As soon as I heard The CW will be broadcasting a new television show based upon the DC Comics character Oliver Queen, alias Green Arrow, my thoughts immediately concluded that it will be a spin-off from their previously successful comic book television program, Smallville. The program had ended its ten year run in the spring of 2011 to the final reveal of Clark Kent stepping out of the superheroes closet, of sorts.The character of Green Arrow made several episodic appearances in Smallville as a helpful co-star to the shining lead role of Superman. According to the IMDb.com website, the character has appeared in seventy-two out of the final 217 episodes of the program's ten-year run. The math implies he only appeared in one third of the program's total run time on the air. Oliver Queen will finally receive his turn in the spotlight with the new television show schedule for its premiere on The CW starting in September, 2012.
As far as I am aware, The CW network has not implied their new program to be a spin off from Smallville in any capacity possible. My hunch says the connection between the two programs is a coincidence more than it is an official spin-off from the predecessor. The most prominent element of evidence there will be not direct ties between the two programs would be the swap out of actors who have been hired to portray the character. Justin Hartley is the actor who portrayed Oliver in the Smallville series, but for the new fall season program he will be portrayed by television actor Stephen Amell. I am unsure if Justin Hartley was even approached by The CW and asked to return in character for the new program. Regardless of the change in actors portraying the role, I will still view the program as a spin-off series in spirit.
My expectations of the quality and value of the new show were set somewhere in the middle, because I assumed The CW would perform their usual round of producing mediocre new programs since they took over the reins from their network predecessors, The WB. I considered the program might not be the best invention in the world since sliced bread, but my hopes are set pretty high for the success of the program. I sure as hell have an invested interest in the program being a valuable source of entertainment for one hour of my time every week. I should not have to tell you of the trouble in finding good sources of entertainment these days when the market is flooded with a high quantity of mediocrity.
Surprisingly, the pilot episode of Arrow has exceeded my expectations of just another mediocre show. Yes, they might possibly have a winner on their hands, I should hope, for the new fall season. However, the feedback I was overhearing from my peers who sat through the sneak preview with me it appears my own enjoyment of the program might have been placed in the minority of opinions. The group consisted of men and women from several different age groups, but none of these people are younger than in their mid-twenties or any older than in the early sixties. The network’s target demographic is 18 to 34-year-old females, which Arrow does not appear to be geared toward this target audience. I am a male in my early thirties and have enjoyed the pilot episode of the program, but I do not qualify as a member of the network’s target audience. I can see the audience who would enjoy watching Arrow would be comic book fans of all ages and genders, but they will be far removed from the same audience who would enjoy watching Gossip Girl or Hart of Dixie.
At the conclusion of watching the program’s pilot episode there were a couple of people who stood up and walked right out of the room without spending any time filling out a single page survey asking for a personal reaction to the episode. This should not hold much of a meaning, but I would imagine these people were not thrilled on wasting any more of their personal time sitting around chatting about the program.
Of the remaining viewers there were not very many who vocalized any form of opinion regarding the program. One particular male viewer in his mid-thirties, described the only a single positive attribute of the program that he enjoyed was the production value. The other elements of the program, such as the storyline and the cast, he found dull and boring for his preference in entertainment. He seems to be a person who will be passing over this program to tune in to watch some other hot new fall program. The other members of the group did briefly mention their enjoyment of the pilot episode, even if they considered to be apart from the target demographic for The CW network (18 to 34-year-old females).
I enjoyed watching the pilot episode and could only hope the series will be equally as entertaining. The first episode is filled with action, adventure, and comic book fantasy world style fun. It is not the Excalibur level form of super hero entertainment as Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, but definitely worth watching an hour long episode once a week for a few months.
Arrow is scheduled for broadcast on Wednesday nights at 8 PM only on The CW starting in October 10, 2012.
Show Synopsis and Premise
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 and 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.
Production Information and Cast List
The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Colin Donnell as Tommy, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, with Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance. Based on characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti ("Green Lantern," "Brothers & Sisters"), Marc Guggenheim ("FlashForward," "Eli Stone"), Andrew Kreisberg ("Warehouse 13," "The Vampire Diaries") and David Nutter ("Smallville," "Supernatural," "Game of Thrones"). Melissa Kellner Berman ("Eli Stone," "Dirty Sexy Money") is co-executive producer. The pilot was directed by David Nutter from a teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Marc Guggenheim, story by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim.
1 comment:
Well I won't be watching with out Justin Hartley! I have been waiting and waiting for this show, but only WITH Justin in the staring role! You have totally messed this up for me! I won't be watching, My nielsen box won't be tuned in! I am so hurt another actor has taken on the role Justin was born to play!
Post a Comment