Becki

I haven't even been able to bring myself to watch this week's episode. I got the same way at the end of last season. I don't even remember watching the last 4 or 5 episodes before the finale.

The first two seasons I was dying for Oliver and Felicity, but honestly, the way they've written her this season, I think Oliver deserves far better.

Oh, and they really should have kept Tommy and killed off Laurel. It kills me that even when they bring Tommy back for flashbacks, it's for like a minute.

My patience with Felicity has worn thin. LOL. I have honestly hated her at many points this season. And don't get me started on Ray.

I'm over the whole big bad guy of the season model they do. By the end of every season I'm hating on the bad guy, which I should, but to the point I don't even want to watch. I don't want to see a bug final battle, I just want the whole season to be over.. I wouldn't think that would be their goal for a viewer.

Then again I'm still pissed off that Tommy's dead and Malcolm is alive.

Well, I'm happy to have the once a week bad guys back. I HATED Slade and I still hate Malcolm so I'm glad he isn't around much either.

Overall, this season has been kinda meh for me. I LOVE Ted/Wildcat and I hope we see more of him, but that's probably going to mean we see more of Laurel and I could do without that. It has been nice to see Oliver not fall for every whine-y word she says this season.

I don't know what to say about Oliver and Felicity. Honestly, I'm not liking Felicity much this season. I feel like the character is too different from what we saw the first two seasons. I get that she's growing as a person and I'm good with that, but there's something that seems off with her and especially her scenes with Oliver (after the season premiere).

I actually was able to persuade my husband to watch this with me and we both loved it! I'm excited to watch the show grow weekly

I enjoyed the premiere. I'm really sad to see Caty's time on the show end though. Not looking forward to Laurel as canary.

In other casting news...

JR Ramirez (Power) has been tapped to play Ted "Wildcat" Grant.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/07/29/j-r-ramirez-arrow-wildcat/

I read somewhere today that in the extended version of the Season 3 promo Oded Fehr played the part of Ra's. It would be AMAZING if he were to be the one playing the actual role!!!

And here's the extended clip...there's an extra 15 seconds at the end...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t1jcQjEsaw

OK, here's the first look promo for season 3 that played before their SDCC panel today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfgthhsuUb8

Three casting spoilers for season 3

Casting for Katana

Maseo Yamashiro

Count Vertigo??

How in the hell are they bringing The Count back????

Another episode I didn't enjoy. Instead of building momentum like last season this has just been blah for the last 3 months. Hated seeing Malcolm return. There are just too many major villains on the show right now.

BTW, today is Stephen Amell's birthday

The entire second half of this season has just gone downhill every week. Last week may have been the final straw for me. I didn't even like Moira. but if they don't start killing off the right people soon (Malcolm, Slade, Isabel, Blood, etc), I'm not planning to hang around past this season. I hate when a show gets ruined for me but IMO this big all encompassing bad guy just doesn't work on this show. I liked last season when there was a bad guy or two and then he was gone.

Ugh, I didn't enjoy tonights episode at all. Not even a single part of it. And that's almost NEVER happened since maybe episode 3 of the first season.

Last week's show was well done once again. I enjoy seeing the occasional episode that focuses on someone on Team Arrow. (Although I'm still waiting for a Felicity-entric episode. ). It's been a weird few shows though. To me it's like we've started a different season. There's not been alot of tie in with the episodes from earlier this season. And unlike last year, I feel like the first half of the season was more explosive. BUT we have about 6 or 7 more so that opinion is subject to change.

BOTH of my kids have started watching season 1 on Netflix. It's like I'm in an alternate universe. We never watch the same shows!

I can't believe I didn't come and comment about last week's show. I like the way they are handling the Sara/Oliver/Felicity kinda triangle. Loved Felicity and Oliver's talk at the end and her being high on oxy was so much fun. Emily does a great job playing Felicity with her insecurities and all.

That Oliver/Laurel blow up was MONTHS in the making. I was actually cheering OUT LOUD for him everytime he spoke to her in that hallway. She really had become the most selfish woman I've seen in ages. Everyone was out to get her and everything that happened was someone else's fault. I hope that was the end of the Laurel we've seen the majority of this season.

As for last night's show? Bah. I hated it. I hate the island stuff more every week. I simple do not care and I HATE Slade. I've hated him from the beginning. And I don't think Manu is that amazing as an actor. He always looks constipated. My dream is to let Slade and Malcolm kill one another. Offscreen where I don't have to see either of them again. It was a wasted episode IMO.

Officially renewed for Season 3!! Woo woot!!

That's true. They owe her no explanation.

Paul Blackthorne has a really interesting documentary on Hulu called This American Journey. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

It took me a while to warm up to Quentin so I went back and watched The Dresden Files on Netflix to see if it was Paul that I didn't like. It wasn't him...it was definitely Quentin. I hadn't noticed about the lisp though...me son has most of the Burn Notice episodes on DVD. I'll have to check it out when I can.

Back on the Laurel issue....do Sara and Oliver really think them banging again is gonna HELP Laurel? I mean, come on!! I suppose neither of them are thinking about Laurel right now.

The only disappointment was that apparently Ollie will [!@#$%^&*] every woman (not related to him) except Felicity....

I know what you mean. Although I think with Sara I get the attraction more than the others. Sara is basically the only one that can really understand what Oliver suffered thru for those 5 years, because she had almost the same experience. It's one of those 'she knows where all the bodies are buried' kind of relationship.

I wasn't so upset about them as the fact that we had no follow up conversation between Oliver and Felicity after his mom's press conference. The set up when she spoke of her folks and how she couldn't stand the thought of losing someone else.....and then NOTHING? That was bad writing IMO. Because to me, it looked like she DID lose him.

I loved Oliver telling Moira they were DONE! He's put up with her crap for way too long. Everyone I know felt so bad for Moira by the end of last season, but I've never felt one iota of sympathy for her because I've always seen her the way Oliver does now...as a lying bitch.

As ya'll know I'm no Laurel fan, but while most people didn't get her reaction to Sara being alive, I totally get it!! She wasn't really able to grieve because she was so angry that Sara died while screwing her boyfriend and now suddenly here is her sister. Alive. And so is her boyfriend. Of course, Oliver and Sara being together now is going to provoke even further consequences for Laurel. I don't think her downward spiral is over just yet.

I'm lucky to have two sons in their 20s so anytime a new villain or character is introduced, I ask them about who the person is. They usually know.

Laurel is one of those characters that one week I feel really bad for and the next week I just wanna slap some sense in to. Last night was the latter. Could she be anymore self absorbed? I know she's having a hard time but good grief almighty they are writing her so that there is no way I can sympathize with her any longer. Maybe Sara will be able to get thru to her.

I was really surprised they had Roy find out Oliver's identity this quickly. Well, quickly in terms of him only beginning to train Roy. I enjoyed all of their scenes last night, but especially when Oliver revealed himself to Roy. And I want to add, I don't believe the Oliver of last season would not have used love as a reason to reveal himself to someone. The character has come so far since last year.

I know what you mean about there being little to no Team Arrow scenes. I live for their interactions and even though the ones we've had have been great, I'm greedy and need more!!!

I cannot believe they are serious about the Moira for Mayor thing. BUT if it puts Walter back on my TV more often then I say let's go for it.

Slade mentioned his son in season 1 I think. Back when he and Oliver first met.

And as always, I miss Tommy so much.

I think Slade talked about how he got to the island last season. I'd have to check which episode it was. Since I usually fastforward thru the island scenes (or change the channel) I don't remember alot of what happens there.

I have no idea what Laurel is popping pills for, nor what kind of pills they are. I have to assume it's something to help her deal with Tommy's death. Although in last week's episode her dad said she stole the pills from him so I'm at a loss.

I've never really hated Laurel, I've just been bored by her. But last night I actually loved the episode (I'll never be able to say ENTIRE episode cause I HATE the island scenes with a burning passion!). I did find it difficult to believe that her own father didn't support or believe her. They've really alienated her from everyone this season. I'm hoping last night will be the beginning of her moving forward with her life and getting her act together. Cause Tommy would not be happy with how she's been acting.

I really really don't like Slade. Not on the island, not in the present day. I know all the comic book purists were thrilled with the appearance of Deathstroke, but I don't feel like we need another super-villian until they get rid of Malcolm once and for all. Right now, between those two and Sebastian, there are too many bad guys for me to focus on.

I am looking forward to Oliver (Arrow) training Roy. And I wish they would make Sin a regular cast member. I just love her snarkiness.

I know in the last few episodes before the break, half of Slade's face was black from being burned in the explosion earlier in the season. I guess the mirakuru cured him much as it did Roy's knee and arm.

The Oliver/Felicity was pretty great this episode. I love love love when they fight. I love that she doesn't back down from him and she calls him on his crap. And that apology scene was amazing!!

Is it just me or does Laurel look different? Her face is so elongated and her chin is so pointed now. Has Katie lost a ton of weight or something? I think it makes her look ill. That said, I do like that Laurel is the one getting creepy vibes from Sebastian. I hope everyone else will eventually listen to her, but after the way she treated Oliver (as Arrow) earlier this season along with him shaking Blood's hand at the end of the show, I'm not sure turning to him will be much help.

That's what I believe as well. Even in soaps, I've always felt as if the press (and even some actors themselves) are the ones that enjoy pitting fanbases against one another. It makes for good copy in their eyes.

Arrow EP Shrugs off S.H.I.E.L.D. Comparison

Interesting article. I actually enjoy both shows, but IMO Arrow is far and away a better product. Better/more realistic fight scenes. better quality writing and they are truly embracing their DC roots, while not suffocating by sticking to canon 100% of the time. Also, um, Stephen Amell's abs?!?!?!?!

Also, Stephen commented on the article over on his Facebook page