Oliver Queen returns to our screens! Thanks to Deadline, we learned that Stephen Amell will put on the Green suit again for one last dance in The Flash‘s season 9. And it sounds poetic. The hero who started the Arrowverse will be there to witness the end of it. There are many fan theories of how his return could happen after the *infamous* Arrow ending in which his happy ending with Felicity happened in the afterlife. We review the most relevant ones. Ready?
Here we go!
Oliver As The Spectre in The Flash Season 9
One of the most widespread fan theories is that Oliver may appear as Spectre. However, this might be the one that makes the least sense. Oliver already appeared as Spectre before Arrow came to an end but he doesn’t have too much to do in The Flash.
Being the final season, we can assume that Barry reflected on everything learned in these years and the advice that his closest friends gave him, as well as how they helped him become the hero that he is.
In that context, we don’t imagine seeing Oliver as emotionally disconnected as the Spectre we saw in one of the last episodes of Arrow.
Flashbacks Are The Perfect Way For Old Friends To Return
Another really popular fan theory is that Oliver appears in a flashback. As we mentioned, in season 9 of The Flash, Barry will surely remember the turning points of his path as a hero and the people who helped him get there.
It makes a lot of sense that he would remember some moments with Oliver that we didn’t previously see on our screens. One of those lost moments that meant a before and after for Barry.
That makes sense but, at the same time, it seems like too much of a hassle to call Stephen Amell back into the Green Arrow suit for the sole purpose of shooting a flashback scene or two. That is to say, in this case, it seems easier to simply use old material than to shoot new material.
Barry Fixes What He Broke in The Flash Season 9
Without a doubt, this is one of the most optimistic fan theories. As you know, in the Arrow series finale Oliver Queen dies saving the world from the Crisis and Olicity has a happy ending … in the afterlife. What if Barry fixes all of that and Oliver doesn’t die? That would mean that Oliver and Felicity raised their children together, watched them grow up, and were together for the rest of their lives.
To be honest, Barry fixing everything would be like the dream we all have. However, this would mean that Arrow would have an end outside of its own show years later. That would mean that only The Flash and former Arrow fans who decided to tune in to The Flash‘s final season out of nostalgia would know about this end. Which doesn’t seem to make much sense.
Also, if The Flash‘s final season only features Stephen Amell, Arrow‘s true ending would be too much for the viewer’s imagination. We wouldn’t see the end of the characters…which we don’t think would make anyone particularly happy, despite how much we all want Arrow‘s disastrous ending to be fixed.
The last point against this fan theory is that reversing the Crisis we saw at the end of Arrow would take many minutes and more than a couple of scenes, at least if they want to do it properly. And we don’t think The Flash‘s final season will waste too much time fixing another show’s ending instead of dealing with its own.
As we mentioned, Barry fixing all the things that the Arrow series finale did wrong is a dream and if this happens, we need to see Emily Bett Rickards show up — unexpectedly — and get our Olicity happy ending moment. But we don’t think it’s the most likely theory, unfortunately.
Speed Force Hallucinations
Throughout The Flash, Barry had many run-ins with the speed force. These clashes created different realities from the ones we knew or brought out some visions in Barry that helped him move forward on his path. So maybe Oliver would present himself to Barry this way.
According to this theory, the emotional connection between the two characters would be maintained and would fit with the end of Arrow as we know it. Despite this, we don’t quite like this fan theory because, perhaps, it feels too impersonal…
If we have to choose between Oliver appearing as a hallucination due to the speed force and a flashback, we definitely choose the flashback option.
Oliver Queen of Another Earth
This fan theory is, together with the theory of the Spectre, the one that fits the least. It doesn’t make much sense for The Flash‘s final season to risk the appearance of an Oliver who wouldn’t have the necessary emotional connection to either Barry or the viewers to truly impact us.
Basically, it would be an Oliver that neither Barry nor the audience knows, and that would take away the emotional weight and importance that this moment between the two characters is meant to carry.
For that reason, it’s not a theory that fits much with anything right now and it’s one of the least widespread fan theories. Few bet on it, but it’s there.
The Flash season 9 will begin its broadcast on February 8 on The CW.
