The Legends Continue

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season' on Blogcritics.

New to Blu-ray, DVD, and digital is DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season. A spin-off of fellow CW series The Flash and Arrow, Legends finds a group of misfits, both heroes and villains, who are not notable to history banding together to protect all of time. The Complete Second Season is basically a continuation of the first year, but with several of the team members swapped out. A new set of villains, pulled once again from the two parent shows, helps make the adventure fresh.

I loved the premise of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow from the start, and appreciated many of the characters in the ensemble, but was underwhelmed with season one. Thankfully, season two does much to correct that right away. The first year was saddled with an uninteresting story arc that weighed things down. The Complete Second Season does have an ongoing plot thread, but it travels to many more time periods, takes itself less seriously when it’s appropriate to do so, and deepens the characters, making the show into the fun romp it should have always been.

Not every episode is gold, and sometimes the effects and scale of action have to be lesser than they should be for budgetary reasons. But even some of the duller ones, like “Abominations,” have exciting elements that make the most of the money, like Confederate zombies! Yes, the show plays fast and loose with the premise; plenty of things the characters do or see should change history seriously and they don’t, while minor changes have large impacts. However, the season starts and ends strong, with swashbuckling and adventure, and overall, it’s a pretty entertaining run.

A big part of how much enjoyment The Complete Second Season has to offer are the antagonists. The Legion of Doom is comprised of three previously seen villains: speedster Eobard Thawne (Matt Letscher), who has a very powerful motivation in these episodes; incredibly dangerous magic master Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough); and the always charming Malcolm Meryln (John Barrowman). Even before they are joined late in the game by former Legend Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), they have engaging chemistry that makes one gleefully anticipate every scene they’re in as a group. They set a high bar for season three to live up to.

Less successful is the way the team has changed. While the Hawks were good characters to jettison, Captain Cold’s presence is missed, and too different when he returns on the other side to be comforting. Neither Nate (Nick Zano) nor Amaya (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) are that gripping. The former would have been much more interesting had he not eventually gotten powers. The season suffers from the decreased presence of Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill), though the benefit of his absence is the welcome increased importance of Sara Lance (Caity Lotz). I’d say this mostly makes the makeup of the group a wash, though the chemistry between those around for both years has strengthened delightfully, with Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell) having an especially compelling arc in how he relates to everyone else.

As far as bonus features go, I’d say this release has the minimum needed to be decent, but nothing particularly special. There are a handful of deleted scenes and a fun gag reel. The Comic-Con panel included is from 2016, so not a terrible way to get excited before watching the season, but far less valuable after you’ve seen the episodes, and since its on the last disc, that’s likely when people will view it. It would be far wiser to include the 2017 panel instead, but they did not.

There’s also a featurette on the “Invasion!” crossover between all four CW DC shows, Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl. The Legends contribution to the miniseries is the finale, and the episode itself is pretty good. But the featurette itself seems to be talking about ideas that aren’t fully communicated on screen, and I found the full story to be relatively disappointing. It didn’t quite living up to what I’d hoped for, changing course too much between parts and shifting the makeup of the combined group hourly without satisfying explanation as to why.

Yes, this is a mixed review, but overall, I would recommend DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season. I’d say that just for Victor Garber’s performance alone, but he’s far from the only redeeming quality. This batch was better than the first, and I’m optimistic about where the show will go from here.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season is available now.

Own DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW Today

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow - The Complete First Season' on Blogcritics.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this blog post. The opinions I share are my own.

Once upon a time, two successful television shows, Arrow and The Flash, had a wealth of great, fun recurring characters between them. Unable to devote as much time as the writers would like to these personalities, given that they had lots of main characters to serve, too, it seemed that fans would have to wait impatiently for little snippets of them when they fit into the stories.

A solution presented itself, though. What if a whole bunch of the supporting players were lumped together and given their own team spin-off? And to sweeten the pot, how about add time travel into the mix, opening up a lot more possibilities and setting the story apart so it didn’t run into the continuity of the other series every week? Thus, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was born, an Avengers-style team-up of heroes and villains.

Those chosen are a pretty strong crew. There’s Sara Lance / White Canary (Caity Lotz), Ray Palmer / The Atom (Brandon Routh), Leonard Snart / Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), Mick Rory / Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell), Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) and Jefferson Jackson (Franz Drameh), who together become Firestorm, and a couple of Hawk people that aren’t all that interesting, but are essential to the first Big Bad’s plot. Toss in Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, the man who as seeks their help, and it’s an incredibly ensemble right off the bat.

Barely has the season began when (SPOILER ALERT) the premise is blown apart. Originally, Rip tells these people that they are Legends in his time, and that’s why he’s sought their help. Instead, it turns out that they are forgotten footnotes who won’t be missed if something happens to them. This is a painful twist, but one that makes the following proceedings all the more emotionally moving, as each player suddenly has something to prove to both themselves and the word. It’s a really neat idea.

The season itself, comprised of sixteen episodes on this two-disc set, is a tad uneven. For every really cool event, there’s also a snoozer that no one will care about. But for me, already a fan of the six players and newbie mentioned above, I found the run to be overall quite engaging. There are some heroic sacrifices and emotional moments that make the occasional hokey action sequence or repetitive Hawk flashback worth it. Add in fun crossover cameos and a cool cliffhanger featuring Hourman (Patrick J. Adams, Suits), and this show is definitely worth watching. I am very excited to see where it goes when it returns for a second season.

The extras in this release are good. I like the tour of the Waverider, the ship the troupe travels on, which is a pretty spectacular set that begs for further examination. The history major in me also appreciates the featurette on real-life events, even if I wish it were a little more in-depth. The Comic Con panel is, like on most home releases, shortened considerably, which is pretty disappointing, considering most of us will never get the opportunity to travel to San Diego. Still, it’s nice that some of it is here. There’s also a bit on the character of Jonah Hill, who is much cooler in this show than in the recent film flop, and a gag reel, which many people like.

This means I’m pretty happy with the whole thing, and appreciate that the also-ran of the CW’s DC-lineup (which didn’t quite hit as strongly as the two shows that spawned it) isn’t also the black sheep of the Blu-ray market. I look forward to an even better second season, and if you skipped this one, give it a chance. It’s probably better than you think, superior to most broadcast network television.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – The Complete First Season is available now.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW Aired A Couple Days Ago

Article first published as DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW Review on Seat42F.

 

Thursday, January 21^st brings one of, if not the, most anticipated mid-season premiere on the broadcast networks. DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW, a spin-off combining characters from the popular shows The Flash and Arrow, launches, expanding the comic book universe on the network, and making three simultaneously running series set in the same universe. It’s the culmination of the crossovers that have worked very well for the two shows, and a chance to see some fan favorite characters a lot more often. While Marvel is winning at the box office, DC is dominating the small screen.

The premise of DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW is well publicized, so I don’t mind recapping it here. Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill, Doctor Who, Broadchurch) comes back in time from a bleak future in which Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) is destroying the world. To prevent catastrophe, Rip assembles eight people remembered in history as legends to team up and stop Vandal before his rise to power. These include: Professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber) and Jefferson Jackson (Franz Drameh), who together become Firestorm; the resurrected Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), now the White Canary; Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), a.k.a. The Atom; the immortal Hawkman (Falk Hentschel) and Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee), also known as Chay-Ara and Khufu, who have their own history with Vandal; and the villainous Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller) and Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell), dubbed Captain Cold and Heat Wave because of their weapons.

The group is undeniably fun. By including antagonists alongside protagonists, there is natural conflict and varied motivations. The spectrum runs from the idealistic (Ray) to the in-it-for-themselves (Leonard and Mick), from those seeking redemption (Sara) to those just out for adventure (Martin). Some have a personal stake in the outcome, while others want to prove something to themselves. None stand out as “the” star, all coming from second-fiddle status on Arrow and / or The Flash, making DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW one of the truest, most balanced ensembles assembled.

While not all of the actors are on the level of Garber or Darvill, both fantastic actors, they are well used in these roles. The writers have smartly figured out the characters, and played to the strengths of the individual performers as much as possible. Miller and Purcell are delightfully re-teamed after their stint on Prison Break as brothers, albeit with a totally different chemistry. Overall, it’s a nice assembly.

I wouldn’t say my review of the pilot is quite as glowing as how excited I am about the premise. With expectations high, DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW has a lot to live up to, and while it gets off to a decent start, it still has some way to go.

The main flaw I see is that this series was created when a group of people thought “Wouldn’t it be fun to see ____ together with ____.” It’s a hodgepodge of characters, not at all like an Avengers best-of-their-class team up. This is a great concept, but it takes a lot of skill and finesse to make it work. The first two hours fall just a bit short of that, at times having some really good interactions, particularly between Sara and Leonard, but at other times, feeling more like the idea is better than the execution.

There is hope, however. While the premise seems a bit weak at the start, there is a twist late in the first hour that does a lot to righting the course of the story and making things that seem off make more sense. I can’t reveal what I mean by that, but if you can get through that rocky beginning, it will result in a good pay off. The second half of the pilot, which will air a week later, is much better because of it.

At the end of the day, I remain excited about this show. It has a bit of maturing to do, not hitting the ground running as strong as The Flash did, but with a better start than Arrow’s. The sheer adventure element is so much fun, and I do look forward to the character growth that will surely emerge, as well as the larger scale story that this series is tailor-made to tackle. The CW has very valuable property on their hands with their DC partnership, and I hope they continue to make good use of it.

DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW premieres Thursday, January 21^st on the CW with the first half of the two-hour pilot.

ARROW "Haunted" By Canceled Hero

Article originally written for Seat42F. 

 
It seems like Oliver (Stephen Amell) is no longer “Haunted” by his past on this week’s ARROW, as he finds a way to get along with everyone. This is a great example of how he’s changed, and how being in a relationship with Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) has made him softer, in a good way. But not everyone is so lucky, as two dead characters destined for a 2016 spin-off deal with the aftereffects of their deaths in various ways, and a canceled DC television character crosses over.

Let’s start with Sara (Caity Lotz), who is on the loose and murdering people. Her bloodlust has her targeting Thea (Willa Holland), which makes sense because Thea killed her, even if Thea wasn’t in control of herself at the time. A run-in between the two leaves Thea hospitalized and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) feeling bad. But in the end, Oliver (with help) is able to catch Sara, and has a plan to restore her soul.

Enter John Constantine (Matt Ryan, Constantine). Having met Oliver in yet another pointless flashback, Oliver gets the hero who communes with the supernatural to come to Star City and help him rescue Sara’s soul. Constantine is a fun character who effortlessly slides into “Haunted,” serving an actual purpose, his appearance anything but gratuitous. Given ARROW’s penchant for touching the other side from time to time, I think Oliver should keep Constantine’s number handy, even though it seems a little weird he hasn’t been called or mentioned before. I feel like he needs an arc, not just a guest spot.

In the Constantine sequence, we see Oliver getting along with the abrasive man, giving him warm thanks for his help, even though Constantine isn’t exactly behaving in a manner that would trigger warmth. We also see fuzzy moments between Oliver and Thea, and while Oliver and Laurel have it out regarding Laurel secretly bringing her sister back, Oliver brokers peace between them. Oliver even shoots down a political strategist’s (Parker Young, Suburgatory) advice to stand by Laurel. So “Haunted” proves Oliver’s transformation from cold dictator into understanding team player is complete.

Laurel and Thea also have a little moment when Laurel says losing Thea would make bringing Sara back not worth it. Thea and Laurel have been acting like sisters, and it’s satisfying to see Laurel does have a limit as to what she will do for her soulless sister.

Now the question is, how will restored-soul Sara and Thea deal with their bloodlusts, and is this something that can be cured? Obviously, Oliver won’t let them kill people to work out their feelings. How can he help them stop it once and for all? Maybe Constantine can help? But if so, why isn’t he asked in “Haunted”?

Speaking of people back from the dead, Curtis (Echo Kellum) decodes Ray’s (Brandon Routh) message and it turns out the former CEO is alive! He doesn’t give Felicity clear instructions on how to find him yet, but it’s nice to know another favorite character will be coming back, if only briefly before heading to the Legends of Tomorrow spin-off with Sara. How Felicity can save him is put off for another day, but as I said last week, I’m digging her solo plots this season. And I love her speaker voice.

The final subplot of the week involves Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne) obtaining Diggle’s brother’s file from Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough). The file says Dig’s bro wasn’t as noble as Diggle (David Ramsey) believes. Is Darhk possibly lying and forging evidence? It doesn’t seem so. But I do wonder why Darhk handed over this paperwork. Is he just trying to get Diggle to stay away, one less distraction for Darhk?

“Haunted” is a decently solid episode of ARROW. As usual, the flashbacks are wasted screen time, but it’s cool to see Constantine survive beyond his short-lived series, and I’m very happy with the
interactions between the core characters of late. It’s about time they have some happiness and harmony, even if I’m sure it’ll be short-lived.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.

ARROW is Not "Beyond Redemption"

Article first published as ARROW Review "Beyond Redemption" on Seat42F.

Arrow -- "Beyond Redemption" Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen -- Photo: Diyah Pera/ The CW

No one on the CW’s ARROW is “Beyond Redemption,” or so it seems in this week’s installment. Captain Lance (Paul Blackthorne) doesn’t approve of Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) plan to run for mayor of Star City, even though it’s Lance’s own noble nature that has prompted Oliver’s actions. It’s Lance, however, who is ashamed when Oliver uncovers more than one secret about the city’s police force. Yet, by the end of the hour, all is happy and as it should be in the world.

“Beyond Redemption” begins its upbeat run by introducing the new lair, secreted beneath Oliver’s campaign office, former site of a villain’s own democratic activities. With Diggle (David Ramsey) and Oliver back on good terms, it’s satisfying to see the crew settle into their new digs, funded by Palmer Tech (at least until the board revolts and kicks loose-money Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) out of the CEO spot, which is certain to happen before long). This is how fans want to see the cast, one united front, bent to stop the bad guys in the city.

Star City has plenty of crooks, but perhaps none are so surprising as Liza Warner (True Blood’s Rutina Wesley) and her band of vigilante strike force officers, who are making money off the backs of criminals. Lance is shocked and angry to learn about this group, and quickly joins forces with Team Arrow to bring them down. Which they do, appealing to the morality left in Liza, who is a cop for a reason.

Along the way, Oliver and CLance come to an understanding. The revelation that Lance has been suckered into working with Darhk (Neal McDonough) knocks the captain down a few pegs to Oliver’s level. Both men have screwed up, both men are ashamed about it, and both are determined to make up for past wrongs. Lance even intends to turn himself in until Oliver stops him. Finally on equal footing, their bond over this adventure heals the last rift in the central group.

Which is good. If Oliver is going to run for mayor, he needs a united front around him. Other candidates have met with ill fates, and while Oliver is more capable than the others, he still needs the support of his team and the police. Oh, and a bit of help from Thea (Willa Holland), whose trip to Nanda Parabat seems to have had the desired effect, as she’s bright and ready as the campaign manager, doesn’t hurt.

Unfortunately, there is one slight hiccup in “Beyond Redemption.” The Sara (Caity Lotz) that Laurel (Katie Cassidy) brings home to Captain Lance doesn’t seem to be the same Sara that died. This one is feral and creepy. Not to mention, Oliver and the others aren’t aware of what Laurel and Thea did. And Sara escapes. But that’s all strife for another installment of ARROW, not this one.

In the B story this week, Felicity resists Curtis’ (Echo Kellum) attempts to unlock Ray Palmer’s final message. I understand Felicity’s reticence, but clearly Ray is not going to give her a choice. Her haywire phone is due to his tech, and it would not surprise me if the problems with the power in the new lair are related, too. Ray wants to be heard, and with Curtis determined to help him, he will be.

When is Curtis going to be brought onto Team Arrow? Don’t get me wrong, it does feel like ARROW lets too many people in on the secret too quickly, and it’s nice for Felicity to have a life apart from the group. But Curtis is way too helpful and observant to be left on the sidelines for long. He is going to join up, probably sooner rather than later, and I think the writers have drawn it out enough.

“Beyond Redemption” has a few minor flaws, such as Oliver’s easy catch of Liza after she shoots down one of his arrows with far less warning, and the fact that ARROW still insists on showing flashbacks to Oliver’s time before the series. Other than that, though, this is a feel-good, action-packed installment of the enjoyable series.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

The "Restoration" of Team ARROW

Article originally published as ARROW Review "Restoration" on Seat42F.

Arrow -- "Restoration" Pictured: Steven Amell as Oliver Queen -- Photo: Diyah Pera /The CW

Team ARROW is in need of a “Restoration,” and they get one in this week’s installment on the CW. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) tries to bring Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey) back together. A new villain might just help her along, though also exposes her secret to yet another person. Meanwhile, Thea’s (Willa Holland) quest for help and Laurel’s (Katie Cassidy) mission to bring her sister back to life don’t go as either of them expected.

Team Arrow expands rapidly over the years. While it starts as just three people, several others are let in on the secrets as time goes on. It’s gotten to the point where it seems like just about anyone can find the lair and figure out who is on the team.

Take Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum). Just introduced as an employee of Felicity’s, he already gets into the headquarters and learns that Felicity is connected to Star City’s costumed vigilante. Now, Curtis’ discovery is due to mistakes that Felicity makes, so he can’t really be blamed. But it still seems like everyone important finds out sooner or later, usually sooner. I suppose this means Curtis will be sticking around, at least for a little while, which in his case is welcome news.

I like the separate life “Restoration” shows us for Felicity. As ARROW has gone on, her character has gotten more and more development. Seeing her as a CEO with her own activities apart from the others is gratifying. I was beginning to wonder how she balances everything, but with a base just downstairs from her job, a busy boyfriend, and being more than capable of herself, any lingering doubts are laid to rest as we see her in action this week. Though, it might get harder, depending on where the new command center will be.

Felicity even manages to survive an encounter with the metahuman villain Double Down (JR Bourne, Teen Wolf)! Now, it’s only by accident that she makes it out alive, but still, her life has become colorful, indeed!

Oliver and Diggle have a rather tame time by comparison. It does feel a little too easy, the way they come back together when Oliver almost literally takes a bullet for Diggle, but it’s needed. The tension between them has gone on long enough, and ARROW needs to move on. “Restoration” gets a little hokey in doing so; connecting Diggle’s query, Mina Fayad (Carmen Moore, Blackstone), to Oliver’s foe, Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough), seems way too convenient. But at least “Restoration” dispels with the drama and gets the show back to where it needs to be.

One thing ARROW is doing better and better these days is balancing characters. In the Laurel / Thea plot, the two travel to Nanda Parbat in order to seek a cure for Thea’s bloodlust and bring Sara (Caity Lotz) back to life. In Nanda Parbat, the two girls have their own very personal motivations, which somewhat clash with Ra’s (John Barrowman) and Nyssa (Katrina Law). Yet, all four intermingle their through lines nicely, combining events where they need be, but still making all feel authentic to who they are. It’s a delicate dance that is handled more deftly than some of ARROW’s other interweaving threads, such as Diggle and Oliver’s part of “Restoration.”

Ra’s brings Sara back to life not for Sara nor Laurel’s sake, but for Thea’s. He genuinely is trying to be a good dad and help her. Giving her prey to kill doesn’t work, so maybe bringing a friend back will. I don’t admire Ra’s method of assistance, but one has to admit that he is definitely devoted to his daughter and past the point of just using her.

Now that Sara’s back, all sorts of possibilities are on the table for the former Black Canary. Obviously, Thea’s bloodlust is just a taste of what Sara will go through. But we know Sara is destined for the mid-season spin-off, so her recovery time is finite. I’m not sure where ARROW will take her over the next couple of months, but I’m anxious to see and happy to have her back.

ARROW isn’t a perfect show, and some parts of “Restoration” don’t quite make sense (not to mention the nearly useless flashbacks). Yet, overall it’s fun to watch, and it does a good job keeping the audience engaged. The longer it goes on, the smarter the writing seems to get, and I greatly appreciate that.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

"Canaries" Sing on ARROW

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 13 Canaries on Seat42F.

This week’s Arrow on the CW is appropriately named “Canaries” because it features scenes with the two Canaries, Sara (Caity Lotz) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) throwing down. But the excellent episode is so much more than that. It also finds Oliver (Stephen Amell) trying to rejoin a group that has moved on without him, sees the return of an old foe, and exposes a couple of key secrets to important characters that have been kept in the dark too long. In short, it’s heavy on the serial storytelling and has some very dramatic moments.

Without Oliver, Diggle (David Ramsey) assumes a mantle of leadership that allows Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), Roy (Colton Haynes), and even Laurel to make their own decisions. Oliver’s non-democratic reign is over, and that’s how it must be because no one can adequately replace him. After this taste of a new way, though, no one wants to go back into the box Oliver tries to place them in, and that throws Oliver off, who assumes he can just come back in and pick up without missing a step. The dynamic of Team Arrow is off in “Canaries” and a new one must be forged.

It’s gratifying to see Oliver quickly relent to what the others are doing. A year or two ago, he would not have done so. This was his mission, and the others were simply supporting him. Now, they are on their mission, and he is only one of many components, not the component that the others revolve around. Oliver could easily get angry at having lost what he dedicated himself to, but instead sees the value of the others and doing things their way for a change, and so (mostly) readjusts. He’s a little slow to switch from protector to teammate with Laurel and Thea (Willa Holland), but at least he’s trying.

Oliver’s reaction may not be expected, but even more surprising is how Thea takes the news that Oliver is the Arrow. Oliver long expects her to be mad that he’s keeping secrets, and Diggle firmly advises Oliver not to tell Thea, lest he lose his sister. But Thea is more mature than she once was, and she sees that this particular secret, unlike the others in the past, is for a good reason. She is grateful to Oliver for protecting her and the city, and happy to know the truth.

Both of these things are happy, easy resolutions to conflict, which is not what hour-long television shows usually do. Most programs will seek to draw out the fights between characters because dramas need drama, and that’s fair. Watching ARROW make the opposite choice throws me off a bit, in a good way. It shows this series isn’t stuck in entrenched paths and will find its own way. Plus, ARROW has plenty of stuff for the characters to fight against and fight about without making everything a chore. Our heroes have been through enough, and they deserve this break, as do the emotionally drained viewers.

A consequence of Thea learning about Oliver is that her eyes are opened concerning Malcolm (John Barrowman). Knowing Malcolm has long been aware of Oliver’s secret persona casts new light on his motivations, and helps Thea see Malcolm as the others do. He is no longer someone she is loyal to, which is a relief. Thea will work with him reluctantly because Oliver convinces her they need Malcolm, and because she is almost killed. But the daddy / daughter days are done.

One reveal that does not go so smoothly is Laurel finally coming clean to Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) about Sara’s death. Her father isn’t angry, as she imagines in a terrific scenes under the influence of Count Vertigo’s (Peter Stormare) drugs. Instead, he’s broken, Blackthorne wonderfully conveying the pain of a man who has lost his child twice. Even better is when Quentin gives Laurel an out to the truth, letting her know he knows she’s taken up the Canary mantle, but she bravely pushes on to the full story, as she should have done months ago. This is the natural ending to the arc, and it is incredibly moving.

Lots about “Canaries” goes right. While the fights between Laurel and Sara are a little tame because they are so one-sided, I find it hard to find fault with the rest of the hour. ARROW clearly knows what it is and the writers get these characters’ voices. The story is consistently interesting and surprising, and where there are plot holes, they tend to be small ones. Now, if only they would ditch Oliver’s persistent flashbacks, which dare I say seem close to the end, this series would really jump near the top of my favorites list.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

"Midnight" For ARROW

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 11 Midnight City on Seat42F.




The CW’s ARROW continues a harrowing plot last night in “Midnight City” as those left in Starling try to make up for the presumed-dead Arrow (Stephen Amell). This is easier said than done, though, as powerful villain Brick (Vinnie Jones) has crippled the city and frightened the mayor (Christina Cox), and not every new costumed vigilante is up to snuff yet. Will Oliver return to save the day before it’s too late?

I think the best thing “Midnight City” does is expose Laurel’s (Katie Cassidy) weaknesses as the Black Canary. She hasn’t been training that long, nor does she go through the experiences Oliver and Sara (Caity Lotz – whose voice returns!) do. Arsenal (Colton Haynes) and Diggle (David Ramsey) have spent more time on the job, but even they’re not up to the same level as Oliver and Sara were, so it’s nice to see Laurel isn’t, either. Better for ARROW to take its time developing its next hero than to unrealistically rush in.

And develop, she will. This week’s episode finds several members of the team struggling to carry on. Laurel has plenty of self-doubt. Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) has quit because she’s so discouraged. But with Brick doing what he’s doing, someone has to step forward. So the series lets our main players wonder if they’re cut out for this kind of life, but then they recommit themselves to it because someone has to and they realize they stand the best chance of anyone in the city to do so.

Felicity should also calm a bit when she decides to help Ray (Brandon Routh) finish his super suit. Ray may not be ready to take on any baddie too big, but he does have some of the same qualities that many of the rest on the team do. If they aren’t up to Oliver’s level, their strength can come in numbers by adding another capable person to the mix. As we see in “Midnight City,” Laurel can afford to stumble if Arsenal has her back. Ray should help with this.

Of course, there are more people to watch out for than even Team Arrow knows about. This week, it is revealed that Chase (Austin Butler) is working for Maseo (Karl Yune) and the League of Assassins. That certainly explains his interest in Thea (Willa Holland), though she deserves someone genuinely attracted to her. But it also leaves a big question mark in what Chase’s intentions are and what he is prepared to do.

Maseo is a shady character. He rescues Oliver, sure, and that makes him somewhat noble, repaying Oliver for the past. However, Maseo also still works for The League. And while he’s willing to kill some of his fellows if it endangers Tatsu (Rila Fukushima), his ex-wife, and himself, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have any loyalty left towards his employer. This arc is far from over.

It’s nice to see Thea stand up to Malcolm (John Barrowman) using his own words against him. That’s a strong sign she has not turned into his puppet, and may not listen to him at a crucial moment when she shouldn’t.

As if all of the action isn’t enough, major emotion comes into “Midnight City” when Quentin (Paul Blackthorne) hears that Black Canary is back in town. Naturally, he assumes it’s Sara, as he still doesn’t know that Sara is dead. Laurel goes to great lengths to keep him believing this, with assistance from Felicity in mimicking Sara’s voice. I don’t think it’s smart to keep stringing this out because Quentin is going to learn eventually and then be even more upset with Laurel for keeping it from him. But the reasons behind Laurel’s actions are pure, and it’s very moving to see how faking it affects her.

What ARROW is doing well is building large mythology and big arcs. Even this week’s flashbacks are more tolerable because they seem even more relevant to the present than most. At a time where some serial shows are disappointingly shifting more procedural (I’m looking at you, Sleepy Hollow), it’s nice to see a show go the other way, as it makes for a far more compelling story.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

ARROW Remembers "Sara"

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 2 Sara on Seat42F.

As is appropriate for an hour that spends most of its running time mourning the death of a character, this week’s installment of the CW’s ARROW, called “Sara,” is named after the deceased. Sara’s (Caity Lotz) murder rocks the entire team, and they begin searching for whoever killed her. How they go about this varies depending on the individual, and while the culprit has not yet been found, they do manage to take down another assassin in the process.

Sara will be missed. While never a main character, she is a big part of the mythology. I’m sure we’ll see her again in flashbacks, but until then, it’s with sadness that we think of her, no longer a part of this group of heroes. Viewers want to know who took her out almost as much as the characters do.

Being the title character, Oliver (Stephen Amell) gets the most focus in “Sara.” Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) accuses him of being unfeeling, but that dialogue makes absolutely no sense because Oliver is definitely, obviously, greatly affected. He might channel those emotions into rage and his work, but his single-minded determination should be enough to show that he’s not himself to anyone paying attention, and thus, the scene feels out of place and poorly constructed.

Sara’s death also leaves Oliver reaching out for family, which is understandable. Losing someone makes one re-examine their priorities, though one wishes that would drive him to Felicity, which it does not. Oliver misses Thea (Willa Holland), and so tries to get in contact with her, which is difficult, though Roy (Colton Haynes) eventually reveals why.

Thea is off becoming bad-ass under the tutelage of her father, Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman). One wonders just how she becomes so skilled at combat in half a year, but it’s nice to see her do something other than stand around and whine. This could definitely be the beginning of a new, improved Thea Queen, and that will be nice to see on ARROW.

Back to Sara. Felicity, for her part, lets the tears flow. She is also prompted to make a major life decision, taking a job from Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), who, let’s be honest, leaves her little choice when he buys the tech store chain she works for. Still, it’s a conscious decision for Felicity to join Ray in his office, her old stomping grounds, and one can assume she leans towards him because he’s offering compassionate comfort, as opposed to Oliver, who is icy cold. Though, as stated above, her accusations towards Oliver are unfair, so while Ray may have more of what Felicity is looking for in a man’s reactions, she shouldn’t mistake Oliver’s lack of blubbering for a hard heart.

Diggle (David Ramsey) also changes direction, deciding to stay with Team Arrow. This makes sense, wanting to help avenge a friend. He may still retire to spend time with his family eventually, but it would be callous of him not to offer to help when many people he cares about are reeling. Though it’s a little strange how it is just tossed in that his baby is now named Sara. It sort of works, but feels a little off.

Laurel (Kate Cassidy) reacts the strongest, of course, furious at being unable to help her sister. In pursuing leads, she breaks the rules and probably should realistically be fired, even if the witness to the worst of her actions is dead. This is a dangerous, destructive path for Laurel, and while one might understand why she does what she does, it’s not sustainable, nor is it good for her. It’s almost as bad as the alcoholism, which, thankfully, she manages not to slip back to.

Why doesn’t Laurel tell their father, Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), about Sara’s passing? She may want to protect him, but surely it’ll be worse if he finds out later that she is hiding it from him. He has a right to know the truth. Instead, she offers no explanation to Quentin about her behavior, and he is far too forgiving of it.

“Sara” has some very uneven handling of personalities, as pointed out in the above paragraphs. Grief makes for great drama, and there is some of that in ARROW, but it seems like some choices are made for the sake of easiness and don’t quite work for the characters. I wish just a tad more care had gone into writing this episode, rather than forcing some decisions that just don’t quite make sense. It’s a good installment, not a great one, which it should have been.

Nor does the decision to have a flashback where Oliver is assigned to murder Tommy (Colin Donnell) seem like a solid one. I guess this is another type of grief shown here, but it doesn’t really fit all that well in the larger plot, and highlights once more why ARROW should ditch the constant backstory. It’s not necessary to have it every week. Though it is nice to see Tommy again; that goes without saying.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

ARROW Anything But "Calm"

Article first published as ARROW Review Season 3 Episode 1 The Calm on Seat42F.

The third season premiere of the CW’s ARROW certainly starts in, as the episode title suggests, “The Calm” before the storm. But that storm picks up in no time, ripping apart the worlds of a number of main characters, and leading to some huge developments. This first installment of season three cannot be called boring, and it sucks viewers right back into the superhero world in moments.

“The Calm” delivers something fans have being waiting a long time for, especially this past summer: Oliver (Stephen Amell) asks Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) on a date. He has resisted love before because of the danger of his position. He is with Sara (Caity Lotz) for a time, but she’s a superhero, too, so can take care of herself and is in danger with or without him. But seeing Diggle (David Ramsey) happy in a relationship, awaiting the birth of his baby, Oliver decides to take a chance and takes an eager Felicity to dinner. He asking her out and the date are probably the best scenes in the hour, with great dialogue and goofy googly eyes.

Of course, this being ARROW, there is no time for niceties. The new pair hasn’t even begun their meal yet when a new Vertigo (Peter Stormare, Prison Break, 22 Jump Street), taking up the mantle for the fallen Count, attacks, blowing up the restaurant and hurting Felicity, though thankfully not seriously.

This makes Oliver pull away. After all, his fears are confirmed now, right? He can’t be with Felicity without her getting hurt. She resists the breakup (if you can call it that). Oliver doesn’t help matters when he kisses her, insisting he loves her, and it takes Felicity’s strength to pull away, knowing if Oliver can’t fully commit, she doesn’t want him. This is a complicated romance, as they both care about each other and will still have to spend lots of time together, but Oliver is holding back, preventing them from being happy. He needs to realize that Felicity understands the risks and is a grown woman who can make her own choices. Otherwise, shippers watching at home will just keep growing more frustrated. It’s 2014. Other shows are letting their leads get together. Come on, ARROW!

The other consequence of this attack is that Oliver makes Diggle sit out a mission. At first Diggle is furious, but after seeing his baby born, his priorities change. He and Oliver remain friends, but it seems the bodyguard is leaving the team, or at least staying in the office. It’s a tad regrettable and surely temporary, but it’s also easy to see Diggle’s perspective. He’s not a superhero.

If Oliver doesn’t act to be with Felicity soon, he’s likely to lose her to another suitor. Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh, Chuck, Superman Returns) blows into town, quickly flirts with Felicity, then takes Queen Consolidated with his plan to make Starling City a ‘Star City’ that people want to live in again (the population has shrunk due to the events of the past two seasons). He is smooth and charming and smart and definitely likes the blond genius. Might he steal her heart? And if he does, will he take care of it, or will he turn out to be yet another villain with an agenda? I like that we don’t know, ARROW teasing us with a bit of mystery.

I love Routh, a magnetic performer, and this is a great role for him. It’s good to see him still getting work after his own superhero film didn’t do so well. This reminds me a bit of his part in Chuck, which is why I’m suspicious of the character. But any chance to get him on screen this way is welcome.

Oliver has other romantic options, too. Sara returns in “The Calm,” just in time to help take down the new Vertigo. But her triumph is short-lived when, after nice conversations with Oliver and Laurel (Kate Cassidy), she is killed by an unknown assailant, body falling in front of her sister’s feet. So I guess Oliver doesn’t really have other options.

Sara’s death is shocking. While not a main character, she is a staple of ARROW, and her passing will certainly rock many people, from her ailing father, Quentin (Paul Blackthorne), who is trying to support The Arrow and do his job with a condition that should make him slow down, to Laurel, who is on a crusade against crime and doing well, to Oliver, whose fears about being with someone will only be further reinforced. Plus, the rest of the characters know her, too, so there will be a variety of ways to represent that grief in next week’s installment, “Sara.”

Of course, ARROW is always flashback heavy. This week’s scenes in Hong Kong are pretty forgettable, as much of the backstory stuff is. However, toss a dead Sara back into this stuff and it will suddenly be reinvigorated. I think the writers are smart enough to make that happen, going by executive producer Marc Guggenheim’s recent comments.

There is also a Barry (Grant Gustin) cameo that is completely unnecessary, but no one will ever accuse ARROW and The Flash of not taking advantage of cross-promotion when they can, which is hard to blame them for. The Flash is definitely a show worth watching, too, with a different flavor than ARROW, but just as action-packed.

“The Calm” leaves a lot of hanging threads. Quentin has stopped the police force from hunting Arrow, but how long can he remain in charge, given his condition? Will crime make a comeback in the city after Team Arrow has stomped most of it out (spoiler: yes)? Can one ever truly kill Vertigo, or will a new baddie keep taking that name and rising up? How will Oliver support himself without a job? How long will Felicity stay at the Best Buy Buy More tech store? Who will die next? It’s a great episode, with a lot happening and much more promised.

ARROW airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

ARROW Has More Than "Three Ghosts"

Article first published as ARROW Has More Than "Three Ghosts" on TheTVKing.

The CW's Arrow ended its fall run with an exciting two-parter, the second half of which aired this week. In "Three Ghosts," Oliver (Stephen Amell) hallucinates people from his past after his near-brush with death. There's no time for rest and recuperation, however, when Brother Blood (Kevin Alejandro) kidnaps Roy Harper (Colton Haynes).

The visions Oliver sees in this episode are a logical development for his character. He is constantly thinking about his past, with much of each episode being set in flashback. It makes total sense that that's where his mind would go when it wonders, even with the surprise final ghost that is as satisfying as it is unexpected. It's just an extension of what we've already seen.

Things take a darker turn, however, when Oliver chooses to save Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) at the expense of Shado (Celina Jade) while trapped on the island. It's an impossible decision to make, two women he cares about being held at gunpoint, and both going to die if he doesn't pick. Ivo (Dylan Neal) is just plain sadistic for putting Oliver in this position, and it's this type of thing that helps one understand why Oliver was so psychologically damaged upon his return to society, explaining why this time occupies his thoughts.

Honestly, I am getting a little tired of this stuff in the past. I understand that it informs who Oliver is, and in "Three Ghosts," it's used effectively. But sometimes it's just another story that doesn't connect much to the present, and when that happens, the installments drags in those scenes. Perhaps this isn't a popular opinion, but as Arrow becomes more and more of a hero, it's time to put the past behind him and move forward with his life. I think this should happen sooner, rather than later, by the end of season two, not seasons five or six.

That being said, it is kind of neat how Slade (Manu Bennett) is revealed as the villain behind Brother Blood, and that's only because we've gotten so much of Slade in the past. He has understandable motivation, blaming Oliver for Shado's death, and apparently he didn't survive the island as well as Oliver did, which is also something one can be sympathetic about, given what we've seen of that place so far. Plus, Slade is a genuine super-powered bad guy because of the injection he received, so he's a formidable foe with a personal grudge, whom Oliver doesn't even realize is in town. And he looks cool with the eye patch, even if the grey hair looks fake. Nice setup for the back half of the year!

As Oliver battles an external force, he also needs to pay more attention to an internal one. No, not whether he should be good or not; his vision of Tommy (Colin Donnell) indicates that that struggle is pretty much over). I'm talking about his feelings for Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), which he is in denial about.

Oliver has plenty of reason to avoid a new relationship. He hasn't been a good boyfriend in the past, which he feels bad about, and people he cares about are constantly in danger. He thinks he needs to focus on the mission, not his personal life. Yet, Felicity knows the truth about Oliver and fights by his side, proving she is strong and worthy. She may consider him out of her reach, he being her boss and the vigilante hero, but she's wrong. Almost no one is as close to Oliver as Felicity, so it's time he paid her a bit more attention. He deserves love, too.

If Oliver doesn't come around, Felicity has Barry (Grant Gustin, Glee) to fall back on. The boy who becomes the Flash at the end of "Three Ghosts," presumably, is definitely interested, and has made that interest known. While Felicity seems a little older than he and they live in different cities, it's not inconceivable she could go to him for his planned spinoff. It would be a loss for Arrow, but as long as Felicity is happy, fans should be happy, too.

Gustin is doing a good job with Barry. Given his evil-ish role in Glee, which was mostly one-note, I had my doubts about his abilities. Yet, in two hours he has established a likeable character who could realistically grow into a crusader to root for. Enough history has been mentioned to provide an origin for his part, and I'm actually really looking forward to the new series, should it go forward.

Oliver's other challenge will be dealing with Roy. Now that Roy has been injected with the super venom, he is vulnerable to Brother Blood and Slade's influence. The extra powers that come with it may make him eligible to be Arrow's sidekick, but it's more likely Arrow will try to do right by Thea (Willa Holland) by continuing to try to keep Roy out of harm's way. Clearly, that is not a choice Roy is willing to live with, and could encourage Roy towards the wrong side of the battle.

Arrow is shaping up nicely in its second year (not that the first was bad), developing its characters further and bringing in nice, big arcs that are well thought out. It has set itself apart from Smallville, which was a concern at first, and it has the elements it needs for a nice, long run, as long as it keeps doing what it's doing. There are few complaints to be found at this point, as while Arrow is somewhat limited by the rules of the format, it does a credit to its particular genre, pushing the boundaries where it can.

Arrow will return with new episodes January 15th on the CW.

Death Valley should die

     What can be said about the new MTV series Death Valley? Not a lot that's good, unfortunately. It is not set in Death Valley, if that's what you're wondering. Rather, it takes place near Hollywood, and follows cops on the UTF (Undead Task Force) who deal with zombies, werewolves, and vampires.

     Yep, that's right, the supernatural featured on many, many, many books, television shows, and movies right now. There is no attempt to explain why these creatures are in this area. Apparently, they've only been publically known for a year, and there is a high concentration of them near Hollywood. Perhaps they came to get revenge on the people who exploit them? That doesn't quite ring true, since they seem to have already become completely integrated into society within that first year, already taking jobs as prostitutes and the like.

     Basically, Death Valley is Reno 9-1-1, but with far more gross gore than necessary, and far fewer laughs. This is a bad combination. Too little gore on a series like this, no problem. But without enough funny to keep viewers tuning in, there doesn't seem to be much hope for a lengthy run. At least in "Pilot," the premise seems like a one note gag that will wear thin very quickly. Only time will tell if this assertion is true, or Death Valley will go somewhere.

     The cast isn't bad. Comic Bryan Callen (MADtv, Oz) leads the crew. John-John (Texas Battle, The Bold and the Beautiful) is appropriately doughnut-obsessed, much to the chagrin of his partner, Rinaldo (Tania Raymonde, Lost). Partners Stubeck (Charlie Sanders, Cedar Rapids) and Billy (Bryce Johnson, Pretty Little Liars) are inept, but come closest to echoing the more successful characters in Reno. Newcomer Kirsten (Caity Lotz, Mad Men) is much more prepared, though inexperienced and undervalued by her teammates.

     In "Pilot," Rinaldo and John-John go to a doughnut shop to confront a zombie. John-John is filling a box with pastries, and thus distracted, allows a sound guy to get bitten. Then they beat the poor man to death with a baseball bat so he doesn't turn. Stubeck and Billy arrest a frequent offender, and end up killing her pimp in the process. Billy is kidnapped in revenge, and Stubeck must trade the dead vampire's body to get his partner back. All fairly standard, but the execution and material is substandard, and thus, the plots fall flat.

     What Death Valley needs is better writing, plain and simple. These actors can handle the humor, but they must be given something to work with. Unless it's just a bad editing job, that falls to the guys who come up with the dialogue. In this, Death Valley is a failure. Or at least the first episode is.

     Death Valley airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m. ET on MTV.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!