Arrow Season 8: 10 characters who need to return for Arrow’s final season
Arrow — “Betrayal” — Image AR113a_0138b — Pictured: Susanna Thompson as Moira — Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW — © 2013 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved
2. Moira Queen
The matriarch of the Queen family, Moira was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Hardened by the untimely death of her husband Robert, Oliver and Thea’s mother was, at times, impossible to read and, as a result, ended up becoming one of the first season’s unexpected villains. This, however, set up one of the Arrowverse’s finest redemption arcs as the character slowly won back the trust of her family, friends and Starling City itself as she went on to become the Mayor.
Though a morally questionable character, it was clear that she was willing to do anything for her children, which she proved beyond a shadow of a doubt when she allowed Deathstroke to claim her life so that both Oliver and Thea would live.
Moira’s death did save the character from suffering through some of the less-than-stellar writing that would follow in subsequent seasons, but it did rob us of countless opportunities to see Susanna Thompson steal the show. Her performances were undoubtedly one of the strongest aspects of Arrow‘s already strong glory days while Moira’s turbulent relationships with Oliver and Thea proved to be among the show’s most engaging.
One of the reasons why a Moira return would be refreshing is that, following her death way back in Season 2, she has only returned to the show twice – both times in the fifth season. On that note, her cameo in the show’s Season 5 finale was easily one of the best unexpected TV returns in recent memory and it was a fitting reminder of just how integral her bond with her beloved son was to the show’s early days.
If the final season can produce anything as genuinely emotional as that, then it will have done both characters justice.