20 Greatest Arrowverse Villains

Black Canary’s demise towards the end of Arrow’s fourth season didn’t come as much of a shock. The show had been teasing a major death from the beginning of the year, with a flashforward to a mysterious grave, and there were a limited number of likely occupants in the cast.

However, the sheer volume of the public outcry over Laurel Lance’s death seemed to take everyone aback - so when actress Katie Cassidy returned to Arrow as recurring villain Black Siren, her evil Earth 2 take on Laurel Lance, she was an instant hit with the audience at home.

Part of Black Siren’s appeal as a villain lies in that familiar alternate universe schtick: it’s always fun seeing a fan favourite play the bad guy, and the heroic Black Canary’s tragic end threw the murderous Black Siren into even sharper relief.

But honestly, the biggest thing that Black Siren brought to the show was the sight of Cassidy having so much fun vamping it up as the cold, ruthless, femme fatale after years of playing the buttoned-down goodie-two-shoes.

Even the character’s inevitable transition to antihero status by season seven (the Arrowverse can't handle Laurel Lance being completely irredeemable) couldn’t diminish the allure of those snarled putdowns.