Social Media and Behind the Scenes: AKA Everything Else Not "News and Media"

[dtissagirl]

To an extent she did. She had Damages early on. And Home Invasion late in the season. Those are pretty much the only centrics she got. I'm honestly surprised they included Home Invasion so late in the season by which point it felt like they were very clearly moving in the opposite direction for the character than originally intended. By the end of season Laurel was less of a character and more of a prop to work the Tommy/Oliver/Dark Archer plot.

 

I kinda think Home Invasion helped set Laurel apart from the story they were telling. Diggle needed Oliver's help, Oliver ditched Dig and went to help Laurel instead. And then Dig left the team. Laurel as the disruptor of Team Hood. And then a couple of episodes later, Laurel was the symbol of Oliver's retirement, when he decided to sleep with her because he thought after he stopped the Undertaking, he'd never have to be a vigilante ever again.

[wonderwall]

I feel like Laurel working for the law wouldn't have had to have been problematic if the show presented that the system was corrupt or ineffective. That would've made Laurel look less incompetent (seriously she never been shown to have won one single case), and given her more of a reason to help Oliver w/ his nightly activities and grow to become a vigilante from there. 

Alas that never happened and the show never insinuated that there was something wrong with the system, in fact, it proved the opposite in 3x01 when Laurel was putting away the bad guys, which didn't require any screentime because this isn't a law show. 

 

Basically I think the writers didn't plan the series very well in the beginning and immediately put themselves on maintenance mode as soon as they started filming which isn't a good sign. The show never made a good foundation with Laurel's character in the first place, thus, they floundered with her character which is why to this day I feel as though she doesn't have any distinctive characteristics.

I moved this list to the Laurel Lance thread

Edited March 8, 2016 by wonderwall

[Password]

Laurel as the disruptor of Team Hood.

That darn episode. As if I needed any more reason to hate Lauriver. Don't mess with my OGs.

[looptab]

But, wouldn't that be valid for Felicity as well? Oliver thought he was done with vigilantism at the end of S3. Even though Felicity was the one who convinced him to come back, eventually.

///

I have said it before, but the 'rot in hell longer' didn't really bother me, haha. It was everything after that.

[quarks]

I feel like Laurel working for the law wouldn't have had to have been problematic if the show presented that the system was corrupt or ineffective. That would've made Laurel look less incompetent (seriously she never been shown to have won one single case), and given her more of a reason to help Oliver w/ his nightly activities and grow to become a vigilante from there. 

Alas that never happened and the show never insinuated that there was something wrong with the system, in fact, it proved the opposite in 3x01 when Laurel was putting away the bad guys, which didn't require any screentime because this isn't a law show. 

 

 

 

 

Actually, they did do that in episodes 101, 102, 104 and 207 - Laurel and Joanna mentioned corrupt judges and the limitations of the law in 101 and 102; in episode 104, Laurel's legal maneuvers were shut down by the big corporate lawyers; and episode 207 revealed that Malcolm was manipulating juries even from the supposed grave, strongly suggesting that the people behind the Undertaking - who happened to be on Oliver's list and who were often Laurel's targets as well - were manipulating the legal system. This, of course, when the bad guys weren't simply killing off the DAs, showing that they were pretty ineffective.

 

In any case, by the time they wrote "Home Invasion," they were kinda going with the story that Oliver/Laurel working together made everything worse - basically, whenever Oliver tried to do that, people got killed. That and "Betrayal" were the two episodes that first had fans speculating that Arrow was not, after all, going to stay with Oliver/Laurel - not because of Felicity, but because Arrow was really going out of its way to suggest that Laurel and Oliver weren't just bad for each other, they were deadly for everyone else.

 

Contrast Oliver and Felicity, where they have one fight in a Flash crossover and an entire city gets blown up, and then, after they break up, a future Star City becomes a bleak post-apocalyptic city whose hell is only alleviated by the occasional fabulous fur coats and a stuffed bear. Kiss and make up already, Oliver and Felicity! Not everyone can find comfort in a fur coat!

[JenMD]

Wow, it was that early? I had no idea, I thought it started near the end of the season :)

I know, right?  I'd never thought to wonder what else was going on at the time, though.  Thanks for all the info, dtissagirl.

 

Such a lowkey tweet with so many meanings. "I choose her! Oliver and Felicity Forever! Heart This! Olicity sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

 

Heh.

[wonderwall]

Actually, they did do that in episodes 101, 102, 104 and 207 - Laurel and Joanna mentioned corrupt judges and the limitations of the law in 101 and 102; in episode 104, Laurel's legal maneuvers were shut down by the big corporate lawyers; and episode 207 revealed that Malcolm was manipulating juries even from the supposed grave, strongly suggesting that the people behind the Undertaking - who happened to be on Oliver's list and who were often Laurel's targets as well - were manipulating the legal system. This, of course, when the bad guys weren't simply killing off the DAs, showing that they were pretty ineffective.

 

This goes to show how little I paid attention to Laurel/the show before Felicity came onto Team Hood haha. No wonder I quit after a few episodes in season :p

 

Thanks for the clarification!

[Scribbles]

Being the one member imposed on the team (invited to it by the villain/Slade) didn't help.  She is the uninivited.

[dtissagirl]

I figure getting stuck with a character they didn't really want, and then not only having the audience reject her immensely for two whole seasons, but also embrace other characters about a billion times more, made them try different things with Laurel, but not try that hard.

[AyChihuahua]

Okay, so DR both tweeted and instragrammed his "sup gurl." His tweet didn't actually @ her. His instagram post did. She hasn't responded to either as far as I can tell.

 

Man if he doesn't like her, she knows that, and she got fired, that's SO MEAN!

[looptab]

Being the one member imposed on the team (invited to it by the villain/Slade) didn't help. She is the uninivited.

Well, actually Dig and Felicity invited her. I'll forever wish that was on screen. Imagine how that conversation went. :)

[Scribbles]

Well, actually Dig and Felicity invited her. I'll forever wish that was on screen. Imagine how that conversation went. :)

Over Oliver's dead body.......just saying :).

[wonderwall]

Felicity: Laurel's asking about Oliver again, we should probably bring her into the fold. Maybe she can convince Oliver not to y'know, kill himself

Diggle: Do we have to? She's the worst

Felicity: We have no other choice

Diggle: ugh

Felicity: I know...

Edited March 8, 2016 by wonderwall

[looptab]

But apparently she was the one who reached out....

...

...

...

...

to his partners.

That's what I want to see.

"You're Felicia, right? And you must be Dingle. I know that Oliver is the Arrow, which explains why he is always with the two of you. Where the hell is Oliver?"

Edited March 8, 2016 by looptab

[hogwash]

I saw Oliver's whatever with Laurel in S01 as an bizarre obsession where he basically pledged his loyalty/love for all of eternity to make up for the cheating douche and dead sister thing. They sucked but I figured that's just what they were going for and it was supposed to seen as ~chivalrous~ and ~destined~. Home Invasion is so weird when you still think Laurel/Oliver is happening. Then Tommy in the finale. I was so confused. 

[looptab]

I know, right?  I'd never thought to wonder what else was going on at the time, though.  Thanks for all the info, dtissagirl.

 

Heh.

I meant the actual fans response. :) I had no idea the concept in fandom existed that early on. I had always figured it started after The Odissey, :)

[dtissagirl]

I meant the actual fans response. :) I had no idea the concept in fandom existed that early on. I had always figured it started after The Odissey, :)

 

The first registered use of the portmanteau ship name was actually the night 103 aired. Fandom found the guy who first used the hashtag on Twitter, and interviewed him, because sometimes fandom is adorkable like that:

 

http://cammienray.tumblr.com/post/125795892348/meet-your-maker-10-questions-with-the-creator-of

[JenMD]

I meant the actual fans response. :) I had no idea the concept in fandom existed that early on. I had always figured it started after The Odissey, :)

Oh, gotcha.  Yeah, I remember hearing rumblings of Olicity earlier that.  I think fans were looking for alternatives fairly early on.

 

eta: What a great find, dtissagirl!  I love that someone interviewed the first fan to use the name, how adorable.

Edited March 8, 2016 by JenMD

[Sakura12]

If people were liking the chemistry between Thea and Oliver then yes people were looking for any alternatives really early on. It's a good thing Felicity came around or there would've been a lot of incest fics on AO3. 

 

Does SA ever talk about KC without being asked directly about her? I don't really seem talking about her or praising her like he does for everyone else, EBR, DR, CL, CD and even CH. 

[lemotomato]

Yeah, I remember briefly checking out Arrow early in season 1 and seeing posts on TwoP saying that Oliver had more chemistry with Thea than he did with Laurel. L/O failed before Olicity was even a glint in the producers' eyes.

[wingster55]

I maintain Laurel did work. But oh noes she wasn't all sunshine or smiling she was hashtag the worst. How dare a female character be cold and angry.

Just because another pair was shown or thought to have chemistry doesn't mean much. Not the first time incest has been noted on a show as a couple with chemistry.

[looptab]

The first registered use of the portmanteau ship name was actually the night 103 aired. Fandom found the guy who first used the hashtag on Twitter, and interviewed him, because sometimes fandom is adorkable like that:

 

http://cammienray.tumblr.com/post/125795892348/meet-your-maker-10-questions-with-the-creator-of

That's so great. I read that with a huge smile on my face :) 

[Starfish35]

Taking to Laurel thread.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Starfish35

[SonofaBiscuit]

I maintain Laurel did work. But oh noes she wasn't all sunshine or smiling she was hashtag the worst. How dare a female character be cold and angry.

 

 

Taking to Laurel thread.

[dtissagirl]

And Claudia Black and Ben Browder had the kind of intense hot chemistry casting directors make their careers on.

Edited March 8, 2016 by dtissagirl

[Starfish35]

Yes they did.

[lemotomato]

Just because another pair was shown or thought to have chemistry doesn't mean much. Not the first time incest has been noted on a show as a couple with chemistry.

L/O was the only game in town, but there were more positive buzz about Oliver and his teenaged sister together than him with the character that was supposed to be his main (and endgame) love interest. Of course the producers started to frantically look for alternatives.

[tv echo]

AK gave somewhat confusing information in his early interviews about CL's character. The best I can figure out, she was the Black Canary - just an earlier version of her. He even calls her the Black Canary in some of these interviews.  It wasn't until later that they began making the distinction between the Canary and the Black Canary.  He  also told CL that she was playing the Black Canary. Here's a few of the news reports from 2013-2014 (listed below in chronological order) - I also include TheWrap report because they must've gotten their info from somewhere...

 

CW’s ‘Arrow’ Casts ‘The Pact’s’ Caity Lotz as Black Canary (Exclusive)
Jeff Sneider And Jethro Nededog on July 18, 2013
http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/arrow-getting-love-interest-cw-casts-black-canary-exclusive-104341/

"The Pact" star Caity Lotz is set to play the Black Canary on The CW's "Arrow," TheWrap has learned. While the Black Canary will start out as a recurring role, Lotz is expected to eventually become a series regular, as her character will be groomed as a love interest for Arrow (Stephen Amell).

 

Exclusive: Arrow Boss Sets the Record Straight on Black Canary Casting
by Natalie Abrams | Jul 19, 2013
http://www.tvguide.com/news/exclusive-arrow-boss-1068064/

"There's been a bit of misinformation printed out there and what I would say is, yes, Caity Lotz is joining the show in a recurring role and we're really excited," executive producer Andrew Kreisberg tells us. "She's a tremendously talented actress. The character she's playing is really the beginning of the story of the Black Canary."
 

The fact that Lotz's character, whose name Kreisberg declined to reveal, has a connection to the Black Canary has worried fans who believed that Katie Cassidy's Laurel Lance would fill that role, as the comics dictate. But Kreisberg wants to set the record straight. "The character that Caity is portraying is the beginning of the Black Canary story and we're really excited for the fans to go on the journey with us," he says. "So much of our show is about defying expectations, meeting expectations and exceeding expectations, and we really want our fans to experience the show by watching it and enjoying it and enjoying all the twists and turns and surprises the way we intend."
 

Kreisberg likens the Black Canary's journey to other characters that the show has already introduced with a twist. "Everything about our show is about origins and evolution," he says. "When we met Deathstroke, everyone automatically assumed it was Slade Wilson [Manu Bennett] in the mask, but then we revealed we met Slade Wilson later. With Tommy [Colin Donnell], we thought that that was Merlyn, but Tommy was really the beginning of the Merlyn story because we saw how it evolved to John Barrowman and beyond. Oliver [stephen Amell] himself, when we first meet him, he's not the Green Arrow yet. The series itself is an evolution of this character."
*  *  *
As for what this means for Laurel, Kreisberg says, "Everyone knows that Laurel Lance is the Black Canary. That's the way it is in the comic books, but how we get from A to B is the story of our show. In the same way that Oliver, when we meet him, is the vigilante, but this season he's going to becoming the Arrow, that's the step of his journey to eventually becoming the Green Arrow. Laurel Lance right now is a lawyer with a lot of heart and a lot of humanity and courage. But it takes more than that to put on the mask and go out and fight crime. Our series is the evolution of that. People will see how Caity Lotz fits into Laurel's journey along the way. For us, it's very emotional and surprising and exciting. I would say to everybody, we haven't let you down so far. Keep going on this ride with us."

 

ARROW EP ANDREW KREISBERG TALKS SEASON 2, OLIVER'S EVOLUTION AND THE INTRODUCTION OF BLACK CANARY AND THE FLASH
BY JESSE SCHEEDEN  9 OCT 2013
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/09/arrow-ep-andrew-kreisberg-talks-season-2-olivers-evolution-and-the-introduction-of-black-canary-and-the-flash

IGN TV: I want to touch on a couple of things you guys have announced for this season. You announced that Black Canary will be appearing, but not played by Katie Cassidy like a lot of viewers were expecting. Can you talk about your take on Black Canary and whether she has any connection to the Lance family?

Kreisberg: This is really the beginning of the Black Canary mythos. Caity Lotz is unbelievable in the part. We're so thrilled to have her. She's such a great addition to our cast. Those people  who were expecting it to be Laurel straight off, it's something that we've done the whole way through the show. The first person you meet that you think is the character actually isn't. Chronologically speaking, the first Hood we meet isn't Ollie, it's Yao Fei. The first Deathstroke we met was Billy Wintergreen, not Slade. And the first Merlyn we met was Tommy, not Malcolm. So we sort of have a history of introducing the proto-version of a character before we get to see the comic book version of them. So we're just continuing along in our tradition of that.
 

The Black Canary is going to have a surprising impact on all of our characters. That's something we're so excited about. Episode 5 is a heavy Black Canary episode, and for my money, I think it's one of the best episodes we've ever done.

 

Super Photos: Arrow Meets Black Canary! Plus: Which Season 1 Villain Is Returning?
By Matt Webb Mitovich / October 15 2013
http://tvline.com/2013/10/15/arrow-season-2-black-canary-photos-caity-lotz/

The CW’s Arrow will come face to face with Black Canary in Season 2’s fourth episode, and series lead Stephen Amell has shared a first look at the iconic twosome.

“Facebook Friends! You get it first… Black Canary!” Amell shared on his Facebook page, posting the close-up two-shot. Simultaneously, he tweeted the second photo, both from the episode “Crucible.”
*  *  *
Back to Black: Arrow‘s first iteration of the female vigilante is played by Caity Lotz, news which over the summer raised the eyebrows of those who assumed Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance was fated to fill the role. “We completely appreciate people’s concern for the character and for Katie, but we promise we are telling the best story about Laurel,” showrunner Andrew Kreisberg told TVLine. “It really is all Laurel’s story, another step in her journey.”

Having already featured two Merlyns, a pair of possible Speedys, dos Deathstrokes and even positing that Yao Fae was the original Arrow, Kreisberg says, “What we’re doing with the Black Canary storyline, we’ve basically done several times before.”
*  *  *
Taking a cue from the comic books, Kreisberg describes Black Canary as “one of the first real feminist heroes, and her mission is to protect women, women who were abused by men or attacked by men.” As seen in last week’s season opener, “She’s sort of following a ‘Take Back the Night’ mission when we first meet her, beating up men who’ve assaulted women.”

 

Arrow: Caity Lotz Flies as the Canary
By Tim Beedle  April 2nd, 2014
http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/04/02/arrow-caity-lotz-flies-as-the-canary

The character of the Canary, Arrow’s distinct take on the fishnet-sporting, eardrum-bursting Black Canary, emerged earlier this season and quickly became a fan favorite. The masked identity of Sara Lance (as opposed to Dinah Lance in the comics), the Canary is a breathtaking vigilante who was forged within the League of Assassins and always seems just one small push away from darkness.
*  *  *
How familiar are you with the traditional character of Black Canary? So far, Arrow’s gone a different route with the Canary than the comics, so have you tried to distance your performance from what fans might expect?
Not really. I looked at some of the comics because I was curious to know about Black Canary, but she has a completely different background and history. Her situation and where she is now is a product of where she’s been. So for me, creating the character was based off of putting myself into those positions—how it would make me and how I would feel. I was just trying to make it as truthful as possible.
*  *  *
How much did you know about your character the first time you played her? When did you find out that Sara was the Canary?
I found out after I auditioned. When I got the part, I met with [Arrow Executive Producer] Andrew Kreisberg. We sat in his office and he said that I wouldn’t be playing “Lisa,” which was the character’s name that I read for. He said that I’m actually going to be playing the Canary, and he pulled out one of the Black Canary action figures and said, “This is you!” I still have the action figure.

Edited March 8, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

MG debunked a fake Arrow script page...

Marc Guggenheim ‏@mguggenheim
@Prettynight1941 This is TOTALLY fake.
5:08 PM - 7 Mar 2016

https://twitter.com/mguggenheim/status/707009976191963136

Edited March 8, 2016 by tv echo

[dtissagirl]

Oy vey, people thought that was real?

 

El oh el.

[apinknightmare]

Oy vey, people thought that was real?

El oh el.

Bless their hearts.

[Guest]

MG debunked a fake Arrow script page...

https://twitter.com/mguggenheim/status/707009976191963136

 

I still can't believe anyone thought that was real. I mean, really? REALLY. Come on. Wow.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Guest

[Starfish35]

Oh my. I hadn't seen this before. ROFL. People thought that was real?

[looptab]

It must have been the Pretty Bird that tricked them.

I am more curious about MG telling Felicity fans that she wasn't dead? When did that happen? Haha.

[Morrigan2575]

Oh come on, I totally thought it was real.  Of course Thea and Laurel spend their weekends watching Friday and lusting after Ice Cube

 

It must have been the Pretty Bird that tricked them.
I am more curious about MG telling Felicity fans that she wasn't dead? When did that happen? Haha.

 

He didn't, that I recall, unless they're talking about the Flash Forward

Edited March 8, 2016 by Morrigan2575

[looptab]

Yeah, I was being sarcastic :)  I'm guessing they saw people speculating during hiatus and just draw their conclusion that MG told them. Unless they are talking about the flash forward. I don't think so. Though, it could be. Maybe they expect Guggenheim to come right out and tell them who is in the grave. :D

Edited March 8, 2016 by looptab

[Ann Mack]

It's getting to the point of ridiculousness if someone, anyone, reading that "leaked script page" could believe it was authentic. Marc seriously came out to debunk this nonsense? He really does know how to make himself look like an idiot. Maybe he should just take the Wendy role and say as little as possible. Fans are going to say, post and think whatever they want to until the episode actually airs and the "death" is revealed. If Marc chases in behind every fake article, tweet, post or supposed "leak script page" he is going to be a very busy man,

 

He actually came out and officially debunked this, I'm SMHH at the stupidity and lack of grasp he has this actually shows, oh well!

[looptab]

I don't see how that reflects badly on him.

[Ann Mack]

Another cute picture of Emily.

 

[popgoesculture]

That's KC's dog, right? Or did she say that Felicia wasn't her dog during a con (or only sometimes her dog) and I'm imagining it? Basically I'm confused about who owns that dog.

[Ann Mack]

This guy says Arrow is filming in studio today!

 

Ken ‏@pursuit23

https://twitter.com/pursuit23/status/707254332719104000

[SmallScreenDiva]

I thought Marc responding to that tweet about that fake script is hilarious. He equivocated pretty damn well. He did not respond to the real question the fan was asking, which is basically "Is Laurel dead? Please tell me, and more specifically the mean people over in the Olicity fandom, that the character I stan for is not dead." So what does Marc do? He responds to the only obvious question that can be answered: "This is TOTALLY fake" in reference to the script.  

[Ann Mack]

That's KC's dog, right? Or did she say that Felicia wasn't her dog during a con (or only sometimes her dog) and I'm imagining it? Basically I'm confused about who owns that dog.

The dog has his/her own IG and on it, it says he/she belongs to Katie Cassidy. So who knows what is happening. Maybe she's on set with her dog visiting or working (please say it ain't so, for reasons)?

[Chaser]

Per my understanding, KC gave the dog to one of the Hairstylists or make-up artists.

[spartan]

That's KC's dog, right? Or did she say that Felicia wasn't her dog during a con (or only sometimes her dog) and I'm imagining it? Basically I'm confused about who owns that dog.

this is the dog of Katie Cassidy, it means maybe she was on set, I do not see why she will abandon it if she has not scenes to shoot.

[wonderwall]

LOL why does it matter who the dog belongs to? :p 

[spartan]

because we may wonder if Katie is on the set or not? I do not think she gave her dog a makeup

[ABCDE]

this is the dog of Katie Cassidy, it means maybe she was on set, I do not see why she will abandon it if she has not scenes to shoot.

The dog isn't hers anymore. She gave her dog away to one of the Arrow hairstylists.

Edited March 8, 2016 by ABCDE

[bijoux]

The first registered use of the portmanteau ship name was actually the night 103 aired. Fandom found the guy who first used the hashtag on Twitter, and interviewed him, because sometimes fandom is adorkable like that:

 

http://cammienray.tumblr.com/post/125795892348/meet-your-maker-10-questions-with-the-creator-of

 

Way cute.

[Morrigan2575]

Definitely prefer Olicity to Fliver....sounds like a disease