Arrow Season Three: Guilty

"I am Wildcat"

The episode begins with Arrow and Red Arrow going to stop a drug deal however they find the dealers dead and hanged with the word GUILTY written in blood, Roy then secretly asks Felicity to check for any Mirakuru still in his system. In a Flashback Oliver and Maseo tail a guy but when they lose track of him they find out the package they where supposed to get was not on him, in the present Arrow tracks down another hanged man which is in the Wildcat Gym and runs into Ted and Laurel. At the Arrowcave Felicity tells Roy there is no Mirakuru in his system so Roy tells her of his nightmares meanwhile Ted is questioned but Laurel vouches for him to Quentin and Oliver the latter is then angry that Laurel is in training. In a Flashback since Oliver can't remember where the package is Maseo asks his wife Tatsu (Rila Fukushima) to use a concentration technique on him which works. In the present Arrow tracks down Ted's storage locker which has another body but also evidence of vigilantism, Ted shows up and he and Arrow have a short fight but after Ted admits he used to be a vigilante but quit after he beat a drug dealer to death. The two go to the site of the murder where they find Ted's old crime fighting partner Isaac who is mad Ted abandoned him and wants revenge however he escapes and Ted is arrested by police.

Does he even have a vigilante name?

At the Arrowcave Roy tells the rest his nightmares of killing Sara and Felicity admits it is possible with the evidence, Oliver then admits to Diggle and Laurel he doesn't know what to do with Roy. Laurel then gets Ted free, after he admits to her Isaac killed the drug dealer and he abandoned him soon after, however the two are then kidnapped by Isaac. Arrow goes to rescue them (Laurel had her phone on) however Red Arrow shows up later and stops Isaac and asks Arrow not to abandon him, later Arrow goes to Ted to ask him to stop training Laurel however he refuses saying it is her choice. Oliver then tells Roy they should rename him Arsenal and then uses the concentration technique on him; it is revealed Roy didn't kill Sara but was mixing his memories of the time he killed a cop while on his Mirakuru rampage, this still upsets Roy. The episode ends with Laurel asking Ted to train her not just to fight but to be a vigilante and Isaac is later killed by female archer Carrie Cutter AKA Cupid (Amy Gumenick).

FIGHT!

Another episode on a character who I wanted more background on and that was Ted Grant and I am really glad that this episode confirms that he was a vigilante because even of he has retired he could always don his mask again. I liked that this addresses that there where vigilantes in Starling even before Arrow came in to the picture and I liked the whole story between Ted and Isaac and that it mirrored what was happening between Oliver and Roy. Speaking about Roy he too had an interesting subplot and it was good he teamed up with Felicity because I don't think the two have interacted much. It also keeps the mystery of who killed Sara still going however I feel that Roy's subplot could have had more of a focus as well. Then there was Laurel and she is still getting to be a better character now with the way she stuck with Ted and I hope the two team up when they are vigilantes.

Where are the ears?

As for the rest of the episode I admit I didn't like Oliver's attitude much (the boxing glove arrow was great though) because he constantly thought the worse of Ted because he killed one drug dealer but honestly who is he to judge people about killing? It just got on my nerves and him also constantly telling Laurel to stay away from him and to stop training didn't help either. Then there is the Flashbacks and I didn't like them at all because they where just really slow with that whole concentration technique and I find Tatsu to be an annoying bitch; I know she is portraying Katana from the comics but all I see is someone whose attitude I didn't like and can barely stand to watch. I  am not enjoying these Hong Kong Flashbacks that much (except for the Tommy one) because they are just feeling like a waste of time, especially this one which that could have focused more on Roy instead of the bitch Tatsu. However I did like the end of the episode with the introduction of Cupid who I'm really looking forward to seeing and if she is like her comic counterpart she will be a complete nut case.

"I'm Cupid stupid....that rhymes"

Overall glad we got an episode focused on Ted Grant and Roy.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Ted Grant focused episode
                   Roy subplot
                   Cupid introduced

Let - Downs: Oliver's attitude
                       Flashbacks
                      Tatsu

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/

Arrow Season Three: Corto Maltese

"My young apprentice"

The episode begins with Arrow chasing down a lead on Sara's death however it was a dead end but back at the Arrowcave Felicity tracks down Thea's location to Corto Maltese. Oliver and Roy decide to go and later Diggle when A.R.G.U.S has a missing agent named Mark Shaw there they want him to find. Meanwhile Laurel meets with Ted Grant (J.R. Ramirez) owner of the Wildcat Gym about a crime involving one of his gym members, Ted denies this and then offers Laurel to come train because he notices her pent up anger. Oliver shows up at the house Thea is staying but leaves when she is not there however Malcolm was aiming an arrow at him in the distance, in a Flashback Malcolm begins to train Thea by pouring boiling water on his hand to show how to deal with pain. Oliver then finds Thea but she refuses to go back with him (even Roy tries talking to her later) while in Starling City Felcitiy is given a brand new office from Ray and asks her for all the files from the Applied Sciences Division. Oliver and Roy then decide to help Diggle with Shaw but they are lead into a trap by them however they manage to fight their way through it and Diggle completes his mission.

There is no better trainer than Wildcat

In Starling Laurel attends an AA meeting with Quentin and listens to the story of a woman beaten by her husband while in Corto Maltese Thea has a Flashback to where she failed the boiling water test so Malcolm came to the conclusion he is going easy on her and decided to hit her. Laurel then goes to beat up the wife beater however she is severely beaten up instead and while in the hospital Quentin says she was stupid for doing that and that Sara handles stuff like that (still not knowing she is dead). Oliver then talks to Thea once more, this time saying how both of their parent scarified themselves for them, which causes her to ask Malcolm if she can go home which he lets her. With everyone back in Starling Laurel approaches Oliver asking him to train her to be a vigilante however when he refuses she ask Ted, meanwhile at Queen Consolidated Felicity asks Ray for time off so she can visit a friend who woke up from a coma (Barry Allen) and Ray is seen going over certain blueprints. The episodes ends with Oliver and Roy discussing Thea but are interrupted by Nyssa Al Ghul who is looking for Sara.

"I think I'll stick with my gun thanks"

Looks like even Team Arrow likes to do some work outside of Starling City for once which is good because it is a welcome change for a different location. Thea was the main focus of this episode and I have to say she does have a nice haircut lol. Unfortunately one of the biggest problems this episode was the lack of the Thea/Malcolm relationship; a lot more screen time should have been given over to them, their Flashbacks and their training (all we got was the boiling water test!). However she did have some nice scenes with Roy and Oliver, especially the one where Oliver talks about their parents which was really well done. The other big problem with this episode was Diggle on his A.R.G.U.S mission and even though I like Diggle focused episodes I just don't like A.R.G.U.S that much except for their Suicide Squad. Maybe that is because I hate both Lyla and Waller so compared to the Thea/Malcolm subplot I honestly didn't care for Diggle's mission at all.

I wonder is Thea will be a Dark Archer soon?

As for everything else Laurel is still continuing to be an interesting character; her attempt at stopping a wife beater might have been a bit silly but it is a good character arc of her noticing the evils in the city and unlike Sara not being able to do anything about them. However looks like she might be able soon with the introduction of Ted Grant AKA Wildcat; a great hero in the comics who has trained many heroes such as Black Canary, Superman and Batman to name a few. It also looks like Ray really might be ATOM some time soon too with the look at those weapon blueprints he has been looking at so I am excited for more of that. All in all I think I more enjoyed the moments in Starling than I did in Corto Maltese if I'm honest. Finally looks like the League is coming back next episode now that Nyssa is back in town!

"I'm used to darkness not all this light an heat!"

Overall this is the weakest episode of season three so far because it's main storyline with Diggle's mission wasn't that good.

SCORE: 6/10

Highlights: A little insight to Thea's training with Malcolm
                   Laurel starting to become Black Canary and the introduction of Wildcat
                   Ray may also be ATOM soon

Let - Downs: Not enough background on Thea and Malcolm
                      Didn't care for the A.R.G.U.S mission

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;

 

 





http://screencapped.net/        

The Flash Season One: Pilot

Thought  I'd review the Flash episodes after they premiere in the UK because I thought maybe I should review at least one series that is currently airing. Would have done this for The Strain but I don't have any screenshots for that just yet. Like Revolution this is a SPOILER filled review but unlike Revolution I won't take too long with the episode synopsis.

The episode begins with the 11 year old Barry Allen witnessing his mother's death within a strange vortex of yellow and purple light and ending up blocks away form his house. In the present day the adult Barry (Grant Gustin) as a forensic investigator in Central city and is investigating a bank robbery and homicide committed by Clyde Mardon (Chad Rook). We then spend some time with Barry learn that he grew up with Iris West (Candice Patton) and raised by her father detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) and that he is looking forward to the activating of the particle accelerator at S.T.A.R. labs run by Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). However later that night the particle accelerator goes out of control, explodes while releasing an unknown form of energy and striking Barry with a bolt of lightning.

"Something tells me I should just stay right here"

Fast forward nine months later and Barry awakens from his coma at the remains of S.T.A.R labs in the care of Dr. Wells, who is now in a wheelchair and his assistants Francisco "Cisco" Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Dr. Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker). Wells wants to keep examining Barry because of the effects the particle accelerator had on his body but Barry decides to leave. He soon reunites with Iris and her father but discovers he can move at incredibly fast speeds and then goes back to Wells to test his new power, he even remembers to the time of his mother's murder that there was someone in that yellow light. Meanwhile a bank is being robbed by Mardon, who was supposedly killed in a plane crash when the particle accelerator exploded and uses his new found powers as Weather Wizard to control the weather. 

Perfect cover to rob a bank!

Later while Barry and Iris are walking they are nearly run over by Weather Wizard who is escaping from the police in a car. Barry tries to stop him but Weather Wizard creates a whole lot of mist to escape from him, later Barry tires to convince detective West of what he saw but West refuses to believe him. Barry then goes to S.T.A.R labs and finds out they are aware that there are others out there affected by the particle accelerator like him and are calling them "meta - humans". Dr. Wells also refuses to allow Barry to go after Weather Wizard because he cannot afford to lose him because of what his powers can do for science, Barry angrily leaves. He then run 60 miles to Starling City and meets up with Oliver Queen AKA The Arrow (Stephen Amell) who manages to convince him that he can be a hero and protect everyone with his powers.

Cameo Time!

Returning to Central City Barry convinces Cisco and Caitlin to help him fight Weather Wizard and they give him an altered, red fire - fighter suit that can with stand the heat from fast movement. Else where West and his partner, and Iris boyfriend, Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) find Weather Wizard at an old barn and try to arrest him however Weather Wizard as gone mad with powers and creates a hurricane. Barry arrives in time to save West and Eddie and even stops Weather Wizard's hurricane who is then shot dead by West. West apologizes to Barry but makes him promise not to tell Iris about his powers. Later Barry sees his father in prison and promises to find the real person who was responsible for his mother's murder. The episode ends with Dr. Wells entering and secret room, standing up and reading a newspaper in a hologram that is seemingly from the future. It is from the year 2024 and it says that The Flash has gone missing in a crisis.

Glad they keep the costume so close to the comic one

I was really looking forward to The Flash series ever since I saw the two episodes Barry Allen was in, in The Arrow and I was not disappointed here. I think it must have be really easy to prepare for this show because of how they set up for it in Arrow, like the constant TV protests outside S.T.A.R labs. Marvel may be ruling the cinematic universe but DC sure has two strong TV series that can definitely stand up to Marvel.

The Flash may have the same feel as Arrow because it exists in the same universe but it defiantly has a more comic booky feel to it. This is probably due to the presence of "meta humans"; Arrow has been really grounded with it's storyline and villains but I am glad that is not the case here or else the shows would have been too similar. Plus despite the fact that there are people with powers that can kill lots of people the show seems to have a more light hearted feel as well; I really like Arrow but the show has an overall pretty dark tone while The Flash already feels like it is going to be more fun.



I know who you are!

The story for this episode was great and was a great set up for the world of The Flash and what they want to do with it. I like how we are probably going to get a new villain with a different power each week, a new obstacle The Flash will have to face. I think that, for the beginning of the series at least, it is going to be episodic where The Flash will just face a villain each episode and we won't touch much on a big overarching story until mid season. This is a good way to go however; lets first just get used to The Flash and build up these characters.

Guy who has never been fast in his life turns into The Flash, I get the irony

As for the leading character I think Grant Gustin was just a perfect choice for Barry Allen, ever since I saw him in Arrow he is just really likeable. He delivers a great performance in struggling with how to be a hero and he does come off as a lot more optimistic than Oliver and defiantly less brooding. We also have a lot of supporting cast from the people of S.T.A.R labs to Barry's friends before he got his powers. Won't go into them too much because this was more of a Barry - centric episode but I like them all even if they do all fill generic roles you see in a lot of other shows. A stand out for me was Dr. Wells because of the ending of course and how he obviously is going be a major factor in future events.

Ally or Villain?

The action was all really good however I admit there wasn't much of it because its not like there was a big showdown between The Flash and Weather Wizard at the end but that's alright because like most Pilots this is more of a setup for characters and events. The effects of the powers used in this was great; it really feels like The Flash is moving really fast and as I mentioned above glad they kept his costume so close to the comics (lets see more costumes for villains soon!).

Yep this is pretty damn awesome

As for what could have been better I think the Weather Wizard could have had more depth to him, in the end I honestly didn't care much for him and he just felt like cannon fodder for The Flash's first foe. I hope that future villains are a lot more fleshed out in future episodes and that there is a reason for their powers e.g. Barry Allen was always slow so now ironically he is the fastest man alive. Also I think the episode was really fasted paced, a lot more than it should have been like his training for example. Even though it worked out well in the end I wouldn't have minded Barry being The Flash until the second episode, drawing out the whole understanding of his powers a bit. However this isn't anything big because as I said it worked out in the end anyway.

Overall this was an exciting and great first episode to The Flash series and I can it being around for years and years just like Arrow. I did spot a lot of references to the comics while watching but I won't mention them because that will be too much SPOILERS.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlight: Grant Gustin as Barry Allen
                 Story and characters (worried it would be too similar to Arrow but I was wrong)
                 Great affects for the powers

Let - Downs: A tad too fast paced
                      Didn't care much for the villain

The great screenshots of the episodes where provided by the great site Screencapped. You can look for yourself from the link below;





http://screencapped.net/