What ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Can Learn From ‘Arrow’

There are dueling comic book shows on the air right now; Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow. Both have their problems, but one is clearly superior to the other... and it's not the one with the Disney marketing machine behind it. Here's what S.H.I.E.L.D. could learn from the Starling City crew.

First, Some Fairness

DC is wholly owned by Time Warner, and owns all its characters; Marvel has rights issues with other studios to deal with. Arrow is a largely self-contained show gradually expanding outward; Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is building off a popular collection of movies. And Arrow is one season in while Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is just starting. So there are issues here that each show has to deal with. So, with that in mind...

References, Dammit

Most of Arrow's comic book references are blink-and-you'll-miss-it gags. Characters will refer to Iron Heights Prison in passing, somebody will mention S.T.A.R. Labs in dialogue, you'll see a nod to this character or that one. It's minor stuff that's purely fanservice and has no real bearing on the show itself, but it both helps to establish the wider universe and it makes fanboys gleeful.

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. barely hints at a wider universe out there; you never see news stories about a mysterious vigilante in a white cloak beating up muggers and you never hear about somebody being sent to The Raft. For a show that's explicitly part of the Marvel Universe, it's not doing much to communicate that.

It's OK To Reinvent

The characters Arrow uses are rarely straight from the comics, and sometimes their supervillain name will never even come up. The Royal Flush Gang, for example, are a bunch of dorks with flying playing cards and an android in the comics, while in Arrow they're a family of bank robbers. Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. could use more of that; bring in the second-stringers and make them not suck. Let's see Chemistro trying to ruin the world economy by turning things into gold, or Stilt-Man drawing the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. Hell, send Coulson and May to Josie's. As long as it creates a sense of a lived-in, real universe, it'll be a good thing.

Give Your Actors A Shot

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Arrow actually have the same problem; too many characters, and some of them are ill-defined or annoying. Both shows struggle to give all characters screen time and give the audience a reason to care about them. The difference is that, six episodes in, Arrow was starting to find the strengths of its cast. David Ramsey as Diggle became a hugely popular character to the point where they actually made him part of the DCU. And Emily Bett Rickards was starting to come into focus as a fan favorite as well.

To be fair, part of that is luck: Ramsey was an experienced TV actor and Bett Rickards was barely known when she was cast but shows off a lot of comic timing. But they got a chance to shine and they rapidly became part of the show. Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to start bringing more characters into focus... especially one important one.

Let Your Lead Be A Lead

Probably the most baffling problem here is that Clark Gregg, who plays Agent Coulson, isn't allowed to be a lead on a show where he's explicitly leading a team. Instead most of the time he's a shouting middle manager or a deliverer of exposition, and consider that Gregg has shown, repeatedly, that he can give Coulson a great comedic feel while still kicking ass, it's confusing. The show seems to prefer having Skye and Ward as the main protagonists, possibly because Gregg has a contract to do more Marvel movies, but it won't commit to them, either. So we have a show with lukewarm protagonists, which only contributes to the generic feeling.

Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't a bad show, just like Arrow isn't a classic of television. Both have the potential to be better than they are. But it's pretty clear one has a lot to learn from the other.

The Ladies of ‘Arrow’ – First Look at Kelly Hu as China White & Jessica de Gouw Talks Helena/Huntress

When Green Arrow comes to the CW this fall he won’t be alone. There’s been a whole slew of DC characters announced to make appearances from Merlyn to Deadshot to China White and Huntress. I’m especially excited to see those last two ladies, because, well they’re lady superheroes. All right, one’s a villain, but still, lady comic book characters appearing in another medium! And there’s more than one, unlike the lovely but token Black Widow of The Avengers. What can I say, I take comfort in little victories like these. Here’s hoping Arrow‘s Laurel Lance gets a pair of fishnets soon.

Playing tough chick, mobster butt-kickin’ Helena Bertinelli, a.k.a. The Huntress, is Jessica de Gouw who recently shared with KsiteTV what it’s like playing both the secret identity and the superhero,

I play Helena, but I'm also The Huntress, so I have to be able to hold my own. The duality of the role, it's challenging. I have to be able to kick butt and all of that, and I'm quite feminine in my normal every day [life]... the fighting and all of that is new and interesting for me, but it's a good thing. I'm really enjoying it. I've kind of been thrust into it, so I might as well just jump in, right?" she says. Jessica teases that the Huntress is introduced into Arrow "with a punch." "She comes in strong."

I love that they’re playing up what a fighter Helena is but at the same time she’s quite the woman, just as comfortable in pair of heels as she is wielding a crossbow. Read the whole interview here.

Gouw hasn’t shared any details about her Huntress costume other than hinting there will be some of the iconic purples featured. China White (Kelly Hu) on the other hand, of her we’ve got our first look,

All right, so they’ve gone for the more traditional black catsuit look, but I like that they kept the bleached, white hair. She’s not called China WHITE for nothing.

What are your thoughts on Arrow and the DC characters they’re incorporating? Are you excited for the show?

Arrow airs on the CW October 1oth.

Sources: The Mary Sue, CBM

REVIEW: ‘Arrow’ – Episode 2 – “Honor Thy Father”

After its promising premiere I’m happy to say Arrow continues to deliver action and drama with a hint of superhero camp. Stephen Amell‘s exposition-heavy voice over kicks off the episode and makes it clear this is a storytelling tool they’re sticking with, whether we like it or not. And honestly, it stops grating on you after a little while, especially because I’m not sure what other way they would get across the inner workings of Ollie’s mind. The struggle within himself over whether he can fulfill his promise to his father and be the son everyone expects him to be is at the heart of this episode.

Continuing to hunt down the men in his father’s book, Arrow’s target this episode is a billionaire, Martin Summers, who’s operating a drug trade with the suspicious Chinese Triad. He’s also the target of Laurel (Katie Cassidy) who’s trying to bring Summers in on charges for murdering a young women’s father. We get one courtroom scene for Laurel to strut her stuff and it’s just not doing anything for me. Maybe I’m jaded by the millions other courtroom dramas on television but I really don’t give a shit about any lawyer-thing Laurel does. Hopefully over the season they’ll develop her thirst for justice because right now it feels like she’s a lawyer only because it allows her to come up against both her father, Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne) and Arrow on a regular basis.

With Laurel pressuring Summers she becomes the target of the Triad’s assassin, China White (Kelly Hu). Her appearance in this episode is brief, but what she brings is badass. White’s an accomplished martial artist and can easily handle anything either Ollie’s bodyguard, David Ramsey putting in a surprisingly sympathetic performance as Diggle, or Ollie himself can throw her way. Even wearing a ridiculously platinum wig, she’s fierce. White’s not defeated come the end of the episode, and I expect and am looking forward to more of her in the future.

What “Honor Thy Father” is looking to hammer home is the personal sacrifice Ollie will need to endure in order to see his mission through. Amell continues to deliver a strong performance and does quite well at bringing the many facets of Ollie to screen. In the few flashbacks this episode we see his heartbreaking struggle to bury his father on the island and it’s a really touching moment reminding us his struggle on the island was as much emotional as physical.

Amell’s physicality continues to shine and he can be quite imposing as Arrow. We’re gifted a few more gratuitous training shots that I don’t believe anyone will complain about. And Arrow has some fun interrogation techniques creatively involving his skills and easily getting the desired results. I’m seeing more and more of the archer we’re familiar with in this episode.

At home Ollie is drifting away from his family, pushing them away, and this doesn’t go unnoticed. Cue another heartfelt scene between him and his sister, Thea (Willa Holland). Have I mentioned I want her so badly to actually become a vigilante herself? She’s proving she could be a real asset to Ollie, even is she isn’t slinging arrows alongside him, and I look forward to seeing their relationship grow. In public Ollie continues playing up the partying billionaire and, seemingly, continues to be a disgrace to his father’s memory. In fact he’s doing such a good job his mother, Moira (Susanna Thompson), who’s clearly far more involved in her husband’s death than we thought, believes he knows nothing of what’s really going on.

Arrow is shaping into a show with exciting action and an intriguing mystery around Ollie’s time on the island plus his mother’s shady dealings. I wouldn’t expect any of the cast or writers to be hit up with Emmy nods next year, but things are plugging along nicely. It’s filled a gap in superhero media and has become a welcome addition to my weekly TV schedule. Have you been enjoying Arrow? What are you hoping to see the show explore as the season progresses?

Arrow airs on the CW, Wednesday nights at 8pm.

The Top 10 Nerdy TV Shows of 2012

It's that time of year where we take stalk and make lists, and today we make a list of the Best Nerdy TV Shows of 2012. Now the Best Nerdy Shows are not the same as the regular Best Shows of the Year. Sure, your average nerd may love to watch Homeland, or Mad Men, or Breaking Bad, or maybe even the recently departed Gossip Girl, but the content of those shows are not necessarily nerdy. So for the purposes of this list, the "Best Shows" are ones that take place in a nerdy genre - like sci-fi, fantasy or horror - or feature a cast of characters who fit the definition of nerds.

So now that we've gotten than bit of preamble/introduction out of the way, let's take a look back at the year that was (the final year?) on the boob tube. With a nerdy bend, of course.

1. Lost Girl

I know, this is a curious selection, right? Let's just say it's my Canadian bias showing. And I've got to say that it means a lot that so many American fans have hopped on the bandwagon of this show, because, as Canadians, we need constant affirmation from our older cousin south of the border. But seriously, I feel, and I think objectively, that Lost Girl is the inheritor to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's TV Crown for best, complex, butt-kicking female character, and things definitely got heavy for our succubus heroine this year as Bo had to put together a plan to deal with the big bad Garuda who wanted to start a war between all Fae. She also had no less than three different romantic entanglements to unravel and found out that her Fae mentor Trick was also, in fact, her grandfather. The creative team did a marvelous job of enriching and expanding the world of Lost Girl with new characters that explored the ever murkier world of the Fae, as well as bringing back old characters like Vex, who got a chance to play almost hero in the fight against the Garuda. As well, the writers set up the possibility that Bo may ultimately be her own worst enemy moving forward, which looks likely to play a role in the new season. Not much has been revealed about what's in store for the upcoming season 3, but the good news for American fans is that it will quite nearly be simulcast on both Showcase in Canada and Sy-Fy, which proves just how big Lost Girl's gotten stateside: fans will not longer wait months to share a Canadian experience.

2. Game of Thrones

Winter came and it was awesome. The sophomore season of HBO's Game of Thrones not only expanded the series scope, its story and its cast, but it also expanded its audience as more people came to the world of George R. R. Martin's Westeros, where war, treachery and sexy times await. Despite the adulation over that first season, even fans noted that from the outset that the tone and pacing were uneven, which made season 2 an even more pleasing experience in that it looked like the writers had worked out some of those issues. Call it more confidence, not just in execution of the concept but in the willingness of the audience to play along, but the Thrones team seemed a bit freer from the weight of expectations and play things more organically, even with some occasional humor. Along with the expanding story was an expanding cast, and unlike many other HBO shows (most notably True Blood) adding new faces didn't necessarily feel like bloat. In fact there's so much going on between the characters that you only occasionally get a chance to take stock of the tremendous locations, set design and visual effects, which are all, of course, awesome. With new fans coming to Thrones all the time, the show gets one label that we, the nerdy, may not necessary like, but helps a show like Thrones reach an audience far broader than the hardcore fans: it's the fantasy show that doesn't have to flaunt it. It's just great TV.

3. The Vampire Diaries

Twilight maybe over, but The Vampire Diaries, now in its fourth season, is still going strong. What's the difference, you may ask. Because yes, this a show filled with attractive young people, fresh from iTunes musical choices and fashion catalog ready threads, but Diaries also doubles down on being TV's fastest moving drama. Your arch-enemy one week might be the one person you need to save the day next week, and the love or you life in the previous episode becomes the one who delivers the most stinging betrayal now. Also working in Diaries favor is its capacity to kill off characters without pity or remorse, even its main character. Now granted, Elena woke up at the end of the episode as a vampire, but unlike her thematic soul sister Bella, Elena's had actual difficulty trying to deal with being one of the undead. And on top of all that, she's broke up with her vampire boyfriend Stefan and fallen for his vampire brother Damon, which is due in no small part to Stefan's obsession in trying to cure Elena's vampirism by working with arch-villain Klaus who wants to make Elena human again because her blood is the key to making vampire/werewolf hybrids. And that's only about three minutes of plot from the average Diaries episode.

4. Community

Although technically in 2012 we only got about half-a-season's worth of Community, but those dozen episodes were no less potent and uproarious than a year's worth of other sitcoms on the air. We saw Troy and Abed's friendship devolve into a literal Civil War, the gang went all 8-bit to help Pierce get his inheritance, and in the most stunning and hilarious acts of product placement ever performed, Britta fell for a man who was the legal, human embodiment of Subway at Greendale. Somewhere along the way, Chang seized campus in a bloodless coup, Evil Abed crossed over into our universe and Troy assumed his destiny as the True Repairman. What it all adds up to is that Community is a series that will almost literally do anything for a laugh, and laugh we certainly did. Well, those that tuned in did, and Chevy Chase is obviously not laughing. And I guess we'll find out if we still will be when the series returns with new showrunners David Guarascio and Moses Port on February 7. Long live Star-burns! #sixseasonsandamovie.

5. Doctor Who

Steven Moffat is a master of subverting expectations. We all knew that this was going to be the last season for Amy and Rory, we knew what episode they would leave in and we more or less knew the circumstances under which they'd depart. Then, just when you think the day is saved via a nifty paradox, nope, it turns out that everything's eventual anyway. Truly, these are the best of times and the worst of times for The Doctor. He stood triumphant above the Silence, and the Daleks, and all other enemies, but those victories came with a cost. He's made the universe forget him, but he's still making new friends, and on Christmas Day we'll meet his latest friend, or companion (if you will), Jenna-Louise Coleman. But what does it mean when The Doctor meets her in Victorian England, especially since he met a girl that looks just like her (even if, to The Doctor, she looked like a big old Dalek) at the top of series seven? That's only one of the many mysteries Moffat and Co. will surely lay before us as we officially head into The Doctor's 50th year since premiering on the BBC.

6. The Big Bang Theory

TV's perennial nerd ambassadors had a huge year with marriages, space missions, new levels of commitment, and, of course, new adventures in nerdery. What began as seemingly a venue to mock the overly broad perception of what it is to be a nerd, The Big Bang Theory has grown into a fun ensemble comedy where in the writers as often play against stereotypes and expectations to deliver laughs as they indulge in them. Self-deluded ladies man Howard has become the one member of the gang to settle down into married life with Bernadette (of course "settled down" is relative), Penny finally dropped the L-bomb on Leonard who's blissfully ignorant of the growing affections of Sheldon's lab assistant, and Dr. Cooper himself has allowed some degree of humanitarian growth, amending his relationship agreement with Amy to allow for some (slight) physical intimacy. But the most astounding part is that Big Bang now sits perched as TV's biggest comedy, and while it's not definitive proof that nerds now rule the world, it's definitely an encouraging step forward.

7. Fringe

True, Fringe in 2012 has been, at times, wildly uneven, but when the series is at its best, it's still the best sci-fi show on television, not just because of the weird science, but because it also wears its heart on its sleeve. Instead of going the obvious route and setting up the stakes for all-out war between the two universes, they came together not just to battle the threat of David Robert Jones (and his puppet master/God-in-the-making William Bell), but to foster a better understanding with each other. It was indeed a very bittersweet goodbye when the alt-universe went bye-bye at the end of season four. That's okay though because there's now the small problem of The Observers to deal with in the year 2036. The sucker punch that was the death of Peter and Olivia's now grown daughter Etta added some much needed emotional heft to season 5's Observer defeat plan scavenger hunt, and Joshua Jackson finally got to put a new spin on Peter when the grieving father put Observer technology in his head in order to expedite revenge. And while I will note that this season's future action was often seemed quite detached from the rest of the series five years, the cast and crew of Fringe continue to make sure that we will still miss it when it's gone after next month.

8. The Walking Dead

After a run where even the shooting of zombified 8-year-old in the head couldn't summon the requisite dramatic gravitas for a series about a group of survivors at the end of the world, The Walking Dead came back to life (pun intended) in a big way through the second half of season 2 and on through the first half of season 3. Many thought the mere introduction of The Governor was enough to get Dead's juices going again, but the writers have kept up the heat by keeping our crew of survivors on a constant razor's edge that any one of them may fall off at any given time. Even the precocious Carl got his moment to be a stone cold zombie killer by ending his own mom. (And that was after she gave birth in a harrowing emotional sequence to boot.) Dead still needs to find a way to carry dramatic tension without relying solely on the threat of zombie-fried death, but considering where we've been. this series finally found its footing in 2012.

9. Arrow

It seemed doomed to failure. A new CW series based on a DC Comics character, shepherded by the team behind the script of last year's superhero flame-out Green Lantern, and based on a character that was already ploughed and examined in previous CW hit Smallville? Doubtful it could be anything but lame, right? Too bad the cast and crew of Arrow had other plans. Taking their cue from Christopher Nolan's darkly down-to-earth Dark Knight trilogy, Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg have combined edge-of-your-seat action, compelling crime drama, and your typical CW romantic melodrama in a compelling way. And on top of all that, they've thrown in more comic book references than The O.C., Big Bang Theory and all of Kevin Smith's movies combined, and they're only nine episodes into the show. So far we've met China White, Dark Archer, Deathstroke and The Huntress, and in the new year we'll meet Count Vertigo and Roy Harper. As for what Evil Captain Jack Harkness has in store for our titular hero, who was finally referred to by name in last week's episode, we'll have to wait and see.

10. Continuum

Like Lost Girl, Continuum has already aired in Canada, but its coming to Sy-Fy in the new year, and I can already tell you it will be the most sci-fi thing on Sy-Fy in a long time (or at least since the end of Stargate). Centred around a terrorist group from a corporate-ruled future who escape to our present day with a singular cop (played by Rachel Nichols) accidentally in tow, Continuum combines high-minded science fiction with a crime procedural. Watching the series you get important discussions about the increasing control of unregulated corporations over our lives, but you also get a complex character drama as the terrorists' master plan suffers the slings and arrows of competing interests, including one who works with the cop in exchange for being allowed to stay in the present and get rich from his future knowledge. Meanwhile, the series also indulges in time-travel fun, including a character in the present who perhaps has a greater influence on future events than even he knows. (And that includes a fine, creepy return to form by Cigarette-Smoking Man William B. Davis.) Continuum maybe the best sci-fi (and Sy-Fy) series you see in 2013, but you'll have to come back here next December to be sure.

REVEW: ‘Arrow’ – Episode 8 – “Vendetta”

In the second to last episode of Arrow before the series goes on its midseason break (Is it just me or are more shows taking longer breaks halfway through their seasons?) we get to see Helena (Jessica de Gouw) go full blown Huntress while Ollie (Stephen Amell) tries to reign her in, Diggle (David Ramsey) gets jealous, and Walter (Colin Salmon) and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) become a detective duo. I’m thinking spinoff for these two, but more on that later.

We left the vigilante, sorta couple last week making out in Helena’s apartment and unsurprisingly we begin this episode with them asleep in bed. Man, CW, why you gotta leave the good bits off screen? Then Helena wakes up, sneaks away, and attempts to kill some head honcho for the Triad. Her goal is to spark a gang war between the Triad and her father in order to punish him for murdering her fiance. Sounds like a sound plan to me, but of course Oliver shows up in time to stop her.

Kids, today’s episode is brought to you by the letters “V” for vengeance, “J” for justice, and we’re gonna learn all about how they differ. Or not, because the show itself seems to be a little confused.

I will point out Ollie is probably not be the best person to train Starling City’s new vigilante and teach her how to not cross the line, because, really? Ollie, you’ve been doing a great job at skewing the line between revenge and justice since day one. Thank goodness you’ve let Diggle in on everything, because without your personal Jiminy Cricket this town would be screwed. He doesn’t trust Helena and I almost wonder if he’s a little jealous of her. A few episodes back you would have thought he and Ollie were about to team up and take on the world, but now he’s been regulated to occasionally popping in to smack sense into the trust fund baby turned crime fighter.

Diggle sums up the problem with Oliver trying to train Helena perfectly when he says, “You’re like a dope fiend who thinks he can deal with his own addiction by making another addict go straight.” Ding, ding, ding! This comes right after a scene that can only be described as super hero foreplay where Helena and Ollie cuddle while shooting arrows followed with Ollie showing off by shooting anything Helena can toss in the air. So Oliver’s in no place to actually take in any of the advice Diggle gives and continues to work with Helena. He gives her a crossbow – FANGIRL SQUEE! – and shops online for her new crime fighting duds, which come in purple – FANGIRL SQUEE NUMERO DOS!

They head out on the town, bust up some drug dealing thugs, and neither one kills anyone. All in all a very successful evening I can only assume was consummated as they made love on the rooftops with the costumes still on. Again, I’m assuming, but this relationship has some serious Batman/Catwoman overtones and I know that’s how they like it.

Meanwhile, with Walter back in town he and Moira (Susanna Thompson) are trying to save their marriage by being honest with each other. This obviously translates into Walter continuing to investigate his wife with the help of hot techie genius, Felicity Smoak. This girl is hands down my favorite character because she’s the only one who isn’t so serious all the time. TV show characters, lighten up, you’re starring in a ridiculous comic book show, have some fun. Anyway, these two go all World’s Greatest Detective and discover someone else was tracking Moira’s suspicious business dealings and discover a familiar – to the audience anyway – looking symbol.

The short of it is Walter is still uber-suspicious and when he searches Moira’s room comes across a very familiar – again, to the audience – looking book and takes it into Felicity for analysis. She comes up with a pair of 3D glasses she yanked from the movie theatre after catching Twilight: Breaking Dawn on her lunch break– I mean, a pair of infrared goggles that allow the wearer to read the invisible ink on the page. Guess what!? It’s the same list of names Oliver has in his little book. Who knew? The list is back, long live the list.

Ollie, Helena, Tommy, and Laurel end up on a double date after the two couples bump into one another at a fancy new restaurant. Calling is hella awkward is an understatement, and it’s painful to watch Helena as she realizes she sitting at a table with Ollie’s ex and his best friend whom she’s now dating. Especially when earlier Oliver gave her the whole story of how he fucked up that relationship with Laurel by sleeping with her sister. Helena believes she’s being manipulated, because she is, and leaves. Tommy storms off too but it’s all wrapped up in him not wanting to ask Ollie for help since being cut off from his daddy’s money, blah, blah, blah.

Helena’s gone, and not just from the date but over the edge. She wants her vengeance and isn’t going to let anyone stop her. She shows up at a Triad poker game, kills the boss dude, kicks the shit out of everyone else, and leaves them all with the impression it was at her father’s behest. Girl’s got her gang war. China White (Kelly Hu) – oh yeah, remember her? – launches an attack on the Bertinelli residence in retaliation. In the panic and confusion Helena is able to corner her father and reveal how it was her who took down his crime empire. While she’s readying to shoot him with the crossbow and deliver the final blow Oliver swoops in to stop her.

He denies her vengeance, but gives her justice. And she isn’t pleased about it one bit. After Ollie ruined her patricide she took a arrow in the shoulder from her own father, at which point the cops show up and Ollie has to carry her away. Back at the arrow cave he treats her wound, she wakes up, yells at him, admits she did want revenge and now that she’s been denied it, she’s done with Ollie. Helena leaves, threatening to reveal his identity were Ollie to follow her. Hmm, I wonder if her knowing his secret identity will ever come back to bite him the ass?

In the end Helena may be a lost cause, consumed by her grief and lust for vengeance, but Oliver may be able to final become the hero. He’s trying to help the city more and worry less about that damn list, though we know that’s coming back since Walter’s got a copy. He’s taking notes from Batman and making an attempt to not just kill people, but rather leave ‘em for the cops. And maybe, he’ll be able to let his friends and family in since his practice run with Helena.

Next week it’s the midseason finale! Check out the preview below,

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REVIEW: ‘Arrow’ – Episode 7 – “Muse of Fire”

Arrow was back last night after a week hiatus for the stuffin’-your-face-with-turkey holiday, and it came back strong. In an episode without any island flashbacks, though still managed to make the consequences of Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) time there the focus, we were introduced to Helena Bertinelli (Jessica de Gouw), known to most as Huntress, learned the true identity of John Barrowman‘s “Well Dressed Man,” and finally saw Ollie be honest with someone.

“Muse of Fire,” co-written by DC’s wonderboy, Geoff Johns, picks right up with Ollie trying to mend his broken family ties. On his way to meet his mother, Moira (Susanna Thompson), for lunch Ollie sees her narrowly avoid being shot as the man she was speaking with, an “associate” of mobster Frank Bertinelli (Jeffrey Nordling), is gunned down by a mystery motorcyclist. After first suspecting his mother must have been the target, Ollie decides to investigate Bertinelli thanks to a tip from Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne).

While visiting Bertinelli to discuss “business,” Ollie meets Helena, and it’s like a match made in vigilante heaven. All right, maybe not at first but that’s because these two are awkward as hell. They’re forced to get to know each other when Helena’s father pimps her out to Ollie in order seal their business deal, while he goes and has a secret meeting with China White (Kelly Hu) and the Triad. While on their “date,” Ollie actually has a frank and open discussion with someone about how isolated he’s felt since returning from the island. They bond over their mutual suffering, which for her was having her fiance murdered by her father. Of all people to turn to, he’s opening up to the mob boss’ daughter he met like 2o minutes ago.

But that’s because she’s not just a mob boss’ daughter, Helena is pursuing a crusade of her own. All is revealed when after dinner their both back at the restaurant to bust up Bertinelli’s “associates” who came to harass the restaurant owner for protection money. First in is The Hood closely followed by the mysterious motorcyclist. The motorcyclist quickly shoots the mobsters at which point The Hood steps in for some vigilant on mystery killer action. Well, it’s a mystery until Ollie rips off the biker helmet to reveal, dun, dun, DUN – HELENA! Yeah, it’s not that much of a reveal since we, the audience, knew almost from the beginning she was the killer, but it sure surprises the hell outta Oliver.

But if you’re looking for a shocking reveal, I’ve got one for you. First, let’s check in on the other date happening in this episode, Tommy (Colin Donnell) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy). Yup, they’re moving on from friends with benefits towards something more serious. It’s a move which brings out this great line from Ollie, “That’s good. If you hurt her I’ll snap your neck. Just kidding.” Haha. Yeah, real funny bro, says Tommy as he discreetly shits his pants.

Anyway, on their date Tommy’s credit card in denied and it’s a major blow to his wooing of Laurel. It gets worse when he realizes that’s not all he’s being denies, he’s also been cut of completely from any of his family’s money. This guy’s a trust fund baby, everything he has comes from his father. Which is why he goes to confront daddy only to reveal he’s, dun, dun, DUN – JOHN BARROWMAN! That’s right, his mysterious “Well Dressed Man” is Tommy’s father, Mr. Merlyn. Which is such a ridiculous notion I love it all the more. I have to admit I gasped when he removed his fencing helmet – the only acceptable sport for the villainous elite – even if it’s not at all what I was expecting his role to be.

For their second date, since their first was simply smashing, Ollie and Helena are kidnapped by her father’s thugs as lead thug, Nick Salvati (Tahmoh Penikett), has deduced it was Helena at the restaurant who shot up their men. During Helena and Salvati’s war of words we learn her fiance was killed because a laptop was found with incriminating evidence he had been leaking to the FBI about her father’s shady dealings. Turns out that laptop was Helena’s as she’s been the one confiding to the FBI, to which Salvati admits he’s the one who actually killed her fiance and it’s all her fault anyway. Enough soap opera drama, cue the fight scene. Ollie and Helena easily break out of their zip tie bonds and kick the crap outta these guys. Helena kills Salvati by snapping his neck and saying she can’t let anyone learn her secret. Sound familiar?

Yeah, it’s much the same rational Ollie has used for killing guys in the past, but this time he has the audacity to call her out on it. Dude, double standard! In the end though, it’s this mutual thirst for justice – or vengeance, depending on who you ask – that brings them together. Together in the sense that Ollie likely spent the night at her apartment after their end of episode make out scene. Those Ollie/Laurel shippers must be in tears. And usually, I’d count myself among them but I haven’t really felt the connection between Ollie and Laurel the same way I do between Green Arrow and Black Canary. I dig the possibilities of this Ollie/Helena, and in turn The Hood/Huntress, pairing. The script of this episode was literally beating us over the head with how similar they were, of course they’d seek to confide in each other.

Next week Arrow is back with “Vendetta,” preview below, and it looks like Ollie and Helena won’t only lovers but crime-fighting allies. Tune in Wednesdays at 8pm on the CW.

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Reminder: Deathstroke Goes After ‘Arrow’ Tonight

Last week’s episode of Arrow was a bit of an off-day for the series, mostly because it was concerned with stuffing in a bunch of plot-arc related stuff. On the other hand, we got more Felicity Smoak, Walter Steele turned out to not be such a bad guy after all, Diggle is officially on Ollie’s side now, and the episode ended on a high note with Ollie getting bagged for being Arrow.

All of which leads up to what promises to be a very flashback heavy episode tonight, featuring none other than Deathstroke.

There’s a fairly big hint as to how, exactly, this episode will end for Slade Wilson considering the pilot showed his mask on a pike near Ollie’s encampment and Ollie has been shown to not be terribly shy about killing people with pointy sticks. Also, it’s unlikely Deathstroke will have the healing factor that his comic book counterpart has: This isn’t that kind of show. He may also be Russian, considering the island Ollie was stranded on had a lot of Russkies on it.

That said, it will be interesting to see how ol’ Orange Mask fits into the mythology the show is building, and hey, who knows, maybe he’s not dead. GA in the comics was more than happy to settle for plucking out an eye, so maybe he’ll make it out of the episode alive.

And, of course, there’s the question of how Ollie is avoiding jail now that he’s been bagged by Quentin. We’ll be liveblogging this tonight as usual, so be here at 8pm EST when the fun starts.

The post Reminder: Deathstroke Goes After ‘Arrow’ Tonight appeared first on UPROXX.

REVIEW: ‘Arrow’ – Episode 3 – “The Lone Gunman”

As if this episode’s title wasn’t enough of a clue, one of the many DC characters promised to make an appearance this season indeed has his appearance. Deadshot, Floyd Lawton (Michael Rowe) is in Starling City and is doing what he does best, assassinating from afar with startling accuracy. He’s been hired by the Russian mafia to assassinate businessmen interested in making a bid to buy Unidec Industries, which includes Ollie’s (Stephen Amell) stepfather, Walter (Colin Salmon). Deadshot’s arrival forces Arrow and Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne) to team up, or rather, Arrow to let Lance in on what’s happening and hope the cop will trust him enough to follow through.

Back at home Ollie’s sister, Thea (Willa Holland) is continuing to spiral out of control. Moving on from recreational drug use and binge drinking, the girl is now into larceny. She’s basically the Lindsey Lohan of Starling City. We’re given a glimpse into “Parenting 101 by The Queens” with Moira (Susanna Thompson) and it clearly lacking in the discipline and structure a young debutante needs. While out clubbin’, a very intoxicated Thea lets it slip to Ollie that Laurel (Katie Cassidy) and Tommy (Colin Donnell) had been hookin’ up while he was “dead.” And strangely, Ollie doesn’t seem too shaken up by this which means it’s likely he already had his suspicions.

In the few island flashbacks we’re given this episode we learn that the mysterious archer who last week shot Ollie through the chest was doing so to save his life, though he could have fooled me. He takes Ollie back to his cave and patches him up, but Ollie still misunderstands and tries to escape only to be caught in the trap of another group on the island. No real hint as to who these men are, but once again rescued by the archer the two are on the run.

The arrival of Deadshot gives Arrow something they’ve been lacking from the beginning, an antagonist. Up until now we’ve seen Ollie struggling with himself, with his family, with the police, and the few men he’s ticked off from his list, but there’s been to villain to the series. Deadshot provide that, however briefly, because he’s killed by the end of the episode! I’m sure quite a few fans will be disappointed by that, and I have to admit I was surprised they used him in a one and done story. There’s a hint we’ll see more of him in those island flashbacks, so that’s promising.

I don’t like the look of Deadshot’s eyepiece one bit. It could more easily pass for the kid’s toy version rather than the real deal. It looks cheap is what I’m getting at. And has Deadshot always tattooed his victims names on his body? I don’t seem to remember that bit. Rowe does a nice job with what he’s given, but again, it’s not much. Honestly, the best bit about Deadshot in this episode is when he’s killed by an arrow through eye. Sure, it’s definitely campy but I dug it.

Besides Deadshot we’re also introduce to Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) an I.T. expert working at Queen Industries who Ollie seeks out for some help hacking into Deadshot’s encrypted laptop. It’s a really funny scene wedged into what is a mostly serious episode. In fact, it’s quite refreshing and Smoak seems to be a likely candidate to join up with Team Arrow in the future. She’s cute, funny in an adorable, bumbling kind of way, and she can look passed Ollie’s bullshit. What I’m saying is, I want more.

Someone we do get more of this time around is John Diggle (David Ramsey), Ollie’s beleaguered bodyguard. We meet his sister-in-law and learn that his brother was killed while serving as a bodyguard. At one point in the episode he makes a comment to Ollie about appreciating how perceptive he is and it makes you wonder, does he know where his charge goes when he gives him the slip? Well, come the end of the episode there’s no question Diggle knows Ollie is Arrow. During the fight with Deadshot, Diggle is shot by one of his poisoned bullets and Arrow has to rush him back to the “cave.” The episode then ends on the cliffhanger of Ollie, in the Arrow getup without the hood or face paint looking at Diggle as he comes to.

Finally, my favorite moment of the WHOLE episode can be summed up in this .gif set, courtesy of DC Women Kicking Ass and athena606,

That’s right, we get a moment of Laurel kickin’ major ass when she has to save Ollie and Tommy’s butts from a fight at a club. Can we get this girl some fishnets? Like, now, please. Thank you.

“The Lone Gunman” has easily been the most entertaining episode of Arrow thus far. I take it as a good sign the show in settling in and getting comfortable for an extended run, what with the news it was picked up for a full season. Deadshot’s one and done appearance is a little disappointing, but I know they’re bringing in more DC characters so I guess we shouldn’t expect all of them to survive. Amell’s performance as Ollie/Arrow is still very strong and he’s really turning into a likeable leading man.

If you haven’t been catching Arrow now might be the time to jump in. As the show is finding its stride we’re surely going to begin delving deeper into Ollie’s time on the island, his father’s murder, who was behind it, and what Arrow will do once he’s dealt with all those names in his book.

Arrow airs on the the CW Wednesday’s at 8pm.