Arrow Thea should become Chesire

[Fincher]

Showing her training in fighting was so that people would kind of buy her as a capable fighter. There is and was zero need to show her training in archery, they've already established back in Season 1 that she is a good archer, in fact an award winning archer. Which makes it so there is zero need to show her training in that regard.

Then if people had forgot it, they had her kill Sara with arrows to remind you that she is capable with a bow.

I don't know, I think if they wanted to show her training to be a capable fighter while using a bow, they could have done that. Merlyn was first introduced as an archer, after all. Other than killing Sara (when we weren't supposed to know who it was), she hasn't touched a bow all season. What's been presented (whether it happens or not) is the idea of her facing off against Ra's al Ghul.

She could fight with a sword or a bow or both, and neither indicate or prevent her from being on the team (although I'd say she will be eventually, or else Mia wouldn't have been brought up on Corto Maltese). The show has shown a willingness to take the scenic route in getting to comic accuracy, so the showrunners can pick and choose what elements they introduce and when and where and how. They just don't seem to be in too big of a hurry to get to Thea being an archer.

 

[JC00]

They just don't seem to be in too big of a hurry to get to Thea being an archer.

That's because they have pretty much done it already. The next step would be joining the team. There has been absolutely no reason for her to be using a bow this season. The little of the training we saw with Merlyn was to show how far she had come in that regard during the time she had been with him.

I just really not understanding some of the people who are refusing to accept that the show has established her as a capable archer. Do you people have to see everything on screen to accept it? So when/if Thea does join the team and makes an incredible shot with an arrow are people going to complain about how it is unrealistic because we never saw her training with a bow even though it has been established since season 1 she was good at it.

 

[mr. peasant]

That's because they have pretty much done it already. The next step would be joining the team. There has been absolutely no reason for her to be using a bow this season. The little of the training we saw with Merlyn was to show how far she had come in that regard during the time she had been with him.

I just really not understanding some of the people who are refusing to accept that the show has established her as a capable archer. Do you people have to see everything on screen to accept it? So when/if Thea does join the team and makes an incredible shot with an arrow are people going to complain about how it is unrealistic because we never saw her training with a bow even though it has been established since season 1 she was good at it.

Well, much like every story in every other medium, a writer can intend something but it doesn't count unless said writer successfully conveys it to the audience. Yes, Thea was established as being a trained archer way back in season one. As an easter egg. With the odd passing reference here and there every so often. However, the show has never made a point to focus on it and it isn't a major trait of her character. They never established to what level Thea is when it comes to archery. Just because someone is a good competition archer doesn't meant they are going to be able to use it in a live combat situation.So, to suddenly make pronounce now that Thea is more-than-sufficiently-trained at archery without further development would be somewhat shoddy writing.

It's akin to Laurel's fighting skills. We saw her exhibit some skill in it every so often in seasons one and two. However, fans were still unwilling to accept that as indication that Laurel was sufficiently prepared combat-wise to become Black Canary.

 

[Fincher]

I'm not saying anything about her being unable to use a bow, but joining the team doesn't mean becoming an archer (neither Laurel nor Diggle fight with a bow). If she switches over to using one, there should probably be a reason for it or at least more precedent than she knows how and she did it that one time. Actually, considering that she was forced to kill her friend with a bow, that would seem like incentive to not fight with one.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

Coming to the initial question, I think there are a significant number of people on Oliver's team and not many others are required. The point people make about "Speedy" being a bad Superhero name in her case is entirely valid.

Coming to the question of whether or not she is an Archer, I don't think in actual terms, it matters. If the show-runners want to put her into the team, they damn well will. Laurel was fast-tracked into being BC and they have gone to pains trying to explain she ain't very good at it yet.

Another good point was made about Thea being the entrepreneur to Oliver's superhero identity. That is one more way they could go.

About Cheshire, though, I don't see where the hate for the idea is stemming from. They, in my view, have kept that part entirely possible with the basic elements for a Cheshire character still very much there and what isn't there is still very possible to integrate into. The dysfunctional family relationship, training by a World Class Assassin, an identity crisis. They even threw in the relationship with Arsenal. Of course, she's still far from a world level assassin herself but that is a workable situation. So, personally, I'm very open to seeing her as Cheshire.

 

[Unnamed]

I am thinking Ra's takes her under his wing in the finale and she trains with the League and eventually becomes Chesire. Oliver confronts her as she is about to assassinate someone in Starling. And we get this big Brother VS Sister feud. Thea is bad but Oliver doesnt want to hurt her. Thea has gone through way too much crap so it makes sense that she goes in this direction.

Personally, I'm loving the new dynamic between Oliver and Thea, where they no longer keep secrets from one another and have the same goals and objectives. I think it's a refreshing change compared to their relationship in seasons 1 and 2, where their relationship has always felt distant because of all the secrets between those two. Thea has always been one of the few characters on the show with whom Oliver shows his lighter and less brooding side. I would prefer for the writers to continue with this new dynamic rather than make them reluctant enemies.