Arrow Season 1 Meme -- Island, Vigilantism, Vertigo, Deathstroke, Dark Archer, & So Much Epicness!!
A year ago I dropped Arrow because of the two many similarities between several live action mediums from Dexter to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Over the course of the summer I had several friends tell me I should revisit the show again since it got better as the season went along. I kept have this nagging thought that perhaps I should revisit it, and just forgo the similarities. I realized after watching Arrow again this month that I had to let go some of that similarity notion, and just go along for the ride. Due to that I really started to enjoy Arrow a whole lot more, and to keep this show on my DVD status. In the end, I was glad I revisited the show and was impressed with what they did with Green Arrow and the DC Comics mythology. Now if only the blasted live action DC Comics movies could follow suit.
Favorite Episodes: Pilot, An Innocent Man, Damaged, Muse of Fire, Vendetta, Year's End, Burned, Vertigo, The Odyssey, Dodger, Dead to Rights, Salvation, Unfinished Business, Home Invasion, The Undertaking, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Sacrifice
Least Favorite Episodes: I don't think I have one truthfully. All of the episodes were really good and important to the season's storylines. I just love some episodes more than others hehe.
Favorite Storylines: There were several I really enjoyed and look forward to watching in the second season....
Island Flashback
*Oliver's 1st Year Story -- Transforming from Silver Spoon Playboy to a young man with principles
*Oliver's evolving friendship with Yao Fei, Slade Wilson (Deathstroke), & Shado
*Oliver constantly being a thorn into Fyers' plans
*The formation of Team Island with Oliver, Slade, Shado, & Yao Fei
Present Time
*Oliver's PTSD & Slowly Finding His Moral Code thanks to Diggle and Felicity
*Oliver struggling with his duel identity as "The Hood" and rich kid Oliver Queen
*Oliver finally showing his family and friends he has changed
*The formation of Team Arrow with Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity
*The introduction and redemption of Roy Harper & His need to show "The Hood" his gratitude
*Anything dealing with The Count and Vertigo
* "The Hood" taking people off "The List"
*Oliver's wacky relationship with Helena/Huntress
*The awkwardness of duel identities and secrets between Moira and her son Oliver
*Walter search for the truth and sadly finding it
*The whole backstory surrounding The Undertaking
*Inklings of the Black Canary
Misc. Hated Aspects: There were quite a few....
*Detective Lance's constant irrational anger for Oliver Queen. I understand his hatred for "The Hood", but the whole Oliver thing was quite annoying and tiresome
*Laurel's constant off and on feelings for Oliver perhaps because I just don't see the chemistry between those two *shrugs*
*Couldn't stand Tommy's humor, Oliver jealousy, and intense hatred near the end
*Thea's two steps forward and one step back with Oliver grew tiresome to downright annoying
*The relationship between Tommy and Laurel *yawn*
*There were scenes that were pretty much just alike Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. I don't mind homage, but when the scenes are just like the Nolanverse movie scenes then I get annoyed.
*I was so glad to see....er....or not hear any of Oliver's thought process after the first few episodes. Hearing Oliver's thought process became to be too Dexter Morgan-like and after awhile not needed.
Favorite Couples & Potential Couples: Roy/Thea, Oliver/Shado, Oliver/Helena, Robert/Moira, Diggle/Oliver, Walter/Moira, & Oliver/Felicity
Got So Bored Couples: Laurel/Tommy & Laurel/Oliver
Favorite Friendships: Oliver with Tommy, Shado, Slade, Diggle, Yao Fei, Thea, and Moira & Robert/Malcolm
Favorite Characters: Oliver, Robert, Moira, Malcom, Diggle, Felicity, Slade Wilson, Shado, Roy, Yao Fei, Walter, & Helena/Huntress
Mixed Characters: Thea (writing inconsistency made this character suffer)
Can't Stand Characters: Tommy ('nuff said), Detective Lance (annoying character w/ Captain Stacy envy), & Laurel (shocking!!)
Favorite Villains: Fyers, Dark Archer, Count Vertigo, China White, Chinese Triads, Starling City Mob, Deadshot, Huntress, Firefly, Dodger, The Doctor, The Hitman, & The Savior
Least Favorite Villains: Royal Flush Gang (great in the comics not so much here) & Blackhawk (didn't like they changed the group into villains!!)
What did you think of the season in general? Despite the things I didn't like within the first season overall I really enjoyed the series. There is enough great things about this series you can look over the boring-ness of Tommy/Laurel and Laurel/Oliver. You can look over the inconsistent writing of Thea, but there were moments with Detective Lance I wanted to throw my shoe through my tv screen. Be as that may there is some great consistent storylines with Oliver, Diggle, Team Arrow, Island Flashbacks, Moira, Dark Archer/Malcom, Roy, and The Undertaking. There is some great consistency and quality in the positive things about this series. In other words the positives DEFINITELY out weighs the negatives. Plus having Tommy dead it allows less boring elements in season two even though I did feel sorry for Oliver during Tommy's death scene. Overall, I really enjoyed season one and I look forward to watching season two on DVD next year. I think this is another great show that is better suited to be view on a dvd than week by week.