Reviews for Pilot Episode Of Super Hero Fiction TV Serial Arrow

SuperHero fictions are always able to keep attention of Viewers, be it a TV Serial or a movie. Even the comics industry also hugely relies on SuperHero stuff. Superman, Batman, Fantom, Flash, Thor, Iron man, Captain America, … the list is very long.

In India also these fictions are very popular. Shaktimaan – the Indian super hero (introduced by Mukesh Khanna) became so popular that a TV Serial of the same name run for many episodes. It later adopted as various animated films as well. And recently we got to know that the serial is all ready to come back on the Television (The news is available here).

The possible reason for our love for superheroes is quite psychological. Actually we are seeing ourselves in the superheroes. It will be rare to find a person who haven’t fantasied being a superhero in his/her childhood days. As an adult when we see that the world is not perfect as we have imagined, we look forward for a survivor (and possibly our alter ego is ready to be the one), and while seeing a superhero performing larger than the life tasks on screen (or in book/magazine/cartoon strip pages), we are feeling satisfied from within.

We are here, however going to talk about – Arrow – or Green Arrow (especially US TV Series based on Arrow sharing the same name); a very popular character from DC Comics. In our introductory article about – Arrow – the TV Serial based on that, we have provided basic information about the same. We promised that we will be providing you episode wise reviews for the same, so here we go.

Title	Director	Written By	Release Date
Pilot	David Nutter	Story by: Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim Teleplay by: Andrew Kreisberg & Marc Guggenheim	October 10, 2012

Let us talk about first episode of Arrow – Season 1.

All the episodes of season 1 are started with this introduction…

My name is Oliver Queen. For five years I was stranded on an island with only one goal: survive. Now I will fulfill my father’s dying wish. To use the list of names he left me and bring down those who are poisoning my city. To do this, I must become someone else. I must become… something else.

-Oliver Queen / Arrow

The introductory lines says the basic about the serial very effectively. It gives us the background of the events we are about to see.

The narration style of the entire series is “use of parallel tracks”. While the events are going on in linear direction in the current time; we see the related consequences from Oliver’s time on the island.

A ship was passing by a stranded island and a hooded figure see it. He then is able to draw the attention of ship which then come to the shore and takes him on it. It is revealed that the hooded figure was a famous wealthy playboy named Oliver Queen. Before 5 years ago when he was enjoying his time with his girl friend Sara, father Robert Queen and other crew on his private yacht; they met with a deadly mishap. The yacht was sunk and Sara was died. Oliver, Robert and one of crew was able to survive through a life boat. Robert however realised soon that there is no enough food supply for them all to survive. So he decided to sacrifice everything for his son Oliver (including his own life), so he can survive. However before shooting himself, Robert pass on some important details to Oliver.

It was a diary having a list of people who all did something wrong for their own benefit resulting into failing their city – Starling City. Eventually Oliver survives and now his only mission is to punish those who failed the city and give justice to the people who were victim of those crimes.

While came back to the city he was warmly welcomed by his mother Moira, sister Thea and best fiend Tommy. Moria is now married to Walter who earlier was part of the same company run by Robert. They all sense that Oliver is changed somehow. They can simply image what happened to Oliver on the island by seeing so much scars on his body.

Otherwise happy-go-lucky guy now almost lives within himself. To cheer him up his friend Tommy takes him for some ride. Oliver also meets his ex-girlfriend Laurel and confess of cheating with her and her sister Sara. Laurel was however not ready to forgive Oliver by any means and consider him responsible for the death of Sara. Laurel’s father Detective Quentin Lance also have developed some grudge against the Queen family over the period. He however does his job honestly. Laurel by the way was moved on in her life and doing law practice.

The things got upside down when Oliver was taken for a ride by Tommy. On the way Tommy explains Oliver that the city is changed a lot and is no more what it was before 5 years. They were then attached by a group of criminals who abducts them both. They tried to torture them and tried to know that if Oliver was told anything by his father Robert?!

Oliver overpowers them and able to save himself and Tommy while Tommy was not fully conscious. To cover up their rescue, Oliver credit a fictional Green Hood figure who saved their lives.

By the way, at the end of the episode you got to know who was behind the attack on Oliver and Tommy.

Oliver decided to take the matters in his hand to move fast in his goal and he plans a hideout in a stranded warehouse of his business. There he sets up for his training and other stuffs.

Worried of attack on Oliver, her mother ask him to have a new bodyguard, John Diggle, an ex-army. Oliver however is smart enough to slip from John’s cover when he wish 🙂

Oliver started working on eliminating crime and when needed criminals too. His first target was Adam Hunt. What Adam did and how Oliver bring him to the justice is the rest of the episode.

On Flashback track we see how Robert arranges the things for Oliver to survive. We cannot reveal more than that for this track.

Views And Reviews:

In order to be successful for any TV Serial or Movie, right casting is very important. The casting director’s job is quite challenging thus. Here we can see the casting director succeeding in his mission. Stephen Amell is not only convincing in his looks and action scene but also in emotional scnes. Actually Oliver’s character is tough to play. Not only because he is a superhero. Nowadays special effect can do marvel in that area. Importantly, Oliver’s character is explored in current time and his time on island during last five years; parallel. So the actor who play it have to look convincing in avatars of a playboy, wealthy youth, spoilt brat, no-nonsense soldier on a mission – who can be cruel at time, when explored in current surroundings. At the same time in the parallel track he needs to look fragile and vulnerable youth who was caught in tricky situations. Now his survival is very tough if not impossible. Stephen does full justice to his role we can say.

Susana is convincing as Moira and Willa Holland as Thea. In some scenes Willa seems to be in trans when talking to Oliver, not sure why. Moira character have many shades and only a good actor can do justice to it. Colin Donnell looks charming as carefree Tommy. Laurel’s character is played by Katie effectively. David Ramsey is the best choice of Diggle’s character and he doesn’t leave us disappointed.
Paul Blackthorne leaves his impact as Detective Lance.

The screenplay and story is written effectively and keeps the user glued to it. The action scenes are of remarkable quality. The camera work is competitive to any quality Hollywood movie. The background music sets the mood effectively. The emotions are weaved pretty nicely in the content making it appealing for audience of all age group. Some action scenes are brutal and require parental guidance for viewing.

Summary:

Overall a very effective TV Adaptation of famous superhero from DC Comics. Those who love watching thrillers and superhero stuff will enjoy it. The Audio and Video quality of DVD is worth going for. The DVDs are quite pricey though, so we advise to watch out for some festival or seasonal deal before you purchase them. The first episode sets up the things pretty well and makes way for the rest of the series.

Arrow : Season 1 : Purchase From Amazon
Arrow : Season 2 : Purchase From Amazon
Arrow : Season 3 : Purchase From Amazon
Arrow: The Complete Season 1 : Purchase From Amazon India
Arrow: Season 2 : Purchase From Amazon India
Arrow: The Complete Third Season : Purchase From Amazon India

Over To You:

Did you watch this TV Series or any of it’s episodes? What do you think of it? We welcome you to share your reviews with all other readers. And yes, don’t forget to share it with your friends who share the same choices with you.