Arrow Season 5 flashbacks will be the last time we have to endure them, but they finally got a good villain for them!
One of the hallmarks of Arrow's storytelling has always been its liberal use of flashbacks to tell Oliver Queen's extended origin story. Season one introduced his time on the island, season two fleshed out the backstory of that year's major villain, season three took him to Hong Kong where more heroes and villains were introduced, and season four took us back to the island and...ummm...didn't really accomplish a hell of a lot. Many Arrow fans felt that the flashbacks, which really peaked in season two, were meandering and listless during season four.
And since one of the major problems with the flashbacks since Slade Wilson went bye-bye in season two has been the lack of a convincing villain for them, there's one surefire way to fix that: get a good villain. And that's exactly what's happening, as Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV, Masters of The Universe...oh, you know who he is) will play the big baddie for the Russia-set sequences. We're finally going to learn how Oliver got that Bratva tattoo, so it would make sense if Mr. Lundgren is playing a crime boss.
"This is probably the last year of the flashbacks," Stephen Amell told a group of journalists at SDCC in July (this was confirmed at the TCAs today), "which means that we have a lot of to accomplish. The impetus and through line of the flashbacks will have a lot more urgency to them." So for those who feel that this element of the show has run its course, the fact that this will "probably" mark the end of them should be great news. From a story standpoint, it makes sense to end them this year anyway, as the flashbacks in season one took place five years before the season premiere.
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As for what the flashbacks will accomplish this year? Mr. Amell knows what needs to be done. "I made a list and I sent it to the producers," he said. "When does he make his bow? Why does he have his beard? Why is he dressed as a castaway? Why is he dressed as if it’s been him and a volleyball for the last five years? Let’s answer these questions. We made a big list, and we’re going to answer them."
Don't worry, though, in non-flashback specific news, Mr. Amell said that "I don’t think this will be the last year of the show (he crossed his fingers while saying this), but at the same time, this is the end of a chapter so to speak."
We have more on ArrowSeason 5 right here.
A version of this article first appeared on July 25, 2016. It has been updated with new information.
