Arrow (2012)

Developed by: Greg Berlanti (1), Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg

Network: The CW

Cast: Stephen Amell (2), Katie Cassidy (3), Colin Donnell, David Ramsey (4), Willa Holland (5), Susanna Thompson (6), and Paul Blackthorne.

Did you know? - Justin Hartley, the actor who played Green Arrow in Smallville, is actually starring in a new series this season as well. A medical drama called Emily Owens, M.D. featuring Mamie Gummer, Michael Rady, and Necar Zadegan.  Oh and Emily Owens, M.D., Arrow, and Beauty And The Beast are all airing on The CW. 

Superheroes. I never had a thing for them. I wasn’t into Batman, Spiderman, or any of the X-Men. If not for my love of television and film, I probably would have never discovered these superheroes. I can’t tell which superhero is under the Marvel universe and which go under the DC Comics banner. As such, my thoughts on the television series Arrow don’t take into consideration the superhero comic world but just, as it is – a television series. 

Everyone knows Batman and Gotham City. So basically in the TV series Arrow, the Batman-like character is in fact the Green Arrow, and instead of Gotham City, we have a very corrupt Starling City. Oliver Queen, played by Stephen Amell, gets stranded on an island for five years and when he is found and returns home to Starling City, he becomes the vigilante Green Arrow by night, and resumes his playboy character by day. Now there’s always a woman involved in things like this. Katie Cassidy plays Laurel Lance, Oliver’s ex girlfriend who is a lawyer. Nope she’s not his sidekick and neither is John Diggle, played by David Ramsey, although Diggle does take up his offer to help him clean house in Sterling City. There’s also Oliver’s sister Thea played by Willa Holland, his mum Moira who seems not quite innocent herself played by Susanna Thompson, and there’s Oliver’s best friend Tommy and Laurel’s father Quentin who is a Detective.

Now, it’s a superhero-themed series, so there’s lots of action, killing, and it’s almost like a case of the week type of thing going on. To be honest, I wonder how long is this hit list that Oliver’s got. Does he have enough to sustain more than one or two seasons? I never took to Smallville, so I can’t say I know how they managed to sustain 10 seasons without compromising the content or if it worked or didn’t work. To be honest, this is the first superhero-themed television series that I have taken an interest to. However, I have a very strong inclination to check out Smallville right now. 

Arrow also kinda reminded me of Kick-Ass. I guess it's because of what Aaron Johnson's character Dave says - "At some point in our lives we all wanna be a superhero" that made me think of the connection between Arrow and Kick-Ass, and I think this is what Oliver Queen thinks every day as the Green Arrow "With no power comes no responsibility. Except that wasn't true". Well, he sort of has power, not super powers, but still he has the means and ability to make a change and he cannot run away from that responsibility.

Now, the list of people Green Arrow is targeting makes the show seem a little procedural. However, I think its necessary and it works for the series. It gives us an insight to the world of the series as well as the various characters in the show. As of now, there have been just 4 episodes just like CW’s other new series Beauty And The Beast, which I love. And I think the network’s got a good thing here with Arrow, and I think they recognise that too and that’s why they’ve given the order for a full season. (Now I wish they’d just give the order for a full season for (Beauty And The Beast and Emily Owens, M.D.).

Let’s talk cast. The lead. Stephen Amell, is a really good actor, well that’s what I think anyway, based on what I’ve seen so far in the series. I think he does a really good job of pretending to be a playboy and when we get the behind the scenes look of him being worn down by living separate lives as Oliver Queen and as the Green Arrow, I can empathize with him. Kind of reminds me of Dexter, where the lead threads a very thin line between what is right and wrong in the eyes of the law and ethically. What he can do physically is also amazing! The stunt work, not the six-pack! Although don’t think I didn’t notice his hot bod too. I guess to have a BIG female fan base, you need a good looking and hot lead. Oh, and if you don’t already know, I am a sucker for all things related to archery, chess, and ice hockey. (PS: I love the bow Oliver Queen owns!)

The leading lady Katie Cassidy – there’s something about her that I haven’t warmed up to yet and I also haven’t quite put a finger on why yet. But, she’s a done a decent job as Laurel. Now, leading ladies in any series usually have a dual role as the romantic interest and the on screen sparks between Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy haven’t really exploded yet for me. I like their characters individually, and I love the way she holds her own but is still vulnerable at times. But, maybe the characters aren’t supposed to really spark together right now, that’s why I’m not really feeling it with regards to Oliver and Laurel. I can feel Oliver’s feelings for Laurel and his dilemma regarding her. I just don’t quite feel like Laurel feels the same way for Oliver. Well not yet I guess.

I love Diggle! He’s great as a moral compass for Oliver and I am so looking forward to more of their relationship in the series. And David Ramsey who plays Diggle does a fantastic job. I think the other two ladies on the series also deserve a mention because they are doing such an awesome job. In fact, considering it’s the Borg Queen herself (from the series Star Trek Voyager), I shouldn’t have been surprised at her role of not-so-innocent mum Moira.

I am looking forward to more of Arrow, and if you haven’t checked it out, please do so. Now the style, we find out more about Oliver’s 5 unexplained 5 years through lots of flashbacks. And it works, I’m glad they are doing it bit by bit. Feeding us enough information for us to follow the story and the current situation. It’s also a good way to keep drawing the audience to stay on for the next episode and the episode after that.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Episode 1: The first episode did a good job of drawing me into the story. Obviously, since I’m still watching it and it’s episode 4 already. I like that it clearly defines most of the characters so we know how the reappearance of Oliver affects all the people crucial to the story. And after this first episode, I am curious to find out how can a mother and wife have the heart to betray her husband and son. It makes me want to know more about this wrong Oliver has to right and how much Moira is involved with.

The book. The hit list.

Raisa: You are different. Not like you to read a book

Oliver: I’ve missed you Raisa.

Raisa: No kitchen on the island?

Oliver: No. No friends either. (takes the tray of food from Raisa) Hey, thank you. Do I really seem different?

Raisa: No, you’re still a good boy.

Oliver: Oh I think we both know I wasn’t.

Raisa: But a good heart.

Oliver: I hope so. I want to be the person you always told me I could be.

The Green Arrow in action. I really quite like
the camera angles and shots used in the series.

Another camera shot I really like.
I have a thing for the way our planet looks. It's so pretty.

Episode 2: “You don’t have to go outside the law to find justice.” Do you believe that? That is the recurring theme of Arrow. The Green Arrow is breaking the law to do good. Is he doing the right thing or wrong thing by doing what he’s doing? I have found the characters and relationships that is going to draw me further into the series. Diggle & Oliver, Oliver & his sister Thea, Oliver & Laurel.  More of Diggle’s personality and background is revealed in this episode and I like the dynamic between Oliver and Diggle. He is someone who ‘gets’ Oliver. And I think Oliver needs that.

"Home is a battlefield. Back home they’re all trying to ‘get you’. Get you to open up, be somebody you’re not sure you are anymore. Or I could be wrong. Maybe after 5 years alone, you’re not as messed up in the head as you have a right to be."
- John Diggle

I always wanted an older brother, someone like Oliver would have been perfect!
 Oh and don't you think Thea, played by Willa Holland, looks a little like Claire Forlani?

"Sometimes when I felt, whatever, I’d come here. About a month after the funeral, mum stopped going out. Pretty soon she stopped talking altogether. The house got so quiet, so I’d come here, to talk to you. I mean stupid stuff, like what I was doing that day, what boy I had a crush on, and then sometimes I’d ask you, beg you to find your way home to me. Now here you are. And the truth is, I felt closer to you when you were dead. Look I know it was hell where you were. But it was hell here too. You got to let me in Oli, you got to let someone in."
- Thea Queen

Okay, I kinda do want them to get back together.
And I love a man who can protect the woman he loves.

Oliver: I’m a jerk. Before the island I was a jerk. And now I’m just a, I’m a damaged jerk.

Laurel: What’s in the bag?

Oliver: I thought about many things on the island, but there was one thing that I thought about everyday. I actually dreamed about it. And I promised myself that if I ever got the chance to do it again, I’d do it with you. Eat ice cream.

I think Kelly Hu is an awesome actress, can't wait to see more of her in Arrow.

My favourite lines: “Oliver, you’re an adult, you can say ‘No’.” & “I didn’t know how painful it would be to keep my secrets.”