Arrow The Amanda Waller/Cynthia Addai Robinson Thread

[p4poetic]

After last night's episode, its just about the right time for her own thread.

​

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

She's been portrayed as an enigmatic bureaucrat with the heart and speaking delivery of a robot. Murder? Collateral damage? What's that? Did Oliver get with this piece of work too?

She appears to have

Spoiler

some sort of past relation to Oliver.

What that entails (literally) remains to be seen, that she and/or ARGUS were in league with terrorists to destabilize China (and not another character and known comic villain like Isabel.)

Season 1, Episode 22 (next to last episode)

11 minutes 52 seconds, flashback segment

OLIVER: It doesn't make any sense! Why do you want to blow up a plane?

FYERS: When the New York Stock Exchange reopened after 9/11 the Dow Jones dropped nearly 685 points. Can you imagine what would happen to China, the world's second largest economy, if all air travel in and out of China were to be grounded indefinitely?

SLADE: You want to destabilize China's economy?

FYERS: It's not what I want...but rather, my employer. We have enough missiles here to shoot down any aircraft approaching the mainland. And that will decimate China's economy.

19 minutes 6 seconds, flashback segment

FYERS: (INTO RADIO/PHONE) It's Fyers. It's happening.

MAN: (INTO PHONE) Understood.

MAN: (ADDRESSING WOMAN) That was Fyers. Everything is proceeding to your plan.

Season 2, Episode 16

WALLER: Hello, Oliver.

OLIVER: Hello, Amanda.

WALLER: Still mad at me?

OLIVER: Lucky for you, you've been pushed down that list.

WALLER: Really? Who do you want to kill more than me?

OLIVER: Slade Wilson is alive.

WALLER: You killed him. It's not possible.

I don't really care for this character (and ARGUS organization), actress, or plot line all that much. She's pretty but that's it. No sense of excitement instilled in me going forward.

 

[p4poetic]

So far her performance has been passable, but within the company of Manu as Slade, its on the more disappointing side.

I wonder how Amanda knows Oliver (hope its not another L/I undercover baddie kind of thing).

 

[Boy Scout]

The actress is fine. Not terrible, not good. Just fine.

 

[Herolee10]

I just hope that they don't establish that she and Oliver were former lovers. I don't know about anyone else, but i'm finding it very cliche and just strange on how they make nearly every woman that Oliver meets and has an antagonist relationship into a former lover of his.

The fact that he hasn't slept with China White or Nyssa is a miracle in itself.

 

[Human Torch]

I don't really care for this character (and ARGUS organization), actress, or plot line all that much. She's pretty but that's it. No sense of excitement instilled in me going forward.

That's kinda where I am.


And to be honest,Waller isn't even supposed to be that pretty.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I'm fine with an attractive Waller, but the actress is bad. Badly timed unnecessary dramatic pauses

 

[p4poetic]

I just hope that they don't establish that she and Oliver were former lovers. I don't know about anyone else, but i'm finding it very cliche and just strange on how they make nearly every woman that Oliver meets and has an antagonist relationship into a former lover of his.

The fact that he hasn't slept with China White or Nyssa is a miracle in itself.

I'm sure they contemplated it.

 

[Sawyer]

I think the actress has done a fine job in the role.

 

[bes628]

I think the actress has done a fine job in the role.

Agreed I dont see the issue.

 

[sebandres23]

Yeah, she's okay. I mean, let's be honest. This show isn't known for the acting. She came off as villanous last episode and I certainly enjoyed that.

 

[Human Torch]

She seems to be playing every scene with the same tone."Superficially cheery".

 

[p4poetic]

She seems to be playing every scene with the same tone."Superficially cheery".

She's rather subdued about everything so far.

I've seen her work in Spartacus, so its definitely not a case of inability to evoke emotion.

 

[Boy Scout]

I just hope that they don't establish that she and Oliver were former lovers.

Prepare to be disappointed.

I dunno. It could go either way. No matter which way they go, I think it's strange that they're on a first name basis.

 

[Lantern Venom]

It's too early to tell, but my first reaction is that Cynthia Addai-Robinson is too young and pretty to be Waller. She could overcome that with the correct writing, but I don't understand why CW didn't cast someone who is instantly authoritative and threatening.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Cynthia robinson is really pretty, there's probably a reason they cast an attractive actress as Waller. Probably to set up the love interest angle with Ollie... smh

 

[The Guard]

I realize she's been portrayed that way for a long time, but I honestly kind of fail to see why being less attractive or overweight has to be a core component of Amanda Waller's character. Especially if these things are not going to be explored in any real sense. I honestly find it kind of offensive and shallow that she's considered immediately threatening because she's bigger.

Yes, that's one of the things that makes her unique as a comic book character, but those things, by themselves, are not unique traits for a human being to have.

It's a moot point...this is a CW show...everyone is going to be attractive.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Yeah tbh my problem with this Amanda Waller isn't the fact that she's prettier than normal, it's her mediocre acting. She was better on Spartacus, this is just not the role for her. I haven't been impressed at all with her work so far on Arrow.

CCH Pounder would've been a far superior choice. Her commanding and authoritative presence would've served the character well. And she's already familiar with the character.

 

[p4poetic]

Yeah tbh my problem with this Amanda Waller isn't the fact that she's prettier than normal, it's her mediocre acting. She was better on Spartacus, this is just not the role for her. I haven't been impressed at all with her work so far on Arrow.

CCH Pounder would've been a far superior choice. Her commanding and authoritative presence would've served the character well. And she's already familiar with the character.

If Amanda is seen on the island in flashbacks like we've been predicting, we'll be able to make a better judgement.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Nah dude, we've seen enough of her to decide if she's good or not. She's not terrible. But not good.

CCH Pounder would've killed it

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

Cool! I didn't know a thread was made for her! Man compared to that chick who plays the huntress she should get the oscar! Hahaha plus she is smoking HOT!!
I like her!

 

[godisawesome]

Her youth and the way they've decided to play the character doesn't do it any favors, but if she shows up on the island, then I've got greater hope for the character. They may try and draw a parallel between the Wall and Oliver in how they project a stoic demeanor to the world at large. Wich to be honest, considering the age. They've given Waller in this adaptation, I can see her being in an origins-phase the same way as most of the other characters. She's seems to be more of a mission coordinator than major power play right now. Maybe we'll see one of her bosses later, and she'll become the Waller we all know and love taking him down.

Personally, I think the cast they have is strong enough to launch at least a web series around, provided they have goals for the characters like they do on Arrow. If they can show Bronze Tiger becoming an atoning anti-hero (which Michael Jai White can do), Deadshot becoming satisfied with his lot in life, the Wall becoming the Wall, and maybe some other characters like Captain Atom (with lower power levels) and Plastique (As Shrapnel's replacement) they could rock a strong storyline.

 

[Paradox1]

I like Robinson portrayal of Amanda Waller. The little dialogue she has been given isn't asking for a range of emotions. It's asking her to be strong, manipulative, driven and goal oriented the actress plays those aspects to my satisfaction. They are gonna peel back the layers of her character but that development is still in its infancy.

 

[p4poetic]

Anyone know Amanda's next appearance? Doesn't look to be next week.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

I like Robinson portrayal of Amanda Waller. The little dialogue she has been given isn't asking for a range of emotions. It's asking her to be strong, manipulative, driven and goal oriented the actress plays those aspects to my satisfaction. They are gonna peel back the layers of her character but that development is still in its infancy.

This