
Every fall season, there’s a show that catches a lot of buzz, which also means there is a companion show on the same network that is scapegoated. We’ve been hearing how supertacular awesome Arrow is since May. And how awful Beauty and the Beast is. Well, I forgot Arrow was until after it was halfway in last Wednesday, so I watched Beauty and the Beast first and I really liked it, so I apparently missed the memo on how bad it was supposed to be. I watched Arrow when it reran on Friday, and I liked it, too, but I didn’t think it blew B&B out of the water. Arrow opened really, really strong, and B&B didn’t flop. I hope both shows do well.
Here’s what you need to know if you pick up Arrow with its second episode tonight.
First, this is not Smallville‘s version of Oliver Queen. This Oliver has been missing and presumed dead for five years since a storm capsized the family yacht. Also lost at sea–his dad, the ship’s captain, and his girlfriend’s sister, with whom he was having an affair (awkward).
We pick up with Oliver’s rescue from a remote island by a fishing vessel and his return to his home city, which has faltered in his tycoon father’s absence. He’s happily reunited with his (remarried) mother (the fabulous Susanna Thompson) and younger sister, who’s following in his wild child footsteps.
But Oliver’s carrying a secret about his time away, which is physically marked by scars all over his body. While he doesn’t verbally tip his hat to anyone on screen about his plans, he does tell us via a lot of narration and flashbacks that he’s a changed man from his party boy heir past, empowered by his father’s confession and suicide to right the wrongs inflicted on their city because of his father’s mistakes.
He’s working from a little black book that holds a list of names his father provided before he died. Think of it as Emily Thorne, superhero. He’s not so much avenging a wrong inflicted on him personally as a wrong inflicted on a city.
He seeks his vengeance via archery, hence the title of the show, and per secret superhero guidelines, he sets himself up in an abandoned warehouse where he can monitor his targets and train to defeat them. There’s a lot of athleticism to the role, including parkour and martial arts. Series start Stephen Amell has thrown himself into it completely and he’s very convincing–as the party boy and the wounded warrior.
The other players in Queen’s world are Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), his cuckolded girlfriend who’s anger at him for the affair and grief over losing him and her sister has comingled into a lawyer’s resolve to right the wrongs of the powerful against the weak. She initially reconciles with Queen on icy footing but softens a bit at the end. he of course then he goes Defcon 5 to convince her he’s still a dick before she surmises otherwise.
While he was away, she dallied with Queen’s best friend, Tommy. It seems more hook up than relationship on her side whereas Tommy’s view is probably the opposite, so that’ll get complicated soon enough. And Queen doesn’t trust his friend enough to show him what he’s doing (yet).
On the law side of the house we have Laurel’s dad, a detective played by Dresden Files‘ Paul Blackthorne. His partner is Roger Cross. In a neat nod to our friends who’ve seen Continuum, Cross is on the right side of the law here while Continuum‘s police captain, Brian Markinson, is a noxious Trump type and Queen’s first target on Arrow.
The show shoots in British Columbia and I’m 99% sure the exteriors of the Queen homestead were shot at Smalliville‘s Luther Manor (hee). In the pilot, they also use the city of Vancouver and the landscapes around it to great advantage. I like my Vancouver-based shows even better when they use everything the city has to offer. If Twitter is any indication, we’re also in for beaucoup guest start action. Already on tap are BSG‘s Tahmoh Penikett and Alphas‘ Warren Christie and tonight, Kelly Hu.
By the end of the pilot, Queen has stolen and disbursed $40 million from his first target and dodged a supposed kidnap attempt that was really a cover for an interrogation to find out what his dad had told him. And the dun dun DUN moment was that his dear mom was behind the whole thing.
So there’s your setup. I liked the episode. I didn’t run it back and watch it again but I can see it growing on me. This may be one that I bank on the DVR and marathon on a weekend. If you missed the pilot, you can catch it online at the CW.com.
Arrow airs at 8 pm/7c on Wednesdays on the CW (part of a hot boy twofer followed by Supernatural at 9 pm/8c).
–Heather M.
Heather M
Related posts
Classics
John Griffin and Harold Perrineau Talk From on EPIX Season 1 Finale
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] How are we doing, #FROMily? In case you missed it this morning, the very good news is that that cliffhanger will be followed by a second season, which was gifted this morning ahead of the linear broadcast of the finale. I always legitimately appreciate when we…
Elizabeth Saunders Talks EPIX’s From
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] One of the things that makes EPIX’s From such a fun ride is the abundance of Canadian cast members. Elizabeth Saunders, who plays Donna, is a favorite from her turn on the third season of Mary Kills People, which US audiences still have not been able…
Corteon Moore Talks From “Broken Windows, Open Doors”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight’s episode of From had us all in our feels as we learned through flashbacks about the Sophie’s Choice Boyd had to make to save his son, and back in the present as Boyd said his piece with Ellis before heading into the woods with…
Pegah Ghafoori Talks From “All Good Things…”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode] Tonight on From, Fatima’s anniversary celebration turned into a Colony House of horrors when a misguided Kevin let his monster bae in and she promptly killed him and left the window open for her crew. While the party devolved into terror and sent everyone running,…
Shaun Majumder Talks From “Book 74”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight on EPIX’s From, Father Khatri made a bold move, kidnapping Sara instead of turning her in, and then recognizing her as a vessel for some big messages. That startling realization speaks to him on multiple levels–as a man of faith, a man trapped in…
Avery Konrad Talks About Sara’s Struggle in From “Silhouettes”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Over the course of the season so far on From, we’ve witnessed Sara’s battle against the voices telling her to to do terrible things, and tonight we saw her unravel further, threatening the Matthews and lashing out in a moment of terror with horrifying results….
Hannah Cheramy Talks From “Choosing Day”
[Warning: Spoilers for tonight’s episode.] Tonight, on EPIX’s From, the Matthews participate in the show’s version of the sorting hat, choosing where to call home–the town or Colony House. At the end of the episode, Julie makes the decision to split from her family and instead settle in with Fatima…
Ricky He Talks From “The Way Things Are Now”
[Warning: Spoilers for episode 102 of EPIX’s From.] Epix’s new series From is two episodes in and it’s already laying the groundwork for a seriously spooky season. Tonight’s episode demonstrated the careful balance of relief and horror that the show hits, with our characters’ worst fears realized, just not when…
Catching Up with Ted Lasso and Previewing Season 2
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] The not so dirty little secret about how I approach a new series is that I sometimes make a call based on the headspace I’m in at the time. It’s been a minute since I’ve picked up a show after the first season and then binge…
Interview: Henri Esteve on Grown-ish Season 3
An interview with Henri Esteve, who plays Javi on Freeform’s Grown-ish. He talks about his season three experience.
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…