Arrow: The Worst Ship In Each Season | Screen Rant
Arrow has featured plenty of couples that fans have gotten on board with. Now and then they ship a pairing that doesn't make a lot of sense though. Many of these couples wouldn't work out because of the way the narrative unfolded, or simply should never have been a ship in the first place!
Occasionally the showrunners will listen to fans in regards to a potential romance, but for the most part, they continue with a coupling that they feel matches better with the story being told. Oliver Queen in particular has had plenty of love interests, but seemingly none have matched him better than Felicity Smoak.
The sometimes unpopular Felicity Smoak and Tommy Merlyn rarely crossed paths. There was no indication that there would be chemistry between the pair and the ship seemed to have come out of nowhere. What's more, Tommy was Oliver's best friend and considering the couple's future together, Felicity's pairing with Tommy would not have aged well.
There's certainly the notion that in another timeline perhaps Tommy's time as the Green Arrow would lead to a romance with Felicity. But in the context of what fans have seen from the show, any connection would likely be minimal considering their respective relationships with Oliver.
Huntress and the Green Arrow have a complex relationship in the comics and that came to play a part in their on-screen chemistry in Arrow. Helena Bertinelli is hellbent on vengeance and is perhaps capable of corrupting an Oliver Queen who is trying to turn his back on the bloodshed.
The version of Huntress seen on screen is certainly comic book accurate which means there's the hope of heroism. But as the show progresses it's clear that any ship between them would certainly fail. Oliver tried to help Helena but it didn't work out, with the latter perhaps derailing the vigilante reputation the Hood had built up.
Nyssa Al Ghul and Sara Lance shared a passionate romance that fits well. The two assassins found some happiness with one another and it perhaps could have developed further if it weren't for the events that unfolded and Sara's connection to Aida.
However, Nyssa and Sara never felt like it would have quite worked. While they are both valiant fighters, it felt wrong for Nyssa to essentially replace Sara with her sister (much like Oliver had). What's more, Laurel simply doesn't have the same violent background as Nyssa and can't quite relate to the lifestyle she had to endure, in comparison to Sara's connection to the League.
Samantha Clayton has set up a brilliant life for herself and her son away from the dangers of Oliver Queen. The two people might have once shared a connection but their lives couldn't be more separate now. Samantha's world is perhaps better off without The Hood.
William's world isn't though. Regardless, one of the saddest things about Oliver is that he never gets a choice over his son. Once allowed to meet him again he jumps at it. For those shipping Samantha and Oliver, it would only complicate the situation and they are in such different places in life.
Barry Allen and Felicity Smoak once had a brief romance and it's hard to deny that there's some chemistry between the two. Yet, despite the duo mostly parting ways, fans continued to ship them. Even now that Oliver and Iris are in their lives respectively, fans talk about their connection.
It's a terrible ship as it of course will never happen and shouldn't, considering the commitments that these characters have made to others. Sometimes it's ok to allow potential romances to fizzle out into friendships, which is the case here. There's still mutual respect and understanding and that's enough here.
For some audiences Dinah Drake and Rene Ramirez don't even feel like friends at times, considering the betrayal between them and the tension in the field. However, fans have been shipping them for years, suggesting that they could be a perfect match for one another, despite the complications.
The pair live two very different lives and there isn't any romantic connection between the two. Although Rene's daughter might appreciate Dinah in her life, a friendship is perhaps the best way to achieve that. Both have been unpredictable in their actions thanks to the difficult decisions they need to make and a romance would make the situation even more complex.
Oliver Queen and Talia Al Ghul have a troubled history. Fans will know that Oliver was once forced to marry her sister, by their father! Talia lives her life on a dark path, still enthralled by the legacy of the League of Assassins as Oliver tries to move away from that life.
Although a ship between the two might have some kind of history there to support it, in regards to where they are in life it shouldn't have even been an option. Oliver is coupled with Felicity while Talia is still tracing the path of a criminal. Ultimately, it would have been a corrupting twist in Green Arrow's story and one that may fundamentally change Talia.
Mia Queen and John Diggle Jr. are mortal enemies, with one representing the legacy of the Green Arrow while the other tries to keep the Deathstroke name living on. Everything that Jr. does in the name of his father spits in the face of everything he was able to set up.
Despite the rift between the two, some fans felt that a ship between them still really worked. Often enemies can make fantastic lovers, but in this particular case, John Diggle Jr. is a murderer and assassin, having attempted to kill Mia multiple times.