Team Arrow Will Be 'Reluctant to Give Up' on Artemis, Says EP

CBR

By Meagan Damore

Published Apr 26, 2017

According to EP Wendy Mericle, Team Arrow isn't ready to give up on Artemis just yet, even though she betrayed them to Prometheus.

Towards the middle of "Arrow" Season 5, Artemis made a decision that seemed to firmly align her with the bad guys when she teamed up with Prometheus. She reinforced that in the episode "Kapiushon," where she played a part in Chase's torture of Oliver. However, according to executive producer Wendy Mericle, Team Arrow isn't ready to give up on her just yet.

Asked if there was any redemption for Artemis, Mericle told CBR, "I think it’s still a question mark. Honestly, I think the jury’s still out on her. Even in the finale, where she does play a pretty significant role, I think that the team is reluctant to give up on her."

"No matter how dark she goes, she was that innocent person that Oliver met in [Season] 4 [episode] 19 that has been through so much. I think it’s partly what Madison [McLaughlin] brings to the role that makes it hard to give up on her," she added.

Two of Oliver's other New Recruits, Wild Dog and the new Black Canary, have both been upped to series regulars for Season 6. However, Artemis' future on the show isn't as clear cut; there hasn't been any news about a role for Evelyn Sharp for next season, so -- like her alignment -- it's unclear what her future in the "Arrow"-verse will be.

McLaughlin debuted as Sharp in the Season 4 episode “Canary Cry,” where she impersonated Black Canary shortly after Laurel’s death; in the episode, she hoped to exact revenge on Damien and Ruve Darhk for her parents’ deaths. However, in Season 5, she appeared in multiple episodes as Oliver's new recruit Artemis, starting with the second episode of the season.

In the comics, Artemis — the daughter of Tigress and Sportsmaster — was an active member of the Injustice Society. However, the animated series “Young Justice” turned her around, and she became Green Arrow’s apprentice following Roy Harper’s exit. As such, "Arrow" could be sticking closer to Artemis' comic book origin, where she toyed with the idea of being evil before she ultimately deciding to fight on the side of good.

Starring Stephen Amell as the Emerald Archer, “Arrow” airs Wednesdays at 8 pm ET/PT on The CW. The series also stars Emily Bett Rickards, David Ramsey, John Barrowman, Willa Holland and more.