The grandfather of The CW’s DCTV is coming to an end. It has been announced that Arrow will end with an abbreviated season 8. The show is currently in the midst of its 7th season.
The final season of the Stephen Amell-led drama from exec producer Greg Berlanti and Warner Bros. TV will consist of a reduced order of 10 episodes. The final season will air during the 2019-2020 broadcast season.
The decision to end Arrow seems to coincide with the network considering ushering in the next phase of DCTV. The network is aware that some of the other shows are aging out and that a new wave may need to come in, like the pilot order for Batwoman which is likely to go to series if the pilot is well-received. Here is what was said about the ending of the series:
“This was a difficult decision to come to, but like every hard decision we’ve made for the past seven years, it was with the best interests of Arrow in mind. We’re heartened by the fact that Arrow has birthed an entire universe of shows that will continue on for many years to come. We’re excited about crafting a conclusion that honors the show, its characters and its legacy and are grateful to all the writers, producers, actors, and — more importantly — the incredible crew that has sustained us and the show for over seven years.”
Arrow ushered The CW into its current era as a home for DC Comics fare. The success of the comic book drama led to offshoots including The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl. (Black Lightning, while still a DC Comics drama, exists outside of the Arrow-verse.) Arrow, arguably, also ushered in other comic shows on TV as it showed how successful they could be. The series premiered in 2012 and since we have not only gotten The CW slate but also offerings like Gotham & Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to name a few. As a series, Arrow is likely more important than most would give it credit for.
Speculation about the end of Arrow began in December when “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was announced as the next crossover. The 12-issue series — published by DC in 1985-86 — features (spoiler alert!) the deaths of two major comic characters (who exist on The CW).
