Not sure what you're referring to, Nyssa came to Star City at the end of the last episode and that's where this entire episode took place.
Spoilers Arrow - Season 4
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Not sure what you're referring to, Nyssa came to Star City at the end of the last episode and that's where this entire episode took place.
I could be recalling wrong as well, but my impression is that it was more of a warehouse-ish setting.
The feud between Amell and WWE Superstar Stardust continues.
Volume warning.
Volume warning.
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So... Laurel totally used an orbiting starship's transporter to get to Nanda Parbat and back, right? Because she totally went over there to chat with Nyssa, then was back in the Arrow Cave practically the next scene. The writers have done this several times before, but this time it was particularly blatant, especially when they could easily and simply have established that Nyssa was temporarily chilling in a Canadian mountains League temple, not the Asia/global HQ itself.
And the League is gone now, is it? That might be mildly interesting to us audience members if we'd been given any indication of what they actually do up until now. They Assassin people? For money, or on principle? It's all been so damn vague.
Anyone else remember when characters had real-world issues on this show? Like alcoholism, or jobs? I remember that Laurel used to be a lawyer, and she recently claimed to still be a DA, yeah? How has she not been fired yet for skimping on her job while doing Team Arrow stuff?
I hate to say it, but I'm really starting to actively dislike the show. Everything's just variations on what we've seen before (what was the point of ghost-Shado telling flashback Ollie to let go of the darkness when we know damn well he'll do no such thing?!), The Flash is lots more fun and still fresh (I haven't even had time for Legends of Tomorrow), ARGUS was a whole lotta nuthin' even before Waller was killed and the League of Assassins was never much better, and the thought of Ollie's illegitimate son being endangered by Lt. Hawk just bores me to tears. (Also, Paul Blackthorne's been seriously underused.) Meanwhile, the Island flashbacks are even more pointless than last year's, which at least had the urban change of scenery to recommend them.
Gaith I agree with a lot of your feelings about the show. That being said, I've enjoyed the last two Arrow episodes more than anything else this season. I've been falling out of love with Arrow since Season 3. And Season 4 hasn't halted it. I like Neal McDonough but I'm not raving about Darhk. His plan is too vague and seems a bit too similar to Erica Kravid's plan on Heroes Reborn,which isn't bad in and of itself, though I felt Kravid was a more chilling villian-thus far-despite Darhk's magical powers. To me it just seems like McDonough is reading lines while looking menacing. That being said, I like him better than Matt Nable as Ra's Al Ghul.
And I don't like Felicity anymore. Used to love her, but I am tired of her and how the show has to push her to the forefront. To me, Curtis (Mr. Terrific) is mainly on the show just to be Felicity's friend instead of having his own arc or purpose, and that's when he's even on the show. That being said, I did like the reveal about the Calculator being her father. I wish there had been more time spent on him and their relationship, and I guess he will later resurface.
And it was great seeing Malcolm lose it again. I always like when Barrowman lets Malcolm's anger come to the fore. He's just filled with such rage. And I liked his plan for revenge. I hadn't even consider William in the grave, but it makes sense because it keeps the important characters and still gives Oliver a great tragic loss. I was surprised that the show allowed Malcolm to lose his hand and I hope it leads to him being a full adversary instead of this quasi-helper he's been for the last two seasons. That being said, I thought Oliver beat Malcolm too easily; though I guess Malcolm didn't really want to kill Oliver so he didn't put him up much of a fight.
I do hope that the break up of the League does create some new adversaries like the Council of Spiders from the Red Robin comics, or other groups. Also introduce some of the League of Assassin members.
I'm loving Arrow more and more. I could barely sit through the first two seasons. It was 75% CW teen melodrama 25% superhero show. Now, I feel the ratio's been reversed. It's so much more 'comic book' now and I love that there's an entire team of costumed superheroes running around. Also, this year has a really good Big Bad. I love the *idea* of Ra'sh Al Ghul, but I felt the actor they got just did not have "it".
Interesting how different we view it. I didn't see much teen melodrama at all on Arrow. If anything I liked the darker, more Mike Grell-take on Oliver/Arrow that was in the first two seasons. I did have some issues with the first two seasons however. I think they ran through too many villains, killing some they shouldn't have, particularly Drakon. And I don't think the show approached China White correctly. I also feel they introduced Roy way too early in the series. To me, I would've been bringing Roy in right about now. That being said, it feels the more obvious attempts to mimic the lighter comic book Green Arrow in season 4 feels forced. Perhaps its in part due to Amell's acting. He works better as a grim vigilante. And if you are going for the lightness when are they finally going to freaking have him make chili?
In any event I don't think seasons 3 or 4 gave him a villain on the same level as the Dark Archer (who's introduction was just brutal) or Deathstroke (who was a great personal villain and outfoxed Oliver). I felt a sense of danger with both those guys that I don't really feel now.
I also liked Felicity in the earlier seasons where she was a pleasant surprise and added some much needed humor. Now I feel they are forcing more screen time for her to satiate the Olicity shippers.
I also feel they are running out of things to say. It seems like it will come down to the city in danger for every finale now. And I do wish if they were going to emulate comic book Oliver that he would be more political. It's strange that they have him running for mayor and yet he has no real ideology outside a vague making the city better, anti-corruption/Darhk agenda. I get why they don't want to delve too deeply into politics, they don't want to piss anyone off. But I think its time they did something to mix it up, to be more relevant than just a show about costumed people beating each other up because we are now getting quite a few of those options, and not just on CW alone. And if they really want to embrace Oliver's comic book persona I think it's a mistake to leave his leftist views out of it. Especially during an election year and you have Bernie Sanders rising on the national stage. To me Oliver is the left wing comic book hero. For all those who feel that Arrow is too much like Batman, that would definitely be a way to differentiate the two. Not saying that Bruce isn't left wing-though I don't know what his political ideology is, it more than likely shifts to fit whatever story or era if addressed at all.
In any event I don't think seasons 3 or 4 gave him a villain on the same level as the Dark Archer (who's introduction was just brutal) or Deathstroke (who was a great personal villain and outfoxed Oliver). I felt a sense of danger with both those guys that I don't really feel now.
I also liked Felicity in the earlier seasons where she was a pleasant surprise and added some much needed humor. Now I feel they are forcing more screen time for her to satiate the Olicity shippers.
I also feel they are running out of things to say. It seems like it will come down to the city in danger for every finale now. And I do wish if they were going to emulate comic book Oliver that he would be more political. It's strange that they have him running for mayor and yet he has no real ideology outside a vague making the city better, anti-corruption/Darhk agenda. I get why they don't want to delve too deeply into politics, they don't want to piss anyone off. But I think its time they did something to mix it up, to be more relevant than just a show about costumed people beating each other up because we are now getting quite a few of those options, and not just on CW alone. And if they really want to embrace Oliver's comic book persona I think it's a mistake to leave his leftist views out of it. Especially during an election year and you have Bernie Sanders rising on the national stage. To me Oliver is the left wing comic book hero. For all those who feel that Arrow is too much like Batman, that would definitely be a way to differentiate the two. Not saying that Bruce isn't left wing-though I don't know what his political ideology is, it more than likely shifts to fit whatever story or era if addressed at all.
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I always find it strange when people stick the "teen" label on Arrow, because the only main character in the show who was ever a teenager during the series's run was Thea. Aside from her, the cast has mostly ranged from 20s to early 50s in age.
I also don't get the attitude that the Ollie-Felicity relationship was something forced on the characters because the fans wanted it. I think that's getting it backward. The reason the fans wanted it, and the reason the writers went for it, is because the actors had great chemistry -- certainly better than Amell had with Katie Cassidy, the one set up from the beginning as his intended love interest.
And I think it's disrespectful to Emily Bett Rickards to assume her increased screen time is merely because of her character's relationship with a man. She gets more screen time because she's the breakout star of the show in her own right, because she's talented and fun to watch and deserves more screen time. She'd be getting more screen time regardless of who she was romantically paired with -- even if she weren't paired with anyone at all (though that's admittedly unlikely on a CW show). She's surpassed Cassidy and Willa Holland as the de facto female lead of the series. She's appeared in The Flash more than any other Arrow cast member except Amell. That's not because of who her character is dating, it's because of the actress's own talent and charisma.
I think the Berlanti shows take a clear progressive stance by what they do, as much as by what they say. They include gay and lesbian characters casually and repeatedly (Sara, Nyssa, Captain Singh, Curtis Holt). Supergirl is emphatically feminist, and its main villain Maxwell Lord tends to spout philosophies matching those of right-wing corporate bigwigs speaking out against the government and demagogues stirring up fear and hatred toward immigrants. The alien-hating senator in the White Martian episode was a clear allegory for the race-baiting candidates in the GOP primaries.
Granted, though, I can see your point that Oliver himself should be a more vocal spokesman for progressive values. But in a way, he's always been taking on corporate exploiters who've profited at the expense of the little guys.
^
I think we can agree to disagree about Olicity, but I do think you make a very good point about Felicity being the break out character for Arrow, which would necessitate giving her more screen time (sort of how like Steve Urkell took over Family Matters). I don't really see the great chemistry between Rickards and Amell but that's my perception. I do think the relationship itself is forced. It doesn't feel right to me or organic. And I do think the writers have catered to the Olicity shippers. I was perfectly fine with the tease/fake out they did at the end of Season 2 to trick Deathstroke. I thought it was a nice compromise giving both the Olicity supporters and the anti-Olicity supporters something. But in Season 3 they went full in on the relationship and to me Felicity has become less interesting, despite the greater screen time she has received. Now I feel they are giving us too much Felicity and she's obnoxious and in your face, not endearing anymore. And if they are going to move Oliver more toward his Green Arrow comic persona I wouldn't mind him sleeping around a bit more, except always coming back to Black Canary (or I guess this case Felicity, and I don't think that would fly on the show or with today's audiences so much).
You also make a good point about the overall political or progressive tone of Berlanti's shows. I hadn't considered that in my critique, but that's fair. That being said, as you did allude to I wish Oliver himself would be more progressive. And while he does take on some corporate exploiters (more so in season 1) he doesn't really critique the system itself. It's more of an individual thing. And he's getting ready to wed a corporate executive, even if Felicity is one of the more progressive executives probably ever. I wouldn't mind if it was a bit more explicit, though not beating people over the head. I think the show missed a great opportunity for Oliver to connect more with the little people more or maybe the denizens from The Glades when he "lost" his fortune. Though that was never well explained or handled and his momentary dip in funds didn't put a crimp on his crime fighting.
I think we can agree to disagree about Olicity, but I do think you make a very good point about Felicity being the break out character for Arrow, which would necessitate giving her more screen time (sort of how like Steve Urkell took over Family Matters). I don't really see the great chemistry between Rickards and Amell but that's my perception. I do think the relationship itself is forced. It doesn't feel right to me or organic. And I do think the writers have catered to the Olicity shippers. I was perfectly fine with the tease/fake out they did at the end of Season 2 to trick Deathstroke. I thought it was a nice compromise giving both the Olicity supporters and the anti-Olicity supporters something. But in Season 3 they went full in on the relationship and to me Felicity has become less interesting, despite the greater screen time she has received. Now I feel they are giving us too much Felicity and she's obnoxious and in your face, not endearing anymore. And if they are going to move Oliver more toward his Green Arrow comic persona I wouldn't mind him sleeping around a bit more, except always coming back to Black Canary (or I guess this case Felicity, and I don't think that would fly on the show or with today's audiences so much).
You also make a good point about the overall political or progressive tone of Berlanti's shows. I hadn't considered that in my critique, but that's fair. That being said, as you did allude to I wish Oliver himself would be more progressive. And while he does take on some corporate exploiters (more so in season 1) he doesn't really critique the system itself. It's more of an individual thing. And he's getting ready to wed a corporate executive, even if Felicity is one of the more progressive executives probably ever. I wouldn't mind if it was a bit more explicit, though not beating people over the head. I think the show missed a great opportunity for Oliver to connect more with the little people more or maybe the denizens from The Glades when he "lost" his fortune. Though that was never well explained or handled and his momentary dip in funds didn't put a crimp on his crime fighting.
Probably when the friction from Barry's speed caused her blouse to combust.
Cisco probably gave it to her. He apparently commutes to Star City pretty regularly, considering that he designed the current Arrowcave, Ollie's new uniform, Sara's White Canary uniform, etc.
So Malcolm is with HIVE now, but it seems he hasn't told them that Ollie is the Green Arrow, since Darhk still seemed to be talking about him as simply a mayoral candidate. I wondered why Malcolm would keep that secret after what happened, but then I realized he probably doesn't want to expose Thea to danger.
I'm disappointed that they introduced a fix for Felicity's paraplegia so quickly. I was hoping she'd just live with it for a while, that it would be portrayed as simply another way of living rather than a temporary problem to be solved. It's ironic that they did this on the same day that Tor.com posted a column about how well the show was handling her paralysis ("Blood Debts" aside).
Darhk already knows, for awhile actually. As does his wife.
That's what all the double meaning banter between Ollie and her was about.
^^
They know the Green Arrow helps Oliver, but they do not know he's the same person.
Darhk even saw GA(Merlyn) save Oliver Queen and there was nothing after that which would blow his cover.
As you can see by her reactions, she's clearly surprised that Oliver knows that much.
They know the Green Arrow helps Oliver, but they do not know he's the same person.
Darhk even saw GA(Merlyn) save Oliver Queen and there was nothing after that which would blow his cover.
As you can see by her reactions, she's clearly surprised that Oliver knows that much.
I remember a scene that pretty clearly showed Darhk putting two and two together. It happened not long before the holiday break, but I can't name the episode.
As far as I know, Darhk is unaware that Oliver and Green Arrow are one and the same, even though he's now working with Malcolm.
I thought this was the third most decent episode this season and all three have been in a row. Maybe the show could be coming out of the doldrums. I was disappointed that we actually didn't get to see the debate, or at least some of it. It might have been nice to actually see that instead of the action. Even though the big fights this week I thought were interesting because Team Arrow seemed evenly matched or even outmatched at points. I'm liking Mrs. Darhk and hope to see more of her as the season goes on.
Me too. After what you said the other day, I couldn't help but hope they'd actually show Oliver expressing his political views.
There was some pretty good action, though. They're continuing the effort to do more lengthy stunt sequences in uninterrupted shots. The sequence of Laurel and Quentin escaping from the collapsing building was particularly well-done, requiring not just stunt moves but special-effects explosions and collapses to happen on cue one after the other.
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