tv echo

So I watched The Shannara Chronicles debut (largely nonspoilery review)... It was like watching a high school production of LotR, with one notable exception. The weakest acting link by far was Austin Butler as the half-human, half-elf Wil. Some of his scenes and line readings were laughably bad. Marginally better was Ivana Baquero as human rover Eretria. However, I thought that Poppy Drayton as elf princess Amberle had promise. I've never read the books, but the show . The other young elves could've come from the extras pool at Teen Wolf, just with pointy ears. John Rhys-Davies played the same role he's played for the past 10 years, a British-accented king in some fantasy kingdom where everyone else sounds American. I was curious as to why his elf princess granddaughter Amberle was made to speak like an American, even though Poppy Drayton is a British actress. The notable standout was Manu Bennett as Allanon, the last Druid on earth. He gave a commanding performance. But he was like a grownup playing in the sandbox with a bunch of kids - it was that jarring.

Heads up! It's time for the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2016 Press Tour - can't wait to see what The CW has in store for us this year... http://tvcritics.org/press-tour-schedule-overview/ Why You Should Care About the TCAs BY ALLISON KEENE 3 HOURS AGO http://collider.com/what-are-the-tcas/

Bello Mag's Dec. 2015 interview and pics with EBR are now online at their website... Emily In Real Life http://www.bellomag.com/emily-in-real-life/ https://twitter.com/BELLOmag/status/684214188298797056

That sounds very familiar. I think that was either said on the show or in the tie-in comics, but I'm not sure.

I think the EPs wrote themselves into a hole by using DNA to prove conclusively that William is Oliver's son. I would've preferred that Oliver only thought William was his son, but then finds out that he wasn't. Now, the only way out is to use the same fuzzy DNA analysis (that tested Thea's DNA on the arrow that 'killed' Sara and turned up Oliver's face) to make it possible that William is Robert Queen's son and not Oliver's. Even then, blech...

Oliver: "What are you two doing here?" Felicity: "We thought this is where you would go. You're predictable. That, and you've been sleeping on the cot at night." Oliver (repeats in exhausted tone): "What are you doing here?" Diggle: "Where else would we be?" Oliver: "Roy was right. At every turn, I had made the wrong decision. With him, with the company, and with Thea. I was so focused on what Slade might do to me that it never even occurred to me what I could do to myself. I am my own worst enemy." Diggle: "That's Slade talking, Oliver. Don't let him in your head." Oliver: "I can't keep him out of my head, Diggle! I can't - can't stop him from doing anything." Felicity: "Yes, you can." Oliver: "What makes you so sure?" Diggle: "Because you're not alone, man. Now what, boss?" Oliver: "Now we fight back."

My only disagreement with Laura Hurley is that I think Baby Mama can die because Oliver's son could reasonably be entrusted to the care of maternal grandparents for his safety.

EBR in another cute, beachy outfit (go to link for other pics)... http://www.justjared.com/2016/01/04/arrows-katie-cassidy-emily-bett-rickards-be-livin-in-miami/

Posting this here just for the Arrow section (no spoilers)... What’s coming for ‘Supergirl,’ ‘The Flash,’ ‘Gotham’ and 4 more comic book shows in 2016? BY ANDREW A. SMITH, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE AT 02:01 PM ON JAN 3, 2016 http://zap2it.com/2016/01/whats-coming-for-supergirl-the-flash-gotham-and-4-more-comic-book-shows-in-2016/

This fan is apparently making her own jewelry... https://twitter.com/eeandg81/status/683687141508026369 https://www.etsy.com/shop/FangirlProblemsInc?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Despite the beginning, this is not off-topic... I was reading a review of last night's ep of Downton Abbey (warning: spoilers about episode if you go to link) and was struck by the following paragraph that discusses the relationship between Anna and Bates: http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/04/downtown-abbey-season-6-premiere-postmortem-gareth-neame Sound familiar? If Oliver & Felicity do get married or even if they don't, I hope that they stay together and that their bond stays strong, despite roadblocks tossed in their way (although hopefully, it won't take six years).

Regarding the Felicity is pregnant/miscarries speculation and fear, I was reading back through old spoilers and found this: Specifically, the interviewer (Damian Holbrook) noted that Oliver & Felicity did not use protection in Nanda Parbat and pointed out that Oliver already has a kid out there. In response, MG laughed and said, "He's not that fertile!... I can tell you that Felicity is not pregnant." Now, granted, this was said by MG back during SDCC last summer, so it's possible that the EPs could've changed their plans and made Felicity pregnant after returning to Star City. But I really think that Felicity's injury will have nothing to do with reproduction.

I loved all the Oliver/Felicity, Oliver/Diggle and OTA moments in S1 - unfortunately, I had to sit through tons of other stuff to get to them. FYI, Felicity was not in episodes 101, 102, 105, 107, 110 and 113. But she's been in every other episode of Arrow. I really loved the first half of S2, and ITA with Laura Hurley's assessment of S2: http://laurawritesabout.tumblr.com/post/136566342064/i-want-to-hear-your-thoughts-on-this-the-popular

I had Nyssa as my #1 at one point, but I think she wouldn't be buried in that grassy plot. I think she'd get a burning funeral pyre-type send-off like a warrior of old in Nanda Parbat. So I'm back to Quentin as my #1 possibility. Sorry, but I still don't think it's Laurel. I think it's more likely to be Thea before Laurel.

Thank you, SmallScreenDiva! I loved this article. Laura Hurley's tweets and tumblr post regarding this article: https://twitter.com/lah9891/status/683734705427103744 https://twitter.com/lah9891/status/683760991000211457 http://laurawritesabout.tumblr.com/post/136559191091/hey-laura-i-loved-your-heartwarming-moments-list FYI, here's the Google definition of "so there":

I don't think there will be a new spinoff. I think LoT is their placeholder show for new superheroes now (as kismet said above).

Thank you, Chasity! I especially love all the Oliver/Felicity and Oliver/Diggle moments mentioned.

For Austin Butler and Manu Bennett fans,The Shannara Chronicles premieres Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 10 pm on MTV (in the U.S.)... The Shannara Chronicles: Everything You Need to Know Before the Premiere By mvick staff 17 hours ago http://www.tv.com/shows/the-shannara-chronicles/community/post/shanarra-chronicles-mtv-preview-145184538259/

Talks about all the DC and Marvel superhero tv shows... Why 2015 Was The Year of Superhero TV By Amanda Joyce Jan 03, 2016 10:30 AM http://www.themovienetwork.com/article/why-2015-was-year-superhero-tv

Well, according to MG, he answers in the 2.5 comics the question of "How did Oliver realize that he had romantic feelings for Felicity?" FYI, I previously posted on page 22 of the Green Arrow in Comics thread some information that I gleaned from reading the Arrow tie-in comics (scroll down to Oct 4, 2015, 9:36 am post).

New Year’s resolutions for 12 of TV’s biggest screwups BY KAYLA HAWKINS AT 04:01 PM ON JAN 1, 2016 http://zap2it.com/2016/01/new-years-resolutions-for-tv-characters-2016/

Interesting... 2015 round of Marvel vs. DC Comics has a clear winner (Spoiler: It’s not DC) BY ANDREW A. SMITH, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE AT 09:01 AM ON JAN 1, 2016 http://zap2it.com/2016/01/marvel-beats-dc-comics-in-2015/

https://twitter.com/Alex8Calvert/status/681673662789857280

https://twitter.com/OlicityLuv/status/683030281104695296 https://twitter.com/elysiarotaru/status/682773746235473921

PB's New Year's Eve video message from England... https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPaulBlackthorne/videos/458690047675489/