This show has a weird quality that makes us keep coming back doesn't it? I re-watched the last 3 episodes of last season and holy crap how sucky was that? Makes me think why I even bother with this show. But here we are for the new season...maybe it's the completely untapped potential that keeps making us come back. But anyway, some points:
I thought the start was good. Amell seems a bit more relaxed now that he didn't have to play the ultra dark and brooding Arrow from last season. I appreciated the little suburb segment. It was a nice change of pace. I remember an episode from Chuck that did the same, but to greater effect. The truck segment was not so good. After 5 months the 3 of them should've figured it out but it felt sloppy. At least Thea was entertaining.
Neal Mcdonough was instantly better as a villain than the dude that played Ra's was all season. Right amount of cynicism and evil. Great. Having a great villain is a good step in the right direction. Although I didn't quite understand the plot to kill the city council members. It really just felt like they needed an action sequence again. sigh
The team arrow reunion was OK I guess. I specially liked Oliver interrogating Felicity about her activities on the last 5 months. The show could use more stuff like that. BTW, I haven't minded Katie Cassidy as the Canary for a while now, but I think she could turn the intensity down just a notch. Every line seems just so damn urgent all the time.
Then most of the rest of the episode was the same old of tracking down and resolving the current crisis which to me felt like the weakest part, not to mention the various mistakes they made like Diggle driving the car, Oliver jumping on the train and then Diggle magically appearing to help? WTF!? Also how sure was Oliver that only the last 3 wagons of the train were carrying the bomb? Because that's all that he stopped. And if that was it, a train without breaks is still a problem, but hey, who cares? The bomb exploded. And for something that was supposed to be a step down from a nuke, it looked pretty weak.
The final parts were really dumb though. It seems like they thought: "Hey, let's throw a bunch of crazy things here and then we can explore them as the season goes on." Problem is, this being Arrow, some of these plots will change completely by episode 3. The Green Arrow announcement was ultra stupid, Lance siding with Darkh makes little sense and the funeral was just a bad idea. That could've been done to more effect on a different episode I think. Plus who are they going to kill? I guess Felicity is the most obvious choice, but if that's her and that's the reaction from Barry Allen then they f*cked up. My vote would be for Thea, Diggle or Lyla. They can't kill Laurel anyway. The casket seemed short as well, but again, I doubt they'll even remember that when the decision time comes.
Now let's see where they go with all this. I remember the first couple of episodes last season were really good, but then the quality dropped off dramatically. If they want me back on their good graces, that can't happen again.
Final arrows:
So, we are finally coming back to the island on the flashbacks. That's good. Last season was terrible.
I like that Thea will have to deal with the Lazarus Pit effect. Wonder if they'll be consistent and tackle that with Sarah as well when the time comes.
"Felicity Smoak, you've failed this omelet."
"Ra's stabbed her right over there"; "Oh."; "We can get a rug!"
"Dude! Nice reflexes!"
