Arrow dealt with a wide range of subjects and story arcs, but Stephen Amell felt as though one gamble was foundational to the show’s success. As the first show in the Arrowverse, and one that managed to launch an impressive shared universe that often exceeded the much higher-budget DCEU at the time, Arrow is one of the most influential and important superhero TV shows ever made.

However, despite the prominent position among the DC lineup of shows, Arrow was sometimes an acquired taste, and one that struggled to keep up with the surrounding Arrowverse shows. This may have been down to the darker ambiance of the show, or the lack of familiarity with the character of the Green Arrow, but there was always one dynamic that made the show stand out.

Olicity Was Arrow’s Biggest Gamble

Oliver Queen is a singular superhero in the Arrowverse. While many of his peers are much lighter, more jovial, and less inclined to take a life, Oliver is a character fueled by rage and hatred. At least when the show begins, that is how he operates.

But in contrast to the dark and broody Oliver, Arrow also shines a spotlight on Felicity Smoak, who, by all accounts, appears to be the antithesis of Oliver. She is bright, bubbly, funny, and often the literal ray of sunshine that the series so desperately needed to stay balanced.

So, when the two characters began to have a romantic relationship, it felt like something that could have very much blown up and irrevocably changed Arrow. But against all odds, the choice to pursue that connection became pivotal for the entire series.

Stephen Amell Once Explained Why Olicity Worked

Stephen Amell, the actor who played Oliver Queen throughout the Arrowverse, very graciously placed all the praise for this dynamic’s success on his co-star, Emily Bett Rickards, having shared the following with Entertainment Weekly;

Have you seen Emily act? That’s what makes it work. She’s supremely talented and awesome and carved out a space that no one anticipated. I don’t know that show works if we don’t randomly find her.

While this is a humble take from Amell, and Emily’s performance was absolutely a driving force that kept up the momentum and made it feel natural, Arrow’s tone and style also meant Olicity was always a better match for Amell’s take on Oliver Queen.

In the comics, the Green Arrow is a very different hero, who is much lighter and more politically minded than Amell’s version. In this way, it makes the character a good counterbalance for his most enduring romantic partner in the comics, Laurel Lance, aka the Black Canary, who plays a much smaller role in Arrow.

Arrow Should Still Have Treated Laurel Better

While Arrow did portray Oliver as a ladies’ man, and that is faithful to the comics, it feels like Lauren Lance was the biggest victim of the changes to the source material. For one, Laurel doesn’t become the Black Canary until season 4 of Arrow, but beyond that, the character is also constantly being mistreated and misled by friends and family.

Yes, Olicity is an endgame couple for the Arrowverse, and one of the best romances in any superhero show, but Laurel Lance could and should have been handled better. As much as Oliver Queen and Felicity’s romance helped define Arrow, it was also a huge shift that reduced Laurel beyond repair.