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.

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.

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!

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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).

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.

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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.

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?

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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