Ariah

You see, that's what worries me, the blurred lines - is sex under the threat of blackmail consensual sex? I agree that lately Jasper simply walks away and does not force himself on the princess - that's good. I'm not even referring to the initial drugged sex that led to the blackmail video, because that can easily be explained as a bluff (nothing happened, the princess believed she did those "depraved" things while she was sound asleep). What makes me squirm is the sex that came afterwards, when he exercised his power over her - not physical power, mind you. Are we supposed to believe that "Oh, alright, just don't post the video, maybe it'll be fun..." is a consent? I always thought consent is a clear "yes, I want you" followed sometimes with "now" or maybe "on the table"... ...Aaaand I run away from the episode discussion. Sorry.

I just wish they wouldn't have him have this not really consentuous sex with the princess. With all the talk about calling rape a rape, I feel really uncomfortable with myself seeing this character whom I kind of start feeling sympathy for taking advatage of a young woman. I also feel uncomfortable seeing her reaction to his actions - I get it, she's treating everything like a game, but this does not help the real-life cause. It's like the show is trying to tell me: "Yes, he may have sort of taken advantage of her, but she asked for it. And yes, he's still asking for sex, but look, she really kind of likes it. And she does exercise some power over him, so it's not one-sided. Now look, he's kind of cute. And he may care for her - see? Stop overthinking the rape issue!" The problem is, "she asked for it" is not an argument, "he cares for her" should come before the sex and blackmail and I do believe the show shouldn't try to whitewash the issue. But I do agree Jasper was kind of cute this episode. Bummer.

So, if we have two subsequent game changers... shouldn't the show just get back to it's original setup?...

Yes, this was also the moment when Felicity reminded me of Laurel in the past - and made my insides cringe. Still, having accepted the fact that it was indeed Felicity who lashed out with these words - it does seem interesting that she thought, even for a moment, that Oliver would have wanted Ray dead. Because in reality, it's not what Oliver would have wanted - it's her projecting her own thoughts. Deep down, Felicity thinks it would have been easier for them all to have Ray dead (cue drums, curtain falls!). I'm not saying Felicity is conscious of this thought, but I do believe that in that moment she WANTED Oliver to admit his jelousy and fight for her. She got herself tangled in a relationship she may not be fully commited to (and may not be ready to admit that herself, still). Right now, she's going through the relationship motions: once you've slept together, you're supposed to be cuddling and going to weddings and call each other... And this could be the life she wants - she's happy. She is happy, right? (As long as Oliver's in her life). She's happy with Palmer (As long as Oliver's in her life). She's happy, she needs to say it out loud to believe it. Say it out loud to make her brain stop analyzing - is Oliver telling the truth? Did he really let her go? Does she mean so little to him that he's done fighting?... It hurts, when a man who says he loves you refuses to fight for you and turns into a martyr, sacrificing your own happiness for the greater cause... while at the same time constantly saying he wants YOU to be happy. It hurts so much you want him to feel some of this pain, so you lash out with unfounded accusations. "You would like that, wouldn't you?" (Say yes, say yes, say yes and prove the I mean something to you) But he's back to his old song and you're back to being "happy" with Palmer and what can you do? Go through the motions of that model relationship, because who else would fight for you? (Oliver) Not now, maybe not ever. So steal this one kiss, feel the warmth (he's been avoiding your proximity for such a long time and you yearn to touch him). He still does not make a move. Go to Palmer and try to make it work.

Those were wild student times, but I don't remember pouring the wine aside to avoid the glass bits. Nowadays I'd probably pour the wine through a cloth to sieve the bits out :)

He could shoot half the neck of the bottle out (or 2/3). We used to do that back in the days when we couldn't find a corckscrew - cut the neck of the bottle with a good knife (or breaking the neck off after cutting the glass, to be more precise).

I don't think Arrow as a show implies gay marriage is wrong. I think Ra's thinks that and I think it's not portrayed as a right state of mind. Therefore if Nyssa and Oliver are forced to marry it's not to show that heterosexual marriage will right the "unnatural tendencies" in Nyssa. Although Ra's may think so and the series can show him think that. If such a storyline occurs, it's there to show: - that the producers and writers love their Batman fanfiction entitled "Arrow", - both Nyssa and Oliver are indeed forced into the deal and are not happy about it (and will fight to get out of that deal), - it is wrong to force such a marriage upon these people, - more Drama. Epic drama. Gamechanging drama. I'd be more worried if a positive character (like Quentin) opposed Sara's sexuality. But he didn't, he was happy for his daughter. The text does not criticise gay marriage, the villains do.

So, this was the episode Felicity and Laurel switched characters? Ok then. Let's see: - supportive of Oliver, - actually helpfull, - using her intelligence, - not taking 'no' for an answer, ----------------------------------------- Felicity? No! Laurel - mean to Oliver, - playing with his feelings, - dating a guy who ends up in conflict with Oliver, - passive throughout the episode, only reacting to things, --------------------------------------- Laurel? No, Felicity. Basically, the writers can write only one type of a female love interest - the mean player. As for the text "You deserve better" -> why was this considered patronizing? When Felicity used the very same text in s2, it was not looked upon so negatively. Yes, the text implies the other person made some questionable choices (questionable in the eyes of the one doing the talking). But it also implies the person cares. I do believe Oliver blurted this text out not because he wanted Felicity to dump Palmer and come to him. I think he meant Felicity deserved someone better than Himself - he thought Palmer is that guy, but it turned out he is not, because he goes off half-cocked and will get himself hurt sooner or later, which will - subsequently - hurt Felicity as well. In Oliver's mind, Felicity deserves someone normal, a regular guy who has little to do with vigilantees. a side note: how adorable were Thea and Roy at Dyla wedding? Blink-and-you-missed-it scene of them dancing made my day.

...Or that scene from Hot Shots!, where Topper and Ramada fly as Superman/Lois and that pesky pidgeon won't let go of his hand...

So I'm not the only one who couldn't watch Burn Notice? Ok, I feel better now. The show should have been right up my alley but I couldn't get through my dislike for the actor. Whew!

Let me just say that I hope Ray's realization about Oliver being the Arrow does not come from Felicity's involuntary blurting things like "Oliver would have never...!" She has been really carefull and wary after spilling the truth to Barry, let's not break the stride. I also doesn't want Felicity to step between Ray and Oliver as they fight - it's such a tired old cliche, and it leaves the conflict unsolved. (side note: there's an 'article' floating around, suggesting Felicity is dying this season. It's such a delightfully terrible piece of journalism...)

Well, if at the time Palmer is at ICU a manhunt for Oliver takes place in Starling, Mama Smoak can notice her daughter keeps checking her phone and whispering "please be safe, Oliver" to thin air - which may give her a clue as to her romantic inclinations. Now, why would Felicity not be arrested during the aforementioned manhunt for the Arrow - I have no idea (see my previous post).

OK, perhaps it has been already discussed in the influx of pages, but I was wondering - is it really difficult for Quentin to capture the Arrow if he wants to? He knows Arsenal is Roy Harper. He know his daughter "works" with the Arrow. He knows Felicity is a close companion / a friend of the Arrow. Now, the logical thing to do would be to arrest all those people (Felicity? Some old hacking thing. Roy? just stop him on the street and fake resistance to the force. Laurel? I bet she's not difficult to spot with those shinny buckles) and send a message to the Arrow - no charges will go through and the three will be let off with a warning or community service, as long as the Arrow gives himself up. We know Oliver with his sense of duty and martyr complex would never hestitate. Still, I believe the writers will chose some convoluted way in which Quentin will act like a fool and miss many opportunities.

It was pretty good and the mystery was decent - it combined a lot of characters from mundane and the occult. For instance, I met with Etrigan for the first time. I know, I should have read about Etrigan earlier. There were great character moments, especially for Ollie. Some plot points under the tag: On the whole, a pleasurable read.

I actually like this art, reminds me of Quiver miniseries with Green Arrow ( http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/green-arrow-vol-1-quiver )

A big fat "NO" from me concerning a Laurel/Nyssa romance. Nyssa deserves so much better. She's too awesome to be dragged down by a moody, self-centered girl with identity issues. But I could get behind a Nyssa/Thea romance (If it so happen that Thea's heart was free).

Thanks! I totally missed this synopsis! (Still, the major's office could be attacked by Ra's men... bonus points if one of them is dressed as the Arrow - what a great opportunity for Ra's to flip the city's loyalty away from the Arrow)

Do we know why Ray ends up in hospital in 3.18? Could it be after his confrontation with the Arrow goes badly? Actually, I want Oliver to defeat Ray and talk some sense into him (and force him to seek enhancements to his super-Ray-suit in Central City), and then, maybe, Ra's showing up in his Arrow cosplay and injure Ray. To make Felicity believe Oliver hurt him. Because Ra's a 13-year old girl who likes disturbed love triangles (no offence to 13-year old girls out there).

I believe we needed to see the doctor's execution to fully gasp Constance's horror and to realize the stakes were really this high. I will miss him, though. He was an honest, decent man. As many of you've already mentioned, the scene in which Aramis told the other men about his affair with the Queen was perfect. From Athos' calm snark, through Porthos' hit-an'-hug, to Treville's hat tossing (with a hint of D'Artagnan's high-morality horse). I do agree that in the end, when Rochefort ordered Aramis arrested, the latter expressed no panic or guilt because he felt neither - I belive he's more afraid for Anne and his son now. I'm all ready for Rochefort to get his comeuppenance any time now. But, unlike many, I don't want hm to die. I want him disgraced and forced to flee, alive to cause trouble another day (and another season). They may speed the history up again and introduce Mazzarini, the next Cardinal, as a deadly foe. The Duke of Buckingham plot from the books would mirror the Anne/Aramis plot, so I don't think they'd go for it... Marguerite... She looks like a ghost now, dressed in dark, with pale face, as if her conscience was eating her up from the inside like a tumor. I think she'll pay the ultimate price, perhaps sacrifice herself for Aramis? Also, Athos and Milady? I too feel guilty, but they work so well together. Batman and Catwoman of the 1630's Paris.

I fear that after this great dialogue between Oliver and Laurel: "You need more training." "When will you stop telling me that?" "When you no longer need training." Is a prelude to a scene in which Laurel saves Oliver and he admits she no longer needs training...

I'm more excited than I should be about the Deadshot/Cupid scene from the Canadian promo. I knew something like that would happen!

I was actually expecting something far worse... It wasn't great, but it was not terrible. It tried to be bold at times, but remained medicore at best. But I'll check the second episode. Things I liked: - the cousins - great casting job. They actually looked like members of the royal family look. No glamour, a lot of makeup. - the twist with the bodyguard. I doubt they actually slept together, he may be bluffing. - Prince Liam - he's cute, what can I say? - "It's good to be the king..." Things I didn't like: - the cliches: -- if we have a princess, she's a rebelious party girl who seems to be smart, but will not use her intelligence in everyday life. What a waste. -- if we have a king, he'll be good hearted and naive. A Mufasa. -- if the said king has a brother, he'll be a total power-hungry sexomaniac. A Scar. -- if the prince falls in love with a commoner, she'll be american. Too bad she's not named Wallis. - the limited sets -> too bad the royals put their coffins in the same spot they take walks and intoxicate themselves. What I expect: - the song "We could be Royals" played at least once. - more members of the royal family being killed in "accidents" - the queen to have an affair (or to have had an affair in the past), alternatively... the king to have had an affair in the past. Probably with Ophelia's mother.

I just had the most terrible thought - a reformed killer taking on the face of his victim... No! Get out of my mind, foul thought! Begone!

She needs to be ready to jump into action, she probably has the costume in her purse. *cynical mode off*

I feel like it's being written by 11 year old boys. Anyhow, SA posted a short video with Jared Padelcki on his FB page. Nothing spoilery, but a lot of cuteness, plus Jared's got a campaign of his own and for a pretty good cause as well.