Arrow Season 6: 7 Reasons Why It's Better Than You Think

Arrow returned to our screens in September for its game-changing seventh season - which saw the Emerald Archer, Oliver Queen, imprisoned behind the bars of Slabside Maximum Security Prison. With the season now nearly halfway through its run, it's safe to say that it has gone down well, receiving praise from both fans and critics, with most citing it as a return to form for the show.

This all comes after its sixth season, which aired its second half earlier this year, drew ire from fans for being unable to maintain the high standard set by the previous season. From beloved characters acting inexplicably (remember that dreadful Team Arrow civil war?) to retreading old territory (did Diggle really need to become the Green Arrow again?), there were countless infuriating moments throughout.

Having said that, Season 6 certainly wasn't without greatness. In fact, there were multiple standout moments and impressive episodes that would thoroughly deserve a mention in a conversation about Arrow's greatest hits. Furthermore, there were promising storylines that, although not always executed to perfection, managed to remain engaging throughout, keeping us entertained on the whole.

In hindsight, Arrow's sixth season really wasn't that bad, was it? Let's find out.

Over the course of Arrow's run, we have seen three variations of Oliver Queen: selfish playboy, hardened vigilante and city-helping hero. Season 6, however, introduced us to a fourth: father.

Ever since the reveal (from way back in Season 2) that Oliver had a son, William, we have been waiting for the character to be introduced. After occasional appearances, during which Oliver decided it would be best to stay away from his son, William's mother Samantha was killed by Prometheus in the Season 5 finale.

Season 6 saw the Mayor of Star City take full-custody of his son and it proved to be one of the season's more emotionally engaging stories. Despite his vigilante training and strong public persona, Oliver was completely out of his depth when it came to looking after William in the beginning and thus, had to work hard to gain his son's trust. Though it was a learning curve with a lot of speed bumps, the pair eventually grew close, providing us with many endearing moments.

Though this serious stuff could have done with a bit more screen-time to develop, it was fulfilling to see Oliver get the chance to prove himself as a father after all these years - something he did to the very best of his ability. In the end, he was there for William whenever he was needed and was willing to do whatever it took to keep him safe - and, in all honesty, you couldn't ask for more than that.