Back to basics.
I was so ready to give up (and I did!) after such a long ride with such disappointment in the past, but this one really surprised me.
Each episode feels like a tribute to one of the seasons of the show.
It feels like they are rewarding the long term fans for sticking with the show for so long, through the ups and downs of the show.
The shorter season works very well, and each episode feels like an epilogue, wrapping up storylines from previous seasons.
It is a suitable ending to the show.
One of the best parts of the season is the lack of Felicity (Emily Brett Rickards), and it really shows. The episodes flowed really well, was straightforward and simple, without any breaks for toxic drama.
Another great reason is the increased focus on Black Siren as a character. They really redeemed themselves with their treatment of the character. And it shows us what the show really should've been the whole time. It is very well done.
Although the last two points might be the reason for the bad reviews from the Olicity shippers, so please disregard the negative reviews. For, I literally can not think of any other reason for such negative scores other than that. This season is very good. It's still not perfect, but it felt cathartic after such a long journey; where not all of it had been smooth.
Well, it's finally over. The eight-year long saga of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen's quest to do right despite many, may hardships is finally at an end. Now, I can't say this is one of the best seasons. Though there is a main goal and threat in this, we get mostly stand-alone episodes and the threat is more to the side. You don't get the sense of urgency brought by a lot of other the previous main Arrow villains who were constantly in motion. But this is a good season and way to wrap-up the show.
If the last season was about tying up Oliver's story in Star City. This one is about tying things up in general. Oliver (Stephen Amell) travels the world and encounters many familiar faces. The finale is the one the show deserves and is really satisfying.
I like that Diggle's wife Lyra (Audrey Marie Anderson) gets more screentime. She's been likable but never given a lot of time to shine. Same goes to Laurel Lance/Black Siren (Katie Cassidy). She is center stage now. It is nice to see Cassidy whose character's purpose was originally very different and supposed to be the lead's romantic interest, which didn't go as planned, gets writing that fits the actress' strengths far better. Unfortunately, Rene Ramirez/Wild Dog (Rick Gonzalez) doesn't get as much exposure as the rest of the cast. I wished he got more of a sendoff.
If you've made it through the far, I think you'll be satisfied.
When introspected, there are incalculable inconsistencies to Arrow's final season in terms of characters and plot. However, at its exterior, Season 8 is a crowdpleasing sendoff for Oliver Queen and the rest of his group.