One of the things “Arrow” is known for is the show’s tendency to rotate auxiliary characters quite often, to the extent where some fans have started to complain about this trend. It’s definitely noticeable that the series seems to treat some of its side characters as expendable, bringing them in only to aid the current situation and then discarding them, replacing them with a fresh set of faces when needed. And now, the synopsis for the show’s fifth season has led some to believe that the producers are going to take this idea even further.
Apparently, the new season of the show will feature a sub-plot revolving around a group of vigilantes trying to help out in the fight against evil. Their actions were apparently inspired by the success of Team Green Arrow at the end of the last season, and they are going to try following in their footsteps and aiding the heroes. However, the synopsis for the season implies that these characters will ultimately prove to be a hassle as they will keep getting in the way of real work.
So far, the main speculation around the new vigilantes is that they will be brought in to give a helping hand, after which they will be sent off. It’s possible that we might see one or more of them returning at a later point, but given everything the show has done with its side characters until now, it doesn’t seem very likely.
Some critics have pointed out a major problem with characters of this type, and that’s the lack of any real substance behind them. Usually, part of the reason why fans like their favorite superheroes so much lies in their origin story, the whole path the hero has had to take to get to their current situation. With these sidekick characters, this isn’t really a factor, and therefore it’s more difficult for fans to get attached to them even when the producers try to give them a more permanent presence on the show.
On the other hand, the writers have been somewhat restrictive in what the vigilantes were generally allowed to do until now, further making them less impressive and memorable. It’s possible that this could change with the new characters being introduced for season 5, but the likelihood for that doesn’t look very great right now.
Some seem convinced that it could actually be a major problem for the show if season 5 plays out like that, as fans are already starting to get bored with the formulaic development of the seasons to some extent. “Arrow” has still managed to retain its audience in other ways, but it’s not clear how much longer the show will survive without a more drastic rethinking of its style. The show needs some true sidekicks who can contribute something to the character development and aren’t just another punch for the next fight, and the producers need to realize that soon.
Still, there are lots of unknowns for season 5, and there are several potential spots where the producers can hit hard if they played their cards right. It’s possible that they are intentionally keeping so many things hidden from their fans because they are preparing a major surprise for this season, but it will take a while to find out. Until then, it would probably be a good idea for the producers to release at least something small to tease their fans and show them that they have some creative plans for the season.