Posted in: Arrow, Batwoman, Black Lightning, CW, Preview, Trailer, TV | Tagged: arrow, batwoman, black lightning, bleeding cool, cable, comic books, Comics, crisis, cw, dc, dc comics, doug ramsey, John Diggle, Legends of Tomorrow, monitor, oliver queen, season 8, stephen amell, streaming, supergirl, television, The Flash, tv

"Arrow" Season 8: Stephen Amell on Oliver Not Approaching "Crisis" Alone [PREVIEW]

With the September days upon us, now's as good a time as any to update ourselves on pre-season news before The CW's "Arrowverse" shows return.

With Arrow shuffling off the network's programming coil after an abbreviated eighth season (making The Flash the "elder states-show" of the "Arrowverse" as it speeds into its sixth season), Ruby Rose-starrer Batwoman joining the family alongside Supergirl, and a looming "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover that could change things dramatically (more on that below), the 2019-2020 season isn't exactly going to be lacking in change – and the news hasn't slowed down.

Arrow co-star Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen) and David Ramsey (John Diggle) are keeping the promotional machine for the show's final season rolling along, as Oliver prepares to say goodbye in more ways than one – as a "Crisis" looms. Here are some highlights:

● While Oliver may be taking on this mission knowing full well it's a one-way trip, he won't be alone: as you can see from the image above, Diggle will be there – from start to foreboding finish ("Diggle is as he should be, at Oliver's side. That's how we begin this season. And ultimately, that's how we end it." – Ramsey)

● Fans know Oliver and Diggle need someone to keep them out of trouble and save their butts from time to time – and that's where Katie Cassidy Rodgers' Laurel Lance aka Black Siren comes in. Amell believe fans will be surprised and appreciate the trio's new dynamic this season: "Their dynamic is incredible. A good chunk of what we're doing will be with the three of them in a way that they haven't been before."

● So how well have things been working out for the trio so far? Amell sounds pretty happy:

"I've loved our scenes in the first two episodes. I thought it was important at the end of season 7, us shaking hands and Oliver saying thank you. It was scripted to the group, but I wanted to make sure, going into season 8, that it was actually to her and that they shook hands, because as character I purposefully never called her Laurel until that moment. So her being the mix this year, it's been a lot of fun. I think she's nailing it."

● Following up on Arrowverse guru Marc Guggenheim promise that this season would be a "greatest hits" of the previous season, Amell offered some more details: "Episode 1 is like season 1, episode 2 is about a very specific part of season 3. Episode 3 is about a very specific part of the latter half of season 3. Every episode feels like an event. It feels like a limited series."

The Road to "Crisis on Infinite Earths"

Viewers can't say they weren't warned in advance. At the end of 2018's CW Arrowverse "Elseworlds" crossover that brought together The Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl (and nearly DC's Legends of Tomorrow, but they let it go to machine – way too busy for all that), we saw that the end was only the beginning… of the end. As Barry (Grant Gustin) and Oliver (Amell) shared what felt like a final toast and Kate Kane's Batwoman (Rose) returned to protecting the streets of Gotham – with a sense that something felt a little off – we got a small taste of what's still to come in 2019…

"Crisis on Infinite Earths!" Worlds will live! Worlds will die!

And the CW's "Arrowverse" will never be the same…

The season's eighth episode will be the "Crisis" crossover episode – comprising the fourth hour of the crossover:

Supergirl – Sunday, December 8th (8/7c)

Batwoman – Monday, December 9th (8/7c)

The Flash – Tuesday, December 10th (8/7c)

Arrow – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (8/7c)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow – Tuesday, January 14, 2020 (9/8c)

Black Lightning will also be represented during the crossover event… and yes, legendary Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy will star as a future version of Bruce Wayne. If that wasn't enough, Tyler Hoechlin will be returning as "The Man of Steel"… alongside the crossover's other Superman (expecting this number to grow): Brandon Routh (DC's Legends of Tomorrow), returning to the cape for the first time since his cinematic turn. Johnathon Schaech's Jonah Hex (DC's Legends of Tomorrow) is also set to saddle up for the crossover, and John Wesley Shipp will be reprising his role as The Flash of Earth-90.

For most of their respective seasons, things have been "All Quiet on the 'Crisis' Front" when it came to Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl – but that changed in a big way during their respective season finales… even for DC's Legends of Tomorrow!

In Arrow season finale "You Have Saved This City," the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett) returns to cash in on the favor that Oliver owes him: help him save the multiverse – taking a moment to tell him the "fine print": Oliver's going to die during "Crisis" and there's nothing the Monitor can do to stop it.

Then there's that matter of Future Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) and the trip she's taking with the Monitor to see Oliver… somewhere… and it's apparently a place she can't come back from. Hmmm…

https://youtu.be/XGoeR7qf14o

Over at The Flash season finale "Legacy," some recent maneuverings with Time moved up the date on Barry's "red skies/2024" newspaper warning just a wee bit… to say, 2019?

The fourth season finale of Supergirl "The Quest for Peace" had The Monitor speaking to a hooded figure, telling him that now is the time for him to lead "his people" and to take revenge on his captor… and brother: J'onn J'onzz (David Harewood). Meanwhile, just because Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) may have shuffled off this mortal coil (???) doesn't mean his role in the upcoming "Crisis" is over quite yet…

DC's Legends of Tomorrow season finale "Hey, World!" found the plan to take down Neron (Brandon Routh) resulting in a major status quo change for Zari (Tala Ashe) – a change that the suddenly-appearing Monitor does not appear to approve of in any way, shape, or form. At least he got some popcorn out of it – and yes, that is The Book of Destiny he's using to balance it.

The CW's Batwoman and Supergirl premiere Sunday, October 6; while The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 8, with Arrow joining them on October 15. Black Lightning premieres the following week, on Monday, October 21.

Entertainment Weekly

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!