The Flash Season Two: Family of Rogues

"You think your family is messed up Barry?"

Barry forms and uneasy alliance with Lisa when her brother Captain Cold is kidnapped by their father Lewis Snart (Michael Ironside) meanwhile Joe struggles with a hard decision.

Now this episode was completely owned by Whentworth Miller, I mean he has always been great as Captain Cold but he really stood out in this. First off we actually got a break from the Zoom storyline and instead it focuses on the Cold Family which I was glad for because I wanted to know more about them and this defiantly adds a lot more depth to Cold and Lisa. It is good to see Cold still staying to his Code in the fact that he is a criminal but there are lines he won't cross and there are things he cares about like Lisa which their dad took full advantage of. Always great to see Ironside because he is a great actor and he did a really good job of being this criminal even Cold thinks is evil like planting a bomb in his own daughter's neck. His scenes where he exploded the bomb in his henchmen's head and then shot Barry where really menacing and he had quite the brutal death at the hand of this own son. Lisa really stole the scenes she was in as well; she really humanizes herself and Cold, we got to see more vulnerable sides to them. Plus I am really liking the chemistry between her and Cisco; it is hard to tell if Lisa is being genuine but it is fun to see Cisco just can't help himself in caring for her, this is a relationship in Flash I don't mind seeing developed even more. Barry was also a great addition to the Cold plot because I just really liked him helping out in a heist and I like how Cold and Barry have this mutual respect for one another e.g. Barry having hope Cold can be a better person. Thought I's just say that I know Cold does help the heroes in the comics when it suits him and he will in live action soon because of Legends of Tomorrow but I do hope he stays as a villain overall because I do really like him more as one of the Flash's biggest nemesis.

If his face turned into a skull then he would have been Deathstorm

As for everything else it is great that Jay has decided to stay and remain a member of the main cast because despite losing his speed he is still a great addition (though I would really like him to regain it soon). However while I do like the interactions between him and Caitlin I really hope that that they don't try to build a romantic subplot with them because it just doesn't feel right to me and you know not everyone has to get together in this show! But one that does defiantly seem to work is between Barry and Patty because first off they are together sometimes in the comics (like New 52) so I am more used to this but also like Cisco and Lisa I just love the scenes these two are in together, they just seem to compliment each other really well. Then there is the Joe and Francine subplot and while this was good and quite the shock that Joe lied it just feels too similar to a Lance Family drama from Arrow. Maybe if more screen time was somehow given over to it or if the payoff was better it could have worked more e.g. Iris just seems to get over the shock so quickly and Joe mentions she has met her mother off screen. Finally at the end we see that Stein's condition is getting worse because of the blue flames which leads me to two possibilities; first off Deathstorm could be coming but that seems unlikely this early in the series or more likely Stein needs a second to control to Firestorm Matrix now that Ronnie is gone.

Get in there Cisco!

Overall the best episode of the season so far because we got more insight into the Cold Family and I am glad the Wells from Earth 2 has arrived now!

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Cold Family episode

                   Interactions between Lisa and Cisco

                   Barry was really great in this episode

Let - Downs: I hope they aren't trying to get Caitlin together with Jay

                      The Joe/Francine subplot could have been better

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





http://screencapped.net/

Batman Vs Superman Dawn Of Justice Trailer Breakdown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEzheLDj6cY

I'm subscribed to a lot of reviewers on Youtube who like to breakdown a new trailer and pick out anything important from it and I thought I'd do the same for the new Batman vs. Superman trailer. Now I haven't watched any breakdowns myself yet, this list is what I have managed to find. SPOILERS

Superman deals with the aftermath of his fight with Zodd: It is smart that they haven't forgotten how much destruction these two caused. It looks like opinions are split with whether or not Superman is a hero or menace and I guess that is going to influence Superman's decisions a lot in this film.

Bruce Wayne was at Metropolis: This probably is what really influence's Bruce's decision to go after Superman because he did manage to save a child but also saw how many other lives where lost. I was wondering why he was in Metropolis but we also see a destroyed Wayne Financials building so I guess he had a board meeting with them or something.

The Joker ruined Bruce's life: We have two pieces of evidence to support this; the threatening letter Bruce received near the beginning and the Robin costume with the Joker graffiti. Now I don't know what it means with "You let your family die", could this mean that after Bruce retired he started but also lost a family?

Bruce retired because The Joker killed Jason Todd: The shot of the Robin costume was so awesome because it opens the possibility of the Red Hood existing in this universe who we can hopefully see in a solo Batman film. In my opinion I think it is highly likely Bruce retired because of the murder of Jason; in the comics Batman does still continue to fight crime but maybe in this film he just couldn't move on.

There will be a small montage of Bruce's time of Batman: Glad we will get some time spent on Bruce's life as Batman (maybe we will see some villains) but I also saw in the trailer the time Bruce's parent's where shot so I hope the montage doesn't take too long because I don't want to see Batman's origins yet AGAIN!

Clark Kent doesn't like Batman: It seems that Clark doesn't agree with the methods of Batman which is why he seems to trying to write an article on him but obviously his boss doesn't agree.

Superman has to decide to stay or leave: His mom and Lois still agree that Superman is needed for the world despite what the public think.

Lex Luther is the big bad: Well this is an obvious one but what is cool is that he also has brought Superman to his knees and it is probably because of the kryptonite he has. He also has the body of Zodd which makes me think.....

Zodd will be revived as Doomsday or Bizzaro: I really hope it isn't Doomsday because he has his own origin story and I think it is too early to bring him in. However I will be alright with Zodd being Bizzaro who is a zombie - like opposite of Superman.

Wonder Woman: The glimpse of Wonder Woman was really great and I think she will appear when Luther is revealed as the big bad not to interfere with Batman fighting Superman. I also think she is fighting Bizzaro because she looks to be blocking a blue laser and Bizzaro does have cold vision.

The Superman army gets out of control: I don't think Superman wants this army; they are most likely a bunch of fanatics who formed a cult because of him. Since they are fighting Batman I guess they might go too far at one point.

There you have it just a list of what I managed to spot in the new trailer but there are probably some stuff I missed. I think I will keep doing this now with trailers for comic book films or for like the Arrow and Flash. 

Bleach Review: Gate Of The Sun

To battle!!!

Yhwach has now assimilated the Soul King's power and transformed the Soul Palace into Wahrwelt however Ichigo, Shunsui and all the others have infiltrated and prepare to battle the Quincy.

Your probably wondering why it has taken me so long to review Bleach and that is because besides being busy with Arrow, Flash and Gotham I have been so bored with Bleach lately. The story has barely moved along for months with only the return of Aizen and Grimmjow to keep me interested but it looks like it has picked up now. First off I just want to say that the new Wandenrich City and the castle Wahrwelt look so freaking awesome! Kubo is not really known for detailed backgrounds but he has put a lot of effort into the Quincy buildings which is a definite plus. Next I liked how the heroes are now split up into three groups because some characters can get more spotlight and some fights, like Mayuri and Kenpachi. The funniest part of the chapter was from those two and how they are at each other's throats and since they haven't had much interaction since the early chapters of Bleach I really hope they team up in a fight. Also it is typical of Mayuri to go off on his own to gather data but I wonder if he has some hidden plan? Plus I do hope he brings the revived Arrancar from down below somehow because we have not seen enough of them. Then there was the appearance of Askin who is attacked by Grimmjow and that was a match up I wasn't expecting but should be interesting. I really like Askin and I don't think he is going to die soon because I just think he is always hiding his true power; unlike almost every villain in Bleach he is never arrogant like how he is dismayed with finding Ichigo's group, there has got to be more to him. I also have more hope that we will get more Sternritter soon because besides from the fact that Wahrwelt looks like it can hold an army there is just too few Sternritter and too many Soul Reapers. Finally Bazz - B, Giselle and Lilotto arriving at the old castle makes me think they have their own plan to take out Yhwach but the menacing shot of Haschwalth at the end makes me think they will end up as cannon fodder for his powers. I wouldn't mind that because Haschwalth is a good character but he just needs to do more.

"Home sweet home"

Overall this chapter looks like the pace is really about to pick up and makes me look forward to some great fights. The only down side was that it spent too long with Ichigo's group chatting away before the arrival of Askin which bothered me in the previous chapters; their group just keeps yammering on and on, stuff can be discussed shortly is dragged on because Kubo wanted to add some comedic moments with them or a long winded explanation of the situation.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: The environment art is amazing
                   Mayuri and Kenpachi team up
                   Askin vs. Grimmjow?
                   Haschwalth looks like he will actually do something soon

Let - Downs: Ichigo's group  

Arrow Season Three: Al Sah - Him

So what will this new team name be?

While Oliver goes through a rigorous transformation the League target Nyssa who is in Starling City training Laurel while in Flashbacks the ALPHA/OMEGA virus has been unleashed.

Now this was one damn good episode I must admit first! I tell you it is different seeing Oliver as the villain and it is really enjoyable seeing him fighting against Team Arrow. Now knowing Oliver it is possible that his programming is all an act and that he has this grand scheme up his sleeve but I have read some comments online and some believe that he isn't and will stay with the League into Season Four. This would of course be a really interesting move and one I hope they would do it because as I just said I am liking Darth Oliver so far (Felicity said that lol). However if this is the case my only gripe with Oliver's transformation is that they have really just skimmed over his programming with the League during the opening montage because I would have wanted to find out more about it. At least we got to find out a lot more about H.I.V.E and the confirmed villain for Season Four; Damien Darhk. Since he was only a minor character in the Teen Titans comics the show has already created a more different back story for him and I liked it, I am really looking forward for Season Four now! We also got some more backstory into Ra's predecessor and that Olvier will have to destroy Starling City however I did not like that the ALPHA/OMEGA virus is now a topic in the present. Those who have read my review when the virus first appeared know that I did not want it in the present because in my opinion it would be too similar to Mirakuru from Season Two but at the very least the virus is only going to be used for a few episodes.

"Guns are so uncivilised"

As for everything else I think the friendship between Laurel and Nyssa has been great; I really liked the scene when they where having fries and milkshakes. This does a good job of humanizing Nyssa, make her more relatable than the villainous assassin who "isn't normal", plus this gives her a story arc that doesn't involve Sara for once and finally gave her a new problem to deal with. Then of course there is the reveal that she is to marry Oliver and I seriously doubt she will go along with that, unless Oliver is acting and lets her in on his plan? As for Laurel this gives her some scenes with Nyssa (such as catching the robber) that didn't involve Team Arrow for once and we got to see the Canary Cry in action and it was really well done. Diggle also was strongly involved with the story because it was his wife that was kidnapped and we got to see him struggling with whether or not he believes Oliver is truly gone; seeing him lose a bit of control with Oliver and Nyssa was something different because he is usually the rock of the team (plus he was great in a swordfight!). Finally there is Thea and surprise we actually got to see her do something and see her in costume though since it was so plain I'm guessing it will be upgraded soon. Despite my annoyance of Thea most of the time I do want to see her in action fighting against Oliver and who knows it might be worth the wait. As for the Flashbacks I did really like them because we got some great action the scenes involving the spread of the virus through the city was really well done.

"So worth the photo with that fanboy"

Overall an awesome episode ands it seems the plot with the League finally knows where it's going because lately it has been all over the place and focusing more on Roy, Quentin, ATOM etc.       

Highlights: Oliver as a villain
                   Damien Darhk and H.I.V.E explained
                   Laurel and Nyssa's friendship and strong Diggle material

Let - Downs: Did not go in depth into Oliver's programming
                      ALPHA/OMEGA virus in the present

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: The Fallen

Al Sah - Him lives

With Thea's life hanging in the balance Oliver now has no choice but to accept his role as the new Head of the Demon so he can gain access to the Lazarus Pit however the rest of Team Arrow are not going to stand by and do nothing.

It took several episodes but it looks like Ra's has finally got his way and Oliver is now a member of the League of Assassins and soon to be the new Head. Now I'm sure that Oliver and Team Arrow are going to find a way out of this but I admit I didn't expect Oliver to actually accept so it is going to be cool these next few episode seeing what he will do next. Now Oliver's reason to join the League where right ones because he wanted to save Thea and I really liked the whole ritual but her revival was so underwhelming! She only suffered a bit of memory loss and by the end of the episode she was back to normal (back to her bitchy self of insulting Malcolm), I thought Malcolm said it would change her soul? There was also that mysterious woman who performed the ritual; I don't think it is Talia but I have read some people's comments saying it is Ra's wife or Lady Shiva, however for all we know she is a one time character so we will have to wait and see. Speaking Ra's it is good to get some backstory on him, again confirm that he is hundreds of years old and him explaining the true meaning of assassin. What really bothered my however was Felicity because she is just constantly getting on my nerves now on Arrow, on The Flash she was alright. Firstly she broke up with Ray which was the only pairing that I liked, then she just wouldn't shut up about losing Oliver and then she drugged him. It is just annoying that she has to keep going on that she doesn't agree and expects everyone to side with her; she has been doing this ever since the three episode Brick Arc and has been a downer ever since. Finally the Flashbacks are getting more entertaining now with the biohazard threat and Maseo was really great as we saw him struggling with his old self and his new loyalties. At least we finally know the fate of his son but I think it was obvious he was dead but I wonder if there is more to the reason Ra's spared Maseo's life? Still at least we also go some great action scenes in the Flashbacks and Malcolm being epic with a sword in the present.

Thea better proves that she deserves this

Overall this was a good episode but it felt really, really short with the lack of any other subplots however who else thought that Oliver's League costume was really badass!! 

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: The Lazarus Pit ritual
                   Ra's backstory
                   Maseo and the Flashbacks

Let - Downs: The revived Thea was underwhelming
                       Felicity is getting on my nerves
                  
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: Broken Arrow

"I can't wait to form my own super team"

Oliver is forced to keep a low profile with Quentin and the SCPD still suspicious of him even after Roy takes the fall however this changes when Meta Human Jake Simmons AKA Deathbolt (Doug Jones) arrives in town and Oliver is forced to ask Ray for help.

A lot of crazy stuff went on in this episode and I guess I shall talk about the most important one and that is the departure of Roy. Those who have read my previous reviews know that I am a big fan of the Roy character and of his alter ego Arsenal however I felt (and many on the internet agree) that he has taken a back seat for most of this season despite it being the debut of him as Arsenal completely. The only other episode that when he shined was the Wildcat apprentice one where he thought he killed Sara so it was good that he got to play a larger role now. He had some great scenes like when he expressed his gratitude to Oliver, his conversation with Thea and his fights with the prisoners and it is a shame that after all that he now leaves the show. I am sure this isn't the last we see of him but he will probably be in the show now only one or two episodes per season and I am going to miss him because he was a very underused character this season after being developed so well in the previous two. The other main character in the Roy subplot was Quentin and I have to say he is really getting on my nerves now; it was good for one episode but this constant hate from him is damn annoying. It seems his character has gone full circle of hating Arrow, siding with him and now hating him again (and I liked him way better when he was for Arrow) and it is because of this that I think he may be killed off soon. A major character death has been teased and Roy was mostly used as a decoy for it and I think Quentin as a character has run it's course. As for Oliver I did like how frustrated he was with the situation but also learning that his friends can sort it all out by themselves and the Flashbacks where at least good for at least addressing that issue in the past.

As for everything else it was so awesome having a Meta Human on Arrow and we defiantly need more and Deathbolt was just great. Doug Jones has always been a good actor so great casting and I really liked Deathbolt's powers of absorption and releasing that energy in beams and fighting (probably a reference to Superman because of Brandon Roth). What also made this subplot great was that it gave Ray/ATOM the spotlight which is great because he is one of my favourite characters and his suit is so freaking epic! He had a really cool fight with Deathbolt and I liked how it was also a test for him to start being a hero and learning how to fight with his instincts and not just technology. I was disappointed that Arrow didn't fight along side him but that interface system was cool and the reveal that Deathbolt didn't get his powers from the particle accelerator (really funny moment with Cisco then lol) opens a lot of possibilities; was he born with his powers or is there another source? Finally there is the death of Thea by Ra's but I don't believe for a second that she is going to stay dead because since the Lazarus Pit exists I am positive that Oliver will have to accept being the new Head of the Demon to inherit the pit and revive Thea. While all this is some really great material it has reminded me how bad Thea has been throughout this entire show. They have used so much time to develop her character and even after her training she is still the annoy, whinny brat she has always been who does absolutely nothing but talk. It is a shame because they can't kill her off after spending so much effort on her character and that means the important Lazarus revive has to be wasted on her.

Overall a great episode because it's main focus was on Roy and ATOM but Quentin was a real annoyance. Sorry for lack of images but they where yet to be uploaded on Screencapped and I didn't want to wait so I used a image of ATOM from Suicidal Tendencies, luckily he was one of the main focuses of this episode.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Roy focused episode
                   ATOM vs. Deathbolt

Let - Downs: Quentin either needs to change or get killed off
                      Obvious that Thea is going to get revived

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/                        

Anime Review: Baka and Test

Been ages but I have finally got round to writing another anime review and I thought I would review some of the anime I have on DVD. Now I know I might get some new anime and I'll just do a review on them straight away if I have already went past it's letter. One last thing I won't be review Bleach or Naruto (which I also have on DVD) because those anime are so long.

The story centres around the main protagonist Akihisa Yoshii for attends class F at Fumizuki Academy in Japan. At this academy there is a divide among the students where they are put in to classes based on their test scores; A reserved for the best and F for the those with the lowest scores. What is also different about this academy is that the students are allowed to fight each other by summon avatars; mini versions of themselves whose strength is determined by their latest test scores. So we follow Yoshii and his friends as they try to prove to the rest of the academy that being in class F doesn't mean your a failure.

Baka and Test is a comedy anime and it is beyond a doubt really funny, probably one of the funniest anime I have ever seen. It is just the complete silliness of the whole situation and how class F deals with various challenges that usually ends in hilarious results. The setting is a typical for most comedy anime in that it is based in a high school however what sets this one apart is the characters can summon avatars of themselves to battle each other which kind of gives the series an RPG feel to it, especially in the way that they battle. The times in which the student's avatars are mostly used is during the Summoner Test Wars where one class can challenge another one to battle and it is really funny with the tactics involved. Unfortunately they don't use a STW as much as they really should have as it takes a back seat for most of the series which is a shame after seeing it for only the first episode. If there is one thing bad to say about the humour is that it is full of cliques; not that there is anything bad about that but you can basically find every character type in this anime. As for the episodes themselves maybe because it is a typical slice of life humour anime but the they are very inconsistent with each other; there is a main plot overall with the STW but it is hardly addressed when most single episodes are focused on other things like a bathing suit episode or (my least favourite episode) ep 7 when two main characters have to go through a wedding experience.

The main characters are all in class F and surprisingly they aren't as stupid as they appear to be and yet they have typical characteristics found in a lot of anime; there is the lead Yoshii, the good natured yet constantly portrayed as an idiot and then the two lead female characters the flat chested tsundere Minami and the well - endowed sweet Mizuki who both have feelings for Yoshii but of course like most main anime characters Yoshii is oblivious to it. Then of course there is Yuji who makes up the comedic duo with Yoshii, Hideoyoshi the feminine - looking character who even the boys find attractive and who a lot of humour focuses on and finally there is Kota who is the perverted photographer. I do really like these characters however there is not much that makes them stand out from typical anime characters in other comedies. My two favourites would have to be Yoshii because of his hyper and optimistic attitude and Hideoyoshi because of some of the jokes that questions his gender e.g. special bathing room was made for him because the other characters are confused if he is a boy or a girl. However the jokes surrounding these character get overused all the time like, as I mentioned above, Kota is the pervert one and that is it for him and when it comes to Hideoyoshi's gender. Maybe because of these characteristics being overused but it leaves no real time for any character development or backstory for them and the only one who really gets any is Yoshii. Finally the animation really does look nice and is one of it's strongest points; it uses a lot of bright colours and funny facial expression and body movement when it comes to it's comedy.

Overall this is a solid comedy anime that's only real focus is bring laughs to everyone who watches it.

SCORE: 7/10

Highlights: Summon Test Wars/Avatars
                   Animation
                   Humour

Let - Downs: Not enough STW
                      Lack of character development

Thought I'd mention I plan to review Sword Art Online again next since the last one was felt a bit rushed in my opinion (it was early days in my blog when I wrote it) and I may have been too harsh on it. When I reviewed it before I only watched it once and I didn't even have it on DVD at the time but now I have all the episodes and I have had the time now to really appreciate it, heck I cosplayed as Kirito at the last Comic Con I went to.

The Flash Season One: Out of Time

"I am the real Weather Wizard"

Mark Mardon (Liam Mclntyre), the new Weather Wizard, comes to Central City to avenge the death of his brother who was shot by Joe. Meanwhile Cisco investigates the time Reverse Flash was temporarily captured and begins to suspect Wells and Eddie and Linda begin to feel that Barry and Iris still have feelings for each other.

Now this is what I call an episode and it probably had one of the biggest WTF moments in the Arrow and Flash universe so far, I will talk about that later though. First off I really enjoyed watching the new Weather Wizard because Mark Mardon was way better than Clyde and is supposed to be the original one anyway. The Flash has always impressed me with it's great special effects when it comes to the Meta Human powers but this one was really perfect in showing the Weather Wizard powers such as that awesome tidal wave and the speed images of Wells. I also liked the Flashback at the beginning because it added more backstory on the brothers however I really wished there was more because even though Mark explained why he was missing for a year I think more Flashbacks on that would have been interesting. There was also a lack of fights between Weather Wizard, The Flash and Joe because Mark having a personal vendetta against Joe also gave Barry a more personal stake in the fight but overall I felt it was really underutilized (however I really liked that they showed the wand). This may be because a lot of screen time was given over to a Barry and Iris subplot; see I don't really mind if they get together or not, I just mind if too much of the story is given over to it. I just feel in comparison to Weather Wizard and Wells the whole romantic subplot didn't feel too important, they just seem to address this at the wrong time.

I thought an older Barry was following him when I first say this

Now for the most important moment this episode was Harrison Wells revealing himself to be Eobard Thawne, my favourite Reverse Flash!!!! When that happened I was really like W T FREAKING F, it really took me by surprise and that is mainly because quite a few of my assumptions about Wells has been wrong. For example I really thought Wells would be an original Reverse Flash created for the show and I also thought there where two Reverse Flashes in this timeline but Cisco revealed that there isn't. The only thing I really got right was that Eddie Thawne could be the ancestor of one of the Reverse Flashes because of his name. Now the reason why Wells is stuck in this timeline is that maybe his connection to the Speed Force has been damaged in some way which would explain his fall when Piped Piper escaped, getting the device and wanting Barry to gain more speed. I have to say that Well is such a great actor as the good guy because in the comics Eobard is more of a psychopath with a strong hatred against The Flash. I also liked the moments he had with Cisco because it does seem that despite killing Cisco he regrets it because he came to think of him as a son, so this Eobard isn't all that bad in my opinion. Speaking of Cisco he has had some great material lately and I liked how it started off with him and Wells watching a film yet Cisco just felt compelled to investigate. You can really tell that Cisco was hurt when Wells was Reverse Flash because of how much he, respects and owes him.

Talk about overkill to get revenge

The other important reveal was time travelling which they did a good job of showing; Barry seeing a speed image at the beginning and then was back there at the end. I think it is a really sure guess that next episode Barry will change the timeline in a way that Weather Wizard will get captured before the tidal wave, his captain won't lose the use of his legs and Wells won't have to reveal his secret to Cisco now and be forced to kill him. If they do all of that then for a little while longer Eobard will continue to be Wells in the wheelchair and help Team Flash. Still now that they have opened the door to time travel I'm sure they will explore more of it and the people behind the show have said they are adapting a major Flash comic which it looks to be Flashpoint. I also hope that if Barry does meddle in time travel more it will even affect Staring City and Arrow and that there will be a massive crossover arc where Barry has to set things right.

"My next trick will involve a member from the audience..........Cisco"

Overall even though there are some negatives in this episode I just have to, HAVE TO, give it a perfect score for the reveal of Eobard Thawne and time travel alone. This whole episode felt like it could have also been a finale!

SCORE: 10/10

Highlights: Well's identity and master plan revealed!!!!!!!!!!!
                    The new Weather Wizard/special effects
                    Great Cisco subplot

Let - Downs: Needed a bit more focus on Weather Wizard
                      Not enough Weather Wizard vs. Flash
                      The romantic subplot

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: Revenge of the Rouges

The Song of Ice and Fire

Captain Cold returns to Central City with Heat Wave to steal a priceless painting but instead kidnap someone close to The Flash. Meanwhile Barry is training harder so he can take on Reverse Flash and begins to doubt himself because of how Captain Cold bested him last time, Iris also deals with the aftermath of Barry's confession. As you might have noticed I am shortening the plot explanation because anyone who reads my reviews have already watched the episode and it takes a lot time anyway, this way I can go straight to my thoughts.

Moving on to the episode it was great to see the return of Captain Cold because Wentworth Miller is having quite the presence on the show and definitely feels like his Captain Cold is going to be a real nemesis to The Flash (Well's words). Then there was the introduction of Heat Wave who is the complete opposite of Captain Cold which is why I felt the two worked well together. Captain Cold was a lot more calm and the one to come up with the plans while Heat Wave was a fire - obsessed hot head. I liked every scene they where in and their battle with The Flash at the end was just awesome; Flash running on the buildings while they're firing their heat and cold guns at him was just so cool. I have said before that I really enjoy villain team ups and this one was a great beginning to The Rouges and it definitely isn't over as the ending implies. It seems next time we see Captain Cold and Heat Wave they will be accompanied by Lisa Snart AKA Golden Glider who looks to be equipped with a grapple gun, so I am defiantly looking forward to seeing more of these characters.

"I owned you missile!"

As for the rest of the episode Barry had some really great character development where he was conflicted between the advice of his father figure West and his mentor Wells, all the while he had to deal with the defeat at the hands of Reverse Flash and confessing his love to Iris. I did really like that the defeat is still haunting Barry which is shown with his constant training and siding with Wells but I feel that the Iris subplot was brushed aside. I guess I am a bit glad they didn't linger too long on it but all they did was just not talk to each other all episode and then they seem to get over it at the end; felt like the writers was just rushing it. Two other characters who where great where Cisco and Caitlin; Cisco had some strong material when dealing with the police and handling the backlash from them for the S.T.A.R labs explosion and his shield design was cool. However the CCPD where kind of useless this episode because Eddie was the only one he did anything in the fight at the end. As for Caitlin her Firestorm subplot is really getting more interesting now and I hope we continue to find more information about it with every episode because this also gives her character a storyline of her own. Plus this also introduced the character Jason Rusch (Luc Roderique) who does play a significant role with Firestorm in the comics.

"Can I have your attention please"

Overall this was an awesome episode to have after such a long wait because of the mid season break and I am really looking forward to future episodes that involve more of the Rouges.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Captain Cold and Heat Wave
                   Barry's conflict
                   Strong Cisco and Caitlin subplots

Let - Downs: The awkwardness between Barry and Iris seems to be over completely now
                      The CCPD wasn't that effective this episode

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 Two: Unthinkable

Super epic shot!!

The episode begins with Roy being cured but the clock tower is surrounded by Mirakuru soldiers however Lyla shows up to blow it up as Team Arrow escapes meanwhile Thea has shot Malcolm but he was wearing a vest and is proud she had the conviction to shoot him (something Tommy didn't have) however Thea leaves when she gets a call from Roy. At SCPD Laurel sees Sara talking to someone and is knocked out but it is revealed at the Arrowcave to be Nyssa and other League members who have agreed to help as long as Sara re-joins the League, Oliver agrees too but only if they use the cure. Team Arrow and the League fight Deathstroke and Ravager at Queen Consolidated; Nyssa kills Ravager however Deathstroke escapes, in a Flashback Slade is about to kill Oliver but Knyazev fires a torpedo at the boat before he is able to. At SCPD Laurel is kidnapped by a solider and when Team Arrow arrives Quentin says while he respects Arrow's no killing, Slade needs to die meanwhile Thea and Roy meet up and agree to runaway together but Roy gets a call from Arrow for help and decides to do that first. Oliver then hides Felcitiy at the Queen Manor because he says he loves her and doesn't want Slade to hurt her, elsewhere Diggle and Lyla free the Suicide Squad at A.R.G.U.S headquarters so they can stop Waller.



"Our last stand"

The League, Black Canary, Roy (who, equipped with a mask and bow, is now Red Arrow) and Arrow confront the Mirkuru army and fight and cure many of them meanwhile however Thea has found spare arrows at Roy's place which upsets her. Arrow then gets a call from Deathstroke saying he has Felicity and Laurel and forces him to chose when he gets to the location however it is then revealed Oliver discovered the cameras and purposely lied to Felicity in front of them so he can slip her the cure which she now uses on Slade. Arrow and Deathstroke fight while Flashbacks also show them fighting on the sinking boat, Sara is dragged under water which makes Oliver believe she died again however Slade is trapped when debris falls on him. Slade then threatens to find Oliver's family and kill them which forces him to put an arrow through Slade's eye (seemingly killing him) while in the present Arrow ties up Deathstroke with a trick arrow and choses not to kill him, Waller stops the missiles (while revealing Lyla is pregnant with Diggle's child). Later when Sara says her goodbyes Quentin collapses and spits up blood and Roy finds Thea missing who has gone off with Malcolm. Slade is then imprisoned back on the island in an A.R.G.U.S cell where Oliver leaves him but thanks him for teaching him how to fight. The episode ends in a Flashback and Oliver finds himself in Hong Kong and greeted by Waller.

So awesome!

Now this is a way to end the season!!! This episode was really action heavy to say the least which is how a hero series finale should be like. This was a fitting conclusion to the Arrow vs. Deathstroke arc and they had one of the most epic showdowns I have ever seen. Firstly Oliver's plan to cure Slade of Mirakuru was so damn smart because I really didn't expect it however super strength or not Deathstroke still proved to be quite the match for Arrow as they had their epic clash on the roof. The stunts, the fighting, the swordplay and arrows; it was all just what I wanted it to be but what was the best part about the showdown was the use of Flashbacks mirroring the fight in the present. That was so creative, so well done and Oliver stabbing Slade in the eye, now that was brutal! I also liked the trash talk between them at the beginning because Oliver did make a good point; Slade was mad and perverting Shado's memory. I am really glad that Oliver imprisoned Slade at the end because that means he could return in a future season which is a must, this series need Manu Bennett just as much as any of the other characters.

"So we're partners again Diggle old pal"

Another great thing about this episode was the return of Nyssa and the League because it is always epic when the League show up and Nyssa is just a sexy badass. They had a awesome clash against the Mirakuru army (epic entrance for Team Arrow) and a fight against Ravager; Nyssa can be damn cold snapping her neck like that. Isabel may have been a worthless character in the beginning but these last few episode she really grew on me as Ravager and that was a brutal way for her character to go and kind of what she deserves. Roy was a stand out because I have been waiting for him to be become Red Arrow/Aresenal for ages now and he finally got his bow, mask and kicked some ass. I hope this means that he will be a permanent addition to Team Arrow now and it looks like it since Thea has left to go with Malcolm.

"Yeeesh"

As for everything else while it was interesting Thea choosing to go with Malcolm, because this may really change her character, Malcolm himself was so underused again. He is one of my favourite characters, he was the only one to kill a Mirakuru solider without the cure, but he didn't play a large role in anything else. I also didn't like that it left on such anti - climatic moments such as Oliver being in Hong King and not really knowing how he got there, Sara going off with the League and most of all Quentin coughing up blood. Now that came completely out of nowhere and I wished it wasn't left so open ended mainly because this is the finale, I didn't want them to leave the results of that all the way until next season. Speaking of Sara she was way better in the episode than she than the last two but it is a shame that she is off with the League now because I would rather she remain a main character. Lastly I was great seeing Deadshot and the Suicide Squad again but they could have done more and Waller just continues to be an annoyance for me in the things she does and the way she acts. I mean she could have sent in the Suicide Squad to help Team Arrow (that would have been epic) but instead they are wasted because of her stupid missile plan.

"Miss me boys?"

Overall this was an awesome episode and season two overall has improved on a lot of things from season one and has been truly epic.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Arrow vs. Deathstroke/Flashbacks
                   Return of Nyssa and the League
                   Roy as Red Arrow
                   So much action

Let - Downs: Malcolm again was underused
                      The Suicide Squad was underused and Waller was just stupid
                      The fate of Quentin left unknown

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 Two: Streets of Fire

"Thea, I am your father"

The episode begins immediately after the last one however Arrow escapes the collapsed tunnel when Laurel uses an explosive arrow and Diggle and Felicity escape from Ravager when the latter runs into her with a truck, meanwhile the city is still being destroyed by the Mirakuru army. In a Flashback Oliver leaves to save Sara and tells Knyazev to escape if he is not back in time, in the present Thea is saved when Malcolm arrives as Dark Archer. The S.T.A.R labs truck is then destroyed in the chaos so Team Arrow races there to get the cure while at SCPD Quentin kills the solider then manages to convince the cops to work with Arrow and he is made a detective again. Laurel is then saved by Black Canary on her way to SCPD, Sebastian begins to have doubts after seeing so much death and when Malcolm kills the Mirakuru soldier so he asks Thea to come with him. Sebastian then visits Slade and says the plan was to make him Mayor so he can improve Starling after some destruction however Slade says the total destruction of Starling was his plan all along, meanwhile Laurel bonds more with Sara when she reassures her by saying she is a hero.

"I am altering our deal Blood, pray I don't alter it any further"

In a Flashback Oliver and Sara are captured by Slade and in the present the cure is stolen by a Mirakuru solider. At the clock tower where Roy is held Oliver says it is his fault this has happened however Felicity manages to give him confidence and says Slade is still out there meanwhile Sara saves a child from a burning building in front of Quentin who says she is a hero. Arrow and Diggle then go to Sebastian's office (after getting a call from him says he we give them the cure), there he says he made his skull mask because he feared his father as a child and that all he did he did for Starling City. He also says that he will still lead the city after this destruction and warns Oliver he will expose his secret if he exposes his however when Arrow and Diggle leave with the cure Isabel stabs Sebastian; Sebastian dies after declaring his love for the city and dropping his skull mask. Oliver injects Roy with the cure and then gets a call from Waller who says she will launch missile strikes on the city to stop Slade. The episode ends with Thea pointing a gun at Malcolm.

Someone should have told you; you don't mess with the Dark Archer!

This series sure knows how to make a great three part finale and there is still one more episode left! Firstly we got the return as Malcolm in his Dark Archer costume which was just awesome to see and his fight with the solider, where he used trick arrows now, was great. I thought he would appear sooner or later since Moira is now dead and it is to persuade the only family he has left to join him. Thea has got quite the dilemma here because Malcolm may have committed a few murderous acts but this may be her opportunity to really break free of the Queen Family which she has just became so tired of because of their lies. Unfortunately while the return of Malcolm was great he was so underused; his fight should have lasted longer and maybe he should have gone out into the city to confront Oliver. As for the events at the SCPD Quentin really had a moment to shine when he gave his speech to the cops about Arrow (great scene) and how he dispatched the solider. As for Quentin's daughter's Laurel was good because of how she used the bow and arrow to escape but I didn't get why she wandered the streets alone. As for Sara though she did fight and save people I am still not buying her whole "I'm a killer" mood she is in after being a hero already with helping Team Arrow.



If she spent long in there we could have had fried canary..........lol

The biggest highlight of the episode however was Sebastian who has been a great character since his debut and he went out a great character. Sebastian truly cared for the city more than anything else and in his own way try to help it - his intentions where good but he chose to do bad things to realize them. We also got some more backstory on the mask, which was good because he didn't wear it just because it's creepy, and the moment he threatened Oliver was great too. In the end it was a great way for his character to go because he did redeem himself slight because he wanted to save Starling City.

"I might not be a vigilante but I'm still taking you down!"

As for everything else the action was truly top notch in this; everything from how the destruction looks in Starling City to the fights with the Mirakuru army. Diggle and Felicity also where great as well such as their fight with Ravager (funny when Felicity hit her with the truck) to when Felicity gave her pep talk to Oliver in the clock tower. As for the Flashbacks they where way to short though Knyazev was good in it and I hope his relationship is expanded sometime in more Flashbacks since Oliver must have meet him again during the five years because of his tattoo and Russian connections. Finally there was the appearance of Waller who again I just do not like and I didn't like her missile strike at the end. So far she has just done some really stupid things in this series which just creates unnecessary problems.

Goodbye Sebastian

Overall this could have been worthy of being a finale episode by itself but we still have one more.

SCORE: 8/10

Highlights: Return of Malcolm
                   Sebastian
                   Great action and character moments

Let - Downs: Waller and Sara
                       Malcolm was underused
                       Flashbacks

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 Two: City of Blood

Enter Ravager

The episode begins with Moira's funeral but Oliver is absent and Sebastian being sworn in as Mayor, later Walter attempts to comfort Thea who is mad Oliver never warned them of Slade and Isabel threatens Diggle and Felicity at the reception. In a Flashback the group go to the submarine in an effort to repair it, in the present Laurel brings up her mistrust of Sebastian again to Quentin and his possible connection to Slade. Diggle then gets help from Waller to track down Oliver and Isabel says to Thea she will shut down The Verdant since she owns it along with the company. Laurel then later plants a bug on Sebastian's desk and she and Quentin use it to hack his files and find a speech on Moira's passing written before her death. In a Flashback the group finds out someone will have to sacrifice themselves in a torpedo to free themselves, back in the present Diggle and Felicity find Oliver in a backup Arrowcave, one he kept secret. Oliver admits he should have cured Slade instead of killing him back on the island  and says he will hand himself over to him, of course Diggle is against it and Felicity is distraught. Oliver meets with Thea who wants to leave Starling City which Oliver thinks is for the best and in a Flashback the priest named Peter offers to sacrifice himself because the radiation poisoning Ivo gave him is killing him anyway.

"I volunteer the one who isn't even in the present"

Oliver is then captured by Diggle, Felicity and Laurel who talk him into being Arrow again and he gets more motivated when Laurel reveals Sebastian is working with Slade. In a Flashback Peter is successful freeing the sub and in the present Oliver and Sebastian have dinner where they both reveal their identities while Felicity gets the location of the Mirakuru army from one of Sebastian's bodyguards. Arrow infiltrates the sewers where Brother Blood is addressing the Mirakuru army while above ground Diggle and Felicity plant explosives. Laurel then helps Arrow take out one of the soldiers while Diggle deals with Isabel who wearing her altered costume and is now Ravager. Diggle holds Ravager off but has to get away before denoting the explosives and Arrow is forced to trap himself and Laurel in the tunnel when more soldiers approach them. Several soldiers are already causing havoc in the city; one infiltrated the police station and is massacring them while another is shooting up the train station where Thea is. The episode ends in a Flashback and Oliver hears Sara panic over the radio (because she was outside it) and in the present the Mirakuru army are making their way to the city.

Damn!

The first part of the finale for Arrow Season Two (like season one I feel the finale is really spread over the last three episodes) and was it a hell of a great start. The first part of the episode deals with the aftermath of Moira's death and it was so good; we had Walter back, Thea decided to leave Starling City and Oliver was more distraught than ever. Oliver looked more defeated than he ever has before and it was just great seeing him deal with it, going to surrender himself and then finding his resolve again. Another stand out was Sebastian who is so convincing as a good guy despite being a bad guy but is so menacing when he dons his mask and becomes Brother Blood. Plus the dinner scene he had that Oliver was great as well because of the tension between the two, each one mocking the other, it was just so cool.

Arrow vs. Brother Blood

Other standouts where Diggle and Felicity because they both some great moment of their own such as Felicity when she broke down after Oliver says he is surrendering but then later totally owned that bodyguard with her computer. Plus it was just great seeing Team Arrow give confidence to Oliver again because once again it proves how important they all are to Arrow. Of course Diggle proves he is just as capable as any costumed hero or villain by taking on Ravager and I will say again that Diggle deserves his own damn costume!! As for Isabel she continues to be a far more better character in these final episodes such as her awesome Ravager costume and the cool fight she had with Diggle.

"Too bad we don't have Felicity for this computer work"

As for everything else we had some great fights like the one Ravager vs. Diggle and Arrow facing the solider and we got a look at how much destruction just two soldiers are causing already which make me excited for the next episode. Thea had a nice moment with Oliver as well because at least they reconciled at the end and it showed that Oliver is ready to just let his sister go now. Laurel, like Isabel, is better in these final episode such as following Arrow in the sewer or earlier when he helped the doubtful Oliver. The only things that felt out of place this episode was the Flashbacks because did it really need a situation where one had to sacrifice themselves? Since we know it wasn't going to be Oliver, Sara or even Knyazev so there was no tension or sense of dread.

"All bow before Brother Blood"

Overall this was an awesome start to the finale and sets up a truly epic clash in the streets of Starling City.

SCORE: 9/10

Highlights: Oliver and Sebastian
                   Great action like Ravager vs. Diggle
                   Such emotional moments from everyone in the aftermath of Moira's death

Let - Downs: Flashbacks

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 Two: Birds of Prey

I hope this is the last time we ever see you

The episode begins with Arrow and Black Canary watching over Quentin busting a drug dealer; he is shot so Black Canary throws the dealer out of the window which Quentin reprimands her for. At the Arrowcave Felicity has been tracking Helena who has been killing numerous mobsters for her father's location, in a Flashback Slade is torturing Oliver but then finds out the boat's engines aren't working. Laurel then gets a call from her old boss because he wants her to prosecute Frank meanwhile Arrow, Diggle and Roy track Helena's car but it is a decoy and Roy almost kills the man who shot him in the hand. In a Flashback Slade contacts Sara over the radio and wants the mechanic who is with her for Oliver and in the present The Huntress takes over the court house and says she will execute hostages if her father isn't returned; Oliver having got him out earlier. Oliver is almost found out as Arrow when Quentin uses the phone but is able to come up with an excuse, Black Canary shows up and saves Laurel by defeating several of Huntress's men and they hold up in a room.

"Calm down Speedy.....or Red Arrow or Arsenal, whichever you prefer" 

Roy then breaks up with Thea because of his increased worry about Mirakuru, in a Flashback Slade threatens to kill Oliver but the mechanic refuses to go back. In the present Huntress and Black Canary fight however Huntress gets the upper hand but Arrow stops her from killing Black Canary but then Huntress takes Laurel hostage. Huntress then escapes with Laurel by dressing as a cop and then meets with Arrow and Black Canary to trade for her father; the police show up, Quentin saves Arrow from being shot, Laurel talks Black Canary out of killing Huntress and Frank is killed in the confusion much to Huntress's shock. Helena, in police custody and allowed to see Oliver, admits that he was right all along and that her father's death didn't change anything, in a Flashback Slade inks the same tattoo Shado had on Oliver's back and Sara says they will make the exchange. The episode ends with Laurel getting her job back by blackmailing the district attorney for her being used by them all along and Thea, still upset over Roy, is offered a lift by Slade.

Really wished she just killed her then there is no possibility she could come back

I really hoped never to see The Huntress ever again because as I have mentioned in my reviews in the episodes in season one she is in; they have completely ruined her character and she isn't any better now. She is just so much of a one - note character and when I first saw this episode I couldn't believe that she is still after her father, I mean can't they think of anything else for her to do!? As before Jessica De Gouw was a terrible choice for Huntress; she is not believable as her, she is really unlikable and her acting is just pathetic. I like the Huntress in the comics because she is similar to Arrow in how she works as a vigilante but I hate her in this. Taking hostages, going on a murder spree and just all the other stuff she has done has ruined her character and even after all that she admits she was wrong in the end. I hope this version of Huntress never appears again and that Arrow finds a new female protégé and gives her The Huntress costume and says something like "Maybe you can redeem this name and do good by it" now that would be awesome!

Oliver sure managed to talk his way out of this one

Laurel was really good in this episode because she is beginning to be more like how she was in season one, which I actually liked better. I liked the moment she had with Black Canary when her resolve was weakening for a drink but I wonder why she can't easily tell that it's Sara? Also she was cool at the end with how she blackmailed the district attorney to get her job back. Quentin continues to be a great character as well and him saving Arrow just proves how much he sides with him now but I wonder if there will be repercussions for him attacking another officer next episode? Sara was also great because besides having some great fight scenes with Huntress and her men, she was more of a main focus than Arrow and that always good because she is a badass. Finally the Flashbacks where not really that exciting and I wouldn't have minded if this was an episode that didn't have them, like the previous Huntress episode in season one.

"Wish I can fly like a canary right now!"

Overall this was a decent episode but I just really hate The Huntress and Diggle and Felicity could have had more screen time instead of having using some for Flashbacks. Plus I do know that "Birds of Prey" is the name for a DC heroine group that consists of Black Canary, The Huntress and others so that was another reason this episode disappointed me; we didn't get a cool team up like that because The Huntress isn't going to work with any team.

SCORE: 5/10

Highlights: Strong moments from the Lance Family
                   Great fighting scenes

Let - Downs: Huntress (I freaking hate her!)
                      Flashbacks
                      Not enough Diggle and Felicity

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/