Arrow S:04 E:2

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: The Candidate
Original Airdate: 10-14-15

I’m not quire sure what we’re in for with Season 4 of “Arrow.” Increased responsibility definitely seems to be one of the major themes, but I’m not sold that’s the best way to go for a comic book based series.

After three mayors’ death, a Queen family friend (Jeri Ryan) seeks to make an impact to improve Star City. Her candidacy immediately comes under fire (literally) thanks to HIVE operative Lonnie Machin, a vastly different take on the Batman character Anarky. Continue reading Arrow S:04 E:2

Arrow S:04 Ep:01

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: Green Arrow
Original Airdate: 10-8-15

After some ups and downs last season with the whole Olicity and Ra’s al Ghul drama, the season premiere of Arrow had me feeling a lot more optimistic about the direction of Season 4. Even if the ultimate outlook won’t be so cheery for one of the main characters to see Season 5.

There was a lot of intriguing aspects to this week’s kickoff, not the least of which was that Hal Jordan reference at a Coast City bar flashback. Oliver isn’t interested in returning to Starling City since he doesn’t feel whole from his time on the island. Amanda Waller wants to use him as her weapon and forcibly sends him back to the island for a mission. I’m torn as to whether returning to the island is a positive thing, but I’ll let it play out.
Continue reading Arrow S:04 Ep:01

Arrow Season: 03

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Last season ‘Arrow’ had easily one of the best seasons of a TV show I’ve seen as there wasn’t a stinker in the bunch. Going into Season 3 it was already facing an uphill battle as it was trying to match the excellence of its predecessor and stave off competition from a slew of new comic book based shows.

In the end, Season 3 didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It wasn’t the frequent trainwreck that was ‘Gotham’ and wasn’t as inconsistent as ‘Agents of SHIELD,’ but this season never reached that next level that developed so organically in Season 2.  Continue reading Arrow Season: 03

Arrow: S:03, E:23

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: My Name Is Oliver Queen

Original Airdate: 05-13-15

Season 3 is in the books for ‘Arrow’ with the city saved and one surprising death.

I was attempting to figure out why I felt a bit underwhelmed by the season finale and I think in large part I was tired of saying goodbye to Oliver Queen. Continue reading Arrow: S:03, E:23

Arrow: S:03, E:22

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

 

Episode Title: This is Your Sword

Original Airdate:05-06-15

While Season 3 has been a mixed bag since Oliver’s death, I was a huge fan of this week’s show, which finally paid off some lingering storylines and sets up a dramatic season finale. Continue reading Arrow: S:03, E:22

Arrow S:03 E:21

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title: Al Sah-Him
Original Airdate: 4-29-15

Season 3 has had a number of rough patches — Roy’s abrupt departure, the back and forth with Team Arrow missing Oliver, the nothing happening Hong Kong flashbacks — but this week felt like a much-needed step in the right direction as we head to the final two episodes. And with so much happening tonight, it almost seemed like these events in both current and flashback time could have used more episodes to develop.

The big development was Oliver has been fully ingrained as a League of Assassin thanks to a strict brainwashing regiment. Oliver has no remorse and little concern for his old way of life so when Ra’s tests him and Oliver sees a vision of Diggle, Oliver kills him without hesitation. It was presumably a LOA member that got on Ra’s bad side, but you know it’s effective brainwashing when Oliver is killing again.

Arrow - Al Sah-Him - Arrow as Al Sah-HimRa’s sends Oliver to bring back Nyssa so he can eliminate the only rival to his claim as heir to the demon so Team Arrow has to defend their unlikely ally from their former leader. It’s a nice shake-up and I wish there was more time to explore this subplot as Oliver shows no sign of his former self even going so far as to kidnap Lyla to force Nyssa to turn herself in.

I loved how the show worked in Laurel’s Canary Cry. It makes perfect sense and works in the context of the show. Roy’s absence was especially felt this time to the point I wished his exit was saved for the season finale after Team Arrow dealt with Dark Arrow. Fortunately Thea is ready to lend a hand, or arrow to help her friends and send her brother and his new henchmen back to Ra’s with Nyssa in tow. Thankfully Felicity didn’t keep Thea in the dark any longer about Roy still being alive.

The Hong Kong flashbacks finally got some payoff. Oliver, Maseo and Tatsu stop Shrieve’s men from spreading the Alpha/Omega bioweapon, but not before Maseo and Tatsu’s son, Akio, starts showing signs that he’s been infected.

Arrow - Al Sah-Him - Diggle and Black CanaryBack to the present day, Ra’s reveals he doesn’t want Oliver to kill Nyssa. Removing a vial from her sword base, Ra’s instead wants Oliver to marry her — oh and use the recovered Alpha/Omega drive on Starling City. Will Oliver regain his sense before or after consummating the marriage and creating a little Damian Queen?

I’m digging the new status quo even if Team Arrow isn’t and I’m fascinated in seeing what goes down in these final two episodes. Should be a lot of fun!

Arrow S:03 E:20

Posted on by Jeffrey Lyles

Episode Title:The Fallen
Original Airdate: 4-22-15

There was a lot of good moments in this episode that on their own would have resulted in an obvious home-run, but too many decisions from earlier this season watered down what was poised to be one of the season’s most dramatic outings.

The main problem was yet again Oliver was saying goodbye to Felicity and Diggle. This season alone I can think of at least three other instances where Oliver has bid an emotional farewell to an ally and eventually it leads to diminishing dramatic returns when everything reverts to normal an episode or two later.

arrow-the-fallen-oliver-and-ras-al-ghulThis time should be more impactful as since the midseason finale, Oliver has resisted the lure of Ra’s al Ghul to become his heir only to be forced to accept the position in order to save Thea. There’s no turning back and everyone knows it, but a lot of the emotional sting was absent as we’ve been here too often this season.

Still, the actors delivered some of their best of the season with Amell conveying Oliver’s shock at seeing a bloody Thea, Emily Bett Rickards giving Felicity some fire as she confronts both Malcolm and Ra’s, the overall quiet composure David Ramsey provides as Diggle and Matt Nable shining in easily his best performance.

The Hong Kong flashback was more action-packed despite a lack of anything happening until Oliver fights one of Shrieve’s soldiers and the vial containing the Alpha/Omega compound shatters leading to….? Stay tuned.

arrow-the-fallen-ras-and-priestess

Thea coming back from being brain dead courtesy of The Lazarus Pit was fine, but hopefully there will be more repercussions for her dip in Ra’s “magic hot tub.” Felicity drugging Oliver after they made sweet Cinemax-worthy love (poor Ray) was funny as she reasoned there had to be some secret catacombs they could escape without Ra’s knowing. But in the end, Oliver is a man of his word even when dealing with The Demon’s Head and he agreed to become Ra’s heir.

The final scene of Ra’s branding Oliver with an arrow mark was tremendous as was the closing moments of Oliver Queen being figuratively buried and replaced by Ah Sah-Him, Heir to the Demon.
This wasn’t the sharpest outing, but next week teases some fascinating possibilities for a very fun episode.

The Flash S:01 E:18

Posted on by Bubbawheat

Episode Title: All Star Team Up
Original Airdate: 4-14-15

It’s been a little while since the last crossover, so it’s nice to see the return of Felicity Smoak and the introduction of Ray Parker also known as the Atom here in Central City. And as I haven’t been watching Arrow, I’ve brought in fellow writer here at Channel: Superhero Jeffrey Lyles, our Arrow correspondent to share his thoughts on the episode from Arrow’s perspective. But as for my own thoughts, there was a little bit of television trope tension involving keeping secrets and the tensions that creates between friends and lovers, and it never ends well. But other than that, there’s a lot of fun to be had throughout the episode which is one of the reasons why I love this show so much. There were a few rocky patches, but overall there was much more to enjoy than there was to criticize.
Continue reading The Flash S:01 E:18