Team GATV Roundtable: The Arrow Season 3 Road So Far

Beyond Arrow News Opinion January 15, 2015 Craig Byrne

The GreenArrowTV team looks back at the first half of Arrow Season 3.

<<Return to Page 3

What in Season 3 has worked the best for you so far?

CRAIG: I know it’s controversial, but I like that the Laurel character is moving forward. It’s sad that the show had to lose Sara to get there, and I know some people think it’s too sudden, but look at it this way: Would you prefer this — or another year of “Drunk Canary?” I think most of us knew going into the show that eventually, Laurel Lance would have a costumed alter ego that could possibly involve fishnets.

On that same note, I really like the growth of Thea, at least in the scenes involving Malcolm. She’s training and a bit of an adventuress in her own right.

MATT: Much of the character stuff has worked well for me, specifically the Laurel stuff. We got reamed for my opinion piece on Laurel, but I think they’re doing a good set-up to Laurel as Black Canary this year. It works even better because they know she’s rushing into a costume. The effect of Sara’s death on everyone also has been a boon.

STEPHANIE: They’re doing a good job of setting up storylines that are exciting me for future episodes, especially the chance to see Laurel grow into vigilante and Ray do whatever he plans to do with that suit.

DEREK: I’m happy with a lot of the character relationships, even knowing they’ll have to change as the season progresses. The only melodramatic love triangle happening now is Oliver/Felicity/Ray, but even when it’s not played that well, it’s too integral to Oliver’s development to not exist. Everyone else is at nicely realistic place, but still with potential for drama. Oliver and Laurel are strictly platonic, so the focus is on their opposing crimefighting views. Diggle and Lyla are a family. Thea and Roy are friendly exes. Quentin is generally on good terms with everyone. Even Felicity and Roy have strong scenes together. I like the sense that these characters have grown together, and it makes the more twisted relationships (all the Thea/Malcolm/Oliver stuff) stand out better when anyone else’s melodrama is kept on hold until it’s necessary and natural.