Giving The CW's "Arrow" a Mulligan

Giving The CW's "Arrow" a Mulligan

One of its Harshest Critics Has Decided to Give Ollie Queen a Second Shot.

Editorial Opinion
By jjk2814 - Jan 16, 2014 01:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Green Arrow

Introduction:
For months now I’ve heard about the turn-around adventure of The CWs Arrow. From typical, polarizing CW teen-garbage to state-of –the-art adult Drama starring one of DC’s most cool B-Listers, Arrow seems to now be universally loved.

I watched a clip of Barry Allen’s accident and instantly knew that the show had somewhere along the line changed its attitude of being too good for the rest of the DC Universe and all it’s attempts, successful or otherwise, to be brought to the screen. From the beginning I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that the show would abandon its policy, which stated (to paraphrase) “This is a universe without super-powers.”

Let’s face it we loved the Superhero-less Universe of The Nolan Trilogy because it was GOOD. It was well written and executed by some of Hollywood’s finest. Not everyone can achieve that. Marc Guggenheim, Greg Berlanti, and Andrew Kreisberg do not a Nolan make. Just ask Green Lantern. (A film I will defend in debates, by the way.) My point being, generally speaking, we WANT superheroes in our superhero stories.

Part I.
All that in mind, I decided to give “Arrow” another go. I start writing this editorial as I re-watch the Pilot, one of two episodes I’ve previously watched. I considered skipping ahead, but to do justice for the fans of the show, I decided to see it all. Already, I am reminded of many of its horrendous flaws. Absolutely textbook Point A-to-Point B writing and some downright terrible performances. But I will continue this journey. Because I believe in Oliver Queen. I also believe in the opinions of the masses. I’ve heard the show got better. I’ll be my own judge…

Part II
At this point, I have watched episodes 1-4 and here’s a collection of thoughts on what I’ve seen so far…
-Diggle and Ollie are awesome…the Lances and Tommy Merlyn…not so much.



-By the end of the second episode though, I realize I quit watching the show minutes too early. I truly begin to see the Oliver Queen of the comics; his use of humor to mask his inner turmoil and to diffuse emotionally complicated moments.

-However the conniving Moira Queen and Tommy Merlyn are still too much of a rip-off of Lionel Luthor and Lex from Smallville. If not a rip-off, it still annoys me. This show and its producers spoke so much about how this show was going to be better and different than what we had seen before. Yet it’s relentless “borrowing” from Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Smallville was blatant and offensive to me.

-The narration is just terrible. It needs to go. Narration is at best a supplementary addition that can help elevate a story to higher emotional levels, and at worse the sloppiest of story-telling. So far, I have only seen the latter.

-Remarkably, I’m seeing Ollie as the social crusader he is supposed to be. Al though the show takes it in a possibly, unnecessarily updated fashion.

-Random thought; how cool would it be if John Diggle had been John Stewart?

Part III
A confession that I realized this has all been Part I of my analysis of “Arrow.” It’s become clear that I have a lot to say about this show. But before I finish I want to answer one personal question; Why would I do this? Why bother? Here’s the answer…
I’ve been watching and more-or-less enjoying “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”



It’s a monumentally flawed show. But, I’ve been enjoying it. Then I realized it was a bit hypocritical of me to have written off “Arrow” long ago, and then turned around and given “S.H.I.E.L.D” every chance to disappoint and then earn some appreciation. There is that and then there is Jeff Lemire’s run on the “Green Arrow” comics.



I am, and always will be a Green Arrow fanatic. DC’s first run of Green Arrow in their New 52 was appallingly bad. Easily, it was one of the worst comics on the shelf for months. Then Lemire took over and I saw that anything…ANYTHING could be turned around.
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minusman
minusman - 1/16/2014, 3:03 AM
Arrow was definitely borderline painful to watch at first, both acting wise and writing wise. By the second half of the first season it was noticeably better as it seemed the writers and actors were finding their footing, getting comfortable with each other, the show finally deciding on which direction it actually wanted to go in.
Season two's opener was filled with comic-geek goodness and and has continued with that trend. There has been a few backslides reminiscent of the first season but they are forgivable.

As to Agents of Shield- my personal opinion is that so far, it is less redeemable than Arrow and I have almost given up on it. However, I do keep watching with the hope that it will get better- and I have seen glimmers of quality but they are far and few between.
tonytony
tonytony - 1/16/2014, 3:51 AM
Another marvel fanboy trying to appeal to us to watch the god-awful agents of shield by insulting a show which is so much superior. You need to argue agents of shield on its own merits. Arrows potential was clear from episode 1 and it hs grown beyond anything I expected. Across the internet all reviewers universally applaud the show, only die hard marvel fanboys hate. Also across the Internet everyone accepts agents of shield is poor but once again only marvel fanboys do ther best to defend it. But almost all the time they do this by taking a shot at arrow. Agents of shield needs to become better it wont do that by trying to undermine the superior arrow show.
DarthMauve
DarthMauve - 1/16/2014, 4:12 AM
I watch and enjoy both Arrow and AoS. It took Arrow its whole first season to get up to speed and has truly become a 'must watch' in its 2nd year. I'm going to give AoS the same consideration as I can't help but feel that show is going to pay out pretty big in the future.
jjk2814
jjk2814 - 1/16/2014, 4:24 AM
@tonytony
Wait a tick...Are you assuming the guy who wrote the article with the Green Lantern/Green Arrow Icon is a Marvel Fanboy??

Dude, I have over 200 comic trades and hardcovers in my collection and not one of them is Marvel. I sold all my Marvel years ago. True Story.

The only reason the two are ever compared is because they are both Comic Book related and on the Television.
Dumegg
Dumegg - 1/16/2014, 7:29 AM
Arrow turned to be a great show. Good fight Choerography and good acting as well.
Good appearences of villians....and this is coming from a marvel fan.
Looking forward to the Flash tv show.
OptionFour
OptionFour - 1/16/2014, 8:21 AM
So . . . I'm going to ask here, since I've never seen a sufficient explanation for my liking.

How is it that it doesn't bother anyone else that Ollie just casually murders an entire legion of people in the first season (I've not seen the second), many of whom do absolutely nothing wrong besides standing too close to someone Oliver Queen perceives as a villain?
CPIXLEY
CPIXLEY - 1/16/2014, 9:20 AM
You sound smug.
Tuuralihn
Tuuralihn - 1/16/2014, 12:42 PM
There hasn't been a "turn around" for ARROW.
They started off well. Focused on Oliver's mission. It seemed a bit, small.. at first. But the second season has exploded, showing off the writers skills, the brilliance of the actors and the vastness of the world.

I believe only good can come out of this show, I just hope they don't Smallville it and keep it around for 10 seasons of blandness. Keep it sharp and end it when the story is done.
jjk2814
jjk2814 - 1/17/2014, 12:28 AM
@CPIXLEY
When it comes to Arrow...I can't not be at least a little smug...But I'm working on it.

@OptionFour
Believe me, it's one of, if not my biggest problem with show. But I've heard plenty of people say to stay tuned and that the murdering is dealt with appropriately.

@Tuuralihn
I don't necessarily mean to say that the show has had a turn-around from the writers/producers avenue, just that a lot of people and websites consider it to have really improved. The turn-around is the audience's reaction.
BenjiWest
BenjiWest - 1/17/2014, 7:55 AM
Oh I see because AoS is that show without superheroes and super powers, that's what you were looking for.
TheRealDorkKnight
TheRealDorkKnight - 1/18/2014, 5:47 PM
Dont worry about tonyTroll up there i agree with you mate i too have recently tried to watch arrow again and yeah the masses are right it got better. i personally love the barry allen episodes.
jjk2814
jjk2814 - 1/18/2014, 9:01 PM
@BenjiWest
Oh for God's sake, at what point did I defend Agents of Shield??? I said I've been watching it and more-or-less enjoying it. The whole point of this is that I'm trying to get over my prejudice of "Arrow" and give it another chance.

I am not trying to say one is better than the other. I tried watching "Arrow" hated it, and later started watching AoS. I never praised it as anything but mediocre comic-related television. After realizing that AoS is no work of art and everyone seems to love Arrow now, I decided to give it another chance. Case Closed.
RobGrizzly
RobGrizzly - 1/19/2014, 7:49 AM
This is extremely well written. As a staunch hater of Arrow myself, I look forward to reading more of these. I have a lot of the same problems with the series, and even though I've watched many more episodes, including some of the so-called improved Season 2, my issues remain; namely how self-important the show thinks it is, and Stephen Amell's inability to show more than one facial expression, no matter what he's feeling. Diggle and Felicity (wait till you get to her!) Are awesome, though.
I'm curious to see if a hater can be converted. Guess I'll keep checking in to find out!
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