13 CW Actors Who Deserve An Emmy Nomination

Arrow's seventh offering was a season that promised much change and yet constantly flirted with falling back into its old ways, but Laurel Lance's redemption arc proved to be a reliable silver lining and this was, in no small part, thanks to Katie Cassidy Rodgers' strong performance.

The Arrowverse vet was always in her element as Black Siren, regularly toying with viewers' emotions as she portrayed the character as the sassy reckless multifaceted villain that she was - and it all came oh-so-naturally to her. And though she would continue to turn in these wonderfully moody performances throughout the season, it was her character's emotional breakdown in 'Past Sins' that allowed her to deliver some of her finest work.

As Laurel's past came back to haunt her, Cassidy Rodgers delivered a heartfelt performance - one that slowly built towards a crescendo, highlighting how the cracks in her antagonistic demeanour were beginning to show, and with each passing second, more and more emotion came out.

It wasn't over-the-top or melodramatic; there was a subtly about it and it felt like a natural progression of her development as the quietly emotional monologue was 100% in line with the character. And, more than anything, that look of anguish on her face highlighted all that heartache that was always hiding behind that villainous smirk - more than any dialogue ever could have.

Cassidy has always been one Arrow's most under-appreciated gems (and she's managed to elevate even the most questionable of material in the past), but this moving performance stood out as one of her all-time best.