SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

It's safe to say that the show "Arrow" is now a science fiction show. With the introduction of The Flash, in today's episode, along with other meta-humans, and mentioning of particle accelerators and Earth-quake machines...this is a show not to be missed by science fiction fans. I do realize it doesn't promote itself as one, but it truly is--now that it's basically becoming a Justice League show!

I saw one episode and instantly hated it, sorry to say!

I'll have to give it a shot. Ever since Fringe jumped the shark back in season 4 I've been lacking a good sci-fi show.

Anton wrote: "With the introduction of The Flash"

That is pretty cool. I like this show but am a bit disappointed that Nightwing is not on it...despite the fact that I heard he is...which is the only reason I began to watch it in the first place. Not sure if I can really see this connecting to Superman and Batman...even though they did include the League of Assassins and Ra's al Ghul by mentioning him several times. If that's not a connection to Batman I don't know what is...and seeing how Batman is going to be connected to Superman through the next movie...technically Arrow is connected to Superman as well.

Chris wrote: "I saw one episode and instantly hated it, sorry to say!"

I saw one episode and immediately took a liking to it. So much that I binge watched until I was caught up. I believe it took me a few days.

Chris, the show has gotten a significant boost in budget since that 1st episode. Also, the tone of the show completely changed in season 2.

How cool would it be if the MOS franchise connected with this show!

I haven't watched last night's yet, but in general I've been really enjoying the show. It doesn't have the normal "CW" melodrama feel to it. Or it's toned down a lot at least.

Since when are superheroes sci-fi?

But, yes, I have watched Arrow from the start and even though it is cheesy, it is not _quite_ cheesy enough to turn me off. I haven't seen the episodes with superheroes yet, so I may still change my mind...

the show started out solid enough but has really surprised me with how good its gotten in the second season

Marko wrote: "Since when are superheroes sci-fi?

But, yes, I have watched Arrow from the start and even though it is cheesy, it is not _quite_ cheesy enough to turn me off. I haven't seen the episodes with supe..."

Superheroes do tend to be Fantasy characters, but so far Arrow has skewed toward the sci-fi side of the spectrum. Oliver has no special powers, and until the latest episode everyone who does have an ability, such as Black Canary, uses a gadget. In the comics she's a banshee-type character, but here she uses a sonic stun gun.

Adding The Flash feels like a studio dictate rather than a natural continuation of the story they were building, but his introduction was brilliantly handled. The bit with Barry in front of the chemicals while a lightning storm rages outside was one of the most perfect moments of fan service I've seen in a long time.

There are more genre shows on TV now than ever -- even the 1970s pales by comparison -- but I find most of them uninteresting. Arrow is one of the three I watch currently, because every week it does something cool.

I started watching the first season but then I got bored with the formula. I also started Beauty & The Beast the tv show but got Board with the formula as well.

Started out okay, a bit mysterious and quickly became formulatic in the extreme.

James wrote: "Started out okay, a bit mysterious and quickly became formulatic in the extreme."

It's also gone PC. First big change: when he decided he'll no longer kill anyone. So what the heck good is his silly bow good for other than whacking someone in a fight? He may as well carry a blackjack or nightstick.

Yes, they'll find some things for him to shoot specialty arrows at and he'll occasionally wound some guy -- like one of his supporters in a recent show. Yep, spill your supporter's blood, but not the bad guy's.

Also, I doubt if he'll ever get off that island in the flashbacks. But everyone and his evil stepmother will visit.

I started watching "Arrow" because John Barrowman (who played Captain Jack on "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood"), Harry Blackthorne (who played Harry Dresden in the not great, but he was good in "The Dresden Files"), and Colin Salmon (from every other BBC show) were playing his stepdad or the dads of his friends.

Now I'm just hooked.

Since then Alex Kingston has been on some episodes. Summer Glau plays Oliver's, well, she thinks she's his boss, and because she's Summer Glau, I assume she'll have a superpower.

Julia wrote: "Since then Alex Kingston has been on some episodes. Summer Glau plays Oliver's, well, she thinks she's his boss, and because she's Summer Glau, I assume she'll have a superpower. "

I didn't even recognize her. Not paying attention. Maybe because I'm bored most of the time. I'll have to check her out.

Glad you enjoy it.

Jim wrote: "Am I correct in considering "The Island" starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, to be science fiction?

If so; it is one of my favirites. I always thought that it had potential to be conver..."

This thread is about ARROW, Jim.

I also started watching Arrow because of John Barrowman. Love him! But the show just seems average. I'm enjoying it but it is not something that I just have to catch the moment a new episode comes out. Have to agree that it has a great list of actors but the storylines could be improved.

Al wrote: "It's also gone PC. First big change: when he decided he'll no longer kill anyone. So what the heck good is his silly bow good for other than whacking someone in a fight? He may as well carry a blackjack or nightstick."

The flashbacks and stuff reminds me of one of all time favourite shows, 'King Fu' with David Caradine.

'Arrow' has become unwatchable for me, rather watch the test pattern.

I only still watch Arrow because my husband watches it. While it doesn't drag, there are some aspects that drive me nuts.

Using spoiler for people who don't want to see my bitching.

(view spoiler)[1. We get it, he's the GREEN Arrow, but your set designs can move outside that color. We don't need green for all the news broadcasts, green tinting to the lighting, and the color green being used in everyone's decorating. It's overkill and annoying.
2. So exactly how old is his sister that she's owning and running a night club yet last season we were talking about her being in school? There probably is a rule somewhere about the age of the owner of an establishment with an alcohol license.
3. We change the actress of the dead sister and yet we aren't supposed to notice? And wow is her character adding nothing to the show.
4. Hey, I'm a lawyer helping the poor and exploited, yet for some reason I'm in designer outfits that are just a little too tight, short, and plunging for anyone to take me seriously. But if that didn't kill my credibility, have you seen my doe eyes and trembling lip? Where the heck did she go to school Fluffy Bunny Law School for Models?
5. At this point I'm expecting him to find a hatch and the Others on that island.
6. When is someone going to figure who Oliver really is because s/he has met all the sidekicks already and notices they all hang out with Oliver? Cough, cough, Detective Lance (hide spoiler)]

When a super hero goes to "I won't kill anyone" what that really means is either "the bad guy isn't dangerous enough for me to use deadly force" or "I need a handicap so it's still exciting for me". In true life or death situations you don't go for wounding shots, it's too dangerous. Center mass, shoot to kill. No, don't be a sadistic bastard and snap the neck of a fleeing purse snatcher.

They addressed #2 in the show. Spoiler for anyone not yet caught up.
(view spoiler)[When Ollie returns and comes in "his" club, he makes a comment to his sister that a)its his nightclub and b)she's not old enough to drink. She responded with a)you've been gone 5 months. Someone had to run it and b)yet, I am old enough to own a nightclub.

Which is probably true. Your waiter doesn't have to be 21 to bring your drink, but the bartender has to be 21+ to pour it. She probably has an of-age worker who orders the booze for the bar. (hide spoiler)]

Manu Bennett is a great action hero actor. I can't wait for him to meet up with Ollie again in present time.

I said this to my pal and he has hated me for it since. He loved the show. I watched the first couple of episode and thought the ideas and character of the green arrow was excellent. I just despise the actor, he is terrible. The thing that does it is that when he is true arrow he is this agile cool guy. But when he is Oliver Queen it's like someone has taken a plank of wood and nailed it from the top of his head to his lower back. This irritated me so much I had to stop watching it.

The guy playing Oliver isn't the only bad actor on the show. It's just the CW after all. The actors are chosen more for appearance and age than anything else.

That said, I enjoy this show. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars. The writing could be better, however. It's not as solid as Once Upon a Time.

Stephen Amell is a pretty bad actor. Literally. CW is all about the looks first, acting chops second. However, he is tolerable. And I love the show. It's one of the best comic book adaptations ever.

Last week's twist with the mom running for mayor was a tough pill to swallow. My wife and I laughed and laughed and laughed. I couldn't believe the actors were able to keep a straight face.

I made it three episodes in and lost interest.

Anton wrote: It's one of the best comic book adaptations ever.

Which version of Green Arrow is this most like? I'm sure I miss a lot of references because I haven't read the comics it's based on...

Julia wrote: "Anton wrote: It's one of the best comic book adaptations ever.

Which version of Green Arrow is this most like? I'm sure I miss a lot of references because I haven't read the comics it's based on..."

It's most like Marvel's Ultimate Hawkeye. Not even kidding about that.

I'm a fan of the show, even if Ollie doesn't look anything like he does in the comics. He doesn't rock a goatee :(

Julia, he's like the new Green Arrow in the New 52 run. No goatee though. And no more silly Robin Hood cap.

Arrow in my opinion is one of the best tv series out there along with Game of Thrones and The walking Dead. Having read the new 52 comics the tv series has taken the same tone full of action and a great storyline. With DC looking to build a tv universe I can see this show expanding further which is just extremely exciting. Overall you need to see this show!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm getting bored with "Arrow". Thinking seriously about taking it off my PVR's schedule.

It's not the only series that's gone stale (at least, to me). I'm getting bored with the fantasy shows as well ("Once Upon a Time" & "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland").

After watching 3 episodes, I dropped "100"; -- and "Believe" & "Reign" aren't far behind.

Am I getting jaded in my old age or are the Hollyweird writers getting lazy and uninspired?

lol, I was bored with it from the getgo. It looked like "All My Children" got shoved in a blender with a Jet Li movie. He was sleeping with a woman and her sister at the same time. It was (over the top) dramatic. And...a dozen other things that just made me change the channel.

Al wrote: "Am I getting jaded in my old age or are the Hollyweird writers getting lazy and uninspired?"

Option 2. Honestly I think we as viewers have developed higher standards and have a lot more options for quality programming. In the old days when prime time hours meant NBC, CBS, or ABC (with eventually the WB & Fox) you were just happy to have something sci-fi-ish on a night to watch. Now with so many channels producing new content and the bar being raised on television production, my "delete from schedule" is much faster (and the networks barely register on my list).

Lara Amber wrote: "Al wrote: "Am I getting jaded in my old age or are the Hollyweird writers getting lazy and uninspired?"

Option 2. Honestly I think we as viewers have developed higher standards and have a lot mor..."

Thanks, I was worried that I was going over the edge and in danger of plunging into the abyss of ennui. Maybe there's hope for me yet.

Al wrote: "bored with "Arrow". Thinking seriously about taking it off my PVR's schedule.

It's not the only series that's gone stale (at least, to me). I'm getting bored with the fantasy shows as well ("Once Upon a Time" & "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland").

After watching 3 episodes, I dropped "100"; -- and "Believe" & "Reign" "

That's a lot of hour long programming. I think you're just watching too much of it and should pare it down to 1 or 2 shows a week.

DavidO wrote: "Al wrote: "bored with "Arrow". Thinking seriously about taking it off my PVR's schedule.

It's not the only series that's gone stale (at least, to me). I'm getting bored with the fantasy shows as w...


That's a lot of hour long programming. I think you're just watching too much of it and should pare it down to 1 or 2 shows a week. "

That won't even allow a football game or a bowling tournament. And there ARE some good shows left on the "vast wasteland" that haven't "jumped the shark" yet.

Arrow did get a bit saggy over the past few installments, but it seems they were mostly setting up the finale. This past week's episode was brutal and rearranged the pieces on the gameboard pretty significantly.

It's no Orphan Black, but then what is? It's just good old fashioned pulp fiction that's pretty well done.

I liked the show better when he would kill. Though he always killed, which was too extreme. Now he never does, which is also too extreme. I hope he comes to some happy medium now. I don't want/need a less cool Batman.

Rob wrote: " I don't want/need a less cool Batman. "

I've always thought of Green Arrow as rip off of Batman with arrows instead of Batarangs.

(view spoiler)[ I loved that his mom figured out his identity all by herself. It was like FINALLY someone is smart enough to do 2+2=4! (hide spoiler)]

Rob wrote: "I liked the show better when he would kill. Though he always killed, which was too extreme. Now he never does, which is also too extreme. I hope he comes to some happy medium now. I don't want/need..."

Amen to that.

Al wrote: "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm getting bored with "Arrow". Thinking seriously about taking it off my PVR's schedule.

It's not the only series that's gone stale (at least, to me). I'm get..."

For me, Arrow has become more turgid and melodramatic over time, so it is on the verge of putting its head on my chopping block.

I watched just the first episode of Reign and was so disappointed that I've not been back. It felt like a high school play with a generous wardrobe and sets budget.

My only problem with the show is that it has too many plot twists, so much so that we are left wondering as the plot unfolds. For instance, (SPOILERS) I originally thought Slade's motives were silly, in that he would make Ollie's life a living hell all because of a girl he never even kissed.

Then, we learn that he had another agenda. Why couldn't we know that sooner!? For many weeks, I thought Slade Wilson was just the silliest villain. Let's hope that we get a good finale, and learn that he and Blood's motives go beyond simply wanting to be "Kings of the world"