCC"), July 18-21, 2019. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread... ADDENDUM #1 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC - SDCC EDITION S8 Episode Order -- MG: "Because of the nature of Crisis and the nature of a 10-episode order for Arrow, the two projects really became linked, uh, to the extent where the build-up to Crisis really takes place in Arrow, and then Crisis has to impact the final two episodes of Arrow." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "[W]e only got two more episodes after the crossover for Arrow to finish up." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Our episode of the crossover is our 8th episode, so we have two more on the B-side." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "The series finale is going to be independent of the crossover... The crossover this year is in our 8th episode, I believe, but we have 10 episodes to do." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Showrunner -- SA said that MG is "stepping back in for [EP Beth Schwartz as showrunner], as Beth is taking a little time away for the kiddo." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Directors -- James Bamford: "I'm directing 801, and 809 and 810 together, so those two are going to be shot, like, one big piece. Um, but we've got a tremendous line-up of directors, uh, some blasts from the past that we haven't seen for awhile." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how many episodes he's directing this season and whether he's directing the crossover, James Bamford: "Well, it was kind of a split thing. It was a difficult decision. Um, I've directed, you know, the last three or four, if I remember... But this year I'm directing 801, the premiere. I'm directing 809, um, and I'm directing the series finale, 810. The crossover is 808 and that'll be directed by Glen Winter. So I couldn't do - I just couldn't do both. That's just physically impossible. Um, and it was a toss-up between that and that. But the series finale is, uh - I'd rather be doing that anyway." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Katie's getting ready to direct her first episode, by the way." EW's Chancellor Agard: "Congratulations!" KC: "Thank you I don't know if you were supposed to say that yet, but okay." SA: "Katie's getting ready to direct her first episode! Are we live?" KC: "I am so excited." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "Yes, Stephen broke the news earlier... I am. Episode - are we allowed to say what episode? 803. Um, I actually start prep on Tuesday. So, very soon." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "Well, I'm directing 803... We were going to announce it on stage, but because there wasn't enough time, which I totally get, uh, I can now tell you guys." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I'm directing 803... I feel like each season represents something on the show, and it covers a place and a time - that's all I can tell you." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I'm directing episode 803." On whether there's a story she's been waiting to tell that she might be able to do in episode 803, KC: "Uh, yes, but I can't answer what story it is, because it's that big [unintelligible words] episode. I can't spoil it... You'll just have to watch my episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why she wants to direct, KC: "I feel like I have an eye for certain things. Um, I really want to - it's just about telling a story through the way - through my eyes. You know, sharing a story through my eyes with the world, um, the way I interpret it. And I don't know why, but I do have like a burning desire to do that. Um, I think also I'm more, again, pictures and stuff, film, movies, storytelling, showing people instead of just - it's another way of communicating, you know, it's like getting - this is my vision, my art, this is what I see and - I don't know, I shadowed Season 1, I shadowed again Season 6, I shadowed Season 7, so I shadowed quite a few times, um, and it's great. I'm excited." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of KC interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On directing, KC: "I actually think it might be my true calling." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of KC interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After discussion of KC's directing debut, RG: "And David's doing another episode this season as well." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Synopsis -- SDCC's Arrow program description: "After spending time at Slabside, Oliver Queen wanted to give back to the city that he loves. Since everyone knows his true identity, Team Arrow worked alongside SCPD as vigilantes to help protect the city at all costs. However, last season led to Oliver finding out about Emiko, the bow-wielding assassin and ring leader of the Ninth Circle who also happened to be his half-sister. The season 7 finale saw them fighting for their lives-both in the present and the future. So, what will the state of Team Arrow look like in the show's eighth and final season? For answers to this and more, hear from the cast and producers at their final Comic-Con appearance, and be among the first to learn what this means for Oliver and the rest of his team. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow will return to The CW for its final season this fall on Mondays at 9/8c. Arrow: The Complete Seventh Season is available now on Digital and will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 20." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: comiccon2019 Saturday programming link, page 762 of Social Media thread) S8 Trailers -- Official Arrow S8 trailer was posted, which featured a lot of old footage from the past seven seasons (including several Felicity/Olicity moments), plus new footage of the Monitor, Oliver in his new GA suit, Diggle, Mia, Connor, William, E2 Laurel in her new Siren/Canary suit (with short blonde haircut), Rene, Dinah, Tommy Merlyn and Adrian Chase. (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Official Arrow Season 8 trailer, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EW summary of the Arrow's official S8 trailer: “'We’re playing our greatest hits.' That’s the refrain we’ve heard from star Stephen Amell and the producers since they’ve begun talking about the eighth and final season, and the new teaser definitely revealed what they meant. After taking us on a tour of everyone Oliver’s death and torture-ridden past, trailer drops a flurry of new footage that includes: our first looks at Colin Donnell and Josh Segarra’s returns, Katie Cassidy Rodgers rocking a new Black Canary costume (see executive producer Marc Guggenheim’s tweet), and Connor Hawke (Joseph David-Jones) fighting someone in a Deathstroke mask. However, the moment that truly stands out is the shot at 2:08 that shows Oliver landing in a lab where several scientists have been murdered with arrows, because it seems like a very specific callback to Malcolm Merlyn’s Unidac Industries rampage in season 1’s 'Darkness at the Edge of Town.' Going into this season, we knew Arrow would probably reference the most obvious moments from its history, but this one (assuming the scene is purposefully trying to evoke 'Darkness') is rather unexpected. Hopefully, there are more of these surprises coming our way." (Jul. 22, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Structure and Tone -- On crafting Arrow's final season with COIE in mind, MG: "It was tricky, because, you know, we've got two different things that we're trying to accomplish. We're trying to accomplish the biggest crossover we've ever done, you know, adapting a seminal, beloved comics story. At the same time, we're trying to set up the endgame for Arrow. And, you know, those two things really had to be considered in tandem with each other. And I hope we've squared the circle. Um, I think we have. There was a lot of consideration given to, you know, what needs to be done in the Arrow series finale, what should be done in Crisis, how do we make it all work together. But, you know, it's been 8 years of us figuring out tricky things and I think we've kinda done it. I feel pretty good about it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 DC TV Podcasts video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they broke down Arrow's 10-episode season around the COIE crossover and how they decided where to put what pieces of story, MG: "We started talking a lot about, um, it being like a short order, you know, like a streaming show, you know, eight... episodes. And we knew where the crossover landed and we knew where the finale landed, obviously. And it was just a matter of, okay, this is the landscape we have to work with. What do we want to do? What do we want to accomplish in that space? And... it's always been just the most amazing staff and everyone just rolls their sleeves up and gets it done." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the shortened schedule made them script out further than they normally would do, MG: "I think, in a perfect world, we would've scripted out further than we usually would. It's just harder to do, given the timeline that we're operating with. Um, I would say, everything has been broken out in advance. We know what each episode is. Um, and that's more unusual than not. Usually, it's more like, we know the general tent poles of the season, we know like, this is episode 6, this is episode 13, this is episode 21. Um, this was more like, we know what 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, et cetera." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "[T]he whole season is really meant to be a coda on the entire series." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which Arrowverse show will feel the fallout of COIE the most, MG: "That's a great question. Um, that's a really terrific question. Um, I'm tempted to say actually Arrow. Um, and I may be a little bit biased in giving that answer. But, I would say, if we're able to do what we have planned, um, it's some pretty big consequences, um, that come out of Crisis for Arrow... I know, it's like we're 'big things' right before we end the show. But, uh, you know, it was interesting, you know, because of the nature of Crisis and the nature of a 10-episode order for Arrow, the two projects really became linked, uh, to the extent where the build-up to Crisis really takes place in Arrow, and then Crisis has to impact the final two episodes of Arrow. Um, so it's all connected. Um, you know, and I think it's going to be connected in a way that's satisfying to people. That's the trick." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how impactful this year's crossover will be, MG: "For Arrow, it's very impactful. I think for all the shows, it's very impactful. Um, you know, we're obviously dealing this year with some very cosmic big stuff. And the conversations that myself and all the showrunners have had is, we now have - with this concept of the crossover, we now have the opportunity to do something really radically and, um, be very impactful. And I don't like to make those sorts of promises, but I will say, like, specifically with the case of Arrow, the ramifications are pretty big, especially since we know we only got two more episodes after the crossover for Arrow to finish up. So Arrow has luxuries that the other shows don't have." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, we should "expect a different structure to the season, possibly more akin to how comic books play with chronology." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether S8 should be viewed as primarily setup to the COIE crossover or whether there is more than that, EP Beth Schwartz: "Way more than that!" (Jul. 19, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how much of Arrow's final season is leading up to the COIE crossover, TV Guide: "Quite a bit, confirms [EP Beth] Schwartz of this year's winter crossover, which was set up by the finale arrival of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) to whisk new daddy Oliver away to parts unknown. That twist will also serve as part of Arrow's series finale, says Schwartz. 'This year is going to be very different because a lot revolves around our crossover.'" (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether they're shooting the 10 episodes as one big piece or whether they're still being broken up episodically, since it's a shortened season, James Bamford: "They're still being broken up. I'm directing 801, and 809 and 810 together, so those two are going to be shot, like, one big piece... Each episode so far, and we haven't started shooting the other two, but I've received the script for 802 and 803, and they're like feature film... We shoot everything practically. We don't use a lot of visual effects, you know, at all. We don't rely on visual effects. So we have to work a little harder than a lot of the other shows, um, to get a half decent sequence, uh, because it's all real people doing real things. And it takes a lot longer to shoot, than pointing up in the sky and having a cartoon kinda happen and then going back. It takes a lot more physical effort." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "Well, we left it off in a very emotional, uh, heartbreaking place with the finale last year. Um, and it's going to continue down that road... In each episode - I mean, I've still - I've got about two more days of shooting the premiere, or directing the premiere, and, uh, every single day there's been somebody crying on set, uh, just from the cast performances... The crew and everybody's like watching the actors, going, 'Holy shit. This is happening.' ... They're not crying because the show's ending, because they'll cry plenty for that in December, but they're crying because of all the content of the performances. ... Um, so I would say that this season, uh, you'll feel a lot of nostalgia from the pilot, from Season 1, from Season 2, from every season - uh, it's pretty much every season rolled up into one." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "The biggest challenge is each episode is being written like a finale. So each episode has the scope and scale and the cast and the budget, the over-budget of a finale. So it's full-on. We are all-hands-on-deck 24 hours a day trying to get just the premiere done, and we're going to be shooting until the end of November. So aside from that, the scripts are coming in early. The writers are delivering these wonderfully crafted epic scripts you'd think are impossible for television. We are charged with making them possible. That's the biggest challenge, and we want to do justice, of course. It's the last season. So we're going, all cylinders are firing, and we're going for it as hard as we can." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JBam: "The final season of Arrow has zero filler episodes. Each episode is chock full of story and spectacle, action and emotion." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of James Bamford interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked about having only 10 episodes to tell a whole season's worth of story and wrap up their show, SA: "Mm-umm. Not 10. Not 10. We don't have 10. We have 7... We have 7 episodes to tell our story... Because the crossover's in episode 8." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Every episode right now feels like a grand experiment... You know, episode 1 is the pilot. And episode 2 is an ode to Season 3. And episode 3 is kinda also an ode to Season 3. But Oliver gets to, um, in my mind, make amends - not necessarily make amends, but like tie it up and close the chapter with five characters over the first three episodes that I don't think anyone would ever think that he would ever get the chance to do that with, including - including like at least one person's who's like his f**ckin' mortal enemy." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Arrow ended in 722. The show's done, right? Arrow, the final season - it's like an event series, so to speak. Like, imagine that we ended in 722 and then we took an 8-year break and then we came back for 10 episodes. That's what this season is like." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Interviewer: "There's a lot of these revivals going on. It feels to me like Season 8 is a revival. Like, the finale was the finale, and now you guys are back." SA: "Yeah. Quite right. The - 722, to my mind, played like a series finale. And I'm a big fan of reaction videos - tell no one. I'm a big fan of reaction videos and one of the things I enjoyed was like everyone was like, 'hah, this is like a series finale.' It's very much like a series finale. The series - the way that people, you know - normally we take 9 episodes to figure out, like, alright, what's Oliver up against? Uh, in this instance, we know what he's up against immediately. Even if that means, like, the Monitor isn't necessarily the Big Bad, but he's the focal point." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 9, 2019 ComicBook article and video, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "The first seven episodes leading into the crossover feel like we're, uh, playing our greatest hits, so to speak, um, and alluding to memorable moments in the series. I don't know, I just hope that - I really hope that people enjoy it. It's a different show than you've seen. Um, the episodes - um, it's not as serialized as we've come to expect, because we don't have as much time. I don't know, I just hope people enjoy the ride in the last season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the final season, SA: "I mean, it'd be too simplistic to say that we're going to play our greatest hits, but that is kinda what we're doing... We're playing our greatest hits." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the final, 10-episode season, SA: "It's actually kind of like a bunch of season finales, frankly, the way that it works. It's like a series of season finales." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what S8 will look like, SA: "It's the final season and it's a lead-up [to the crossover]. It feels different. It doesn't feel - we don't have the amount of time that we have. Normally we would take nine episodes to kind of introduce the main - like, the crux of the season, the Big Bad. That's not the case this year." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "We actually didn't have to shoot a good chunk of the episode for the premiere because we just used footage from the pilot." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I think how we get into 'Crisis.' How we get into it. And each episode is kind of obviously a sprint to that finish line. That's what's kind of exciting me the most. Just in terms of each piece is kind of like, oh, you're getting closer and closer. The anticipation of it. But in terms of 'Crisis' itself, the actual script and what we'll see on that day... I don't know if I have any expectation because I'm kind of deeply involved in the journey at this point... Getting there has been very exciting." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the final season, DR: "I think it's a tribute. There's a certain amount of, um - I like what Stephen said in terms of a victory lap. You sense that. Um, there'll be a lot of stuff from the past, I think. There'll be some old faces at are going to show up. Um, but I think, just in terms of the pacing, I think it's changed, because we usually do this in 22 episodes and now we're doing it in 10, so I think you're just going to sense a sense of a movie very single time you watch an episode of Arrow." KC: "Yeah, I feel like every - it almost feels - yeah, cinematic. Each episode is huge." SA: "Yeah, I've read 1, 2 and 3 - 1, 2 and 3 are very contained. 1 is its own thing. 2 is its own thing. 3 is its own thing.,, It's very, very contained. Obviously, there's a throughline. We're building toward the crossover. But, it's very fun. And it's fun working with some familiar faces, too." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "There's a lot of questions that are answered within 10 episodes, which... presents a bit of a challenge to the writers, um, but also makes each episode kind of its own little movie, because we're getting to the point very, very quickly." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to media interviewer saying that there's a lot of questions to answer in 10 episodes, DR: "That's why every episode is like a mini-movie. And you sense when you're doing a 22-episode season where they're working on the C story or D story. It's not quite - it's not quite where they left off. It's kind of - not an episode, they're not taking an episode off, but it's just going in a different direction. There's none of that for these 10 episodes." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she can tease about this final season, KC: "Well, it's very, you know, cinematic, in the sense that, it's 10 episodes - it's like a tribute to every season almost... And every episode should be eventful, should be an event." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "It feels like a - almost like a tribute in a way the entire season, and I think, you know, each episode I think is going to be - feel like a miniature movie." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "What's really cool and special about this is, I was saying before, this whole season feels like a tribute to the entire eight seasons of the show." RG added: "Like a love letter." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "You know, this season will be a culmination of, like, you know, everything we've put in and also, like, a really great love letter to the fans, and for us to kinda wrap things up in a way that satisfies and fulfills everything that we've done on the show. So hopefully we get to do that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "So, the very start of the season is a bit of a departure. It's, uh - we're doing something a little different. Uh, and it's going to - how am I going to say this? I'll just say that. It's going to be a little bit different at the start of the season. It's something different. And, uh, unexpected. I'm very excited to see what people think. If people catch on to what's going on.... Yeah, but it's going to be a little bit of a twist on what we normally see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Ending Arrow -- On what he can tease about the final scene of the Arrow tv series (which he's already written), MG: "Well, I'll tell you, the idea - I never intended to write the last scene ahead of time. Um, every morning I meditate and one morning I happened to be meditating, and I came out of meditation and I had the entire last scene. I mean, I just had it. It was in my head. I just took it down on paper. (Mimes typing with his hands) Um, and, you know, what I would say is, it - it just feels right... I've obviously thinking a lot about how we end the series, and Beth Schwartz and I have been talking a lot about how we end the series. And, in many ways, this scene is almost independent of all those conversations. Um, it's really it's own separate thing. In fact, in the stage direction that I wrote, it's like, you know, we do whatever we do and then we dissolve over to now this moment. Um, so it kinda exists on its own terms. And, um, I hope we get to film it. You know, I really - I really do. Um, I think Stephen said, like, there's a few hoops we gotta jump through and hurdles we have to cross in order to make it happen. But, it feels right, um, it feels good, and, uh, it - it just - I'm a very big believer that, you know, when the muse or god hands you the whole package, you listen and you just take dictation and type it down, and that's all I did." When asked if he'll do multiple endings just to see if he's right, MG: "No, no, I'll tell you why not. Um, it's just the nature of television production. Like, you know, um... if I can do it, it's not going to - whether or not I'm quote-unquote 'right' is not going to be determined on how we film it. It'll be determined on whether or not logistically we can film it. If we can, oh, we're going to show it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV article and video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he always knew how the show was going to end, MG: "Yes and no. Uh, I always knew - I always knew Oliver's end. Um, the specifics of it have changed over the years after certain things. And then, like a couple weeks ago, I was meditating and, uh, something unusual happened. I came out of meditation and I have the last scene. I mean, the entire last scene. I just quickly typed it up like that, and that's never happened to me. It's so weird. Very, very rarely do - you know, certain things just come to me. And that did, and I hope we get to film it, uh, and we'll see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they can create an ending to Arrow that will satisfy long-term fans (referencing the controversial endings of Game of Thrones and Lost), MG: "The good news is, unlike Game of Thrones or unlike Lost, we're not - uh, we're not burdened with having to answer a question. You know, we're not burdened with 'who's going to sit on the Iron Throne?' or, you know, 'what was the island?' .Um, so we get to do, I think, a much more sort of character-based ending. Um, so - at the same time, the complication for us is that we also have Crisis and I think a lot of the stuff that was always in my head in terms of on how to end the show, um, we're now actually going to end up doing in the crossover instead. So it's like, well, now what does the series finale become? Um, but, you know, I - you know, we've got planned and I'm really excited about it. And the goal is, you know, to make it satisfying for the fans, but, um, the good news for us is, we don't have the challenges that Lost or Game of Thrones had... We also don't have their ratings, so, um, you know, there's that too... It's hard... It's a hard thing to do it in a way that satisfies - you know, satisfies everyone... Because obviously I have been thinking, like, how does one end the series, um, I think there's what the initial reaction to something is and then there's how it stands the test of time. Um, and, you know, those two things are not always the same." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG hopes fans will appreciate the work they'd put into crafting a proper ending for the series, saying: "We always go into these things with the best of intentions... We're trying so had to just entertain everybody and honor all of the things the fans want... We hope that everyone appreciates it on its own terms, the way we like to do things." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 GameSpot article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he tell them about the legacy of Arrow after it ends, MG: "I can't, I can't. I'll tell you why. It's not up to me. Um, I would love it. Everyone who works with me knows that I'm a control freak, and I would - I'd love to be able to dictate it, but - I don't know. Um, I don't know what the audience is going to say. You know, one thing, you know, that I was thinking about is, there's the short-term, you know, legacy, and there's the long-term legacy. There's the short-term, you know, feeling people have about a show. And there's the long-term after several years have passed. Um, you know, my hope is that people will remember the show fondly, but it's out of my control. And, you know, we've always approached it from the standpoint of, how do we- how do we do the best show possible? You know - and I'm not saying we've always succeeded, but the work ethic and the passion and the dedication have always been there. Um, my hope is that, at the end of it, you'll have eight seasons of television that, at the very least, are not terrible. I'm going for not terrible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 28, 2019 Hollywood News Source video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, S8 will have "a lot of character moments and callbacks" from the show's run, saying: "We want to honor the series as a whole and give everyone the send-off that they deserve." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TV Guide: "Quite a bit [of Arrow's final season leads up to it], confirms [EP Beth] Schwartz of this year's winter crossover, which was set up by the finale arrival of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) to whisk new daddy Oliver away to parts unknown. That twist will also serve as part of Arrow's series finale, says Schwartz." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JBam: "So during prep for 801, Marc comes into my office and he goes, 'hey, do you want to know about the final scene for the final -' - because I'm directing the series finale - and so he says, 'do you want to know what your final scene is?' And I said, 'yeah.' 'Well, I was meditating' - um, I think he was somewhere on a trip - 'and I was meditating for an hour or so and I came out of the meditation and the scene came to me.' I said, 'okay.' And then he goes, 'you want to see it?' I'm like, 'yeah, I want to see it.' And so he [unintelligible word]. I thought it was this big secret. But then he emailed it to me, like, he wrote it and 'bing' and so I have it in my email here that I'm not showing you. But, uh, I read it and, uh, started crying and, uh - not in front of him though, because I don't want to let them know that you're bleeding, you know. Um, but, uh, the only word I can use to describe it is perfect. So, uh, it's exactly what it should be. It's genius. It's f**cking genius. And you can quote that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of James Bamford interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After saying that he's been pitched the final scene of the series, SA: "I know how I want it to go. But I don't know a lot about the show post-Crisis. So many things could change." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his reaction to what MG wrote for the final scene of the Arrow tv series, SA: "I haven't read it. I've been pitched it. Um, and, uh, I mean... (pause) ... I can't talk about it. It's really cool. Um, I think that, uh - do you have a favorite finale?" Interviewer: "Probably Season 2." SA: "No. Do you have a favorite series finale?" Interviewer: "Not Game of Thrones." SA: "I loved the Game of Thrones finale, but it was an epilogue. There's a difference." Another interviewer: "Cheers." SA: "Okay. Just [unintelligible word] Cheers. Because the last scene is - it's just Sam going, 'no, we're closed,' and then he goes and he fixes the thing. If I were to pick the way we go out, we would go out like that. And the way Marc pitched it, he was like, 'so you are, like, here,' and I'm like, 'what?' And he goes, 'and then this happens,' and I go, 'oh.' And then that's it. And I go, 'f*ck.' I hope it works out." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV article and video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It' a super happy ending... I think it's going to be a happy ending." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 GameSpot article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it will take longer for fans to recover from the Arrow series finale than from the Game of Thrones series finale, SA: "I'm not the right person to answer this question. I loved the last season of Game of Thrones. (Some boos from audience) Oh, I love all finales. If you all hate our finale, I'll know we've done a good job. (Audience reaction) No, no, uh - I - no, uh - Marc and I were talking earlier. Arrow has a happy ending. (Audience reaction) You know when I tell you guys what happens on the show, and I tell you in plain sight, you just don't hear me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's any way there will be a happy ending, SA: "No. Of course not... Maybe. People don't like finales. I like finales. I liked the Seinfeld finale, I loved the Game of Thrones finale. And people will be mad at this finale, but it could be a happy ending... Actually, I just got pitched it. It actually is a happy ending. That's neat. Sorry." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it's possible to reverse the 20-year separation and give Oliver a happy ending, SA: "Look, we've kinda mapped out how the show is gonna end. And normally when television shows do that, that's not how it ends, which is probably why that's how it's gonna end." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On much influence he will have over the way that Oliver's story concludes, SA: "A lot. A lot. We talked about it for a long time. Um, I was very, very, uh, - very, very grateful. A lot of the end of 722 and the fact that it ended with Emily, uh - a lot of that was my pitch. Uh, I thought that - you know, we had to - we had to write that episode like we're never going to see her character again. Okay, so, jumping off from that, if we think that we're never going to see her character again, well, you better give her a good good-bye. Okay? You better - you better wrap that up. And I thought that it was cool that, you know, 'cause we may never see her again - I thought it was cool for the fans to realize, okay, well, like, somewhere out there, they're good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 25, 2019 Fangirlish article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I think everyone will be satisfied with the finale - not just the crossover, but the finale." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Generally -- MG: [Y]ou're going to see, like, a lot of familiar faces. Like, really the goal of Season 8 is... We're looking forward, but we're really looking backwards to look forwards. Um, and we're sort of acknowledging all the greatest stakes and all the key moments of the show, and that includes a lot of, you know, key characters and familiar faces. Um, again, we're always working with the limitations of what we have with reality. But, uh, I'm really excited... The people that are coming back, you know, they're family. So it's wonderful to, you know, see them again." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they go about selecting which past characters to bring back for this final season, MG: "That's a good question. It's tough because, you know, look, at the end of the day - and twitter doesn't want to hear about this and the audience doesn't want to hear about this - but, like, you have a certain amount of money, you know, um, and you've got actors who are available and some who are not available and, you know, some who are working on other projects. It's just realities that you have to deal with. Um, and you go into it, like, with your wish list and then reality intrudes and cuts down that wish list." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "There is so much happening in Season 8!" (Jul. 19, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "[W]e've got a tremendous line-up of directors, uh, some blasts from the past that we haven't seen for awhile. And, uh, not to mention cast that we haven't seen for awhile or maybe not ever seen... But there are a lot of surprises coming." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "Last night, Thursday night, every night this week, we've shot sequences that we didn't think we were capable of before, um, in action and the actors who are coming to set - I tweeted this last week - If they don't win an Emmy for what we've done this week, every one of this people on the cast, there's something wrong. They're all bringing it. Uh, I've never been so impressed with the performances that we're getting, uh, from in - during the action, during the emotional scenes, uh, period, the size and the scope of the - just the premiere that we're doing right now is nothing like we've done before. And that's the truth. We're very, very proud. And I can't wait for you to see 801. It's incredible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Um, but everyone has a very distinct arc that's leading up to the Crisis - the, um, up to the crossover." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he thinks the future is set in stone or whether it can change, RG: "I think it can change. I think so. I think that's what - why we care about these characters and these stories because, with the powers that someone like the Monitor has, it doesn't take away from the ability that these characters have as - as who they are, which is, people that want to do right, you know, and want to do the right thing. They fight for that. So that's the exciting part about the show, is like we - just because he's that powerful doesn't mean that things can't change, you know? So, absolutely." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashforwards and Future Team Arrow -- TV Guide: "The team's future offspring - William (Ben Lewis), Mia (Katherine McNamara), Zoe (Andrea Sixtos) and Connor (Joseph David-Jones) - will continue to fight the good fight. 'We have something really cool planned,' says [EP Beth] Schwartz of the flash-forwards." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After recapping that at the end of S7, Felicity, Rene and Dinah blessed the next generation as Team Arrow 2.0 to go out and save the city, MG: "The one story that we never quite told, when we were doing, you know, the original seasons of Arrow, were the growing things. You know, I mean, Team Arrow pretty much... they had their disagreements, but they fell in and became a unit really fast. We never told the story of the gang that couldn't shoot straight. Um, we're doing that a bit with the future, and that's kinda fun and nice and very original. Like, it feels right that, of course, you have these kids and they're just kids who are working together without any mentors, and there are going to be mistakes along the way. And that's fun. It makes for some good drama." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about what's going on in the future, MG: "I think the fun thing about that storyline is, we're getting the chance to tell a story that we didn't get a chance to tell in Seasons, you know, 1 through, you know, 7, which were, you know, for as many internecine conflicts Team Arrow has had, they pretty much came into existence and were a well-oiled machine. You know, Original Team Arrow for sure was like, oh, it just works. It just works. Um, so we never got to tell the story of what happens when you're brand new at this and you're young and the growing pains. That's what we're getting a chance to, you know, explore in Season 8, and that's a lot of fun." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 3, 2019 KSiteTV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the future characters somehow interact with the present characters, MG: "I'll tell you this, when Stephen and I were on the set of the crossover last year, we talked about how it would be a wildly missed opportunity if Mia and Oliver didn't get a chance to meet... I'm just saying." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "There's going to be flashforwards this season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll ever see Diggle in the future with his son Connor, DR: "The direct answer to your question is probably not, immediately, but you'll know what's happened... or happening." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Dinah in the future this season, JH: "So, yeah, I believe we will. Maybe in a different capacity. But she still has a story going on in both timelines." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "I think we're done with Rene in the future. I think we've decided that he's sacrificed himself and, uh, that's that. You know, he's in jail and so it'll be up to them to be the heroes that they are." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Team Arrow -- On what Team Arrow's dynamic will be in S8, DR: "We have to grapple with this Monitor situation, which is something we never had to face before... That, and bringing to a conclusion all of these loose ends of what ultimately happens to us as individuals. What happens to Laurel Lance? What happens to Dinah? What happens to Wild Dog? And Diggle. What's the relationship with his wife, who's the leader of ARGUS? His two sons, who are influential in the future. Is he or is he not Green Lantern? ... A lot to tie up in 10 episodes. So, um, that's the task." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Team Arrow will move on to face upcoming threats when the team is so fractured, JH: "I think they just are taking on as many responsibilities that they know they can take on. Like, you know, as far as being the captain for Dinah. You know, for all the other characters, we need to fill the shoes of our leader in any way that we can. So I think everybody is going to be just stepping up to the plate this year." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "You know, last season, we kinda said goodbye to kinda like what was normal for us as a team and, you know, things have changed. Um, but there are people out there that are still trying to take down Star City, the Glades. So that work isn't over, so how do we come together? So that dynamic - the dynamic for them will still be there, in terms of getting along and at the same time, like, with Oliver like now on his own course. Uh, it's going to be interesting. We'll see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 29, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Original Team Arrow ("OTA") -- On how the show dynamic will be now that Original Team Arrow has been broken apart, MG: "Good question... We're trying something a little new this year. Um, I don't want to spoil exactly what the new Team Arrow is going to look like, but it will feel, I think, both familiar and new. Um, the familiar part will be - certainly the Oliver-Diggle relationship will go on in the way that you're used to. And then everyone else who is still working, you now, to save Star City, um, you know, that's a separate - that's a separate conversation. It's a separate thing." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- On Oliver's mindset now that he's been separated from Felicity and Mia, SA: "He's resigned... He's resigned. He's resigned. I don't want to play Oliver over the last 10 episodes as morose. I want to play him as resigned and committed and willing to see things through... I want him to be proactive." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Oliver is coping without Felicity, SA: "He's doing okay. It's very important to me that - that he stands by his decision, that he's not morose. Um, there's a reason and there's a very, very good reason that he is actually quite emotionally distraught, um, in the season premiere, because he unexpectedly loses someone. But it's also important that, when Felicity says to him, 'hey, wherever you go, whatever you do, I will find you,' that he believes in that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what Oliver's mentality is like this season, SA: "It's good. When I read the premiere, I talked with Marc and Beth a bunch, because they didn't want him to spend the entire season being morose. Right? It was my thought that, yeah, he had to leave his wife and he had to leave his infant child and he had to leave William, and theoretically he had to leave Diggle and Thea and all of the people that are important in his life. But I want him to be strong... It's important to me that when Felicity says, 'whatever happens, I'll find you,' right? If he believes that, then he can march forward." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Sep. 17, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "My priority playing the character this year is - you know, he's had to leave Felicity and Mia and William. And he can sulk about it. I think it's more interesting if he believes Felicity when she tells him, 'I'll find you. Wherever it is, wherever you are, I'll find you.' To me, it's more interesting if he believes that and marches forward with purpose." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It's not fun, not having Emily on set. Emily's my best friend on the set, um, my co-best friend. I spent the most time with her and with David. And, you know, I texted her as we were - when I was on the plane flying up to Vancouver for the final season. I said I was sad. It's tough not having her around. Um, but her presence is - and Mia's presence and William's presence - is felt via Oliver and what he's doing. He's doing what he's doing in pursuit of them." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 US Magazine article & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver expects that he might one day see Felicity again as he's going about doing his mission for the Monitor or whether he has ruled that out, SA: "His expectations are that he's there to do the Monitor's bidding. And, um, he's there to do it alone. And, uh, it's only after a very familiar encounter that he realizes that, you know, by hook or by crook, he's not going to be allowed to do it alone." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On much influence he will have over the way that Oliver's story concludes, SA: "A lot. A lot. We talked about it for a long time. Um, I was very, very, uh, - very, very grateful. A lot of the end of 722 and the fact that it ended with Emily, uh - a lot of that was my pitch. Uh, I thought that - you know, we had to - we had to write that episode like we're never going to see her character again. Okay, so, jumping off from that, if we think that we're never going to see her character again, well, you better give her a good good-bye. Okay? You better - you better wrap that up. And I thought that it was cool that, you know, 'cause we may never see her again - I thought it was cool for the fans to realize, okay, well, like, somewhere out there, they're good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 25, 2019 Fangirlish article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to interviewer commenting that it's hard to imagine 10 episodes without Felicity and asking how that's going to work with Oliver because he's hasn't done well in the past when they've been separated, SA: "From a practical standpoint, it sucks. I don't like doing the show without Emily. It's like trying to type without your pinkie... I don't like doing the show without Emily... It's tough being there and doing what we do without her, because she's the best. But I also think that, you know, we're going to make do." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the last scene of Arrow S7 where the Monitor took Felicity off somewhere, when asked where they went, LMG: "Hey, man, who knows? The Monitor, he's got - you know, he's got the whole cosmos as his playground. They could be anywhere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 SR Trailers and Interviews video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and the Monitor -- Since Oliver was taken away by the Monitor this season, on whether this season is going to be like a buddy road trip/adventures through other dimensions, James Bamford: "Yes... Well, we left it off in a very emotional, uh, heartbreaking place with the finale last year. Um, and it's going to continue down that road... In each episode - I mean, I've still - I've got about two more days of shooting the premiere, or directing the premiere, and, uh, every single day there's been somebody crying on set, uh, just from the cast performances... The crew and everybody's like watching the actors, going, 'Holy shit. This is happening.' ... They're not crying because the show's ending, because they'll cry plenty for that in December, but they're crying because of all the content of the performances. ... Um, so I would say that this season, uh, you'll feel a lot of nostalgia from the pilot, from Season 1, from Season 2, from every season - uh, it's pretty much every season rolled up into one." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about Oliver's mission for the Monitor, SA: "Oliver is effectively - we don't know how much time passes between 7 and 8. Um, certainly enough time to let my hair grow a little bit. Um, but Oliver is doing the Monitor's bidding. What we get into in the early part of it is, like, what do I actually know about the Monitor? Should I just trust him? Clearly, when I told him I needed to save Barry and Kara, he gave me an arrow that allowed me to defeat Superman. So, from that standpoint, he's trustworthy. But, like, am I really willing to put everything on the line for this guy?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver expects that he might one day see Felicity again as he's going about doing his mission for the Monitor or whether he has ruled that out, SA: "His expectations are that he's there to do the Monitor's bidding. And, um, he's there to do it alone. And, uh, it's only after a very familiar encounter that he realizes that, you know, by hook or by crook, he's not going to be allowed to do it alone." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "You're jumping right into the buddy cop movie with you and the Monitor?" SA: "That's right. That's right. Yeah. He and I have an old car... (Everyone laughs) It is actually a little bit like a buddy cop movie, but it's not necessarily me and the Monitor." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver being a substitute for Harbinger, LMG: "It could be... It could be, and that's - you know, part of me was like, is the Monitor serving double duty to the Anti-Mon - like, there's two in one? But who knows?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 TVLine video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On whether the Monitor will be on Arrow a meaningful amount since he grabbed Oliver at the end of last season, LMG: "You know, the Monitor jumps around. But I think, with Arrow specifically, since they struck a deal together, on Arrow the Crisis has already started. It's Arrow and Monitor, like, you know, globe-trotting and trying to.... (Interviewer: "So it might be like a little bit of a buddy cop thing going on?") ... Eh, you know, that'll be - that's funny, Arrow and Monitor, like... (Interviewer: "The two most serious buddy cops ever.") ... Right. I'll bring the beef jerky, you got the chips." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 TVLine video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Oliver and Diggle -- SA: "It is actually a little bit like a buddy cop movie, but it's not necessarily me and the Monitor." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "He's always going to be by Oliver's side. If there's any season where they're really locked in together, it's this season.. So that goes without question." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Diggle is going to be, as he always has been, at Oliver's side, as Oliver moves through some very - without giving anything away - peculiar transitions that he has to do, um, with the Monitor. So, um, Diggle's going to be helping him out." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll get some Oliver and Diggle scenes, DR: "Yeah, you will. In large doses. In large doses. If there's ever been a season, this is it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked what his character will be doing this season, DR: "Um, for John Diggle - I don't know, Is there any place Oliver Queen is that John Diggle isn't?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Obviously, you don't have an Oliver Queen without Diggle someplace near his side. So that's part of our season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can say about what role Diggle might play in the COIE crossover, DR: "Well, not much. I can tell you that he remains by Oliver's side, which is where he probably should always be. And, um, you know, he's Spock to his Kirk, so he remains there... There's some things that I just found out that I haven't quite - that I haven't quite, um, flipped in my head how to lie to you... and how to spin it yet... how to make a lie - how to make this shit smell a little good, like perfume. (Media: "Don't they prep you for that?") ... Well, they usually do, but I just found out... Like, I just found out what's happening, like, ultimately to Diggle in the crossover. We just found out. So, you know, when you have Marc here, you just kind of grill him and he's like, 'well, here's what's happening.' ... So, nope. Not much I can tell you about it, except he remains at Oliver's side." On what he expects fans' reactions to the crossover will be and whether they'll be shocked, DR: "Yeah, oh yeah. It's a five-show crossover. They're gonna be shocked. Without a doubt. They're gonna be shocked. Um, and I think some questions will be answered. So this isn't a situation where every single loose end has been tied up into a nice bow. I think some of those questions about Diggle I think are important are answered. But no, not every answer will be there. But, um, I think everyone will be satisfied with the finale - not just the crossover, but the finale." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "My perfect ending for Oliver and Diggle should be much like the beginning, when they agreed to take on this journey together and take care of each other... They're brothers... And I don't think we have to put a button on that. We just have to be real with that... That's why I like the episode where we had that fight so much, because, you know... it was just very well-choreographed at first and then it was just punch and punch and kick, and it was just like, these two guys are brothers, they will not do that. I have two brothers. They're going to break things. They're going to go through windows. There'll be no technique. They're just trying to pummel each other. And Mom is going to come in - and Felicity was Mom - to break it up. To continue to tell that kind of story with these two brothers is the way you end the story. Um, I don't think there has to be a button on it, besides being true to that. And, um - and ultimately knowing now the end, I think that's exactly what happens." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: Oliver, uh, has maybe an unexpected ally, uh, you know, join him as he tries to pursue his journey of saving the multiverse." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "[Oliver will] be joining certain forces with people." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Earth-2 Laurel (or Another Earth's Laurel) -- SA: "It is actually a little bit like a buddy cop movie, but it's not necessarily me and the Monitor." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what her character is up to this season, KC: "Laurel's doing her thing. Um, I like to say, she's kinda like her own - her own island. She's got her own, you know, sort of... journey." TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "She's a lone wolf." KC: "Yes, yes." SA: "No, no, you weren't. Not in the pilot - not in the premiere, you're not a lone wolf. You got a team member." KC: "Somebody who... we mentioned?" SA: "No." KC: "We can't mention. It'll be really exciting. Yes, that is true. Um, she's plotting and planning her own - you can say it, I'm not going to." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether her character will be involved in saving the multiverse or whether that's Oliver's journey alone, KC: "Yes. Laurel will end up sort of aligning herself and teaming up with Oliver to help him fulfill his quest to save the multiverse, for sure. And I do think fans are kinda wanting to see that, especially, by the way, with the new costume... Obviously, the costume is for the fans." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I also think we're going to see Laurel, you know, sort of align herself with Oliver in terms of the - uh, while he fulfills his quest to save the multiverse. I also have a new costume, which I don't know if you've seen. It's really good. So that's awesome. And they're letting me keep my hair short, which I also do love because it's fresh, right? It keeps things fresh." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: Oliver, uh, has maybe an unexpected ally, uh, you know, join him as he tries to pursue his journey of saving the multiverse." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "[Oliver will] be joining certain forces with people." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's a moment coming up this season that she's excited for fans to see (other than the episode she's directing), KC: "Yeah. I think that, you know, we will see - as I think the fans have always wanted to see this - um, is Laurel, um, you know, fulfilling her promise of becoming good - I mean, a hero in a - good and bad - I mean, there's many versions of her. Um, but she teams up with, you know, like, I guess it's sort of unexpected, not unexpected, 'cause the comic book, it's Laurel and - er, excuse me, Black Canary and Green Arrow, uh, in terms of - she'll team up with Oliver in terms of fulfilling his quest to save the multiverse. So we'll get to see them, like, in action battle, which we've seen before, but the new costume, with - given what Marc's written, is gonna be freakin' epic. And I think the fans are gonna freak out, because it does call back to the comics, the original. So I'm excited." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of KC interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah and Earth-2 Laurel -- On whether the Canaries will team up now that they're on the same side, KC: "Oh, I'm sure. I mean, I have no doubt. I think that, you know, but I think the season is going to be a tribute to all of the seasons of the show. Um, so I definitely think we'll have a little bit of everything." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what happens between Dinah and E2 Laurel, JH: "So, I don't fully know what happens between them yet, but I know there's a dynamic with the Canaries and a story with the Canaries that is really cool and really exciting and really different... You will start to see it at the very beginning." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what Dinah's relationship with E2 Laurel is like in the final season, JH: "That is something I don't know that much about yet. But it's going to be a really interesting dynamic, because they are more together than they've ever been. And, um, I just really want to see them side by side. I love them together. I love Dinah and Laurel. I think their dynamic is amazing. I love that they're both Canaries. Um, they have something to learn from each other." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- DR: "Number one, what happens ultimately to his relationship with the leader of ARGUS, Lyla Michaels? Um, I think that's important because - and Lyla plays a very big role in this season... I mean, all of those questions have to be answered - and will be answered in 10 episodes." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "And for Diggle's story, it's what happens between he and Lyla, who's the leader of ARGUS. What happens between he and his children, who grow up to be influential in the future. Is he or is he not Green Lantern? Those are kind of the big questions." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR stressed again that they have to answer the question of what happens to the Diggle and Lyla relationship because she's the leader of ARGUS, "which, I wouldn't call them nefarious, but you know what kind of corporation they are." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- MG tweeted pic of concept art for Oliver's new GA suit, with comment: "Concept art for Season 8 costume. #Arrow." (Jul. 19, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "I always knew Oliver's end. Um, the specifics of it have changed over the years after certain things." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the future characters somehow interact with the present characters, MG: "I'll tell you this, when Stephen and I were on the set of the crossover last year, we talked about how it would be a wildly missed opportunity if Mia and Oliver didn't get a chance to meet... I'm just saying." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what MG said: "Well since someone already let the cat out of the bag, I might as well put you out of your misery. @mguggenheim has confirmed that Oliver will meet grown-up Mia, calling it a “wasted opportunity” if they didn’t do this! Article coming with @StephenAmell’s thoughts #Arrow #SDCC." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 tia323araceli tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA said that his new GA suit is very comfortable and has a cloth hood again. He also asked for and got the Season 1 bow again. (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I think the Season 1 version of Oliver would be appreciative of the Season 8 version. Especially the Season 8 version. I'm enjoying the Season 8 version. It's nice." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver, over the course of the first three episodes, reconciles and gets closure with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever thought that he would get closure with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I feel like in the first - in the first three episodes, Oliver has closure with five characters that I don't know that we ever thought that he would get closure with, in very unexpected ways. Maybe they don't know it, but he knows it. And, um, he's left a lot of loose ends along the way, and I hope that over the course of the year, we're going to tie as many up as possible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver in the first three episodes basically closes the book and reconciles in some way, shape, or form with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever would have expected that he would have reconciled with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what lessons Oliver still needs to learn, SA: "Frankly, I think he's learned all the lessons that he needs to learn. You know, he's impatient. He likes to do things on his own. He's impulsive. Um, but, you know, if that's in the servitude of protecting people, then I'm glad that he has all of those faults." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows how it's going to end for Oliver and how he feels about it, SA: "Yeah... Good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about the COIE crossover, SA: "I'm going to play more than one character in the crossover... They're all named Oliver, if that helps." ET's Leanne Aguilera: "Oh good, we're getting different Earth Olivers, I like it." SA: "No. No. Maybe." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about Oliver's role in the COIE crossover, SA: "I'm playing more than one character in Crisis...I'm not putting the Flash suit back on." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Arrow's last season and Oliver's death being prophesized by the Monitor, LMG: "He might escape, you know. Who knows? Comic books." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 SR Trailers and Interviews video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- On whether we could see EBR return, MG: "Look, I would love for it to happen. Um, it's - it's up to - it's up to Emily, Um, it's up to time, it's up to availability. Of course, she's more than welcome back. Obviously. We desperately want her back. But at the same time, I'll be honest, I don't want to put pressure on her, you know? I want her to make the decision that's right for her. Um, you know, but, you know, we're going to be darkening her doorstep, um, and we'll see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 28, 2019 Hollywood News Source video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the chances of seeing Felicity again by the end of the series, MG: "Um, you know, we're having those conversations. Um, it's - it's up to Emily. Uh, we obviously, of course, would love to have her back. At the same time, you know, we respect whatever she wants to do. Um, we wrote an ending to the character that works as an ending to the character. Um, and we'll see what the future holds." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 3, 2019 KSiteTV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how a lot of people felt that Arrow could've ended at the end of Season 7, even though there is more story to tell, MG: "Um, you know, it's funny, I think we knew not long before the - not long, but like certainly during Season 7, we knew that - we knew when the end was going to come. Um, I think, we discussed a lot, like, well, we know Emily is leaving at the end of Season 7. Do we end there? Do we keep going? Can we keep going? And we did feel like there was - there was more story to tell, um, as difficult as it is to do it without Emily. It's really, really hard. For the longest time, I've been saying, like, you can't do the show without Emily Rickards. Um, and I think, if the show - if the conversations had been, 'we'll do 22 episodes without Emily,' I would've said, 'you can't do that.' Um, 10 episodes, when one episode is the series premiere, another episode's the crossover, another episode's the series finale, suddenly you're down to 7 episodes, you can start having those conversations in a way that feels a little more realistic." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 28, 2019 Hollywood News Source video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they're handling Felicity's absence in this final season, MG: "Not well... I mean, it's hard... It's hard. Um, but, you know, we're - you know, the great thing that the writers did, uh, in Season 7 is, I think they explained in a great way why Felicity is absent. Um, and Felicity's acknowledged. Um, there's a moment - like, it's scripted. You know, I never can promise what's going to make the final cut. There's, I think, a very sort of Felicity-centric moment in, uh, the season premiere. Um, you know, the main thing is, we don't deny the existence of the character. I think a lot of shows, when a major actor leaves the show, they suddenly like forget that character, you know, and don't acknowledge that character. And we don't do that. Like, we're - we're constantly referencing Felicity. Felicity's super important. And she's alive in the show, even if Emily's not in the show." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After media interviewer mentioned Three's Company and how they would script in phone calls from Suzanne Somers (the actress who had been fired from that show) and asked if Arrow would do something like video chats with Felicity sprinkled throughout the season, MG: "It's a great idea. It's the first time hearing it... Look, at the end of the day, like, you know, I was just saying, uh, to another panel of journalists, we, of course, want Emily as involved in Season 8 as she would like to be. Um, and, you know, we will be darkening her doorstep, um, you know. But, you know, at the end of the day, she has to do what's right for her. And, you know, we - we've written out the character, I think, in a way that's satisfying. But, if we can work out a way for her to return for the final season, of course, we would love that, you know. Um, there's a lot of conversations that have to be had and, uh, you know, we're going to have them... The Suzanne Somers idea is interesting. I never heard of it." Media interviewer suggested that they set up a studio where EBR is and shoot enough little video vignettes to spread out among maybe six episodes. MG: "I like the idea that, like, you know, Emily has like a room in her house, you know, in which she can be in, but I never heard of it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether viewers will get to see EBR's Felicity again, TV Guide: "That's a hard maybe. Rickards, who announced in March that she would be exiting Arrow, is no longer a series regular. But we know Felicity is still alive and raising baby Mia, the daughter she shares with Oliver (Stephen Amell), so [EP Beth] Schwartz hopes the fan favorite will pop by for a visit. 'We knew we had to wrap her storyline up in a way that wasn't permanent to leave the window open to see her again,' she says." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll be getting EBR back in this final season, SA: "No... Not that I know of... What do you want from me? It's a yes or no question." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we might see EBR again before the series ends, SA: "Maybe. It would feel, um - frankly, it would feel shitty to end the series not seeing her again. But I am also a big fan of goodbyes. When you say goodbye, it's okay if you say goodbye." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Felicity again before the series wraps, SA: “I think that we wrapped her character up pretty nicely, but honestly, that comes down to Emily and producers... I mean, she’s busy. She’s being awesome on Broadway and things of that nature.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 US Magazine article & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he feels about filming the final season without EBR, SA: "Not great. Not great. And there's no way to sugarcoat this, in a perfect world, she's still on the show. It sucks that she's not. Uh, she is one of my very best friends. And, on a personal level, I'm so happy for her. I cried when I read her New York Times review for her play. I'm going to go see it next weekend, but I also texted her on the way back to Vancouver, 'Going to Vancouver to shoot the show and you're not there and it sucks.' So I think that both things can be true... Me personally, I actually kinda hope she doesn't come back, because I love goodbyes. I love finite goodbyes. Right? That being said, if she wants to, that'll be cool." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- MG tweeted pic of concept art for Diggle's new Spartan suit, with comment: "@david_ramsey? and I ran out of time! Here’s Spartan’s new costume for Season 8!" (Jul. 20, 2019 MG tweet, page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan saying that MG's previously posted partial pic of a green/black superhero suit must be Spartan's new suit, MG tweeted: "Yup." (Jul. 20, 2019 MG tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what's on his bucket list for Diggle, DR: "A few things... Number one, what happens ultimately to his relationship with the leader of ARGUS, Lyla Michaels? Um, I think that's important because - and Lyla plays a very big role in this season... And number two, his two sons that are influential in the future. Um, where was he? What happened? Does Diggle exist in the future? And, um, number three, is he or is he not Green Lantern? ... I mean, all those questions have to be answered - and will be answered in 10 episodes." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he wants to have happen for Diggle to conclude his story, DR: "Well, for the character, there's some things that have - that probably will be answered. Right? His relationship with Lyla. Lyla plays a pivotal role in this season. And, um, she's the leader of ARGUS, so we kind of have to address that. His two sons in the future. Where's Diggle? And what went on with - what's going on with his children? I think that's important. Is he or is he not Green Lantern? I think that's important. So I think those three things will be addressed in the 10 episodes. So you will get answers." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 26, 2019 Fangirlish article & video, page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see more of Diggle as a father in S8, DR: "Yes. And Diggle's relationship with his own father as well. There will be loose ends tied up. The relationship between he and his sons, I think we're going to find out about. There's a lot in ten episodes we'll be finding out. And Lyla is a pivotal piece in these upcoming ten episodes. And then ultimately what happens with the Green Lantern mythos. I think all those are going to be answered in ten episodes." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "There's more story to be told with Diggle. Uh, his father, his wife, his son, two sons actually... And the lasting relationship that he has with the team. So there's a lot more story to cover in - within 8 episodes. And from my understanding, they do a pretty good job of it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll ever see Diggle in the future with his son Connor, DR: "The direct answer to your question is probably not, immediately, but you'll know what's happened... or happening." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the chances that we'll see a Green Lantern ring on Diggle's finger (on a scale of 1 to 10), DR: "I don't know, but I still know it's in the talks, which, you know, is not dead. So we'll see." On his new Spartan suit which has some green in it, DR: "Another homage... They've been dropping hints, man, for six seasons." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of DR interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the chances that he'll be Green Lantern, DR: "If I had to put a percentage on it, I don't know. But it better be a big payoff, guys. It's been six seasons of them talking about that. Have you seen the new wardrobe, the new costume that came up? It's like another nod, right? It's like, of all the colors ... a green helmet, green piping in the suit. So, yeah, these things will be answered and, um, I think you guys will be happy with it." Interviewer: "I'll take it as a 'yes,' then." DR: "You'll be happy with it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Referencing the infamous line in last year's Elseworlds crossover, DR: "And 'where's your ring, John?' And that connects obviously to Crisis... And my stepfather is named Stewart. And now - another homage with the uniform that has green piping... I think we better give you guys some answers quickly on that... I know. Now I know what's happening." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Diggle's biggest obstacle this season, DR: "Wrapping his head around the consequences. Um, what happens with the Monitor is a deep thing. What happens in Crisis is big, big, big - it's a big thing. And, um, it's gonna - it's gonna do something to Diggle particularly. So I think, kinda wrapping his head around that is gonna be a big [unintelligible word-step? struggle?]." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he thinks Diggle will react to the most in the upcoming COIE crossover, DR: "I think the enormity of what this is, these multiple Earths... what the Monitor's endgame is, I think, would be something that really would flip a person like Diggle."(SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of DR interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows where Diggle ends up by the end of the show and whether he's happy about it, DR: "Yes, I do. Yes, I do." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger -- DR: "Lyla plays a very big role in this season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Lyla plays a pivotal role in this season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 26, 2019 Fangirlish article & video, page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "And Lyla is a pivotal piece in these upcoming ten episodes." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Lyla, my, um - Lyla Michaels, who plays Diggle's wife, is a very big part of this epi - a very big part of this season. So it's interesting that you bring her up, because she is pivotal." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mar Novu AKA The Monitor -- MG: "MG: "I can tell you that LaMonica Garrett is going to reprise his role as the Monitor in the crossover." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- LMG: "The Monitor is an obscure character for a lot people. You know, people hate The Monitor right now because of what he's doing to the world. But he's actually trying to do it, you know, for the greater good, if you know the comic books." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 ComicBook article & video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- LMG: "Everything the Monitor does is to serve the Crisis purpose. So, he's morally ambiguous, so you really can't take anything he does as, like, oh, that's evil or that's good. He has his own way, and his ways aren't our ways. So when he does something that might look out of line, maybe to human beings it might look out of line, but he operates on a whole different palette. It could be, you know, in the grand scheme of things, hindsight, you look back, like, oh, he needed to put that person there. So the more it unfolds out, the more we'll see, and that's the fun part... In the comic books, he wasn't evil, but he just - he did bad things for a better purpose." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 TVLine video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oliver being a substitute for Harbinger, LMG: "It could be... It could be, and that's - you know, part of me was like, is the Monitor serving double duty to the Anti-Mon - like, there's two in one? But who knows?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 TVLine video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On whether the Monitor will be on Arrow a meaningful amount since he grabbed Oliver at the end of last season, LMG: "You know, the Monitor jumps around. But I think, with Arrow specifically, since they struck a deal together, on Arrow the Crisis has already started. It's Arrow and Monitor, like, you know, globe-trotting and trying to.... (Interviewer: "So it might be like a little bit of a buddy cop thing going on?") ... Eh, you know, that'll be - that's funny, Arrow and Monitor, like... (Interviewer: "The two most serious buddy cops ever.") ... Right. I'll bring the beef jerky, you got the chips." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 TVLine video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- LMG: "It's rapid fire... Just like last season, where he just - the Monitor kinda bounces around. So where I end up, you might not know. Sometimes I'll just - I'll be a couple episodes here, one over here - I just - you know, it's a fun role to play too. Get to hang out with all the different casts." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 SR Trailers and Interviews video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the Monitor after the crossover is over, LMG: "I hope so. But, you know, if - they're doing it pretty close to the comic books. In the comic books, you know, the Monitor's seen better days. But, you know, we might - you know, they might have a different variation, so it's fun." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 SR Trailers and Interviews video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) The Anti-Monitor -- MG tweeted pic of concept art for the Anti-Monitor suit, with comment: "@lamonicagarrett ? will be playing the Anti-Monitor in #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. Concept art: ..." (Jul. 20, 2019 MG tweet, page 24 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- MG: "[T]he Big Bad of the crossover - I literally tweeted this out two seconds ago - is of course going to be the Anti-Monitor, um, from Crisis On Infinite Earths. Uh, LaMonica Garrett is going to play that role, um, because there's no one else to play that role. Um, you know, LaMonica's perfect for it... We're going to see, I think, a real strong antagonist for the biggest crossover event we've ever done." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "I can tell you that LaMonica Garrett is going to reprise his role as the Monitor in the crossover, but he's also going to play the Anti-Monitor as well. Um, and that's the Big Bad of the crossover." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- LMG: "Anti-Monitor is not obscure. He's well-known in Marvel, you know, for Marvel fans and DC fans, as just one of the biggest bads that ever walked this planet." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 ComicBook article & video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On getting to play just a straight-up evil character like the Anti-Monitor, LMG: "Just bad. And I - when I found out about that, I was on set and, um, Arrow, they were coming in to - they were prepping for their first episode. It was in Vancouver. And I talked to, uh, Bam [James Bamford], the director, and I was like, 'you know?' And he was like, 'yeah, man, I thought you knew.' Like, 'no, no one tells me anything.' And he already saw my mind spinning like, you know, uh, doing research, Anti-Monitor research, in my head. He was like, 'slow down, you still got a lot of Monitor to go before you jump into that skin.' So I was like, my mind's already racing of what I can bring to this character to bring him to life. Yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 ComicBook article & video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On whether he's going to look like himself or whether he's going to have the Anti-Monitor "face," LMG: "Uh, it's - I can't say what that is. That's going to be - like, some stuff has to be left to the imagination and, you know, the surprise of the audience. But it's... an awesome get-up from top to bottom. It's night-and-day different from the Monitor." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 ComicBook article & video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA ? -- MG tweeted pic of concept art for E2 Laurel's new suit, with comment: "@MzKatieCassidy? and I ran out of time! Here’s the concept art for the new Black Siren costume for Season 8!" The concept art pic is labeled: "Black Canary Concept." Subsequently, MG tweeted: "Oops. Meant Black Canary. Or did I? Arrow 801 holds the answer..." (Jul. 20, 2019 MG tweet, page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 21, 2019 MG tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her new costume, KC: "I mean, I was like, 'this is dope, uh, why didn't we do this, like, many seasons ago?' Also, 'can I keep my hair short?' And yes, they're letting me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of KC interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After commenting on her cool new costume, on what her character is calling herself now, Black Siren or Black Canary, KC: "She's the Black Canary... and she's also really come into her own in taking a stand, and it's going to be awesome." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 KSiteTV video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether her character is now the Laurel that she always hoped for her to be, KC: "Hell, yes. I wanted her to be, like, strong... I like to consider her her own island, because she should be, she can be. Why not? And, um, just being strong. And she is that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 KSiteTV video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I also have a new costume, which I don't know if you've seen. It's really good. So that's awesome. And they're letting me keep my hair short, which I also do love because it's fresh, right? It keeps things fresh." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how her character is going to change in the final season, KC: "Well, it's interesting because Laurel obviously, there's - there's different versions of her, right? And this season, you know, Laurel - it's Laurel from Earth-1 but it's as though she's not ever died. Um, so she still has - but she has developed, after everything she's gone through, a little bit of grittiness, a little bit of edge, still has that little sassiness, um, not so soft necessarily, 'cause she's gone through some stuff." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 29, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of KC interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what her character is up to this season, KC: "Laurel's doing her thing. Um, I like to say, she's kinda like her own - her own island. She's got her own, you know, sort of... journey." TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "She's a lone wolf." KC: "Yes, yes." SA: "No, no, you weren't. Not in the pilot - not in the premiere, you're not a lone wolf. You got a team member." KC: "Somebody who... we mentioned?" SA: "No." KC: "We can't mention. It'll be really exciting. Yes, that is true. Um, she's plotting and planning her own - you can say it, I'm not going to." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which Laurel she is now, KC: "I know, right? [Unintelligible word] still trying to figure that out. Um, we are as if the Laurel never died. So, she still went through everything she went through. She still got that sass - that little edgy sassiness, because she's gone through a lot of shit. Um, so that's the, uh, version that you're seeing. I also have a new costume. I'm not sure if you guys have seen - uh, we were going to show it on the panel but we ran out of time. It is so dope. It is so cool... But out of all the costumes, I mean, it's fantastic." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what her character will be doing this season, KC: "I can't really get into details but, um, you know, just sort of [unintelligible word] more Laurel coming into her own. Um, I think it'll be really interesting what version of her this season we're going to see. She's still getting into trouble. You know, she's still got that sassiness to her." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she wants to see some Earth-2 characters from her character's past in the final season, KC: "Oh, yeah. I mean... Black Siren with Black Siren's bad Black Siren is so fun to play. But also, you know, Laurel this season is basically like Laurel never died. She's lived, and I do get to keep - incorporate a little bit more of that sass and that, you know - I don't mean to say bitchiness, but edginess... She's a little harder than the straight and narrow Laurel. Um, so, yeah, I definitely think there's a little mixed in there and it would be cool to see, like, maybe a flashback episode or something where you see Earth-2 Black Siren, where I can really just, you know, kill 'em with my sass. It's fun." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she'll be interacting with the future kids, KC: "I certainly hope so. I think it's, um, a possibility. I don't write the show... I would definitely love to be... I definitely think there's a world in which that could happen. Um, you should tell or ask Marc Guggenheim. See what he says, and then let me know." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what's on her Laurel bucket list, KC: "I was saying to them, like, I think I should do the salmon ladder, uh, the salmon ladder, because everybody else - I mean, I think Caity Lotz is the only girl who's done it, but it's all about, uh - it's like a swinging thing. You kinda have a technique that you have to get down. And I used to be a competitive gymnast, and the bars - there's a lot of [kicking? kipping? clipping?] involved... I was just saying to Bam, 'Can I do the - like, why can't we just [write me in on a line? ride me in on a line?] and I'll try it?' He was like, 'Can you do it?' I was like, 'I don't know, but maybe.' So can you imagine if this whole time, I had never tried it and the first time I do it, I'm like (Mimes going up and down the salmon ladder with her hands quickly, while saying, 'do do do do do') ... And they're like, 'why haven't we done it?' ... I don't know. We'll see. It could be a disaster... It'd be cool, though, if we could do it. That would be awesome." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- On whether Dinah is still the Black Canary even though she lost her cry, JH: "She is the Black Canary. And I think that was one of the things that she struggled with the most last season was, not knowing if without her, you know, cry, she was. And one of my favorite things that I've learned about this character was when she did discover that you don't need the cry. It's about what's inside. It's about your sense of justice. It's about who you are. That's what makes you the Canary. And I want, you know, people who watch the show to feel that, with or without any kind of special power, they too can be that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked where we see Dinah in the first episode of S8, JH: "In the first episode, it's going to be a total departure from anything we've seen Dinah doing before. So just a completely, um, something completely different, uh, and that will change throughout the season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of JH interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On where Dinah is now, JH: "Now that Oliver is gone, she is really, you know, she needs to make that decision and I think the decision she makes is that she needs to be both because she is the Captain and she is the Black Canary, and now the leader is gone, so I think that she's taking ownership of being able to do both things and not feeling like she needs to pick one side or the other." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 29, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of JH interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she can imagine playing her character on another show after Arrow ends, JH: "Absolutely. One thing that's amazing about this show is that, you know, the characters - the interchangeable is not the word, but there are, you know - the suit is defined by the person, like, the morals, the person - it's like, it's not just the fact that it's this person. It's what do you possess that fills that suit, what's inside of you. Um, so I'm honored to be, you know, a person who is a Black Canary and I hope to always, always be the Black Canary. Um, but I - you know, I'm not the only one, but I hope we are all always the Black Canary... Canaries for life." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of JH interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she's going to be in the COIE crossover, JH: "I have heard I am." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 29, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of JH interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "So at the beginning of Season 8, Dinah is, uh - she's in a different place. We see her sort of in a jump from where we left her off. And, uh, it's - it's sort of - it stands on its own. It's a unique place that we see Dinah in the first episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On where we'll see Dinah at the beginning of S8, JH: " At the beginning of the season, she's also still the police captain. She's sort of still trying to figure out where to find her footing when the team dis - uh, falling apart in a sense." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what her character will be doing this season, JH: "Dinah is back to being captain at the SCPD. And I think she's trying to just kinda figure out, um, where she falls in terms of the team and where the team falls without Oliver... And also just embracing being this version of the Canary that she found last season, where, you know, she doesn't necessarily have this cry anymore, but she's still coming into her own and still finding herself like as a hero." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "Actually, I think with Oliver not being there, Dinah feels more of a responsibility to the city. So I think she's going to stay strong in her desire to be the captain [of the SCPD] as well as the Black Canary, instead of being so torn." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Oliver's absence affects Dinah, JH: "I think Dinah feels a sense of, you know, she has to step up now. I think she feels like, well, you know, who's left, and what can we do? And we need to sort of... Because the hierarchy of the team is important, um, and our leader is gone, so she also definitely - Dinah being Dinah - feels the need to sort of step up to that position. Not that she wants to be in charge, but who will? Because somebody needs to take care of the team."(SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who Dinah will be interacting the most with this season, JH: "Well, definitely I can say Rene. I don't want to give anything away, but Rene for sure. I think they always sort of have - they came on around the same time and they have a kinship, you know. So Rene and then - I don't know." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Dinah in the future this season, JH: "So, yeah, I believe we will. Maybe in a different capacity. But she still has a story going on in both timelines." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- If she was writing the ending for Dinah, JH would want the following for her: get her cry back, remain captain but also own her Black Canary-ness, and end up part of a team (since she started as a loner). (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she knows how Dinah's story ends, JH: "I don't. But I hope that in it she sort of finds just the peace within herself to know herself, to be self-assured, to not question, you know, what am I? Am I a vigilante? Am I a police officer? ... And just know that she's her own kind of hero and define it, you know, in a very - in no uncertain terms." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what's on her Dinah bucket list, JH said that she's only gotten scripts for the first three episodes, so she doesn't know yet where Dinah ends up at the end of the series. But she hopes that Dinah finds "some kind of resolve," "some direction" and "some resolve." She wants Dinah to "land on her feet, 'this is who I am.'" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: “To be honest, I don’t know where she ends the season, which is the interesting thing of doing television versus film, because you’re going in blind... But I think, from what I know, she’s coming into herself, because she’s always been so torn. You know there’s always been this duality: am I a vigilante? Am I police officer? I hope that she sort of settles into that resolve and she finds her place.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how characters like Dinah will fit in this season when Oliver's away traveling with the Monitor, RG: "Yeah, that's a good question... I think with Dinah, she's, uh, in the field as a captain and taking that role." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if "the Canary will get to come out and play during Crisis," JH: "Oh, God, I hope so. I think so. And, uh, - but I'm trying not to keep, you know, get my expectations too high. But, uh, I hope so. Yeah. Yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 20, 2019, JH: "I've only worked one day this season so far." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog -- RG: "I can say, you haven't seen Rene this way in the very first episode of Season 8." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "I will say that Rene, this first episode, you haven't seen him this way before." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Rene will ever call anyone 'Hoss' again or whether that's retired, RG: "I think that's retired. I think it's time." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how characters like Rene will fit in this season when Oliver's away traveling with the Monitor, RG: "I think Rene, because we teased Season 7 of him being the mayor, there has to be a journey for him to be in politics. So I think that's kind of where we're gonna, like, find Rene, is, like, seeing, what if I went this way to do good?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "I think this season we're going to tackle the beginnings of his aspirations in politics and becoming mayor. So we'll definitely tease that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what his character will be doing this season, RG: "Yeah, I think with Rene, I think we're gonna, um, tease the idea of the beginning of his political aspirations and how he became Mayor. So I think we'll be able to see some aspects of that. Also, I think we're gonna try and kinda outline, uh, a bit of a strain between him and Zoe. But that's as far as I can go." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entertainment Weekly video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows how Rene's story ends, RG: "I don't know how it ends, but I do know that we will touch on his political aspirations, 'cause we established that he was the mayor last season. So we'll definitely touch on him going down that road." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Rene's story this season, RG: "I'm excited about it, I'm excited. I would've liked for Rene to fall in love, just to see that side of him. But I do like the idea of Rene, uh - I love the storyline of him being the mayor last season and kinda him losing his way. But his heart was in the right place. He thought he was doing the right thing. You know, instead of being a vigilante, going into politics where he could do more right. Uh, and so, his heart is still there, just - he lost his way. So, it'll be kinda interesting to see how he loses his way. You know? That's an interesting place." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 29, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his greatest hope for Rene, RG: "I would hope that he falls in love, you know, um, but, alas, we see in the future he's not married. So, uh, you know, that's one thing I would've liked to see was Rene kinda like - we see that side of him. You know, we see him as a father and learn to be a good father. Um, now what would he look like if he fell in love, you know, and opened his heart to a woman? That would be nice." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG would've liked to have seen Rene fall in love before the series ended and said that there was an opportunity for that last season with Emiko, but that never happened because she was evil. So now his focus is on being a father. (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the development of Rene and Zoe's relationship as she grows up, RG: "We only have 10 episodes and there's only so much real estate to cover that... I think, more importantly, what we'll try to do is kind of see her maybe find a perspective for her, while Rene is on the road to becoming a politician, because he does become mayor. You saw that in Season 7. So there's a roadway to that, right? So we need to see a little bit of that. So how does she feel about that, you know? Is she proud of him? Is she not proud of him? Does she like who's he become, you know? Obviously, we see that she doesn't in the future, so we'll probably see a little of that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see more of Rene's relationship with Zoe in present day, RG: "Yes. In the present, yes. Uh, in the future, I don't think so. I think we're done with Rene in the future. I think we've decided that he's sacrificed himself and, uh, that's that. You know, he's in jail and so it'll be up to them to be the heroes that they are." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Rene's relationship with Dinah this season, RG: "I think they'll be okay. I think Dinah and Rene have been like sis - brother and sister, you know? They've always kind of like connected on that level, you know, protecting each other, cared about each other. So, yeah, I think that - that - that part will be fine. They'll still be totally connected." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 29, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Wild Dog will be let off his leash for Crisis, RG: "I hope so. That's what I've been wanting since Season 5. Like, let that boy loose. Let him do what he do." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 29, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "Hopefully, this season, for this crossover, we see him connect with more people." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Thea Queen AKA Speedy -- On whether we will see Thea again, EP Beth Schwartz: "I hope so." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar -- On whose journey he's most excited for us to see this year, MG: "Oh, good question. I got to say Mia. Uh, you know, her journey's really interesting, especially since she'll be starting off from a very, you know, sort of new place. Her story is a very Season 1 kind of story and that's fun. It's fun to revisit that level of newness." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the future characters somehow interact with the present characters, MG: "I'll tell you this, when Stephen and I were on the set of the crossover last year, we talked about how it would be a wildly missed opportunity if Mia and Oliver didn't get a chance to meet... I'm just saying." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what MG said: "Well since someone already let the cat out of the bag, I might as well put you out of your misery. @mguggenheim has confirmed that Oliver will meet grown-up Mia, calling it a “wasted opportunity” if they didn’t do this! Article coming with @StephenAmell’s thoughts #Arrow #SDCC." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 tia323araceli tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to media interviewer commenting that MG already spoiled that SA will be working with KM at some point, SA: "Is that true? Did he say that?" Media interviewer: "Quote, he said, 'It would not be ideal if we didn't find a way to get Stephen and Kat together in a room.'" SA: "Same with Ben. Um, yeah, look, we're all under contract. If we go through the final season and Oliver doesn't interact with his kids in some way, shape or form, that'd be a mistake, wouldn't it?" On how that would happen, SA: "I don't know. I actually don't know. I'm not being coy... What would Oliver do? The last time he saw Mia, she was an infant, right? Kissed her goodbye, walks away. Does he recognize her? Does he recognize William? Probably recognizes William. And William certainly recognizes him. What does that look like? I don't know... I'd probably approach it like a big sloppy puddle of emotions. I don't know... If Oliver turns around and sees Mia as a grown woman, he'd probably pass out. Wouldn't you?" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- From WBTV's official press release: "JOHN DIGGLE’s SONS FACE OFF IN THE FINAL SEASON OF ARROW Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll) Announced as John Diggle, Jr. During Show’s Final Comic-Con® Panel ... Following last season’s introduction of next-gen vigilantes Mia Smoak and Connor Hawke, Comic-Con fans were excited to learn of John Diggle’s other son, John Diggle, Jr., to be played by new series regular Charlie Barnett (Russian Doll). Diggle, Jr. — known as J.J. — is the Flashpoint-born son of John Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson). We meet J.J. in the future as the leader of the Deathstroke Gang, where he faces off against Mia and his adopted brother, Connor. ... Barnett joins previously announced new series regulars Katherine McNamara, Joseph David-Jones and Ben Lewis as Mia Smoak, Connor Hawke and Oliver Queen’s adopted son, William Clayton, respectively." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: WarnerBrosTV tweet & article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Charlie Barnett will join Arrow's 8th and final season in the series regular role of adult John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. Per MG, JJ has “a bit of an edge to him," adding that viewers “are going to be really surprised about the way we bring him in… and particularly what costume he wears.” Per MG, he will wear a costume that viewers will find "very surprising." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine, Deadline, Variety and CBR articles, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Let's talk about the Diggle family tree, because, you know, it's gotten bigger. Um, you now, there's this Connor Hawke, who, you know, we established last year Diggle adopted. Um, and then, of course, there's JJ, who originally was Sara and then became JJ because of Flashpoint. (Audience reaction, plus DR: "Damn you, Barry.") We'll talk about that later. I have opinions. But, um, that JJ, he's grown up. Um, and we've actually cast the adult version of him because, uh, we are, of course, dealing with the future now. " Mod: "Okay. And he is?" MG: "I'm going to let you answer that." Mod: "So it's Charlie Barnett?" MG: "Yes, yes. And Charlie - probably the sweetest guy." Mod: "Charlie from Russian Doll." MG: "Yes. And a wonderful gentleman who is so sweet, his character - I don't want to spoil anything, but his character has a bit of an edge to him. And when Charlie read, I was like, he's - he's too nice. Does he -? He doesn't have any edge. But then he can bring it, he can really bring it. And he's awesome, and I - you know, I think people are going to be really surprised about the way we bring him in, um, the way Charlie's character comes into the show and what he does and particularly what costume he wears. He wears a very specific costume that is, uh, not what anyone's expecting." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Sara Diggle -- On whether there's world where Baby Sara might still exist, DR: "I would love that on one of the Earths. Me and Marc(?) have actually talked about that. It would be great if they just kinda run into a grown-up Baby Sara, right? I don't know, but it would be great." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of DR interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Zoe Ramirez -- On whether we'll see Zoe's journey to becoming Black Canary, RG: "I don't know. I mean, she's really young.right now, like, in present day, and then she's like 20 years later, so she's in her early 30's, I want to say, late 20's, early 30's... I don't know if we'll get that far... We'd have to find out when exactly she became the Canary in her life for us to know, so that's difficult." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the development of Rene and Zoe's relationship as she grows up, RG: "We only have 10 episodes and there's only so much real estate to cover that... I think, more importantly, what we'll try to do is kind of see her maybe find a perspective for her, while Rene is on the road to becoming a politician, because he does become mayor. You saw that in Season 7. So there's a roadway to that, right? So we need to see a little bit of that. So how does she feel about that, you know? Is she proud of him? Is she not proud of him? Does she like who's he become, you know? Obviously, we see that she doesn't in the future, so we'll probably see a little of that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of DR and RG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see more of Rene's relationship with Zoe in present day, RG: "Yes. In the present, yes. Uh, in the future, I don't think so. I think we're done with Rene in the future. I think we've decided that he's sacrificed himself and, uh, that's that. You know, he's in jail and so it'll be up to them to be the heroes that they are." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Big Bad -- On how the Big Bad for all the shows this year seems to be time, MG: "Yes. That's a great way of putting it... Again, when we pitch it, we talk about in terms of destiny. You know, all the characters are facing some version of their destiny, and they have to react to it and confront it and, you know, in a lot of cases, rise above it. Um, that said, um, the Big Bad of the crossover - I literally tweeted this out two seconds ago - is of course going to be the Anti-Monitor, um, from Crisis On Infinite Earths. Uh, LaMonica Garrett is going to play that role, um, because there's no one else to play that role. Um, you know, LaMonica's perfect for it... We're going to see, I think, a real strong antagonist for the biggest crossover event we've ever done." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who Team Arrow will take on in the final season, EP Beth Schwartz hinted: "It's going to be a different villain than we've ever had on the show before." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's a Big Bad for the final 10 episodes, SA: "Uh, nuhh-yeah, no. Kind of. Except he might not be bad." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Malcolm Merlyn -- Fan report on what SA said: "SA revealed on Carina’s IG story before the panel that Malcolm Merlyn is in episode 7." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Trisha post, page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- On what he can tease about CD's return in the S8 premiere, SA: "Colin Donnell is playing Tommy Merlyn." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect from bringing back CD in the S8 premiere, SA: "Tommy gets to play the Tommy that we always wanted him to play." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Adrian Chase -- MG: "We love Jason, we - we love the character of Prometheus. Um, you're seeing a different version of Prometheus than you've seen before, I will say, in the series premiere. But it's, uh - I said Jason, I meant Josh. Um, it's been a long comic con, a long comic con... Josh is amazing. We've always loved him. And, uh, he was always on our short list when we said, we want to revisit certain moments and certain characters, um, so we were just lucky we were able to get him, because he's a talented guy and he's busy and, you know, there were other shows out there." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 27, 2019 Beautiful Ballad video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about JS's return in the S8 premiere, SA: "Josh Segarra is playing Adrian Chase." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect from bringing back JS in the S8 premiere, SA: "Josh as Adrian, um, gets to come back and just be awesome... Missed having Josh so much. He comes back with a vengeance in the first episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It's so fun having Josh [Segarra] doing what he's doing in the premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what went through his mind when he read the first script of S8, SA: "But more specifically, I was really, really pumped that my character got to stop Josh Segarra, because that asshole was always ten steps ahead of me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Moira Queen -- MG: "Susanna Thompson is back, um, for our season premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of MG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, Susanna Thompson will return to play Moira Queen in the S8 premiere, which MG described as "a love letter to the show; it really is... I was telling Beth [Schwartz], it felt a lot like the series finale, not the season premiere, in the best possible way, almost to the point where we’re like ‘what are we going to do for the series finale?’ I mean, we know, obviously, but it has that kind of resonance to it, and that’s exciting.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: GATV article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) General Stewart -- On whether he's returning to Arrow, EH: "I know they've checked availability, you know. I'd very much like to. I mean, I'm always - I like to work and, um, I love the show. What I liked about that show is, I was involved with the action and, um, there's a storyline. And so it's - I want to work. I don't want to just appear. ... The hardest part for me now, because I've been doing this a long time, is, I don't want to waste my time doing something that I'm not involved... When I reach a certain age, when I can't memorize anything, then I'll just make appearances. I'll just sort of be there, you know. But while I can still do what I love to do, I'd rather be involved." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Syfy Wire video of Ernie Hudson interview, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Barry Allen AKA The Flash -- On whether Oliver and Barry could cross paths before the COIE crossover, MG: "We have talked about it, um, and it's absolutely a possibility. We haven't ruled it out. I will say this, you know, last week I pitched the crossover to the network and the week before that I pitched the crossover to the studio, and a big part of the pitch was basically acknowledging the fact that, for all these past years, in every crossover, Oliver and Barry have really been the core that has run through the crossovers and that's absolutely true in this year's crossover. So, um, you know, whether it happens before the crossover, again, it's something we've talked about, but for sure in the crossover, that's a key relationship." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- On whether it'll still be called the 'Arrowverse' after Arrow ends, MG: "I hope so. It's really up to all you people... You guys tell us." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 Nice Girls TV video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's a chance that we'll see any Arrow characters again after the end of Arrow, MG: "That's a terrific question and there's always a chance, um, especially since this is a known - it's now become this huge universe. Um, we have all these different places we can go and different ways to tell story. Um, you know, and the thing I always - and I've been saying this for a few years now, because it's been a universe for a few years now - whenever an actor leaves the show, I always say, it's not goodbyes, I'll see you later, because we have all these different avenues available to us, between time travel and parallel universes and - and, you know, animated and - you name it, we've got all these different avenues, which is a nice thing to be able to explore." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there could be a spinoff, MG: "The thing I've learned about this show is I never say never. I mean, if you guys go back and you play back the interviews we did in Season 1, all the things we said would never happen ended up happening. So I never say that something's not going to happen. Um, I would certainly never say that we haven't had those conversations. Um, but I, you know, I'm a big believer in not foreclosing anything, not turning, you know, down anything, not closing any doors. At the same time, not getting - not skiing ahead of our skis and - and being ahead of ourselves. We have - we have a lot of work to do in terms of launching the season, the crossover, figuring out the finale, you know, in all of its, you know, permutations, um, without also discussing the spinoff. So, we'll see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of MG interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the end of Arrow means the end of its characters, EP Beth Schwartz teased: "You could see them on other shows... That's the fun of it for the fans,and I'm sure for the actors as well." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the 'Arrowverse' is going to be called now that Arrow is going away, SA: "The Berlantiverse, which is what it should actually be called. No, you know, no, it's still the Arrowverse. We're not going away. We're just ending our run... You going to call it the Flashverse? That would be stupid. It's still going to be the Arrowverse. Tell Grant I said that, by the way." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When it was suggested that the franchise could be retitled as "The Flashverse," Grant Gustin quickly shot the idea down, stating, "It stays the Arrowverse. It's fair." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 30, 2019 ComicBook article, page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- KC: "Hopefully, you know, maybe they'll do - who knows, anything can happen, another spinoff. (Interviewer: "Birds of Prey?") I'm trying. Um, I think that would be awesome. I pitched it. I think they should. It's time for women. Come on, we got this!" (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's a chance that we could see Laurel appear down the road on LoT, KC: "Um, I would love that, 'cause I love - I mean, Caity Lotz is one of my closest friends." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On seeing her in other "Arrowverses" after Arrow ends, KC: "Ooh, I would love that, if know what I'm saying, Marc Guggenheim? Yeah, I hope so. There's definitely room for it. And they know how much I love this show and love these people, yeah." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 29, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of KC interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On seeing him in other Arrowverse shows after Arrow ends, RG: "I think so. I mean, that could definitely happen. I mean, you know, we've seen me in the Waverider. Uh, we've seen, uh, my character interact with Supergirl and Flash. Um, so there's no reason why Batwoman wouldn't need the help of Wild Dog." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 29, 2019 Paul Amadeus Lane video of RG interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which other Arrowverse show she would want Dinah to appear on, assuming Dinah survives the end of Arrow, JH: “Legends. I love Legends! First of all a lot of my friends are on the show, so that helps. Seriously Marc, are you listening?” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's any possibility that she might join one of the spinoffs after Arrow ends, JH: "I hope so. I really hope so. I'd be honored to. I love Legends. It's one of my favorite shows." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "Birds of Prey is another thing that I would be very excited to do more with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Flash EP Eric Wallace: "I was talking to Marc Guggenheim about this a couple of weeks ago... I said, 'how can I borrow Mister Terrific and get him on The Flash for a while, because I really love the guy?' I’m not saying that’s happening immediately but I’m certainly going to try." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 30, 2019 ComicBook article, page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited September 19, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo August 4, 2019 Author Share August 4, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers from July 22, 2019 to August 4, 2019 (excluding any SDCC-related spoilers, which are posted above). This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... ADDENDUM #2 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC Arrow Retrospective -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, the network will air a tribute special honoring Arrow in its final season, which will follow the same general format as the tribute episode aired during Jane the Virgin's final season earlier this year. MP: “We thought that the tribute special that appeared on Jane the Virgin this year was well-done... We’re planning tribute specials for Arrow, as well as Supernatural.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 ComicBook article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Jane the Virgin's retrospective aired before its series finale. (Jun. 5, 2019 Refinery29 article link in Aug. 8, 2019 tv echo post, page 11 of Spioler Discussion Final thread) S8 Showrunner and Writers -- SA: "But to come back and do 10 episodes, especially with what Beth and Marc Guggenheim, who stepped back in over the past couple of, uh - couple of months for a variety of reasons." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Directors -- DR will be directing 806. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: DiscussingFilm tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the prospect of directing, SA: "No. I haven't thought about that at all, actually. I'm really interested in the creative process. I'm really interested, you know, on the producing side. I'm fascinated by directing, but it's been more interesting for me to, you know, go check in with Katie, who had day one of her episode on Friday. 'How is it going?' ... Or just to know that David is coming back up in Episode 6, who is wise beyond his years when it comes to directing. It's been more for me my interest has been more about empowering my coworkers to the best of my abilities." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 7, 2019 ComicBook article, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 26, 2019, papp tweeted partial pic from Beckmark Production sheet that listed under Antonio Negret and Katie Cassidy under "Director" heading, with comment: "Katie Cassidy directs. Laurel Lance/Black Canary/Black Siren is directing an #Arrow final season episode." and "Episode 8x03." (yvrshoots tweets, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Time and Place -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, the eighth and final season of Arrow will take place in the primary timeline on Earth-1. Per SA, S8 will take place in 2019, with Beth clarifying that the final season will “pick up a week” after where the S7 finale left off. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On when S8 picks up after the S7 finale, EP Beth Schwartz: "We pick up a week later." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: CBR article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what EP Beth Schwartz said about the time lapse between the S7 finale and the S8 premiere: "We pick up a week later." Then SA joked that it's as long as his hair is between seasons, so about six weeks. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "However long my hair is relative to the end of Season 7 in the premiere is how long we took... I’d say more like six weeks.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: CheatSheet article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media tweeted: "The eighth season will begin 1 week following the events of Season 7." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: DiscussingFilm tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Structure and Generally -- Per MG, every episode building up to 'Crisis' sees “Oliver dealing with the various stages of grief that come with that discovery” and “there’s an acknowledgement of the entire show’s history in every episode… it’s like we’re playing our greatest hits." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG complained mildly to reporters about rumors spawned by “illegitimate outlet” Cosmic Book News when it announced that Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman and Tom Welling’s Superman were definitely cast for S8. MG: “I don’t ever comment on casting, but it always vexes me if an illegitimate outlet just makes up stuff." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Deadline article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “The whole season is leading up to ‘Crisis’ and the crossover we’ve never done before. And like Stephen said, Season 7 ended our normal structure of how the show’s been, and this year, because we’re leading up to something spectacular, we’re allowed to have huge event episodes, and we’re allowed to bring characters back that we haven’t seen in a while... Each episode is humongous. It’s not like anything we’ve seen on the show before.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "The whole season is basically our greatest hits... We're kind of tying up some stories you could have seen in Season 3 or 2." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what EP Beth Schwartz said: "Regarding balancing Crisis being set up all season with honoring #Arrow's past, Schwartz says 'Because we're leading up to something spectacular, we're allowed to do huge event episodes and bring characters back that we haven't seen in awhile. Each episode is humongous.'" (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheEricGoldman tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what EP Beth Schwartz said: "We have a lot of guests coming back." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel and VladaGelman tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per director James Bamford, the final season “has zero filler”, adding: “Each episode is chock full of spectacle and action and emotion." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Season 8 has been written and designed for people who love the show. We want to find a way to give back to people who had been on this journey with us for eight years. With this final season, we're doing everything short of me looking directly in the camera and winking. (Smiles) Um, and that makes me very happy." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 Access video of SA interview, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 767 of Social Media thread) -- SA: "Every episode feels like a special episode... Episode 1 feels like, um, it's just an ode to Season 1. And episode 2 really leans on Season 3. And episode 3 is just all about family... But they all feel like they have a theme. Like, you know when they do a promo and they go, 'on a very special episode of'? That's what every episode this year feels like. I actually don't know a great deal beyond episode 3 right now." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I think that the show as people understood it and its sort of structure — I think it ended in our Season 7 finale... This year is fundamentally different. The episodes are events. To me, the show as we constructed it ended when Emily [Bett Rickards] left." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I think that the show, as people have understood it and its structure I think it ended in our Season 7 finale... This year is fundamentally different. The episodes are events. And, to me, the show, as we constructed it, ended when Emily left.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: CheatSheet article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “It’s been really emotional. Every episode this year feels like we’re trying to put a button on a certain part of the show... And I got a chance to work with actors and characters that I haven’t had a chance to work with in a bunch of years.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap and TV Guide articles, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Um, what [EP Beth Schwartz and MG have] done with this final season is really cool. It's like nothing you guys have ever seen. Like, every episode that comes out, it's like, 'Wait a minute, what?' 'It's happening what?' 'And where?' 'And how?' Okay, That's cool. Let's do it." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Everything to do with Season 8 of Arrow, everything that we're doing right now, certainly through episode 3, and the ending of episode 3 - good golly, Miss Molly - it's mental. I've freaked out and texted a bunch of people once I read it, which is always a good sign when you're this far into stuff. The ending of episode 3 is great. But every single episode thus far in Season 8, um, is leading to Crisis On Infinite Earths. And I know that some of the other shows are doing this. And I know that, um, you know, we've - we've brought in, uh, an actor to, um, I think, help facilitate bringing all the shows together, if that makes sense." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I'm a big believer that, uh, everything has it's uh, running time, so to speak. And I think that we've had our running time. You know, that's what I thought when I talked with, uh, with Greg Berlanti in Season 6. I felt like we had done our thing. I thought that ultimately, theoretically, Season 7 should have been the end of things." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Certainly, I've read the first three episodes, but there's just - doing scenes that are very familiar, um, on purpose." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 9, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see the salmon ladder this season, SA: "Yeah, in the premiere. There's a shirtless salmon ladder in the premiere." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "Says he worked with a bunch of actors he hasn't done so with in years." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: ChrisHayner tweet, page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "This year is fundamentally different... The episodes are events. The show as we constructed it ended as Emily left." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "Stephen Amell on post-Emily Bett Rickards exit in #Arrow S7 finale: 'The show, as people have understood it, and its structure, it ended in our S7 finale. This year is fundamentally different. This year is an event. This show, as constructed, ended when Emily left.'" (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: insidethetube tweet, page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "Stephen also added that #Arrow as we know it ended with @EmilyBett's departure last season. Season 8 is going to be "fundamentally different" and each episode is an event." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TVGuide tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "Stephen says filming the final season has been 'really emotional.' 'Every episode this year we've been trying to put a button on a certain part of the show.'" and "'These episodes are events,' Stephen says of the final season. The show as we knew it ended with Emily's departure." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: ChrisHayner tweets, page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what SA said: "It’s been really emotional... 'Every episode this year feels like we’re trying to put a button on certain parts of the show." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "It’s bittersweet, right? You do a show and you play a character for this long, and you’ve established these relationships with the actors. That’s the thing you’ll miss the most — going to work and working with these people who you love... But also, sitting back and just seeing where the story has gone, and the opportunity for where the story can go in the following ten episodes, is exciting. It’s bitter because you know it’s going to come to an end, but also I think there’s an opportunity to take the gloves off and just kind of tell whatever stories you want to, and just go wherever you want. Where do things go now without Felicity? What happens in the future? What happens with The Monitor? All these stories that we can really tell, and go as big as we want. And this crossover is going to be huge. That type of opportunity to tell some stories, because you only have ten episodes left is exciting." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 ComicBook article, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 309 of Starling City Times thread) -- JH: “It’s larger than life... Each episode is like one little movie." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per RG, the show isn’t necessarily moving faster than before, but they're just “cohesively moving to a deadline in a way that doesn’t waste any time." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "Season 8. Arrow. You do not want to miss this. 10 episodes. Uh, a pure love letter to the fans, to you guys for tuning in and locking in with us, and, uh, we thank you for your support. We're so grateful. So enjoy Season 8." (Showmaster's London Film & Comic Con, Jul. 27, 2019: _DCWorld tweet & video, page 765 of Social Media thread) -- LMG: "'Crisis on Infinite Earths,' that crossover hasn't started, you know, but like [Arrow showrunner] Beth [Schwartz] said, pretty much Arrow's whole season is a 'Crisis' build up, you know, leading up to the 'Crisis.' So from day one on Arrow Season 8, it starts the 'Crisis.' It's a prelude to what's happening." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CBR article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread in Arrow forum, and page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) S8 Ending Arrow -- The eighth episode of Arrow, airing Jan. 14, 2020, will serve as Part 4 of the COIE crossover event. Per MG, 809 is “not related to the crossover” and is “very specific; we know exactly what happens in it,” while 810 then will deliver “a proper series finale.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 11, 2019 TVLine article and MG tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the final two episodes (after the COIE crossover) will not connect with 808, saying that “Episode 9 is very specific, we know exactly what happens in it,” although it is too early to reveal details, and Episode 10 will be “a proper series finale." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Deadline article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the final two episodes of Arrow will not be tied up in the fallout of the COIE crossover. MG: "I would say Episode 9 is very specific. We know exactly what happens in it. It's not related to the crossover... And it's too early for me to talk about exactly what that episode is. But it's, you know, if we do it right, it'll be really special. And then Episode 10 will be a proper series finale." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 GameSpot article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, a month prior to his attending the TCA Summer Press Tour on Aug. 4, a new way to end Arrow's eight-year run dawned on him. MG: “I came out of meditation one morning and I had the whole last scene — and it’s a brand-new scene." However, MG added: "There are a lot of logistical hurdles that have to be crossed in order to shoot that scene. It’s not like we can just film it tomorrow." He was not necessarily looking to change up the very final scene, but neither was he averse to the prospect. MG: “The thing that I’ve sort of always told myself about the finale was that I wouldn’t be so rigid about my plan that I wouldn’t leave myself open to other ideas... Had I not left myself open, I wouldn’t have written the scene I wrote, which I really, really like.” Later, MG tweeted: "If we can’t make this work, I’ll post the script pages on the night of the finale. But I hope we get to put it to camera. [fingers crossed emoji]." When asked if he would post the script even if it works, MG tweeted: "I can do that." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 11, 2019 TVLine article and MG tweets, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “We’ve had a character come to Oliver and say, ‘You’re gonna die.' ... Whenever I read about this online, people are asking us questions, they’re thinking about things in a very binary way, that the ending will either be X or Y. All I would say is that we have Z planned.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what MG said: "How can there be a happy ending if Oliver might die? 'I think when I read about this online, they’re thinking about things in a very binary way: things will either be X or Y. I think we have Z planned.'" (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what MG said: "Can #Arrow have a happy ending (as Amell said at SDCC) with the possibility of Oliver's death looming? Without saying what will actually happen, Guggenheim says people 'are thinking of things in a very binary way. "It has to be X or Y." I think we have Z planned.'" (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheEricGoldman tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked to square his recent claim of a happy ending for the show, despite rumors that Oliver Queen doesn’t survive, SA: “That’s not a spoiler." MG then jumped in to say that, while a character did tell Oliver that he’s going to die, there’s more than one way to consider possible outcomes. MG: “When I read about this online and people are asking us questions, they’re thinking about things in a very binary way, that the ending will either be X or Y. And all I would say is, I think we have Z planned." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 9, 2019 Columbian article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Damian Holbrook: "Since, you know, you talked about it having a happy ending, I just talked to Marc Guggenheim. He said that he, you know, came up with the idea, talked to you, and you cried when you heard his last idea." SA: "Yeah." Holbrook: "So obviously you don't want to reveal any of that, but how do you feel the fans will feel about this?" SA (smiling): "Oh, it's a series finale they're going to hate." DR (laughing): "As all series finales go." SA: "Honestly, we're going to do our very best to stick the landing. I think that, um, knowing from - knowing from the beginning of Season 7 that Season 8 was going to be end has, um, given us a ton of momentum." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TVInsider interview with SA and DR, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On him previously teasing that we can expect a happy ending, SA: "That's just because I love all series finales. I love Seinfeld. I like Lost... I think it's going to be happy because there's - there's a resolution... That doesn't mean that it won't be sad. But I personally think that it's a happy ending. It is for me. I don't care about anyone else." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "People feel like they have a bead on what's going to happen. I don't think they do... I love reading online theories and watching reaction videos and hearing people opine about the show. Like, there's this youtube channel that's got Pagey, who's awesome - I hope he sees this. Uh, I listen to him talk about the show and he's super well educated on it, and every theory that he has about how the show ends is totally wrong. The way that the fandom has behaved and, um, the ferocity with which they follow and support the show - um, it sounds hyperbolic, but it takes my breath away sometimes. It's really - it's truly special. And I'm gonna miss it. A lot." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 Access video of SA interview, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 767 of Social Media thread) -- DR: "I would imagine, their [Arrowverse] crossover will continue, even without Arrow. But, for us, it's bittersweet in that it's sad but also awesome because, I kind of know how it's going to end. Not kind of. I do know how it's going to end. So it's like, 'They're never going to get this! They're never going to see this coming! Oh my god! That's a red herring!' So all that stuff is real exciting as a fan. So we're reading that in the script. When I get the script, it's like, 'Smart! Clever! Oh, they thought that. No, this.' So I kind of geek out about it." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 23, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- In response to fan complaint that Oliver isn't wearing his wedding ring in S8, MG: "I don't know where you're getting this, but there's a very story-specific reason why Oliver CAN'T wear his ring in 801, but rest assured it'll be on his hand from 802 and beyond." (Jul. 25, 2019 MG tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA (reading fan comment): "'I love you and, of course, Arrow, but I really wish that Oliver and Felicity end the show together.'" SA: "Me too." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Felicity, SA: "Well, she's ever-present in Oliver's mind. We found, um, Oliver can't wear his wedding ring in the premiere for a very specific reason, but he can wear it in the second episode. And it wasn't built into the script, but I spoke with our director, Antonio Negret, and we built a moment of Oliver putting his ring back on and just thinking about it. So Emily's gone, off the show, and, um - but Felicity and William and Mia are ever-present in Oliver's mind." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to play the entire last season being morose. The big thing for me is, if Felicity is the love of Oliver's life and when she says, 'whatever happens, I'll find you,' he believes her. So that gives him - that gives him purpose and allows him to move forward because, you know, he knows that somewhere along the way, in the immortal words of Chris Cooper from The Town, 'This side or the other,' uh, they'll find each other." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to spend 10 episodes moping around. Right? ... What I've done for my character is, I've said to myself, okay, she looked at me and she said, 'whatever happens, wherever you go, I'll find you.' ... And I believe her. That's the motivation for my character... That being said, it's incredibly sad. We shot a really cool scene in episode 2 where - I can't wear my wedding ring in episode 1 for a specific reason, and - so in episode 2, it wasn't scripted, but, um, we did a little specialty shot where he puts it back on, thinks about 'em, so she's certainly in the forefront of his mind." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Sep. 9, 2019 Eonline article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and the Monitor -- On how the Monitor's relationship with Oliver will evolve, LMG: "I think they're still at a stage. The rest of the superheroes included, they're trying to figure out if they can trust this guy. Because he comes in, you know, he's not doing the best intentions as far as the audience is seeing... But that was him in the comic book as well. He was an arms dealer to villains. He was doing bad things for a greater good, but you didn't know that at the moment. So I think they're just still trying to figure out if they could trust this guy. He says, 'Come with me, and we'll do this.' I'm just some guy that came that shows up in your living room... but they've seen how powerful he is. So you gotta roll with it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CBR article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread in Arrow forum, and page 25 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Oliver and Diggle -- Media reports on what DR said: "Diggle will be at Oliver's side in the final season. 'The relationship, in some ways, will be even tighter,' David says." and "'The space has been closed' between Oliver and Diggle in the final season, according to @david_ramsey. The two will be closer than ever in the final season of @CW_Arrow." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: ChrisHayner and TVGuide tweets, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what DR said: "'The space has been closed; Diggle is always on Oliver’s side...The relationship gets even tighter… some of that reconciliation has happened." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Earth-2 Laurel -- KC: “We’re fulfilling the promise of her [Earth-2 Laurel AKA Black Siren] becoming good, of being a hero… teaming up with Oliver and fulfilling his quest to save the multiverse.” (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- Per DR, Diggle's relationship with ARGUS and Lyla will be wrapped up by the end of the series. (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William and Mia -- BL: "It's really interesting because both of our characters were raised as essentially only children. And so now, we, um, are trying to figure out how to be, um, a family. And also I feel like, with the Arrowverse, it's like the possibilities are endless, you know what I mean, for what the future could hold." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Oct. 6, 2019 The CW Network video of red carpet interview with Ben Lewis and Katherine McNamara, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- On the ending for his character, SA: "It's what I want. I pitched it for a very long time. It's what I want, but, concurrently, like, that doesn't mean there aren't surprises along the way. I was floored when I got the pitch for the crossover. I don't see it coming. Nobody sees it coming. Um, it's going to be so rad." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 20, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video of SA interview, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I missed having this eye makeup. Um, I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Oliver has his mask back on in Season 8. And, uh, my reasoning for having the mask back on was, I just like it. The iconography of the character. Having the hood up. Uh, the suit that we did this year, uh, which I think was really, really beautifully done, uh, is a callback to the first season. Um, bow is - I can't - the bow's a callback to the first season. And, um, the hood. We're back to the canvas hood. Yao Fei's hood. It means a lot to me. It also fits better than any other hood. I had it for the first three years and then I begged them for the next 40 to give it back to me and they finally did it." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On EBR not being on Arrow this season, SA: "She's one of my best friends and it's tough not having her there, because Oliver's a dick sometimes and - and the levity of Emily's character, you know, always - it was there. I'm actually purposefully trying this year to not take scenes where I might be a little morose and, because we'd always have the juxtaposition of Felicity, we don't have that this year. So, um, believe it or not, here's a scoop for you, I tell a joke or two. Yeah. Try to be humorous... It doesn't work... I heard a rumor that the character in the comics is quick-witted and sort of funny, so we're trying to incorporate that, you know, right before the show's done." Leanne Aguilera: "Get a little bit of Barry Allen in there." SA: "No, get a little bit of, like, canon Oliver Queen!" (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "As I was saying at Comic-Con... my character's had the chance over the past - or over the first three episodes, I reconcile with, like, five different characters." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, Oliver will make amends with five characters in the first three episodes alone and the people involved will come as a surprise to viewers, hinting that at least some of them might have already left the show before. While he couldn’t elaborate on who these characters might be, at least one is “his f**king mortal enemy." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After wrapping up filming of 801, SA thanked numerous people, including KM, "who I still haven't worked with, but am excited to at a certain point." (Jul. 24, 2019 crazyforstephen tweet of SA instagram story, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 802, SA: "I would really like to thank, um, the guest star that I can't talk about, that I'm pretty sure hasn't been renounced - renounced, announced. Um, but they were wonderful. And they were very gracious to come back. And I thought that we shared some wonderful moments together." (Aug. 3, 2019 SA instagram post & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On getting his S1 pilot's bow back from child fan Sara at SDCC but not being able to keep it for himself, SA: "Oh, here's a scoop for you. Uh, one of the reasons that they want me to give it back is because in Season 8 Oliver is using his Season 1 bow, which magically appears because the Dark Archer broke it." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the chances of getting a Mia and Oliver scene, SA: "They're pretty good." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 30, 2019, papp tweeted: "Would like to see Stephen do a video from Arrow set today. Friends in New York say his hair may be a lot different at the moment." In response to fan questions, papp denied that the hair was shaved or gray, but tweeted a gold medal emoji when asked if it was dyed. (pursuit23 tweets, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- On whether they have thought about how they would bring EBR/Felicity back should she accept their proposal for it, MG: "Yes." (Jul. 25, 2019 MG tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the conversations are like between EBR and him about returning to Arrow for one more episode, SA: "Those aren't conversations that the two of us have to have. As a fan of the show - does that sound weird to say? ... I'm a fan of our show... I would love her to come back. As her friend, I respect whatever her decision is. Um, I think, probably not." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what EBR said: "She did not take any photos but I got a hug and said goodbye. I asked her if she is going back to Arrow and she said she does not know yet she wants to do Broadway # reborning." (Jul. 30, 2019 twittahshittah tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what it's like working this season without EBR and Felicity, DR: "It's tough. Same story I've been telling everybody. We were there on the first day of 801, in the foundry, me and Stephen, where Emily normally is. Near Felicity's workspace. She wasn't there. And it was a noticeable energy gone. Just noticeable. You felt it. You don't really replace energy like that, you move past it. Now, granted, our rushing up to episode eight of the crossover does that successfully in the sense that we're making great television even without that presence being there, but we still miss her very much." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 23, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "You can't have this season of Arrow without talking about Mia and - and Felicity. And I think there's even talks that perhaps Emily will be back. Who knows? So, you know, there's hope." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- On Diggle's connection to the Green Lantern, MG: "We've got we have a very specific moment in mind for the series finale, that our hope is it'll be satisfying to the fans, without getting me in trouble with my bosses at Warner Brothers." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 GameSpot article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I wasn't always second on the call sheet. I started this taking a pay cut at number five. That's the truth." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 23, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what would be the ideal ending for his character, DR: "Well, I know the ending... I think the ending is true to who he is. Um, I think it is true to his storyline. And, um, just like Oliver's ending, I think people are going to be pleased with it." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 20, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video of SA interview, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per DR, S8 will finally address “whether he is or he is not Green Lantern” and he’s happy with the final outcome. (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Personally, I would love to see Diggle with his sons, but that'll happen." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TVInsider interview with SA and DR, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA ? -- Per KC, Laurel's evolution into a bonafide hero is “going to be f**king epic". (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: “We’re fulfilling the promise of her [Earth-2 Laurel AKA Black Siren] becoming good, of being a hero… teaming up with Oliver and fulfilling his quest to save the multiverse.” (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- CH will not be returning as a series regular in S8 of Arrow. However, EP Beth Schwartz: “We hope to have him back... We love him and he’s obviously one of the foundations of the show." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 8, 2019, CH tweeted: "Getting a lot of angry messages so just to clarify...I didn’t exit the last season of Arrow. I was not asked to come back for the final season as a series regular. But y’all know Roy...he’s never gone for too long [3 hugging face emojis]." (ColtonLHaynes tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar -- On the chances of getting a Mia and Oliver scene, SA: "They're pretty good." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After wrapping up filming of 801, SA thanked numerous people, including KM, "who I still haven't worked with, but am excited to at a certain point." (Jul. 24, 2019 crazyforstephen tweet of SA instagram story, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- During 802 filming, KM tweeted pic of her shoulder tattoo, with comment: "? Mia’s moth ? Let’s name it. ? #ARROW #MiaSmoak." (Jul. 30, 2019 Kat_McNamara tweet, page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "What's great about this season is, we see Mia try to be a part of a team for the first time. And she does not play well with others. She was raised by, um, Felicity in isolation, trained by Nyssa al Ghul, so she was never really trained to play well with others. And we get to see her try and maybe fail at that for a little while before she figures it out." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Oct. 6, 2019 The CW Network video of red carpet interview with Ben Lewis and Katherine McNamara, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- BL: "It's great to be coming on, both of us [him and Katherine McNamara] being series regulars, in the last season." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Oct. 6, 2019 The CW Network video of red carpet interview with Ben Lewis and Katherine McNamara, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William "Will" Clayton -- BL: "It's great to be coming on, both of us being series regulars [him and Katherine McNamara], in the last season. Feels really special. I mean, they have such a well-oiled machine there. It's such a great family. We're just really lucky to be a part of it." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Oct. 6, 2019 The CW Network video of red carpet interview with Ben Lewis and Katherine McNamara, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor Hawke -- On when Diggle adopts Connor Hawke, who's Ben Turner's son, DR: “I can't tell you what episode, but you'll find out. You'll find out the circumstances in which all this happens, and how and why it happens. But I can't tell you what episode that is.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 21, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Diggle's relationship with General Stewart (Ernie Hudson) clarified how Diggle ended up adopting Connor Hawke, DR: “He married my mother, but, ultimately, there was a process where he took me under his wing. But that opens up the door to me understanding that there's someone else that needs my help… and that's such a John Diggle thing. Right? That makes total sense, that John Diggle would do this. But my initial reaction was, 'What, really?' But after it was explained, I totally got it.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 21, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- Damian Holbrook: "I met your son last night. Charlie." DR: "He's great. Charlie's fantastic." SA: "Is he good?" DR: "I haven't met him, but I've heard that he's great." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TVInsider interview with SA and DR, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Charlie Barnett being cast as adult JJ Diggle, DR: “I've seen Charlie's work, and I was like, ‘Yes!’ And he looks like he could be me and Audrey's son." Also, DR: “I haven't met him yet… I can't wait to, ultimately, hopefully, work with him. Fingers crossed.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 21, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) General Stewart -- On how Diggle's relationship with General Stewart (Ernie Hudson) clarified how Diggle ended up adopting Connor Hawke, DR: “He married my mother, but, ultimately, there was a process where he took me under his wing. But that opens up the door to me understanding that there's someone else that needs my help… and that's such a John Diggle thing. Right? That makes total sense, that John Diggle would do this. But my initial reaction was, 'What, really?' But after it was explained, I totally got it.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 21, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- Media report on what EP Beth Schwartz said: "We like to bring him [Colin Donnell] back every season." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote's live blogging of Arrow panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Certainly, I've read the first three episodes, but there's just - doing scenes that are very familiar, um, on purpose. And, um, doing those scenes with Colin [Donnell], um, especially the way that the first episode ends, it's cool." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 9, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his return to Arrow, Colin Donnell: "I think Stephen said it best at Comic-Con... I think fans are going to see Tommy in a way that they've maybe wanted for a while." (Television Association Critics Association Summer 2019 Press Tour,.Jul. 27, 2019: TV Guide article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tatsu Yamashiro AKA Katana, -- The character of Tatsu Yamashiro, a/k/a Katana, as played by Rila Fukushima, will be the guest star in 802, titled “Welcome To Hong Kong.” SA: “I think Tatsu being in Episode Two was awesome." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Barry Allen AKA The Flash -- SA: "[Grant Gustin] is my favorite person as a guest star to work with. I love working with him. I actually have a pitch that I pitched to our writer last night about Oliver and Barry's last interaction. I hope it happens... And also it's been really, really fun just watching Grant grow into, you know, such an awesome leadership role. And, um, again, by being first, like, I'm sort of like the de facto captain of the ship. But when I'm gone, he will be, and he is more than capable." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, the network is looking to add another DC series. While details on the potential new series are being kept close to the vest, including which DC character it could possibly center on, MP confirmed that it would be set in the same universe as Arrow. The new series is being eyed for the 2020-21 television season. News of The CW's plans to continue the Arrow universe surfaced when MP was asked about the likelihood of an Arrow spinoff featuring the next generation of stars who were first introduced in S7 of Arrow. MP: "Nothing's ever 100 percent done. You learn that over time. There's a possibility but we haven't fully had a discussion of what that storyline would do... Right now, we're looking at another property for next season." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: etonline article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, there's a “possibility” of an Arrow spin-off, but the network is prioritizing another DC Comics property for next season. MP: “The fact that seven years ago, we introduced Arrow, who would have thought it would have spawned six shows, a whole universe that they managed to create. It’s quite a remarkable feat." MP added that Batwoman was the “next evolution” of the strand. MP: “It’s the next step to do something. We believe these franchises, this universe will continue for many years, so it’s important to ensure that you have characters that will keep the fans coming back. How that universe plays out, time will tell." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Deadline article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CW President Mark Pedowitz: “For them [Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles of Supernatural] and for Stephen Amell and Arrow, these shows will go out the way there were supposed to go." Also, per MP, Batwoman is the “next evolution” of the Arrowverse, saying: “We believe these franchises, this universe will continue for many, many years." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Variety article, page 309 of Starling City Times thread) -- As Arrow signs off this season, per CW President Mark Pedowitz, “Batwoman is the next evolution” of The CW's Arrowverse of connected superhero series. MP believes the Arrowverse “will continue for many, many years.” He also said a new Arrowverse series is already in development for next season. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Adweek article, page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what Mark Pedowitz said: "Any spinoff for for ARROW with the next generation? There’s a possibility, but it’s not currently in development. They’re working on a potential new DC title they are not announcing yet." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: GiveMeMyRemote live blogging of Mark Pedowitz's executive session, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “The Batwoman pilot is a great successor to Arrow… This is where the whole universe is going. It’s what the future looks like.” (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Arrow's supporting characters will be folded into other Arrowverse shows after Arrow ends, MG: "We're always talking about it... Like, those conversations are always being had. There is nothing that, you know, has gone so far down the road that we've, you know -- I wouldn't certainly not going to announce it here. But all the showrunners talk, and stuff like that comes up all the time.... Right now, honestly, like, I think, you know, as far as Beth and the other showrunners of the shows, everyone is focused on launching their seasons, getting their season premieres finished, getting ready for the crossover... Everything sort of post-Arrow's life, you know, we're going to have those conversations, but further down the road." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 ComicBook article, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether SA could play Oliver Queen again after Arrow ends, MG: “I really leave that up to Stephen and what he would like to do... I will say we’re lucky. There are various different mechanisms in place that would allow Stephen, if he desired, to maintain a presence in the Arrowverse. So I don’t want to speak for Stephen but we’re all very much in the same space of we have to launch the new season, we have to do the crossover, we have to bring the series in for a close. I don’t think any of us are really thinking about anything beyond Arrow at the moment.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 CheatSheet article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether SA could play Oliver Queen again after Arrow ends, SA: “I don’t want to sit here and say never say never because I’d probably be wrong... But I do believe in a good clean break. So I’m not saying that I’m never going to pop up again but I’m going to take a minute." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 CheatSheet article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he thought Diggle could hold his own for his own spinoff or a special one-off, DR: "Yes to both. I think any of the characters can. I think Arrow's just one of those shows where you have enough interest in [everyone]. Mia and the kids in the future of Arrow, and John Diggle and the Green Lantern mythos. Even without John Diggle, he's married to the leader of A.R.G.U.S. with a child with some nefarious character in the future. It's built in, even without Green Lantern. You know, Wild Dog and Black Canary, Black Siren, Birds of Prey. There's, there's tons of different storylines and looks at worlds where you say, 'Okay, that I would watch that world.' With John Diggle not being a small part of that. So Arrow doesn't hurt for content, and it's part of the reason why shows spin off from it, right? So it's just one of those shows where it's been blessed to have not just rich characters, but a fan base that's interested in seeing those characters continue." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited October 7, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo September 15, 2019 Author Share September 15, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers from August 5, 2019 to September 15, 2019 (excluding any TCA or SDCC spoilers which have been added to the relevant posts above). This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... ADDENDUM #3 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC S8 Synopsis -- Rotten Tomatoes: "In its final 10 episodes, Arrow will see Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) find resolution with people from his past and head off on an impossible mission given to him by The Monitor. Meanwhile, in 2040, Mia (Katherine McNamara) and the New, New Team Arrow face a new challenge as Conner Hawke (Joseph David-Jones) takes on his adoptive brother J.J. (Charlie Barnett) — the natural born son of John Diggle (David Ramsey) and Lyla Micheals (Audrey Marie Anderson). For his part, Diggle will remain at Ollie’s side through 'Crisis,' which will consume the eighth episode of the season. Episodes nine and 10 will form the conclusion of the Arrow story." (Aug. 30, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Time and Place -- SA: "Oliver's out of space and time. Normally we do, like, six months. Normally we let May until October pass. It's weird, nothing bad in Star City ever happens in the month of June. You know what I mean, but why? ... My guess would be, like, four or five weeks have passed and, uh, Oliver starts the season in Starling City." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Theme -- EP Beth Schwartz: "I mean [Oliver's] theme of the season is a hero's sacrifice and every character's going to go through that this season." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "This final season is more about resolve." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Structure and Generally -- Before S7 even started, when everyone knew there would be a limited 10-episode S6 with SA on board, and well before the Arrowverse EPs would start breaking the story for 2018’s “Elseworlds” crossover, MG: “We didn’t know that we were going to be doing ‘Crisis’ in Season 8. And one thing I would love to clear up is this misconception I’ve read online that ‘Crisis’ artificially extended Arrow’s life span, that the only reason we did a Season 8 of Arrow was to set up ‘Crisis.’ That’s just patently untrue. ... Trust me - networks do not do additional episodes of anything just for one event... But let me put it even more succinctly: Even if we weren’t doing ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ in Season 8, we’d still be doing a Season 8.” (Aug. 22, 2019 TVLine article, page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- MG: "We’re basically revisiting our greatest hits in the episodes leading to the crossover." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG acknowledged that Arrow is “fundamentally a different show without Emily [Bett Rickards],” who played Felicity, and that the first seven episodes of the 10-episode farewell run offer “an opportunity to really look back on the first seven seasons, which is very gratifying.” Also, per MG, watch for a return to “stunts that we’ve never seen before." (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how much of Arrow‘s final-season guest star encores have not yet been spoiled, MG: “A lot, actually... I’m a little surprised that more have not leaked, which is great. Again, we’re using the first seven episodes of the season as an opportunity to really look back on the first seven seasons and that’s very gratifying but also just very fun. As [co-showrunner] Beth [Schwartz] says, we’re playing our greatest hits, we’re also playing some album tracks, too.” (Aug. 23, 2019 TVLine article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz: there will be a new introduction voiced by SA for the show's final season: "Yes, we will have a new one this season... We had a new one last season and there will be a new one this year as well. It's the last one." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "This season is definitely a reflection of all the previous seasons." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what sort of storytelling opportunities does their breaking form afford, EP Beth Schwartz: "It's been so great. I mean when we figured out what we were going to do this season, it was both exciting and also we were like, 'Are we really going to do this?' Or 'How are we going to do this?' But since we're not going to be in Star City anymore for most of the season, it opened up our world to go to all different places, which then opened our world to revisiting a lot of old characters. Because we're not just in Star City alone. Because Oliver saved Star City last season, and we wanted this season to be - the stakes are bigger than ever. He saved his own city, which we've been waiting for him to do for seven seasons, and now he has to save the multiverse... The stakes are bigger and the world's bigger." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how many callbacks we should expect to see in this final season, EP Beth Schwartz: "We have a lot of callbacks to Season 1 early on in, well, especially in the premiere. The premiere is very much like a love letter to the pilot, and it was so much fun to write. And the actors had a lot of fun as well. There's going to be a lot of that through the season." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we're ever going to get to see the salmon ladder one last time, EP Beth Schwartz: "We'll see it. We're going to see it in the premiere. And I've also tried to do to the salmon ladder, but I was unsuccessful. Not surprising." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I feel like every episode's kind of an event, you know? Um, Mark Pedowitz and Peter Roth, um, you know, they've given us a really tremendous opportunity to take 10 episodes and really try and service the people, you know, that have been been with us since the jump... I mean, you know, it's the same, it's the same crew, it's the same sets and stuff like that, but, I don't know, um, it feels less serialized and obviously there's a through-line for - thus far for - for Oliver and Diggle and Laurel." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "When we're doing 22 episodes or 23 episodes, as we did for the first six years, we're very serialized, you know. And obviously there's a - there's a throughline for this year, but every episode feels unique. Episode 1 is like Season 1. Episode 2 is about a very specific part of Season 3... Every episode feels like an event." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "The crossover officially starts in episode 8. Officially. But, as far as I'm concerned, for us, like thematically, it starts in episode 1. It started in episode 722 now and continues in 801." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I think Diggle's position is as it always is, which is, here's the challenge, we'll face it. And whether that's local thugs or cosmic beings, it's still the same position for John Diggle. Like, we can get through this. Um, that's going to prove challenging obviously with Crisis On Infinite Earths and the crossover, which - which, by the way, every single episode is gearing up for. Like, that's kind of - um, we're all at a race in very episode up to that crossover. ... I almost don't know what's going to happen in 9 and 10. I don't really. I know a little bit of 10. But it's almost like that's our ultimate episode, right? Because we're all - one through seven's gearing up to 8." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Ben Lewis tweeted video clip from Keke Palmer's Fan Account, with comment: "Me reading some of the deep-cut callbacks in these @CW_Arrow S8 scripts[.]" In this video, Keke says: "I hate to say it. I hope I don't sound ridiculous. I don't know who this man is. I mean, he could be walking down the street, I wouldn't - I wouldn't know a thing. Sorry to this man." (Sep. 14, 2019 benlewishere tweet, page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Ending Arrow -- When asked at what point in the series did they land on the idea that the show has to end with Oliver making that final sacrifice, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think that's been something that from the creation of the show has been [the ending] from the beginning. I know Marc [Guggenheim] could probably answer this better, but I know that he's sort of always thought that was how the show would end." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "In the [writers'] room [Monday], we started working on the series finale so it felt very real... I couldn't believe it. Just saying it, it felt a little bit surreal. Towards the end of every season, we start breaking what's happening next season and this year, there isn't a next season. It feels very strange." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, though they've "always had a plan for the series finale," this plan has evolved since this season started: "Now that it's here, we're obviously going to add more things that did evolve from this season specifically." However, she added that she and fellow EP Marc Guggenheim haven't shifted on "where we wanted to end it." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "It definitely feels like this is the right time for the series to end, but I feel like it's not going to feel quite real until that last script of the finale comes out. And then I feel like there's going to be a lot of tears... I'm sure it'll be the same thing on the last day of filming on set. That's when it's going to feel even more real when we're actually going through it." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I liked the Game of Thrones finale once I realized that the last episode was effectively like an epilogue. So. And I think that's going to be - it's going to be interesting for us for our finale, because they announced that the - the crossover is the eighth episode. And I feel like everything after the crossover might be somewhat anti-climactic. So maybe it's - maybe ours will play like an epilogue as well. I'm not sure." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17, 2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashforwards and Future Team Arrow -- Regarding the flashforward story with Mia, Connor, et al., MG: "We get to do something with Team Arrow 2.0 that we didn’t get a chance to do with 1.0, which is tell the story of their growing pains... That’s a lot of fun.” (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Ben Lewis: "And even this season, I can't say who specifically I've gotten to work with who's new this season, but there are some new - there are some new people, um, not necessarily new to the show, but new to me." (Aug. 27, 2019 We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) S8 Team Arrow? -- TVLine posted S8 pic of Oliver, Diggle and E2 Laurel in their costumes. Regarding this pic, GATV tweeted: "#Arrow Season 8 Photo: Is This The New Team Arrow?" In response, SA tweeted: "Maybe. Probably not. But maybe." (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, GreenArrowTV tweet and SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EW, joining Oliver and Diggle on the road is E2 Laurel. (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “I’ve loved our scenes in the first two episodes... I thought it was important at the end of season 7, us shaking hands and Oliver saying thank you. It was scripted to the group, but I wanted to make sure, going into season 8, that it was actually to her and that they shook hands, because as character I purposefully never called her Laurel until that moment. So her being the mix this year, it’s been a lot of fun. I think she’s nailing it.” (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: “Their dynamic is incredible... It's the three of them. Oliver, Laurel and Diggle. A good chunk of what we're doing will be with the three of them, um, in a way that they haven't been before." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- EP Beth Schwartz: "[E]verything Oliver's doing, he'll be conflicted because he had to leave his family. And so that was really, as we saw at the end of Season 7, a heartbreaking and hard decision for him. So we will definitely not just skate past that... That last scene between [Oliver and Felicity] kills me. I can't watch it. It's just - it was so good." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked how heavily having to be separated from his wife and child is going to hang on Oliver this year, EP Beth Schwartz: "It's going to be pretty hard on him. But he's going to have Dig, obviously, to get him through, but it's not easy." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan: "So throughout all the seasons, you've had different love interests. Who do you believe that Arrow is truly in love with?" SA: "Felicity. For sure. Yeah." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17, 2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 767 of Social Media thread) -- SA tweeted this S8 dialogue tease: "'I need... my family... to live. Which means... that I need this to work.' #Arrow Season 8." (Sep. 2, 2019 SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to spend 10 episodes moping around. Right? ... What I've done for my character is, I've said to myself, okay, she looked at me and she said, 'whatever happens, wherever you go, I'll find you.' ... And I believe her. That's the motivation for my character... That being said, it's incredibly sad. We shot a really cool scene in episode 2 where - I can't wear my wedding ring in episode 1 for a specific reason, and - so in episode 2, it wasn't scripted, but, um, we did a little specialty shot where he puts it back on, thinks about 'em, so she's certainly in the forefront of his mind." (Sep. 9, 2019 Eonline article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "He might face a test, apparently in episode 7, which is our last episode before the crossover. ... This final season is more about resolve. ... I don't know what the test is per se. I think the biggest thing is, is just him believing Felicity when she says, ‘Whatever happens, whatever happens to you, I’ll find you.’ That’s his guiding light." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Questions will be answered. .. [A]re Felicity and Oliver together? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Diggle -- EP Beth Schwartz: "It's going to be pretty hard on [Oliver to be separated from his wife and kids]. But he's going to have Dig, obviously, to get him through, but it's not easy." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, Oliver assumed he’d fly solo on this task-based mission for the Monitor, but “a familiar encounter” will lead him to realize “he’s not going to be allowed to do it alone." Per DR, “Diggle has always been on Oliver’s side, and it will be no different in Season 8. We’ll see them get even tighter, in ways that they haven’t been before.” (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Diggle is, as he should be, at Oliver's side. That's how we begin this season. And ultimately that's how we end it." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- DR: "Questions will be answered. ... Are John Diggle and Lyla Michaels, who's the head of ARGUS, what's their relationship? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William and Mia -- On how he and KM prepared to play on-screen siblings, Ben Lewis: "Right. I mean, I think that is - I think we really didn't prepare. Honestly, like, I met her, um - I met her on set the day that we shot her scenes in episode 8, I think it was, of last season, her first, uh, her first episode. That was the first time we met. And luckily, we got - we got along really well, um, and the writing, I think, from the beginning was so, um, good. Those characters were so well-defined. So it was easy to sort of play the contrast and the sort of odd couple dynamic, you know, from the very beginning. It was sort of all there in the writing. Um, and I think, for me, I have - I have a younger sister, who's - who's Kat's age. She's actually a little bit older than Kat, but, um, you know, I have a sister who's nine years younger than me and who I - so I know very much what it's like to, um, have, uh - I know very much what, you know, first-hand what that dynamic is like between a brother and a younger sister. You know, you don't always see eye to eye. There's certainly, um, challenges and, you know, uh, quibbles along the way. But, um, underneath that, there's - you know, the foundation of that is a lot of love. So that's been really, kind of my favorite part of playing opposite her and playing these characters, is just sort of the unearthing of and sort of, like, the discovery of the familial, um, sibling love that's underneath all of that sort of squabbling... I think that the thing that's exciting for both of us is figuring out how to play siblings who were raised essentially as only children. You know? And how to - how we sort of find each other and connect to each other and, you know, how we grow to mean a lot to each other." (Aug. 27, 2019 We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- On why they decided to reveal in the S7 finale that Oliver would die in COIE rather than saving that twist for the actual crossover, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think we decided to do that because it's the story. We didn't want that to be the shock - that he dies. And having that tease at the end of [Season] Seven, we were hoping it would bring everyone back to be like, 'How does he die? What do you mean he dies? Does he really die?' You know, because on our show you never really die. So we just thought that would be a great way to end the season basically... And also everyone's theories! Because that's the fun of watching a show and having a mystery — everyone trying to guess what's going to happen." Also, regarding those theories, when asked if it was safe to say that there's an element of surprise in store for fans, EP Beth Schwartz: "Yeah, definitely. I mean, this is Arrow, so you think you know what's going to happen, but you don't really." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how knowing that he's going to die in COIE affect Oliver's story arc heading into S8, EP Beth Schwartz: "I mean knowing, having the Monitor tell him that he's going to die, but he's got to do it to save the multiverse - I mean his theme of the season is a hero's sacrifice and every character's going to go through that this season. And this is the ultimate hero's sacrifice, to know you're going to die, but you're going to save so many people's lives. And that's always been the juggle of the hero, of being selfless and putting yourself and sort of your family, in Oliver's case, a little bit second so that you can do the greater good." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is any chance that we could ever get a scene between SA and KM as Oliver and Mia before all is said and done this year, EP Beth Schwartz: "I mean you never know... Never say never." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which suit was his favorite out of all eight seasons, SA: "The Season 1 suit, for sure. Um, and in Season 8, um, we tried to make a suit - and you can see in the trailer that we put out at Comic Con - we tried to make a suit that, um, felt like it was an ode to the first couple of seasons. And, um, we brought back the Season 1 bow, just because I liked it." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17, 2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "We've actually tried in the final season to - and I've been joking about this - to really try to bring in some levity to the character and some humor, you know, because I did hear a rumor once upon a time that Oliver Queen does have a sense of humor in the comics. Um, we tried to bring a bit of that in." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17,2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “We’re going to try to develop a sense of humor for Oliver - in the nick of time!” (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "He might face a test, apparently in episode 7, which is our last episode before the crossover." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Questions will be answered. Is Oliver dead, really? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- MG acknowledged that Arrow is “fundamentally a different show without Emily [Bett Rickards],” who played Felicity. (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there was an alternate plan to somehow move forward with a S8 without EBR/Felicity, MG: “Absolutely... We actually discussed a number of scenarios to account for Emily’s absence.” (Aug. 22, 2019 TVLine article, page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- On how they plan to honor EBR's character even if they're not going to get to see her as much, EP Beth Schwartz: "It's not like just because you can't see her that we're going to forget she was one of our most important characters on the show. And everything Oliver's doing, he'll be conflicted because he had to leave his family. And so that was really, as we saw at the end of Season 7, a heartbreaking and hard decision for him. So we will definitely not just skate past that... That last scene between them kills me. I can't watch it. It's just - it was so good." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- Per We Got This Covered, their sources told them that a Green Lantern show starring DR's John Diggle was pitched to The CW. (Aug. 26, 2019 WeGotThisCovered article, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per Cosmic Book News (described as an "illegitimate outlet" by MG), according to TVO from the Lords of the Long Box YouTube channel, Greg Berlanti is developing the Green Lantern Corps series which will feature Kyle Rayner and that the reason Green Lantern Corps will be on HBO Max is that HBO Max will be able to give the series the best budget. TVO: "They don't want to put it on The CW because The CW would not be able to to it. Geoff Johns was said to be developing a Green Lantern Corps movie, but there really hasn't been anything said about it in quite a while. Regarding the use of Hal Jordan, it's said the character is hands-off and will be used in the movies. And regarding John Stewart, it's said that Arrow's John Diggle will fill that role as Diggle's father name was Stewart, and also that John Stewart will appear in the upcoming Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover. (Aug. 29, 2019 Cosmic Book News article, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how many times he has knocked on MG's door to ask what's going on with Green Lantern over the years, DR: “I cannot tell you how many times... But really, I don’t have to knock on Marc’s door. He’s been incredibly forthright with letting me know the plan, and letting me know some of the politics behind it. Green Lantern is a tremendously large property, and it’s not easily done. If it was done on TV, imagine the cost. So it’s one of those things where it’s going to take a great deal of preparation if and when it’s ever done.” (Aug. 30, 2019 ComicBook article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Questions will be answered. ... Is John Diggle Green Lantern? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In deleted flashforward scene from 713, Connor indicated that Diggle was still alive in 2040. He confirmed to Older Roy and Older Dinah that he was Diggle's son, adding: "And be happy that you are here with me and not with him." When Roy asked him why he tied them up, Connor said: "“You people are just names to me. People my father used to work with. There’s no telling what’s happened to you since then.” (Aug. 19, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) Mar Novu AKA The Monitor -- Lamonica Garrett, who plays the Monitor (and will also play the Anti-Monitor), will appear in 10 total episodes across the Arrowverse this season (“Crisis” crossover included). (Aug. 23, 2019 TVLine article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- On Aug. 20, 2019, JH posted pic of the back of her head with long blonde hair, with words "Season 8 hair" written over pic. (JH instagram story, page 3 of Spoilers thread) Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA ? -- Per EW, joining Oliver and Diggle on the road is E2 Laurel. (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific -- On Aug. 9, 2019, Echo Kellum posted a mysterious pic of himself with Arrow logo in the background, with comment: "I’m up to something. And it has nothing to do with acting. #Arrow #NewThingsHappening." (echokells instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Thea Queen AKA Speedy -- DR: "Questions will be answered. ... What's going on with Oliver's sister? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- CH tweeted: "Getting a lot of angry messages so just to clarify...I didn’t exit the last season of Arrow. I was not asked to come back for the final season as a series regular. But y’all know Roy...he’s never gone for too long [3 hugging face emojis]." (Aug. 8, 2019 ColtonLHaynes tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what CH said: "Colton not knowing what the hell is even going on with his character is a mood #dragoncon #Arrow." (Dragon Con, Aug. 31, 2019: Chris_Ford tweet, page 768 of Social Media thread) -- Fan report on what CH said: "Colton has been 'vacationing' in Vancouver #DragonCon #Arrow." (Dragon Con, Aug. 31, 2019: Chris_Ford tweet, page 768 of Social Media thread) -- Fan report on what CH said: "When I talked to him today about being in season 8, he went to great lengths to not say anything.... yeah, looks like we’re getting Roy in S8 of @CW_Arrow. He even posted a pic of Lian Yu on social media LOL." (Dragon Con, Sep. 1, 2019: AyanDasGATech tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what CH said: "someone asked if colton was going to be on arrow and he shrugged and said that he’s going to vancouver tomorrow so... #LegendsOfTomorrow #Arrow #DragonCon." (Dragon Con, Sep. 1, 2019: plinys tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what CH said: "Colton Haynes is definitely back on #Arrow. He keeps saying at #DragonCon 'I’m flying to Vancouver next week. Maybe for vacation. Maybe not.'" (Dragon Con, Sep. 1, 2019: haylee_fisher tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Tala Ashe posted pic of Colton Haynes with Jes Macallan and Nick Zano at Dragon Con, with caption: "Just hanging with our newest legend." (Sep. 2, 2019 Full Circle Cinema article & Tala Ashe instagram post, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar -- On whether there is any chance that we could ever get a scene between SA and KM as Oliver and Mia before all is said and done this year, EP Beth Schwartz: "I mean you never know... Never say never." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 26, 2019, papp tweeted: "Much to the sadness of @canadagraphs heard that the Mia Smoak spin-off is going to be a go. Guess we’ll have to wait and see for sure" and "The guy has already signed his paperwork so would be odd." (pursuit23 tweets, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William "Will" Clayton -- Interviewer congratulated Ben Lewis on his promotion to series regular for Arrow's eighth and final season and asked how he celebrated the news. BL: "How did I celebrate? That's a good question. It was kind of a - I don't want to say that it was a drawn-out process. I mean, I thought it was - I think I thought it was probably going to happen. And, you know, I'd heard some whispering and rumors that it was going to happen. I'm trying to think when I actually found out officially. I don't even remember. I guess I heard different things from different people. It looked like it was going to happen, but I don't actually remember when I officially, uh, when I officially got the news. By that point, I think, because I had my - I had my hopes up that I would become a series regular. I think by that point it was more a feeling of relief than anything... I think I anticipated it was going to happen, so had it not, I would've been quite disappointed. I wish I had a better story for you, but I don't even remember." (Aug. 27, 2019 We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- On whether he's working on anything else at the moment or whether it's all full-speed ahead on Arrow for now, BL: "I mean, it's full speed ahead on Arrow for now. I recently shot a very small part in a movie called Covers with, uh, Dakota Johnson, which was really cool. I loved the script for this movie so much and I just wanted to be a part of it in some small capacity. I was very excited that I got to do that and that that worked out with my Arrow schedule... Again, it's very small, it's like a one-scene role. But that will be coming out next year, and I'm excited about that. And, um, I also - I write myself, so I have a couple of scripts that I've written that are sort of in various stages of development... We'll see... Like I said, I hope that beyond November, there's more Arrowverse stuff to come, but yeah, we'll see." (Aug. 27, 2019 We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- Charlie Barnett: "I'm only on Arrow for a couple episodes... And, you know, it's the last season of Arrow. So I know - I shouldn't say... Literally, I always catch myself in these positions where I'm like about to drop some information, and then I'm like, 'Nah, nah, nah, let's take a second.'" Reporter: "Drop some information." CB: "Nope, not gonna do it. I think Arrow has some interesting things coming up, alright. But, uh, I don't know if I'm committed to the world, let's say. There's a lot of worlds going on in Arrow right now. I don't know if you're up to date, but, yeah." (Aug. 13, 2019 Variety tweet & video interview of Charlie Barnett, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Big Bad -- On whether there's not going to be that traditional antagonist that carries them through the season, EP Beth Schwartz: "Yeah, a little. It's kind of a combination because obviously he's going to be fighting someone in each episode, but there's not just one villain. The villain really is Crisis in this season." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Malcolm Merlyn -- Fan asked, when JB turns 60, if SA was going to deliver a birthday cake to him in a tiny bathing suit as well. SA: "It's part of the deal. Every 10 years, I put on a tiny suit and I deliver John Barrowman a birthday cake... He's back in the show in Season 8 and that was actually a rider that he put into his contracts." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17, 2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JB posted pic of his Arrow set chair with his name on it, with comment: "So the beans were spilled in #boston love working with the team #arrow #malcolmmerlyn @stephenamell ?? #season8 #whathappens you will have to watch to find out. Trying to be soo vague #fabulous jb ????????." (Aug. 18, 2019 johnscotbarrowman instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- On whether they always planned for Colin Donnell to return this final season, EP Beth Schwartz: "Every season we want him back. He's such a great part of the show. We always love having him back. He's such a great guy. And when we knew it was our final season, he was one of the top people. We were like, 'We have to get him back for our final season.' We had a whole list of actors and characters that we went through that we're like, 'We can't end the show without seeing them one more time.' So he was just - he's one of those." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he will be involved in the final season, CD: “I think it’s something that fans maybe have wanted to see for a while… That’s all I’ll say.” And as for whether he’ll be in the crossover, CD (with a grin): “There’s hope!” (Aug. 23, 2019 TVLine article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Yao Fei -- Yao Fei Gulong (played by Byron Mann), the master archer introduced on Lian Yu, will be returning in S8 of Arrow. (Sep. 6, 2019 ComicBook and Deadline articles, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke -- On Aug. 7, 2019, Manu Bennett posted: "Lots of actors in my position are waiting in line, high rolling for the big bucks but I'm going to place a small bet on my next role. People keep asking if I'm coming back on Arrow & there's been no invitation & another guy has the mask in Teen Titans so instead of holding my breath, I'm accepting another crossover on CW, to an underdog series called Pandora. They've received some Rotten Tomato flack, which almost put me off, but honestly, I like these challenges, have worn critics bs before & if your gut tells you to act, then act. The role CW have offered me, reminds me a bit of Roy Batty, one of my favourite misinterpreted villains, played by the difinitive actor Rutger Hauer. No way I can repeat 'Like tears in rain' but I can certainly put my own take, my job, into the performance of LEONE BOKK, described as 'Bobba Fett' meets 'Man With No Name' meets 'Kraven the Hunter' meets 'Cable'. It's a dramatic premise I simply can't ignore & so jumping on a plane in an hour to fly to Bulgaria to join this production & cast. Obviously this show doesn't have anywhere near the budget of Bladerunner, but I've experienced the hard work of productions & emergence of underground shows that were forced to learn whilst cutting their teeth. My acting teacher, Sandra Lee Patterson, drilled into me one valuable lesson, there are no small roles, just small actors. #leonebokk @thecw @thecwpandora @cw_arrow." (Aug. 7, 2019 manubennett instagram post and FandomWire article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- Serial Box is partnering with Warner Bros. Consumer Products to develop new series based on Arrow and fellow Arrowverse shows, The Flash and Supergirl. The Flash will be the first of the three to launch in the fall of 2019. Serial Box is working closely with Berlanti Productions to develop new storylines for the characters. Judging by the logline for The Flash, these series will exist outside of the main Arrowverse canon. Serial Box said the episodes are the “length of an average commute.” The episodes are available in both audio and reading formats. (Aug. 28, 2019 The Wrap article, page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- Fan tweeted: "Hey Marc! With the show wrapping up, any chance of getting more of these between episode/season style comics? Or maybe even some that continue the story from after the series ends?" In response, MG tweeted: "I LOVE Season 2.5 and am very proud of it. That said, writing it while simultaneously writing Season 3 very nearly killed me. That said, we're working on something right now that not only fits the bill, but is insanely cool. Standby...." (Sep. 1, 2019 MG tweet, page 768 of Social Media thread) -- On what happens to the Arrowverse once Arrow's gone because Arrow is the structure for everything, SA: "I think that, kinda by definition, um, you know, once - once our show's done, then, in my opinion, then it - Grant becomes the - Grant as Barry Allen becomes the, you know, central point in the universe, for sure. And, um, he'll do a great job with it. But, um, I don't know. Just don't start calling it the Flashverse. Okay? ... Just keep calling it the Arrowverse. But no, you know, there will always be - we just happened to be first. Right? But what I think is - what I actually think is, I think that the crossover this year will do a really good job of answering that question for you." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17,2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 26, 2019, We Got This Covered reported that their sources told them that a Green Lantern show starring DR's John Diggle was pitched to The CW. (Aug. 26, 2019 WeGotThisCovered article, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 26, 2019, papp tweeted: "Much to the sadness of @canadagraphs heard that the Mia Smoak spin-off is going to be a go. Guess we’ll have to wait and see for sure" and "The guy has already signed his paperwork so would be odd." (pursuit23 tweets, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, Ben Lewis: "I would definitely be up for [a Star City 2040 spinoff]. I mean, I feel like, you know, I feel like we're just scratching the surfaces with these new characters, and the writers have put so much into the creat - developing them... Yeah, I think it would be a shame if sort of we never, uh, saw Adult William or Mia or Adult Zoe and Connor beyond this final season of Arrow... But it's the Arrowverse, you know, so everything's interconnected, so even if there's not a spinoff, that's not to say we wouldn't sort of, you know, pop up in the Arrowverse in some other capacity... But don't get me wrong, I would love to do a spinoff, and I - I hope that it happens. But I think that the fans, like you said, who are - who want to see that, I hope that they are vocal about it online, because their opinions do not go, uh, unnoticed by us or by the creators of the show or by the people at The CW. So I think that the more vocal the fanbase is - if they want it, the more vocal they are about it, the more likely it is to happen. ... Like I said, I hope that beyond November, there's more Arrowverse stuff to come, but yeah, we'll see." (Aug. 27, 2019 We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) Edited September 15, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo October 13, 2019 Author Share October 13, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 801 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 1: Starling City -- Production code: 801. Shoot Dates: July 11-23, 2019. Director: James Bamford. Writers: Beth Schwartz & Marc Guggenheim. Airdate: Oct. 15, 2019. (Jul. 11, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread) -- 801 synopsis: "SEASON PREMIERE – While trying to decipher The Monitor’s (guest star LaMonica Garrett) mission, Oliver (Stephen Amell) returns to Starling City where he encounters familiar faces. Meanwhile, Mia (Katherine McNamara) and William’s (Ben Lewis) team clash with a new foe. James Bamford directed the episode written by Beth Schwartz & Marc Guggenheim (#801). Original airdate 10/15/2019." (Sep. 28, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- The CW's Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video was posted, featuring Oliver (including shot of Oliver looking at a photo of himself with Felicity and newborn Mia), Diggle, Tommy, nightclub scene, Deathstroke mask, dead people inside a facility, someone using Moira Queen's access card, Mia Smoak, E2 Laurel, Athena (from The Thanatos Guild), adult JJ Diggle, Thea, fight scenes, motorcycles, Tatsu/Katana, Talia al Ghul, and Lyla. Oliver (voiceover): "The only way this is bearable for me is if I make certain my sacrifice, my death, will protect the people I love." Oliver (voiceover): "There is a Crisis coming." Diggle (voiceover): "We are facing the destruction of pretty much everything." Athena: "Good luck." E2 Laurel (to Oliver and Diggle): "Nice of you to show up." Adult JJ Diggle: "This is the night that we have been waiting for. The city will be ours." Thea: "Less talking, more fighting." Thea (voiceover): "Indiana Jones made this look way more fun." Oliver (voiceover): "History's repeating itself." Moira (voiceover): "Oliver?" Oliver: "Hi, Mom." (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 sneak peek #1 was posted, featuring a Monitor voiceover over pilot-like scene of Oliver being rescued from Lian Yu. (Oct. 15, 2019 The CW Television video, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 sneak peek #2 was posted, featuring flashforward of Mia, Connor, Zoe and William infiltrating a formal party and a scene between adult JJ Diggle and Mia. (Oct. 14, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle and Laurel in their superhero suits, Oliver and Moira, Oliver and Tommy, Dinah and Rene. The CWTV PR gallery captions identified KC as "Laurel Lance/Black Siren." SA posted the 801 promo pic of Oliver/GA in the stairwell with his bow, with comment: "I’d like the original bow for our final season please." (Sep. 10, 2019 CWTVPR, GreenArrowTV, SpoilerTV and TVLine articles, and Sep. 11, 2019 instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- TVLine posted 801 pic of Oliver, Diggle and Laurel in their costumes. Regarding this pic, GATV tweeted: "#Arrow Season 8 Photo: Is This The New Team Arrow?" In response, SA tweeted: "Maybe. Probably not. But maybe." (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, GreenArrowTV tweet and SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- ETonline posted 801 pic of Oliver, Diggle and Laurel in their costumes, describing SA, DR and KC as "members of the original Arrow cast." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- IGN posted 801 pic of Oliver standing in the Queen Mansion while Malcolm and Moira look at him. Malcolm has his arm around Moira. EP Beth Schwartz: "All I can say is that it's something we've never done on our show before, and we're going to see a lot of familiar faces in a different way than we've done on the show before." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Additional 801 promo pic was posted, featuring Malcolm and Moira sitting together on a sofa. (Sep. 17, 2019 CWTVPR and TVLine articles, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 promo pic of costumed E2 Laurel, Oliver and Diggle, TVLine tweeted: "We've seen #Arrow's final season premiere, and now realize that a fourth costumed hero was purposely cropped out of this exclusive Fall TV First Look. Any guesses? [thinking face emoji]." (TVLine tweet, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 dialogue tease: "If I let you help me, you will get hurt or you will get killed and it will be because of me. You don't know that. I do know that." (Aug. 25, 2019 SA tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 dialogue tease: "#DialogueTease: 'From now on, we're going to do things my way.' #Arrow #StarlingCity." (Oct. 15, 2019 Arrowwriters tweet, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 801's guest cast includes Colin Donnell as "Tommy Merlyn," Josh Segarra as "Adrian Chase," Susanna Thompson as "Moira Queen," Hugo Ateo as "Alberto Vazquez" and Moire Kiyingi as "Receptionist." (IMDb link in Oct. 11, 2019 tv echo post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 801 script page lists the following names: "Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, John Diggle, Rene Ramirez, Dinah Drake, William Clayton, Mia Smoak, Connor Hawke, The Monitor ... Moira Queen, Malcolm Merlyn, Marrett Green (Reporter), Adrian Chase, Zoe Ramirez, Security Guard, Alberto Vasquez, Receptionist, Party Guest, and Not (MOC) Felicity." FYI: Marrett Green is an actor who portrayed various news reporters throughout the first and second seasons of Arrow. (Jul. 11, 2019 SchwartzApprovd, olicitydreams and lyricalarrow tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and pages 2 and 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Arrow wiki page link and IMdb page link in Jul. 12, 2019 tv echo post, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, Susanna Thompson will return to play Moira Queen in the S8 premiere, which MG described as "a love letter to the show; it really is... I was telling Beth [Schwartz], it felt a lot like the series finale, not the season premiere, in the best possible way, almost to the point where we’re like ‘what are we going to do for the series finale?’ I mean, we know, obviously, but it has that kind of resonance to it, and that’s exciting.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: GATV article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Colin Donnell will guest-star in Arrow's final season. However, fans should expect a twist when they return, because this is Arrow. Per MG, CD is “not coming back as the Tommy we know." (Jul. 12, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Josh Segarra will guest-star in Arrow's final season. However, fans should expect a twist when they return, because this is Arrow. EP Beth Schwartz: “Adrian Chase comes back in a different way than expected." (Jul. 12, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect from bringing back CD and JS in the S8 premiere, SA: "Tommy gets to play the Tommy that we always wanted him to play. And, uh, Josh as Adrian, um, gets to come back and just be awesome... Missed having Josh so much. He comes back with a vengeance in the first episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It's so fun having Josh [Segarra] doing what he's doing in the premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what went through his mind when he read the first script of S8, SA: "Frankly, I got very emotional because you think about the end. We got one more day of filming the premiere, right? And when we wrap that one - when I get wrapped on Monday night, in my head I'm going to go, 'nine to go.' ... But more specifically, I was really, really pumped that my character got to stop Josh Segarra, because that asshole was always ten steps ahead of me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his return to Arrow, Colin Donnell: "I think Stephen said it best at Comic-Con... I think fans are going to see Tommy in a way that they've maybe wanted for a while." (Television Association Critics Association Summer 2019 Press Tour,.Jul. 27, 2019: TV Guide article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he will be involved in the final season, CD: “I think it’s something that fans maybe have wanted to see for a while… That’s all I’ll say.” And as for whether he’ll be in the crossover, CD (with a grin): “There’s hope!” (Aug. 23, 2019 TVLine article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley tweeted: "I'm not going to spoil what happens in tonight's #Arrow premiere, but know this: I said "Holy shit!" for the first time about 90 seconds in. And then several times later." (Oct. 15, 2019 lah9891 tweet, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), ET's Philiana Ng tweeted: "The #Arrow season 8 premiere is everything you could ever want as a fan. Emotional, poignant, touching, funny, surprising and sweet. And @colindonnell and Susanna Thompson's returns as Tommy Merlyn and Moira Queen are [100 points symbol]. My face for most of the episode? [exploding head emoji]. More to come... [bow & arrow emoji]." (Oct. 10, 2019 insidethetube tweet, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), EW's Sydney Bucksbaum tweeted: "#Arrow’s final season premiere pays off some theories and wishes that I’ve had since season 1 so yeah, you can say it f—ks" and "This episode is 100 percent in my top 5 #Arrow episodes of all time. And no, I'm not being hyperbolic." (Oct. 10, 2019 SydneyBucksbaum tweets, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), when asked how hot Charlie Barnett is in it on a scale of 1-10, EW's Sydney Bucksbaum tweeted: "11 but in a psychotic, serial killer kind of way." (SydneyBucksbaum tweet, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), GATV's Craig Byrne: "So many callbacks to so many aspects of #Arrow Season 1 in Tuesday's Season 8 premiere. I don't think any fan will be disappointed." (Oct.10, 2019 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald tweeted: "Emoji reaction to the #Arrow Season 8 premiere: ???????????????????????? [row of alternating smiling face with heart-shaped eyes emojis and hushed face emojis]" and "That's it, I literally vacillated between OMG-YAS-OMG-YAAAS-OHMYGODDDD YAS!" and "As the #1 Tommy Merlyn stan, I can confirm this episode is EVERYTHING." (Oct. 10, 2019 lindsayjoane tweets, pages 20 and 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), Hypable's Jay Ruymann: "Of the stars in the episode, the most focus falls on Oliver, Diggle, and (Earth-2) Laurel. Though the latter two don’t share many scenes together, the relationships between Oliver and Laurel and Oliver and Diggle are further explored and set the precedent for how 'Team Arrow' is going to come together as Oliver faces imminent death. ... There are a few truly heartwarming scenes between Oliver and Laurel that showcase the growth in their relationship since she first decided to put her life as Black Siren behind her. And, lest we forget, Oliver and Diggle’s brotherhood is partially where the series began, and the premiere highlights their unbreakable bond. ... Being back in Starling City, and paralleling the pilot, there has to be the 'Hood' which was Oliver’s moniker when he first returned to and began his vigilantics on Arrow season 1. As briefly seen in the trailer below (at 1:59), there is indeed a fight between two people using 'The Hood' to hide their identities. ... Many Laurel Lance fans have expressed hope for years now for a scene between the Green Arrow and Black Canary where he refers to her as her oft-used nickname in the comics: Pretty Bird. Though it’s a bit unexpected, this nickname is used in reference to Laurel. ... And even though Felicity Smoak will not be around this season due to Emily Bett Rickards’ departure, the premiere does not forget about her important role in Oliver, Diggle, and Laurel’s lives. One of the many callbacks is even to Felicity’s first appearance on the series. ... As promised (and already told to us), JJ Diggle — revealed to be the leader of the Deathstroke gang in the final episodes of Arrow season 7 - makes an appearance and interrupts a team outing. ... The end of the episode is, honestly, one of the most incredible things Arrow has ever done. It sets the tone for the entire season, and really gives the characters something to think about and something to prepare for as they try to save Star City one last time in these final nine episodes. ... Nothing will ever be the same in the Arrow-verse after this. ... Arrow season 8 is starting off incredibly strong with a premiere that has numerous callbacks to the pilot episode (like, seriously, so many it was impossible to keep track of). For the start of the final season, I was (mostly) impressed by this episode and how much of it was to honor the fans while still providing a solid plot and setting up the importance of 'Crisis on Infinite Earths.' ... So many familiar faces - including Moira, Tommy, and Malcolm - make an appearance in this episode. It’s so wonderful to see them around again as the show has never really been the same without them. And for a season premiere, I was not disappointed at all. This episode truly exceeded my expectations. ... The only really disappointing part of the episode was the future timeline. It takes a little bit to kick up the heat in the present day (which is totally worth it), but honestly, this episode would have been so much better without the 2040 story. ... The flash-forwards could have waited an episode and devoted every minute of the episode to honoring the pilot episode and season 1, but we’re stuck watching the growing pains of the new team in the future after Felicity, Dinah, and Roy appointed them to save Star City now that the wall has fallen around the Glades. As much as I enjoyed these flash-forwards for most of season 7, it was really disheartening to see the time that was wasted on it when Oliver and co. are no longer going to be with us in just a few months." (Oct. 12, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 801 (advance screening), WeGotThisCovered's Eric Joseph: "As you may have heard, most installments making up the ten episodes comprising the eighth and final season will revisit earlier years in a sense. The upcoming opener, 'Starling City,' is a nod to season 1. In fact, I’d go as far to say it’s like watching the pilot and season finale all wrapped in one; you’ll see some familiar beats revisited but in ways that won’t make you think “been there, done that.” Once you tune in, you’ll fully understand the delicate balance that Beth Schwartz and company achieved. ... Now, it’s important to stress that I’m not at liberty to divulge certain plot points, though you won’t have to strain yourself too hard to figure out how Ollie’s able to find himself in parallel situations on a show where the concept of the multiverse has already been established. Just rest assured that, despite whatever intentional disorientation you may experience in the opening minutes, the Oliver Queen you’re watching is the same man you’ve come to know and love during the previous seven seasons. It’ll all make sense in context in very short order, just trust me on that. ... Along the way, we’ll reunite with familiar favorites such as John Diggle (David Ramsey) and Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy Rodgers), while others like Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson), Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) and Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra) are utilized much differently than they were in the past. Some twists you’ll see coming, some you won’t. ... If the premiere is any indicator of what’s to come, we’re in for the Arrow we’ve grown used to, only with a bit of a science fiction twist. With the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' crossover looming, this series in particular will play a major part in serving as prologue. Believe me, you won’t want to miss the closing moments of this bad boy. ... Something else that amazes me is how this show hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to fight choreography. I wanted to take a moment to discuss this element, as it’s always been a highlight in my eyes. James Bamford, Stephen Amell and the rest of the stunt team never cease to bring their A-game. And when an episode such as this boasts Bamford’s name as director, you know you’re in for something truly special. ... When it comes to the flash forward segments, however, I remain highly indifferent regarding those. The unfolding storyline taking place in 2040 had its ups and downs during season 7, ultimately feeling disconnected from what was going down in 2018-19 and superfluous in the end. Right now, there’s still no apparent connection to what’s going on in the present and future, but I’m willing to give the B-plot a chance. ... The reason I’m willing to do that is because I really want to see why John Diggle Jr. (Charlie Barnett) becomes the Deathstroke of tomorrow. Really, what causes the son of a hero to choose the path of the villain? To me, at least, that’s where the majority of the intrigue comes from, even if launching a spinoff starring Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak is the end goal. ... FANTASTIC ... Even with the sci-fi twist applied, Arrow is still the Arrow you've come to know and love after all these years. If anything, it's already proving to be a fitting end to an incredible journey." (Oct. 12, 2019 WeGotThisCovered article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "The season premiere is like a remix of the pilot. It really revisits fun, key moments in the pilot -- to the point where when I sent my scenes off to Beth, I said, 'In a good way, it didn't feel like a season premiere, it felt like a series finale because it is so backward looking.' It plays as a real acknowledgment of the show... I think that the fans are going to love [the premiere]. It was so fun to write." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the S8 premiere will revisit “key moments with a different spin." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about the S8 premiere, MG: "Ooh, I got to be careful... It's unexpected... When I finished writing my scenes, I sent them off to Beth Schwartz and I said to Beth, not in a bad way, this feels like a series finale. It doesn't feel like a season premiere. Um, in many ways, I think that has been the design of this season... We are obviously going to do a series finale, and we are going to do our best to make it epic and awesome. But the whole season is really meant to be a coda on the entire series." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On where we see everyone in the first episode, MG: "I have to be coy because the location of the first episode is really a surprise. Um, I'll tell you this. The first episode really feels like a revisitation of the pilot. And, uh, I co-wrote it with Beth and when I sent off my scenes to her, I said to her - not in a bad way - I said, 'this feels like a series finale, doesn't feel like a season premiere.' Um, but that was like a good thing, um, because it really was an acknowledgment of how we are returning to our roots and especially the pilot. It really is like a mirror image of the pilot, which is weird. It's weird to, like, be revisiting all these key moments but with a different spin.... But it's fun too, like, again, it's the celebration of where we - where we started and what we've been doing for eight years. So that's what's kind of fun." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of MG interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the S8 premiere is "a love letter to the show; it really is... I was telling Beth [Schwartz], it felt a lot like the series finale, not the season premiere, in the best possible way, almost to the point where we’re like ‘what are we going to do for the series finale?’ I mean, we know, obviously, but it has that kind of resonance to it, and that’s exciting.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: GATV article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, every episode building up to 'Crisis' sees “Oliver dealing with the various stages of grief that come with that discovery” and “there’s an acknowledgement of the entire show’s history in every episode… it’s like we’re playing our greatest hits." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan complaint that Oliver isn't wearing his wedding ring in S8, MG: "I don't know where you're getting this, but there's a very story-specific reason why Oliver CAN'T wear his ring in 801, but rest assured it'll be on his hand from 802 and beyond." (Jul. 25, 2019 MG tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Um, there's a moment - like, it's scripted. You know, I never can promise what's going to make the final cut. There's, I think, a very sort of Felicity-centric moment in, uh, the season premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EBR's absence is felt in the S8 premiere, who is mentioned often throughout the episode. Because the hour revisits the first season, MG shared that there is one scene in particular that is a direct call-out to a classic Felicity and Oliver moment. MG: "There's a throwback to Felicity in the season premiere -- Emily's not in it -- but there's a very conscious, and I think funny, acknowledgement of her." -- MG tweeted pic of concept art for E2 Laurel's new suit, with comment: "@MzKatieCassidy? and I ran out of time! Here’s the concept art for the new Black Siren costume for Season 8!" The concept art pic is labeled: "Black Canary Concept." Subsequently, MG tweeted: "Oops. Meant Black Canary. Or did I? Arrow 801 holds the answer..." (Jul. 20, 2019 MG tweet, page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 21, 2019 MG tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz: there will be a new introduction voiced by SA for the show's final season: "Yes, we will have a new one this season... We had a new one last season and there will be a new one this year as well. It's the last one." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "The premiere is very nostalgic of the pilot and of season one, visiting those sets, like Queen mansion, that we all love and we all have [people] we've tried to bring back a few times -- those characters that were really there from the very beginning and helped to create this series and what made it so successful." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "It felt nostalgic and kind of perfect for the end of the series to have these final scenes with these characters we haven't seen in a while. It felt right that this is how we should end the season and it was fun to write for Moira again and to write for Tommy and all the characters we wrote for eight years ago," she said. "It felt natural." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz confirmed that 801 is a throwback to S1 in many ways (particularly the pilot episode), though she also said "there's also a little mixture of a couple of seasons in that first episode." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz described 801 as “a love letter to the pilot and to the series” as well as what Oliver has meant to all of the other characters in the show. (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "We have a lot of callbacks to Season 1 early on in, well, especially in the premiere. The premiere is very much like a love letter to the pilot, and it was so much fun to write. And the actors had a lot of fun as well. There's going to be a lot of that through the season." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On having ST back for the S8 premiere, EP Beth Schwartz: “Moira Queen is such a dynamic character and her death still haunts all of us I think, especially Oliver, and I think that what we like the most about having her in the premiere is he now has his own children... So to have his mother give him advice about motherhood to him — you know, now he’s a father — was just such a perfect moment.” Beth added: “I tear up every time I see the scene between the two of them, because they’re so great together. And yeah, it was [able] to give him some closure as well, to say he’s sorry for what happened to her." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On when S8 picks up after the S7 finale, EP Beth Schwartz: "We pick up a week later." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: CBR article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, S8 will take place in 2019, with EP Beth Schwartz clarifying that the final season will “pick up a week” after where the S7 finale left off. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we're ever going to get to see the salmon ladder one last time, EP Beth Schwartz: "We'll see it. We're going to see it in the premiere. And I've also tried to do to the salmon ladder, but I was unsuccessful. Not surprising." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "I've got about two more days of shooting the premiere, or directing the premiere, and, uh, every single day there's been somebody crying on set, uh, just from the cast performances... The crew and everybody's like watching the actors, going, 'Holy shit. This is happening.' ... They're not crying because the show's ending, because they'll cry plenty for that in December, but they're crying because of all the content of the performances. The script is brilliant. The 801 script was so good, it's - it almost shoots itself.. But it's gigantic and, uh, we're all exhausted and we don't care because it's worth it... Uh, the premiere, 801, is... has been like shooting the pilot all over again, but trying to outdo it, and the finale episode from Season 1 and... 121 from Season 1, all rolled up into one episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, the first seven episodes of S8 will pay homage to specific seasons, saying: “Episode one is the pilot…." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Episode 1 is an ode to Season 1... We’re playing our greatest hits.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Episode 1 is like Season 1.... Every episode feels like an event." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Yeah, I've read 1, 2 and 3 - 1, 2 and 3 are very contained. 1 is its own thing. 2 is its own thing. 3 is its own thing... It's very, very contained. Obviously, there's a throughline. We're building toward the crossover." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Every episode feels like a special episode... Episode 1 feels like, um, it's just an ode to Season 1...." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver is doing the Monitor’s bidding. Both the first and the second episode are based around a specific task that the Monitor has given him. In both episodes he has to retrieve something." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver's out of space and time. Normally we do, like, six months. Normally we let May until October pass. It's weird, nothing bad in Star City ever happens in the month of June. You know what I mean, but why? ... My guess would be, like, four or five weeks have passed and, uh, Oliver starts the season in Starling City." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he can tell them where Oliver is in the first episode of S8, SA: "Yeah. Where you see him in the pilot. (Media reporters all laugh) Guys, I'm literally f**ckin' telling you where he is... Does that make sense? ... So where is he?" Reporter: "He's in Starling City. He's back literally in Season 1 in the pilot." SA: "Mm-umm. No. He's not in Starling City in Scene 1." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "We didn't have to film the entire 41 minutes or whatever because we got to use a bunch of footage from the pilot in the season premiere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "We actually didn't have to shoot a good chunk of the episode for the premiere because we just used footage from the pilot." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Certainly, I've read the first three episodes, but there's just - doing scenes that are very familiar, um, on purpose. And, um, doing those scenes with Colin [Donnell], um, especially the way that the first episode ends, it's cool." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 9, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there will be opportunities for close quarters combat, SA: "Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes. (Laughs) I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but… the first two episode are huge." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Regarding Felicity, SA: "Well, she's ever-present in Oliver's mind. We found, um, Oliver can't wear his wedding ring in the premiere for a very specific reason, but he can wear it in the second episode." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver in the first three episodes basically closes the book and reconciles in some way, shape, or form with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever would have expected that he would have reconciled with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, Oliver will make amends with five characters in the first three episodes alone and the people involved will come as a surprise to viewers, hinting that at least some of them might have already left the show before. While he couldn’t elaborate on who these characters might be, at least one is “his f**king mortal enemy." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I feel like in the first - in the first three episodes, Oliver has closure with five characters that I don't know that we ever thought that he would get closure with, in very unexpected ways. Maybe they don't know it, but he knows it. And, um, he's left a lot of loose ends along the way, and I hope that over the course of the year, we're going to tie as many up as possible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver, over the course of the first three episodes, reconciles and gets closure with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever thought that he would get closure with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "As I was saying at Comic-Con... my character's had the chance over the past - or over the first three episodes, I reconcile with, like, five different characters." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether other actors (other than CD and JS) might be returning for the S8 premiere that haven't been announced, SA: "Oh yes. One in particular that was, um... There's a scene in the - actually, there's two. There's a scene in the Queen Mansion that I'm incredibly fond of." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who he's most excited to work with again, see again and say goodbye to again, SA: "I can't tell you, but I do it with this character in the premiere, in a set that we rebuilt from the pilot." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On E2 Laurel joining Oliver and Diggle on the mission, SA: “I’ve loved our scenes in the first two episodes.” (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Big spoiler alert: We do the salmon ladder in the premiere this year." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: IGN video of Arrow cast interview, page 764 of Social Media thread) -- On whether we'll see the salmon ladder this season, SA: "Yeah, in the premiere. There's a shirtless salmon ladder in the premiere." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "The #Arrow bunker will be in Season 8 a bunch. There’s a guy in the bunker in the premiere that @StephenAmell wants to punch in the face." and "Stephen said it won’t be his bunker though. #Arrow." (Supa-Friends in Melbourne, Jun. 26, 2019: ARROWTV_ tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 1 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "When I asked Stephen at the auto table what he could tell me about the stunts in the Season 8 Premiere, he simply said 'similarity'. He echoed this in the panel, mentioning a call-back to a S1 stunt." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: ARROWTV_tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On what went through his mind when he read the first script of S8, DR: "I was just floored by how quickly they were getting to it... There's no C and D story. There's just [unintelligible words] A and B story. So it's really obvious in the first episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Diggle is, as he should be, at Oliver's side. That's how we begin this season. And ultimately that's how we end it." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the vibe has been like on set, DR: "It was weird the first day. That's really the honest answer. It was strange not having Emily there. Very. You don't have a presence like, like that and you don't feel it. So it was different. The sets were different. Uh, the people that we worked with the first day weren't the people we normally work with. So it felt strange. And Stephen was even, like, 'uhh, it just feels a little strange.' We both felt that. But then you get over it, you get over yourself, and um, you do it. But I'd be remiss if I said it felt like business as usual because it didn't. It felt a little bit strange." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of DR interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what it's like working this season without EBR and Felicity, DR: "It's tough. Same story I've been telling everybody. We were there on the first day of 801, in the foundry, me and Stephen, where Emily normally is. Near Felicity's workspace. She wasn't there. And it was a noticeable energy gone. Just noticeable. You felt it. You don't really replace energy like that, you move past it. Now, granted, our rushing up to episode eight of the crossover does that successfully in the sense that we're making great television even without that presence being there, but we still miss her very much." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 23, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether her character is calling herself Black Siren or Black Canary now, KC: "She's the Black Canary... and she's also really come into her own in taking a stand, and it's going to be awesome." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 KSiteTV video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she can confirm that she'll be appearing as Black Siren this season, KC: "I mean, again, Laurel Lance, Black Siren, Canary, the different roles that I have portrayed, you will see glimpses of them throughout the season." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite costume, KC: "My favorite costume is definitely by far this new costume. It really truly feels like the Black Canary. It feels like Laurel Lance. It feels almost truer to the comic book than we’ve seen, and I think that’s really cool. It’s been really, yeah, it’s been really incredible. I wish I had it sooner. So this costume is definitely by far my favorite, and I think it’ll be the fan favorite as well. And I actually did not have input on this one, but it’s still really empowering and badass to wear, and I can certainly appreciate all of the time that went into it in terms of designing it and putting it together. It’s incredible." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what E2 Laurel's up to this season, KC: "Laurel's doing her thing. Um, I like to say, she's kinda like her own - her own island. She's got her own, you know, sort of... journey." TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "She's a lone wolf." KC: "Yes, yes." SA: "No, no, you weren't. Not in the pilot - not in the premiere, you're not a lone wolf. You got a team member." KC: "Somebody who... we mentioned?" SA: "No." KC: "We can't mention. It'll be really exciting. Yes, that is true. Um, she's plotting and planning her own - you can say it, I'm not going to." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: TVLine article & video, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When Arrow season 8 begins, Laurel Lance is working to become the hero she promised she would be, finding the line between right and wrong, and working to move past her old Black Siren ways. As previously teased by KC, she has a new partner on her mission to save the city. However, that doesn’t prevent her from working with Oliver and Diggle on the former’s mission from the Monitor. (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether her character is now the Laurel that she always hoped for her to be, KC: "Hell, yes. I wanted her to be, like, strong... I like to consider her her own island, because she should be, she can be. Why not? And, um, just being strong. And she is that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 KSiteTV video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how she would describe the dynamic between Laurel, Oliver, and Diggle this season, KC: "I think that Laurel’s arc this season is really about fulfilling her promise to become a hero and discovering exactly what it means to be a hero. The good and the bad. I think that in terms of Oliver, and Diggle, and Laurel, it’s almost like they’re on the same playing field in a way. And I really think we get a chance to really see that. And I feel like she really is playing her part in being a member of this team. And again, going out there and feeling like she’s an equal. And I think it’s pretty incredible and it’s really fun. It’s been awesome." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's a moment coming up this season that she's excited for fans to see (other than the episode she's directing), KC: "Yeah. I think that, you know, we will see - as I think the fans have always wanted to see this - um, is Laurel, um, you know, fulfilling her promise of becoming good - I mean, a hero in a - good and bad - I mean, there's many versions of her. Um, but she teams up with, you know, like, I guess it's sort of unexpected, not unexpected, 'cause the comic book, it's Laurel and - er, excuse me, Black Canary and Green Arrow, uh, in terms of - she'll team up with Oliver in terms of fulfilling his quest to save the multiverse. So we'll get to see them, like, in action battle, which we've seen before, but the new costume, with - given what Marc's written, is gonna be freakin' epic. And I think the fans are gonna freak out, because it does call back to the comics, the original. So I'm excited." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of KC interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) - On whether Dinah is still the Black Canary even though she lost her cry, JH: "She is the Black Canary. And I think that was one of the things that she struggled with the most last season was, not knowing if without her, you know, cry, she was. And one of my favorite things that I've learned about this character was when she did discover that you don't need the cry. It's about what's inside. It's about your sense of justice. It's about who you are. That's what makes you the Canary. And I want, you know, people who watch the show to feel that, with or without any kind of special power, they too can be that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked where we see Dinah in the first episode of S8, JH: "In the first episode, it's going to be a total departure from anything we've seen Dinah doing before. So just a completely, um, something completely different, uh, and that will change throughout the season." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of JH interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "So, the very start of the season is a bit of a departure. It's, uh - we're doing something a little different. Uh, and it's going to - how am I going to say this? I'll just say that. It's going to be a little bit different at the start of the season. It's something different. And, uh, unexpected. I'm very excited to see what people think. If people catch on to what's going on.... Yeah, but it's going to be a little bit of a twist on what we normally see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "So at the beginning of Season 8, Dinah is, uh - she's in a different place. We see her sort of in a jump from where we left her off. And, uh, it's - it's sort of - it stands on its own. It's a unique place that we see Dinah in the first episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 24, 2019 KSiteTV video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what happens between Dinah and E2 Laurel, JH: "So, I don't fully know what happens between them yet, but I know there's a dynamic with the Canaries and a story with the Canaries that is really cool and really exciting and really different... You will start to see it at the very beginning." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked where Rene is in the first episode of S8, RG: "We've never seen Rene this way before. First episode, we've never seen him this way. And that's exciting. I can't wait to see y'all reaction on him because it's gonna be interesting. It's gonna be great. It's gonna be great." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of RG interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "I can say, you haven't seen Rene this way in the very first episode of Season 8." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ETonline video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG: "I will say that Rene, this first episode, you haven't seen him this way before." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On May 17, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Writing the very last #Arrow premiere #allthefeels #finalseason." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 23, 2019, SA tweeted: ".@SchwartzApprovd just told me about episode 801. [exploding head emoji]." (SA tweet, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On May 25 or 26, 2019, when asked whether he's read 801, DR: "No. I just got the bullet points... and that was enough for me to be like, 'wow.' But, no, I haven't read it yet." (MCM London Comic Con, May 25 or 26, 2019: Tanavi P video of DR interview, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Jun. 10, 2019, RG tweeted: "All the feels. Received the first episode of our last season of #Arrow today. Wow." (officialrickg tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On Jul. 9, 2019, SA tweeted: "This is my buddy James. He’s really, really good at what he does... torturing him via text is my favorite thing. I’m texting him airborne to Vancouver right now." His tweet included copy of the following text message from James AD: "Hey Stephen, hope you had a great hiatus! As a heads up for you, we're scheduling you for a costume fitting after the cast read through tomorrow. Currently the cast read through is at 1300 tomorrow. See you tomorrow!" (SA tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 10, 2019, papp tweeted pic of Arrow filming notice, with comments: "#Arrow final season starts filming this Thursday. On location in 'The Fortress' on Friday: ..." and "#Arrow final season starts filming this Thursday. On location in 'The Fortress' on Friday: ..." From Arrow filming notice: "Please take a moment to read this notice about the filming of a Warner Bros. TV Series called 'Arrow' at 1745 West 8th Avenue on Friday, July 12th, 2019. ... Friday, July 12th... 8:00 am - 10:00 pm - Filming scenes inside the building at 1745 W. 8th Avenue. Scenes will involve dialogue, stunt fighting, and special effects atmospheric smoke." (yvrshoots tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 10, 2019, DR posted pic of himself with Arrow crew member Dani by a row of trucks, with comment: "Back to one more season of misplacing my gloves and Dani scolding me for it...???? #Arrow." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, fan tweeted pic from Jul. 10, 2019 JH instagram story, with comment (English translation): "Photo of the 8x01 table read !! # Arrow." (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, fan tweeted (English translation): "The actress of Zoe in the future (Daughter of René) is already on the set. So the flashfowards already from the first capi we have them. OFÚ. I WANT TO OLIVER. # Arrow." (TodoArrow tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 2 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted pic of 801 title page, with comment: "First day of shooting! #ArrowSeason8 #TheFinal Season." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread) -- On Jul. 11, 2019, SA tweeted pic of 801 clapboard, with comment: "One last time." Clapboard shows that 801's director is James Bamford. (SA tweet, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 763 of Social Media thread) -- On Jul. 12, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow prepping mansion in Delta. Recognize it from Arrow's 100th?" (yvrshoots tweet, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 12, 2019, papp tweeted: "Oliver Queen himself aka Stephen Amell on set for #Arrow final season. Crowd waiting for his autograph at "The Fortress" on West 8th." (yvrshoots tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 12, 2019, papp posted pic of SA on Arrow set, with comment: "One of my frames of #StephenAmell taking a break from filmming season 8 of #Arrow." SA is wearing a blue hoodie over his GA suit and he appears to have blacking around his eyes. (pursuit23 instagram post. page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 12, 2019, papp tweeted: "Was nice catching up with Stephen Amell today, been awhile since i have been to an #Arrow set, talked about summer , & the lack of Colin Donnell & Josh Segarra in season 8." (pursuit23 tweet. page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 12, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself in front of her trailer, with comment: "First day back and we’re off to a Smoakin start and on target for a killer season. ???? #MiaSmoak #ARROW @CW_Arrow." (Kat-McNamara tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 13, 2019, KM tweeted video clip of herself, with comment: "Back at it again! ???? @cw_arrow @thecw #arrow miasmoak #starcity2040." In the video, KM said: "Hey, y'all! I just finished my first day back on Season 8 of Arrow. And I'm so excited to share this season with you all. There is some really, really epic stuff coming your way. And, uh, I can't wait for you guys to come back to 2040." (Kat-McNamara tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 13, 2019, papp tweeted link to his b-t-s Arrow filming pics and blog report, with comment: "NEW BLOG #Arrow at work for episode 1 of their 8th & final season yesterday at The Fortress with several cast, and a returning former cast mate." Pics showed SA signing autographs for fans, CD, KM, probably KC, and car leaving the set. From his blog report: "THIS BLOG POST IS FOR 'ARROW' SEASON 8 EPISODE 1 titled 'Starling City'. ... Yesterday I caught Arrow filming in a new studio that is literally known as 'The Fortress'. I hd been there a couple times in the past, but was unaware of why shows were using it so much,as I assumed it was just some business building that they were using for a day. But instead, it is 1 of the new crop of little 1 off studios across the Lower Mainland that has popped up in the past few years. This former bank has the structural integrity to withstand some of the film industries more tougher stunts to pull off, as I was told yesterday while there, they have even crashed a helicopter into the roof of it. ... On this day, the Arrow cast and crew were using it for scenes for their 1st episode of their last season. Obviously because of the fact everything was shot inside this structure, nothing about the specific scenes is known. ... Through out the morning & early afternoon, and late evening (I left for a few hours after lunch break) a variety of cast were seen by myself. Stephen Amell was walking to & from the set in half of his Green Arrow costume, and stopped to meet fans several times throughout the day. I also saw Rick Gonzalez at lunch, and briefly got to meet Katherime McNamara for my first time at a set. But the 'I wasnt expecting to see you so soon' moment of the day came as former Arrow star, turned Chicago Med star, now back for quick drop in on Arrow, Colin Donnell. An article had come out just a couple hours before seeing him saying he would be back, and lo & behold there he was. But Tommy Merlyn looked a little different than the one we used to know, sporting a full beard. Oh that reminds me, 1 other thing I saw that I can not quite put my finger on what it means yet is... during lunch 2 stunt men in Green Arrow attire came out, 1 looking like how Oliver did, the other, had a big fake black beard on. make of that what you want. I have theories, but I wont post theories here. ... We also saw a blond girl go in at one point that seemed to be wearing a mask. The person that was there with me when they went in thought it could be Katie Cassidy, and I was unable to confirm if it was her or not, but you can try to judge for yourself by the pics I added below. That said, I did hear two people for the cast referenced by crew while I was there. Katie Cassidy being one, the other was 'Josh' who could be Josh Segarra, as he was also announced as returning in the same article as Colin was mentioned in. ... When I returned later. Some fans were now there, and they pieced together to us what they had seen while we were gone. The only actors they had seen while we were gone were Stephen again, aaaaaaand John Barrowman? Now I was not there to confirm if what they say tey saw is a fact, but the fan I was talking to was well versed in his Arrowverse knowledge, so I feel confident he was not mistaken. ... At the end of the evening, we saw 3 cast leave as Andrea Sixtos, Joseph David Jones and Katherine McNamara all left together, and shortly behind them we saw the director of the episode, James Bamford also leave." (canadagraphs tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread, and canadagraphs blog, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 13, 2019, SA posted pic of himself and Colin Donnell, both with similar facial beards, with comment: "S1 Flashback." (SA instagram post, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 14, 2019, media posted a few more pics of SA where he's wearing a blue hoodie over his GA suit and has blacking around his eyes. (JustJared tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread) -- On Jul. 14, 2019, fan tweeted pic of car containing AS, KM and JDJ, with comment: "Photo my mom took of @dresixtos @Kat_McNamara and @Josephdjones leaving set after wrapping day one of the final of the season of arrow. #arrow #connorhawke #miasmoak #dccomics." (lordvonpunx tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 14, 2019, papp tweeted: "Shot some pics of John Barrowman yesterday , I said good to see you back John. 'Well I can’t say why I’m back' I replied , No it’s good seeing you back in Vancouver, and don’t worry Rick already spoiled it by posting the call sheet." (pursuit23 tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 15, 2019, SA tweeted: "Going to have a tough time sleeping tonight. Work tomorrow is going to be pretty fucking cool." (SA tweet, page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 15, 2019, John Barrowman posted pic of himself with Colin Donnell, with comment: "Father and son. #merlyn #family #arrow #cw @cw_arrow @colindonnell jb." (johnscotbarrowman instagram post, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 15, 2019, papp tweeted: "Where was #Arrow's Oliver Queen today? Stephen Amell's Airstream parked at Delta mansion which is used for Queen Manor." (yvrshoots tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 16, 2019, Colin Donnell posted a pic of himself with Josh Segarra and RG, with comment: "I had to get out of the gym before these two destroyed it and me. #Arrow #WildDog #Prometheus #EarthX #Tommy." (colin donnell instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 16, 2019, director James Bamford posted pic of what might be the interior of the old Queen Consolidated offices set, with comment: "Our trusty locations department guards our set when we walk away for lunch....in this case it’s @wildmvstard leading the charge!" (james2bambamford instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, SA tweeted b-t-s pic of interior of Queen Mansion, with comment: "Blast from the past! Blast from the past? Blast from the present?" (SA tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, director James Bamford tweeted: "If @StephenAmell and the whole cast of the season 8 premiere of #Arrow don’t win an Emmy for these beautiful performances I’ve been witnessing all week.....there’s something wrong with the system." (JamesBamford tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, papp tweeted: "It really is Arrowverse Day. #Batwoman, #Supergirl & #Arrow in downtown Vancouver. Looks like a rooftop fight scene for Arrow at Plaza of Nations." (yvrshoots tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow shooting at Plaza of Nations today." and "Got #autographs today from #Arrow star Stephen Amell. Also saw David Ramsey and Rick Gonzalez there. Everyone was in suits.... no, not those suits. Dress attire suits." (yvrshoots tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 18, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow still at Vancouver's Plaza of Nations. Including Steohen Amell's Airstream. Can't tell if active set or leftover." (yvrshoots tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 18, 2019, KM tweeted: "Hey angels and archers, sorry I won't be able to make it to @Comic_Con this year with the rest of the @CW_Arrow cast. I'll be on set until the wee hours of Saturday morning filming and won't make it in time. Enjoy the fun in San Diego and get ready for a kickass Season 8!" (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 763 of Social Media thread) -- On Jul. 18, 2019, BL tweeted pic of himself with JDJ and AS in Vancouver, with comment: "Reunited and it feels so goo—wait, where’s @Kat_McNamara? ??" (benlewishere tweet, page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 19, 2019, director James Bamford posted pic of himself with KM, with comment: "Super shadow @kat.mcnamara and myself just after witnessing another ground breaking performance from the dynamic duo of @stephenamell and @davidpaulramsey . #Arrow season 8 in full effect!" (james2bambamford instagram post, page 4 of Spoiler Discussin Final thread) -- On Jul. 19, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow Final Season filming in Vancouver's Mountain View Cemetery today. But not a funeral. More like a fancy dress party from what I can see." and "Filming in Celebration Hall which if you don't see cemetery outside looks like a party event venue." and "Backgrounders in black tie. Floor-length gowns." (yvrshoots tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 19, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow is filming a 41st and Fraser inside the cemetery. All the main cast have already departed for #SDCC, wonder whose grave it is..." When asked if that included KC, papp tweeted: "In the grave? Sadly no. She’s already at comic con." When asked if it could the grave for the same person Flash filmed for a cemetery scene, papp tweeted: "That’s possible. It’s right out in the middle of the cemetery." Papp also tweeted: "Seems like a black tie event with the kids they are filming." (pursuit23 tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 19, 2019, fan tweeted: "Arrow filming graveyard scenes on Fraser and 41st." (PsychNation2019 tweet, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 20, 2019, JH: "I've only worked one day this season so far." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of JH interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 20, 2019, SA: "I shot a scene with David the other - just the - was it yesterday? Was it Thursday? (DR: "Um-hmm.") I shot a scene with David on Thursday, and it's not supposed to be a sad scene. But he had allergies and the wind's blowing. And as I'm delivering the line, this perfect tear rolls down his cheek. And it was because of allergies. I hope they - I hope they use it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 20, 2019, JBamford: "I just got off the plane. We were shooting all night last night... Last night, Thursday night, every night this week, we've shot sequences that we didn't think we were capable of before, um, in action and the actors who are coming to set - I tweeted this last week - If they don't win an Emmy for what we've done this week, every one of this people on the cast, there's something wrong. They're all bringing it. Uh, I've never been so impressed with the performances that we're getting, uh, from in - during the action, during the emotional scenes, uh, period, the size and the scope of the - just the premiere that we're doing right now is nothing like we've done before. And that's the truth. We're very, very proud. And I can't wait for you to see 801. It's incredible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 22, 2019, SA tweeted: "Kicked off my Monday by being tied up and doused with cold water." (SA tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 24, 2019, DR posted b-t-s pic of himself and SA looking at their phones in an interior room set. Room has half turquoise, half brown-wood paneled walls and a brown stenciled tile ceiling. (DR instagram post, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 24, 2019, DR tweeted: "That is a wrap on the first episode (#801) of the final season of #Arrow. You’re in for a treat!" (DR tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread) -- On Jul. 24, 2019, SA: "It's a little after midnight on - well, I guess it's Wednesday now. We just wrapped up episode 1 of the final season of Arrow." SA then thanked director James Bamford, the shadowing KM (who he still hasn't worked with yet, but "is excited to at a certain point"), and returning guest stars CD, JS, and the set deck department (who had to recreate sets) and stunts department (who had "to make some fights look like other fights in this episode"). (crazyforstephen tweet of SA instagram story, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 18, 2019, SA tweeted screenshot of bearded CD from 801, with comment: "Watching the premiere. Great googley woogley." (SA tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 18, 2019, JB posted pic of his Arrow actor's chair with his name on it, with comment: "So the beans were spilled in #boston love working with the team #arrow #malcolmmerlyn @stephenamell ?? #season8 #whathappens you will have to watch to find out. Trying to be soo vague #fabulous jb ????????." (johnscotbarrowman instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 21, 2019, James Bamford posted pic of SA's feet wearing Flash socks, with comment: "@stephenamell and his choice of set attire on this fine rainy August morning....shooting our final scene for our final premiere episode of #Arrow....801." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 25, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Just got out of the #Arrow 801 mix and it’s easily my favorite premiere of the series! #ArrowFinalSeason #October15." When fan asked if they were going to cry just like they did with the S8 trailer, Beth tweeted: "Yes." On Sep. 26, 2019, when asked if 801 is also his favorite premiere of the series, MG tweeted: "Definitely. Always hard to pick a favorite, but 801 is for sure one of mine." (SchwartzApprovd and MG tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself with BL and JDJ, with comment: "Team 2040 is back in 1 week! Don’t miss #ARROW Season 8 October 15th @thecw! ???? #TheFinalBow #StarCity2040." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 770 of Social Media thread) Edited October 15, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo October 18, 2019 Author Share October 18, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 802 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 2: Welcome to Hong Kong -- Production code: 802. Shoot Dates: July 23-August 2, 2019. Director: Antonio Negret. Writers: Jill Blankenship & Sarah Tarkoff. Airdate: Oct. 22, 2019. (Jul. 23, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 synopsis: "THE RETURN OF TATSU – Oliver (Stephen Amell), John (David Ramsey), Laurel (Katie Cassidy Rogers), and Tatsu (guest star Rila Fukushima) seek out an important person within The Monitor’s (guest star LaMonica Garrett) plan. Connor (Joseph David Jones) has a heart to heart with his brother (guest star Charlie Barnett). Antonio Negret directed the episode written by Jill Blankenship & Sarah Tarkoff (#802). Original airdate 10/22/2019." (Oct. 4, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle, the Monitor, E2 Laurel, Lyla, Mia, Connor, Zoe, and man in Deathstroke costume. (Oct. 2, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, Oct. 3, 2019 SpoilerTV article, TVLine gallery link and The CWPR gallery link, page 5 of Spoilers thread) -- The CW's Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included shot of Tatsu/Katana. (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 promo was posted featuring mostly the Monitor, Oliver, Diggle and E2 Laurel. Promo also included past shots of Olicity yin-yang kiss and E1 Laurel's death. (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Promos video of 802 promo, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 sneak peek was posted, featuring E2 Laurel, Diggle and Oliver. E2 Laurel blames Oliver for the destruction of her Earth. (Oct. 21, 2019 TVLine article & video, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 dialogue tease: "'Because... If I'm wrong...' 802." (Sep. 16, 2019 SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 802 dialogue tease: “'... if we fail to stop the coming crisis, what you witnessed will occur on infinite earths...' #arrow 8x02." (Oct. 18, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 802's guest cast includes Rila Fukushima as "Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana," Michael A. Cheng as "Shady Guy" and Paul Chih-Ping Cheng as "Special Agent 2." (IMDb link in Oct. 11, 2019 tv echo post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- The character of Tatsu Yamashiro, a/k/a Katana, as played by Rila Fukushima, will be the guest star in 802. (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Aug. 8, 2019 EW tweet, page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 802 (advance screening), TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted: "Just got to the Oliver/Tatsu scene @StephenAmell told me about here; it is SO good. #Arrow 8x02." (Oct. 19, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread) -- On 802 (advance screening), in response to fan saying that Oliver having a conversation with Tatsu in 807 should be interesting, given that both of them "lost" their families, TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted: "Yep. #Olicity fans will be [loudly crying face and broken herat emojis]." (Oct. 19, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 802 (advance screening), Hypable's Jay Ruymann: "Following the destruction of Earth-2, Arrow season 8, episode 2 picks up in the aftermath of their rushed exit before the anti-matter wave swallowed them hole, leading Oliver and Laurel to begin to understand what was lost. ... The episode opens with not only a new introduction by Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), but with a montage to really put Oliver’s journey in perspective for himself and for the fans. If this is any indication, Arrow season 8 is going to continue to honor the past seven seasons, and isn’t going to forget anything Oliver or the other heroes have been through in order to keep their city — and the world — safe. ... Arrow season 8, episode 2 is another heavy episode, arguably more so than the premiere, in which Oliver realizes what is at stake when Crisis on Infinite Earths' comes to pass. Despite being emotionally heavy, it’s a fantastic episode with too many callbacks to Arrow season 3 than I could count. ... As we saw on Earth-2, Oliver still desperately misses Felicity and Mia (and William, too, but you know how that is). He’s still struggling with his decision to leave his family to help the Monitor, even though he’s fully aware of the deal he struck to keep Barry and Kara safe during 'Elseworlds' the year prior. Even though Emily Bett Rickards is no longer on the show, Arrow is very much keeping Felicity and her importance to Oliver, in particular, alive. ... Her absence is very thoroughly felt as the show finishes up without her. I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if Felicity had been part of this season. How would it have changed to accommodate her role in Oliver’s life and on Team Arrow? Many of the scenes I’d expect Felicity to take part in with Oliver and being written to build on the relationship with Oliver and Diggle. ... Laurel’s journey in this episode is, by far, my favorite, and it gives such great, in-depth insight into how far she’s come since being Black Siren on The Flash season 2 and Arrow season 5. After losing her home, her entire planet, and everyone she loved on Earth-2, Arrow wastes no time digging into her grief and the trauma that has just been inflicted upon her. ... Katie Cassidy-Rodgers said, in our interview with her, that Laurel is a very emotional person, and that was an understand for Laurel’s story on this episode. How does one come to terms with the fact that everything she’s known is gone, especially in such an awful way? The surface is only scratched during this hour. ... More so than the premiere, this episode really drives the 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' story forward, and it’s clear much of the set-up for the crossover will be done on Arrow, as Oliver Queen is deeply intertwined with the Monitor and his plan. Plus, there’s a jaw-dropping revelation about the Monitor that begins to tie everything together. ... Like on the premiere episode, Arrow season 8, episode 2 is full of familiar faces. Tatsu AKA Katana returns as Oliver, Diggle, and Laurel work on the Monitor’s next mission, lending her invaluable hand to Oliver and his journey once more. On the other hand, Lyla returns to help one of the characters deal with the events of the premiere. ... (For those hoping to see the Earth-1 versions of Dinah and Rene, this is not your episode. There’s not even a glimpse of the present day Star City.)" (Oct. 19, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford: "Each episode so far, and we haven't started shooting the other two, but I've received the script for 802 and 803, and they're like feature film." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 23, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of James Bamford interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Every episode feels like a special episode... And episode 2 really leans on Season 3... But they all feel like they have a theme. Like, you know when they do a promo and they go, 'on a very special episode of'? That's what every episode this year feels like. I actually don't know a great deal beyond episode 3 right now." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “[E]pisode two is an ode to season 3...." (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainement Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Fnal thread, and Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Episode 2 is about a very specific part of Season 3... Every episode feels like an event." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver is doing the Monitor’s bidding. Both the first and the second episode are based around a specific task that the Monitor has given him. In both episodes he has to retrieve something." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Regarding Felicity, SA: "Well, she's ever-present in Oliver's mind. We found, um, Oliver can't wear his wedding ring in the premiere for a very specific reason, but he can wear it in the second episode. And it wasn't built into the script, but I spoke with our director, Antonio Negret, and we built a moment of Oliver putting his ring back on and just thinking about it. So Emily's gone, off the show, and, um - but Felicity and William and Mia are ever-present in Oliver's mind." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to spend 10 episodes moping around. Right? ... What I've done for my character is, I've said to myself, okay, she looked at me and she said, 'whatever happens, wherever you go, I'll find you.' ... And I believe her. That's the motivation for my character... That being said, it's incredibly sad. We shot a really cool scene in episode 2 where - I can't wear my wedding ring in episode 1 for a specific reason, and - so in episode 2, it wasn't scripted, but, um, we did a little specialty shot where he puts it back on, thinks about 'em, so she's certainly in the forefront of his mind." (Sep. 9, 2019 Eonline article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver in the first three episodes basically closes the book and reconciles in some way, shape, or form with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever would have expected that he would have reconciled with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, Oliver will make amends with five characters in the first three episodes alone and the people involved will come as a surprise to viewers, hinting that at least some of them might have already left the show before. While he couldn’t elaborate on who these characters might be, at least one is “his f**king mortal enemy." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I feel like in the first - in the first three episodes, Oliver has closure with five characters that I don't know that we ever thought that he would get closure with, in very unexpected ways. Maybe they don't know it, but he knows it. And, um, he's left a lot of loose ends along the way, and I hope that over the course of the year, we're going to tie as many up as possible." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Oliver, over the course of the first three episodes, reconciles and gets closure with five different characters that I don't think the fans ever thought that he would get closure with." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "As I was saying at Comic-Con... my character's had the chance over the past - or over the first three episodes, I reconcile with, like, five different characters." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "There’s a great exchange in Episode 2, between me and Rila Fukushima, who plays Tatsu, where she says, 'You’re being driven by anger,' and he goes, 'I’m not angry.' Because he’s not. He’s simply doing what has to be done. In a lot of ways, he was driven by anger in those earlier seasons; not so much this year. He’s just making good on the deal he made. He made a deal. He saved Barry, saved Kara." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On E2 Laurel joining Oliver and Diggle on the mission, SA: “I’ve loved our scenes in the first two episodes.” (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what role does Laurel play this year, SA: "She’s on the team. She’s on with me and Diggle, and she’s part of it. It’s really awesome. I don’t believe that Katie is in Episode 3 because she’s directing, and that was a fair compromise in my opinion, but she’s terrific in Episodes 1 and 2." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there will be opportunities for close quarters combat, SA: "Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes. (Laughs) I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but… the first two episode are huge." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Episode 2 is really hard... [There’s an] elevator fight. It was on a hot soundstage.” Also, per SA, time was another factor: “This happens every year where there’s an episode built in the first three or four episodes that will be really heavy on night exteriors. [In Vancouver, Canada], the sun goes down at like 10 at night, and it starts to get light at 4 in the morning, and so it makes it very challenging.” (Oct. 21, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 802's heart-to-heart conversation between Connor and JJ Diggle, Joseph David-Jones: "And then in episode 2, the heart of it really comes out and we have this powerful scene between the two of us. I would say that scene's probably been my favorite issue. If not that, then the scene from last season episode 16, the one between Connor and Mia but I would say this scene is as strong and as contentious as that scene was with Mia, and I can't wait for people to see that that's one of the things that I'm the proudest of." (Oct. 10, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there are any heart-to-hearts coming up for Connor and JJ, JDJ: "Oh, yeah. Honestly my favorite scene to shoot is in Episode 2, where there's a big heart-to-heart between the two of them and a lot of the backstory. A lot of what people know about it came through a backstory from Episode 19 of last season, but you didn't really get to see anything or any of JJ or their relationship, and me and Charlie worked on that a lot while he was up there... I'm really, really proud of where we landed with everything. I'm just really excited for people to see Episode 2 because it is a complicated relationship. It is something that you finally get to see between the two of them as opposed to just hear about." Also JDJ: "It was probably my favorite scene to shoot, my favorite day of shooting... [Charlie Barnett and I] spent a good deal of time developing that relationship so I can't wait for people to see it." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether JJ may have an easier time fighting and putting down his brother than Connor, JDJ: "Things come up in the second episode. I definitely think JJ would put down Connor, if given the opportunity, and Connor would struggle with it. I don't think he could unless something crazy happened. It's his brother. You'll find out a lot of it weighs on Connor, where JJ ended up. I think you're spot on with that." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 23, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted the 802 title page. (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 23, 2019, writer Sarah Tarkoff tweeted: "Thank you so much, @SchwartzApprovd, for bringing me back to co-write this episode! I’m so stoked about this final season of #Arrow!" (sarahtarkoff tweet, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 26, 2019, SA recorded a facebook live video, in which he has blacking around his eyes. SA: "I missed having this eye makeup. Um, I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Oliver has his mask back on in Season 8. And, uh, my reasoning for having the mask back on was, I just like it. The iconography of the character. Having the hood up. Uh, the suit that we did this year, uh, which I think was really, really beautifully done, uh, is a callback to the first season. Um, bow is - I can't - the bow's a callback to the first season. And, um, the hood. We're back to the canvas hood. Yao Fei's hood. It means a lot to me. It also fits better than any other hood. I had it for the first three years and then I begged them for the next 40 to give it back to me and they finally did it." (SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 30, 2019, KM tweeted pic of her shoulder tattoo, with comment: "? Mia’s moth ? Let’s name it. ? #ARROW #MiaSmoak." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 30, 2019, papp tweeted: "Would like to see Stephen do a video from Arrow set today. Friends in New York say his hair may be a lot different at the moment." In response to fan questions, papp denied that the hair was shaved or gray, but tweeted a gold medal emoji when asked if it was dyed. (pursuit23 tweets, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 31, 2019, DR posted b-t-s pic of himself on Arrow interior set, with comment: "7 hours in... #ArrowSeason8." (DR instagram post, page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 1, 2019, SA recorded a facebook live video from inside his Arrow trailer, in which he has blacking around his eyes. (SA facebook video, page 766 of Social Media thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, SA: "It is a little bit after midnight on Friday evening, Saturday morning, and I've just wrapped episode 802 of Arrow. That's 2 down, 8 to go." (SA instagram post & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, SA: "I want to thank Antonio Negret, who directed his first episode in Season 3 and always painstakingly but diligently delivers really, really wonderful content for us." (SA instagram post & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, SA: "I would like to really, really thank again the Set Dec Department because we had to recreate something that hadn't been seen on the show in several seasons and, uh, they did a great job." (SA instagram post & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, SA: "I would really like to thank, um, the guest star that I can't talk about, that I'm pretty sure hasn't been renounced - renounced, announced. Um, but they were wonderful. And they were very gracious to come back. And I thought that we shared some wonderful moments together." (SA instagram post & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 4, 2019, SA: “I think Tatsu being in Episode Two was awesome." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 8, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 4, 2019, SA said: “I did a giant stunt sequence on Friday evening/Saturday morning.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: CheatSheet article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 3, 2019, SA tweeted: "Episode 802 is a real treat. So thankful we got @antonionegret back in the mix one last time. Can’t wait to work with you again my friend." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited October 22, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo October 20, 2019 Author Share October 20, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers from September 16, 2019 to October 20, 2019. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... ADDENDUM #4 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC S8 Production Schedule -- On their last month of production, SA: "Yeah, we wrap on the 13th of November." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Promos & Trailers -- The CW's official Arrow S8 poster was posted, featuring Oliver as Green Arrow, with tagline: "Heroes Fall. Legends Rise." (Sep. 20, 2019 CW_Arrow tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 311 of Social Media thread) -- The CW's Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video was posted, featuring Oliver (including shot of Oliver looking at a photo of himself with Felicity and newborn Mia), Diggle, Tommy, nightclub scene, Deathstroke mask, dead people inside a facility, someone using Moira Queen's access card, Mia Smoak, E2 Laurel, Athena (from "The Thanatos Guild" episode), adult JJ Diggle, Thea, fight scenes, motorcycles, Tatsu/Katana, Talia al Ghul, and Lyla. Oliver (voiceover): "The only way this is bearable for me is if I make certain my sacrifice, my death, will protect the people I love." Oliver (voiceover): "There is a Crisis coming." Diggle (voiceover): "We are facing the destruction of pretty much everything." Athena: "Good luck." E2 Laurel (to Oliver and Diggle): "Nice of you to show up." Adult JJ Diggle: "This is the night that we have been waiting for. The city will be ours." Thea: "Less talking, more fighting." Thea (voiceover): "Indiana Jones made this look way more fun." Oliver (voiceover): "History's repeating itself." Moira (voiceover): "Oliver?" Oliver: "Hi, Mom." (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CBR breakdown of S8 "Sacrifice" trailer: "The trailer opens at the Queen family's mansion, a set that hasn't been utilized since the show's 100th episode in Season 5. 'The only way that this is bearable for me is if I am certain my sacrifice - my death - will protect the people I love,' Oliver says in a voice over narration. ... As Oliver speaks, the trailer cycles through some old settings, including his Verdant night club. Here, Colin Donnell's Tommy Merlyn looms, glaring at Oliver with suspicion. In another cut, Oliver awakens in his Season 3 bedroom in Hong Kong. When the trailer returns to the Queen Mansion, Oliver gazes at a photo of his wife Felicity and their daughter Mia, making it clear this is indeed the Oliver who left with the Monitor in Season 7. ... 'There is a Crisis coming,' Oliver points out, to which John Diggle responds, 'We're facing the destruction of pretty much everything.' A montage of action sequences shows the return of Willa Holland's Thea Queen, their mother Moira and Katana, aka Tatsu Yamashiro. ... The trailer explores more than Oliver's past. Indeed, it offers a glimpse into the future, where a grown Mia has taken up her father's mission to protect Star City. These flash-forwards include more of the Deathstroke gang and its leader, Diggle's son J.J." (Sep. 24, 2019 CBR article, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- ComicBook breakdown of S8 "Sacrifice" trailer: "TOMMY MERLYN... The trailer opens with several visual callbacks to the show's earlier days, including a scene of Oliver in one of Star City's dance clubs. Watching from across the club is none other than Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), Oliver's childhood best friend. ... MIA SMOAK... About a third of the way through the trailer, fans get another look at Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara), the future daughter of Oliver and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards). Once her true identity was revealed midway through the season, Mia became an integral part of the show's flash-forward sequences, and proved that she was just as talented with a bow and arrow as her father. ... JOHN DIGGLE... Unsurprisingly, one of Oliver's closest allies is joining him on his crusade, as John Diggle (David Ramsey) can be seen entering a hallway with Oliver midway through the trailer. Granted, it was basically a given that Diggle would play a role in Arrow's final episodes (especially since Ramsey is directing the season's sixth episode), but it sounds like the duo will be at a new stage in their relationship when that happens. ... LAUREL LANCE... Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy Rodgers) appears shortly after Oliver and Dig, and remarks that it was nice of them (or somebody else offscreen) to show up. ... JOHN DIGGLE JR.... The trailer also showcases quite a lot of the Deathstroke Gang, a band of mercenaries that have been causing trouble in Arrow's flash-forwards since last season. Eventually, it is revealed that the leader of the group is none other than an older version of John Diggle Jr. (Russian Doll's Charlie Barnett). ... THEA QUEEN... Also making a surprising appearance throughout the trailer is Thea Queen (Willa Holland), Oliver's half-sister who previously operated on Team Arrow as Speedy. After retiring as a vigilante, Thea returned for a brief arc in Season 6, which ended with setting out to find the lost Lazarus Pits with Roy Harper (Colton Haynes) and Nyssa al Ghul (Katrina Law). ... TALIA AL GHUL... Also joining that adventure will be Talia al Ghul (Lexa Doig), who served as Oliver's mentor during some of the show's flashback sequences. Talia then went on to play a role in Oliver's fight against Prometheus (Josh Segurra), as she ultimately joined forces with the foe. She was presumed dead until midway through last season when she was revealed to be a fellow inmate of Oliver's at Slabside prison. ... KATANA... Another one of Oliver's former mentors, Tatsu Yamashiro/Katana (Rila Fukushima), makes a fairly unexpected appearance in the trailer. After Tatsu and her husband helped Oliver in the show's flashbacks, they later played a role in the fight against Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins. Tatsu then returned in Season 4, as Oliver tried to deal with Thea's bloodlust. ... LYLA MICHAELS... Another brief return in the trailer comes in the form of Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson), who can be seen fighting a random man outside of some sort of mansion. The ARGUS director and wife of John Diggle has been a fixture of sorts on Arrow, it's interesting to see that she'll be back in some way for these final episodes. (Especially since the scene is giving us major 'Suicide Squad' vibes.) ... MOIRA QUEEN... And finally, the trailer comes to a close with a return that is heard, but not seen. Just after Oliver proclaims that history is repeating itself, Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson) can be heard calling out to Oliver. Earlier on in the trailer, a Queen Consolidated key card bearing Moira's name can also be seen in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment." (Sep. 24, 2019 ComicBook article, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Time and Place -- EP Beth Schwartz: "[T]his season we're in a different location in every episode." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "We're not going to solely be in Star City. It's going to be a little more of traveling heroes, going to different location to different location... Green Arrow and his team saved Star City last year so that's not what's at stake this season. It's not 'You have failed this city.' Now it's 'You have failed the multiverse.' [Oliver] has to save the multiverse. That's what's allowed us to open up our structure leading up to the crossover and allowed us to visit with some characters who aren't in Star City." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz echoed SA's "traveling road show" comparison. Beth added: "In our upcoming episodes, we visit places that we've gone to in our previous season. So they'll take place in different locations. I think we only have, like, maybe one or two episodes actually in Star City." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, very few of the episodes of the final season will actually take place in Star City. (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, throughout the final season “we visit places that we’ve gone to in our previous seasons, so they’ll take place in different locations. I think we only have maybe one or two episodes in Star City.” (Oct. 15, 2019 CBR article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “In our upcoming episodes, we visit places that we’ve gone to in our previous seasons... So they’ll take place in different locations. I think we only have one or two episodes actually in Star City." However, Beth clarified that, aside from the crossover, the season premiere is the only one that took place on another Earth - and yes, they did communicate with The Flash to be sure it would be okay to destroy that world. (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV and Eonline articles, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Arrow will visit other alternate Earths, EP Beth Schwartz: “Besides the [‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’] crossover, [the Season 8 premiere] is the only episode of Arrow that is on a different Earth.”. (Oct. 16, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “We visit places that we’ve gone to in our previous seasons… different locations... I think we only have, like, two episodes actually in Star City” - though, barring the 'Crisis' crossover, the premiere is the only episode to have scenes on an alternate Earth. (Oct. 15, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “[In] upcoming episodes, we visit places that we’ve gone to in our previous seasons." Beth added that only two or three episodes take place in the city Oliver risked so much to save; however, she declined to say what these locations might be. (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "We've effectively been like a traveling road show this year... One episode we're here, then the next episodes we're here, and the next episode we're there, and everyone's worked so hard. I feel like we are finishing ... stronger than we've ever been on the show. That's been my favorite part." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I'm looking forward to the audience reaction to Episode 804. [It's] really cool, really emotional, and it's actually the only episode this year where I feel like the team doesn't go anywhere... I feel like in every other episode we go somewhere, but Episode 804, we are parked in Star City." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Structure and Generally -- Nearly every episode of this season will feature a surprise guest from Arrow's past. (Oct. 15, 2019 Eonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "We're using 'Crisis' in its run-up as an opportunity to re-examine the show -- to look back and, as [showrunner] Beth [Schwartz] says, revisit our greatest hits... That's something that is definitely true within the episodes leading up to the crossover and it's even true in the Arrow episode of the crossover. The Arrow episode is a little bit more of a hat tip to Arrow than the other shows are doing [during the crossover]." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect from the characters that they have announced as coming back, MG: "They’ll be a little different. The way I would put it is that 801 is our re-visitation and our remix of the pilot. If this season is a re-visitation of our greatest hits, this is like going back into the recording studio and messing around with the balance and the mixing of it, and it’s a lot of fun." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll hear more announcements on people returning, MG: "Yes, there are so many more. We’ll be doling out that information, as the season goes on." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "We want to be true to Arrow while engaging in this enormous crossover. We got our heads together and I feel like because of it, we're going to honor the past seven seasons... instead of just doing another season with the same structure... We're going to touch on characters we haven't seen in a while. We're going to tie up some loose ends from every season. With this new structure it's allowed us to do that. It actually helped us make this last season the best season we'll have hopefully." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how much the overall structure of the series will change leading up to the COIE crossover and whether there is more of a standalone approach to S8, EP Beth Schwartz: "There's definitely a serialized story, but I would say that each episode is its own huge event and they take place in different settings... Which is different from previous seasons, we're mostly in Star City, where some episodes we'll go somewhere else, but this season we're in a different location in every episode." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “Each episode is just huge... It’s humongous, and also just trying to squeeze all the characters we can that we want to see for the last time has been really fun. I feel like almost every episode, if not every episode, there’s a fun surprise guest from previous seasons." Beth added: “This season is our series’ Greatest Hits as well as a build-up to Crisis." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz noted that the show is “trying to squeeze all the characters we can that we want to see for the last time” before the series takes its final bow. As a result, Schwartz said, “almost every episode, if not every episode, there’s a fun surprise guest from previous seasons.” (Oct. 15, 2019 CBR article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether any of the characters who came back for 801 will be back in other episodes, EP Beth Schwartz: “Some of them will return." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, other versions of E2 characters seen in the premiere may pop up in the remaining episodes or 'Crisis' itself, saying: "Some of them will return, yeah." (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, "some” of the characters who popped up in the season premiere “will return” in some fashion/incarnation, as the season goes on. (Oct. 15, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is anyone that he's hoping to see coming back that we haven’t heard about yet, SA: "Yes." When asked if he's allowed to say who, SA: "No." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I think that the writers, along with certainly me this year — we've been having a lot of fun... am happy with the number of ... loose ends we tied up ... [and] the amount of closure that Oliver gets." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it ever feels kind of crowded for them with the regular cast and all the guest stars, SA: "No, because it's really compartmentalized. This is going to be in some, overly simplified, but each episode is its own episode. [Episode] 4 is a little different. But then [Episodes] 5, 6, and 7 really are their own story. If you imagine the first seven episodes [are heavy action], four is like an emotional intermission. That should be the title of the episode. [Laughs]" (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Well, the biggest thing about this season in general of Arrow is that, for people who love the show, it's gonna be really special, because each episode kinda pays respect to a different aspect that has made Arrow Arrow. You know, we saw with the first episode, it went back to the pilot, it went through all of those moments and all of those characters that we loved so much. And that continues throughout, so it's - it's a really, really special way to pay tribute to this legacy that's been built." (Oct. 18, 2019 BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Each episode is a real love letter to something that has created the legacy of Arrow." (Oct. 16, 2019 Elite Daily article, page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Well, this season of Arrow is really special, because the writers knew this was the final season, they were really able to craft something to honor the legacy of Arrow. So each episode goes back to an element that really made Arrow what it is. So as we saw with the first episode, we went back to the pilot and kind of teased old characters in a new way. And that kind of thing only continues as the series moves forward." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ said that "they have a Bible of everything that's ever happened on the show" and mentioned that there are a lot of callbacks to past seasons that will be included in this final season. (Oct. 11, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Oct. 8, 2019 interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per JDJ, Arrow’s final episodes will feature “a lot of callbacks” to previous seasons. JDJ: “They’re trying to bring about a cathartic end to this entire series and this man’s journey, so you’re going to see a lot of people from his past we’ve brought back in, you’re going to see a lot of moments revisited from earlier seasons and I think fans are gonna love it." (Oct. 18, 2019 Radio Times article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Ending Arrow -- When it comes to the endpoint of what Arrow will end up being and how it eventually says goodbye, whether it will be anything like what they thought it might be, or is it very different from how they imagined it, MG: "That’s a great question. I would say, for the most part, it’s very similar to what I always had in mind. There have been some new ideas and some tweaks, and the crossover changed certain elements, but I would say that Stephen and I, for years, have talked about how things should end, and I would say that we’re definitely true to the spirit of that plan." EP Beth Schwartz: "I don’t know what people are thinking this series is gonna end up like. The hope is to end it very true to our show and have a satisfying ending for those fans who’ve been following, from the very beginning. That’s our hope, and we’ll see how it goes. I’m such a fan of television, and I have been, my whole life. I’ve watched so much television, so if I feel like this is hitting all of the points and I feel satisfied, that’s usually how a fan will react. Hopefully, we’ll be on the same page." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how the final shot of the series has evolved over the past several years, MG confirmed that there have been changes in his vision for what that last image will look like. MG: "It's shifted for a variety of different logistical reasons. Things that were originally planned for the series finale are now in the crossover, and by moving those moments into the crossover, it allowed me to look at those moments through a different lens and through a different eye and that changed some things... Until we actually shoot the finale, Beth and I were talking about this earlier today, I've given myself permission to not be dogmatic about what the finale is and allow myself to remain open for another idea." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "You just want to feel satisfaction -- that watching for eight years, even though you're sad the show ended, you have a feeling of 'Oh, that was really good. I feel OK walking away from the show,'" Schwartz explained. "I just want everyone, and myself included, to feel like that was the perfect ending to a show that I've been watching for eight seasons. My favorite series finale was Six Feet Under; if we can do anything in the vein of that show, I'll be happy. I want it to feel specific to Arrow and a perfect ending to Arrow." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows how the show is going to end, SA: "I do. He told me today, and I cried. I cried as he was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene." Thie EW interview was conducted in July 2019. (Oct. 14, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 770 of Social Media thread) -- On whether there is any possibility we could ever see his Oliver Queen again, SA: "Yeah. I want to say no, really bad. But what am I going to do if Grant [Gustin] calls me up and is like 'Hey, man, the Flash is wrapping up, and Greg wants to end the show with Barry and Oliver sitting in a bar, having a drink in heaven?' With that being said, I believe in clean breaks. I really do." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, SA tweeted: "Let’s wait until February and run this back. Our finale is just me boiling vegetables for 42 minutes." (SA tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, DR: "I just found out some things that'll be going on in episode 10. I think you guys are going to be very, very excited." (Oct. 8, 2019 Srta Roheli video of DR instagram live story, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashforwards and Future Team Arrow -- On what he can say about the new generation of characters on the show, with Mia and Connor, MG: "They’re so great. The cast of the future storyline, I don’t know how we got so lucky, but we actually managed to cast actors who are great, and who are incredibly professional and nice people, and who get along really well. It was almost like casting a brand new show in many ways, and to be able to strike lightning twice is really hard. I’m shocked and amazed that we pulled it off." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, in 2040, the new Team Arrow is "struggling to become a team," adding: "By the end of this episode [801], Mia's like, I'm the Green Arrow, you guys need to listen to me." (Oct. 15, 2019 Eonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, the flashforwards will feature a brand new wrinkle of their own, one that could leave the door open for future storylines even after Arrow wraps up: "We are doing something cool with the flashforward stories that .. there's definitely more stories to be told. But again, there's more stories that we could tell for Arrow for probably 10 more years as well." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether this season's flashforward story is setting up the Mia/Canaries spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz said that the prospective offshoot “didn’t really” affect Arrow‘s S8 plan for Mia, Connor, et al. Beth: “We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast." (Oct. 16, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "It's funny because like I want - you know, in order for the show to like keep going, it's not like it has this sort of happy walk off into the sunset moment for the rest of the crew. I want that to happen for, you know, um, Oliver and everyone in the past and everything. But I want us to sort of find who we are as people and as a team... We're not there yet... We're so bad. (Laughs) I don't want to give too much away, but we're not where we need to be, um, at the start of the season. And I'd like for us to all find where we sit in the grand scheme of things and as a team and become heroes, like legitimately. And then have that be able to be something that carries over into this spinoff." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition article & video of Joseph David-Jones interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Team Arrow -- On what role does Laurel play this year, SA: "She’s on the team. She’s on with me and Diggle, and she’s part of it. It’s really awesome. I don’t believe that Katie is in Episode 3 because she’s directing, and that was a fair compromise in my opinion, but she’s terrific in Episodes 1 and 2." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how she would describe the dynamic between Laurel, Oliver, and Diggle this season, KC: "I think that in terms of Oliver, and Diggle, and Laurel, it’s almost like they’re on the same playing field in a way. And I really think we get a chance to really see that. And I feel like she really is playing her part in being a member of this team. And again, going out there and feeling like she’s an equal. And I think it’s pretty incredible and it’s really fun. It’s been awesome." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Original Team Arrow ("OTA") -- On Sep. 23, 2019, SA posted pic of himself with EBR and DR, all hugging each other, with comment: "Monday vibes." (SA tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included shot of Oliver looking at a photo of himself with Felicity and newborn Mia. (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per TVLine, Oliver holds onto the hope that, as Felicity said, they will find each other again. (Sep. 25, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- MG: "The way I look at it is that it was a perfect ending for Felicity. Were Emily to return to the show, it wouldn’t be to provide an ending to Felicity’s story, it would be to provide an ending to Oliver’s story. They’re two different exercises." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who asked for "dialogue teases & scripts til death do us part," Arrow writers tweeted: "[ring emoji]." (Sep. 26, 2019 ARROWwriters tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what's driving Oliver right now, SA: "Two things: One, he believes the Monitor, because Kara and Barry were going to die and the Monitor gave him [an alternative]. And secondarily, he believes Felicity when she says, 'Whatever happens, I’ll find you.' He believes her." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- During an interview with ComicBook.com, they asked SA to address an old theory we came up with, namely, that Oliver Queen would not die in the Crisis but would be removed to a pocket Universe with Felicity. Asked whether he would prefer death, or a fake-out death like that, SA teased, "I have a third idea, but I can't tell you what it is." (Oct. 14, 2019 ComicBook article, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Mia -- KM: "I know it is rumored Mia and Oliver will meet at some point – and I can neither confirm nor deny! But if it did happen it would rock Mia’s world in a way that would not only change her forever but force her to deal with all the baggage and resentment... She has a complicated relationship with her father even though they’ve never met. Being told the vigilantes were evil and the cause of the demise of Star City then learning about his legacy and all the good things he did, everything wonderful he bought to the city, the importance he had to people as a symbol of hope and of redemption? ... It’s taught her a lot and when confronted face to face she has to deal with the fact that she respects his journey but she feels he chose that over her, and that is a huge obstacle... If they ever do come together." (Oct. 17, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct 15, 2019, papp tweeted pic showing SA's Green Arrow and KM's Mia (back shot) with RR's Batwoman, with comment: "Father & daughter Arrows. #Arrow's Oliver Queen & Mia Smoak. In crossover #CrisisonInfiniteEarths." (yvrshoots tweet, page 36 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 18, 2019, papp tweeted Supergirl crossover pics of Oliver and Mia together on set, with blog link. From Oct. 16, 2019 blog article: "On set for day 1 - Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/ The Green Arrow- Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/ The Flash- Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers/ Supergirl- Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent/ Superman- Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer / The ATOM- Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/ Batwoman- Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak- LaMonica Garrett as either The Monitor or Anti-Monitor. ... Much of the filming was up on the roof of 1 of the buildings at the Plaza Of Nations. ... Throughout the morning & early afternoon the cast, and the stunt doubles did a variety of large explosion type scenes. ... On the second day, all the same cast as the first day were there shooting, except LaMonica Garrett. ... This time, the day started off with the cast filming in the remnants of the old Plaza Of Nations amphitheatre, which now is just an empty pit. ... The scenes they shot seemed to have the cast all showing up to a spot amongst the rubble, as the Green Arrow and Mia Smoak are the last two to arrive, the group has a small chat, before the Supes fly off, and a group of 4 including Batwoman, The Green Arrow, The ATOM & Mia walk off past a burning car." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 37 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Oliver and Diggle -- On what they can say about the relationship between Oliver and Diggle this season, MG: "By design, the season is very much centered around just the two of them. It’s funny, now that Felicity is not part of the show, we’re down to just Oliver and Diggle. It’s always been Oliver and Diggle, or Oliver and Felicity, or Oliver, Diggle and Felicity. We’ve gotten rid of two out of the three, so now the remaining dynamic, especially with Thea gone, the remaining dynamic is now Oliver and Diggle. What we’re going for is that we’re trying to infuse, in the season, a sense that the end is nigh. These characters know, not in a meta sense, that the show is ending after 10 episodes, and that imbues their relationship with higher stakes and a greater sense of emotion. To me, that’s really, really critical for Season 8." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "The Oliver and Diggle bromance is very much alive, this season. It’s really special because it’s what started the show. There are so many throwbacks for the earlier seasons that I suggest everyone binges, if they weren’t already planning on doing that, before [watching this season]. There are so many callbacks, and to have the two of them, who started it all, going through this last season there, their relationship is one of the main focuses." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the season premiere implied that Diggle is on this journey with Oliver, SA: "It does imply that. What’s that comic book — the Hard-Traveling Heroes?" (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and the Monitor -- EP Beth Schwartz: "[The Monitor] does not like what has happened in [801]," referring to Diggle's involvement in Oliver's mission. Oliver was supposed to go it alone, but the Monitor clearly just hasn't figured out that you can't separate those two. Oliver, meanwhile, is going to get annoyed at the Monitor's vagueness, and he will be confronting the guy soon. (Oct. 15, 2019 Eonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, the Monitor is unhappy about Diggle's tagging along on Oliver's mission, saying: “He does not like what has happened in this episode [801]... But Diggle was always there for Oliver and his family. Specifically, Lyla has understood that throughout the seasons that you can’t separate those two.” (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver is annoyed and getting fed up with the Monitor’s obfuscation, EP Beth Schwartz: “He gets fed up and he confronts him…soon." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV and TVLine articles, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, Oliver is unhappy about his arrangement with the Monitor and “confronts him soon” about the issue. (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver's relationship with the Monitor and how it feels like the Monitor is jerking Oliver around a lot, SA: "Things aren't always what they seem. Right now the Monitor is being portrayed as evil incarnate, and we'll see. We will see." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- LMG: "Yeah, I'm Arrow-heavy this year... So Monitor and Arrow are pretty much joined at the hip for this last season." (TIFF, Sep. 9, 2019: Sep. 18, 2019 Collider video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 29 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Diggle was always there for Oliver and his family. Specifically, Lyla has understood that throughout the seasons that you can’t separate those two.” (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William and Mia -- KM: "She promised her mom she take care of Williams. She can’t fight for him. He can’t defend himself as well as she can. That fear… having someone else at risk who you can’t take care of all the time. You’re not always in the same place. She can’t always be right there to protect him and that’s terrifying, so that’s a lot of what she has to deal with this season." (Sep. 17, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[P]articularly with her brother William, she promised her mom that she would look out for him, and he doesn't fight the way she does. She can't be there all the time to protect him, so - I mean, we even saw in that moment [in 801] where the - the - you know, JJ gets the upper hand because she's concerned about William. That's a very real fear for her because it's the one thing she promised her mom. And that's something that's going to play into the season quite a bit." (Oct. 18, 2019 BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia and Connor -- Per JDJ, this season we'll be seeing the relationship between Mia and Connor explored further. He also didn't rule out the chances of a romance between the two. JDJ: "I'd say there's a chance, just out of last season, but they're not gonna make it easy... They're not gonna make it easy for the fans at all. We start off and it's like a love-hate thing, you know. There is... not conflict but there is some trouble with things when we kick-off and they're still trying to figure this whole thing out, navigate being heroes now tasked with protecting the city on their own. And they don't know how to do that. ... So it's them trying to figure out who should take the lead, what they should do, how they should work together as a team. And Mia just, in general, doesn't like to work as a team. So there's a lot of conflict between them but there's still a lot of love there, a lot of history. So I think we'll see a difficult balance because Connor really does care about her and vice versa." (Oct. 14, 2019 MEAWW (MEA Worldwide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the (romantic) tension between Connor and Mia, JDJ: "It's still a very complicated relationship... They're trying to figure out the best way to protect the city and be heroes like their parents were... It's us trying to figure it out. We don't really know how to do that... It's like trying to figure out who should be leading the team, who should be taking the fore part... A lot of that is reflected in their relationship. You know, it's love-hate, I guess is the best way to describe it... There's conflict there. And there's conflict when JJ comes into the mix too... There'll be some stuff coming up that the SmoakNHawke fans - I think there's a lot in there that they're going to love, uh, without giving too much away." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor and JJ -- EP Beth Schwartz: "The brothers have this really fraught childhood that we'll explain more in the upcoming episodes... Kind of how they got to this place where they're willing, you know, where JJ is willing to kill his own brother, and how he went down this path when he's Diggle and Lyla's son, who are the opposite of that." (Oct. 15, 2019 Eonline article and Oct. 16, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 802's heart-to-heart conversation between Connor and JJ Diggle, JDJ: "Obviously, we're going to have some great things with Charlie and everything... And then in episode 2, the heart of it really comes out and we have this powerful scene between the two of us. I would say that scene's probably been my favorite issue. If not that, then the scene from last season episode 16, the one between Connor and Mia but I would say this scene is as strong and as contentious as that scene was with Mia, and I can't wait for people to see that that's one of the things that I'm the proudest of." (Oct. 10, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the relationship between Connor and JJ Diggle, JDJ: "It's a conflicting one... And it's something that I haven't had the chance to play on yet in this universe so trying to find those moments, trying to establish and build a history with him has led to some great themes in this next season and I really can't wait for people to see it. You're going to see so much more of Connor than we did last season. I think we really just touched the surface in terms of his background and relationship with his family so now you'll see those things play out with these people." (Oct. 10, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "It's been great. A lot of the new people, we're still trying to find out what we can bring to the show, especially now that it's coming to an end. Finding times to meet and work on relationships with some of the veteran cast is a bit difficult. They all have so much that they're working on, but whenever new people come in as well there's a chance to really take time on our days off and work through these histories with these people and then personalize a lot of things. And Charlie works like that. He works very well. So we met up a couple times to sort of figure out our relationship because this bond that I have with him [as Connor] is the strongest for me in the show. I really did want to find what that was and how to personalize and how to really feel these things that I'm saying. He was amazing. He's amazing in it. You're gonna love him, you're gonna hate him. He walks that line pretty well." (Oct. 11, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is anything he is particularly excited to have fans see this season, JDJ: "I'm crazy excited they've already announced who's going to be playing JJ, and we - me and Charlie - um, we've worked really well together, first, a lot of different things in our performances to like really make that bond a strong one... I cannot wait for this season because it dives deeper into like the Diggle family as a whole. You know, it also dives very deeply into like my history, my background and like my relationships with both John and JJ. I'm like crazy excited." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition article & video of Joseph David-Jones interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which of Connor’s relationships has been his favorite to explore this season, JDJ: "I would say J.J.- in Connor’s history, he’s probably the person that he has the strongest bond with; he’s the person who has meant the most to him. It’s been so much fun to play and work out those scenes with Charlie Barnett, who plays J.J. It’s been the most challenging and rewarding part of shooting this season. We’ve put in the work and I can’t wait for people to see it!" (Oct. 20, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- On whether S8 Oliver is a superhero on a mission or a man confronting his inevitable end, according to EP Beth Schwartz, it's a little of both: "He's proving to be the ultimate hero. I mean, he started Season 1 as the anti-hero. He was killing people, for the greater good, but he was still killing people. And so going from Season 1 all the way to Season 8, he's proving to be that selfless hero that he always hoped to be. And we're bringing back all the characters throughout the season who have helped him get to that point." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted: "Heroes Fall. Legends Rise." This is the tagline on The CW's official Arrow S8 poster. (Sep. 20, 2019 SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "When it's time to say goodbye, say goodbye. That doesn't mean what the Monitor has prophesized is gonna come true. But it's - it's important. When I'm - when I'm done with the show, I actually feel like it's in the best service of, not just the show, but the Arrowverse, so to speak, to actually really be done. Flash, it's gonna keep going, and Supergirl's gonna keep going. And I just hope they look back at what I hope is, you know, a decade or 12 years or 15 years, and - I don't know, I just hope they had a good time watching our shows." (The Jam TV Show video of SA and DR interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what sort of conflicts will Oliver get into on a weekly basis during this final season, SA: "Oliver is doing the Monitor’s bidding." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver's journey being almost like a Wizard of Oz situation, where he has to go to various different earths or timelines to collect something, and along the way, he'll also be gathering one other person, SA: "Yeah, I wouldn't say that's over-simplifying it. That's not the exact way that it happens, but that's roughly right. The Monitor is setting me out on task. Sometimes that's about retrieving something. And sometimes that's about learning a lesson." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Oliver changes in these last 10 episodes, SA: "Well, I mean, we'll see. How many stages of grief are there? ... Five? Well the seven episodes prior to Crisis are like those stages for him. I mean, there's still lessons to be learned. I think that some of the scenes I get to play once we get past Episode 3 are...you know, we are in our final season and I think I'm getting more chances to break new ground with my character, which is so great and uncommon." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what sort of growth is left for Oliver over the final 10 episodes, SA: "We’re going to try to develop a sense of humor for him — in the nick of time. (Laughs)" (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what's driving Oliver right now, SA: "Two things: One, he believes the Monitor, because Kara and Barry were going to die and the Monitor gave him [an alternative]. And secondarily, he believes Felicity when she says, 'Whatever happens, I’ll find you.' He believes her. There’s a great exchange in [this season’s] Episode 2, between me and Rila Fukushima, who plays Tatsu, where she says, 'You’re being driven by anger,' and he goes, 'I’m not angry.' Because he’s not. He’s simply doing what has to be done. In a lot of ways, he was driven by anger in those earlier seasons; not so much this year. He’s just making good on the deal he made. He made a deal. He saved Barry, saved Kara…. (Sheepishly) I’m bummed out that he lied to Barry about making a deal." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver will be less reticent to let the team help him with this mission moving forward, SA: "Yeah, I mean, Dig's involved and Laurel's involved, and by the time we get to our seventh episode, we've got a pretty big team with a lot of very familiar faces and a lot of really cool team-ups. It's good, it's exciting." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I think that the writers, along with certainly me this year — we've been having a lot of fun... am happy with the number of ... loose ends we tied up ... [and] the amount of closure that Oliver gets." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- During an interview with ComicBook.com, they asked SA to address an old theory we came up with, namely, that Oliver Queen would not die in the Crisis but would be removed to a pocket Universe with Felicity. Asked whether he would prefer death, or a fake-out death like that, SA teased, "I have a third idea, but I can't tell you what it is." (Oct. 14, 2019 ComicBook article, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is any possibility we could ever see his Oliver Queen again, SA: "Yeah. I want to say no, really bad. But what am I going to do if Grant [Gustin] calls me up and is like 'Hey, man, the Flash is wrapping up, and Greg wants to end the show with Barry and Oliver sitting in a bar, having a drink in heaven?' With that being said, I believe in clean breaks. I really do." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, SA tweeted: "Lessons learned from S8 of Arrow: 1. My hair is going to be completely gray in 6 years. 2. I’m never going bald." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 10, 2019, SA: "It's Thursday afternoon. I'm in the middle of crossover time... I'm enjoying the crossover." (SA facebook live video, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 10, 2019 DR posted pic of himself with SA, KM and Matt Ryan in a forest, with comment: "Arrow final season premiere next Tuesday... Who’s ready? #arrowfinalseason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- MG holds out hope that EBR will appear one more time before Arrow officially signs off in early 2020, confessing that his biggest bucket list item is getting the actress back for the swan song. MG: "If Emily were inclined to return for the finale, I know exactly how she would be returning for the finale. And I'm very much like a dog with a bone. Part of the job of producing anything is not taking 'no' for an answer, which is not to say we've gotten 'no' for an answer. You always have to keep trying because you never know. You just never know... You never close the door on anything. You never know what's going to happen." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they can balance the fact that they had this satisfying ending to Felicity, knowing that EBR was leaving, but still have her feel like a part of the world, MG: "That’s a great question. It’s a challenge. The way I look at it is that it was a perfect ending for Felicity. Were Emily to return to the show, it wouldn’t be to provide an ending to Felicity’s story, it would be to provide an ending to Oliver’s story. They’re two different exercises. As a viewer, I hate when an actor or actress leaves a show, and then, suddenly, it’s like they’re dead and you never talk about them. We’ve never been that way, on this show. Take Sara Lance, who died in the pilot. We had no intention of bringing that character back to life, when we first started out the show, and yet, you hear about Sara, all the time. It’s part of creating a real, lived-in universe. If someone leaves your life, you still talk about them. So, we’re still talking about Felicity. There’s a moment in Episode 801 that’s a big acknowledgement of Felicity. I hope it makes the cut because it’s really funny and fun. Emily’s not in it, but it’s a major acknowledgement of Emily and Felicity. You’ve gotta have those moments, otherwise their absence is really suspicious." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is a plan if EBR does come back, MG: "Yeah. There are plans for everything, honestly. In many ways, that’s what you have to do, especially in this kind of situation." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is one particular character that’s very different from how he thought they would be, and if their journey became so different that they couldn’t end up where he expected, MG: "That’s a good question. No. It depends upon, expected from when? For example, there was never a Felicity Smoak in the pilot, and there was no Felicity Smoak in the overall plan of the show, so that alone changed everything. The governing philosophy of Arrow is that I like to break a show the way I like to go to Europe, which is that I like to have a plan – I like to have my theater tickets and my restaurant reservations and my museum tickets – but then, I like to be able to give myself freedom to deviate from the plan. And I really think that’s exactly what we’ve done with Arrow. And by the time Arrow is finished, I think it’ll be particularly true, where we always had a plan, always had ideas, and always had certain things we felt we were moving towards, and for the most part, we’ve honored the spirit of that, but we’ve also given ourselves the freedom to react to things, like when a great actress like Emily comes along, we write towards that character. We’ve be open to new and different ideas, so that when different opportunities, like having 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' as part of our universe, comes along, we can take advantage of that." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they're going to explain Felicity's absence in the COIE crossover (since the characters don't know that she's raising Baby Mia), MG tweeted: "We have a great explanation. But it’s not what anyone is expecting." (Oct. 9, 2019 MG tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On writing the Arrow tv series without EBR, EP Beth Schwartz: "I wouldn't say it's easy. It was very weird... especially writing the first script without her. It was sad... I love writing her character and always miss writing for her. We just had to creatively come up with a way of keeping her still there without seeing her, and that's sort of what we've done all season." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide and GreenArrowTV articles, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is any possibility that Felicity could return before the final season ends, EP Beth Schwartz:“We welcome her back and we’ll see what happens." (Oct. 15, 2019 CBR article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Because we didn’t know if [Emily Bett Rickards] was gonna come back in our final season, it was really important to me and everyone else to make sure we had a good ending for her, just to prepare ourselves. Writing that last scene, not only did I cry when I was writing, but every time I saw it in a cut, in post, and during the final mix, everyone looked at me and was like, 'Oh, god, here she goes again.' I don’t normally cry because I’ve seen the episodes a million times, but that final scene, the performances from Stephen [Amell] and Emily, and just knowing that was the end of that character, was really emotional." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Obviously, we’d love to have her back for the final season, but I’m really happy with how we ended her character. I know she’s said this, too, so unless we find a creative way that’s better than that, we’re not gonna just bring her back to bring her back." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he feels entering the final season without EBR, SA: "Not great. I think Arrow as you know it effectively ended in 722. It’s a different show in season 8. It’s like we’re playing our greatest hits. The premiere is the pilot. It’s almost like episode 1 is an ode to season 1. Episode 2 is an ode to season 3." (Oct. 14, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 770 of Social Media thread) -- On Felicity being mentioned several times in the S8 premiere and what they're doing to get EBR back, SA: "I think if Emily wants to come back, she can certainly come back. She can write her scene as far as I'm concerned. But I don't know. I think, regardless, we've put a nice cap on her story." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Felicity will never not be part of Mia and Oliver’s story just because of who she is... She is the heart and the core of what makes so much of who these people are... That never goes away whether she is on screen… And Emily is such a big part of both of our journeys on the show, so you can’t help but feel the presence in the story and on screen... You do feel her absence, but what that does is force Oliver and Mia to find a way without her and learn to stand on their own and adapt without her guiding voice." (Oct. 17, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- On what he thinks has been the biggest change for his character from S1 to S8, DR: "He got an outfit. It's all leather. Now it's leather and green and hot. No, honestly, because I don't know if you realize this, but back in the day, we used to fight crime, right? Arrow would come in with his green outfit. Arsenal would come in with his red outfit. His sister would come in with her red outfit. And then Black Canary would come with her sticks or whatever. And then John Diggle would run in with a bomber. Like a bomber, leather bomber jacket. Remember that song on Sesame Street, like, one of these things don't fit together? I used to sing that a lot on set. So, I think one of the best things that happened for John Diggle was that he finally got a hero's outfit." (Sep. 20, 2019 TVGuide tweet & video of DR interview, page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Hey, guys. David Ramsey here on the set of Arrow. Well, there's nothing really to prove that I'm on the set of Arrow, but I am. Today we are in the midst of our crossover... I'm doing an episode of Legends, Legends of Tomorrow, on the Arrow set. It's crazy. I'm so confused. Yesterday I was on Flash on the set of the Legends. I was on a spaceship. It's very strange stuff going on, very strange stuff in this crossover. But it's fun. Cannot wait for you to see crossover episode of Arrow, episode 8, and, um, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl and Flash and, um, yeah, like that. Even the great Cress - Cress William came over to our set from Black Lightning. It was awesome." (Oct. 8, 2019 Srta Roheli video of DR instagram live story, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what DR said: "So David Ramsey (John Doggle from Arrow) just heavily alluded to himself being some version of Jon Stewart, and that fans would be happy at the end of Arrow. #WizardWorldColumbus." (Wizard World Columbus, Oct. 19, 2019: B3nSolo tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Papp tweeted: "Heard David Ramsey did a photo shoot this season as the Green Lantern. Really hoping it that’s true even if it’s just the crossover." (Sep. 25, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, DR: "Back to what I was talking about, the crossover. Day One of the crossover begins today. Tomorrow begins Flash. Um, and I saw what Stephen posted about, um, him having a long day on set today. Uh, he and the rest of our cast are giving it their all. And, um, I just really appreciate you guys. I wanted to post it and share with you my bread pudding moment. They just called me back to set. We started crossover. And, until the next time." (Oct. 2, 2019 Kara Zor-El video of DR instagram live story, page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, DR: "I'm sittin' in my trailer. Lunchtime on Arrow. Crossover. Crossover began today. Day One of crossover. And I had bread pudding with lunch. It was delicious. Uh, Caity Lotz is here. Grant Gustin is here. Um, tomorrow I go over to the Flash set for Day One of Flash of the crossover. Batwoman, I think, started two days ago." (Oct. 2, 2019 Kara Zor-El video of DR instagram live story, page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted his blog, which included the following: "THIS BLOG POST IS FOR A 'ARROW' SEASON 8 EPISODE 08, AND MAY CONTAIN POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE SEASON, AND THE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS CROSS OVER EVENT. ... On Sunday, I took a rare chance to see if I could meet any of the people coming in for it... I also saw Katherine McNamara & David Ramsey from Arrow, and Danielle Panabaker from The Flash come in." (canadagraphs tweet & blog, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 2, 2019, KC posted a pic of herself with DR and 808 director Glen Winter, with comment: "I [heart emoji] and adore these 2! #Arrow @davidpaulramsey @glenwinter." (katiecassidy instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, DR tweeted a video about a contest to go to Vancouver to hang out with him. In the video, he's standing in front of two set chairs with CL's name and GG's name on them. He said: "Hey, guys! Sorry I've been MIA, but I've been working hard on the Arrow set. And - (points to CL's set chair and GG's set chair) - on crossover. It's crossover season. Speaking of crossover, I'm holding a contest of sorts for one lucky winner to come to Vancouver to hang out with yours truly. So go to the app. Details will follow. And maybe you'll be the lucky winner. Who knows? See you soon." (DR tweet, page 770 of Social Media thread) -- On Oct. 10, 2019 DR posted pic of himself with SA, KM and Matt Ryan in a forest, with comment: "Arrow final season premiere next Tuesday... Who’s ready? #arrowfinalseason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 19, 2019, DR posted pic of himself with JDJ and Charlie Barnett, with comment: "The Diggles. #ArrowFinalSeason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 771 of Social Media thread) Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included Lyla. (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Audrey Marie Anderson will reprise her role as Lyla Michaels in the COIE crossover event, but with a twist. Lyla will trade in her black ARGUS tactical suit for a super-suit in the mega-crossover (concept art was posted), transforming into Harbinger, her superhero identity from the comics. In the original "Crisis on Infinite Earths," Harbinger was a baby when she was taken in by The Monitor. By the time we meet her, she has lived a lifetime as essentially his daughter before being possessed and forced to betray and kill him. MG: "Lyla Michaels as Harbinger is a key component of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths that we were determined to honor in our crossover... What makes this particularly satisfying for us is that we introduced Lyla Michaels and her Harbinger codename all the way back in Arrow Season 1." It is not immediately clear whether Lyla will become the Harbinger - as in, this is Earth-1's Lyla taking on a new role - or whether Harbinger will be a Lyla from an alternate Earth. Either one seems plausible. (Oct. 2, 2019 ComicBook article, page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On the Lyla/Harbinger news, MG tweeted: "Eight years in the making. #longgame." When asked why Harbinger's costume doesn't include a helmet, MG tweeted: "We explored a helmet. Didn’t look right." (Oct. 2, 2019 MG tweets, page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- The show will address the issue of whether or not Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger been working for the Monitor all along. EP Beth Schwartz: “I think in Episode 3." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz said an answer to the Harbinger question will present itself in the third episode of the season. (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, the question of exactly which Lyla Michaels (ours, or another Earth’s) will be assisting The Monitor as Harbinger will be answered “pretty fast” - specifically, in Arrow’s third episode. (Oct. 18, 2019 TVLine article page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mar Novu AKA The Monitor AND The Anti-Monitor -- On being a big part of Arrow this season, LMG: "Yeah, I'm Arrow-heavy this year... So Monitor and Arrow are pretty much joined at the hip for this last season. But he does bounce around and he wreaks havoc. You know, you think Monitor is bad. It's like bad cop/worse cop, because Anti-Monitor's coming, so, you know, the audience that's hating one person right now, when they see the other guy, it's gonna - it's gonna be real." (TIFF, Sep. 9, 2019: Sep. 18, 2019 Collider video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 29 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog -- On Oct 3, 2019, fan tweeted pic from Oct. 2, 2019 RG instagram story showing airport and caption "#crisisoninfiniteearths," with comment (as translated): "Rick Gonzalez, Rene at # Arrow is also confirmed at Crossover # CrisisOnInfiniteEarths." (DCTVHeroesBra tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- On the preparation of the backdoor pilot starring KM, KC and JH, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re super excited about the potential of a new series, and all of our kickass women. It’s been crazy, but really fun." Beth added that the spinoff won’t affect their approach to the 2040 storyline that KM currently stars in, saying: "We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast, I would say." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll continue to see the relationship between Dinah and Laurel grow throughout this season, KC: "Yeah, I think there’s definitely more depth there, for sure." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA E2 Black Canary -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included E2 Laurel. (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine confirmed that KC is still a series regular, even though she was billed in the Arrow S8 premiere with “Special Appearance By” (as opposed to last season’s “With”). (Oct. 16, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how KC fits into things, MG: "She’s fantastic. I can’t talk too much about Katie without spoiling things. The reason I haven’t talked about Katie is that it’s very hard to do it without spoiling 801. Katie directed 803, and it’s been such a privilege to watch her prepare to become a director. She’s just been so professional. She was acting in 802, while prepping 803, and putting in 24/7 days. She’s just tireless. She’s amazing. She actually has some great, fun things to do in Season 8, but I can’t talk about any of them because it ruins the end of 801. You asked which character turned out completely differently, and Laurel is probably the best answer. The whole idea of Black Siren was never in the game plan. It was just the idea of bringing Black Siren back for 509 was a one-off idea, and we loved having her back so much that (CW President) Mark Pedowitz called, very similar to the way he did with Emily [Bett Rickards], and said, 'You’re gonna have her back again, right?' And we were like, 'We’re way ahead of you.' When Katie came back as Black Siren and when Emily was introduced to the show, those were two times where Mark Pedowitz said, 'You’re doing more with her, right?' And we were like, 'Now we are.'" (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the preparation of the backdoor pilot for a Mia/Canaries spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re super excited about the potential of a new series, and all of our kickass women. It’s been crazy, but really fun." Beth added that the spinoff won’t affect their approach to the 2040 storyline that KM currently stars in, saying: "We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast, I would say." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what role does Laurel play this year, SA: "She’s on the team. She’s on with me and Diggle, and she’s part of it. It’s really awesome. I don’t believe that Katie is in Episode 3 because she’s directing, and that was a fair compromise in my opinion, but she’s terrific in Episodes 1 and 2." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she can confirm that she'll be appearing as Black Siren this season, KC: "I mean, again, Laurel Lance, Black Siren, Canary, the different roles that I have portrayed, you will see glimpses of them throughout the season." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite costume, KC: "My favorite costume is definitely by far this new costume. It really truly feels like the Black Canary. It feels like Laurel Lance. It feels almost truer to the comic book than we’ve seen, and I think that’s really cool. It’s been really, yeah, it’s been really incredible. I wish I had it sooner. So this costume is definitely by far my favorite, and I think it’ll be the fan favorite as well. And I actually did not have input on this one, but it’s still really empowering and badass to wear, and I can certainly appreciate all of the time that went into it in terms of designing it and putting it together. It’s incredible." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I think that Laurel’s arc this season is really about fulfilling her promise to become a hero and discovering exactly what it means to be a hero. The good and the bad." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she would say that Laurel’s fully redeemed when we see her this season or whether she is still struggling with the battle of right and wrong as she tries to be a hero, KC: "I think she’s still discovering again, what it means to be a hero. And I think there’s still lessons to be had and she’s fulfilling her promise. But yes, there’s good, there’s bad, there’s hardship at times, and she’s seeing all sides of it." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Laurel will develop a closer bond with anyone in particular this season, KC: "I think we’ll get a chance to see her develop a closer bond with several people this season than you maybe wouldn’t necessarily have thought." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On where she hopes to see Laurel when the series ends, KC: "I hope to see her fulfill her promise as she is doing throughout the season and sort of to be in a position where she could do this — be a hero — given all of the things that she’s learned. I think that makes her strong enough to maybe be in a position where, whether it be her, whether it’d be her and the team, but she’s ready to be there and that’s where she belongs." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll continue to see the relationship between Dinah and Laurel grow throughout this season, KC: "Yeah, I think there’s definitely more depth there, for sure." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her previous comment about pitching an idea for a Birds of Prey TV show a few months ago and whether any of her ideas were included in the potential Mia/Canaries spin-off, KC: "Well, the fact that I’m a part of it and as we know the other individuals who are a part of it, I would hope to think that’s sort of the direction they’re going, more that ‘Birds of Prey’ type that I had suggested. And I think now, more than ever, is definitely a time for women. And it certainly seems that way in regards to what the spin-off is and what it looks like. But yeah, I’m really excited, and I think that they will in one way or another, in a clever way, incorporate that." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, KC posted instagram story of herself, captioned: "The sauna before the crisis... #arrow #crossover." (KC instagram story pic in Primal Slayer post, page 31 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 2, 2019, KC posted a pic of herself with DR and 808 director Glen Winter, with comment: "I [heart emoji] and adore these 2! #Arrow @davidpaulramsey @glenwinter." (katiecassidy instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread) Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific -- Echo Kellum will guest star in 804. (Oct. 18, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Thea Queen AKA Speedy -- Warner Bros. confirmed that Willa Holland (Thea) will be back in S8 in a recurring role. While the number of episodes she is returning in is not yet known, she is rumored to be making her return in 803. EP Beth Schwartz: “We are thrilled to have Willa back in our final season." (Sep. 18, 2019 GreenArrowTV and TVLine articles, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, for Thea's return to Arrow, which takes place in the third episode (titled "Leap of Faith"), a lot of answers will be given about what the younger Queen sibling has been up to. MG: "We very clearly tell the audience where she is, what she's been doing since season six. It's a good update... Of course, we have to do that relative to what we learned with Roy's character last year, so all those questions will get answered." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Thea (WH) will be back in 803. EP Beth Schwartz: “We love Willa, and there’s no way we could have had a final season without her. So that was a no-brainer to bring her back." Per Beth, Thea "comes back in a very cool way." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV, CBR and TVLine articles, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- Colton Haynes is returning to Arrow and will recur in the final season. EP Beth Schwartz: “We couldn’t have ended the show without having him back." (Oct. 3, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted pics of crashed plane and crash site, with comment: "A plane crash in Purgatory. With Roy Harper (Colton Haynes)? #Arrow wrapped 8x07 Purgatory yesterday: ..." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted pic of CH in car, with comment: "Colton Haynes not in the photo. Saw him being driven from set." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included KM's Mia Smoak. (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the preparation of the backdoor pilot for a Mia/Canaries spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re super excited about the potential of a new series, and all of our kickass women. It’s been crazy, but really fun." Beth added that the spinoff won’t affect their approach to the 2040 storyline that KM currently stars in, saying: "We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast, I would say." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Mia in a costume this season, KM: "I don’t know. They don’t tell me anything. I get the scripts, and then I find out what happens." (Sep. 17, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "For Mia in particular, it’s a very interesting season because she’s been quite the lone wolf her entire life. Now that she has a team — and a family and a brother — it changes everything." (Oct. 16, 2019 Elite Daily article, page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Mia is a product of her environment: She is cutthroat and she will do what it takes to survive no matter what. It’s a very interesting way to approach a similar world but with a completely different perspective.” Also KM: “[Mia] was raised largely in isolation … and Mia doesn’t play well with others... She has to learn how to be part of a team. And whether or not she’s successful with that is a big question for the first part of the season.” (Sep. 22, 2019 The Kansas City Star article, page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia this season, KM promised a different side of Mia, as she is out of her element for most of the season," KM: "She is fighting and doing what she does best, but she is also being forced to be part of a team and being raised by Nyssa and single parent, she is not used to being part of a team or how to handle that, and as the season goes on she will be confronted with a lot of her past and things she never thought possible." (Oct. 17, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "What's interesting is when we found Mia last year, she was a cage fighter, she was totally in her element, kicking ass and doing everything that she does best. But this season, she's still the same Mia, but now is working as a team. And that is, being raised by Nyssa al Ghul, who's an assassin, and by her mother kind of in isolation in the woods, she isn't used to working well with others. And, being a punch first, ask questions later kind of gal, it takes a minute of adjustment." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "What’s interesting about this season is, Mia was raised in isolation. She was raised in the woods by her mother who was very guarded. She was trained by Nyssa al Ghul who is by nature a lone wolf. And now this season, she has learned how to be a part of a team, and she doesn’t play well with others... That’s a very interesting thing to see – how successful or unsuccessful she is at that. And also with that, she’s not used to being responsible for someone else. She promised her mom she take care of Williams. She can’t fight for him. He can’t defend himself as well as she can. That fear… having someone else at risk who you can’t take care of all the time. You’re not always in the same place. She can’t always be right there to protect him and that’s terrifying, so that’s a lot of what she has to deal with this season." (Sep. 17, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "So with Mia in particular, we saw this kind of in the first episode, she's having to work on a team for the first time. She was raised by her mother alone in a cabin, trained by Nyssa al Ghul, who's an assassin. She's very much a lone wolf and is not used to having to consider the opinions of others or the safety of others." (Oct. 18, 2019 BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Mia will struggle to do right by Mom (Felicity). On top of learning how to be part of a team alongside Connor, Zoe et al (“Mia does not play well with others!”), KM pointed out that Mia “is not used to having to look out for anyone but herself, and she promised her mother that she would protect William. But she can’t fight for him, so that’s real fear, and it’s something she doesn’t know how to handle. It’s quite the learning curve!” (Sep. 25, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On still bringing as many elements of both SA's Oliver and EBR's Felicity into her character as possible, KM: "Even now, I try to take the little things that Stephen does physically, or I asked the writers to add a couple 'Fracks!' to the script the other day, just to keep that alive." (Sep. 17, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she is most excited for us to see Mia conquer this season, KM: "Well, this season of Arrow is really special, because the writers knew this was the final season, they were really able to craft something to honor the legacy of Arrow. So each episode goes back to an element that really made Arrow what it is. So as we saw with the first episode, we went back to the pilot and kind of teased old characters in a new way. And that kind of thing only continues as the series moves forward. And with Mia, very quickly, um, a series of events takes place that changes her forever and will completely rock her world in a way that she's really forced to confront everything that she's tried to push away. And everything that's - that's hardened her, she has to kind of bring to the forefront, which, when it comes to emotional things, that's really not her forte. Um, she doesn't quite know how to handle when things like that come up. So it'll be interesting to see what happens." On preparing to play a character that's not good at handling emotions, KM: "You know, it's kind of the most fun, because when you have these characters that are so strong and so confident in who they are, when they are taken back a step, when they are knocked down, you get to see that kind of underlayer of vulnerability, and that is kind of a fun layer of juxtaposition to play around with and see what colors come out." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the episode she is most looking forward to fans seeing, KM: "They are all incredible and I can give the merits of each episode... but episode four, in particular, is heavy in a way that Mia has never been a part of in Arrow and in a way that changes the nature of the story and the trajectory of the characters forever." (Oct. 17, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why episode 4 is her favorite this season, KM: "Episode 4 is a huge turning point. It's really the end of episode 3 into the beginning of episode 4. It's - it changes everything. It's a huge moment and a huge event that not only changes Mia forever, but also changes the course of the entire arc of the story. And, uh, that's what you have when you're building to Crisis. 'Cause all bets are off and there are no rules anymore. And literally anything can happen. And it rocks Mia's world in a way that she never thought possible. And it really is going to force her to confront everything that she's tried to push away in her life." (Oct. 18, 2019 TVLine article page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she would want to see from Mia if a spinoff were to happen, KM: "Well, what's so great about this season is, you get to see what the legacy of Arrow means. And if it were to continue, I would hope that that would be Mia's path, to fit into an Arrow kind of world and to be able to protect the city that she has grown up and that she loves so much and that her parents worked so hard to create." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "In Kat's perfect world, a hypothetical Arrow spinoff... It would be nice to see Mia out of her comfort zone in a sense. I mean, we see that a little bit this season. We get to see Mia try and be part of a team, which she doesn't necessarily play well with others - at this point. Um, but to force her to grow and to see her humanity a bit more, to see her relationship with her brother, to see her relationship with the other people around her. And - and to see her really try and take her own steps to improving Star City - but doing it her way - would be very interesting to see." (Oct. 15, 2019 leanneaguilera tweet & ET Style video, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, fan tweeted pic of KM, with comment: "Did Kat just spoiled she’s going to be in the crossover ?!?" KM's pic is captioned: "Tomorrow. #Olicity baby's first crossover... @CW_ARROW @CRISISONINFINITEEARTHS." (thisiselley tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself, with comment: "... after reading the crossover scripts #CrisisonInfiniteEarths... @thecw [collision symbol, hushed face and bow & arrow emojis]." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 31 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Sep. 27, 2019, Johnathon Schaech tweeted a pic of himself as Jonah Hex with GG, MR, CL and KM, with comment: "Brave leaders answering their personal calls to COURAGE! #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths @DCComics @caitylotz @Kat_McNamara @mattryanreal @grantgust @CW_TheFlash @TheCW_Legends @CW_Arrow @LoTWritersRoom @CWBatwoman @GBerlanti #TheFlash #Constantine and #JonahHex @BreneBrown #DareToLead." (JohnSchaech tweet, page 32 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted his blog, which included the following: "THIS BLOG POST IS FOR A 'ARROW' SEASON 8 EPISODE 08, AND MAY CONTAIN POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THE SEASON, AND THE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS CROSS OVER EVENT. ... On Sunday, I took a rare chance to see if I could meet any of the people coming in for it... I also saw Katherine McNamara & David Ramsey from Arrow, and Danielle Panabaker from The Flash come in." (canadagraphs tweet & blog, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, KM tweeted: "Topsy turvy twists on #CrisisonInfiniteEarths... brace yourselves... [bow & arrow, lightning, bat, female superhero and milky way emojis]." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread in Arrow forum and page 33 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 10, 2019 DR posted pic of himself with SA, KM and Matt Ryan in a forest, with comment: "Arrow final season premiere next Tuesday... Who’s ready? #arrowfinalseason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct 15, 2019, papp tweeted pic showing SA's Green Arrow and KM's Mia (back shot) with RR's Batwoman, with comment: "Father & daughter Arrows. #Arrow's Oliver Queen & Mia Smoak. In crossover #CrisisonInfiniteEarths." (yvrshoots tweet, page 36 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 18, 2019, KM: "I just finished the crossover... So, yeah, that's all I can say. That's all I can say, is that I'm in the crossover, and I can say no more than that. But, um, I just finished my pieces for the crossover... We have two more episodes to shoot for Arrow. And then, that's Arrow." (BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 18, 2019, KM: "I've been, you know, in crossover land. So I've been in pretty much every different universe you could possibly imagine at this point. Um, I actually haven't been to the Arrow set in almost three weeks. Yeah. So that's been a huge departure. But I tell you what's so fun about crossover is that you get to see the interaction between different characters you would never otherwise see. And just for Mia, as a nerdy fan, it's so fun to just be on set. Everybody's in thsir suits. I'm like, (smiley reaction). It's so cool." She also talked about how each set "has it's own personality." (BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 18, 2019, regarding the backdoor pilot and the tweeted "Green Arrow and the Canaries" comics cover, KM: "All I can say is, it's exciting to see what - what is coming. Potentially. You know, there - I know in episode 9 of Arrow, it kind of goes to what happens next. That's kind of the beginning of - the beginning of the epilogue of the series. And we'll see what they - what they do. I actually, truly don't know a lot yet. (Interviewer asked if they've filmed episode 9 yet) No... We're about to start 9, so I'm just now getting information. I really don't know much... I've been, you know, in crossover land. So I've been in pretty much every different universe you could possibly imagine at this point. Um, I actually haven't been to the Arrow set in almost three weeks. Yeah. So that's been a huge departure. But I tell you what's so fun about crossover is that you get to see the interaction between different characters you would never otherwise see. And just for Mia, as a nerdy fan, it's so fun to just be on set. Everybody's in thsir suits. I'm like, (smiley reaction). It's so cool." She also talked about how each set "has it's own personality." (BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William "Will" Clayton -- On Sep. 21, 2019, BL posted pic of himself with KM and JDJ (as William, Mia and Connor), with comment: "Don’t Call Me Angel 2040." (benlewishere instagram post, page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor Hawke -- JDJ: "You're going to see so much more of Connor than we did last season. I think we really just touched the surface in terms of his background and relationship with his family so now you'll see those things play out with these people." (Oct. 10, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "In a different timeline, in a different world, I was JJ, I was the son of John Diggle. So it's kind of funny reevaluating who I am and where I fit in with this new timeline, universe. But there's so much to play with with that, and there's a bit of turmoil and knowing what is inside of me and where I came from to be the person that Connor is now. Because we find out that he wasn't always the person that he is now. You get to see that a lot in this season that's coming up. You get to see what went into Connor becoming sort of this Diggle-esque character in Arrow now. And also you get to see what led JJ to being where he is, and playing with that and working with Charlie [Barnett] has been amazing to sort of find that defining moment within that to bring these characters to life." (Oct. 11, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what kind of happy ending does he want Connor to have at the end, JDJ: "It's funny because like I want - you know, in order for the show to like keep going, it's not like it has this sort of happy walk off into the sunset moment for the rest of the crew. I want that to happen for, you know, um, Oliver and everyone in the past and everything. But I want us to sort of find who we are as people and as a team... We're not there yet... We're so bad. (Laughs) I don't want to give too much away, but we're not where we need to be, um, at the start of the season. And I'd like for us to all find where we sit in the grand scheme of things and as a team and become heroes, like legitimately. And then have that be able to be something that carries over into this spinoff." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition article & video of Joseph David-Jones interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about Connor’s arc this season, JDJ: "This season, we’re going to dive a lot deeper into his backstory, the people in his family, and his relationships. We just touched the surface last season, but now we’ll see that fully fleshed out. I feel incredibly proud and I can’t wait for people to see!" (Oct. 20, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "Connor inherently carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He blames himself for a lot of things. I want him to realize that a lot that happens isn’t his fault, and that he shouldn’t be too hard on himself." (Oct. 20, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we will see Connor make an appearance in the female-led Arrow spinoff in the works, JDJ: "They’re still trying to figure out the show. They want it to be different from Arrow but still do justice to its legacy. I don’t know how much I can give away about what’s going to be happening in the show, but the initial idea is that the future Team Arrow is still going to be a part of this. They’re still figuring out the dynamic and where everything will fit, so we’ll see. It’s still evolving and being developed." (Oct. 20, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per JDJ, although Arrow is coming to an end, fans can still hope to see more of Connor, possibly as part of the Mia/Canaries' spin-off. JDJ: "I definitely don't think it's going to be the end for Connor... I am excited to see how he fits into things going forward. I think we’re going to see more of him. With this spin-off and with everything, it is going to be a different show from 'Arrow'. It's finding its own pace, has its own rhythm, but I'm interested to see where Connor kind of fits into all of that and how his relationship with Mia will continue to grow." As to whether he will ever put on the Green Arrow hood again (like he did in S1 of LoT where he played an alternate version of Connor), JDJ: "It's not outside of the realm of possibility... There are others who want the same thing and hopefully, it happens." (Oct. 9, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether his character Connor Hawke will appear in the new Mia/Canaries spinoff, JDJ: “Mmm-hmm, there is a chance! ... We’ll see. I can’t give away anything!” JDJ also said: "I think they wanna find a story that makes sense to tell after Arrow, because it’s something that was so near and dear to all of the fans and it was something that was sort of unprecedented at the time it came out, so]they don’t wanna just make something that is gonna not do justice to the Arrow legacy… They’re keeping everything close to the chest like they always do. but I think it’s gonna be a fun show show. I’m interested to see where things go with the spin-off.” (Oct. 18, 2019 Radio Times article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, JDJ: "... Okay, I can't talk for very long. Any second somebody's going to knock on that door, pull me back to set. We have been working tirelessly on Season 8. I know you guys are going to love it. I can't wait for you guys to see it. It's going to be amazing...." (josephdjones instagram post & video, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, JDJ mentioned being sad at times while shooting scenes because this was the last time they would ever shoot on a particular set. He then added: "But we'll see what happens with this - this spinoff show and how - you know, how many people end up being - yeah." (Oct. 11, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Oct. 8, 2019 interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, JDJ: "Without giving too much away, like, I've - 'cause there's so many Easter eggs in this crossover this year, I've had to like read my scripts with the Wikipedia. Um, and I'm just like, 'what is that?' (Miming looking back and forth at different pages) 'Oh, [unintelligible word] 75.'" (Oct. 11, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Oct. 8, 2019 interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 19, 2019, DR posted pic of himself with JDJ and Charlie Barnett, with comment: "The Diggles. #ArrowFinalSeason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 771 of Social Media thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included JJ Diggle (played by Charlie Barnett). (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the upcoming season, JDJ: "Obviously, we're going to have some great things with Charlie [Barnett] and everything." (Oct. 10, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "[Y]ou get to see what led JJ to being where he is, and playing with that and working with Charlie [Barnett] has been amazing to sort of find that defining moment within that to bring these characters to life." (Oct. 11, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "[Charlie Barnett] was amazing. He's amazing in it. You're gonna love him, you're gonna hate him. He walks that line pretty well." (Oct. 11, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 19, 2019, DR posted pic of himself with JDJ and Charlie Barnett, with comment: "The Diggles. #ArrowFinalSeason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 771 of Social Media thread) Zoe Ramirez -- Andrea Sixtos: "So I play adult Zoe, and you see her in Star City 2040, 20 years later. Um, and she is the daughter of Wild Dog, Rene Ramirez... She grew up, in her childhood, watching her father be a vigilante, saving the city, and was really inspired by that. And so, inevitably, she grew up wanting to be just like her dad. And so she becomes a vigilante herself. And she is a Black Canary, working with the Canary Network, um, to save the city. She - she gets very emotional and -." Interviewer interrupted her to ask if she get to do a lot of physical stuff and if she has a stunt person telling her what to do. AS: "I do have a stunt double. Um, I would like to do my own stunts. Hopefully, one day. Maybe next season." (Aug. 19, 2019 TheTRENDTalk Show video of Andrea Sixtos interview, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Interviewer: "Now you're shooting the final season, Season 8." Andrea Sixtos: "Yes." Interviewer: "Good luck on the last season." AS: "Thank you so much." (Sep. 30, 2019 BeondTV video of Andrea Sixtos interview, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 8, 2019, AS posted pic of herself with a hood and mask, with comment: "Zoe stays ready ?? #OneMoreWeek #Arrow #S8 #FinalSeason #October15th #FTA #ComingAtYa ??????." (dresixtos instagram post, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Baby Sara Diggle -- On whether there an Earth where Baby Sara still exists, EP Beth Schwartz: “We are definitely making up for that this season, so, keep your eyes open for it." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV and Eonline articles, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) "Bianca Scott" -- Vimeo audition video of actress Chanika Desilva auditioning for the 809 role of "Bianca Scott" was posted. Transcription of two audition scenes were also posted. Audition Scene 1: CD: "Holas, Amy! Let's go.!" Reader (offscreen): "You [unintelligible words] before you punch that guy!" CD (looking at third person or persons): "Yeah. Probably. So, you must be his friend. Hi! (Whispers) I think he likes you." Reader: "You're gonna pay." CD (mimicking fight moves): "Then put it on my tab. That was a good one." Reader: "That was stupid!" CD: "Oh, come on. We had that under control. You're a badass. So am I." Reader: "You're reckless." CD: "I go with my instincts. And I'm not dead yet, so must be doing something right." Reader: "And what if your luck runs out? And mine with it?" CD: "Not much of a gambler, are you?" Reader: "I don't like unnecessary risks!" CD: "No such thing. Life is risk. What we do is risky. Sometimes that means that maybe 20 guys want to kill us. And, yeah, that sucks. But then you know that you can handle it." Reader: "So this is what? Risk training?" CD: "You're never surprised if you're always getting surprised. See? Not just reckless. There's a method to my madness." Reader: "You're insane." CD: "Come on, admit it. You had fun." Reader: "A little." CD: "That's more like it. But even I know when fun time's over. Run." Audition Scene 2: CD: (Knocks) Reader (offscreen): "Hey, baby girl. What a surprise." CD: "Hi, Dad. Can we talk for a minute?" Reader: "Sure, sure. Come on in." CD: "How've you been?" Reader: "Great. Keepin' busy. Staying out of trouble." CD: "That's great to hear. How's everything at the factory?" Reader: "I got out of there! That place was a waste of my talent. You want one?" CD: "No, thanks. You sure you want one?" Reader: "Yeah. That's why I'm having one. What are you doin' here, Bianca?" CD: "I was hoping you could help me out on a case I'm working on." Reader: "Help you out? How?" CD: "There's this new mystery drug that's been showing up all around Star City. No one can figure out what it is or where it came from, but it's bad. Five people have already O.D.-ed." Reader: "How can I help with that?" CD: "I was wondering if you or any of your friends heard about it."Reader: "Sounds like you're accusing me of something. I'm on the straight and narrow." CD: "Dad. I know that's not true. You're still drinking. [Unintelligible words] You were admitted to General Hospital two weeks ago with symptoms of possible overdose. If you let me help you. We can help a lot of other people together."Reader: "Typical Bianca. So judgy." CD: "I'm not judging you." Reader: "I don't want your pity either."CD: "I knew it was a mistake to come here. If you want to drink your life away, then fine. Be my guest. But I don't want any part of it."(Sep. 27, 2019 Vimeo video of Chanika Desilva audition, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) "Ingrid" -- Vimeo audition video of actress Julie McLellan auditioning for the role of "Ingrid" was posted. Transcription of audition scene: Reader (off-screen): "There you are. You don't pick up the phone anymore." JM: "You are really unbelievable." Reader: "I've been told that's a good thing." JM: "Enough of your bullshit! I know who you are. Who you really are. Don't you have anything to say?" Reader: "How did you find out?" JM: "That's what you want to know? You've been lying to me for months. And the first thing you say isn't, 'I'm sorry'? 'Please forgive me'? It's 'how did you find out?'" Reader: "You don't understand. You knowing puts you in danger." JM: "Even you don't believe that." Reader: "You don't know the people I'm up against. They won't hesitate to use you against me. That's why I couldn't tell you." JM: "Lying to me doesn't magically erase me from your life. I'm a target whether I know or not. In fact, the only person lying protects is you. From everyone who would want to leave because they wouldn't want to put up with this crap!" Reader: "You're right. I wanted to tell you. But I was afraid, and I owed you more than that. You're my best friend, Ingrid. But if you want to leave, I won't stop you." JM: "Good." Reader: "You're not leaving?" JM: "I'm internally debating... You can sit there. But don't say anything." (Sep. 29, 2019 Vimeo video of Julie McLellan audition, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Talia al Ghul -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included Talia al Ghul (played by Lexa Doig). (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Athena -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included a shot of Athena (played by Kyra Zagorsky) saying, "Good luck." (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to The CW's Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video, Kyra Zagorsky tweeted: "This is gonna be good! #Arrow [bow and arrow emoji]." (Sep. 24, 2019 KyraZagorsky tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Moira Queen -- On bringing back JB and ST as a definite priority for S8, EP Beth Schwartz: "We wanted to get everyone back who basically made the show the success it is, and those two characters were definitely both pivotal to the series." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On having ST back for the S8 premiere, EP Beth Schwartz: “Moira Queen is such a dynamic character and her death still haunts all of us I think, especially Oliver, and I think that what we like the most about having her in the premiere is he now has his own children... So to have his mother give him advice about motherhood to him — you know, now he’s a father — was just such a perfect moment.” Beth added: “I tear up every time I see the scene between the two of them, because they’re so great together. And yeah, it was [able] to give him some closure as well, to say he’s sorry for what happened to her." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I was so happy that Susanna [Thompson] came back. I don’t know if she’ll be back again, but the arc and the scene between Oliver and Moira in the premiere [is great]." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Malcolm Merlyn -- On bringing back JB and ST as a definite priority for S8, EP Beth Schwartz: "We wanted to get everyone back who basically made the show the success it is, and those two characters were definitely both pivotal to the series." (Sep. 17, 2019 IGN article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, there was “definitely” some discussion about having Tommy jump into the portal with Oliver, Laurel and Dig at the end of 801. (Oct. 15, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Yao Fei Gulong -- In response to fan's comment that she would love to see Oliver and Yao Fei fighting together side by side, Byron Mann tweeted: "You will. @CW_Arrow s.8." (Oct. 3, 2019 Byron_Mann tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tatsu Yamashiro AKA Katana -- Arrow "Sacrifice Extended Trailer" video included Tatsu (played by Rila Fukushima). (Sep. 24, 2019 CW Arrow "Sacrifice" promo video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "There’s a great exchange in Episode 2, between me and Rila Fukushima, who plays Tatsu, where she says, 'You’re being driven by anger,' and he goes, 'I’m not angry.' Because he’s not. He’s simply doing what has to be done. In a lot of ways, he was driven by anger in those earlier seasons; not so much this year. He’s just making good on the deal he made. He made a deal. He saved Barry, saved Kara." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Helena Bertinelli AKA The Huntress -- On whether he is able to say if we will possibly see Helena (the Huntress) again before the series is over, SA: "We’ve tried to get her so many times. From what I know right now, straight up? I don’t think so." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Constantine -- On Oct. 10, 2019 DR posted pic of himself with SA, KM and Matt Ryan in a forest, with comment: "Arrow final season premiere next Tuesday... Who’s ready? #arrowfinalseason." (davidpaulramsey instagram post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- Per Deadline, The CW is moving forward with another Arrow spinoff headlined by Katherine McNamara, Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy reprising their Arrow roles. The new offshoot, which was teased at TCA by the CW boss Mark Pedowitz, will center around Mia Smoak, known as Green Arrow, and the Canaries Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake. The project, which comes from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros Television, is being set up as a backdoor pilot that will air as episode from the upcoming eighth and final season of Arrow. It will be written by Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama. The new superhero squad is a next-generation version of Team Arrow with the costumed offspring of the original membership. At the center of the next-gen collective is Smoak, the fierce daughter of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) aka Green Arrow, the central character of Arrow and the former mayor of Star City. (Sep. 24, 2019 Deadline article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EW, Arrow's producers are developing a female-centric Arrowverse series. The potential show will be introduced via a backdoor pilot in Arrow‘s eighth and final season and would star Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak/Green Arrow, and Katie Cassidy Rodgers (Laurel Lance) and Juliana Harkavy (Dinah Drake) as the Canaries. At this point, there aren’t any further details about the nascent show; however, given the cast list, it wouldn’t be surprising if it turned out the follow-up series took place in Arrow‘s future.... Arrow showrunner/executive producer Beth Schwartz will co-write the episode with Arrow‘s Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship, and Oscar Balderrama. All four them will serve as EPs on the potential show, alongside Arrowverse architect Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. It will be produced by produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. (Sep. 24, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per THR, The network is developing a spinoff of Arrow that would center on three of its female characters: Katherine McNamara's Mia Smoak/Green Arrow and the Canaries, Katie Cassidy's Laurel Lance and Juliana Harkavy's Dinah Drake. The potential series is set to air as a backdoor pilot in Arrow's 10-episode final season, which begins Oct. 15. Showrunner Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama are co-writing the episode and will serve as executive producers along with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter of Berlanti Productions, which produces all of The CW's DC Comics series in association with Warner Bros. TV. (Sep. 24, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per TV Guide, the Arrowverse is still powering forward, even as Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) nears his end as the eponymous superhero. An Arrow spinoff is already in the works to carry the action much further forward, TV Guide has learned, as it will be focused on the Canaries crime-fighting team — namely, Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara), Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), and Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy) — in Star City in 2046. Arrow will air a backdoor pilot for the potential spin-off during its eighth and final season. Executive producing the potential series will be Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship, and Oscar Balderrama. Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship, and Balderrama are also co-writing the episode that will serve as an introduction to the Canaries series concept. (Sep. 24, 2019 TV Guide article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per Variety, The CW is developing a new “Arrow” spinoff that would focus on the crime-fighting team The Canaries. The show would star Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, and Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake. An episode of the upcoming final season of “Arrow” will serve as a backdoor pilot for the potential series. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama will all be executive producers on the project, with Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship and Balderrama co-writing the episode. Berlanti Productions will produce in association with Warner Bros. Television. The Canaries are a vigilante group operating in a future version of Star City in which the city was overrun by an uprising by the denizens of the city section known as The Glades. (Sep. 24, 2019 Variety article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per The Wrap, The CW is not done with the world of “Arrow.” The network is developing a spinoff that would take place well into the future, focusing on Oliver Queen’s (Stephen Amell) daughter who takes up her father’s mantle. Katherine McNamara was introduced in the last season of “Arrow” as the adult version of Queen’s daughter, Mia Smoak, during a flash-forward scene set in the year 2040. McNamara would star in the new series with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, who have portrayed two different versions of Black Canary (now known as “The Canaries”). The potential series will get a backdoor pilot during the final season of “Arrow,” which begins Oct. 15. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama are executive producers of the project, which is based on characters from DC and is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship and Balderrama are co-writing the episode. (Sep. 24, 2019 The Wrap article, page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to EW's report of the female-centric backdoor pilot, MG tweeted: "Never. Say. Die." (Sep. 24, 2019 MG tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- MG tweeted pic of comics cover titled "Green Arrow and the Canaries, featuring comics versions of Mia as Green Arrow and Dinah and Laurel as the Canaries, with comment: "#Arrow's final season bows today, so it feels appropriate to share this glimpse of its future. Many thanks to @DCComics @manulupac @DaveMcCaig & Brett Breeding for this stunning art. #TheFutureIsFemale@Kat_McNamara @MzKatieCassidy @JulianaHarkavy @SchwartzApprovd @ojbalderrama." (Oct. 15, 2019 MG tweet, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to THR's report of the female-led spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Been a busy year...." (Sep. 24, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On the preparation of the backdoor pilot for a Mia/Canaries spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re super excited about the potential of a new series, and all of our kickass women. It’s been crazy, but really fun." Beth added that the spinoff won’t affect their approach to the 2040 storyline that KM currently stars in, saying: "We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast, I would say." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the fun and challenge of wrapping up Arrow while also launching the backdoor pilot for a new Mia/Canaries spinoff series. EP Beth Schwartz: “It was crazy but really fun. We are super-excited about the potential of a new series and all of our kick-ass women.” The backdoor pilot will also tell a story separate from Arrow’s flash-forwards into Star City 2040. Beth: “We always knew what [the 2040 storyline] was going to be and our backdoor pilot is its own different beast.” (Oct. 15, 2019 CBR article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether this season's flashforward story is setting up the Mia/Canaries spinoff, EP Beth Schwartz said that the prospective offshoot “didn’t really” affect Arrow‘s S8 plan for Mia, Connor, et al. Beth: “We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast." (Oct. 16, 2019 TVLine article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what it'll be like to watch the Arrowverse continue without Arrow, EP Beth Schwartz: "I’m curious about whether they’ll talk about our characters, and whether we’ll see some of our characters on their shows. I don’t know. It is a little bit strange to think that the flagship show isn’t gonna be in the next fall line-up. But right now, we’re focused on this last season." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is any possibility we could ever see his Oliver Queen again, SA: "Yeah. I want to say no, really bad. But what am I going to do if Grant [Gustin] calls me up and is like 'Hey, man, the Flash is wrapping up, and Greg wants to end the show with Barry and Oliver sitting in a bar, having a drink in heaven?' With that being said, I believe in clean breaks. I really do." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to EW's report of the female-centric backdoor pilot, SA tweeted: "Go get em Ladies!" (Sep. 24, 2019 SA tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- In response to the female-led spinoff news, KC tweeted: "LADIES... let’s do this!!! Words cannot express how grateful I am to have the both of you by my side! We got this! #GirlPower @JulianaHarkavy @Kat_McNamara." (Sep. 24, 2019 KC tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- KC tweeted pic of herself on the Arrow Bunker set, with comment: "#TB to the long nights spent directing that I miss so much! ?? Crossing my fingers that I’ll get to direct another episode in the new #ArrowSpinoff! ??." (Sep. 29, 2019 KC tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her previous comment about pitching an idea for a Birds of Prey TV show a few months ago and whether any of her ideas were included in the potential Mia/Canaries spin-off, KC: "Well, the fact that I’m a part of it and as we know the other individuals who are a part of it, I would hope to think that’s sort of the direction they’re going, more that ‘Birds of Prey’ type that I had suggested. And I think now, more than ever, is definitely a time for women. And it certainly seems that way in regards to what the spin-off is and what it looks like. But yeah, I’m really excited, and I think that they will in one way or another, in a clever way, incorporate that." (Oct. 13, 2019 Hypable article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to KC's tweet, JH tweeted: "Wouldn’t rather be on this journey with anyone else [black heart emoji] love you!!." (Sep. 24, 2019 JH tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- In response to the news breaking about the female-led spinoff, KM tweeted a pic of herself with KC and JH, with comment: "Congratulations, ladies! Let’s kick some ass! #TheFutureisFemale ????? @CW_Arrow @MzKatieCassidy @JulianaHarkavy." (Sep. 24, 2019 Kat_McNamara tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- KM: "In Kat's perfect world, a hypothetical Arrow spinoff... It would be nice to see Mia out of her comfort zone in a sense. I mean, we see that a little bit this season. We get to see Mia try and be part of a team, which she doesn't necessarily play well with others - at this point. Um, but to force her to grow and to see her humanity a bit more, to see her relationship with her brother, to see her relationship with the other people around her. And - and to see her really try and take her own steps to improving Star City - but doing it her way - would be very interesting to see." (Oct. 15, 2019 leanneaguilera tweet & ET Style video, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the backdoor pilot and the tweeted "Green Arrow and the Canaries" comics cover, KM: "All I can say is, it's exciting to see what - what is coming. Potentially. You know, there - I know in episode 9 of Arrow, it kind of goes to what happens next. That's kind of the beginning of - the beginning of the epilogue of the series. And we'll see what they - what they do. I actually, truly don't know a lot yet. (Interviewer asked if they've filmed episode 9 yet) No... We're about to start 9, so I'm just now getting information. I really don't know much... I've been, you know, in crossover land." (Oct. 18, 2019 BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she would want to see from Mia if a spinoff were to happen, KM: "Well, what's so great about this season is, you get to see what the legacy of Arrow means. And if it were to continue, I would hope that that would be Mia's path, to fit into an Arrow kind of world and to be able to protect the city that she has grown up and that she loves so much and that her parents worked so hard to create." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per JDJ, although Arrow is coming to an end, fans can still hope to see more of Connor, possibly as part of the Mia/Canaries' spinoff, JDJ: "I definitely don't think it's going to be the end for Connor... I am excited to see how he fits into things going forward. I think we’re going to see more of him. With this spin-off and with everything, it is going to be a different show from 'Arrow'. It's finding its own pace, has its own rhythm, but I'm interested to see where Connor kind of fits into all of that and how his relationship with Mia will continue to grow." As to whether he will ever put on the Green Arrow hood again (like he did in S1 of LoT where he played an alternate version of Connor), JDJ: "It's not outside of the realm of possibility... There are others who want the same thing and hopefully, it happens." On Arrow's legacy, JDJ: "It created a whole universe and it was something that, when they started it, no one knew that it was going to be that big and no one knew that it was going to spawn so many different things, so many different shows into this entire universe. ... I think because of shows like Arrow, it's left behind an entire legacy of grounded credible comic book content. Now there's so many grounded superhero shows where it's really about the characters who are in them as opposed to, you know, just the bad guy of the day. It's no longer this campy thing. It is something where you're watching a real person navigate through issues that we have, but on a scale and through a narrative that is indicative of comic books and it's changed the face of TV. ... I think people will always remember this show for doing that. It’s such a delicate thing working on a spin-off for this because nobody wants to do injustice to 'Arrow'. It started everything. So they’re trying to honor the legacy of something and then they'll have it be its own thing." (Oct. 9, 2019 MEAWW (MEA WorldWide) article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ mentioned being sad at times while shooting scenes because this was the last time they would ever shoot on a particular set. He then added: "But we'll see what happens with this - this spinoff show and how - you know, how many people end up being - yeah." (Oct. 11, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Oct. 8, 2019 interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the storyline for the spinoff will be entirely in the future, JDJ: "They're still piecing together what they want the spinoff to be after this, because they want to find something that makes sense and that the fans are going to love. But also like it's different but doesn't like diminish the legacy of Arrow. So it's a delicate path to walk. And I don't know, I don't know. I mean, as you saw, like, they released that Katie Cassidy's going to be in it, and then Juliana's going to be in it. And we'll see if they're - if they're older in this or, you know, if some - I don't know, something happens... ride with the Legends or something." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition article & video of Joseph David-Jones interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "I'd like for us to all find where we [the Future Kids] sit in the grand scheme of things and as a team and become heroes, like legitimately. And then have that be able to be something that carries over into this spinoff." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Koalition article & video of Joseph David-Jones interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per Radio Times, the new spinoff series will be set in the future timeline established in Arrow’s flash-forwards. On whether his character Connor Hawke will appear in the new Mia/Canaries spinoff, JDJ: “Mmm-hmm, there is a chance! ... We’ll see. I can’t give away anything!” JDJ also said: "I think they wanna find a story that makes sense to tell after Arrow, because it’s something that was so near and dear to all of the fans and it was something that was sort of unprecedented at the time it came out, so]they don’t wanna just make something that is gonna not do justice to the Arrow legacy… They’re keeping everything close to the chest like they always do. but I think it’s gonna be a fun show show. I’m interested to see where things go with the spin-off.” (Oct. 18, 2019 Radio Times article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we will see Connor make an appearance in the female-led Arrow spinoff in the works, JDJ: "They’re still trying to figure out the show. They want it to be different from Arrow but still do justice to its legacy. I don’t know how much I can give away about what’s going to be happening in the show, but the initial idea is that the future Team Arrow is still going to be a part of this. They’re still figuring out the dynamic and where everything will fit, so we’ll see. It’s still evolving and being developed." (Oct. 20, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the Arrow spinoff is actually happening or whether it's a backdoor pilot that's hoping to be picked up, papp tweeted: "Back door pilot in Ep 9 and its already picked up." (Oct 19, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who's the lead of the Mia/Canaries spinoff or whether it'll have three leads, papp tweeted: "Kat is 100% the lead" and "No matter how they write the show. Kat booked the show, shes the 'lead.'" (Oct 19, 2019 pursuit23 tweets, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the spinoff name is Canaries, papp tweeted: "Dunno about the name and such. I know when Kat was signed on it wasn’t for a recurring spot on arrow. The crew refer to spinoff to me as Kats show got the spinoff. As they had another show they had been looking at." (Oct 19, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On some fans thinking that KC was going to be the lead of the Mia/Canaries spinoff, papp tweeted: "To be fair, good for her & julianna getting added in to the format. Keeps them in work and maybe they will get some good storylines. I'm sure i know someone that will be ghostwriting the pilot haha." (Oct 19, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan saying that KC and JH were also signed on because plans changed and KM is no longer the only lead of the spinoff, papp tweeted: "She’s still the lead, you realize all shows need supporting cast right?" (Oct. 20, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan asking for source link for his claim that the spinoff had been picked up, papp tweeted: "A link? Lol That’s not how I get my info" and "Why would I have a link? I didnt have a link when i broke all sorts of other scoops. Thats how breakign scoops works. LMAO My ego as you call it is more confidence in my sources. But good one and yes you are actually" and "Ill leave you with this. I posted about her spinoff over a full month before any blog had run it. I posted about Arrow being a show almost 2 full years before it was announced." (Oct. 20, 2019 pursuit23 tweets, page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Another papp tweeted: "OF COURSE it wasnt the show Katie pitched. they were never going to give her the lead of a show. Shes past their demo age for a starting out lead." and "As Ken said, they signed Kat w/ the intention of her leading her own show. Shes CW demo catnip. She could have sent in an audition tape where shes cross eyed, drool continually coming out of the corner of her mouth & a huge snot booger in a nostril, & still got offered it." (Oct. 19-20, 2019 canadagraphs tweets, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Another papp tweeted: "his evidence is his twitter feed. Take a look through all his tweets and you'll see hes had several shows being picked up several months, and in Arrows case a whole year, before they were announced, and also several shows cancellations before they were announced." (Oct. 20, 2019 canadagraphs tweet, page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited October 23, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo October 25, 2019 Author Share October 25, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 803 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 3: Leap of Faith -- Production code: 803. Shoot Dates: August 2-15, 2019. Director: Katie Cassidy Rodgers. Writers: Emilio Ortega Aldrich & Elizabeth Kim. Airdate: Oct. 29, 2019. (Oct. 12, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 803 synopsis: "WILLA HOLLAND GUEST STARS – Reunited with his sister, Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Thea (guest star Willa Holland) find themselves searching through a familiar maze of catacombs. Meanwhile, John (David Ramsey) and Lyla (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) partner on a special ops mission. Katie Cassidy directed the episode written by Emilio Ortega Aldrich & Elizabeth Kim (#803). Original airdate 10/29/2019." (Oct. 12, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 803 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Thea, Talia al Ghul, Athena, Mia, Zoe and Connor. (The CWTV PR gallery link, Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, Oct. 12, 2019 SpoilerTV article and TVLine gallery link, page 5 of Spoilers thread) -- 803 promo was posted, featuring Oliver, Thea and Talia al Ghul. (Oct. 22, 2019 TV Promos video of Arrow 803 promo, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 803 sneak peek #1 was posted, featuring Oliver, Thea, Talia al Ghul and some of Talia's students. (Oct. 29, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 803 sneak peek #2 was posted, featuring Mia, Connor, William and Zoe. (Oct. 29, 2019 The CW Network video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), IBTimes' Nicole Massabrook tweeted: "I'll tell you guys the same thing I told Rachael that made her immediately go watch the #Arrow screener: Something I thought wasn't gonna happen until Crisis happens at the end of 803. Ya'll need to watch live tomorrow night." (Oct. 28, 2019 NKMass tweet, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), IBTimes' Rachael Ellenbogen tweeted: "Tuesday's episode of #Arrow is so freaking good. Some returning characters, some mentions of other characters, some Indiana Jones fun, some funny lines said by Speedy, a great ending and great directing by Katie Cassidy! Ahh!👏👏." (Oct. 28, 2019 TheRachaelE tweet, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted (in reply to KM tweet): "Cool ceiling drop/landing this Tuesday. (Can’t say the same for your brother.)." In response, Bl tweeted: "One of my favorite moments from one of my favorite episodes of the season." (Oct. 28, 2019 MattMitovich and benlewishere tweets, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), when asked if the cliffhanger was bigger on this episode than the last two episodes, TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted: "It is [3 exploding head emojis]" and, when asked how it can beat Earth 2 being destroyed and finding out Lyla was working with the Monitor, Mitovich tweeted: "It does." (Oct. 27, 2019 MattMitovich tweets, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted: "'Nyssa is on vacation, working on her tan.' I see what you did there #Arrow 8x03. #H50." (Oct. 26, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), Hypable's Jay Ruymann tweeted: "Thea says something to Oliver on this #Arrow episode that is one of my favorite lines of the entire series." and "WHAT. THE. FUCK. Guys, nobody is fucking ready for #Arrow 803!!! This ending is even more shocking than the premiere’s. I don’t even know how to react! What the fuck... Bravo, @ARROWwriters." (Oct. 25, 2019 houseofhastings tweets, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), Hypable's Jay Ruymann: "After becoming suspicious of the Monitor in Hong Kong, Oliver travels to Nanda Parbat on Arrow season 8, episode 3 to discover answers about who he’s really working with. Meanwhile, he runs into a few familiar faces. ... We had a chance to watch Arrow season 8, episode 3 early, and this is an episode that changes the future of Arrow (and the Arrow-verse) forever. Some things come to light, while others are just introduced, and Oliver’s continuing to realize the implications of what he agreed to help the Monitor with. ... This episode of Arrow, like the first two, is quite intense. Now that Oliver is questioning the Monitor, it calls into question everything he’s already done, and the deal Oliver struck with him during 'Elseworlds' last year. I mean, the reason he even went to Nanda Parbat is to find the truth about Mar Novu; however, don’t get your hopes up. ... There’s no shortage of sweet moments between the two siblings [Oliver and Thea], and there are a few heart-to-heart conversations, which really put their growth over the last decade in perspective. One of these conversations is my favorite that they have ever had over the duration of the show. Additionally, we do find out where Thea’s been and what she’s been up to since we last saw her depart Star City. ... The future timeline continues where it left off, though there’s a surprise with William, leading the newly-formed team on a mission to stop JJ once and for all. ... The events of these scenes really show how undisciplined and bull-headed Mia can be, which is clearly going to be her biggest obstacle to overcome on the spin-off if it’s picked up. However, there are a few emotional moments with Mia and William that show us another side to her that hasn’t been touched upon very often. ... Diggle and Lyla are a well-oiled, married machine on Arrow season 8, episode 3, as they lead their own sub-plot involving Connor Hawke in the present day. Plus, as we saw Laurel and Oliver deal with the aftermath of watching Earth-2 be destroyed in front of their eyes, we get a glimpse into how that changed John and how he’s reacting to it. It’s a pleasant surprise because I didn’t expect we’d see his emotional reaction. ... Another shocking ending ... Honestly, Arrow is ending with the best cliffhangers this season. This episode ends on a note possibly even more shocking than the season 8 premiere, which saw Earth-2 destroyed. Somehow, it’s even less expected, at least it was to me. It changes everything about how the season — and even 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' — will go down. And, after, certain things finally start to fall into place and make sense. ... Also, there may or may not be a character death that shakes things up and changes the dynamic between several characters… and it’s unrelated to the shocking ending. ... As I said before, this is a solid episode. The return of Thea Queen is really what makes it great, though there are a few interesting stories to embark on that are each used to set up the remaining episodes. Like the premiere, this episode shakes things up and sets the remaining episodes on yet another path, which I think makes more sense than anything I’ve seen speculated about on social media. ... I wish Laurel had been in the episode, but I can’t blame Katie Cassidy-Rodgers for not pulling double duty. There is a brief mention of Laurel to Thea… but it’s very brief. ... It was nice to see Dinah and Rene again, even if not for very long. This was an amazing episode, beautifully directed by Katie Cassidy-Rodgers, who clearly channeled the strengths of her fellow cast members with every shot." (Oct. 26, 2019 Hypable article, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 803 (advance screening), in response to KM's tweet, TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald tweeted: "Second this. Like really, really don't miss #Arrow tonight. Shit gets real." (Oct. 29, 2019 lindsayjoane tweet, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Willa Holland (Thea) will be back in S8 in a recurring role. While the number of episodes she is returning in is not yet known, she is rumored to be making her return in 803. (Sep. 18, 2019 GreenArrowTV and TVLine articles, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, for Thea's return to Arrow in episode 803, a lot of answers will be given about what the younger Queen sibling has been up to. MG: "We very clearly tell the audience where she is, what she's been doing since season six. It's a good update... Of course, we have to do that relative to what we learned with Roy's character last year, so all those questions will get answered." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “We are thrilled to have Willa back in our final season." (Sep. 18, 2019 GreenArrowTV and TVLine articles, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Obviously we love Willa and she is the show... There’s no way we could have had a final season without her… She comes back in a very cool way.” (Oct. 15, 2019 CBR article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Thea (WH) will be back in 803. EP Beth Schwartz: “We love Willa, and there’s no way we could have had a final season without her. So that was a no-brainer to bring her back." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz said an answer to the Harbinger question will present itself in the third episode of the season. (Oct. 15, 2019 RottenTomatoes article, page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, the question of exactly which Lyla Michaels (ours, or another Earth’s) will be assisting The Monitor as Harbinger will be answered “pretty fast” - specifically, in Arrow’s third episode. (Oct. 18, 2019 TVLine article page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- The show will address the issue of whether or not Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger been working for the Monitor all along. EP Beth Schwartz: “I think in Episode 3." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On working with WH again, SA: “It’s like riding a bike... It was like she had never really gone. Our first day on that episode, it was mostly just her and I out walking in the forest, so to speak. We just dropped back into our old ways.” (Oct. 29, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, knowing what Thea's been through the past two years will help Oliver finally start trusting her completely. SA: “I think that we finally just cement the fact that Oliver considers her to be her own person and he trusts her implicitly... He still wants to protect her but what she says goes because she has not been chilling on a beach. She’s been battling and she’s acquitted herself really well. I’m glad he finally came around right in the nick of time.” (Oct. 29, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "[E]pisode 3 is also an ode to season 3." (Jul. 31, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Episode 3 is about a very specific part of the latter half of season 3.” (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "And episode 3 is just all about family." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Everything to do with Season 8 of Arrow, everything that we're doing right now, certainly through episode 3, and the ending of episode 3 - good golly, Miss Molly - it's mental. I've freaked out and texted a bunch of people once I read it, which is always a good sign when you're this far into stuff. The ending of episode 3 is great. But every single episode thus far in Season 8, um, is leading to Crisis On Infinite Earths. And I know that some of the other shows are doing this. And I know that, um, you know, we've - we've brought in, uh, an actor to, um, I think, help facilitate bringing all the shows together, if that makes sense." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per SA, in the first three episodes, Oliver has closure with five different characters. (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 31, 2019 CinemaBlend and Digital Spy articles, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "As I was saying at Comic-Con... my character's had the chance over the past - or over the first three episodes, I reconcile with, like, five different characters." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don’t believe that Katie is in Episode 3 because she’s directing, and that was a fair compromise in my opinion, but she’s terrific in Episodes 1 and 2." (Oct. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the episode she'll be directing, KC: "And I'm directing 803... I feel like each season represents something on the show, and it covers a place and a time - that's all I can tell you." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Rama's Screen video of KC and JH interviews, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "I'm directing episode 803." On whether there's a story she's been waiting to tell that she might be able to do in episode 803, KC: "Uh, yes, but I can't answer what story it is, because it's that big [unintelligible words] episode. I can't spoil it... You'll just have to watch my episode." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of KC interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it'll be easy to direct herself, KC: "I think so. However, I'm not so shuhhh - I think it'll be interesting to do that, 'cause I'll probably - I'll probably just have my First A.D., uh, tell it what I want. And then, once I'm in the scene, let him kinda direct the scene I'm in, after I tell him what shots I have, what I'm thinking, but then try to immerse myself as the actor. I mean, it'll be challenging, but anyone can do it, I can do it. I feel like I can do - you know, I like challenges and I welcome them and it'll be a growing, learning experience. I'm looking forward to it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of KC interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan mentioned WH's return to Arrow next week (803). WH responded that she hasn't been following what's happening on Arrow since she hasn't been on the show and that "one of the great things about being on full-time hiatus is, I don't have to read anymore." Fan then said something I couldn't make out, and WH said, "I'm dead. Spoiler. Maybe I'm back." Now I can't interpret WH's comment without understanding the fan's preceding comment. When fan asked what kind of dying scene she'd like to play, WH said something like she'd like to take out a bad guy in a really cool, badass way and, even though she's already fatally shot, tries to ride off into the sunset for some reason: "I can't say who would, you know, want to keep me alive anymore, but he might be running a production [unintelligible words]." WH said that, even though it was her decision to leave Arrow, when she heard the series was ending and she was asked to return, she was happy to. WH: "I always wanted to leave the door open... even if they killed me again." (FACTS Convention, Oct. 19 or 20, 2019: Oct. 24, 2019 Insert Coin video of Willa Holland panel, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Episode 4 is a huge turning point. It's really the end of episode 3 into the beginning of episode 4. It's - it changes everything. It's a huge moment and a huge event that not only changes Mia forever, but also changes the course of the entire arc of the story. And, uh, that's what you have when you're building to Crisis. 'Cause all bets are off and there are no rules anymore. And literally anything can happen. And it rocks Mia's world in a way that she never thought possible. And it really is going to force her to confront everything that she's tried to push away in her life." (Oct. 18, 2019 TVLine article page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 17, 2019, MG tweeted: "The studio draft of Arrow Ep. 803 was just sent out. The title is a @springsteen song and I'm now worried people will think Season 8 is only 4 episodes long..." When asked if they were breaking tradition with one left to go, MG tweeted: "Nope. In fact, we already know what the title of the penultimate episode is." (MG tweets, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 20, 2019, KC: "I start prep on Tuesday." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 12, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of KC interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jul. 26, 2019, papp tweeted partial pic of Beckmark Production sheet that listed Katie Cassidy under "Director" heading, with comment: "Katie Cassidy directs. Laurel Lance/Black Canary/Black Siren is directing an #Arrow final season episode." and "Episode 8x03." (yvrshoots tweets, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, KC posted clapboard for 803 (dated Aug. 2, 2019) for Scene 1, Take 1, showing its title as "Leap of Faith," with comment: "I’m so honored to be given this opportunity for my directorial debut directing “Leap of Faith” during our last season of #Arrow 803 Thank you @warnerbrostv @schwartzapproved @gberlanti @marcguggenheim @james2bambamford & KSF along with everyone else who’s supported throughout this journey. I’m forever grateful ?? ... let’s make this 1 of many! With love & gratitude ???? -Katie (oh! And how awesome is this!!?" (katiecassidy instagram post, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3, 2019, KM: "I'm in a very silly mood today, guys. It's because I was up for 24 hours yesterday 'cause, of course, I'm a crazy person and woke up far too early because I wanted to work out and then had to go shoot Arrow, which turned into all night. But it's great. You know, I kinda love those days because everybody gets super silly at about 3 am and, uh, it's fun to have, you know, to get to know this new - these new folks, because I love them too. They're wonderful." (Golden Warrior video of Katherine McNamara instagram live chat, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 3 or 4, 2019, SA: "I watched [Katherine McNamara] do a fantastic scene last night in episode 803, um, because I was behind the monitors with, uh, Katie Cassidy, um, because she's directing." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 4, 2019, KC tweeted pic of herself as E1 Laurel's Black Canary (wearing the buckles suit), with comment: "Looking back to see where I started as I begin to direct episode 803 #Arrow [film projector emoji]." (KC tweet, page 767 of Social Media thread) -- On Aug. 7, 2019, fan tweeted: "looks like Arrow is once again using Byrne Creek as Lian Yu today. #bcfilmtv." and, when asked by papp if they were filming there or just using parking lot, "They are filming in Byrne Creek. Couldn't walk my dog through the trail because they're filming" and later "Looks like they're close to winding down. Teardown is between 8-10PM tonight." (Aviewfromabroad tweets, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 7, 2019, fan tweeted: "'BECKMARK' sign for Arrow outside of BC Hydro on Southpoint Dr. in Burnaby." (stargazingtyy tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 7, 2019, fan tweeted pic of KC directing 803, which shows her standing under a tent in a green woody area, looking at a monitor. The pic is tagged "Day 3 #arrow @james2bambamford." (Primal Slayer post, page 3 of Spoilers thread) -- On Aug. 10, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself with Arrow writer Maya Houston, with comment: "Coffee, collabs, and chats with this magical human... @elcincodemaya." They appear to be in a woodsy park area. (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 10, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself halfway up a tree, with comment: "Tree hugger ?." She appears to be in a woodsy park area. She's wearing a sleeveless black top and blue denim shorts. (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 14, 2019, papp tweeted pic of Cecil Green House, with comment: "#Arrow is at Cecil Green Park House on #UBC campus today. Dropped by when filming on 2nd floor near upper balcony." (yvrshoots tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 14 or 15, 2019, James Bamford posted pic of KC standing inside the nice interior of a house, with comment: "Here’s our #Arrow 803 director, @katiecassidy sporting her new @sadboisupply hoodie....It’s getting to be like we are all wearing the same swag to work these days. Like an Arrow uniform.....an 'Arrowform' if you will. Tomorrow I shall be calling @katiecassidy early just to ensure that we don’t show up with the same t-shirt....but we probably will." In the background, you can see a nice Tiffany-style floor lamp and a mirror on the wood panel wall. This could be the interior of Cecil Green Park House. (james2bambamford instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 14, 2019, papp tweeted: "Saw a potential #Arrowverse spoiler while I was out and about today. But I cant confirm it yet. Soooo for now it just goes on the back corner of my mind as 'dont forget that if something more comes up from it' thing." (canadagraphs tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 15, 2019, DR posted pic of himself napping in a chair in the Arrow Bunker, with comment: "I’m gonna miss all the hard work we put into ARROW #ArrowFinalSeason." He's wearing a dark tee shirt, camo pants and a dark ball cap. (DR instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 15, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself with James Bamford on Arrow set, with comment: "S8... rolling right along." They're in a wooded area and part of SA's suit has been concealed under blue color, but it looks like he might be wearing his S1 suit with Yao Fei's hood. (SA tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 15, 2019, SA tweeted: "3 down. 7 to go. #Arrow." (SA tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 16, 2019, papp tweeted pic of trailer with "Thea Queen" marked on its door, with comment: "Since someone else posted it. Heres that #Arrowverse spoiler I was referencing. I was handed a scoop that a particular former cast member had a trailer at a location. So I went and looked. I. DID. NOT. see her filming. Just the trailer." In reply, fan tweeted: "Willa is on Vancouver, I’m practically sure she’s shooting." (canadagraphs and 4ugust0_ tweets, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 16, 2019, SA posted video in which he said: "That's three episodes down, seven episodes to go on our final season of Arrow, uh, not including the crossovers, like, 11 episodes that are just the crossover, or five, I don't know. I can't remember. It's just a lot... This was a really great episode. I wanna thank two people, one person I can actually thank right now and one person who I can't, because we don't know who it is and they haven't been announced yet. But, I would really like to congratulate Katie. Um, this was her first episode directing and she did a really, really lovely job. Um, she doesn't like to do a lot of takes, which I like, and, um, just in general, I'm sure it can be really intimidating, but she gave a lot to the actors. It was really positive and, um, she just put me in the position where, frankly, I wanted to deliver a good performance for her, because she deserves it and, um, yeah, she'll direct again. She was really great. Oh, yeah, two guest stars that I can't - well, in any event, it's really good. Also, this is exciting. I've got some news to share. I can't share it just yet. But, um, I don't know, fun, cool developments that are happening. But, uh, thank you guys very much. Um, three down, seven to go. Really, really, really enjoying myself. And, um, that's it." (SA instagram post, page 3 of Spoiler thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 4, 2019, KC tweeted b-t-s pic of herself hugging SA, with comment: "It was incredible. Thank you for wearing the 'hood' for me Stephen… oh and 803 LOOKS DOPE! [black heart emoji] #TB to @stephenamell congratulating me on my final day of directing. @cw_arrow @thecw @wbpictures #BLESSED." In response, SA tweeted: "I wore the 'hood', but maybe not the hood. And you killed it. I’m really proud of you." (MzKatieCassidy and SA tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 29, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself with bloodied face and neck, with comment: "Don’t miss #ARROW tonight... it’s bloody good... #LeapofFaith @cw_arrow [bow & arrow emoji]." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited October 29, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo November 2, 2019 Author Share November 2, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 804 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 4: Present Tense -- Production code: 804. Shoot Dates: August 15-27, 2019. Director: Kristin Windell. Writers: Oscar Balderrama & Jeane Wong. Airdate: Nov. 5, 2019. (Oct. 18, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 synopsis: "ECHO KELLUM GUEST STARS – When a mysterious new Deathstroke appears in Star City, Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Team Arrow insist on taking down this villain themselves. Meanwhile reeling from the loss of one of their own, the future Team Arrow figures out a new way to try and stop JJ. Kristin Windell directed the episode written by Oscar Balderrama & Jeane Wong (#804). Original airdate 11/5/2019." (Oct. 18, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread) -- 804 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle, Rene, Dinah, E2 Laurel, Curtis and the Monitor. (Oct. 22, 2019 GreenArrowTV and SpoilerTV articles, TVLine gallery link and The CWTV PR gallery link, page 5 of Spoilers thread) -- 804 promo was posted, featuring Oliver, William, Mia, Connor, Dinah, Rene and E2 Laurel. (Oct. 29, 2019 TV Promos video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 sneak peek #1 was posted, featuring Oliver, Mia, William, Connor, Diggle, Rene and Dinah. (Nov. 5, 2019 The CW Network video of 804 sneak peek, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 sneak peek #2 was posted, featuring Oliver and William (Nov. 5, 2019 TVInsider article & video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 dialogue tease: "#DialogueTease: 'So, the fate of the universe is in my hands? Cool.' #Arrow #PresentTense." (Nov. 5, 2019 ARROWWriters tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 dialogue tease: "#DialogueTease: 'I'm getting a case of deja vu in the worst possible way.' #Arrow #PresentTense." (Nov. 5, 2019 ARROWWriters tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 dialogue tease: "I was never a big fan of your father's. He's kind of a dick." (Nov. 4, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 dialogue tease: "Clearly no one has informed you that I used to play for Team Villain...." (Nov. 5, 2019 MattMitovich tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 804 (advance screening), CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley tweeted: "Tonight’s episode of #Arrow packs in some of my very favorite things about the show, but also some of my least favorite. Still, some killer performances are in store, so tune in!" (Nov. 5, 2019 lah9891 tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 804 (advance screening), TVLine's Matt Mitovich tweeted: "This week's #Arrow is not what I expected, but I like what it is. Also, great work by David Ramsey and... others." and "That ending is a lot to chew on. And it gave me agita 😬 #arrow 8x04." (Nov. 4, 2019 MattMitovich tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and pages 31 and 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 804 (advance screening), Hypable's Jay Ruymann tweeted: "This ep is my favorite yet of S8, and the writers clearly & successfully leaned into the emotional moments & balanced the many characters. Be prepared to cry happy & sad tears; every emotion is explored as these two worlds collide." and "oh my GOD, this #Arrow episode has my favorite cliffhanger yet... not as good as the 801 and 803, more on par with 802, but still great, regardless" and "Tease 1: Father/son #Arrow 804 focuses heavily on the relationships between Oliver and William and Diggle and Connor, which gives us tearful smiles and occasional sobbing. However, despite how great it was, it just didn’t feel right to have these moments w/o Felicity present." and "Tease 2: Mia/Laurel & Team There’s a really great scene between Mia and Laurel, as Laurel gives advice to Mia that she has previously given to Felicity. In general, the team element of this episode is by far the best it has ever been. It’s just one awesome, enormous Team Arrow." and "Tease 3: Crisis... We see The Monitor interact with a new character, alone, which is a game-changer." and "Altogether, this is an incredible #Arrow ep, and it’s so nice not to be bouncing around in time. It felt like everyone had the proper focus and was important to the story, even Rene and (especially) Dinah who has fallen to the sidelines recently. This is the best Dinah has been." When asked if there were any good Mia/Oliver scenes, Ruymann tweeted: "yes." (Nov. 4, 2019 houseofhastings tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and pages 31 and 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 804 (advance screening), Den of Geek's Shadia Omer tweeted: "OMG #Arrow 804 is something else. Probs my fave ep so far. It has something for everyone to enjoy. Two worlds have collided & the way they explore the emotions w/ everyone is a sight to see, & tear-up about. Some REALLY great & heartfelt moments [pleading face emoji] Can’t for everyone to see it!" When asked if Felicity is referenced in this episode, Omer tweeted: "[smiling face emoji]." When asked if we'll be crying, Omer tweeted: "grab your tissues [pleading face and sneezing face emojis]." In response to fan who wanted an Oliver, Mia and William reunion that was more than just a short hug, Omer tweeted: "I don’t think you’ll be disappointed." (Nov. 4, 2019 shadiawriters tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 804 (advance screening), Collider's Carla Day tweeted: "Tomorrow night's #Arrow is one of the best episodes ever. Do not miss it. Sooooo good." and "Having the Future Kids show up in present day Star City sets up for an emotional hour for everyone. And Curtis is back! #Arrow." (Nov. 4, 2019 CarlaDay tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 804's guest cast includes Jamie Andrew Cutler as "Grant Wilson" and Kyle Mosonyi as "Officer N. Ferguson." Jamie Andrew Cutler previously played Grant Wilson/Deathstroke in LoT episode 106 (Star City 2046). (IMDb link in Oct. 11, 2019 tv echo post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 804 will be set entirely in Star City - one of the only episodes this season that is. (Oct. 29, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why Oliver doesn't call Felicity, if he's back in present day Star City and their grown up daughter Mia just showed up, MG: "That's a good point. Watch 804." (Nov. 3, 2019 MG tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia, William and Connor being transported to 2019 at the end of 803, LMG: "That's definitely [the Monitor's] handiwork... Everything he does is for a greater cause, and I think the great things that the writers did [...] is every question that's unanswered right now, they tie it up at some point throughout the season or in Crisis. I say this, with the Monitor, everything he does is to bring out something in a character that was missing or that was suppressed, and he goes about his own way of doing it, but ultimately what he needs gets achieved... He is the ultimate chess player." Per LMG, we'll get our answers about why Mia, Connor, and William took this time-traveling trip, but we'll have to wait and see how it all pans out. (Oct. 29, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why the Monitor put Future Team Arrow and Present Team Arrow together at the end of 803, LMG: "I think everything that The Monitor does, there's a greater purpose for it. Whether it's to get more of what he needs out of a particular character, or to just, you know, even disrupting, that would get something out of a particular character that he needs to be fulfilled before the Crisis starts. ... So, pretty much everything he does is leading up to the Crisis, and he needs all hands on deck, and the right mental state to approach the crisis. So, it's not just physical, it's mental, and his main subject for the Crisis is Oliver Queen." (Nov. 1, 2019 TV Fanatic article, page 39 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On why the Monitor brought Future Team Arrow to the present at the end of 803, LMG: "Everything The Monitor does, it's laid out with plans that his ways aren't our ways... So it might look like it's done for something that it's heinous, but it's all for a purpose. So that's the best I can say without hitting it on the head.” (Nov. 5, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver not being thrilled that the future kids were brought back to the present, LMG: “Yeah, that's going to be a big deal... And you could imagine how something like that would make Oliver feel, like putting his kids in harm's way because that's exactly what's going on. But I think it's necessary. We'll see why later.” (Nov. 5, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On meeting his adult kids, SA: "He's flabbergasted, obviously... He doesn't really know what to do with Mia. I think actually the coolest interaction [...] doesn't actually come between Oliver and Mia, it comes between Oliver and William. The scene, my first sort of big one on one scene with Ben, straight up might be my favorite scene this year." (Oct. 29, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I'm looking forward to the audience reaction to Episode 804. [It's] really cool, really emotional, and it's actually the only episode this year where I feel like the team doesn't go anywhere... I feel like in every other episode we go somewhere, but Episode 804, we are parked in Star City." (Oct. 11, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "[Episode] 4 is a little different. But then [Episodes] 5, 6, and 7 really are their own story. If you imagine the first seven episodes [are heavy action], four is like an emotional intermission. That should be the title of the episode." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On shooting William's coming out scene with SA in 804, BL: "We never discussed the weight or significance of the scene beforehand, but once it came time to shoot it, we went deep very quickly and it was clear that it meant a lot to both of us. I was actually blown away by how emotionally dropped-in he was, not only in this scene, but in all of the parent-child scenes that Kat and I got to play with him. It’s obvious how important the role of 'Dad' is to him in his real life — he’s always FaceTiming his daughter between takes and she’s come to set, as well. So clearly these scenes resonated with him in a really special, personal way. ... And it was obviously resonant for me, as well, as a gay person. When I first read the ending of 803, where Mia and William are face-to-face with Oliver in 2019, I realized, 'Oh my God! William never got to come out to his dad before he died.' So I immediately emailed Beth [Schwartz, showrunner] and expressed how coming out to your parents is such a formative experience for any LGBTQ person. It can either be so healing or so traumatic, but either way, it’s a rite of passage. ... For William to lose his dad at a young age and be robbed of that — that he might feel like his dad died without really knowing him — was so heartbreaking to me. And then to have the opportunity in his 30s to go back and come out to his dead father? As an actor, I was like, 'Holy s**t, that has to happen.' [Laughs] Luckily, Beth responded immediately that she agreed and that they would work it in. So receiving that script, which was written so beautifully by Oscar Balderrama and Jeane Wong, and getting to play that scene opposite Stephen, was literally a dream come true." (Nov. 5, 2019 TVInsider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what William's arrival in this present day timeline mean for Team Arrow, BL: "I think it’s very meaningful to William to get to show his dad how far he’s come and how he’s personally able to contribute to Team Arrow. And for me, I think it’s important for young boys watching to see that you don’t need to be physically dominating—or be able to do a salmon ladder—to make the world a safer, better place. [Laughs] Like Felicity before him, William really shows that there’s more than one way to be a hero. ... And in the same way that William takes after Felicity, Mia obviously takes after Oliver. As we saw in 803, Mia struggles with teamwork and allowing William to play his role if it means putting himself in harm’s way. As a result, they lost Zoe, so now the challenge becomes, how do OTA and FTA work together to protect and possibly rewrite the future of Star City?" (Nov. 5, 2019 TVInsider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the episode she is most looking forward to fans seeing, KM: "They are all incredible and I can give the merits of each episode... but episode four, in particular, is heavy in a way that Mia has never been a part of in Arrow and in a way that changes the nature of the story and the trajectory of the characters forever." (Oct. 17, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why episode 4 is her favorite this season, KM: "Episode 4 is a huge turning point. It's really the end of episode 3 into the beginning of episode 4. It's - it changes everything. It's a huge moment and a huge event that not only changes Mia forever, but also changes the course of the entire arc of the story. And, uh, that's what you have when you're building to Crisis. 'Cause all bets are off and there are no rules anymore. And literally anything can happen. And it rocks Mia's world in a way that she never thought possible. And it really is going to force her to confront everything that she's tried to push away in her life." (Oct. 18, 2019 TVLine article page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[W]ith Mia, very quickly, um, a series of events takes place that changes her forever and will completely rock her world in a way that she's really forced to confront everything that she's tried to push away. And everything that's - that's hardened her, she has to kind of bring to the forefront, which, when it comes to emotional things, that's really not her forte. Um, she doesn't quite know how to handle when things like that come up. So it'll be interesting to see what happens." On preparing to play a character that's not good at handling emotions, KM: "You know, it's kind of the most fun, because when you have these characters that are so strong and so confident in who they are, when they are taken back a step, when they are knocked down, you get to see that kind of underlayer of vulnerability, and that is kind of a fun layer of juxtaposition to play around with and see what colors come out." (Oct. 18, 2019 Cheddar article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "I think overall my favorite episode to shoot, like the one that I really loved the most, is going to be episode four. I can't give away episode four. But some big, big things are going to be happening in episode four. The arc that the future kids are on right now is going to come all the way to a head in episode four. I cannot wait for people to see it. It's going to be crazy. So that was probably my favorite to shoot." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "I would say, that things have been getting intense with our storyline, especially in the next episode, but they really come to a head in episode 4. I would say that episode 4 was probably my most fun, and my favorite to shoot, out of all of them. I know the people are going to go nuts for episode 4. I think it's going to be crazy. I can't wait for that to drop. I love that episode. I can finally start talking about stuff." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: “I know the people are going to go nuts for episode 4. I think it's going to be crazy. I can't wait for that to drop. I love that episode. I can finally start talking about stuff." (Nov. 5, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 16, 2019, director Kristin Windell posted pic of Arrow 804 clapboard dated Aug.15, 2019, with comment: "I wish we got the first shot off at 11:11. #20mintooearly #saidnoproducerever #femalefilmmakerfriday." (directorkristin instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 16, 2019, fan tweeted video of JH's instagram story in which you can hear someone who sounds like EBR talking in the background about her script. (only4arrow tweet, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 19, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted 804 title page. (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 20, 2019, JH posted pic of the back of her head with long blonde hair, with words "Season 8 hair" written over pic. (JH instagram story, page 3 of Spoilers thread) -- On Aug. 21 or 22, 2019, DR posted pic of himself and SA, both wearing suits, standing next to a car under a tent while it rains, with comment: "Living our best life.. #arrowfinalseason." (DR instagram post, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 22, 2019, SA tweeted: "Episode 804 is a doozy. I’m exhausted." (SA tweet, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 23, 2019, SA posted video clip of a guy with a flattop mullet hairstyle, with comment: "So fired up." (SA facebook post, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 23, 2019, director Kristin Windell posted pic of Arrow Set Dec crew guy standing behind a monitor showing the SCPD criminal profile screenshot of him with a muttonchop beard and mullet, with comment: "BOLO for Tommy Set Dec. #ArrowFinalSeason #CrewHijinx muttonchopsdisguise." Criminal profile lists criminal's name as Tom "Two Stepping Tommy" Bonny. They appear to be on the SCPD police station set. (directorkristin instagram post, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 26 or 27, 2019, CH posted: "Vancouver... you are so pretty." (CH instagram story post, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, writer Jeane Wong tweeted: "Just finished watching an early cut of an upcoming Arrow episode. So emotional, guys. #myblackheartmeltedalittle." (jeanedevivre tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, director Kristin Windell posted pic of herself holding bow & arrow in an interior stairwell, with comment: "That’s a wrap on my #ArrowFinalSeason episode. Thanks to the amazing cast and crew for letting me play in the sandbox one final time." (directorkristin instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 29, 2019, EK posted pic of himself, with comment: "So thankful for another rotation around the sun! Can’t believe I got to accomplish so many dreams of mine this year, from music, to writing to directing! Next year is going to be even greater. Special shot out to @schwartzapproved @cw_arrow and @warnerbrosentertainment for letting me come out to shadow direct @directorkristin! #SeedsPlanted #YouAintSeenNothingYet." (echokells instagram post, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 30, 2019, BL tweeted 804 promo video, with comment: "Arrowheads! Next week's my favorite episode of the season & this promo's got me HYPED for you to see it. ?? #Arrow." (benlewishere tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, director Kristin Windell tweeted: "Can’t wait for you all to see my episode 'Present Tense'. Every single person on this #ARROW team makes it possible. To the amazing crew, cast, post, writers-to everyone who shows up to make this all work: love you 💚 Grab your tissues and have a watch tonight on CW." (Stinly tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, MG tweeted: "This is one of my all-time favorite episodes of #Arrow. Love how it turned out." (MG tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, KC tweeted pic of herself with Mia, with comment: "Mia & Laurel 🏹 Comment below if you're watching episode 804 tonight! #Arrow." (KC tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited November 5, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo November 10, 2019 Author Share November 10, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers from October 21, 2019 to November 10, 2019. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... ADDENDUM #5 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC S8 Production and Scheduling -- GATV tweeted: "Repeats already: November 12 will bring us repeats of #TheFlash and #Arrow season premieres 😞 ." (GreenArrowTV tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- An original episode of Arrow will air on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 9:00pm ET. Arrow will then conclude its eighth season with a two-hour event on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2019, beginning with a finale preview at 8:00pm ET, followed by the Arrow series finale at 9:00pm ET. (Nov. 8, 2019 SpoilerTV and TVLine articles, page 78 of Ratings and Scheduling thread) S8 Time and Place -- JDJ: "It's been about six months between seasons[.]" (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Generally -- On whether there is fun in exploring the legacy of the show and getting some of the previous actors back, DR: "Yes. We’ll be seeing a lot of characters that you haven’t seen in awhile." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- BL: "[N]ow the challenge becomes, how do OTA and FTA work together to protect and possibly rewrite the future of Star City?" (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Insider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Mia and William see this as an opportunity to try to save their dad's life, BL: "I think that particularly where they're at in 804 — I think anything seems possible. If it's possible to travel back in time 20 years and see your dead father, the sky's the limit. You know? So I think of course they are hopeful there might be a way to find a better outcome, not only for Oliver but for Zoe, for JJ, and for the entire future of Star City. I think this development, going back in time, sort of blows the lid off of anything they really thought was possible before." (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "This season is really special... Every single episode honors a certain element of what has made Arrow Arrow." (Oct. 23, 2019 CW Atlanta article & video of ET Canada interview with Katherine McNamara, page 771 of Social Media thread) -- KM: "I think Arrow this season is so special. The writers knew this was the final season, so they were really able to think about how they wanted to end this story that they've all given so much to. And - and every episode is kind of a love letter and a respect to an aspect of Arrow that's made it so - such a legacy. Um, so it's exciting for people who've watched the show from the beginning." (Oct. 21, 2019 CBS Local News video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how S8 is different from S7, KM: "Well, it's a really special season and that's why I think the fans are going to love it so much. The writers had the opportunity to know that it was the last season. They were able to think, okay, we have 10 episodes, how do we want to close up this story? And they've done that in such a beautiful way. Each episode sort of pays respect to an element that has made Arrow Arrow. So, for example, in the first episode that we saw the other night, it's the pilot and it goes back and brings back Colin Donnell and Susanna Thompson and John Barrowman, who were so iconic in the first couple of seasons. You get to see them again, to see the origins of the story happen all over again in a slightly different way. We start to see that throughout the season. You know, there's - every episode highlights something that's been so instrumental to the journey and, um, adding new people into it and new situations. It's all building up to the Crisis, which is the crossover this year." (Oct. 21, 2019 Chicks in the Office podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: “It’s going to be about bringing back people from the past, bringing back all of these different elements in the story... They really want to give fans, especially the ones who have been watching religiously from the beginning, an enjoyable experience as a way to sort of send off the show.” (Oct. 22, 2019 Distractify article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see anything in the future scenes leading up to it that sets up Crisis, JDJ: "Oh, yeah. The Monitor is a series regular, and this whole season is playing to his plan. He's orchestrating everything, so you're going to see everything building up to this Crisis, in our show especially. We're trying to tie up an entire show, so a lot of our plot is going to include a bunch of callbacks." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "What happens in 'Crisis' has ripple effects throughout the entire universe... Everything is different... 'Crisis' changes everything. We lose people and history is changed by that and all of the characters as a result of that are changed." (Oct. 23, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he is most excited for people to see during during this final season, CB: "I’m excited in a bigger scope than just myself. I’m excited to see how people relate to the family dynamics within the story, and how those are kind of tested and pushed and pulled and every kind of effect is pulled upon them. I’m excited to see how people who aren’t superheroes, maybe, but are superheroes in a sense of being an incredible father, mother, leader, brother, sister, I’m excited to see how that kind of translates and relates." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Ending Arrow -- Last page of 810 episode script reads: "... Of possibility... FADE TO BLACK. END OF SERIES." (Oct. 24, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, with what he's been told about the season, he feels like we'll have a sense of closure or whether he feels like there will still be some questions left unanswered, DR: "Yes, there is some definite closure to some parts, and there’s definitely questions still laid out there and certainly lives that aren’t fully completed yet. By the time the series ends, you’ll still say, 'Okay, I still want to see more of this,' without a doubt. There are situations in this show, by the time Episode 10 is done, where you will clearly say, 'Okay, I wanna see more.' It isn’t wrapped up in one little nice bow. To some degree, there are pieces that are wrapped up, but this is a show that has a lot of moving parts and a lot of different characters that can live on past the show, so you’ll still wanna see more. That’s part of the strength of what’s happening, in this last season. This isn’t a situation where people are saying, 'Oh, you’re still on?' It’s like, 'You’re leaving? No!' That sentiment is there because there’s still a lot of life left to the show." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he would describe Arrow's series finale, LMG: "One word that came to mind to describe how it ends is 'beautiful' ... It's a beautiful ending. ... A lot of shows have their ending and it doesn't live up to what the fans thought it should be. I remember when Seinfeld ended, people were like, 'Oh, that was a terrible ending', even though I happen to like it. Game of Thrones, people have their opinions on the way it went out. ... I think Arrow's ending is beautiful. That's my opinion. Everyone might have their own opinion, but I think it's a really good ending. And Arrow is the first show that started everything, so it's significant." (Nov. 3, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashforwards and Future Team Arrow -- On how long Mia, William and Connor will be sticking around in present day after being transported there at the end of 803, BL: "I can’t say an exact amount of time or how many episodes, but it’s enough to make a really dramatic impact on everyone involved. I can’t wait for the fans to see these next few episodes, because every one of them feels so vital and important. Beth and the writers are really not f**king around." (Nov. 5, 2019 TVInsider articles, page 6 of Spoilers thread and pages 32 and 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how long we can expect Mia, William and Connor to stick around in the present, BL: "I can’t say how long, but I can say that there will be several missions. Obviously, the missions are extra special because it’s members of OTA and members of FTA working together for the first time. As always on Arrow, the stakes are extremely high, but they may be even higher and more dynamic by these added family dynamics. [They] just make it even more potent and dramatic." (Nov. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the Monitor's motivation for bringing Future Team Arrow back to present day, BL: "Yeah, I think the Monitor and the fans have that in common, and the writers as well. I don’t think I can speak to why the Monitor did this, but I can say I think from a creative standpoint, I think the writers really recognized maybe some of the concerns that some of the fans had about the future storyline just being a little bit grim and hopeless. Now that’s really been turned on its head and anything is possible." (Nov. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why the Monitor dropped Mia, William and Connor into the past, BL: "I don't know that I can speak for the Monitor's motivation, but I think from a creative perspective, I think giving Oliver this opportunity to reunite with his kids and giving them the opportunity to reunite with their father is something that I think the fans have clearly expressed that they wanted to see. Even just since the ending of 803 last week, the response has been so amazing. Even people who are a little skeptical about the future storyline just in general... I think a lot of people who were critical of that, their feelings have sort of shifted because now there's hope for Star City again." (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, going forward, William views this as an opportunity to change the future, BL: "I think they all feel that way. I think they all sort of recognize the toll that the future takes on their children and that they have an opportunity to potentially rewrite that future and create a better, safer version of Star City for their kids. I think [that’s] what really drives and motivates them over the next few episodes." (Nov. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- BL: "[N]ow the challenge becomes, how do OTA and FTA work together to protect and possibly rewrite the future of Star City?" (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Insider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[Y]ou saw Original Team Arrow, but they all kind of fit together and they started off and were so heroic from the get-go. You really didn't get to see their growing pains. And that's what we get to see this season with, uh, with Future Team Arrow, as it all fits together with, you know, the story as it comes to a close." (Oct. 21, 2019 CBS Local News video of Kathering McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "It's also just a wonderful thing to jump into a show where the basis is all about family. You have these kids who were abandoned and then have to learn how to work together with a stranger. It's interesting because Mia is not used to having someone else to protect, and that's a scary thing." (Oct. 25, 2019 Chicago Tribune article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- On hoping that Future Team Arrow will be incorporated in some way into the Mia/Canaries spinoff, KM: "Future Team Arrow has become special and they have come so far and gone through so much together it would be a shame to lose that... I hope it will become a part of the future, but I don’t have that much info yet but I am hoping for the best. ... I love working with Ben [Lewis] and Joseph [David-Jones] and Andrea [Sixtos] so much. ... We have the best time together and what I love most is that – and why fans respond to it as well – is that it is the same trope and character types that fans love and are used to, the brooding vigilante and the tech expert and the heart, the moral compass of the team, but there are these being shown by the least likely of people. ... So you have Mia the brooding vigilante who is the opposite of Oliver, instead of Felicity as the tech expert you have William, and then the son of a villain who has been adopted by a good guy filling up the moral compass of the story. .... It’s interesting to see that classic set up turned on its head in such a great way." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the future storyline will connect to Crisis, JDJ: "Oh, Crisis is imminent, and I think that whole thing is going to come in to play in such an interesting way. I can't wait for people to see it. It sucks because so much of Crisis is a no go for interviews and everything. It's all shrouded in secrecy. The future team is going to have sort of a part to play in Crisis, I can say that, and we're going to start seeing how things are going to play out for them as well." Also JDJ: "It's a delicate dance, man. I mean Warner Bros. will come after me. I spoiled so much last season. Trying to not get any more calls from these guys." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Nov. 5, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "I think your going to see a lot growing pains for each of us adjusting to being in 2019 and having to form new bonds with our younger Parents." (Nov. 6, 2019 JosephDavid-Jones reddit post, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) The Monitor and Harbinger -- On the meeting of the Monitor and Harbinger at the end of Arrow 802 and bringing that iconic duo from the comics to life, LMG: "That was one of my favorite moments this season, as far as what The Monitor was involved in. When I read that, I got really excited because that was my moment as the actor and as The Monitor of like, alright the Crisis is really about to be here. Because Harbinger and The Monitor are two of the key figures in Crisis. ... Them meeting for the first time, that was a wild moment for me. I knew it was coming because I filmed it, but when I watched it -- when Lyla is walking, and she's speaking to someone, The Monitor coming out of the shadows -- that moment was like, yes, the Crisis is here. That was awesome. ... And, [as for] their relationship, more will come from who they are when the Crisis starts, and that's part of the fun. You're laying all these breadcrumbs, culminating into something big later on." (Nov. 1, 2019 TV Fanatic article, page 39 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) The Monitor and Oliver -- On how the Monitor's relationship with Oliver will play out moving forward after 803, LMG: "I think that's the fun thing about it. If Oliver was all in on what The Monitor was doing and telling him, it wouldn't be as much fun to see what happens with it. So, naturally, he has people in his ear like Diggle telling him don't trust this guy, you create your own destiny, you don't have to listen to him. ... And, he's one of his close friends. You have people around you, telling you otherwise, and you're already starting to doubt. And, now your kids get pushed into this timeline, that might be the final straw. He's not in a good place right now, so I think it's natural for him to distrust The Monitor. ... But, The Monitor knows what he's doing. It might not be the right way of doing it, but it's all for a greater purpose." (Nov. 1, 2019 TV Fanatic article, page 39 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- In response to fan who asked "Is it safe to say that our happy ending between Oliver and felicity is approaching?", EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Nothing is safe to say...." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who tweeted "olicity + taylor swift is my brand," EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Just wait!" (Nov. 9, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810, Arrow writer Benjamin Raab tweeted: "Calling all #Arrow (and #Olicity) fans... #TheFinalBow." (Nov. 1, 2019 Wondermasons tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and His Children (William, Mia) -- On meeting his adult kids in 804, SA: "He's flabbergasted, obviously... He doesn't really know what to do with Mia. I think actually the coolest interaction [...] doesn't actually come between Oliver and Mia, it comes between Oliver and William. The scene, my first sort of big one on one scene with Ben, straight up might be my favorite scene this year." (Oct. 29, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why it was so much easier for William to reunite with his dad than it was for Mia, BL: "I think that you see in this episode, and you will see in the coming episodes, that Oliver and Mia butt heads a lot just because of how similar they are. I think they see a lot of themselves in each other. I think because Mia never really got the chance to know Oliver, there's just been a lot of confusing mythology that she's grown up with, if that makes sense. She's really struggled with a lot of the different narratives that she's been told about her father. I think, more than anything, she really is deeply wounded and traumatized by her feelings of abandonment. Whereas William, he didn't have a lot of time with his dad, but he knows his dad. He knows who he is and the type of guy he is. Of course, they haven't always seen eye to eye themselves, but I think that losing his father at such a young age and, as we see in this episode, not having the opportunity to come out to him for example before he died — William's probably harbored a lot of regret about things left unsaid to Oliver, never imagining that he would have an opportunity to see him again. So, I think for William, I think he feels more purely grateful for the opportunity to see Oliver again, whereas for Mia, it brings up a lot of hard feelings." (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Guide article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Diggle -- On what we can expect from the dynamic between Oliver and Diggle this season, DR: "Again, it’s as it should be, finally. Their differences have been laid aside. Diggle is at Oliver’s side, exactly where he should be. They’ve worked out some of those issues, so now it’s about the mad rush to our crossover and facing this cosmic being, which Diggle doesn’t blink at, for one second. He remains the absolute stalwart and confident partner that he’s always been to Oliver." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, SA tweeted: "Just wrapped my final scene with David Ramsey. And just like that... I’ve wrapped with every series regular on the show. Holy shit." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Earth-2 Laurel -- On Oliver and E2 Laurel's changing dynamic this season, SA: "They’re beside one another. They’re working together with one another... There’s multiple times when Oliver looks to her and says, ‘I didn’t expect to be on this mission with you, but I’m glad you’re here.’” Also, having E2 Laurel on along for the ride also gives Oliver a chance to put his belief that people - both himself and others - can change into practice. SA: “If Oliver doesn’t believe in people’s capacity for change, then he’d be a super-big hypocrite because you look at the type of person he was in Russia, for sake of argument - which is also something we touch on this season - and the type of person he is now. If people just judged him on his actions back then, nobody would go near him. He’d be a pariah... Laurel has proven herself and so Oliver is not going to sit in judgement of her.” (Oct. 21, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah and Earth-2 Laurel -- On Oct. 25, 2019, KC posted pic of herself with JH, both wearing masks, with comment: "Pretty Bird ?? @julianaharkavy #Arrow." (katiecassidy instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and His Family -- On what we can expect to see with Diggle’s family, DR: "Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson) is a big part of the season. She’s the leader of ARGUS. She’s the new Amanda Waller. So, where that is with the relationship that she has with this very virtuous guy, in John Diggle, we work that out. We find out where that’s going. Their child, JJ, who’s into a lot of the nefarious stuff, in the future, and you’ll find out more about their relationship with him, and their adopted child and their rivalry. There’s a lot of stuff in the Diggle family that has to be worked out, in these 10 episodes, and will be. And ultimately, I think we have to find out what’s going on with Green Lantern. We’ve been teasing that since Season 2 or 3. It’s been a crazy amount of time, so we have to put a button on that, and from what I’m hearing, we will." When asked if he's been dying for those answers himself, DR: "I would have been if Marc [Guggenheim] and Greg [Berlanti] weren’t incredibly forthright with the process and some of the politics. By the time any show is up on television, there have been literally thousands of hoops that have been jumped through. It doesn’t happen arbitrarily. There’s been a tremendous amount of logistics and moving parts that have come together, to make this one show happen. How Greg has duplicated that, over and over and over and over, and 18 times over again, has just been incredible. But he and Marc and Beth [Schwartz] have been very forthright about what they want to do with that whole possible mythos, with Green Lantern. So, if it had not been for them, yes, I’d probably be pulling my hair out, what little I have, and saying, 'What’s going on, guys?,' but they’ve been very honest about it." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we will ever see the Diggle boys interact with their parents, Diggle and Lyla, JDJ: "There's some stuff in upcoming episodes. I can't give too much away, but we know that Diggle is still alive in the future. So I'm interested to see how the fans are going react to their relationship and everything. We will see interactions between the family going forward in this. A lot of this season is going to touch on Diggle's family and their history too, so I can't wait." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Connor's relationship with his parents and what we'll see there this season, JDJ: "Some crazy stuff is coming up with that. This whole season is going to dig deeper into Diggle's family and our relationships with each other, especially with what transpires with JJ and where JJ ends up. It's going to be a complicated relationship. It's not going to be just this immediate bond. It's going to be a tumultuous one. It's going to be one that's hard fought for and earned, but it's going to be nice once we see where it ends up." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- DR: "Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson) is a big part of the season. She’s the leader of ARGUS. She’s the new Amanda Waller. So, where that is with the relationship that she has with this very virtuous guy, in John Diggle, we work that out. We find out where that’s going." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and JJ -- On whether he sees "John" as the villain in the 2040 sequences, CB: "It’s interesting that you say ‘John,’ because John Diggle I do, in a lot of ways." In response to interviewer clarifying that he meant John Diggle, Jr., CB: "I hear you, but yeah, my father, I have a lot of issues with. (laughs) Myself, no." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia and Connor -- On how Connor's relationship with Mia continues to evolve, JDJ: "Obviously, in these first couple episodes, it's still growing pains from trying to figure out what this new team dynamic is and not knowing how everything comes into play with it. So there's a bit of butting heads with coming up with plans and how it actually gets carried out. I think that in itself is a tough adjustment to make, and also to care for someone as deeply as they care for each other. There's still a lot of chemistry and a lot of connection that these two have. So it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out in the next coming episodes, because Connor really does care about Mia and vice versa. It's just hard because so many things are happening and it's all building up to "Crisis," you know? So they'll have moments, but those moments are short-lived." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the clashing between Mia and Connor will continue, especially when it pertains to his brother, JDJ: "Not necessarily who should take the lead on it but what should be done with it. It's hard to have that conversation about taking down someone. When Mia takes somebody down, they don't get back up. It's that conflict of, could you potentially kill your own brother? That's where a lot of it's going to come from, not necessarily who's the leader... Mia doesn't necessarily work well [with others], so she's just doing her own thing anyway. If there's continued conflict, it's going to be JJ-based, what do we with [him] and what's right. Is this a person we can save?" (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the conflict between Mia and Connor on how to handle JJ, JDJ: "It's tough. I think we saw a bit of that in the last episode [802] as well, where there's a conflict of who's going to take the lead in this team going forward. Right now, Connor has been putting together the tactical missions and everything, but there's a conflict there. Mia is used to working alone, she's used to doing things her way and everything. So there's conflict there, and there's conflict with how to handle JJ because, as we'll see, Connor is very close to this mission, so he's not able to see JJ straight. He can't, but there is that moment when they're walking in that lets you know that she really does still care about Connor. ... This conflict isn't one that's born out of the hate. It's one that's born out of love, in my understanding, but I don't know. I'd say our relationship is going to be interesting this next season because there is so much conflict going on. We'll have moments where we have that connection again, but so much is building, and we still have Crisis coming. So a lot of it is, man, if only this wasn't happening at this time, then things can work out." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the conflict between Mia and Connor is due to how differently they were raised and to Connor's being part of Knightwatch, JDJ: "Yeah, we were raised completely different and it's hard to get her to understand the relationship me and my brother have, her just having met her brother. It's been about six months between seasons, so they've definitely gotten a lot closer. She's definitely finding that bond. I don't think she can truly understand the bond I have with my brother and why it's so difficult for me to see him as this person now." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: “With [Mia] being raised in isolation, I was kind of the first person she opened up to and then finding out so much that she didn’t know about me (aka that he knew her identity), so much of my backstory that was sort of hidden, she sort of closed off... She’s having growing pains, working as part of the team and still trying to figure out who is going to lead this team. ... But, it’s still like a love-hate thing going on between us, so we shall see how fans respond to how we grow closer together.” (Oct. 22, 2019 Distractify article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor and JJ -- JDJ: "You're going to see a lot of conflict between JJ and Connor, but it's all going to be because for the longest time, we were each other's best friends."" (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: “Losing [JJ] is something that you instantly feel is still weighing on Connor and weighing on his family." (Oct. 22, 2019 Distractify article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Connor can see past his own guilt over JJ's dark side, JDJ: "No, I don't think he can. I think that's why he has this conversation, after him and Mia have that exchange, and it's because he blames himself for the way JJ ended up, because his presence in the Diggle family went to this. JJ can't be all bad now because if JJ is all bad, then that means Connor's the reason for it. He's the reason that he ended up this way, so he can't be beyond saving. This conversation is because Connor has to try, so that coupled with the fact that JJ is the strongest bond that Connor has--he's grown up with him and known him pretty much his whole life--is the reason why he's fighting for him so much." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how much he was told about Connor and JJ's childhood, JDJ: "They told me a lot of what our history was, and I think they told Charlie [Barnett] a little bit before episode 1, to sort of give him a base for how to frame the relationship between us and how to frame his character. So we knew going into it, but it was really this episode, where we got a chance to actually sit down and find the history between us. To personalize these moments between us and then really build our history… Some of the lines are just sort of improv'd out there because we do have that history now, and we can sort of tackle the theme as brothers." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On JJ's relationship with Connor, CB: "You know, that is an interesting one. I’m sure you’ll get to see it develop, and I’m even seeing it develop more and more. They had an incredible relationship. They have always had an incredible relationship. And then there was a giant fissure in it, I think early on in their life, is what we as actors discussed with the creators. From that, their relationship changed drastically and it became combative. I hope that doesn’t give too much away, but I guess from the trailers you can see that it’s pretty combative. They aren’t blood related and we all know that, but like any relationship that is family, despite blood origins or despite any of your history, that connection is almost sometimes stronger than you can control or maybe even stronger than you can push away from. There is this connection or chain link between the two of them that is inevitable, and will always be connected no matter how much J.J. tries to sever it." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how the relationship between JJ and Connor this season should be interesting, CB: "And especially jumping back and forth, and getting the opportunity to see all of them kind of—I’m sure all of the knots are not going to be untied, but getting a chance to kind of address them is going to be really interesting. That’s all the stuff that I got to read but I didn’t get to see, so I’m going to be able to, like a viewer, get to enjoy it as much." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) The Anti-Monitor -- When asked if the Anti-Monitor will pop up on Arrow before the crossover, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "[woman shrugging emoji]." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- On Oct. 21, 2019, SA tweeted: "8 down. 1 to go. #Arrow." (SA tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, SA tweeted video of himself, with comment: "Just wrapped my last day working with Grant. I’ve learned so much from him over the past 7 years. Always felt like Barry brought the best out in Oliver. If Arrow lit the spark, Flash fanned the flame. Also... I fell asleep during our last scene. Thank you, Mr. Gustin." In the video, Oliver wearing his Green Arrow suit is lying on a hospital bed in what appears to be Star Labs. Someone says, "Do you - [unintelligible words]?" SA then says, "I'm sorry, I was really asleep." Someone says, "That was hilarious." Shot expands to room and we see crew members and then GG wearing his Flash suit walks in. SA then says, "What do you want from me? I'm in it." (SA tweet, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 23, 2019, SA posted video of himself, with comment: "Crisis —." In this video, SA appears freshly shaven, without his heavy crossover beard and mustache, and he said: "Guys. Crisis On Infinite Earths. Done. I'm done the crossover. I haven't taken off my, uh, Benjamin Button in the third act makeup yet. But I'm done. I would like to say, uh, thanks to Grant and all the cool people on The Flash. I want to say thank you to Caity Lotz and all the cool people on Legends. I want to say thank you to Melissa and her whole Supergirl family, Jesse especially. Hamish - eh, eh. Eh, eh. I want to say thank you to Ruby and everyone on Batwoman. And I think it was f*ckin' mighty cool that Cress came up here and, uh, did some stuff with us. So, uh, yeah, I'm tired. Um. Crossover done. I think that it's probably the coolest comic book thing that's ever been on TV. And that makes my heart happy. Thank you, guys." (SA instagram post, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 23, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself next to pic of Colin Donnell, both with '79's facial hair of thick mustache and barely there goatee with sideburns, with comment: "Meanwhile on Earth 71...." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 24, 2019, CL posted pic of herself with SA wearing Green Arrow suit, lying on a bed, with comment: "Today is the last day of filming for the 5 show crossover, and this might have been the last scene @stephenamell and I do together. I look really happy here but it’s bitter sweet. Going to miss #arrow but luckily we still have #legendsoftomorrow #theflash #supergirl and #batwoman." (caitylotz instagram post, page 37 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 25, 2019, papp tweeted Oct. 21 and 23, 2019 crossover filming pics and Oct. 24, 2019 blog article link, with comment: "NEW BLOG #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths shoots a huge battle scene for the #LegendsofTomorrow portion of the cross over. ... #COIE #Arrow #TheFlash #Supergirl #Batwoman #Superman #Arrowverse #DCComics." From blog article: "At one point, the only portion of dialogue I could sort of hear throughout the day, White Canary moves closer to the Anti Monitor with the rest of the team behind her, and says something to the Anti-Monitor that ends with her muttering 'For Oliver', then the whole team in unison behind her chant 'For Oliver' before commencing their all out attack." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 38 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, SA tweeted video clip of himself struggling to get out of a hammock inside a room that appears old with old-fashioned furnishings, with comment: "Crossovers are hard." (SA tweet, page 40 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, SA tweeted: "Just wrapped my final scene with David Ramsey. And just like that... I’ve wrapped with every series regular on the show. Holy shit." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, Arrow writer Oscar Balderrama tweeted: "It’s pretty obvious by now but I’ll state it anyway. @StephenAmell has never been better. This season, seeing Oliver opposite his adult kids, knowing where we’re headed... better stay hydrated (right @ARROWwriters?) #arrow #PresentTense." (ojbalderrama tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 6, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself as Green Arrow, carrying his bow and standing on a rooftop at night, with comment: "Tonight is the last night I wear the Arrow suit." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, SA tweeted: "Just took my boots off for the last time." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, director James Bamford tweeted: "Tonight while shooting the series finale we just shot the last shot of something we’ll never shoot again. A very important something. Thank you @StephenAmell for giving us all that something which has been so special to all of us. ??#Arrow." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself reading a book while lounging on a sofa, with comment: "Now that I’ve almost wrapped on Arrow, my hope is to not really speak with anyone for a few months. @GaryJanetti is showing me the way. You should buy his book. But only if you want to get smarter...." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "When you shot the Season 7 finale with Emily and LaMonica on the street with the fog and everything, did you happen to pre-shoot something else with her, while you had her there?" MG: "No…. I guess there’s a world where you’re thinking that far in advance, but that’s pretty rare. In fact, the last scene that I’ve written for the show, I only wrote that [in late June]." (Comments to Nov. 1, 2019 TVLine article, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810 and his preference that fans hear the news from them, MG tweeted: "I prefer it, too. [face with stuck-out tongue and winking eye emoji] We couldn't be happier or more thrilled. No other way to do our finale. You'll find our about more old friends returning in the coming weeks..." (Nov. 1, 2019 MG tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it was always the plan to bring EBR back, MG tweeted: "I would say it was always the HOPE." (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan's thank you for bringing EBR back, MG tweeted: "It was a team effort. And we're all VERY excited it worked out!" (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if he could say something about Arrowverse's animated heroes, Vixen (Mari) and the Ray, in connection with the COIE crossover, MG tweeted: "I can say something cryptic about the Ray and how it relates to Felicity." (Oct. 23, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "So for those of you asking repeatedly [grinning face emoji]." (Nov. 1, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she knows how happy and excited fans are for EBR's return, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Yes! I never kept it a secret that I wanted her back." and "Everyone knows I’m the most excited about this." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweets, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810, Arrow writer Benjamin Raab tweeted: "Calling all #Arrow (and #Olicity) fans... #TheFinalBow." (Nov. 1, 2019 Wondermasons tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted gif of Felicity, with comment: "There’ll be a lot of news coming out about our final episode over the next few months. I prefer when you hear it from us. Welcome back Emily." (Nov. 1, 2019 SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it feels weird to be doing the last season with EBR, and whether he thought they'd all be going to the end together, DR: "We did. When Emily announced it, and she told us that she was going to be leaving, it was sad. The first day on set of Episode 801, we were in the area where Emily normally is, and it was different. It had changed, and Emily was not there. You immediately feel it because Felicity’s presence was so big to the show. When that’s not there, particularly in the space that she normally inhabits, you feel it. It just speaks to how fortunate we were, in the show, to have everyone really gel. That doesn’t happen a lot. That’s what I’ll miss the most. We’ve worked on the show for eight seasons, and you form these relationships. That’s what I’ll miss, more than anything else. Like any other job, when you’ve worked at a job and you like who you’re working with, and you’ve worked there for eight years, and then you have to leave the job, you’re gonna miss the people you worked with." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the "pretty big character departure" of EBR and how the "set atmosphere" has been without her presence this season, KM: "Emily is such an iconic part of Arrow. Even just on set culture, Emily is the life of the party, always, and just such a light. Um, I had such a wonderful time working with her, and it was such a privilege to get to spend so much time with her last season. Um, and I know Stephen loved working with her as well. So it's - we do feel her absence. Um, and it's felt both in character and in - in social life on set. But what's great about it is that, because she did have such an influence and she left such a mark on it, her absence is almost a character in and of itself. And you see these characters dealing not only with that but the things that they're facing moving forward. And you feel her presence, even though she's not actually there." (Oct. 21, 2019 Chicks in the Office podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CB: "You know, in a dream world, too, because I fell in love with Felicity, so I wish-wish-wish that I could have something with her." Then, in response to interviewer saying that Felicity is a great character, CB: "She’s a great character, and she’s an incredible actress, just stellar work, so, so brilliant. Really, really loved her work." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 21, 2019, EBR closed her twitter account. -- On Nov. 9, 2019, SA tweeted pic of Felicity Smoak Funko POP doll, with comment: "Decorating my new trailer is going great." (SA tweet, page 773 of Social Media thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- On whether it's fun to explore his character in relation to who he is now, DR: "Yeah, it is. John Diggle, in Season 2, was alongside Arrow, Arsenal in red leather, Black Canary in black leather, in a brown bomber jacket with jeans. Even in that sense, it’s great that he’s grown to this Spartan character. It’s great to see how that relationship is now interacting with Flash and Supergirl, and the other characters. By the time we’re done, you’re gonna wanna see more iterations of that character. You’re gonna say, 'Great, let’s see more,' which is fantastic." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is looking forward to the fact that he also gets to end on another crossover that’s bigger than ever, DR: "I’m a geek. I’m a comic book nerd. So the idea that we’re able to have these big, huge crossovers is exciting. I was watching Bionic Woman and couldn’t wait for it to crossover with The Six Million Dollar Man. That was my life. So, to be a part of the flagship show of these crossovers is great. I’m just a geek, when it comes to this stuff. I love being able to be part of it." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- RG posted b-t-s crossover pics of himself, DR, JH, Melissa Benoist and Caity Lotz, with comment: "Finished my work on #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths last week. Always a good time when we all connect. ???? #Arrow #Flash #Supergirl #LegendsOfTomorrow." (Oct. 21, 2019 rickgonzalez instagram post, page 38 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- JDJ: "I can't give too much away, but we know that Diggle is still alive in the future." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger -- DR: "Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson) is a big part of the season. She’s the leader of ARGUS. She’s the new Amanda Waller." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, AMA posted pic of her actor's set chair and a pair of heeled pink shoes, with comment: "There have been a lot of “lasts” this season. Last mission, last warehouse, last time we all “suit up”. I was not sad when I wore these shoes for the last time! #ouch #finalseason #arrow #arrowverse." (audrey_marieanderson instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog -- RG posted b-t-s crossover pics of himself, DR, JH, Melissa Benoist and Caity Lotz, with comment: "Finished my work on #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths last week. Always a good time when we all connect. ???? #Arrow #Flash #Supergirl #LegendsOfTomorrow." (Oct. 21, 2019 rickgonzalez instagram post, page 38 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Oct. 30, 2019, Joe Dinicol posted an instagram live story captioned "Ragdog." From this video: Rick Gonzalez: "What's up, y'all? I just wanted to shout out -." Joe Dinicol: "Is this video?" RG: "Yeah, this is a video. I just wanted to let y'all know that Ragdog is back." JD: "Back!" RG: "Back! I just want to tell you right now... Tomorrow we're going to shoot this Ragdog scene." (Nov. 1, 2019 olicitybaby tweet of joedinicolofficial instagram story video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- RG posted b-t-s crossover pics of himself, DR, JH, Melissa Benoist and Caity Lotz, with comment: "Finished my work on #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths last week. Always a good time when we all connect. ???? #Arrow #Flash #Supergirl #LegendsOfTomorrow." (Oct. 21, 2019 rickgonzalez instagram post, page 38 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On or before Oct. 30, 2019, JH: "I just finished my last fitting for my last episode of Arrow. And I want to cry." (Oct. 30, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, JH: "It's our last Monday on Arrow. I never thought I'd want a Monday to last longer. But I do.... I'm going to miss these guys." (Nov. 5, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, JH tweeted video clip of herself wearing her BC mask, with comment: "When you’re trying to inconspicuously drive home in your Canary mask between set ups but even in the dark everyone you pass is like [flushed face, face with open mouth, thinking face, neutral face and upside-down face emojis]." (JH tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, JH tweeted: "If I could manage to NOT cry for even just ONE scene of this finale it would be super great. Cuz right now it’s reading like ... SCPD INTERIOR: DAY ... Dinah pours herself a cup of coffee, WEEPING & SNOTTING deeply into her own shirt. ... Dinah: Mornin’ Sgt. Pickles! ... #Arrow #TheFinalBow." (JH tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA E2 Black Canary? -- When asked if Laurel is in the crossover, MG tweeted: "Laurel is in the Arrow hour." (Nov. 10, 2019 mguggenheim tweet, page 40 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Nov. 3, 2019, when asked if we'll see more Laurel scenes in the next episodes, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Yes!" (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- On Oct. 31, 2019, CH posted pic of himself, with comment: "So many emotions. Can’t believe Arrow is ending [3 crying face emojis] Today is the 1st day of the #ArrowFinale #RoyHarper." (coltonlhaynes instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William "Will" Clayton -- On what William's arrival in this present day timeline means for Team Arrow, BL: "I think it’s very meaningful to William to get to show his dad how far he’s come and how he’s personally able to contribute to Team Arrow. And for me, I think it’s important for young boys watching to see that you don’t need to be physically dominating—or be able to do a salmon ladder—to make the world a safer, better place. [Laughs] Like Felicity before him, William really shows that there’s more than one way to be a hero. ... And in the same way that William takes after Felicity, Mia obviously takes after Oliver. As we saw in 803, Mia struggles with teamwork and allowing William to play his role if it means putting himself in harm’s way. As a result, they lost Zoe, so now the challenge becomes, how do OTA and FTA work together to protect and possibly rewrite the future of Star City?" (Nov. 5, 2019 TVInsider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how does William being back in the present with Oliver affect him going forward, BL: "Everybody falls into their roles to play quickly because there’s a lot to do. They have to get down to business and they have to work together if they want a chance to save the future." (Nov. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar AKA Green Arrow? -- BL: "And in the same way that William takes after Felicity, Mia obviously takes after Oliver. As we saw in 803, Mia struggles with teamwork and allowing William to play his role if it means putting himself in harm’s way. As a result, they lost Zoe, so now the challenge becomes, how do OTA and FTA work together to protect and possibly rewrite the future of Star City?" (Nov. 5, 2019 TV Insider article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "She has Felicity's humor and has Oliver's brooding and aggressiveness and skill on the battlefield. That's a deadly combination in my opinion." (Oct. 25, 2019 Chicago Tribune article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- KM: "It's interesting because Mia is not used to having someone else to protect, and that's a scary thing." (Oct. 25, 2019 Chicago Tribune article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- KM: "So my role [of Mia Smoak] is a surprise to me just as much as anyone else. Um, when I first auditioned, I had no idea that I was auditioning for the role of Oliver and Felicity's daughter. Total surprise to me. But, honestly, it's been the greatest journey to take the best parts of both of the characters and weave them into her story. And, you know, last season we got to see Mia really in her element and got to know her a bit and her past. And now this season she has to be on a team for the first time. And being raised by Felicity in isolation, being trained by Nyssa al Ghul, who's an assassin... she doesn't play well with others. And, uh, having to learn how to operate on a team and listen to other people and do all of that, it's sort of creates a new scenario and puts her out of her element in many ways." (Oct. 21, 2019 Chicks in the Office podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "The way I justified going directly to 'Arrow' after 'Shadowhunters' is that, yes, it's a similar genre, but the character is entirely different. Clay was that ember of hope, the naive, wide-eyed person trying to find her place in the world, Mia is a product of her environment. ... She is a survivor. She is cutthroat and will do whatever it takes to survive. It's a very interesting way to approach a similar world but with a completely different perspective." (Oct. 25, 2019 Chicago Tribune article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- On shooting the crossover, KM: "I do have to say, simply because it's one of those moments where you look around and go, I get to do this for a living, this is my job and it's pretty cool. 'Cause you're standing around. Everybody's in a supersuit. Some people have iconic things emblazoned on their chest. And getting to be even a small part of that, it's amazing. It's the best group of people. We have such a good time. And mad respect to the folks who create the schedule and make it all work, because it is absolutely mental but fun as hell." (Oct. 23, 2019 CW Atlanta article & video of ET Canada interview with Katherine McNamara, page 771 of Social Media thread) -- On "being at the center" of the new spinoff, KM: "Yeah, we're doing a backdoor pilot. (Interviewer asked her to explain what that meant) ... A back door pilot is basically - Episode 9 of Arrow is the first episode after the crossover this season. And what they're doing is showing - it's the beginning of the epilogue of the series. And they're kind of showing the next chapter in Mia's story. And kind of what happens." She then confirmed for the interviewer that that backdoor pilot could then become a spinoff series, "if they so choose." When interviewer then said that it would be a "female-driven" spinoff, KM said: "Yeah, it's really interesting to see what they're going to do. I honestly don't know much yet about it, because it's such a brand new kind of concept. But we're going to see what happens, and it'll be really exciting." (Oct. 21, 2019 Chicks in the Office podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Speaking about the Mia/Canaries spinoff and 809 being its backdoor pilot, KM: "I have not been as involved in the discussion as I would like to be moving forward... but as we get closer and the more info I get… the writers have been so collaborative and I can only hope that will continue as they have given such care to Mia so I would love the opportunity to continue that discussion. ... Not only Mia but the legacy of the Green Arrow has become important to me and it’s something I want to be part of it. ... Ultimately they have crafted such a beautiful story for Mia up to this point, and I am very attached to her and protective of her as she has been so well taken care of up to this point." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On hoping that Future Team Arrow will be incorporated in some way into the Mia/Canaries spinoff, KM: "Future Team Arrow has become special and they have come so far and gone through so much together it would be a shame to lose that... I hope it will become a part of the future, but I don’t have that much info yet but I am hoping for the best. ... I love working with Ben [Lewis] and Joseph [David-Jones] and Andrea [Sixtos] so much. ... We have the best time together and what I love most is that – and why fans respond to it as well – is that it is the same trope and character types that fans love and are used to, the brooding vigilante and the tech expert and the heart, the moral compass of the team, but there are these being shown by the least likely of people. ... So you have Mia the brooding vigilante who is the opposite of Oliver, instead of Felicity as the tech expert you have William, and then the son of a villain who has been adopted by a good guy filling up the moral compass of the story. .... It’s interesting to see that classic set up turned on its head in such a great way." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On or about Oct. 21, 2019, KM mentioned that she was just coming out of "crossover season in the Arrowverse," adding that it's "fun" but "mental" (alluding to the crossover shooting schedule) (CBS Local News video of Kathering McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 26, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself wearing a hooded outfit, with comment: "Kinda classy. ? Kinda hood. #StarCity2040 #ARROW #MiaSmoak." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 29, 2019, papp tweeted: "Heard a funny story regarding the Arrow spinoff , always good when theres already issues and it hasn't even started." When asked if it was some b-t-s drama between the cast and who is the lead, papp tweeted: "The show is Kat's she was given the spinoff , she was signed for the spinoff. She never took the Arrow gig for a 10 min spot each episode." and, in response to fan who commented that KM only has 10 minutes per episode, "No I meant on arrow not the spinoff . I’m aware it’s more like 15 but you get the point" and "Obviously the dynamic of the show has changed but that doesnt change why the show is green lit, one person didn't get the show they were told and someone didn't get the show they pitched." and "Ya exactly. Its pointless to take two show ideas and cram them into one giant mess." (pursuit23 tweets, page 1 of Green Arrow & the Canaries thread in Pilot & In Development Shows forum) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, KM tweeted: "Wrapped for the weekend on @CW_Arrow and thinking of everyone at @DreamitCon. Wishing I could've made it there. Sending my love, gladers! #WCKDISGOOD #WIG." (KM tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor Hawke -- On what aspect of Connor's personality does he relate to the most, JDJ: "I think his need to do the right thing, as cheesy as that sounds. There's a great moral compass on Connor, even though a lot of the times he's coming up short, and we'll see that especially in this season. There's a hefty weight on him, and with that comes this desire to do the right thing. Unfortunately, I would say both of us blame ourselves for things that are out of our control. That definitely comes through as well, especially in these next few episodes. I think at the core of Connor, is there's a lot of me in there and vice versa. We both carry the weight of the world on our shoulders." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Connor's being a part of Knightwatch, JDJ: "We talk about missions and covert ops and stuff within Knightwatch as well, so you're going to get a lot more history of Knightwatch throughout the season." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what is his involvement with the COIE crossover, JDJ: "I know they're keeping everything about 'Crisis' as close to the chest as they can. I can't say! You're going to have to just find out when 'Crisis' happens. Warner Bros. will come after me if I say anything else." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Connor in the crossover, JDJ: "I cannot say anything about the crossover except for the fact it's going to change everyone. [Marc] Guggenheim has gone to Warner Bros. with this incredible list of things he wants for the crossover, Easter Eggs and characters and cameos and everything. It's going to be amazing, and I think fans are going to be shocked by a lot of things that happen in it." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we are going to see Connor interacting with the Monitor, JDJ: "I don't know." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "When people watch this episode we're filming now, episode nine, everyone's going to be reeling from all the changes that have happened post-Crisis - Connor definitely changes after Crisis." (Oct. 23, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can say about the potential for him being in the possible spinoff, JDJ: "It's in development right now, and they're trying to write and create a show that pays homage to Arrow and the characters that it created, but also do something different that is its own show, its own entity and also something that is going to empower women. I cannot say what is going on with the pilot. We're about to shoot stuff and you'll see what happens with that, but it'll help with where the story goes with that spinoff. ... Hopefully I'm a part of it. I'd love to continue to explore this world and his relationship with Mia and the team and family. I'd love to continue going deeper. We go so much deeper in this season that it makes me want to keep going." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is going to be a part of the backdoor pilot for the Mia/Canaries spinoff, JDJ: "Actually I'm in Vancouver shooting right now. I can't say which capacity I will be in this as, but we're still sort of finding what is going to happen post-Crisis. So all I can say is that there's definitely interested parties on both ends with Connor continuing in this spinoff, and we shall see what happens with it. I'm sorry I'm being unbelievably cryptic." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which is his favorite episode of the season so far, JDJ: "My favorite scene to shoot was definitely in this episode [809]. It was the one that we worked on the most and built the most history on. I would say, that things have been getting intense with our storyline, especially in the next episode, but they really come to a head in episode 4. I would say that episode 4 was probably my most fun, and my favorite to shoot, out of all of them. I know the people are going to go nuts for episode 4. I think it's going to be crazy. I can't wait for that to drop. I love that episode. I can finally start talking about stuff." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "What is my involvement with Canaries? I can't say anything definitely, but there's interest on both parts to have Connor in the spin-off... I'm excited for what's going to come of that." (Oct. 24, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect to see from him in the future, JDJ: "Hopefully, a lot of great work. We’ll see what happens with The Green Arrow. Hopefully there is room for me in the Universe." (Nov. 2, 2019 Sheen Magazine article, page 313 of Starling City Times thread) -- On what kind of role he will play in in Green Arrow and the Canaries, JDJ: "We don't know! We don't know. I'm trying not to give anything away or spoil anything, only to say that both parties are sort of interested in exploring where Connor goes more post-'Crisis.' So we'll see if we make something work. It'd be a lot of fun to be in the spinoff." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he would like to return to LoT at some point, JDJ: "It really depends on what direction they take now with this spinoff that they're doing with the Canaries, because there's still a chance that we could see Connor in this next version of Arrow, this spinoff from Arrow. So I would not be close to being on Legends. I think, especially because of the tone and them being so self-aware of what their show is, it would be so much fun to be on Legends, or to do like, you know, technically something on there, some sort of appearance, would be amazing, but I'll see where things go post-Arrow." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his dream arc for Connor, JDJ: "I'd really love for him to be back in the suit, and to find out a way to make that happen. There is a version of Connor who ends up becoming Red Arrow. Sort of similar to this Connor that I have now, he works for this government organization and he goes under the codename Red Arrow. So I'd love to either be back in the Green Arrow mantle or to be this version of Red Arrow with Connor." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, JDJ tweeted: "When #Arrow is all new tonight but you can’t live tweet cause you’re still working." (josephdjones tweet, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 2, 2019, JDJ posted b-t-s pic of himself with LMG wearing his Monitor suit, with comment: "(Caption This) @lamonicagarrett comment wins hands down, but @jay_kent76 was a close second ?????? #dccomics #flash #arrow." (josephdjones instagram post, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- CB: "On a personal level, I’m really excited to be playing something…villainous (laughs) as much as I don’t judge him, but it’s something that people will see as the bad guy, and hopefully make them question that." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he believes JJ is capable of redemption, JDJ: "Me, personally? It's tough, because I do. You know, the thing is, just because of what we've worked on, if JJ is not capable of redemption, then that means that it's Connor's fault for him ending up that way. The blame is all on him because he's the reason that he turned out that way. So like, to him, he can't be beyond saving. He's still JJ. He's still someone that can be saved. Because if he's not, he ruined his life. Him coming in, him sort of being in the family, that caused it. I think, in my heart, no one is beyond redemption. I think it'll be interesting where things go... There's still a lot of care for Connor that JJ has. We'll see." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tell us about JJ, CB: "It’s another one of those ones that I’m like, I don’t want to give too much. I can tell you John Jr. is a twisted soul. He’s a good man at his heart. I don’t like to judge my characters, and I try not to judge the villains specifically, because then you fall into a world of not understanding them. He comes from a place of hurt, and he comes from a place of feeling forgotten, and that’s a lot of where his anger extends from. And from that he has lived in this world of encouragement of chaos. He wants to see everything thrown to shit, for lack of a better word. Honestly the reason I was so excited to play him was kind of, living in that risky world. I think, though, at his core he has a heart. He has a soul. He still loves and he still wants to be loved like any of us do. We’re all just little babies just wanting to be held. (laughs) But he is caught in between honoring the pain that he’s had to suffer and the experiences that he’s lost out on, specifically deriving from one person in his mind." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he sees "John" as the villain in the 2040 sequences, CB: "It’s interesting that you say ‘John,’ because John Diggle I do, in a lot of ways." In response to interviewer clarifying that he meant John Diggle, Jr., CB: "I hear you, but yeah, my father, I have a lot of issues with. (laughs) Myself, no. I think that I see what they’re doing as just as much a disservice or complication. They don’t know the ramifications of their actions. And it’s a conversation that I think is really…’useful’ maybe isn’t the right word, but ‘useful’ fits, though. It’s something that we need to have today, especially, just to get frank with you, with everything, the violence and trauma and fear that’s emanating in our country. These people are coming from a place of hurt, and it’s too difficult to try and sit down and understand them, and I don’t know if a lot of people have the patience or care to, honestly. But in order to make a stop, we have to start listening. We have to start challenging it in the right ways and eliminating it. And I know that’s such a big scope to relate it back to something like this in a television show. I don’t want to diminish those things that are going on because they’re horrendous and terrifying. ... But it’s interesting to have this character, to be playing this ‘villain’ stereotype and understand, from my standpoint, this person is seeing these heroes go into these cities or towns, save people, and while they save people they’re also killing other villains, and with that you kill a family member. You kill my father, you kill my brother, and that creates another ripple effect. And I’m not saying that the heroes aren’t right, and I’m not saying that they shouldn’t be stopping these people from doing evil things, and that the person on the other side, the brother or the son or the daughter, should have somehow come to a realization that those actions were wrong, but there is an effect, and that effect causes something else. I’m getting on a little bit of a soapbox now, aren’t I?" CB added: "And it’s so inlaid into the comics originally, the character himself – is he good, is he bad, he does bad things, he does good things, he does what he feels he needs to do in the moment. And that could be in question. For any of us as human beings, you’re a hypocrite if you’re saying you haven’t been put in that position. You’re not living if you haven’t been put in that position. So it’s something we all can relate to, it’s just, we all have to get better at doing the right things, and also understanding that every action has an effect, and weighing what’s the best for the whole. As an audience member it’s been the most fascinating part about Arrow and the one thing that makes it so different, and I really appreciate that." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what attracted him to playing JJ, CB: "To be frank, I didn’t know too much about the inner workings of his personal life. If I had known more, I would’ve been wholeheartedly more intrigued. I didn’t know the dynamic between his brothers prior to going into it. The script that they had given me was kind of taken out of context when I auditioned. So in my mind, I didn’t know where it was coming in from, but I did pick up that this guy had been affected by something in his life that left him on this kind of balance point of being a villain etched from a good soul. And that’s what attracted me. I could tell that this is a person struggling with what they thought they should do to support [themselves because of] the challenges that have come their way and also to try to do what he thought was best. I love playing any kind of character that’s dynamic like that. ... Aside from that, I was excited to be playing a 'villain.' I like being able to take characters that are, for lack of better words, pigeonholed into being bad guys or good guys, or good girls or bad girls, and kind of flipping that on its head and making an audience try to understand where they’re coming from. Also aside from that, the fights are so badass. I just wanted to fight, and Arrow’s fights the sickest on TV." (Oct. 23, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how,, from his perspective, J.J. isn’t a sociopath but has an understandable reason for doing what he’s doing, CB: "Absolutely. I went to Julliard for drama, and one of the tools that they would always offer to us is that you shouldn’t ever judge your characters, especially if you’re playing that character. That’s something that’s stuck with me beyond just being an actor, but into my own life. I have no reason to judge the people around me, especially when I don’t know the context of their entire life. And I think once you figure out more, you start to understand, and maybe not agree, but see why they may have taken the actions that they do. So from the beginning, J.J. has never been a sociopath or villain by any means. ... He has been dealt, in his mind, a s–t card. He feels like he has been forgotten and left, specifically by his family, and kind of misplaced. From that, he hasn’t had a guide. More specifically, he hasn’t had his father to help lead him because his father has been preoccupied, which I think is something that a lot of people in this world, outside of the universe of like superheroes, can truly, truly relate to." (Oct. 23, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about JJ's grand plan, CB: "I may be wrong about this because I haven’t really [spoken] with the creators and the writers about this point specifically, but I think that J.J. is coming from a place of chaos, that he wants to throw everything up in the air so that everybody kind of sees [what he’s] been living through. You know, this like pulling family members apart. It’s almost like, 'I want you to feel the pain that I’ve had to suffer and see how you result with it.' I don’t know that he has necessarily planned everything out. I think he knows that he wants to affect his brother and he knows that he can by affecting William and Mia. I know that problems will ensue." (Oct. 23, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether filling that power vacuum is JJ's ultimate goal or whether there is something hidden behind that, CB: "This is maybe my fault for making it too personal, but he sees that effect of [vigilantism]. With Green Arrow, he’s complicated as a person but also in his work. Throughout the seasons he’s come up, I can’t even count how many times, with [the idea that] these actions have a ramification. And from that ramification, you now have to deal with a person’s father having been lost. Maybe that kid wasn’t a villain, but now they’ve turned into one in order to stand up for what they thought that they had lost out of because of Green Arrow’s actions. With that, it gives an opportunity, in my mind as J.J., for the people of this community to see that maybe the heroes aren’t always doing the best thing. It gives [J.J.] an opportunity to allow the 'villains,' the evils of the world, to have more of a voice. I know a lot of people, even myself included as Charlie, may not agree with that, but in order to not judge J.J., I feel like he actually has some sort of a stance." (Oct. 23, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CB: "It's hard. It's family... I think with family you can say in your head, you can play it out in your mind a million times, 'We're done! I'm never going back. I'll never allow that to happen again.' And it's a lot more difficult than you can ever imagine, because these are people that most of the time know you better than anyone else and have seen you grow and thus know who you are at your core in a way that many other people don't. I think that inlet or allowance gives way to a teeter-totter effect for JJ. I will say he was raised by incredibly good people, and that can never be lost. I think he balances between those questions all the time." (Oct. 22, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CB: "I think — in my mind, my little secret — is later in life, [JJ] figures out who his parents really are and what they do, and that on top of it just makes it so much more, for lack of a better word, I want to say f---ed... That just makes it so much more complicated and twisted. Because it's like you are these huge heroes and you weren't even protecting your son or helping your son. What's up with that? That feeds into the bigger picture into what JJ's whole personality and what his goals and what his moral guide is." (Oct. 22, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who lured JJ to the other side of the tracks in the first place, CB: "I can say that, at least for the personal effect of it, he has been guided by what he thinks he needs to do and what he personally thinks he needs to do to get his brother — I don't want to talk about his father necessarily and his mother — to listen and understand where he's coming from. And also to take a second to see that what he's following is not the right answer either — this hero squad may not be what he needs." (Oct. 22, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Manu Bennett’s performance as Deathstroke informed his take on the character, CB: "Yeah, just for excitement, because he was incredible at it and so much fun, and two, because we’re so different. It’s kind of built into the show that he spans larger than just one person or one entity. This character is almost given off to other people who want to take over the helm. That’s how I’m taking it. But for that, I didn’t want to pull anything necessarily from different performances. I wanted to attack on my own, from J.J.’s standpoint. I did want to keep the strength. The strength is undoubtedly there for him on both. But I feel like my character is a little more emotional just because of the relationships to many of the leads." (Oct. 23, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how JJ's version of Deathstroke compares to Slade Wilson, CB: "If you go back in the comic books, Deathstroke is already a completely different person and a completely different story. I have a backstory of my own, and I don’t know how much of it I’m allowed to give out because some of it actually relates back, some of it doesn’t. But Slade to me has become a father figure. He guided me to where I am and he took up a mantle that my father didn’t. My father, I don’t want to say that he vindictively misplaced that mantle or didn’t take the opportunity, but he was preoccupied with something else, with someone else. And so a lot of what Slade was in the comics is a thing that I felt JJ innately has to take on, but a majority of them extending from a mask. His core is more related to his father and his mother, and I think even his brother, as much as he would hate to admit it. But he tries as hard as he can to live the Slade life." What’s unclear from his comments is if JJ actually met Slade Wilson as a child or if JJ is just modeling himself after what he’s heard about the original Deathstroke. (Oct. 21, 2019 CinemaBlend article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- As JJ, the current leader of the Deathstroke gang, he's got a suit and a mask and lots of stunts to do, which adds a whole new element to the acting challenge. CB: "Not that it's not hard...it's just that the environment adds so much, and you can pull so much from what's around you in those situations... This character—again, I don't see him as a villain. I see him as a twisted person reacting to difficult situations in his life. I don't like to judge them as bad people, but yeah, the suit, the physicality of it helps me so much in finding who he is." (Oct.22, 2019 Eonline article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether JJ is stone-cold, CB: "He’s pretty hard, you know. He’s been through a lot." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he was surprised to see that JJ fell so far from the "noble tree" of Diggle and Lyla, CB: "You know, I went back and watched a lot [of previous seasons]… but … from knowing life, from knowing people, no, I’m not surprised. People who grew up in homes, they sometimes feel like they missed out on something or were given a disservice, so I’m not surprised to see him turn into a complicated or “villainous” person." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Connor's explanation to Mia that his parents had been focused on him, their adopted son, that JJ lost out, CB: "He definitely did. Connor was adopted and came from his own complicated situation, and that kind of weight — I’m adopted myself, so I know from experience — can be really difficult, and it manifests in very different ways for each person. As a child who maybe didn’t necessarily ask for another brother or a sister but received it and was happy to have it, to see then you kind of get 'forgotten' within the fold, because of the actions of this new family member…? A twisted result can come from it. ... Really, we have to remember that JJ is at this point just trying to show them that there is another side to this story, as much as people are labeling him a 'villain.' As Charlie the actor playing the part, I don’t see him as a villain; I see him as being given the short end of the stick. Look at Green Arrow, who is such an interesting character because he’s not a perfect hero. He’s not Superman. ... JJ at his core is trying to make a voice for the people who have been dealt a sh–ty hand or had a sh–ty situation — maybe they lost someone, due to these people. He’s just trying to make that voice heard. Now, maybe he’s doing it in a bad way…." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he meant it, when he threatened to have William killed in 802, on a scale of 1 to 10, CB: "Oh, whole-heartedly 10. He’s willing to do whatever he needs. He has been pushed and he’s been pulled for many, many years in his life. In the backstory I have in my mind, he and Connor were friends, they were brothers, and they were tight. And at some point in their adulthood, JJ started to see what he had lost out on and what Connor had gained in retrospect. Look at the fact that Connor is working with his dad so closely, and JJ was never given that opportunity. It makes his blood boil just thinking about it. ... On top of that, I don’t think he knew that his father and mother were these heroes. So to grow up and learn later in life that not only are they revered as these respected people of the community, but they did all this good and they didn’t take time to do good for the one person that they created….? It’s really kind of f–ked. So from that, his anger has reached a major, major boiling point, to the point where he’s like, “I can’t even hear what you have to say. Sorrys don’t work, because all that time has been lost. I want you to feel my pain.” He is reacting from an emotional place, but he is attacking it from a technical side. His ideas are grand, but his reasoning is emotional." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether a “final showdown” between Deathstroke and somebody would be with Connor or Mia or both, CB: "Oooh, good question…. I mean, thank you for assuming I am badass enough to take them both on. I will say that yes, everything has to be faced. All of the knots have to be untied. When that is, I can’t even tell you that I know. But these are deep complications whenever you’re talking about family matters, and it’s usually pretty twisted with emotions. These are the kind of problems that perhaps won’t be solved with one fight or with one person winning. And on top of that, it will be so difficult for anyone to live with, if it comes to a place of having to kill one another…. How do you go on living with that? I’m excited as an audience member to see where it does go." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what role will JJ and the rest of the 2040 crew play in the COIE crossover, CB: "To be frank, I don’t know that much, and what I do know, I can’t say." CB added: "I plead the fifth. I will say that you’re left off at a point in the middle of the season where things definitely need to be tied up. There’s a lot of unanswered questions, and I’m hoping that a lot of those will be addressed in this upcoming universe, no pun intended. But I…I guess that’s it." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's any chance that JJ could also be a John Stewart/Green Lantern on an alternate Earth, CB: "I will tell you upfront, that was not a conversation that we did have, but it’s a conversation I would freakin’ love to have. As much as you can put 100 percent of your thoughts into ‘this is what’s going to happen,’ in these kind of comic book worlds, not only because the world is so open ended, you can go anywhere, but also because literally the structure part of it, the comics that have come before it or the comics that are still coming out, allow so many possibilities to follow, and as we’ve all seen, it’s almost too many possibilities for everybody, and especially these shows, to tap on each single one. So I think it’s kind of up in the air." CB added: "You know, on a side note, we’re in this beautiful age of seeing women have much more ability and much more possibilities in this kind of stifling industry, to be frank. I would be open and really excited to see a female Green Lantern." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is a part of the spinoff’s backdoor pilot, CB: "Oh yeah." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there’s a role for J.J. planned in the Mia/Canaries spinoff, CB: "That I would also be excited to hear about, too, but I have no clue. We had talked about it kind of nonchalantly as a group of actors when I was on there, and I haven’t been back for the last episode, so I haven’t seen them in a bit of time, and we had a little bit of a break, but maybe things have developed in the last couple days that I don’t know about. I would hope to see it build, because, first and foremost, these actors and the crew, I would love to see them just have opportunities because they’re all really, really incredible and they deserve it. But, you know, TV world, we’ll see." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what CB said: "Charlie Barnett, who plays JJ/Deathstroke, told me that he appears in the backdoor pilot episode." (Nov. 6, 2019 TVLine article, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, CB: "I was working on JJ again today for this new stuff coming up, and I really try hard to work on each character differently and just show a different outlet, you know." (Oct.22, 2019 Eonline article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 29, 2019, when asked if he is interacting at all with the ‘present-set’ cast members, like SA, CB: "I have to say, we’re not done, so I don’t know where it’s going. But as of now I have not had the opportunity to. We see each other, of course, walking by on set and everything, and I think there’s a hockey game coming up in another two weeks that unfortunately I’m not going to be able to get to, but I was hoping that I would get to play against them. (laughs) But no, our worlds have not crossed. I haven’t met with Papa yet, and I haven’t met with Stephen yet. You know, in a dream world, too, because I fell in love with Felicity, so I wish-wish-wish that I could have something with her." (ComicsBeat article about Charlie Barnett interview, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Zoe Ramirez -- After 803 aired (in which Zoe was murdered by JJ in a flashforward), KM tweeted b-t-s pic of herself with AS, with comment: "Here we are a tearful, bloody, beautiful mess just after shooting this wonderful gal’s last scene. My dear @dresixtos, I adore you! Thank you for being a fantastic partner in 2040. You will be surely missed! @CW_Arrow #arrow." (Oct. 29, 2019 Kat_McNamara tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After 803 aired, BL posted b-t-s pics of AS, with comment: "Andrea Sixtos Appreciation Post ??." (Oct. 29, 2019 benlewishere instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After 803 aired, AS posted pic of herself, with comment: "Reading all of your comments on my last post brought me to tears... Zoe’s death is just as hard on me as it is on you, so to see how much you genuinely care about her really means the WORLD to me. My love and appreciation for you is insane. Thank you thank you thank you for all of your endless and selfless support. My heart is beaming ????#WereATeam #LeapOfFaith #ZoeRamirez #FTA #CanaryLegend #GoneButNeverForgotten #HerosNeverDie ?????? @cw_arrow." (Oct. 30, 2019 dresixtos instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to one interviewer asking why AS had to leave Arrow and another interviewer saying he felt honored to have her "farewell interview," AS: "Yeah, it's actually kind of perfect. I mean, the timing couldn't have been more solid." Also, Interviewer: "You could come back?" AS: "I don't know. We'll see... We'll see. We'll see." Also, AS: "I remember that moment very, very clearly. Right after we shot, um, it was very emotional, as you saw there. We really had to get to a pretty dark place... You see Zoe taking the leap of faith for her team, um, even though she didn't agree with this mission or this step, um, in their mission. She went along with it because she really - I mean, she has to stick to the team and, um, and be there for them. And, um, she had a chance to save one of her teammates and, although she did go down, she went down a hero. And, um, I think that's very honorable of her. And, um, it's really sad. It is really sad. I mean, I love Zoe... She's part of me now... I definitely had, like - I grieved her right after I finished shooting that scene... Yeah, it was really freakin' emotional. I'm almost gonna cry now." (Oct. 29, 2019 AfterBuzz TV video of Andrea Sixtos interview, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On when and how she found out her character was going to die, AS: "Well, I found out, um, before we started shooting. Um, showrunner gave me a call and was just like, 'oh, hey, so this is - this is the fate of Zoe in the third episode. You know, she ends up dying, but in a really cool, heroic way.' And, you know, yeah, I mean, it was a shock. It was a big shock... I didn't know prior to this season. But, um... I was okay with it. I'm okay with it. Because, you know, um, she really played a really solid, solid role in - in the life, um, of this new world in 2040. And, uh, you really see her be the hero that she had - she always wanted to be and to follow in her father's footsteps and, um, really make him proud. And, um, heart-breaking last words that she had at the end, 'tell my father that I love him, that I'm sorry for everything,' um, because she - she wanted to live on and really, um, fulfill his legacy. And, um, at that moment she felt like a failure because she didn't, you know, in her eyes, win, succeed. So that's really heartbreaking, but I think, uh - I think fans - I think they're gonna be pretty heartbroken." (Oct. 29, 2019 AfterBuzz TV video of Andrea Sixtos interview, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- After interviewers speculated about Rene finding out about Zoe's death and then raising Zoe differently, which would affect the future, so she could come back, AS: "I have no idea what you guys are talking about. (Puts hand over her face)... Everyone's going to have their theories about what happens. But I have no idea what happens. And, um, you're going to have to wait and see." (Oct. 29, 2019 AfterBuzz TV video of Andrea Sixtos interview, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to AfterBuzzTV interviewer tweet lamenting Zoe's death in 803, AS tweeted: "I had a blast with you guys! I know... why thooo??!!?? [loudly crying face and broken heart emojis]." (Oct 30, 2019 dresixtos tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Quentin Lance -- Per TVLine, Paul Blackthorne will appear in multiple episodes of Arrow's final season. (Nov. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "We could not have a final season without @PaulBlackthorne." (Nov. 4, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- PB tweeted: "Delighted to be popping back for a spot of #Arrow .... A pleasure and a privilege!" (Nov. 5, 2019 PaulBlackthorne tweet, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Rory Regan AKA Ragman -- On Oct. 30, 2019, Joe Dinicol posted an instagram live story captioned "Ragdog." From this video: Rick Gonzalez: "What's up, y'all? I just wanted to shout out -." Joe Dinicol: "Is this video?" RG: "Yeah, this is a video. I just wanted to let y'all know that Ragdog is back." JD: "Back!" RG: "Back! I just want to tell you right now... Tomorrow we're going to shoot this Ragdog scene." (Nov. 1, 2019 olicitybaby tweet of joedinicolofficial instagram story video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- On whether they'll continue the tradition of using a Bruce Springsteen song title for the second to last episode of the season (809, the backdoor pilot for the Mia/Canaries spinoff), MG tweeted: "Unfortunately, the studio required us to officially title the episode after the planned spinoff, thus demonstrating no respect for tradition. Therefore, I would appreciate it if we could all just agree that the REAL title of 809 is 'Livin' In the Future.' Thank you all." (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked what was next for her, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "The spinoff (hopefully) and to create some new shows for WB!" (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if she'll promote the Mia/Canaries spinoff at the ATX Television Festival on June 4-7, 2020, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "We should know by then if we have a series pickup." (Nov. 6, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On "being at the center" of the new spinoff, KM: "Yeah, we're doing a backdoor pilot. (Interviewer asked her to explain what that meant) ... A back door pilot is basically - Episode 9 of Arrow is the first episode after the crossover this season. And what they're doing is showing - it's the beginning of the epilogue of the series. And they're kind of showing the next chapter in Mia's story. And kind of what happens." She then confirmed for the interviewer that that backdoor pilot could then become a spinoff series, "if they so choose." When interviewer then said that it would be a "female-driven" spinoff, KM said: "Yeah, it's really interesting to see what they're going to do. I honestly don't know much yet about it, because it's such a brand new kind of concept. But we're going to see what happens, and it'll be really exciting. (Oct. 21, 2019 Chicks in the Office podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Speaking about the Mia/Canaries spinoff and 809 being its backdoor pilot, KM: "I have not been as involved in the discussion as I would like to be moving forward... but as we get closer and the more info I get… the writers have been so collaborative and I can only hope that will continue as they have given such care to Mia so I would love the opportunity to continue that discussion. ... Not only Mia but the legacy of the Green Arrow has become important to me and it’s something I want to be part of it. ... Ultimately they have crafted such a beautiful story for Mia up to this point, and I am very attached to her and protective of her as she has been so well taken care of up to this point." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On hoping that Future Team Arrow will be incorporated in some way into the Mia/Canaries spinoff, KM: "Future Team Arrow has become special and they have come so far and gone through so much together it would be a shame to lose that... I hope it will become a part of the future, but I don’t have that much info yet but I am hoping for the best. ... I love working with Ben [Lewis] and Joseph [David-Jones] and Andrea [Sixtos] so much. ... We have the best time together and what I love most is that – and why fans respond to it as well – is that it is the same trope and character types that fans love and are used to, the brooding vigilante and the tech expert and the heart, the moral compass of the team, but there are these being shown by the least likely of people. ... So you have Mia the brooding vigilante who is the opposite of Oliver, instead of Felicity as the tech expert you have William, and then the son of a villain who has been adopted by a good guy filling up the moral compass of the story. .... It’s interesting to see that classic set up turned on its head in such a great way." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can say about the potential for him being in the possible spinoff, JDJ: "It's in development right now, and they're trying to write and create a show that pays homage to Arrow and the characters that it created, but also do something different that is its own show, its own entity and also something that is going to empower women. I cannot say what is going on with the pilot. We're about to shoot stuff and you'll see what happens with that, but it'll help with where the story goes with that spinoff. ... Hopefully I'm a part of it. I'd love to continue to explore this world and his relationship with Mia and the team and family. I'd love to continue going deeper. We go so much deeper in this season that it makes me want to keep going." (Oct. 21, 2019 TVInsider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is going to be a part of the backdoor pilot for the Mia/Canaries spinoff, JDJ: "Actually I'm in Vancouver shooting right now. I can't say which capacity I will be in this as, but we're still sort of finding what is going to happen post-Crisis. So all I can say is that there's definitely interested parties on both ends with Connor continuing in this spinoff, and we shall see what happens with it. I'm sorry I'm being unbelievably cryptic." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "What is my involvement with Canaries? I can't say anything definitely, but there's interest on both parts to have Connor in the spin-off... I'm excited for what's going to come of that." (Oct. 24, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect to see from him in the future, JDJ: "Hopefully, a lot of great work. We’ll see what happens with The Green Arrow. Hopefully there is room for me in the Universe." (Nov. 2, 2019 Sheen Magazine article, page 313 of Starling City Times thread) -- On what kind of role he will play in Green Arrow and the Canaries, JDJ: "We don't know! We don't know. I'm trying not to give anything away or spoil anything, only to say that both parties are sort of interested in exploring where Connor goes more post-'Crisis.' So we'll see if we make something work. It'd be a lot of fun to be in the spinoff." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he would like to return to LoT at some point, JDJ: "It really depends on what direction they take now with this spinoff that they're doing with the Canaries, because there's still a chance that we could see Connor in this next version of Arrow, this spinoff from Arrow. So I would not be close to being on Legends. I think, especially because of the tone and them being so self-aware of what their show is, it would be so much fun to be on Legends, or to do like, you know, technically something on there, some sort of appearance, would be amazing, but I'll see where things go post-Arrow." (Nov. 5, 2019 CBR article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is a part of the spinoff’s backdoor pilot, CB: "Oh yeah." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there’s a role for J.J. planned in the Mia/Canaries spinoff, CB: "That I would also be excited to hear about, too, but I have no clue. We had talked about it kind of nonchalantly as a group of actors when I was on there, and I haven’t been back for the last episode, so I haven’t seen them in a bit of time, and we had a little bit of a break, but maybe things have developed in the last couple days that I don’t know about. I would hope to see it build, because, first and foremost, these actors and the crew, I would love to see them just have opportunities because they’re all really, really incredible and they deserve it. But, you know, TV world, we’ll see." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what CB said: "Charlie Barnett, who plays JJ/Deathstroke, told me that he appears in the backdoor pilot episode." (Nov. 6, 2019 TVLine article, page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 27, 2019, JH posted a "Canaries" title logo (probably fan-made). (JH facebook post, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 29, 2019, papp tweeted: "Heard a funny story regarding the Arrow spinoff , always good when theres already issues and it hasn't even started." When asked if it was some b-t-s drama between the cast and who is the lead, papp tweeted: "The show is Kat's she was given the spinoff , she was signed for the spinoff. She never took the Arrow gig for a 10 min spot each episode." and, in response to fan who commented that KM only has 10 minutes per episode, "No I meant on arrow not the spinoff . I’m aware it’s more like 15 but you get the point" and "Obviously the dynamic of the show has changed but that doesnt change why the show is green lit, one person didn't get the show they were told and someone didn't get the show they pitched." and "Ya exactly. Its pointless to take two show ideas and cram them into one giant mess." (pursuit23 tweets, page 1 of Green Arrow & the Canaries thread in Pilot & In Development Shows forum) -- On Oct. 30, 2019, JH tweeted: "Yesterday was one of the most exciting, most fun days of work in my whole life. Can’t wait for you guys to see what’s in store! #StarCity2040 #Canaries [person raising hands in celebration, bow & arrow and black heart emojis]." (JH tweet,page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited November 12, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo November 16, 2019 Author Share November 16, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 805 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 5: Prochnost -- Production code: 805. Shoot Dates: August 27-September 9, 2019. Director: Laura Belsey. Writers: Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes. Airdate: Nov. 19, 2019. (Oct. 31, 2019 GreenArrowTV article and Nov. 1, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 805 synopsis (as updated): "DON’T LET YOUR PAST DEFINE YOU – Upon learning the key to oppose The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett), Oliver (Stephen Amell) and team return to Russia on a mission to gather the necessary materials. Diggle (David Ramsey) reunites with a figure from his past. Laura Belsey directed the episode written by Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes (#805). Original airdate 11/19/2019." (Oct. 31, 2019 GreenArrowTV tweet & article, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- 805 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Mia, William, Diggle, E2 Laurel, Anatoly and Roy Harper. (Nov. 7, 2019 GreenArrowTV and SpoilerTV articles, TVLine gallery link and CWTV PR gallery link, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- 805 promo video was posted, featuring Oliver, William, Mia and a Russian fight club. (805 promo video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 805 sneak peek #1 video was posted, featuring Diggle and Roy Harper, who's working as a mechanic named "Jason." (Nov. 18, 2019 SpoilerTV video of 805 sneak peek #1, page 7 of Spoilers thread, and Nov. 18, 2019 Eonline article, page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 805 sneak peek #2 video was posted, featuring Anatoly, Oliver, William, Mia and E2 Laurel. (Nov. 19, 2019 SpoilerTV video of 805 sneak peek #2 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- The Russian word "prochnost" was previously used in dialogue in 206 (Keep Your Enemies Closer), 311 (Midnight City), 317 (Suicidal Tendencies), and 521 (Honor Thy Fathers). (Sep. 3, 2019 tv echo post, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 805's guest cast includes Alex Bogomolov as "Brava #1," Uri Burstyn as "Russian Bruce Buffer," Paul Lazenby as "The Machine," Claire Smithies as "Promoter," Kis Yurij as "Oleg" and Nicholas Dohy as "Crowd Member (uncredited)." (IMDb page link in Nov.. 15, 2019 tv echo post, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he is most excited about fans to see after 804, BL: "In 805, if you thought William was impressive before, just wait until you hear him speak Russian." (Nov. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Mia picked up any Russian in the year 2040, KM: "Not Mia. But somebody certainly did…." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what is going on in 805, KM: "So, this is one of my favorite episodes of the season, largely because when I watched the show, I was such a huge fan of Anatoly, and getting to work with David Nykl for an episode was a dream come true. [Laughs] But also, it’s the first time you really get to see Mia and Oliver interact one-on-one for an entire episode. You get to see both of them 'on the job' and whether or not they see eye-to-eye. They’re both used to being in charge, they’re both used to being the one with the plan and the one who carries it out, and they’re similar in how strong they are, so moving forward it’s a bit of a power struggle. But also, you get to see a bit of their banter for the first time and that comes from the fact that Mia’s sense of humor is very similar to Felicity’s. So those interactions become really interesting, and I think, you know, harken into the spirit of Arrow, as it were." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 805, KM: "This is probably one of my favorite episodes of the season. Simply because it’s the first time you really get to see Mia and Oliver on mission together, you really see them interact one-on-one quite a bit. And Mia gets the chance to show her dad what she does best. And it’s exciting for her, and you get to see her really want to impress her father, and to do him proud. And whether or not she succeeds is another story. But it’s the first real father daughter interaction that we get. ... And also, you have two members of the Queen family who are both used to being in charge, and making a plan, and executing the mission, who are both present and trying to do that as their job. And having two captains of a ship doesn’t always work out. So it’s interesting to see that power play, and to get to see Oliver on a mission with his kids for the first time. And having to deal with that struggle of, 'Well, I want to keep them safe, but I also want to succeed on this mission. So what do I do, and how do I put my trust in them?'" (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what we can expect from 805 and the trip to Russia, KM: "What’s great about this is episode is that, for the first time in awhile, we get to see Mia in her element. She loves a good seedy dive bar. Russia is her wheelhouse, in a sense. She takes to it, like a fish to water ‘cause it’s where she’s comfortable. But also, she’s dealing with all of these issues. She’s on mission with her father, for the first time, and she’s having to take a little bit of a back seat, when she used to be in a leadership role. And on top of that, Oliver’s struggling with, what trust do I put in my kids vs. how do I protect them? And he’s also trying to shield a bit of his dark past from his kids, which becomes increasingly difficult, when you have two very headstrong children who don’t always follow instructions, particularly Mia. What’s great about it is that you get to see the two of them interact, and because Mia has so much of Felicity’s sense of humor, their banter is really lovely, as well. The fact that they butt heads because Oliver and Mia are so similar, it’s a very nice interplay. " (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "In this episode [805], I was so excited because it’s the first time that Mia gets to show Oliver what she does best, and get to really be in her element, in the ring, and get to fight with her father. I think it surprises him, in a lot of ways, the skill set that she does have. Alternatively, Mia has just been through her biggest loss. Being one who claims that she doesn’t lose, having lost a teammate, and then having it be her fault is really jarring for her and throws her off center. So there’s a bit of a rebuilding of confidence that has to happen, in this episode, as well." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there might also be a little bit of humor involved when Mia end ups at a fight club with her father, KM: "Oh, for sure. But you know ? What better for the Queen family than a little cage fight in Russia. That’ll bring the family together." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On their main challenge in this mission to Russia, KM: "First of all, Mia is very much used to being in charge, and she’s very much not in charge on this mission. So Mia’s will, and how headstrong she is, is their biggest challenge, just simply given that Oliver wants to protect his kids but they’re on a mission for the first time together. It’s that struggle of, 'How do I protect my kids? But also how do I trust them and how do I utilize them and their skill sets on this mission?' What Oliver doesn’t realize is that he has two extremely headstrong children who don’t always follow direction well, particularly Mia. Her free will definitely plays a lot into the obstacles and advantages in this episode." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[G]etting to work with [Stephen Amell] and to build this relationship is really wonderful because there’s such a lovely aspect to both Mia and Oliver in this in this moment, in that Oliver doesn’t really have much experience being a parent and Mia has no experience with her father. So the two of them are at their most vulnerable together in this. Even though they are connected and they are a part of each other, they’re strangers, and they’re having to work through so many difficult, emotional, personal things while not knowing each other at all. There’s such a beauty to the fact that they’re both so uncomfortable and vulnerable and are forced to confront all of these things head-on." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her experience shooting the fight scenes when Mia and Oliver enter the fight club together, KM: "For Mia, it’s the first time that her father really gets to see her skill set, and she gets to show her father what she does best. But alternatively, having just lost Zoe and gone through her first major loss as a fighter, she’s shaken and she is kind of off her center a little bit. That’s a struggle for her going through this episode. Whether or not she is as successful as she wants to be remains to be seen. ... But for me going into this episode, I was so excited. I fell in love with fighting on screen during Shadowhunters. I had such amazing stunt coordinators on that show that really took time and taught me how to fight. I was so thrilled to be able to carry that skill set into this show, and even more thrilled that the stunt coordinators on this job have given me so many opportunities to use those skills. In this episode in particular, I’m really proud of [the fact that] I had the opportunity to do most if not all of my fighting in the episode. There were a few little aerial trick pieces that are way beyond my league, but the majority of the actual fighting was all me in this episode." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Mia reacts to being in Russia and, presumably, learning what her father went through while there, KM: "Well, if there’s anything we know about Mia, she thrives on a seedy environment — and Mia loves Russia. She takes to it like a fish to water. It’s fascinating to her. For Oliver, as any parent would, he wants to protect his kids from learning about the dark side of his past, and he quickly learns that’s a lot more difficult than he expects. That becomes a huge challenge for them, but it gives Mia an opportunity to understand her father a bit more and to really see the difficult choices that have been put in front of him his entire time being the Green Arrow. I think it allows her to come to terms a little bit more with the decisions that he’s made and with her blaming him for abandoning her, in a sense, to be this hero. She’s slowly starting to see his perspective a bit more, just as he’s starting to see hers. They bond in a sense because they start to realize how similar they are." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oliver and Mia having a lot to work out in 805, KM: "Oh, we do, trust me. This is one of my favorite episodes of the season, because it's the first real episode where you get to see Oliver and Mia interacting together, one-on-one, for an entire episode. But not only that, you get to see them on a mission together. You get to see both of them doing what vigilante Queens do best. [Laughs] It's the first time that Oliver gets to see Mia fight and it's nerve-wracking, but also exciting for her because she wants to make her father proud and she wants to show him what she can do. But also, Russia is no joke, so it presents challenges of its own." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why they go to Russia, KM: "So the next kind of mission, as it were, that The Monitor has sent Oliver on is to go to Russia to retrieve [something] and we have a couple other things to do there as well. Like I said, Russia brings with it its own challenges but the best thing that Russia brings with it is David Nykl, who plays Anatoly. I have been such a huge fan of his since watching the series and when I found out we were doing a Russia episode and that I would get to work with David Nykl, I was so excited!" (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia having all of Oliver's strengths and all his stubbornness, which means her character is really going to have to learn how to play differently with a new team, KM: "Exactly! And that actually plays into a lot of this episode because Mia has essentially played the Oliver with her team and in those situations, well, you can't have two captains to a team like this. That kind of power play is interesting. And on top of that, this is the first time for Oliver that he's been on mission with the kids. There's an element of him wanting to keep them safe, but he also has to be able to use them for the mission. So what level of trust does he give to his kids? ... And with Mia, she's just lost Zoe and her famous quote is, 'I don't lose.' Well, everybody loses sometimes, so how do I come back from this guilt and from this loss and how do I build my confidence back up?" (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia being on a mission in 805 with a father that she's mad at, KM: "Yeah, who she also wants to impress. But also that's the thing with Mia confronting Oliver — her biggest desire in life is to have a relationship with her father and yet now that he's in front of her, she sees how his choices are the reason that she has a difficult life. And how does that duality play out within her and with Oliver, as well, because the two of them are so similar? They're bound to butt heads, but who better to give Mia advice on how to get through the difficulties she's having?" (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[T]his episode [805] is the first time you really get to see [Oliver and Mia] have any meaningful interaction and really bond as father-daughter... maybe even side-by-side a little bit in a Russian fighting ring, I don't know. [Laughs]" (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "I'm so grateful to the stunt team on this show too, because they give me the opportunity to use those skills and to get my own fight scenes. This episode [805], in particular, is one of the ones that I'm most proud of because we actually had time in the schedule and the opportunity for me to do most of the fight pieces. Not the aerial fight pieces, because I'm not a martial artist by trade, that's not my forte. But a majority of the actual fighting is me in this episode, and I was really happy to be able to do that with Stephen, to dive in there and portray that part of the character. With a character like Clary or Mia, such a part of who they are is their fighting and their physicality and their sense of being a warrior. It's one of my favorite things to do." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she had any scenes with David Nykl, KM: "Oh yeah. He's so wonderful and it is cool because Anatoly, having known Oliver for so long, sees a lot of his qualities in Mia. So they have a little connection as well as the episode goes on." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's anyone that Mia's bonding with now that she’s in the present, KM: "There’s a lovely little scene with Laurel in there, and I think Anatoly has quite an interesting interaction with Mia, given that he was so instrumental in Oliver becoming who he is. Seeing those qualities in Mia, it’s fun for him to not only watch Oliver try and be a parent but for him to see sort of an Oliver Jr. in Mia. I’m also am a huge David Nykl fan, so getting to work with him was just a dream because I love Anatoly so much. I think he’s such a great character, and having that interaction with so great. ... But in particular, Mia and William are starting to bond on another level as well because, yes, Mia has a lot of things to work through with Oliver, but so does William. The two of them are both trying to find some kind of solid ground, and they become each other’s rock, in a sense, as they try and sort out their father issues together." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who Mia has the most meaningful interaction with in 805, aside from Oliver, KM: "As always, we have a couple of lovely heart to hearts with William, but she does have a little bit of a special connection with Anatoly in this episode, which I quite [enjoyed] simply because I was just a huge fan of David Nykl’s work in the previous seasons when I watched the show, and I definitely fangirled a bit. I tried to keep my cool, but I definitely fangirled a little bit when I met him, and got to work with him." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether anyone on the team is going to get a sense that E2 Laurel is grappling with an internal conflict (because of the Monitor's offer made to her at the end of 804), KM: "I… don’t think I can actually talk about that. But Laurel does wrestle with that, and actually there’s a really lovely scene with Mia and Laurel in this episode. But Mia has bigger fish to fry in this episode; it has certainly become an emotional struggle, as well as a physical one, to make it out alive, and it’s the first opportunity for Mia also to show her dad what she does best. She takes every advantage to show off her skill. Whether or not she succeeds is a another story." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether 805 ends on a cliffhanger, KM: "Oh, yeah. I can’t talk about it because it’s a massive spoiler, but there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of this episode." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On when we will learn more about the Monitor's secretly working with Lyla/Harbinger, LMG: "I think, each episode [of Arrow], they're gonna unpeel layers and layers of that onion as it goes along and as 'Crisis' begins, and that was one of my favorite things. When I read the scripts, I'm reading it as the actor, like, 'Alright, what's going on? What do I have to do?' But I'm also reading it as a fan. And when I first read... that she gets out of her car and she's walking, and then she meets with the Monitor, it blew my mind, like, 'Yes!' Because Lyla -- the name, they've had her around since Season 1 or 2 -- they've been laying breadcrumbs for years in the whole Arrowverse, and having that moment culminate with -- you know Lyla Michaels, just the significance of who she is and who she turns into -- seeing them meet together, that was great for me. It was a great payoff. They're going to dig more and more into that as each episode goes along, and especially when 'Crisis' starts." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted 805 title page with two shot glasses sitting on top of it, with comment: "Midpoint... 805 [bow & arrow emoji]." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, BL: "I can tell you that I start shooting episode 5 tomorrow. So we're already sort of - we're moving at a good clip. I mean, it feels like we just started, and we're already starting episode 5." (We Have A Hulk podcast interview with Ben Lewis, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 310 of Starling City Times thread) -- On Aug. 27, 2019, KM tweeted: "On set @CW_Arrow but thinking of @ITMovieOfficial! Congrats to @isaiahmustafa and the rest of the team! #ITEnds #ITChapter2 #ITMovie." (KM tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 28, 2019, papp tweeted Arrow filming notice, with comment: "#Arrow filming at the Jericho Lands September 4 & 5." From filming notice: "Scenes for the final season of the Warner Brothers' television series 'Arrow' will be filmed at the shop building on Wednesday and Thursday, September 4th and 5th ... Wednesday, September 4th... 9:00am-11:00pm... Filming interior action scenes inside the shop building. Once filming is complete, the crew will pack essential work trucks and vacate the area... Thursday, September 5th... 10:00am-Midnight... The filming of interior action scenes will continue inside the shop building." (WhatsFilming tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 30, 2019, fan tweeted: "@WhatsFilming Found a crew park in Jericho Lands. Still looking for the #Arrow set" and "@WhatsFilming #Arrow sign in Jericho Lands." Fan also tweeted pic of Jericho Garrison Quarters building and pic of trucks parked behind back of building, with comment: "Possible filming location." (comicsfun_30 tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Aug. 31, 2019, RG posted pic of political campaign poster for Rene, with comment: "This upcoming season, you’ll get the chance to vote for Candidate Ramirez. #Arrow #ReneRamirez #WildDog." Poster shows Rene's pic with words: "WE ARE THE GLADES. VOTE RAMIREZ 2019." (rickgonzalez instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 1, 2019, fan report on what CH said: "someone asked if colton was going to be on arrow and he shrugged and said that he’s going to vancouver tomorrow so... #LegendsOfTomorrow #Arrow #DragonCon." (Dragon Con, Sep. 1, 2019: plinys tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 1, 2019, fan report on what CH said: "Colton Haynes is definitely back on #Arrow. He keeps saying at #DragonCon 'I’m flying to Vancouver next week. Maybe for vacation. Maybe not.'" (Dragon Con, Sep. 1, 2019: haylee_fisher tweet, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 1, 2019, David Nykl posted a pic of the entrance to The Triumph apartment building at 2065 Triumph Street in Vancouver, with comment: "What's your #triumph ?" (dav.nyk instagram post, page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 4, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself as Mia standing in a dark interior stairwell and aiming an arrow, with comment: "? aim high ?." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 5, 2019, writer Benjamin Raab tweeted pic of his Arrow set chair with his name on it, with comment: "Set life. #ArrowSeason8." (Wondermasons tweet, page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 5, 2019, KM tweeted: "Down time on set... time for a Kat nap...." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 5, 2019, SA tweeted: "5 down. 4 to go. A Crisis Is Coming. #Arrow." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoielrs thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 9, 2019, LMG: "I was working yesterday on Arrowverse stuff." (TIFF, Sep. 9, 2019: Sep. 18, 2019 Collider video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 29 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Sep. 9, 2019, when asked where he was on the shooting schedule right now, LMG: "Midway through on Arrow. I bounce around to, you know, different shows. We just wrapped episode 5 of Arrow. So it's the halfway point. And we start shooting Crisis in maybe another month." (TIFF, Sep. 9, 2019: Sep. 18, 2019 Collider video of interview with LaMonica Garrett, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and page 29 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Edited November 19, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo November 23, 2019 Author Share November 23, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 806 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 6: Reset -- Production code: 806. Shoot Dates: September 9-19, 2019. Director: David Ramsey. Writers: Onalee Hunter Hughes & Maya Houston. Airdate: Nov. 26, 2019. (Nov. 7, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 806 synopsis: "YOU CAN’T FIGHT YOUR FATE – After being double-crossed by Lyla (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson), Oliver (Stephen Amell) finds himself facing a life or death situation that seems very familiar. Laurel (Katie Cassidy) has the opportunity to make amends with the past. David Ramsey directed the episode written by Onalee Hunter Hughes & Maya Houston (#806). Original airdate 11/26/2019." (Nov. 7, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 806 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle, Lyla, Rene, Quentin Lance, E2 Laurel, Dinah, and SCPD cops and crime scene techs. (Nov. 15, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, TVLine gallery page link and CWTV PR gallery page link, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 806 promo video was posted, featuring Oliver, Quentin Lance, E2 Laurel, Lyla and Mia. (Nov. 19, 2019 TV Promos video of 806 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- 806 sneak peek #1 was posted, featuring Oliver with a stained shirt entering a party at Palmer Tech, Diggle, Lyla, Rene and Mayor Quentin Lance. (Nov. 26, 2019 TV Promos video of Arrow 806 sneak peek #1 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 806 sneak peek #2 was posted, featuring SCPD Captain Dinah Lance, Mayor Quentin Lance, Oliver/GA, and SCPD cops. (Nov. 26, 2019 TV Promos video of Arrow 806 sneak peek #2 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 806's guest cast includes Bradley Stryker as "Vincent" and Leana Yu as "Laughing Woman." (IMDb page link in Oct. 11, 2019 tv echo post, page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald tweeted: "I was actually lucky enough to be on set for 806 and, having watched a little bit of filming, I'm SO stoked to see the finished product! #Arrow" and "And to find out how much champagne ended up on @StephenAmell 's suit by the end of the episode..." (Nov. 20, 2019 lindsayjoane tweets, page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I just watched a cut of 806 last night, which is David Ramsey's episode, and it's spectacular. It's so cool. It's so, so, so cool... He did a spectacular job, and it's a narrative technique that for obvious reasons we've never done on the show before, and I don't think that we'll ever get a chance to do again. So I thought he executed it extremely well, and it's a fun one for me. It kind of kicks off our endgame so to speak." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted: "Episode 8.06 might be our best episode ever. @david_ramsey at the helm was no accident. So happy I had so much to do for him." (Oct. 14, 2019 SA tweet, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On SA saying that 806 might be their best episode ever, DR: “I can’t speak for Stephen, but I think much of it is: Number one, it’s just a different type of episode than Arrow has ever had... [Second], a lot of times for Oliver’s arc, it doesn’t begin at the beginning of the show and end at the end of the episode. It begins at the beginning of the episode and ends a season later, or the end of that season, or six episodes later. There’s a long arc. This was Oliver going from one emotional moment and it went kind of 360. He went all the way around and he was in a totally different emotional place by the time it ended. I think that’s fun for an actor because you’re going through a full arc in the episode as opposed to leaving that arc hanging at the end and now we’re going to go someplace else.” (Nov. 26, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his 806 directing experience, DR: “Incredible, man. I've been bitten! I think I've been bitten. It's incredible. I mean, it's episodic, so you're buying into a way of doing things. You only have a certain amount of say. It's not independent film. But it's probably similar to a studio film in that there's a way of doing it, people have a vision, and you have to follow that vision.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug. 4, 2019: Aug. 22, 2019 Den of Geek article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On 806, DR: "It's really exciting. I think it's an episode of Arrow that is very unconventional. I think it's a very interesting plot device of how we help Oliver on his journey to accepting his fate... A lot of times Oliver's arc begins with one episode and maybe doesn't end until three episodes, six episodes later, or a full season later. Oliver's emotional arc takes place in 42 minutes, and he starts in one place and ends up in another place. And we travel that with him literally in a way that, I think, we don't normally do on this series. So it's a different type of episode." (Nov. 25, 2019 TV Guide article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what specific challenges 806 presented to him as director, DR: "It’s interesting you ask that. This particular episode — and I’m trying to say this in a way that I’m not giving away too much — has challenges in that Oliver has to be helped along in his journey, by these figures, and what you want to do with the episode is make sure that what he’s getting is sincere information, that he’s not being manipulated by the Monitor... By the end of this episode, we don’t want people to say, 'Oliver maybe shouldn’t be where he was emotionally, because [SPOILER REDACTED].' What you want, at the end of it, is for all of it to be a sincere, cathartic experience that you have gone through with Oliver, so that by the time it’s over, you’ve gone to a new emotional place with Oliver — and you don’t feel as if it’s been manufactured in any way. You don’t feel used." Interviewer: "We will feel like these past few episodes were time well spent." DR: "That’s right. All these things really, truly happened in such a way where it has helped Oliver in a sincere, truthful fashion. And when you see the episode, you’ll understand better what I’m talking about. So that was the challenge for me as a director... Paul [Blackthorne] and Stephen [Amell] and I had long conversations about this, just in terms of by the end of this episode, you wanted to feel like Oliver is a different place, and it’s because his experience has been genuine." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what makes this time (806) different from other 'alternate reality' things, DR: "Let’s see…. If you think about Russian dolls…. If you think about Groundhog Day…. If you think about… (Searches for the right words)." Interviewer: "People caught in a loop? Things folding in on themselves? Inception?" DR: "Think about Inception, think about that. If you think about that, you’ll get more of an idea where we’re going with this. I don’t think you’ve seen this before." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On PB's return in 806, DR: "I think he steals scenes, man... I think Paul was brilliant, brilliant, brilliant in this episode. There are things he had to do and create — a character to not only service his own arc but also the larger arc of Oliver's — and he did it just brilliantly. I thought he was incredibly in this episode." (Nov. 25, 2019 TV Guide article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: “Paul stole a lot of scenes. He was just brilliant... Quentin coming back is strange. For all intents and purposes, Oliver is in the Matrix. Quentin is a tool by which the Monitor uses to help guide Oliver into making a sound decision. This is the Twilight Zone, and he comes back through the memory of Oliver Queen.” (Nov. 26, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per DR, 806 stands from his previous directorial effort (S6's 'Past Sins' episode) because he had the freedom and time needed to focus on the many emotional beats in the script. DR: “It was a great script... It came in, and I can’t overemphasize, at the right page count, which really means a lot man because you can sit in these moments, you can design shots where you just pull back and there’s silence, which doesn’t happen on Arrow. It’s not just about the page count. It’s partially because that’s what Arrow is. Arrow moves very quickly. But this was an episode that was a bit different. We had a different pace in that respect.” (Nov. 26, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what state Diggle is in, after being tranq-ed by Lyla, when next we see him (in 806), DR: "The state you see him in is… recovery. That would be the quick answer. He’s recovered from what happened on that rooftop. And you get to see them all, and they have all recovered. Part of the recovery is what’s happening in the episode — particularly with Oliver. I can’t tell you exactly how they recover, but when you meet Diggle, Oliver and Laurel again, after the tranq, they’ve all recovered." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether serious words will be had between John and Lyla, DR: "There are." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I will say this: the scene between Diggle and Lyla this week will happen between Oliver and Lyla. That moment that you’re looking for, between Diggle and Lyla, will happen not in this episode. But, some of the questions that you have for Lyla will be asked through Oliver this week." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Lyla in 806, DR: "[Diggle and Lyla] are going to have it out soon, but it won't be in this episode... Some of those questions you have for Lyla will be answered in this episode, but they'll be answered between Oliver and Lyla, not between John and Lyla." (Nov. 25, 2019 TV Guide article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Lyla in 806, DR: "She’s been with us since the beginning, and it’s such a wonderful arc for her character. And that arc, you’re going to see so much of what is happening with Lyla and with Harbinger in this episode. This episode will answer a lot of questions for you concerning her." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: “Lyla has accepted that 'Crisis' is coming, and that’s really the arc of the show. Even though she’s working with the Monitor, her biggest purpose is to help Oliver.” (Nov. 26, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per DR, the callback to Baby Sara will not be in 806. (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we will see further bonding between Diggle and Connor, DR: "Yes, you will. You will be getting bonding between father and son — and some recovery from what has happened to his biological son [J.J.] in the future." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On when we will learn more about the Monitor's secretly working with Lyla/Harbinger, LMG: "I think, each episode [of Arrow], they're gonna unpeel layers and layers of that onion as it goes along and as 'Crisis' begins, and that was one of my favorite things. When I read the scripts, I'm reading it as the actor, like, 'Alright, what's going on? What do I have to do?' But I'm also reading it as a fan. And when I first read... that she gets out of her car and she's walking, and then she meets with the Monitor, it blew my mind, like, 'Yes!' Because Lyla -- the name, they've had her around since Season 1 or 2 -- they've been laying breadcrumbs for years in the whole Arrowverse, and having that moment culminate with -- you know Lyla Michaels, just the significance of who she is and who she turns into -- seeing them meet together, that was great for me. It was a great payoff. They're going to dig more and more into that as each episode goes along, and especially when 'Crisis' starts." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 30, 2019, papp tweeted partial pic of Beckmark Production sheet that listed David Ramsey under "Director" heading, with comment: "Diggle directs. David Ramsey on deck to direct #Arrow final season." (yvrshoots tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Aug. 31, 2019, DR tweeted: "3rd day of prep! WHEW!!! ?? #ArrowEpisode#806 #arrowfinalseason." (DR tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 5, 2019, writer Maya Houston tweeted 806 title page, with comment: "To little Maya who religiously watched The CW and dreamt of one day writing for the network: Spoiler alert — it comes true. Thank you to @SchwartzApprovd & @ARROWwriters for turning my dream into a reality. Honored to be teamed with @onaleehunter & @david_ramsey. #Arrow ????." (elcincodemaya tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 5, 2019, director DR posted pic of his laptop screen showing 806 title page, with comment: "It has begun... #ArrowFinalSeason #806." (DR instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 9, 2019, writer Rebecca Rosenberg retweeted Maya Houston's 806 tweet, with comment: "Production starts today for this girl's FIRST EPISODE OF TV!!! So proud of @elcincodemaya and so honored to work alongside her every day. Assistant life can be hard, but it's easier when you work with gems like her. Congrats Maya!!!" (beckyysara tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 9, 2019, KC tweeted: "BLACK SIREN [black heart emoji] Almost halfway through filming and everything is starting to feel very surreal. #Arrow." (KC tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 9, 2019, DR tweeted: "First day on episode #806 couldn’t have gone more perfectly! Thank you thank you thank you !!! #Bestfansintheworld #BestCastandCrew #ArrowFinalSeason" and "My first day as director included a massive butt tweet ??." (DR tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 10, 2019, in response to DR's tweet about his first day directing 806, RG tweeted: "Can’t wait to work with you on set big bro. ??????????." (RG tweet, page 768 of Social Media thread) -- On Sep. 12, 2019, KC posted a filtered pic of herself wearing the black mask, with comment: "Sending some Canary love... ?? #arrow." (KC instagram post, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On Sep. 16, 2019, TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald tweeted pic of Arrow guest chair in what appears to be Oliver & Felicity's S7 apartment, with comment: "Playing in Star City today! #Arrow." (lindsayjoane tweet, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 16, 2019, TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald visited the Arrow set. Pics taken during that set visit showed SA wearing a light-colored shirt and tie, DR wearing a suit and tie, and RG wearing a suit and tie. (TV Guide instagram posts, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On Sep. 17, 2019, fan tweeted: "Heavy activity at Riverview Hospital for #arrow #LegendsofTomorrow." Papp then tweeted: "#Arrow #Batwoman #NancyDrew signs spotted at Coquitlam's Riverview. Not necessarily all filming today." (yvrshoots and ShannonCBowden tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 18, 2019, papp tweeted: "Beckmark Prep sign spotted in Central Park today. @WhatsFilming #whatsfilming #yvrshoots #Arrow." Another papp tweeted: "#Arrow shooting at Central Park 'late tomorrow night' according to the person I talked to." (YVRFilming and canadagraphs tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, CH tweeted: "I can’t stress this enough...listen to @todrick new #HausParty2 right now. I have to work tmrw so everyone at work can blame Todrick for my lack of sleep cause this album is ????????????????????????????????????." (ColtonLHaynes tweet, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, SA tweeted pic of empty warehouse space, with comment: "Here’s how you know you’re getting to the end: This is the stage area where the original bunker used to be." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, SA: "That's, uh, 6 down and 3 to go for me. I know how to do math, by the way. It's 6 down and 3 to go for me. So speculate all you want about that. Um, and uh, yeah, we had David Ramsey as our director and he's very, very excellent at directing. Um, we shot one of the coolest oner shots, one-through shot, that we've done on the show last night, where I felt like 45 different people were involved in the shot, between actors, camera directors, um, one stunt person, like 11 non-actor stunt people, um, riggings, explosives. Like, there were so many things that had to go right on this shot and, quite frankly, we really only had time to do it once. So of all the things that could've gone wrong, nothing went wrong. My hood fell down a little bit, but I fixed that. Actually, that's fine. And, um, yeah, that was it. It was just a really fun, exciting day. And I was really excited that David got to have that shot in his episode." (ENSM31 tweet & SA instagram video, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 24, 2019, KC tweeted animated gif of Quentin Tarantino dancing, with comment: "Accurate representation of me doing my happy dance after filming episode 806! ???? Cannot wait for you guys to watch this one! #QuentinTarantino." (KC tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, DR posted pic of himself and SA standing with a third person who's been hidden behind a green smudge, with comment: "The look of satisfaction after a well executed on-er! Arrow #806 #mysteryguest(s)." (DR instagram post, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, BL posted pic of himself drinking a Big Belly Burger soda, with comment: "History repeats itself TONIGHT on an all-new #Arrow! Directed by the great @davidpaulramsey and written by @onaleehunter & (in her first-ever-produced episode of TV) Queen @elcincodemaya! Don’t miss it at 9/8c on @thecw! 📸: @kat.mcnamara." (benlewishere instagram post, page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited November 26, 2019 by tv echo 1 Link to comment
tv echo November 30, 2019 Author Share November 30, 2019 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 807 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 7: Purgatory -- Production code: 807. Shoot Dates: September 19-October 1, 2019. Director: James Bamford. Writers: Rebecca Bellotto & Rebecca Rosenberg. Airdate: Dec. 3, 2019. (Sep. 20, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 807 synopsis: "BYRON MANN GUEST STARS – Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) mission takes him to Lian Yu where he tries to ignore the repercussions of the looming Crisis until he receives help from an old friend. Meanwhile, a united Team Arrow faces a recognizable villain. James Bamford directed the episode written by Rebecca Bellotto & Rebecca Rosenberg (#807). Original airdate 12/3/2019." (Nov. 15, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- 807 promo pics were posted, featuring Oliver, Diggle, Mia, Connor, William, Lyla, E2 Laurel, Rene, Dinah, Yao Fei (Byron Mann), Edward Fyers (Sebastian Dunn), and Deathstrokes. (Nov. 25, 2019 GreenArrowTV tweet & article, Nov. 26, 2019 SpoilerTV article, TVLine pic gallery link and CWTV PR pic gallery llink, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- 807 promo was posted, featuring Oliver, Mia, William, Diggle, Connor, E2 Laurel, Dinah, Rene, Yao Fei and Deathstrokes, all on Lian Yu. (Nov. 26, 2019 SpoilerTV video of 807 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 807 sneak peek was posted, featuring Dinah flying a plane to Lian Yu, with Rene and Roy as passengers. Rene: "I shouldn't be surprised the Black Canary knows how to fly." Dinah: "Flying's easy. Landing's the hard part... Kidding... There it is. Purgatory." Dinah makes radio contact with Diggle on the island. Then something happens and the plane prepares to crash land on the island. (Dec. 3, 2019 TVInsider tweet & video, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite episode of the season, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Right now I’d have to say episode 807 but I haven’t seen 8-10 yet." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "He might face a test, apparently in episode 7, which is our last episode before the crossover. ... This final season is more about resolve. ... I don't know what the test is per se. I think the biggest thing is, is just him believing Felicity when she says, ‘Whatever happens, whatever happens to you, I’ll find you.’ That’s his guiding light." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver will be less reticent to let the team help him with this mission moving forward, SA: "Yeah, I mean, Dig's involved and Laurel's involved, and by the time we get to our seventh episode, we've got a pretty big team with a lot of very familiar faces and a lot of really cool team-ups. It's good, it's exciting." (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Guide article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted: "Me @JulianaHarkavy are watching 807. We’ve cried three times before the first act break." (Oct. 20, 2019 SA tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Everyone that has been asked to come back - to the best of my knowledge - has said yes. To the point where I have read a couple of scripts, specifically Episode 7, which has got the most major character [appearing], and I was like, 'Oh, come on. No way.'" (Oct. 15, 2019 TV Insider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "SA revealed on Carina’s IG story before the panel that Malcolm Merlyn is in episode 7." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Trisha post, page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Lian Yu plays an integral part in not only next week’s episode [807], but also in [the] 'Crisis' [crossover event]. Lian Yu is an important piece of 'Crisis,' so next week’s episode [807] is a bit of a precursor to that." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her fave scene to shoot with Ben Lewis, KM: "Ohhh - Ben, who plays my brother on Arrow... Um, my favorite scene to shoot with Ben was - actually, it's actually coming up in two episodes from now... Anyway, um, it's one of my favorite scenes coming up in the next episode - er, it's not the next episode but the one following that. Um, I can't say anything about it yet, but it's great. I love working with Ben, he's so wonderful." (DarkShadeCon, Nov. 24, 2019: Golden Warrior video of Katherine McNamara/Domiinic Sherwood panel, page 37 of Social Media thread) -- In response to fan's comment that she would love to see Oliver and Yao Fei fighting together side by side, Byron Mann tweeted: "You will. @CW_Arrow s.8." (Oct. 3, 2019 Byron_Mann tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to 807 episode description, Byron Mann tweeted: "December 3: Survive." (Nov. 15, 2019, Byron_Mann tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, Byron Mann tweeted pic of his old Yao Fei clothes, with comment: "My costume for today. Recognize it? @CW_Arrow" and "Survive." (Byron_Mann tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, JH posted pic of herself wearing a fitted blue corset-like top over a lacy white top and pink plaid print skirt, with caption "Not on Legends." (JH instagram live post, page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 19, 2019, papp tweeted: "Was nice catching up with Stephen Amell today. Wasn't great seeing someone back on set that was part of my least favourite part of the show though." (pursuit23 tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, papp tweeted Sep. 19, 2019 Arrow filming blog, with comment: "#Arrow shoots scenes early on Thursday at Central Park with Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy and a returning guest star." Papp posted b-t-s set pics of KC, Byron Mann (made up as Yao Fei) and SA. From filming blog: "THIS BLOG POST IS FOR 'ARROW' SEASON 8 EPISODE 7. ... Yesterday I caught Arrow filming in a place fans are unfortunately familiar with. Arrow had a rare location shoot for their 7th episode of season 8 in Central Park in Burnaby. This is of course the same park infamously known for the Laurel funeral scene that really became the contentious turning point for the show. ... Of course this time, there was no funeral going on.... so you can breathe a bit easier Laurel fans. They were filming a few hundred feet down from there quite literally in a little encampment area they had made between some trees. The set was tight, and well covered by equipment and trees, so there was no on set reports to be had. ... The only absolute details I do know is, three cast were seen going in & out of the set. Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen was there, he didnt seem to be in Green Arrow attire of any type, just regular Oliver clothes. Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance or Black Canary was there. While I never saw her wearing a mask, and she kept covered up when coming out to get in a transportation vehicle, the fact she was keeping her wardrobe well under wraps made me wonder if she was in BC attire. No coincidence once they realized I was there, they made her walk an extra long path to get to set to avoid coming thru the parking lot that was most convenient to drop off at. With so few promo images out of it so far, its hard to get a read on if that could be in hidden under her winter jacket. Lastly, a returning old face, Byron Mann was there. Last we saw him as Yao Fei, he was dead.... so is this a flashback through The Monitor, or, a different timeline/Earth?" (canadagraphs tweet & blog, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019 (very early morning), KM tweeted pic of herself, with comment: "How I look at my pillow after a long day on set... [black heart, new moon with face and bed emojis]." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019 (very early morning), SA tweeted: "Long day on set. First day of 807. So many cast members. Don’t know If the ep title is out. Doesn’t feel like the ep title. Feels like home :)." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted the 807 title page, with comment: "Only 3 more to go..." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, director James Bamford posted pic of himself, with comment: "Episode 807......Day 2......#ArrowThe FinalSeason." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, SA tweeted: "This has been one of most challenging 3 week stretches I’ve ever had on Arrow. Got 3 days off. I’m going to watch 20 hours of football at a minimum." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 20, 2019, JDJ: "... Okay, I can't talk for very long. Any second somebody's going to knock on that door, pull me back to set. We have been working tirelessly on Season 8. I know you guys are going to love it. I can't wait for you guys to see it. It's going to be amazing...." (josephdjones instagram post & video, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On Sep. 21, 2019, BL posted pic of himself with KM and JDJ (as William, Mia and Connor), with comment: "Don’t Call Me Angel 2040." (benlewishere instagram post, page 17 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread)-- On Sep. 23, 2019, SA posted pic of himself with EBR and DR, all hugging each other, with comment: "Monday vibes." (SA tweet, page 769 of Social Media thread) -- On Sep. 24, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself as Oliver standing on Lian Yu, holding the post with the Deathstroke mask. (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 18 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 25, 2019 (early), James Bamford posted pic of small lighted clearing in the midst of dark forest, with comment: "This morning’s office......??." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 25, 2019, AS posted pic of herself with KM and their stunt doubles, with comment: "Double trouble ?????? #WCW #StuntDoubles #ArrowBaddies #FemalePower #ZoeRamirez #MiaSmoak @nilo_stunts ??" (dresixtos instagram post, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, SA tweeted: "Lessons learned from S8 of Arrow: 1. My hair is going to be completely gray in 6 years. 2. I’m never going bald." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 26, 2019, fan (@HockeyWest) tweeted: "Fresh BECKMARK PREP signs and trucks near Brittania Beach." Papp retweeted fan's tweet, with comment: "Signs for #Arrow via @HockeyWest." (WhatsFilming and HockeyWest tweets, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Sep. 27, 2019, papp tweeted: "Signs for #Arrow spotted near Boundary Bay Airport." (WhatsFilming tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Sep. 28, 2019, fan tweeted: "@WhatsFilming signs spotted at the Central park, looks like they're preparing the set today." (EmmaBee06071908 tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread) -- On Sep. 28, 2019, SA tweeted: "7 down. 2 to go. #Arrow." (SA tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Sep. 30, 2019, papp tweeted: "Saw (or more accurately heard) #Arrow final season blowing up stuff today. In Delta's North 40 Reserve Park." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, AS posted pic of herself in her Black Canary suit, with comment: "CanaryVibes #Arrow #StarCity2040 #ZoeRamirez #Canary ??????." (dresixtos instagram post, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted Arrow filming notice, with comment: "Wasn't the Crossover. Tail end of 8x07 Purgatory." From filming notice: "Beckmark Production Services Inc. will be filming scenes for the Warner Brothers Television series titled 'Arrow' at the North 40 Park Reserve on Friday, September 27th, 2019 and Monday, September 30th, 2019. ... Friday, September 27th... 3:30pm - 5:00am (Sep. 28th)... Filming will occur at the North 40 Reserve Park. Scenes to be filmed involve dialogue, some stunt action, simulated gunfire and special effects atmospheric smoke. There will be a police officer on the site due to the exposed prop weapons and to ensure safety. ... Monday, September 30th... 8:00am - 8:00pm... Filming will occur at the North 40 Reserve Park. Scenes to be filmed involve dialogue, special effects atmospheric smoke, simulated gunfire and a simulated plane crash. Pyrotechnical sparks will be placed in safe areas on the scenic plane wreckage. There will be a police officer on the site due to the exposed prop weapons and to ensure safety." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted pics of crashed plane and crash site, with comment: "A plane crash in Purgatory. With Roy Harper (Colton Haynes)? #Arrow wrapped 8x07 Purgatory yesterday: ..." From linked blog article: "A plane crash in Arrow’s season 8 episode Purgatory. Will this explain how Roy Harper ended up on Lian Yu? I saw Colton Haynes leaving set yesterday. ...Crew staged the plane crash for two days in Delta’s North 40 Reserve Park with fuselage strewn around, atmospheric smoke and a loud explosion or two. Who was on set? Everybody’s in this episode apparently. ... Atmospheric smoke. ... Simulated crash site. ... Welcome to Arrow in North 40 Reserve Park." (yvrshoots tweet & HollywoodNorth.buzz blog article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 1, 2019, papp tweeted pic of CH in car, with comment: "Colton Haynes not in the photo. Saw him being driven from set." (yvrshoots tweet, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Dec. 3, 2019, JDJ posted pic of himself with DR and AMA, with comment: "Who’s ready for some Quality time with the 'Diggle/Michaels/Hawke’s' tonight? #arrow #familytime." (josephdjones instagram post, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Dec. 3, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "HAPPY #ARROWTHEFINALSEASON DAY! Tonight’s midseason finale of sorts has every bit the feel of a finale, and will lead you marching into the multi-show crossover with a feeling of preparedness. Written by @beckyysara & @rebeccabellotto and directed by @JamesBamford ENJOY!!" (JamesBamford tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Dec. 3, 2019, Arrow writer Rebecca Rosenberg tweeted: "Today's the day! Tonight we are going to #Purgatory. I co-wrote this episode with the ultra-talented @rebeccabellotto and it was directed by the one and only @JamesBamford. Its got a lot of heart. And a lot of action. And a lot of Lian Yu. #Arrow." (beckyysara tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Dec. 3, 2019, Arrow writer Benjamin Raab tweeted: "Our final episode before #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths airs tonight as Oliver returns to the place where his journey began... Lian Yu! Written by @rebeccabellotto and @beckyysara, directed by @JamesBamford! #ArrowSeason8 #TheFinalBow." (Wondermasons tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited December 3, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo December 6, 2019 Author Share December 6, 2019 (edited) The Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event begins on Dec. 8, 2019, with Supergirl Part One. A 14-part summary of COIE spoilers has been posted in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum, starting here. Arrow 808, which will air on Jan. 14, 2020, is Part Four of this Crisis crossover event. An updated summary of 808 spoilers will be posted closer to its airtime. Edited December 6, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo December 29, 2019 Author Share December 29, 2019 (edited) This summary contains all S8 topical spoilers from November 11, 2019, to December 29, 2019. This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the 'Spoilers Only Thread: Season 8' thread and spoiler commentary should go in the 'Spoiler Discussion Thread: The Final Countdown' thread.... ADDENDUM #6 TO SUMMARY OF S8 SPOILERS BY TOPIC S8 Ending Arrow -- On the COIE crossover event occurring with just two episodes of Arrow remaining in its final season, MG: “It’s definitely changed my plans for what the series finale would be... It’s opened up a possibility that is satisfying in a way I never anticipated. If not for doing Crisis on Infinite Earths, we wouldn’t have been able to do the series finale that we ultimately did. ... It feels appropriate” for Oliver’s adventures to end this way... Arrow did start the Arrowverse, and the Crisis on Infinite Earths event is designed to be the ultimate manifestation of that.” (Dec. 5, 2019 Rolling Stone article, page 46 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On the effect of the COIE crossover on Arrow, MG: “We've only got eight years of continuity and DC had fifty. But the way we all sort of looked at it was, it's an opportunity. If we want to fix something, it’s there. If we want to change something, it's there. If we want to set something up, it's there.” (Dec. 6, 2019 DC Comics article, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG tweeted: "#Arrow is wrapped. Last two words of dialogue: 'To you.'” (Nov. 14, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG tweeted: "@SchwartzApprovd and I just watched @JamesBamford’s cut of the #Arrow series finale. '...tell it to you.'” (Nov. 26, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the COIE fallout, EP Beth Schwartz: "It changes literally everything on Arrow." (Dec. 6, 2019 Eonline article, page 46 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On the effect of the COIE crossover on Arrow's remaining two episodes, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re going towards the end of our season and series, so it’s different than the crossovers have been in the past... It changes literally everything on Arrow.” (Dec. 6, 2019 DC Comics article, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked what we should expect of 810, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "hopefully a satisfying conclusion and all the emotions." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford posted 810 clapboard, with comment: "Here’s what the end of an era looks like up close. This is the slate for the final scene, in the series finale of #Arrow. I cried before, during, and after this scene was complete. The very special people in this scene know who they are, and know how much I love them for A. Being them....and B. Making this the most perfect ending to this epic journey. ??." This clapboard has a yellow sticky note with "LOVE SAVED THE CITY!" handwritten on it. (Nov. 14, 2019 james2bambamford instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- James Bamford tweeted: "At this very moment we are shooting the final shot of the final episode of #Arrow. This scene is truly beautiful in the most honest meaning of the word. The perfect ending to this wonderful television series." (Nov. 14, 2019 JamesBamford tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the COIE fallout, KM: "It really does change everything. It's all about sacrifice, and all about everything that has been built over the last eight years, and this whole universe that started with Oliver on the island…they'll come to a head and change forever in a lot of ways." (Dec. 6, 2019 Eonline article, page 46 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- Per KM, the COIE crossover "changes the multiverse irreversibly and that is the catalyst for the backdoor pilot and for the conclusion of the series. ... So really, episode seven that we just saw is the last episode of Arrow to exist in its original form and from this point forward, all bets are off and the rules are forever changed. Don't count on anything, expect the unexpected, and be ready for a crazy ride." (Dec. 6, 2019 Insider article, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "I would say the series finale of Arrow is iconic; I would say it is about community; and it’s a farewell." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, fan tweeted: "Early shootings. Everyone in black. This looks a lot like a funeral to me. But of all unpredictable things, this is very predictable. Oh Oliver ?? #Arrow." (ENSM31 tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, papp tweeted pics of Arrow shooting a 810 scene at night, with comment: "NEW BLOG #Arrow films a scene for the SERIES FINALE in Crab Park yesterday with a lot of people..... but what was it for? ... #Arrow #Arrowverse #Vancouver #spoilers." From papp blog: "Arrow films a a scene for episode 810, the series finale with a whole lot of people. ... Yesterday I caught Arrow filming in a place fans are somewhat familiar with. Arrow had a rare location shoot for their 10th, and final episode of season 8. THEIR FINAL SEASON. This shoot was in Crab Park in Vancouver. ... But on this day, they were filming a little bit further in the park. Closer to the pier that juts out from the shore of the park. ... James Bamford is directing the episode, which is titled 'Fadeout' and he tweeted this, and I can definitely say 'I' have never been to a set with so many cast trailers. ... The one thing you CAN make out however, is that during the filming there is something under a blanket for much of the evening. During the 4 hours they shot there, about 3 1/2 hours of it, that blanket you see wrapped around something in a couple of the photos was up. But for breif moments throughout the evening, the blanket would be removed for a scene, and we would see that under it was..... a statue of The Green Arrow. The base that it sat on was several feet high itself, so it towered above the cast & crew on hand for the scene." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, KM: "You know, it's funny, 'cause yesterday we had one more pickup day where I shot one scene for episode nine and then insert shots and all of this, and yesterday was just such a short day. It was just fun play time with the crew. But the day before was the big day, the last official day of production when Stephen wrapped, and Emily wrapped, and everybody else. There was one scene in particular that we had so many people in that they series wrapped about 10 people when we finished the scene. And that's when I cried, because there are so many possibilities for the future of what the Arrowverse could be, especially for me, but it will never be the same. This is special, this is unique, and you know, the people are what made that show so iconic, and that was really special to be there for that moment." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eoinline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Flashforwards and Future Team Arrow -- On the trio of Mia, William and Connor as the next generation of superheroes and what it's been like to explore their legacy while also watching them come into their own, KM: "Well, what I love so much about this future Team Arrow aspect is that it still plays on that familiar superhero trope that Arrow audiences have come to love. You have the brooding vigilante, you have the best friend who’s the moral compass, and then you have the expert who mediates between everyone and provides a little bit of levity into the situation. But as opposed to the accepted stereotypes that would fill that role, you have a tiny blonde girl as the vigilante, and you have a villain’s son as the moral compass, and you have William who is an enigma, in and of himself, who’s the expert on the team. It really becomes a nice balance. It’s familiar but fresh, and it really turns that that classic relationship and that classic triangle on its head, in a way that’s really poignant. It’s very 2020, and it’s very 2040, as well." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) The Monitor and Harbinger -- On when we will learn more about the Monitor's secretly working with Lyla/Harbinger, LMG: "I think, each episode [of Arrow], they're gonna unpeel layers and layers of that onion as it goes along and as 'Crisis' begins, and that was one of my favorite things. When I read the scripts, I'm reading it as the actor, like, 'Alright, what's going on? What do I have to do?' But I'm also reading it as a fan. And when I first read... that she gets out of her car and she's walking, and then she meets with the Monitor, it blew my mind, like, 'Yes!' Because Lyla -- the name, they've had her around since Season 1 or 2 -- they've been laying breadcrumbs for years in the whole Arrowverse, and having that moment culminate with -- you know Lyla Michaels, just the significance of who she is and who she turns into -- seeing them meet together, that was great for me. It was a great payoff. They're going to dig more and more into that as each episode goes along, and especially when 'Crisis' starts." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the Monitor and Lyla/Harbinger dynamic is like, LMG: "In the comic book, it was more of a father/daughter kind of thing, like he raised her. With the show, it's hard to adapt everything from the comic book directly as it was, just because it's just not. It's too hard to do, especially in television. It's going to be a unique relationship, but it's going to be one that you can tell that they've been together for a while. This isn't something that just -- how he came to Oliver and how he came to Flash and just started telling them what to do, it wasn't one of those kind of relationships. They have history, and I think that's the fun part of watching it is to see how the history started with them and how deep it is. That's going to be something I think audiences will really like. You'll see a different side of both characters." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- AMA: "There are a couple moments with The Monitor where she maybe doesn't understand his decisions, but I don't think she ever wavers on what she has to do... She knows what she has to do." (Dec. 4, 2019 TVInsider article, page 45 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) The Monitor and Oliver -- On how the Monitor's relationship with Oliver continues to evolve, LMG: "I think it's natural that Oliver is questioning the Monitor, especially seeing certain things happen. You know, all these Earths are [being] destroyed and you're behind it and you're trying to tell me we're doing something for a greater good? At some point, any person would be like, 'I don't know if I'm doing the right thing.' Then, when you have that voice in your ear of the people that are close to you, like a Diggle telling you like, 'No, we shouldn't be doing this.' ... But I think that's what drama is. That's what makes this fun. That's what brings the friction to each scene and each encounter between Oliver and the Monitor gets heightened and heightened because of it. There's stuff coming up... that's really gonna make him question his relationship with the Monitor and you can only imagine what's going to happen the next time they see each other, like anger, but that's what makes it fun." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Felicity ("Olicity") -- In the first crossover tie-in comic, COIE Giant #1, which takes place between Part One and Part Two of the COIE crossover event, "Fans also get to see how Felicity discovers that her husband is dead, and confronts The Monitor about it... Barry Allen/The Flash is there to give Felicity a supportive shoulder." (Dec. 15, 2019 ComicBook article, page 50 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- When asked why Felicity chose the name Lucas last year for the baby if it was a boy as well, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "I used that name to throw off the writers on what name I was going to choose for my baby [smiley face emoji]." (Nov. 17, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and His Children -- KM: "William is definitely the mediator between Oliver and Mia because he knows both of them and he understands both of them and he's the least hot-headed of the three of them. But Mia and William are not without their tussles as well, particularly as it gets closer to this ticking time-bomb of Crisis and what Oliver knows, or at least what he believes, about his life ending from what The Monitor has said. So the tensions only get higher from here." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver and Mia -- On unexpectedly coming face to face with her father, KM: "Oh, there’s a long road ahead of us, to deal with all of that. Honestly, the biggest desire she’s had, in her life, is to have that connection with her father. And yet, his choices are also the reason, in her mind, that she’s had a difficult life. And so, she does blame him, in a sense, for all of the hardships and setbacks that she’s had. Having to deal with that is rather difficult, but when tensions run high in the multi-verse, so do emotions. Things come to a head, in a way that won’t always be amicable. In this episode [805], I was so excited because it’s the first time that Mia gets to show Oliver what she does best, and get to really be in her element, in the ring, and get to fight with her father. I think it surprises him, in a lot of ways, the skill set that she does have. Alternatively, Mia has just been through her biggest loss. Being one who claims that she doesn’t lose, having lost a teammate, and then having it be her fault is really jarring for her and throws her off center. So there’s a bit of a rebuilding of confidence that has to happen, in this episode, as well." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "What’s great about it is that you get to see the two of them [Oliver and Mia] interact, and because Mia has so much of Felicity’s sense of humor, their banter is really lovely, as well. The fact that they butt heads because Oliver and Mia are so similar, it’s a very nice interplay. " (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Oliver and Mia’s relationship has such a lovely quality to it. It grows into a place of understanding, and warmth, because of anyone in the multiverse, in the Arrowverse, the person who understands Mia the most is Oliver. He understands her willingness to fight, and her comfortability in that realm, and also her desire to do good in a world where that’s not always the most obvious choice. ... And because he’s been through that journey, and he’s struggled with that himself, he can guide her and help her to get through it as much as he can. And it becomes a really, rather unorthodox, but a really lovely relationship." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Mia feels that Oliver chose strangers; he chose to be a hero... He chose, in her eyes, that fame and that success and that adulation over his family -- over being there for her, and he abandoned her for the life of a hero. And that brings a lot of resentment in her. And as she gets to see the reasoning behind his choices and really the world and the difficulty of the choices that he's presented with, that allows her to start to work through those issues....So, we get to see the two of them take on these issues together. But it definitely is a process." (Dec. 2, 2019 ComicBook article, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Most of my interactions with Stephen up until that point had been social interactions or show gatherings or wrap parties or things like that, and that's a different experience than when you're spending a day on set with a person. And it was kind of a wonderful way to get to bring the story to life in getting to know Stephen and getting to know the character relationship and getting to build that very organically. And I think it played out really beautifully on screen, and Mia and Oliver have very similar sensibilities, but also there's a lot of Mia's sense of humor that mirrors Felicity. So you get to see quite a bit of banter between the two of them, and Oliver's trying his best to be a good dad, but Mia will only accept so much help and direction, and she has a mind of her own and Oliver very quickly discovers that, much to his chagrin." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "[Oliver's] choice to leave her, her having to grow up without a father, her having to grow up in his shadow, the effect that it had on her mother and on her brother, the fact that she never had a chance to have William in her life because of her father's choices. And there's a lot of resentment there. ... The one thing she's always wanted in her life has been her father, but in her mind, he's also the reason that her life wasn't what it could have been, and being confronted with him and having to deal with that is a lot for her. And it forces both of them to deal with that uncomfortable elephant in the room. And with the tensions as high as they are given the greater world conflict, it brings things to a head over the next couple of episodes, and it forces them both to deal with it in a very direct way and you get to see aspects of their character that you otherwise wouldn't have. And it definitely leaves a mark on both of them." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the biggest lesson Mia needs to learn from Oliver, KM: "She needs to learn, well first, not to be so hard on herself. And she needs to learn to put her faith in her team, and she needs to learn to forgive him, and to understand where he’s coming from. But they both do. Oliver and Mia are both so headstrong in so many ways, and because they’re so similar they often butt heads, but throughout the course of the season as they realize each other’s perspective, you get to see them understanding each other more, and you get to see them bond and grow, and really have that relationship that they never got to have in the chronological timeline, as it were." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "Mia, in particular, is one of my favorite characters that I've ever taken on, given that she is such a dichotomy. She is so strong on the surface, and she has such a hard shell on the outside. And yet, at her core, she's just a little girl who wants a family. She’s someone who wants to be loved, belong, and to fill that gap in her life that has always existed. She's never known what it's like to have a father and that's the tragedy of Oliver and Mia’s relationship. There is such love and such conflict there in that they want to connect and they want to bond and reach out to each other, but because of who they are as people and how they handle emotion, it takes so much time for them to get there. And when they finally do, when they finally are on the same team and understand each other and they have this lovely, beautiful moment on Lian Yu, the sky turns red and 'Crisis' crashes down on them." (Dec. 9, 2019 DC Comics article, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia's reaction to learning of Oliver's death, KM: "Oh, she definitely has a reaction, I’ll tell you that much. That comes in a couple episodes, and it certainly takes a turn, and it very nearly derails her entire relationship with Oliver. And it’s a very interesting turn of events where you get to see how far she’s come, and how much she has grown attached to her family. And the fact that they have bonded changes the fact that she doesn’t want to lose her father, and how she handles that, and how she handles finding out this news, is probably the most Mia Smoak thing we’ve ever seen." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the COIE crossover, KM: "It's been so fun to explore, particularly because Mia is so much like her parents. Getting to interact with people like Sara Lance, who knows Oliver so well, but also so similar to Mia that they butt heads in a lot of ways but can also connect. Or Barry Allen, who knows Oliver's aggressive tendencies, can see them in Mia and can kind of manage her in a very real way. But, you know, these characters kind of help guide her through the biggest crisis of her life in that, you know, her father has been her biggest vulnerability and she was finally confronted with him, had to come to terms and kind of make peace with all of her issues with him. And then to have him torn away from her so quickly and now she's on a spaceship among aliens and strangers and superheroes, dealing with the biggest loss of her life? It's a lot, and it's - it's a crisis all her own that she's dealing with in the midst of the worlds ending." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- KM: "I think Oliver has finally accepted his fate, or his potential fate, as it were, whereas Mia now understands why he made the choices he made when she was a baby and understands that he didn't take them lightly and he did it quite painfully, but in order to serve the greater good." Also KM: "She now has a healthy respect for that, but she's not going to let him go without a fight... And that's kind of what we see Mia dealing with during the 'Crisis,' is fighting against the impending destiny that may or may not be able to be stopped." (Dec. 6, 2019 Insider article, page 47 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- On Mia coming to understand her father and why he made the choices he made, KM: "... And as she's becoming a hero herself, she begins to understand what that really means and - and that it's ultimately all about sacrifice and about loyalty and about legacy and about, you know, doing what's right no matter how hard." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- KM: "I think Mia has to come to terms with the fact that her father is not necessarily going to be a part of her life in the future, and her time with him is limited... While she's not necessarily aware of that at this moment, she's very quickly going to be, and unfortunately that comes at a point where she actually has built a relationship with him and has started to bond with him in a sense. And it certainly brings out the fight in her once more, but that's what we get to see over these next couple of episodes. And that's why I'm particularly excited about this 'Prochnost' episode [805] that's coming up, because it's the first time you really get to see Oliver and Mia interact one-on-one and go on missions together. And really, Mia gets to show off what she does best and it's exciting for her given that her father doesn't really know the full extent of her skillset. But also for Oliver, he's in this weird place of wanting to protect his children but also needing them to help the mission move forward and it's how do you put your trust in the person that you want to protect the most?" (Nov. 19, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how she approached Mia's scenes with Oliver differently than she approached the scenes that we saw last season with Felicity, KM: "It’s a very different relationship in a sense. Felicity and Mia have history; they know each other, and they grew up together, and they have their ups and downs. And there’s a level of familiarity there that Oliver and Mia don’t have, because the last time Oliver saw her, she was a baby. And Mia has no memories of her father. So everything is brand new, and it’s that idea of, “Well, this person is a part of me, and this person is supposed to know me but we’re strangers.” So how do we go about this? How do we move forward? Oliver dealt with it better than Mia, but neither of them are great with emotion. So it comes down to both of them having that desire to connect, and putting themselves in vulnerable places, and really reaching out, and extending those olive branches, and giving each other space. But also confronting these situations that need to be confronted, while they have the time. ... Oliver’s under the impression that his time is limited, and the stakes are high throughout the multiverse. So it’s that situation where as much as you want to ignore the elephant in the room, when tensions around you are at a high, it’s going to bring things to a head, and not always in the best way. There’s a lot of conflicts, but also as much resolution as you can expect from this kind of relationship throughout the season. And it affects both characters greatly." (Nov. 15, 2019 Hypable article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Diggle and Lyla ("Dyla") -- DR: "[Diggle and Lyla] are going to have it out soon, but it won't be in this episode [806]... Some of those questions you have for Lyla will be answered in this episode, but they'll be answered between Oliver and Lyla, not between John and Lyla." (Nov. 25, 2019 TV Guide article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I will say this: the scene between Diggle and Lyla this week [in 806] will happen between Oliver and Lyla. That moment that you’re looking for, between Diggle and Lyla, will happen not in this episode. But, some of the questions that you have for Lyla will be asked through Oliver this week." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, by the end of Arrow, we will feel as though we have some sense of where life could go next for Diggle and Lyla, AMA: "Yes, you’ll get that. They do a good job, towards the end, of really buttoning up a lot of things. You’ll definitely get a sense for where they’re going and where they might pop up again. There’s definitely a sense that you might see something with them again. I don’t know what. I’m not teasing anything. But I’m just saying that there’s just that sense that you can imagine what they’ll be doing." (Dec. 5, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William and Mia -- KM: "You will get to see Mia and William get closer, as well, because both of them are having to deal with the fact that they have issues with their father. That's how they bonded initially, but now they're both going through the ringer, trying to grasp some sense of solid ground and dealing with this world that's ever-changing around them and they become each other's rock in a sense. And I love Ben Lewis so much. He's so wonderful." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Mia and William are at all worried about the fact that they were just thrown into the past and they left a whole future behind, KM: "There's so much going on that they don't really have time to think about that. All they can do to make the future better is to worry about the present or past or whatever...whatever verb tense we're using. Future, past, present, whatever it is, the time that they're currently in is the time they are concerning themselves with, and that's only by nature of the fact that in the hopes of changing the future, maybe they can affect something while they're helping Oliver complete his mission. Plus I think both of them are overwhelmed by the fact that they're actually having a chance to bond with their father in a way they never had the opportunity before." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia and Connor -- When asked for one word to describe the connection between Mia and Connor, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Complicated." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia and the Diggle Brothers -- On whether we can expect upcoming episodes to dig into Mia's relationship with the Diggle brothers, KM: "Let me put it this way: The Queen family and the Diggle family are always connected. We’ve seen the bromance with Oliver and John, and there’s definitely something going on with Mia and the Diggle brothers as we move forward, but I can’t really get into that now." (Nov. 18, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Connor and JJ -- CB: "I think J.J.'s situation really extended from seeing that his father and his mother didn't give him the upbringing that he desired. They paid too much attention, and I guess risked more of their relationship with their birth son, in order to care for the upbringing of Connor. That has a result. And on top of it, they also take Connor under their wing, they make him a vigilante as well. So the thing that was pulling them away from J.J. in the first place, they almost gift to the son that was the problem. I think that stings him and in a really, really personal and continuing kind of way. He can't let go." (Nov. 13, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mar Novu AKA The Monitor -- LMG: "There's moments coming up with other characters that it's going to be -- well, no, I don't want to say that. There's a spoiler, but it's something coming that's a funny interaction that starts out funny with one of the characters and then it takes another serious turn because that's what the Monitor does. The reaction of one of the characters when they meet him for the first time, it's going to be humorous." (Nov. 16, 2019 CBR article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Oliver Queen AKA Green Arrow -- When asked why they called Oliver a Paragon in 801 and then didn't make him a paragon in COIE, MG tweeted: "We never called him a Paragon. [crazy face emoji]." (Dec. 14, 2019 mguggenheim tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “The dilemma that we presented to our own selves was that we spoiled our own story... So if Oliver dying isn’t the surprise, what is the surprise? And the timing of him dying, because I think we kinda figured the audience is expecting that Oliver would die in the climax in the fifth hour. So if we went in the opposite direction and killed him off at the end of Hour, we accomplish two things: Hopefully we do surprise the audience. That’s absolutely the intention. But we also really establish the stakes that going into the next four hours, ‘Wow, if Oliver Queen can die, then no one is safe.'” (Dec. 8, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 48 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- In response to fan who was concerned about Oliver not appearing in 809 due to his death in the COIE crossover and who asked if there was a backup plan in case the spinoff does not go forward, MG tweeted: "The #Arrow spinoff takes place in 2040. We already spoiled that Oliver is dead by that time, so his not appearing in Arrow 809 (the spinoff episode) isn't affected by what happens in Crisis (or, for that matter, the series finale)." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who asked how they can explain the LoT episode that took place in 2046 with Oliver still alive, MG tweeted: "That’s a really good point. We should address that..." In response to TVLine's Matt Mitovich's tweet that "it was established long ago and by many EPs that it was a different timeline/possible future," MG tweeted: "You’re gonna want to watch Hour 1 of #CrisisOnInifiteEarths. #methodtoourmadness." In response to fan who tweeted that "There are multiple timelines, multiple possible futures. That's one of them. You should study all the universe you've created and what you say in the series. How sad to see you're not aware of that," MG tweeted: "Wow. You’re so right. What was I thinking??? I’m so sorry." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweets, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if he was confirming Oliver's final death, MG tweeted: "By 2040? Yeah. Like I said, not a spoiler." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- While MG won't reveal which moments of the COIE comic series they homage, he did share that the comic helped them solve one major problem they faced. MG: “We basically spoiled our own story by telling the audience Oliver [Stephen Amell] is going to die at the end of season 7... Working out, quite frankly, just plot twists and surprises and reversals, that was an interesting challenge. I think the original Crisis comic provided a lot of points of inspiration. Even if it didn’t give us the answer to the test, it inspired the answers.” (Dec. 5, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 45 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- MG: "With respect to Oliver Queen, my instinct is not to revisit that character any time soon, because his story is told - or at least my version of his story is told... I don't think I have anything more to say about the character at this point. I hope that that changes. But for now, I kinda feel like I've said it." (Dec. 13, 2019 DC Comics News (DCN) podcast interview with MG, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, SA posted pic of himself and his wife, with comment: "Me and @cassandrapants celebrated the end of Chapter 1 tonight. Not sure what’s next... which I’m cool with, because she’s by my side." (SA instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, SA tweeted: "Words can’t even begin to express what Arrow has meant to me. Best 8 years of my life. The cast and crew of the show have become my family. I’m going to miss them. I’m wrapped." (SA tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Felicity Smoak AKA Overwatch -- On what he can say about Felicity's role in the series finale, MG tweeted: "I can say that she's in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked how he decided which characters he was going to focus on in the related comic book chapters (Crisis On Infinite Earths Giant #1 and #2), MG: "As far as characters, I started off with Felicity Smoak. I think, of all the characters that are not in the crossover that I think people wanted to see, Felicity is probably at the top of that list. I included the Ray, from the Crisis on Earth-X crossover we did a few years ago as well as the animated series we did for CW Seed, and then there was going to be another character — a brand new character, because I thought it could be fun to add to the toolbox, but we had a lot of creative discussions, and it was decided, let’s use a pre-established Arrowverse character, so I chose Nyssa Al-Ghul, because Katrina [Law] is on another show and wasn’t available to participate in the crossover. ... Finally, there’s Wally West, because, again, scheduling limitations prevented the actor from being in the live action… but it’s easy to populate your comic book with whoever you want. Using those core four, we worked out our story and brought in characters like the Atom… and Batwoman… and Sara Lance… and Barry Allen. But it’s those core four that really drive our story." (Dec. 5, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 45 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- Regarding Felicity's role in DC's two-issue COIE Giant comic series, MG tweeted: "She narrates it, too." (Dec. 5, 2018 MG tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the events of the tie-in comic be mentioned in the COIE television crossover event (like, if someone will mention what Felicity, Wally, The Ray and Nyssa have been up to), MG tweeted: "Yes. Very directly." (Dec. 5, 2019 mguggenheim tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if we are going to find out what "Older Felicity deal" was, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Maybe [smiley face emoji]." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked to describe the Felicity scenes in the series finale in three emojis or three words, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Only needs one - perfection." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan comment about missing Felicity, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "You’ll see her soon!" (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what KM said: "Katherine McNamara told Matt Mitovich that having Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity return for the series finale was 'so critical' for the storyline. 'It was just lovely to have her back on set,' she also said of her TV mom. 'It made even the social aspect of wrapping the show mean so much more because she is so much of what Arrow is and I love Emily to death…. I’m so glad it worked out.'” (Nov. 21, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Pagey mentioned the news that EBR will be back as Felicity in the series finale. Pagey: "Apparently - I don't know if this is true, do not take this as concrete information at all, because I just heard it randomly, um, from someone who has said some true stuff in the past, but I don't know if it's true at all. Apparently it's only two scenes. Um, one might be like present day Felicity. One might be that older version of Felicity that we saw go into, I guess, like the paradise dimension at the end of Arrow last season. It could just be a scene with each of those versions. But I have to wait and see if that's correct. This could just be someone guessing. But they have been right in the past in regards to some information. So I have to wait and see in regards to that." (Nov. 11, 2019 Pagey video, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Pagey: "Speaking of Felicity, um, I don't know if this is 100% true, but people are saying actually Emily Bett Rickards only shot one scene, that she was only there for one day of filming, which is this last day of Arrow. I don't know if they would do that. I think they might have her there for more than one scene. But maybe they just have it where she just comes back to honor what's happening, which we will go over in a second, um, and then she just goes." (Nov. 14, 2019 Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted pics of two screenshots from Jarett Wieselman's instagram story, with comment: "Why does #Emilybett have these in her trailer?" First pic shows chair marked "EMILY BETT RICKARDS ARROW 8" and tagged "One last time." Second pic shows Jarett, with tag: "Why does @emilybett have these in her trailer?" (EmiBettRickards tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, KM: "... But the day before was the big day, the last official day of production when Stephen wrapped, and Emily wrapped, and everybody else. There was one scene in particular that we had so many people in that they series wrapped about 10 people when we finished the scene.." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eoinline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 20, 2019, fans tweeted b-t-s pics and video clip of some Arrow cast members on last day of filming. Pics include EBR (with blonde hair and glasses), KM, BL, RG, KC, AMA, EK and JD." (ShaunaSullivan, Olicity_News and Annecool17 tweets, page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room. In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John Diggle AKA Spartan -- On Nov. 12, 2019, DR posted: "During my last week on Arrow, a lot of things fill my mind... but mostly family... #Arrow." (DR instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Last day on Arrow. Last day going to Vancouver Film Studios to shoot on Stage A1, A2 and B1. It's been incredible. Words kind of - kind of, uh, don't really express. It's been a highlight of my career. One of the major highlights of my life. What can I say? Like, thanks to all you guys and get ready for a lot of tears today and a lot of joy, a lot of mixture, mixed-up stuff. But more than anything else, gratitude. I am very grateful. So, thanks. See you soon." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "To B1, Stage B1. That's where our bunker is. And, um, this is one of the last scenes. Two more scenes we're shooting on this set. This is one of the last ones. So, um, I'm feeling a bit emotional right now. But here we go." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Guys, I'm going to ADR... Sometimes on set, with shows like Arrow or shows that shoot up here in Vancouver, Flash, other shows, we will obviously have time to go down to L.A. to do ADR. And ADR is basically when there might be a scene where a line is off with some background noise so you can't hear us as actors for whatever reason. So we come in here, a place like this, In the Loop Mobile ADR, and shoot the lines, we shoot the scene so you guys can understand what's happening on television. And, um, it's my last time doing it for Arrow. So, I'd take you in, but it's a soundproof room. See ya!" (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Okay. One more scene. One more setup. One more scene, and an era has ended." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, fan tweeted video clip from Nov. 13, 2019 instagram story in which DR says: "One more scene... One more set-up... An era has ended." He appears to be in the Arrow bunker. (knowckknowckjoan tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, fan tweeted pic of DR on Arrow set holding his name card, with pic tagged: "That's a wrap." (jbuffyangel tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Lyla Michaels AKA Harbinger -- DR: “Lyla has accepted that 'Crisis' is coming, and that’s really the arc of the show. Even though she’s working with the Monitor, her biggest purpose is to help Oliver.” (Nov. 26, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Regarding the foretold death of Oliver, her husband's best friend, AMA: "Lyla is very conflicted. She definitely feels remorse in one sense and feels the gravity of what is happening... But she also has a much deeper understanding of what needs to be done than some of the other characters, and so in a way, she and Oliver both understand on a deep level what needs to be done, but she also really grieves for her partner, for Diggle. It is a complicated situation." (Dec. 4, 2019 TVInsider article, page 45 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) Rene Ramirez AKA Wild Dog -- On Nov. 10, 2019, RG: "Each day has been pretty, it sneaks up on you... We've been numb to it, but each day has been like, remember, it's coming. I just finished a scene on Friday with Julianna Harkavy and we were in tears. Every scene hasn't been easy. I'm hoping we can ease things with some liquor." (E! People's Choice Awards, Nov. 10, 2019: Nov. 14, 2019 TooFab article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Dinah Drake AKA Black Canary -- On Nov. 12, 2019, JH posted pic of herself, with comment: "I took this photo almost 4 years ago. I’d just gotten off a call with Warner Bros. where I learned my life was about to change forever. My journey on Arrow had begun, and I would be moving to Vancouver in a few days. I took this picture because I wanted to remember the feeling I had in that moment. The overwhelming excitement. The immense gratitude. At the time I had no idea where this adventure would lead. I didn’t know this show would have such an outstanding lifespan, or how many people, young and old, I would be able to meet and help through playing this character. Or how they would help me. Most of all, I didn’t know the greatest gift was waiting on the other side of the border. My cast. Who would welcome me with open arms and become my greatest source of strength. My soulmates. My family. And Stephen, our gracious and unwavering leader, to whom I am eternally grateful. Today begins our last week on Arrow. As thankful as I felt the day this photo was taken, nothing could describe how much that love and gratitude has grown. I am so proud of our cast, crew, writers, and producers. I hope you enjoy this final season. And I hope when you look back, you’ll find this story has moved you, inspired you, and changed you for the better. Because of #Arrow, I have been changed, for good. Thank you, thank you, thank you. ????." (JH instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of JH playing the guitar while KC watches her. (Nov. 15, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room. In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Earth-1 Laurel Lance AKA Black Canary AND Earth-2 Laurel Lance AKA Black Siren AKA Earth-2 Black Canary? -- When asked for Laurel tease, MG tweeted: "Earth-1 Laurel in Crisis. Earth-2 Laurel in spin-off." (Nov. 15, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- In response to fan who asked if E2 Laurel will also be in Crisis or if it's just E1 Laurel, MG tweeted: "I’ve already posted this in an earlier tweet, but just E1 Laurel is in Crisis." (Dec. 2, 2019 mguggenheim tweet, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 44 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- When asked whether he can say anything about Laurel in 808, 809 or 810, MG tweeted: "808 -- Incredibly emotional and raw. 809 -- @#$!%ing bad ass. 810 -- One of my favorite scenes in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, KC posted pic of herself with WH, with comment: "Our last day of filming #Arrow & here we are @willaholland the #OG ‘s .... I adore you little lady! ??." (KC instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of CL and KC getting their makeup applied, with CL saying, "Double touches on Katie's." (Nov. 13, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of CL instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of JH playing the guitar while KC watches her. (Nov. 15, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room, with comment: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken during my final transformation into Black Canary... It's moments like these that I will forever cherish. #Arrow." In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. Then KC subsequently changed her comment to read: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken on one of the final days of #Arrow S8 ?? These are some of the moments I will forever cherish." (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 30, 2019, James Bamford posted pic of himself with KC, with comment: "My friend @katiecassidy and myself in a wonderful moment after we just shot several character’s final #Arrow scenes......on the series finale.....episode 810. #arrowthefinalseason." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Curtis Holt AKA Mr. Terrific -- On Nov. 14, 2019, EK tweeted: "Series wrap on #Arrow. What a legacy this show will hold forever. I feel so blessed to have been apart of it." (EchoK tweet, page 773 of Social Media thread) Thea Queen AKA Speedy -- On Nov. 13, 2019, KC posted pic of herself with WH, with comment: "Our last day of filming #Arrow & here we are @willaholland the #OG ‘s .... I adore you little lady! ??." (KC instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding the series finale, Pagey: "Thea Queen is back." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Roy Harper AKA Arsenal -- On Nov. 11, 2019, papp tweeted: "Happy to see on Instagram that Colin Donnell & Colton Haynes are in the hood for the #Arrow series finale." (yvrshoots tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, CH tweeted: "Today is the last day on Arrow. The last day I will get to go to work with these beautiful humans on a show that gave me so much. These ppl were with me through all the good & sad times & helped me through more than…." (ColtonLHaynes tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding Canadagraphs' posting pics of a Green Arrow statue with a bunch of people gathered around it, Pagey: "But in regards to specific people who are in this finale, going off the set photos, it does look like the Flash is there in his suit as well, because it does look like Roy Harper/Arsenal is there in his suit as well... I say the Flash and Arsenal specifically because they're red so it's easy to pick up." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room. In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) William "Will" Clayton -- In response to interviewer imagining that the backdoor pilot involves all-new fight style for her, KM: "Moving forward, Mia is constantly getting new gadgets and skills. With a brother like William (Ben Lewis) who knows Smoak Tech, he is going to create [things for her]. And it's really interesting to see as she goes through the season and is confronted by new challenges, what skills she has learned from her father." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she was on set for the last day of filming Arrow, KM: "For the official-official last day with everybody, yeah. We had big group scenes that day, and Ben and I actually had a pickup day yesterday to shoot another scene from the backdoor pilot together. It was so lovely to get to wrap with him. But I gotta say, it really hit me. There was one scene where we had about, I think 12 or 15 actors in it and when it was done, we series-wrapped about 10 people and that hit me like a brick wall. I've made so many wonderful friendships on this show... and I know, yes, there is a potential for a future moving forward, but it's never going to be quite the same." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Jack Moore, who played the younger, present day version of William, was at the Arrow wrap party on Nov. 15, 2019. (Nov. 16, 2019 iammoorepheus tweet and Nov. 17, 2019 jackmoore003 instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 10, 2019, BL: "But we started shooting in July and here we are in November and I have one scene left, I feel like where did the time go? ... It's been a great season and I can't wait for everyone to see the final episodes that haven't aired yet." (E! People's Choice Awards, Nov. 10, 2019: Nov. 14, 2019 TooFab article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, BL tweeted pics of "First looks..." and "and last looks on William." In the last look pic, he is wearing a navy, long-sleeved sweater top with a royal blue horizontal stripe and dark jeans. (benlewishere tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mia Smoak AKA Blackstar AKA Green Arrow? -- When asked if we'll see baby or adult Mia in DC's two-issue COIE Giant comic series, MG tweeted: "Both." (Dec. 10, 2019 MG tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan: "I know Mia is a lot like Oliver but are we going to see more of the Felicity in her?" EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Yes! She has characteristics of both of them." (Nov. 17, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the effect of COIE, KM: "Now suddenly she's on a spaceship with people with superpowers, and aliens, and dealing with all of these other things... Suddenly being surrounded by strangers -- people that know her, but she doesn't know them -- in one of the most traumatic times of her life, it really kind of puts her out of her element once again, and forces her to grow in a big way." (Dec. 10, 2019 ETonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite thing that we've haven't seen yet, KM: "I'll tell you this, we haven't yet seen Mia with her hood up. And it's coming... And there's an element to that that is also new that is exciting and fun and I had a hand in helping to create." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "That's the crux of Mia's growth in this entire season is that, you know, she's had this massive loss, this hole in her life in the entire time she's been alive. She hasn't known her father and she's been kind of yearning for that connection... And then obviously, when she was confronted with it, it was a very, a much more difficult journey than I think either of them expected, coming to terms with all of the abandonment and loss and things that she had been harboring and trying to push aside, forcing them to come to the surface when he's standing right there in front of her." Also KM: "Once that's finally been reconciled and she understands him so much more and has come to terms with opening up that connection, that relationship and that love is there that they've both found for each other, that they've been yearning for their entire lives, it's all just kind of taken away in an instant -- and far too soon. And coming to terms with that is one of the most difficult things that Mia has ever had to do. It definitely changes her, for better or for worse. It changes her path forever." (Dec. 10, 2019 ETonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On being passed the Green Arrow mantle by her father, KM: "I think it's really overwhelming for her... She's certainly never thought of herself as a hero or being worthy of taking on that mantle, given her checkered past and her relationship with the vigilantes, and with this team... Creating that element of that redemption story that he has, she sort of mirrors that in a way. ... And it's something that she understands, you know, much in the same way that, in enjoying the show, I understand the legacy that Steven and/or Oliver had built... It becomes a really interesting turn in the character, and having someone so different and yet so similar take on this mantle." (Dec. 10, 2019 ETonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "I had a feeling that people would have very strong opinions about Mia, and I was hoping that they would be positive ones. But I also knew that they've developed her in a really wonderful way to where no matter how you feel about her at first, you can't help but have some compassion for her because you really see the the pain, struggle and conflict that she's going through in trying to reconcile these emotions that she's had and defenses that she's had to put up to just survive. Now, the biggest vulnerability of her life is now standing right in front of her, one of her biggest moments of tragedy. Then later on, he will be the catalyst for the next biggest tragedy in her life and the next big transformation and steps she has to take. It's just event after event and obstacle after obstacle, but that serves the legacy of what it is to be a Queen and what it is to be a hero. It really does prepare her to take on her father's legacy in a way." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- KM: "Mia, in particular, is one of my favorite characters that I've ever taken on, given that she is such a dichotomy. She is so strong on the surface, and she has such a hard shell on the outside. And yet, at her core, she's just a little girl who wants a family. She’s someone who wants to be loved, belong, and to fill that gap in her life that has always existed. She's never known what it's like to have a father and that's the tragedy of Oliver and Mia’s relationship. There is such love and such conflict there in that they want to connect and they want to bond and reach out to each other, but because of who they are as people and how they handle emotion, it takes so much time for them to get there. And when they finally do, when they finally are on the same team and understand each other and they have this lovely, beautiful moment on Lian Yu, the sky turns red and 'Crisis' crashes down on them. ... KM: "It gives you something to play with because Mia’s constantly learning and constantly figuring out the world and what to do next. She's a strategist, like her mother. That's where the Felicity comes in. She's a strategist and a warrior and getting to blend the two of those things together has been such a joy." (Dec. 9, 2019 DC Comics article, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she was on set for the last day of filming Arrow, KM: "For the official-official last day with everybody, yeah. We had big group scenes that day, and Ben and I actually had a pickup day yesterday to shoot another scene from the backdoor pilot together. It was so lovely to get to wrap with him. But I gotta say, it really hit me. There was one scene where we had about, I think 12 or 15 actors in it and when it was done, we series-wrapped about 10 people and that hit me like a brick wall. I've made so many wonderful friendships on this show... and I know, yes, there is a potential for a future moving forward, but it's never going to be quite the same." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what has she always loved about playing Mia, and what has she grown to appreciate about her, that she didn’t necessarily know was there, when she signed on, KM: "I love how fearless she is and how much she will just jump into anything, head on. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty, when it comes to a fight. But what I’ve really grown to love about her is that, as she’s gone through all of these situations and been forced to confront her biggest vulnerability, standing right in front of her, in her father, is that she might have the hardest exterior, but on the inside, she’s just a big old teddy bear. She’s just like the rest of us. She just wants a family. She just wants to be loved, and to find that connection. Getting to see her slip into that space of vulnerability is really beautiful. She’s got a big old heart under that hard exterior, and we really get to see that come out, in full force, in these last few episodes, of the season." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia’s biggest strength and her biggest weakness, KM: "I would say that they’re one in the same, and I think it’s her heart. There’s a reason she fights so hard for what she believes in, and there’s also a reason that she is so shaken by moments of vulnerability. She puts her all into it, and the people she loves and the things she believes in. She may have a very thick shield, but once you get past that armor, she’s just a bleeding heart, just like her father." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, regardless of what happens with the spin-off, she feels like there is a sense of closure to this chapter of Mia’s life, KM: "As much closure as you can get, yes. There’s a lot that she has to work through, over the course of the next five or six episodes, depending on how you count it with the crossover. There’s a lot that happens, and it’s barely the tip of the iceberg, in Episodes 4 and 5, as to the journey that she has, to come to that sense of closure. With any series that has so many characters and so many storylines, it takes a lot to try to wrap it up. I really credit the writers for giving the show the ending that it deserves, and for really honoring everything with the entire cast and crew, but Stephen [Amell], who has built this character, the Green Arrow, and what that legacy means. It’s a really beautiful finale, and I hope people enjoy it." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia's journey for the rest of this season, since we're now halfway through the final season, KM: "We see Mia grow quite a bit this season, and she's very sure of herself in certain aspects of who she is as a person. She knows she's a fighter, she knows she's competent in that realm, and that is where she finds her strength. It's the other side of who she is, the emotional side, the human side that is underdeveloped at this point, and time and time again—we've seen it in the last couple episodes and we'll continue to see it for the rest of the season--she is, and so is Oliver, they both have a lot to work through when it comes to their relationship." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eonline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "So Clary (her Shadowhunters character) and Mia are - I think the ways in which they're similar is their hearts and their ferocity. They care fiercely for the people that they love and for what they believe to be right and the right thing. And they will do anything, sacrifice anything, jump in headfirst, to service that cause. But I think the ways in which they're different are their perspective. Clary was raised by a very loving mother in a very wonderful, artistic, beautiful home, whereas Mia was raised in seclusion by a mother who was kind of very afraid of what could happen if - and by an assassin who probably didn't let much slide and wasn't all about the warm fuzzy - whereas Katrina Law is all about the warm fuzzy, Nyssa al Ghul is not at all. So, uh, it provides a very different perspective where Clary is very hopeful and sees, you know, it's not over, it's not the end, we're going to figure this out. Mia's a realist. She knows how difficult the world can be, and she knows the consequences, and she's - she's ready to fight her way through them, but she knows when she has to face the music." (DarkShadeCon, Nov. 24, 2019: Nov. 26, 2019 Vd448 video of Katherine McNamara and Emeraude Toubia panel, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- Per KM, "the [COIE] crossover changes everything" and sets the stage for a potential spin-off starring her character and the Canaries, played by KC and JH. Also KM: "It changes the multiverse irreversibly and that is the catalyst for the backdoor pilot and for the conclusion of the series." (Dec. 6, 2019 Insider article, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the Mia/Canaries spinoff, KM: "It's amazing to take on this legacy because Stephen has built such an incredible legacy and, through with the writers and the team, it's a character that people connect so much with. He's the ultimate antihero, in the sense that his entire story is one of redemption. And he's come so far and grown so much. And, you know, Mia has too, in smaller increments, and getting to sort of take that on, it's a big step and it's - it's - they're big boots to fill, as it were. Um, but it's very exciting to kind of see where things can go and to see such a gritty, badass superhero played by a tiny blonde girl... It's a fun new twist on a classic superhero trope,and I'm excited to show people what we have in store." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- On what she can say about the Mia/Canaries backdoor pilot, KM: "No. I can’t really say anything. I can say it’s really exciting and it’s very different, and there are going to be a lot of things that are quite unexpected within that." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked how and when she found out about the possibility of a new Arrow spin-off, and that it would focus on this crime fighting team of The Canaries, KM: "The spin-off was always a rumor, but so many things change, in television and in this industry. I try not to get too excited about things, until they’re actually real. But it’s been really exciting, though, to get to discover what the possibilities for the future are, and what this new world could be. I think people are going to be rather surprised by the direction that we take with it. I’m hoping for the best." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the backdoor pilot, KM: "It was kind of crazy. We have so much to do and coming off of the crossover, everybody was already slightly at their wits' end. But this crew is so amazing. We had to build an entirely brand-new world in about half the time of shooting a normal pilot and they pulled it together. We figured it out and truly, truly made something that I hope people are going to enjoy. ... It's really different. I think it's going to be more different than a lot of people expect, but I'm feeling exciting." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to interviewer imagining that the backdoor pilot involves all-new fight style for her, KM: "Moving forward, Mia is constantly getting new gadgets and skills. With a brother like William (Ben Lewis) who knows Smoak Tech, he is going to create [things for her]. And it's really interesting to see as she goes through the season and is confronted by new challenges, what skills she has learned from her father." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted video of CL's instagram story of KM in a bed, with comment: "Kat and crew were doing a facetime with Stephen. [loudly crying face and sneezing face emojis] #Arrow." She no longer appears to have Mia's tatts. (ensm31 tweet & video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, Pagey: "Now Caity Lotz did post something on instagram story which showed a scene with Katherine McNamara in her bed." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, papp tweeted: "My last #autograph on an #Arrow set ever, Katherine McNamara. I got her earlier in the night when she wrapped her final scene." (canadagraphs tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) John ("JJ") Diggle, Jr. -- On how it felt coming onto Arrow, not only as this legacy character carrying on the mantle of Deathstroke and Diggle & Lyla, but also as someone coming in on the final season, CB: "It's double-fold -- kind of scaring and also exciting. The show has such an incredible following, it has such a great community. And it's a community that's stuck by it, and also demands that it be as good as it was -- as good as it continues to be, I should say. So that's a great amount of pressure, I think, to put on anybody walking into something that is not your own. ... I will say I felt a little relief because I knew that I wasn't necessarily taking over a realm of the character. I was a new form of Deathstroke. I'm a modern, I guess a futuristic -- I don't know how much I can give away. I always get so scared in situations like this. But he's a new age, maybe like baby Deathstroke. I got a chance to kind of restructure who this person was, and who this person would be within J.J.'s context. It made it a little freeing and also so much fun, because this story is connected to so much family, and that kind of stuff creates an emotional well of choices." (Nov. 13, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what it's like playing a character who's on such a dark path, CB: "It's so funny, because beyond being a question of context and where you fall on sides. We were given this incredible lesson at school and college from one of my professors, Becky Guy. She said, 'Never judge your characters. Never, ever, ever judge your characters. It doesn't matter if they're a murderer. You can't judge because you're entering into their psyche, hopefully, and within safe parameters for yourself.' I kind of took that to heart. I don't see him as this psychopath. I see him as a bad guy. I see him recognizing his villainy. But I see him doing it for a logical reason in his mind, as much as Charlie Barnett doesn't agree with those choices and the actions in which he's doing it. ... He amps it up to the dangerous, if not unforgivable, mark, but he's doing it for a solid reason. He felt abandoned, he felt wronged. He feels like there is this wave of vigilante justice that is causing butterfly effects around the city, around this world, and those butterfly effect and results have ramifications. Each one of those ramifications, be it, 'Cool, my dad was a villain, but you just killed him, Green Arrow, and you killed him in the worst way.' Or, 'My mother was trying to do something different and you saw that it was going to be a destructive thing, and you killed her too, Green Arrow.' And how did that then affect that world for them? ... I think a lot of people will say, 'All right, you're grasping at straws.' But you've got to find a way, okay people? And luckily, I think J.J.'s situation really extended from seeing that his father and his mother didn't give him the upbringing that he desired. They paid too much attention, and I guess risked more of their relationship with their birth son, in order to care for the upbringing of Connor. That has a result. And on top of it, they also take Connor under their wing, they make him a vigilante as well. So the thing that was pulling them away from J.J. in the first place, they almost gift to the son that was the problem. I think that stings him and in a really, really personal and continuing kind of way. He can't let go." (Nov. 13, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he hopes JJ's arc goes from here (after killing Zoe) and whether he sees him possibly getting redeemed in some sort of way, CB: "The fun part, as I said at the beginning, of doing these kinds of shows is the fantasy element. It can go anywhere and everywhere, and it usually does. And luckily, we have a really responsive and just downright great group of writers. They have a hard task of reining in this world or these worlds. And I think on Arrow specifically, it may be the context that Green Arrow isn't a superhero, he's a man. He is human. He has had some aid in doing superhuman things. But the best part about this is it still resides within humanity. And so much of our relationships, our emotional life within it can balance in that. But then you add this fantasy element and sh*t can go crazy. So I can't say too much, but I will say J.J. has some ups and downs. You'll see him all over the map." (Nov. 13, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JJ has been confirmed to appear in the "Green Arrow and the Canaries" backdoor pilot later this season. (Nov. 13, 2019 ComicBook article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Baby Sara Diggle -- On EP Beth Schwartz saying that there would be some sort of callback to the Baby Sara situation and whether that is still on the horizon, DR: "It is. It is not in this episode [806], but Baby Sara has not been forgotten — thank you for asking! — and you will be getting a callback, without a doubt. And honestly, I would say you’ll be getting more than just a callback." (Nov. 26, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Sara Lance AKA White Canary -- When asked is Sara (CL) was back for the series finale, fan tweeted: "She is back for the finale. Yep." (Nov. 12, 2019 ENSM31 tweet & reply, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of CL and KC getting their makeup applied, with CL saying, "Double touches on Katie's." (Nov. 13, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of CL instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of CL with her dog, with CL saying, "Today is the final day of filming for Arrow. So weird. It's been a crazy ride. Eight years for the show. Seven years for me. Hoo! It's crazy, right, Beez?" (Nov. 15, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of CL instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, Pagey: "Now Caity Lotz did post something on instagram story which showed a scene with Katherine McNamara in her bed." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding the series finale, Pagey: "But we know that Sara Lance is there... Caity Lotz put heaps of stuff on her instagram story with her filming Arrow." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Rory Regan AKA Ragman -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding the series finale, Pagey: "Um, Joe Dinicol is back as Rory Regan AKA Ragman. Don't know if he's back as Rory Regan or as Ragman." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Moira Queen -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room. In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Malcolm Merlyn -- John Barrowman confirmed that his return as Malcolm Merlyn in 801 was his last appearance on Arrow. Per JB, prior commitments (including the release of his new festive album A Fabulous Christmas and the UK tour) meant that he was unavailable to make another appearance. When asked if the S8 premiere was his final episode, JB: "Yes. I was only able to do that first episode, and they didn't get back to me in time before I booked up my tour, before I booked I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp. ... There was a bunch of other stuff that came in, and I didn't want to wait around. And it was first come first served, basically. ... So they did check my availability for other episodes, but I wasn't available." On his return in 801, JB: "It was lovely to go back... To be part of that show for eight years has been incredible, and as I say with every show – Captain Jack changed my life, Arrow changed my life in another way, and it was great to play the villain this time and be, what I call, the passionate but bad dad on there. ... It was good! I enjoyed it. I love playing Malcolm Merlyn. He's a lovely character to play, and it's nice to be an arsehole!" (Dec. 14, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Tommy Merlyn -- On Nov. 11, 2019, papp tweeted: "Happy to see on Instagram that Colin Donnell & Colton Haynes are in the hood for the #Arrow series finale." and "Colin Donnell might be here for another reason but he flew into Vancouver last night." (yvrshoots tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted screenshot from CD instagram story, with comment: "Colin in Vancouver and talking in his stories about his filming trailer .... WHAT IS ROLLING FOR THE END OF # ARROW PORFAVÁ." (TodoArrow tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, CD tweeted: "Today is the last day of filming for #Arrow. I still remember what I was wearing for my audition, what the room was like, my mind being blown that I was cast, my first flight to Vancouver, walking into my first hotel room, the first fitting...." (colindonnell tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) "Bianca Scott" -- Vimeo audition video of actress Hailey Graves auditioning for the role of "Bianca" was posted. Transcription of two audition scenes were also posted. Audition Scene 1: HG: "Haul ass, Amy! Come on, let's go.!" Reader (offscreen): "You could've warned me before you punched that guy!" HG: "Yeah, probably. (Looking at another person) Hi! You must be his friend. (Back to first person) Think he's into you." Reader: "You're gonna pay." HG (mimicking fight moves): "Put it on my tab. That was funny." Reader: "That was stupid." HG: "Come on! We had that under control. You're a badass. So am I." Reader: "You're reckless." HG: "I follow my instincts. And I'm not dead yet. So - must be doing something right." Reader: "And what if your luck runs out? And mine with it next time?" HG: "Not much of a gambler, are you?" Reader: "I don't like unnecessary risks!" HG: "No such thing. Life is risk. What we do is risky. And, yeah, sometimes that means getting surprised by 20 guys who want to kill you. And that sucks. But then you realize that you can handle it." Reader: "So this is what? Risk training?" HG: "You're not surprised if you're always getting surprised. See? Not just reckless. There is a method to my madness." Reader: "You're insane." HG: "Admit it. You had fun." Reader: "A little." HG: "That's more like it. But even I know when the fun time is over. Run!" Audition Scene 2: Reader (offscreen): "Hey, baby girl. What a surprise." HG: "Hey, Dad. Can we talk for a minute?" Reader: "Sure, sure. Come on in." HG: "So. How's it going?" Reader: "Great. Keepin' busy. Staying out of trouble." HG: "That's good to hear. How's the factory?" Reader: "Oh, I got out of there! That place was a waste of my talent. Want one?" HG: "No, thanks. You sure you want one?" Reader: "Yeah. That's why I'm having one. What are you doin' here, Bianca?" HG: "I was hoping that you could help me with a case I'm working on." Reader: "Help you out? How?" HG: "There's this new drug that's going around Star City. Nobody knows what it is or where it came from, but it's bad. Five people have already O.D.-ed." Reader: "How can I help with that?" HG: "I was hoping that you or one of your buddies knew where it came from." Reader: "Sounds like you're accusing me of something. I'm on the straight and narrow." HG: "Dad. We both know that that's not true. You're clearly still drinking. I looked up your medical reports. Two weeks ago you were admitted to Starling General with symptoms of a possible overdose. You help me, we're going to be able to help so many people." Reader: "Typical Bianca. So judgy." HG: "I'm not judging you." Reader: "I don't need your pity either." HG: "You know what? I knew it was a mistake to come here. You want to drink your life away? Fine. Be my guest. I don't want any part of it." (Nov. 11, 2019 Vimeo video of Hailey Graves audition, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Nyssa al Ghul -- On whether there's any chance we'll see her reprise her role of Nyssa al Ghul in the final season of Arrow, KL: "Spoiler alert! Can’t tell you. Nice try, though. [laughs]." (Nov. 15, 2019 Pop-Culturalist article, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding the series finale, Pagey: "Apparently Nyssa al Ghul, um, is back as well. Um, there isn't any physical proof of that, but it seems she is back from what people are saying. So maybe don't treat that as a concrete information. But, that's what people are saying." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Adrian Chase AKA Prometheus -- On whether we have seen the last of him on Arrow, Josh Segarra: "I think that’s going to be it for the life of Adrian Chase. I think that’s the end of that story." (Dec. 24, 2019 TV Insider article, page 40 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 315 of Starling City Times thread) Barry Allen AKA The Flash -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding Canadagraphs' posting pics of a Green Arrow statue with a bunch of people gathered around it, Pagey: "But in regards to specific people who are in this finale, going off the set photos, it does look like the Flash is there in his suit as well, because it does look like Roy Harper/Arsenal is there in his suit as well... I say the Flash and Arsenal specifically because they're red so it's easy to pick up." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Mega Crossover: Crisis On Infinite Earths ("COIE") -- Summary of COIE spoilers will be posted at a future date in the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum. Beyond the End of Arrow -- MG: "With respect to Oliver Queen, my instinct is not to revisit that character any time soon, because his story is told - or at least my version of his story is told... I don't think I have anything more to say about the character at this point. I hope that that changes. But for now, I kinda feel like I've said it." (Dec. 13, 2019 DC Comics News (DCN) podcast interview with MG, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- MG tweeted: "The #Arrow spinoff takes place in 2040. We already spoiled that Oliver is dead by that time, so his not appearing in Arrow 809 (the spinoff episode) isn't affected by what happens in Crisis (or, for that matter, the series finale)." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked for Laurel tease, MG tweeted: "Earth-1 Laurel in Crisis. Earth-2 Laurel in spin-off." (Nov. 15, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- When asked how and when she found out about the possibility of a new Arrow spin-off, and that it would focus on this crime fighting team of The Canaries, KM: "The spin-off was always a rumor, but so many things change, in television and in this industry. I try not to get too excited about things, until they’re actually real. But it’s been really exciting, though, to get to discover what the possibilities for the future are, and what this new world could be. I think people are going to be rather surprised by the direction that we take with it. I’m hoping for the best." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited December 29, 2019 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo January 11, 2020 Author Share January 11, 2020 (edited) SUMMARY OF 808 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 8: Crisis On Infinite Earths: Part Four -- Production code: 808. Director: Glen Winter. Writers: Marv Wolfman & Marc Gugggenheim. Airdate: January 14, 2020. -- 808 synopsis: "OLIVER HAS BECOME SOMETHING ELSE IN PART FOUR OF 'CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.' EPISODE PENNED BY MARV WOLFMAN & MARC GUGGENHEIM – Stuck in the Vanishing Point, the Paragons search for a way to escape. The futility of the situation is compounded by The Flash’s (guest star Grant Gustin) disappearance. However, hope appears in the form of Oliver (Stephen Amell), who reveals that he has become something else. Meanwhile, the origin stories for The Monitor (guest star LaMonica Garrett) and Anti-Monitor are revealed. Glen Winter directed the episode written by Marv Wolfman & Marc Guggenheim (#808). Original airdate 1/14/2020." (Dec. 23, 2019 SpoilerTV article, page 51 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- 808 promo pics were posted, featuring Martian Manhunter, White Canary, Batwoman, Supergirl, JC's Lex Luthor, Ryan Choi (with beard), Flash, and Anti-Monitor. (Jan. 2, 2020 SpoilerTV article and TVLine tweet & pic gallery link, page 52 of Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019 thread in LoT forum) -- Detailed summaries of COIE spoilers have been posted n the "Crisis On Infinite Earths 2019" thread in the LoT forum as follows: SUMMARY OF CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS ("COIE") CROSSOVER SPOILERS (in 14 parts, starting with Part 1) SUMMARY OF CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS ("COIE") CROSSOVER SPOILERS - ADDENDUM #1 SUMMARY OF CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS ("COIE") CROSSOVER SPOILERS - ADDENDUM #2 Edited January 11, 2020 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo January 17, 2020 Author Share January 17, 2020 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF 809 SPOILERS: S8, Episode 9: Green Arrow & The Canaries -- Production code: 809. Shoot Dates: October 21-[30], 2019. Director: Tara Miele. Writers: Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship & Oscar Balderrama. Airdate: Jan. 21, 2020. -- 809 synopsis: "STAR CITY 2040 – It’s the year 2040 in Star City and Mia Queen (Katherine McNamara) has everything she could have ever wanted. However, when Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and Dinah (Juliana Harkavy) suddenly show up in her life again, things take a shocking turn and her perfect world is upended. Laurel and Dinah are tracking a kidnapping victim with direct ties to Mia and they need her help. Knowing it will change everything, Mia can’t help but be a hero and she, Laurel and Dinah suit up once again to save the city. Tara Miele directed the episode written by Beth Schwartz & Marc Guggenheim & Jill Blankenship & Oscar Balderrama (#809). Original airdate 1/21/2020." (Jan. 2, 2020 GreenArrowTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 40 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 809 promo was posted, featuring Mia, Laurel, Dinah, a bunch of goons, and a portrait of Oliver. (Jan. 14, 2020 The CW Network video of 809 promo, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 809 sneak peek was posted, featuring Mia, William and Zoe. We learn that Mia is engaged to JJ. William tries to recuit Mia to work at Smoak Tech, but she prefers just being a socialite. (Jan. 21, 2020 TV Guide video of 809 sneak peek, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 809 promo pics were posted, featuring Mia, Dinah, Laurel, and Bianca Bertinelli. (Jan. 13, 2020 Entertainment Weekly, SpoilerTV and TVLine articles and CW TV PR pic gallery link, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per Deadline, The CW is moving forward with another Arrow spinoff headlined by Katherine McNamara, Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy reprising their Arrow roles. The new offshoot, which was teased at TCA by the CW boss Mark Pedowitz, will center around Mia Smoak, known as Green Arrow, and the Canaries Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake. The project, which comes from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros Television, is being set up as a backdoor pilot that will air as episode from the upcoming eighth and final season of Arrow. It will be written by Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama. The new superhero squad is a next-generation version of Team Arrow with the costumed offspring of the original membership. At the center of the next-gen collective is Smoak, the fierce daughter of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) aka Green Arrow, the central character of Arrow and the former mayor of Star City. (Sep. 24, 2019 Deadline article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- Per EW, Arrow's producers are developing a female-centric Arrowverse series. The potential show will be introduced via a backdoor pilot in Arrow‘s eighth and final season and would star Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak/Green Arrow, and Katie Cassidy Rodgers (Laurel Lance) and Juliana Harkavy (Dinah Drake) as the Canaries. At this point, there aren’t any further details about the nascent show; however, given the cast list, it wouldn’t be surprising if it turned out the follow-up series took place in Arrow‘s future.... Arrow showrunner/executive producer Beth Schwartz will co-write the episode with Arrow‘s Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship, and Oscar Balderrama. All four them will serve as EPs on the potential show, alongside Arrowverse architect Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter. It will be produced by produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. (Sep. 24, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- Per THR, The network is developing a spinoff of Arrow that would center on three of its female characters: Katherine McNamara's Mia Smoak/Green Arrow and the Canaries, Katie Cassidy's Laurel Lance and Juliana Harkavy's Dinah Drake. The potential series is set to air as a backdoor pilot in Arrow's 10-episode final season, which begins Oct. 15. Showrunner Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama are co-writing the episode and will serve as executive producers along with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter of Berlanti Productions, which produces all of The CW's DC Comics series in association with Warner Bros. TV. (Sep. 24, 2019 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- Per TV Guide, the Arrowverse is still powering forward, even as Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) nears his end as the eponymous superhero. An Arrow spinoff is already in the works to carry the action much further forward, TV Guide has learned, as it will be focused on the Canaries crime-fighting team — namely, Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara), Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), and Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy) — in Star City in 2046. Arrow will air a backdoor pilot for the potential spin-off during its eighth and final season. Executive producing the potential series will be Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship, and Oscar Balderrama. Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship, and Balderrama are also co-writing the episode that will serve as an introduction to the Canaries series concept. (Sep. 24, 2019 TV Guide article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- Per Variety, The CW is developing a new “Arrow” spinoff that would focus on the crime-fighting team The Canaries. The show would star Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, and Juliana Harkavy as Dinah Drake. An episode of the upcoming final season of “Arrow” will serve as a backdoor pilot for the potential series. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama will all be executive producers on the project, with Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship and Balderrama co-writing the episode. Berlanti Productions will produce in association with Warner Bros. Television. The Canaries are a vigilante group operating in a future version of Star City in which the city was overrun by an uprising by the denizens of the city section known as The Glades. (Sep. 24, 2019 Variety article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- Per The Wrap, The CW is not done with the world of “Arrow.” The network is developing a spinoff that would take place well into the future, focusing on Oliver Queen’s (Stephen Amell) daughter who takes up her father’s mantle. Katherine McNamara was introduced in the last season of “Arrow” as the adult version of Queen’s daughter, Mia Smoak, during a flash-forward scene set in the year 2040. McNamara would star in the new series with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, who have portrayed two different versions of Black Canary (now known as “The Canaries”). The potential series will get a backdoor pilot during the final season of “Arrow,” which begins Oct. 15. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Beth Schwartz, Marc Guggenheim, Jill Blankenship and Oscar Balderrama are executive producers of the project, which is based on characters from DC and is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Schwartz, Guggenheim, Blankenship and Balderrama are co-writing the episode. (Sep. 24, 2019 The Wrap article, page 312 of Starling City Times thread) -- On whether the Arrow spinoff is actually happening or whether it's a backdoor pilot that's hoping to be picked up, papp tweeted: "Back door pilot in Ep 9 and its already picked up." (Oct 19, 2019 pursuit23 tweet, page 25 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 809 introduces Biana Bertinelli, played by Raigan Harris. (Jan. 13, 2020 Entertainment Weekly, SpoilerTV and TVLine articles and CW TV PR pic gallery link, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Daytime Emmy winner Chad Duell (General Hospital) will guest star on Arrow on Jan. 21, 2020. Duell: “I had an awesome time; it was a great experience." Though he can’t reveal anything about that role he’ll be playing, Duell previews that it’s nothing like his Port Charles alter ego. Duell: “I loved being part of show." (Jan. 16, 2020 Soap Opera Digest article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- General Hospital star Chad Duell has a major guest-starring role on Arrow. He’ll be appearing in the episode “Green Arrow & the Canaries,” scheduled to air on The CW on Jan. 21, 2020. ET. Duell: “I had so much fun shooting Arrow." Unfortunately, he can’t reveal anything about who he’ll be playing or the plot of the episode. Duell: “Oh no... it would definitely be a spoiler.” However, viewers will not confuse this primetime part with his daytime role. Duell: “I can’t say anything about the character... but I can say fans will get to see a different side that they aren’t used to.” Also, Duell recently posted a video clip of himself kick-boxing a dummy. (Jan. 16, 2020 Soaps In Depth article and Jan. 6, 2020 duelly instagram post, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 809 guest cast includes Marcus Aurelio as "Bouncer," Wyatt Fossett as "Club Partier," Kevin Hansen as "Paparazzi," William Matzhold as "Security Guard," Caitlin McCarthy as "Paparazzi" and Anoop Randhawa as "Paparazzi." (IMDb page link in Jan. 10, 2020 tv echo post, page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Vimeo audition video of actress Chanika Desilva auditioning for the Arrow 809 role of "Bianca Scott" was posted. Transcription of two audition scenes were also posted. Audition Scene 1: CD: "Holas, Amy! Let's go.!" Reader (offscreen): "You [unintelligible words] before you punch that guy!" CD (looking at third person or persons): "Yeah. Probably. So, you must be his friend. Hi! (Whispers) I think he likes you." Reader: "You're gonna pay." CD (mimicking fight moves): "Then put it on my tab. That was a good one." Reader: "That was stupid!" CD: "Oh, come on. We had that under control. You're a badass. So am I." Reader: "You're reckless." CD: "I go with my instincts. And I'm not dead yet, so must be doing something right." Reader: "And what if your luck runs out? And mine with it?" CD: "Not much of a gambler, are you?" Reader: "I don't like unnecessary risks!" CD: "No such thing. Life is risk. What we do is risky. Sometimes that means that maybe 20 guys want to kill us. And, yeah, that sucks. But then you know that you can handle it." Reader: "So this is what? Risk training?" CD: "You're never surprised if you're always getting surprised. See? Not just reckless. There's a method to my madness." Reader: "You're insane." CD: "Come on, admit it. You had fun." Reader: "A little." CD: "That's more like it. But even I know when fun time's over. Run." Audition Scene 2: CD: (Knocks) Reader (offscreen): "Hey, baby girl. What a surprise." CD: "Hi, Dad. Can we talk for a minute?" Reader: "Sure, sure. Come on in." CD: "How've you been?" Reader: "Great. Keepin' busy. Staying out of trouble." CD: "That's great to hear. How's everything at the factory?" Reader: "I got out of there! That place was a waste of my talent. You want one?" CD: "No, thanks. You sure you want one?" Reader: "Yeah. That's why I'm having one. What are you doin' here, Bianca?" CD: "I was hoping you could help me out on a case I'm working on." Reader: "Help you out? How?" CD: "There's this new mystery drug that's been showing up all around Star City. No one can figure out what it is or where it came from, but it's bad. Five people have already O.D.-ed." Reader: "How can I help with that?" CD: "I was wondering if you or any of your friends heard about it."Reader: "Sounds like you're accusing me of something. I'm on the straight and narrow." CD: "Dad. I know that's not true. You're still drinking. [Unintelligible words] You were admitted to General Hospital two weeks ago with symptoms of possible overdose. If you let me help you. We can help a lot of other people together."Reader: "Typical Bianca. So judgy." CD: "I'm not judging you." Reader: "I don't want your pity either."CD: "I knew it was a mistake to come here. If you want to drink your life away, then fine. Be my guest. But I don't want any part of it."(Sep. 27, 2019 Vimeo video of Chanika Desilva audition, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Vimeo audition video of actress Hailey Graves auditioning for the role of "Bianca" was posted. Transcription of two audition scenes were also posted. Audition Scene 1: HG: "Haul ass, Amy! Come on, let's go.!" Reader (offscreen): "You could've warned me before you punched that guy!" HG: "Yeah, probably. (Looking at another person) Hi! You must be his friend. (Back to first person) Think he's into you." Reader: "You're gonna pay." HG (mimicking fight moves): "Put it on my tab. That was funny." Reader: "That was stupid." HG: "Come on! We had that under control. You're a badass. So am I." Reader: "You're reckless." HG: "I follow my instincts. And I'm not dead yet. So - must be doing something right." Reader: "And what if your luck runs out? And mine with it next time?" HG: "Not much of a gambler, are you?" Reader: "I don't like unnecessary risks!" HG: "No such thing. Life is risk. What we do is risky. And, yeah, sometimes that means getting surprised by 20 guys who want to kill you. And that sucks. But then you realize that you can handle it." Reader: "So this is what? Risk training?" HG: "You're not surprised if you're always getting surprised. See? Not just reckless. There is a method to my madness." Reader: "You're insane." HG: "Admit it. You had fun." Reader: "A little." HG: "That's more like it. But even I know when the fun time is over. Run!" Audition Scene 2: Reader (offscreen): "Hey, baby girl. What a surprise." HG: "Hey, Dad. Can we talk for a minute?" Reader: "Sure, sure. Come on in." HG: "So. How's it going?" Reader: "Great. Keepin' busy. Staying out of trouble." HG: "That's good to hear. How's the factory?" Reader: "Oh, I got out of there! That place was a waste of my talent. Want one?" HG: "No, thanks. You sure you want one?" Reader: "Yeah. That's why I'm having one. What are you doin' here, Bianca?" HG: "I was hoping that you could help me with a case I'm working on." Reader: "Help you out? How?" HG: "There's this new drug that's going around Star City. Nobody knows what it is or where it came from, but it's bad. Five people have already O.D.-ed." Reader: "How can I help with that?" HG: "I was hoping that you or one of your buddies knew where it came from." Reader: "Sounds like you're accusing me of something. I'm on the straight and narrow." HG: "Dad. We both know that that's not true. You're clearly still drinking. I looked up your medical reports. Two weeks ago you were admitted to Starling General with symptoms of a possible overdose. You help me, we're going to be able to help so many people." Reader: "Typical Bianca. So judgy." HG: "I'm not judging you." Reader: "I don't need your pity either." HG: "You know what? I knew it was a mistake to come here. You want to drink your life away? Fine. Be my guest. I don't want any part of it." (Nov. 11, 2019 Vimeo video of Hailey Graves audition, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Vimeo audition video of actress Julie McLellan auditioning for the Arrow role of "Ingrid" was posted. Transcription of audition scene: Reader (off-screen): "There you are. You don't pick up the phone anymore." JM: "You are really unbelievable." Reader: "I've been told that's a good thing." JM: "Enough of your bullshit! I know who you are. Who you really are. Don't you have anything to say?" Reader: "How did you find out?" JM: "That's what you want to know? You've been lying to me for months. And the first thing you say isn't, 'I'm sorry'? 'Please forgive me'? It's 'how did you find out?'" Reader: "You don't understand. You knowing puts you in danger." JM: "Even you don't believe that." Reader: "You don't know the people I'm up against. They won't hesitate to use you against me. That's why I couldn't tell you." JM: "Lying to me doesn't magically erase me from your life. I'm a target whether I know or not. In fact, the only person lying protects is you. From everyone who would want to leave because they wouldn't want to put up with this crap!" Reader: "You're right. I wanted to tell you. But I was afraid, and I owed you more than that. You're my best friend, Ingrid. But if you want to leave, I won't stop you." JM: "Good." Reader: "You're not leaving?" JM: "I'm internally debating... You can sit there. But don't say anything." (Sep. 29, 2019 Vimeo video of Julie McLellan audition, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Collider's Carla Day (after 809 advance screening): "#GreenArrowAndTheCanaries reveals some shocking changes to the future due to #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. The more I think about it, the more my head hurts. At the end of the hour, my takeaway was a bazillion unanswered questions. #Arrow." (Jan. 18, 2020 CarlaDay tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Decider's Alex Zalben (after 809 advance screening): "Just watched the 'Green Arrow & The Canaries' backdoor pilot from next week's episode of #Arrow and I'm going to need The CW to greenlight the series ASAP please, and thanks." (Jan. 18, 2020 azalben tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 45 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- GATV (after 809 advance screening): "There's not a lot we're allowed to reveal beforehand about #GreenArrowAndTheCanaries, but I will say this: Both Mia and Dinah live in pretty amazing places, and someone owns a bar called The Fishnet." When asked for a tease about Laurel, GATV tweeted: "Probably the most screentime she's ever had in the Arrowverse." When asked if Laurel still has her Canary Cry, GATV tweeted: "There's a reference to a metahuman dampener keeping her from being able to use her cry in a particular building, so I assume she does." When asked if we see where Laurel lives, GATV tweeted: "Eventually. Or where she will live." When asked if William is in 809, GATV tweeted: "Yes :) ." (Jan. 18, 2020 GreenArrowTV tweets, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Hypable's Jay Ruymann (after 809 advance screening): "The Green Arrow and the Canaries backdoor pilot, or Arrow season 8, episode 9, takes place after the events of the Arrow series finale, which airs the following week. ... 'There hasn’t been crime in Star City for 20 years.' ... This should, basically, be the city’s motto with how much we hear of it. But it’s true, and things change in 2040, prompting this journey to begin. Before Star City meets a similar fate to that of the Arrow season 7 flash-forwards, someone assembles a team to prevent it, partially for herself and partially for Oliver’s legacy as Star City’s savior to continue on. ... When one of Mia’s friends is kidnapped, it’s the beginning of the decline, which everyone wants to stop, as the city remembers Oliver for saving them and eradicating crime. (And let’s just say, someone is perfectly aware of everything that’s set to happen to Star City in the coming years.) ... Why are Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake in 2040? ... As the promotional photos released by the CW reveal, yes, Laurel and Dinah are young in 2040. The reason they are both there, and not in the present day, is addressed, though I would not go as far as to say it’s answered. For someone, it’s a big question mark, leading to a mystery that will surely be explored throughout the first season of Green Arrow and the Canaries. ... There are certain things about Laurel and Dinah that have been impacted by 'Crisis on Infinite Earths,' but their relationship is not one of them. ... Mia’s new life ... In this life, Mia has everything she thought she wanted. She’s a Star City socialite, known as the daughter of the city’s hero. The Mia of this reality is very similar to how her father was before he embarked on the Queen’s Gambit. With Felicity as a caring parent throughout her life, she’s a little more put together, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t just as lost. ... Just because Mia gets her memories back, don’t think she’s giving up on the socialite life in Star City. She’s very torn between her two worlds, which is an internal struggle that begins to show itself during this hour. ... However, she does have a few familiar faces around her in this new life. Most importantly, her brother, William. They’re closer than ever after spending their lives together. There is a really great moment between them in the episode that I believe will make people happy. ... The ring on Mia’s finger in the above photo has certainly captured a lot of attention since being released. And while I can’t say what it is about, I will say that much of Mia’s story during this episode relies on the reason it’s on her finger. ... The ‘Green Arrow and the Canaries’ team ... Honestly, Laurel, Dinah, and Mia don’t come together as a team right away. There’s a lot of tension, particularly between Laurel and Mia, as their ways of dealing with things clash. Dinah is the mediator for the team, helping Mia and Laurel to understand each other, as she already has a great relationship with Laurel and begins to have one with Mia (as she’s much more understanding and patient than Laurel is). ... Fans of the Canaries and fans of the 2040 crew will both be happy, as there’s a great mix between them, as Dinah and Laurel have to start becoming intertwined with the future world in which they’re currently living. That said, it’s very clear that this show revolves around three leading ladies, not just one, so it’ll exciting to actually see Mia, Laurel, and Dinah get their time in the spotlight. ... One criticism I have of the episode, which I’m hoping will be resolved in the Arrow series finale, is we don’t learn what happened to Felicity in this world. We saw her approach the Monitor in the old world and go through a portal, but since the future is different, why isn’t she with Mia and William? It was a glaring issue, for me, that they didn’t even bring it up in the episode." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Also Hypable's Jay Ruymann (after 809 advance screening): "Dinah owns a bar called The Fishnet." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVInsider's Damian Holbrook: "btw, @CW_Arrow's backdoor pilot for #GreenArrowAndTheCanaries is terrific AND gives Juliana Harkavy the perfect reason to sing more often on the show." (Jan. 21, 2020 damianholbrook tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich (after 809 advance screening): "Watched #GreenArrowAndTheCanaries last night, just realized what the premise reminds me of - #OUAT Season 7." (Jan. 19, 2020 MattMitovich tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final tread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "Laurel's sass is at Level 11 in #GreenArrowandtheCanaries 🤣 But also some atypically compassionate moments, too...." (Jan. 21, 2020 MattMitovich tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- IBT's Nicole Massabrook (on 809): "Mia Is Different: The trailer has already indicated that Mia (Katherine McNamara) is living a much less traumatic life. Instead of being trained by Nyssa and raised in secret, she has grown up in the public eye as the daughter of the greatest hero alive. That changes everything... Mia is a happy-go-lucky socialite who doesn’t want to commit to a desk job at Smoak Tech alongside her brother William (Ben Lewis). She’ll need her memories of her old life back before she agrees to help Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and Dinah (Juliana Harkavy). ... Star City Is Safe: Sounds crazy, right? Well, Oliver certainly didn’t fail his city. After Crisis, Star City becomes one of the safest places in the world. However, there are forces looming who want to destroy that reputation. ... No Present Day: Fans will have to wait until next week’s series finale to see how everyone has been affected by 'Crisis on Infinite Earths.' The entire hour will be dedicated to the 2040 storyline. ... Laurel and Dinah Aren’t Old: They are their 2020 selves who both ended up in 2040 separately. One planned her trip. The other very much did not. ... Huntress’ Daughter: Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress is not in the spinoff pilot, but her daughter Bianca Bertinelli (Raigan Harris) appears. She plays a big part in the episode. ... Dinah Sings: Fans were very excited when they saw a photo of Dinah singing in this episode. The Black Canary has some serious pipes that she gets to show off briefly in 'Arrow' Season 8, episode 9. ... No Oliver: His presence looms large, but the original Green Arrow is not in the penultimate episode of the series." (Jan. 20, 2020 International Business Times article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 45 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the penultimate episode of S8 will have a Bruce Springsteen title, continuing the tradition of the next-to-last episode of any given Arrow season having a title from The Boss. (Jul. 22, 2019 GATV article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether they'll continue the tradition of using a Bruce Springsteen song title for the second to last episode of the season, MG tweeted: "Unfortunately, the studio required us to officially title the episode after the planned spinoff, thus demonstrating no respect for tradition. Therefore, I would appreciate it if we could all just agree that the REAL title of 809 is 'Livin' In the Future.' Thank you all." (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, the final two episodes of Arrow will not be tied up in the fallout of the COIE crossover. MG: "I would say Episode 9 is very specific. We know exactly what happens in it. It's not related to the crossover... And it's too early for me to talk about exactly what that episode is. But it's, you know, if we do it right, it'll be really special. And then Episode 10 will be a proper series finale." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 GameSpot article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the effect of the COIE crossover on Arrow, MG: “We've only got eight years of continuity and DC had fifty. But the way we all sort of looked at it was, it's an opportunity. If we want to fix something, it’s there. If we want to change something, it's there. If we want to set something up, it's there.” (Dec. 6, 2019 DC Comics article, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who was concerned about Oliver not appearing in 809 due to his death in the COIE crossover and who asked if there was a backup plan in case the spinoff does not go forward, MG tweeted: "The #Arrow spinoff takes place in 2040. We already spoiled that Oliver is dead by that time, so his not appearing in Arrow 809 (the spinoff episode) isn't affected by what happens in Crisis (or, for that matter, the series finale)." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who asked how they can explain the LoT episode that took place in 2046 with Oliver still alive, MG tweeted: "That’s a really good point. We should address that..." In response to TVLine's Matt Mitovich's tweet that "it was established long ago and by many EPs that it was a different timeline/possible future," MG tweeted: "You’re gonna want to watch Hour 1 of #CrisisOnInifiteEarths. #methodtoourmadness." In response to fan who tweeted that "There are multiple timelines, multiple possible futures. That's one of them. You should study all the universe you've created and what you say in the series. How sad to see you're not aware of that," MG tweeted: "Wow. You’re so right. What was I thinking??? I’m so sorry." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweets, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if he was confirming Oliver's final death, MG tweeted: "By 2040? Yeah. Like I said, not a spoiler." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how the new Earth-Prime affects Star City 2040 and Mia’s storyline, MG: "I don’t want to spoil too much the backdoor pilot. I will say that this universe restart affects the entire universe, which includes the future. I will also say the backdoor pilot gives you a very clear answer to that question." (Jan. 15, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- MG: "“You won’t see Baby Sara in Episode 809, but we have absolutely talked about how if that [Green Arrow and the Canaries] backdoor pilot goes to series, what does Adult Baby Sara look like — including what we are going to refer to her as." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked whether he can say anything about Laurel in 808, 809 or 810, MG tweeted: "808 -- Incredibly emotional and raw. 809 -- @#$!%ing bad ass. 810 -- One of my favorite scenes in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked for Laurel tease, MG tweeted: "Earth-1 Laurel in Crisis. Earth-2 Laurel in spin-off." (Nov. 15, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- On whether Laurel in the backdoor pilot is a merged composite of the original and her E2 doppelganger, MG: "809 and 810 will answer that question very definitively. You’ll learn which version of Laurel we have been left with in 809, and you will learn why that is the case in 810.” (Jan. 15, 2020 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which version of Laurel is left, MG: "Certainly the question of which Laurel is left is going to be answered very definitively in Season 8 Episode 9. But the explanation for the result is given very strong in Episode 10." (Jan. 15, 2020 Variety article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- On what larger impact or point did they want to make by killing off Oliver, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think the way that it affects everyone else: He saves the multiverse. He basically resets the timeline for the future, for his future children that we've seen in the flash forwards. You'll see in episode nine that their lives are very different. Any parent would want to sacrifice their own lives to give their children a better future and Oliver actually did that. His sacrifice changes the future for all the different shows and his children." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the preparation of the backdoor pilot starring KM, KC and JH, EP Beth Schwartz: “We’re super excited about the potential of a new series, and all of our kickass women. It’s been crazy, but really fun." Beth added that the spinoff won’t affect their approach to the 2040 storyline that KM currently stars in, saying: "We always knew what that story was going to be, and the pilot is its own kind of different beast, I would say." (Oct. 11, 2019 GreenArrowTV article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to media tweet asking if Mia, Dinah and Laurel could also start a band (as a C story), EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Done." (Jan. 13, 2020 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Access: "We're picking things up on Tuesday with 2040 and, I must say, y'all look great, uh, almost like you haven't aged at all... So how much of this apparent time travel and overlap are you able to clarify for us right off the bat?" KC: "Well, you know, in this universe, anything can happen and, obviously, time travel does exist in the Arrowverse, so... that's really all I can tell you - which you already know." JH: "Time travel and fillers. That's it. That's the secret." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the post-Crisis characters of Mia, Laurel and Dinah are the same or different from before, KC: "Um, the same ladies that we - you - I mean, I love our characters, so - that we love. But, you know, it's where we - what they've been through since, you know - since we'll see them, yeah, in the finale, what they've been through to get there and, um, what version , you know, like everything..." JH: "It's similar to - it's also the characters that we know and love, but they're new. It's fresh and - one of my favorite things about this show is that it's - it's got a vibe like Arrow, but it's definitely not Arrow. Um, so you see the character, but it's like seeing them in a new setting. It's like seeing your teacher outside of school, it's weird." KC: "It's fun, especially the dynamic between, um, Dinah and Laurel - Laurel, I love. Like, it's - it's - they're just sort of - I don't know, the chemistry is really awesome. It's really fun." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what version of Laurel she is now on Earth-Prime, KC: "Right, so basically, um, there's still story to be told in terms of, you know, Black Siren and Laurel from Earth-2. And in Black Siren, you know redeeming herself and trying to find out, you know, what it - what a true hero is, what it's like to be a true hero. Um, but we don't know what happened - we haven't seen her Earth-2 Laurel, her back story. Um, we know bits and pieces of it, but we haven't really explored that world. And so, that is the version - we just made a joke earlier because I think I was like, luckily I have a shrink because there's so many versions of the character, but - so to me, it's - it's Earth-2 Laurel, but also has, you know, there's been a lot of time that's gone by and a lot of things, um, have happened, and she's - she's spicy, she's - she's fun." JH: "She's very, very fiery and spicy." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Dinah in 2040 without gray hair and now singing and playing the piano, JH: "She's all sorts of Zen, she's found her art, like, yeah. And I love that we've softened her in that way and sort of like given her all of these rich layers. And we see that she is a musician, which is a callback to the original comic, which is really cool. And I would say that Dinah's in on the mission, but Laurel's the one who's really like - she's - she's ..." KC: "Driving the ship." JH: "Driving the ship, yeah." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how surprised Mia is or isn't to see Dinah and Laurel, and whether she knows who they are, JH: "Uh, well, there is - I'm trying to not give away too much... she is surprised, yes. There are elements of our old lives that have carried through and then there are elements that have not and are new. So she's discovering and we're discovering, um, but there is a familiarity, yeah... There's a connection to the past." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to interviewer commenting on 809 promo video showing Laurel apparently giving Mia her old memories back, KC: "Yeah, I think that, you know, that's where, I think Jules was saying, like, the connection is, like, she starts to have these flashes of - of what actually - what happened, which she didn't know, so it sort of wakes her up in a way, yeah." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "Yeah, I think Laurel is definitely doing her best to try to convince her [Mia]... because she needs - she needs the Green Arrow... Um, yeah, and it just takes, you know, Mia has to go through her own journey to get there." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "And I would say that Dinah's in on the mission, but Laurel's the one who's really like - she's - she's ..." KC: "Driving the ship." JH: "Driving the ship, yeah... She's the one who has the - and I also think that maybe it is because she has a connection to Earth-2 and - and they're all, you know, and that time travel element, she - she knows what's up, so she's sort of like delegating." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how much 809 will reference COIE and wrapping up Arrow versus establishing itself as a spinoff pilot, KC: "The really great thing about Green Arrow & the Canaries, um, 809, is - when I read the script, it was - it was so fresh and I did look at it from a perspective, like, okay, 'do you have to watch Arrow in order to watch Green Arrow & the Canaries?' And the answer is 'no, you don't.' You don't have to have known anything about what happened on Arrow, but because you will be filled in, you know, in the series telling - by telling the story. And, um, you can just, you know, be a new eyes or watcher to - to it. And it just feels fresh. And it lives in the same world as Arrow, but it has -." Access: "The spirit is there." KC: "Completely. Completely. But it's fun. I mean, it's like, there's a - there's a - again, like, our relationship, our chemistry (Indicating herself and JH) - there's like a lightness... there's like a snarkiness in a way, but like - it's cool to see all these ladies and women, you know, team up and come together and especially now." JH: "That, yes, and that, in and of itself... we need it. We need just that group of women. And I think that, in and of itself, changes the energy of the show, um, in the - I mean, you wouldn't necessarily think, like, I don't know, it makes it - it just elevates it. It makes it really cool and it somehow makes us stronger as our characters." KC: "Yeah." JH: "We don't need any men. Don't need 'em. We like 'em. Don't need 'em." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On where we are exactly on a timeline perspective, JH: "The Arrowverse was technically destroyed. There's no more Arrowverse. It's one - we're all one. So we're on the same... Everything merged... which is great, because it means anything is possible... Clean slate, yeah." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On other characters who could have real influence in 2040, who could be joining forces or maybe potential foes, KC: "Well, I think, you know, definitely you'll see some of the, you know, the younger, um, kids." JH: "The 2040 crew." KC: "Yeah." Access: "William, for example?" KC: "Um-hmm." JH: "William, for example, yeah, yep. He's one of them. And he's a crucial - you know, I think that - that character is crucial because he also roots Mia to her, like, legacy and her family and her bloodline. So - and also Ben is just so good --." KC: "Such a doll. He's such a great actor." JH: "Yeah, he is, and the sweetest person. So we're really have him. Yeah, and those - those - I call them kids because, I mean, they're not that much younger than us, but those kids are gonna be part of it." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On working with KM, KC: "She's great. She's a really good actor. Um, she's awesome. I mean, all of us get along. That's what's also really about -." JH: "Thank God." Access: "You're already a family." KC: "Exactly. We know these people and everybody's - yeah, it's just been wonderful." JH: "Kat's amazing." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the shot of the Deathstroke mask in the 809 promo, JH: "Whatever it is you think, it's not going to be that." KC: "A lot of surprises." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the new character, Bianca Bertinelli, maybe being the new Huntress, KC: "Well, I don't know. You'll have to watch." JH: "We actually don't know that." KC: "I do." JH: "Oh, you do?" KC: "Yeah, but I'll tell you later." JH: "I am so hoping for that. I think that would be amazing. And, um, yeah, she's a great character. She was great to work with, so it would be a really good addition to our dynamic." KC: "Yeah, she was really fun." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what fans should look forward to in 809, KC: "Fans, you guys, look forward to badass women and a lot of action, kicking ass. It's amazing." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On any news about the spinoff developing beyond 809, KC: "Um, there's been some buzz about it. I think, you know, we all really - we love working together. We work together really well. It's a great show. I mean, it's a great - it's a new story to tell, you know, and I think it's really cool, again, that's it's like three female women, um, and empowering other women, hopefully, at some point later down the road... I've seen it. It's really good. It's awesome.... I'm excited for everybody else to see it and, hopefully, yeah, we get - we get picked up." JH: "I think it's an important show to have right now and, um, I think it would be good for women. I think it would be good for men to see women in this position... We feel really good about it." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KC: "The episode, the show -- it just takes it to another level. It elevates things in a way and it was fun, especially like for our characters, um, you know, what they've gone through to get to this point, where they're at, and their reasoning why and discovering, you know, for Laurel, uh, Earth-2, learning more about her - her, um, her background. We know a little bit, not a lot. Um, and just, you know, women kicking ass." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what to expect in 809, KC: "Expect the unexpected... You see many different versions of people. Can I say that? ... Without giving away too much information, you'll see a lot of characters who - fan favorites, and you'll see them grow and be in different positions than maybe you thought... It's Arrow with a twist... And then at the end, you're like, 'What?' What! What?" ET's Leanne Aguilera: "I will say, having seen this first episode, yes, there's a final scene in this - I'm not going to spoil it for you guys - but oh my goodness gracious! It really just ties everything up and leaves you wanting more." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "I want music to be a big part of this show, personally, 'cause actually all of us can sing and play music." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to KM's question (via video) of their favorite part of filming 809, KC: "There's a scene, um, where we enter - I don't want to give any spoilers away but - a certain location. Um, and the three of us... basically, I have this long monologue and I basically take a glass. And the moment she realiz - Mia realizes, you know, she's (Makes surprised expression and gesture) - she catches the glass as I'm testing her, and she's like, 'holy sh*t... I am -' - she has these skills, um, already in - that already live within her. And so she starts to realize that this is the world that she sort of starts to step into. But what was really cool about this scene - also the last scene where we clink glasses - but what was really cool about this scene was - we couldn't, we were struggling to find it, but what was awesome is, again, it was a collaboration... (ET's Leanne Aguilera points out promo pic of JH, KC and KM having drinks together) That scene at the end was also where we were sort of coming together at that moment. The other one was, like, we were collaborating and, you know, even the director and Beth, and like trying to just and figure it out. And we did and it was awesome." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "[O]ne of the themes of our show and the way that we interpret the comic book story is that -- especially with our characters -- there can be more than one Canary. It's not about there is one Black Canary. It's like, any woman can be the Black Canary. It's about [heart] and it's about your integrity and it's about your inner strength. So I think it's kind of cool because it kind of sets that standard on a bigger level with our characters." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which characters from the Arrowverse or DC Comics they would like to see appear in this 2040 series, KC: "Oh, Oliver Queen!" JH: "Oliver Queen." ET's Leanne Aguilera: "How?" KC: "Well, I can't tell you. I'm just saying, maybe there's -." JH: "There's still Green Arrow and the Canaries." KC: "Who knows? ... I mean, anything is possible in this world, in this universe." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JH: "There is no Arrowverse anymore. There's all of us together, so anyone from any one of these worlds." (Jan. 21, 2020 ETonline article & video interview with Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what three words she would use to describe 809, JH: "Oh, exciting, innovative and kickass." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she can tease about Dinah's role in 809, JH: "Dinah is coming into her own. Well, she’s come into her own in this new world, and then when this new problem arises and she’s revisited by the past, then she again has to ask herself [what she stands for]. And so she’s coming into herself and she’s the same Dinah that we knew, but with a lot more experience and a new purpose." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we can expect some changes in Dinah in this post-Crisis world, JH: "Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I think that losing Oliver, that the worlds collapsing around her, it has changed her, given her a completely new perspective. So she has all of those things that made her Dinah but now, in a way, I see her as a little bit softer and a little bit more open and a little bit more open to the idea that anything could happen, and that puts a really fun energy into the show." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she can tease about the relationship between Dinah and Mia, JH: "I find the relationship between Dinah and Mia to be very tender. I think that especially now with Oliver being gone, Dinah is endeared to Mia, as she wants to protect her. Not that she needs protecting, but it’s Oliver’s kid, so Dinah feels obligated to be there for her. I really liked their dynamic, I think it’s sweet." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Dinah's coping with not having Rene around, JH: "I think that Dinah is learning to let go in a way. I think she misses her old life and the old people that were there, but there’s so many new things. I mean it’s 2040, things have changed so much. And I think, again, Dinah [and Rene], they would be endeared to each other for the rest of all time, having been on that team together. So there’s nothing but love for Rene and I’m sure that she thinks of the old team and she would be wonderful to have the old team there. And maybe we will, I don’t know." (Jan. 18, 2020 houseofhastings tweet & Hypable article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the backdoor pilot and the tweeted "Green Arrow and the Canaries" comics cover, KM: "All I can say is, it's exciting to see what - what is coming. Potentially. You know, there - I know in episode 9 of Arrow, it kind of goes to what happens next. That's kind of the beginning of - the beginning of the epilogue of the series. And we'll see what they - what they do. I actually, truly don't know a lot yet. (Interviewer asked if they've filmed episode 9 yet) No... We're about to start 9, so I'm just now getting information. I really don't know much... I've been, you know, in crossover land." (Oct. 18, 2019 BUILD Series video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Speaking about the Mia/Canaries spinoff and 809 being its backdoor pilot, KM: "I have not been as involved in the discussion as I would like to be moving forward... but as we get closer and the more info I get… the writers have been so collaborative and I can only hope that will continue as they have given such care to Mia so I would love the opportunity to continue that discussion. ... Not only Mia but the legacy of the Green Arrow has become important to me and it’s something I want to be part of it. ... Ultimately they have crafted such a beautiful story for Mia up to this point, and I am very attached to her and protective of her as she has been so well taken care of up to this point." (Oct. 23, 2019 Metro.Co.UK article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she can say about the Mia/Canaries backdoor pilot, KM: "No. I can’t really say anything. I can say it’s really exciting and it’s very different, and there are going to be a lot of things that are quite unexpected within that." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked how and when she found out about the possibility of a new Arrow spin-off, and that it would focus on this crime fighting team of The Canaries, KM: "The spin-off was always a rumor, but so many things change, in television and in this industry. I try not to get too excited about things, until they’re actually real. But it’s been really exciting, though, to get to discover what the possibilities for the future are, and what this new world could be. I think people are going to be rather surprised by the direction that we take with it. I’m hoping for the best." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the backdoor pilot, KM: "It was kind of crazy. We have so much to do and coming off of the crossover, everybody was already slightly at their wits' end. But this crew is so amazing. We had to build an entirely brand-new world in about half the time of shooting a normal pilot and they pulled it together. We figured it out and truly, truly made something that I hope people are going to enjoy. ... It's really different. I think it's going to be more different than a lot of people expect, but I'm feeling exciting." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to interviewer imagining that the backdoor pilot involves all-new fight styles for the three of them, KM: "Oh yeah. It's great. It's going to be a lot of fun. Moving forward, Mia is constantly getting new gadgets and skills. With a brother like William (Ben Lewis) who knows Smoak Tech, he is going to create [things for her]. And it's really interesting to see as she goes through the season and is confronted by new challenges, what skills she has learned from her father." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she was on set for the last day of filming Arrow, KM: "For the official-official last day with everybody, yeah. We had big group scenes that day, and Ben and I actually had a pickup day yesterday to shoot another scene from the backdoor pilot together. It was so lovely to get to wrap with him. But I gotta say, it really hit me. There was one scene where we had about, I think 12 or 15 actors in it and when it was done, we series-wrapped about 10 people and that hit me like a brick wall. I've made so many wonderful friendships on this show... and I know, yes, there is a potential for a future moving forward, but it's never going to be quite the same." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per KM, "the [COIE] crossover changes everything" and sets the stage for a potential spin-off starring her character and the Canaries, played by KC and JH. Also KM: "It changes the multiverse irreversibly and that is the catalyst for the backdoor pilot and for the conclusion of the series. ... So really, episode seven that we just saw is the last episode of Arrow to exist in its original form and from this point forward, all bets are off and the rules are forever changed. Don't count on anything, expect the unexpected, and be ready for a crazy ride." (Dec. 6, 2019 Insider article, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite thing that we've haven't seen yet, KM: "I'll tell you this, we haven't yet seen Mia with her hood up. And it's coming... And there's an element to that that is also new that is exciting and fun and I had a hand in helping to create." (Dec. 16, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Katherine McNamara interview, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When Oliver created the new Earth-Prime, Mia's memories of her father and her journey to the past got completely wiped in the process. When we pick back up with Mia in 2040, she'll be living her best life as a resident of Queen Mansion and a wealthy socialite, who's enjoyed all the perks of being Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak's daughter, without any of the heartbreak of being a hero or vigilante. KM: "Fundamentally, she's still the same person... She's still the same human being, was raised by Felicity, but just in an entirely different set of circumstances. Because of everything that happened in Crisis and the fact that Oliver saved Star City and the whole Arrowverse, she's grown up in a Star City that's pretty perfect and has known not really any loss or trauma or tragedy in her life, other than the fact that she's never really known her father." Also KM: "She's also grown up with this added mantle of being the Green Arrow's daughter and what all that means given Oliver's sacrifice... That brings with it a lot of privilege and a lot of opportunity, but also a lot of responsibility. She's taking that in stride and sort of been raised in that environment. She's a very smart, cunning, cutting, capable young woman with every opportunity at her fingertips, but there's no real passion. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. There's nothing in her life that gives her that spark. And she's a bit searching in this." Enter Black Siren (KC) and Dinah Drake (JH), who of course remember everything. KM couldn't go into the specifics of how disruptive Laurel and Dinah would be to her life as these strangers with a crazy history show up, except to say that their dynamic will be "tempestuous at best." As for where the rest of Mia's cohorts will fall in this new timeline, we'll leave that as a surprise (and boy, are there some surprises in store for you). Eagle-eyed fans did, however, spot a very shiny ring on Mia's left hand in the trailer for the backdoor pilot, so does this mean there's someone special in her life? KM: "You know, one of the advantages of Mia's upbringing in this reality is that she has social skills, and she's really able to be adept and relate to people and form those bonds that our old Mia didn't have the capacity to do... There's definitely a story there, and it will definitely be explained in the pilot, and I think it's gonna surprise a lot of people." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how this post-Crisis version of Mia differs from the one we got to know, KM: "It’s a very huge departure in some senses, and in others not all. In essence, this Mia hasn’t known any kind of sorrow or hardship or anything unhappy in her life other than the fact that her father died before she was born, or before she had any real experience with him. Aside from that, she has a perfect life — Star City has been safe — and she has had every opportunity at her fingertips because of her father’s sacrifice. So given that, she still has very similar issues of abandonment in that she hasn’t had her father and she knows it was his choice, but she knows it was for the greater good. She’s lived her entire life with the responsibility of being the daughter of the Green Arrow. That is held in such a high regard in Star City that it’s given her every opportunity. But she was still raised by Felicity. She’s still the same cutting, very smart, very cunning, adept young woman who has a sensibility about her but is a little lost. She hasn’t yet found her passion. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, and there’s nothing in her life that gives her that spark yet. That’s kind of where we’re left with her graduating college and hitting some real milestones in her life and sort of going, 'I have everything at my fingertips, but I’m not content.'" (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what it was like exploring a different and lighter side of her Mia character, KM: "It was a really interesting journey because Mia has always had a sense of humor. That sort of levity has always existed and that little bit of Smoak snark that we all know and love. But it’s a different perspective. Where the Mia we know and love is very adept with her fighting skills, this Mia is very adept at her social skills. So it’s an expertise but in a completely different skill set and sort of learning how she relates to her brother and the other people in her life. It’s been a really fun journey of discovery." (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how getting her memory back shakes things up for Mia, KM: "It changes everything because in that sense she has two sets of memories and two realities almost living inside of her. The original one we’ve seen over the past few seasons and then she has this other life that she has known and loved, but she has a fully emotional attachment to both of them. So she’s constantly being pulled in multiple directions and [by] multiple parts of herself and trying to figure out what to do with this knowledge and with this memory of what it means to be a hero and responsibility. Also, the last time she wore her Green Arrow suit — the first time she wore her Green Arrow suit — she lost her father. So there’s a lot of trauma that comes back and Mia is not necessarily equipped to deal with trauma of any kind, let alone trauma of this gravity." (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On juggling memories from two different realities in her character's mind, KM: "It’s all about finding those moments where the different sides of her come out because it’s still the same girl at her core, just with a different set of experiences and a different set of circumstances. So it was really fun to see how her different instincts come out given the situation. Once she has memories back, we see these little flashes of the old Mia and how her instinct and training snap into play. There are other instances in which the old Mia wouldn’t have been able to well, but now with this new Mia’s social skills and the way she handles her life and the connections she has in Star City, she’s able to solve the problems in a different than she would’ve previously. So it almost extends and broadens Mia’s skill set and allows her to be an even more adept member of the team." (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On her favorite scenes from the backdoor pilot, KM: "There are so many moments that I look back on. There’s some that I can’t talk about — they’re such spoilers and I can’t wait to discuss them further. But I would say one element that’s really special is the Mia-William relationship. We really got to see in season 8 how much they grew and how much they came together as a result of meeting their father and having to find their mother and deal with all of their issues together. Then in this new reality, they’ve had their entire life together and they’ve had a chance to really become siblings in the best way. They have almost a closer relationship. But then even when Mia gets her memories back, she remembers everything Mia went through in the other reality and she almost becomes more protective of her brother and more understanding of their situation. I love working with Ben Lewis and I love that relationship, and I think it just deepens it even more with this new sensibility." (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Interviewer: "Last time we spoke, you said that the Queen and Diggle families will always be connected. What does that relationship look like in this new reality?" KM: "It certainly plays into it in a big way, but I can’t say any more than that without getting in trouble." (Jan. 17, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On post-Crisis Mia versus pre-Crisis Mia, KM: "That's what's been so interesting about figuring out this new version of Mia with this new reality. She's still the same girl at her core. She's still raised by Felicity. She still has her same values and her same sensibility, but with a completely different set of circumstances. ... This Mia didn't grow up as a fighter. She didn't grow up in the harsh, broken Star City. She grew up in a perfect version of Star City, having the mantle of being the daughter of the Green Arrow and having her father save the world and save the city and the honor and the responsibility that comes with that — and the notoriety that comes with that. She is a bit of socialite and a bit of a celebrity in that sense, and so she's lived a very public life, a very privileged life. ... She's still the same smart, cutting girl that we know, but she's a little lost. She's never found anything in this life that makes her passionate and that brings that spark that we've seen in her before. It's really interesting to see her come to this precipice in her life and wonder where to go." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On post-Crisis Mia's relationship with Felicity and William, KM: "We really only see her relationship with William in this episode, and it's lovely to see because the two of them got to grow up in the same world as a family. In Season 8 of Arrow, we've really gotten to see their relationship grow as they've confronted their relationship with their father and gotten through the struggle of facing losing him. ... And we see a very similar relationship in this episode, except that it's a bit of a different Mia. As the episode continues, it grows in such a beautiful way. She is very close with her brother and very protective of him and very proud of him. It's a very sweet relationship, and it's so fun to play." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia getting her pre-Crisis memories of her life and her father back, KM: "That's a huge bout of trauma that hits Mia like a ton of bricks. She's been raised in this perfect world and hasn't known much loss or much trauma or sadness other than the fact that she never really knew her father. Then to suddenly be hit with the rush of all of the loss and trauma and the sacrifice and everything that she went through in these past couple seasons, it suddenly reinforms everything and she has these two realities living within her, both of which she's fully emotionally attached to, given that she's lived them both. ... Particularly when it comes to the suit, it's a huge hurdle that she faces because her father gave her the suit, which is one of the biggest honors and biggest privileges that she's ever received, but the first and last time she ever wore it is when she lost him and when she watched the life leave his eyes. It's a big step that she has to overcome." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Laurel and Dinah showing up in Mia's life in 2040 and their dynamic, when Mia then has two sets of memories, KM: "Exactly. It's tempestuous at best, given that Mia had what in her mind from everything she knew to be a perfect life. And then all of a sudden, these women show up and throw a monkey wrench into everything, into all of her plans, into all of her relationships, and Mia's left to pick up the pieces and try and protect what and who she can and try and make the best choice she possibly can. It's definitely not without the fair share of words exchanged." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Deathstroke once again being a threat and who's under the mask this time, KM: "I can't say too much as to who's under the mask at this point, but Deathstroke is always a threat and is as much of a threat as ever in this world." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Future Team Arrow's dynamic continue in some form, KM: "We see parts of the team in some form, yes. Obviously William is a huge part of Mia's life, but he has his own ventures in this new world. So does everyone else. It's a different dynamic, but you do get glimpses at it." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Mia's wearing an engagement ring, KM: "Her personal life is very different than the Mia we know and love. What Mia has that our original Mia didn't have is social skills and social graces and the ability to connect with people and really build those bonds that our Mia didn't have the skillset for." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how post-Crisis Mia's social skills inform the hero she's going to be when she suits up with Laurel and Dinah, KM: "It really expands her skillset. Our original Mia would punch her way out of any situation before trying anything else. This Mia is able to solve problems that would otherwise have become bigger problems in a very different way. She has a whole other set of tools at her disposal now and can really roll with the punches, as it were, of whatever situation she's thrown into. So it really does make her quite a bit more adept." (Jan. 21, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what was her reaction to finding out about 809 and that it would be a set-up for a possible spin-off, KM: "I was excited to get to continue Mia’s story and to continue Oliver’s legacy, in a sense. Especially after having been through the crossover, it really made me feel such a part of the world, and I really got to see it from so many different perspectives, going from set to set and interacting with all of the other characters. It makes it exciting to carry it forward and see where it can go, especially given all that it informs. It’s been a really interesting journey and a really fun collaboration with (episode writers) Marc [Guggenheim] and Beth [Schwartz] and Oscar [Balderrama] and Jill [Blankship], and the whole creative team, to figure out this dual reality and memories, and this new 2040, and what that means for Mia. It’s been a real joy to work with everyone on that." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, along the way, there were ever any other possible spin-off ideas discussed with her, KM: "It did change quite a bit. There were a lot of different iterations and a lot of changes that happened, throughout the process, but that’s why the team is so great. They’ve been doing this for so long. Even just shooting the episode between the crossover and the series finale of Arrow, we could not have accomplished this without the Arrow family, from the writers to the production team up in Vancouver, to everyone in the cast and crew. Every single person has done this for so long, with such expertise, that they really came together to create something special, and I’m so grateful for that." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she loves most about Mia's journey from Arrow to the spinoff, KM: "What I love most about Mia is that she has this lovely bouncing back and forth between her strength and her vulnerability. She definitely has both sides because she is so fiercely loyal to the people that she loves and so committed to all of her relationships, whether or not she will admit it, depending on the version of Mia that we’re looking at. But it brings so many different colors and so many different elements to things. It allows for a lot of growth and a lot of conflict. As an actor, that’s all I can really ask for. ... She was someone that I was really excited to dissect, in a sense. She does have such a hard shell, but there’s so much to mine out of her character, given her parents and how deep their characters’ relationship is. And then, with old Mia’s past and new Mia’s past, and having them both play, at the same time, it really gives so much to do and so many opportunities for different colors and directions, and different interactions with characters." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On working with 809 director Tara Miele, KM: "She was so wonderful. She really brought this sense of excitement and passion, and also understanding. She’s worked in the Arrow-verse quite a bit, and we had a lot of discussions about balancing the different versions of Mia. For me, the most fun of this set-up is the fact that there are two almost conflicting versions of the character because she has two realities in her head that are both valid, both of which she has an emotional attachment to. It’s really interesting to see those interplay with each other and to find those moments to see which version of Mia will come into play." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On who Mia is in 809 when we first meet her, KM: "Well, in this episode, we see me graduating college and reaching some milestones in her life that forced her to make choices, and to really take a look at her life, and have to make a decision, as to what direction she wants to take, what she wants to do, and the kind of person she wants to be. And what we see as a woman who is the same smart, cunning, cutting, strong character that we’ve come to know and love, but with perspective that she really hasn’t known much tragedy or much sadness in her life. What that brings is a very happy young woman who maybe doesn’t have a passion yet. She doesn’t have that thing that brings her that spark. Having the information that we have as an audience, we all know what that passion is going to be." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why Mia hesitates, when it comes to taking that on the Green Arrow mantle, and what does it take to push her to be willing to step into that role, KM: "Having grown up as the daughter of the Green Arrow, she’s seen all of the amazing things that her father accomplished, in both realities. It was never something that she thought of herself as, until she got all of these memories that, and once she remembered not only the responsibility and the joy of being a hero, she also remembers the sacrifice and the loss and the trauma that comes with it, and how, more than anything, the first and last time she wore the Green Arrow suit that her father gave her, she lost him and she couldn’t save him. In her eyes, she failed. She does not feel as though she’s worthy to take on that mantle, or that she’s ready, in any sense. She wanted more time with her father. She needed more time, to not only get to know him, but to learn what it means to be a hero, in that sense. Especially now that she hasn’t trained in awhile and doesn’t necessarily remember everything that she was doing before, she’s very hesitant to take that up. It’s a huge hurdle that she has to overcome. But ultimately it’s the responsibility of being a hero and the mantle that her father left her with that pushes her to take that risk." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the dynamic among the three of them, Mia, Dinah and Laurel, in 809, KM: "At this point, it’s certainly tempestuous, at best, given that Mia, in her mind, has what’s a pretty perfect life, and then these two women show up and throw a complete monkey wrench into all of her plans and all of her relationships. Everything that she thought her life was going to be is suddenly upturned. Everything changes far too quickly for her to keep up with. Mia and Laurel, and Mia and Dinah have definitely had differences of opinion in the past, and that doesn’t change." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what she enjoyed most about getting to work with KC and JH, and what was their relationship dynamic like, in comparison to the way their characters act with each other, KM: "Oh, it’s so much fun. They’re so wonderful. It’s great to get to have these three different characters that can interact. Mia is very much her own entity, as the Green Arrow, but the Green Arrow always has her team, so getting to interact with those two is always so much fun." (Jan. 21, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ mentioned being sad at times while shooting scenes because this was the last time they would ever shoot on a particular set. He then added: "But we'll see what happens with this - this spinoff show and how - you know, how many people end up being - yeah." (Oct. 11, 2019 Collider Interviews video of Oct. 8, 2019 interview with Joseph David-Jones, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 21 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- JDJ: "When people watch this episode we're filming now, episode nine, everyone's going to be reeling from all the changes that have happened post-Crisis - Connor definitely changes after Crisis." (Oct. 23, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is going to be a part of the backdoor pilot for the Mia/Canaries spinoff, JDJ: "Actually I'm in Vancouver shooting right now. I can't say which capacity I will be in this as, but we're still sort of finding what is going to happen post-Crisis. So all I can say is that there's definitely interested parties on both ends with Connor continuing in this spinoff, and we shall see what happens with it. I'm sorry I'm being unbelievably cryptic." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On which is his favorite episode of the season so far, JDJ: "My favorite scene to shoot was definitely in this episode [809]. It was the one that we worked on the most and built the most history on. I would say, that things have been getting intense with our storyline, especially in the next episode, but they really come to a head in episode 4. I would say that episode 4 was probably my most fun, and my favorite to shoot, out of all of them. I know the people are going to go nuts for episode 4. I think it's going to be crazy. I can't wait for that to drop. I love that episode. I can finally start talking about stuff." (Oct. 23, 2019 International Business Times article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- CB: "I was working on JJ again today for this new stuff coming up, and I really try hard to work on each character differently and just show a different outlet, you know." (Oct. 22, 2019 Eonline article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he is a part of the spinoff’s backdoor pilot, CB: "Oh yeah." (Oct. 27, 2019 TVLine article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how far into production on the current season is he, CB: "We’re getting up to I believe episode 9 coming up. We’re getting around to the end of it." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether 809 is the first post-COIE episode, CB: "Yeeees? (laughs) I’m trying to think of the title of it, too, and where we are, and you know, I don’t want to give anything away. The one problem that I’m having with it is the ‘infinite earth’ part, because I’m not sure if we’re there again, but I don’t want to tell you where we are because it might give it all away." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there’s a role for J.J. planned in the Mia/Canaries spinoff, CB: "That I would also be excited to hear about, too, but I have no clue. We had talked about it kind of nonchalantly as a group of actors when I was on there, and I haven’t been back for the last episode, so I haven’t seen them in a bit of time, and we had a little bit of a break, but maybe things have developed in the last couple days that I don’t know about. I would hope to see it build, because, first and foremost, these actors and the crew, I would love to see them just have opportunities because they’re all really, really incredible and they deserve it. But, you know, TV world, we’ll see." (Oct. 29, 2019 ComicsBeat article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 21, 2019, JH tweeted: "Our pilot starts today and I can’t sleep I’m so excited [nerd face emoji]." (JH tweet, page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 21, 2019, KC posted instagram story of her cat sitting on a script page for maybe 809. From this script page, you can make out some of the words: "/// NIGHT (N2) ... will establish the new and im[proved?]... [fla?]shlight the futuristic buil[dings?]... as we FOLLOW an ...." (Pic of KC instagram story screenshort in apinknightmare post, page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 21, 2019, KM posted a video clip, with comment: "Spinoff pilot day 1! ?????? #ARROW #MiaSmoak #GreenArrow." In this video, KM: "Good morning. So today's pretty special. Uh, it is the first day of shooting on the backdoor pilot, as it were, of Green Arrow and the Canaries. And it's really exciting. I really don't know what's in store, but whatever it is, it's going to be pretty badass. So I cannot wait to share it with all of you. And... there we go." (kat.mcnamara instagram post, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 21, 2019, papp retweeted fan tweet, with comment: "#Arrow spinoff Green Arrow & the Canaries filming at LaSalle College?" fan had tweeted pics of aerial shot of college and "BECKMARK PREP" sign, with comments: "@yvrshoots what is filming at LaSalle College? Pretty big set up!" and "Arrow?" When asked where fan saw the sign, fan tweeted: "LaSalle College on Renfrew street in Vancouver." (yvrshoots and Grochowa2 tweets, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, CB: "I was working on JJ again today for this new stuff coming up, and I really try hard to work on each character differently and just show a different outlet, you know." (Eonline article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, fan tweeted Oct. 18, 2019 Arrow filming notice, with comment: "Filming in #Vancouver: A little show called #Arrow set to film in and around QE Theatre this Wednesday evening; following notice on one of the east doors into @VPL Central:#ArrowSeason8 @CW_Arrow... @Vancivictheatre." From filming notice: "Please take a moment to read this notice about the filming of a Warner Bros. TV Series called 'Arrow' at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019... 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm... Filming an exterior scene in the driveway on the Hamilton Street side of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Scene involves a car driving up to the front door, passenger gets out and walks inside the theatre. The car will only be in the driveway and not on Hamilton Street. ... 9:00 pm - 6:00 am... Filming moves inside the main lobby of the theatre for the remainder of the night. The scene will include several characters attending a large party." (henrylflee tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 26 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, BL tweeted (from Vancouver) pic of JDJ and Charlie Barnett, with comment: "Sorry Mia and William, tonight the future’s all about these impeccable genetics. ?? Don’t miss an all-new #Arrow tonight at 9/8c on @TheCW!" (benlewishere tweet, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, JDJ tweeted: "When #Arrow is all new tonight but you can’t live tweet cause you’re still working." (josephdjones tweet, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 23, 2019, fans tweeted pics of what looks like a party going on inside a big building at night, which you can see through big lighted windows, with comments: "Filming in #Vancouver: 'Green Arrow and the Canaries' spinoff pilot, filming prep inside and outside QE Theatre tonight (Wednesday) #ArrowSpinoff #Arrowverse #ArrowSeason8 #Arrow @CW_Arrow @yvrshoots @WhatsFilming @Vancivictheatre." and "Big party for #Arrow tonight." (henrylflee and mariimakii tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 23, 2019, Arrow writer Jeane Wong tweeted pic of yellow post-it note on door on which someone wrote "WORKING ON CROSSOVERS SPIN OFF," with comment: "Revised sign. No one hasn't brought me puppies yet. #ArrowSeason8 #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths #crossover #ArrowSpinoff #arrowseriesfinale." (jeanedevivre tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 24, 2019, fan report: "KC posted an IG on set with JH. They look present day...." (Chaser post, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 24, 2019, b-t-s video of KC and JH playing tabletop ping-pong was posted. They're each wearing their Canary suits. (Oct. 24, 2019 Noobmaster 69 video, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 25, 2019, KC posted pic of herself with JH, both wearing masks, with comment: "Pretty Bird ?? @julianaharkavy #Arrow." (katiecassidy instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 25, 2019, fan tweeted Oct. 24, 2019 Arrow filming notice: "Beckmark Production Services Inc. will be filming scenes for the Warner Bros. Television series titled 'Arrow' at The Polygon Gallery 101 Carrie Cates Ct, North Vancouver on Monday, October 28th, 2019 from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. ... Monday, October 28th... 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM... Filming dialogue scenes inside The Polygon Gallery. ... 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM... Filming dialogue scenes on the Second Floor Deck of The Polygon Gallery. ... 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM... Filming a motorcycle drive-up on the Seawall from the South side of The Polygon Gallery to the alley on the West side of the Gallery. A van drives out of the alley and heads East on Carrie Cates Ct. towards Lonsdale Avenue. RCMP will be on site to assist with intermittent traffic control during this filming." (MatinPourtorab tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 25, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow spinoff pilot Green Arrow & the Canaries filming at North Vancouver's Polygon Gallery on Monday, October 28th?" (yvrshoots tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 25, 2019, JH posted pic of KC wearing her black mask and holding a small white death skull, with comment: "???????????." (julianaharkavy instagram post, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 26, 2019, KM tweeted pic of herself wearing a hooded outfit, with comment: "Kinda classy. ? Kinda hood. #StarCity2040 #ARROW #MiaSmoak." (Kat_McNamara tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 27, 2019, JH posted a "Canaries" title logo. (JH facebook post, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 27, 2019, papp tweeted: "#Arrow filming at The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver on Monday." Pics of the Polygon Gallery exterior and interior were also posted. (WhatsFilming tweet and dailyhive article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 28, 2019, papp tweeted pic of Polygon Gallery building exterior, with comment: "#Arrow spinoff Green Arrow & Canaries filming in North Vancouver's Polygon Gallery today. Seems to be a continuation of Queen Elizabeth Theatre shoot with backgrounders in fancy dress." (yvrshoots tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 28, 2019, AS posted pic of herself with BL, JDJ and another young woman. (dresixtos instagram post, page 29 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 29, 2019, fan tweeted video of KM, JH and KC together on set. (ktiecassidys tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- On Oct. 30, 2019, JH tweeted: "Yesterday was one of the most exciting, most fun days of work in my whole life. Can’t wait for you guys to see what’s in store! #StarCity2040 #Canaries [person raising hands in celebration, bow & arrow and black heart emojis]." (JH tweet,page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, CL tweeted pic of herself with KC and JH, with comment: "Three little birds @MzKatieCassidy @JulianaHarkavy." (caitylotz tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) The following spoilers seem to be a mix of filming from 809 and 810: -- On Nov. 15, 2019, from papp blog: "Later they seemed to shoot a scene where Mia & the man stand near the [Green Arrow] statue, and are looking in its general direction. A bit later, they shot a scene where just Mia seemed to be in the scene, and she walks toward the statue at a hurried pace. ... Shortly after that, a round of applause went out as crews often do when a cast member wraps. It was the end of the night for Katherine (and if any other cast were there, them too). I made an eager effort to go and try to get near the statue to get a pic of it before they took it down, but they were fast. They had the actual statue removed in mere seconds, and if there was any plates on the bottom piece, they too seemed to be removed by the time I made it in there just a few moments later. ... As crew were leaving the location I got 1 final autograph ever from someone on an Arrow set, as Katherine McNamara signed for me as she left for the final time. ... After the crew wrapped the statue location, they moved out to the street. This was the scenes I was expecting when I went down there that night. But I got a bit more than I expected. ... I went there thinking I would see a car leaving or coming into Star City past the 'entering/leaving Star City' signs they have used in this location many times. I joked with someone the other day that for a city as large as Star City, they do seem to only have 1 way in & out, as they always use the same road. ... They first did a scene with a motorbike being ridden by a darker haired woman. It was not an actor, it was a stunt team driver. But her hair would have been done to depict whoever it was supposed to be... In either case, since there was no scene with an actual actor, and the stunt person never had the helmet off in the shoot, its hard to know certainly who it is. ... After that scene was shot, they did one with a Tesla driving up & down the street a couple times. I didnt know when I was shooting it, and only noticed when I got home & saw it on my computer screen. But if you look closely, the license plate looks futuristic..... so is this a scene for 'future Star City'? ... They did a few takes of this car driving up & down the street, before director James Bamford, and the cast & crew of Arrow officially, WRAPPED (sorry Marc Guggenheim that no one told you when it actually was wrapping). ... There was 1 constant throughout the two scenes that I guess I sort of didnt really point out, and it is frankly why I titled this whole blog as 'major spoiler'. They drive by a street sign. That sign reads 'Oliver Queen Memorial Drive'. Unlike the statue, the signed stayed up for about 5 minutes after they wrapped, so I was able to gee a couple photos of it, before a crew member went across the street, pulled it down and started disassembling it.... and just like that, there was evidence they had even filmed a scene with that sign there." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, in response to fan who tweeted pic of Green Arrow statue, MG tweeted: "From the spinoff. Looks good, though." In response, fan tweeted: "nice try. but this was actually taken during the shoot of the Arrow series finale. same as the photo of the 'Oliver Queen Memorial drive' sign." In response, MG tweeted: "If you’re talking about yesterday [Nov. 14], we were doing pickups for 809. We wrapped 810 on Wednesday night [Nov. 13]." (MG and runaway1976 tweets, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, KM: "You know, it's funny, 'cause yesterday we had one more pickup day where I shot one scene for episode nine and then insert shots and all of this, and yesterday was just such a short day. It was just fun play time with the crew. But the day before was the big day, the last official day of production when Stephen wrapped, and Emily wrapped, and everybody else. There was one scene in particular that we had so many people in that they series wrapped about 10 people when we finished the scene. And that's when I cried, because there are so many possibilities for the future of what the Arrowverse could be, especially for me, but it will never be the same. This is special, this is unique, and you know, the people are what made that show so iconic, and that was really special to be there for that moment." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eoinline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jan. 18, 2020, BL tweeted: "See you guys on Tuesday!... "(benlewishere tweet, page 44 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jan. 21, 2020, KM tweeted pic of herself wearing a Green Arrow mask, with comment: "➳ New mask. Who dis? ➳ #GreenArrow #MiaSmoak The legacy continues tonight. Don’t miss #GreenArrowandtheCanaries @CW_Arrow @thecw #TheFinalBow." (kat_mcnamara tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited January 21, 2020 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo January 24, 2020 Author Share January 24, 2020 (edited) This thread is for archived spoilers only - new spoilers should go in the Spoilers thread and spoiler commentary should go in the Spoiler Discussion Final thread... SUMMARY OF ARROW SERIES FINALE (RETROSPECTIVE AND 810) SPOILERS: Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye (Retrospective) -- Retrospective Synopsis: "A CELEBRATORY EPISODE – Get ready for the finale with cast interviews from Stephen Amell and the cast of 'Arrow,' and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Beth Schwartz. Original airdate 1/28/2020." (Jan. 11, 2020 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Arrow will conclude its eighth season with a two-hour event on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2019, beginning with a finale preview at 8:00pm ET, followed by the Arrow series finale at 9:00pm ET. (Nov. 8, 2019 SpoilerTV and TVLine articles, page 78 of Ratings and Scheduling thread) -- CW President Mark Pedowitz: "Arrow is ten episodes, plus a retrospective to celebrate the eighth season." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: ComicBook article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, The CW network will be honoring everything Arrow has accomplished since it premiered in 2012 with "a retrospective to celebrate the eight seasons." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: TV Guide article, page 12 of Spoilers thread and page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Per CW President Mark Pedowitz, the network will air a tribute special honoring Arrow in its final season, which will follow the same general format as the tribute episode aired during Jane the Virgin's final season earlier this year. MP: “We thought that the tribute special that appeared on Jane the Virgin this year was well-done... We’re planning tribute specials for Arrow, as well as Supernatural.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 ComicBook article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- ET's Philiana Ng tweeted: "#Arrow will get a retrospective special following its 10-episode final season, with the cast and creative team looking back on the eight-year run. #Upfronts." (The CW Upfronts, May 16, 2019: Philiana Ng tweet, page 135 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- GATV tweeted: "Also just got confirmation from The CW that the #Arrow special that airs before the finale WILL be streaming as well, as per the usual process. But you all are going to watch it live, I hope. I know I will be!" (Jan.27, 2020 GreenArrowTV tweet, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Arrow S8, Episode 10: Fadeout -- Production code: 810. Shoot Dates: October 31-November 13, 2019. Director: James Bamford. Writers: Marc Guggenheim & Beth Schwartz. Airdate: Jan. 28, 2020. (Jan. 11, 2020 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 synopsis: "STEPHEN AMELL SIGNS OFF AS THE GREEN ARROW; EMILY BETT RICKARDS RETURNS FOR THE SERIES FINALE OF 'ARROW' – After eight seasons, and the launch of countless superheroes, the series wraps up the story of the Green Arrow (Stephen Amell). Emily Bett Rickards returns as Felicity. James Bamford directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim & Beth Schwartz (#810). Original airdate 1/28/2020." (Jan. 11, 2020 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Promos and Guest Stars -- 810 "Hitting the Bullseye" promo trailer was posted, featuring Oliver, Felicity, Diggle, Lyla, the Monitor, Rene, Dinah, E2 Laurel, Curtis, Child William, Adult Mia, Roy, Thea, Rory Regan, and a Green Arrow statue. (Jan. 21, 2020 TV Promos video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 sneak peek #1 video was posted, featuring Adult Mia and Dinah. We learn Mia was dropped off in Star City 2020 by Sara. We also learn that this episode takes place after the events of 809, when Adult William was kidnapped. The promo ends with a news announcement of Child William's kidnapping. (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Promos video of 810 sneak peek, page 8 of Spoilers thread) -- 810 sneak peak #2 video was posted, featuring Felicity's return to the Arrow Bunker, where she is greeted by Diggle, Dinah, Rene, E2 Laurel, Thea, Roy, Curtis, Lyla and Rory Regan. Adult Mia is also there, visiting from the future, but is not recognized by Felicity. (Jan. 28, 2020 Eonline article & video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 sneak peek #3 video was posted, featuring Diggle, Dinah, Rene and Roy toasting to Oliver, while E2 Laurel just wants to drink. (Jan. 28, 2020 ComicBook article & video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 promo pics were posted, featuring Felicity, Adult Mia, Child William, Diggle, Lyla, Thea, E2 Laurel, Roy, Curtis, Rene, Dinah, Rory Regan, Moira, Emiko, Sara Lance, and Barry Allen. (Jan. 20, 2020 StarlingCityJ tweet, page 45 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jan. 20, 2020 Entertainment Weekly, GreenArrowTV, SpoilerTV and TV Guide articles, TVLine pic gallery link and The CW PR pic gallery link, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per IMDb, 810 guest cast includes David Nykl as Anatoly Knyazev, Sea Shimooka as Emiko Queen, Wyatt Fossett as "Documentary Camera Man" and Nicholas Dohy as "Vigil Citizen (uncredited)." (IMDb page link in Jan. 21, 2020 tv echo post, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- David Nykl posted b-t-s pic of two rows of many Arrow actors' set chairs on Nov. 14, 2019. (Nov. 14, 2019 dav.nyk instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per papp, Colin Donnell flew into Vancouver on Nov. 11, 2019, during the time Arrow was shooting its series finale, but it's unclear whether his visit was for Arrow or for another reason. (Nov. 11, 2019 yvrshoots tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per papp, Colin Donnell was in Vancouver on Nov. 13, 2019, and mentioned his "filming trailer" in an instagram story. (Nov. 13, 2019 TodoArrow tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Colin Donnell tweeted on Nov. 13, 2019: "Today is the last day of filming for #Arrow. I still remember what I was wearing for my audition, what the room was like, my mind being blown that I was cast, my first flight to Vancouver, walking into my first hotel room, the first fitting...." (Nov. 13, 2019 colindonnell tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Script Teases -- 810 scene direction tease (first page of script): "Arrow - #810 - 'TBD' - 10/15/19 - WRITER DRAFT. ... ACT ONE... We begin, as we did 169 episodes ago, FROM THE BLACK --..." (Oct. 15, 2019 MG tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 scene direction tease (last page of script): "Of possibility... FADE TO BLACK. END OF SERIES." (Oct. 24, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 dialogue tease (last two words): "To you.” (Nov. 14, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 dialogue tease: "... tell it to you.” (Nov. 26, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 dialogue tease: "...even if it's a little less bright without him in it." (Jan. 22, 2020 mguggenheim tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Media/Reddit -- From TV Guide article (as originally published): "It's still unclear how the finale will address Oliver's death, given that Amell is in the finale and sharing scenes with Rickards." Same TV Guide article (as edited): "It's still unclear how the finale will address Oliver's death, given that Amell is in the finale." (Jan. 20, 2020 TV Guide article, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 spoilers from Reddit user (superpyroman): "The entire EP is a funeral memorial shit. ... A falling green ring box from space proposes to John Diggle ... Fefe 2040 from last season gets transported to the afterlife(?) with Spectre Oliver." In response to question, reddit user: "Tommy, Moira, Sonuvabich [Quentin Lance] are alive. Ragman is present along with Talia, Thea, Nyssa, Barry, Kara and Mia." Fan's summary of this reddit user's spoilers: "The spoilerguy has said the plot of the finale is that William gets kidnapped (again) and the last big Team Arrow mission is to rescue him. Mia talks to little William. Mia's there because Sara is apparently a taxi service for Arrow characters right there. Sara and Nyssa have a brief moment where Nyssa calls her 'beloved' again. - Ava will just love that. ... Digg gives the Eulogy of course. ... Black Siren has quite a bit of screentime talking to people like Thea, Tommy and Quentin and they accept E1 is forever dead but she and Tommy were previously married in the Earth Prime reality. - So That resets KCs headcannon scenes. ... Slade appears in an altered flashback (so he doesn't kill Moira perhaps) - He didn't specify. Robert and Malcolm are still dead because they were essential to him becoming GA. - Even though Tommy and Moira also changed his course but it's pick and choose time. ... Oliver spares a specific person on the list. ... Roy proposes to Thea on that roof. - No word if she accepts. ... There's one Olicity scene, which is what we've been guessing - the final scene in the afterlife. Star City is their afterlife/paradise dimension, where Oliver is definitely dead (possibly Spectre). They look like their 2020 selves and it's 2-3 minutes long. - I'm guessing it's post 2040 for Felicity. ... We don't really find out anything about how the resurrected characters have lived their lives since not dying in this reality or how that has changed things. - Apart from presumably less angst." Another fan: "The Reddit guy called the finale’s only Olicity scene 'a bit sweet' and for him to admit that is huge because he is NOT a fan. So that gives me hope." Also from Reddit user: "Felicity has a lot of scenes ... There is an Olicity kiss ... Connor was not adopted by the Diggles." Another fan's summary of additional spoilers: "When asked if Oliver gives an opening or closing monologue, reddit guy: 'Yes the entire My name is Oliver Queen.' When asked what Oliver & Felicity say to each other, reddit guy: 'some cheesy shit... I think its more cheesy and fanservicey.' Apparently it's never explained how exactly and why Oliver appears only after 20 years. Felicity leaves via the S7 scene where the Monitor takes her. Oliver has his normal voice and not his Spectre voice. There are no OTA scenes. As for Diggle, we don't see the green lantern ring, but we only see a box and some green light. The flashback story is about the 'first dude Oliver spared from the list.' The big fight sequence that SA mentioned is in the S1 flashback when Oliver was the Hood. Older William and Older Connor are not in this episode. Ben Turner is not in this episode. Anatoly is at the funeral. Emiko talks to Moira and Thea. Baby Mia is apparently with a nanny. Barry and Kara are at the funeral, but do not give speeches. Quentin is the mayor. When asked if there is any line that stuck in his head, reddit guy: 'what oliver said in the end like "fortunately we have all the time in the world" non verbatim.' When asked if Oliver is still Spectre, reddit guy: 'I don't think he was Spectre exactly. Just Oliver after being the Spectre.'" Fan's summary of additional spoilers: "Oliver's scenes are just the flashback scene and the one scene with Felicity. The flashback scene is a one-take hallway fight. Diggle gives the eulogy. Felicity does not give a speech. Felicity does not have any scenes with Moira. Diggle doesn't adopt Connor because Ben Turner is still alive (though not in the episode). Slade appears in a flashback where Moira survives (it's the scene where Oliver tackles Slade right before he's about to kill Moira, Oliver does not kill Slade). Sara interacts with Quentin and also with Nyssa and Mia, as well as having a scene with Felicity and Diggle. There is a documentary crew who is making that documentary that Mia watched last season. It's Mia weeks after Adult William got kidnapped in the future. The Mia that Sara picked up is the Mia that saw Adult William getting kidnapped. It's said that E1 Laurel died in S4. She's mentioned when 'BS talked to Sonuvabich' (translation: E2 Laurel talked to Quentin). The talk was about 'accepting E-1 is dead and BS is the new Laurel.' E2 Laurel has scenes with Quentin, Sara and Thea. Roy proposes to Thea on the rooftop while they're all out searching for kidnapped Child William." (Jan. 25, 2020 posts by reddit user superpyroman, pages 47-50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, Featherhat and Trisha posts, page 48 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, tv echo post, page 49 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and tv echo post, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- GATV (after 810 advance screening): "There are so many cool things to unpack in the #Arrow series finale. It feels like everyone got a moment, direction is as always top-notch, and the city is definitely not failed. Great performances & rewards for longtime fans all around." and "The #Arrow series finale even contains a shoutout to a DCTV series that was NOT represented in #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths. You'll know it when you see it." and "No one who has responded to this tweet has guessed correctly. Here's a hint: This show had amazing opening credits." and "I'll also reiterate, again, EVERYONE who returns for the finale has great material. It had to be a juggling act for the writers but they pulled it off. A++ #Arrow." (Jan.27, 2020 GreenArrowTV tweets, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TV Guide's Lindsay MacDonald (after 810 advance screening): "Felicity and Oliver's love story will be honored in the finale, especially when it comes to the adult-version of their daughter, Mia (Katherine McNamara). But that's not the only relationship that will get a nod before all is said and done. The finale actually pays ample tribute to the brotherhood between Oliver and Diggle that's been building for the past eight years. Considering Diggle couldn't actually be there either of the times Oliver sacrificed himself in Crisis, it's a fitting way to cap their story." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVInsider's Damian Holbrook (after 810 advance screening): "[V]iewers can expect to see a slew of developments for Oliver's devastated partner Diggle (David Ramsey, who will break your heart tonight) and the rest of Team Arrow, as well as a parade of familiar faces resurfacing to mourn the fallen Green Arrow (see below). ... As for Amell's presence in the finale, fear not. Even though Oliver is dead and buried, Guggenheim and company have found a way to weave him into the story that pays homage to eight seasons of flashbacks while giving us fascinating new footage. Because there is no Arrow without Amell." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Vlada Gelman (after 810 advance screening): "I've seen the series finale now, and the fight sequence in the final episode is A+." In reply, TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "It really is. As Bam says, 'Oliver vs. (what sure feels like) EVERYONE' #Arrow." (Jan. 27, 2020 VladaGelman and MattMitovich tweets, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich (after 810 advance screening): "Pleasantly surprised by the amount of Felicity in the #Arrow series finale. And boy, did EBR bring it one last time [crying emoji] All told, there are well-earned emotional moments for numerous characters (and maybe even a sliiightly flirty funeral chat between two strangers)." and, when asked how much SA is in 810, "Lots." and, when asked about the reddit spoilers, "Ugh, not the infamous Guy on Reddit! Guy on Reddit always knows *everything*! Phooey. So easy to focus down in Mom of Guy on Reddit’s basement I guess 😅." and "The Mia/Felicity scene is a 9.5." (Jan. 27, 2020 MattMitovich tweets, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Eonline's Lauren Piester (after 810 advance screening): "Felicity's return was pivotal to the finale in a lot of ways, as you'll see, and she's in it a lot more than you might assume she is despite only being able to film for two days. If you're a Felicity fan (or an Olicity fan) you won't be disappointed, and we can promise you that. (Like, get ready. Truly.) ... In all seriousness, Arrow's series finale is a pretty beautiful send off to the show that launched a thousand other shows, and features surprises you haven't yet seen pictures of and an ending fit for a hero." (Jan. 28, 2020 Eonline article & video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Marc Guggenheim and Beth Schwartz -- On having the final scene written since June 2019 and their conversations about it, EP Beth Schwartz: "We always left it open, at the end of Season 7, to have that final scene. Marc called me or texted me in June, and was like, 'I wrote the final scene,' after meditation." MG: "I meditate every morning, and this has never happened to me, before or since, but I came out of the meditation with the entire scene in my head, literally word for word, exactly as you just watched it. I quickly opened up my laptop and had to get it down. For me, it just felt so right. I very excitedly texted Beth and was like, 'I wrote the final scene and I’ve gotta send it to you.' I sent it and, of course, the big question was, is Emily coming back to be in it? I was like, 'Now, she really has to because I really love this scene.' And fortunately, she did." Beth: "We didn’t even think of another ending. We didn’t have a backup plan, at all. We were just like, 'Emily needs to do this.' Luckily, she did." (Jan. 28, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what went into their decision to keep E2 Laurel versus bringing back E1 Laurel, MG: "We went back and forth on that a great deal, and truth be told, that was really driven by the spin-off. I think if we weren’t doing a spin-off, we probably would’ve gone a different way. We had a lot of conversations – me and Beth, and me, Beth, Jill [Blankenship] and Oscar [Balderrama], who will be running the spin-off, if it goes – about which version of Laurel we wanted in the spin-off, and we’ve really fallen in love, over the years, with the Earth-2 version of Laurel. We love Katie [Cassidy]’s take on that character, we love writing for that character, and we love the complexities of that character’s moral see-saw. She’s just always been a more interesting character to us." EP Beth Schwartz: "In Season 7 and 8, she was really able to redeem herself, and we felt that that was such an important story for her character. She’s come such a long way, from murdering people, all the time, to becoming the hero that she was, at the end of Season 8, and will continue to be in the spin-off, hopefully. So, it just felt like we would short change her, if we didn’t really honor the growth that her character went through." (Jan. 28, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Marc Guggenheim -- MG tweeted pic of diagram of a longbow with parts marked, with comment: "About that title...." One end of the longbow is labeled "Fadeout." (Oct. 25, 2019 MG tweet, page 28 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked for a Billy Joel song to describe the series finale, MG tweeted: "'I've Loved These Days.'" (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, Earth-Prime is not the Earth-1 of Arrow, The Flash or Legends. MG: “It’s a completely different Earth." (Jan. 15, 2020 Rotten Tomatoes article, page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG tweeted: "The Earth Prime heroes don’t know there’s still a multiverse. Shh. Don’t tell em." (Jan. 20, 2020 MG tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan comment about Oliver becoming more sensitive to henchmen deaths as he evolved, MG tweeted: "Yes, a kinder, gentler Oliver was very much the point of his arc in Season 2. The series finale will prove to be an interesting contrast." (Dec. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "We're going to honor the flashback convention of the show by flashing back to events in very early in Season 1, and what's nice about that is it brings everything full circle... I'm really proud of it. It was a really enjoyable script to write, for Beth and I to write. James Bamford just killed it, and all the actors brought their A-game. I'm looking forward to everyone checking it out." (Jan. 20, 2020 IGN article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the series finale, MG: "The only thing that's been written is the last scene." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of MG interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "When you shot the Season 7 finale with Emily and LaMonica on the street with the fog and everything, did you happen to pre-shoot something else with her, while you had her there?" MG: "No…. I guess there’s a world where you’re thinking that far in advance, but that’s pretty rare. In fact, the last scene that I’ve written for the show, I only wrote that [in late June]." (Comments to Nov. 1, 2019 TVLine article, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how the fiinal shot of the series has evolved over the past several years, MG confirmed that there have been changes in his vision for what that last image will look like. MG: "It's shifted for a variety of different logistical reasons. Things that were originally planned for the series finale are now in the crossover, and by moving those moments into the crossover, it allowed me to look at those moments through a different lens and through a different eye and that changed some things... Until we actually shoot the finale, Beth and I were talking about this earlier today, I've given myself permission to not be dogmatic about what the finale is and allow myself to remain open for another idea." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can tease about the final scene of the Arrow tv series (which he's already written), MG: "Well, I'll tell you, the idea - I never intended to write the last scene ahead of time. Um, every morning I meditate and one morning I happened to be meditating, and I came out of meditation and I had the entire last scene. I mean, I just had it. It was in my head. I just took it down on paper. (Mimes typing with his hands) Um, and, you know, what I would say is, it - it just feels right... I've obviously thinking a lot about how we end the series, and Beth Schwartz and I have been talking a lot about how we end the series. And, in many ways, this scene is almost independent of all those conversations. Um, it's really it's own separate thing. In fact, in the stage direction that I wrote, it's like, you know, we do whatever we do and then we dissolve over to now this moment. Um, so it kinda exists on its own terms. And, um, I hope we get to film it. You know, I really - I really do. Um, I think Stephen said, like, there's a few hoops we gotta jump through and hurdles we have to cross in order to make it happen. But, it feels right, um, it feels good, and, uh, it - it just - I'm a very big believer that, you know, when the muse or god hands you the whole package, you listen and you just take dictation and type it down, and that's all I did." When asked if he'll do multiple endings just to see if he's right, MG: "No, no, I'll tell you why not. Um, it's just the nature of television production. Like, you know, um... if I can do it, it's not going to - whether or not I'm quote-unquote 'right' is not going to be determined on how we film it. It'll be determined on whether or not logistically we can film it. If we can, oh, we're going to show it." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV article and video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per MG, a month prior to his attending the TCA Summer Press Tour on Aug. 4, a new way to end Arrow's eight-year run dawned on him. MG: “I came out of meditation one morning and I had the whole last scene — and it’s a brand-new scene." However, MG added: "There are a lot of logistical hurdles that have to be crossed in order to shoot that scene. It’s not like we can just film it tomorrow." He was not necessarily looking to change up the very final scene, but neither was he averse to the prospect. MG: “The thing that I’ve sort of always told myself about the finale was that I wouldn’t be so rigid about my plan that I wouldn’t leave myself open to other ideas... Had I not left myself open, I wouldn’t have written the scene I wrote, which I really, really like.” Later, MG tweeted: "If we can’t make this work, I’ll post the script pages on the night of the finale. But I hope we get to put it to camera. [fingers crossed emoji]." When asked if he would post the script even if it works, MG tweeted: "I can do that." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 11, 2019 TVLine article and MG tweets, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "We always had a plan in that we knew that [during] Crisis, Oliver would die... We knew that the series finale would be essentially like a coda... a sort of an epilogue. We knew a variety of different elements to the finale, but one thing we didn't have was what I called a central theme. We didn't have this principle that would tie together all the elements that we had already planned upon. ... I was in the editing room one day; I'm watching the latest cut, and of course, it begins as almost all the Arrow episodes do, and for the umpteenth bajillionth the time, I hear Stephen [Amell] say, 'I returned home with only one goal, to save my city,' and it just all clicked for me in that moment. I realized, oh, that's the central principle of the finale: Oliver achieves his mission. He saved the city. He actually saved the universe. Once Beth and I had that, that was the central rubric to organize the whole finale around. It's an unconventional finale because we kill off our protagonist two episodes before the actual finale, but at the end of the day, it felt just really appropriate." (Jan. 20, 2020 IGN article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked for a hint as to what the series finale looks like, MG: "Ok, how do I do this without spoiling anything? So it wraps up a key number of storylines and it honors Oliver and the sacrifice he made. I guess...this is the thing I'll say: Once we knew that we were killing off Oliver in the Arrow hour of the crossover, we knew that the series finale would be something of a coda and we knew how we were wrapping up the storylines, but I think what we were kind of lacking was a central theme. Then I was in the editing room on an episode, and I'm watching for the umpteenth time the [opening sequence] where Oliver always says, 'I came home with only one goal...to save my city.' And I realized, 'Oh, that's the series finale.' Oliver's sacrifice has allowed him to save the city. ... So we end the show with the fulfillment of the mission that we've been stating in almost every episode since the very beginning. And once that piece fell into place, the whole finale coalesced around that central theme and I'm really, really proud of that. Beth Schwartz and I had a wonderful time writing it, James Bamford directed the crap out of it and all of the actors brought their A-game. And Emily Bett Rickards returns, which is really the only way we could have ended the series. ... We've been finished with it for a while, it's been written for a few months now and it has stuck with me in a way that very few episodes we've done have. I hope people like it. It's an unconventional kind of series finale because a protagonist died two episodes earlier. But I think it's a very satisfying." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they can create an ending to Arrow that will satisfy long-term fans (mentioning the controversial endings of Game of Thrones and Lost), MG: "The good news is, unlike Game of Thrones or unlike Lost, we're not - uh, we're not burdened with having to answer a question. You know, we're not burdened with 'who's going to sit on the Iron Throne?' or, you know, 'what was the island?' .Um, so we get to do, I think, a much more sort of character-based ending. Um, so - at the same time, the complication for us is that we also have Crisis and I think a lot of the stuff that was always in my head in terms of on how to end the show, um, we're now actually going to end up doing in the crossover instead. So it's like, well, now what does the series finale become? Um, but, you know, I - you know, we've got planned and I'm really excited about it. And the goal is, you know, to make it satisfying for the fans, but, um, the good news for us is, we don't have the challenges that Lost or Game of Thrones had... We also don't have their ratings, so, um, you know, there's that too... It's hard... It's a hard thing to do it in a way that satisfies - you know, satisfies everyone... Because obviously I have been thinking, like, how does one end the series, um, I think there's what the initial reaction to something is and then there's how it stands the test of time. Um, and, you know, those two things are not always the same." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he always knew how the show was going to end, MG: "Yes and no. Uh, I always knew - I always knew Oliver's end. Um, the specifics of it have changed over the years after certain things. And then, like a couple weeks ago, I was meditating and, uh, something unusual happened. I came out of meditation and I have the last scene. I mean, the entire last scene. I just quickly typed it up like that, and that's never happened to me. It's so weird. Very, very rarely do - you know, certain things just come to me. And that did, and I hope we get to film it, uh, and we'll see." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "I always felt, and Stephen Amell always felt, that Oliver's journey had to end with his death. Despite everything he'd done, the man he was before he became the Green Arrow, and the man he was when he was the Hood, you know, killing off so many people, we felt that there had to be an end to his journey that ended with, you know, some sort of recompense, but also recompense wrapped with a bit of redemption." (Video in Jan. 14, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On why Oliver died twice, MG: "The creative behind it was we were faced with the question of how do we surprise the audience when we spoiled the story [a year ago]. The creative conversations were pretty simple. I shared that plan with [executive producer] Greg Berlanti, who was into it. And then I pitched it to Stephen, and Stephen and I have been talking about, for years, that the end of the 'Arrow' story is [Oliver’s] death. And we’ve always been on the same page. I think he enjoyed A) the opportunity to play two death scenes and B) the creative sleight of hand in terms of surprising the audience. That’s the other thing that Stephen and I have always agreed on: surprising the audience with the unexpected. So it just made sense. The only lingering question was if we kill off Oliver in ['Arrow'] Season 8 Episode 8, what’s the series finale? And we had a plan for that as well." (Jan. 15, 2020 Variety article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- On killing Oliver two episodes before Arrow ends, MG: "That was always the plan. Ever since once the stars aligned and we knew that we were doing Crisis in Arrow's last year, we knew several things. We knew that Oliver had to die in Crisis, as we've been saying for a year now. And we also knew that it had to happen in the Arrow hour of the crossover. So we definitely created some interesting creative challenges for ourselves in terms of what the final two episodes would be, particularly the Arrow series finale. But those challenges really are creative opportunities." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Stephen's deal was always for nine episodes. The CW asked us for a 10th episode and we realized that [an extra] episode could be a backdoor pilot, right? We were never going to have 10 episodes with Stephen. He was always going to be in nine episodes and then we were able to fill in that gap by doing a backdoor pilot. So it all kind of worked out quite nicely." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Diggle's connection to the Green Lantern, MG: "We've got we have a very specific moment in mind for the series finale, that our hope is it'll be satisfying to the fans, without getting me in trouble with my bosses at Warner Brothers." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 5, 2019 GameSpot article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can say about Felicity's role in the series finale, MG tweeted: "I can say that she's in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked whether he can say anything about Laurel in 808, 809 or 810, MG tweeted: "808 -- Incredibly emotional and raw. 809 -- @#$!%ing bad ass. 810 -- One of my favorite scenes in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "You’ll learn which version of Laurel we have been left with in 809, and you will learn why that is the case in 810.” (Jan. 15, 2020 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Certainly the question of which Laurel is left is going to be answered very definitively in Season 8 Episode 9. But the explanation for the result is given very strong in Episode 10." (Jan. 15, 2020 Variety article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- On what the new multiverse's Earth-2 means for all the characters who were on the old Earth-2, specifically with E2 Laurel who is a major character on Arrow, and how her continued presence is explained, MG: "Actually, that question is very directly asked by Laurel herself in the Arrow series finale. There’s actually a really, really poignant scene between her and Paul Blackthorne, who plays her dad, that explains that." (Jan. 15, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 7 of Spoilers thread) -- On how many characters haven't been announced for the Arrow series finale, MG tweeted: "So. Many." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On all the cast members being in the Arrow series finale (as shown in the 810 promo pics), MG tweeted: "We planned this for months — but getting all the actors we wanted in one place at the same time... tricky." (Jan. 20, 2020 mguggenheim tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “We’ve had a lot of discussions about what’s new, but at the same time, because we have the possibly the spinoff, and there’s also all these other sister shows [in the ‘Arrowverse’], we’ve given ourselves the freedom to be [flexible]... It’s been the same approach that we’ve actually had with ‘Arrow’ for the last eight years, which is just because we’ve had these conversations doesn’t mean that we’re foreclosing a great idea if one comes along [later].” (Jan. 27, 2020 Variety article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG originally wrote the final ending scene back in June 2019, saying: "I meditate every morning, and this one morning I came out — this has never happened to me before or since — I came out of the meditation with the entire scene in my head... Like, literally word for word exactly as you just watched it... It just, for me, it felt so right, and I very excitedly texted Beth. I'm like, 'I wrote the final scene, I gotta send it to you!'" (Jan. 27, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "More than anything I wanted to give them closure, because this is an unconventional series finale... This is a series finale where we've killed off our protagonist two episodes ago. We always knew that this was the plan and... we wanted to honor the show, to honor Oliver Queen and give closure. And for me, a big part of that is basically telling you where everyone's going." (Jan. 28, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Diggle's eulogy in the series finale always brings a tear to my eye." (Jan. 28, 2020 IGN article, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Beth Schwartz -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, though they've "always had a plan for the series finale," this plan has evolved since this season started. Beth: "Now that it's here, we're obviously going to add more things that did evolve from this season specifically." However, Beth added that she and MG haven't shifted on "where we wanted to end it." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked what we should expect of 810, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "hopefully a satisfying conclusion and all the emotions." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how she would describe the series finale, EP Beth Schwartz: "In one episode it honors the entire series and finishes several storylines [for] characters from all of our seasons, basically — past and present — in a hopefully very satisfying way." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On three words to describe the series finale, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Epic. Heartfelt. Nostalgic." (Jan. 22, 2020 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "You just want to feel satisfaction -- that watching for eight years, even though you're sad the show ended, you have a feeling of 'Oh, that was really good. I feel OK walking away from the show,'" Schwartz explained. "I just want everyone, and myself included, to feel like that was the perfect ending to a show that I've been watching for eight seasons. My favorite series finale was Six Feet Under; if we can do anything in the vein of that show, I'll be happy. I want it to feel specific to Arrow and a perfect ending to Arrow." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether the COIE crossover was the last we've seen of SA on Arrow, EP Beth Schwartz: "It is not. He will be in the in the series finale." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver is really dead, EP Beth Schwartz: "Yes, he is really dead this time. Because the whole point of this death and the culmination of what brings us to the crossover is that everything he's learned throughout the series and these past eight years has led him to this moment to give the ultimate hero's sacrifice. And that's his life — to save everyone else. That's what a hero does. His journey has led him to make that ultimate sacrifice for his family, for his friends, for the other superheroes. And it just worked out in the timing of doing Crisis that the story made sense." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what larger impact or point did they want to make by killing off Oliver, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think the way that it affects everyone else: He saves the multiverse. He basically resets the timeline for the future, for his future children that we've seen in the flash forwards. You'll see in episode nine that their lives are very different. Any parent would want to sacrifice their own lives to give their children a better future and Oliver actually did that. His sacrifice changes the future for all the different shows and his children." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver could return at any point across the Arrowverse in the immediate or distant future, on any of the Arrowverse shows, EP Beth Schwartz: "That's up to the other shows and that's up to Stephen, really." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On EBR being in the series finale, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "The finale would not have felt right without her. [person with folded hands emoji]" (Jan. 20, 2020 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she knows how happy and excited fans are for EBR's return, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Yes! I never kept it a secret that I wanted her back." and "Everyone knows I’m the most excited about this." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweets, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if we are going to find out what "Older Felicity deal" was, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Maybe [smiley face emoji]." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked to describe the Felicity scenes in the series finale in three emojis or three words, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Only needs one - perfection." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who tweeted "olicity + taylor swift is my brand," EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Just wait!" (Nov. 9, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "It was really important to me and Marc to really honor all of our characters in this... We spent a lot of time in the room brainstorming endings for all our characters, and whether they were series regulars in Season 8 or they were series regulars in Season 1, we really wanted to give everyone a satisfying ending so that you could envision what their lives would be like after the show was over." (Jan. 27, 2020 TV Guide, TVLine and Variety articles, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, there were a lot of conversations about which previously deceased characters could be brought back: “We were really setting the rules [for who was back and why]. And we spell it out in the in the finale.” (Jan. 27, 2020 Variety article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “It was extremely challenging... In the end, all of those challenges is what made the ending so perfect.” (Jan. 27, 2020 Variety article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Felicity meeting Adult Mia at Oliver's funeral. EP Beth Schwartz: "There's a lot of wish fulfillment, for a few reasons... One, you know, being a parent — and I'm a new parent — seeing your child as their adult self is really crazy and also amazing when you're proud of who she became as a woman, and also honoring her father's legacy. Not obviously under great circumstances because they're at Oliver's funeral, but I think it was a very meaningful moment in their lives." (Jan. 27, 2020 TV Guide, TVLine and Variety articles, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) James Bamford -- JBam: "So during prep for 801, Marc comes into my office and he goes, 'hey, do you want to know about the final scene for the final -' - because I'm directing the series finale - and so he says, 'do you want to know what your final scene is?' And I said, 'yeah.' 'Well, I was meditating' - um, I think he was somewhere on a trip - 'and I was meditating for an hour or so and I came out of the meditation and the scene came to me.' I said, 'okay.' And then he goes, 'you want to see it?' I'm like, 'yeah, I want to see it.' And so he [unintelligible word]. I thought it was this big secret. But then he emailed it to me, like, he wrote it and 'bing' and so I have it in my email here that I'm not showing you. But, uh, I read it and, uh, started crying and, uh - not in front of him though, because I don't want to let them know that you're bleeding, you know. Um, but, uh, the only word I can use to describe it is perfect. So, uh, it's exactly what it should be. It's genius. It's f**cking genius. And you can quote that ." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 28, 2019 fanbolt video of James Bamford interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the 810 fight scene, director James Bamford: “This is probably the longest battle we’ve ever shot, and it was on the final episode of the show ever. I’m so very proud of Stephen, and the stunt team, for allowing me to finish the show with this gift of a sequence. What a wonderful ride it’s been!” (Jan. 27, 2020 TVLine article, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Arrow Writers -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810, Arrow writer Benjamin Raab tweeted: "Calling all #Arrow (and #Olicity) fans... #TheFinalBow." (Nov. 1, 2019 Wondermasons tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Blake Neely -- In response to fan comment that watching Oliver die twice was hard but that she loved the music used both times, Arrow composer Blake Neely tweeted: "Thanks, Ruth. Technically, he died three times! Is he dead yet? Not until the memorial in 810, which I’m working on now! [cow emoji]" (Jan. 17, 2020 cowonthewall tweet, page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Stephen Amell -- On his reaction to what MG wrote for the final scene of series, SA: "I haven't read it. I've been pitched it. Um, and, uh, I mean... (pause) ... I can't talk about it. It's really cool. Um, I think that, uh - do you have a favorite finale?" Interviewer: "Probably Season 2." SA: "No. Do you have a favorite series finale?" Interviewer: "Not Game of Thrones." SA: "I loved the Game of Thrones finale, but it was an epilogue. There's a difference." Another interviewer: "Cheers." SA: "Okay. Just [unintelligible word] Cheers. Because the last scene is - it's just Sam going, 'no, we're closed,' and then he goes and he fixes the thing. If I were to pick the way we go out, we would go out like that. And the way Marc pitched it, he was like, 'so you are, like, here,' and I'm like, 'what?' And he goes, 'and then this happens,' and I go, 'oh.' And then that's it. And I go, 'f*ck.' I hope it works out." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Aug. 2, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV article and video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 9 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: “Because he’s a superhero with no superpowers, I always felt he should die — but he may also not die.” SA actually found out what the show’s final scene would be at EW’s cover shoot in early July 2019. SA: “I cried as [Marc Guggenheim] was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene.” (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I've always thought that Oliver should, uh - Specifically because he is a superhero with no superpowers. I've always felt like he should die. That being said, it was very emotional doing those scenes. But he also might not die. So...." (Jul. 17, 2019 Entertainment Weekly video titled "Arrowverse Reunion...", page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows how it's going to end for Oliver and how he feels about it, SA: "Yeah... Good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Whedonopolis Videos video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On much influence he will have over the way that Oliver's story concludes, SA: "A lot. A lot. We talked about it for a long time. Um, I was very, very, uh, - very, very grateful. A lot of the end of 722 and the fact that it ended with Emily, uh - a lot of that was my pitch. Uh, I thought that - you know, we had to - we had to write that episode like we're never going to see her character again. Okay, so, jumping off from that, if we think that we're never going to see her character again, well, you better give her a good good-bye. Okay? You better - you better wrap that up. And I thought that it was cool that, you know, 'cause we may never see her again - I thought it was cool for the fans to realize, okay, well, like, somewhere out there, they're good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 25, 2019 Fangirlish article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it will take longer for fans to recover from the Arrow series finale than from the Game of Thrones series finale, SA: "I'm not the right person to answer this question. I loved the last season of Game of Thrones. (Some boos from audience) Oh, I love all finales. If you all hate our finale, I'll know we've done a good job. (Audience reaction) No, no, uh - I - no, uh - Marc and I were talking earlier. Arrow has a happy ending. You know when I tell you guys what happens on the show, and I tell you in plain sight, you just don't hear me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's any way there will be a happy ending, SA: "No. Of course not... Maybe. People don't like finales. I like finales. I liked the Seinfeld finale, I loved the Game of Thrones finale. And people will be mad at this finale, but it could be a happy ending... Actually, I just got pitched it. It actually is a happy ending. That's neat. Sorry." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it's possible to reverse the 20-year separation and give Oliver a happy ending, SA: "Look, we've kinda mapped out how the show is gonna end. And normally when television shows do that, that's not how it ends, which is probably why that's how it's gonna end." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On him previously teasing that we can expect a happy ending, SA: "That's just because I love all series finales. I love Seinfeld. I like Lost... I think it's going to be happy because there's - there's a resolution... That doesn't mean that it won't be sad. But I personally think that it's a happy ending. It is for me. I don't care about anyone else." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the ending for his character, SA: "It's what I want. I pitched it for a very long time. It's what I want, but, concurrently, like, that doesn't mean there aren't surprises along the way. I was floored when I got the pitch for the crossover. I don't see it coming. Nobody sees it coming. Um, it's going to be so rad." (Aug. 20, 2019 TV Guide tweet & video of SA interview, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread in Arrow forum) -- SA tweeted: "Let’s wait until February and run this back. Our finale is just me boiling vegetables for 42 minutes." (Oct. 1, 2019 SA tweet, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- During an interview with ComicBook.com, they asked SA to address an old theory we came up with, namely, that Oliver Queen would not die in the Crisis but would be removed to a pocket Universe with Felicity. Asked whether he would prefer death, or a fake-out death like that, SA teased, "I have a third idea, but I can't tell you what it is." (Oct. 14, 2019 ComicBook article, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "When it's time to say goodbye, say goodbye. That doesn't mean what the Monitor has prophesized is gonna come true. But it's - it's important. When I'm - when I'm done with the show, I actually feel like it's in the best service of, not just the show, but the Arrowverse, so to speak, to actually really be done. Flash, it's gonna keep going, and Supergirl's gonna keep going. And I just hope they look back at what I hope is, you know, a decade or 12 years or 15 years, and - I don't know, I just hope they had a good time watching our shows." (Oct. 16, 2019 The Jam TV Show video of SA and DR interview, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "Um, well, I watched the series finale last night. Um, it's, uh... the scene that the series finale opens with is - I can't wait for people to see it so I can talk about how it came to be. But, uh, it literally makes your head go 'poof' (makes exploding head gesture with hand) ... like that." Also SA: "That I can tell you about the series finale is that we wanted to do a big - it's like, okay, it’s our last kick at the can. Um, let's do the - let's do the action sequence to end all action sequences for Arrow. And the coolest thing is that, I want to say, every stunt guy, more or less that has ever worked on the show, even guys that are now retired or coordinating on Supergirl or Flash, um, or Legends, um, everybody came out. And everybody sold out in terms of selling what was happening. Um, it was - it's a sequence that, I showed it to Robbie, and he’s like ‘That was incredible!’ I’m like, ‘That was the first third of it, keep watching.’ And it just goes - it's - it's, um, it's a little superfluous, It's a little like - you know, it's a little theatrical, just in terms of the amount of people that I murder. It’s what the fans deserved.” (Dec. 10, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted: "Just watched the Series Finale of Arrow with my Mom in London. Christmas Eve Special. She’s ok. She’s not alright, but she’s ok." (Dec. 24, 2019 SA tweet, page 40 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Season 8 finale (might have) some call back stunts to the last few seasons." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- Fan report on what SA said: "Dream ending for Oliver Queen? Uh-uh. :)." (Supanova Sydney, Jun. 22, 2019: cherchersketch tweet, page 138 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) David Ramsey -- DR: "I think everyone will be satisfied with the finale - not just the crossover, but the finale." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Diggle is, as he should be, at Oliver's side. That's how we begin this season. And ultimately that's how we end it." (Sep. 13, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I just found out some things that'll be going on in episode 10. I think you guys are going to be very, very excited." (Oct. 8, 2019 Srta Roheli video of DR instagram live story, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, with what he's been told about the season, he feels like we'll have a sense of closure or whether he feels like there will still be some questions left unanswered, DR: "Yes, there is some definite closure to some parts, and there’s definitely questions still laid out there and certainly lives that aren’t fully completed yet. By the time the series ends, you’ll still say, 'Okay, I still want to see more of this,' without a doubt. There are situations in this show, by the time Episode 10 is done, where you will clearly say, 'Okay, I wanna see more.' It isn’t wrapped up in one little nice bow. To some degree, there are pieces that are wrapped up, but this is a show that has a lot of moving parts and a lot of different characters that can live on past the show, so you’ll still wanna see more. That’s part of the strength of what’s happening, in this last season. This isn’t a situation where people are saying, 'Oh, you’re still on?' It’s like, 'You’re leaving? No!' That sentiment is there because there’s still a lot of life left to the show." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Arrow's final season will drop any last Green Lantern teases, DR: “Without a doubt. You are absolutely going to get your answers. And well-deserved answers. We’ve been talking about this for years, and I think everyone by series’ end will be very happy.” (Jan. 24, 2020 TVLine article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In what DR describes as a "reflective, monumental, and grateful" finale, we'll see Team Arrow, (plus a few other familiar faces) cope with the loss of the man that inspired them all to be heroes. In doing so, they'll hopefully take fans through the mourning process — not just for Oliver, but for this beloved show — along with them. DR: "I think the episode is an expression of gratitude to our fans and to the people who've invested themselves in [the show] for the past eight seasons." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On his final moment with SA while filming the series finale, DR: "There was a very nice moment between me and Stephen as our first A.D. Mark Bunting was announcing everyone's a wrap... Stephen went through a moment where he talked about he and I first meeting and even then it was the beginning of a budding friendship off-camera that really extended to an on-camera friendship as well. It's sad to say goodbye to that, to that piece of it. But also, we're both very happy about what we did." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On EBR's return for the series finale, DR: "Me and Stephen always say, thank God that she came because it was just two guys brooding in a basement for several episodes before she showed up. We were lucky to have her... The show kept on experiencing lightning in a bottle over and over again, and she was one of those experiences." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy -- When asked how SA is going to be back for the series finale, KC: "Well, I can't tell you. You're gonna have to watch it." Access: "In a Spectre type of way, because he has sort of a new form?" JH: "Interesting." KC: "Hmm, that's an interesting idea." JH: "Yes, yes, uh, yeah, they were very - the way that they made that work was very creative and it was done very tastefully and in a way that honors him being gone, but puts his presence in there in a way that just, like, roots the finale." Access: "And the legacy." JH: "And the legacy." KC: "And the show, really, overall. Yeah." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Rick Gonzalez -- RG: "You know, this season will be a culmination of, like, you know, everything we've put in and also, like, a really great love letter to the fans, and for us to kinda wrap things up in a way that satisfies and fulfills everything that we've done on the show. So hopefully we get to do that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he thinks the future is set in stone or whether it can change, RG: "I think it can change. I think so. I think that's what - why we care about these characters and these stories because, with the powers that someone like the Monitor has, it doesn't take away from the ability that these characters have as - as who they are, which is, people that want to do right, you know, and want to do the right thing. They fight for that. So that's the exciting part about the show, is like we - just because he's that powerful doesn't mean that things can't change, you know? So, absolutely." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish video and Jul. 23, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of RG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Katherine McNamara -- When asked for three words to describe the series finale, KM: "The series finale? OK, you’ve got to give me second because I want to make this right…. I would say the series finale of Arrow is iconic; I would say it is about community; and it’s a farewell." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how her first day on Arrow compared to her last day on Arrow, KM: "Well, it was very different. My first day on the show, I was fighting in a cage with a black eye. And the last day on the show, I was having a very heartfelt scene with someone, having a conversation about my feelings, which is a very different road for Mia. She goes through a lot, and she grows quite a bit, over the course of the seasons. That’s been really amazing. That’s an actor’s dream is to get to play a character that actually goes somewhere." (Nov. 19, 2019 Collider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she was on set for the last day of filming Arrow, KM: "For the official-official last day with everybody, yeah. We had big group scenes that day, and Ben and I actually had a pickup day yesterday to shoot another scene from the backdoor pilot together. It was so lovely to get to wrap with him. But I gotta say, it really hit me. There was one scene where we had about, I think 12 or 15 actors in it and when it was done, we series-wrapped about 10 people and that hit me like a brick wall. I've made so many wonderful friendships on this show... and I know, yes, there is a potential for a future moving forward, but it's never going to be quite the same." (Nov. 19, 2019 TVInsider article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per KM, having EBR's Felicity return for the series finale was "so critical" for the storyline. KM: "It was just lovely to have her back on set... It made even the social aspect of wrapping the show mean so much more because she is so much of what Arrow is and I love Emily to death…. I’m so glad it worked out.” (Nov. 21, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the future now holds for Oliver & Felicity now, KM: "You get to see something and it's beautiful and I shed many tears on and off set about it... It's really lovely, and I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for people, but it's perfect." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM also used "beautiful" to describe the series finale as a whole. KM: "I'm so glad we were able to tie up the loose ends that we could, revisit those nostalgic moments, and really give the legacy the honor it deserves." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM teased that she worked with EBR again. KM: "[It] was such a joy... I'm glad she was able to come back. It wouldn't have felt right without her." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it's safe to say that Mia’s working through these unresolved daddy issues by putting on this costume and pursuing the type of vigilante life she used to despise, KM: "Absolutely, and you see that in episode 9 and you see that in the series finale of Arrow, as well." (Jan. 21, 2020 Rotten Tomatoes article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the series finale of Arrow is so beautiful, because many of you asked about it. And I cannot wait for you guys to see that as well. It's amazing to be able to take a moment to highlight what a legacy this has been, not only for The CW, but for Arrow as a show and for Stephen. And I feel as though the entire production worked really hard and accomplished something beautiful that really does it justice. So I can't for you to see tonight's episode of 'Green Arrow & the Canaries' and to see the Arrow series finale next week." (Jan. 21, 2020 Golden Warrior video of KM's instagram live on TV Guide's instagram account, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the series finale, KM: "I think people are going to be very surprised at the take we have on things... Expect the unexpected because you can’t really count on anything.” (Jan. 23, 2020 StyleCaster article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "The series finale of Arrow is really special. And it gives us much closure as anyone can be expect from eight years of a series... Get yourself a box of tissues." (Jan. 28, 2020 Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum's podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 778 of Social Media thread) LaMonica Garrett -- On how he would describe Arrow series finale, LMG: "One word that came to mind to describe how it ends is 'beautiful' ... It's a beautiful ending. ... A lot of shows have their ending and it doesn't live up to what the fans thought it should be. I remember when Seinfeld ended, people were like, 'Oh, that was a terrible ending', even though I happen to like it. Game of Thrones, people have their opinions on the way it went out. ... I think Arrow's ending is beautiful. That's my opinion. Everyone might have their own opinion, but I think it's a really good ending. And Arrow is the first show that started everything, so it's significant." (Nov. 3, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Production/Filming*(* During the shooting schedule for 810, Arrow also did some pickup and insert shots for 809.) -- On Oct. 15, 2019, MG tweeted pic of beginning of first page of 810 script. (MG tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 16, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Finally catching up to @mguggenheim and started writing the series finale... can’t express what a strange and surreal feeling it is. One last ride #ArrowFinalSeason." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 23 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 18, 2019, MG tweeted: "Accidentally deleted my draft of the Arrow finale today. But got it back. #CrisisAverted." (MG tweet, page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 19, 2019, Mark Bunting tweeted: "Prep for the final episode of Arrow is about to start. What a journey. #arrow." In response, MG tweeted: "Tuesday. Can’t believe it." (mrkbunting and mguggenheim tweets, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 22, 2019, MG tweeted pic of Green Arrow standing inside a crew truck filled with cameras, with comment: "First day of prep on the 170th — and final — episode of Arrow." (MG tweet, page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 23, 2019, MG tweeted: "First day of PREP. Not first day of shooting. Production of the finale begins 10/31...." (MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 24, 2019, MG tweeted pic of 810 script title page and very last portion of last page. (MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 30, 2019, Joe Dinicol posted an instagram live story captioned "Ragdog." From this video: Rick Gonzalez: "What's up, y'all? I just wanted to shout out -." Joe Dinicol: "Is this video?" RG: "Yeah, this is a video. I just wanted to let y'all know that Ragdog is back." JD: "Back!" RG: "Back! I just want to tell you right now... Tomorrow we're going to shoot this Ragdog scene." (Nov. 1, 2019 olicitybaby tweet of joedinicolofficial instagram story video, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 31, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "It’s the first day of shooting for the #Arrow finale [loudly crying face emoji]." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 31, 2019, Colton Haynes posted pic of himself, with comment: "So many emotions. Can’t believe Arrow is ending ?????? Today is the 1st day of the #ArrowFinale #RoyHarper." (coltonlhaynes instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 31, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "We have just set up the first shot of the final episode of Arrow.....ever. This is one for the books. All the love we can feel on set is overwhelming." (JamesBamford tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 31, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "Ok......ok.....not fair. @JulianaHarkavy made me cry today. Not fair." (JamesBamford tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 31, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "Day 1 of the #Arrow Series Finale in the books. What a beautiful day it was. Thank you everyone who came out today, and gave it their best. This episode has all the right feels. [bow & arrow emoji]." (JamesBamford tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, SA tweeted gif of Felicity, with comment: "There’ll be a lot of news coming out about our final episode over the next few months. I prefer when you hear it from us. Welcome back Emily." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, Caity Lotz tweeted pic of herself with KC and JH, with comment: "Three little birds @MzKatieCassidy @JulianaHarkavy." (caitylotz tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "Day 2 of the series finale here on #Arrow. Such an honor to be on a set in the presence of so many talented people over the years.....cast, and crew both. A big 'THANK YOU' to all involved in LA, Vancouver, and every other corner of the globe." (JamesBamford tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, fan report on what DR said: "David said they’re filming a big scene tonight. A melancholy scene. [eyes emoji]" (callistawolf tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 1, 2019, Audrey Marie Anderson posted pic of her actor's set chair and a pair of heeld pink shoes, with comment: "There have been a lot of “lasts” this season. Last mission, last warehouse, last time we all “suit up”. I was not sad when I wore these shoes for the last time! #ouch #finalseason #arrow #arrowverse." (audrey_marieanderson instagram post, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 2, 2019, SA tweeted: "It’s been an absolutely wonderful week in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with my two best girls. Gotta get to Vancouver now and film Arrow for the very last time. (Deep Breath...)." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 2, 2019, JDJ posted b-t-s pic of himself with LMG wearing his Monitor suit, with comment: "(Caption This) @lamonicagarrett comment wins hands down, but @jay_kent76 was a close second ?????? #dccomics #flash #arrow." (josephdjones instagram post, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, SA tweeted: "Just wrapped my final scene with David Ramsey. And just like that... I’ve wrapped with every series regular on the show. Holy shit." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 4, 2019, JH: "It's our last Monday on Arrow. I never thought I'd want a Monday to last longer. But I do.... I'm going to miss these guys." (Nov. 5, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 5, 2019, JH tweeted video clip of herself wearing her BC mask, with comment: "When you’re trying to inconspicuously drive home in your Canary mask between set ups but even in the dark everyone you pass is like [flushed face, face with open mouth, thinking face, neutral face and upside-down face emojis]." (JH tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 32 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 6, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself as Green Arrow, carrying his bow and standing on a rooftop at night, with comment: "Tonight is the last night I wear the Arrow suit." In this pic, Oliver appears to be wearing his S1 suit and has the dark greasepaint around his eyes and no mask. (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, SA tweeted: "Just took my boots off for the last time." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "Tonight while shooting the series finale we just shot the last shot of something we’ll never shoot again. A very important something. Thank you @StephenAmell for giving us all that something which has been so special to all of us. ??#Arrow." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 7, 2019, SA tweeted pic of himself reading a book while lounging on a sofa, with comment: "Now that I’ve almost wrapped on Arrow, my hope is to not really speak with anyone for a few months. @GaryJanetti is showing me the way. You should buy his book. But only if you want to get smarter...." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 8, 2019, MG tweeted: "Arrow is still filming." (MG tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, KM tweeted: "Wrapped for the weekend on @CW_Arrow and thinking of everyone at @DreamitCon. Wishing I could've made it there. Sending my love, gladers! #WCKDISGOOD #WIG." (KM tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, JH tweeted pic of herself with CH, with comment: "Y’all just don’t be surprised when I run away with this man IRL. ????@ColtonLHaynes #Arrow #TheFinalBow." (JH tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, JH tweeted: "If I could manage to NOT cry for even just ONE scene of this finale it would be super great. Cuz right now it’s reading like ... SCPD INTERIOR: DAY ... Dinah pours herself a cup of coffee, WEEPING & SNOTTING deeply into her own shirt. ... Dinah: Mornin’ Sgt. Pickles! ... #Arrow #TheFinalBow." (JH tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 9, 2019, SA tweeted pic of Felicity Smoak Funko POP doll, with comment: "Decorating my new trailer is going great." (SA tweet, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 10, 2019, RG: "Each day has been pretty, it sneaks up on you... We've been numb to it, but each day has been like, remember, it's coming. I just finished a scene on Friday with Juliana Harkavy and we were in tears. Every scene hasn't been easy. I'm hoping we can ease things with some liquor." (E! People's Choice Awards, Nov. 10, 2019: Nov. 14, 2019 TooFab article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 10, 2019, BL: "But we started shooting in July and here we are in November and I have one scene left, I feel like where did the time go? ... It's been a great season and I can't wait for everyone to see the final episodes that haven't aired yet." (E! People's Choice Awards, Nov. 10, 2019: Nov. 14, 2019 TooFab article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 11, 2019, papp tweeted: "Happy to see on Instagram that Colin Donnell & Colton Haynes are in the hood for the #Arrow series finale." and "Colin Donnell might be here for another reason but he flew into Vancouver last night." (yvrshoots tweets, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 11, 2019, SA (wearing his GA suit) tweeted pic of his daughter hanging off the salmon ladder on the Arrow set (looks like S1 bunker), with comment: "Working on Arrow changed my life. And every single time I think I’ve got my emotions in check, something like this happens." (SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 11, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Last week of production on #Arrow." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 11, 2019, Pagey mentioned the news that EBR will be back as Felicity in the series finale. Pagey: "Apparently - I don't know if this is true, do not take this as concrete information at all, because I just heard it randomly, um, from someone who has said some true stuff in the past, but I don't know if it's true at all. Apparently it's only two scenes. Um, one might be like present day Felicity. One might be that older version of Felicity that we saw go into, I guess, like the paradise dimension at the end of Arrow last season. It could just be a scene with each of those versions. But I have to wait and see if that's correct. This could just be someone guessing. But they have been right in the past in regards to some information. So I have to wait and see in regards to that." (Pagey video, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, JH posted pic of herself, with comment: "... Today begins our last week on Arrow. As thankful as I felt the day this photo was taken, nothing could describe how much that love and gratitude has grown. I am so proud of our cast, crew, writers, and producers. I hope you enjoy this final season. And I hope when you look back, you’ll find this story has moved you, inspired you, and changed you for the better. Because of #Arrow, I have been changed, for good. Thank you, thank you, thank you." (JH instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, SA posted pic of himself and his wife, with comment: "Me and @cassandrapants celebrated the end of Chapter 1 tonight. Not sure what’s next... which I’m cool with, because she’s by my side." (SA instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, DR posted: "During my last week on Arrow, a lot of things fill my mind... but mostly family... #Arrow." (DR instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, fan tweeted b-t-s pics of KC, CL, CH, RG and JH, with comment: "Early shootings. Everyone in black. This looks a lot like a funeral to me. But of all unpredictable things, this is very predictable. Oh Oliver ?? #Arrow" and, when asked if Sara is back, "She is back for the finale. Yep." (ENSM31 tweet & replies, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 12, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "We’ve never had so many cast as we’ve had on our set today....on our set in one scene.....and nope, it wasn’t a crossover. Thank you to all who were able to make it today. You made my year. [red heart emoji] You know who you are." (JamesBamford tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted pics of two screenshots from Jarett Wieselman's instagram story, with comment: "Why does #Emilybett have these in her trailer?" First pic shows chair marked "EMILY BETT RICKARDS ARROW 8" and tagged "One last time." Second pic shows Jarett, with tag: "Why does @emilybett have these in her trailer?" (EmiBettRickards tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted screenshot from CD instagram story, with comment: "Colin in Vancouver and talking in his stories about his filming trailer .... WHAT IS ROLLING FOR THE END OF # ARROW PORFAVÁ." (TodoArrow tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, KC posted pic of herself with WH, with comment: "Our last day of filming #Arrow & here we are @willaholland the #OG ‘s .... I adore you little lady! ??." (KC instagram post, page 6 of Spoilers thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of CL and KC getting their makeup applied, with CL saying, "Double touches on Katie's." (Nov. 13, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of CL instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of CL with her dog, with CL saying, "Today is the final day of filming for Arrow. So weird. It's been a crazy ride. Eight years for the show. Seven years for me. Hoo! It's crazy, right, Beez?" (Nov. 15, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of CL instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan posted b-t-s video of JH playing the guitar while KC watches her. (Nov. 15, 2019 Fanvid 101 video of JH instagram story, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, MG tweeted: "At 11:30 PST today, we begin the last day of filming on #Arrow. It's been quite the journey. ..." (MG tweets, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, Wyatt Fossett retweeted MG's Nov. 13th tweet about the final day of production on Arrow, with comment: "Was super lucky to have landed a role for the final episode. Even if it was wordless, being able to interact with these characters and crew that have been making this show for a decade was an absolute delight. <3." (WyattFossett tweet, page 40 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, Colin Donnell tweeted: "Today is the last day of filming for #Arrow. I still remember what I was wearing for my audition, what the room was like, my mind being blown that I was cast, my first flight to Vancouver, walking into my first hotel room, the first fitting...." (colindonnell tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, CH tweeted: "Today is the last day on Arrow. The last day I will get to go to work with these beautiful humans on a show that gave me so much. These ppl were with me through all the good & sad times & helped me through more than…." (ColtonLHaynes tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, fan tweeted video of CL's instagram story of KM in a bed, with comment: "Kat and crew were doing a facetime with Stephen. [loudly crying face and sneezing face emojis] #Arrow." She no longer appears to have Mia's tatts. (ensm31 tweet & video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Last day on Arrow. Last day going to Vancouver Film Studios to shoot on Stage A1, A2 and B1. It's been incredible. Words kind of - kind of, uh, don't really express. It's been a highlight of my career. One of the major highlights of my life. What can I say? Like, thanks to all you guys and get ready for a lot of tears today and a lot of joy, a lot of mixture, mixed-up stuff. But more than anything else, gratitude. I am very grateful. So, thanks. See you soon." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "To B1, Stage B1. That's where our bunker is. And, um, this is one of the last scenes. Two more scenes we're shooting on this set. This is one of the last ones. So, um, I'm feeling a bit emotional right now. But here we go." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Guys, I'm going to ADR... Sometimes on set, with shows like Arrow or shows that shoot up here in Vancouver, Flash, other shows, we will obviously have time to go down to L.A. to do ADR. And ADR is basically when there might be a scene where a line is off with some background noise so you can't hear us as actors for whatever reason. So we come in here, a place like this, In the Loop Mobile ADR, and shoot the lines, we shoot the scene so you guys can understand what's happening on television. And, um, it's my last time doing it for Arrow. So, I'd take you in, but it's a soundproof room. See ya!" (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, DR: "Okay. One more scene. One more setup. One more scene, and an era has ended." (Nov. 14, 2019 Máfia Olicity video of Nov. 13, 2019 DR instagram stories, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 13, 2019, papp tweeted pics of Arrow shooting a 810 scene at night, with comment: "NEW BLOG #Arrow films a scene for the SERIES FINALE in Crab Park yesterday with a lot of people..... but what was it for? ... #Arrow #Arrowverse #Vancouver #spoilers." From papp blog: "Arrow films a a scene for episode 810, the series finale with a whole lot of people. ... Yesterday I caught Arrow filming in a place fans are somewhat familiar with. Arrow had a rare location shoot for their 10th, and final episode of season 8. THEIR FINAL SEASON. This shoot was in Crab Park in Vancouver. ... But on this day, they were filming a little bit further in the park. Closer to the pier that juts out from the shore of the park. ... I can confirm Juliana Harkavy was there, as she posted an IG Story showing the exact opposite view I had. Outside of that, who knows? All I do know is, there was so many trailers there for cast, I lost track of how many there were. I would say easily 20, possibly 30?... which is A LOT for a film set of any size. James Bamford is directing the episode, which is titled 'Fadeout' and he tweeted this, and I can definitely say 'I' have never been to a set with so many cast trailers. ... The one thing you CAN make out however, is that during the filming there is something under a blanket for much of the evening. During the 4 hours they shot there, about 3 1/2 hours of it, that blanket you see wrapped around something in a couple of the photos was up. But for breif moments throughout the evening, the blanket would be removed for a scene, and we would see that under it was..... a statue of The Green Arrow. The base that it sat on was several feet high itself, so it towered above the cast & crew on hand for the scene. ... Of course, when they wrapped, it was taken away." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding Canadagraphs' posting pics of a Green Arrow statue with a bunch of people gathered around it, Pagey: "But in regards to specific people who are in this finale, going off the set photos, it does look like the Flash is there in his suit as well, because it does look like Roy Harper/Arsenal is there in his suit as well... I say the Flash and Arsenal specifically because they're red so it's easy to pick up. But we know that Sara Lance is there... Caity Lotz put heaps of stuff on her instagram story with her filming Arrow. Um, Joe Dinicol is back as Rory Regan AKA Ragman. Don't know if he's back as Rory Regan or as Ragman... Thea Queen is back. Obviously I mentioned Felicity. Apparently Nyssa al Ghul, um, is back as well. Um, there isn't any physical proof of that, but it seems she is back from what people are saying. So maybe don't treat that as a concrete information. But, that's what people are saying." Pagey then said that it's possible other people from the other Arrowverse shows could be there, but he doesn't know yet." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, fan tweeted video clip from Nov. 13, 2019 instagram story in which DR says: "One more scene... One more set-up... An era has ended." He appears to be in the Arrow bunker. (knowckknowckjoan tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, fan tweeted pic of DR on Arrow set holding his name card, with pic tagged: "That's a wrap." (jbuffyangel tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, David Nykl posted b-t-s pic of two rows of many actors' set chairs, with comment: "So. Many. Actors... So many good people. Thanks for the ride! #arrow #arrowverse #arrowseason8." (dav.nyk instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, Pagey: "Now Caity Lotz did post something on instagram story which showed a scene with Katherine McNamara in her bed." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, EK tweeted: "Series wrap on #Arrow. What a legacy this show will hold forever. I feel so blessed to have been apart of it." (EchoK tweet, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, regarding the filming of a last scene with SA, papp tweeted: "Hearing about the #Arrow filming going on right now from @canadagraphs & i'm so confused as to what on earth they are doing . Though my camera would have solved that lol" and "They have to film a _________ scene still tonight, which we knew about. But they are filming a __________ of a _________ instead first. Then he just found a ___________ for _______ that needs to be _______ for the __________ scene they still have to do." and "As long as you guys remember who brought you all this info once the show wraps. haha I know Ill lose a bunch of followers . One of the scenes is a driving scene. And thats a few of the blanks." (pursuit23 tweets, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, when asked if he thought they were doing reshoots of scenes, papp tweeted: "No I dont think so. Tho they may have done some tonight in a scene we weren't expecting." (pursuit23 tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "At this very moment we are shooting the final shot of the final episode of #Arrow. This scene is truly beautiful in the most honest meaning of the word. The perfect ending to this wonderful television series." (JamesBamford tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, James Bamford posted 810 clapboard dated Nov. 13, 2019 (Roll A40, Scene V32E, Take 1), with comment: "Here’s what the end of an era looks like up close. This is the slate for the final scene, in the series finale of #Arrow. I cried before, during, and after this scene was complete. The very special people in this scene know who they are, and know how much I love them for A. Being them....and B. Making this the most perfect ending to this epic journey. ??." This clapboard has a yellow sticky note with "LOVE SAVED THE CITY!" handwritten on it. (james2bambamford instagram post, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, SA tweeted: "Words can’t even begin to express what Arrow has meant to me. Best 8 years of my life. The cast and crew of the show have become my family. I’m going to miss them. I’m wrapped." (SA tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, Mark Bunting tweeted: "Tonight, I had the honour and privilege of wrapping @StephenAmell from a show that he brought so much strength and integrity too. Till next time my friend. #arrow." (mrkbunting tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "And that’s a wrap...." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted pic of herself in the Arrow Bunker, with comment: "Goodbye #Arrow." (SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, MG tweeted: "#Arrow is wrapped. Last two words of dialogue: 'To you.'” (MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, Pagey: "Speaking of Felicity, um, I don't know if this is 100% true, but people are saying actually Emily Bett Rickards only shot one scene, that she was only there for one day of filming, which is this last day of Arrow. I don't know if they would do that. I think they might have her there for more than one scene. But maybe they just have it where she just comes back to honor what's happening, which we will go over in a second, um, and then she just goes." (Pagey video, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, Jack Moore, who played the younger, present day version of William, was at the Arrow wrap party. (Nov. 16, 2019 iammoorepheus tweet and Nov. 17, 2019 jackmoore003 instagram post, page 773 of Social Media thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, papp tweeted: "My last #autograph on an #Arrow set ever, Katherine McNamara. I got her earlier in the night when she wrapped her final scene." (canadagraphs tweet, page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, papp tweeted Nov. 15, 2019 blog link and filming pics, including pic of highway sign for "Oliver Queen Memorial Drive," with comment: "NEW BLOG #Arrow blog on the #ArrowFinale shooting their FINAL SHOOT of the entire series YESTERDAY. MAJOR SPOILER... you've been warned. ... #Arrowverse #CrisisOnInfiniteEarths #Spoiler #Spoilers." From blog article: "Yesterday I caught Arrow filming in a place fans are somewhat familiar with. Arrow had a rare location shoot for their 10th, and final episode of season 8. THEIR FINAL SEASON. This shoot was in Crab Park in Vancouver. ... For this night, they were doing scenes where the recently unveiled Oliver Queen statue is in Star City. As opposed to that nights shoot, there was little to no cast here on this evenings shoot. The only cast i am 100% certain of is Katherine McNamara was there as Mia Smoak shooting scenes. It SEEMS a guy is with her in the scene. It COULD be Ben Lewis as William Clayton, but in the photos I have of the scene, and my vision make me unsure of that. ... During the evening, I also saw a woman with darker hair, and a dark jacket on set. I am unsure if it is a character, or simply a stand in for Mia. I watched her do enough takes that I felt like they actually were filming scenes of this woman however. But I could not come up with a clear identity if it was. ... Later they seemed to shoot a scene where Mia & the man stand near the statue, and are looking in its general direction. A bit later, they shot a scene where just Mia seemed to be in the scene, and she walks toward the statue at a hurried pace. ... Shortly after that, a round of applause went out as crews often do when a cast member wraps. It was the end of the night for Katherine (and if any other cast were there, them too). I made an eager effort to go and try to get near the statue to get a pic of it before they took it down, but they were fast. They had the actual statue removed in mere seconds, and if there was any plates on the bottom piece, they too seemed to be removed by the time I made it in there just a few moments later. ... As crew were leaving the location I got 1 final autograph ever from someone on an Arrow set, as Katherine McNamara signed for me as she left for the final time. ... After the crew wrapped the statue location, they moved out to the street. This was the scenes I was expecting when I went down there that night. But I got a bit more than I expected. ... I went there thinking I would see a car leaving or coming into Star City past the 'entering/leaving Star City' signs they have used in this location many times. I joked with someone the other day that for a city as large as Star City, they do seem to only have 1 way in & out, as they always use the same road. ... They first did a scene with a motorbike being ridden by a darker haired woman. It was not an actor, it was a stunt team driver. But her hair would have been done to depict whoever it was supposed to be. So it sort of limits the choices down to very few. At first i thought maybe Dinah Drake? But then after talking with someone, they suggested maybe Thea Queen? In either case, since there was no scene with an actual actor, and the stunt person never had the helmet off in the shoot, its hard to know certainly who it is. ... After that scene was shot, they did one with a Tesla driving up & down the street a couple times. I didnt know when I was shooting it, and only noticed when I got home & saw it on my computer screen. But if you look closely, the license plate looks futuristic..... so is this a scene for 'future Star City'? ... They did a few takes of this car driving up & down the street, before director James Bamford, and the cast & crew of Arrow officially, WRAPPED (sorry Marc Guggenheim that no one told you when it actually was wrapping). ... There was 1 constant throughout the two scenes that I guess I sort of didnt really point out, and it is frankly why I titled this whole blog as 'major spoiler'. They drive by a street sign. That sign reads 'Oliver Queen Memorial Drive'. Unlike the statue, the signed stayed up for about 5 minutes after they wrapped, so I was able to gee a couple photos of it, before a crew member went across the street, pulled it down and started disassembling it.... and just like that, there was evidence they had even filmed a scene with that sign there." (canadagraphs tweet & blog article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, MG tweeted: "Earlier this week, we shot a scene for the #Arrow finale I was CONVINCED would be spoiled by paparazzi. Somehow, someway, it wasn't. Miracles do happen." and "Let me say this: Sometimes, we spoil things preemptively." (MG tweets, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, in response to fan who tweeted pic of Green Arrow statue, MG tweeted: "From the spinoff. Looks good, though." In response, fan tweeted: "nice try. but this was actually taken during the shoot of the Arrow series finale. same as the photo of the 'Oliver Queen Memorial drive' sign." In response, MG tweeted: "If you’re talking about yesterday [Nov. 14], we were doing pickups for 809. We wrapped 810 on Wednesday night [Nov. 13]." (MG and runaway1976 tweets, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discusssion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, KM: "You know, it's funny, 'cause yesterday we had one more pickup day where I shot one scene for episode nine and then insert shots and all of this, and yesterday was just such a short day. It was just fun play time with the crew. But the day before was the big day, the last official day of production when Stephen wrapped, and Emily wrapped, and everybody else. There was one scene in particular that we had so many people in that they series wrapped about 10 people when we finished the scene. And that's when I cried, because there are so many possibilities for the future of what the Arrowverse could be, especially for me, but it will never be the same. This is special, this is unique, and you know, the people are what made that show so iconic, and that was really special to be there for that moment." (Nov. 19, 2019 Eoinline article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 15, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "And......that’s an official shooting wrap on the series of Arrow. Thank you everyone so much for all of your support over the years! We love you all!!" (JamesBamford tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 35 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 20, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "Spent the day in the editing room with Patrick Brian....one of our very gifted editors.....working on the director’s cut of episode 810 of #Arrow....the series finale. What I experienced today moved me beyond words. I’m so very proud of this, and saddened at the same time." (JamesBamford tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 20, 2019, fans tweeted b-t-s pics and video clip of some Arrow cast members on last day of filming. Pics include EBR (with blonde hair and glasses), KM, BL, RG, KC, AMA, EK and JD. When asked about SA, another fan tweeted: "He filmed that day so I'm sure he was there. If he wasn't , it's probably before he came on set to film his scenes. I think he was one of the last one to wrap that day so." (ShaunaSullivan, Olicity_News and Annecool17 tweets, page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room, with comment: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken during my final transformation into Black Canary... It's moments like these that I will forever cherish. #Arrow." In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. KC subsequently changed her comment to read: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken on one of the final days of #Arrow S8 ?? These are some of the moments I will forever cherish." (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, MG tweeted: "@SchwartzApprovd and I just watched @JamesBamford’s cut of the #Arrow series finale. '...tell it to you.'” (MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 30, 2019, James Bamford posted pic of himself with KC, with comment: "My friend @katiecassidy and myself in a wonderful moment after we just shot several character’s final #Arrow scenes......on the series finale.....episode 810. #arrowthefinalseason." (james2bambamford instagram post, page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On or before Dec. 13, 2019, MG: "You have to understand, with Arrow, we just, like on Friday, locked the series finale." (Dec. 13, 2019 DC Comics News (DCN) podcast interview with MG, page 775 of Social Media thread) -- On Jan. 14, 2020, Caity Lotz posted pic of herself with EBR on the Arrow set. Regarding that pic, fan tweeted: "I'm SO sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but I just confirmed the pic is from filming the finale. The first picture is from a video of Caity saying it was the last day of filming the finale, it was also the same day Emily was on set. And she's wearing the same outfit in both." (caitylotz instagram post and babblesqueen tweet, page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Jan. 22, 2020, MG posted monitor with screenshot of bearded Oliver on Lian Yu in Warner Bros. studio editing room, with comment: "The very last mix playback for #Arrow..." (marcguggenheim instagram post, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited January 28, 2020 by tv echo Link to comment
tv echo January 27, 2020 Author Share January 27, 2020 (edited) Since S7 ended last year, I have been collecting all spoilers relating to Olicity's fate and, therefore, to the series finale ending (of course, after it was announced that EBR would be returning, I had to go back and delete a lot of spoilers pertaining to the question of whether or not she would return). Therefore, this is a Special Olicity Edition of Season 8 Spoilers. These spoilers are organized first by source and then listed chronologically under each source... SUMMARY OF S8 OLICITY SPOILERS The CW Network -- From 810 synopsis: "EMILY BETT RICKARDS RETURNS FOR THE SERIES FINALE OF 'ARROW' – After eight seasons, and the launch of countless superheroes, the series wraps up the story of the Green Arrow (Stephen Amell). Emily Bett Rickards returns as Felicity." (Jan. 11, 2020 SpoilerTV article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 41 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) S8 Promos -- 810 promo pics include Felicity. (Jan. 20, 2020 StarlingCityJ tweet, page 45 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jan. 20, 2020 Entertainment Weekly, GreenArrowTV, SpoilerTV and TV Guide articles, TVLine pic gallery link and The CW PR pic gallery link, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 "Hitting the Bullseye" promo trailer includes a shot of Oliver & Felicity holding hands and standing in the QC offices looking through the window out at Star City. (Jan. 21, 2020 TV Promos video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- 810 sneak peak #2 video features Felicity's return to the Arrow Bunker. (Jan. 28, 2020 Eonline article & video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Media, Fans and Reddit -- Fans tweeted b-t-s pics and video clip of some Arrow cast members on the very last day of filming. Pics include EBR (with blonde hair and glasses), KM, BL, RG, KC, AMA, EK and JD. When asked about SA, another fan tweeted: "He filmed that day so I'm sure he was there. If he wasn't , it's probably before he came on set to film his scenes. I think he was one of the last one to wrap that day so." (Nov. 20,2019 ShaunaSullivan, Olicity_News and Annecool17 tweets, page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From TV Guide article (as originally published): "It's still unclear how the finale will address Oliver's death, given that Amell is in the finale and sharing scenes with Rickards." Then from same TV Guide article (as edited): "It's still unclear how the finale will address Oliver's death, given that Amell is in the finale." (Jan. 20, 2020 TV Guide article, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- From 810 spoilers from Reddit user (superpyroman): "The entire EP is a funeral memorial shit. ... Fefe 2040 from last season gets transported to the afterlife(?) with Spectre Oliver." From fan's summary of this reddit user's spoilers: "There's one Olicity scene, which is what we've been guessing - the final scene in the afterlife. Star City is their afterlife/paradise dimension, where Oliver is definitely dead (possibly Spectre). They look like their 2020 selves and it's 2-3 minutes long. - I'm guessing it's post 2040 for Felicity." Another fan: "The Reddit guy called the finale’s only Olicity scene 'a bit sweet' and for him to admit that is huge because he is NOT a fan. So that gives me hope." Also from Reddit user: "Felicity has a lot of scenes ... There is an Olicity kiss." Another fan's summary of additional spoilers: "When asked what Oliver & Felicity say to each other, reddit guy: 'some cheesy shit... I think its more cheesy and fanservicey.' Apparently it's never explained how exactly and why Oliver appears only after 20 years. Felicity leaves via the S7 scene where the Monitor takes her. Oliver has his normal voice and not his Spectre voice. ... When asked if there is any line that stuck in his head, reddit guy: 'what oliver said in the end like "fortunately we have all the time in the world" non verbatim.' When asked if Oliver is still Spectre, reddit guy: 'I don't think he was Spectre exactly. Just Oliver after being the Spectre.'" (Jan. 25, 2020 posts by reddit user superpyroman, pages 47-49 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Featherhat and Trisha posts, page 48 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and tv echo post, page 49 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TV Guide (after 810 advance screening): "Felicity and Oliver's love story will be honored in the finale, especially when it comes to the adult-version of their daughter, Mia (Katherine McNamara)." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich (after 810 advance screening): "Pleasantly surprised by the amount of Felicity in the #Arrow series finale. And boy, did EBR bring it one last time [crying emoji] All told, there are well-earned emotional moments for numerous characters (and maybe even a sliiightly flirty funeral chat between two strangers)." and, when asked how much SA is in 810, "Lots." and, when asked about the reddit spoilers, "Ugh, not the infamous Guy on Reddit! Guy on Reddit always knows *everything*! Phooey. So easy to focus down in Mom of Guy on Reddit’s basement I guess 😅." and "The Mia/Felicity scene is a 9.5." (Jan. 27, 2020 MattMitovich tweets, page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Eonline's Lauren Piester (after 810 advance screening): "Felicity's return was pivotal to the finale in a lot of ways, as you'll see, and she's in it a lot more than you might assume she is despite only being able to film for two days. If you're a Felicity fan (or an Olicity fan) you won't be disappointed, and we can promise you that. (Like, get ready. Truly.) ... In all seriousness, Arrow's series finale is a pretty beautiful send off to the show that launched a thousand other shows, and features surprises you haven't yet seen pictures of and an ending fit for a hero." (Jan. 28, 2020 Eonline article & video, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Marc Guggenheim and Beth Schwartz -- On having the final scene written since June 2019 and their conversations about it, EP Beth Schwartz: "We always left it open, at the end of Season 7, to have that final scene. Marc called me or texted me in June, and was like, 'I wrote the final scene,' after meditation." MG: "I meditate every morning, and this has never happened to me, before or since, but I came out of the meditation with the entire scene in my head, literally word for word, exactly as you just watched it. I quickly opened up my laptop and had to get it down. For me, it just felt so right. I very excitedly texted Beth and was like, 'I wrote the final scene and I’ve gotta send it to you.' I sent it and, of course, the big question was, is Emily coming back to be in it? I was like, 'Now, she really has to because I really love this scene.' And fortunately, she did." Beth: "We didn’t even think of another ending. We didn’t have a backup plan, at all. We were just like, 'Emily needs to do this.' Luckily, she did." (Jan. 28, 2020 Collider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Marc Guggenheim -- On Arrow's series finale, MG: "[W]e get to do, I think, a much more sort of character-based ending... And the goal is, you know, to make it satisfying for the fans, but, um, the good news for us is, we don't have the challenges that Lost or Game of Thrones had... It's a hard thing to do it in a way that satisfies - you know, satisfies everyone... Because obviously I have been thinking, like, how does one end the series, um, I think there's what the initial reaction to something is and then there's how it stands the test of time. Um, and, you know, those two things are not always the same." (SDCC, Jul. 19, 2019: Comicbook video of MG interview, 1 of Spoilers thread and page 4 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how a lot of people felt that Arrow could've ended at the end of Season 7, even though there is more story to tell, MG: "Um, you know, it's funny, I think we knew not long before the - not long, but like certainly during Season 7, we knew that - we knew when the end was going to come. Um, I think, we discussed a lot, like, well, we know Emily is leaving at the end of Season 7. Do we end there? Do we keep going? Can we keep going? And we did feel like there was - there was more story to tell, um, as difficult as it is to do it without Emily. It's really, really hard. For the longest time, I've been saying, like, you can't do the show without Emily Rickards. Um, and I think, if the show - if the conversations had been, 'we'll do 22 episodes without Emily,' I would've said, 'you can't do that.' Um, 10 episodes, when one episode is the series premiere, another episode's the crossover, another episode's the series finale, suddenly you're down to 7 episodes, you can start having those conversations in a way that feels a little more realistic." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 28, 2019 Hollywood News Source video of MG interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG hopes fans will appreciate the work they'd put into crafting a proper ending for the series, saying: "We always go into these things with the best of intentions... We're trying so had to just entertain everybody and honor all of the things the fans want... We hope that everyone appreciates it on its own terms, the way we like to do things." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 GameSpot article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: “We’ve had a character come to Oliver and say, ‘You’re gonna die.' ... Whenever I read about this online, people are asking us questions, they’re thinking about things in a very binary way, that the ending will either be X or Y. All I would say is that we have Z planned.” (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: TheWrap article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 10 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG acknowledged that Arrow is “fundamentally a different show without Emily [Bett Rickards],” who played Felicity. (Sep. 4, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 14 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how the final shot of the series has evolved over the past several years, MG confirmed that there have been changes in his vision for what that last image will look like. MG: "It's shifted for a variety of different logistical reasons. Things that were originally planned for the series finale are now in the crossover, and by moving those moments into the crossover, it allowed me to look at those moments through a different lens and through a different eye and that changed some things... Until we actually shoot the finale, Beth and I were talking about this earlier today, I've given myself permission to not be dogmatic about what the finale is and allow myself to remain open for another idea." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how they can balance the fact that they had this satisfying ending to Felicity, knowing that EBR was leaving, but still have her feel like a part of the world, MG: "That’s a great question. It’s a challenge. The way I look at it is that it was a perfect ending for Felicity. Were Emily to return to the show, it wouldn’t be to provide an ending to Felicity’s story, it would be to provide an ending to Oliver’s story. They’re two different exercises. As a viewer, I hate when an actor or actress leaves a show, and then, suddenly, it’s like they’re dead and you never talk about them. We’ve never been that way, on this show. Take Sara Lance, who died in the pilot. We had no intention of bringing that character back to life, when we first started out the show, and yet, you hear about Sara, all the time. It’s part of creating a real, lived-in universe. If someone leaves your life, you still talk about them. So, we’re still talking about Felicity. There’s a moment in Episode 801 that’s a big acknowledgement of Felicity. I hope it makes the cut because it’s really funny and fun. Emily’s not in it, but it’s a major acknowledgement of Emily and Felicity. You’ve gotta have those moments, otherwise their absence is really suspicious." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there is one particular character that’s very different from how he thought they would be, and if their journey became so different that they couldn’t end up where he expected, MG: "That’s a good question. No. It depends upon, expected from when? For example, there was never a Felicity Smoak in the pilot, and there was no Felicity Smoak in the overall plan of the show, so that alone changed everything. The governing philosophy of Arrow is that I like to break a show the way I like to go to Europe, which is that I like to have a plan – I like to have my theater tickets and my restaurant reservations and my museum tickets – but then, I like to be able to give myself freedom to deviate from the plan. And I really think that’s exactly what we’ve done with Arrow. And by the time Arrow is finished, I think it’ll be particularly true, where we always had a plan, always had ideas, and always had certain things we felt we were moving towards, and for the most part, we’ve honored the spirit of that, but we’ve also given ourselves the freedom to react to things, like when a great actress like Emily comes along, we write towards that character. We’ve be open to new and different ideas, so that when different opportunities, like having 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' as part of our universe, comes along, we can take advantage of that." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TVLine's Matt Mitovich: "When you shot the Season 7 finale with Emily and LaMonica on the street with the fog and everything, did you happen to pre-shoot something else with her, while you had her there?" MG: "No…. I guess there’s a world where you’re thinking that far in advance, but that’s pretty rare. In fact, the last scene that I’ve written for the show, I only wrote that [in late June]." (Comments to Nov. 1, 2019 TVLine article, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810 and his preference that fans hear the news from them, MG tweeted: "I prefer it, too. [face with stuck-out tongue and winking eye emoji] We couldn't be happier or more thrilled. No other way to do our finale. You'll find our about more old friends returning in the coming weeks..." (Nov. 1, 2019 MG tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it was always the plan to bring EBR back, MG tweeted: "I would say it was always the HOPE." (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan's thank you for bringing EBR back, MG tweeted: "It was a team effort. And we're all VERY excited it worked out!" (Nov. 2, 2019 MG tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who was concerned about Oliver not appearing in 809 due to his death in the COIE crossover and who asked if there was a backup plan in case the spinoff does not go forward, MG tweeted: "The #Arrow spinoff takes place in 2040. We already spoiled that Oliver is dead by that time, so his not appearing in Arrow 809 (the spinoff episode) isn't affected by what happens in Crisis (or, for that matter, the series finale)." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if he was confirming Oliver's final death, MG tweeted: "By 2040? Yeah. Like I said, not a spoiler." (Nov. 18, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what he can say about Felicity's role in the series finale, MG tweeted: "I can say that she's in the finale." (Dec. 6, 2019 MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 38 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "I always felt, and Stephen Amell always felt, that Oliver's journey had to end with his death. Despite everything he'd done, the man he was before he became the Green Arrow, and the man he was when he was the Hood, you know, killing off so many people, we felt that there had to be an end to his journey that ended with, you know, some sort of recompense, but also recompense wrapped with a bit of redemption." (Video in Jan. 14, 2020 Entertainment Weekly article, page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On killing Oliver two episodes before Arrow ends, MG: "That was always the plan. Ever since once the stars aligned and we knew that we were doing Crisis in Arrow's last year, we knew several things. We knew that Oliver had to die in Crisis, as we've been saying for a year now. And we also knew that it had to happen in the Arrow hour of the crossover. So we definitely created some interesting creative challenges for ourselves in terms of what the final two episodes would be, particularly the Arrow series finale. But those challenges really are creative opportunities." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "Stephen's deal was always for nine episodes. The CW asked us for a 10th episode and we realized that [an extra] episode could be a backdoor pilot, right? We were never going to have 10 episodes with Stephen. He was always going to be in nine episodes and then we were able to fill in that gap by doing a backdoor pilot. So it all kind of worked out quite nicely." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On the series finale, MG: "And Emily Bett Rickards returns, which is really the only way we could have ended the series." (Jan. 15, 2020 TVInsider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG: "We always had a plan in that we knew that [during] Crisis, Oliver would die... We knew that the series finale would be essentially like a coda... a sort of an epilogue. We knew a variety of different elements to the finale, but one thing we didn't have was what I called a central theme. We didn't have this principle that would tie together all the elements that we had already planned upon. ... I was in the editing room one day; I'm watching the latest cut, and of course, it begins as almost all the Arrow episodes do, and for the umpteenth bajillionth the time, I hear Stephen [Amell] say, 'I returned home with only one goal, to save my city,' and it just all clicked for me in that moment. I realized, oh, that's the central principle of the finale: Oliver achieves his mission. He saved the city. He actually saved the universe. Once Beth and I had that, that was the central rubric to organize the whole finale around. It's an unconventional finale because we kill off our protagonist two episodes before the actual finale, but at the end of the day, it felt just really appropriate." (Jan. 20, 2020 IGN article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- MG originally wrote the final ending scene back in June 2019, saying: "I meditate every morning, and this one morning I came out — this has never happened to me before or since — I came out of the meditation with the entire scene in my head... Like, literally word for word exactly as you just watched it... It just, for me, it felt so right, and I very excitedly texted Beth. I'm like, 'I wrote the final scene, I gotta send it to you!'" (Jan. 27, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Oct. 24, 2019, MG tweeted pic of 810's final scene direction (from last page of script): "Of possibility... FADE TO BLACK. END OF SERIES." (MG tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, MG tweeted: "#Arrow is wrapped. Last two words of dialogue: 'To you.'” (MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, MG tweeted: "@SchwartzApprovd and I just watched @JamesBamford’s cut of the #Arrow series finale. '...tell it to you.'” (MG tweet, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Beth Schwartz -- On whether viewers will get to see EBR's Felicity again, EP Beth Schwartz: "'We knew we had to wrap her storyline up in a way that wasn't permanent to leave the window open to see her again,' she says." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- TV Guide: "Quite a bit [of Arrow's final season leads up to it], confirms [EP Beth] Schwartz of this year's winter crossover, which was set up by the finale arrival of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) to whisk new daddy Oliver away to parts unknown. That twist will also serve as part of Arrow's series finale, says Schwartz." (Scan of Arrow "Burning Questions" article in Jul. 16, 2019 TV Guide SDCC Special Issue, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 3 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked at what point in the series did they land on the idea of this has to end with Oliver making that final sacrifice, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think that's been something that from the creation of the show has been [the ending] from the beginning. I know Marc [Guggenheim] could probably answer this better, but I know that he's sort of always thought that was how the show would end." (Aug. 12, 2019 TV Guide article, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 12 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Per EP Beth Schwartz, though they've "always had a plan for the series finale," this plan has evolved since this season started: "Now that it's here, we're obviously going to add more things that did evolve from this season specifically." However, she added that she and fellow EP Marc Guggenheim haven't shifted on "where we wanted to end it." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "It definitely feels like this is the right time for the series to end, but I feel like it's not going to feel quite real until that last script of the finale comes out. And then I feel like there's going to be a lot of tears... I'm sure it'll be the same thing on the last day of filming on set. That's when it's going to feel even more real when we're actually going through it." (Sep. 11, 2019 ETonline article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "You just want to feel satisfaction -- that watching for eight years, even though you're sad the show ended, you have a feeling of 'Oh, that was really good. I feel OK walking away from the show,'" Schwartz explained. "I just want everyone, and myself included, to feel like that was the perfect ending to a show that I've been watching for eight seasons. My favorite series finale was Six Feet Under; if we can do anything in the vein of that show, I'll be happy. I want it to feel specific to Arrow and a perfect ending to Arrow." (Oct. 15, 2019 ETonline article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Because we didn’t know if [Emily Bett Rickards] was gonna come back in our final season, it was really important to me and everyone else to make sure we had a good ending for her, just to prepare ourselves. Writing that last scene, not only did I cry when I was writing, but every time I saw it in a cut, in post, and during the final mix, everyone looked at me and was like, 'Oh, god, here she goes again.' I don’t normally cry because I’ve seen the episodes a million times, but that final scene, the performances from Stephen [Amell] and Emily, and just knowing that was the end of that character, was really emotional." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: "Obviously, we’d love to have her back for the final season, but I’m really happy with how we ended her character. I know she’s said this, too, so unless we find a creative way that’s better than that, we’re not gonna just bring her back to bring her back." (Oct. 15, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 24 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether she knows how happy and excited fans are for EBR's return, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Yes! I never kept it a secret that I wanted her back." and "Everyone knows I’m the most excited about this." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweets, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who asked "Is it safe to say that our happy ending between Oliver and felicity is approaching?", EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Nothing is safe to say...." (Nov. 3, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to fan who tweeted "olicity + taylor swift is my brand," EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Just wait!" (Nov. 9, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 33 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked why Felicity chose the name Lucas last year for the baby if it was a boy as well, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "I used that name to throw off the writers on what name I was going to choose for my baby [smiley face emoji]." (Nov. 17, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked what we should expect of 810, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "hopefully a satisfying conclusion and all the emotions." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked if we are going to find out what "Older Felicity deal" was, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Maybe [smiley face emoji]." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- When asked to describe the Felicity scenes in the series finale in three emojis or three words, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "Only needs one - perfection." (Dec. 13, 2019 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 39 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver is really dead, EP Beth Schwartz: "Yes, he is really dead this time. Because the whole point of this death and the culmination of what brings us to the crossover is that everything he's learned throughout the series and these past eight years has led him to this moment to give the ultimate hero's sacrifice. And that's his life — to save everyone else. That's what a hero does. His journey has led him to make that ultimate sacrifice for his family, for his friends, for the other superheroes. And it just worked out in the timing of doing Crisis that the story made sense." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether this was the last we've seen of SA on Arrow, EP Beth Schwartz: "It is not. He will be in the in the series finale." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether Oliver could return at any point across the Arrowverse in the immediate or distant future, on any of the Arrowverse shows, EP Beth Schwartz: "That's up to the other shows and that's up to Stephen, really." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what larger impact or point did they want to make by killing off Oliver, EP Beth Schwartz: "I think the way that it affects everyone else: He saves the multiverse. He basically resets the timeline for the future, for his future children that we've seen in the flash forwards. You'll see in episode nine that their lives are very different. Any parent would want to sacrifice their own lives to give their children a better future and Oliver actually did that. His sacrifice changes the future for all the different shows and his children." (Jan. 14, 2020 The Hollywood Reporter article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On EBR being in the series finale, EP Beth Schwartz tweeted: "The finale would not have felt right without her. [person with folded hands emoji]" (Jan. 20, 2020 SchwartzApprovd tweet, page 46 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- EP Beth Schwartz: “It was extremely challenging... In the end, all of those challenges is what made the ending so perfect.” (Jan. 27, 2020 Variety article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Felicity meeting Adult Mia at Oliver's funeral. EP Beth Schwartz: "There's a lot of wish fulfillment, for a few reasons... One, you know, being a parent — and I'm a new parent — seeing your child as their adult self is really crazy and also amazing when you're proud of who she became as a woman, and also honoring her father's legacy. Not obviously under great circumstances because they're at Oliver's funeral, but I think it was a very meaningful moment in their lives." (Jan. 27, 2020 TV Guide, TVLine and Variety articles, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) James Bamford -- On Nov. 14, 2019, James Bamford posted 810 clapboard dated Nov. 13, 2019 (Roll A40, Scene V32E, Take 1), with comment: "Here’s what the end of an era looks like up close. This is the slate for the final scene, in the series finale of #Arrow. I cried before, during, and after this scene was complete. The very special people in this scene know who they are, and know how much I love them for A. Being them....and B. Making this the most perfect ending to this epic journey. ??." This clapboard has a yellow sticky note with "LOVE SAVED THE CITY!" handwritten on it. (james2bambamford instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 14, 2019, James Bamford tweeted: "At this very moment we are shooting the final shot of the final episode of #Arrow. This scene is truly beautiful in the most honest meaning of the word. The perfect ending to this wonderful television series." (JamesBamford tweet, page 34 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Arrow Writers -- In response to fan who asked for "dialogue teases & scripts til death do us part," Arrow Writers Room tweeted: "[ring emoji]." (Sep. 26, 2019 ARROWwriters tweet, page 19 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- In response to SA's tweet about EBR's return for 810, Arrow writer Benjamin Raab tweeted: "zvalling all #Arrow (and #Olicity) fans... #TheFinalBow." (Nov. 1, 2019 Wondermasons tweet, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Arrow Composers -- In response to fan comment that watching Oliver die twice was hard but that she loved the music used both times, Arrow composer Blake Neely tweeted: "Thanks, Ruth. Technically, he died three times! Is he dead yet? Not until the memorial in 810, which I’m working on now! [cow emoji]" (Jan. 17, 2020 cowonthewall tweet, page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Stephen Amell -- On what Oliver's mentality is like this season, SA: "It's good. When I read the premiere, I talked with Marc and Beth a bunch, because they didn't want him to spend the entire season being morose. Right? It was my thought that, yeah, he had to leave his wife and he had to leave his infant child and he had to leave William, and theoretically he had to leave Diggle and Thea and all of the people that are important in his life. But I want him to be strong... It's important to me that when Felicity says, 'whatever happens, I'll find you,' right? If he believes that, then he can march forward." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Sep. 17, 2019 GiveMeMyRemoteTV video of SA interview, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 16 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how Oliver is coping without Felicity, SA: "He's doing okay. It's very important to me that - that he stands by his decision, that he's not morose. Um, there's a reason and there's a very, very good reason that he is actually quite emotionally distraught, um, in the season premiere, because he unexpectedly loses someone. But it's also important that, when Felicity says to him, 'hey, wherever you go, whatever you do, I will find you,' that he believes in that." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 KSiteTV video of SA interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "My priority playing the character this year is - you know, he's had to leave Felicity and Mia and William. And he can sulk about it. I think it's more interesting if he believes Felicity when she tells him, 'I'll find you. Wherever it is, wherever you are, I'll find you.' To me, it's more interesting if he believes that and marches forward with purpose." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Showbiz Junkies video of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It's not fun, not having Emily on set. Emily's my best friend on the set, um, my co-best friend. I spent the most time with her and with David. And, you know, I texted her as we were - when I was on the plane flying up to Vancouver for the final season. I said I was sad. It's tough not having her around. Um, but her presence is - and Mia's presence and William's presence - is felt via Oliver and what he's doing. He's doing what he's doing in pursuit of them." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 US Magazine article & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether we'll see Felicity again before the series wraps, SA: “I think that we wrapped her character up pretty nicely, but honestly, that comes down to Emily and producers... I mean, she’s busy. She’s being awesome on Broadway and things of that nature.” (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 US Magazine article & video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it will take longer for fans to recover from the Arrow series finale than from the Game of Thrones series finale, SA: "I'm not the right person to answer this question. I loved the last season of Game of Thrones. (Some boos from audience) Oh, I love all finales. If you all hate our finale, I'll know we've done a good job. (Audience reaction) No, no, uh - I - no, uh - Marc and I were talking earlier. Arrow has a happy ending. (Audience reaction) You know when I tell you guys what happens on the show, and I tell you in plain sight, you just don't hear me." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Matthew Mendez video of Arrow panel, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "It' a super happy ending... I think it's going to be a happy ending." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 26, 2019 GameSpot article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether there's any way there will be a happy ending, SA: "No. Of course not... Maybe. People don't like finales. I like finales. I liked the Seinfeld finale, I loved the Game of Thrones finale. And people will be mad at this finale, but it could be a happy ending... Actually, I just got pitched it. It actually is a happy ending. That's neat. Sorry." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Entrevista/Carol Moreira video of Arrow cast interview, page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether it's possible to reverse the 20-year separation and give Oliver a happy ending, SA: "Look, we've kinda mapped out how the show is gonna end. And normally when television shows do that, that's not how it ends, which is probably why that's how it's gonna end." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: ExtraTV video of Arrow cast interview, page 1 of Spoilers thread and page 5 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On much influence he will have over the way that Oliver's story concludes, SA: "A lot. A lot. We talked about it for a long time. Um, I was very, very, uh, - very, very grateful. A lot of the end of 722 and the fact that it ended with Emily, uh - a lot of that was my pitch. Uh, I thought that - you know, we had to - we had to write that episode like we're never going to see her character again. Okay, so, jumping off from that, if we think that we're never going to see her character again, well, you better give her a good good-bye. Okay? You better - you better wrap that up. And I thought that it was cool that, you know, 'cause we may never see her again - I thought it was cool for the fans to realize, okay, well, like, somewhere out there, they're good." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 22, 2019 Fangirlish and Nerds and Beyond videos of SA interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 7 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread, and Jul. 25, 2019 Fangirlish article, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA (reading fan comment): "'I love you and, of course, Arrow, but I really wish that Oliver and Felicity end the show together.'" SA: "Me too." (Jul. 26, 2019 SA facebook video, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On him previously teasing that we can expect a happy ending, SA: "That's just because I love all series finales. I love Seinfeld. I like Lost... I think it's going to be happy because there's - there's a resolution... That doesn't mean that it won't be sad. But I personally think that it's a happy ending. It is for me. I don't care about anyone else." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 Entertainment Tonight video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Felicity, SA: "Well, she's ever-present in Oliver's mind. ... So Emily's gone, off the show, and, um - but Felicity and William and Mia are ever-present in Oliver's mind." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to play the entire last season being morose. The big thing for me is, if Felicity is the love of Oliver's life and when she says, 'whatever happens, I'll find you,' he believes her. So that gives him - that gives him purpose and allows him to move forward because, you know, he knows that somewhere along the way, in the immortal words of Chris Cooper from The Town, 'This side or the other,' uh, they'll find each other." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Aug. 6, 2019 TV Guide article & video of SA interview, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 11 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I don't want to spend 10 episodes moping around. Right? ... What I've done for my character is, I've said to myself, okay, she looked at me and she said, 'whatever happens, wherever you go, I'll find you.' ... And I believe her. That's the motivation for my character... That being said, it's incredibly sad. We shot a really cool scene in episode 2 where - I can't wear my wedding ring in episode 1 for a specific reason, and - so in episode 2, it wasn't scripted, but, um, we did a little specialty shot where he puts it back on, thinks about 'em, so she's certainly in the forefront of his mind." (TCA Summer 2019 Press Tour, Aug 4, 2019: Sep. 9, 2019 Eonline article & video, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA: "I liked the Game of Thrones finale once I realized that the last episode was effectively like an epilogue. So. And I think that's going to be - it's going to be interesting for us for our finale, because they announced that the - the crossover is the eighth episode. And I feel like everything after the crossover might be somewhat anti-climactic. So maybe it's - maybe ours will play like an epilogue as well. I'm not sure." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17,2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread and page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Fan: "So throughout all the seasons, you've had different love interests. Who do you believe that Arrow is truly in love with?" SA: "Felicity. For sure. Yeah." (Fan Expo Boston, Aug. 17,2019: Fandom Spotlite video of SA panel, page 3 of Spoilers thread, page 13 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread and page 767 of Social Media thread) -- On what's driving Oliver right now, SA: "Two things: One, he believes the Monitor, because Kara and Barry were going to die and the Monitor gave him [an alternative]. And secondarily, he believes Felicity when she says, 'Whatever happens, I’ll find you.' He believes her." (Sep. 30, 2019 TVLine article, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether he knows how the show is going to end, SA: "I do. He told me today, and I cried. I cried as he was telling me. There are a lot of hurdles to get over to make that final scene." This EW interview was conducted in July 2019. (Oct. 14, 2019 Entertainment Weekly article, page 770 of Social Media thread) -- During an interview with ComicBook.com, they asked SA to address an old theory we came up with, namely, that Oliver Queen would not die in the Crisis but would be removed to a pocket universe with Felicity. Asked whether he would prefer death, or a fake-out death like that, SA teased, "I have a third idea, but I can't tell you what it is." (Oct. 14, 2019 ComicBook article, page 22 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted gif of Felicity, with comment: "There’ll be a lot of news coming out about our final episode over the next few months. I prefer when you hear it from us. Welcome back Emily." (Nov. 1, 2019 SA tweet, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- SA tweeted pic of Felicity Smoak Funko POP doll, with comment: "Decorating my new trailer is going great." (Nov, 9, 2019 SA tweet, page 773 of Social Media thread) Emily Bett Rickards -- On whether she would like to return for the final season, EBR: "I feel like Felicity has done her time. I don’t know if anybody is going to like what I’m saying, but I feel like Felicity has done her time. We knew this was coming for awhile – for over a year – so the whole thing is exactly what we wanted to happen. I trust the writers, and that’s in their hands." Interviewer: "When you have a goodbye like Felicity had, at the end of the season, you also don’t want to mess that up by coming back and taking away from that." EBR: "Yes, exactly." (May 24, 2019 Collider article, page 136 of Spoiler Discussion Sequel thread) -- On whether it was necessary for Felicity to return for Arrow's final season, since last season's story had set up her destiny and that of her kids pretty clearly, EBR: "We sent her off in a beautiful way and she lives on in these people... I see her everywhere I go, so it's not totally goodbye." (MCM London Comic Con, May 26, 2019: Nov. 1, 2019 ComicBook article, page 30 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) David Ramsey -- DR: "I think everyone will be satisfied with the finale - not just the crossover, but the finale." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 21, 2019 Nerds and Beyond video of DR interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 6 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "Questions will be answered. Is Oliver dead, really? Is Felicity and Oli - are Felicity and Oliver together? ... These are great questions, and they'll all be answered in Season 8 of Arrow." (Sep. 10, 2019 E! Red Carpet & Award Shows video of SA and DR interviews, page 4 of Spoilers thread and page 15 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On whether, with what he's been told about the season, he feels like we'll have a sense of closure or whether he feels like there will still be some questions left unanswered, DR: "Yes, there is some definite closure to some parts, and there’s definitely questions still laid out there and certainly lives that aren’t fully completed yet. By the time the series ends, you’ll still say, 'Okay, I still want to see more of this,' without a doubt. There are situations in this show, by the time Episode 10 is done, where you will clearly say, 'Okay, I wanna see more.' It isn’t wrapped up in one little nice bow. To some degree, there are pieces that are wrapped up, but this is a show that has a lot of moving parts and a lot of different characters that can live on past the show, so you’ll still wanna see more. That’s part of the strength of what’s happening, in this last season. This isn’t a situation where people are saying, 'Oh, you’re still on?' It’s like, 'You’re leaving? No!' That sentiment is there because there’s still a lot of life left to the show." (Oct. 22, 2019 Collider article, page 5 of Spoilers thread and page 27 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- DR: "I just found out some things that'll be going on in episode 10. I think you guys are going to be very, very excited." (Oct. 8, 2019 Srta Roheli video of DR instagram live story, page 20 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On EBR's return for the series finale, DR: "Me and Stephen always say, thank God that she came because it was just two guys brooding in a basement for several episodes before she showed up. We were lucky to have her... The show kept on experiencing lightning in a bottle over and over again, and she was one of those experiences." (Jan. 28, 2020 TV Guide article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 50 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Katherine McNamara -- When asked for three words to describe the series finale, KM: "The series finale? OK, you’ve got to give me second because I want to make this right…. I would say the series finale of Arrow is iconic; I would say it is about community; and it’s a farewell." (Nov. 18, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 36 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- Media report on what KM said: "Katherine McNamara told Matt Mitovich that having Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity return for the series finale was 'so critical' for the storyline. 'It was just lovely to have her back on set,' she also said of her TV mom. 'It made even the social aspect of wrapping the show mean so much more because she is so much of what Arrow is and I love Emily to death…. I’m so glad it worked out.'” (Nov. 21, 2019 TVLine article, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM teased that she worked with EBR again in the series finale. KM: "[It] was such a joy... I'm glad she was able to come back. It wouldn't have felt right without her." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On what the future now holds for Oliver & Felicity now, KM: "You get to see something and it's beautiful and I shed many tears on and off set about it... It's really lovely, and I don't want to say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for people, but it's perfect." (Jan. 17, 2020 TV Insider article, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the series finale of Arrow is so beautiful, because many of you asked about it. And I cannot wait for you guys to see that as well. It's amazing to be able to take a moment to highlight what a legacy this has been, not only for The CW, but for Arrow as a show and for Stephen. And I feel as though the entire production worked really hard and accomplished something beautiful that really does it justice...." (Jan. 21, 2020 Golden Warrior video of KM's instagram live on TV Guide's instagram account, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 47 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- KM: "The series finale of Arrow is really special. And it gives us much closure as anyone can be expect from eight years of a series... Get yourself a box of tissues." (Jan. 28, 2020 Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum's podcast interview with Katherine McNamara, page 778 of Social Media thread) Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy -- When asked how SA is going to be back for the series finale, KC: "Well, I can't tell you. You're gonna have to watch it." Access: "In a Spectre type of way, because he has sort of a new form?" JH: "Interesting." KC: "Hmm, that's an interesting idea." JH: "Yes, yes, uh, yeah, they were very - the way that they made that work was very creative and it was done very tastefully and in a way that honors him being gone, but puts his presence in there in a way that just, like, roots the finale." Access: "And the legacy." JH: "And the legacy." KC: "And the show, really, overall. Yeah." (Jan. 17, 2020 Access video of KC and JH interview, page 8 of Spoilers thread and page 43 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On Nov. 26, 2019, KC posted b-t-s pic of herself in makeup room, with comment: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken during my final transformation into Black Canary... It's moments like these that I will forever cherish. #Arrow." In this pic, you can also see Susanna Thompson, JH, CH and EBR. KC subsequently changed her comment to read: "I hold this photo dear to my heart because it was taken on one of the final days of #Arrow S8... These are some of the moments I will forever cherish." (KC instagram post, page 7 of Spoilers thread and page 37 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Caity Lotz -- Caity Lotz posted pic of herself with EBR on the Arrow set. Regarding that pic, fan tweeted: "I'm SO sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but I just confirmed the pic is from filming the finale. The first picture is from a video of Caity saying it was the last day of filming the finale, it was also the same day Emily was on set. And she's wearing the same outfit in both." (Jan. 14, 2020 caitylotz instagram post and babblesqueen tweet, page 42 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) LaMonica Garrett -- On the last scene of Arrow S7 where the Monitor took Felicity off somewhere, when asked where they went, LMG: "Hey, man, who knows? The Monitor, he's got - you know, he's got the whole cosmos as his playground. They could be anywhere." (SDCC, Jul. 20, 2019: Jul. 25, 2019 SR Trailers and Interviews video of LaMonica Garrett interview, page 2 of Spoilers thread and page 8 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) -- On how he would describe Arrow's series finale, LMG: "One word that came to mind to describe how it ends is 'beautiful' ... It's a beautiful ending. ... A lot of shows have their ending and it doesn't live up to what the fans thought it should be. I remember when Seinfeld ended, people were like, 'Oh, that was a terrible ending', even though I happen to like it. Game of Thrones, people have their opinions on the way it went out. ... I think Arrow's ending is beautiful. That's my opinion. Everyone might have their own opinion, but I think it's a really good ending. And Arrow is the first show that started everything, so it's significant." (Nov. 3, 2019 Digital Spy article, page 6 of Spoilers thread and page 31 of Spoiler Discussion Final thread) Edited January 28, 2020 by tv echo Link to comment
Recommended Posts