Arrow showrunner addresses controversial death of Black Canary 7 years later
Arrow Co-Creator Marc Guggenheim Explains Black Canary's Controversial Death and Return https://t.co/nPJGvuINfI
- TV's Other Worlds (@tvsotherworlds) April 11, 2023
-April 6th marks the anniversary of one of Arrows most controversial deaths: Laurel Lance/Black Canary and it's something that fans still remind Arrow showrunner of every year even 7 years later. (Dinah) Laurel Lance was put in a telekinetic choke hold and stabbed in her stomach by the seasons big bad w/Olivers own arrow. She would go through surgery and appear to be fine only to end up flatlining.
-Marc went to his blog to address how the death of Laurel came about and how they decided to bring in her doppleganger a year later to take over.
-As the show was entering its 4th season they decided they wanted to kill off a big character and throughout the season they decided that Black Canary would bite the dust. Marc states that he and writers went back and forth on if she should be killed and ultimately it was not a decision that he agreed with but he was forced to kill her off (so...this would essentially mean that his boss, Greg Berlanti made the decision)
-He decided that if they were to kill her off that he, as showrunner would at least have a hand in crafting her death. He has been criticized for making her dying breath be telling her ex-bf that he was the love of her life, she knows he doesnt love her, that he needs to ensure that he gets back with Felicity, and that he find a new Black Canary. MG states that this had nothing to do with Olicity but was simply "staying true to the character"
-Marcs original commentary on the death of the character had him stating “It kind of feels like Laurel’s story has come to a very organic… if not “conclusion,” certainly a “plateau.”.
-In the 5th seasons mid-season finale, the show ended on a cliffhanger that had Laurel Lance seemingly alive and well only for it to be revealed in the mid season premiere that it was her evil doppelgänger, Black Siren.
-Marc states that as they were attempting to come up with a mid-season finale cliffhanger that would entice the audience to return after the hiatus. Brian Ford Sullivan suggested that they bring in Black Siren as she was already introduced on The Flash and could leave the audience wondering if she was the real Laurel.
-After the episode was filmed, they loved Katies performance and saw potential to explore Black Siren further and to put the cherry on the top, The CW boss Mark Pedowitz asked when they were going to bring Black Siren back into the show as he also loved what she brought to the show.
-Katie would end up returning as a "series" regular for the remainder of the show but only appear in the bare minimum of episodes that are required for a series regular and often for all of 5-10mins an episode.
-In between that time, the writers were forced to introduce ANOTHER Black Canary upon Greg Berlantis request and they would name her Dinah Drake (the OG comic BC) even though when the show started, they claimed that the name Dinah sounded to old.
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