Arrow shocked viewers when Oliver’s best friend and main character, Tommy, was killed off in the season 1 finale. When Arrow returns this fall, the story will pick up months after the tragic events of that night.
Executive Producers Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim discuss the decision to kill off main characters, how Oliver will be changed by the events of that night, and hints about the introduction of the Black Canary
Check out the full video interview and highlights.
Highlights from the interview:
- Their methodology is to do things that will surprise the audience. They want to burn through story quickly. They won’t save story or characters for later seasons.
- They wanted season 1 to be a “complete story.” There will be carryover from season 1 to season 2, but it will have a different feel.
- In the season 1 premiere, Oliver says that he doesn’t want to be the vigilante anymore. It’s no longer about crossing names of the list. He wants to be a hero.
- Guggenheim shares how an early draft of an exchange between Oliver and Diggle for season 2 was written. It’s funny. Watch it.
- Katie Lutz is coming in to launch the Black Canary story.
- Kriesberg reminds us that the first Green Arrow wasn’t Oliver and the first Deathstroke wasn’t Slade. And, the first Merlyn that the audience met ended up not being the Archer.
- The Black Canary story doesn’t go the same route as the comic books and Kriesberg hopes fans will go along for the ride. It will have a direct impact on Laurel.
- Guggenheim doesn’t think that the comic book canon of Green Arrow is as “precious” as others like Superman and Batman. They made changes immediately giving Oliver a sister and having his mother be alive.
- Kriesberg feels an obligation to surprise people familiar with the comics, just like he does for those who are new to the characters and world.
- Season 2 jumps five months forward in time on the island and in the present day. There are three comic book chapters that bridge the finale and the season 2 premiere. They may do flashbacks.
- In episode two, there is a retelling of a scene from the finale from another point of view.
- A villain from season 1 and a new villain will team up in episode 2.
Arrow season 2 premieres on Wednesday, October 9 at 8 pm ET on the CW.
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(Image and video: Carla Day)
Contributing Writer, BuddyTV
Contributing Editor and Writer for Collider, BuddyTV, TV Fanatic, CliqueClack, and other publications. TV criticism, reviews, interviews with actors and producers, and other related content. Founder of TV Diehard.
