Tag: arrow

First Look At Manu Bennett As Deathstroke/Slade Wilson On The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

Courtesy of The Huffington Post TV, we’ve got our first look at Manu Bennett (Spartacus, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) as the popular DC Comics assassin Deathstroke’s alter-ego, Slade Wilson. Episode 13 of Arrow will see the debut of Bennett as Wilson as him and Oliver Queen “form an uneasy alliance on the island of Lian Yu”. 

 

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“Betrayal”: Cyrus Vanch (Anders), a nefarious criminal, is recently released from prison and intends to re-secure his position as leader of the underworld. His first step is to take down his biggest opponent in the city –- Arrow (Amell). Meanwhile, Oliver shows Moira (Susanna Thompson) his father’s notebook and questions her about the names on the list. Thea (Willa Holland) is miserable as she starts her internship with Laurel (Katie Cassidy) at the legal aid office and Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne) makes a deadly mistake that puts Laurel in the crosshairs of Vanch. David Ramsey and Colin Donnell also star. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Lana Cho & Beth Schwartz

Extended Preview Released For ‘Arrow’ Episode 01×12 “Vertigo”

by Shawn Madden

Next week will continue where this week’s episode left off and see Seth Gabel come to Starling City as The Count (aka Count Vertigo). You can totally tell that he has taken some influence from Batman Begins, which the showrunners have stated was a basis for his character, in the performance. Arrow definitely has been improving over time and this looks like it’s going to be one of better stories of the series.

 

 

SETH GABEL (“FRINGE”) GUEST STARS WHILE THEA FACES PRISON TIME — Thea (Willa Holland) is in trouble with the police after she gets caught using a drug called “Vertigo.” Oliver (Stephen Amell) thinks the only way to keep her out of jail is to find the dealer, a man who goes by the name of “The Count” (guest star Seth Gabel). Oliver turns to McKenna Hall (guest star Janina Gavankar), an old flame and current Vice cop, for help. Meanwhile, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) steps in to defend Thea, and Felicity (guest star Emily Bett Rickards) gives Oliver some disturbing news about Moira (Susanna Thompson). David Ramsey, Colin Donnell and Paul Blackthorne also star. Wendey Stanzler directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Ben Sokolowski (#112).

New ‘Arrow’ Promo Photos Released For “Vertigo”

by Shawn Madden

In two weeks Seth Gabel (Fringe) is coming to the The CW’s Arrow  as DC Comics villain Count Vertigo. Word is that Vetigo will be “Oliver’s deadliest adversary to date… He will be truly scary and nightmarish.”  That’s good news, bad news is that we have to wait two weeks to see this episode.

 

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SETH GABEL (“FRINGE”) GUEST STARS WHILE THEA FACES PRISON TIME — Thea (Willa Holland) is in trouble with the police after she gets caught using a drug called “Vertigo.” Oliver (Stephen Amell) thinks the only way to keep her out of jail is to find the dealer, a man who goes by the name of “The Count” (guest star Seth Gabel). Oliver turns to McKenna Hall (guest star Janina Gavankar), an old flame and current Vice cop, for help. Meanwhile, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) steps in to defend Thea, and Felicity (guest star Emily Bett Rickards) gives Oliver some disturbing news about Moira (Susanna Thompson). David Ramsey, Colin Donnell and Paul Blackthorne also star. Wendey Stanzler directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Ben Sokolowski (#112).

Extended Preview For ‘Arrow’ Episode 01×11 “Trust But Verify”

by Shawn Madden

New week Ben Browder (Farscape) comes to The CW’s Arrow as DC Comics character Ted Gaynor. The episode will see Oliver out to take down a member of the Blackhawk Squadron, but this particular target has ties to someone very close to Oliver. Will Oliver stand by his decision or will we see him go head to head with Diggle? We’ll find out next Wednesday!

 

 

TOMMY AND MALCOLM HAVE A HEART-TO-HEART TALK AND OLIVER AND DIGGLE ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER — The next person on Arrow’s (Stephen Amell) list is Diggle’s (David Ramsey) commanding officer and mentor from Afghanistan, Ted Gaynor (guest star Ben Browder). Oliver suspects Ted is responsible for recent armoured truck robberies, but Diggle defends Ted and takes a job at Ted’s security company to keep an eye on him. Oliver decides to make a move on Ted, which puts him at odds with Diggle. Meanwhile, Thea (Willa Holland) suspects that Moira (Susanna Thompson) is having an affair with Malcolm (guest star John Barrowman). Tommy (Colin Donnell) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) have an awkward dinner with Malcolm. Nick Copus directed the episode written by Gabrielle Stanton (#111).

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 10 “Burned”

by Shawn Madden

The CW’s Arrow is back and so is “The Mark”, our weekly rundown of the series. The mid-season break is over and Oliver Queen is back.  Did the mid-season return “heat” up or fizzle out? Well, I am happy to say that things are definitely “heating up” in Starling City. Minus a not-so-action packed finale, with an ending that you didn’t completely expect, it was another solid episode for the series.

 

Burned

 

The episode picks up six weeks after the Dark Archer’s attack before the break and we find Oliver shaken and quite off his game. Well, he’s going to have to get his head in the game because there’s someone going around killing firefighters and it’s a job that seems to be more than the police can handle. Who is it that’s doing this? Well, that would be Arrow-verse version of DC Comics villain Firefly. Oh, come on don’t act like you didn’t already know about that one. It’s a pretty dark introduction to the character and actually one of the best opening’s that the series has had.

 

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The episode also saw the residents of Starling City go from calling the character a vigilante to a hero. After being gone for six weeks, the effect he has had has been seen and they want him back. The hero Starling City deserves, but not the one that’s anywhere to be seen right now? Okay, there’s the one Nolan joke about the series that I will make.

 

Overall it was a solid episode and really expanded upon all of the sub-plots, but did leave a bit to be desired. The action and tension were well done, minus the finale. While I did enjoy the Arrow-verse’s take on Firefly, the character met a demise that seemed way too quick. The finale of the episode lacked a bit in the action department and seemed to kind of “fizzle out” at the end. I did like how Lynns went out, but I definitely would have liked to have seen more lead up to it than we got.

 
Burned

 

The episode did continue leaving me wanting more of the series and there’s plenty to come. Wondering when Roy Harper is going to show up in Starling City? That is going to be Episode 15. Did you want more Deadshot? Well, he’ll be back and teaming up with China White in Episode 16. Want to learn more about the Dark Archer’s backstory? You’re going to and that’s just some of the stuff coming this season. Are you excited to see the rest of the season? We definitely are. Check out the promo for next week’s episode “Trust But Verify” below!

 

‘Arrow’ Set Photos Give A First Look At Colton Haynes As Roy Harper

by Shawn Madden

It was revealed not too long ago that Colton Haynes (Teen Wolf) would be joining the cast of The CW’s Arrow as Roy Harper. Now, we have a first look at Haynes on set as Roy Harper, who will have a recurring role as a love interest for Oliver’s sister Thea.

 

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Arrow returns to The CW January 16th!

Source: VanCityFilming

‘Arrow’ Returns January 16th, Check Out A New Poster!

by Derek Kraneveldt

We’re just a few days away from the anticipated return of The CW’s Arrow (along with our weekly column, The Mark), and the network has just treated us to a sexy new poster.

 

Everyone digs scars right? They fall front and center on Stephen Amell’s ripped, ripped chest in the shows latest advertisement.

 

Are you currently watching Arrow? Does Amell’s body make as many appearances as you’d like it to? How is the rest of the show? Again, Arrow returns on Wednesday, January 16th at 8pm.

 

ArrowReturns

After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.

New ‘Arrow’ Stills From “Burned” Give A First Look At Firefly

by Shawn Madden

This are going to be heating up when Arrow returns on January 16th. “Burned”, the first episode of Arrow  in 2013, will see Oliver Queen go head to head against DC Comics villain Firefly (played by Andrew Dunbar). This version of Firefly is a former firefighter who becomes embittered after being injured in the line of duty.  Check out some stills below giving a first look at Dunbar as Garfield Lynns aka Firefly.

Arrow returns to The CW on January 16th!

Source: Examiner

The Mark: The Four Essential Green Arrow Storylines

by Shawn Madden

Arrow won’t be back until mid-January, which means you have plenty of time for some good ol’ fashioned comic reading. So, we’re going to share the four essential Green Arrow comic book story lines to hold you over until Oliver Queen returns to your small screen.

4. Quiver

Quiver from writer Kevin Smith and artist Phil Hester tells the tale of the return of the original Green Arrow after being thought dead for a number of years. Many want to know just how he survived the plane crash thought to have killed him and just where he has been. Quite possibly one of the most convincing resurrection stories for a superhero.

3. Hard Travelling Heroes Vol. 2

Hard Travelling Heroes Vol.2 by writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams, the team-up between Green Lantern and Green Arrow, also includes one of the most well known of Oliver Queen’s stories “Snowbirds Don’t Fly”. In this we see Roy Harper aka as Speedy, Green Arrow’s sidekick, become a junkie. While the story is somewhat of a cheese filled 70’s tale it definitely did tackle an issue not commonly touched in comics. What made these stories stand out was that rather than focus on action they dealt more with character, something uncommon with the comics of this era.

2. The Longbow Hunters

One of Oliver Queen’s more interesting stories, The Longbow Hunters by writer and artist Mike Grell, sees Oliver and girlfriend Black Canary move to Seattle. The series established Green Arrow as more of a vigilante than a superhero and was pretty damn violent. Grell really downplays the superhero aspect quite a bit and sees Oliver Queen realizing that in some ways he’s lost his way and moving away from his trick arrow and back to the longbow and arrows. Definitely one of the defining story lines for the character.

1. Year One

Arrow takes quite a bit from Year One by writer Andy Diggle and artist Jock. This story told an updated and thrilling re-imagining of Oliver Queen’s beginnings as Green Arrow that kept the essence of the original while updating it very strongly. If you’re a fan of Arrow, this is probably at the top of your “must read” list. Actually, even if you’re not a fan of the show you should read this one.

New ‘Arrow’ Promo For “Burned” Teases First Look At Firefly

by Shawn Madden

The CW’s Arrow will return on January 16th and things are about to “heat up” in Starling City. In this episode we will see  Oliver Queen taking on Garfield Lynn aka Firefly and learn even more about “the list” and just who is really behind it. If you missed it, check out our look at the mid-season finale with The Mark.

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 09 “Year’s End’

by Shawn Madden

This week “marked” the mid-season finale of The CW’s Arrow, don’t worry it will only be off the air for a month, and we saw quite arguably the most interesting episode of the series yet. Oliver Queen finds himself confronted by a Dark Archer taking some quite deadly measures to get the attention of the character while The Queens hold a Christmas party and we see Moira try to push Walter off his investigation into “the list”.

This is a return to form for the series after a few not-so-great episodes. We get a return to the flashbacks that were missing over the past two episodes and learn more about what really happened on the island. Oh, and does that included more Deathstroke? Oh yes, indeed it does. Did you the Yao Fei versus Deathstroke fight leave you wanting more? Well, you’re getting it! The episode has plenty of action to keep you  happy after the last few episodes seemed to really lack in that department.

“Year’s End” brought about some interesting new questions and contained plenty of fantastic action sequences that helped make this one of the best episodes of the series. The implication that the Dark Archer may actually be a family tradition is a pretty interesting reveal. And while it wasn’t a major surprise who was behind that mask, it was still a great reveal learning the true identity of the “Dark Archer”. Well, mostly because of the last name that has implied this character since the first episode. As well as the revelation that there may indeed be someone worse out there that is the true mastermind behind this all. Maxwell Lord? One could only hope!

Minus a few stumbles here and there, the series continues putting together an exciting and intelligent re-imagining of our favorite DC characters. Definitely looking forward to what the rest of the season brings, especially after the reveal that Roy Harper would be joining the cast of the series. “The Mark” will be back in January!

The easter eggs and comic references you may have missed:

– “To see who’s the better archer.”: In the comics Merlyn challenges Green Arrow to a public archery contest and defeats him. Later on Green Arrow and Merlyn meet again and at the end of the confrontation Merlyn tells Green Arrow that he’s become “the better archer.”

– The dinner conversation discussing giving “The Hood” a better name. Not quite an easter egg nor comic reference, but definitely a nod to Christopher Nolan’s Bat-films. There was a quite similar scene involving Bruce Wayne and “the vigilante” featured. The scene where he calls Diggle after being injured is also quite similar to a scene seen in Batman Begins.

Teen Wolf’s Colton Haynes Joining The Cast Of ‘Arrow’ As Roy Harper

by Shawn Madden

Another classic DC Comics character is coming to The CW’s Arrow. Ex-Teen Wolf star Colton Haynes will be joining the cast of the series as Roy Harper. Many of you may just recognize that name as the alias of the Green Arrow’s sidekick Speedy, also known as the Teen Titans member Arsenal, Justice League’s Red Arrow and current cast member of the New 52’s Red Hood And The Outlaws.

Greg Berlanti stated:

“We were big fans of Colton from Teen Wolf and we are thrilled he’s joining Arrow.“

The recurring role will provide a love interest for Oliver’s sister Thea. Oh, so the Speedy references were a little bit of foreshadowing? Very well played Arrow. Word is that Roy is “destined to become a significant part of her life and an important player in the larger world of Arrow.” and the character is being described as “a handsome, street-savvy, teenager from ‘the Glades,’ the harsh, poverty-stricken portion of Starling City.” We will see the character appear in early 2013. While it is a bit quick for Harper to appear in the series, Haynes is definitely a good choice for the role and may be a great addition to the cast.

Source: TV Guide

CW Begins The Search For Young Wonder Woman in “Amazon”

by Eric Diaz

It looks like work has begun in earnest searching for the lead in the CW’s new Smallville-esque take on Wonder Woman called Amazon, spear-headed by comic book writer Allan Heinberg. There is only a pilot script for this right now (if that) but the CW is getting all their ducks in a row looking for the right woman to fill the tiara. According to Deadline.com, here is the official description for what they’re looking for:

“Iris comes from a remote, secluded country and until now has spent most of her life as a soldier and a leader on the battlefield. Because of relentless brutality of her life at home, Iris looks at our world with absolute awe and astonishment. She’s delighted ­and just as often horrified ­ by the aspects of everyday life that we take for granted: skyscrapers, traffic, ice cream. It’s all new and fascinating and sometimes slightly troubling ­to her. Iris is completely unschooled in our world, our culture, our customs. And she’s completely inexperienced at interpersonal relationships. She has no social filter, does not suffer fools, and tends to do and say exactly what’s on her mind at all times. She’s bluntly, refreshingly honest. She can tell when you’re lying to her. And she doesn’t have time or patience for politics or tact because she’s too busy trying to experience everything our world has to offer. There are too many sights to see ­and things to learn ­and people to care for. Hers is a true, noble, and generous heart. And she will fight and die for the people she loves. Iris is a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic ­and she will fight to the death to make the world safe for innocents and true romantics everywhere.”

Aside from the “relentless brutality of her life at home” part, the rest sounds like classic Diana. And yes, she WILL be called Diana….the name Iris is just a code name used for casting sides when doing auditions. This has already been confirmed by DC CCO Geoff Johns on Twitter. So relax everyone. As a huge Wonder Woman fan, I sincerely hope this meets with the same success that the CW has had with Arrow.

Hopefully this Wonder Woman TV project will fare better than the ill-fated version from last year starring Adrianne Palicki in a Party City costume.

‘Spartacus’ Star Manu Bennett Cast As Deathstroke In The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

We’ve seen him in flashbacks to the island but now Deathstroke is coming to Starling City in The CW’s Arrow! In the flashbacks Deathstroke was played by stuntman Jeffrey C. Robinson but we’ve now learned that Spartacus fan favorite Manu Bennett has been cast as the popular DC assassin. He has yet to remove the mask but we will see that change when the character returns in episode 9.

Bennett, best known as Crixus on Spartacus and who will also be appearing in The Hobbit: An Expected Journey, has signed on to appear in multiple episodes. Can we expect him to become one of Oliver’s recurring enemies? One can only hope.

Source: EW

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 07 “Muse Of Fire”

by Shawn Madden

Did you miss last night’s episode of Arrow? Well, you shouldn’t have. This episode “marked” the start (Bad pun…I know) of the second real story arc and was definitely was one of the more significant episodes of the series. In the episode we saw a change from the typical formula of hunting down a name off the list in order to introduce new characters into the series and it’s ever thickening plot.

The plot was fairly simple for the episode but was full of some big revelations. We’re introduced to Frank Bertinelli and his daughter Helena, who will go on to become The Huntress. In the start of the episode we see Helena (in disguise) take a shot at one of her father’s lieutenants, who conviniently happens to be meeting with Moira Queen at the time. Ollive goes on to learn that several of Bertinelli’s gang have been killed, and while investigating, ends up on a date with Helena when Frank Bertinelli is called away to deal with other business. The other business? Meeting with the Chinese triad including China White. Oh, what a tangled web Arrow is weaving.

The episode had plenty of action and plenty of twists and turns to get us back to the pace that seemed to slow during the last episode. We’re also given one of the biggest surprises when we learn who John Barrowman’s character actually is. No, it’s not Maxwell Lord but let’s just say his last name is going to prove him to be one of Oliver’s greatest enemies or the reason that someone else becomes that enemy. Not a big enough hint for you? Well, take a look at the image below and you may piece it together because I’m not giving it away. So many events with serious repercussions were packed into this episode that definitely set Arrow up for some intriguing episodes to come. With the season finale quickly approaching, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.

The comic references and easter eggs you might have missed:

– Michael Staton: Helena’s dead fiance shares a last name with Joe Stanton. Stanton helped create both the original and rebooted versions of the Huntress.

– Tahmoh Penikett as Nick Salvati: Not exactly an easter egg, but Salvati was played by Tahmoh Penikett. Penikett has appeared twice on Smallville and will also be appearing in Man Of Steel. He will play Henry Ackerdson, an alias once used by the villain Metallo.

Andrew Kreisberg Starting Work On Booster Gold TV Series Before Christmas

by Shawn Madden

Not too long ago it was revealed that a Booster Gold television show was in the works. Last word on the series was that Kreisberg was planning on handing in the script for the pilot that will appear on SyFy. Kriesberg, while discussing The CW’s Arrow, has revealed that he will start working on the show before Christmas.

“I got a little waylaid by Arrow. Booster Gold is going in the next couple weeks before Christmas. We’ll see what happens from there. It’s such a different project even though they’re both DC Comics properties. Booster is much more candy and popcorn, being about time travel and changing the future and being a superhero who can fly. But they’re both super-fun projects. As a lifelong DC Comics fan, I am beyond blessed to be working on these projects with all these amazing characters.”

While not revealing that there isn’t much progress on the series, he does reveal that it is still alive. There’s no casting news but last we heard we could expect to see a good number of the character from Booster Gold’s comics. Could that possibly include Ted Kord aka The Blue Beetle? One can only hope.

Source: IGN

David Anders Joins The Cast Of ‘Arrow’ As “Cyrus Vance”

by Shawn Madden

David Anders (Alias, The Vampire Diaries) will be coming to Starling City in thirteenth episode of Arrow as “Cyrus Vanch”. The character isn’t actually from the comics and is being described as one of Oliver’s greatest threats yet.

“Vanch is a ruthless career criminal who is released from prison after a long stint. Laurel is particularly invested in taking Vanch down. When she discovers that the police can’t get him off the streets, she turns to the Arrow for help. Unfortunately, the cunning Vanch is one step ahead of them — he’s looking to take control of Starling City’s criminal underworld, and in order to prove himself to the lowlifes, he’s got a mind to eliminate the man criminals fear most.”

With so many DC villains already coming to the show I am glad that they’re bringing in some original characters into the mix. With such a lengthy description it’s possible that we may see this character more than just once.

Source: Zap2It

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 06 “Legacies”

by Shawn Madden

This week’s episode of Arrow may not have been the strongest of the series but it wasn’t horrible. The episode showed us what passed for quieter times in Oliver’s life and allowed the show to focus a bit more on some of the supporting characters.

The central focus of the episode centered around Oliver expanding his mission out to help anyone who needs his help, and not just solely focus on his list of targets. We’re introduced to the series incarnation of The Royal Flush Gang, this time around a group of bank robbers rather than cyborgs. Really…you were expecting the cyborgs? This change in Oliver’s mission statement came through the influence of Diggle, who continues to be endlessly useful in his role as Ollie’s partner. On the side we saw the romance sub-plot between Tommy Merlyn and Laurel Lance but it really wasn’t that interesting. Come on, we all want to see Ollie and Laurel together.

The main problem with this episode was that the villains really lacked any development.  The encounter between Olliver and the father in the bar was well done, but other than that the rest of the gang wasn’t really fleshed out much. The whole concept of a working class family just suddenly into becoming professional bank robbers just came off a bit weird. Overall the episode just felt like a filler episode but it did broaden Oliver’s range from just the list to every criminal which is very important. John Barrowman aka “The well dressed man” was nowhere to be seen this time around but hopefully he’s back next week so we can get one step closer to finding out just who the hell he is. Here’s to hoping that next week gets us back on track with the great start the series had.

The comic references and easter eggs you might have missed:

 stepping up as a hero rather than a ma

– A lost donor to Laurels legal aid foundation named Stagg: Simon Stagg is a fictional DC Comics businessman. Stagg is the unscrupulous owner and CEO of Stagg Enterprises and the father of Sapphire Stagg.

– The Royal Flush Gang holding up a bank in Keystone City: Keystone City is a fictional city in the DC Comics Universe. Specifically, it is the home of both the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and the third Flash, Wally West.

– Coast City: Coast City, was a city located in California. This made it one of the few fictional cities in the DC Universe to have a specifically given location from the start. The city is primarily the home to Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern.

Fringe’s Seth Gabel Cast As “Vertigo” On The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

Last week it was revealed that DC super villain Count Vertigo would be appearing on The CW’s Arrow…well, a version of the character that is. This take on the DC villain will be quite different than his comic incarnation and apparently he won’t even be called Vertigo.

In the episode we will see the character appear in, a deadly new drug called Vertigo “becomes all the rage” in Starling City. According to TV Line, Seth Gabel (Fringe) will be playing the “scary and nightmarish” antagonist, who has even been described as “Oliver’s deadliest adversary to date.” The episode is set to air in early 2013.

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 05 “Damaged”

by Shawn Madden

This week’s Arrow was probably the one that fans were looking forward to the most. And the hype was lived up to because it was easily the best episode since the pilot, and probably the best of the series thus far. “Damaged” picks up after the end of last week’s episode and the events that went down. The primary focus of this episode is proving Oliver’s innocence after his arrest last week. And there’s definitely some unexpected plot twists as we learn one piece of Oliver’s master plan.

The most impressive part of this episode was that it didn’t reply heavily on the action but heavily on personal drama. Writers  Wendy Mericle and Ben Sokolowski’s script for the episode is fantastic and moved quickly but allowed scenes the time to breathe and characters to interact. The dialogue in this episode, which has been a bit of a problem here and there, was noticably improved upon. We also saw quite a few sub-plots developed this episode. The primary of the two being the romance between Oliver and Thea and the bro-mance between Oliver and Diggle.

While the episodes high point’s were the drama…the action was still there. The big scene was definitely Deathstroke vs Yao Fei on the island and probably the best action sequence the show has offered so far. The very well choreographed scene does leave you wanting more though and hopefully we’re going to be getting it very soon.

Overall, the episode was definitely the best of the series so far and balanced a good amount of both drama and action. We still have no idea who John Barrowman’s character is but after this week you can definitely assume he’s definitely going to be someone huge. Trust me, we’ve got our fingers crossed that someone calls him Maxwell Lord at some point.

The comic references and easter eggs you might have missed:

– Edward Fyers: The characterappears in the comics as Eddie Fyers. In the comics he is a skilled mercenary and actually one of Green Arrow’s close allies.

– Kate Spencer: Similar to the show, Kate Spencer was a federal prosecutor. She eventually became the Manhunter character.

– Fishnets – In the episode, Laurel makes a reference to wearing fishnets at a Halloween party.  The most iconic part of Black Canary’s costume are her fishnet stockings.

 

Farscape’s Ben Browder Cast As Ted Gaynor In The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

Yet another DC character will be making an appearance in Starling City. The 11th episode of Arrow will see Ted Gaynor, a top officer in the United States Marine Corps and former member of the Blackhawk Squadron in the comics, played by Ben Browder. The character is being described on the show as:

 “Diggle’s commanding officer from his first tour in Afghanistan, who now works as a bodyguard for Blackhawk Squad Protection Group in Starling City. As a series of armored truck robberies strike the city, Gaynor proves to be a polarizing figure between Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey)”.

Browder is probably best known to you guys for appearing in Farscape and Stargate SG-1. Browder will be seen in the episode “Trust But Verify”, airing early 2013.

Source: IGN

Count Vertigo Is The Next DC Villain Coming To The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

It has been revealed that DC Comics villain Count Vertigo is set to make his small screen debut in Arrow early next year. This incarnation of the character is set to be very different than the comic book version of the character. Sources are indicating that the CW series will be giving him both a new name and appearance. In the episode we will see “the deadly new drug that becomes all the rage in Starling City in the Big Bad’s introductory episode will be called Vertigo!”

However, while they are making changes it is thought that his powers will remain intact. The character is being described as “truly scary and nightmarish,” and is “Oliver’s deadliest adversary to date.” Now the big question is…who is going to be playing the character?

Source: TV Line

First Look At Jessica De Gouw As The Huntress On The CW’s ‘Arrow’!

by Shawn Madden

It was revealed a short while back that Helena Bertinelli aka The Huntress would be joining Oliver Queen in the CW’s Arrow this season. In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, we get to see actress Jessica de Gouw suited up as The Huntress for the first time. Helena Bertinelli’s alter-ego is set to make her debut on November 28th in the episode “Muse Of Fire” that will be penned by DC Comics Geoff Johns.

Source: GreenArrowTV

The Mark: ‘Arrow’ Season 01 Episode 04 “An Innocent Man”

by Shawn Madden

We pick up this week’s episode where we left off. Oliver has revealed the truth about how he spends his nights to Diggle and it’s not very welcomed knowledge. So, how was the fourth episode of Arrow? Is the show still “hitting the mark”? I can definitely say that it is. This series is becoming more interesting with each episode and this week the character development definitely went up a notch.

The main plot focuses on Peter Declan, whom the episode is named after, a man on death row convicted of killing his wife in his daughter’s bedroom. His execution is imminent. And just like in reality, executions these days get a lot of press. While watching television Oliver Queen hears that Peter’s wife Camille worked for a certain Jason Brodeur. Why is that significant? Well, Mr. Brodeur’s name is on the list of course.

But there’s plenty of sub-plots as well in this episode as well that’s really giving it that comic book feel. They do an excellent job this episode jumping between the numerous sub-plots without getting us lost or confused. This episode was quite possibly the best for the series. We saw it develop the romance sub-plot, develop some of the supporting characters, contain plenty of action as well as ending with one hell of a cliffhanger. We also got some of the best flashbacks to the island as we learned even more about what really happened on that island. Or do we have no idea at all yet? Guess we’re going to have wait until next week to find out.

Something I particularly enjoyed about “An Innocent Man” is that the episode had a feeling of the 1970’s Green Arrow where his stories often centered on social issues instead of supervillains. In this era we saw Oliver Queen fighting crime to aid the people who needed it. He would come to the aid of the poor, the disenfranchised, and ethnic minorities. I’m glad that the team behind this show is really looking to bring in elements from each era of Oliver Queen.

Another thing that I am glad is that we weren’t given another DC villain in this episode. Rather than over saturate us and constantly remind us that this is a DC Comics show we are allowed to focus on the central and core plot of the series, the list. This “case of the week” format fits just right for this episode and offers up plenty of plot twists along the way.

With the introduction, and no we still don’t know who he is, John Barrowman’s character (we’re all hoping it’s Maxwell Lord) as well as promo at the end showing Deathstroke…we should definitely expect next week to kick things up a notch.

The comic book references &  easter eggs that you may have missed:

– “The 10:15 to Blüdhaven.”: Blüdhaven is a fictional city that served as a backdrop for the first Nightwing series. The city is both south of and located close to or adjacent to Gotham City, home to Batman.

– Iron Heights: Iron Heights Penitentiary is a maximum-security prison which houses the many Flash rogues and superhuman criminals of Keystone City and Central City when captured. Iron Heights first appeared in Flash: Iron Heights (2001).

 

Andrew Dunbar Cast As ‘Firefly’ In The CW’s ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

A few weeks back, it was rumored that another classic DC villain would be visiting Starling City. While he is primarily a Batman villain, Firefly is set to appear in a future episode of The CW’s Arrow.

Entertainment Weekly has now confirmed that the villain will make his debut on the show on its tenth episode. The episode titled “Burned” is scheduled to air in early 2013. They’ve cast actor Andrew Dunbar (Battlestar Galactica: Razor) as Garfield Lyons aka Firefly. In the comics, Garfield Lynns becomes a villain after suffering severe burns as a firefighter. We can definitely expect an origin similar to that just with a little more grounded feel to it.

Source: EW

Six Images From ‘Arrow’ Episode 6 “Legacies” Featuring The Royal Flush Gang

by Shawn Madden

It appears after the cliffhanger ending of this weeks episode of Arrow, we will see Diggle begin to help train Oliver in his quest to save Starling City. These new promotional photos from the sixth episode of Arrow were just released and feature Oliver Queen training with bodyguard John Diggle. We also get a peak at the Royal Flush Gang’s bank heist in the episode. In the series we will see the gang given a more realistic approach versus their cyborg versions in the comics.

THE ROYAL FLUSH GANG INVADES STARLING CITY — A gang of bank robbers, dubbed The Royal Flush Gang, hits a local bank and seriously wounds an off-duty police officer during a heist. Diggle (David Ramsey) tells Oliver (Stephen Amell) he needs to deviate from his father’s list and start helping the citizens of Starling City. Meanwhile, Tommy (Colin Donnell) asks Thea (Willa Holland) for relationship advice, but things get awkward when she realizes he was asking about Laurel (Katie Cassidy). Moira (Susanna Thompson) confronts Oliver about all of his recent disappearances in the middle of family functions. John Behring directed the episode written by Moira Kirland & Marc Guggenheim (#106).

Source: GreenArrowTV

Stephen Amell Wears A Shirt In A New ‘Arrow’ Poster!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Sweeps period is upon us (Neilson ratings lingo), and networks are beginning to ramp up promos for their upcoming episodes!

The CW today released a new poster for their hugely popular Arrow, and surprisingly enough, this one features star Stephen Amell in a shirt. You’d think that would be detrimental to ratings!

In any case, check out the poster below! Shawn has also started a great weekly Arrow column with The Mark, where he tells you about each weekly episode, and let you know of any easter eggs you may have missed!

Mark (haha) your calendars! You can watch Arrow at 8PM, Wednesdays on The CW.

The Mark: A Weekly Look At ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

The third episode of Arrow lets off another shot and it continues down the path that this show has been on. The show has been getting progressively better with each episode with the action seeming to get stepped up a notch and the character development becoming more interesting.  In “Lone Gunmen”,  we see Oliver Queen finding himself tasked with taking down a deadly assassin known as Deadshot (played excellently by Michael Rowe), while dealing with personal crises unresolved from his time on the island.

This week’s episode brings in yet another popular DC character very smoothly and in a fashion that is acceptable to both fans as well as the general audience. I’m not quite sure if it’s the stars or the tone of the drama with this series, but with only three episodes down that are full of rich plot developments as well as perfect amounts of action, this show is becoming one of our favorites (well, some of us) of the new season.

The performances in this episode were the strongest of the three, especially for star Stephen Arnell. And while he only had a few lines (keep in mind that Deadshot doesn’t really say much in the comics) I think Michael Rowe’s performance as Floyd Lawton, aka Deadshot, was fantastic and I would hope for more of it. Well, that is if he survived that final showdown… We’re hoping he did and comes back with a vengeance. Or is that too comic cliché? Overall, the action and the performances in this episode were the best of the three so far.

One thing I feel I have to comment on, while I loved Nolan’s Bat-films, is that Arrow is doing a much better job of the detective angle. I’m really impressed by how much detail they are paying to this and I did feel it was one thing that the Bat-films lacked.

The episode ended with plenty of cliffhangers and questions that left you wanting more, including a pretty big revelation for one of the main characters.

And of course, there are the comic book references &  easter eggs that you may have missed:

– The “New 52” reference: Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot is staying in room 52 at the hotel.

– Black Canary foreshadowing: In the club scene we are introduced to Dinah Lance being proficient in hand to hand combat which could foreshadow the chance of seeing her become her DC Comics alter-ego, Black Canary.

– Felicity Smoak: This character isn’t actually a Green Arrow character. Felicity Smoak is a character who was introduced in Firestorm during the 80’s. The character was the manager of a computer software firm in New York City.

Did we miss anything this week? Let us know! And check back next week when we take a look at the next episode: “An Innocent Man”.

Sifting Through The Wreckage! The Geekscapepod For October 23rd, 2012!

by Jonathan

What a week! While I was working on our slew of Geekscape related projects, like ‘Doc of the Dead’, the Geekscape went crazy! New trailers for ‘Iron Man 3’, ‘Django Unchained’ and the ‘Evil Dead’ remake! Is Frank Grillo suiting up for Captain America 2? Ant Man starts filming in January! ‘Arrow’ steps up its game and ‘The Walking Dead’ REALLY steps up its game! Plus! What’s with soft hearted assassins? And ‘Silent Hill: Revelation 3D’ director Michael K. Bassett talks being a serious gamer!

Subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:29 — 17.5MB)

The CW Orders Full Season Of ‘Arrow’

by Shawn Madden

With ratings that hit the mark for the network, it looks like The CW’s Arrow will be sticking around for awhile. After just two episodes the CW has made the decision to pick up the series for a full 22-episode run.

Being that the series premiere became the network’s most watched episode of a TV show in over three years, this isn’t really all that surprising at all. Honestly, I don’t think anyone would be surprised if we get a second season as well. Are you guys ready for more Arrow?

Source: TV Line