tv echo

TV Equals review of 423... Arrow “Schism” Review (Season 4, Episode 23) Jessica Breaux May 29, 2016 http://www.tvequals.com/2016/05/29/arrow-schism-review-season-4-episode-23/

lol...

Yes, at their May 28th awards ceremony, the first round of Leo Awards 2016 winners were announced, and Maya Mini won a Leo Award for Best Costume Design in Dramatic Series for Arrow-This Is Your Sword (also, The Flash team won a Leo Award for Best Visual Effects in Dramatic Series for The Flash-Gorilla Warfare)... http://www.leoawards.com/2016/winners/by_name_may_28.pdf There are two remaining Leo Awards ceremonies where more winners will be announced... June 4th: Best Stunt Coordination in Dramatic Series -- Arrow team (Makaro, Bamford, Zagoudakis and Bracconier) was nominated for Arrow-Brotherhood June 5th: Best Lead Performance by Female in Dramatic Series -- EBR was nominated for Arrow-A.W.O.L. Best Direction in Dramatic TV Series -- Bamford was nominated for Arrow-Brotherhood

I highly recommend reading the entire article... Processing Fictional Trauma: Schism (S4 Finale) Edition BY DR. FANGIRL, PHD MAY 29, 2016 // 3:02 PM http://fanfest.com/2016/05/29/pft-schism/

KC panel at MegaCon in Orlando, FL, this weekend (I don't think this is the full session, but about 20 minutes of it)... Katie Cassidy Panel at MegaCon 2016! Published on May 29, 2016, by Nerds and Beyond -- Fan asked how much of the Black Canary's fight scenes were KC doing them. KC replied that she can't take full credit, she went through training and learned how to fight, but she had a really amazing stunt double. She estimated that she did about 40% of her stunts while her stunt double did the other 60%, "because, you know, there's insurance and they - with the actors, you don't really want your actors jumping off of buildings and, you know, being run over by cars. They just don't. You can't quite risk that. So we do have an incredible stunt team and her name - my stunt double - her name is Atlin. She's unbelievable. She used to be in Cirque du Soleil. And she's this incredible, um, stunt double, and she just knows how to transform into the actor that she's playing, um, and literally her physique - she watches us, like how we move, and she's really good at mimicking all of that... I certainly have to give her major props. She's an incredible person as well." Panel mod then praised KC for doing "almost half" of her own stunts, but KC responded, "A little less than half." She said that she thought she could do most of the stunts, but things like jumping off buildings and the ziplining were done by Atlin. -- Fan asked how she got her role in the DC Universe and whether it was by audition or choice. KC: "Yeah, um, it definitely was - it was an audition. I read the script - I was reading pilots that year and I read Arrow and, you know, the pilot - Laurel's character, it wasn't - she wasn't very big in the pilot. But I did some research, obviously the comic books, having Greg Berlanti being our producer and creator, and Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim, and then Stephen Amell got cast, and you know, David Nutter was directing our pilot - the whole thing, you know, the success of all of them being attached to such an incredible script, and that whole world, you know - I just where it possibly could potentially go. And, um, I really wanted to do some action and knowing that Laurel Lance turns into the Black Canary, um, you know - that was a huge, huge thing for me. And, um, yeah... I think that just playing a comic book character and being a woman - you know, a modern day woman and kicking some ass is definitely what I - what I was attracted to, um, along with everything else." Panel mod then asked, "So you were cast before Stephen?" But KC replied, "No, I was cast right after Stephen." Mod: "Directly right after Stephen?" KC: "Yes, and I did actually audition." She also said that SA was not part of the approval process, mentioning that he had not done much before Arrow. She also said that she followed him on twitter before SA knew that she was the producers' choice, and thought he was "really hot". Per KC, Stephen noticed that she had followed him on twitter and he went to the producers and said, "Katie Cassidy just followed me on twitter. Is she? Are you?" and they were like, "yeah... what do you think of that?" and Stephen was like, "I like that". -- Fan asked who was her favorite actor. KC said that she loved working with Paul Blackthorne, and audience cheered. She then said that John Barrowman was "awesome," and audience cheered very loudly. KC: "So definitely, the two of them." -- Fan asked how it felt "to have originated such an iconic female character" from the comic books. KC replied, "I mean, it's obviously -it's been an honor and it's been such an amazing, truly, uh, experience and journey that... you made me cry... (Audience goes "ahhh") ... that I'm so grateful for. And the fact that everybody, you know - it means a lot to me and I know, to our cast and writers and I know I can speak for everyone involved with Arrow - in fact, Flash, Legends - we're just so grateful and lucky to have fans like you who, you know, welcomed us and, you know, were open to seeing us sorta try to recreate, you know, the - coming out of the comic books. And, um, it truly has been an experience and I will always, always, you know, hold close to my heart and cherish and I just appreciate it and I'm honored that I got to portray such an awesome, kickass, you know, comic book character and strong woman." -- Fan asked which costume she liked better, Black Canary or Black Siren. KC replied that that was "such an unfair question" and then said that she got to "sort of create" the Black Canary costume with Maya. She got to do little things to add her "own flavor" to the costume, like the "fishnet biker gloves." She appreciated that costume being more buttoned-up "because poor Caity Lotz - you know, when she was the Canary - well, yeah, [unintelligible words] the Black Canary - well, it's complicated. But when Caity Lotz first came onto the show, she was freezing while she was there because she was more exposed and we're shooting in Canada. So I always felt so bad for her. So I was grateful for that - it was more buttoned up. However, it was definitely a breath of fresh air putting on the Black Siren costume. But then again, having said that, that was very cold because I was more exposed in that costume than I was in the Canary. But they were both awesome." She was always more enthusiastic when she went in for a superhero costume fitting than when she went in for a lawyer costume fitting. -- Fan asked what it was like working with SA. KC replied that he was fantastic and a great actor, and that doing this for almost five years, they're like a big family in Vancouver. She also said that he "knows this world inside and out." She said that it's been amazing to see how he's grown from season 1 to the end of season 4, saying, "He's - I mean, he's definitely, you know, basically up there producing the show almost, you know, because he's there all day and it's hard work." She also said that he does a good job and is a professional, and that she's "grateful to have had such a good co-star." -- Fan asked which character she enjoyed playing more, Black Canary or Black Siren. KC replied that she loved both, but Black Canary was "so much closer" to her because she played her for so long, while she only played Black Siren for one episode so far, saying "I do hope there will be more." She then said that playing a villain was "really fun." -- John Barrowman crashed her panel at this point. They did this little bit about KC having a "back nap" on JB's back. -- The panel mod asked JB to explain the "void that's obviously on Arrow" right now with her loss and how it is on set. JB said that it was "probably one of the hardest days for everybody to do - and particularly with Katie having to deal with that, and I must say she handled it wonderfully." He said that it was "tough" when you know a character's going to be dying on the show because "Katie was the person who was there with Stephen at the very beginning, who built the show. Right? So... (Audience cheered and clapped) ... However, we know as actors and actresses - we know that things change, things develop, and in order to keep things like a 'drama', you have to change things. And it was a difficult thing. And I remember when you found out, it was - we were about to go on to a panel in New Jersey, and you told me about it and we stepped on and da, da, da, da, da - and we were doing the whole panel. And she was being bubbly, being herself, a true professional, and the last question somebody asked - remember this? - somebody said, 'who's in the grave?' And we all went, 'mmmh?' Because we knew. We'd just been told. And then we realized how difficult those questions are from you guys because we take it so personally. And we had to step away from it, didn't we? ... We lied. We did a Jon Snow." -- JB revealed that originally he was supposed to be standing next to Laurel when she got stabbed. But he said he told the director that Malcolm couldn't be there because if he was there, he would've helped her. He noted that Malcolm had saved Laurel before at the end of season 2, when Laurel then turned and said to Malcolm, "Thank you for saving me, but I wouldn't do the same for you." So the love that Malcolm had tor the team meant that he had to be separated, and he was moved to the other side of the room but they didn't keep the shot of his face when she got stabbed because they didn't want to show Malcolm being "empathetic and worried." -- JB said that "yes, there was a void" but that KC was "a strong woman" and would "go on to do many great things." ETA: There are lots of videos posted of JB's panel at MegaCon at this weekend - just go to youtube and search his name.

Posting one last ER interview... BC Girl Elysia Rotaru Talks Arrow And Horror Flicks by Jennifer Cox May 26th, 2016 http://www.craveonline.ca/entertainment/993099-bc-girl-elysia-rotaru-talks-arrow-horror-flicks?platform=hootsuite

Geoff Johns: DC Universe: Rebirth Is Not a Reboot Published on May 25, 2016, by Late Night with Seth Meyers

CR's stunt double...

Arrow's David Ramsey on Season 4 Finale, Diggle's New Helmet Published on May 25, 2016, by The Lowdown with Diana Madison On "#Olicity": DR: "Okay, there's a whole story with that, right? Because no one knew that was gonna happen." DM: "They had a relationship and now they're like not together." DR: "They're not quite together. People want them together. It's a big thing. I mean, who knew? ... As a fan of the show and, um... you just never know what's going to catch on." DM: "People are really obsessed. They want that to happen. It's like their goal." DR: "It's crazy - because the show really started, in terms of the relationship - the big relationship on the show was really Oliver and Laurel. Right? The Green Arrow and the Black Canary. And then, just kinda, Felicity came in and people just fell in love with that duo. No one knows. I mean, no one knew." On Andy Diggle: DM: "Is he gonna to pull a Jon Snow and come back from the dead?" DR: "Wouldn't that be cool? DM: "It could happen." DR: "I don't think so... I don't think he is. I think he's done. You know - and I think Canary's done too. Black Canary." DM: "Really?" DR: "I mean, I love - I love Laurel Lance and I love Katie Cassidy, but I think she's done. And I think - I think Andy Diggle might be done... And I love both those characters." DM: "That's a good scoop because we were dying to know - is he going to come back?" DR: "No, I don't think he's going to come back." On S5 production start date: DM: "Uh, with Season 5. Have you guys already started? Like production? Filming?" DR: "Well, it's funny but pre-production starts - those guys, they get like literally two weeks off... They go straight into it. We get like two and a half months - the actors. Um, but yeah, we go back to Season 5 July 5th."

Also the tagline for Arrow ;) ...

I find this infuriating, but I'm not surprised at the Michael Bay comments... Kate Beckinsale told to slim down May 28, 2016 http://www.thespec.com/whatson-story/6696176-kate-beckinsale-told-to-slim-down/

Another Marvel dubsmash...

In case anyone is interested...

Ths gif is cool - vote for Arrow and EBR! (if you want)...

SpoilerTV is listing Arrow's production start date as July 13, 2016.. http://www.spoilertv.com/2015/06/various-shows-production-dates.html ETA: But DR says in his interview below that the actors return July 5th.

In case anyone was wondering, Darhk's daughter's name is Nora Darhk and she's played by an actress named Tuesday Hofmann. Arrow is her only acting credit... IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7781681/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t20 Twitter: https://twitter.com/tuesday_hofmann

The first part of this video doesn't appear to have been included in the video of SA's full Larry King Now interview (previously posted on page 171 of this thread)... Blog Exclusive: Stephen Amell answers fan questions! [VIDEO] Larry King Now May 27 '16 http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/article/2016/5/27/stephen-amell-answers-fan-questions LK: "@Vickie via blog. 'Does the amount of hatred on social media that's directed to everone from Marc Guggenheim to the writers and even death threats to the cast surprise you? I enjoy the show but I try to stay away from social media regarding Arrow because it has gotten so nasty.'... Why has it gotten so nasty?" SA: "It's gotten decidedly negative because, for whatever reason, different - different - you know, people that are fans of the show have seemed to split up into different factions. But again, I really do think that it's a few people with very loud voices, and I feel like if you're going on the attack for fictional characters that you're probably not real fans of the show."

How'd I miss this comic con? WH and KL were at MCM London Comic Con on May 28 (warning: spoilery if you don't read the Spoilers thread)... Arrow Stars Katrina Law & Willa Holland @ MCM London Comic Con Published on May 28, 2016, by MYM Buzz Arrow Season 4 & 5 Interview - Willa Holland & Katrina Law Published on May 28, 2016, by Flicks And The City How ARROW's Katrina Law Deliberately Messed With OLICITY Shippers Published on May 28, 2016, by Flicks And The City Willa Holland and Katrina Law at MCM Comic Con London May 2016 Published on May 28, 2016, by fishhoekmusicman

I also think some reviewers use a double standard when it comes to critiquing Arrow. They'll accept alternate universes, superpowers, nanotech and time travel (even a shark man!) without batting an eyelash, but are eager to criticize every single thing that veers from 'reality' on Arrow. That might've been fair in seasons 1 and 2 of Arrow, but once The Flash entered the shared universe and then LoT, things changed. Now when it comes to realism, the same standard of belief (or disbelief) should be applied to all three shows. Just don't take these shows so seriously - they're entertainment, not documentaries.

Craig Wack and Tatiana Torres discuss Arrow 423 beginning at 1:22:46... Agents of GEEK Podcast Episode 30 Posted on 05/27/2016 http://agentsofgeekpodcast.com/wordpress/ -- Craig thought that the Arrow season finale was better than the Flash's season finale, although it also had some "gaping plot holes" But both Craig and Tatiana thought that Arrow's season finale had "way less" plot holes than The Flash. -- Tatiana thought that we would see Laurel resurrected, but was "pleasantly surprised" that it didn't happen. Craig noted that KC was still listed in the credits, but Tatiana wondered if that was contractual. Craig mentioned that Glenn Yeun was missing from TWD credits for the episodes when he was presumed dead and that Katee Sackhoff was missing from BSG credits for the episodes when she was presumed dead. Craig thought that when Quentin and Donna were driving away, they would drive up to some lake cabin and go inside, where Laurel would be sitting there drinking a glass of wine and would wave to her father. -- Tatiana was surprised that we did not get an Olicity reunion at the end: "I feel like they've been through a lot together, and there was a lot of emotions running high at the end, and she said she's gonna stay, and they do not kiss. I'm very unhappy." -- Tatiana noted that SA had said they'd do something in the finale that they hadn't done before, but she didn't see anything that they didn't do before. Craig incorrectly said that Oliver killed the Big Bad this season for the first time. (He thought that Ra's was killed by Vandal Savage this season.) -- Craig thought it was kinda weak that Darhk was taken down by the citizens being hopeful and telling Darhk to go away. Tatiana agreed and expected something with "more gravitas" to take down Darhk, like some "cool, other mystical tool that they had to use." They noted that Oliver's magic tattoo didn't even come into play. Craig thought that, with all the mentions of Laurel during this episode, some last memory of something she said might've been the thing to give Oliver that last boost of hope. -- Tatiana wondered if the absence of the other team members (Diggle, Thea) will lead to Curtis becoming Mr. Terrific next season. She kinda expected the Mr. Terrific reveal to happen in this finale. Craig agreed that the finale opened the door for Mr. Terrific to join the team. -- Craig's pet peeve was the Arrow writers' lack of knowledge that every missile has more than one warhead in it. -- Craig noted that, like Flash, it's the "reset button" with Arrow. He thought that everyone breaking off from the team felt "organic", although Diggle leaving his family and re-enlisting didn't feel right for his character. As for Thea, Craig would've preferred to see her off back-packing abroad or even snuggled up with Roy, as opposed to just sitting on a couch. -- Craig noted that, in the way SA shaved, it looked like they were going toward the "classic van dyke" facial hair look of the comic book Oliver Queen. Tatiana promised to "keep tabs" on SA's social media: "Don't worry, guys, I'll do it for you - sacrifice for science." -- Craig noted that Felicity was the only one who didn't take off and was all "gung ho... I'm OGT Team Arrow to the end." Tatiana: "I thought that they would kiss right there. C'mon, guys! Like, she's basically saying, 'I'll never leave you.'" Craig said that it appears that any "residual hatred over the fact that Oliver lied to her twice about the kid and that kind of stuff seemed to have vanished." He wondered if the Flash reset will lead to Barry not being the Flash anymore and Oliver only lying to Felicity once about his kid. -- They both wondered what will happen with Thea and said that if Thea is gone, then there'd be no reason for JB to stick around as Malcolm.

USA Today review of 423... Allison Brennan and Lavinia Kent on 'Arrow' season finale 'Schism': By: Allison Brennan and Lavinia Kent | May 27, 2016 6:00 pm http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2016/05/27/allison-brennan-lavinia-kent-arrow-season-finale-schism/

HeroesandHeartbreakers review of 423... Hope Springs Eternal: Arrow 4x23 Olicity Heart-to-Heart MARILYN PORTER MAY 26 2016 12:00PM http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2016/05/hope-springs-eternal-arrow-4x23-olicity-heart-to-heart

Emertainment Monthly review of 423 (I'm sorry but I found parts of this review unintentionally funny)... ‘Arrow’ Season Finale Review: “Schism” Nora Dominick ‘17/ May 27, 2016 http://emertainmentmonthly.com/2016/05/27/arrow-review-schism/