‘Arrow’: Paul Blackthorne On Lance’s Grief, Dinah’s Return

Detective Quentin Lance will turn to an unlikely source on
Wednesday’s “Arrow,” following the death of his daughter, Laurel
Lance.

As he deals with his grief, he will turn to Nyssa al Ghul
(Katrina Law), to see if there is a supernatural way to bring Laurel back.

“Lance is interested in finding any way — in a world
he doesn’t really understand — to bring his daughter back,” Paul
Blackthorne, who plays Det. Lance, told AccessHollywood.com. 

“It’s happened obviously with Sara,” Paul
continued, referencing how Sara Lance was brought back when Laurel brought her
sister to the Lazarus Pit (pre-destruction). “And now he’s facing this
idea with Laurel and it’s like, ‘I don’t understand this world that ever goes
on around me,’ but [he’s sort of] bumbling his way through it going, ‘What
about that Lazarus Pit thing? And what about that? You did that before, so why
can’t we just have that?’ He’s desperately trying to find a way to bring his
daughter back in a world he doesn’t completely 100
percent understand, but obviously is going to ask as many people as he
can to see if that can be done or not. So it’s quite desperate watching him
fall apart.”

Asked how bad things will get for Lance as he grieves his
beloved daughter, Paul pointed to the fact that in the past, when his character
faced a tragedy, he had Laurel to turn to. Now, she’s gone.

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“The person that got him through the grief of Sara
dying was Laurel and I think that’s one of the things that just freaks him
out,” he said. “Laurel was the cornerstone of Lance’s life in terms
of getting him through the divorce he went through with Dinah, the alcoholism,
and everything with his early relationship with The Arrow as an adversary. And,
Laurel always has been the cornerstone of his life and has got him through to
this point now where everything’s cool with The Arrow, he’s not drinking
anymore and life was OK, you know? And the idea of dealing with the grief of
Laurel going, without the woman that actually got him through the previous
grief of Sara dying is pretty unfathomable for Lance. And of course, what he
does have to lean on now is Donna, Donna Smoak. But that’s in such early
stages. It’s hardly the same relationship as he has with his daughter, so
that’s just what’s horrifying for him now is how do I get through the death of
a daughter, who I’ve always relied upon to get through anything in my life? So
these are tough, desperate times for him.”

Damien Dahrk, the man who threatened Lance at the start of the
season, is responsible for Laurel’s death. So how will Lance be feeling as
“Arrow” returns?

“I think guilt is a big part of that. And it’s weird
isn’t it, because when you look back on the episodes, it was right there [early
on]. ‘If you keep on doing this, I’ll kill your daughter,'” Paul pointed
out.

“None of [us] saw it coming. Everyone’s been sitting
there all season going, ‘Who’s in the grave? Who’s in the grave?’ and it was
kind of written, ‘If you keep on doing this, I’ll kill your daughter.’ And it’s
funny, when you look back on those episodes, there it was, and yet it was such
a surprise story-wise, when it actually really did happen,” he said.

Alex Kingston returns to “Arrow” on Wednesday
night as Dinah Lance, Quentin’s ex and the mother of Laurel.

“Any time Dinah pops up, something really bad has
generally happened, usually revolving around a daughter’s death,” he said.

“She’s amazing to work with, Alex,” Paul said. “She is just
fantastic.”

But could Dinah cross paths with Donna Smoak, Quentin’s love
interest?

“They met at a convention in Salt Lake City. That was
interesting,” Paul said, referring to Alex and Charlotte Ross, who plays
Mama Smoak.

“We’ll see in the episode, but yes, it would be an
interesting day if Donna and Dinah were ever in the same room, let’s face
it,” he added.

“Arrow” has several more episodes to air on The
CW, but filming on Season 5 has wrapped, allowing Paul time for some of his
charitable work. Like he did last year, he recently launched a new Represent.com
campaign, this time to benefit Save the Rhino International. 

“I was always that kid in the bookstore, rummaging
around with National Geographics and putting the maps on my bedroom walls and
I’ve always loved nature, wildlife, etc., so I’m just that person,” he
said. “In the last few years, as it’s become apparent — this dreadful
poaching crisis has become more and more apparent — obviously it’s pricked my
ears and I was like, ‘What is going on here?”

The actor said fans helped him come up with the slogan for
his first tee for charity, and the organization the funds raised could be
donated to. This time, he’s trying to save the rhinos.

“I’ve teamed up with Save the Rhino International and
so we’ve released this T-shirt along with my good friend Aaron Ramsey, who is
basically one of my footballing heroes – Arsenal player and plays for Wales,
and all around super good guy, and we’ve launched this T-shirt campaign. So
that’s that, and Rob Prior painted this image, the amazing two-handed
painter” Paul said, referring to the one on the shirt. “And all of
the money, the proceeds from this, is going to Save the Rhino
International.”

“Arrow” continues Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW.

Jolie Lash

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