To conclude, while I agree that it would be great to see Ollie go out by himself sometimes, I don't think demanding that this or that character should leave the show (usually the character that we don't like!) is the solution. The larger team is here to stay, so the best solution is to split them up, and let them go on separate missions (e.g. Laurel+Thea or Diggle+Ollie, or Oliver by himself). As I already said, I personally like many aspects of the new team dynamic, and I frankly sometimes feel that the complaints about other masked heroes stealing Oliver's thunder is just another way of saying "we don't want Laurel on the team, please return to the golden OTA days when Felicity was the only woman on the team/in the Arrowcave"...
Then there is Laurel and Thea. Rather than say one is better than the other when their training is reasonably on par with each other or deal with the thorny issue of why one is called a side kick and the other an equal, both were made equal and while they should have equal say in how they risk their lives, they should not be treated as equal in skill level or strategic planning to either Oliver or Diggle.
And yet when everyone goes out into the field, they all are together and yet fighting on their own. Each getting their time in front of the camera even if it is repetitive or doesn't advance the narrative.
Also, why does everyone have to go on EVERY mission? They needed Oliver back because the ghosts were overwhelming them. They needed extra muscle and his experience in handling the unbeatable enemy. So sure, when they go after ghosts, everyone join the fun and I thought in Lost Souls during the rescue of Ray, they used everyone well, they had specific jobs and purposes and worked together but on different fronts.
But it was absurd when they sent five people to steal one part from Kord Industries. There is a loss of intelligence in how the missions are structured. The fights have become all about brute force and since everyone is equal, if it's too early in the episode, everyone has to lose their fight - which keeps them equal - but then in the B portion of the episode when it is time for a win, everyone but the guy that has to stick around and be a part of the main narrative gets to have a clean win. So everyone but Oliver.
So that means Ray and Laurel and Thea can all successfully complete their part of the mission and fight and wander off set but since the story still has to be told, Oliver gets a knife to his back so Lance can talk down Ladycop or Oliver has to slip up and let a ghost get the drop on him so Diggle can swoop in and save his brother in green.
They are writing the spectacle of having so many masks without taking into account how the many masks affect the actual story being told and since Arrow remains Oliver's story, those dramatic narrative beats need to have him involved even when telling someone else's tale. So Oliver gets to be there for Lance or Diggle or when Thea is lighting Anarhky on fire, but the only reason narrative reason for him to be there is if he doesn't definitively win his fights, something that isn't an issue for the other characters. They keep racking up more clean wins while Oliver is forced to lose.
So what's the solution?
I'm not opposed to breaking up the team in the field as suggested but I do think unless they know they are facing overwhelming numbers, the team should be taking turns in going out at all. Go out in pairs or trios, I don't care the combo. Rotate the roster. It makes sense from a real world standpoint too since they all have obligations and responsibilities outside the mask that would need the occasional night off.
Another suggestion is to clearly show that Oliver is handling more than his equal share of the fighting. Maybe they think they are accomplishing that, I do not agree.
Finally, let Oliver win! Let HIM save the others. Let the narrative be written so if they need him there for dramatic reasons that he is not there because he's not a good enough fighter. Bring in random passerbyers to wander into the line of fire and get in the way. Let there be a clear excuse for why Oliver doesn't win when our experience with his skill level and abilities says he should win.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
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