Season four..... what to say?
It started out really, really strong and I was digging the new vibe. I did not mind the whole Olicity thing, especially when it was well written as it was in the beginning of the season. It was refreshing to see Ollie happy and actually in a honest healthy co-supportive relationship -- but being tv, the writers could not let it last and once the secret son was revealed the writing became ludicrous, the characters became stupid and even I could not stand Felicity.
In fact, once Arrow (and the Flash) completed all the heavy lifting of setting up the Legends spin-off and returned after it's mid-season break, the show just seemed lose all of it's focus, drive and urgency. I mean, Team Arrow had to save THE WHOLE WORLD from nuclear holocaust but the stakes never felt dire and thus their victories never felt satisfying.
Also the writers need to be braver and return more to character. Ollie runs for Mayor. But not once did we see Ollie do anything political or explore his political beliefs. The Green Arrow is famous in the comics for his political views, but this is never touched on in the show. They built an entire episode around Ollie having a political debate with Mrs Darhk, but they NEVER SHOWED IT!?!?! Instead, they lamely cut to the end of the debate and congratulate Ollie on an amazing victory! WTF!!!
Darhk was a refreshing villain and revitalized/stole every scene he was in. Too bad the writers did not know what to do with him. Much like Raz last year, he was underdeveloped and his motivations unclear. Also, by creating a villain so powerful, the writers seem at a lost at how to defeat him. To say the finale was underwhelming would be a massive understatement.
They finally made Black Canary interesting and then they killed her in the lamest way possible. Though oddly, Katie Cassidy's contract has been renewed to appear on any/all of the DC Berlanti Universe shows (Miller and Barrowman have signed similar contracts). So is she not dead? Time travel? Evil Earth 2 counterpart?
The Island flashbacks were absolutely horrible this season and a complete waste of time. Thankfully, producers have confirmed season five will close out Ollie's flashback island adventures. If there is a season six, they may use flashback to flesh out the supporting cast.
One of the mistakes to me was the obvious attempt by the producers to inject more humour and lightness into the show in the same vein as its counter part as the Flash and I think they went overboard with this at times. Arrow is their Batman show, and while the sidekicks can bring levity when required, the show needs to maintain a level moody darkness, it can not become a full on comedy. And at times, especially with Felicity and Curtis Holt scenes, the show would go too far off the rails into Cisco territory. The producers need to be more confident and let each show have its own separate tone.
Season four was also hit hard by the DC character embargo, losing most of their Suicide Squad related characters, causing the producers to change some story lines. Hopefully, now that Geoff Johns is full on president of all things DC media related, this will change.
About the only storyline I really liked in the second half of the season was the conflict between Diggle and his brother. I thought it brought some much need weight and pathos back to the show.
And yet, after all of that and an uninspiring Comic-Con teaser, I still hold out hope for the coming Season Five... lol.
I mean, it can't get worse.
Can it? :blush:
Season Five synopsis:
[font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif]"Newly appointed Mayor Oliver Queen finds himself challenged as he fights on two fronts for the future of Star City. With Diggle back in the military and Thea adamant about hanging up her hood as Speedy, Team Green Arrow is down to just Oliver and Felicity – but they’re no longer the only vigilantes in town. Green Arrow’s public defeat of Damien Darhk at the end of Season Four has inspired a new crop of masked heroes to step up and defend the city, though their painful inexperience makes them obstacles, rather than allies, in the field. The arrival of a deadly new adversary will force Oliver to confront questions about his own legacy, both as mayor and as the Green Arrow."[/font]