Season 3 of the TV show Arrow follows Oliver Queen as he continues his life as the vigilante Arrow in Starling City. A key storyline is Oliver taking on the role of the successor to the leader of the League of Assassins, Ra's al Ghul. This leads to a climactic fight between Oliver and Ra's on a dam at the end of the season. In this scene, the dark lighting builds tension for the dangerous battle between the two opponents with contrasting ideals. Ultimately, Ra's is defeated and Malcolm Merlyn takes his place, allowing Oliver and Felicity to leave Starling City together.

1. Arrow (season 3) (2014 - 2015)
John Behring

2. Format & Genre
Series:
❏A drama with a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by
episode fasion
Action:
❏A type of drama that typically involves a hero thrust into a series of
challenges

3. Narrative Structure
Non - Realist:
❏Some scenes contain exaggerated explosions and non-real effects
Non - Linear:
❏Scenes flashback to Oliver’s time while MIA, showing relevant information
to current plot. This happens in all seasons

4. Story Arc
Oliver resurrects,
returns to Starling.
Captain disassociates
with team Arrow.
Becomes Ra’s Al Ghul
successor
Oliver continues
life as the Arrow
Sara is
killed
League
of
Assassin
s track
Sara’s
killer
Oliver
takes the
blame to
save his
sister
Ra’s unleashes
plan upon Starling
city. Oliver and
Ra’s fight on the
Dam
Ra’s is defeated,
Malcom becomes Ra’s
Al Ghul, Felicity and
Oliver run off into the
sunset

5. Scene Analysis
In the Dam fight scene at the end, the lighting is very dark, as is the theme throughout the entire
season. This pathetic fallacy suggests something bad is about to happen, as it did last time these two
characters fought each other. The shots in this scene are varied and fast paced, as this is a fight
scene it would be illogical to show a slow paced scene unless done in a fashion that works for the
drama (e.g. the corridor fight in Daredevil). The scene is set on a dam, and so the construction
workers in the background fit in to make the Mise en Scene successful. The dress of the two
characters also works to juxtapose most of the season, as the two are so close yet they are so
different in ideals. The sound is mostly non-diegetic, being in the form of ancient music however the
sounds of the fight can be heard in the background of this scene.

6. Scene Comparison: The Missing
Both of these scenes are dull of colour, which creates tension rather than
boring the audience due to the tension of the situation. The costuming of both
scenes are well thought out as they are both the types of clothing and the
general surroundings of the scene are what would be expected of the scene.
The sound in the Missing is mostly diegetic, the only non-diegetic sound being
a hollow tone in the background, different to Arrow where the sound is mostly
non-diegetic with the ancient chanting being more prominent