Green Arrow & the Canaries established new enemies and mysteries for Star City's future, but it also shed some light on the official Arrow series finale. Starring Stephen Amell, Arrow premiered on The CW back in 2012 and told the story of Oliver Queen. After five years spent (seemingly) stranded on the island of Lian Yu, Oliver returned to his hometown to combat crime as a hooded vigilante. Across eight seasons, Oliver evolved dramatically. Starting isolated, Oliver eventually accrued a whole team of allies. Though initially known as The Hood, Oliver evolved into his comic book persona, The Green Arrow. And while his methods started as wholly murderous, Oliver ultimately transitioned into an outright, self-sacrificing hero.
That journey seemingly culminated with the ambitious Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. Across those five hours, Oliver Queen took his mantra about becoming something else to a whole new level - evolving into the Arrowverse's version of Spectre. Blessed with new, almost god-like powers, Oliver gave life to a brand-new multiverse. Though the endeavor appeared to cost Oliver his life, there remained two episodes of Arrow's confirmed eighth and final season. While details of the Arrow series finale remain firmly under wraps, the penultimate episode (which also served as backdoor pilot for a Mia Queen-centric spin-off) offered some insights into what fans can expect from the final episode.
The bulk of the Green Arrow & the Canaries was centered on restoring Mia Queen's pre-Crisis memories - so that she could take up her father's mantle and prevent an impending disaster. Equally, it served as a firm introduction to how the world of Star City 2040 had changed as a result of Oliver Queen's sacrifice. Still, there were substantial reflections from the time-displaced Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake regarding 2020 - and the immediate aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths. Largely the discussions were centered on the funeral of Oliver Queen. As such, it isn't a stretch the final episode will be equally focused on the emotional send-off. That fact has been more than backed up by recent Arrow series finale photos.
Though Crisis on Infinite Earths featured a moment of silence for the fallen Green Arrow, the Arrow series finale will no doubt be a more specific affair. As interesting as it was to see the wider Arrowverse mourn the loss of Oliver Queen, it was missing quite a few characters central to Oliver's journey. Chief among them was Felicity Smoak. The return of Emily Bett Rickards in the role will afford the series finale a level of emotion beyond what Crisis on Infinite Earths offered. That fact will no doubt be further exacerbated by the return of numerous other figures from throughout Oliver's life.
They will range from retired teammates such as Rory Regan to Moira Queen. Though Moira died at the hand of Deathstroke in Arrow season 2, it could be that Oliver's mother is alive and well on the new Earth. Lending itself to this idea is that Queen Manor is intact in Star City 2040 and the Queen family are once again staples of the city's elite. It won't just be them celebrating Oliver, however. The penultimate episode also revealed that the city will honor the Green Arrow with a bronze statue.
It was also established that Star City will enjoy 20 crime-free years following Oliver's sacrifice. That being said, the "Green Arrow & The Canaries" episode revealed that Oliver's legacy will not be without threats. Dinah revealed that just after Oliver's funeral, she was ostensibly abducted and abandoned in the future. Therefore, something is clearly to be afoot around Oliver's funeral. Oliver has garnered as many enemies as he has allies over the years. Even though he is seemingly gone, Oliver legacy is stronger than ever. As such, with his funeral set to be the last big event before the show concludes, it makes sense that it will be targeted. Given that, it allows those Oliver has inspired one last opportunity to suit up and the Arrow series finale the opportunity to be as traditionally action-packed as it will be emotional.