Friday, September 13, 2013

Arrow: The Complete First Season



When the WB Network first started promoting its new Arrow TV series based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow I have to admit I was a bit skeptical.
 

Green Arrow has never been a favorite of mine except for the short stint when he co-starred with Green Lantern in the Denny O’Neal/Neal Adams series of the early 1970s.


Green Arrow had always come off as a wisecracking, Batman wannabee.  There was even a point when he had a Green Arrowmobile.  Talk about lame!


But, as the character progressed over the years he did manage to have a few shining moments-especially when teamed with his lady love Black Canary.  Green Arrow seemed destined to be a second string DC character forever.


That is until the Arrow TV series premiered.


Loosely based on Green Arrow’s origin the series took the tired old story and gave it new life.

Here’s the original version: millionaire playboy Oliver Queen winds up stranded on a deserted island.  In order to survive he adapts and one of his new adaptation skills is to make a bow and arrow from native resources.  


Isolated and left to his own devices for several years Oliver became a phenomenal archer.  Eventually he is rescued and decides to take his new talent and his vast fortune and fight crime.  Pretty simple.


Not so in the arrow TV series.  Yes, Oliver is stranded on an island for years but only after his father is killed, he is washed up on a mysterious ‘inhabited’ island and suddenly finds himself in the fight for his life against unknown assailants.


While on the island Oliver is captured, tortured, forced to do anything in order to survive-and that includes killing others.  Once rescued he is battered, scarred and his entire demeanor has changed from a spoiled rich boy to a man with a mission: revenge and justice served to those who killed his father and who control the criminal element in Starling City.


Oliver sets out on a one-man vendetta against crime using his new fighting and archery skills to their fullest.  As the battle progresses he discovers new and shocking secrets about his own family, associates and the power behind Starling City.


Arrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet Combo from Warner Bros. includes 23 episodes, a Arrow Comes Alive! featurette chronicling Green Arrow’s  transition from comics to small screen, features on the fight choreographing for the series, special effects, cast and crew interviews, unaired scenes, a Gag Reel and much more.