tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post4807294213623212641..comments2024-03-24T03:19:39.745-04:00Comments on Just About Write: Arrow 4x10 "Blood Debts" (In the Details With the Devil)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-1091550392882774912016-01-21T07:14:34.336-05:002016-01-21T07:14:34.336-05:00I know that some people are interested to see what...I know that some people are interested to see what makes Felicity, that beacon of light, so angry that she wants someone to die. For me, it's just sad. Some argue that she needs to be taken to a violent place just like all the other characters. Why?? I refute the argument that someone can only be a true hero or light after they have gone down to the dark. That's bull. I know that it is a common theme in human stories but it's not the only one. That would just mean that going to the dark is inevitable if faced with horrible circumstances, that one can't realistically have terrible things happen and yet act in an honorable and ethical way. I find redemption stories powerful but I also know parents who have lost their children and forgiven afterwards and people who have been the targets of great violence and who refuse to answer with violence. Frankly, they are far more inspiring than the idea that only a decent into violent darkness and coming back out truly makes for great hero. Having someone hold to their ethical position does not make them perfect or "unrelatable" as a character. This doesn't mean I'm disappointed in Felicity per se. We only have one flash forward to go on so we don't know the whole story. I would just prefer if Felicity's storyline was not a retread of the whole "you hurt me and took someone I love so I'm going to kill you" thing we have going with everyone else in this show. I'm just tired of the premise that one only understands pain and darkness by giving into it. Couldn't the writers go a slightly different way with at least one character on Arrow? Just for the sake of freaking variety? After Malcolm Merlyn, Oliver, Diggle, Laurel, Roy, Thea, Moira, and Quentin (the list could be longer) I'm just looking for someone who has a different reaction to pain and loss. Everyone seems to preach against vengeance but the only thing the show has given us are people who say that until they are hurt badly enough who then justify themselves over and over. It's a bit samey.Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-22295085820769364712016-01-21T07:12:53.990-05:002016-01-21T07:12:53.990-05:00I am mostly feeling meh about the episode as well....I am mostly feeling meh about the episode as well. There were some interesting possibilities but I don't feel super compelled by what actually happened. <br /><br />Oliver not visiting Felicity was pretty stupid but I'm not as upset by it as you sound :) Oliver needed to put his anger and guilt somewhere but I was hoping after he let his mother's killer live and be jailed and made other progress that he would process it better. It feels like every time something precious is taken from him or threatened he goes backwards. I know that is human nature but the repeated pattern is losing its power in this story and so the "lessons learned" feel less powerful too.<br /><br />I wasn't left as dangling with Thea's storyline. I can see how Anarky really speaks to the darkness in her. I was proud of her for holding back. I think she knows that Minchin got away because she couldn't trust herself to really fight him without going too far. I think that is an interesting story. Someone who wants to fight evil but is afraid to get into conflict for fear of becoming the same. I am hoping her realization of her own strength that she mentioned to Alex actually counts for something in the stories going forward and isn't just dropped. And why didn't Laurel grab onto the fact that confronting Darhk sated Thea's blood lust? She is supposed to be a bright lady and there is obviously some connection or effect going on. Pull on that thread people! Like you I feel like Team Arrow was not operating at full IQ this week. <br /><br />I'm intrigued by Ruve Darhk. She seems more steely and pragmatic than her husband and had little time for "good form" when it comes to her goals. Interesting. Although their violent desire for utopia is fairly unoriginal. They feel justified and at the same time would be the very seed of violence and cruelty in their new world should they get one. I always remember Doctor Who in the face of villains like these. <br /><br />I liked how the painful distance between Oliver and Felicity in the car at the end of this episode contrasted to the loving closeness at the end of the last episode. It sucks to see they can't really comfort each other and things are clearly very strained which makes me sad. It was just a powerful juxtaposition. <br /><br />Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-81189453595434820272016-01-21T04:06:54.904-05:002016-01-21T04:06:54.904-05:00The flashbacks are picking up at least we are focu...The flashbacks are picking up at least we are focusing on the Constantine tatoo. I think I might be one of the few still paying attention to the flashbacks mostly because they lead up to Season 1. <br /><br />The Andy and John brotherhood should have been expanded more the Thea vs Anarky thing should have been expanded on it feels like that should have been the focus on Blood Debts. I wouldn't have minded waiting an episode to discover what happened with Felicity maybe a bit more teasing and making us think she actually could be dead. In fact if Oliver Queen did not make an apperance this episode and we focused on the rest of the team..I might have liked this episode more. <br /><br />Honestly the come back episodes for Arrow and the Flash left me in a meh state. They are both decent episodes no real dip in quality. its just too many left overs plot lines and I`m starting to feel like its Season 3 dark for the sake of dark. <br /><br />I don't know about Felicity she's Felicity Smoak her own character but now that she can't walk anymore I feel ambivalent about it. One I like there was consequnces to being riddiled with bullets..but now there is going to be alot of comparison to Oracle. Which got taken away by DC during their reboot. So I like it but I don't like it this episode leaves me lukewarm. Donavan Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17451184544030827641noreply@blogger.com