Trailer Analysis: 'Arrow' Season 4 Gets Back to Basics

Nora Dominick ‘17/ Emertainment Monthly Assistant Stage Editor

With only a month until the Arrow season 4 premiere, The CW and everyone at Arrow gave fans an amazing season four trailer on September 4th. The trailer debuted on Stephen Amell’s Facebook page and was immediately met with high praise and excitement from the Arrow fan base. Emertainment Monthly has decided to break down the jam-packed trailer to prepare for the Arrow season four premiere on Wednesday October 7, 2015.

The season four trailer of Arrow echoes the start of the previous seasons. Previous seasons of Arrow began with Oliver Queen running through a jungle or Starling City. This time around, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is running through a suburban neighborhood and into a house. That’s right, Oliver Queen made good on his promise from the end of season three and has hung up the green hood and arrows for good. This picture perfect suburban lifestyle wouldn’t be complete without Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) sitting on the counter cooking her adoring boyfriend a meal. As Arrow fans anxiously awaited for season four, they became increasingly aware that Felicity and Oliver’s romance would take center stage. “Olicity” fans have become increasingly important to the fan aspect of Arrow, and this portion of the trailer affirms the idea that Felicity and Oliver will continue to be the heart and romance on Arrow.

The season four trailer then launches into quick snippets showing the current Team Arrow fighting crime in newly named Star City. The trailer also reveals that the name change to everyone’s favorite crime fighting city will come following Ray Palmer’s (Brandon Routh) death at the end of season three. Of course, fans know Ray has not actually died and has shrunk down to microscopic size as The A.T.O.M. and will continue to fight crime on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Speedy (Willa Holland), Diggle (David Ramsey) and the Black Canary (Katie Cassidy) are seen fighting crime in the absence of The Arrow.
The biggest question at the start of Arrow season four is: “How does Oliver go back to fighting crime in Starling City?” This trailer offers fans an insight as to how Oliver Queen will assume the role of The Green Arrow this season. When Laurel comes to Oliver telling about a new enemy called “The Ghosts” that are stronger and more heavily armed than anything they have ever seen, Oliver and Felicity are needed. The Green Arrow takes flight in the new Arrow Bunker and fans cannot wait to see this newly re-invented superhero and crime fighting team. Arrow appears to be getting back to basics and fans won’t be disappointed.

As the Arrow season four trailer progresses, fans catch glimpses of The Green Arrow and the entirety of Team Arrow fighting crime throughout Star City. Arrow also gives a first look at some old favorites and new characters. Fans can catch a glimpse of Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman) as the new Ra’s al Ghul alongside Nyssa al Ghul (Katrina Law).
New characters are also littered throughout the Arrow season four trailer. Felicity’s new right-hand man, Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum) can be seen, as well as the big-bad of season four of Arrow, Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough). McDonough already leaves his mark in this season four trailer and fans cannot wait to see the reign of terror he brings to Arrow season four.

Echo Kellum also dominates this trailer as he adds another layer to the ever expanding Arrow universe. His work opposite Emily Bett Rickards already looks like it will bring an added element to Arrow. The season four trailer also gives fans a peak at Constantine (Matt Ryan). Ryan will be reprising his role in this season. Constantine was a fan-favorite show last season on NBC, but was unfortunately cancelled after one season.

The Arrow season four trailer also sets up the tension between Oliver and Diggle. At the end of season three, the pair ended on a bitter note when Oliver announced he would be leaving Starling City with Felicity and hanging up the green hood forever. With Oliver now coming back to fight crime in Star City, tensions inevitably arise between him and Diggle. The trailer depicts Diggle, in his brand new helmet and costume, attempting to fight alongside The Green Arrow. It will be interesting to see where their friendship goes from here, especially with the constant tension.

Another major portion of the season four Arrow trailer is the Lazarus Pit. During last season, Thea Queen was thrust into the Lazarus Pit and resurrected while Oliver took on the identity of Al Sah-Him. This season Arrow will explore the ramifications of Thea coming back from the dead and how that will affect her life fighting crime alongside her brother. It also looks like the Lazarus Pit will come into play in a major way once again when Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) comes back to life. Sara Lance will find a new home on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow as the White Canary, however before she can assume her new position she first must face some demons on Arrow.

The Arrow season four trailer concludes with some classic Arrow action and a continued look at the new Team Arrow. Of course, one of the greatest moments in the trailer comes when Felicity Smoak and Curtis Holt rush into an elevator and fans watch as Felicity kicks Double Down (J.R Bourne), a minor, metahuman villain who appears in The Flash universe. Curtis then asks, “since when are you such a badass?” To which Ms. Smoak replies, “since always.” Arrow is back and better than ever. Fans cannot wait for the fourth season.
Arrow appears to be getting back to basics as it introduces a whole new cast of characters and even more villains for Team Arrow to confront. Fans cannot wait see Oliver, Felicity, Diggle and the rest of Team Arrow as they take on new responsibilities and continue to bring Arrow to new and incredible heights on The CW.

Arrow season four premieres on Wednesday October 7, 2015 at 8/7c on The CW. Check out the Arrow season four trailer below. 

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