Why Netflix isn’t going to ‘save’ Arrow

Arrow’s eighth season is going to be it’s last. Don’t expect Netflix to ‘save’ the show because it’s not been canceled. This is an ending.

The CW’s Arrow is coming to an end after its eighth season. With a shorter season, stories will be wrapped up and we’ll be saying goodbye to the show — although not necessarily the characters. Don’t expect Netflix or another streaming service to step in because this isn’t a cancellation. This is a planned ending.

It sounds like the ending of the series has been on the mind of the network, the studio, and the production for a while. The Hollywood Reporter shares that the shortened 10-episode final season will air during the 2019-2020 season (Stephen Amell shared that it would air in the fall) and that CW’s Entertainment Head, Mark Pedowitz, had already hinted that this was going to happen. With the upcoming Batwoman and other pilots being ordered, the network needs to make some room.

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Ending its oldest Arrowverse series makes sense. Even though it’s one of the most popular shows on the network, it is aging. Pedowitz wants to bring in a new generation of fans and that means bringing a show that is turning seven this year to an end.

But if it’s that the CW wants to make room, why couldn’t Netflix step in? Every good show needs to come to an end and it makes sense to bring this one to a close on a high note. The last thing any fan of a show wants is to see it dragged out until it’s limping along to a slow death.

Plus, a wrap-up season means that stories will come to a realistic close. With 10 episodes, it’s possible that the series will wrap up with the Arrowverse crossover. What a way to air a series finale, right? And considering Elseworlds crossover hinted at the Green’s Arrow’s death in the next crossover (Crisis of Infinite Earths), it would certainly make sense for that to be the big series finale.

This isn’t a cancellation. This is an ending and there’s a huge difference. Plus, it doesn’t mean an end to all your favorite characters. You know how the Arrowverse works, right?

What would you like to see in the final season of Arrow? What do you think about the news? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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