Carrie Ann

Just...gonna go ahead and quote myself here for a sec: Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Hey man, the Blue Line can get you there for much less! I might have to actually consider going to this one...

Yes, Niki sent Michael off to get to know his kid, and I think that happened around a hiatus, so he was there for maybe two episodes, but on the show it was a month or more. But one difference was the mother of the child had real feelings for him and he at least cared very deeply about her. So...it was still a dumb move, but Niki wasn't great at relationships, so it wasn't a surprise, and it was over so fast that it really didn't matter. In this case, if Felicity sent Oliver off that way, it would be utterly nonsensical. He doesn't even know Samantha, and they never had a real relationship. I would find it OOC for both parties to consider that option. And just logistically, OQ isn't going to CC, so I'm not really concerned about this direction. But if Felicity unconsciously pushed him away for a multitude of reasons--including whatever happens to her in 409--I would find that believable. And if the kid was basically never mentioned again after this period of angst, as on Nikita? Nothing would make me happier.

I haven't seen and can't really imagine anyone thinking this will be a BAD thing for Oliver's character growth. It's not like he's going to revert or regress because he learns he has a kid. He's obviously going to grow and I'm sure it would all be very heartwarming, if only I could bring myself to care about it. I went back to the 220 episode thread because I knew I'd posted my feelings about it as soon as I saw that damn flashback, and I stand by them. I don't believe adding a kid makes for good television: I'm quite satisfied with Oliver's character growth, and I certainly don't need to see him become an overnight father to a kid I don't know or care about, whose mother I don't know or care about, in order to feel like he's really becoming self-actualized. I would prefer he not even approach fatherhood until the last minute of the series finale, tbh. The potential for one avenue of character growth doesn't automatically make that avenue interesting or appealing television, for me. It might for you and that's cool! But I don't think anyone who is dreading this storyline is overreacting for feeling that way. I, like others, can't think of a single instance where I thought an otherwise-adult show adding a kid was a good move. But I can think of 10-12 where I really hated it, and it feels unlikely that this will be the first in the Win column. So personally, I'm just gritting my teeth and hoping that this season is the most we ever see of this kid, and from there on, it's off-screen phone calls and some pictures on the refrigerator.

Yeah, uh, I was pretty excited about LoT after the trailer came out, and after I saw Sara and Ray again, and Stein and Jax on TF, but...using the Hawks on the crossover was a mistake, I think. We're already dealing with some ridiculous stuff on both shows--E2, Lazarus Pit, Miniature Dick in a Box--so to add immortality and some "Egyptian" "soulmates" who reincarnate over and over and have wings for some reason? No. Keep that on your own show. And if they're still around next season at x-over time--which I'm now hoping they won't be because the acting was really, REALLY bad, and I felt the cold wind of anti-chemistry blow through their scenes together--then you can just kinda lampshade the ridiculousness and move along. Plus, yeah, the reasoning to come to SC was pretty weak. Uh, they know magic stuff...? Had there been something related to Firestorm, Ray, or Sara, that would have been so much more engaging and effective. I'm sure they're saving things for the LoT pilot but IDGAF about the new characters yet, so don't waste my time on them. I'd rather see the people we already know interact with the other people we know, since our time with them is limited going forward. Anyway. Despite all that dumb Hawk/LoT stuff, I did really enjoy that ep! Cisco and Barry were the right people to come over to SC--I'm glad they didn't stretch to bring people who are either needless liabilities (Iris--sorry, I love her) or just unnecessary (Caitlin). Plus, I did kind of think the Caitlin/Wells piece was interesting. I just wish Jay Garrick weren't such a dud. But the real stars for me were Felicity, Barry, and Oliver. I think the reason GG and EBR work so well together is that they seem to me to have very similar acting presences. I think Charlotte Ross (and maybe others?) have talked about how Emily is a very giving, responsive person to act in scenes with--that she gives you something to react against, and that she will react to whatever you put out as well--and I think GG is, too. GG's eyes always follow and react to his scene partners. His face and body are never static--not just waiting to deliver his next line, but infusing scenes with a warmth that the writing doesn't always provide. He's a very open, loose, energetic presence. That's how I feel about Emily. So when they're in scenes with people who are on that wavelength with them, they really come alive. (I actually think the same is true for Carlos Valdes, but I don't think his serious work is up to par just yet.) And while SA (and DR, actually) doesn't get to show that side as often, he certainly reacts well to that type of energy, because I LOVE his scenes with Barry, almost as much as I love scenes with any combo of OTA.

I have a feeling this reaction will be brief and won't seem like a big deal, ultimately. On the other hand, they had a lot of time together presumably just talking about their lives. Maybe she's upset that she didn't know about the miscarriage. Or maybe she's upset because he DOES keep it from her for a minute (whatever this secret is that he's not supposed to tell anyone?). Regardless, I really can't imagine why they're talking about this with other people around AT ALL.

Maybe Cisco sees Oliver at the stupid grave? ETA: Just realized I really have no idea how the vibe works, so maybe this makes no sense.

Hmmm, I think Nat is on Team Tony and Hawkeye is Team Steve. It was the only thing that bugged me when the info about the plot was released. But I think there's potential for her to be playing both sides or trying to keep the peace. I'll hold out hope for that because at this point, her friendships with Cap and Hawkeye are the only relationships I care about in the MCU.

The Flash and Arrow are both going over on their airtimes next week--update your DVRs accordingly:

I ship all the ships on The 100 and am mostly happy to just go with the flow of what the show presents (with the exception of Finn/Anyone) (and I'm Linctavia only--I don't ship them with anyone else), so I'm not a good person to ask about that particular one, but if people still ship Clarke/Lexa, that's not that surprising to me? And you know, for people who are hungry for a real F/F relationship (especially for the lead) on TV, I can see how it would take more than that to let go of the ship. My personal fave F/F ship on The 100 is Clarke/Raven (Princess Mechanic! the best ship name), but the odds are long on that one. I do love Bellarke too, but the fans of that one kinda turn me off of it sometimes. I can't wait for that show to come back, though I do have some concerns about things we saw in the finale and how they'll play out.

EEEEEEEE I am so happy about this. I love Everwood, and Dr. Abbott was my favorite character on a show full of good ones. TA is an excellent choice if they have an eye toward redemption and rebuilding some sort of relationship between dad and daughter. He's great at the subtle, emotional stuff.

Or, knowing this show, Quentin might start to say something but they'd have Roy apologize instead for some reason and Quentin would magnanimously accept the apology and Roy would be relieved that his best friend and hero and mentor and father-figure Quentin Lance was happy with him again.

Anyone who would get mad at a human being for having anxiety would have to be a pretty self-centered, shitty person. I hope more of her fans learn this about her and lay off the pressure.

I loved the Archie comics when I was a kid, but the whole point of them was that there was no real conflict. I don't see the point of a TV show about Riverdale if you're going to change everything about it. I will say that Berlanti is the only person other than Amy Sherman Palladino who I would believe could make a low-stakes, bright and cheery teen dramedy feel compelling. But it doesn't really sound like they're going for something with a Gilmore Girls/Everwood feel, so...just write an original high school drama if that's what you want.

Yeah, seriously. Having it be the FB episode is the ideal scenario for me. I'm gonna be ff-ing almost all of it anyway.

I used to love Quentin a lot and I would have been so happy to see this father figure story play out back then. I remember being so happy to see that "what, you got a hot date or something?" scene before S3 started. It's kind of amazing how quickly the show dismantled the Oliver/Quentin relationship and Quentin as a character. I held on for a long time and still felt like he was redeemable, but that ended even before the Roy thing. I certainly like him better right now than I did, but there's no coming back, for me. So while I'd also be happy to be rid of Laurel, I don't think it's happening, and I'll accept getting rid of another character whose journey will never interest me again. Sad for Donna, DGAF for any other reason.

And I'm almost always cynical, so my response is that the show thinks Oliver cares about Quentin a great deal. Remember how he's always been there for the Queens, including after Moira died??? Remember how Oliver always looked up to him and wanted his approval??? No? Well, the show does. And since that episode, Oliver and Quentin have been pretty chummy with each other and I'm sure that will continue this season. We're supposed to see Quentin as a surrogate father figure to Oliver, now that they're back on good terms. We might not, but that's the line MG and the gang are selling, and they're the ones who would have given SA that direction, so I don't think we can rule Quentin out at all.

You've all confirmed for me that a Nocking Point party would be like my actual nightmare, so that is right out if I ever go to a con. Anyway, hope all of you still there have fun today!

Ugh, people can be really inconsiderate. NM sounds precious. I wish we could keep him!

I'm only one ep into Jessica Jones, so aside from that, mine are: iZombie The 100 Daredevil The Americans Peaky Blinders (new to me!) Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Great British Baking Show (as it's called over here) :) Arrow didn't make the cut because 4A hasn't been quite enough to make up for S3 yet. But it's close! Maybe I'll change my mind in the next month.

Hey! The CW is where all my favorite shows live. I need it to survive.

Her pregnancy was written into the show though, and I think she's due around March, so I don't know what an extended hiatus would do for that show. I doubt they're bringing down either series' episode order, so...this is confusing. Hmm, anyway, I'm glad LoT is starting back up around the same time TF and Arrow will be coming back. Things will just make more sense in my brain if they're all happening at the same time.

As usual, I don't agree with her. First, I personally don't think there's a chance it's Laurel. JMO. But, if they ever did kill off the One True Black Canary, I don't think they would willingly cheapen that death and play it as a "gotcha." Also, if it were her, that would mean that they've determined that she's not popular enough to need to keep around, in which case I don't think they'd be that concerned about the response to her death, so I don't see the point in trying to minimize it. Especially trying to minimize it by instead teasing the death of a character that many of her biggest fans don't like. Unless she's only referring to an uproar from a feminist perspective? In which case, I still don't see the trade-off of Felicity for Laurel silencing that response.

What's extra dumb about fake-foreshadowing that it's Felicity who dies is that when we do see who it is, it will feel like a relief to the general audience. Not trying to get into a debate about her popularity, but IMO it's pretty damn high, certainly higher than any of the people I think are likely to be in the grave. So all the emotion behind the death will be replaced with a sense of, "eh, could have been worse." It's like these writers are incapable of writing toward the emotional responses they want. The only reason I'm not sure they knew who was getting killed is that I see NO reason to say that. It's embarrassing and kind of rude, tbh, to the actors whose jobs are on the line to treat it so cavalierly or to lie about that. But if they weren't 100% decided, then I agree that they probably had to provide the network with the short list of possibilities, and I bet they had one person* as the frontrunner, but maybe that would allow them to change their minds if they saw something working or not working this season. *Quentin is definitely my guess. I'll be even more sure of that when we see Donna in the flash-forward in 309.

Yeah, there's just no way Laurel Lance is going to pull off saying "Sick" about some technology. That was stupid.