Arrow Season 5 is rapidly approaching and there are still a lot of mysteries. At the top of the list: who is Prometheus and how will the flashbacks end? This latest piece of information from series creator Marc Guggenheim gives insight into both of those questions. He posted a photo of the cast at the table read for the 100th episode (Season 5 episode 8). In the photo sits none other than Oliver’s father, Robert Queen.
Arrow 100th Episode Table Read. No Flashpoint. No flashbacks. pic.twitter.com/bs4KXiPVNx
— Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) September 23, 2016
What’s more, Guggenheim specified in his tweet that Jamey Sheridan isn’t there for one of Oliver’s flashbacks and his appearance isn’t Flashpoint related. Robert Queen took his own life to spare his sons in the pilot episode of Arrow. So… how can he be back?
Well, returning from the dead is definitely in Guggenheim’s bag of tricks. Fans have long speculated Robert Queen could still be alive -- I personally doubt it as we watched him shoot himself in the head point-blank in the middle of the ocean -- but hey, anything can happen?
The most educated answer would be Sheridan is back to film a video message that Robert left to his children before he stepped foot on the yacht and the fateful storm hit. Oliver watched his video message, and used the book his father left him to decide who lived and died in his first year as The Hood in Star City. But as far as we know, Thea hasn’t watched hers.
A third option would be that this version of Robert Queen is from an alternate universe like Earth-2, or heck, even Earth-3. In the coming weeks, Oliver is going to learn a lot about time traveling, additional worlds and alternate timelines. We know Dig is going to be heavily affected by Flashpoint and photos from Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 reveal Oliver will set foot on the Wave Rider early in the season.
The next character coming back for Arrow Season 5 could have ties to the season-long villain, Prometheus. Right next to Stephen Amell, there is a script that says Alex Zahara. He played a character named Anthony Venza from Season 1, a drug dealer and associated with Star City crime boss Frank Bertinelli. At the time, Oliver was working with Huntress, a ruthless vigilante and the daughter of Bertinelli. Venza was on Oliver’s list and the two went out to find him. When they did, Oliver convinced Huntress to spare his life and turn him into the police.
Four years in prison sounds about right. Venza only appeared in Season 1 episode 8, ‘Vendetta,’ and Season 5 episode 8 will see the return of his character. All we know about Prometheus is that he seeks revenge on Oliver and their history goes all the way back to Season 1. Who do you think is the man behind the mask? Let us know in the comments below!
Arrow Season 5 premieres Oct. 5.
