This can’t be happening. John Barrowman told fans at Planet Comic Con he will not return as Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow , or any show in the Arrowverse for that matter. The 50-year-old actor who held the first and second seasons of Arrow together is leaving after the Season 5 finale.
Malcolm Merlyn, also known as The Magician or Dark Archer, is second in line as the most important Arrow character in the history of the series. He’s also one of the best actors ever to appear on the show, most certainly in Seasons 1 and 2. We will see just how important he was to the development of the series in the Arrow Season 5 finale, where his storyline will make a full circle to Season 1, just like Oliver’s.
We didn’t know until a few episodes back just how deep Malcolm Merlyn’s role was in the Season 1 storyline. He appeared in the flashbacks for the first time during a business meeting with Kovar in Russia. It turns out Merlyn had a strong working relationship with Kovar, Oliver’s enemy because of his promise to Tiana. Before Oliver went back to Star City after the Gambit sank, Oliver sought to fulfill his promise to Tiana to get revenge on Kovar. That’s why he joined the Bratva and met Anatoly. Unbeknownst to Oliver, his childhood best friends’ father is involved with the Russians too. In fact, Merlyn saved Kovar’s life in Russia after Oliver tortured the Russian mobster nearly to death.
It will be interesting to find out deep Merlyn is in with Kovar and just how much Merlyn knew about Oliver before he came back to Star City and donned the Green Hood. But one thing is for sure, it doesn’t seem likely Merlyn will make it out of Season 5 finale alive.
Series stars, writers and producers have all teased multiple deaths in the finale episode, which takes place on Lian Yu. It’s quite possible Merlyn will be one of those deaths, not only because he should have died about 100 times by now, but because his character has taken every twist and turn possible. It’s also suspicious Merlyn is set to play a “pivotal” role on a show he hasn’t been a part of all season.
"He’s going to be a huge factor leading up to the finale," Executive Producer Wendy Mericle told CBR. "This season is all about legacy, and when Malcolm comes into the story, it’s really rooted as much by necessity from Oliver’s point of view as it is about what Malcolm means to him and what Malcolm means to Thea."
"It’s a great story," Mericle continued, "because it’s going to have a lot of action but it’s also going to have this kind of emotional undercurrent that is going to lead to a really big, huge series moment for him. I think it’s a great story to tell, and it’s great stuff for John [Barrowman] to play."
Every time Dark Archer and Green Arrow team up, it’s always a showstealer. So if you are in love with John Barrowman just as much as I am, say your goodbyes.
Do you think Malcolm Merlyn will die in the Arrow Season 5 finale? Let us know in the comments.
