Arrow: Oliver’s Romances, Ranked

While Arrow may have come to an end, its legacy and impact on DC TV cannot be denied. Throughout its eight-season run, Oliver Queen had a number of significant love interests. He was even married multiple times — although his relationship with Nyssa Al Ghul was political rather than romantic.

Oliver Queen isn’t exactly the best boyfriend in the Arrowverse, and he has been in some incredibly destructive and dangerous relationships. The Green Arrow has journeyed through both betrayal and true love, ultimately finding Felicity Smoak amongst the chaos of his life. Some of his other girlfriends were strong and intelligent in their own right, but a few weren’t exactly trustworthy.

10 Honorable Mention: Nyssa Al Ghul

As mentioned, Oliver Queen did in fact get married to Nyssa al Ghul, but he has a complex history with the League of Assassins and the al Ghul family in general. For starters, it was Nyssa’s sister, Talia, who both trained Queen and gave him the idea to don the Hood.

What’s more, when finally coming into contact with the League’s leader, Ra’s al Ghul, the eternal warrior sought to create an alliance between Queen and his cult. The marriage was an arranged one, with Nyssa ultimately forming a relationship with Sara Lance instead. While she was never really Oliver’s girlfriend, Nyssa was his wife and one of the most complex and powerful warriors in the show.

9 Isabel Rochev

Isabel Rochev was perhaps one of Queen’s briefest relationships. After a one-night stand in Russia, Oliver came to trust Isabel further, even appointing her CEO of his company at one stage. While a romance could have briefly been in the cards, a clear betrayal meant that this was certainly no longer an option.

Rochev was actually aligned with Slade Wilson, becoming one of many in his Deathstroke army. Her stint as CEO was almost made permanent as she sought to seize control from Queen. She would eventually suit up as Ravager, proving to be one of Queen’s most dangerous and short-lived girlfriends.

8 Susan Williams

Susan Williams was a highly respected and talented journalist who formed a close connection with Oliver Queen. After multiple interviews with one another, a relationship began to form — one which would put Williams in harm’s way on a number of occasions.

The Channel 52 reporter would come to learn of Oliver’s secret identity, with the couple separating due to the strain the Green Arrow had on their lives. Despite swearing secrecy, Williams would pass on the information she had acquired, including photos of Queen in Russia, to be used in Oliver’s trial. Her story was dropped thereafter.

7 Helena Bertinelli

Helena Bertinelli started out her career as a young woman in need of revenge. Oliver Queen would come to train her to become the vigilante Huntress. Really, he was in no position to be passing on his knowledge considering his own personal issues surrounding his crime-fighting lifestyle.

In the midst of sparring, passion formed between the two. The relationship between Huntress and Green Arrow was a momentary one, though, as Bertinelli’s lust for vengeance put them on diverging paths. Queen felt he ultimately had to stop the violence from escalating further.

6 McKenna Hall

It’s particularly sad to think that Queen might have actually have found his perfect relationship in McKenna Hall. The police detective was everything Oliver could have wanted out of a partner; she was intelligent, morally strong-willed, kind, and a valiant fighter.

A nasty injury put an end to their love story early on, however. Bertinelli would actually shoot Hall in a horrible twist of fate, partially paralyzing her. Hall moved away to Coast City to get the medical treatment she needed, painfully finishing her relationship with Queen.

5 Samantha Clayton

Samantha Clayton was one of Queen’s earliest relationships. Another brief romance, Clayton’s life was transformed forever after becoming pregnant with Oliver’s child. The Green Arrow did not know about the existence of his son William for quite some time.

After the two came into one another’s lives again, a friendship formed, which was just as strong as some of Oliver’s best relationships. It was difficult at first but there was trust there. It was a heart-warming reunion crushed by the death of Clayton on Lian Yu.

4 Shado Gulang

Another early love interest for Oliver, he and Shado were coupled up on Lian Yu, a harsh environment where Shado demonstrated just how Oliver could survive. Ultimately, she is likely one of the single most responsible people for the creation of the Green Arrow.

A lawyer, pre-med student, and daughter to the great Yao Fei Gulong, she adapted to the island well, befriending both Sara Lance and Slade Wilson. It was Wilson’s love for Shado that partially pushed him over the edge, as her story has a tragic ending.

3 Sara Lance

Oliver and Sara have been through a lot together. Their relationship started off on the back of lies and deception, which was not a healthy foundation for the Lance family or for the couple. The crashing of their ship out at sea separated the lovers early on.

Their reunion and Sara’s development into a mighty fighter saw the romance rekindled. They gave the relationship a go on multiple occasions, but it seems that despite how well-matched they really were, it wasn’t meant to be. Sara ultimately found her perfect relationship with Legends member Ava Sharpe.

2 Laurel Lance

Laurel Lance evolved more than anyone in Arrow and was one of Oliver’s best girlfriends. Working in the law field herself, she continuously looked to get justice for those wronged by the system and was a great ally to Oliver in and out of the courtroom.

Their relationship was more complicated than most, though. Oliver and Laurel’s love dates back to before Lian Yu, but Queen cheated on Lance with her sister Sara. It took a long time for the bridges to truly be mended, but Laurel would even walk the same path as the Green Arrow, suiting up as Black Canary. It’s unclear how their story would have developed if Laurel hadn’t been killed by Damien Darhk.

1 Felicity Smoak

Felicity Smoak was the woman whom Oliver was always meant to be with. Their fates were intertwined with one another. Meeting early in Arrow, Smoak went from the nervous tech assistant to the hero known as Overwatch; she was a vital member of Team Arrow.

Their relationship had become a rollercoaster, yet one that resulted in marriage and a child. While Oliver’s death would end the romance, Felicity was strong-willed, incredibly clever, supportive of Oliver’s life mission, and a wonderful mother and wife. It was heartbreaking to see them torn apart, yet their’s is also one of the most beautiful love stories in the Arrowverse.

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