Arrow Should There Be Superpowers On The Show?

[mr. peasant]

This question has been brewing for awhile now. Unlike Smallville, Arrow's premise does not contain supernatural or paranormal elements. Instead, going for a more 'realistic' feel. Which is not to say that the characters' actions and abilities are actually physically possible for a regular person but there aren't any overtly unreal elements such as superpowers, aliens and magic.

At least, that's the case for now.

What I'd like to ask is about the long term. Should Arrow keep superpowers out of the show (much like the old school comic books of yesteryear) or should there be superpowered characters as well (much like the current generation of comic books)?

On the one hand, the sudden inclusion of superpowers and other realism-defying elements might turn off viewers (as it does change the genre of the show). On the other hand, maintaining a 'no superpowers' rule does reduce the number of characters to choose from - both, heroes and villains alike - that can be adapted for the show.


Personally, if unrealistic elements are going to be added into the show, I feel it should stick solely to fantasy elements (e.g. magic, immortals, gods, etc) rather than try to include both or to use just sci-fi elements (e.g. aliens, super science, robots). The reason I say this is that doing so allows room for crossovers between Arrow and the proposed Wonder Woman series CW is currently developing.

 

[BH/HHH]

I'd wait til the 3rd season, introduce Vandal Savage as the villain to introduce some supernatural elements and go from there.

I will say however I think they'll avoid it until they have too. If the ratings start to slip you can guarantee they'll do it sooner rather than later.

Only bad thing is I think certain heroes will be off limits due to the upcoming Justice League film.

 

[Deathstroke]

No never. Keep it grounded in reality. I like the Criminal Minds-esque quality of the weekly villains. It feels like a crime drama procedural show.

 

[BatsDC]

Introduce them, but slowly. Like, don't suddenly have someone like Superman appear, but have characters with lesser powers introduced, and then build on from that.

 

[Spider‐Man]

Absolutely. I hate this new trend of having superhero themed films with no superpowers.

 

[Human Torch]

Absolutely. I hate this new trend of having superhero themed films with no superpowers.

I don't mind if they want to ease their way into the super-powers over a season or so,but they should certainly include them.

 

[Savage]

No never. Keep it grounded in reality. I like the Criminal Minds-esque quality of the weekly villains. It feels like a crime drama procedural show.

Yeah, no thanks. See, this is exactly why I want super powered characters on the show. Crime procedural dramas like Criminal Minds put me to sleep. That's already 90% of tv. Let superheroes be superheroes.

 

[The Sage]

Yes please. I hope they discover Dinah has the metagene or something.

 

[Savage]

I wouldn't mind if they stole the MGH idea from Marvel (Mutant Growth Hormone. Give it a different name of course) and use that to bring in super powered villains on the show. Maybe it's just a drug being sold and used by people, including criminals who want to have an edge over Green Arrow. There can be clubs where people openly use the drugs and such (great opportunity for a Grace Choi cameo). Side effects include a chance of the drug's effects becoming permanent. It's a way around the "born with mutant power" thing. There could even be a plot where a villain tries to make the drug airborne and it gets to a percentage of the population, including Dinah, until Green Arrow stops him.

Just an idea. Even as a DC fan I never liked the metagene thing. Screamed X-men too much. Except without any of the social repercussions.

 

[Deathstroke]

Yeah, no thanks. See, this is exactly why I want super powered characters on the show. Crime procedural dramas like Criminal Minds put me to sleep. That's already 90% of tv. Let superheroes be superheroes.

Arrow isn't a superpowered hero though. He's a regular human.

He's grounded in a world involving cops and the courts. It has all the makings of a good crime procedural drama.

Adding unrealistic superpowers really undermines the entire approach of the show. It's not worth it. Superpowers won't add anything meaningful to the Arrow story. It would just be fanwank.

 

[mr. peasant]

Arrow isn't a superpowered hero though. He's a regular human.

He's grounded in a world involving cops and the courts. It has all the makings of a good crime procedural drama.

Adding unrealistic superpowers really undermines the entire approach of the show. It's not worth it. Superpowers won't add anything meaningful to the Arrow story. It would just be fanwank.

Agreed. Question is... is this fan wank (and access to the bulk of the DC universe) worth sacrificing the integrity of the show's premise? Is it worth potentially alienating a component of the show's original fan base for the sake of trying to attract new ones?

 

[BH/HHH]

Agreed. Question is... is this fan wank (and access to the bulk of the DC universe) worth sacrificing the integrity of the show's premise? Is it worth potentially alienating a component of the show's original fan base for the sake of trying to attract new ones?

I think it will most likely happen if the ratings start to slip then you need to bring in new fans. Also eventually things could get stale so why not change it up?! Aslong as you do it slowly you can do it and even have it fit into the world. There's ways around stuff.

 

[DarKush]

I think they should do it slowly, since they made a big deal about the TV show being 'grounded in reality'. But since they are drawing a lot from the DC universe, they're going to run out of non-supers before too long the way they are blowing through villains so I think they should start bringing in more fantastical villains.

Perhaps start with people like Captain Cold and sci-fi villains before going full super powers.

 

[BH/HHH]

Yes please. I hope they discover Dinah has the metagene or something.

Might be the only way possible for her to get powers in future if she ever does

 

[BH/HHH]

I think they should do it slowly, since they made a big deal about the TV show being 'grounded in reality'. But since they are drawing a lot from the DC universe, they're going to run out of non-supers before too long the way they are blowing through villains so I think they should start bringing in more fantastical villains.

Perhaps start with people like Captain Cold and sci-fi villains before going full super powers.

I wonder then though do they take superpowered villains and change them so there powers are grounded in reality by tech or something or do we start to get super powers? There are a ton of people without powers they can use though so I wouldn't worry about them running out.

 

[DarKush]

^
I was wondering if they will do the same, with both heroes and villains, just find a 'scientific' explanation for their powers.

 

[Savage]

Arrow isn't a superpowered hero though. He's a regular human.

He's grounded in a world involving cops and the courts. It has all the makings of a good crime procedural drama.

Adding unrealistic superpowers really undermines the entire approach of the show. It's not worth it. Superpowers won't add anything meaningful to the Arrow story. It would just be fanwank.

Agreed. Question is... is this fan wank (and access to the bulk of the DC universe) worth sacrificing the integrity of the show's premise? Is it worth potentially alienating a component of the show's original fan base for the sake of trying to attract new ones?

Fanwank. Heaven forbid fans of the character want the live action stories to be anything like the comic book stories that they read. Oh well. If that's the way it is at least there's still the comics for the real Green Arrow. Hopefully his stories will get the animated treatment like Batman has.

 

[BH/HHH]

^
I was wondering if they will do the same, with both heroes and villains, just find a 'scientific' explanation for their powers.

Possibly tbh they could do Superman quite easily he's an alien. Maybe if they do start to go the super powered route do an episode with something from outer space whether its a meteor that gives someone strange powers or something infact isn't that how Vandal Savage got his powers?

 

[The Sage]

I wouldn't mind if they stole the MGH idea from Marvel (Mutant Growth Hormone. Give it a different name of course) and use that to bring in super powered villains on the show. Maybe it's just a drug being sold and used by people, including criminals who want to have an edge over Green Arrow. There can be clubs where people openly use the drugs and such (great opportunity for a Grace Choi cameo). Side effects include a chance of the drug's effects becoming permanent. It's a way around the "born with mutant power" thing. There could even be a plot where a villain tries to make the drug airborne and it gets to a percentage of the population, including Dinah, until Green Arrow stops him.

Just an idea. Even as a DC fan I never liked the metagene thing. Screamed X-men too much. Except without any of the social repercussions.

Maybe also experimentation with giving human beings superpowers.

 

[Human Torch]

Fanwank. Heaven forbid fans of the character want the live action stories to be anything like the comic book stories that they read. Oh well. If that's the way it is at least there's still the comics for the real Green Arrow. Hopefully his stories will get the animated treatment like Batman has.

 

[Deathstroke]

Fanwank. Heaven forbid fans of the character want the live action stories to be anything like the comic book stories that they read. Oh well. If that's the way it is at least there's still the comics for the real Green Arrow. Hopefully his stories will get the animated treatment like Batman has.

This show isn't for comic book fans alone, just as the Nolan Batman films. It's so anyone can access it.

Nolan took the stories of the comics and reinterpreted them in a way that anyone can access and take seriously, and envision logically in our reality. Arrow is trying to do the same.

If you want straight up adaptions of the comicbook material, that's why Warners has the DTV films. They're specifically for comic book fans.


Laurel having meta-human screaming powers won't really add much to the show. It would just undermine it.

There actually aren't that many super-powered characters within the 'Green Arrow' mythos. Some of the few that do have superpowers can be reinterpreted in realistic ways without losing anything about their characterization. I believe Deathstroke will be handled in this manner.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

Arrow isn't a superpowered hero though. He's a regular human.

He's grounded in a world involving cops and the courts. It has all the makings of a good crime procedural drama.

Adding unrealistic superpowers really undermines the entire approach of the show. It's not worth it. Superpowers won't add anything meaningful to the Arrow story. It would just be fanwank.

Yeah, Oliver is just a normal guy.

A normal guy who happened to die, but was then brought back to life by his friend (who he killed before the universe began, oh yeah, he also helped make the universe) the space marine who happened to be possessed by the manifestation of fear and host to God's Vengeance.

 

[Deathstroke]

Yeah, Oliver is just a normal guy.

A normal guy who happened to die, but was then brought back to life by his friend (who he killed before the universe began, oh yeah, he also helped make the universe) the space marine who happened to be possessed by the manifestation of fear and host to God's Vengeance.

The difference is your confusing the Green Arrow stuff with the combined DCU and Justice League stuff.

This show is like Nolan's Batman. It's basically focusing on the mythology of the main character on it's own, within his own world, and his supporting characters.

I consider Hal, the Spectre and all these other characters to be part of different families, outside the GA story and his world.

 

[Vyse]

I wouldn't want to rush into using superpowers in the first season, as it's better to keep it as it is and allow the fanbase to settle, as well as solidify Green Arrow's lore after finishing his origin story. When (or if...) the second season starts, I wouldn't mind giving Oliver more challenges to beat by putting him up against villains with abilities out of the ordinary, and allowing for a team-up of sorts fleshing out the Arrow-universe and introducing the idea of other heroes putting up a fight somewhere else. I'm not saying I want this show to lead to a Justice League-like show, but if Oliver gets to fight villains we could see in other comic books, then that would ease us into the idea of superheroes and supervillains in the same universe. That really bothered me about Nolan's Batman-universe, as I'm a huge fan of the idea of how a regular guy can fight alongside a character with the powers of Superman. I don't need to sit here thinking how plausible the character is... it's a superhero comic book... come on!

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

The difference is your confusing the Green Arrow stuff with the combined DCU and Justice League stuff.

This show is like Nolan's Batman. It's basically focusing on the mythology of the main character on it's own, within his own world, and his supporting characters.

And the difference between this show and Nolan's Batman is it's easier for Nolan's Batman to have had the "no powers" rule, because on a whole, the runtime is only 7 1/2 hours to cover his entire career. So villains can be used in one-shots and storylines aren't dragged out.

This show plans on running well beyond that runtime but will quickly burn through villains if he kills them off, and nobody wants to see him fight mobsters for the next 7 years. It'll beg the question "is there more bad people than good is the city?"

Introducing some superpowered foes would increase the shows longevity.

I consider Hal, the Spectre and all these other characters to be part of different families, outside the GA story and his world.

You must be pissed that they've already begun to introduce characters from Batman, Firestorm and the wider DCU.