TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews The Arrow Series Finale!

It feels very odd to have to talk about the end of a series that I’ve written about for about 8 years. In fact, Arrow is the reason I’m writing on Following The Nerd. it’s a series that I once thought was dumb to do, but as I watched it, I was shown how wrong I was. Arrow became key part of my TV lineup, and without it, my life definitely wouldn’t be as interesting as it is now. So it’s so good to know that “Fadeout” was the absolute perfect way of ending the series while pushing what comes next.

As we’ve found out with the other Arrowverse shows (and yes I’m still going to call it that even with this series gone), Crisis On Infinite Earths changed things, but with Star City, we found out just how much. In this rebooted universe, Moira, Tommy, Quentin, and Emiko are all alive. Which was shocking needless to say, and even though the other characters knew what happened in the “past life” it didn’t diminish the impact.

The real question was, what story was there left to tell in this new world? As Rene and the other noted, Star City’s crime went to zero overnight! But there was one last story to tell, an epilogue, a statement about what Oliver Queen’s life meant to everyone past, present, and future.

One of the real joy’s of “Fadeout” was that they literally brought back EVERYONE that they could within reason. All of current Team Arrow, Mia from the future, Sara, Moira, Quentin, Tommy Emiko, both Talia AND Nyssa al Ghul, Roy, Rory, Thea, Barry, Kara, everyone who honestly had a good relationship with Oliver came back to honor him at the end. It was a beautiful thing.

And of course, seeing Felicity come back (which everyone agreed was the most important thing for the finale) was perfect. She hadn’t missed a beat, and her presence was SO WELCOME to all that was happening.

I think what also made this episode was not just the characters returning, but the tiny moments with all of them. Roy and Thea working through their differences and getting married (BIG fan moment), Lyla not wanting to fail the mission because of how Oliver gave them Sara AND JJ (fan moment), the acknowledgment from Rene about how Oliver helped him be a better man, Diggle’s beautiful speech at the end, Emiko getting her own redemption and chance to be part of the Queen family, Mia being able to prove she is a hero (while reminding us about the future spinoff), it was all really well done.

I could go on forever about this episode, but one thing I MUST highlight is the epic flashback to season 1. We got to get one last great fight scene from the Arrow team and it delivered in every way. It showed us just how far both Oliver has come as a hero (in regards to him just killing EVERYBODY in Season 1 more or less), and how great the stunt and choreography team has gotten in the last 8 seasons. The use of the one-shot camera take, the use of the fighters to great visually stunning moments, it was great stuff.

Oh…and one more thing…JON GOT THE GREEN LANTERN RING!!!!! YES!!! JON STEWART CONFIRMED!!!!!!

*ahem* and of course, the ending, which was teased in Season 7, Felicity getting to see Oliver again in the afterlife thanks to The Monitor, and them getting to have their eternity together. A well deserved end to a couple that’s been through everything together…and more.

In the end, in the true end, “Fadeout” was everything that you could’ve wanted from an Arrow finale. Heart, love, returning characters, the end of certain stories, and the beginnings of others. I will miss Arrow with all of my heart, but I can rest knowing that it went out on its own terms, didn’t wear out its welcome, and delivered a finale that any true fan should be proud of.

Oliver Queen…you have saved this city.