tv echo

Good news - preliminary overnight ratings for LoT are great: 1.2 (18-49 demo) and 3.14 (total viewers)... http://www.spoilertv.com/2016/01/ratings-news-22nd-january-2016.html

This Den of Geek reviewer thought that 410 was "mediocre" (2.5/5 stars)... Arrow: Blood Debts Review Kayti Burt 1/20/2016 at 10:01PM http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/arrow/252161/arrow-blood-debts-review

Short WM interview by ComicBook.com (don't think this is spoilery)... Arrow Showrunner Wendy Mericle On The Midseason Premiere Russ Burlingame 01/20/2016 http://comicbook.com/2016/01/20/arrow-showrunner-wendy-mericle-on-the-midseason-premiere/

SA is currently on the East Coast (I assume, for the Heroes & Villains FanFest)... https://www.facebook.com/stephenamell

I don't think the Philippines promo for 411 indicates anything definitive about Felicity's paralysis being temporary or permanent. I think the dialogue used ties back to what WM said in her ETonline interview: "What we want to explore with what Felicity’s going through is be as respectful as we can be with the reality of what it’s like to go through what she went through, to have a spinal cord injury and how do you move forward with your life emotionally, physically, on the team, off the team, and the way we have been exploring it on the page in the writers’ room is through the prism of Oliver and Felicity’s relationship and we want it to play really real. Oliver is very optimistic that we live in a world where The Flash exists, so things are possible, and for Felicity, she’s grounded and practical, and this is her new reality, so that’s really where we’re at. It’s less about the timeline and much more about finding the emotional reality of where they are." So we see Felicity being guarded and Oliver being optimistic.

Some Arrow bits in this new Vulture interview with CL... Legends of Tomorrow’s Caity Lotz on ‘Fun’ Sara and Playing a Bisexual Character By Jenny Raftery January 22, 2016 9:18 a.m. http://www.vulture.com/2016/01/legends-of-tomorrow-caity-lotz-on-fun-sara-and-sexuality.html

L.A. Times' overall positive review of 410 (recommend reading the entire article)... 'Arrow's' back with 'Blood Debts': The hero we don't need right now James Queally January 21, 2016 http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-arrow-blood-debts-recap-20160120-story.html

Fave 410 quotes... Felicity: “I have never been more ready to have a bunch of guys poking around inside me. Doctors. Doing doctor things.” Donna: "It's such a small world." Laurel: "Microscopic." Diggle: “But you've come so far, Oliver. You've recovered a humanity that you lost, when I first met you. I know you want payback for what Darhk did to Felicity, but don't lose what made her fall in love with you in the first place." Felicity: “My point being is, we didn't really exchange any vows, so the whole ‘for better, for worse’ thing doesn't really apply here.” Oliver: “What are you talking about?” Felicity: “And maybe the real reason you haven't been here is because –“ Oliver: “Felicity. (Pulls ring out of his pocket) The nurse, she took this off of you in the E.R. How dare she. (Puts ring on her finger) For better, for worse.” Oliver: “We go out every night. Suiting up, risking our lives. Fighting assassins and meta-humans and all the worst kinds of people. She's stronger than all of us.” Laurel: “You won't get an argument from me.” Oliver: “Want to come with me?” Felicity: “Yeah. I'd go anywhere with you.”

Arrow T-Shirts That Hit The Mark Indie Minded Round-UpJanuary 20, 2016 http://indieminded.com/2016/01/arrow-t-shirts/

Question: The news broadcast (at the end of this clip) referred to Laurel as "D.A. Laurel Lance." When was she promoted to DA from ADA? What happened to all the other, more senior ADAs (Laurel's only been an ADA for two-and-a-half years)? And isn't the City DA office a mayor-appointed or elected position?

I think I understand what KC is saying about being "the backbone for a lot of these characters". This season, Quentin is morally compromised and playing double agent; Oliver is struggling with not falling back into his old, dark ways; Felicity is struggling with not being able to walk; Diggle is struggling with his brother's issues; and Thea is struggling with her blood lust. Laurel is the only one without a personal issue to deal with (aside from the sometimes conveniently set aside legal/ethical issue of vigilante versus lawyer). Therefore, as the only one who's emotionally detached, she's the voice the writers use to say some stuff to the other characters. From KC's viewpoint, she's being their backbone. Of course, you could also view it as Laurel being on the periphery of stories in 4B, so of course she can be emotionally detached. I disagree with her assessment that Laurel "tries to see the best in people". That's not the impression I've gotten of her character over the course of the series. As for the person she embraces, I also think it'll be BM - when BM comes to the police station because her son's been kidnapped (as speculated based on that spoiler pic). Because Laurel is supposed to be so compassionate. Even if Ollie* lied to BM, I find it hard to believe that BM wouldn't know that Ollie was still with Laurel when she slept with him (and I definitely think Ollie and Laurel were still together then). Rich Oliver Queen was in the news all the time then and constantly hounded by the paps. He would've been photographed with Laurel attending events, at the beach, or even just out and about the town. Their pics would've been in the news all the time. Their break-up certainly would've been in the news as well. (* I use "Ollie" to refer to pre-island Oliver, who I can't stand and who is virtually a completely different person from present day Oliver.)

I've posted the article link in the Spoilers thread.

This weekend's Heroes & Villains Fanfest is proceeding as scheduled. Here's their weather update (as of Thursday evening) - they will make a final determination today, so if you're going, you should check their website first... http://heroesfanfest.com/newyork/

The Workprint places its odds on who's in the grave after 410 (Lance odds quoted below)... WHO DIES IN ‘ARROW’ SEASON 4? BY JEN STAYROOK Jan. 21, 2016 http://www.theworkprint.com/who-dies-in-arrow-season-4/123

This is an interview with Armen Kevorkian, VFX Supervisor and Exec. Creative Director at Deluxe's Encore (apparently he doesn't work on Arrow - see quote below)... How The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow Put Widescreen Superhero Action on TV Rob Bricken Today 12:08pm http://io9.gizmodo.com/how-the-flash-supergirl-and-legends-of-tomorrow-put-wi-1754247421

Forbes reviewer, Erik Kain, has reluctantly accepted the existence of Olicity (I certainly hope he's wrong about Diggle)... 'Arrow' Midseason Premiere Review: Blood Debts Erik Kain JAN 21, 2016 @ 12:39 PM http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2016/01/21/arrow-midseason-premiere-review-blood-debts/#75460b5d2b28

DID ARROW SHOW US TOO MUCH, TOO FAST? By Neil Miller January 21, 2016 http://filmschoolrejects.com/features/last-night-on-tv-january-20.php

‘Arrow’ Ratings Return Up, ‘Chicago P.D.’ Down, ‘American Idol’ & ‘American Crime’ Steady by Dominic Patten January 21, 2016 9:18am http://deadline.com/2016/01/arrow-ratings-up-chicago-pd-american-idol-american-crime-fox-cbs-1201687432/ "Arrow" Stays Sharp in Return, Up in Key Demos [01/21/16 - 08:35 AM] http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2016/01/21/arrow-stays-sharp-in-return-up-in-key-demos-301511/20160121cw01/

Arrow Season 4: 11 Questions We’re Asking After The Mid-Season Premiere 21 Jan 2016 James Hunt http://whatculture.com/tv/arrow-season-4-11-questions-were-asking-after-the-mid-season-premiere.php

Felicity's screentime may have been reduced in 410, but each one of her scenes was golden and her presence was felt throughout most of the episode.

Deleted.

Grrr (this is not a spoiler, just another EP messing with fans)... http://zap2it.com/2016/01/arrow-oliver-felicity-engagement-happy-ending-doomed/

Final adjusted ratings for 410 were 1.1 and 2.83... http://www.spoilertv.com/2016/01/final-adjusted-tv-ratings-for-wednesday_21.html

Incidentally, when they cut to Oliver walking to the limo in the flash forward scene, there was a glimpse of part of a tombstone with the name "Brie Thorpe" on it. Does that name have any significance in the DC universe?

Megalyn E.K. is the new preferred credit for Megalyn Echikunwoke. http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/look-arrows-vixen-on-prowl-first-photo