tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post4417582257620655994..comments2024-03-28T10:18:52.493-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Arrow: City of HeroesBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-25872590683211922042015-04-12T13:43:34.386-04:002015-04-12T13:43:34.386-04:00For some reason, I didn’t love this. It had all th...For some reason, I didn’t love this. It had all the right elements, but a couple of things dragged the episode down for me. Like Laurel, that now wants to catch the Hood. Really, Laurel? The guy that saved you a bunch of times last season? Man, even the way she announced to Oliver this new obsession of hers was inserted very weirdly in the dialogue.<br /><br />The copycats did nothing for me. They had too much firepower, and yet on that meeting on Queen Consolidated no one was barely harmed. Also, they walked in and out of places very easily. What happened to the security personnel? Would anyone really leave the mayor standing vulnerable while an unseen man shouted he failed the city?<br /><br />Summer Glau is here! The characters’ attempt to take over Queen Consolidated felt like Business Drama for Dummies, but Glau rocked it anyway. While I loved seeing her, I wasn’t crazy about seeing Dylan Bruce, though he seemed to be less robotic here than he is on Orphan Black.<br /><br />I did not see Walter’s appearance coming. In fact, when Moira (whose scenes I enjoyed a lot) told Oliver he should look for family’s help, I wondered who the hell she was talking about. Of course it was Walter. My memory betrays me sometimes.<br /><br />I’m not spoiled for this show (except for a plot point in season three that went all over the internet), so I have no idea where the character arcs are going, but are they headed to a Felicity and Oliver pairing? Felicity’s dressing and makeup were more “sexy smart woman” than “geek girl”, and her moments with Oliver had more emotional beats than usual.<br /><br />Speaking of Oliver, he’s become my favorite character, and it was good to see Tommy’s death had a lot of impact on him. I like how the writers keep building opposite arcs for current day Oliver and island Oliver. We also got Stephen Amell obligatory shirtless scene (I’m wondering if he’s been shirtless in *every* single episode thus far).Lamounierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00225447169375363236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-1294598376184341732013-12-27T02:19:03.678-05:002013-12-27T02:19:03.678-05:00Your reviews convinced me to give this show anothe...Your reviews convinced me to give this show another shot, JD, and I'm glad I did. While I still feel a bit like <i>Arrow</i> has that weirdly thin feeling that many CW shows have, I've enjoyed what I've seen so far, and I'm glad that it isn't just a supervillain of the week show. <br /><br />Felicity is great, too. :-)Josie Kafkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17892717530356699008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-39148607595299517812013-10-14T16:28:44.803-04:002013-10-14T16:28:44.803-04:00I smile when Felicity is on screen, too. Adding he...I smile when Felicity is on screen, too. Adding her as a cast member was a smart move.Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-11338550445352410382013-10-14T16:25:50.819-04:002013-10-14T16:25:50.819-04:00An excellent way to kick off the season. I was in...An excellent way to kick off the season. I was invested as soon as I realized that Oliver had gone back to the island. What a fascinating choice and what a wonderful character beat.<br /><br />I like the changes the other characters are making/have made, but I am still a huge fan of Felicity's. I always find myself smiling when she is on-screen.ChrisBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10843864158239536750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-28791027595420760322013-10-14T02:12:00.274-04:002013-10-14T02:12:00.274-04:00Great premiere. The actors who played the Hoods we...Great premiere. The actors who played the Hoods were pretty darn terrible, but whatever, they got the job done. Of course Laurel continues to ask me to dislike her, and I will oblige. Good job pimp-slapping one of the Hoods though.<br /><br />I reckon that particle accelerator mention will be what factors into the creation of The Flash. Which excites me to no end. The Flash is one of my favorite superheroes.<br /><br />I see the writers continue to mock me and tease Oliver x Felicity. It must happen. Laurel can just go away.<br /><br />Probably the oddest thing in this episode was Colton Haynes needing a stunt double for the scene where he fought the Hoods. Has Colton not been bulking up for his possible new role as Speedy/Red Arrow?<br />http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/650/6786/original.jpgFreemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11265555641080269765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-40842741207717947322013-10-13T13:45:11.344-04:002013-10-13T13:45:11.344-04:00CrazyCris; Quentin had to make a choice in the fin...CrazyCris; Quentin had to make a choice in the finale to trust the Hood with information about the Glades so that he could evacuate those people. When he told his boss, he basically sacrificed his career for what was right. <br /><br />As soon as Shado was introduced I was pretty sure she was going to be the reason, or a part of the reason, why Slade and Oliver have a parting of ways. Although I have no idea if they are going to do it that way.Samantha M. Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02340568293992559934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-73269687413920647622013-10-13T06:22:30.540-04:002013-10-13T06:22:30.540-04:00First Carter, now Lance... what's with all the...First Carter, now Lance... what's with all the good detectives being demoted this year?! <br /><br />Speaking of which, can someone explain to me WHY Lance got demoted? Was it his obsession to catch the Hood and his failure at it? Otherwise I seem to have forgotten some crucial point of last season's finale...<br /><br />And it's interesting his and Laurel's switching places on the Hood issue. I'm pretty sure Laurel will come round faster than her father did though.<br /><br />Happy to see Walter!<br /><br />And I was thinking the exact same thing when Moira and Thea hugged! What's with the lax security?! :p<br /><br />Could Shado be what drives a wedge between Slade and Oliver?<br /><br />Thanks for the extra comic book info! Most helpful! :o)CrazyCrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17512240982215608638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-39432957354570019772013-10-13T00:25:15.689-04:002013-10-13T00:25:15.689-04:00John Fox; Great catch with the boat thing. I bet ...John Fox; Great catch with the boat thing. I bet the climax of that story is the sinking of said boat. <br /><br />Patrick; I totally agree with you about how Oliver treats his team as a team instead of sidekicks. "If <i>we're</i> going to do this" is a great example of that. The idea of using Laurel's new found quest to capture the Archer, versus Quentin's new burgeoning relationship with the Archer might just be a lot of fun. I hadn't thought of that. I also hope we see Walter again, and Colin Salmon does have a great screen presence. The first time I saw him was in Resident Evil, and I liked him even though there was no character building for him at all. A scene between Moira and Walter would be a lot of fun. <br /><br />I didn't want to bring up too many Batman parallels, but the whole scene in the lobby with the Mayor felt like it was pulled straight from the Dark Knight.Samantha M. Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02340568293992559934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-53937533628621861402013-10-12T21:49:21.931-04:002013-10-12T21:49:21.931-04:00I loved this premiere, I thought it did everything...I loved this premiere, I thought it did everything it needed to do. It gave people new to the show an idea of what had happened last season. It gave viewers a sense of what went on during the summer haitus. It let us see where everyone's head is at now. It gave us a rip-roaring adventure to start the season, and it put plotlines in motion that will play out over future episodes.<br /><br />JD, I agree wholeheartedly about Laurel's new anti-Hood viewpoint. I get that it's born mostly out of her grief over Tommy's death, so I can forgive a little irrationality, but she's had five months to see reason. Certainly Moira's provided details to the DA's office about Malcom's plan going back WELL before the Hood ever showed up, so the idea of blaming him for the earthquake is a bit of a reach. <br /><br />On the other hand, there's potential for some fun with Quentin now that he's no longer the Hood-hater he used to be. He has a discreet line of communication to him through Felicity, and the two of them play well off each other. <br /><br />Speaking of Felicity, she's REALLY stepped up so far, Team Arrow really does feel like a group of three equal partners, or at least more so than you get from DC Comics' other billionaire vigilante. That was highlighted when Oliver said at the end, "If WE'RE gonna do this," instead of, "If I'M gonna do this."<br /><br />Yay for Walter coming in to save the day! I really hope that isn't the last we've seen of him. Colin Salmon has such great screen presence, it'd be a shame to waste it. I would think we'll get at least one scene of him visitng Moira in prison, so we could see them talk about what happened now that he has a better understanding of WHY it happened. Not saying they'll reconcile, but still...<br /><br />Billie, you're right. The writers on this show have been making a lot of smart choices and well-thought plans. It's refreshing. And yes, Stephen Amell has really grown into the role. You can see it on and off-screen, he's really taken ownership of it. Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943327351499919454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-68885411172933069172013-10-12T20:43:23.398-04:002013-10-12T20:43:23.398-04:00I enjoyed the review, J.D., and pretty much agree ...I enjoyed the review, J.D., and pretty much agree with your take on the episode.<br /><br />One detail I really enjoyed about this episode hasn't been mentioned yet--in the opening shots of Lian Yu, a partially-sunken ship is shown--it looks very similar to the ship that (in the flashbacks) brought the new enemies to the island. It's hardly mind-blowing to predict that flashback Ollie and friends will defeat these people, but I thought the inclusion was a nice touch on the part of the producers.John Foxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-22678819125134467332013-10-12T19:54:28.715-04:002013-10-12T19:54:28.715-04:00It was a very good premiere. I keep expecting Arro...It was a very good premiere. I keep expecting <i>Arrow</i> to be brainless, fluffy action and it's not. They're making good choices and building on them. <br /><br />And for some reason, I like Stephen Amell as Oliver a lot now. I didn't care for him at all when the series started.<br /><br />Great review, J.D.Billie Douxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.com