What happens when a TV producer watches Batman Begins, Lost, and The O.C in a row while eating cheese and then documents the resulting nightmares? You get Arrow, a TV series based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow and it was recommended to me by my blog buddy V. So can we still be friends after watching this? Read on to find out!
Arrow tells the story of Oliver Queen (played by a mostly shirtless Stephen Amell), a billionaire playboy who decides to become a vigilante and rid his home city of crime. Hmmmm sounds familiar. But what differentiates Queen from Bruce Wayne is that he racks up quite the bodycount. Arrows fly everywhere, mainly into the chests of bad dudes making this quite a violent show which helps separate it from other bloodless television equivalents.
Each episode cuts between Oliver’s life in Starling City and his time stranded on a deserted island for five years where he learned all his skills. These island scenes are great but they are given to you in drips meaning there’s more time for the dull, cheesy, One Tree Hill family drama. Which is OK if you can get past the fact that every single person in it is impossibly beautiful but personally I like my entertainment to include some mingers. The soapy parts feature one of the most annoying characters in TV history – Thea, Oliver’s teenage sister. If anyone deserves a King Harold style arrow in the face then it’s her.
Arrow might be slightly uneven tonally but it’s the best bow and arrow shooting entertainment you’ll find. Robin Hood is a mediocre BBC show and Hawkeye from the Avengers is a dull Jeremy Kyle lookalike but Arrow is a fun, watchable piece of silly comic book goodness. It’s essentially The Dark Knight lite and the lead actor is more Chris O’Donnell than Christian Bale but it’s worth watching as it’s the best murderous, vigilante archer show on TV.
Do you watch Arrow? Summer Glau is in the second season so it’ll be cancelled soon. For more superhero chat listen to the all new Screenkicker Podcast for a brief discussion of Spiderman. Enjoy!
Screenkicker! 
I found the show to be fun though slightly annoying. 😉
LikeLike
Yeah it can be annoying but it’s a great show to watch if you’re in bed with the cold and your brain isn’t in a fit state to handle a Scandinavian drama series!
LikeLike
So true, lol.
LikeLike
So I can stop hiding from the pitchforks? HOORAY! You win the internet today for this line: “…personally I like my entertainment to include some mingers.”
Thea is by far the most annoying character on Arrow. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone to die so badly in a TV show. The flashback island parts are great, but you’re right it does get more than a little cheesy at times. I love it though. We still buds then? ;P
LikeLike
You dodged a bullet V, we’re still pals. It was a close call when Barrowman showed up, you should have warned me! I’ve started season 2 now so i’m a convert 🙂
LikeLike
What! How can you not lurrrrvvve The Barrowman! I was surprised to see him in it too, but as a campy villain, he’s so cheesily delicious. 😀
LikeLike
Barrowman is so slimy! It’s safe to say I’m an Arrow addict! Nearly finished the second season
LikeLike
Do you still hate Thea? Apart from my mind being blown over the fact a 17 year old can quit school and manage a nightclub while being underage bugs the crap out of me, I have to say that Laurel is fast becoming my least favourite character.
LikeLike
Haha exactly! Ive always hated Laurel. Also her face seems to be getting longer and longer. I liked Shado 😦
LikeLike
Rumours abound that she had a chin implant. This makes me sad, because I used to have a bit of a lady crush on her.
LikeLike
Don’t understand how anyone can watch a superhero series after the crimes of Smallville…
LikeLike
I was worried about that too and it does fall into a lot of the smallville traps but all the arrow based killing makes up for it. Plus Byron Mann who was Ryu in the Streetfighter movie is in it a bit!!
LikeLike
The show gets better and better, the stuff you like gets done more and the stuff that annoys you gets done less and less. Try season 2 its pretty great 😀
LikeLike
That’s great to hear Tim. I’ve just started season 2
LikeLike
Have fun. Fan of DC comics by any chance?
LikeLike
I’ve always been a Marvel guy but I’ve read a few Batmans. But I much prefer Arrow to Agents of SHIELD
LikeLike
Agents of SHIELD is not in the same league, which is really sad 😦
LikeLike
I actually think I love Arrow now! He’s just got his mask! 🙂
LikeLike
Kick ass! It doesn’t disappoint 😀
LikeLike
I used to watch it but kinda lost interest despite Stephen Amell’s immense hunkiness, ahah. Maybe one day I’ll try to get on it again.
LikeLike
I had the flu so was in bed for a week and just watched the whole first season. It’s good for turning my brain off 🙂
LikeLike
Ha..ha.. well I’ll wait until I’m in the mood to switch my brain off then. Funny that Amell sometimes reminds me of Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne, but without the acting chops.
LikeLike
Agree with your assessment. Love the show, but they do have some hiccups tonally. The lead actor, Stephen Amell, has grown on me significantly. But yeah, he is no Christian Bale. That is not an easy accomplishment.
LikeLike
He’s grown on me too as he’s settled into it
LikeLike
So you have an aversion to John Barrowman eh? hehe. Season 2 is pretty fun too.
LikeLike
Yaaayyy you like Arrow!!! Our friendship stay intact!!!
…Kidding. Mostly. 😉 This show is a current obsession of mine. I’ve found Thea less annoying in season 2, and I adore Felicity. Also, Oliver is pretty. C’mon. You know you appreciate that a tiny bit.
LikeLike
I’m glad thats all it takes to maintain your love!
I actually love Felicity. And if I wanted to see a ripped, muscular torso I’d just take my shirt off! And then cry for a while
LikeLike
I tried watching this but didn’t get far, despite the “mostly shirtless”-ness. Hey – I can’t believe you didn’t comment on the boobies I posted specifically for you so I could live up to my award! ; ) Or maybe you did – I fall days behind on comments! Lol. I love “Summer Glau is in the second season so it’ll be cancelled soon.” Haha! Truth.
LikeLike
Hey Ive literally just commented all over your boobies.
Arrow isn’t usually my kind of thing but I’m trying to expand my horizons away from watching boxsets of The Wire over and over
LikeLike
Not perfect, but not missed an episode yet. Good fun.
LikeLike