tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post6381988215595747183..comments2024-03-24T03:19:39.745-04:00Comments on Just About Write: Arrow 4x23 Review: "Schism" (Be Your Own Light)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-45089555723825684012016-05-26T14:44:49.230-04:002016-05-26T14:44:49.230-04:00The schism idea fell very flat. So the team split....The schism idea fell very flat. So the team split. It's not the series finale, for one. For two, we already know all these characters will be back next season. So, it didn't have an emotional impact on me at all. You can only pull off a successfully, emotionally charged finale like that when the audience has no idea who is coming back next season and cast hasn't already talked about how OTA will be back stronger than ever in S5. <br /><br />I felt nothing at all during finale because there were no heart-to-hearts. When the world is going to end, you have heart-to-hearts.<br /><br />I'm a military wife and the whole Diggle rejoining the Army is absolutely laughable. He's retired, so he can't just reenlist. He wouldn't just leave his family behind - when you join the Army, your family moves with you to your assigned duty station. He would have a four year Army commitment that he can't get out of just b/c Oliver Queen/Green Arrow needs help in October. So, no, I felt nothing about him leaving either because I know too much about the military. I couldn't get on board with any of it. <br /><br />Likely we won't ever hear about DD's daughter again. B/c Arrow has no idea what to do with her. They'll pretend she never existed. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454813128229998637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-21400597360769290902016-05-26T14:12:58.042-04:002016-05-26T14:12:58.042-04:00I think you have some good points. It all depends ...I think you have some good points. It all depends on the direction the writers want to go. Yes, Oliver being there for her while she's depressed over recent events, helping her come out of it, being her rock, could bring them back together. Except, the finale didn't show her depressed at all. So, it's really unclear what the summer holds for those two or each individually. Ideally, we'll come back with the message that they both spent some time alone. Maybe they each went on a vacation, or one of them did. Lots of great things we could learn happened over the summer to them individually. I'm really tired of the same old TV tropes. I don't feel that Arrow writers are particularly strong. So, I'm not setting the standard too high going into S5. This was a partially weak season, in my opinion, and if it doesn't get back to season two quality early in S5, I'll probably hit pause on the show until it gets better or abandon it altogether if it doesn't. Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454813128229998637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-40514396775680180592016-05-26T14:09:29.589-04:002016-05-26T14:09:29.589-04:00Oh, and what happend to Darkh's daughter? Did...Oh, and what happend to Darkh's daughter? Did they just leave her in that creepy killing room? After watching her dad kill a bunch of Argos agents, then disappear in a fight and then what... Boy if anyone needs to get into therapy it's that kid. And Oliver did promise to look after her so are they just going to drop that thread?<br /><br />I would feel more heartwarmed about the city supporting the Green Arrow if they didn't look like such a bloodthirsty crowd which reminded me of coliseums full of crowds being entertained by people or animals fighting to the death. That just creeps me out.Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-91500537351196979702016-05-26T14:03:33.998-04:002016-05-26T14:03:33.998-04:00I think you are right on about the strain that is ...I think you are right on about the strain that is evident in their decision to connect all these shows. I know that conceptually it gets a lot of people excited and the crossovers have provided good ratings and enjoyable scenes. I just think they are trying to have it both ways, connected when its fun but not connected if they have to have some sort of consistency or overall cohesive story. Some viewers watch all the DC shows, some do not and if they want to spend their time and energy on those connections it has to be really carefully done. And their own plotting and writing has to be tight enough and powerful enough to bear the weight.<br /><br />I don't think it is a coincidence that the introduction of Barry on Arrow's season 2 felt really effortless. Arrow was having a really good year with a really well-plotted arc. Barry worked into that as well as being his own charming self. But it hasn't worked as well as things have gotten more complex and I feel it's turning into dead weight for all of them, especially Arrow.Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-68712629410344492272016-05-26T13:33:13.560-04:002016-05-26T13:33:13.560-04:00I'm not sure what they were trying to do with ...I'm not sure what they were trying to do with the whole schism idea. If that's the theme they were building towards it just didn't resonate with me. If they wanted to really state that killing is sometimes necessary by bringing in Amanda Waller's statements, Taiana's wish to die, Dig killing his brother, Oliver killing Darhk I wish that would have been a more consistent idea this year. It might have been interesting to see Oliver really considering his no-kill vow and if that is right in all situations. I would have enjoyed a good treatment of that argument. But it feels like I'm grasping at that rather than being presented with a cohesive argument by the story. And if their theme was hope then they watered it down quite a bit by all the things they tried to do this year. Meh is a good word for it.<br /><br />As for the others' decision to leave:<br />Lance- I totally get it. The job he loves must seem so empty after the loss of Laurel. He has a lot to figure out and examining his life outside of the job seems a good move.<br />Thea- Ditto. She has only gone from adrenaline to action to fighting to rage and round and round. There has to be something else to her life or she will spiral down. <br />Diggle- this one is more confusing to me. I'm not sure that entering a war zone results in anyone feeling more healthy or clear about their lives. The show always presented the soldier Diggle as someone deeply damaged. Back in season 1 he told Felicity that he didn't know if he was a good person after Afghanistan and that working with Oliver was what helped him feel like a good person again. That doesn't bode well for his decision to go back.<br /><br />I really want some freaking resolution to the whole Malcolm Merlyn thing. As much as I enjoy me some Barrowman keeping that character around without much of a purpose is really irritating.<br /><br />Was there this same inner conflict after killing R'as last year? Everyone seemed okay with that decision and there was absolutely no talk of "Was that the right thing?" How is it different this time? Is it because Oliver was killing out of anger about Laurel? Lance called it justice but Felicity called it cold blood. If they want me to feel it this year I wish there was some follow through from Oliver's decision last year.Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-70078183219000026732016-05-26T12:34:46.673-04:002016-05-26T12:34:46.673-04:00I think my biggest problem is there never seemed t...I think my biggest problem is there never seemed to be any weight to the events. I think ultimately that the writing and directing and the connections to the broader DC/CW universe is wearing them out. This just lacked energy and suspense. <br /><br />What is particularly frustrating is how badly the speech was. <br /><br />I know what you're feeling right now. I'm feeling it too. The feeling of helplessness. Of Hopelessness. I don't know how we even begin to process what might happen to us right now, but there are a few things I do know. I know that this city has been through tough times before, and we have pulled through. We survived the undertaking. We survived the siege. We survived the outbreak, and some how, some way, we will survive this. A friend of mine told me, Living in Star City takes a certain type of tenacity. But we do live here. Because this is our home. This is our home! It is our friends, our families, our lives, and we will not - we will not- throw those precious gifts away by descending into chaos. We will look to each other for hope. We will cling to each other for strength. If we do that, no matters what happens, we can all stand here united.<br /><br />The word choices were the main problem. Here is an better version.<br /><br />I know what you're feeling right now. I feel it too. I feel helpless, hopeless, and I don't know how we will survive. But I know that this city has been through tough times before, and we are still here. We survived the undertaking. We survived the siege. We survived the outbreak, and some how, some way, we survived. A friend said, “Living in Star City takes a certain type of tenacity.” But we do live here, because this is our home. This is our home! It is our friends, our families, our lives, and we will not - we will not- throw these precious things away by descending into chaos. We will look to each other for hope. We will cling to each other for strength. If we do that, no matters what happens, we can all stand united.<br /><br />My main concern for S5 is what happened on Flash. Unless the first episode back is a Speed Force version of It's a Wonderful Life, nothing here mattered. Literally. None of it happened, and knowing that is a possible reason why this finale just felt bland.<br /><br />As to the ending, meh. It seems right. Of all the bad notes they have hit this season, it's nice they didn't try to hit all of them as a solution to a meh season.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10079066728808517579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-52069775555698384572016-05-26T08:51:13.998-04:002016-05-26T08:51:13.998-04:00Hmm, I have many thoughts. I still need to put so...Hmm, I have many thoughts. I still need to put some of them in order. However, I will say that I really liked the fact that Felicity stayed. Not for relationship reasons but for character reasons.<br />Felicity has been dealing with a lot of pain around the question of leaving. She left Oliver and then she left the team (for understandable reasons). There is no way of knowing whether Laurel would have lived if Felicity had been on the team during the prison break. But I am almost certain it feels like the truth to Felicity. Add in the fact that they have a major battle against the big bad and, even more powerful with magic now, and this time she is with the team and this time they didn't lose any team members. That is going to be a big deal to Felicity.<br />Then add in the fact that she has been dealing her whole life with the ramifications of her father "leaving" her. And again, he has left without talking to her at all. Even though they haven't shown much fallout from that (and I wish they would have had the time or taken the time to do so) it would certainly be in her mind. Simply put, Felicity has quite complicated emotional issues around the concepts of staying and leaving. I was not surprised at all that she decided to stay. I think she is making some points to herself in that sense, even if she is only doing it subconsciously. She has lots of reasons to leave but she will stay. It could be a major growth opportunity for her. Everything has gone down the crapper: job, relationships, the city, major destruction. And instead of running away or pulling back she is going to work through it. I really feel there are good times and reasons for pulling back but I also think that there are times when one needs to grit the teeth and stick it out. Only Felicity can now what is right for her in that regard.<br /><br />Also, I'm not really sure that it is inevitable that she and Oliver wouldn't be able to stay apart while working closely together. Really? I think it is entirely possible for two people to do that. But what really makes it reasonable for me is the emotional fallout that Felicity especially will be experiencing. I also wish we could see some of that and feel that we probably won't. You are right on with the therapy suggestion. I have wanted that for ages but that's not really what action shows do. My best friend is a therapist and I firmly believe the process is beneficial for anyone, not just those dealing with major trauma. That being said, Felicity is dealing with major trauma. It would be entirely reasonable for her to experience some real psychological repercussions. And I'm suggesting depression. Now, everyone's experience of depression is different but in general it doesn't mean feeling sad. It means not being able to feel anything, complete numbness. If that were the case Felicity might conceptually know that she loves Oliver but she wouldn't be able to experience any of the emotions much less a relationship. It is not easy to be close to someone going through depression and if Oliver is a support and a friend during that for Felicity it will be a real growth opportunity for his character too and a way to be her hope and light while she can't feel any of it. Now, that is just the way that I would write it but it ticks a lot of boxes I think. In any case I like imagining they two of them just working together and letting the relationship stuff lie until they have gotten to a better place in their own selves. <br /><br />As for other stuff in the finale...Beccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-43249030500375735752016-05-26T02:38:46.441-04:002016-05-26T02:38:46.441-04:00Excellent review and written so well in such a sho...Excellent review and written so well in such a short amount of time!<br /><br />I really hope that Arrow writers and EP's listen to Stephen Amell, who has been quite vocal recently about what needs to happen in Season five. More OTA, more street fighting, etc. Basically, getting back to the basics of season two, which, in my opinion, was its strongest season. <br /><br />The first half of S4 started off fairly strong and promising, then took a nose dive with the start of baby mama drama in episode eight. In my opinion, it was downhill from there and the show never quite recovered. There was way too much going on and not enough follow through. Lots of dangling stories, like Donna walking out on Noah, for what reason, we aren't exactly sure, and then dropping it altogether, seemingly. Felicity is hugging her dad one minute and not too many minutes later, her mother asks him to leave and he does, with Felicity not even batting an eye. What? These kind of things need to stop on Arrow. <br /><br />I do take serious issue with Felicity being as chipper as she was despite losing her job, losing her friend, LL, 10's of thousands being killed, etc. If Arrow doesn't dive into the fallout of all of that somehow, I'll be disappointed too. So much has now happened to her, it's not at all realistic that she would be this okay. Yes, Felicity should have left. I agree to your reasons and I'll add one: There is no way you can work in close quarters with someone you still love, with no one else around, for months and months at a time, and not get back together, or, at the very least, start sleeping together. As someone on Twitter mentioned, it's even less believable than magic and time travel (via Barry in crossover) Arrow tried to pull off this year. Fans will have to believe it, however, because that's the story Arrow is trying to sell us. It's fairly weak writing, in my opinion. I didn't need to see them back together but I did hope for a bit more hopeful talk before she left to spend the summer with her dad or friends, etc., regrouping and spending time by herself, decompressing and healing from all that has happened this year. Yes, maybe even seeing a therapist. If writers are smart and don't want to dive into a whole arc on Felicity facing with her true emotions, they could have her, at some point very early on, mention she's been in therapy all summer which will imply she has been addressing some of her issues. I'd be ok with that, though they definitely have created possible storylines for her given all that happened this year. <br /><br />As a military spouse, I take issue with Digg reenlisting after he retired. A quick fact check was in order here as it's not very plausible. My Army officer husband was pissed I even asked him about it. It annoys soldiers to no end when a show or movie can't get a very simple fact like this checked before trying to sell a story like this. If he did actually reenlist, somehow, he can't just leave the Army again whenever he wants. So silly way to send him off the team. <br /><br />As far as everyone leaving, it falls flat only b/c it's not the series finale and we know they'll all be back. I felt no emotion around it. My immediate gut reaction was, "Ok. See you all in October." <br /><br />I think it's fairly safe to assume there will be an Olicity reconciliation early in S5 unless Amell plans on sticking around past a sixth season, which I think it unlikely. While they do have issues to resolve, my very causally watching female friends say the show feels a bit disjointed now that they are broken up b/c the years long looks, touches, banter, etc. that gave the show a spark in times of darkness, is gone. <br /><br />Not going to lie - this season was rough and I'm very cautious about next season. If Arrow listens to fans and it's captain, we should be in for a much better season overall. We'll see...Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12454813128229998637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6678481478994191244.post-68786122738337556452016-05-25T23:17:08.340-04:002016-05-25T23:17:08.340-04:00Great review! I think you've accurately captur...Great review! I think you've accurately captured everything I felt/feel about this episode and the season as a whole.<br /><br />Couldn't agree more about Oliver and Felicity not getting back together before the season ended. The show bungled the launch of this couple (basically having them break up before really getting together in season three, followed by the beginnings of their actual relationship taking place off screen, to the ludicrous baby mama storyline this season), and the only hope for them to get it right is to earn it by slowly building it back up.<br /><br />We've now had four seasons of each season's theme ultimately boiling down to some variation on the theme of Oliver coming to terms with his inner 'darkness'…sigh. Hopefully in season five the writers find a way to move the show beyond this theme (and find a way to make Malcolm Merlyn pay for his crimes, but I digress).<br /><br />This season wasn't quite as awful as season three, which nearly made me quit watching the show, but it had some equally frustrating story arcs and overall I feel kind of meh about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com