Pilot
With the CW not having a true superhero show on the air for a few years, Arrow comes to the rescue. Arrow is the closet thing that TV will get to a live action Batman show, but Oliver Queen kills the bad guys, which ads more to the ‘realism’ to the aspiring hero. The new backstory to Oliver and his time on a mysterious island where he became Arrow gives the show some history to flush out over the series.
The basic plot is a wealthy young man wants to take his vengeance on the people who wronged him and his city. So classic Batman / Spiderman reason for doing good deeds / helping people. Other staples that Arrow brings are the CW checklist of necessities: drinking, sex, pop culture riffs and good looking people.
The way people interact with Oliver is strange, since he was marooned for 5 years on an island. People act like it was nothing and treat him like it was just yesterday, but not for his benefit, but to keep moving the plot along. Some of the dialogue is clunky and awkward, just like how people interact with Oliver. There is some melodrama that can be cut from the show. Hopefully it will be shoved down deeper in the show overtime, since kicks ass is where the show shines.
The actions is frantic, Bourne Identity like in how Arrow moves in and out of his environment, delivering quick hits up close or firing off arrows from afar. These gems are scattered throughout the episode, which helps frame the story with big flashy battles and one menacing attack from the shadows.
The positives outweigh the negatives in the first episode of Arrow, with a lot of promise for the show and hopefully that will mean the show can do something special, not just on The CW, but on TV. One of the better pilots this season.
Rating: Watch
Original Air Date: 10/10/12
On CW, Wednesdays 8/7 central
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