‘Arrow’ season 3 debate: Should Deathstroke return this season?

Manu -For the first time in a little while, we’ve hit somewhat of a lull in regards to our “Arrow” season 3 coverage … but we still have something else that we’ve been wanting to discuss for some time in the issue of Deathstroke.

When the show decided to keep Slade Wilson (Manu Bennett) alive, they made a big move in ensuring that there is at least one more defined Oliver Queen adversary out there. In a sense, that’s great if they ever come up with a good story for him. You know that if Slade ever finds his way off of that island again and gets a hold of more mirakuru, he could be deadly. Heck, he could be a monster even without it.

However, we do have to wonder whether or not continuing to keep villains alive is setting the precedent that the show never wants to limit their options, which can be seen as a bad thing. Just look at it this way: If you know that the villain is still capable of causing more damage, is it really a victory? First it was Malcolm Merlyn, and now it’s a man who is technically on his home turf, even if he is below the ground in this show’s version of the Hatch from “Lost.”

For us, there are a few reasons why we’ve ultimately allowed ourselves to be okay with Deathstroke still being out there:

  1. He’s iconic. He is one of Oliver’s most notorious foes, and you need to keep those baddies around who are not known for being Batman villains more than any other DC Comics character. That’s what we got with Ra’s al Ghul.
  2. Manu Bennett is awesome in this role. He’s terrifying, but prior to that he seemed like a lovely guy that you’d want to have a drink with.
  3. The stunt coordination for that battle in the season finale was one of the best ones that we’ve seen for TV ever. How the “Arrow” stunt team did not get an Emmy nomination is a shock to us.

What do you think: Is it better that Slade lived, or died, going into this season? Share in the poll below, and head over here for further news and speculation now! Also, sign up to get some further TV scoop on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: The CW


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