Team GATV Roundtable: Looking Back At Arrow Season 5

Will the new Thursday time slot help or hurt the show?

MATT: I keep forgetting about the move for next season. I think the possibility to hurt the show exists, but shaking things up might also be good. I would not be shocked to find Arrow end up on Fridays at some point. This was the time in Smallville’s life when they started shifting it around the schedule. It had a solid run on Wednesdays, but it was clearly losing an regular viewing audience year over year. Thursdays at 9 is going to be tough, though. Lots of competition.

MELISSA: I tend to think neither. I think there is a core audience that is going to follow Arrow no matter where it goes, but it’s natural as a show ages for the numbers to slip somewhat and even more common now for viewers to seek out shows on their own terms so even if the ratings dip, those numbers streaming or waiting to binge at the end of the season might remain stable. For me personally, waiting an extra day each week is going to be torture.

STEPHANIE: I don’t think it will help, but I don’t think the amount that it will hurt the show will be detrimental, especially in today’s society where appointment television is no longer the norm. Thankfully (seriously, thank you CW) the CW puts new episodes on their website in a timely manner, so it’s easy to legally catch up for free if you miss a week or two. It seems like everyone’s ratings are on the decline, but the CW is committed to maintaining its DC brand, so I’m not too concerned.

CRAIG: I think it could be a good thing. Arrow paired with Supernatural is always a powerful combo, though Supernatural at 8:00 will forever be weird to me. Some might see the Arrow move as a downgrade; I actually see it as a compliment, as Thursday nights can often be an appealing night for advertisers. Had the show remained on Wednesdays, it would have had Empire to deal with and who knows what else.

It’s also interesting to note that for one week only, the week of the four-show crossover, Arrow will be on Monday at 9PM. I’m kind of glad that’s only a one-time thing as that’s the same time slot that FOX will be airing their X-Men series The Gifted. I’ve seen the pilot for that and it’s really good.