The Starling City Times: News and Media about Arrow

[statsgirl]

Current standing on the buddytv newbies poll:

WHO IS YOUR NEW TEAM ARROW MEMBER?

Rory/Ragman        80%

Evelyn/Artemis       10%

Curtis/Mr. Terrific     6%

Rene/Wild Dog        4%

Total Votes: 48

On 2016-10-28 at 9:41 AM, tv echo said:

Arrow Review: Penance (Season 5 Episode 4)
October 27, 2016   Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
http://telltaletv.com/2016/10/arrow-review-penance-season-5-episode-4/

I also liked this part:
 

Quote

 

Arrow Season 5 Episode 4,  “Penance,” should in fact be called “Lessons Team Arrow should really have learned by now.”

Case in point: just about everything that happens in this episode.

Number One: Diggle, you should really know better. Your team is never going to leave you in there. Your wife is never going to leave you in there.

You should know by now, that you pretty much married the female version of Oliver Queen. Stubborn is not her middle name, it’s her first name. No one is going to take your objections into account, so you might well not have made them.

Number Two: Oliver, you really should know better. Felicity isn’t going to follow along with every cockamamie plan you come up with. You two don’t have “that kind of relationship anymore,” though, to be honest, she never did follow along when you did, anyway.

You want her on board? You need to communicate. Also, this advice would probably work for just about every other facet of your relationship.

Use your words, Oliver. Use your words.

Number Three: Felicity, you should really know better. You can’t send the newbies out by themselves. They literally have like three days of field experience.

“Go. Do not die” is not enough of a pep-talk for them to go out and, you know, not die. They don’t know what they’re doing. You know how this works.

Or, wait, do you? Do any of you?

 

[Starfish35]

I think it's hilarious and sad (and also par for the course) that the writers' favorite newbie is everyone's least favorite. 

[statsgirl]

I think it says a lot about how they consistently fail to anticipate the audience's reactions to things.  "Who cares about Baby Sara anyway?"

[kes0704]

10 hours ago, Starfish35 said:

I think it's hilarious and sad (and also par for the course) that the writers' favorite newbie is everyone's least favorite. 

That's probably because everyone else is watching the show wrong :)

[Starfish35]

2 minutes ago, kes0704 said:

That's probably because everyone else is watching the show wrong :)

Of course :)

[Soulfire]

[tv echo]

[way2interested]

Weirdly like this new poster as well, like the previous poster.

[Morrigan2575]

i like it

[Chaser]

I like it a lot better than the previous poster.

[SmallScreenDiva]

Like it, but still kinda bothered that I keep staring up Oliver's nostrils. 

[bijoux]

I like the muted colours and the foggy, smokey quality. ?

[Ophanim]

Oliver and Felicity relationship is definitely over.  

Moved to Spoiler Thread...

Edited November 3, 2016 by Lidach

[EmilyBettFan]

Gross. Oh and Stephen Amell you're funny. Your character kept a child a secret from Felicity but you dare say that she doesn't trust you in that new interview? You can keep it. It seems like they don't even remember the show they play on.

[lemotomato]

That article is super spoilery and should probably be posted to the "Spoilers Only" thread. 

[Password]

Spoiler

"I don't know if Oliver's read to move on,  but it's time for Oliver to have another relationship"

Hahahahahahaha.

Edited November 3, 2016 by Password

[tv echo]

I don't think there's anything real spoilery in this DR interview, so I'm posting it here (you can tell he misses OTA)...

David Ramsey talks the return of Diggle in last night's Arrow
Aaron Sagers  Thu, Nov 03, 2016 12:07pm
http://www.blastr.com/2016-11-3/david-ramsey-talks-return-diggle-last-nights-arrow

Quote

What did it feel like rejoining Team Arrow after being separated for the beginning of the season?
Honestly, for me as an actor, it did feel kind of weird. You come into a new set, literally. Everyone was really … new. I felt a little like Stephen did when he was gone for a while. Everyone kind of inside jokes he wasn’t a part of, a little bit. They kind of had this little camaraderie I wasn’t a part of. I was like, uh, no more OTA [Original Team Arrow]. But they were great. The adjustment happened very quickly. Now we’re having fun.

Does Diggle have a new helmet? 
It’s been majorly tweaked. Originally this was supposed to be a STAR Labs collaboration, but now my understanding is it's going to be a STAR Labs, Felicity, some other worked on it combination. I don’t know if they’ve completely figured it out, either. Originally that was the pitch; you’re going to get a new helmet. There’s actually a scene when I crossed over in the King Shark episode of The Flash, and we have a brief moment where he asks, “How do you like the helmet?” And I say, “It needs some tweaking,” and he says, “I’m working on it.” That kind of connects us to this season where you see a completely new mask. We haven’t quite gotten into what the mask does yet, but I talked to Marc, and he says it definitely has X-Ray Vision. I’m kidding! He said there’s a lot of stuff it can do, and we’ll get into it this season. 

We get to see Diggle hang out with Wild Dog last night, but do you get to spend time with other new recruits? 
I do but Wild Dog and I form a special relationship. He is a military guy, like I am. He also has some post-traumatic stress as well. There is kind of a similarity in their background. We kind of take to each other in a real way. We have some really nice scenes, he and I particularly. So the new recruits, I do fraternize with them a bit, but Wild Dog and Diggle really hit it off.

Is he a Yoda to these other guys?
I think Diggle is kind of a Yoda to everybody, a little bit. That is kind of a role he falls into naturally. He’s the oldest of the group, and he kind of falls into that mental place. Last season, Oliver and Diggle switched roles a bit; Diggle was compromised with how he felt with his brother. Oliver could see through the fog, and Diggle couldn’t. It was a reversal of the roles. But, for the most part, he does serves as a mentor, and older voice, and definitely does with the new recruits.

Does this mean the OTA is done? 
That’s a power-that-be question, but I don’t think so. We get back to it. I like that they’re breathing new life into the show, and bringing in new characters. They are all interesting, all awesome. And there is more stuff to come with these characters. But I don’t think we’re done with the OTA. That’s the bedrock of the show, and I don’t think I’m misspeaking when I say that. I think we’re really getting into what we talked about at the beginning of the season, which is the show getting back into the Season 1, Season 2, nuts-and-bolts thug street-level crime fighting show, which I think the show got away from. And these characters serve that. 
*  *  *
Is there more Felicity/Diggle stuff coming up?
Yeah, Delicity, right? … Yeah, I hope so. I hope you get to see the three of them more in general. I think the show really misses … you know, I remember watching the show in the first and second season and there was like an assignment they would go on and Felicity would be at the helm and Oliver and Diggle would be like in the field and she’d be controlling things and opening up doors that shouldn’t be opened up by a computer, and that was so much fun, right? I miss that a little bit, so I hope we kind of get more of that. But there’s 23 episodes. That’s a lot of writing. That’s a lot of work. Nine months we’re shooting this show. So there’s a big story to tell and now you have more characters to tell that story. So I think they’ll get back to that. That again is more of a producer question. But, like I said before, I don’t think I’m misspeaking in that I think the show really does hinge on those three and that relationship between the three. I think they’ll get back to that in full.
*  *  *
So, Prometheus...
We’re taking great strides holding that close to the chest, so I can only say so much about that. I can say that he and Oliver have a lot in common.

What does Diggle think about Prometheus?
Listen, Digg gets awed by every other piece of the puzzle that comes together. Like, "Oh, you know it’s because of that. Oh, he’s that or he’s that." But I think what’s great about Diggle is that he’s the guy you can depend on. There’s been less of that part of last season and part of this season, but, for the most part, he’s the guy you can depend on to cut straight to the chase. He’s a bad guy. He needs to be taken down, and that’s it. Oliver’s the one who kind of struggles with, "Oh, well maybe this, maybe that." But Diggle’s always the one that’s like, "Listen, he’s a criminal. We need to take him out. Don’t necessarily kill him, but he needs to go." 

Edited November 3, 2016 by tv echo

[lemotomato]

Since they're starting to film 511 now, and DR is still hoping for OTA and Delicity scenes, I'm guessing we're not going to get very many at least up until then. 

[kismet]

Delicity feels like a mirage from an earlier oasis of goodness the show used to have. I'm beginning to wonder if Delicity was all in my head. It seems to not be a thing for anyone with any power on the show. In fact, they seem shocked when you suggest that perhaps Dig & FS could share a scene. It's like the two never met.

Poor DR, he got stuck with babysitting the newbies on the show and trying to sell a pile of foul growing horseshit that the show has become. At least they gave him a decent storyline or two to compensate... oh no wait...

[kismet]

You know one of the most frustrating things.... the show didn't even need new life breathed into it. The show was far from being DOA at the end of s4. If anything, it had a promising place to go. But you would never know that with how much they've chose the reinvigorate. It needed better stunts and character development. Turns out they got the memo on one and completely misunderstood the other point.

Edited November 3, 2016 by kismet

[Delphi]

Right. 

Fans: We would really like some character development.

MG: Got it,  here take these three new vigilantes. 

Fans: But if Dig and Felicity could have a scene together-

MG: Right,  right,  two new bad guys. 

Fans: No.  We wanna see the emotions. 

MG: Emotions?  Okay,  Felicity and Oliver will have new love interests. 

Fans: What?  No, we like ota.

MG: Fine,  take another new vigilante.   This guy has magic.  What do you want from me?

[lemotomato]

16 minutes ago, kismet said:

Delicity feels like a mirage from an earlier oasis of goodness the show used to have.

They're repeating every other beat from seasons 1 and 2, so why the hell leave out this one thing that I liked?

[Morena]

18 minutes ago, Delphi said:

Right. 

Fans: We would really like some character development.

MG: Got it,  here take these three new vigilantes. 

Fans: But if Dig and Felicity could have a scene together-

MG: Right,  right,  two new bad guys. 

Fans: No.  We wanna see the emotions. 

MG: Emotions?  Okay,  Felicity and Oliver will have new love interests. 

Fans: What?  No, we like ota.

MG: Fine,  take another new vigilante.   This guy has magic.  What do you want from me?

please send this text  @ojbalderrama and  MG. Divinely summarizes what happens

Edited November 3, 2016 by Morena

[kismet]

48 minutes ago, lemotomato said:

They're repeating every other beat from seasons 1 and 2, so why the hell leave out this one thing that I liked?

Well since they are repeating the same old beats but with new characters, they probably think you'll be okay with those scenes happening between Dig & newbie or FS & Curtis. After all in their minds the pieces are interchangeable. Characters and relationships are less important to them.

And also they don't want to give you what you enjoy because you obviously didn't watch it right the first time... you see what you liked was their masterful scripts & plots. You were mislead by your silly female (I assume) mind into thinking you liked an actual friendly relationship between Dig & FS. They were just vessels of great exposition. They are really just trying to help you. If you were a better viewer, you would understand this dilemma they face with people like you who watch for relationships & characters over plot.*

*Italics should be read in a sarcastic tone.

[BunsenBurner]

I am following @slanderent on twitter they are hilarious when they live tweet the show. Their That Arrow Show on you tube is also funny. They bring up a lot of good points.  This weeks 

is quite good!

[kismet]

1 hour ago, BunsenBurner said:

I am following @slanderent on twitter they are hilarious when they live tweet the show. Their That Arrow Show on you tube is also funny. They bring up a lot of good points. 

That was so good. Their points were awesome. Loved their comments! Their good was about all I saw in the episode as well. They slayed with valid criticism. I know Church gets credit for calling them the JV team, but loved that they brought it up too. The newbies are totally the JV team, if not lower.

Thanks for sharing.

[tv echo]

EW reviewer graded this episode a "C+"...

Arrow recap: 'Human Target'
BY SARA NETZLEY  November 2, 2016
http://www.ew.com/recap/arrow-season-5-episode-5

Quote

The good tonight: Tobias Church. The fights. The torture. Hilariously realistic masks. Elite bodyguards. The bad tonight: Rezoning. Shady journalism. PR boondoggles. Closure.
*  *  *
Bad news, though: Rene broke. “He knows you’re Oliver Queen,” he says.

Oliver takes this news surprisingly well. Actually, he takes all of tonight’s bad news surprisingly well....
*  *  *
Speaking of those a good chunk of the fandom wants to put an arrow in, Billy met up with Felicity for a little afternoon delight, after which he tells her he’s joining the ACU. He wants to know if reporting to her ex-fiancé will be weird — and oh, by the way, Felicity did tell Oliver they’re seeing either other, right? Felicity lies (poorly) and says sure, yeah, of course, it’s all good, mumble mumble…
*  *  *
Susan agrees and gives him her cell phone number for, well, you know. I repeat, that’s NOT how journalism works!
*  *  *
He says he’s not upset she’s seeing someone; it’s that she didn’t tell him. She clarifies that she wasn’t keeping the door open for the two of them. Instead, she was waiting until she was sure it was something real, which hasn’t happened yet. So…good talk?
*  *  *
In the mayor’s office, Felicity shows up as Chance is leaving (come back anytime, dude, you were fun!) and starts to babble at Oliver. Things are awkward, and they agree they should embrace new romantic opportunities. Still, Oliver says, “I care about you. And I will always care about you. It’s a mortal lock.”

Okay, Olicity haters, please skip this paragraph: Yeah, uh, does anybody buy this? They’ve still got crazy chemistry, and any love interests tossed in their paths just feel like temporary fixes until we can get back to these two. They simply must be end game. Grr.

It’s safe again, non-Olicity folks. Let’s talk about the this-is-not-how-you-do-journalism journalist Susan, who pays off a guy who says it was Chance who took the bullets for Oliver. Oh, and he also gives her pictures of Ollie in Russia when he was supposed to be on an island.
*  *  *
Wouldn’t Curtis and Felicity be more curious about Chance’s incredibly authentic masks? What’s that technology like? How long do they take to make? How durable are they? So many questions those scientists should have asked!

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

A.V. Club reviewer graded this episode an "A" (I found his positive comments on Laura Belsey's direction interesting, but I rolled my eyes when he praised the way Felicity has been moved "back in the role where she functioned best")...

A beautifully directed Arrow digs into its characters’ heads
By Alasdair Wilkins  Nov 3, 2016  1:40 AM
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/beautifully-directed-arrow-digs-its-characters-hea-245314

Quote

... But still, the direction of an Arrow episode typically ranges between workmanlike and solid, which makes tonight’s episode such a revelation. “Human Target” is so well shot that I figured some hotshot guest director had stopped by for the evening, but credit actually goes to Laura Belsey, whose background includes NCIS: New Orleans, Law & Order: SVU, Unforgettable, and both Criminal Minds and the Criminal Minds spinoff. Yet Belsey far surpasses her pedigree, directing the hell out of this episode with a succession of shots that get us inside the heads of the characters.

“Human Target” is all about the close-ups and the turnaround shots. There’s the meditation session with Diggle and Rene. There’s the flashback to the final initiation of Oliver into the Bratva, as he stares down his three judges. There’s the rooftop rendezvous between Oliver and Felicity, much of which finds the two characters on opposing sides of the frame, as though they’re still talking past each other. And my goodness, there’s that final shot of Tobias Church, as he and the doomed cop are forced to listen as Prometheus kills his entire prison escort. What all these scenes accomplish—and we can throw in the jumpy, discombobulated opening shots that mirror Rene’s state of mind—is make Arrow feel more human, more intimate than it ever really has. At its best in the early seasons, Arrow worked because it went big and became almost operatic in its telling of the wars between Oliver and either Malcolm or Slade.
*  *  *
The more I think about it, the more I love how Arrow has arranged its characters this season. Felicity is back in the role where she can function best and gain the most fan support (or the least fan ire, depending). Diggle moves seamlessly into a mentor role for Wild Dog and maybe the rest of the team. And Thea and Lance are called to bring their considerable chops to what might otherwise be the show’s driest plotline. This is all just really clever character allocation.

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow 5×05 Review: This Isn’t Arrow
November 3, 2016 by ALYSSA BARBIERI
http://fangirlish.com/arrow-5x05-review-isnt-arrow/

Quote

All I’ve seen this season is how Arrow has managed to sideline major characters not named Oliver Queen in favor of a cast of new characters and lazy storytelling. Even Felicity, who gets a decent amount of air time, has been sidelined as she’s been reduced to her season one role of comedic relief and background noise. Her whole Havenrock storyline? Yeah, lasted one episode. That kind of trauma is not solved in some, what, 15 minutes of airtime?
*  *  *
I don’t recognize this show. This show where the characters aren’t themselves, where action trumps storylines, where romance – real romance – is a curse word, and where contrived drama is worshipped.
*  *  *
And I’m angry. Because Arrow – the real Arrow – is a show that understands its true strengths – characters and heart. This imposter Arrow only cares about stunt sequences, comic books, and contrived drama.
*  *  *
Despite all of the anger that I felt in watching “Human Target,” the one thing that I did manage to clearly take away from this episode is that Oliver and Felicity’s journey is far from over. It’s just beginning this season. And they’re going to get back together. It was written all over their faces and foreshadowed in their words.

But that doesn’t mean I agree with the journey in season five. I don’t write the show (we wouldn’t be in this mess if I did), but I’ve watched for the past four seasons how these writers have crafted Oliver and Felicity’s relationship. What they’ve been doing in season five is not doing justice by these two characters and their beautiful love story that has inspired a fandom.

The reason that Oliver and Felicity are no longer together is because of a lack of communication. It’s something that we’ve seen them addressing early, which was definitely a good sign of what’s to come for their relationship.

But what Arrow is about to do is pull them apart and then put them back together in a way that would’ve made sense for season one Oliver/Laurel but makes no sense for Oliver and Felicity. Their relationship has never been about that. There’s always only been each other. But Felicity has a boyfriend, and with the casting of these new female characters you know Oliver is going to bang at least one of them. These writers are going to have Oliver and Felicity both move on, be in relationships with other people, and then somehow manage to put them back together by season’s end.
*  *  *
I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense (it does, it’s happened on television before), but it’s not what Oliver and Felicity are about. Oliver and Felicity were in a relationship that worked. It was healthy. They were a team within a team – a team in both their personal and professional lives. It worked, and it was damn entertaining to watch. Oliver and Felicity were the epitome of a healthy relationship. Until they introduced the baby mama drama, which has led to this mess we currently find ourselves in.
*  *  *
But I remain firm in my belief that Oliver and Felicity will end up together. This kind of forever love and chemistry on television is rare, and you know damn well the producers are aware of this. They know the end game. But right now it’s all about the journey. And, guys, strap in. It’s not going to be an easy one. It’ll make season three look like a siesta.

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

‘Arrow’ Recap: Oliver Gets Killed … Again
Robert Chan  Nov. 3, 2016
https://www.yahoo.com/tv/arrow-recap-oliver-gets-killed-again-153950911.html

Quote

And so we bid a fond farewell to Tobias Church (the excellent Chad L. Coleman), who, it turns out, isn’t this season’s big bad. This may be the best episode of the season so far, mixing solid action with even better character development and a flashback twist that actually affects the present.
*  *  *
This felt like one of those contrived setups to get out some exposition, but locking Diggle in with a healing Rene may have been the high point of the episode. Diggle is getting a chance to work through the things that made him want to stay locked up, and Rene’s recklessness is no longer an annoying character quirk; it’s a deeply unhealthy response to his self-sabotaging inner monologue. Can we do the same with Artemis before she becomes a fully two-dimensional character and slips though a crack in the concrete?
*  *  *
Billy Malone is the worst. Susan Williams is the worst. Maybe they could get together and go make terrible babies somewhere that isn’t this show? They’ve already got a couple name: WillBill (which is also the worst, so it’s perfect).

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow Review: The Collision of Past and Present 
Araceli Aviles+  November 3, 2016
http://www.tvovermind.com/arrow-2/arrow-review-the-collision-of-past-and-present

Quote

... The biggest question of  “Human Target” isn’t where Team Arrow newbie Wild Dog is, or what Little Baddie Church is planning. The biggest question is, who the heck is this guy, and what has he done with Oliver Queen?

Allow me to clarify from the top. Team Arrow works overtime to get Rene back from Church, even bringing in A.R.G.U.S with no success. I’ll hand it to Tobias Church, he sounded very “Negan-esque” as he explained to Rene that fear of pain is more of a motivator than pain himself. Somehow Rene manages to keep his head on straight, but not before he tells Church the Green Arrow’s true identity. Oliver seems unnaturally calm in light of this. He seems unnaturally calm about a lot of things. Even when Oliver was blissfully happy at the beginning of Season 4 he wasn’t this calm. That’s not to say Oliver is complacent.
*  *  *
Felicity is just a little panicky when her new beau Detective Malone joins Oliver’s Anti-Crime Unit. Of all people, Diggle’s friend Chance is the one to tell Oliver that Felicity is seeing someone. Chance is actually pretty good on the advice about living beyond the mask you wear. This prompts the dreaded “talk”. Whether or not you’re an Olicity fan, this moment was painful to watch. Again, this interaction between Oliver and Felicity is way too agreeable. Any die-hard Olicity fan will tell you the story isn’t over, mostly because Felicity’s reasoning for not telling Oliver about Malone was that she wanted to see “if it was real”. Secrets aren’t real. Let’s just leave it at that.

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow 5.5 Review – “Human Target”
November 2, 2016 | Posted by Michael Haigis
http://411mania.com/movies/arrow-5-5-review-human-target/

Quote

After the Bill Bombshell, two truly cringe worthy moments occur between Oliver and Felicity. The first takes place on Felicity’s balcony, where Oliver breaks out his sad-dog eyes and tells Felicity that he isn’t disappointed that she’s dating, but he’s hurt that she didn’t tell him. The second is back at the Mayor’s office, when the two reconcile and Oliver tells Felicity that he cares for her and wants her to be happy, which means that she should take the time to see if her new relationship is “real.”

I’m not sure where the Arrow audience lands on the Olicity stuff. I’m sure that some fans make a hobby out of shipping the two, and others could care less. The latter camp is probably more in the right – these are two characters who are clearly fit for one another, clearly have mutual attraction, and yet aren’t together simply because the show needs a dramatic hook in place. Tinkling piano keys on a balcony and sad pauses an all of that. The problem is, “will-they-or-won’t-they” isn’t interesting on it’s own; especially when the answer is “they-should-and-they-did-we-can’t-really-explain-why-they-aren’t-but-they-aren’t-they-probably-will-though.” It’s exhausting, and its grounded more in cheap melodrama than it is in any sense of reality.

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow “Human Target” Review (Season 5, Episode 5)
Jessica Breaux November 3, 2016
http://www.tvequals.com/2016/11/03/arrow-human-target-review-season-5-episode-5/

Quote

All in all, this was a very solid episode. I enjoyed all of the fight scenes, and they were filmed with such a crisp, clean style that it made me think I was watching the first season all over again. The Russia flashbacks continue to be both entertaining and informative. I’m glad that Oliver and Felicity cleared some of the air between them, not that Felicity actually needs Oliver’s permission or approval to wade back into the dating pool. But it is nice that she tried to be considerate of his feelings even if she was also kind of being a scaredy cat. I’m still disappointed in the direction that relationship took last season, but no use crying over spilled milk. I’m just glad they’ve finally found some solid ground again and their relationship is more or less back to the way it was before they hooked up. Team Arrow is coming together a bit better, but I’m still not really invested in the characters as individuals. I’m trying, but other than Curtis, they’re mostly just ok. Hopefully, that will get better as we spend more time fleshing them out....

[tv echo]

Human Target, Olicity and Church vs. Prometheus in the latest Arrow
Trent Moore  Wed, Nov 02, 2016 11:36pm
http://www.blastr.com/2016-11-2/human-target-olicity-and-church-vs-prometheus-latest-arrow

Quote

The on-again, off-again relationship between Oliver and Felicity — aka Olicity — is a major flash point for fans. Some love the pairing, some hate it. Regardless of which side you’re on, this episode was fairly annoying in all the wrong ways. We’ve already seen Felicity is dating a cop, which is now serving in the task force Oliver oversees as mayor (because of course). She hasn’t told Oliver about the relationship, and he finally learns about it from Chance (who Felicity’s boyfriend tells while he is undercover as Oliver, still with us?). Then, Oliver goes to Felicity’s late at night to talk it out, and … yawn. There’s plinky music, lingering glances, then they go their separate ways. They’re obviously trying to keep this relationship subplot alive to revisit down the line, and the entire storyline with Felicity’s boyfriend just seems random and tacked-on as drama for drama’s sake. 

[tv echo]

I recommend reading the entire article (and not just what I've quoted)...

Arrow Review: Human Target (Season 5 Episode 5)
November 3, 2016  Lissete Lanuza Sáenz
http://telltaletv.com/2016/11/arrow-review-human-target-season-5-episode-5/

Quote

If Arrow Season 5 Episode 5, “Human Target” makes one thing clear, it’s that this is not the same show we’ve been watching for five seasons.

No, this is a new show. One I don’t recognize. One I don’t even like.

And hey, shows change. Sometimes they change for the better. A little change is, after all, not only necessary, but healthy – especially after five seasons.

You don’t want to be caught doing the same thing over and over. So you innovate, you switch things up.
Or, in the case of Arrow, you make your characters behave in ways they never would, prioritize plot – and badly written plot at that, over characterization, and oh, yes you repeat the same story-line over and over again with different faces and call it evolution.

Welcome to Arrow 2.0. You don’t have to like it – they basically don’t care either way.

And that’s the problem. Well, one of the problems, since it really does seem like there’s too many to list. I don’t believe the show cares about me, as a viewer.

That goes for all fans alike. And it’s not about shipping. Shipping is not the issue.
*  *  *
The show liked S1/S2 Olicity interaction? Fine. There were ways to go back to it without making their relationship a mockery of what it once was, there were ways to make it believable without resorting to cringe-worthy dialogue and empty platitudes that not even the actors seem to believe.

Because right now, there’s nothing. No spark, no friendship …just Emily and Stephen’s insane chemistry making us read into things.
*  *  *
But, if I wanted good action sequences, I’d go watch …well, action sequences. What I want from Arrow is people I can care about – people I can understand. People who grow in front of my eyes.

Consistency. That’s all I ask. And that’s precisely what Arrow isn’t giving me.

If I hadn’t seen an episode of the first four seasons, I think I could like this show. I’d come into it with different expectations, but maybe I could enjoy it. Problem is I did watch those episodes.

There’s no going back for me. These people, the ones who show up on my TV screen when the guide says Arrow, are not the characters from Arrow. They’re impostors.
*  *  *
And hey – at this point, I would really just like to know if the people I fell in love with are ever coming back. Because, if not, there’s a lot of good TV out there to invest my time on.

Edited November 4, 2016 by tv echo

[looptab]

I feel like this reviewer ^^ posts on this board, haha.

[arjumand]

9 hours ago, BunsenBurner said:

I am following @slanderent on twitter they are hilarious when they live tweet the show. Their That Arrow Show on you tube is also funny. They bring up a lot of good points.  This weeks 

is quite good!

Wow, they're great! They're my favourites now, heh! I liked how they pin-pointed the exact problem with Ragman - he doesn't fit on a show where the antagonist has no superpowers. And I agree with everything they have to say about the noobs.

@ looptab (quoting isn't working)

Absolutely - I feel like commenting "One of us. One of us." on the review.

Edited November 4, 2016 by arjumand

[tv echo]

10 hours ago, BunsenBurner said:

I am following @slanderent on twitter they are hilarious when they live tweet the show. Their That Arrow Show on you tube is also funny. They bring up a lot of good points.  This weeks 

is quite good!

Their reply to MG's tweet...

[Mellowyellow]

I'm new to this! What are they implying?

[SmallScreenDiva]

12 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

I'm new to this! What are they implying?

That the crossovers aren't going to be as successful in the past, I think.

[apinknightmare]

"We gotta cross the road. Mister Terrific, are you holding Artemis' hand?" made me LOL.

[lemotomato]

2 hours ago, tv echo said:

A beautifully directed Arrow digs into its characters’ heads
By Alasdair Wilkins  Nov 3, 2016  1:40 AM
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/beautifully-directed-arrow-digs-its-characters-hea-245314

Felicity is back in the role where she can function best and gain the most fan support (or the least fan ire, depending)

"Get back in the kitchen, woman, and only speak when I want you to make a joke." Oh, is that not what he actually wrote? Because that's what I read.

Edited November 4, 2016 by lemotomato

[ohjoy]

1 hour ago, tv echo said:

Because right now, there’s nothing. No spark, no friendship …just Emily and Stephen’s insane chemistry making us read into things.

 

1 hour ago, tv echo said:

And hey – at this point, I would really just like to know if the people I fell in love with are ever coming back. Because, if not, there’s a lot of good TV out there to invest my time on.

These two lines sum up exactly my problem. My DVR space is limited; I don't have time for a crap show to keep stringing me along, promising me it'll eventually get back to the thing I actually wanted to see while it continues to destroy that thing before my eyes. (And I watched all four seasons of The Pretender, so I know whereof I speak.) I know the more optimistic people keep talking about how it's the journey, not the destination, but even if I actually believed I was being taken where I wanted to go, I don't want to feel like I got trapped inside a car that was shoved off a cliff and is rolling downhill across jagged rocks to get there.

[tv echo]

Agents of GEEK Podcast Episode 49
Craig Wack and Tatiana Torres 11/04/2016
http://agentsofgeekpodcast.com/wordpress/

-- They would've liked to have seen "a little more Human Target". Tatiana thought that Wil Traval "was so great." Craig thought that, even with his limited amount of screentime, he became "the most interesting member of Team Arrow just by showing up." Tatiana noted that he was so "casual... oh, I fixed your relationship problem... oh, I fixed your city... gotta go, bye."  Craig: "'I did a little homework about you and fixed your entire life, Oliver.'"

-- Craig liked the pairing of Diggle and Rene, just like the way the show paired Thea and Quentin. He thought that Rene needed a mentor "to center him" and that Diggle, "on his path to personal redemption, needs a little brother again." If he could mentor Rene and turn him into a hero, then it would lead Diggle out of his own personal darkness.

-- They thought it was funny the way the show noted the terrible security at the Arrrow Bunker, with Rory's comment about people just wandering into the Arrow Bunker.  Craig said that it showed once again how Ragman is the "voice of reason."  They also thought it was funny when Human Target threw his mask at Felicity and she put it on and said, "You have failed this city."

-- Tatiana: "Aside from all that, you know that this cop boyfriend - he's gotta go, right? We all know that." Craig asked if she was saying he's a temporary, rebound guy. Tatiana: "I'm saying, he's very vanilla and very replaceable and expendable and - see you later, Tyler Ritter." 

-- Craig and Tatiana liked the way Oliver & Felicity handled it like adults, "instead of like characters in a CW show." They just kinda talked it out. Craig and Tatiana like O/F's relationship right now and don't want it ruined, though Craig said, "If you guys kissed a little more, we'd be okay with that too... [But] if this is what we got, we'll take that."  Craig noted that we'll have to see "what's going on with the reporter."  Tatiana: "Uchh. I hate her." 

-- Tatiana: "By the way, let me just say, you're telling me that, all this time, as Ollie has come back to the forefront of public society, while he was running for Mayor, no one found this photo of him in Russia - or what the hell, when he was in China?" Craig interjected, "Hong Kong."  Tatiana: "No photos there. But now, because of the Human Target, who puts the face on and who doesn't put his name out everywhere, that's how you found the photo? ... I'm giving you so much side-eye, Greg Berlanti." Craig: "And especially at a super secret Russian mob party."  Tatiana: "Yeah, sure. Bratva just let people with cameras in all the time. Okay." They joked that the Russian mob just needed to change their facebook page from public to closed, to make their selfies private.

-- Craig was fine with Church being gone because he was turning too much into another crime kingpin, just with brass knuckles.  He wouldn't speculate as to the identity of Prometheus because he's "read too much" and been spoiled as to upcoming new characters.

-- Tatiana thought the team is so large now that she missed seeing Paul Blackthorne.

-- Craig was a "big fan" of Oliver doing mayor stuff because he thought the show is better when we see Oliver outside of being the Green Arrow and living a dual life.

Edited November 5, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow Review: Taking it to the Next Level
BY CRAIG WACK · NOVEMBER 3, 2016
http://oohlo.com/2016/11/03/arrow-review-taking-it-to-the-next-level/

Quote

Chance even got Oliver and Felicity to talk like grown-ups rather than, say, characters in a CW show, about her new relationship. It kept the ship in port but still preserved that spark the two have for one another.
*  *  *
The episode hit all the high notes you expect out of Arrow: Wry humor from Thea, some self-referential jokes about the Arrow cave’s open door policy and Felicity being goofy with an Ollie mask before it all got wrapped up in a nice bow, thanks to a full team boss battle at the end. It fits right in with the tone and execution of this comeback season.

[tv echo]

“I Am Bratva”: Arrow 5x05 Olicity Heart-to-Heart
MARILYN PORTER  November 3, 2016
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/blogs/2016/11/arrow-season-5-episode-5-recap

Quote

I’m not going to lie, shippers. This was a rough episode. I sort of expected it was going to be rough though, given all that lead up to it and things I’ve heard on social media. But expecting it doesn’t make seeing it any easier. But once I got through my gut emotional response, I realized something: this episode gave me hope. Oliver isn’t as eager to move on as I worried he might be (though I do think that particular moment is still in the cards so everyone, buckle up!). And Felicity isn’t so sure about her relationship with Billy. In fact, I’d wager that she doesn’t really realize just how much she is still in love with Oliver. Which means she will realize, probably about the time Oliver decides he’s ready to move on.
*  *  *
... The tone of the scene is flirty. He wants [Susan] to give him one month without attacks, to show what he can do, then after that, she can go after him. She agrees and slips him her private cell phone number. I vomit in my mouth a little.
*  *  *
... It’s a win for him as a mayor, which might grease the wheels with Susan. And I think I threw up in my mouth a little again. Felicity stops by the mayor’s office to talk to Oliver and they have a beautiful conversation. He tells her to find out if what she has with Billy is real. And he needs to find out what’s next for him too. They smile stupidly at one another and I want them to kiss so badly it hurts. She thanks him and he tells her he cares about her, he always will. There’s hope, you guys! It’s going to be hard in the meantime, but there’s HOPE!

Edited November 5, 2016 by tv echo

[tv echo]

CRYSTAL CLEAR: ARROW 5X05 REVIEW (HUMAN TARGET) 
jbuffyangel  November 4, 2016
http://jbuffyangel.tumblr.com/post/152719341363/crystal-clear-arrow-5x05-review-human-target

Quote

Felicity says “I don’t know” to Oliver while wrapped in a green blanket. While she contemplates whether or not her new relationship is real, she is wrapped in the symbolic color of the man, of the love, that is real. While she ponders whether she loves Billy, Felicity is wrapped in the symbolic color of the man she does love.
*  *  *
Oliver and Felicity are bathed in the “light of day.” In the moment Olicity is supposedly ending… there is nothing but light. Brilliant, bright, warm, hopeful light.

Edited November 5, 2016 by tv echo

[looptab]

*snort* oh dear. So symbolic.

[dtissagirl]

SYMBOLISM!

[tv echo]

Actual, real criticism from this reviewer (gasp!)...

‘Arrow’ Review: “Human Target”
Nov. 4, 2016  Nora Dominick
http://emertainmentmonthly.com/index.php/arrow-review-human-target/

Quote

After four solid episodes to start its fifth season, Arrow’s most recent episode, “Human Target,” falls somewhat flat. While setup episodes are necessary, this episode has some really strong moments, but failed in some others. While reinvention was essential for this show, Arrow fails to capture a spark this week.

The CW’s first superhero show in its “superhero revolution” is missing something. With a very saturated market of superhero shows, Arrow needs to stand out more than ever. With metahumans, time travel, and aliens filtering in from every angle, Arrow has lost its original spark. When the show first debuted, it was refreshing, exciting and character driven. Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen may not have popped directly from the page, but his new retelling of The Green Arrow offered a lot.

While die-hard comic book fans may be less than enthusiastic with the route Arrow has taken, it has drawn fans from all different background with characters that stand outside of the comic book universe. Amell’s Oliver Queen has grown tremendously in four seasons. Starting out as a playboy fresh off Lian Yu, he is now compassionate, a team player and all around a better man. Willa Holland’s Thea Queen has gone from a wild, teenage party girl to a strong, independent role model. Our question after this latest episode is where are these characters? Some Arrow characters have been tossed into the background for grandiose plotlines.
*  *  *
Off the subject of Rory’s Havenrock storyline, it’s time to chat about Felicity Smoak. When first introduced in season one, Felicity gave female characters hope within the DCTV universe. She is independent, strong, funny and an overall well-rounded female character. Somewhere along the way her essence has been lost. After getting together with Oliver last season, everything that made her an individual was stripped away. Arrow accomplished the exact opposite of what we wanted them too. They dropped the strong, female qualities for the couple.

In “Human Target,” fans see Felicity and her new boyfriend, Billy Malone (Tyler Ritter), really together for the first time. The problem with this storyline isn’t that Felicity is with someone other than Oliver, we’re actually happy she’s learned how to move on, it’s the fact Arrow felt the need to shove her with someone already. Rickards is the strongest actress on Arrow and seeing her thrive in singular storylines is something we look forward too. Her Havenrock storyline was focused on for only two episodes before we moved on. Rickards is one of the strongest assets on Arrow’s corner but is being underutilized.
*  *  *
In this episode of Arrow, Felicity and Oliver finally address their relationship and it gives “Olicity” fans a glimmer hope. After Human Target lets slip that Felicity has moved on and is dating Malone, Oliver goes to Felicity to chat. We aren’t sure if it’s the “Olicity” drought we are experiencing, but Amell and Rickards have more chemistry than ever. While their individual storylines aren’t standing out much, their conversation in this episode shows a slight semblance of moving forward. While Oliver assures Felicity he’s okay with her moving forward, Felicity is unable to say if this relationship is “real” or not. The duo might be together, but what is the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder?” If they have to date other people to find their way back to each other, we are more than okay with this.

Rickards and Amell always work beautifully together and we are truly enjoying their dynamic as friends once again. Felicity makes fun of Oliver with Human Target’s “Oliver Mask” while Oliver reassures Felicity, “I care about you and I will always care about you.” The dynamic this season is mimicking season one and two, which will ultimately make their reunion down the line all the stronger. Rickards and Amell are both the heart of Arrow and these two small moments solidifies this.

Edited November 5, 2016 by tv echo