Arrow: The Eighth & Final Season is now available on Digital,
and will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on April 28th
This won’t be like our typical Blu-ray reviews because Warner Bros. did not provide the actual product for review, just streaming access to its contents, so I can’t comment on how the material is presented or organized.
I don’t expect that new viewers will be jumping in on this eighth season, but this final season does give viewers a glimpse into why this series has been so popular and was able to launch the massive Arrow-verse. The big draw of this release is going to be the bonus disc that includes the entire Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, so I won’t delve too much into the season itself. Those who have watched the first seven seasons should also enjoy this final season. In last year’s Elseworlds crossover, Oliver learned that he was going to have to sacrifice himself in order to save the world(s) and so his fate has already been sealed and accepted. This final season is a love letter to the fans, with the first seven episodes revisiting some of the key characters from the past seven seasons who helped make Arrow a hit. This is followed by the big crossover event, and the final goodbye. This final season is packed with lots of exciting action, both for the classic and the new Team Arrow, and provides a solid conclusion for these characters we’ve come to love over the past 8 years.
The Blu-ray release of this eighth/final season of Arrow also includes a special bonus disc containing all five parts of this year’s epic Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event (the DVD release will only include the Arrow episode, “Part Four”). This event was easily the highlight of the season for me. With many of the previous Arrow-verse’s crossovers, the individual parts of the event were more like linked episodes of each individual series, focusing on the characters/plot from the series it belonged to. However, Crisis on Infinite Earths feels more like one five part epic film following the Arrow-verse as a whole, with an emphasis on Oliver Queen’s heroic journey at its core.
In Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Anti-Monitor has been destroying Earths across the multi-verse, and superheroes from every Earth—not just those on our own Earth-1 and Supergirl‘s Earth-38—must come together to stop him. This is the biggest, most-exciting crossover the Arrow-verse has ever attempted. The result is epic, bringing together characters/actors from decades of DC TV series and movies. I’m sure die-hard DC fans familiar with the comics will get even more geeky joy out of this then I did. But even as a casual viewer, I had so much fun spotting all of the amazing cameos, and watching this huge collection of characters come together in a bigger way than ever before. The repercussions from this crossover event will have long-lasting effects on the Arrow-verse (and possibly future DC TV shows and movies) as a new Earth Prime arises, with some major shake-ups. While The CW had announced most of the cameos ahead of time, there were still a few amazing surprises, and it was still a delight to watch. This Blu-ray release is worth picking up for the crossover alone!
Warner Bros. Blu-ray release includes about 8 minutes of deleted scenes from Arrow‘s final season, the “Hitting the Bullseye” finale special that aired on The CW, and interviews and panel footage from all of the Arrow-verse shows that were at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 before the season premiered. The Blu-ray release also includes a bonus disc containing the entire 5-part Crisis on Infinite Earths and over 40 minutes of bonus material related to the crossover event. These featurettes consist of the pre-recorded segments that aired during The CW’s crossover post-show hosted by Kevin Smith (the Kevin Smith interview segments are not included). The release also includes an insert with a code to redeem a digital copy of the Arrow season 8 episodes on Vudu.
What’s Included:
- All 10 episodes of the seventh season, plus the entire 5-part DC Crossover Event: Crisis on Infinite Earths on a bonus disc:
“Starling City”, “Welcome to Hong Kong”, “Leap of Faith”, “Present Tense”, “Prochnost”, “Reset”, “Purgatory”, “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One” (Supergirl season 5 episode 9), “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” (Batwoman season 1 episode 9), “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three” (The Flash season 6 episode 9), “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Four”, “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five” (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 5 episode 1), “Green Arrow & The Canaries”, “Fadeout” - 1080p / Widescreen 1.78:1
- Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles: English SDH
- Digital HD copy of the episodes redeemable via Vudu.
Did not have a code for review, but if it’s like previous seasons, the digital code will only unlock the Arrow episodes, not the entire crossover event. - Main Discs
- Deleted Scenes (8:21)
Collection of 10 deleted scenes.- Ep. 01, Scene 7 Partial (1:03)
- Ep. 01, Scene 18 Partial (:24)
- Ep. 01, Scene 19 Partial (:38)
- Ep. 01, Scene 26 Partial (:40)
- Ep. 04, Scene 2 (1:23)
- Ep. 07, Scene 34 Partial (:36)
- Ep. 09, Scene 13 (:31)
- Ep. 09, Scene 16 (:16)
- Ep. 09, Scene A34-B34 (2:32)
- Ep. 10, Scene 25B (:18)
- Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye (42:26)
In this retrospective finale special, the cast and creators look back on the series, the characters, their relationships and journeys, the villains, the stunts and fight sequences, why the series has resonated with audiences, how it spawned the Arrow-verse, and more. Includes clips from the series and interviews with executive producers Marc Guggenheim, Greg Berlanti, Beth Schwartz, and stars Stephen Amell (“Oliver Queen”), Katie Cassidy (“Laurel Lance”), David Ramsey (“John Diggle”), Rick Gonzales (“Rene Ramirez”), Colton Haynes (“Roy Harper”), Juliana Harkavy (“Dinah Drake”), Katherine McNamara (“Mia Smoak”). Joseph David-Jones (“Connor Hawke”), Ben Lewis (“William Clayton”) & Echo Kellum (“Curtis Holt”). - The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019 (50:59)
The cast and creators of five of the DC TV shows visit San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Includes interviews with the stars, and footage from the shows’ Q&A panels. Participants include Arrow (executive producer Marc Guggenheim, producer/director James Bamford and stars Juliana Harkavy, David Ramsey, Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy & Rick Gonzales, plus surprise guest Brandon Routh), The Flash (executive producer Eric Wallace and stars Hartley Sawyer, Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanaugh, Grant Gustin, Candice Patton & Carlos Valdes), Black Lightning (stars Marvin ‘Krondon’ Jones III, China Anne McClain, Cress Williams, Nafessa Williams, Jordan Calloway & Christine Adams), Batwoman (executive producers Caroline Dries & Sarah Schechter), and Supergirl (executive producers Robert Rovner, Jessica Queller & Sarah Schechter, and stars Jesse Rath, Nicole Maines, Mehcad Brooks, Azie Tesfai, Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood, Katie McGrath & Andrea Brooks).
- Deleted Scenes (8:21)
- Cross-over Bonus Disc
- DC Crossover Event: Crisis on Infinite Earths (3:31:55)
All five episodes from Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow - Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return (11:53)
Series producers and comic book artists/writers/experts talk about the evolution of the DC Comics story the crossover event is based on, the major impact it had on the comics, and adapting this story for TV. Includes stills from the comics, and interviews with writer Marv Wokfman, artist Jerry Ordway, DC co-publisher Dan DiDio, executive producer Marc Guggenheim, artist George Pérez, and artist Tom Derenick. - Crisis on Infinite Earths: Crisis Management (13:06)
The cast and filmmakers talk about taking on this massive crossover event. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, stills from the comics, and interviews with executive producer Marc Guggenheim, story editor/writer (DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow) Ubah Mohamed, executive producer Robert Rovner (Supergirl), executive producer Eric Wallace (The Flash), writer Marv Wolfman, and stars Caity Lotz (“Sara Lance/White Canary”) & David Ramsey. - Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend (3:14) The cast and filmmakers talk about bringing in the Batman: The Animated Series star to finally play his character on screen. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with executive producers Eric Wallace, Marc Guggenheim & Robert Rovner, story editor/writer Ubah Mohamed, and star Kevin Conroy (“Bruce Wayne”).
- Crisis Past and Present – Superman vs. Superman (4:34)
The cast and filmmakers talk about seeing Brandon Routh stepping back into the Superman costume. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with executive producers Marc Guggenheim & Eric Wallace, and stars Brandon Routh (“Superman/The Atom”), Tyler Hoechlin (“Superman”), Grant Gustin (“Barry Allen/The Flash”) & Hartley Sawyer (“Ralph Dibny/Elongated Man”). - Characters in Crisis: Pariah (4:17)
The filmmakers discuss adapting the Crisis comic character of Pariah to the Arrow-verse. Includes stills from the comics, and interviews with executive producers Eric Wallace, Marc Guggenheim & Robert Rovner, and story editor/writer Ubah Mohamed. - Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor (4:52)
The filmmakers discuss Crisis‘ big villain, and adapting this character to the Arrow-verse. Includes stills from the comics, and interviews with executive producers Eric Wallace, Marc Guggenheim & Robert Rovner, story editor/writer Ubah Mohamed, and comic writer Marv Wokfman.
- DC Crossover Event: Crisis on Infinite Earths (3:31:55)
Episodes: (9:54:59)
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Blu-ray:
Digital: (Subject to expiration)
Extras:
Final Thoughts:
The Arrow: The Complete Eighth & Final Season Blu-ray release is another solid product from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The final 10 episodes of the series are more of a love letter to the fans, to revisit their favorite characters from past seasons while also providing closure for Oliver Queen and Team Arrow. The release also includes a small assortment of deleted scenes and an Arrow series finale TV special included, plus some highlights from all of this past year’s DC TV SDCC panels (which will likely appear on all of this year’s DC TV releases). However, the highlight of this release, which should appeal to all DC and Arrow-verse fans, is the bonus disc that includes the entire Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event plus 40 minutes of bonus material. This disc alone makes this release worth picking up.
