Arrow follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who claimed to have spent five years shipwrecked on Lian Yu, a mysterious island in the North China Sea, before returning home to Starling City (later renamed "Star City") to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. Throughout the series, Oliver is joined by others in his quest, among them former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), I.T. expert and skilled hacker Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), former assassin Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), aspiring vigilante Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), Oliver's sister Thea (Willa Holland), and attorney-turned-vigilante Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy). The group also receives support from Laurel and Sara's father, Detective Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne). During the first five seasons of the show, characters from Oliver's past appear in a separate story arc based on Oliver's flashbacks, which highlight parallels from Oliver's history that shape events in the main story. Starting with season seven, a series of flash-forwards focus on Oliver's children William (Ben Lewis) and Mia (Katherine McNamara), exploring how present events would affect their future and Green Arrow's legacy.
The first season aired from October 10, 2012, through May 15, 2013.[2][3] On February 11, The CW renewed the series for a second season.[4] The season aired on October 9 and concluded on May 14, 2014.[5][6] On February 12 the series was renewed for another season.[7] The third season began airing on October 8 and concluded on May 13, 2015.[8][9]Arrow was renewed for a fourth season on January 11.[10] The season began aired on October 7 and ended on May 25, 2016.[11][12] On March 11, the series was renewed.[13] The fifth season began airing on October 5 and finished on May 24, 2017.[14][15] The series was renewed for another season on January 8.[16] The sixth season began airing on October 12, 2017, and concluded on May 17, 2018.[17][18]Arrow was renewed for a seventh season on April 2, 2018.[19] The season aired from October 15 through May 13, 2019.[20] On March 6, 2019, the series was given a final season order.[21] The eight season began on October 15, 2019, and concluded on January 28, 2020.[22][23]
All eight seasons of the series have also been released on DVD to regions 1, 2 and 4 and on Blu-ray to regions A and B.