Fadeout - Arrow Music Notes 8x10
The final episode brings the series to a close as the characters deal with a changed world and reality without Oliver Queen. The show brings closure to the characters and the audience as everyone says a final goodbye. Due to this being the last one, almost everything was a musical callback to a previous moment on Arrow which means this analysis is going to be on the long side.
A New World
The music usually chosen for Oliver’s intro speeches includes previous music from the series and often heroic sounding but not with specific meaning. This last one was a little different as it used the heroic justice/league heroes music from Crisis as Oliver explains that he became something else and birthed a new universe. He became the leader of all the heroes and set the stage for a changed world.
The episode begins with one of the most heart-breaking scenes from the series: Moira’s death. The same music “Promise Kept” (2x20) accompanies the scene until things change. As soon as Oliver cuts himself free and stops Slade, his hero theme 2 (“Time to Go Home” 2x01) plays in the horn while he saves his mom, changing her fate. In a similar way, the same music for the flashback of Robert Queen telling Oliver to survive contains the same music as the pilot and the hammered dulcimer plays the hero theme as Mia wakes up in the future.
The Documentary from 7x12 returns as a Memorial beginning with Moira as she tries to wrap her head around the fact that she died in a different reality and that the whole world was a gift from her son. As she speaks, high electronics play “Honor Memory” (1x02) which originally played for Oliver when he tried to honor the memory of his father, torn between how he would honor his father’s sacrifice and mission to right his wrongs as a Vigilante and how he may appear less honoring as Oliver Queen, especially in the beginning. It returned several times as Oliver dealt with the fact that his father was less honorable than he believed. He grew over the seasons recognizing with the help of Felicity and others that he did not need to carry the burden of his father’s past but continue his own legacy of heroism and love, sacrificing himself to save not only the world but those he loved, including his mother who now has chance to honor him.
Dinah, Rene, and Diggle speak to the Documentary team about Oliver and the changes he made both for them and the city. The music hearkens to the synths and lower bass sounds that the original documentary had. Rene drops by after Diggle talks to the camera discussing the fact that crime has disappeared overnight thanks to Oliver, but Diggle is not ready to believe that the mission is over yet. As they talk about Oliver saving the city, hammered dulcimer (one of Oliver’s instruments since the pilot) accompanies the scene. His instruments and presence is felt throughout the episode even though he himself is not visible in the present time.
Diggle and Rene meet up with Roy, Dinah and Laurel to toast to Oliver with Vodka and discuss what they are planning on doing next. Piano and higher electronics play a theme from 7x10 that had been used for Emiko and Rene’s conversations when Rene shared that he wanted to help the city. Now, he shares a new stage of that dream by running for Mayor after Lance steps down with his endorsement and Dinah shares her upcoming promotion. The piano (Oliver’s instrument) plays the theme as another sign of Oliver’s gift to his team and city for a better future.
Rene asks Diggle when Felicity will be coming in for the funeral and Diggle replies that she might not make it as she hasn’t gotten out of bed since they received the news of Oliver’s death. As he shares this, a piano version of “Being Happy” (1x07) plays. This theme is usually over electronics (“Own Worst enemy”) in the strings. It originally was with Oliver and Tommy’s tough relationship as Tommy believed Oliver was a murderer but at the same time recognized that Oliver’s choices especially in lying to everyone closest to him took a toll: “If you are alone, you’ll never be happy.” Oliver responded that his happiness wasn’t what was important. However, one of the beautiful growing parts for Oliver was that over time, he did accept happiness and others into his life, especially the love of his life and his daughter Mia. The theme comes back in 7x22 as Oliver and Felicity happily share a life together with baby Mia, a life of happiness and everything Oliver deserved. But now he is gone and Felicity is left alone, grieving. This music is in the piano (Oliver’s instrument) but stripped down to simple piano chords, getting rid of all the other instruments and even changing to minor/sadder chords. It’s an echo of the happiness that they had.
While many people were brought back to life in this new reality such as Moira, Quentin, Tommy and Emiko, there were two notable exceptions: Robert and Laurel. Laurel from Earth 2 struggled with this knowledge, feeling guilty that it was because of her that Quentin did not have his daughter back. She goes to talk to him about it as “She was my rock/Canary Flies Away” (4x20) plays. This theme was first heard as Quentin struggled with Laurel’s death throughout season 4 and 5. Later on, it was used to forge connections between himself and Laurel 2 as Quentin recognized her as family while still knowing she wasn’t his original daughter. Here, Quentin tells Laurel in a fatherly tone that nothing needed to be fixed about her which is why Oliver didn’t change anything in regards to her.
Flashbacks
Diggle remembers when he joined the team and Oliver wasn’t letting him go at on the field yet. As Oliver appears and crosses another name off the list, high electronics play reminiscent of “On the List.” Although the melody is a little different, the atmospheric electronics are the same and then the hammered dulcimer plays a new melody as Diggle asks Oliver when the list/mission will end and Oliver responds that it will never end. The high electronics return as Diggle tries to help Oliver and bring down the body count, to convince him that there are other ways of justice beside killing them.
Oliver still goes after the bad guy on his own and kills everyone in his way in a classic Season 1 vibe. In the same fashion, the music reflects Season 1 fight music: string patterns, electronics, and brass but without most of the classic Arrow themes until the end. The brass glissando is heard as he zips up out at the end and then the Arrow string pattern and the hero theme (brass) plays as he lands and decides not to kill but just apprehend the bad guy. The brass hero theme was actually used quite sparingly in Season 1. Outside of the pilot “Setting up the Lair” in guitar harmonics, it was often heard in snippets - 2 or 3 notes instead of all four such as in “Damaged.” While that does occur throughout the all Seasons also for musical effect, in the first Season it is because he is not fully a hero yet. The entire motif is heard in the brass (a heroic sound) in 1x14 when he reveals himself to Felicity and then she and Diggle saves his life. She is the light that can see the hero he becomes and it is through her faith, the loyalty and morality of Diggle, and the decision no longer to kill after Tommy’s death, that set him in motion to move from a killing Vigilante to a hero. In fact, it isn’t used in the Title theme until Season 2 as Oliver begins this shift and the theme is heard much more frequently in fighting scenes such as “A Different Way” (2x01).
Theroy
Thea and Roy reunite again after Roy freaked out and left her over the past year or two. After trying to apologize (with bad timing), the two of them search for William together as “Team Continues Without Oliver” (3x11) plays in electronics and percussion in their running and jumping off roofs, which includes Roy’s Arsenal Theme. Roy proceeds to apologize for leaving her and proposes. While he does so, “I can’t lose you twice” (1x20) accompanies the scene. This theme accompanied several couples such as Laurel and Tommy’s relationship, Laurel and Oliver (1x23), Felicity and Oliver, and Roy and Thea. It first played for Thea and Roy in 1x20 as Roy is determined to find the vigilante, telling Thea that his life is connected to his own and she agrees to help find him. At that point, they would have no idea how true that would become even to the point of Roy saying he was the Arrow and taking the fall so that Oliver could stay and not go to jail in Season 3. This theme returned when Thea found Roy/Jason in 3x22 giving him back the Arsenal jacket and they end up kissing. They both have had different journeys to find themselves and the heroes they became. Having died and come back to life has given Roy a new perspective that he wants Thea in his life for always which leads to this moment.
Thea doesn’t give him an answer right away until after William is found and they meet up in the Queen mansion. She first asks him to promise that he will never freak out and leave without talking to her. The music is accompanied by clarinet (one of Thea’s instruments) first heard in 5x15. It originally played when Thea tells Oliver she is leaving and not to ask her to stay as she needed to figure out who she was. This theme then returns in 6x16 (“Take Good Care of Her”) as she and Roy plan to leave together to destroy the Lazarus pits. Roy told her that he was going with her because all that mattered was that they were together. She found both her calling and was able to leave with Roy. Despite the bumps that happened since then, she realizes she doesn’t want to waste anymore time without Roy by her side and says yes to his proposal.
Mia and Felicity Return
Sara brought back Mia to attend Oliver’s funeral and she tries to “channel her mom” at the computers as Dinah finds her. While not being to tell much about the future, she does share that something happened and making her feel like she has already failed at being the Green Arrow and living in her father’s legacy. Different instruments enter in with strings, brass, a low electronic bass (used more for Mia) and then hammered dulcimer as Dinah tells her that Oliver would be proud of her. Hammered Dulcimer is one of Oliver’s instruments since the pilot and it represents how he would be proud of her as well as continuing on the legacy through his instruments as well as a bow and arrow. Electronics enter which were used both for Archer and the future as William is revealed to have been kidnapped, making Mia live through her brother being kidnapped in both the past and future.
Wlliam’s kidapping brings back everyone who had been on the team including Felicity. As she appears in the bunker, oboe plays the first two notes of the Olicity theme “The One I Love/Convince Him” (2x23, 3x20). Having even part of that theme in their instrument as she appears to come out of her grief for losing the love of her life for the sake of their son is poignant but it is also presented in a happier (major) mood as she brings joy, light, and hope to the team as well to viewers who have missed her presence. As she hugs Diggle and Dinah and greets the team, guitar harmonics (Oliver’s instruments) and harp (Felicity’s instrument) double a pattern from “New Suit” (4x01). At that point, Oliver was discouraged after Lance told him he was responsible for bringing all the darkness into everyone’s life which was one of the reasons he didn’t want to return from his life in Ivy Town. He felt like the only way to fight darkness was to be darkness and he didn’t want to be that type of person anymore. Felicity reminded him that he didn’t have to be that person anymore and that he wasn’t alone. Now years later, Oliver has become a better person and furthermore, inspired a room of heroes to fight for the city, the world, and to bring Oliver’s family back. The oboe plays one more note as Felicity passes Mia signifying their relationship even though Felicity is not aware of it yet. Classic sounding Arrow music starts as Diggle calls them to suit up.
Mia is the one who finds her brother, landing on the roof as her hero theme (7x08) plays in the electric guitar. After the scene transitions back to her from the Flashback fight, string patterns and a low continuing electric bass note crescendos in the music that is very reminiscent of Oliver’s fight music as she chooses to not kill him and make the same decision that Oliver did, following in his footsteps.
Felicity finds out from Sara and Diggle that the young woman she is seeing with William is her daughter. They ask if she wants to meet her but she is a little reluctant since baby Mia is at home. She doesn’t want to rush the fact that she gets to watch Mia grow up. As she processes this, guitar harmonics play a theme from 7x16 when Felicity and Mia reconnect after Mia, Connor and William rescued Felicity. At that point, Mia was angry and confused with her mom who had told her heroic stories of her Dad that conflicted with the villain story the world was telling her. But regardless of hating vigilantes and hating her mom, she started to understand it was for her protection. Felicity told her that she was so much like her father and was proud of her. The theme returned in 8x03 as Mia was confronted with the possibility of losing William, terrified to lose the only family she had left. Now Felicity sees her daughter, a hero who saved younger William. It is a theme of love, connection and a family that had been broken by the loss of Oliver and fear to lose each other, but restored through Oliver’s sacrifice so that William, Mia, and Felicity will have each other in this reality.
Dinah brings Mia’s attention to the news reporting a new Green Arrow, most likely part of a new generations inspired by Oliver. As she hears this, it starts with electronics reminiscent of the future and then adding strings with the first part of Oliver’s Arrow theme moving into something new including high female voices as Dinah reminds Mia that Oliver would be proud of her. It provides an epic quality in the music, a reassurance that Oliver is looking over Mia with an almost otherworldly sound and that she is in fact part of the new generation of heroes, following in her father’s footsteps.
Saying Goodbye
Diggle comes to terms with the fact the mission is in fact over for himself and family in Star City. He meets Dinah and Rene as they share plans for their future as well as saying goodbye to the bunker. He tells them that according to Sara, Oliver became something else as Spectre and so he liked to think Oliver was still with them, watching over them. As he says this, the piano plays Oliver’s slow Arrow theme “I forgot who I was” (1x05) in the manner used for intimate moments for Oliver when he shared his heart for those closest to him, including 6x03 when he thanked Diggle for helping him become the Green Arrrow. Musically, it seemed to confirm that Oliver was watching over them. As these three share about their future, having become better people due to Oliver and each other, and then turning off the lights, a music theme from the flash forwards play (7x10) in high electronics (almost bell like). Originally it was for the Mark of 4, having promised to be there for each other and yet these promises were broken as the team had splintered. It also played when the kids showed up in the bunker in 8x04 as Oliver was trying to process that his grown-up kids were there. Using this theme again as the world has changed and the 8x09 episode showed a brighter future for all of them, returns to that original intent of being there for each other even as they go their separate ways. A version of the Arrow theme plays as the lights go out for the last time.
Quentin gives a speech to honor Oliver and reveal a statue looking over the city. Harp and piano play as it begins with a beautiful and quiet version of Oliver’s hero theme as Quentin thanks everyone for coming and begins by admitting that for a long time he hated Oliver and blamed him for Sara’s death and the violence in the city. The theme changes as strings are added as he talks about how became an honorable man and proof that anyone can change. Oliver wasn’t just a hero but a good man. The theme that plays as the statue is revealed is “United Campaign Speech” (4x04) first heard when Oliver started his campaign as mayor, focusing on the theme of being united and working together. Oliver’s dream in becoming mayor was to save the city in the light and not just in the shadows. Right before he gave his speech (written by Thea), Thea told him the reason they had so many supporters and interns to help was because they believed like she did, that he was going to save the city. He said the same thing in his speech: he returned with one goal to save his city which is possible with the help of friends, family, loved ones, those they trust, and those they need to trust again. This dream may not have come true in way Oliver foresaw, whether it was with the List in the beginning or being mayor in the middle, but ultimately he did save the city which was revealed to be written on the statue as the Arrow theme plays. It became possible because of the people he loved and who loved him back who all stand there to honor this hero, the man who changed their lives.
Everyone gathers at the funeral as different characters interact or meet for the first time. Thea asks Moira why Oliver didn’t bring back Robert as “Sad Moira” (1x10). “Sad Moira” was first heard as its own melody when Oliver checks on Moira after Walter was kidnapped and in similar situations in seasons 1 and 2 when she was missing her children or Walter. Now, Moira is missing both Oliver and Robert as she acknowledges that Oliver would never have become the man he was if it hasn’t been for the loss of Oliver. The theme is also heard as the counter-melody/harmony in “I forgot who I was/Own Worst Enemy” (2x18) which is all about love and loss for the Queen family. It was used in moments for Oliver with Moira, Thea, William, and Emiko. This counter-melody plays one last time as Emiko comes to meet Thea, another proof of Oliver healing his family in a place that had been broken.
Tommy and Laurel meet as Tommy is trying to wrap around his mind of previous realities where he died and the fact that he is meeting his wife’s doppleganger. Tommy and Laurel’s theme “Surprise me” (1x03) plays as he shares that he married Laurel 1 in this life.
Mia meets Felicity for the first time as an adult as high synths and violins play which is used in emotional moments especially with Felicity. There are echoes of a melody like “Honor Memory” (1x02), giving space for the emotions as Mia tells Felicity that she got to meet her dad who taught her how to be a hero as echoes of Oliver’s hero theme are heard.
Felicity asks Diggle to share a few words as they stand around Oliver’s tombstone. Diggle shares that Oliver changed a lot since they met 8 years ago, becoming a better man who inspired all of them, bringing heroes into the world, but most importantly a brother to him. He still recognizes that the mission of hope and justice will continue beyond Star City with Oliver living on in the people he inspired, even though the world is less bright without him in it. He says he doesn’t see what the future holds as glimpses of the future are shown to the audience with Mia returning to the future, Rene running for mayor, and Diggle receiving the Green Lantern ring. The music for this whole speech is “Forgive Us/Goodbye to Roy” (3x19). In the beginning of the theme, Oliver believed Roy was dead and blamed himself, while Diggle and Felicity revealed that it was a ruse to protect Oliver even though Roy would have to be in exile. This was hard for Oliver to accept but Roy was willing to take the fall for the man who saved his life and gave him purpose. It was a theme of saying goodbye and self-sacrifice. Now, it is Oliver who has made the ultimate sacrifice to save all of them. But there is also hope of a future, first for Roy and now for all of the heroes head out on their new journey. Oliver’s hero theme plays in the piano at the end as it focuses on his tombstone: husband, father, brother, son, hero.
The Reunion
As Felicity prepares to leave in the future, the music is sad and full of loss playing “Everyone Left” (5x02). This was used in 7x22 when Felicity, Mia and William were at Oliver’s grave before she left so it makes sense for that to continue as she has been waiting a long time to see Oliver. A high electronic changes locations (almost heavenly) as she walks through. The music is in major (different for a show set in minor) bringing light and happiness with piano and strings as Felicity arrives in a version of the QC office. Harp (Felicity’s instrument) and piano (Oliver’s) play Oliver’s hero theme as she looks at his picture with the red pen in her mouth. It is a quiet intimate, peaceful moment as she turns and sees Oliver smiling at her and the harp quietly plays a repeating note as she greets him and they kiss. Then the Olicity theme “The one I love” (2x23) plays in the cellos as she tells him that this is so nice despite being a little confused that they were in a version of his old office. One of the ways it is made so quietly peaceful is the lack of any movement under the main theme, usually piano or harp moving underneath. Everything is stripped away except their love theme as they see each other for the first time in 20 years. Oliver tells Felicity that he wanted to meet where he first saw her and the flashback from Season 3 is shown. Violins, female voice, and guitar harmonics are added as he continues that they have all the time in the world to tell her about it. Musically having the voice brings memories from 3x20 and 3x23 when they drive away reminding us of Oliver declaring: “I’m happy.” Oliver and Felicity have found peace and happiness as they are reunited with their theme soaring before the Arrow theme plays one last time as the show comes to a close.
Extra Notes and Thank-you:
I decided not to do a deep dive into the Olicity theme since I have done that a lot in the past and this was already crazy long. But for those of you who are interested, I have list of every time the Olicity theme has been used (minus this episode).
https://austencello.tumblr.com/post/182940428674/list-of-olicity-themes
I decided not to review 8x09 at this point. As a back-door pilot, it picks up some older themes like Mia’s theme which occurred a lot but most of it was new which makes it harder to analyze. We shall when/if the show gets picked up whether I will write about the show.
Thanks to all you for your kind words regarding my “Goodbye to Oliver” cello arrangement I made last week. I really appreciate it!
Finishing this is a bit bittersweet. I would never have imagined Oliver’s journey to end up this way (I would never have guessed Olicity would be one of my favorite ships of all times at Season 1) but neither would I have imagined when I started watching this 8 years ago, that I would be analyzing the score for 4 and a half years (103 Arrow Music Notes!), make and meet friends from around the world, interact with Blake Neely on Twitter, arrange the score for cello, work on music collaborations with @jorahandal, and meet a lot of the cast at conventions. It’s been a lot of fun and quite a ride. Thank you to all who have been on part of this journey with me as well as to Blake Neely, Nathaniel Blume and his whole team for creating such great music throughout the seasons.
For of those of you asking what is next...I’m going to take a break from music analysis as my life gets a little busy over the next few months. I’m hoping to shift to a few more arrangements and analysis of some of my favorite Jane Austen and period dramas over the next year or so.
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