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Gotham - LoveCraft - Advance Preview http://www.spoilertv.com/2014/11/gotham-lovecraft-advance-preview.html

I forgot to post earlier that I didn't think the mirakuru really detracted that much from the realism of the show because it was arguably based on science. Mirakuru is a man-made serum that "causes enhanced physical strength, speed, endurance, durability, agility, stamina, reflexes, and an accelerated healing factor once injected, however its use is dangerous, as the serum can easily prove fatal if not correctly administered" (source). IRL we already have anabolic steroids that enhance physical performance, increase muscle mass and strength, but also have adverse side effects like aggression, anger, and health problems (why it is illegal for professional athletes to take them). We also have a variety of healing agents. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that a scientist or team of scientists could've come up with a combination drug that would do what mirakuru did (after illegally experimenting on humans), taken to a dangerous extreme, plus having the really bad side effects.

'The Walking Dead' Mid-Season Finale Spoilers: Beth to Turn into a Walker? By Keerthi Mohan November 24, 2014 16:30 IST http://www.ibtimes.co.in/walking-dead-mid-season-finale-spoilers-beth-turn-into-walker-614937

In the first 12 minutes of his last After Show video, John Campea expressed exactly why I feel bitter about the way the show botched up the Laurel character and made instant superheroes on Arrow.

When Oliver and Felicity had their talk in the hospital corridor, that's when Felicity might've first tried to argue with Oliver but didn't. Why? One might think that the EPs thoughtfully reasoned that Felicity knows Oliver so well that she knows there would be no point. For the past year, she's probably spent more time with him than anyone else, even Diggle - she spent her days with him as his "EA" at QC, she spent her nights and likely weekends with him on Arrow business. So 24 hours a day for about a year, and most particularly for the previous five months, they've gotten to know each other inside and out. They know how each other thinks and what they're going to say. You could argue that she knows the present day Oliver better than anyone else in the world right now. As soon as their date was interrupted by an explosion, she probably knew it was over. Alternatively, one might think that the EPs wanted to stuff so much into "The Calm" episode that they only allotted two minutes to the pivotal hospital corridor scene, so therefore there wasn't enough time to show a lengthy or subsequent conversation between Oliver and Felicity in that episode.

Summarizing some of the theories suggested above... The DNA on the arrow turns out to be Thea's, so Oliver gives himself up to Ra's in her place. (This would be IC - last season, he wanted to give himself up to Slade in order to save the city, so deja vu.) Once he's with the LOA, however, he finds out that the real killer is either Nyssa or an ARGUS agent. He's then no longer willing to sacrifice himself and wants to return home. -- If the killer is a brainwashed Nyssa, Oliver challenges her to combat to the death per LOA code and wins (likely Nyssa lets him win) but he lets Nyssa live. Nyssa disavows her father and returns to Starling City with Oliver. Nyssa flashback provides clarification on relationship between Nyssa and Ra's, and why Ra's would let them go. Nyssa becomes the new Black Canary (like writersblock51 suggested) when Laurel gives it up (this still seems unlikely to me). -- If the killer is an ARGUS agent, Oliver and Nyssa return to Starling City together (with Ra's approval) and devise a plan to go after Waller. Hong Kong flashbacks provide clarification as to Waller's motive (as Kordi suggested). The showdown is between Waller & corrupted ARGUS agents and Oliver's team with LOA assist. Waller is defeated and Lyla takes over as head of a new and cleaned-out ARGUS (yes, shades of SHIELD-HYDRA). Either theory would get around the problem of how Oliver can possibly defeat Ra's. About the "Canaries" episode, I think we'll see a frustrated Laurel who's been not doing that well out in the field. Then we'll see flashbacks of a frustrated Sara when she first struggled to learn fighting with Nyssa. Ultimately, we'll see both triumphing in some way in present day and flashback scenes, perhaps with Nyssa giving approval to both sisters. I'm going with this parallel story theory instead of the Ghost Sara appearing to Laurel theory that I liked before.

I also feel bad for BR because I remember how excited and enthusiastic he was in tweets when the news first broke about his casting. I blame the EPs and writers for how Ray Palmer's been portrayed on the show. This pic is cool, though... https://twitter.com/EmilyBett

After the way Felicity willingly risked her life to get close to Slade and then jabbed him with the syringe, I'll never see her as weak.

Extensive collection of photos and tweets from The Flash/Arrow Fan Screening at OliverandFelicity.com... Part 1 (Black carpet arrivals & pre-screening) http://www.oliverandfelicity.com/2014/11/23/appearances-the-flasharrow-fan-screening-in-la-part-1-black-carpet-arrivals-pre-screening/ Part 2 (Post-screening Q&A panel photos) http://www.oliverandfelicity.com/2014/11/23/appearances-the-flasharrow-fan-screening-in-la-part-2-post-screening-q-a-panel-photos/ Part 3 (Post-screening Q & A panel) http://www.oliverandfelicity.com/2014/11/23/appearances-the-flasharrow-fan-screening-in-la-part-3-post-screening-q-a-panel/ Part 4 (Miscellaneous round-up) http://www.oliverandfelicity.com/2014/11/23/appearances-the-flasharrow-fan-screening-in-la-part-4-miscellaneous-round-up/ Part 5 (Videos) http://www.oliverandfelicity.com/2014/11/23/appearances-the-flasharrow-fan-screening-in-la-part-5-videos/

I think the EPs are in a bind. They want to rush up and get the new BC on the TV screen asap, but they know they'll get flak for the rushed training - esp. when they made such a big deal about Oliver's 5-year journey and Sara's LOA training. So they end up with a BC who's not a very good fighter. Like looptab said, maybe their plan is to have Laurel continue improving year after year (ugh!) as the BC until she ultimately becomes the badass fighting ninja BC in Season 5 - at about the same time that Oliver transitions from the Arrow to the Green Arrow? In the meantime, they keep her in costume as the BC but make her suddenly great at master strategy and tactics because somehow her 'brilliant' legal mind helps her instantly analyze and plan (also ugh!)?

Ah, but the big difference - to the EPs' mind at any rate - is that last season Laurel wasn't the costumed Black Canary but just your normal gal. This season, it's not so much Laurel-heavy episodes, but BC-heavy episodes. Ratings gold! I interpreted what MG said a little differently - it could mean she'll still wear the mask but just be a BC that doesn't use fighting as much to defeat the bad guys. I just don't believe that the EPs would give up on having a BC. Either way, I agree that WTF? Certainly doesn't sound like the competent BC of the comics (that I've heard about).

I don't ship actors either, but their interactions are cute. Did you see EBR and SA look at each other and then SA nodded at her (around 2:08)? DR, EBR and SA are the best part of Arrow. I like EBR's outfit. It looks classy and cool with the mannish jacket and shorts.

This upcoming BC trilogy or quartet of episodes sounds about as much fun as getting a root canal. Honestly, I don't think the ratings will fall that much - esp. not the first episode in January - because other viewers either don't read spoilers and might be expecting Oliver to return right away (to resolve the cliffhanger) or might be satisfied watching any costumed chick kicking ass. The EPs are probably counting on the latter. However, I'd bet that they've probably mixed in with those BC episodes some 'great' B scenes involving Felicity, Diggle and/or Thea (which will be heavily promoted) to get fans watching. It's going to be a critical test period - If the ratings drop to the basement, then Laurel may be dropped from the show. if the ratings are decent, then we're probably stuck with Laurel as the BC for at least another season. If the ratings are great, then she may get spun off into a BC or BOP show, which would get her off Arrow.

As someone who never read the comic books, I want to comment on costumes and realism on Arrow. One of the reasons I like Arrow is because the show tries to be grounded in realism (or as real as a 'superhero show' can get). Oliver's 'superpower' skills aren't genetic, alien, or given to him through a freak accident. He got them through extensive training, practice, and a determination born out of suffering. He earned them. But lately it feels like this show is moving away from this realism, esp. if this season is headed toward a Canary Cry and the Atom. This moving away from realism is reflected in the 'superhero' costumes. Oliver's green-hooded costume is organic to his character. It's the outfit he brought back from the island (I believe), and it's designed for comfort and camouflage. Although the green color is better camouflage on the island than in the city, it's still a dark drab color that hides well in the shadows. Keeping the green color may also be a tribute to those left behind on the island (like Shado and Yao Fei) and everything he experienced there. Even the black paint around his eyes was not just disguise but could be functional. It served to keep the glare from sun or artificial light out of his eyes (why football players put black greasepaint under their eyes), which enhanced his effectiveness as an archer. Yes, we have to handwave why no one recognizes him, but I thought that adding the mask actually detracted a little from the naturalness of his outfit. Sara's costume as the Canary was an all-black outfit that worked for her persona as a LOA member and for running around at night - despite the cleavage, which I get was a nod to a BC comic book costume, but also worked as arguably fitting Sara's somewhat 'wild child' personality. Her outfit looked like something a real assassin would wear. (The impracticality of superhero women having loosely hanging long hair while fighting has been previously discussed in this forum.) Then we're introduced to Roy's red-hooded costume. I get that his costume is a different color in order to distinguish Roy from Oliver out in the field and to give Arsenal a distinct persona. But red is not a good camouflage color in any environs. Also, wouldn't it be more effective to have Roy's costume the same color as Oliver's? This sameness would confuse their enemies. It would also provide an alibi for either of them, if needed, and help conceal their secret identities. They could still have different-colored arrows. Roy's red costume was a move away from realism and into comic book fantasy. Finally, we have the new Black Canary costume for Laurel. The neck-to-toe black is great for being a vigilante and would've been a good workable outfit. But then the costume designer ruins it by adding all the buckles. As mentioned by several here, if these buckles are functional, then it will take a long time for her to buckle up when she needs to go out into the field. If the buckles are only decorative, then how do those boots stay up? If the buckles are decorative and the boots have zippers or snaps, then what's the point of having the buckles in the first place? Moreover, the buckles don't even look like they're black-coated but appear silver. Shiny silver buckles will catch the light and give away her position if she's trying to hide. Add in the garter belt, and Laurel's costume moves the show even further into comic book fantasy. It just seems like TPTB on Arrow are sacrificing realism in their rush to introduce as many cool new 'comic book toys' as they can, without much thought.

Another J.J. Abrams show has been green lit for 2015 (great cast)... HBO Creepily Announces Westworld Series Starring Anthony Hopkins Eliana Dockterman @edockterman Nov. 17, 2014 http://time.com/3590531/hbo-westworld-announcement-anthony-hopkins/

Vote here... Who Has the Hottest Sexual Tension of 2014? by Shannon Vestal 11/20/14 http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/TV-Couples-Sexual-Tension-2014-36147890?stream_view=1#photo-36148153 Currently, the top three vote-getters are: 34% Claire and Jamie, Outlander 26% Felicity and Oliver, Arrow 24% Robin Hood and Regina, Once Upon a Time

Season 3 isn't even half over and I'm already dreading Season 4. I have this fear that next season will be an ensemble superhero show with some episodes featuring the Arrow, some episodes featuring the BC, and some episodes featuring the Atom. Felicity will be reduced to a central information source, and Diggle will have disappeared like Pete Ross. Why? Because these EPs can draw even more story 'inspiration' from the wealth of comic book lore and not have to be bothered with coming up with original storylines.

You know what? I don't know if I even care anymore. This show has been a bitter disappointment this season. I don't even recognize my favorite characters, and everything else is a hot mess. Sometimes I don't know if I'm watching Arrow, One Tree Hill, or Sex and the City. I guess I'm moving from Outrage to Apathy. Is Ray Palmer a creepy stalker or a misunderstood doofus? - Don't give a damn. Is Laurel going to fumble at first or be a magical ninja as the Buckle Canary? - Don't give a damn. What will happen with Ra's al Ghul? - Don't give a damn. Did Thea kill Sara? - Don't give a damn. Will Oliver and Felicity ever get together? - Don't want to give a damn. I'm going to watch the Flash/Arrow cross-over episodes. After that, I just don't know. P.S. You just knew Verdant was coming back because what's a CW show without a nightclub and a place to party? I'm waiting for DJ Douchebag to introduce a new musical artist each week, and then there will be an ad promoting that artist's album at the end of each episode. Eventually, there'll be an Arrow music soundtrack that you can buy for Christmas. Maybe Green Arrow and Black Canary will dance their version of the Batusi.

Yeah... that was inevitable. I can't imagine who's leading the charge on that (rolls eyes). Felicity's been the most celibate character on Arrow in the past two years, and wanted to date Oliver even after he lost his money, home and company. Real logical.

This is frustrating. I never said that real women or geeky women didn't like clothes, jewelry and girly things. In fact, I said the opposite - that Felicity does like these things and that was part of her character. My point - which you are free to disagree with - is that there is a difference between liking these things and accepting them from your boss - even as a loaner. And I didn't think Felicity would agree to wear such items offered by Ray. My other point - which was less clear - is not that Ray was necessarily trying to seduce Felicity with the dress and necklace (not consciously, at any rate), but that Felicity should be aware of the appearance of impropriety associated with it and should have a natural distaste of seeing a rich guy showering expensive 'gifts' a la Pretty Woman - even if it's just a loan in her case - from growing up with a beautiful mom in Vegas. Ray picking out a dress and necklace for her was just inappropriate, whatever his reasons. At any rate, we're probably over-analyzing something the EPs probably spent about two seconds thinking about.

It's too bad that Ray Palmer is destined to become a superhero (Atom) because he would make one great stealth villain. For all the talk about him wanting to make the world a better place, he's still got that creepy, stalkerish vibe. I mean, after Felicity returns the blue dress, just imagine Ray taking the unwashed dress to bed with him and sniffing it.

We can all agree to disagree. ; ) I don't think Felicity should accept a tech toy bribe either. I first said it was in character for Felicity to appreciate the couture dress because she likes fashionable clothes. I then said it was out of character for her to agree to wear a dress that her boss picked out for her. I can't help but personalize this. If my boss offered me an expensive dress in just my size to wear to a business dinner with him, I would turn it down and also be wigged out because of the sexual harassment vibes. If he offered me the use of a tech gadget to persuade me to go to this business dinner, I'd turn it down but be less offended because I know said boss is a tech nerd and such an offer would've been made regardless of my gender.

You have to do a lot of hand-waving on this show... that's one of its major flaws. But Felicity being a VP at Palmer Technologies (esp. when she's been shown to be a computer genius person) - and large corporations usually have more than one VP - is more feasible than 18-year-old Thea successfully running Verdant on her own last year (and this year) or Laurel being made Acting DA over more senior ADAs after only being an ADA for about a year. As for Oliver being made CEO of Queen Consolidated, that's not completely unrealistic since he is a Queen scion and it was shown that he was clearly unqualified to do that job. It would've been ridiculous only if he had been successful in running QC.

Regarding some online criticism of Felicity this season... In the past two years, here's the number of people that each character has had sex with (present day, excluding flashbacks): Oliver - 5 (McKenna, Helena, Laurel, Sara, Isabel) Laurel - 2 (Tommy, Oliver) Diggle - 2 (Carly, Lyla) Sara - 2 (Nyssa, Oliver) Thea - 1 (Roy) Roy - 1 (Thea) Tommy - 1 (Laurel) Felicity - 0 I think Felicity is entitled to two or three measly kisses this season. [CORRECTED AND UPDATED - thanks, chaos is welcome]

A tech toy bribe would've been less offensive than an expensive dress (and diamond necklace) bribe for the following reasons: First, Felicity grew up in Vegas with a beautiful mom and probably saw a lot of rich guys trying to buy her mom's "affections" with expensive gifts like jewelry and clothes. So even though it's different in that Ray is only lending her the blue dress and necklace, she's too smart not to see the significance of allowing Ray to dress her like a doll - or a paid escort. Second, by buying her the work dinner outfit, Ray is essentially saying that he doesn't trust her to dress herself appropriately. The real Felicity would've told him "No thank you, you can wear the dress and necklace yourself." But the EPs probably thought it would just be a 'cute' moment.