Spoilers Arrow - Season 4

[dahj]

Overwatch is an odd name choice

Seems appropriate to me. The military usage of the term predates Blizzard's game and describes her role adequately. ("An overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions.")
Plus, it sounds cool.

So, they killed off Amanda Waller

First Deadshot, now Waller... I wonder if Katana will get the same treatment in her upcoming appearance.

 

[Reverend]

My first thought was actually "well someone's an X-Com fan"

Nice that they've address the Oracle parallels. Even before the wheelchair it was becoming a bot of an elephant in the room.
I know it was only meant to be tongue-in-cheek but I can't help but speculate what "but that's taken" could mean in the greater scheme of things. I mean this is a version of the DC universe that seems to be devoid of Gotham City (to say nothing of Kryptonians & Amazons), at least so far. What if the "Oracle is taken" line implies that we're in a similar state as things were in the old 'Birds of Prey' show? Batman/Bruce missing, presumed...er "gone" and Barbara is pretty much the last person standi-...OK, walked right into that pun. And that one.

Anyway, I get why the weird way WB operates means that can't use "the big three" but I wonder is there any reason that they can't use Barbara Gordon? And maybe the likes of Nightwing, Stephanie Brown and/or Cassandra Cain? It's be interesting if all this time there's been another group very much like "team Arrow" knocking around, only they're much better at hiding in the shadows (so good, nobody knows they exist) and have been doing it for much longer.

 

[sojourner]

I would love to see an Arrowverse take on the Nightwing costume.

 

[dahj]

Anyway, I get why the weird way WB operates means that can't use "the big three" but I wonder is there any reason that they can't use Barbara Gordon? And maybe the likes of Nightwing, Stephanie Brown and/or Cassandra Cain?

Arrow is no stranger to borrowing stuff from Batman, but it seems the whole Batfamily is off the table. I'm not sure they even wanted to use them though, as Arrow kinda is Batman in the Arrowverse.

Also, there was actually a Teen Titans series in development and even ordered to pilot centered around Nightwing with Oracle set to be in it as well. But it was officially canceled a few weeks ago.

 

[Gryffindorian]

I was half-paying attention to the episode last night. It seems the series is losing its luster, maybe because of all these other superhero shows like Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. Arrow feels more like a police procedural nowadays.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

I call it Berlanti-burnout.

We now have four nights of DC superhero shows on in a row; each with a similar visual aesthetic and editing style, sense of humor and pacing, and even character structure. The story beats even feel familiar, one day to the next.

I still enjoy these shows (for the most part) but they're starting to feel like the result of assembly-line production teams and interchangeable writing staffs.

 

[Christopher]

We now have four nights of DC superhero shows on in a row; each with a similar visual aesthetic and editing style, sense of humor and pacing, and even character structure. The story beats even feel familiar, one day to the next.

I don't think they do have that similar an aesthetic. Supergirl is far brighter and crisper and more colorful, Arrow is dark and nocturnal and gritty, and The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow are somewhere in between. Even though TF is the "brightest" of the CW shows, it still seems to have a different visual texture to my eyes than Supergirl does -- I'd say they were using a different film stock if it weren't all digital these days.

What's interesting to me is that Berlanti is also behind NBC's Blindspot, which couldn't be more different from Supergirl -- it's a much more glum, solemn, ultraviolent show about federal agents fighting terrorist plots, with massive, extended gun battles literally every week. Arrow is the only DC show in the Berlanti stable that even comes close to it in style.

 

[Samurai8472]

Digneto to receive helmet upgrade from Star labs

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/dc_tv/arrow/arrows-diggle-to-get-helmet-upgrade-a130519

Said Ramsey, "Central City will be working on an upgrade to Diggle's helmet. That is yet to come, and we will be seeing some of that come out of Central City. As the first iteration came out of Central City, we will see and upgrade also come out. But in terms of Central City's help with technology to help us combat the magic, that has yet to be seen.

Mouse over video for audio

I have not seen it yet! I have not seen it. Listen, there's two things I'm anxious about: my helmet, and who's in the grave. The rest of which I'm cool with."

 

[Guy Gardener]

1. Laurel UNDER REACTED to hearing that time travel is possible, although she didn't react at all when Sara told Laurel that she was going to the 70s with Rip Hunter.

2. Damien Dhark has been alive too long. Is it possible that that was (Sandman's) Death talking to Felicity into her A Game to get Dhark, and not the drugs she was on sponsoring an epiphany?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Granted I haven't seen much of the early seasons of Arrow but is Lyla a good enough shot to shoot like that while Diggle was in the back of the van? He was lucky to only get shot once.

First Deadshot, now Waller... I wonder if Katana will get the same treatment in her upcoming appearance.

I wonder if that's what's happening as it seemed like they were keeping the TV and movie universes separate.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Shes a spy soldier, it's her job to shoot well.

 

[Christopher]

Granted I haven't seen much of the early seasons of Arrow but is Lyla a good enough shot to shoot like that while Diggle was in the back of the van? He was lucky to only get shot once.

Lyla was a top ARGUS agent before she retired, so yeah, I'd say she's good enough. I did wonder "What is she shooting at?" in that scene, but I suppose she was targeting either the tires or the driver, and thus was aiming well away from her husband.

 

[dahj]

I wonder if that's what's happening as it seemed like they were keeping the TV and movie universes separate.

Yep, DC did say a bunch of stuff when talking about keeping the Film and TV universes separate a while back, something about "best possible stories" and "not being limited" or something to that effect. But then they pulled Harley from Arrow, killed Deadshot and put a stop to more Suicide Squad themed episodes.

On the other hand The Flash is still on, and thankfully there's no indication that they'll pull it because of the upcoming film so their whole policy on the matter is kinda contradictory and confusing.

 

[Guy Gardener]

It's amazing that we live in a world where a Suicide Squad movie is thunk to make more hypothetical future money than a Flash movie.

Although, Suicide Squad II might have the Reverse Flash in It.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

DC had a similar "embargo" when it came to certain characters in their animated shows as well. This was back when they had "The Batman" airing on WB, Justice League airing on CN and Teen Titans also on CN. Idk how the rights worked, but certain characters were forbidden to be on multiple shows. For instance, Wally West was the primary Flash for the JL show. However on TT (in the comics), Wally was the original Kid Flash. Wally would show up in a handful of episodes on TT but it was sparingly and he didn't get to interact with the main cast of Titans. The same thing happened with Hugo Strange on "The Batman" and JL. Hugo was supposed to play a bigger role JL, but he was reduced to one silent cameo. While on "The Batman", Hugo was a recurring villain with speaking roles.

Maybe that's why Waller and Deadshot got the axe in the Arrowverse as well. TPTB at WB don't want to confuse the audience or rather pay whatever licensing fees for the characters to appear multiple places.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Is the price of the specialty Character's licenses static?

DC Lawyer to CW Accountant: Hi, FYI the price on Amanda Waller is quadrupling. You can still use her, but you have to pay us 20 grand an episode instead of 5 grand an episode.

CW Accountant to DC Lawyer: The ##### is dead. Go ##### yourself.

I assume that Lila is going to be in charge of ARGUS now, and Task Force X is never ever going to ever be mentioned again, unless the movie flops?

 

[dahj]

Maybe that's why Waller and Deadshot got the axe in the Arrowverse as well. TPTB at WB don't want to confuse the audience or rather pay whatever licensing fees for the characters to appear multiple places.

WB and DC are both part of Time Warner, they're the same company so there's no licensing fees involved.

And "confusing the audience" is also a weak excuse. This has never been an issue for comic book fans, but I also think we're well beyond the point of general public not getting that different versions of characters can exist.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

WB and DC are both part of Time Warner, they're the same company so there's no licensing fees involved.

And "confusing the audience" is also a weak excuse. This has never been an issue for comic book fans, but I also think we're well beyond the point of general public not getting that different versions of characters can exist.

I honestly don't get it then. The multiple iterations of the character exist in print and are published along side one another, but for the tv/movie properties it's always just one representation of a character.

What's the logic, I wonder?

 

[Guy Gardener]

George Clooney was being wooed to play Nick Fury, so George Clooney read a recent Nick Fury Comic books where Nick had sex with two under age girls and then shot them. George took a few steps back and never came back.

Garth Ennis ladies and gentlemen.

 

[Turtletrekker]

On the other hand The Flash is still on, and thankfully there's no indication that they'll pull it because of the upcoming film so their whole policy on the matter is kinda contradictory and confusing.

Not really. The Flash is currently a top 10 (or thereabouts generally) show. For the WB, that's prestige AND advertising revenue.