Can Deadshot Be Trusted On 'Arrow'?

One of the coolest parts of the world building in Arrow is the gradual assembling of anti-hero group The Suicide Squad. A quasi-doppelganger to Team Arrow, it's made up of assassins assembled by A.R.G.U.S who include Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Shrapnel (seriously, how cool are these names?), and now Cupid. Members of team have been featured individually throughout the series, and it looks like we'll be seeing the Suicide Squad on Arrow again before Season 3 is over, according to ET Online. With any luck, this means we will be getting to know a bit more about my favorite one-eyed sharpshooter Deadshot, otherwise known as Floyd Lawton.

Out of all the people in the Squad, Deadshot is by far the most developed character. We've seen him in the most episodes and learned more about what makes him tick. While he started up and a straight-up evil murderer and antagonist to Diggle, who was hunting him for killing his brother Andy, he has developed into a reluctant ally begging the question: whose side is he really on?

The good guy/bad guy definition seems a little too cut and dry for an assassin. He kills people for a living, which would typically land someone squarely in the “bad guy” category. Add in a creepy, super-spy fake eye and boom, we've got ourselves a supervillain. Except, it’s not that simple. As it turns out, Deadshot is sending all of his money from each hit to his daughter Zoe. And all of the people he’s killed lately have been under threat of a bomb being set off in his spine. Suddenly, he's not looking so evil. I think, more than anything, he is a decent guy who does terrible things for a reason.

Not good, not bad, he fits in perfectly with the various ethical shades of grey in the Arrow world. His goodness largely comes from his family. Deadshot has intentionally away from his daughter, choosing to support her from afar because he knows that by doing that, he’s keeping her safe. In a way, it kind of makes him a great father.

Maybe I’m just a hopeless optimist, but I for one really hope we get to see Deadshot take a shot (sorry, had to) at real redemption this season. While seeing the Suicide Squad in action is always fun, it would be even better if we could see more of the “villains” good sides. Because where’s the fun in black and white?

Images: The CW; smoakandswan/Tumblr