Arrow has created a number of moments over the years that have left us laughing and crying. The first show of the Arrowverse had a huge responsibility to launch this shared franchise and it did it spectacularly with multiple significant emotional beats.
These characters have gone on a crazy journey since the debut of the show and as it reaches its conclusion we’re taking a look at the moments that tugged at the heartstrings most - 10 of the biggest moments, from heartbreaking deaths to spectacular proposals.
QUENTIN LANCE DEATH
Quentin Lance was one of the characters that evolved the most across the seasons he was featured in. The former police captain started off as the number one enemy to the Green Arrow and his alter ego, Oliver Queen.
As time passed he learned that the Hood had done more good than damage and once he finally learned of Oliver’s secret identity he decided to make a drastic lifestyle change. His murder was heartbreaking for all the characters and it was a shame to see his story end so suddenly.
FELICITY SHOT
Felicity has also been a major part of Team Arrow since it’s inception and taken on the moniker of Overwatch. When the show was playing around with the idea of her becoming Oracle instead, they decided to give her a defining event that happened in the comics.
Felicity is shot in the back and paralyzed. It’s a gut-wrenching moment and we thought things would never be the same. However, the show decided to essentially retcon this by creating technology that would allow her to walk again for good, which takes away from this moment.
TOMMY’S DEATH
Tommy was only featured in season 1 but his death has remained a primary reason why Oliver continues to suit up as the Green Arrow. It had a huge effect on all the main characters and is probably the death that comes back to haunt Oli the most.
Tommy was Oliver’s best friend and a member of the Queen family. When he died, during the villainous mission of his father, Oliver swore to never let anything like this happen again. The moment itself is still difficult to watch and has been referenced back to many times.
OLICITY PROPOSAL
Oliver and Felicity are one of the longest-serving couples in the show. Whether you love them or hate them together, the chemistry between the two is very real. They have gone on to create a family that will redefine the future of the Arrowverse.
Oliver’s original proposal and then follow up one were both moving moments. The second time it happened though, it felt a lot more powerful. The two were destined to be together once again and everything aligned for one peaceful moment in the show’s violent history.
ONCOMING CRISIS
The upcoming crisis has affected almost every member of the Arrowverse, but Oliver has been affected by it more than others. His decision during the last crossover event, Elseworlds, means that he must die in the oncoming crisis to save the world.
The news was difficult to swallow and as he’s told his friends, they too have struggled to come to terms with what that really means. What’s worse, the most difficult part of all of this is when Oliver actually had to leave his wife and child behind.
THEA’S REVIVAL
Thea’s almost death was the kind of moment that keeps this show interesting. The series has never been afraid to kill off major characters and we thought that Thea Queen would be the next in the long line of Queen’s to be struck down.
However, the use of the Lazarus Pit revived her but gave her the bloodlust that so many others have experienced. Solving this issue proved challenging and led to a series of terrible decisions on the part of Thea. The revival was such a relief though that it makes this list.
LAUREL LANCE’S DEATH
Laurel Lance completed her journey from lawyer to superhero. The Black Canary was finally realized on the small screen and for a brief amount of time, everything seemed perfect with the team. But that all changed very suddenly.
Laurel’s death shook both the characters and viewers. Her final words to Oliver were touching and her death itself was a moving moment. It was emotionally driven rather than the shock factor of some of the other deaths that we have seen in the show.
TEAM SPLIT
The team has gone through a lot of ups and downs and are stronger for it. However, every now and again Oliver is portrayed as the villain rather than the hero and must pay the price by losing members of his group. At one point the split was huge.
The team split that took place was a huge factor over a long period of the show. It was emotional and raw and the team genuinely hated one another. Dinah, Curtis, and Rene split for some time before reuniting in a particularly emotional scene.
CURTIS HOLT’S DIVORCE
Curtis Holt finally found love a second time with his most recent partner. However, that’s when his first relationship and marriage completely broke down. We followed the happy couple for quite some time before the news broke that it was all coming to an end.
The focus here really is on Curtis who lost his friend and husband due to his choices as a superhero. It was extremely emotional to watch, as Curtis couldn’t give up that side of his life no matter how hard he tried and it really cost him.
OLIVER’S RETURN
The first and most impactful moment of the whole show was Oliver’s initial return to the real world. After having disappeared for so long, it was clearly a big scene for his family, who could finally greet their son again, who they thought had died many years ago.
It was also very heartwarming to watch Oliver come back home, after his trials and tribulations both on the island and in places like Hong Kong and Russia. However, not everything was as it seemed, which makes this scene even more interesting to look back on.
