Thursday, July 10, 2014

Arrow: Small Screen Superhero

After Veronica Mars was cancelled and I gave up on Gossip Girl after Season 2, I largely ignored the CW. I assumed it was a network for angsty teen soap operas that could never interest me. But a few months ago, my friend Rose alerted me to Arrow, a superhero series based on the DC Comics hero, Green Arrow. Admittedly I'd never heard of the character, but I do enjoy my superhero movies, and Rose's recommendation was enough for me to start binging on Season 1 on Netflix.

After Episode 1, I was hooked. The pilot episode of Arrow is a perfect example of how to start a series. It's full of intrigue and drama, and packed with shocking reveals that hint at how much more there is to explore in this world. Our hero is Oliver Queen (the chiseled Stephen Amell), a wealthy playboy who has just returned home to Starling City after being shipwrecked on a Chinese island for five years. His father died in that shipwreck and Oliver returns as a much darker, somber man. Things happened to him in that island, which are gradually revealed in flashbacks over the course of the season, but the key thing is that his father gave him a mission to rout out the corrupt citizens who had failed Starling City. To perform that mission, Oliver sets up an underground lair in a nightclub, dons a hooded costume, and prowls the city with a bow and arrow, delivering vigilante justice.

Of course, there's a romantic subplot with his old girlfriend, Laurel (Katie Cassidy), who may have had a thing with his best friend, Tommy (Colin Donnell), and there's plenty of family drama with his secretive mother and stepfather, and his angsty teenage sister. The entire first season follows a story arc about the Undertaking, a shadowy plot that slowly takes shape as Oliver investigates the circumstances around his father's death and his personal vendetta. Everything culminates in an explosive season finale that seriously impressed me with its scope and the extensive planning that must have gone into setting up this arc over 23 episodes. The writers are not messing around, and this show is clearly crafted with a great deal of care and attention to detail. 

The action on Arrow is expertly choreographed and Stephen Amell's body is a wonder to behold. I do not think he is the best actor on TV, but he is certainly the fittest one. He is constantly having conversations while doing insane exercises and is clearly working hard to embody the physicality of this demanding role. Since his character is merely regarded as a vigilante and has no magical powers, Amell is adept at making Oliver seem so startlingly skilled that he  is worthy of the superhero label. His co-stars also pull their weight and there's a fun mix of dramatic and comedic chops on display to round out the cast and keep each episode interesting. This is certainly a show that could benefit from shorter seasons - the middle episodes do lag somewhat and contain more filler in order to meet that 23-episode quota. But overall, the show delivers solid material that is refreshing, surprising, and entertaining.

Arrow is a show that's made for binge watching. So many episodes end with a cliffhanger that compel you to keep watching. And if the middle episodes start to wear on you, you can just skip ahead to where the action gets interesting again. I've heard great things about Season 2, which just ended in May and apparently featured yet another explosive finale. I don't know when it will be released on Netflix, but I can guarantee I will be following Oliver Queen's latest adventures. I suggest you follow suit.

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