Team GATV Roundtable: Looking Forward To Season 4

What do you think of the other announced additions to the show for Season 4?

MATT: You have to worry a bit about the introduction of a number of new characters when it felt like they struggled with juggling so many characters last season. Now, as both DCwU series work to introduce a third in Legends of Tomorrow and it sounds like Arrow might have the lion’s share of that work, this concept that Oliver Queen’s show is just going to be the tilling grounds for the expanding world is concerning. If they are just bringing in people to help populate the world without devoting significant time to them, a chance to have important but extraneous characters who we run into time and again, that would be delightful. Some of the best shows have always had an exceptional stable of recurring characters that make you feel like your favorite characters are existing in a living, breathing world. I would really enjoy if we could get more of that to open the show up, especially as they are taking the show in a somewhat lighter direction.

Echo Kellum as Mr. Terrific — in this version known as Curtis Holt — is appealing. He was one of the highlights of Sean Saves the World, and his delivery should add a nice new flavor to the mix. I know many bemoan the continued use of Batman-related characters on the show, a blessing and a curse when you create such a diverse world for Bruce Wayne and other characters’ stables are rather limited, but Anarky should be a fascinating choice for villain. I recall a brief dalliance with wanting to write a script to the third Batman movie in the Burton series back in the early ’90s that would’ve showcased the Riddler but also would’ve featured Anarky as another challenge. I was taken with the character when he premiered in the comics. Both McDonough and Jeri Ryan continue David Rappaport’s stellar record of notable name casting. I’m not as familiar with the others’ work, but if they help fill out the world rather than demand screentime, I’ll look forward to all the new faces.

DEREK: I’m loving the idea of Echo Kellum as Curtis Holt/Mr. Terrific, and I hope the character works and gets integrated into the main cast. I like that he’s a friend of Felicity, since that means she may get a solo storyline out of it. The DCwU has slowly but steadily been building itself as a champion for diversity in superhero media in the past couple of years, and it’s really succeeded at doing so in wonderfully organic, character-driven ways. Having a gay character that’s also a person of color is a huge step in the right direction.

None of the others have really stuck out to me other than Jeri Ryan, though I have a feeling she’ll be more like a one-shot “look at this cool genre person in a bit role” thing that the show’s pulled since season one. I’m also really jonesing for a live-action Vixen appearance if the animated series succeeds. I liked Megalyn Echikunwoke on The 4400 and I’ve enjoyed her voicework on Vixen, so I think she’s got the looks and the chops to perform the character in live-action. That’d be another step in the right direction.

CRAIG: I’m really, really excited for Curtis Holt. Echo Kellum seems to fit in great with the cast, and I love that there’s more LGBT representation on the show — not to mention that the gay factor might keep him from entering a love triangle, unless there are some things about some characters that we just don’t know yet. I can’t wait to see Sara again. Neal McDonough is a fantastic addition. And Anarky! There’s a lot to look forward to in Season 4, but maybe not so much as I’m excited for…

JOHN CONSTANTINE. His show should’ve always been a part of this universe, and one episode is not going to be enough for me, I’m sure… but the notion that Arrow is going there and bringing him in just tells me there’s a lot of greatness coming our way. Onward to Season 4!

LAUREL: I’m leery of the incorporation of magic into the show — Arrow is a vigilante story, and too much hocus-pocus feels out of place. Still, I’m looking forward to John Constantine, because Constantine is wonderful and should be in everything. Mr. Terrific looks like he will be a lot of fun too, especially as a non-romantic foil for Felicity. As for the others, I’m not quite to the opinion stage yet. We’ll see!

STEPHANIE: I’m most excited to see Constantine, even though I’m still in the process of finishing that show. I haven’t really kept up with the other announcements lately, so I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the characters they have in store.

Arrow Season 4 begins Wednesday, October 7 on The CW! Take a look at some photos from the season premiere “Green Arrow” here!