Arrow Arrow Season 3, Episode 7 "Draw Back Your Bow" General Discussion

[SV Fan]

What you deem as unnecessary lines and glances could be viewed by others as a slow build up to an actual relationship.

For the sake of argument say my prediction is true that Olicity will never really amount to anything other then the producers throwing a few nuts out to pander to the fans, would you agree my statement is right that the off hand comments and blank stares were pointless?

As a fan of Smallville I seen this play out before with Chloe. The producers basically knew she had a fanbase so they turned Clark into an idiot who couldn't think for himself without her throwing in her comment or 2, all to pander to that fanbase. Now I don't think Arrow has gone to the same extreme of making Ollie an idiot to increase Felicity's importance(also I would say the producers have dangled way more carrots in the face of Olicity's fans in a short period of time compared to Chloe/Clark) but we are only early in the 3rd season

I am of the feeling you either go with something or don't do it at all, nothing worse then doing something half assed and dragging it on for to long(and that's what I see with all this Olicity pandering)

 

[Dark Raven]

That DJ seemed to have wandered in from a Disney show. Why did Thea not object to the kiss? Does that mean everyone can try that with her? If that DJ doesn't want to be paid again I suppose he'll suggest sleeping with her.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Yeah,I thought the same thing.The only difference was there was vocals.

There were also some added light effects I think but unless he had hacked into Verdant's system then he couldn't have effected that lol, it was just a terrible scene with a character who needs to eat an Arrow ASAP!

I think the ones making the most noise over Olicity shippers are the Laurel shippers,because obviously they want Ollie with her.

There's nothing wrong with the way they've handled it.TBH,I've never gotten the impression that Digg likes Laurel all that much,while he's had a warmer relationship with Felicity for years.Why is it somehow incredulous that he favors "Olicity"?

I agree, bar the dude who wants Ollie to be a full on man****e which was another of his comic leanings. To me you go with what works onscreen and fits with the version of the character you are using, which simply makes Felicity the right fit with Ollie and why as Digg their friend and a more mature man with the benefit of a good relationship, is looking to help them.

This quote might be too obscure but anyone remember the Jack Nicholson film 'As Good as it Gets'? In that he has a line where he says to Helen Hunt "You make me want to be a better man" and that is pretty much who Felicity is to Ollie, he's his best self through her and not the ruthless killer that returned from the island.

I'm very surprised she let him kiss her. I'm even more surprised that she let him get away with it. That is just so ridiculously unprofessional (not to mention weird).

Are we talking about the DJ here? Because as much as I hated the character and scene, this is still escapism TV and the "cool, semi bad boy" type kissing the rich "Too good for him" girl is a fairly randomly like that is a standard scene in this type of show.

 

[Boy Scout]

I know. That doesn't make this particular instance of it (or, while we're on the subject, any others) any less weird/uncomfortable/unprofessional/etc. And I think Thea letting it happen is out of character for her.

 

[Herolee10]

It only took like one episode to undo the development of what we thought would be a totally different Thea from Season 2.lol

 

[Boy Scout]

Honestly, the only difference (so far) between season two Thea and season three Thea is that the latter knows how to fight. Any other changes (however subtle) could be attributed to maturity, and therefore exist outside of Malcolm's influence. You could certainly argue that Malcolm encouraged those changes, but I'd say they represent the natural evolution of her character would have come about with or without him.

 

[KillerMcQueen]

It only took like one episode to undo the development of what we thought would be a totally different Thea from Season 2.lol

I already want that DJ to die a horrible, painful death, his only character trait is being a complete A-hole, please let him get killed by a League member within the next few episodes.

 

[Herolee10]

Perhaps, but I feel like having her act as the owner of a nightclub again is really a step backwards for the character, let alone giving her a DJ love interest.

Man, I hope the producers can salvage this season with the second half because as the episodes that we've had so far have been either mediocre or disappointing.

 

[Lencho01]

When Mr. World-Class DJ cued up his first song and everyone started raging, it was one of the most hilarious things I've seen on television in a long time. BTW, no club has "DJ auditions" like that. Forget the superpowers and ridiculous moments that have been on this show so far -- that was the most unrealistic thing they've shown so far.

That part cracked me up way too hard.

And the fact that Arrow featured that "Turn Down For What?" song.

 

[Dark Raven]

Maybe that DJ is going to join Team Arrow.

 

[Panthro]

As much as people don't like the Oliver/Felicity romance and relationship aspect of the show, it is what's fueling Oliver's character development right now.

He readily accepted the fact that he was going to die down in the cave after Sara's death. He took into consideration what Felicity said about not wanting to wait to die with him because life's too precious which led him to admit to Diggle that he didn't want to die down there. He's currently trying to repair his relationship with Thea and being a good mentor to Roy.

I hated that he had to witness that cliche kiss on his way to Felicity but what he does next shows that he's progressing. He threw a fit in the lair because he was angry with himself but then he takes Roy to Diggle's for dinner because he knew it was something they both needed. The Oliver from previous seasons would've sulked alone in his manpain all night. He's outwardly showing more emotions and has a desire to connect with people this season. They're baby steps but they're steps in the right direction to show the audience a more human side of Oliver.

I find the fan pandering statements quite silly. It's okay when they pander to you but not when they're pandering to another group? Let the Olicity fans have their fun, I'm sure the show will pander to the GA/BC crowd later.

Very true.

I have to agree with everyone else that the stalker copy cat was pretty lame, and the scenes between Thea & the a--hole DJ felt like something from season 1 Thea. Hopefully we won't have to put up with too much of him in the episodes to come.

 

[king666]

When Mr. World-Class DJ cued up his first song and everyone started raging, it was one of the most hilarious things I've seen on television in a long time. BTW, no club has "DJ auditions" like that. Forget the superpowers and ridiculous moments that have been on this show so far -- that was the most unrealistic thing they've shown so far.

That scene was ridiculous

 

[Dark Raven]

I can't see Malcolm Merlyn not intervening at some point to put an end to the DJ. Will he really tolerate him trying to get into Thea's pants?

 

[Mike Murdock]

I think one of the problems which makes the Olicity pairingt problematic is that the guy is a player. I mean, if we're being honest , aside from being unable to express his feelings, the guy is jumping from woman to woman whether its two sisters, his business partner, angry young woman seeking revenge, the daughter of his mentor, a cop, etc. Now, if the writers indicated that he does his shirt chasing as a means of avoiding true intimate contact (ala james bond or even the Bruce Wayne Playboy persona)and that Felicity is someone who he has truly fallen for and thus is forcing him out of his comfort zone , then I could kinda believe the dynamics of him "getting his heart broken" or being "tortured" romantically by Felicity moving on. At this point now its hard for me to buy that he really is inlove with her and that he's not just gonna go back to Laurel or someone else by seasons end.

This is a problem with any romantic pairing, though. And, let's face it, they're going to want a romantic partner for the main character of their show.

That being said, I think they're trying to suggest that those things you put in the present tense should more properly be in the past tense. He was a player. Just like he was a killer. The idea is one of his personality evolving over time. Just like the island changed him, his actions as the Arrow have as well.

 

[SV Fan]

the scenes between Thea & the a--hole DJ felt like something from season 1 Thea.

My big worry is I see a terrible love triangle popping up

 

[Binarb]

For the sake of argument say my prediction is true that Olicity will never really amount to anything other then the producers throwing a few nuts out to pander to the fans, would you agree my statement is right that the off hand comments and blank stares were pointless?

As a fan of Smallville I seen this play out before with Chloe. The producers basically knew she had a fanbase so they turned Clark into an idiot who couldn't think for himself without her throwing in her comment or 2, all to pander to that fanbase. Now I don't think Arrow has gone to the same extreme of making Ollie an idiot to increase Felicity's importance(also I would say the producers have dangled way more carrots in the face of Olicity's fans in a short period of time compared to Chloe/Clark) but we are only early in the 3rd season

I am of the feeling you either go with something or don't do it at all, nothing worse then doing something half assed and dragging it on for to long(and that's what I see with all this Olicity pandering)

The comments and stares can't be viewed as pointless considering we're now at a point in the show where, although he says he can't be with her, he's actually revealing how he feels about her. I see some progress there.

EP Andrew Kreisgberg was asked bout the Smallville comparisons and he said Chloe/Clark never felt right in a way that Felicity/Oliver do. He could've been ********ting but who knows.

Stephen Amell did say that the only lady in Ollie's life this year is Felicity so they're seemingly trying to move him away from his womanizing days. This isn't to say he won't be bedding anyone in flashbacks.

 

[SV Fan]

The comments and stares can't be viewed as pointless considering we're now at a point in the show where, although he says he can't be with her, he's actually revealing how he feels about her. I see some progress there.

You didn't answer my question, if my assumption is correct that Olicity is going nowhere(other then the occasional nut thrown out at fans) is it pointless

As for the stares and comment, yes many times they are pointless. Here is an idea if you want to move this relationship forward have Ollie vocalize how he feels exactly to Diggle or Roy(instead of Diggle being the voice of Olicity and Oliver giving us that constipated blank vapid look to anything people say to him). I am sorry but blank expressionless stares are what I expect out of Soap operas. When they don't have the character express how they feel and we basically have to read what a blank stare is supposed to mean, that to me is half assed(and when a show is playing up to different shipper fanbases it's a cheap way to try play those 2 groups off against eachother because if all you get is blank stares when other people say something, it's the producers way of saying read into the stare what you want to make the story better for you)

 

[b_boy]

I don't really see this two groups fighting for the girl who should be with Oliver. I'm a very big deffender of Laurel and I want her to stay away from Oliver, as many ppl who like her do because basicaly every girl who is romanticaly linked to Oliver ends up in danger needing to be saved and gets the crying scenes, plus theier relationship it's too damage. Maybe after another 3 seasons where a lot has happened with each one, then maybe try something again, but not now. Let Laurel with Ted training and trying to be BC, no romance with Oliver please.

 

[Boy Scout]

Yeah, I don't know anyone here who wants Laurel and Oliver to be together.

 

[Frodo]

This is a problem with any romantic pairing, though. And, let's face it, they're going to want a romantic partner for the main character of their show.

That being said, I think they're trying to suggest that those things you put in the present tense should more properly be in the past tense. He was a player. Just like he was a killer. The idea is one of his personality evolving over time. Just like the island changed him, his actions as the Arrow have as well.

I would agree with you. I just think that the writers need to do a better job of showing that he has changed romantically at least. They've done a better job of showing he's evolving from just being a killer but when he was still running around with 3 different women last season , its harder to convince people he somehow see's Felicity as more than just another girl or as someone he has a claim on.

 

[The Shape]

Yeah, I don't know anyone here who wants Laurel and Oliver to be together.

I really don't have a problem with it, especially if it takes place later on in the series.

I'm the end game is for those two to be together, and it's good that they aren't rushing or forcing it down our throats yet.

 

[Binarb]

You didn't answer my question, if my assumption is correct that Olicity is going nowhere(other then the occasional nut thrown out at fans) is it pointless

As for the stares and comment, yes many times they are pointless. Here is an idea if you want to move this relationship forward have Ollie vocalize how he feels exactly to Diggle or Roy(instead of Diggle being the voice of Olicity and Oliver giving us that constipated blank vapid look to anything people say to him). I am sorry but blank expressionless stares are what I expect out of Soap operas. When they don't have the character express how they feel and we basically have to read what a blank stare is supposed to mean, that to me is half assed(and when a show is playing up to different shipper fanbases it's a cheap way to try play those 2 groups off against eachother because if all you get is blank stares when other people say something, it's the producers way of saying read into the stare what you want to make the story better for you)

It might be pointless in a romantic sense if they never get together, but it isn't pointless if it helps play a part in developing their characters. Some view Felicity as this weak girl with a crush pining away for Oliver but it's been shown that it's no longer unrequited and she isn't waiting around for him. She's still helping out on the team but has her own life and moving up in the corporate world. Oliver on the other hand is becoming more humanized.

No show is going to always have their characters express how they're feeling, especially not for a character like Ollie at this point in time. Blank stares should be the least of your concerns if you're worried about soap opera elements in Arrow. Besides, Arrow isn't turning into a soap opera, it has always been a soap opera with added stunts. Boy cheats on girlfriend with her own sister, impregnated a girl while cheating, thinks the child is dead. Boyfriend takes girlfriend's sister on a boat and they both die. Boyfriend is dead so girlfriend sleeps with his best friend. Dead boyfriend comes back and sexes up his old girl as his best friend, who's in love with the girl, witnesses. Dead sister comes back and sleeps with her sister's ex again. Son sleeps with father's mistress. Mom has an affair with son's best friend's father. "Thea, I am your father."

Are they still playing two groups if they've got Ollie vocalizing his feelings for Felicity? They've made it clear who he wants at this point in his life.

 

[Venomfan]

did captain boomerang have a north american accent? I couldn't hear any aussie

 

[Mike Murdock]

I would agree with you. I just think that the writers need to do a better job of showing that he has changed romantically at least. They've done a better job of showing he's evolving from just being a killer but when he was still running around with 3 different women last season , its harder to convince people he somehow see's Felicity as more than just another girl or as someone he has a claim on.

At least in 7 episodes so far, he hasn't tried to be with anyone else, if that helps.

 

[Boy Scout]

did captain boomerang have a north american accent? I couldn't hear any aussie

He had an accent, but it didn't sound Austrailian. At least not to me.