The Arrowverse Failed Oliver Queen

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Oliver Queen launched the Arrowverse with a quest to save his city from corruption, but the show’s finale left many fans feeling unsatisfied. The CW successfully brought DC Comics characters and stories to life, building a large and popular shared universe on television, though it wasn’t without its flaws.

The Arrowverse had some great moments, but it wasn’t perfect. A few episodes felt weak or storylines dragged on too long, and things could get really confusing. While the big crossover events were usually fun, they often disrupted the regular stories and character development on each show because of the massive things that happened during the season.

On top of everything else, the cancellation of all the DC shows due to the planned reboot of the DC Universe was a tough blow. However, the way the story concluded for Oliver Queen, the hero who started it all in the Arrowverse, was particularly unsatisfying for many fans.

Oliver Queen Deserved A Better Sendoff In The Arrowverse

Before the TV show Arrow premiered in 2012, the character wasn’t particularly well-known or popular. While Hawkeye from the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed like a more appealing superhero archer, Arrow managed to make Oliver Queen a highly recognizable hero for today’s viewers.

Although shows like The Flash and Supergirl became more popular, Oliver Queen remained an important figure in the Arrowverse, frequently acting as a leader during team-up events. Therefore, it felt natural that he would be the one to save the entire multiverse during the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ storyline.

Despite facing immense struggles, including death and a time in Purgatory, Oliver Queen came back as the Spectre – a being with near-limitless power. He used this power to defeat the Anti-Monitor and then sacrificed himself to create a new multiverse, ensuring the survival and happiness of his friends and family even after he was gone.

Even though Oliver Queen saved the Arrowverse and became a hero, his death felt rushed and poorly planned, making for an unsatisfying conclusion to his story.

Oliver’s Story Should Have Ended In Arrow, Not During A Crossover

Like other Arrowverse crossovers, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was told over multiple episodes, spread across different shows. For example, the fourth part of the five-part story aired as an episode of the final season of Arrow – specifically, season 8, episode 8.

The story then moved to Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow continued for two more episodes, even though Oliver died on a separate show. This approach was really confusing and didn’t do justice to Oliver’s story or provide a clear conclusion.

Even though fans loved the Arrowverse crossovers, placing a major storyline within another series and only showing most of it during Arrow‘s last season was confusing. It also meant viewers had to watch shows they weren’t already interested in to finish the story.

This really hurt Oliver’s storyline and negatively impacted the whole experience. It caused confusion and frustration for newer fans, and even longtime viewers were caught off guard by a major plot point that came out of nowhere.

Crisis On Infinite Earths Was Not The Conclusion Arrow Needed

I admire the creative decision to transform Oliver Queen into the Spectre and have him sacrifice himself to save the multiverse – it was a fitting tribute to the character who launched the Arrowverse. However, the way this storyline unfolded and served as a conclusion to everything felt underwhelming.

Oliver Queen changed dramatically during his time as the Arrow. He started as a driven, but angry, vigilante focused on personal revenge, but evolved into a true hero. Over time, as a father, mayor, and friend, he became much more than just a symbol – he became a fully realized person.

These qualities are what ultimately drove Oliver to make his final sacrifice for those he cared about, but he truly deserved a better ending. He should have had a dedicated farewell on his own show, one that celebrated his personal growth. Instead, his story was rushed and lost within a bigger narrative.

Although the show honored his sacrifice, it would have been more impactful to see Oliver’s story conclude in the series finale. The time jump showing his daughter continuing his work and his reunion with Felicity was a good touch, but wrapping up his arc on Arrow itself would have made it even more satisfying.

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2025-11-12 00:43