Arrow Season 1 vs Season 2

Now that we have come to the end of the second season of Arrow, I think it is a good time to compare it to the first season.

The first season had a lot of potential, however, it lacked good villains. I know what you guys are saying "Oh but they are setting the plot". True but the lack of good villains resulted in decent but not great story telling. In the second season, the villains are really good. We have Slade as Deathstroke, assassins from the league of Assassins and Clock King just to name a few. The addition of these villains raised the stakes of th eshow and put everyone's life at risk which is what the viewers want to see.

Another thing that the second season does better than its predecessor is character development. In this season, we see Laurel's downward spiral into a drunk and than rising up to her feet, a stronger person. Oliver also changes as he has to face tougher opponents as well as take care of his family and everyone he loves. He also has to overcome the fact that Slade is after him for events that occurred 5 years ago.

Another genius thing that season 2 of Arrow did was the introduction of the character Sara or Black Canaary. Sara has charm, character and is enjoyable on screen. This is surprising has in season 1, Arrow did not handle secondary characters that well. Another character that has improved a lot is Felicity. While just a computer geek in the first season, she acts as Oliver's moral compass in season 2. She helps Oliver stay on the right path and helps Oliver get through tough situations by stating that it isn't his fault.

All in all, season 2 of Arrow was a far superior show as compared to the first season with better characters, more development and finally better villains.

References:
Picture from: http://images.aido.com/0/images/product/DVD07952_630x930.jpg
AND
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2013/10/15/419787-arrow-season-2-episode-2-black-canary-bronze-tiger-in-oliver-queen-s-s.jpg

Arrow Season 2 Episode 22: Streets of Fire

This week's episode of Arrow set the tone for the finale next week. This week's episode answered many of the questions and had many returning characters. One of them was Sarah. Sarah return was very welcome as she is one of the characters that has added a lot of character to the show. Sarah saves Laurel from a  mirakuru injected solider an Laurel reveals that she knows that Sarah is the black Canary. However, Sarah is depressed that she is an assassin and can never change as she is a demon. Laurel says that she can change and that she is actually a hero in her eyes. We see the change as Sarah saves a child from a burning building and is called a hero by the child's mother.

Meanwhile, detective Lance finally regains his badge and gets the police involved with the Arrow in order to save the city from utter destruction. What is more, detective Lance is finally able to meet his daughters who are not fighting with each other for once. Additionally, this season sees the return of Season 1 villain Malcolm Merlyn who saves Thea from a thug, however, Thea states that she doesn't need his help and that he has nothing to offer. Eventually, she releases her anger and shoots Malcolm. Probably not the reunion, Malcolm was expecting with his daughter.

After standout performance was Felicity. Oliver was again thinking was surrendering and throwing in the towel claiming that everything that is happening is his fault and that he has failed the city. Felicity gets angry with Oliver and states that if he was not there, countless villains would be roaming the city and that he always finds a way to overcome his enemies.

After last week's warning to Sebastian, we could sense that he was going to be betrayed by Slade and that is exactly what happened. Sebastian learnt the hard way that he was just a pawn in Slade plan and that he was no longer needed and could be disposed of. Sebastian does have some redemption as he steals the mirakuru cure from Slade and gives it to Oliver and gives him a way to equalize the playing field.

With that all said and done, I do not know what to expect from the finale. The city is still in ruins and Slade still has an army under his command. Also if Oliver doesn't finish the fight before dawn, the entire city will be blown up in order to stop the mirakuru injected soldiers from leaving the city. To find out what happens in the finale and the conclusion of season 2 of Arrow, tune in next week. As always a preview of next episode is available below:

References
Image from: http://static2.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Arrow-season-2-episode-22-synopsis-stills.jpg
Video from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTACdGNCkec&src_vid=AD9c7diaQJM&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_1151466461

Game of Thrones- First of his name

Another episode down and this show is more intense every week. This episode involved so much it was crazy. Daenerys has learnt that every slave has freed have now become re-enslaved, making her question her abilities to rule the iron throne. this then leads her to the decision to stay in Meereen and rule there for the time being and in king's landing, Tommen is named king.

Lord Peter Baelish and Sansa Stark arrive safely at the bloody gate. Sansa is pleased to finally be safe and in her aunts protection and is quickly settled in. We then watch as Lysa persuades Lord Bealish into marrying her by revealing information that he has previously convinced her to carry out his dirty work. Later that evening Lysa questions Sansa as to why Lord Baelish is so protective of her, implying that she has been sleeping with him. She quickly assures her that is not the case and is then told she will wed Lysa's son, Robin, realising that she has escaped one hell to be introduced to another.

Happy TV shows!

All in all this was an exciting epsiode! stay tuned for next week.

References:
Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4555JFLZuA

Arrow Season 2 Episode 21 - City of Blood

It is not surprising that Arrow delivers another good episode. However what is surprising is ability of the writers to produce great content whilst still being relatively faithful to the comics. This time the episode started with the funeral of Moira Queen who was previously murdered by Slade. It appears that Oliver has run away as he is not present at the funeral. Sebastian Blood (Brother Blood), now mayor after the death of Moira is at the funeral and gives Thea his condolences. It is here that Laurel feels that Sebastian has a ulterior plan for being present at the party. She asks her father to have a look into Sebastian's computer to find any evidence of foul play. They found out that the speech that Sebastian said when becoming mayor was written one day before the death of Moira, leading them to believe that Sebastian was in leagues with Slade.

Meanwhile, Diggle and Felicity find Oliver who is mourning after the death of his mother. He states that he has failed and that everything that he had, Slade has taken take away from him. He makes the decision to finish this and give himself up to Slade, ending this. While his crew disagree, Oliver is firm on that decision. However, before he can give himself up, he is shot with a sleeping dart. He wakes up back in the den with his team and Laurel surrounding him. Laurel tells Oliver that he cannot just give up and has to find a way to fight back. She also tells him that Blood is in league with Slade.

Oliver visits Blood for his celebratory dinner and both Oliver and Blood exchange identities (Oliver being Arrow and Blood being Brother Blood). Oliver and his team locate the place where Blood is making a super army and decide to take it down. Having reached the place, Oliver tries to destroy the place, however, he is detected and surrounded by the super soldiers. He shoots an arrow which brings part of the building down and than there is a fade to black.

This episode gave a very Batman vibe where the city has gone to ruin and the hero is outclassed and out numbered. This episode was also setting things up for the final two episodes which look to be great. I don't know if they are going to resolve the Deathstroke plot this season, but if they do, it will sadden me as he is such a good villain But, there is only one way to find out what's going to happen next and that is to watc hteh next episode of Arrow!!! To wet your appretise, there is a preview of the episode below.

References:
Image from: http://d1mxyp5ceukbya.cloudfront.net/photogallery/images/zap-arrow-season-2-episode-21-city-of-blood-ph-001
Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZI0oerwV5U