“Arrow”: 98 amazing facts about the TV series! (List)

1. Arrow is an American television series developed by writer/producers Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg.

2. It is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp.

3. It premiered in North America on The CW on October 10, 2012, with international broadcasting taking place in late 2012.

4. Primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, portrayed by Stephen Amell, who, five years after being stranded on a hostile island, returns home to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow.

5. Unlike in the comic books, Queen does not go by the alias “Green Arrow” until the fourth season.

6. The series takes a new look at the Green Arrow character, as well as other characters from the DC Comics universe. Although Oliver Queen/Green Arrow had been featured in the television series Smallville from 2006 to 2011, the producers decided to start clean and find a new actor (Amell) to portray the character. Arrow focuses on the humanity of Oliver Queen, and how he was changed by time spent shipwrecked on an island. Most episodes have flashback scenes to the five years in which Oliver was missing.

7. Arrow has received generally positive reviews from critics, and was the CW’s highest-rated new series in five years.

8. The series averaged about 3.68 million viewers over the course of the first season, and has received three awards and multiple nominations.

9. To promote it, a preview comic book was released before the television series began, while webisodes featuring a product tie-in with Bose were developed for the second season.

10. The first and second seasons are available on DVD and Blu-ray in regions 1, 2 and 4; a soundtrack was also released for the first two seasons.

11. In October 2014, a spin-off series set in the same universe, titled The Flash, premiered.

12. On January 11, 2015, Arrow was renewed for a 23-episode fourth season.

13. In August 2015, an animated spin-off, Vixen, was released, while a second live-action spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow, premiered in January 2016, featuring a number of characters from Arrow and The Flash.

14. To compose the score for Arrow, executive producer Greg Berlanti invited Blake Neely, with whom he had first worked on Everwood. Neely created a score that combined electronic and orchestral cues, varying between action themes and romantic ones.

15. Felicity Smoak (played by Emily Bett Rickards) was only supposed to be in one episode (Episode 3). However, the positive reaction to her led to her becoming a main character.

16. Oliver Queen has an occasional “tic” described by Stephen Amell as a sort of anxiousness when Oliver wishes he was holding his bow.

17. In “Damaged” (season one) Oliver wears a prison shirt with the number 399471 on the pocket. This is the hex code for the shade of green of his hood.

18. John Diggle was created specifically for this series, and was added to the mainstream DC universe starting with the New 52 titles, introduced in “Green Arrow” Issue 24, October 2013. He joins Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) from Smallville (2001).

19. The Queen Mansion exterior shots are filmed at the Hatley Castle in the Hatley Park National Historic Site located in Colwood, British Columbia. This is the same Castle used for the Luthor Mansion exterior shots in Smallville (2001), and for Professor Xavier’s castle in the X-Men (2000) film series.

20. Sin often calls Roy Harper by the nickname “Abercrombie”, Colton Haynes who plays Roy was a model for Abercrombie and Fitch before becoming an actor.

21. In season 3, Ted Grant is introduced. In the comics he is the hero known as Wildcat. He also trained Black Canary.

22. Felicity Smoak originated as the step-mother of the superhero Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond) in the pre-New 52 continuity in the “The Fury of Firestorm” comics. Later due to her popularity on the show she was re-introduced in the New 52 continuity as part of the “Green Arrow” comics starting with Issue 35 that was released in October 2014. Also for the New 52 version, her appearance is based of Emily Bett Rickards portrayal of her on the show.

23. On numerous occasions the city of Blüdhaven is mentioned, and even visited once. In DC comics, Blüdhaven is a city under the protection of Dick Grayson, AKA Nightwing prior to the New 52 relaunch.

24. Midways into season 2 the character of scientist Barry Allen is introduced, who suffers a classic comic book “freak accident” and later becomes ‘The Flash’ in his own TV series The Flash (2014).

25. In the comics, Deathstroke (aka Slade Wilson) is an anti-hero with enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes bordering on superhuman levels according to the comic book profile. He can use up to 90% of his brain, making him a tactical genius and adept at turning an opponent’s own abilities against them. He has defeated Batman and Nightwing in combat, and he has given even Wonder Woman a run for her money in a fight.

26. Coast City is mentioned sporadically throughout the series. In the comics, Coast City is the home of Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern.

27. Curare is a real paralytic/muscle relaxant that is sometimes used on arrowheads to hunt animals but is mainly used by physicians as an anesthetic. In high enough doses, it can cause respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.

28. The name of Oliver’s club is Verdant, meaning “of bright green colour” and the large V above it is reminiscent of an arrow. Together these are a subtle nod to the DC Comics character.

29. The League of Assassins is correctly named in this show unlike another DC property, The Dark Knight trilogy, it was referred to as The League of Shadows.

30. Malcolm Merlyn is called “Al Sa Her” by Nyssa, which is Arabic for The Magician. Merlyn the Magician is a famous wizard in the legend of King Arthur, and is also a DC comic book character.

31. In almost every episode the title of that episode is said by someone at some point.

32. During an episode on season 1, Oliver says this to Dig: “…you know us billionaire vigilantes… We do love our toys.” This is a reference to one of the most known DC characters, Batman.

33. Ivo’s freighter was named, “Amazo.” In DC comics, Amazo was the name of Ivo’s greatest invention; an android that could absorb and store the super powers of any meta-being.

34. Exterior shots of the police headquarters is actually the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.

35. Each time Oliver revealed his secret, someone’s life was in danger (usually, but not always, his own): When Diggle found out, Deadshot had tagged him with a curare laced bullet. When Felicity found out, Oliver had just been shot by his mother. When Barry Allen found out, Oliver had been poisoned. When Tommy found out, Malcolm Merlyn was dying from a gunshot wound. When Merlyn himself found out, he was seconds away from killing Oliver. When Roy found out, another earthquake machine was about to go off and the revelation shocked Roy out of his mirakuru rage long enough to help disarm it. The exceptions to this being Laurel, Moira and Thea.

36. The “Skyline” shown is actually footage from various cities including Frankfurt, Germany, Center City Philadelphia, PA, Back Bay Boston, MA,Tokyo, Japan, and Singapore.

37. The bow used in season 2 and season 3 is “Oneida Kestrel compound bow”.

38. Alex Kingston and John Barrowman both starred as companions to The Doctor in the BBC’s Doctor Who (2005). Kingston starred as River Song and Barrowman as Captain Jack. Colin Salmon also appeared as Dr. Moon in two episodes of Doctor Who (also the first appearance of River Song).

39. Jacqueline MacInnes Wood portrayed Sara Lance in the first season. She was recast in the second season by Caity Lotz.

40. Ra’s Al Ghul is mentioned numerous times throughout the series and is directly attached to DC’s The Dark Knight’s mentor and teacher.

41. Andrew Kreisberg originally stated that the series is a more realistic take on the character in comparison to the source comic books. Oliver is the only masked vigilante in the world, “there are no aliens and there are no super-villains”. This held up more or less, until the decision was made to add the Flash into the equation, which changed everything.

42. In the comics, Dinah “Laurel” Lance is the real name of the heroine, Black Canary. In season one, it’s revealed that Laurel’s first name is Dinah when Tommy comes up behind her and addresses her as such. In episode 13 of the third season when Laurel is drugged with Vertigo, Sara refers to Laurel as “Dinah Laurel Lance”.

43. Brandon Routh’s character Ray Palmer is revealed to be another DC hero, Atom. He, along with Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) and The Flash (Barry Allen), is an existing member of the Justice League of America.

44. The name Isabel Rochev is listed two names down from Adam Hunt (the primary antagonist of the pilot episode) in Oliver’s book of names. Isabel Rochev is eventually a reoccurring character played by Summer Glau in season two.

45. Instead of Brandon Routh playing Ray Palmer (The Atom) the producers originally planned for him to play Ted Kord (Blue Beetle). But CW didn’t have the rights to use him so they made the part for The Atom.

46. In episode 8 of season 3, The Brave and the Bold, when Oliver is introducing Barry Allen to Captain Lance, Lance mistakes his name as Bart Allen. In the comics, Bart Allen is Barry’s grandson, who is the sidekick of the second Flash and then eventually becomes the Flash himself.

47. The channel where they transmit the news is Channel 52 in honor of the New 52.

48. John Diggle was named after Andy Diggle, writer of “Green Arrow – Year One”. A “judge Grell” is referenced in the pilot, paying homage to Mike Grell, the long running writer of the Green Arrow comics.

49. In “The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak” (season three), the t-shirt that Cooper wears is a reference to the very first “Justice League” comic book.

50. For Green Arrow’s first two plus decades, he was a relatively minor superhero character, without his own long running comic book series, but in the mid-sixties, the character lost his billions, and got his own series, as more of an earthy people’s hero, becoming quite popular, especially when paired with the popular Green Lantern, and also as part of DC’s Justice League of America.

51. In the comics, Green Arrow had bright blond hair and wore a small mask to hide his identity. Also prior to the New 52 relaunch he had a prominent bright blond goatee, and first wore a Robin Hood style hat, later with no hat, where instead he used a hood. But in the television show, much like his New 52 counterpart, Arrow wears only a green hood (deep and large enough to always cover his face in shadow) and there is no goatee, only stubble. Also instead of a mask he wore some green face paint around his eyes that looks similar to his comic book mask to hide his identity (until the events of Season 2’s Three Ghosts where he receives a proper mask), and although he is blond, it is more dark or dirty blond.

52. In the comics the real name of Starling City is Star City. The name Star City is used in later seasons (some characters keep forgetting and correct themselves).

53. One rumor reported that John Diggle would become the Green Lantern. However in season 4, Diggle will take up the mantle of “Spartan”

54. Nick E. Tarabay, Katrina Law, Manu Bennett and Cynthia Addai-Robinson all portrayed leading characters in both Arrow and Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010). Liam McIntyre (who portrayed the titular character in Spartacus) went on to play Weather Wizard- a supervillain in The Flash (2014).

55. Throughout the show there is a special theme soundtrack that plays whenever Malcom Merlyn or the dark archer (John Barrowman) is on the scene. It’s first heard during the revelation of the dark archer as Malcom in season 1 episode 9 ‘Year’s End’ and in season 2 towards the end of episode 7 ‘State vs Queen.’ In season 3 its first heard in episde 4 ‘The Magician.’

56. The nursery rhyme for Cyrus Gold (Solomon Grundy) is: Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married on Wednesday, Took ill on Thursday, Grew worse on Friday, Died on Saturday, Buried on Sunday. That was the end, Of Solomon Grundy.

57. John Barrowman (Malcolm Merlyn), Alex Kingston (Dinah Lance) and Colin Salmon(Walter Steele) have all appeared in Doctor Who.

58. John Diggle’s deceased brother is named Andy, as a tribute to Andy Diggle. Andy Diggle is a writer credited with writing the 2007 limited comic series Green Arrow: Year One. This limited series would come to inspire the creation of the TV series. Andy Diggle also worked on successful series such as Swamp Thing, Thunderbolts, and Daredevil.

59. The series and it’s visual style was strongly influenced by Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, which is based on the “Batman” comics by DC comics. “Arrow” is based on “The Green Arrow” by DC comics.

60. Some actors from the TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010) appear in the series in recurring roles. Stephen Amell was considered to take over the role of Spartacus from Andy Whitfield, before Liam McIntyre was chosen to take over the role. McIntyre would later be cast as The Weather Wizard on the spin off The Flash (2014).

61. In Arrow, Oliver Queen’s mother is named Moira Queen. In Smallville (2001), his mother is named Laura, but his mother-in-law is Moira Sullivan.

62. As of season 3, the penultimate episodes of the seasons have been named after Bruce Springsteen songs. Season 1: “Darkness on the Edge of Town” Season 2: “Streets of Fire.” Season 3: This is your Sword.”

63. As of season 4, John Barrowman (Malcom Merlyn) is the oldest of the main cast members and Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak) is the youngest. Though Willa Holland (Thea Queen) is only about a month older than Rickards.

64. Stephen Amell (Arrow) has joined forces with Neville against Stardust and King Barrett for a match in the WWE Summer Slam. He is rumored to wear the iconic Green Arrow suit in the ring during battle.

65. In DC comics Roy Harper eventually lost an arm and took a bionic arm substitute; appropriately dubbing himself “Arsenal.” Also, DC supervillain Solomon Grundy’s real name is Cyrus Gold who appears in season 2 of the series.

66. On this show John Barrowman and Colin Donnell play father and son, respectively, whereas in real life they’re just about 14 years apart.

67. Both Stephen Amell from Arrow and Grant Gustin from The Flash (2014) played guest roles on the TV show Beverly Hills 90210 (2008).

68. When Barry, Cisco and Caitlin appear in a scene, the theme from The Flash (2014) can often be heard.

69. In the comics, Roy Harper has a few Superhero monikers, the first of which was Speedy. Though in the series the name belongs to Thea, Roy is referred to by this name at least twice and a couple of times as “Red Arrow”, which was his second moniker. Ultimately, Roy takes the name Arsenal which also ties to comic lore.

70. The shots showing the Queen Consolidated Towers are stock footage of the real life Belgacom Towers set in Brussels, Belgium. The Q-Consolidated logo was added in post production.

71. Paul Blackthorne (Det. Quentin Lance) has acted in Bollywood movie “Lagaan”. In fact it was his first film. He played the character of Captain Andrew Russell. Also the movie was nominated for Oscars.

72. Dylan Neal (Dr. Anthony Ivo) portrayed Ray Sachs in Smallville (2001), also based on DC Comics characters – and also featuring Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow.

73. Nick E. Tarabay is the first actor from Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010) to portray Captain Boomerbang in the series. His co-star Jai Courtney will portray the character in the upcoming film Suicide Squad (2016), along with handful of his other Spartacus co-stars appear in the Arrow/Flash television universe.

74. Colin Donnell (Tommy Merlyn) and John Barrowman (Malcolm Merlyn) both played Billy Crocker in revivals of Anything Goes. Barrowman in 1989 and again in 2003. And, Donnell in 2011.

75. In season 3 Malcolm makes a reference towards a company called Ferris Air. This is the company for which Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) has been known to fly for.

76. In the TV show Arrow has a tattoo on his shoulder pocket. But on the Arrow DVD case, the tattoo is gone.

77. In DC Comics, Slade Wilson’s full mercenary title was “Deathstroke: The Terminator.” In this series, he is solely referred to as, “Deathstroke.”

78. Every season the first episode opens up with Oliver running through a forest or some kind of foliage. In seasons 1 and 2 the opening shot is of Oliver running through the forests of Lian Yu. In season 3 it is a line of trees and bushes along a train route. In season 4 he is jogging through a park near his and Felicity’s home.

79. Although they portray American characters, Paul Blackthorne and Alex Kingston are both English. Katrina Law who portrays Nyssa with an English accent, is American.

80. Sara Lance’s hero persona was dubbed simply. “The Canary.” And other than sharing the black suit and sonic cry, she is not actually the persona of Black Canary from DC comics. When Laurel takes up the Canary mantle and the name Black Canary, she fulfills her comic book counterparts role.

81. Season 4 is supposed to take on a lighter tone and move away from the darker tone which has been kept for the past 3 seasons.

82. The episode 8 of season 2 of The Flash and episode 8 of season 4 of Arrow are both crossover episodes called Legends of Today and Legends of Yesterday respectively. It’s because the episodes build up to the spin off series called Legends of Tomorrow.

83. Both Katie Cassidy and Stephen Amell had minor roles in Season 1 of FOX’s “New Girl”. Cassidy played Brooke, a girl Schmidt and Nick knew in college, while Amell played Kyle, Cece’s boyfriend.

84. John Diggle, a character originating from the show itself, features the same surname as one of the original Green Arrow comic series’ writers, Andy Diggle.

85. Oliver Queen’s club is called, ‘The Verdant’ which means ‘green with grass or other rich vegetation.’

86. Although the character of Oliver Queen was born in 1985, the actor who portrays him, Stephen Amell was born in 1981.

87. Rila Fukushima replaced Devon Aoki as Katana due of scheduling conflict.

88. Neal McDonough, the actor who plays season 4’s main villain Damien Darhk, has voiced the two main characters of DC’s shows on the CW in other media. He voiced the Flash in the video game “Injustice: Gods Among Us”, and he also voiced Green Arrow in the animated short “DC Showcase: Green Arrow”.

89. Every season premiere has Oliver running through trees.

90. Katie Cassidy (Black Canary) was in the cast in the short-lived CW series, Melrose Place (2009), where her co-star, Jessica Lucas, also portrays another DC comic-book character in Gotham (2014) as Tigress/Tabitha Galavan.

91. Neal McDonough, who plays Damien Darhk, portrayed the Green Arrow in a short film in 2010.

92. During many events in the show, Quentin Lance reports crimes as DC-52. This refers to the New 52.

93. Rutina Wesley is the fifth actor from True Blood (2008) to star in a comic book superhero adaptation, with Anna Paquin in the X-Men films, Kevin Alejandro in Arrow (2012), Joe Manganiello in “Spider-Man” (2002) and Deborah Ann Woll in Daredevil (2015).

94. Although the character of Robert Queen was born in 1958, the actor who portrays him, Jamey Sheridan was born in 1951.

95. Neil McDonough who plays the season 4 villain Damien Darhk, voiced Oliver Queen in a DC Showcase short “The Green Arrrow.”

96. John Barrowman, Alex Kingston, and Colin Salmon all had previous roles on BBC’s Doctor Who.

97. Neal McDonough who plays Damien Darhk in season 4 of arrow also voiced Floyd Lawton (Deadshot) in Batman: assault on Arkham and voiced the Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) in DC Showcase Originals Shorts Collection.

98. Every season so far, has contained 23 episodes.