Arrow - Ep. 4
Nov. 2nd, 2012 07:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rainwatersparkI have mixed feelings about this episode.
On the female characters front
At first, it looked like Laurel was becoming more awesome by partnering up with Green Arrow to save the innocent, but then she's almost strangled to death, Green Arrow has to save her (what happened to her self-defense skills, again?), and she cuts ties with him because he almost killed her attacker.
Look, I believe in the sanctity of the law. I also think murder is a horrible thing. But shouldn't she at least be glad that he freaking saved her life? Instead, her first reaction is, "Oh no my savior's a killer looks like I should stay away from him."
The scene in which Laurel's life was threatened made me extremely uncomfortable, not only because it plays up the Damsel in Distress card, but also because the way the violence was shown made me terrified that it was going to be an attempted rape. It ended up not being that, which is a relief, but still.
Her law firm friend, Joanna, is completely shallow. Every time Laurel is busy working on a case, Joanna's just like, "Stop working so hard so you can go to parties and get a boyfriend!" Because clearly devotion to your career isn't as important as getting laid. Ugh. (Also, I thought Laurel was dating Tommy??)
In sum: The show continues not to impress in its treatment of women. Although, for once, Thea actually acted nicely toward her brother (but this is right after he'd been chewed out by Laurel, and it's a bit of Mood Whiplash from Thea's previous attitude towards him). Also, one bright point (so far) is Felicity Smoaks, who looks to be an awesome character. Let's hope the show doesn't ruin her as well.
On the moral ambiguity front
I was surprised that Arrow actually began to touch on Oliver's darker side, because that's more than I was expecting. People are beginning to call him out for the ease with which he kills people. This is interesting, although I still wonder how far they'll actually go with this. If they're going to address death, I feel that they should've made a fuss about Green Arrow's killing of random security guards in pursuit of his targets (hey, security guards are getting paid for what they do, people), not his almost-killing of someone who tried to kill an innocent bystander. (Or, to put it in TV Troperish, addressing What Measure Is a Mook? is a more effective angle than saying What the Hell, Hero? for kicking around an Asshole Victim.)
Other Thoughts
Green Arrow said something this episode that really made me think of Batman/The Dark Knight--about how he needed to wear the hood in order to protect the people he loved.
For all its flaws, Arrow does have a writer who knows how to dish up suspense in spades. We end with Laurel's dad figuring out Oliver is Green Arrow and arresting him (which is...pretty early on in the season for that device to be used) and Walter finding the remains of the Queens' sunken yacht in a mysterious warehouse set up by Moira Queen, passworded by the name of her dead husband. Whaa?
On the female characters front
At first, it looked like Laurel was becoming more awesome by partnering up with Green Arrow to save the innocent, but then she's almost strangled to death, Green Arrow has to save her (what happened to her self-defense skills, again?), and she cuts ties with him because he almost killed her attacker.
Look, I believe in the sanctity of the law. I also think murder is a horrible thing. But shouldn't she at least be glad that he freaking saved her life? Instead, her first reaction is, "Oh no my savior's a killer looks like I should stay away from him."
The scene in which Laurel's life was threatened made me extremely uncomfortable, not only because it plays up the Damsel in Distress card, but also because the way the violence was shown made me terrified that it was going to be an attempted rape. It ended up not being that, which is a relief, but still.
Her law firm friend, Joanna, is completely shallow. Every time Laurel is busy working on a case, Joanna's just like, "Stop working so hard so you can go to parties and get a boyfriend!" Because clearly devotion to your career isn't as important as getting laid. Ugh. (Also, I thought Laurel was dating Tommy??)
In sum: The show continues not to impress in its treatment of women. Although, for once, Thea actually acted nicely toward her brother (but this is right after he'd been chewed out by Laurel, and it's a bit of Mood Whiplash from Thea's previous attitude towards him). Also, one bright point (so far) is Felicity Smoaks, who looks to be an awesome character. Let's hope the show doesn't ruin her as well.
On the moral ambiguity front
I was surprised that Arrow actually began to touch on Oliver's darker side, because that's more than I was expecting. People are beginning to call him out for the ease with which he kills people. This is interesting, although I still wonder how far they'll actually go with this. If they're going to address death, I feel that they should've made a fuss about Green Arrow's killing of random security guards in pursuit of his targets (hey, security guards are getting paid for what they do, people), not his almost-killing of someone who tried to kill an innocent bystander. (Or, to put it in TV Troperish, addressing What Measure Is a Mook? is a more effective angle than saying What the Hell, Hero? for kicking around an Asshole Victim.)
Other Thoughts
Green Arrow said something this episode that really made me think of Batman/The Dark Knight--about how he needed to wear the hood in order to protect the people he loved.
For all its flaws, Arrow does have a writer who knows how to dish up suspense in spades. We end with Laurel's dad figuring out Oliver is Green Arrow and arresting him (which is...pretty early on in the season for that device to be used) and Walter finding the remains of the Queens' sunken yacht in a mysterious warehouse set up by Moira Queen, passworded by the name of her dead husband. Whaa?
