8 Big Scoops About ‘Arrow’s’ Season 3 Finale

Thus far, the third season of Arrow has had love triangles, terrifying villains, tragic deaths, steamy kisses, heartbreak, and the League of Assassins. Did we mention there’s still two whole episodes to go until the finale?

So, fans everywhere wouldn’t be wrong in wondering how executive producers Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg could possibly manage to top all of the insanity, twists, and turns that they packed into the entire year into just one episode. Naturally, when we got a chance to talk with the show’s cast and crew at PaleyFest in Los Angeles, we had to pose them the exact same question. And luckily for Arrow fans, they were willing to drop plenty of hints as to just how incredible and unforgettable the season 3 finale is going to be.

In order to help you properly brace yourself for the roller coaster ride that’s headed to your TV screens, we’ve rounded up all of their spoilers, teases and predictions into one handy post. Now, you’ll be prepared for anything… unless, of course, there’s another Vertigo outbreak. Then you’re on your own.

1. Arrow will “never be the same.”

 
 
At least according to Kreisberg. While that might be the only definitive scoop we managed to get him to share on the carpet, it's safe to say that he and Guggenheim have very big plans for Team Arrow.

2. It will introduce the "big bad" of season 4. 
Unlike previous finales, the end of season 3 will actually spend a bit of time setting up what's to come for Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and company. "We’ll probably go further than we’ve ever gone in a season finale to give you a sense as to who the big bad of the next season will be," Guggenheim revealed to Entertainment Weekly. "But we still have a lot to do with Ra’s [Al Ghul] and the League of Assassins.”

3. Damien Darhk and H.I.V.E. will play a major role in the next season. 
That major villain that Guggeheim was hinting about? Well, all signs are pointing to him being Damien Dahrk, who was recruited into the League of Assassins with Ra's Al Ghul (Matt Nable) and fled after he wasn't chosen as Heir to the Demon. He's been mentioned on the show quite a few times recently, and according to David Ramsey a.k.a. John Diggle, that's intentional: "From my understanding, H.I.V.E. is going to be a big part of next season’s big baddie," he told E! News. "There will be a lot of Diggle’s connection to H.I.V.E. next season, so stay tuned.”

4. Diggle might be getting a suit of his own.  
Along with his expanded history, Diggle might be getting the full hero treatment, with a suit and nickname of his own. At least, he will if Colton Haynes gets his way.

"I'm interested to see how Dig's storyline will go, going forward, and if he'll actually get a costume," the actor behind Arsenal told us, with a mighty knowing look on his face, if we do say so ourselves.

5. Oliver probably won't be the Heir to the Demon for much longer. 
The finale's title, "My Name Is Oliver Queen," — which Guggenheim revealed via his Twitter account — is more than just an homage to the monologue that begins every episode of Arrow. Many critics are speculating that it is foreshadowing Oliver stepping down from the League of Assassins and stepping back onto the path of good that he started on in the first place.

6. It will likely tie into the comics. 
When we asked John Barrowman, who plays, Malcolm Merlyn, to tell us what he's hoping will happen in the season finale, he admitted, "What I hope will happen is going to happen. I'm a big comic book fan, I'm a big fan of sci-fi, of the whole genre. I'm a nerd, I'm a geek, and Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim — we're all geeks."

You want more clues? Dig out your back issues.

7. The Lazarus Pit will continue to play a huge role. 
The new villain's introduction isn't the only thing that will carry over into season four, according to Guggenheim; Oliver's decision to revive Thea (Willa Holland) by putting her into the waters of the Lazarus Pit will play a huge role in new episodes, even though her heart is beating again. "Everything in the show has consequences, and that's something we've been consistent about, he told the Hollywood Reporter. "It's something you will continue to see not just through the end of season three, but into season four..." 

8. It's going to be very hard for the finale to impress Paul Blackthorne. 
Sure, it's all well and good to speculate about the season three finale being the biggest, most world-changing episode of Arrow yet, but as far as Detective Lance is concerned, it won't be more impressive than anything he's seen before.

His favorite scene of the year, "the last scene of episode 18," where Roy confessed to being the Arrow already happened, and as if that weren't enough, Blackthorne's already had his favorite actor guest star. "I already had my little fangirl moment," he admitted, "with Vinnie Jones popping up on the show. I'm a huge soccer fan."

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on the CW.