Alright so I'm just gonna be straight about this, that most of this is based off of the New 52 stuff in the Green Arrow comics that's been coming out. Like basically all of it is New 52 stuff. But why? Because this stuff is really cool and would be an interesting way to reconnect Oliver to the island in the present times, even more than he's been connected in Season 2 with the Mirakuru.
Let's face it. We've yet to see the full scope of Lian Yu. We've seen the shore, twice, we've seen the cave, the plane, some hills, and two military zones. But I feel like the island still has more to it than that, that there is more to it that it just being a prison. We know Yao Fei was sent there on a mission, we know that the island holds secrets about past military powers.
It also shouldn't be a coincidence that Robert's yacht was so close to the island. The island is almost by freaking China, what the heck are they doing all the way out there? Checking out Queen subsidiaries in China, perhaps? Or perhaps going by the island for Robert to return to, maybe, only for it to be sabotaged and blah blah blah Malcolm Merlyn.
The Merlyn plot thread is one that can also be explored in a future season, but, I don't think would be one of great importance. We've seen a lot happen this season that is going to have a grand impact on not only Starling City's inhabitants but the entire TV DC universe, what with the formation of the Suicide Squad, the creation of the Flash, and the several name-drops we've received thus far (Ra's Al Ghul, Dr. Light, etc.) How these Easter eggs pan out is one thing, but, to really please fans, using these Easter eggs as effective plot tools would seriously help the show.
As would the increased involvement of more super-heroes. Don't get me wrong, John Diggle is an awesome partner for the Arrow, but, you can't compete with characters like Black Canary and Roy Harper.
What's interesting about Arrow is the potential it has given itself to grab from other DC worlds. Most of the enemies Oliver has crossed these last two seasons are predominantly Batman villains, such as the Huntress, Deathstroke, Firefly, and Deadshot. Though they have effectively worked them into the world of the Green Arrow. They gave Deathstroke and Oliver a major backstory. Arrow created the Huntress. Deadshot is now locked more with Diggle than pretty much any other super-hero.
Though Arrow has pulled mostly from Batman's rogues gallery (there's a lot to pick from, so, why not?), there is no reason for him not to either get support from his own, newer gallery or maybe from other heroes. Maybe Dr. Light will show up on Arrow before Flash as a co-worker of Dr. Ivo. Maybe Lexcorp will be mentioned as a company vying to buy out Queen Consolidated and Lex Luthor himself makes an appearance (wouldn't that be something!). Harley Quinn already made her appearance, sort of, but whose to stop her from breaking out of prison and either returning to Gotham or bringing vengeance upon the new vigilante, the Arrow (the answer: nobody, she's Harley Quinn).
Given the New 52, though, Oliver's enemies have only seemed to get better over time. At first, you know, they were okay. A few villains gearing up to destroy the city, but, nothing game-changing. There was the interesting arc of Skylark and Leer in which Oliver fell in and out of love, but, I can't see them translating well onto the silver screen.
No, the villain I am thinking of that would be awesome in the show would be none other than Komodo, villain of the Outsider's War arc. Though I haven't seen the extent of where Komodo ends up, I did note the immediate change he wrought on Green Arrow's life. Like almost instantly he ruined everything and seemingly banished Oliver, it was insane. Not to mention his connections to Robert and Shado. Those ramifications would be a little different on TV, as would the character(s) he winds up taking out on his way to fighting Green Arrow thrice.
Also given what we've seen of Queen Consolidated's state of appearance and where it will probably be by Season 2's end, it's safe to say Oliver will have a lot of cleaning up to do as both Arrow and as the (probably) returning CEO of a dead company. Perhaps a man Robert Queen trusted, like Emerson, could rise up and help bring Queen Consolidated out of the ashes, sparking the Outsiders to strike.
This story element also opens up a small arc for Oliver and the gang to head over to China. Though I would presume that it wouldn't end in him teaming up with Hawkman to fight the Warhawk, it would be interested to see Fang fighting Green Arrow using his ninja-like Assassins, as well as being introduced to the pretty cool character in Suzie Ming. Ming, an adept fighter, might also serve as a good element for Sara, should she make it out of this season alive (which many people say she won't) as she will have strong connections to China and, as such, be close to the League of Assassins. Fang's attempt at buying Queen Consolidated, much like in the comic, could open up many doors to potential enemies surfacing, such as Komodo.
Komodo would best work to connect Oliver to the island. At the deepest level, if they don't want to get into the whole Queen Consolidated thing, Komodo and the Outsiders on Lian Yu could best serve as new flashback material. There are certain pieces of the show that are yet unclear, as we don't know when Amanda Waller meets Oliver and why he hates her (I assume they meet and discuss her connections to both Fyers and Ivo, since she probably controlled them), and we also don't know when Slade is "killed" by Oliver. And if he does die, where did he go all this time after being killed? Did Oliver leave the island with the rest of the people like Anatoli? There are many questions that need answering, but, the story on the island has to be more than just answering questions.
Let's face it. Oliver on the island and Oliver as the Arrow are two, for now, completely different fighters. Sure, Island Oliver is very good with the bow and he seems to be strong and fast, but, I feel like Arrow Oliver wouldn't have needed help taking out the freighter. Arrow Oliver seems to be in much more control and a much better warrior than Island Oliver. Perhaps an event such as a war could be a good segway between these two entities. The Outsiders are some of Green Arrow's greatest opponents, and Komodo himself is Oliver's better as an archer in every way. We saw him square off with Malcolm Merlyn and see his skills tested there, but, fighting Komodo would be an excellent way in the past to cement him as the Green Arrow we know him as. You could even add in the elements of finding "The Green Arrow" before Komodo does so Oliver can become a master bowman. Maybe Yao Fei's bow was "The Green Arrow." Oliver uses it twice on the show: on the island and in the Season 1 finale to finally defeat an opponent he greatly struggled against before. Coincidence? Perhaps.
Maybe, even Yao Fei was an Outsider, which dragged Shado onto the island to find him and stop Komodo from getting to him. As I recall, there is an unexplored dojo on Lian Yu as seen early on Season 2. Might that be a lair of the Outsiders, or of the Leauge of Assassins? It's more likely the League, since they've been introduced already and Oliver apparently knows something about Ra's Al Ghul.
Going off of that, the League's involvement in Arrow is yet to be determined. We know that Nyssa is set to return to some extent on Arrow before Season 2 wraps up, maybe to aid in the war against Slade's army of Mirakuru-men. Perhaps they will return in Season 3 seeking retribution (blood) for the favor they paid Team Arrow. Also a wildcard is Malcolm Merlyn. He's been talked about so much it's a wonder he has yet to meet up with Thea and straight up tell her how it is. The League may also try to get at him if he tries to pull anything on Moira or a weakened Queen Consolidated.
The other major wildcard is the Suicide Squad. I don't think we can delve too deep into Harley Quinn unless we're willing to think that Nightwing or some form of Dick Grayson/ Jason Tood/ Tim Drake is going to end up on Arrow, whether it be as Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, or just plain old Robin. Will we get Batman? As cool as that would be, I doubt it. I think Starling City would have to face some serious, like more serious than it already faces, issues in order to bring in the Dark Knight for back-up. Plus, the only major villain the two have in common, now, are Ra's Al Ghul and Deathstroke. Both, also, have affiliations to Damian Wayne, but, that just opens up a new can of worms that not even a live-action Batman show would be able to cohesively explain.
But the Suicide Squad! We know that Amanda Waller is willing to reach out to Dig, not so much Ollie, in order to get stuff done. Might we see an expansion of that team and have the Suicide Squad play a recurring role? Starling City seems like it's going to need all the help it can get recovering from the devastation Slade is ready to rain upon it, as well as still recovering from the quake (I haven't forgotten about that, folks). They could be a major plot thread but I wouldn't expect them to be the plot thread.
There are still several other Green Arrow stories to pull from, though, it just depends on where the company and Team Arrow is left off when this is all said and done. It also depends on the state of the characters. Roy is back (what is this, like, three times?) and he doesn't look too happy. Maybe he's not happy because Slade messed with him and he is full-on Team Arrow. I hope he returns for Season 3, because, we need our Red Arrow/ Arsenal.
Maybe the theme of Season 3 will be the greater expansion of the DC TV universe, crossing over ocassionally with Flash and bringing in characters such as Nightwing or Harley Quinn or whoever else we want on the Justice League of America. Seriously. Those guys would be cool (we've already got Vibe, all we need are the Martian Manhunter, Catwoman, the third Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Stargirl).
There will be a lot more to be speculated in four weeks' time when Arrow Season 2 wraps up and we see where our heroes are left. But until that time, we can only take what has been given to us and pray that Count Vertigo isn't dead and gets the cool powers he has in the New 52. That would be rad.
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