Come on Arrow you can do it, make Stephen Arnell likable. Pretty please. And then Supernatural, where I swear if the brothers keep fighting my tv is gonna end up with a remote control-shaped hole in it.
Come on Arrow you can do it, make Stephen Arnell likable. Pretty please. I'm not sure I follow. Are we talking about Amell or his character Oliver? If we're talking about the character, I don't think he should be much more likable. His entire cover identity is built around him being an irresponsible d-bag. On top of that, his five years on an island really screwed him up.
I can tell that the show is slowly trying to chip away the roughness of his false personality but it has to stay intact for at least a while longer. The guy has PTSD from living as a survivalist on an island where he was under the constant threat of death. Even when he stops pretending to be a d-bag the guy will still have some serious emotional issues to deal with.
I can't imagine a time where this guy won't be somewhat abrasive and difficult to interact with.
The character Oliver in all incarnations and Stephen Arnell's acting job. They've done little to nothing to develop either cover identity or actual identity as personality or character, and he's certainly done nothing to distinguish them as far as acting goes. But at least the cover identity is supposed to be a charming playboy, he may be an irresponsible d-bag, but he shouldn't be completely unpleasant to be around, no one would keep coming to his parties. Regardless, he is abrasive and difficult and a complete jerk to everybody all the time, which I'm finding not so watchable. He is also a hero of the super variety, can't they find anything redeemable to give him as a personality? Because if you think they aren't ever gonna, I'm gonna give up the watching. He's not *that* cute, and he's kinda uncoordinated.
I know you aren't the only one (and let's face it, no one can speak for the entire splintered, factioned Supernatural fandom), but my overall sense of what I've read lately is that even the hardcore, "I love everything Supernatural" group is getting frustrated with the brother rift.
I've decided to stockpile pillows and socks. My hope is that I will not get to the end of the pile and thus have only the remote left to get out frustrations. Of course, maybe tonight is the turnaround - the first episode this season that's completely "throw stuff" free.
- I don't have a problem with his acting. He's supposed to be playing a very damaged individual who is pretending to be the person he used to be before he left. His character is equal parts awkward, charming, unnerving, and distant. That seems about right to me considering what the character went through and what he's pretending to be.
- People are going to keep showing up to his parties regardless of his attitude because he's part of a rich, influential family. There will always be people drawn to that and those who would like to take advantage of that any way they can.
- "Regardless, he is abrasive and difficult and a complete jerk to everybody all the time" I don't find that to be the case at all. To me it seems that in one scene he'll be sensitive and decent and the next his back to being cold and abrasive. That seems like par for the course considering his situation.
-"He is also a hero of the super variety, can't they find anything redeemable to give him as a personality?" I'm not sure what you're expecting here. The guy is messed up. Any lesser person in his situation would have suffered a complete mental break. He spent five years being traumatized and living as a very primal individual. Oliver isn't going to be a sensitive, empathetic, affable guy overnight. If that were ever to happen it would take a long time. Oliver is trying or at least he seems to be. I don't think any of the characters could ask any more of him than that right now.
I think you make a number of rational observations as to the nature of being tormented etc etc. But none of those make me like him and if I don't like the main character what's the point?
1) It is incredibly difficult to make those kind of characters "heroic" that's why Homeland wouldn't work without Damien Lewis' ability to walk the line between dangerous, damaged, terrorist, and good guy somewhere. I'm not getting both sides, I'm barely getting any side. He walks around trying to talk in a gruff voice and I get no emotions past that. I'm sorry, but I have yet to see sensitive--even when he is telling girl who (I think) he loves that he can't be with her. Where was the regret? Where was the angsty face? Turn on any show on the WB/CW for the last 15 years and you will find someone showing you how to do it.
2) I think they are asking too much of a crap actor and a crap script. They need to scale it back. The writing and the acting and everything is taking itself so seriously and forgetting that it's a comic book hero. They can't keep acting like it's Apocalypse Now when a dude with a two-tone foam mask walks into the tent.
3) The vigilante thing I think is because the cops are really the only ones talking about it. Arrow says it, I think, sarcastically, but that could be his "I agree with them and hate the lies I tell" voice. But that runs into the issue I have with having the only consistent antagonist to Arrow being Harry Dresden and he's not done anything bad, he's right. So it is really hard to make him anti-heroic.
4) He isn't supposed to be a lesser person: He is supposed to be a superhero!
I keep trying to like the show. I should like the show. It should be better than Smallville and Beauty and the Beast. It has a great tone, it looks right, but it is just so bad, and if I watch one more fight scene where the two stunt guys miss each by miles and still act like they landed a punch, I'm going to scream. Kristin Kreuk should not have better fight scenes than these people. Because they are trying so hard and all the cracks are showing.
It seems as though this is one of those instances where we'll just see things differently. Except for the jacked-up fight scenes. I agree that some of those have been substandard. Once Nikita eventually gets canceled, Arrow should hire that show's fight and stunt coordinators.
You're right. I'm just so frustrated by the show because on paper I should be head over heels for it and it isn't hitting home :( and I just can't figure out why. It's making me tetchier at the show than even the show's failings can account for. Sorry.
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ReplyDeletemodern family, chicago fire, american horror story and, of course, ARROW!
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ReplyDeleteSupernatural, Arrow, American Horror Story, Criminal Minds..Wed is my favorite night, but I record more on Thursday.
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ReplyDeleteCriminal MindsCSI: Las VegasGuys with KidsLaw and Order : SVUChicago FireNashvilleAmerican Horror StoryArrowSupernatural
ReplyDeleteSN and Arrow. I got see Criminal Minds last night because it airs one day early in Canada.
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ReplyDeleteSupernatural and Arrow. Tonight's going to be awesome.
ReplyDeleteSupernatural and Arrow. That's the sum of it.
ReplyDeleteTonight is the CSI story on Warrick. I loved that character and tonight's will be awesome and modern family of course
ReplyDeleteSUPERNATURAL.
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ReplyDeleteArrow, Supernatural, The Middle, The Neighbors, Modern Family, American Horror Story, MOONSHINERS
ReplyDeleteSupernatural & Arrow! Gotta love Wednesdays! Oh, plus Modern Family probably! ;)
ReplyDeleteCome on Arrow you can do it, make Stephen Arnell likable. Pretty please. And then Supernatural, where I swear if the brothers keep fighting my tv is gonna end up with a remote control-shaped hole in it.
ReplyDeleteOf course I am delighted to see Whitney back.....OK I can't keep that joke up for more than 2 secs. Modern Family and Suburgatory
ReplyDeleteJust Arrow tonight.
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ReplyDeleteSupernatural, Arrow, The Middle, Modern Family, and Chicago Fire. I finally dropped Nashville.
ReplyDeleteHa! Totally agree about Supernatural... I'm sick of them sniping at each other. We should be past this by now!
ReplyDeleteArrow and Supernatural - with trepidation.
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one. I'm going to need to get a padded remote case just to minimize the damage.
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ReplyDeleteDon't tell me, is it only me who loves their fight?
ReplyDeleteCome on Arrow you can do it, make Stephen Arnell likable. Pretty please.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I follow. Are we talking about Amell or his character Oliver? If we're talking about the character, I don't think he should be much more likable. His entire cover identity is built around him being an irresponsible d-bag. On top of that, his five years on an island really screwed him up.
I can tell that the show is slowly trying to chip away the roughness of his false personality but it has to stay intact for at least a while longer. The guy has PTSD from living as a survivalist on an island where he was under the constant threat of death. Even when he stops pretending to be a d-bag the guy will still have some serious emotional issues to deal with.
I can't imagine a time where this guy won't be somewhat abrasive and difficult to interact with.
Chicago Fire!
ReplyDeleteThe character Oliver in all incarnations and Stephen Arnell's acting job. They've done little to nothing to develop either cover identity or actual identity as personality or character, and he's certainly done nothing to distinguish them as far as acting goes. But at least the cover identity is supposed to be a charming playboy, he may be an irresponsible d-bag, but he shouldn't be completely unpleasant to be around, no one would keep coming to his parties. Regardless, he is abrasive and difficult and a complete jerk to everybody all the time, which I'm finding not so watchable. He is also a hero of the super variety, can't they find anything redeemable to give him as a personality? Because if you think they aren't ever gonna, I'm gonna give up the watching. He's not *that* cute, and he's kinda uncoordinated.
ReplyDeleteUh, as far as my Internet personality believes everyone agrees with me: Yes, you are all alone. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll probably relinquish control of the remote to the boy, he has on occasion had protect the TV from damage, so he knows the drill.
ReplyDeleteI know you aren't the only one (and let's face it, no one can speak for the entire splintered, factioned Supernatural fandom), but my overall sense of what I've read lately is that even the hardcore, "I love everything Supernatural" group is getting frustrated with the brother rift.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to stockpile pillows and socks. My hope is that I will not get to the end of the pile and thus have only the remote left to get out frustrations. Of course, maybe tonight is the turnaround - the first episode this season that's completely "throw stuff" free.
ReplyDelete- I don't have a problem with his acting. He's supposed to be playing a very damaged individual who is pretending to be the person he used to be before he left. His character is equal parts awkward, charming, unnerving, and distant. That seems about right to me considering what the character went through and what he's pretending to be.
ReplyDelete- People are going to keep showing up to his parties regardless of his attitude because he's part of a rich, influential family. There will always be people drawn to that and those who would like to take advantage of that any way they can.
- "Regardless, he is abrasive and difficult and a complete jerk to everybody all the time"
I don't find that to be the case at all. To me it seems that in one scene he'll be sensitive and decent and the next his back to being cold and abrasive. That seems like par for the course considering his situation.
-"He is also a hero of the super variety, can't they find anything redeemable to give him as a personality?"
I'm not sure what you're expecting here. The guy is messed up. Any lesser person in his situation would have suffered a complete mental break. He spent five years being traumatized and living as a very primal individual. Oliver isn't going to be a sensitive, empathetic, affable guy overnight. If that were ever to happen it would take a long time. Oliver is trying or at least he seems to be. I don't think any of the characters could ask any more of him than that right now.
I think you make a number of rational observations as to the nature of being tormented etc etc. But none of those make me like him and if I don't like the main character what's the point?
ReplyDelete1) It is incredibly difficult to make those kind of characters "heroic" that's why Homeland wouldn't work without Damien Lewis' ability to walk the line between dangerous, damaged, terrorist, and good guy somewhere. I'm not getting both sides, I'm barely getting any side. He walks around trying to talk in a gruff voice and I get no emotions past that. I'm sorry, but I have yet to see sensitive--even when he is telling girl who (I think) he loves that he can't be with her. Where was the regret? Where was the angsty face? Turn on any show on the WB/CW for the last 15 years and you will find someone showing you how to do it.
2) I think they are asking too much of a crap actor and a crap script. They need to scale it back. The writing and the acting and everything is taking itself so seriously and forgetting that it's a comic book hero. They can't keep acting like it's Apocalypse Now when a dude with a two-tone foam mask walks into the tent.
3) The vigilante thing I think is because the cops are really the only ones talking about it. Arrow says it, I think, sarcastically, but that could be his "I agree with them and hate the lies I tell" voice. But that runs into the issue I have with having the only consistent antagonist to Arrow being Harry Dresden and he's not done anything bad, he's right. So it is really hard to make him anti-heroic.
4) He isn't supposed to be a lesser person: He is supposed to be a superhero!
I keep trying to like the show. I should like the show. It should be better than Smallville and Beauty and the Beast. It has a great tone, it looks right, but it is just so bad, and if I watch one more fight scene where the two stunt guys miss each by miles and still act like they landed a punch, I'm going to scream. Kristin Kreuk should not have better fight scenes than these people. Because they are trying so hard and all the cracks are showing.
It seems as though this is one of those instances where we'll just see things differently. Except for the jacked-up fight scenes. I agree that some of those have been substandard. Once Nikita eventually gets canceled, Arrow should hire that show's fight and stunt coordinators.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I'm just so frustrated by the show because on paper I should be head over heels for it and it isn't hitting home :( and I just can't figure out why. It's making me tetchier at the show than even the show's failings can account for. Sorry.
ReplyDelete