Season scoops: villains, spin-offs and a crossover

Arrow gets a shake-up in season 4 and The Flash asks Oliver Queen for help in a crossover episode for their new season.

Superheroes unite! Arrow (2013current) and The Flash’s (2014- current) new seasons are coming and this time, they’ll air back-to-back. Expect the usual keeping evil monsters/humans in check, plus the two super-teams will join forces in crossover episodes to make sure that good triumphs over evil. Says Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim, “It’ll be like last year’s [crossover] in that we are crossing over with a chunk of both casts. But like a two-part episode.”

ARROW: NEED TO KNOW In previous seasons, villains and their backstories weren’t revealed immediately, but the show’s not holding back with season 4’s new main antagonist Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough); his story is revealed in episode 1 (5 January). Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) learns that Star City is in danger, so he comes out of hiding. Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) isn’t dead and we’ll learn more about her resurrection in episode 3 (19 January). Hint: the Lazarus Pit (a water fountain with regenerative abilities) is going to be fought over a lot.

COSTUME CHANGE-UP The vigilantes are getting a costume revamp. Oliver’s Green Arrow suit keeps the hood but has more protection on his hands and legs. Meanwhile, John Diggle (David Ramsey) has a shiny helmet and a leather suit, while Thea Queen ( Willa Holland) embraces her nickname Speedy and gets a tight red suit, complete with a hood and mask.

BIG MEAN BADDIES Arrow’s swarming with villains this season! Apart from Damien Darhk, there’s the evil organisation H.I.V.E who have unfinished business with Diggle. Baron Blitzkrieg (Jimmy Akingbola) appears in flashbacks and is linked to Deathstroke (Manu Bennett). Says Marc, “When we meet him, he’s not German, he’s not a Nazi and he doesn’t subscribe to Nazi philosophies. We were attracted to an organisation that actually in the comics had been associated with Deathstroke.”