Arrow Season 4: 5 Reasons Why The Comics Shouldn't Matter
2. Plot Changes
Most American network series run with upward of twenty episodes per season. As such, few programs can devote every single installment to a certain arc. Most follow a model made prominent by The X-Files with its ongoing “mythology” revisited between standalones. Arrow is no different. Oliver may have an archnemesis each year, but he mostly just faces plain old villains. With decades of Green Arrow adventures documented on page, there were plenty to choose from within his lore.
Diehard comic fans were therefore rather displeased to discover that many aspects of Season 3’s mythology were drawn from Batman rather than Green Arrow. Ra’s training Oliver, Oliver wedding Ra’s daughter, even the image of Oliver skewered by a scimitar…all are derivative of Batman.
While not particularly commendable for the writers, it's actually okay. Arrow isn’t Batman. Oliver Queen is not Bruce Wayne. The two won’t be crossing paths at a billionaire vigilante support group. The only Bruce Wayne on primetime television is pre-pubescent, mostly just weird, and featured on a show on a different network. The universes are separate.
If the producers want to steal from Batman or Superman or Aquaman, they can without affecting the narrative of Arrow. They should perhaps be a bit ashamed of themselves; at the end of the day, however, it won’t actually make a difference to the story.