We’ve known for a little while now that Black Canary is coming to Arrow. The character is set to have a big debut during the 10th, 11th and 12th episodes of the CW’s drama this season, but when we meet Laurel’s new identity, Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim says that she won’t be one of the “superheroes” we’ve come to expect from the show. Here’s what the executive producer had to say.
“Just because you put on a mask and a costume doesn’t mean you’re a superhero. A mask does not a hero make. We’re really at the beginning of Laurel’s journey to becoming the Black Canary, not the end by virtue of the fact that she’s put on a costume.”
It’s not like Laurel is going to become the Black Canary without a little training. In fact, during next week’s Arrow and The Flash crossover episodes she’ll be mostly absent. The character is still dealing with some emotional stuff following the death of her sister, but more importantly, she’s donning the mask and the black gear and training for her new role. Obviously, it would be difficult to hop from being a white collar lawyer to a crime fighting extraordinaire and the Arrow team wants to make transition look as realistic as possible on the small screen. So, while she may look the part already, Black Canary has her work cut out for her.
In fact, Guggenheim tells EW that the character has a rough road ahead of her, especially compared to the finessed fighting we’ve seen on Arrow in the past.
“She gets punched, she gets hit, she gets injured. When she throws a punch, she doesn’t always connect. When she jumps off of something, she doesn’t always land on two feet.”
It sounds like it is going to be brutal for audiences to watch (although those who are less positive about Laurel as a character might relish watching her get her butt kicked early on). But while Guggenheim is quick to point out she’s not a “superhero,” we do know that her eventual goal is to avenge her sister following her murder. If there’s anything we know about feelings that powerful, it’s that they are usually a good motivator. Laurel may get her ass kicked, but I’m guessing that won’t be a long-term plot point on the show.
It’s going to take a lot of hard work to become a serious crime fighter in Starling City. Luckily, Arrow has 22 episodes each season to tell its story and it looks like there will be plenty of time to get into the nitty gritty of Black Canary’s story. New episodes of the CW’s Arrow air on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, you can catch the Arrow and Flash crossover episodes on December 2 and December 3.
