Arrow Season 8 Premiere Review: 10 Ups & 3 Downs From 'Starling City'

By Michael Patterson /

Ups...

10. The Beginnings Of An Intriguing New Story In 2040

The CW

The flash-forwards may have felt a little truncated, rushed and underdeveloped, but it's hard not to enjoy the dynamic between the team of up-and-coming heroes.

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McNamara's Mia may be annoyingly moody and self-righteous but she's exactly like her dad, and it shows. Meanwhile, David-Jones' Connor is nearly as effective but totally as loyal as his adopted father, and Sixtos' Canary-in-training Zoe is already incredibly badass.

However, it's Ben Lewis' charismatic and infectiously joyous turn as William that really holds the team together in this episode, and adds some much-needed light-heartedness to all the brooding going on.

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As for the team's attempts to track down the Deathstroke Gang, and the tension between brothers Conner and JJ, that never quite reached its full potential in the premiere - but it wasn't really supposed to yet. That doesn't, however, change the fact that there is potential there; hopefully Arrow can capitalise on it in the episodes to come.