Arrow Dinah Laurel Lance/Katie Cassidy Thread - Part 3

[SpideyVille]

Thea has not been a damsel in distress this season. She has taken out an incredible number of Ghosts and Anarky too.

Whenever Thea is the focus, it's because she needs to be cured of her bloodlust, or she is on the verge of dying. Other than that, she is just as much in the background as Laurel and Diggle and Roy.

The point is, if you have two characters that audiences didn't care for in the past because they weren't doing anything but hanging around until they could become their comic book counterpart and now audiences are really into them, how about you actually give them something to do and some stories of their own, as opposed to reducing their own personal arcs.

 

[Slade W]

Whenever Thea is the focus, it's because she needs to be cured of her bloodlust, or she is on the verge of dying. Other than that, she is just as much in the background as Laurel and Diggle and Roy.

The point is, if you have two characters that audiences didn't care for in the past because they weren't doing anything but hanging around until they could become their comic book counterpart and now audiences are really into them, how about you actually give them something to do and some stories of their own, as opposed to reducing their own personal arcs.

The bloodlust angle has also had her choosing to suffer and die, rather than kill people to survive. It suggests that in the end, she is not of the belief that the ends justify the means, unlike Malcolm in general and Oliver last season. Simply referring to her as a "damsel in distress" this season is quite reductive. She has grown and has done more than that.

I agree with your 2nd paragraph. The writers are struggling to fit everyone in. It is good that Roy has left. In hindsight, they perhaps should have had one side-kick at a time. Arsenal for one or two seasons, then Speedy/Mia for one or two seasons and then Black Canary for one or two seasons, rather than try to cram them all in there. The side-kick characters problem is Diggle and Felicity, who fans like more. Felicity and Diggle happened organically and they will always be given a lot of importance. I am guessing the original plan was for them to have smaller roles, but fans liked them too much, and hence they became big players on the show.

 

[DeadFan]

I think at time of the original inception Diggle was supposed to have a pretty decent-sized role. David Ramsey has said that Diggle was not supposed to be a sidekick, but more of a confidant who would serve to make Oliver question his choices. Also that the producers told him that his role would be more than what was in the pilot. And Kreisberg describes him early on as the "light" to Oliver's dark.

http://tvline.com/2012/10/30/arrow-season-1-spoilers-david-ramsey-oliver-secret/


"Kresiberg said that Oliver and Diggle need each other:
'We always say that if Oliver is the dark and Dig is the light, the truth is somewhere in between. They really need each other — Oliver needs someone to remind him of the value of life and that the extreme way is not the only way. And that sort of push and pull between the characters has given us so many great episodes because you get to see them not just having fun as partners but also see them wrestle with the morality of this quest they are both on.'"
http://www.hypable.com/arrow-oliver-queen-new-confidant/

 

[SpideyVille]

The bloodlust angle has also had her choosing to suffer and die, rather than kill people to survive. It suggests that in the end, she is not of the belief that the ends justify the means, unlike Malcolm in general and Oliver last season. Simply referring to her as a "damsel in distress" this season is quite reductive. She has grown and has done more than that.

I agree with your 2nd paragraph. The writers are struggling to fit everyone in. It is good that Roy has left. In hindsight, they perhaps should have had one side-kick at a time. Arsenal for one or two seasons, then Speedy/Mia for one or two seasons and then Black Canary for one or two seasons, rather than try to cram them all in there. The side-kick characters problem is Diggle and Felicity, who fans like more. Felicity and Diggle happened organically and they will always be given a lot of importance. I am guessing the original plan was for them to have smaller roles, but fans liked them too much, and hence they became big players on the show.

The best that I've seen Thea be is earlier this season when she was there for Oliver, to convince him to run for Mayor. It did a lot to show how much she has grown as a character, and it shows how close she is supposed to be with him, especially considering they are the only surviving Queens left.

With the bloodlust, for both Thea and Sara, it just felt like giving them something to do. Yes, Thea's refusal to kill, and her wish to die were great character moments, but we're talking what, 3 episodes out of the last 35? When Oliver was "dead," she didn't do much during that arc. At least Laurel became the Black Canary, but those two are constantly being pushed to the side and are just background characters until the plot calls for them to be important again, and it just doesn't help them out in the long haul. If Thea were killed, I feel like it wouldn't matter because the only time they make her seem significant to Oliver is when she's in danger. Same with Roy and Laurel.

I think at time of the original inception Diggle was supposed to have a pretty decent-sized role. David Ramsey has said that Diggle was not supposed to be a sidekick, but more of a confidant who would serve to make Oliver question his choices. Also that the producers told him that his role would be more than what was in the pilot. And Kreisberg describes him early on as the "light" to Oliver's dark.

http://tvline.com/2012/10/30/arrow-season-1-spoilers-david-ramsey-oliver-secret/


"Kresiberg said that Oliver and Diggle need each other:
'We always say that if Oliver is the dark and Dig is the light, the truth is somewhere in between. They really need each other — Oliver needs someone to remind him of the value of life and that the extreme way is not the only way. And that sort of push and pull between the characters has given us so many great episodes because you get to see them not just having fun as partners but also see them wrestle with the morality of this quest they are both on.'"
http://www.hypable.com/arrow-oliver-queen-new-confidant/

Diggle was essentially supposed to be his Alfred.

 

[Slade W]

The best that I've seen Thea be is earlier this season when she was there for Oliver, to convince him to run for Mayor. It did a lot to show how much she has grown as a character, and it shows how close she is supposed to be with him, especially considering they are the only surviving Queens left.

With the bloodlust, for both Thea and Sara, it just felt like giving them something to do. Yes, Thea's refusal to kill, and her wish to die were great character moments, but we're talking what, 3 episodes out of the last 35? When Oliver was "dead," she didn't do much during that arc. At least Laurel became the Black Canary, but those two are constantly being pushed to the side and are just background characters until the plot calls for them to be important again, and it just doesn't help them out in the long haul. If Thea were killed, I feel like it wouldn't matter because the only time they make her seem significant to Oliver is when she's in danger. Same with Roy and Laurel.

Diggle was essentially supposed to be his Alfred.

I agree that they are not getting the most out of the entire cast. I disagreed with Thea being a "damsel in distress". The question is, do they not use these characters more because the majority of the audience has not taken to them as well as Oliver, Felicity and Diggle, or has the audience not taken to them because they do not feature more or are used in a better manner? Or perhaps it is somewhere in the middle.

 

[SpideyVille]

I agree that they are not getting the most out of the entire cast. I disagreed with Thea being a "damsel in distress". The question is, do they not use these characters more because the majority of the audience has not taken to them as well as Oliver, Felicity and Diggle, or has the audience not taken to them because they do not feature more or are used in a better manner? Or perhaps it is somewhere in the middle.

Damsel in distress was the wrong way to put it. She's more like the red-headed step-child. No one really pays attention to her until there's a story that revolves around her, but that's more on the writing than anything else.

And the issue isn't that the audience hasn't taken well to them. I said at the end of last season, Laurel and Thea are the two characters I look forward to the most coming into this season, because they were the worst characters, in terms of their actions and characterization, but they were redeemed by last season. Thea is no longer the bratty snob she was in the first two seasons, and Laurel isn't the angry cry-baby she was either. They've suited up and proved that they can hang with the big boys, but other than being sidekicks in the field and wallpaper in the lair, they've done haven't done anything that doesn't involve someone else's arc. I don't think the audience would be opposed to seeing more of Thea and Laurel. I feel like the writers or producers think that we need more relationship drama to build the stakes on that. But I'm very curious to see what they focus on if Felicity and Oliver do indeed break up. Is the rest of the season going to focus on them getting together?

Let me see Thea infiltrate a location on her own. Let me see Laurel chase some bad guys without backup. We are teased with a Laurel courtroom scene and Thea possible facing off against Anarky, but realistically, what else is going on in their lives? Even Diggle, as a parent, goes weeks without mentioning or showing his wife and daughter, and now brother.

It just hit me, but the reality of the situation is that the most exciting or intriguing moments of Arrow all happen off-screen. The same can even be said about the Flash to some extent.And it's becoming a big problem because there is no balance or consistency.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

don't know how recent this is but......Katie posted a picture of her training...it could be old

 

[Primal Slayer]

I think it has kind of become a way of life for her by now, and her boyfriend being her trainer also plays a big part. But Laurel is deader then dead imo and I would be SHOCKED/SURPRISED/GASPing/give major kudos if this was a fake out.

 

[Jedi Arrow]

I think it has kind of become a way of life for her by now, and her boyfriend being her trainer also plays a big part. But Laurel is deader then dead imo and I would be SHOCKED/SURPRISED/GASPing/give major kudos if this was a fake out.

I have a gut feeling that it is a fake out (if even that). If she does die I'll be bummed but I'm not convinced just because of the coincidence that she's not on set for the few moments the photographers apparently snapped. Like someone else said, she could've still been getting her makeup done or something.

Remember that scene earlier this season when she and Oliver trained? Then in LOT when she and Sara trained? It's too bad that she hasn't gotten more scenes like that; those were cool little character moments.

 

[Primal Slayer]

There are have been people who have been reliable is spoiling things that have said that she is dead and already had a goodbye party. She's in the grave then I am set to flap my wings away from the show.

 

[Paradox1]

I don't think it's Laurel anymore maybe that's foolish hoping but someone has been setup to die narratively.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

I don't think Laurel death will in anyway be consider a "Game changer" at all. She in anyway a fan favourite and if you want a shocking death you kill a well like character not a not a fan favourite character.
I mean you have to kill one of the three OTA in order to shake up the show forever and Felicity make sense. But we know that won't happen.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

There are have been people who have been reliable is spoiling things that have said that she is dead and already had a goodbye party. She's in the grave then I am set to flap my wings away from the show.

I doubt these people who are reliable knows anything and they would break NDA to say anything like that Who are you referring to? Canadiangraphs seem to believe Laurel is the grave by his trusted source or something like that

 

[Primal Slayer]

How many things get leaked in the media? NDA are a joke nowadays. Canadiangraphs has spoiled plenty of things for the show besides what gets shown while they shoot in public.

 

[batdude]

Man I hope It isn't Laurel, but also don't really want who is in that grave to be spoiled before the actual reveal.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

I guess without Laurel there no point in bringing in Lady Shiva

 

[Primal Slayer]

So, what are your plans for 2016?

Work. Hopefully a film over the Arrow hiatus.

https://www.cybersmile.org/blog/catching-up-with-cybersmile-ambassador-katie-cassidy

 

[O'Haire]

 

[AspieXLDS]

https://www.cybersmile.org/blog/catching-up-with-cybersmile-ambassador-katie-cassidy

Hmm... interesting. I feel bad for KC that she not only got bullied in grade school, but now has to face the same type of stuff on social media now and has to avoid interacting as much as she wants to with fans to avoid being brought down by the negativity. It speaks to the maturity of those making such comments, and not in a good way.

As for the question.... Well, I personally look at it this way: while the showrunners have been known to outright lie, the actors have always been more of a 'dance around the edges of the topic' group. I don't personally think KC would say something like that, with the knowledge she isn't coming back. She would have simply said, "Maybe another film role," and that's all. To my knowledge, she doesn't have an obligation to help drum up false hope for fans of Laurel/BC, especially since she doesn't rely solely on her acting for income and even if she did, the current main showrunners don't have the pull to destroy her career.

Either way, I guess we'll find out in a few weeks.

Oh, one interesting thing: she posted another one of her lip-sync sing-alongs on FB, and she was wearing her BC mask. Could just be a souvenir she's allowed to keep, but it was interesting nonetheless, especially combined with her training schedule/training pics.

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

hmm what does this mean?

Arrow Prod. Office ‏@ArrowProdOffice Mar 9
Thanks @MzKatieCassidy for treating the crew to coffee on this rainy Vancouver day! #Arrow

and

https://vine.co/v/iXABmIKi9aT

James bamford BTS photo with KAtie cassidy stunt double?

 

[regnak]

hmm what does this mean?

Arrow Prod. Office ‏@ArrowProdOffice Mar 9
Thanks @MzKatieCassidy for treating the crew to coffee on this rainy Vancouver day! #Arrow

and

https://vine.co/v/iXABmIKi9aT

James bamford BTS photo with KAtie cassidy stunt double?

If she got shoved off the show and then treated the crew to coffee then she is a nicer person than 99%+ of the population. This looks like a good sign to me.

 

[Primal Slayer]

They had to do some additional pick up scenes for 4x17 i think which is why Bam/Stunt filmed.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Katie said they didn't know who is in the grave lol. Gurl..........

 

[Arrowshieldfan]

what that suppose to mean.....or she just messing with fans?

 

[Primal Slayer]

Just her trying to get around the question. I am pretty sure now more then ever that it is her.