5 Times Roy Harper (Arsenal) Showed His Heart
Written by Creator Rachel Carrington on Creators.co
Roy Harper was so easy to love even though he got into a lot of trouble in Season One. Season Two showed us the beginnings of a hero, and in Season Three, he showed us that the streetwise boy from the Glades had become a man who could kill us with a look, make us laugh with a wise-crack, and break our hearts when he sacrificed everything for his "family". Here are five times Roy Harper showed us his true heart.
1. WHEN HE SHOWED HIS FEAR OF BEING ABANDONED BY OLIVER
In Season's Three's 6th episode when Roy thought he'd killed Sara, he lost his confidence. It didn't help that Isaac was putting dangerous thoughts into his head, assuring him that Roy was just another weapon in Oliver's arsenal. So Roy's quiet plea of "don't abandon me" came from a man desperate to be saved. And our hearts wept with his.
2. WHEN HE THOUGHT HIS LIFE WAS A WASTE AND THAT HE WAS USELESS
In Season One's episode, Salvation, Roy was kidnapped by a bitter man from the Glades. When asked why he deserved to live, Roy says "I don't." It's a powerful scene showing a boy who had no hope in life. The devastation in his voice devastated us, and it was only when the Arrow (or the Hood as he was known then) saved him that Roy saw a spark of renewed faith.
3. WHEN HE WENT TO PRISON FOR OLIVER
When Roy was willing to give up his life so that Oliver could continue to live his, Arrow showed just how much Roy had grown. He'd been suffering for months after killing the cop when he was hyped up on Mirakuru, and he couldn't forgive himself. So, to him, sacrificing his life was payment for his sins. No one wanted him to go, and hearts broke when he rode off into the sunset after faking his own death.
4. WHEN HE LET THEA GO
When Thea first met Roy Harper, he was an angry boy who stole what he wanted and didn't have a purpose in life. They had this amazing connection that developed into a unique bond, but that shattered when Roy betrayed Thea's trust. In Season Three's episode, Corto Maltese, he showed how much of a changed man he was by choosing her happiness over his own. Sometimes, love is about letting go.
5. WHEN HE SHARED HIS HEART WITH THEA
Roy returned to Star City in Episode 12 of Season 4, and even though he couldn't stay, he let Thea know his heart would always remain with her. It takes a strong man to walk away to protect someone he loves. Remaining in Star City isn't an option for Roy as long as the city believes he was the Arrow. So he had to go back underground and leave a dying Thea behind. This scene proved that their love was unbreakable.