CliqueClack » Arrow

Arrow Season Three: Cast and crew preview from SDCC 2014

Ivey West — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:30:55 +0000

‘Arrow’ ended last season with most of the stories tied up in a nice little bow. Will Oliver find a comfortable place where he can live both of his lives? Find out that and more as we preview this season with the help of the cast and the crew.

It is hard to believe that Arrow is now entering its third season. It seems like it was only yesterday that the Internets were abuzz with discussion of Stephen Amell and his salmon ladder. Today Arrow is a much different show than it was when it started: We’ve gained a Felicity and lost a Tommy. The Black Canary has come and gone (and will be back again) and Roy Harper has gone from street hood to Arsenal. In the meantime, Arrow has developed a rabid fan base and is the most watched show on The CW.

The show has always had a big presence at San Diego Comic-Con, and this summer was no exception. We had the opportunity to sit down with some of Team Arrow while we were there, including Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen), David Ramsay (John Diggle) Willa Holland (Thea Queen), Colton Hayes (Roy Harper), John Barrowman (Malcolm Merlin) and producers Greg Berlanti and Mark Guggenheim. As season three prepares to kick off next week, here’s what they told us to expect:

Oliver finally might have everything

Oliver will be – at the beginning of Season Three – a guy who is relatively at peace. “You’ll find a happy Oliver,” teases Stephen Amell. “Did you see me smile in the preview for season three? It’s like, ‘What’s that???’” Things are so different, that Amell and the premiere director had to figure exactly how Oliver smiled. “He got the baddie without killing him. He’s officially become a hero – that doesn’t kill and brings them to justice,” praises Ramsay. Oliver, at this point, wants to see if he can balance being a normal person and being the Arrow.

His relationships with those around him are changed as well. Amell highlights how things have changed mostly for the better – though not in all quarters – in the video. “Everyone’s in a good spot” says Amell. Most important to some fans, is his relationship with Felicity: “There is one woman in his life this year, and that is Felicity.”

But how long will it last?

“A large part of Oliver’s journey this year is dealing with whether or not he can have it all,” producer Greg Berlanti tells us. The previews that we’ve seen show us that Oliver and Felicity have a moment together, but it looks like it is interrupted. Plus his dynamic with Diggle will be altered by the latter’s new responsibilities as a father.

John Diggle: “Daddy Diggle”

“I always joke that he’s going to have a Bjorn and a Glock,” jokes David Ramsay. But the challenges of being a new father might not compare to trying to be a father and a member of Team Arrow. “Oliver is really going to have a problem with the idea that this guy’s a father and he’s risking his life everyday.” Being a father changes the dynamic between the two, especially considering what Oliver experiences in the first episode back.

“Diggle has always been the voice of reason,” continues Ramsay. Beyond fatherhood, he is also still involved with ARGUS and the Suicide Squad. “We’ll see what all of that means to the team.” ARGUS will be a big part of the story this season, especially considering Amanda Waller’s appearance in the Hong Kong-based flashbacks this year. In the present, Lila starts the season as the head of the organization, but Diggle teases a promotion might be in his future.

Balancing a “real life” in addition to their extra-curricular activities is something both Diggle and Oliver will face, but it sounds like the former will handle it better. Ramsay explains that “some of the things that Oliver wants to do, you’re going to see that happen with Diggle.”

Roy is a full-fledged member of Team Arrow

That being said, he doesn’t entirely trust everything around him (perhaps a lesson he learned from Thea). Not only that, Hayes says he doesn’t think Team Arrow should trust him. But he wants in: “the thing he’s been missing his whole life was his family, and he sees a sense of family in Team Arrow.”

He continues to deal with the fact that he is the reason Thea left, a secret he is not something going to share with Oliver or the rest of the team anytime soon. But he and Thea will cross paths sooner rather than later, much to the chagrin of Malcolm Merlin.

What about Roy’s “identity?” While he didn’t confirm Roy’s new name, he certainly stumbled over the word “arsenal” when describing all of the weapons he carries. Hayes seems excited to be going all in as far as crime fighting goes, including calling his costume “badass.”

No one was talking Thea, not even Thea herself

In a show like Arrow, you always expect a lot of vague answers when you ask certain questions. The cast here is particularly worried about saying too much (there’s a great run in the video above showing reactions when several think they may have slipped up), but to a person, everyone was steering clear of anything Thea Queen related.

“All I can say is that the Thea Queen you saw leave at the end of season is not the Thea Queen we see in season three.” Holland coyly hinted that she works with a personal trainer now and hits the gym everyday. The one thing she would say she’s not done (yet) is pick up a bow. “I’ve not … it’s something I ask about, I’m sure everyone asks about, and none of us get an answer.” She’s taken to the added responsibility, “being told to work out is great.”

But when the questions returned to the story, Holland clammed back up, “I can’t really give much information out about [Thea and Roy].”

The producers are excited about John Barrowman’s return

The producers wanted to get back the air of mystery that the first season had; one of the ways that they plan to do so is the reintroduction of Malcolm Merlin. Barrowman joins the cast full time this season, and that decision pays immediate dividends. Guggenheim explains, “we decided to re-inject [mystery] into the show, and certainly John’s character allows us to do that.” Malcolm’s agenda is mysterious, but we will get to see the second half of the scene between he and Thea at the end of season two. “A big part of the fun of season three is mystery of ‘Where is Malcolm and what is he up to?’”

Malcolm and Thea

“Her relationship with Malcolm is very interesting” says Holland. She explains that the decision to go off with someone – even if it was her father – who she knows to be a mass murderer, was a choice that said a great deal about where her character was. Considering all of the trust issues Thea has developed in the last two seasons, going with a character that she wasn’t going to bother trusting was different. “She trusts not trusting him.”

Malcolm has lost everything except Thea, and he’s going to try to control her – which might just be how he shows his love. Barrowman: “He’s got to control her by controlling her emotion … that’s the way he’s going to look at it now. He will love her, in a very different way.”

“Malcolm’s not evil … I say as I twist my ring like an evil-doer”

Speaking with actors who enjoy playing their characters is always a treat, and in a room where everyone loved being there, Barrowman stood out. He even went into character to explain his motivations, “If you think I’m bad, lets go back and look at what Oliver has done; we’re both doing the same thing and just going about it in different ways.” He is pissed about it: “I as Malcolm see myself as the hero; but goddamn it, no one is recognizing that.”

“Malcolm can control people with money, power and also his destructive techniques.”

It shouldn’t go without mentioning that the only reason I got to speak with him after a rotation or two went long, was that he offered to stay back after everyone had left and spent about fifteen minutes putting on a master’s class on what makes Malcolm Merlin tick. Since it was so good, I’ve added the entire video of that session at the bottom of this post.

Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer shakes things up on several levels

Palmer is introduced trying to buy Queen Consolidated – which seems to be standard operating procedure for Arrow villains. Finding the right guy to do that while not coming across as such, at least not completely, was a challenge. Bertlanti:” We kind of had John Wayne with Oliver, that kind of essence, and we wanted Cary Grant.”

We’ve heard that Palmer might be a corner in a potential love triangle with Felicity and Oliver, but it doesn’t sound like things start out that way. Berlanti explains that the character is interested in, “this IT girl that went from being IT girl to being the assistant to the chairman of the company, and he’s particularly interested in her rise.”

How much will Arrow and The Flash interconnect?

To make life easier on the folks that are working on both shows, the production offices – including editing – are on the same floor of the same building. Berlanti, one those doing double duty on both shows, told us new shows end up taking more time, so the office arrangements will help.

But what about the stories? The universe is interconnected, and the characters know each other, so expect crossovers big and small. Sometimes, like in the second season episode “The Man Under the Hood,” and others where the stories – and the villains – are woven together.

This season’s theme is “Identity”

I asked Mark Guggenheim about the third season’s theme, and his answer was the most quick – and direct – answer of the day. He was especially excited that the question of identiy extended beyond just Oliver as previous year’s themes have focused mainly on the lead. But this year everyone is questioning who they are:

Oliver: Am I Oliver or am I the Arrow?
Laurel: Am I Laurel or am I my sister?
Thea: Am I Moira Queen’s daughter or am I Malcolm Merlin’s daughter?
Diggle: Am I a sidekick or am I my own man? Am I a father or a crime fighter?
Felicity: Am I Oliver’s crush-object or do I have my own identity outside of him?

No really, John Barrowman is awesome

Since his conversation was so great, we’ve shared it all below:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=u72B39titXw

Photo Credit: Ivey West

A few of my favorite things – 2013 Style

Ivey West — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 14:00:26 +0000

2013 has just about come to a close. Instead of the “Best Of” approach, I take my annual look at some of my favorite things in Television, Film and Pop Culture this year.

Unlike many of my Clacking Contemporaries, I love internet lists; especially end-of-year-compilations. I love the arguments that develop over the placement of one particular show/flick/book/video game over the other. What I don’t always appreciate is the idea of “best.” Take a look at some of the “Best of 2013 Films” lists floating around the Internet this week: Are there a couple of flicks you have never heard of, let alone had the opportunity to see? Yeah, that’s not how I see things. I think we can celebrate the “best.”

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I don’t like Mad Men and I haven’t yet tackled Sons of Anarchy or (GASP!) Breaking Bad. I didn’t see every movie I wanted to (The Butler, About Time and Fruitvale Station probably top that list). Again, this is about what I really liked this year, not about what I — or the Internet as a greater whole — thinks “best.” I think that approach is much more true and much more fun.

Scandal

I have my problems with Shonda Rhimes’ latest show, but that doesn’t keep me from love everything else about the show. Put simply, Scandal is batshit crazy, and there’s not a single positive character on the entire show. As much as Olivia and her crew talk about their white hats, you can’t add enough white to grey to get the black out; Huck’s actions last week are proof positive of that. But Scandal has also been home to some of the year’s best performances; Bellamy Young and Jeff Perry both have had a couple of scenes that were simply phenomenal.

The Veronica Mars Kickstarter

The announcement that Rob Thomas and Kristen Bell would be taking their plans for a Veronica Mars flick to Kickstarter nearly blew the doors off of my Twitter feed. The project quickly met its goal of $2 million within 11 hours, and more than doubled that by the time the funding period was over. The viral campaign leading up to filming was phenomenal; many of the actors filmed quick videos for YouTube announcing their participation, a process that helped build the hype for the show’s cult fandom.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Veronica Mars’ presence at Comic-Con this year. While I wasn’t able to make the Hall H panel, fellow Clacker Keith McDuffee and I did back the Kickstarter project high enough to get a reserved seat at the fan event held later that evening. The event itself was far from perfect, but it was a pretty damn cool experience nonetheless.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DTZ-fXU4iE

Netflix’s House of Cards and Orange is the New Black

Was there an entertainment company that had a better year than Netflix? Bringing back Arrested Development was a big coup, but it was the other two shows that really tripped my trigger. House of Cards is the kind of show that was conceived personally for my enjoyment. I love a good political yarn, and Kevin Spacey absolutely chews every second he is on the screen. Orange is the New Black was different, “coming out of nowhere” to really surprise some people (Not this particular blogger, who wrote about lead Taylor Schillling: “She has the look, and the talent, to be a breakout star” four years ago).

Gravity

Gravity was one of those flicks that had been in pre-production for a long time. I had followed the project for years as director Alfonso Cuarón waited for technology to catch up to the script, as well as go through the myriad casting changes the project experienced. The final product was phenomenal. Sandra Bullock and the film’s technical mastery easily covered for a rather pedestrian script. There are very few movie’s that I believe are “must see” in 3D – and in this case IMAX as well – but Gravity was one of them. I’m a little worried that the film won’t hold up on people’s TVs at home, but the theatre experience was unforgettable.

Arrow

Arrow has received a great deal of buzz this year as being greatly improved from its inaugural season last year and while I won’t deny it has been pretty damn great, I thought that season one was pretty good, too. The promotions of Colton Haynes, Manu Bennett and (particularly) Emily Bett Rickards have filled out the show nicely. The CW is now using the show to launch a show centered on the Barry Allen version of the Flash, and there are continued rumors (that are often denied and then pop up again) that both shows might be linked to the DC Cinematic Universe.

Photo Credit: ABC

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Is Arrow’s Speedy a spoiled, stuck up baby? Yes.

An Nicholson — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:41:16 +0000

What is wrong with Arrow’’s Speedy? Thea is a spoiled rotten kid who can’t stop whining about how terrible her life is. HELLO! It’s TEN times better than those around her. Grow the hell up!

I have had it up to here with Arrow’s Speedy. I know, I know — Green Arrow’s original sidekick was a drug addict. But, I never read the comic featuring his drug use. I remember his character before the drug abuse, the character after, and the character in his recent relapse, but for some odd reason I never read the original during, so I can’t comment on Arrow’s faithfulness. But, I just can’t deal with Speedy’s “issues” anymore.

I just can’t deal with Speedy’s “issues” anymore.

Seriously, what is wrong with this kid? For all of her 18 years she lived nothing but luxury. Everything terrible in her life turned itself around. She thought her brother died, BUT HE CAME BACK!!! She thought her father died. He did. But, she also got a kickass stepfather. ON top of that, she had her mother, her brother’s ex-girlfriend and her brother’s best friend ALL surrounding her and supporting her. But, WAH, she’d rather wallow in her misery than thank her familial blessings.

Almost everyone in this show had a worse life than her, but aren’t messed up like she is.

Her mother throws her the best 18^th birthday party ever, gives her a convertible, and surrounds her with her friends. Of course, the minute she thinks her mother’s having an affair with the incredibly skeevy guy next door she does drugs AND then hops in a car to endanger others. REALLY?! First off, hasn’t she noticed that her mother gets handsy with everyone? The numerous shoulder rubs Moira provides to Oliver give me a creepy Oedipal Hamlet feeling. PLUS, didn’t she let the dude into her mother’s bedroom WEEKS ago without batting an eye? Either way, her mom maybe cheating isn’t enough to justify her actions. Random, thy name is Speedy.

Almost everyone in this show had a worse life than her, but aren’t messed up like she is.

Laurel’s mother is gone. Her boyfriend cheated on her WITH her sister who is NOW dead. Her job has no MONEY which means she must whore herself out to every rich guy with a crush. PLUS, her current boyfriend’s her ex-boyfriend’s douchey best friend with daddy issues.

OLIVER was TORTURED, watched his father MURDER another man, watched his girlfriend’s sister die a horrible death, survived a pseudo-deserted island, and possibly experienced betrayal by his only island ally. PLUS, he KILLS people on a nightly basis.

Diggle’s BROTHER is dead. He has a crazy crush on his sister-in-law. He survived war overseas only to partner with a man who LIES to him at every turn. And, his former best friend kidnapped his sister-in-law and threatened him.

Moira’s first husband died. Her second husband is kidnapped. And, the man she partnered with wants to destroy the city.

Even TOMMY has a worse life story. His mother was murdered. His father abandoned him to become a murdering archer. He was CUT OFF from HIS OWN trust fund. And, now he works for his elusive best friend.

Like the girls in Girls, I just can’t with you, Speedy.

Speedy’s complaints just don’t measure up, considering everyone keeps bending over backwards to make her feel better. You think you’re brother’s dead, so you’re upset. Your brother’s back, you’re still upset. Your brother starts cleaning up his act, you get even madder. Your brother tries to spend time with you and throws a holiday party for you. You sleep with a douche during the party to get back at him. Like the girls in Girls, I just can’t with you, Speedy.

Willa Holland does an excellent job portraying you. But, seriously, girl, grow the HELL up and, stop expecting your family to bail you out. Don’t make me put you on a dessert island with a bunch of arrows to make you mature. So, GET it TOGETHER, girl!

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”1401215084″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zPCFv5T7L._SL160_.jpg” width=”107″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B003J9P0TK” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41rkfhgVzUL._SL160_.jpg” width=”116″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B007LCTBCI” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2Bn0iaUHgL._SL160_.jpg” width=”105″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”1401230741″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61IDckKscKL._SL160_.jpg” width=”104″]

Photo Credit: CW

Diggle hits the bullseye on Arrow

Jaylen Christie — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:56:12 +0000

The CW’s ‘Arrow’ is their highest rated show this season, and one of its characters is really becoming a fan favorite! In this week’s Clacking in Color, the super column celebrating ethnic diversity in Hollywood, writer Jaylen Christie reveals why he appreciates Arrow’s right hand man — John Diggle!

So, I think it is common knowledge that I’m a nerd. In fact, I think I mention it at least once in every other Clacking in Color post. With that being said, I’m sure it’s no surprise that I’m head over Timberland boots for Arrow on The CW. It’s such a great superhero show, a true valentine for comic book lovers. However, it isn’t the program’s title character that I’m intrigued by. No, on the contrary, I’m a little more captivated by his sidekick — the elusive John Diggle.

I’m a little more captivated by his sidekick — the elusive John Diggle.
Wait … wait a second. Let’s pause. Diggle’s not really a sidekick. He’s more like a mentor/confidante/assistant. That’s the trifecta right there, isn’t it? I can dig that. You know, I think this week’s column is for all of the nerds out there. This one is for the folks that watch this show religiously. Attention all Arrow watchers! Let’s chat. I think we can agree that the show boasts some pretty good writing, and the twists and turns are always nice. However, Diggle helps to keep things fresh. It’s funny because I didn’t really know what to make of the character at first. After watching the pilot, I thought he’d be nothing more than the show’s token African-American character. I didn’t think he’d have any longevity. It’s awesome to know that I was wrong on both counts.

As Diggle, actor David Ramsey (known to some for his role in season three of Dexter) is given a part that can be both funny and serious. He gets some of the best one liners and he also receives a chance to show off his fighting moves. There was a recent episode of Arrow that had Diggle doubling as the hero in order to throw the cops off his trail. My buddy and I both agree that Diggle looked pretty bad-ass in the Green Arrow costume. In fact, he looked more convincing than the show’s lead. Hmph. It looks like actor Stephen Amell better watch his back. He may have a real contender on his hands.

It looks like actor Stephen Amell better watch his back. He may have a real contender on his hands.

And for that matter, so do we. I can’t tell you how cool it is to have a character of a darker complexion that is fully utilized and developed. It’s refreshing to know that he isn’t a tired stereotype. Diggle is important and he happens to be Black. In fact, as someone who writes about diversity on the regular, I couldn’t help but notice that in addition to Arrow being action packed and well choreographed, it’s also a bit colorful. Let’s see, we have Ramsey and then we also have Colin Salmon as the wealthy husband of Moira Queen, and Annie Illonzeh as Laurel’s best friend Joanna — not to mention the brother playing Detective Lance’s partner. It seems Arrow is down for the brown.

Yet, I digress. This column is about Diggle and the awesome job that Ramsey is doing. I’m not a fan of Amell’s Green Arrow. He’s boring and a bit bland. Dinah Laurel Lance is cool, but her personality changes in every episode. Tommy’s pretty awesome. I’m glad he learned how to man up in the last episode. Diggle’s been pretty consistent. What you see is what you get, and more and more is being revealed in each and every episode. Diggle’s the man.

And for that fact alone, Arrow‘s aim is all the more true.

Do you enjoy reading Clacking in Color? Jaylen sure as hell hopes so! Feel free to follow him on Twitter @thesuperflynerd to keep up with all things diverse on television!

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B003L77GG0″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NXStXyypL._SL160_.jpg” width=”139″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B000SMNL92″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BosDk3IOL._SL160_.jpg” width=”139″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B000LE17A2″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61pwRW5naBL._SL160_.jpg” width=”145″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B001GZ6QDS” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51e1AHjhH4L._SL160_.jpg” width=”138″]

Photo Credit: The CW

Arrow knocks it out of the park with Huntress

An Nicholson — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 04:27:12 +0000

‘Arrow’ knocked it out of the park by adding Huntress to its guest cast. Jessica De Gouw did an awesome job. Also, adding the always kickbutt Tahmoh ‘Helo’ Penikett doubly amped up the action.

All I have to say to the Arrow writers, producers and directors is … damn! You guys are good!

Arrow continues to develop and deliver as a TV show. Each week, the writers introduce flaws in Ollie’s plans and present him with characters that mirror him in a bizarro way. This week, throwing Huntress into the fray continued Ollie’s development. Out of the bat-family, I always liked bathing-suit-cut-out Huntress the least. But, as a character, she contained an irrational rage. However, because Huntress was essentially bat-candy and Katie Cassidy played Laurel as the sassy girl next door, I had pretty low expectations for the character. Luckily, Jessica De Gouw hit it out of the ballpark, without ever playing the character as the sad little pretty girl. De Gouw’s portrayal hit every single angle that ever existed in the character from rage to sadness to an incredible loss without playing to a pre-established template. Seriously, when she cried in the end over her fiancee while whispering no one could know her secret, I saw the true Huntress that lurked in the comics, but most artists buried by focusing more on her body over her character.

All I have to say to the Arrow writers, producers and directors is … damn! You guys are good!

I have to hand it to the writers for not closing their eyes to Ollie’s weakness (or the weaknesses in the Bat-canon). They hit on my main issue with Huntress in the Batman comics world. Despite his cruelty, Batman viewed Huntress as a wild card. While she didn’t adhere to his law, I always saw their tactics as similar. Likewise, I view Arrow’s Ollie as a cold-blooded killer. Sure, he gives his main targets a chance, but he kills their henchmen without batting an eye. At the end of the day, he only cares about his father’s vendetta and the 1% of Gotham. I never understood why he seemed so anti-Deadpool and now so anti-Huntress, when he does the same thing. Sure, he might’ve created a “code” for himself, but until he acknowledges that he kills people and realizes that a true hero tries to save everyone, not just the people related to him, he’s stuck in a tunneled mindset. So, bringing Helena on as an exact mirror of his life with Jessica De Gouw basically paralleling Stephen Amell’s deliberately empty portrayal rocks.

I love Helena’s introduction because the character’s honesty and Digg’s truth-talking all force Ollie to continue moving forward. While he feels his vendetta sets him apart from his family, in some ways, he’s still just a spoiled rich kid acting out. While Diggs points that out verbally, Helena, as Ollie’s mirror, points it out physically. (On a side note, I’m going to start calling Digg Alfred. At first I thought they planned on using him as Green Lantern, Green Arrow’s moral action buddy, but, considering Digg hangs out in the mansion wearing a suit, I think we know who he resembles most).

His family doesn’t want their late-twenties son to grow up?! WHAT?! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!

I don’t quite understand why Thea and Ollie’s mother seem determined to have the old Ollie back. Old Ollie sounds like a prick. He cheated on his girlfriend WITH her SISTER!!! He hung out with the smarmiest looking dude in town and was an entitled douche to everyone. Now, he no longer hangs around the house without anything to do. Plus, he wants to get a job and run his own business. Um, he sounds like an ADULT. And, his family doesn’t want their late-twenties son to grow up?! WHAT?! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?! If I lived at home at my age, hung around the house all day, used my family’s money, showed no desire to have a job, and hung out with bad influences, my family wouldn’t exactly smile at that.

Considering Thea is Speedy and Tommy is probably Merlyn, whenever Ollie does the opposite of what they want, it’s probably a good thing. On a side note, I have to congratulate the writers with the name-dropping. Last week, everyone inexplicably started using the Speedy nickname with Thea so we knew who she related to in the comic canon. Now, they’re doing the same with Tommy (where Laurel started calling him by a last name she previously never used). If a teenager’s angry that she has to stay home rather than clubbing in the middle of the week by herself, that’s a good thing. (Am I the only one who forgot she’s still in high school and isn’t of the voting age?) While I like Tommy’s softer side, a dude who’s angry that he has to get a job and can’t live off his parents is still a Scrub in my book. So, good on you, Arrow for the continuing development.

I’m glad Huntress will return next week and I’m glad they didn’t pencil her into a one-episode deal with an actress like De Gouw. The character and the writing accompanying her entrance get mega-props. The costume department equally deserves accolades. The simple silver cross and quiet black dress hit on Helena’s personality and core costume without any bells and whistles. Do I need to say anything about the awesome fight scenes that seamlessly intersected with the dialogue and character development? Nope. Because it’s perfect. Oh, and, casting Tahmoh “Helo” Penikett (Battlestar Galactica) as the boss’ right hand? Sheer awesomeness.

Good job, Arrow. Keep it up.

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B000RQ9RQ0″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518NkoezPNL._SL160_.jpg” width=”104″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B002XR80RI” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nx3KaAF4L._SL160_.jpg” width=”103″][easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B00863TY0U” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31EqzO6sc%2BL._SL160_.jpg” width=”104″]

Photo Credit: CW

A tribute to Arrow’s mega-hot men

An Nicholson — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:18:09 +0000

How hot is the male cast of ‘Arrow’? Mega-hot? Super-hot? Uber-hot? Let’s just say they’re hot. Here are the reasons why.

Am I the only one who literally drooled during this week’s Arrow episode, “Legacies?” Between Diggle’s kickass arms and Oliver’s kickass abs, all I can say is Yum. It would be wrong if I didn’t take a minute to pay tribute to Arrow’s uber-hot men and the uber-hot actors who play them.

Stephen Amell/Oliver Queen

Stephen Amell plays the re-booted personality of Green Arrow to intense perfection. Physically, the boy has it going on! A DIAMOND could cut itself on his abs. Chuck Norris’, Ryan Reynolds’ and Ryan Gosling’s abs all collectively look at Stephen Amell’s abs and say “DAY-UMN! What are you twerking with?!”

A DIAMOND could cut itself on Stephen Amell’s abs.

However, Amell’s Oliver Queen is a little TOO intense. I find it hard to believe anyone buys his carefree Bruce Wayne-esque playboy personality. He is the MOST scarily intense party-goer I’ve ever seen. Although I loved Oliver’s rock-hard granite stare and his rock-hard abs, I especially loved the soft, old school Green Arrow exhibited this week who feels and cares for the little guy.

Either way, soft personality or hard abs, Oliver Queen and Stephen Amell are mega- hot.

David Ramsey/Diggle

I’m glad they promoted Diggle from Oliver’s bodyguard to Oliver’s partner sooner rather than later. I loved the old school Green Arrow and Green Lantern team comic team-ups. Green Arrow always needed Green Lantern’s moral contrast which Diggle perfectly provides. Let’s be honest, Oliver isn’t the trained soldier he claims. Diggle willingly enlisted for his country and underwent a lifetime of adult training, while Oliver was forced into it.

Oliver needs a hot Jiminy Crickett.

Oliver needs a hot Jiminy Crickett like Diggle to help him re-discover his moral center. Arrow easily kills his enemies’ lower-class henchmen, while allowing most of the upper-class men to survive (albeit in jail). He needs someone to remind him to stop focusing on his city’s top percent. Come on, the henchmen probably took those jobs to support THEIR families. The Oliver Queen who I read as a kid was more of a local, grassroots-oriented street fighter. Diggle steers him back to that post-1960s incarnation.

It doesn’t hurt that Diggle and Oliver together are as hot as … well, David Ramsey and Stephen Amell.

Paul Blackthorne /Detective Lance

I have loved Paul’s curmudgeonly American detective character since The Dresden Files. And, I loved him as the questionable husband in Lipstick Jungle. It’s all too appropriate that he voiced Metallo in the Justice League cartoon.

I love him as Laurel’s anguished, die-hard, angsty, justice-oriented, Arrow-obsessed father.

He is a Brit whose American accent I can actually stand. I love him as Laurel’s anguished, die-hard, angsty, justice-oriented, Arrow-obsessed father. He plays every single, tiny emotion to its fullest from his pure hatred for Oliver to his pure love for Laurel. And, THEN on top of that, we have his justice-seeking ire directed against the week’s baddie AND Arrow.

Colin Salmon/Walter Steele

Colin Salmon is that British actor you see almost everywhere, but you can’t remember where you saw him. Was it Merlin? Dr. Who? Prime Suspect? Party Animals? Law & Order: UK? MI-5? The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency? In one word, yes.

Having two hot British actors? Hot!

Having Paul Blackthorne on Arrow’s staff is already a panty-creamer for me, but having two hot British actors?! Can we just have them speak to each other in their native accents for one full hour? Can we make them shirtless, as well?

Byron Mann/Yaoi Fei

Who doesn’t want to be stranded on a desert island with Byron Mann?

Byron Mann is already every girl’s fantasy. He’s hot, a member of the California Bar, has a Juris Doctor degree from USC Law, was the #2 ranked 16-and-under tennis player in Hong Kong, AND speaks four languages. Forget about his Arrow character, I already want to marry him.

But, when you add in his hot Yaoi Fei character with guy-liner, who doesn’t want to be stranded on a desert island with Byron Mann OR Yaoi Fei?

I didn’t include the Tommy character, because he looks like a smarmy banker. And, no, that doesn’t do it for me. And, the implied Tommy-Thea match-up this week equally creeped me out. Why couldn’t Tommy just tell Thea he wasn’t interested because she was SIXTEEN! And, dating her would have him arrested for pedophilia … not just because he saw her as his little sister. However, whenever he shows his softer side to Laurel, I feel a bit melty around Tommy.

With all of the hotness surrounding Arrow’s male cast, I’m seriously waiting for an episode where they’re all stuck in a sauna and are forced to work out shirtless. Sound off in the comments, how hot are Arrow’s men?

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Photo Credit: CW

The CW’s aim is true with Arrow

Jaylen Christie — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:06:12 +0000

So, did the premiere of ‘Arrow’ hit the spot? You bet it did! With four million viewers tuning in to last night’s pilot episode, it may be safe to say that The CW has a bonafide hit on its hands.

Is it just me or is it becoming increasingly harder to distinguish superheroes from one another these days? There’s simply so many out there that one is bound to come across a super-powered character that shares the same amazing abilities with another. Perhaps that’s what makes the ones without powers all the more special. Growing up, my favorite was Batman. However, after taking a gander at The CW’s latest hour-long drama, that may be about to change.

Enter Arrow, the network’s newest action thriller inspired by the Green Arrow series published by DC Comics, you know, the folks that get on Marvel’s nerves. It’s common knowledge amongst my friends that I’m a nerd, but I have to admit that I didn’t know much about the Green Arrow until Justin Hartley brought the character to vivid life in Smallville. The latest version is quite a departure from the warm heroic feeling of yesteryear. Instead of Hartley, we’re given Stephen Amell, a relative newcomer with sharp looks and a freakishly abnormal six-pack. This version of Green Arrow isn’t afraid to kill villains. On the contrary, I think he murdered at least five baddies in last night’s pilot episode alone. That’s saying something. So, how was the show’s debut?

Well, you don’t have to worry. The story is actually as solid as Amell’s abs. Here’s what we know — Amell is billionaire Oliver Queen, who recently returned to his hometown of Starling City after being shipwrecked on an island off the coast of nowhere. After learning that the city has become corrupt, and wanting to settle a few scores with a few baddies, Oliver decides to right a few wrongs … and he’s doing so with a bow and bunch of high-tech arrows. Needless to say, I was impressed. While I’ll admit that the story is nothing unique, it did manage to keep me entranced from beginning to end. The hour was action-packed and I enjoyed getting snippets of Oliver’s past on the island.

I also enjoyed the character himself. I’d never heard of Amell until just recently. Sorry, I gave up on HBO’s Hung halfway through the second season so I didn’t get to see him make his appearance in the third. While I’m sure there are some fans that prefer Hartley’s interpretation of the character, I found Amell to be a breath of fresh air. I could certainly believe him as a ruthless superhero. His action scenes were spot on and I think he has the millionaire playboy thing down pat. It kind of reminds me of Bruce Wayne. I know the writers are going for a Dark Knight vibe, but maybe it would be wise not to make it such a strong carbon copy.

I know the writers are going for a Dark Knight vibe, but maybe it would be wise not to make it such a strong carbon copy.

It certainly helps to know that the supporting characters were diverse and just as compelling. I’m intrigued by the fact that it was Oliver’s mother who hired the bad guys to rough him up halfway through the episode, and I also love that the detective on Oliver’s tail is the father of the chick he was busy getting it on with on the yacht before the storm hit. Speaking of which, the chick’s sister, Dinah Laurel Lance, played convincingly by Katie Cassidy, was a real treat. All superhero aficionados know, that in the comics, Lance is the alluring Black Canary. While I doubt we’ll be seeing her superhero alter-ego on the show, I did find Cassidy to add a touch of spice to the episode. Her love triangle with Oliver and Tommy is sure to be compelling. After all, what’s a superhero tale without an elusive love interest?

I’ll be watching Arrow with great interest … even though Amell’s abs leaves me feeling green with envy.

If there were any flaws to be found, I’d say it was with some of the special effects. Keep in mind that the show is using a CW budget, so things like a yacht being caught in a murderous storm look a little weak. Then again, maybe I’m just being nitpicky. The pilot was awesome, and I’m definitely looking forward to next week’s installment. I’ve been looking for a new show to follow this season. I’m glad I found it.

I’ll be watching Arrow with great interest … even though Amell’s abs leaves me feeling green with envy.

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Photo Credit: The CW