The Starling City Times: News and Media about Arrow

[tv echo]

A.V. Club reviewer gave 618 a grade of C+...

Arrow confronts Oliver Queen with the ghosts of baggage past 
Allison Shoemaker  April 13, 2018
https://tv.avclub.com/arrow-confronts-oliver-queen-with-the-ghosts-of-baggage-1825228825

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There’s no shortage of things to appreciate about “Fundamentals.” Like last week’s Diggle/Queen showdown, this is an Arrow episode which mercifully slows down and focuses on the characters—here a single character, to be precise—rather than ricocheting through plot developments of varying degrees of effectiveness, as so much of this season has done. Also like last week’s episode, this is an hour that’s filmed with care, this time by director Ben Bray. And again, like “Brothers in Arms,” it’s rooted in solid performances. All that, and a Napster joke, too. Works for me.
*  *  *
Oliver Queen’s trip into his own psyche, via an involuntary Vertigo dosing, is a reasonably compelling watch. The pounding of doom makes for a nice, ominous motif (ask not for whom the rhythmic metallic clanking tolls...). Adrian Chase (Josh Segarra) might not seem like the best fit for the role of Official Emcee of the Oliver Queen 2018 Baggage Tour, but Segarra and Amell play well together; the costuming for Chase has always painted him as Oliver’s dark shadow, which is especially useful here (the ties in particular are a nice touch). The shifting locations are disorienting and unsettling, and the shot of Oliver flat on the bunker’s lit floor, a la Vertigo, is a stunner.

The trick of stories like this one, though, is that while the landscape can be dreamlike, the personal and thematic stakes have to be crystal clear. Whether it’s a trip, a fever, a dream, a dream ghost, or an actual ghost, there needs to be clarity, specifically of the emotional journey and the relationships. A Christmas Carol works, in part, because the visits are so clear. Past, present, and future; who you were and what you lost, who you are and what you’re missing, where you’ll be and how you’ll be remembered. What Oliver thinks of himself has that kind of clarity: loads of guilt and self-loathing, no surprise, plus some fear of abandonment, which, given the circumstances, is pretty understandable.

It’s everything else that’s unclear. While the glimpse of the old Queen mansion is kind of a thrill, what does Oliver’s very poor treatment of Laurel have to do with his current struggle? What is Oliver meant to take from his encounters in the hospital, besides a hostile vibe? Arrow can’t seem to decide whether or not it’s Oliver’s fault that Rene ended up hurt, if he’s the reason the team fell apart, if he was wrong to help Laurel be the Black Canary. When it’s narratively convenient, he was right; when they need it for the drama, he was wrong.

But there are bigger problems than those. His time with the Adrian Chase guilt-ghost gives Oliver some clarity, or so he tells Felicity. He needs to get back to those titular fundamentals, which in this case somehow means going it alone. What about this experience teaches Oliver that he needs to fly solo? He spends one day in a Felicity-lite zone and everything goes to shit, so apparently that tells him working without others is the way to go. If nothing else, how does doing the Green Arrow’s work without assistance keep him from being spread too thin?
*  *  *
There are real pleasures to be found in “Fundamentals,” from that great Vertigo shot to Mayor Lance to William fetching sneakers for Felicity to that first fight with Chase. But if you’re going to do a thoughtful, character-driven episode, you have to actually be thoughtful and character-driven. Those are the rules. Amell, Segara, Emily Bett Rickards, and Paul Blackthorne work their asses off here, and the results are entertaining. Just don’t think about it too hard, and it might be best to kind of stand back and squint.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

ARROW: "FUNDAMENTALS" REVIEW
BY JESSE SCHEEDEN   12 APR 2018
http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/04/13/arrow-fundamentals-review?abthid=5ad0216b683637510c0006fb

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It might have seemed like Ollie hit rock bottom last week in “Brothers in Arms,” but clearly he has much farther to fall. By combining a dark, psychological look at a hero on the edge with the return of a fan-favorite villain, “Fundamentals” arrived at a very winning formula. Better yet, having two rock solid episodes in a row gives new hope that Season 6 actually can redeem itself.
*  *  *
It didn’t hurt that the opening delivered such a visually impressive action sequence. I really love when directors get creative with their camera work and frame the action from an unusual perspective. In this case, Ben Bray used the unusual layout of the police station to set up a neat tracking shot and follow Ollie’s movements from the other side of a wall.
*  *  *
Thematically and narratively, there are a lot of comparisons to be drawn between “Fundamentals” and last season’s “Kapiushon.” Both are all about bringing Ollie low and stripping him down to his emotional core. And both serve as particularly strong showcases for Stephen Amell’s acting ability. Amell really sold the idea of Ollie losing control and retreating from the world around him. Nowhere was his performance more satisfying than the scene where Ollie was confronted by the Hood. Those two figures may have been played by the same actor, but they didn’t feel like the same person at all.
*  *  *
Given the upswing in quality these past couple weeks, it’s worth asking just how much the show’s improvement stems from the reduced cast. We saw little of Diggle or the other ex-Team Arrow members this week, and I can’t say their collective presence was missed. It’s often felt like this series has too many characters, but there’s a growing case to be made that the best thing for Arrow is for the show to move away from the ensemble format entirely. It’s hard to say whether Ollie’s newfound emphasis on the mission and removing all distractions is a positive step for the character, but the series itself will surely benefited from a more single-minded focus.
*  *  *
It's taken far too long to reach this point, but Arrow's sixth season is finally coming into its own. This episode shows the benefit of a streamlined cast and a more narrow focus, as Ollie's internal struggles fueled a compelling conflict. Having one of the all-time great Arrow villains back in the spotlight just made a strong episode that much better.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow Season 6 Episode 18 Review: “Fundamentals” 
Chris King  April 13, 2018
http://www.tvovermind.com/the-cw/arrow/arrow-season-6-episode-18-review-fundamentals

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“Fundamentals” is an odd episode of Arrow. Overall, it’s an entertaining hour with a terrific lead performance from Stephen Amell, who has been underutilized throughout much of Season 6, despite being the lead of the series. This deep dive into Oliver’s psyche is exciting, enlightening, and sometimes even hilarious, thanks to Josh Segarra reprising his role as Adrian Chase, whom Oliver continues to hallucinate due to the Vertigo that has been planted in system by Councilman Collins, another corrupt ally of Diaz’s. However, even though I enjoyed individual moments in “Fundamentals,” from the opening action sequence of Oliver taking down all of the corrupt cops to Felicity convincing him that she’s real later on in a pivotal scene (absolutely love how she refers to herself as “glue”), the episode never truly comes together by the end of the hour, and that’s because of the conclusion Oliver reaches and the decision he makes.

On its own, Oliver choosing to protect Star City all by himself again is an idea with some potential. There could be a lot of story having to deal with the challenges he faces in the field and whether or not he feels free and focused by himself or if he feels hopeless and alone. The problem is, though, so much of Arrow Season 5 was spent proving to Oliver (and us as viewers) that he was stronger with the people he loved around him....
*  *  *
That’s what last season was all about: Oliver’s growth and development from a vigilante to a hero, from a killer who had cut himself off from all emotions to a man who was open to love from others and ready to be a husband and a father. Oliver realized he didn’t have to choose between being the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen, he understood that both parts of himself gave him strength, and he knew that bringing the them together, that being a hero, a friend, a husband, and a father, is what made him the most complete version of himself. But now because of Diaz (I mean, really, Diaz?!), he thinks he has to compartmentalize again and return to who he used to be, that he has to go out in the field alone when just earlier this season in “Reversal” he was shown how essential Felicity is to his life both as the Green Arrow and as Oliver Queen. And I’m supposed to look at this arc and see it as character development and not regression that has been put upon Oliver because the writers mistakenly thought it would be dramatically satisfying to watch him be stripped of everyone and everything again for the umpteenth time? I’m sorry but that’s too hollow and inauthentic for me to believe in and to enjoy.
*  *  *
That’s why I understand why Oliver wouldn’t feel the need to bring any of them back on to Team Arrow right now. His head needs to be clear and focused, and he can’t do that when others are blaming him for issues he never created. But why take Felicity off the team? Why remove the glue that has always kept Team Arrow together, the glue that has helped rebuild and reshape the team when it’s been at its most broken? Why turn away the woman who has been by your side through all of your highest highs and lowest lows, the person who has not just helped make you a better hero but a better man? How does Oliver sincerely believe that going “back to basics” and removing her from the team gives him a better chance at stopping Diaz?

It’s that conclusion that Oliver reaches at the end of the episode that taints an otherwise inventive, emotional hour of Arrow, anchored by some of Stephen Amell’s strongest work of the season (that’s back-to-back great episodes for him). Hopefully, Oliver wakes up soon and realizes that he needs others around him to the best Green Arrow he can be. He may want to choose more wisely next time and find allies that won’t turn on him for artificial reasons (that the writers cooked up for plot instead of character, but I digress). However, he also has to remember that you never bench your star player, especially when she’s shown up and played her best in every single game. The Green Arrow needs Felicity Smoak just as much as Oliver Queen needs Felicity Smoak, and she shouldn’t have to remind him.
*  *  *
As Stephen Amell tweeted earlier tonight, the position for that Oliver/Felicity zip line scene should look very familiar to fans who have been watching the series since the beginning. 

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[KenyaJ]

39 minutes ago, tv echo said:

Amell really sold the idea of Ollie losing control and retreating from the world around him. Nowhere was his performance more satisfying than the scene where Ollie was confronted by the Hood. Those two figures may have been played by the same actor, but they didn’t feel like the same person at all.

I just realized how much I want to see Oliver and Felicity have a double date with the Hood and GothFelicity.

[Mellowyellow]

4 minutes ago, KenyaJ said:

I just realized how much I want to see Oliver and Felicity have a double date with the Hood and GothFelicity.

OMG the Hood and GothFelicity would be such a hot mess in the hottest of ways! 

Someone WRITE THE FIC please!!!!!!

[bethy]

I love that these reviews are nailing - in my opinion - the awesome and the “Uh, what?” aspects of this last episode and the season as a whole. Yes, SA has been underused and he’s the lead of the show; yes, they need to stop trying to be an ensemble. Right, Oliver’s decision to go it alone makes no sense; yes, they change whether Oliver is right or wrong based on plot needs of the moment. 

From their fingers/screens to the writers’ and show-runners’ screens/eyes.

[tv echo]

Arrow: Oliver and Felicity Calls It Quits – Kind Of?
By Lindsay MacDonald | Apr 12, 2018
http://www.tvguide.com/news/arrow-season-6-episode-18-recap-oliver-felicity-end-partnership/

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Just when you think Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) have cleared their last hurdle, Arrow throw another one in their way. It's the end of an era, guys. Olicity has officially called it quits — professionally speaking that is.
*  *  *
In an effort to do the most good with the least collateral damage, Oliver decided he needed to put on his old hood, and go it alone. Without any partners, backup or even Overwatch to help him out. That's right, Felicity is officially off the team.

This is a terrible idea. But whatever, Oliver. You do you. You'll certainly have plenty of free time to do so.
*  *  *
At the end of the day, everyone knows that this "break up" for Oliver and Felicity as a crime-fighting duo isn't anything to get stressed over. In fact, this episode weirdly highlighted the strength of their relationship and how deep their fear of losing each other ran. Whether or not they decide to return to their working partnership eventually will have little to no bearing on their relationship as husband and wife, and that's when you know you've got a solid foundation. Olicity for the win.

On the other hand, if Oliver absolutely has to choose one thing to let go of, it should probably be his position as mayor. It hasn't done much for the overall plot — besides give us serious Trump vibes — and it's frankly one of the less exciting parts of Oliver's storyline lately. Power is awesome, but if he can't make time to save the city and run it at the same time, then he should probably hand the reins over to someone else.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

OLIVER FACES HIMSELF, PLUS A SURPRISING GUEST STAR, IN A MIND-BENDING ARROW
Trent Moore   Apr. 13, 2018
http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/oliver-faces-himself-plus-a-surprising-guest-star-in-a-mind-bending-arrow

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The big surprise was, of course, the shocking return of Adrian Chase. When Oliver kept hearing random banging in the Arrow Cave, it seemed to be a tell tale sign that things weren’t what they seemed — and that became clearer than ever when Chase burst out of the elevator guns ‘a blazing. The dynamic between those two characters has always been electric, and having a version of Chase just hanging around in Oliver’s subconscious was a whole lot of fun. It had shadings of the old Harvey/Crichton dynamic from Farscape (sorry, deep cut there), and helped peel back some layers into Oliver’s deeper fears and motivations.

It’s not often that Arrow dabbles in stories with an unreliable narrator, and though it didn’t lean as hard as it could have into that type of mind-bending story, it did leave some lingering questions over exactly what’s real and what isn’t along the way. It seems Oliver’s fears are complicated, ranging from abandonment issues of those around him; to a deep-rooted anxiety that he’s lost sight of his original mission along the way. Not to mention fear that the decisions he’s made have hurt those around him, from Laurel to Rene. It’s interesting that all this leads to a revelation that you really have to wonder is the right one. Oliver exits his makeshift vision quest with the idea that he needs to take his mission back to basics and take on Diaz completely alone, in the same way his mission started way back in Season 1.

No Diggle, no Felicity, and no Team Arrow. But, it seems Oliver’s forgetting that Diggle has basically been backing him up from the jump. He was there in early Season 1, and quickly became a part of this mission when it was still in its infancy. Oliver has literally spent seasons coming to the realization that having people around him, and trusting people to have his back, isn’t a bad thing. To have the epiphany of this episode be that he should actually be going it alone just rings somewhat hollow. But, who knows where this story might be heading — perhaps Oliver realizes the same thing in the end, and assembles all the disparate pieces of Team Arrows past and present to save the day?
*  *  *
*Pulling out the old “Hood” uniform, complete with the eyeblack, was a nice touch to show how Oliver is being affected to push his mission back to the beginning. And hey, taking the show back to its roots is certainly not a bad thing — it just has to come in a natural way that’s true to where the characters have gone in the past several years.
*  *  *
*Having Felicity talk Oliver down was likely a love-it or hate-it scene for fans, but true to the narrative, it reflects their marriage and relationship. Like it or not, Olicity is law now.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Weird interpretation of what happened in 618...

'Arrow': Oliver SPOILERS Felicity in "Fundamentals"
By RUSS BURLINGAME - April 12, 2018
http://comicbook.com/dc/2018/04/13/arrow-oliver-spoilers-felicity-in-fundamentals/

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Apparently for Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), getting back to fundamentals means trashing every important relationship in his life.

...Actually, for Oliver Queen, that sounds pretty much right.

Saying that Oliver Queen is not willing to share her with "The Hood," Oliver -- decked out in his season one costume and reeling from a nasty Vertigo hangover -- fired Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) from Team Arrow.
*  *  *
The team has broken up before -- it seems like a once-a-season event -- but it almost never extends as far as Diggle and Felicity, so Oliver is truly alone now in a way that he has rarely been since the show's earliest days.
*  *  *
He was saved, mercifully, by Felicity, but after realizing that his role as Green Arrow had put her and his son William (Jack Moore) in danger more than once in the course of the story, Oliver decided to construct more meaningful walls between his personae.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow, ‘Fundamentals’: It’s Christmas in April as Ollie is Visited by His Ghosts
BY CRAIG WACK · APRIL 13, 2018
http://oohlo.com/2018/04/13/arrow-fundamentals-its-christmas-in-april-as-ollie-is-visited-by-his-ghosts/

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Sex and the Olicity:   Despite the fakeout from the previews, Felicity is a regular Tammy Wynette, standing by her man whether he’s in a drug induced rage, getting impeached, or generally making poor career choices. Let’s get real here, Felicity is the one who really saved the day this week. Running across town in a pencil skirt and platform sneakers is not easy, but those are the kind of sacrifices our heroine will make.
*  *  *
What about the action: The episode wastes no time getting going, using its main action sequence right at the very start of the episode. It’s a good fight; somewhat reminiscent of the kinds of close-quarter sequences done in shows like Daredevil and Into the Badlands. It’s not quite as well executed, but it’s still frenetic, and leads you to see Ollie in his OG Hood uniform. He’s gone all the way back because, between his exhaustion and the effects of the Vertigo, he’s hallucinating big time. Ollie’s guide through his own subconscious is Adrian Chase (Prometheus), himself. Ollie is struggling to know what’s real and what isn’t, not good when you are about to go before the city council for a meeting about your fitness for office. In this fever dream, Ollie is further isolated. William is frightened, Felicity needs space, and Ollie’s Season 1 self is growling that he can end it all tonight, just like the good ole days. The drug is really messing with him. It serves its purpose by making Ollie look unstable in front of the city council, and the bonus side effect is that it leads Oliver on what is a suicide mission, until Felicity swoops in and talks him down. Ollie’s big takeaway from this ordeal is that taking the mission to save Star City back to its solo basics is the right call.
*  *  *
Last impressions:  It’s been a while since I’ve seen Season 1, but I remember enough. Sure, saving Star City to fulfill his father’s dying wishes has always been the mission, and Ollie always set out to do it solo. However, the Season 1 mission was much more well-defined than it is now. He literally had a list of people to go after. He was tracking down a bunch of powerful country club types who were looking for better prices on real estate in an area they wanted to gentrify. None of those people had an army of police and politicians at their disposal the way Diaz does. So now, Ollie is plotting his course forward out of some cockeyed nostalgia for the days when it was just him. It was never just him. He had help during the early days on Lian Yu. He brought in Felicity and Diggle very early on, because hackers and good soldiers are handy allies to have. Hell, even Roy Harper was parkouring for justice before the series reached a double-figure episode tally. From a character perspective, given the situation, it makes ten percent sense that Oliver would pick one small piece of his past to focus on. What insults the audience’s intelligence is that Felicity goes along with it without a more strenuous objection. She’s been a part of this from the jump. She’s heard the stories about everything that happened on the island. To not have Felicity at least mention any of that feels out of character for someone so close, and with such a long history as Oliver. Maybe they will bring it all around by season’s end, but from where we stand now it feels like this twisty, taught episode was used for substandard ends.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[BkWurm1]

Lol, it’s Felicity that’s acting out of character?   

Besides, they covered that with Oliver putting off their conversation until after he talked to William.  I like to believe they put off the conversation even further and just went for the I’m so glad you didn’t leave me/die sex.   They can argue tomorrow.

[tv echo]

Arrow: An Arrow Carol
By Matt Ross   April 12th, 2018
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/04/12/arrow-an-arrow-carol

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A really solid episode tonight. Dare I say it was my favorite of the season?
*  *  *
I thought it was a pretty genius to use the drug as the catalyst to take Ollie on this “journey” of self-enlightenment (of sorts). Genius in a storytelling sense because it allows him to “travel” in and out of places and times that would otherwise not make sense.
*  *  *
Whenever heroes find themselves in this dilemma, where they’ve really lost their way, it usually takes two things to get them out of it: friends/family and confidence in oneself, both of which we saw tonight. Yes, Ollie has burned bridges with a number of people and we even thought that Felicity might be on her way out, but she stuck with him and helped him when he needed it most.

But as important of a role as Felicity played, I’m not sure that happens if not for the real hero of tonight’s episode…Quentin.  Truth be told, I had lost my faith in Quentin as a character. I thought he had become a one-trick pony under the guise of him being a grieving father. But like I always say, Arrow has a way of making me look at things differently when I least expect it and tonight was another great example of that.
*  *  *
We saw the true character of Quentin come out tonight—a man who stood by his buddy. Regardless of how much trouble or tough of a spot Ollie was in, Quentin was there. To my earlier point, it was Quentin who got Felicity to talk sense into Ollie, and she was the one to ultimately save his life. So, props to Quentin on the big save and a job well done. Let’s see how he does as the acting mayor now…

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[Chaser]

"It was Quentin who got Felicity to talk sense into Ollie"... Like it was hard? Like she needed convincing?

[tv echo]

Arrow Episode Guide: Season 6, Episode 18 - Fundamentals
Starman   April 12, 2018
http://www.mygeekygeekyways.com/2018/04/arrow-episode-guide-season-6-episode-18.html

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Goofs

Granting that it is in Oliver's nature to blame himself for everything, Laurel's becoming Black Canary was not his fault. She did it while Oliver was recovering from falling off a mountain and he did his damnedest to stop her from trying to replace Sara.

Felicity runs to SCPD HQ from her and Oliver's apartment?

All of this episode is devoted towards Ricardo Diaz pushing Green Arrow into a death trap. At the end of the episode, he declares that he isn't going to kill Green Arrow because that would be too easy.
*  *  *
Performances

The main saving grace of this episode is Stephen Amell's performance.

A close second is Amell's chemistry with Emily Bett Rickards and the scene in which Felicity has to convince Oliver that she is real.

Paul Blackthorne gets the episode's MVP trophy, however. He hasn't always had a lot to do as Quentin this season and he doesn't really have much to work with here either. What he does have, however, he nails.

Artistry

The opening sequence of Green Arrow fighting his way through the mob of crooked cops looks fantastic - lighting, fight choreography and direction.

Edited April 13, 2018 by tv echo

[Guest]

The issue with Felicity running from their apartment to the precinct is KILLING ME. We have people who come back from the dead and canary cry every time they squat and open their mouths but Felicity running fast is unthinkable. I cannot. ???

[statsgirl]

But Felicity is not supposed to be an action person. She's supposed to sit behind her computers and just talk in their ears!

Curtis, on the other hand, lie Cisco can do everything.

[BkWurm1]

2 hours ago, Chaser said:

"It was Quentin who got Felicity to talk sense into Ollie"... Like it was hard? Like she needed convincing?

All Quentin did was finally tell someone that Oliver was on Vertigo.  And SHE called HIM.  Then she told him to stop Oliver but didn’t rely on him to do and ran all the way herself.   But Quentin gets the credit for Felicity saving Oliver?  Hahaahahahahha

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

All Quentin did was finally tell someone that Oliver was on Vertigo.  And SHE called HIM.  Then she told him to stop Oliver but didn’t rely on him to do and ran all the way herself.   But Quentin gets the credit for Felicity saving Oliver?  Hahaahahahahha

A DC Comics reviewer doing the most to not give Felicity any credit? Unheard of! ?

[KenyaJ]

10 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

All Quentin did was finally tell someone that Oliver was on Vertigo.  And SHE called HIM.  Then she told him to stop Oliver but didn’t rely on him to do and ran all the way herself.   But Quentin gets the credit for Felicity saving Oliver?  Hahaahahahahha

Backwards and in heels, always.

[apinknightmare]

1 hour ago, Angel12d said:

The issue with Felicity running from their apartment to the precinct is KILLING ME. We have people who come back from the dead and canary cry every time they squat and open their mouths but Felicity running fast is unthinkable. I cannot. ???

I mean if you really want to fanwank, Star City parking is a bitch (thanks, impeached Mayor Queen!) so she just drove most of the way there and had to ditch the car 2 blocks away from the precinct. 

[BkWurm1]

It looked like Quentin ran up to stop Oliver too but no one is complaining about him.  

[JamieLynn832002]

20 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

All Quentin did was finally tell someone that Oliver was on Vertigo.  And SHE called HIM.  Then she told him to stop Oliver but didn’t rely on him to do and ran all the way herself.   But Quentin gets the credit for Felicity saving Oliver?  Hahaahahahahha

Seriously! Quentin had some great moments but what amounts to answering his phone and then telling Felicity something he should have told her hours before makes him the hero? Not Felicity running to the station filled with evil cops and talking her drugged husband down? Yes DC reviewer, answering the phone is clearly the bigger act of heroism.

[apinknightmare]

2 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

It looked like Quentin ran up to stop Oliver too but no one is complaining about him.  

To be somewhat fair (even though I know 99% of the people complaining have a problem with Felicity in particular doing this), the precinct is probably really close to city hall.

[BkWurm1]

But that’s just it.  For Quentin, people are happy to look for a reasonable answer, but of course for Felicity any explanation is too far fetched for some.  

[apinknightmare]

11 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

But that’s just it.  For Quentin, people are happy to look for a reasonable answer, but of course for Felicity any explanation is too far fetched for some.  

I don't know - my first thought last night was that Felicity asked Quentin to stop Oliver because he was way closer than she was. Turns out not so much - which I thought was weird, but I don't really care that much. I get why some people might question it, though YMMV. 

[tv echo]

Huh? Felicity never expressly asked Oliver for a separation. Oliver interpreted her comment about needing space as wanting a separation (and it wasn't even the real Felicity)...

TV Review: ‘Arrow: Fundamentals’ (Season 6 Episode 18)
APRIL 13TH, 2018 BY NICHOLAS GRAFF
http://sciencefiction.com/2018/04/13/tv-review-arrow-fundamentals/J

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Jumping right in, this week’s episode of ‘Arrow,’ titled ‘Fundamentals,’ was all about bringing Oliver down to his lowest for the season, and doing a kind of reboot for the character and the hero so he can start to rebuild his crime-fighting career and figure out where everything went wrong (and why everyone on the team, including his partner of 6 years, has left him). The show did a similar episode last year, and while I am not a fan of these kinds of parallel episodes year after year, episodes like this are enjoyable for showcasing the acting abilities of Stephen Amell and giving us a bit of a breather between massive action set-pieces when he does have a big team around him and everyone is fighting.
*  *  *
... Back at HQ, Felicity arrives and tells Oliver what he did was unacceptable and she needs space, asking for a separation and saying she will take William to protect him from Oliver.
*  *  *
Oliver later goes and talks to William to apologize for earlier and manages to patch things up and then tells Felicity the drug did manage to give him some clarity. He does need to take some things back to basics, including bringing the mission back to just him (so it does seem like he is removing Overwatch for the moment, though I am not sure how he will operate without her tech help honestly). He wants to continue on as Mayor if they will let him, but a news report quickly shuts down that idea as they announce Oliver has been impeached. Oliver tells Quentin that he is now Mayor of Star City.
*  *  *
-Anyone else worried that Quentin or Felicity was either going to die in tonight’s episode or later in this season based on them being Oliver’s only being remaining friends?
*  *  *
-I did not think impeachments moved this quickly, nor did I think they removed sitting elected officials in exactly this manner. I should also point out the show was a little heavy handed in its handling of the topic and the circumstances of Oliver’s impeachment. I hold to my previous opinion that the show should STAY OUT of current political topics as it is just not well-written enough to do them well.
-I feel like Mayor Lance could be a stronger Mayor than Oliver ever was, and I am hoping the show takes advantage of that fact and does not have Quentin fail at the job because of Diaz and his manipulations. Would be nice to see Lance get a win here.
-If Diaz really feels Oliver would be too strong a symbol as a martyr, why was he about to kill him in the police station? Seems an odd statement to me.

Definitely a fun episode in that I like seeing Prometheus torturing Oliver, and it was also cool seeing the Hood and Oliver in that suit again, as well as the idea of Oliver taking on this quest by himself once more. I feel like the show was more innovative when he worked alone and did not have a cavalry to bring in every time things looked bleak. Here’s to hoping that from this point on in the season we start to see things start to finally start turning around for Oliver Queen, especially since he still does have his wife and son as the bright points in his life, and has finally shed the burden of being Mayor (a plot point I never liked anyway. He needs to get back in business. After all, there is a still a future where Queen Consolidated exists, at least according to ‘The Flash,’ so he needs to figure that out…)

Edited April 14, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Obviously, the headline has a mistake and should read "6x18"...

‘ARROW’ 6×17 REVIEW: THE SELF-EXAMINATION OF OLIVER QUEEN
Posted on April 13, 2018 By Alyssa Barbieri
http://fangirlish.com/arrow-6x17-review-the-self-examination-of-oliver-queen/

Quote

Finally, it felt like I was watching Arrow again. You know, the Arrow where the focus is Oliver Queen. The Arrow where this show and the writing reflect an understanding of the man that is Oliver Queen and the hero that is the Green Arrow. It was something that’s been sorely lacking, but something that I’m clinging to in its return, however brief it might be.
*  *  *
Now, that’s not to say it was perfect, because it was far from so. We’ve seen the whole “Oliver Queen wanting to work alone” storyline before. We’ve seen the whole “Oliver doubts himself as a hero” storyline already. But somehow this episode managed to repackage those storylines in a way that felt updated. Like turning in your 2016 Ford Fusion for a 2018 model. It’s similar, but there are new features that come with it that serves to add to it.
*  *  *
On top of the focus on Oliver and the fears that’ll never go away, two of the components of “Fundamentals” that really added to the quality of this episode were Felicity and Adrian Chase. Just as they’ve managed to do since they’ve been on this show, Felicity and Chase represented two different sides of Oliver: the good and the bad. Here you had Chase, a man that tried to convince Oliver that he was just like him. Evil. Monster. Killer. But the one thing that Oliver has that Chase never did is a Felicity Smoak. A woman that is there to remind him that despite the darkness and the hopelessness that he can overcome anything. That he’s not alone.

Felicity played a significant role even when she wasn’t on screen. Felicity is, and has been for six seasons, the light leading Oliver home. She’s the one person that knows him better than anyone. She knows the best of him and the worst of him. And she accepts him for all of his strengths and all of his faults. If there’s ever been one person that can talk Oliver down, center him and bring him back to Earth, it’s Felicity Smoak. Her presence in this episode was significant and helped remind us that the hero under the costume is just a man when you pull back the hood.
*  *  *
Perhaps it’s too much to hope that Arrow can manage to find consistency moving forward. It certainly doesn’t help that we’ve got a villain-centric episode next week. But the thing for Arrow — a show heading into its seventh season — is that it needs to remember its roots. And not just the back to basics mentality Oliver is in at present. I’m talking about the reason the fans fell in love in the first place. Oliver. Felicity. Diggle. These relationships. The reminders that mistakes don’t equate to failure or abandonment. The reminder that underneath that hood there’s a man that is trying to be the best version of himself. And hopefully Arrow can remember to be the best version of itself.
*  *  *
Perhaps my favorite thing about Arrow is how it’s preached the power and beauty of love in a world that is overrun by the importance of masks and costumes. When “love” is something that feels like a bad word sometimes, these shows keep coming back to it because it’s the cornerstone of our entire existence. Fiction, reality. It doesn’t matter. Love makes the world go round. It’s the reason we fight to live another day. It’s why we keep moving. Felicity Smoak is the love of Oliver Queen’s life. Oliver Queen is the love of Felicity Smoak’s life. And the beautiful thing is that we’ve gotten to see that over the years. And the beautiful thing is that we got to see that in this episode — because lately it’s been pushed to the side in favor of other less important characters. Look what happens, Arrow, when you stick to your bread and butter. Just saying.

If there is one thing that is certain in this universe it’s that Felicity Smoak saved Oliver Queen. She’s saved his life physically but also in a personal way. She’s given him something that he hadn’t been able to envision for himself: a family. She’s helped him become a better hero, but most importantly, a better man.
*  *  *
Again, I don’t agree with that. I’m with Felicity in that Oliver’s to the point where he needs to utilize those he loves around him as a strength instead of protecting them the dangers this world holds. But again, this isn’t about me. This is about Oliver. And whether this turns out to be a success or turns out to be a huge colossal mistake, Oliver needs to learn that himself. When you’re looking within yourself you have to do what you believe is right, not what others tell you is right. Oliver is going back to basics to discover himself again; to discover a way to defeat another villain in his life.
*  *  *
-This episode could’ve been terrible. But the execution and understanding of Oliver Queen not only saved it, but propelled it.
*  *  *
Oliver thinks he needs to separate his two worlds? Been there, done that. But this episode has me on a high that even that doesn’t bother me so much right now.

Edited April 14, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Current poll results quoted below...

Who Was the Biggest 'Arrow' Hero in 'Fundamentals'?
Laurel Brown  April 13, 2018
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/arrow/who-was-the-biggest-arrow-hero-68352.aspx

Quote

WHO IS THE BIGGEST HERO IN "FUNDAMENTALS"?
Felicity              57%
Oliver               22%
Lance               17%
Someone else    4%

Total Votes: 74

Edited April 14, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow Review: Fundamentals (Season 6 Episode 18)
April 13, 2018    Brianna Martinez
https://www.telltaletv.com/2018/04/arrow-review-fundamentals-season-6-episode-18/

Quote

It’s incredible what choosing character over plot can do to an episode. There is a tighter focus on what’s going on with Oliver (thanks to the Vertigo) and a dive into what his fears are with the ongoing villain story primarily working as a peripheral aspect of the episode.
*  *  *
What’s great and different from the last time Oliver was on Vertigo back in Arrow Season 3 is that at one point he fights back against all these assertions lodged against him by the figments of his subconscious.

His unwillingness to accept what the newbies say about him is a sign that he doesn’t necessarily believe what his fears are trying to suggest about his choices. He’s facing them and acknowledging the falsity of these assumptions.

Moreover, he’s completely right.

None of it is his fault. Not the newbies’ quitting. Not Rene’s injury. Not even Diggle leaving.
*  *  *
It’s heartbreaking to see that he still doubts the permanence of some people in his life, but it is a perfect chance to reinforce the idea that these people aren’t going anywhere. This opportunity is taken and done so wonderfully, through Lance’s pep talks and Felicity’s actions.
*  *  *
But when Lance can’t get to him, leave it to the one person in his life that can not only break through whatever he’s dealing with but also offer Oliver that sense of comfort and security.
*  *  *
Felicity is that one person and seeing her run into a Diaz-occupied building to stop Oliver from running into a room filled with “trigger-happy cops” is brilliant and feels so right.
*  *  *
In his darkest moment, she’s able to pull him through the last bits of Vertigo and reassure him that she’s not going anywhere after hearing him say he heartbreakingly can’t tell if she’s real.
*  *  *
It’s in these moments that it becomes clear how integral this relationship is to the story and how beautifully developed it has become over the seasons.

Felicity’s there for Oliver at his lowest and highest points, and this time is no different as she reaches out to ground him in reality. There’s a solid foundation there that continues to strengthen with each conversation and gesture.
*  *  *
Which is why despite the quick pace the story takes, it’s their moments and the Queen-Smoak family moments that stand out.

Between Felicity, William, and Lance, Oliver knows now that he still has people in his corner that won’t leave him.

That doesn’t stop Oliver from making one last questionable decision. Though it’s understandable that he would want to go on his own after having his team leave, it still feels like an odd decision.

I mean, he can’t go out alone without Overwatch after she has had his back for so long can he?
*  *  *
- The idea that being a happier person, a more fulfilled person would lead Oliver to be a worse superhero is a profoundly flawed idea considering that he was able to manage it throughout all of 6A.

Edited April 15, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

Arrow season 6: How Felicity Smoak helped re-shape comic-book TV
April 15, 2018
https://cartermatt.com/302473/arrow-season-6-how-felicity-smoak-helped-re-shape-comic-book-tv/

Quote

There are numerous reasons why she has such an enormous fanbase — she represents so many of us who want to be heroes without having to run out on the street in a costume. She relies on her intellect and determination in order to carry the day.

Felicity’s impact goes beyond just that, though, as we would say that her character represented in some ways a sea change of thinking in terms of separating the Arrowverse from some of its comic-book origins. In the comics, Felicity and Oliver aren’t what they are on the show and that’s totally okay. These are separate entities and the show often works to still capture some of the spirit of the source material. Thanks to Felicity and her popularity, we feel like the writers have understood that sometimes, it’s okay to drift things away from the comic-book origins and go with what fans are connecting with in the moment. Some of the scenes with Oliver and Felicity, especially in the early two seasons, were transformative in terms of shifting the narrative.

What the Arrowverse learned through her was that having heroes behind the scenes is just as important as having heroes out on the front lines. The work here may have carried over to the work that the writers did on some other characters including Cisco Ramon on The Flash or Winn Schott on Supergirl. Meanwhile, it may have also encouraged them more to bring in lesser-known characters from the comics and give them more depth and opportunities to shine. Look at some of the people on Legends of Tomorrow, who are now incredibly beloved despite not having all that much of a presence in the pages.

Felicity as a character is certainly an inspiration for many people; beyond just that, the success of the role seems to have been influential in many other decisions made elsewhere. She’s an Unsung Hero for her fans, but beyond that also one for atypical characters on comic-book shows in general.

Edited April 15, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

[tv echo]

This is an expanded article on a previously reported interview with JH (there's a lot more to this interview than what I've quoted below)- no real spoilers quoted...

Exclusive Interview: Learning the Canary Cry with Juliana Harkavy
John F. Trent  April 16, 2018
http://boundingintocomics.com/2018/04/16/exclusive-interview-learning-the-canary-cry-with-juliana-harkavy/

Quote

BIC: What’s in store for Dinah Drake as we’re coming to the close of Season Six here? What can we expect to see from her?
Juliana: I think she’s really gone through an emotional and spiritual roller coaster this season. Because of the great loss that she went through and going through another tragedy again, she kind of lost herself to find herself. So she’s just going to be coming into I think a new phase, a new approach to her position as the Black Canary and her position as Dinah, as herself.

I think at the moment where she understood that vengeance is not necessarily the best way to get justice and that you know violence isn’t the best way to seek justice or to be a hero. It’s just going to be a new kind of Dinah. She’s going to be a little more zen maybe in her approach.

BIC: That sounds pretty pretty cool. You’re kind of at odds with the Green Arrow right now. Will we see a reconciliation or you guys get back together, or…?
Juliana: I think Dinah is always going to challenge the head of the team whoever it is, if it’s not her. That’s kind of in her character. I think that Dinah and Oliver are actually great together. I do think that they fight well together. They work well together. From the moment that he found her, kind of pulled her out of, again, this sort of downward thing that, I don’t want to say downward. Like dark place that she fell into. He pulled her out of it, so I think she really cares for him and I do hope that on some level they get to work together and be a team together again. But you know it’s going to be a process. Because again she’s strong-headed.
*  *  *
BIC: Right. I really actually like that about the portrayal of the character, that she is so strong. And we saw that from Season Five when you were first introduced. That’s one of my favorite parts of the character, like really stood out. When you are getting ready to go on set – I’m a big hockey fan so as a metaphor hockey goalies have these idiosyncrasies and patterns that they do before the big game. They’re just known for being weird or whatever from the rest of the team. Is there any kind of rituals that you do before you get ready to go on set?
Juliana: I like that question. I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that. Yeah definitely. Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about what it is. Well, what do I do? Well, I always do breathing like all those dudes. Like a few deep breaths at least try to take one deep breath before every scene and just center myself. I think about a lot of the things that Dinah stands for, too.  I try to take a moment to think about the people. From the people in Star City in the fantasy world to the people who actually watch the show. Little kids that look up to her and stuff and just I take a moment and come into her. Then I start the scene. But I always try to do it just within the first five seconds before they call “Action.”

BIC: Oh. Okay. Wow! That’s a lot going through your head in the first five seconds.
Juliana: Yea. Yea. For sure. You don’t have a lot of time, sometimes. You are like, ‘Oh yea! That was funny. You remember last night.’ And they’re like ‘Action!’ We try to not do that and take a moment. I’d say that’s my ritual, but it’s not something I’ve ever really thought through before. I’d say it’s important to have that.
*  *  *
BIC: I like how it’s just kind of become an iconic thing in the show, and last season there’s the whole flashback scenes with Felicity and Oliver with the Salmon Ladder. I actually like how it all revolved around that so that was pretty cool.
Juliana: Yeah, I love that too. It’s just sort of there. It has its own presence. It’s its own character on the show. I definitely want to be able to do that at some point. It’s basically a pull-up , but it’s just an energized pull-up.
*  *  *
BIC: Right. You have to carry your own momentum and swing your body. I’m going to kind of change directions here a little bit. Before you took on the role of Dinah Drake and Black Canary, were you pretty familiar with the character? Or was she kind of new to you?
Juliana: It was very new to me. I didn’t even know I was auditioning for the Black Canary when I auditioned for her. It was all very new and I had to do a lot of research and reading and watching, but it was humbling to say the least because you feel like you’re really coming into something huge and you wanted to it justice. No, I mean in a way it was nice because I had no preconceived notions about who she was, I was able to just create her in that moment.

BIC: What was some of the research that you did? You said you did a lot of reading. Was there any specific stories that you read from, like the comics, or what did they recommend that you read to get to know her a little bit better?
Juliana: The only comic I read is one of Gail Simone’s “Birds of Prey” comics. I read through that and I just went online and I did a lot of digging. I just saw every version of the Black Canary that I could find. I just went on web spirals. There are also different versions. Obviously, on my show there’s different versions and in the comics there’s Dinah Drake and Dinah Laurel Lance, and I had to learn everything. I just went online and tried to gather as much information, and I processed it, and I used that to put her altogether. And of course watching Arrow, too. There was five seasons of Arrow to watch at that point as well.

Edited April 17, 2018 by tv echo

[tv echo]

'Arrow' Season 6 Has Failed to Show Ricardo Diaz as a Serious Threat 
Monday, April 16, 2018   Meredith Jacobs
http://www.buddytv.com/articles/arrow/arrow-season-6-has-failed-to-s-68376.aspx

Quote

Arrow had a very strong big bad in Adrian Chase in season 5, and it has followed that up with ... Ricardo Diaz in season 6? He's a different kind of villain from Chase (and that's not a bad thing), but the show has failed to establish him as a serious threat from the beginning. The big surprise moment involving Cayden James was messy, and that has extended to his plans for Star City and Oliver Queen and the overall impression of him.  
*  *  *
While Cayden James looked to be the big bad of the season, it wasn't until episode 13, "The Devil's Greatest Trick," that he (and fans) found out who was pulling his strings and made him think that Oliver killed his son: Ricardo Diaz. The crime lord killed Cayden in what was clearly geared to be a big surprise moment (such a big one that Arrow didn't even bother trying to set Diaz up as a valid threat in his first episode) and did at least set the stage for Ricardo having people in high places (like the police captain) in his pocket.

However, the way in which that was revealed was messy. Cayden had a bomb and planned to destroy Star City. Diaz wasn't doing anything to stop him. (In fact, he was trying to leave, just like Black Siren and Anatoly.) Sure, he could have just found another city to take over if Cayden had succeeded, but then what would have been the point of what he had done up to that point (tricking James, getting the right people to work for him)? Had he just decided that Star City wasn't worth it? 
*  *  *
Somehow, Diaz has managed to get people in all levels of government (the police, the DA's office, etc.) on his side, and sure, we saw that he threatened the police captain's family and paid for the DA's son's medical treatments, but how are there so many easily corruptible cops in Star City? 
*  *  *
However, even after 18 episodes, it's unclear what exactly his plan is for Oliver. He told Black Siren that he didn't put a bullet in him because he's more dangerous as a martyr than the Green Arrow. Instead his plan is to dismantle him piece-by-piece, with the impeachment the latest step. But what about the room full of cops who began shooting at Oliver as he (and Felicity) escaped in "Fundamentals"? All it would have taken was one bullet.
*  *  *
This Adrian Chase may have just been a hallucination, brought on by the vertigo Diaz had Oliver dosed with, but it still reminded the audience that he had been a formidable villain and opponent for Oliver. We have yet to see Oliver and Diaz truly go head-to-head and have only seen a few instances of what Diaz is capable of in a fight. 

It's hard to see Diaz as a similar threat as it is, but it's even harder after seeing hallucination Chase messing with Oliver's head in a way that's similar to what the real Chase did last year, something that we haven't seen Diaz as being capable of doing.

Edited April 17, 2018 by tv echo

[GHScorpiosRule]

22 minutes ago, tv echo said:

but how are there so many easily corruptible cops in Star City? 

THIS!THIS!THIS! Aside from the ridonkulousness that MarbleMushMouth is any kind of threat, my biggest beef with this show is the quote above: how VERY EASILY the cops can be and are corrupted. Yeah, yeah, teevee show, suspension of disbelief, blah, blah, fishcakes.

MarbleMushMouth has done NOTHING to show me why I should find him a threat, or that he's scary in any believable way.

[tv echo]

Agents of GEEK Podcast Episode 112
Posted on 04/17/2018   Craig Wack & Tatiana Torres 
http://agentsofgeekpodcast.com/wordpress/

-- Arrow 618: This episode was the subject of Craig and Tatiana's "biggest argument" this week. Tatiana said that she's an "Oliver apologist." Craig said to read his Oohlo review (posted upthread).

-- Craig: "Thankfully, the Felicity wanting to take a break that was hinted at out of the previews was a false alarm." Tatiana was fine with that, because it was all Vertigo-induced.

-- Tatiana said that the Prometheus who was a figment of Oliver's imagination was "more scary" than Diaz.

-- Craig was "really bothered" that Oliver's "big takeaway" from his "fever dream" is to go it alone. He was also bothered that Felicity, who usually calls Oliver "on his shit", didn't point out to Oliver that he's never really been alone in this fight. Tatiana disagreed and said that Oliver was alone in the beginning because Diggle was his driver and Felicity was only someone Oliver called upon for help from time to time. Craig said that it just felt "contrived." Tatiana agreed that it's "totally contrived," but she's fine with just going with it as long as Olicity is okay and there's no BS redemption arc.

-- Tatiana questioned where the show was going with this Oliver going solo story arc, because she wondered what has to happen for everyone to get back together again. Tatiana added: "He is right. They are wrong." Craig said that the former team members may have their misgivings about Oliver but they still want to  take down Diaz. Tatiana noted that Curtis already showed "signs of caving." Tatiana wanted to keep Dinah and Curtis. They both thought that Rene was the one former team member who could easily leave permanently. Craig wondered if DR's role was going to be reduced next season. However, Tatiana noted that SA, DR and EBR jointly posted a pic about the S7 renewal.

Edited April 17, 2018 by tv echo

[Soulfire]

[Chaser]

Reading that article, WM is out completely. 

[way2interested]

Good for Beth. Like WM she's written both good and bad episodes, but I always appreciate when writers from the beginning get promoted.

[SleepDeprived]

I had a strong feeling that Guggenheim was gonna be out for S7. My baseless speculation is that the situation with AK and Emily's statement after might play a role into it. And I've been wanting Beth to replace him for some time now.  DR's comment that a number of writers would be leaving after this season kinda made me even more sure of it. I was sorta hoping Wendy might stay and co-showrun with Beth, though, because, despite her word salad, a lot of Wendy's episodes were very good for Olicity/Felicity. I'm happy with this news and am honestly kinda even getting excited for S7 now.

Edited April 17, 2018 by SleepDeprived

[bijoux]

47 minutes ago, Chaser said:

Reading that article, WM is out completely. 

I hoenstly wasn’t expecting that. With the producer’s preview, I absolutley expected Beth to come on as a show runner, but not that Wendy would be out completely, and Guggenheim in a much more hands off role, it seems.

[KenyaJ]

I hope the word "gamechanger" isn't in Beth's vocabulary. I'm excited for her, though, and excited to watch S7 under her helm. I'm curious to find out what WM is going to be doing next.

[BkWurm1]

I wonder if Wendy left to pursue other projects or was supposed to be there to reign in MG when he when plot crazy, failed and got fired.  Or if she was the scapegoat to a very underwhelming season.  

MG still is going to be I'm sure part of the team that lays out the whole season ahead of time, but I'm cautiously hopeful with Beth's promotion.  I think it's too late to line up the show to the comics so I'm trying to set that concern about new showrunners coming in (even when promoted from within)

[thegirlsleuth]

I thought Wendy and Marc might be out as soon as Stephen starting criticizing story choices in interviews.  The season has been a disasters with viewers, and equally important, critics.   I blame the showrunners for the problems with Arrow's storylines because even when the writers pulled off some good moments it was always evident in the way they contorted characters that the writers were just trying to get to the next "epic game changer" outlined by Guggenheim (and Wendy, but I blame Guggenheim because this started in season 3).

[Featherhat]

33 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

I wonder if Wendy left to pursue other projects or was supposed to be there to reign in MG when he when plot crazy, failed and got fired.  Or if she was the scapegoat to a very underwhelming season.  

MG still is going to be I'm sure part of the team that lays out the whole season ahead of time, but I'm cautiously hopeful with Beth's promotion.  I think it's too late to line up the show to the comics so I'm trying to set that concern about new showrunners coming in (even when promoted from within)

Is BS a big comics person? I never got that impression but yes there's concerns for a lot of these type of shows when someone else takes over, but MG wasn't headshow runner when a lot of the trajectory of the series was put in place, plus she'd still have go past GB et al. GM has a lot of projects in development but there might always be something else BTS.

[Morrigan2575]

44 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

I wonder if Wendy left to pursue other projects or was supposed to be there to reign in MG when he when plot crazy, failed and got fired.  Or if she was the scapegoat to a very underwhelming season.  

MG still is going to be I'm sure part of the team that lays out the whole season ahead of time, but I'm cautiously hopeful with Beth's promotion.  I think it's too late to line up the show to the comics so I'm trying to set that concern about new showrunners coming in (even when promoted from within)

Or maybe, just maybe she was the one that fucked up S6 while MG was off doing a billion other projects? 

[Primal Slayer]

I wonder how long she's been running things because not fun if she finally gets promoted only having to clean up the mess MG&WM left behind. 

[statsgirl]

56 minutes ago, BkWurm1 said:

I wonder if Wendy left to pursue other projects or was supposed to be there to reign in MG when he when plot crazy, failed and got fired.  Or if she was the scapegoat to a very underwhelming season. 

I'm thinking scapegoat,  especially since we don't know where she's moved on to.

Many of the problems had MG' s stamp on them: plot over character;  writing for the gotcha; doubling down on characters the audience doesn't like. Typically,  he gets bumped up and she gets dropped.

[Chaser]

MG leaves a lot to be desired as a showrunner, but I do find it completely plausible that WM took the lead this season with all the other projects MG was involve in.

9 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

I'm thinking scapegoat,  especially since we don't know where she's moved on to.

Many of the problems had MG' s stamp on them: plot over character;  writing for the gotcha; doubling down on characters the audience doesn't like. Typically,  he gets bumped up and she gets dropped.

Is he getting bumped up? He lost the title of Shrowrunner, he's listed as Consultant now.

I'm normally nervous when showrunners change, but I think this could be a good thing. At the very least, it gave me something to be curious about. Previously, I didn't know if I cared that much about S7.

Edited April 17, 2018 by Chaser

[Primal Slayer]

Considering how long he's been with GB and the Arrowverse I don't think it's a demotion of any sorts. He wont be in charge of the day2day but he will still be involved in the verse. He's already started work on the crossover.  

But it is funny to go from 2 showrunnrs to 1. Blow em out of the water girl! 

[way2interested]

If anything, it looks like both MG and WM got booted from Arrow specifically, but since MG help create the show and create LOT and was a showrunner since the beginning, they are giving him a different title to keep getting some money/credit per episode whether he works on them or not. Consulting Producer meaning not that he actually helps with breaking the story (other than possibly the opening and the finale like GB would do and the crossover) but just that they will have the right to pull him in if Beth isn't able to deliver results.

Edited April 17, 2018 by way2interested