Arrow Season 4: 12 Big Questions After 'Beacon Of Hope'

5. What Is Merlyn's Role Within H.I.V.E.?

Arrow Curtis Mr Terrific
The CW

Ah Malcolm Merlyn, the character on Arrow you can never work out. He's the big bad who wants to destroy the city, then he's the MIA father who wants to reconnect with his daughter, only to turn her into a killer. Then he's a part-time ally of Team Arrow and also the leader of a secret organisation of assassins, back in conflict with Green Arrow, the worst dad in the world, and helping Damien Darhk. 

Now, he's, what, exactly? He's still got an affiliation with Darhk, but it seems that he's taken on a bigger role within H.I.V.E. as well. Is he replacing Darhk as their leader? What exactly is the hierarchy between the two, especially if Darhk doesn't have powers? And how will this all play into the Genesis project and the opposition of Oliver Queen? Damien Darhk has been the big bad of Season 4, but is this a stealth move to make Merlyn the overarching villain, or is it setting things up for him to be the major villain again in Season 5 instead? 

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.