Arrow (season 1) | |
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Region 1 DVD cover
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Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | 23 |
Release | |
Original network | The CW |
Original release | October 10, 2012 | – May 15, 2013
Season chronology | |
The first season of the American action television series Arrow premiered on October 10, 2012 at 8:00 pm (ET) on The CW, consisting of a total of 23 episodes after the network ordered a full season on October 22, 2012. The series is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp. The showrunners for this season were Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg.
Season one follows Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), billionaire playboy of Starling City, who spends five years shipwrecked on a mysterious island. Upon his return to Starling City, he is reunited with his mother, Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson), his sister, Thea Queen (Willa Holland), and his friend, Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell). Oliver rekindles his relationships, while spending his nights hunting down and sometimes killing criminals as a hooded vigilante. He uncovers a conspiracy to destroy "The Glades", a poorer section of the city that has become overridden with crime. John Diggle (David Ramsey) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) assist Oliver in his crusade. Oliver also reconnects with ex-girlfriend, Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), who is still angry over his role in her sister's presumed death. The first season also features flashbacks to Oliver's time on the island, and how it changed him.
The first season was generally well received by critics, and averaged 3.68 million viewers each week. Amell's portrayal of Oliver Queen/Arrow drew comparison to Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, while the season itself was found to be still looking for its own identity. The season would go on to win multiple awards, including twenty-one nominations in various categories. The season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on September 17, 2013.