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Why was season 3 of Arrow slated so much?
Okay, I fess up. I recently marathoned through all 23 epsiodes that made up the much maligned season 3 of everyone’s favourite emerald archer. And I have to say … it really isn’t as bad as everyone likes to think.
I’m not going to lie, the season has its issues, which I will go into but overall Arrow took brave decisions that will pay off in the long run.
Is that Superman … nope it’s Ray Palmer
Is that Superman, no wait it’s Iron Man, oh no it’s DC’s The Atom
On the face of it, billionaire-tech-genuis Ray ‘The Atom’ Palmer was nothing more than a rebound for Felicity Smoak after Ollie felt he couldn’t be the Arrow and be in a relationship with her. This label however comes as a detriment to the character that Brandon Routh moulded into a three dimensional human being, even with the little material he was given. I will admit that hindsight is 20-20. Perhaps if I didn’t know that Ray Palmer was about to star in the fourth spin-off to Arrow (Legends of Tomorrow) thus giving us the oppertunity to get to know the character further. I wouldn’t have invested much patience into caring for The Atom. But Palmers snarky-wittism and comic relief was wasted when he was paired with Felicity. A big no-no with Arrow-Heads (if that is not a fandom term MAKE IT HAPPEN INTERNET) who have been shipping Oliver and Felicity for quite a while now.
In a way, I suppose your acceptance of Ray is a comment on where you place value on romantic relationships in Arrow. If you ship Oliver and Felicity, then her attraction with Palmer mar both your perceptions of the pair. I mean I kinda like them together so Ray comes off as a great addition to the team. And I feel sorry for the guy when Felicity eventually goes back to Ollie. I know he is the Arrow and can do the bar-thing … but Ray is fricking DC Iron man, that counts for something right?
Overall Palmer was an interesting and necessary addition to the story of season 3. As an introduction to the character it makes me eager to see how he interacts with the eclectic personalities that make up the Legends of Tomorrow team when it debuts next year.
Exit Laurel … Enter Black Canary
Who is your favourite Black Canary? Sara or Laurel?
Oliver Queen’s former flame Laurel Lance has been a bone of contention for fans since day one, in no small part down to the audience expectations vs the purpose of the Arrow when it comes to justice in Starling City. Throw in the arguably more popular character of Sara Lance dressed to the nines as the first incarnation of the Canary in season 2. Then Laurel automatically becomes the less cool Lance sibling in comparison.
So the decision to murder a fan-favourite like Sara in the opening to season 3 was a brave move but allowed Laurel to take her place as the Black Canary. The hero that she was destined to become.
I’m all for the slow burn when it comes to seeing someone become a hardened super hero. My years of watching origin films have taught me that the payoff is often worth the squeeze of training montages and heroes crawling up walls (Haha Spiderman reference). That being said Laurel’s self defence classes with former vigilante Ted ‘Wildcat’ Grant suffered from a non-comital by the show runners. Maybe they were worried about dedicating so much time to Laurel, which ultimately works against them. I’m not asking for another awkward romance (hello season 1 Tommy drama) but maybe a more trial and error process to her vigilante training involving Wildcat before Laurel was launched head-first into a fist fight with Vinnie Jones would’ve been eaiser to believe.
Regardless of what opinion of Laurel you subscribe too. It was about time she took control of her destiny. Treated as a victim for far too long, from guilt over Sara’s apparent death on the Queen’s gambit to her battle with alcohol abuse. It was refreshing to see a positive aspect to Laurel’s character development on the show other than self pitying.
Although I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Laurel’s transformation into Black Canary has made her a fan favourite on the show. Her evolution as a character was much needed with season 3’s overall darker tone suited to Laurel’s family tragedy. With her transformation into the canary just beginning hopefully the writers can explore other aspects to her personality. Let’s just hope that with the many sidekicks that surround the Arrow going into season 4, Laurel doesn’t get lost in the ranks.
What about that ‘League’ though?
Why has no one mentioned Batman yet?
For a mythical organisation that has been teased since the shows beginning. The League of Assassins needed to pay off big time and although they felt inept at times. The League’s presence certainly transformed our core core group in irreversible ways.
Through Ra’s Al-Ghul transforming Ollie into a soulless assassin the later half ot the season, to killing Thea in order to force Ollie into becoming Heir to the Demon. The Leagues perhaps was served best in showing what Malcolm Merlyn has been running away from all these years.
With John Barrowman becoming regular on season3, it enabled us to see the shades of grey that Merlin operates within. Season 3 was arguable Merlin’s story of growth evident in the character receiving a flashback episode that made us better understand the reason why he joined the League in the first place. Not out of a lust for power, that he ultimately craves today, but from deep sadness of loss and the realisation that he wasn’t strong enough to save his wife and protect his family from tragedy. Through us experiencing the Leagues brutal ways, it allowed us to better understand Malcolm as a product of his environment. Whether we still understand it is a matter for debate but those moments he shared with Thea this season shows a nurturing side still buried deep within.
With the League of Assassins proving a vital story trope for the show so far, it is only a matter of time before they will rear their ugly head again. Which given the epic encounters that team Arrow have had against them so far. I’m all in.
With Season 4 currently airing we will have to wait and see how the Arrow and his team recovering from such a dark season3. I’m only guessing but I bet it will involve a lot of fighting and hoods. Just a guess, you know … but true.
For all things Arrow stick with @mitch_rated only on Skatronixxx.com
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