Green Arrow series in the works at The CW - Part 1

[Savage]

I agree. Give this show a few seasons before you start throwing in other heroes and sidekicks. Hell, give it a season before metahumans are even considered. The first season should be all Ollie and establishing him as Starling City's defender. I'd actually like to see Ollie with a sidekick BECAUSE Batman doesn't have one. It's one more thing that I feel differentiates the two. Oliver is of sound mind enough to keep loving interpersonal relationships and start a family of sorts. Batman wants a family, and in the comics even starts one in an inadvertent way, but does not know how to go about it. I've always liked that they were two sides of the same vigilante coin in that Green Arrow practically says "Lighten up. You can do this and still have a life outside of it."

So yes. Let him be angry and vengeful and all that in the first season. I'd like to see him progress and mellow out so that when he gets serious like this again it's a big deal. I mean a "Holy ****. They pissed off the wrong man." moment.

 

[Rockstar]

I think you're expecting the comics from this, when they clearly said "Arrow" would be a real-world reinterpretation of the character and a departure from the comics.

You can't really expect it to roll out and align with the comics. They're doing their own thing here and using Nolan's Batman as a template.

It will probably be the best way to handle it if they can captialize on the success of TKDR.

 

[Rockstar]

It looks like Queen will be putting on a 'playboy' facade, like Bruce Wayne did in Batman Begins, to throw everyone off.

The real Oliver, however, has completely changed from that persona.


"After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine"


That last part is interesting. Setting up Oliver's mother as a villain could be an interesting twist.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I dont think anyone is expecting straight up comic adaption. But when adapting these characters to whatever media I expect to see the major players in their life also get adapted with them at some point. They can do realistic and they can add sidekicks, metas, magic in a realistic way.

There is no point in adapting a character if you are just going to take a huge chunk of who they are and the world they live in out of the adaption (imo).

 

[Savage]

I think you're expecting the comics from this, when they clearly said "Arrow" would be a real-world reinterpretation of the character and a departure from the comics.

You can't really expect it to roll out and align with the comics. They're doing their own thing here and using Nolan's Batman as a template.

It will probably be the best way to handle it if they can captialize on the success of TKDR.

I know. I'm just speaking as a disappointed Green Arrow fan trying to look on the bright side. Guess I'm waiting for a movie or a redone show.

 

[Rockstar]

I dont think anyone is expecting straight up comic adaption. But when adapting these characters to whatever media I expect to see the major players in their life also get adapted with them at some point. They can do realistic and they can add sidekicks, metas, magic in a realistic way.

There is no point in adapting a character if you are just going to take a huge chunk of who they are and the world they live in out of the adaption (imo).

Really?


Because it worked incredibly well for the Nolan Batman films. Those left out Robin and the sidekicks. Those left out metahumans and magic as well.

Go figure that Arrow is forging a similar path. I think it will only help the show's credibility with general audiences by building such a connection to the Batman films.

Let's face it, without it... this show has a lot going against it... especially being on the estrogen.. err I mean CW network.

 

[Rockstar]

I know. I'm just speaking as a disappointed Green Arrow fan trying to look on the bright side. Guess I'm waiting for a movie or a redone show.

Oliver really doesn't become the character most fans are familiar with and love till he's into his 40s anyway. Long way to go.

They're really covering 'the lost years' and unchartered territory by doing his younger days like this.... if you want to make parallels with the comics.

There's really nothing to lose from that perspective. The Oliver you want to see is still a decade away.

 

[sethypants]

I agree. Give this show a few seasons before you start throwing in other heroes and sidekicks. Hell, give it a season before metahumans are even considered. The first season should be all Ollie and establishing him as Starling City's defender. I'd actually like to see Ollie with a sidekick BECAUSE Batman doesn't have one. It's one more thing that I feel differentiates the two. Oliver is of sound mind enough to keep loving interpersonal relationships and start a family of sorts. Batman wants a family, and in the comics even starts one in an inadvertent way, but does not know how to go about it. I've always liked that they were two sides of the same vigilante coin in that Green Arrow practically says "Lighten up. You can do this and still have a life outside of it."

So yes. Let him be angry and vengeful and all that in the first season. I'd like to see him progress and mellow out so that when he gets serious like this again it's a big deal. I mean a "Holy ****. They pissed off the wrong man." moment.

In order to make the show a success they need to make it very believable and relatable. Make it very grounded. Since most of Ollie's rogues are very grounded characters anyways.

 

[Paradox1]

We really don't know how this show will develop over the long haul. Just because super powered beings aren't initially introduced doesn't mean they ever will. I like that GA isnt apart of the greater dc universe that's how it use to be in comics. However the major characters involved in the GA mythos should play big parts in this shows run. You probably won't see much magic because GA doesn't do much with magic.

 

[sethypants]

We really don't know how this show will develop over the long haul. Just because super powered beings aren't initially introduced doesn't mean they ever will. I like that GA isnt apart of the greater dc universe that's how it use to be in comics. However the major characters involved in the GA mythos should play big parts in this shows run. You probably won't see much magic because GA doesn't do much with magic.

That is true. But I do hope we get to see realisti and more believable stuff. For instance being zapped by cosmic rays should not give u powers to be a flame ball and yet super hot. Being zapped by gamma rays should kill n fry you not turn u into a huge green hulk.
Like in nolans tdk, Joker isnt being dipped in radioactive waste but is a real case of insanity.
Something like that would be more fun and realistic. As long as they stick to this formula they can even bring count vertigo and deathstroke in. Except Deathstroke should not have super human abilities but just be a very skilful and experience assasin.

 

[Paradox1]

I do want black Canary to have that supersonic cry and I do want want Roy Harper to show up eventually. For right now they just need to focus on Arrow being as bad ass as he looked in the trailer for the entire season.

 

[solidsnake86]

Here's my problem with sticking closely to the GA mythos from the comics, the character hasn't had much popularity. The best stories people refer to are year one, and longbow hunter. Those both had him in a realistic setting.

Comics are a never ending story telling medium versus tv which we know will come to an end at some point. If your main character isn't interesting enough that you need to bring in a sidekick then you have a problem.

I think being a slave to the comics has also hurt a lot of properties because not everything that comes out of them is gold, there is a lot of junk.

For instance, those smallville episodes with the JSA, sure it was faithful, but imo those were hilariously bad episodes. I'd rather the show be done well than an excuse for fan service to see things from the comics. Like the Nolan Batman movies or not, but he took some of the better stories and characters, kept the essence of the characters and adapted the stories in a way that he wanted to tell them. To me that is the best thing.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Really?


Because it worked incredibly well for the Nolan Batman films. Those left out Robin and the sidekicks. Those left out metahumans and magic as well.

Go figure that Arrow is forging a similar path. I think it will only help the show's credibility with general audiences by building such a connection to the Batman films.

Let's face it, without it... this show has a lot going against it... especially being on the estrogen.. err I mean CW network.

3 films doesnt equal a possible 5 seasons of a show.

 

[sethypants]

I do want black Canary to have that supersonic cry and I do want want Roy Harper to show up eventually. For right now they just need to focus on Arrow being as bad ass as he looked in the trailer for the entire season.

I would not mind if Black Canary doesnt have canary cry. But if she does I hope its done in a more grounded way

 

[sethypants]

3 films doesnt equal a possible 5 seasons of a show.

But its CW where smallville pulling in 3 million viewers is the 2nd highest rated show. If 90210 and gossip girl can go up to 5 seasons, Im sure Arrow can as well.

 

[Shazam]

But its CW where smallville pulling in 3 million viewers is the 2nd highest rated show. If 90210 and gossip girl can go up to 5 seasons, Im sure Arrow can as well.

Smallville was about Superman. Everyone knows who Clark Kent is.....even if they are not readers.

Only fans know Green Arrow. You can't possibly say that because Smallville pulled those numbers , that Arrow will do the same.

 

[solidsnake86]

The problem with smallville was that they never committed to an end date. IMO, if smallville was 5 seasons, they really could have tightened the story telling and had 5 great seasons.

Lost got better when they committed to an end date. I know they probably would never do that because thats not the way tv works, but if they had a plan in place, each season could be really well done.

 

[Rockstar]

3 films doesnt equal a possible 5 seasons of a show.

What?

If the show needs to desperately resort to bringing in sidekicks in order to keep the show afloat.... it's jumped the shark and the writing isn't strong.

I hope, for the show's sake, it's better than that.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Its mroe about the amount of stories they can tell, it is much easier to tell 3 films worth of stories for Batman in a completely grounded realistic way. It would be harder for Arrow to tell 5 seasons worth of stories doing the same imo. Keeping things like metas would make it easier to tell stories and give them mroe to tell.

And it isnt about sidekicks, its about everything overall. Having a sidekick only helps defines GAs character just like it has for Batman or anyone. Nikita doesnt need a sidekick but bringing in Alex has made it better for the show overall.

 

[Rockstar]

Its mroe about the amount of stories they can tell, it is much easier to tell 3 films worth of stories for Batman in a completely grounded realistic way. It would be harder for Arrow to tell 5 seasons worth of stories doing the same imo. Keeping things like metas would make it easier to tell stories and give them mroe to tell.

Really? Then how have shows like Criminal Minds, SVU, CSI and many others stayed strong for all these years with human villains?

Arrow is set in a realistic world just like crime procedural shows, just as Nolan's Batman is.

It doesn't need to fall back on superpowers as a crutch to keep it afloat. It would be antithetical to all the effort going into reinterpreting Arrow as a realistic, grounded Bourne-like character for this.

The problem with smallville was that they never committed to an end date. IMO, if smallville was 5 seasons, they really could have tightened the story telling and had 5 great seasons..

Problem is Smallville was mediocre from the start. The Krypto-freak formula was painfully bad.

It may be a really good thing that Arrow is keeping it's universe realistic and avoiding cheesy superpowers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rba-36K5nE0&list=UUZ5AQws-5GJ00VT9olftURQ&index=4&feature=plpp_video

 

[Primal Slayer]

This isnt about any of those shows. We are talking about a character who already has a defined set of characters. Then lets not have him in costume, lets not have him in green, hell he doesnt need to be a playboy millionaire. In fact you can erase his entire history and just give him a complete new one because the people on Criminal Minds have normal histories where they arent on an island learning how to be an archer or anything like that.

I am not saying bring in guys with wings or have villans that shoot fireballs. They can completely adapt these characters in a realistic way and keep the important things about them in tact. Alphas does a great job of being a realistic show about people with powers.

 

[Rockstar]

And you're forgetting that "Arrow" is designed to completely reinterpret that character in a new realistic context.

It isn't a comic retelling and doesn't owe anything to the comics. I'm in agreement with SolidSnake86 above that the GA comics aren't really worth sticking to.

This series could easily improve on anything done in the comics if it can successfully pull off the Nolan approach for Arrow.

The question remains of whether these producers and writers are talented enough to execute such a feat... They've certainly got the right intentions it seems.

 

[chris moore]

There's a major difference between Oliver and GA, and Bruce and Batman that should probably be thought about more when we're discussing which version we should have here of the five or so iterations of the character there've been in the 70+ years of publication.

Batman is who we know and is the real persona (so to speak). Bruce Wayne is the "fake" identity to ensure no one figures out who he is. Bruce Wayne is a playboy billionaire who looks like he drinks too much and parties.

Ollie doesn't take that route. Since his return from the island both Oliver and GA have been identities that openly speak out about corporations sucking the regular people dry and has taken two different approaches to rectify that. As Ollie he took his company in some different directions, and as GA, well, we know how he tackles the problem there.

It would be silly to have Ollie come back from being shipwrecked (something the whole world knows happened) and go right back to being a partying arse, but then have this secret identity sneaking around all dark and activist-like. Bruce Wayne disappeared for a number of years long after his traumatic experience, and for all people knew he was just acting out around the world. But Ollie came back with eyes more open and publicly spoke out about it, while simultaneously using the GA identity to take the steps he couldn't as Oliver Queen and still retain public support and the ability to make his money work for what he believed in.

So in the case of Green Arrow, the side of Ollie we should see a bit more than when he's in public is slightly swashbuckler-ish because Green Arrow is his outlet for what little remains of his old self but while still doing the good work. When he's not in costume he's a little more serious because his words need to speak the loudest (when as GA it's his actions) and have the right effect. So a billionaire playboy would be the wrong approach, and I don't think they've gone there which is good.

 

[Rockstar]

Chris Moore, if you look a few pages back you'll see I said the exact same thing.

I agree with you that the partying playboy facade isn't necessary....

BUT

It sounds like they're doing it anyway (probably to copy Nolan's approach):

"When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be "

 

[sethypants]

Smallville was about Superman. Everyone knows who Clark Kent is.....even if they are not readers.

Only fans know Green Arrow. You can't possibly say that because Smallville pulled those numbers , that Arrow will do the same.

you mean like how gossip girl is about a bunch of nobodies that nobody knows and yet managed 5 seasons. I mean 6.