I've been watching it all year. Really great show, leagues better than Smallville.
It's shocking, but the only real weak link in the show is Laurel, who is given nothing to do and has all the charisma of wet cardboard - which is really surprising to me since Katie Cassidy has never disappointed before and yet she's fallen into the Lana Lang trap of crappy female leads.
But characters like Felicity, Diggle and even Thea totally make up for it. Our protagonist is often wrong or behaving like a dick and he actually gets called on it, which is refreshing for this type of show.
And it has Crixus in the island flashbacks! This pleases me.
I can't decide whether the lead is a good actor or a bad one. Is his stiff, insincere affect intentional because his character is supposed to have a big secret and PTSD? If so, why does nobody ever comment that he's acting like a pod person?
Best part: Quentin Lance.
Most surprisingly good: Tommy Merlyn.
On Katie Cassidy: Break out the fishnets already! Dinah Lance is supposed to be one of the premier ass-kickers and no-crap-takers of the DCU.
Anticipation: When is Slade Wilson's sudden but inevitable betrayal?
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
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I can't decide whether the lead is a good actor or a bad one. Is his stiff, insincere affect intentional because his character is supposed to have a big secret and PTSD? If so, why does nobody ever comment that he's acting like a pod person?
I think it's a bit of both. Amell doesn't have exceptional range, but I think he does an admirable job of showing that Oliver is a broken man putting up a lot of walls and fronts. And the other characters do comment on his behavior, particularly Thea and Laurel.
I think as far as bratty kid sisters on television go, she's more enjoyable than intolerable. They made her a fairly well-rounded character and I think the brother-sister relationship is one of the better relationships on the show, and WH is the regular with the best chemistry with Amell.
And Felicity was fun, but took the whole Holywood nerd trope way too far (incredibly hot, forced awkwardness and nerdiness, absurdly good with computers).
I can see that, but they gave Felicity scenes that showed she was more than just a stock trope (primarily her independent reasons for joining Oliver's team). I mostly just love the shift in dynamic she brings to Team Arrow since Oliver and Diggle are both stoic and severe. Felicity breathes some much-needed life into that part of the show. I'm glad they took her from infrequent guest star to recurring and now she's a regular for next year.
At least her crush on Oliver was hilarious.
I think his stone-faced reactions are the best. She makes him unintentionally hilarious, which is great and I think speaks to Felicity's role in shifting the dynamic on Team Arrow. Though it's a bit sad that fans are more invested in Felicity's relationship with Oliver than the actual canon relationship between Oliver and Laurel.
Also, am I the only one who is now really sad that The Cape failed so spectacularly...because if Arrow had Summer Glau as Felicity...
Naw. I love Glau, but I don't think she has the right energy for Felicity.
Felicity is the best female character in the series. Why would you want to change that...
The finale was epic. I still don't like Oliver beating Barrowman with him just stabbing him with an arrow as he's about to lose. He was losing the whole time, I wanted him to find the strength to finally beat him in pure combat not something stupid like that.
I can't decide whether the lead is a good actor or a bad one. Is his stiff, insincere affect intentional because his character is supposed to have a big secret and PTSD? If so, why does nobody ever comment that he's acting like a pod person?
I think he's purposefully acting like a sociopath (which he is) through much of the series. The flashbacks show at least a little more range of emotion. Overall I'd say he's doing a good job.
Anticipation: When is Slade Wilson's sudden but inevitable betrayal?
CRIXUS! Was a pretty amazing casting choice. I never really liked Deathstroke before this year (my only experience with him was from the old Teen Titans cartoon), but after playing Injustice and having Manu Bennett play him in Arrow he's one of my favorite DCU characters.
Side Note: Manu Bennett is pretty much the only person I can think of playing an adult Boba Fett if they have to recast the role.
I wanted him to find the strength to finally beat him in pure combat not something stupid like that.
I'm really glad he didn't pull a 'Every Shonen Manga Arc resolution ever'. It's really important that this show not make the mistakes that Smallville did, which is using the old 'pulling extra strength out of my ass' when they write themselves into a jam. On Smallville it kind of worked, but for Arrow to work he can't be invincible. He needs other people to be able to kick his butt, especially people who've trained longer and are more fantatical... or even random orderlies with fire extinguishers if hes caught by surprise.
Being a more cunning fighter is much more important to me that having him pull more skill out of no where.
It lost me for two reasons: 1st - I didn't have enough anticipation going into the midseason break and lsot interest, and 2nd - timeslot is 1 hour too early. Two year old goes to bed at 8:30, so I can't watch it at 8:00.
Those two factors combined made it difficult to get the drive to go out and find a way to watch the show.
I think it's a bit of both. Amell doesn't have exceptional range, but I think he does an admirable job of showing that Oliver is a broken man putting up a lot of walls and fronts.
And I'm willing cut him a lot of slack, seeing as he apparently does a lot of the parkour himself. That or he's got a twin brother for a stuntman.
I think as far as bratty kid sisters on television go, she's more enjoyable than intolerable. They made her a fairly well-rounded character and I think the brother-sister relationship is one of the better relationships on the show, and WH is the regular with the best chemistry with Amell.
I can see that, but they gave Felicity scenes that showed she was more than just a stock trope (primarily her independent reasons for joining Oliver's team). I mostly just love the shift in dynamic she brings to Team Arrow since Oliver and Diggle are both stoic and severe. Felicity breathes some much-needed life into that part of the show.
And in spite of being a beautiful and very well-groomed blonde, Rickards just plain sells the part with her delivery. She's a gifted comedienne.
Though it's a bit sad that fans are more invested in Felicity's relationship with Oliver than the actual canon relationship between Oliver and Laurel.
The writers are asking for it. Felicity gets all the good lines and has more interaction with Oliver. Laurel is becoming the Lana Lang to Felicity's Chloe Sullivan (though at least Katie Cassidy is a much better actress than Kristin Kreuk).
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
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It lost me for two reasons: 1st - I didn't have enough anticipation going into the midseason break and lsot interest, and 2nd - timeslot is 1 hour too early. Two year old goes to bed at 8:30, so I can't watch it at 8:00.
Those two factors combined made it difficult to get the drive to go out and find a way to watch the show.
DVR?
I watch this show on, like, friday evening after I get back from FNM
I'm really glad he didn't pull a 'Every Shonen Manga Arc resolution ever'. It's really important that this show not make the mistakes that Smallville did, which is using the old 'pulling extra strength out of my ass' when they write themselves into a jam. On Smallville it kind of worked, but for Arrow to work he can't be invincible. He needs other people to be able to kick his butt, especially people who've trained longer and are more fantatical... or even random orderlies with fire extinguishers if hes caught by surprise.
Being a more cunning fighter is much more important to me that having him pull more skill out of no where.
It didn't work in Smallville.... And their circumstances are completely different. Clark was too strong for everyone. This happens in the Superman comics as well. He's just too strong for everyone so there must be plot devices to keep him back like Kryptonite, he sucks at fighting, or him being very very very stupid.
It's actually more similar to Smallville if I remember correctly. Clark gets close to Kryptonite, somehow circumstances are enough for him to wiggle out of it and save the day in less than 2 seconds.
Ollie is getting choked to death, somehow circumstances are enough for him to pick up an arrow and just stab a non moving target.
How was it cunning to pick up an arrow and stab Barrowman with it... I felt it cheapened the entire fight and the dark archer. If he beat Barrowman with his wit. I'll take that but they completely did it wrong to show it if that's what they were going for.
And I'm willing cut him a lot of slack, seeing as he apparently does a lot of the parkour himself. That or he's got a twin brother for a stuntman.
No, Amell does as much of his own stunts as the insurance will allow. Fights, jumps, parkour, archery, scenes of Extreme Shirtless Exercises etc. If I'm not mistaken, it was a big reason he fought for the role.
And in spite of being a beautiful and very well-groomed blonde, Rickards just plain sells the part with her delivery. She's a gifted comedienne.
Absolutely. She's the show's hidden gem.
The writers are asking for it. Felicity gets all the good lines and has more interaction with Oliver. Laurel is becoming the Lana Lang to Felicity's Chloe Sullivan (though at least Katie Cassidy is a much better actress than Kristin Kreuk).
And we all know how it turned out for ole Chloe. I fear that happening here, and as of now it'd amount to the same uninspired writing.
Oddly enough, KK isn't a bad actress, she just needs better writing and direction than Smallville ever offered. KC, on the other hand, is actually a good actress and yet she is completely bland on Arrow. It's shocked me all year.
I'm just not invested enough in it. Which is sad becuase I'm a *huge* DC fanboy.
I *want* to like it. The first half of the series was good, and I did like it. Just not enough to be super excited, or go out of my way to watch it.
Two shows that I go out of my way to watch are: Doctor who and Psych. Arrow just hasn't done "it" for me. I can't really put a finger on why not.
I'm going to kind of rescind what I said earlier. I finished watching series one when it popped up on Netflix, and I like the show. The timing is still an issue (but thats not something thats their fault), so I'll have to wait for season two to hit netflix -- but, so far so good. Definitely liking the series.
Also, Every time I see Quentin lance I expect the hockey stick magic staff. Please PLEASE have some kind of throwback to that in an episode... >: )
I started watching it just before season two started to air. I think its a good show a lot of plot going on and what is going on now in the story is pretty sweet.
The Wall was not C. C. H. Pounder. This episode doesn't count.
But she was played by Naevia2.0, so I liked it.
What I didn't like? The facepalm-worthy writing that had Starling City's trial of the century last a business day from opening remarks to verdict. I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but **** off, Arrow writer.
Not having seen any of this season yet... is this a reference I should get?
Amanda Waller appears. C. C. H. Pounder doesn't play her. This is unacceptable. If C. C. H. Pounder is unavailable, you simply do not write Amanda Waller into your show. Make it Steve Trevor or somebody.
Don't even get me started on the New 52 age and physique they did go for.
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
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What I didn't like? The facepalm-worthy writing that had Starling City's trial of the century last a business day from opening remarks to verdict. I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but **** off, Arrow writer.
Yeah, everything legal in Arrow is about an order of magnitude more nonsensical even than the rest of television drama. The schedule of the trial. The fact that Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen's ex-girlfriend and still a friend of the family, is anywhere near the case. The conversations between her and the defendant/family. The questioning during examinations. The prosecution having a "trump card". The idea of seeking the death penalty for a repentant conspirator who tried to blow the whistle on the crime.
When Laurel said, "I know I could be disbarred for speaking to you", I kind of choked a little. It's like watching Superman fly, bench-press a battleship, and shoot fire from his eyes, then say "Wanna see something extraordinary?" and touch his nose with his tongue.
Yeah, that case was all kinds of wonky. Especially as people whove seen other legal dramas. Plot ends up mattering more than sense. Could we have spent 4 episodes touching on the trial without sucking up time from Barry and other interests.
Speaking of that, who else is really excited to see Slade finally become Deathstroke? I can just imagine Wilson standing up and straight up murdering some *****es.
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S1 finale just happened, pretty awesome. Probably the best superhero show on TV in a long time, since JLU possibly.
It's shocking, but the only real weak link in the show is Laurel, who is given nothing to do and has all the charisma of wet cardboard - which is really surprising to me since Katie Cassidy has never disappointed before and yet she's fallen into the Lana Lang trap of crappy female leads.
But characters like Felicity, Diggle and even Thea totally make up for it. Our protagonist is often wrong or behaving like a dick and he actually gets called on it, which is refreshing for this type of show.
And it has Crixus in the island flashbacks! This pleases me.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
Best part: Quentin Lance.
Most surprisingly good: Tommy Merlyn.
On Katie Cassidy: Break out the fishnets already! Dinah Lance is supposed to be one of the premier ass-kickers and no-crap-takers of the DCU.
Anticipation: When is Slade Wilson's sudden but inevitable betrayal?
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
I think it's a bit of both. Amell doesn't have exceptional range, but I think he does an admirable job of showing that Oliver is a broken man putting up a lot of walls and fronts. And the other characters do comment on his behavior, particularly Thea and Laurel.
I think as far as bratty kid sisters on television go, she's more enjoyable than intolerable. They made her a fairly well-rounded character and I think the brother-sister relationship is one of the better relationships on the show, and WH is the regular with the best chemistry with Amell.
I can see that, but they gave Felicity scenes that showed she was more than just a stock trope (primarily her independent reasons for joining Oliver's team). I mostly just love the shift in dynamic she brings to Team Arrow since Oliver and Diggle are both stoic and severe. Felicity breathes some much-needed life into that part of the show. I'm glad they took her from infrequent guest star to recurring and now she's a regular for next year.
I think his stone-faced reactions are the best. She makes him unintentionally hilarious, which is great and I think speaks to Felicity's role in shifting the dynamic on Team Arrow. Though it's a bit sad that fans are more invested in Felicity's relationship with Oliver than the actual canon relationship between Oliver and Laurel.
Naw. I love Glau, but I don't think she has the right energy for Felicity.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
The finale was epic. I still don't like Oliver beating Barrowman with him just stabbing him with an arrow as he's about to lose. He was losing the whole time, I wanted him to find the strength to finally beat him in pure combat not something stupid like that.
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I think he's purposefully acting like a sociopath (which he is) through much of the series. The flashbacks show at least a little more range of emotion. Overall I'd say he's doing a good job.
Agreed, that actor is great in pretty much whatever he appears in. I liked him as Harry Dresden in the short-lived TV series.
Also agreed.
Dinah Laurel Lance will probably reach that point soon. She's already a pretty fearless lawyer.
CRIXUS! Was a pretty amazing casting choice. I never really liked Deathstroke before this year (my only experience with him was from the old Teen Titans cartoon), but after playing Injustice and having Manu Bennett play him in Arrow he's one of my favorite DCU characters.
Side Note: Manu Bennett is pretty much the only person I can think of playing an adult Boba Fett if they have to recast the role.
I'm really glad he didn't pull a 'Every Shonen Manga Arc resolution ever'. It's really important that this show not make the mistakes that Smallville did, which is using the old 'pulling extra strength out of my ass' when they write themselves into a jam. On Smallville it kind of worked, but for Arrow to work he can't be invincible. He needs other people to be able to kick his butt, especially people who've trained longer and are more fantatical... or even random orderlies with fire extinguishers if hes caught by surprise.
Being a more cunning fighter is much more important to me that having him pull more skill out of no where.
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Those two factors combined made it difficult to get the drive to go out and find a way to watch the show.
Agreed.
And in spite of being a beautiful and very well-groomed blonde, Rickards just plain sells the part with her delivery. She's a gifted comedienne.
The writers are asking for it. Felicity gets all the good lines and has more interaction with Oliver. Laurel is becoming the Lana Lang to Felicity's Chloe Sullivan (though at least Katie Cassidy is a much better actress than Kristin Kreuk).
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
DVR?
I watch this show on, like, friday evening after I get back from FNM
I'm just not invested enough in it. Which is sad becuase I'm a *huge* DC fanboy.
I *want* to like it. The first half of the series was good, and I did like it. Just not enough to be super excited, or go out of my way to watch it.
Two shows that I go out of my way to watch are: Doctor who and Psych. Arrow just hasn't done "it" for me. I can't really put a finger on why not.
It didn't work in Smallville.... And their circumstances are completely different. Clark was too strong for everyone. This happens in the Superman comics as well. He's just too strong for everyone so there must be plot devices to keep him back like Kryptonite, he sucks at fighting, or him being very very very stupid.
It's actually more similar to Smallville if I remember correctly. Clark gets close to Kryptonite, somehow circumstances are enough for him to wiggle out of it and save the day in less than 2 seconds.
Ollie is getting choked to death, somehow circumstances are enough for him to pick up an arrow and just stab a non moving target.
How was it cunning to pick up an arrow and stab Barrowman with it... I felt it cheapened the entire fight and the dark archer. If he beat Barrowman with his wit. I'll take that but they completely did it wrong to show it if that's what they were going for.
Sexy Sig by mchief111 @ Rising Studios
EDH
G Isao
No, Amell does as much of his own stunts as the insurance will allow. Fights, jumps, parkour, archery, scenes of Extreme Shirtless Exercises etc. If I'm not mistaken, it was a big reason he fought for the role.
Absolutely. She's the show's hidden gem.
And we all know how it turned out for ole Chloe. I fear that happening here, and as of now it'd amount to the same uninspired writing.
Oddly enough, KK isn't a bad actress, she just needs better writing and direction than Smallville ever offered. KC, on the other hand, is actually a good actress and yet she is completely bland on Arrow. It's shocked me all year.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
I'm going to kind of rescind what I said earlier. I finished watching series one when it popped up on Netflix, and I like the show. The timing is still an issue (but thats not something thats their fault), so I'll have to wait for season two to hit netflix -- but, so far so good. Definitely liking the series.
Also, Every time I see Quentin lance I expect the hockey stick magic staff. Please PLEASE have some kind of throwback to that in an episode... >: )
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Not having seen any of this season yet... is this a reference I should get?
But she was played by Naevia2.0, so I liked it.
What I didn't like? The facepalm-worthy writing that had Starling City's trial of the century last a business day from opening remarks to verdict. I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but **** off, Arrow writer.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
You mean Barry Allen. The Flash will not show up. Barry Allen is making a cameo to hype up his own show.
Sexy Sig by mchief111 @ Rising Studios
EDH
G Isao
Oh you know what I mean.
Don't even get me started on the New 52 age and physique they did go for.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Archatmos
Excellion
Fracture: Israfiel (WBR), Wujal (URG), Valedon (GUB), Amduat (BGW), Paladris (RWU)
Collision (Set Two of the Fracture Block)
Quest for the Forsaken (Set Two of the Excellion Block)
Katingal: Plane of Chains
All the more reason to go Steve.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Yeah, everything legal in Arrow is about an order of magnitude more nonsensical even than the rest of television drama. The schedule of the trial. The fact that Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen's ex-girlfriend and still a friend of the family, is anywhere near the case. The conversations between her and the defendant/family. The questioning during examinations. The prosecution having a "trump card". The idea of seeking the death penalty for a repentant conspirator who tried to blow the whistle on the crime.
When Laurel said, "I know I could be disbarred for speaking to you", I kind of choked a little. It's like watching Superman fly, bench-press a battleship, and shoot fire from his eyes, then say "Wanna see something extraordinary?" and touch his nose with his tongue.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Speaking of that, who else is really excited to see Slade finally become Deathstroke? I can just imagine Wilson standing up and straight up murdering some *****es.