One can argue that Flash season 1 (that finale though) and season 2 are amazing, I agree. You can say Legends of Tomorrow introduced a great fresh idea, an intriguing character in Captain Rip Hunter, and great villains in season 2. Even, sigh, Super-girl has its pros (although it's a struggle to get through a single episode since it's so cliche). However, while Arrow defiantly has it's drop offs, it's proved that it can make a comeback and has probably been the most consistent show. Besides, without Arrow, none of the other shows would ever have happened. Some spoilers ahead, so reading ahead is at your own risk.

7. "Lone Gunman" Season 1

I could have easily put in the pilot here, but that might have been cheating. Here, you can see the Oliver not just stopping the bad guys, but deciding what kind of hero he is. The dynamic with the police, the relationships and struggle to keep a secret, the island he has drifted to in the past, and how he deals with the Russia mafia. Plus the villain is a suicide squad member this show did a million times better than the movie.

6. "The Magician" Season 3

Usually people skip over season 3 and 4, maybe point to the 3rd mid season finale and the fantastic, epic duel with Ra's on the cliff. A great fight in its own right, but the plot leading up to causing Oliver to that point is ridiculous at best. Here, we see 3 people confronted with the fact of the loss of a important character. It isn't the immediate reaction, but the long term way they channel the anger into accusations that makes the will-she, won't-he plot one to take note of. The weight through discussion and planning by the team makes this feel like a season finale, and it does lead up to one of the best fights of the season. The flashbacks are also among the better ones since Amanda Waller is included revealing a twist linking back to season 1. Speaking of season 1...

5. "Sacrifice" Season 1

Drastic events have slowed down present day right before speeding up again, coming to a head with Oliver facing off against the dark archer. On the island, we finally get to see Oliver's training pay off in a realistic way. He has a choice that changes everything. We also face one my favorite season 1 character's deaths here.

4. "Seeing Red" Season 2

I don't want to cheat, but this is another death that really hit home for a lot of us here. One thing Arrow is great about compared to the other shows is we care when a character dies (there are a few exceptions). Oliver loses someone close and fights to not loose another. Choices aren't always just black and white and this episode shows that saving the day has consequences.

3. "Fighting Fire With Fire" Season 5

Two of the main villains fight head to head in a scene you didn't expect or know you wanted, but it's a real treat. Plus the city forces Oliver to make a tough decision, and Felicity makes an consequential one as well. The ongoing reveals with Prometheus (a well-developed, dynamic villain with logical reasoning and a well-thought out long plan) alongside the pursuit of him is enough, but the additional things mentioned above make this a top 3 episode.

2. "Lian Yu" Season 5

Deathstroke, the Dark Archer, The Black Canaries, and Ra's Al Ghul's daughters go head to head. I'm not rating this high just because of the long list of credits filled with familiar faces. There is a legitimate reason for each character to be here. People die, but part of the pros is the major twist in the cliffhanger at the end.

1. "The Promise" Season 2

Flipping back and forth to see Slade struggling with the Mirakuru drug from the past, to see him confronting Oliver's family in the present. His family doesn't know that a psycho has walked into their lives since he's playing it cool, waiting, planning something big. The look on Slade's face when a particular character comes back into his life is priceless, showing Oliver is trying to hit back with more than just arrows. Oliver decides to back out on the pledge he's made of no killing. The episode is the culmination of all of the last couple seasons building tension. This great acting, well rounded, and realistic logistic thinking that characters have here is what separates Arrow above the rest of the shows.

A little bonus, these are ones that can't change Arrow in entirety for the worse, but if you hear of particular episodes weighing Arrow down as a whole, here you go. Worst Episodes in 3,2,1...

3. "Broken Hearts" (Season 4)

Do you like drama? Times it by a million and add in a villain who's only superpower is making the heroes hold back and try and convince her she can let her crush go. Not joking, this 100% is worth a pass.

2. "Beacon of Hope" (Season 4)

Let's see. Can this "bee" the worst episode. No? Was that pun funny? How about an hour of those back to back? It's close to the worst episode thanks to puns that take me back to Arnold Schwarzenegger from 1997.

1. "Spectre of the Gun" (Season 5)

Ugh, politics. Shows and movies are like dessert, fun entertainment away from life's craziness. This random political episode tastes like the worst kind of rotten, spoiled vegetables. The director and script writer only have produced one arrow episode themselves and even politics aside here, the script REALLY shows. I was cringing in a couple times watching this.

Otherwise, overall, Arrow is one of the best grounded, well thought out shows on right now. Check it out!