Arrow: Two reasons why [Spoiler] is the new Green Arrow

When Season 7 premiered two weeks ago, Arrow introduced a new Green Arrow to Star City.  Now, two episodes in, I’m pretty convinced of the identity of this new vigilante.

With the seventh season premiere, Arrow not only introduced a new Green Arrow to Star City, to pick up where Oliver left off before prison, they also introduced the element of the flash forward. During the first flash forward we saw a grown up William arrive at Lian Yu and find Roy.  In the second flash forward, we see William and Roy dig up Oliver’s bow and arrows. All of this evidence has screamed one thing at me: William is the new Green Arrow prowling the streets of Star City in Oliver’s absence, crossing names off lists.

You’re probably asking, how and why? Here are two reasons I think very strongly that William has to be the new Green Arrow.

Time Travel

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The Arrowverse has a strong basis in alternate earths and time travel. Even though showrunner Beth Schwartz has said they’re keeping the storyline grounded, I’m not going to rule out time travel. This is a show that has used the Lazarus Pit multiple times, introduced metahumans into Team Arrow, and have brought over people from other Earths. Why should time travel be out of the question?

My argument: William has traveled back in time to fill a void Oliver as left. Something bad has happened, probably something to do with Diaz, and William is going to try to prevent that from happening. I’m thinking Oliver never gets out of prison or is killed in prison. There has to be some catalyst to send William to Lian Yu to find the bow, and send him back in time to Star City 2018.

Why this wouldn’t work: The Flash is already playing the whole “child from the future goes to the past to save the father” storyline. I doubt they would use that storyline on both shows. Unless it’s going to work into the crossover somehow.

Boarding School

Older William tells Roy that Felicity and Oliver shipped him off to boarding school, and never came back for him. This just doesn’t sound like something Felicity and Oliver would do unless something prevented them from reclaiming William. Oliver loves his son too much to just abandon him.

This supports my theory that something happens to Oliver and Felicity that prevents them from reuniting with their son. Which could definitely lead to the catalyst to send him back in time to try to prevent that event from taking place.

Plus, every person who reads science fiction knows that if you run into your younger self you can cause a paradox. So, time traveling back to Star City when Young William is in witness protection out-of-town and in boarding school would make total sense. And Felicity being a good Soap Opera Mom, has shipped off Young William, so that Future William can step in and play that role for this season.

Having Future William running around town, with Young William MIA, helping his dad’s friends apprehend bad guys just makes total sense. Especially since I feel Felicity and Oliver just wouldn’t abandon William to fend for himself forever. Something has to block them from getting back to him. And that’s why Future William is donning the mask and hood back in 2018.

What do you think? Is the new Green Arrow William from the future? Do you have a  different theory of who is wearing the hood? I want to hear it in the comments below!

Arrow airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.