The Arrow-verse is gearing up for their biggest crossover to date, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” which will see the multi-verse threatened with something bigger than ever… so why aren’t all of the heroes fully participating?

Honestly, if there were ever a time for all of the many characters/heroes in the Arrow-verse to be involved in the crossover event, “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is it. The fate of the multi-verse is at stake, and the heroes are tasked with stopping the destruction of planets and stopping the Anti-Monitor, one of the most powerful beings in the entire world. And while we’ve seen many of the heroes unite in both official and behind-the-scenes photos, some are noticeably missing, including Katie Cassidy-Rodgers’ Earth-2 Laurel Lance/Black Canary.

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Laurel has become one of the central characters and heroes of Arrow season 8 alongside Oliver for almost every mission thus far. Love her or hate her, her tie to “Crisis on Infinite Earths” is undeniable, so why is she not one of the characters at the forefront (as far as the secondary characters being focused on goes)?

Earth-2 Laurel Lance is seemingly absent from ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’

Per the below tweet from executive producer and former co-showrunner of Arrow, Marc Guggenheim, he teases that the Laurel Lance we see during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event is actually the late Laurel who died during Arrow season 4, not the Laurel we’ve been following for the last three seasons (and who will be participating in the backdoor pilot for the potential Arrow spin-off).

Earth-1 Laurel in Crisis. Earth-2 Laurel in spin-off. https://t.co/EN3es1gSzx — Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) November 15, 2019

(Side note: I am excited for the original Laurel Lance, one of my favorite fictional characters ever, to make an appearance, however that occurs…)

So, if Earth-2 Laurel Lance isn’t participating (which is clear from the rest of Team Arrow, including Dinah Drake being present, but no sign of the Black Canary), it begs the question: Why?

An integral part of the set-up

Laurel’s entire story on Arrow season 8 has been about learning to be a true hero, even when she didn’t want to be, and this has been showcased since the destruction of her entire planet and universe (Earth-2) on Arrow season 8, episode 1.

Laurel was the first one of our regular characters to lose their world, dealing with the grief of that as soon as Arrow season 8, episode 2. Laurel was the first one to be approached by the Monitor, outside of Barry and Oliver. Laurel was the first one to learn of Lyla/Harbinger’s involvement with the Monitor, and she helped reveal that truth to Oliver and Diggle.

Love her or hate her, it’s impossible to deny that she’s been arguably the character in the Arrow-verse most involved in what’s going to happen during “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” instead of focusing on the aftermath like Barry and Oliver both are. Laurel’s experienced firsthand how the crisis is going to impact everyone, and on Arrow season 8, she’s only been below Oliver in terms of “Crisis…” entanglement. Her entire story has been about this upcoming event, and knowing she (likely) won’t take part in it, is dumbfounding.

Why leave Laurel Lance out?

Now, in no way am I saying that Laurel Lance should be one of the stars of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” or that she should play a big role. I understand there are other heroes that should also be a part of it, but aren’t going to be. My problem is that (it seems like) Laurel’s playing no role when she’s been so intertwined with “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” more so than even Barry and Oliver as I described above.

I’m used to Katie Cassidy-Rodgers getting shafted in these crossover events because it’s happened since the very first one, back during Arrow season 3 and The Flash season 1; however, with Laurel’s story this season, things should be different. She should be working with all of the heroes as the (only known) sole survivor of a planet destroyed from an anti-matter wave. She should be involved with stopping the Anti-Monitor when all she’s done this season on Arrow is prepare for the crisis.

If Laurel wasn’t going to be one of the main/supporting players during “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” why make her entire story revolve around that this season? Why take away her planet if she’s not going to be able to fight to avenge all of the people she has lost? It’s crazy how often Laurel, and many other female heroes, have been sidelined over these last seven years of the Arrow-verse, even when they have every reason to be at the forefront.

“Crisis on Infinite Earths” begins December 8 at 8 p.m. on Supergirl. Watch the teaser trailer compilation above!

Arrow continues Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW!