Why you should be watching ARROW.

I agree with everything except your ability to count I count 12345 reasons, not 12345678910...

I agree with everything except 3. Man abs are not my preference.But its got great costumes and a good story. It still has that CW essence to it, but not a total teeny bop show. Its worth the watch.

People say it's CW-esque because of all the relationship stuff that most of the audience don't care about and how it executes itself a lot of the time. Arrow has more a soap opera-ish approach. I'm getting irritated with people acting like drama and soap opera is the same thing. It is not and when you watch certain shows with drama and then you watch Arrow, you see the differences in their approach. Vastly different. And no, I am not insulting the show before someone rages at me, this is simply my observation.

@Soto

Ohoho. Wait until you watch the Star Labs segment and what ensues from The Man Under The Hood if you found that forced.

I'd say skip the filler episodes if you want to get through it as quick as possible (Suicide Squad, etc).

Can't say for S1 but given that you are past the Barry Parker episodes these are the fillers:

-Blind Spot
-Tremors
-Heir to the Demon
-Time of Death
-Suicide Squad
-Birds of Prey

None of them are that essential to the main plot and I skipped the last two and it made no difference for me personally.

@Klone
Blind Spot opened the door for Suicide Squad and Slades hold on Blood
Tremors gave Roy Oliver's identity which plays a major part in the finale
HTTD introduced the true league of Assassins who played a major part in the finale and introduced Sara back to the real world, and Oliver found out about theas father
Tod introduced episode 15 with Slade meeting the family. And the skeleton key came into use later on
Suicide Squad is in finale
Birds of Prey began Roys madness and Theas kidnapping
No such thing as a filler in Arrow. All roads lead to one in the long run

There are CWish aspects to the show, but I don't think it brings the show down much. In the first season, and some of the second, they used Laurel as the drama-device. She would just come in and insert drama and cry and it was terrible writing for her character.

As for: "it is either justified or it is completely unjustified and the show will explore the aspects of why it is or isn't, it won't just leave it as a hanging plot threat or do it because the fans want it to be done." Felicity Smoak. Her character and relationship teases with Ollie is pure fan service at it's best. The unnecessarily have lingering moments between the two to fuel the shippers who want it to happen so badly, and there are many who just watch it to see that happen. Go on tumblr and you'll see people analyzing scenes claiming it's an "Olicity" moment when it's not. These fans bash Katie Cassidy, because Laurel is the only one standing in the way of Oliver and Felicity happening, and when Sara came along they bashed her too.

Either way, it's a great show with great action and solid plot lines.

Arrow is a fricking awesome show....season 3 has me excited!!

I've tried watching Arrow again and again. I WANT to like it. I want to ride that gray train just like everyone else. But I just can't get into it. Here are 5 counterpoints as to why:

5. It is still beholden to CW tropes.
No, it may not be a teen drama, but it is still pretty soapy, with basically any subplot involving the sister or mother, or any other supporting character- most of all were invented for the show for precisely this reason- really dragging the main storyline down. Shallow love triangles have still found their way into the series, and while not literally being teens, the cast is still predominantly youngish, (even the older folks aren't that old- typical of CW) and it creates a kind of reality vacuum that makes the world a little less realistic.

4. The costumes are ridiculous.
The fighting may be good. But the overall production value feels too cheap. I see maybe the same 5 interior sets every week, but nothing is as bad as the costumes. It'd be an oxymoron to complain about this, as costumes, by their very nature, are absurd, and yet are a staple of superhero stories. But I think they are damned if they do, and damned if they don't. When they don't go for a costume, it bothers me they didn't even try, and when they do, it ends up looking so cheesy. They just can't win.

3. Abs.
Many people may not know this, but CW actually pre-screens their potential lead actors, sometimes before they even read for parts. Specifically, the men are subject to 'approval ratings' from a female contingent, where literally, if a guy isn't "hot" enough he might not be considered for a role. So yea. Their 'pretty people' thing is an actual problem in my eyes, and one of the biggest reasons I hate this network.

2. The dialogue.
I actually only think Diggle and Felicity are great. They have become favorites for a reason. Other characters like the aforementioned family members, and Black Canary and Huntress, are kind of terrible. But what's the characters even worse is the dialogue. I'd be lying if I didn't say just listening to these people talk makes me cringe more often than not. Why is everything laid out like the audience is stupid? The conversations really need punching up.

1. Stephen Amell.
I'll just say it. I don't like us take on the Green Arrow. As a character he is too serious, which is all wrong for Oliver Queen, and as an actor, he practically has no range. He looks just as intense when he's supposed to be happy as when he's dour. I can't remember a smile ever actually looking like a smile. Where's the expression?? He looks great with his shirt off, and he can throw a mean punch, but I need more to a character than that. Fans have somehow confused brooding with charisma, and it just goes to show how low standards have dropped.

Anyway, I actually like this article, so I mean no offense, even with my negative remarks about the show. I always appreciate people trying to champion it for new viewers. So my issues are my issues. I'm just weird like that. But I'm glad it's doing well for DC, which is all I care about.

I've actually tried to jump on the lovin' that's associated with "Arrow" but i don't understand as to why a lot of comic book fans like it. I love Green Arrow but to me the show just doesn't feel like Green Arrow. Also they got the worst actor to portray the Emerald Archer, he's just bland and boring and seems to only have one facial expression. The show does feel like a soap but i don't mind having interesting characters and relationships between the character's with out having lazy, cliche to lack luster dialogue. I'm still waiting for a proper interpretation of Green Arrow and i apologize to seem like that guy who just spoiled the comment section, but Arrow is certainly not for me.

I rewatched season one recently, and there were some filler episodes that paled in comparison with others. The one about the supposedly dead firefighter was awful. The one with the bank robbing family was very Smallville-esque, in a bad way. The Geoff Johns written episodes have comparatively worse dialogue than others as well. Overall, it is a good show, and the earlier and later episodes are the best.