The Flash season 6 midseason premiere features a touching callback to Arrow season 2 that ties into Barry Allen’s Arrowverse introduction. In the episode, Barry (Grant Gustin) is gifted with Green Arrow’s mask, which is something that he made for Oliver (Stephen Amell) years ago.
In The Flash season 6, episode 10, “Marathon”, Team Flash gets a surprise visit from Arrow’s John Diggle (David Ramsay), who comes bearing a gift that Oliver wanted Barry to have after his death. It turns out to be the same Green Arrow mask that Barry made for Oliver. After finding Mirakuru on the mask, Barry wrongly believes it to be a clue for a new mission and heads to Lian Yu with Diggle. Eventually, Barry comes to accept that the Green Arrow mask really was just a gift to remind him of the people he must protect as the Flash.
Barry receiving the Green Arrow mask ends his and Oliver’s story in the Arrowverse and brings his debut in Arrow season 2 full circle. When Barry Allen was introduced, he was a powerless forensic scientist with an unfortunate habit of always being late. During a two-episode team-up with Oliver that acted as a backdoor pilot for The Flash, Barry discovers Oliver’s secret. At the end of the second episode, Barry gives Oliver a mask to complete his costume. This happened at a time when Oliver wore paint over his eyes instead of a mask. Thanks to Barry, the mask has become a staple of his costume ever since.
This moment was as significant for Barry as it was for Oliver, as it was Barry’s first real contribution to the Arrowverse. Though it could be said that the Green Arrow mask in The Flash midseason premiere acted as an obvious plot trick that ultimately went nowhere (and kept Barry away from the main story), it succeeded in bringing back memories of the beginning of one of the Arrowverse’s most important friendships and Barry’s Arrow season 2 introduction. Putting the mask back in the hands of Barry Allen was a nice way to conclude their story.
The fifth installment of Crisis on Infinite Earths and the Arrow series finale already allowed numerous Arrowverse heroes and the Arrow cast to honor Oliver and bond over his passing, but it felt necessary for The Flash to address this in a meaningful way. As Barry has been quick to point out, Oliver - in more ways than one - started it all. He gave rise to vigilantes in the Arrowverse, and helped Barry to become the hero that he is today.
More: Crisis On Infinite Earths Delivered On Being Arrowverse’s Best Crossover
