New Yolk Times: Thoughts on ARROW

We are almost done with our series countdown and for the second to the last, I will be talking about the fourth season of Arrow. Arrow has been my favorite TV series and I absolutely love talking about it here on my blog. If it weren't for this series, we would not have The Flash, Supergirl, The Legends of Tomorrow, and other DC TV shows going nuts around media.

How To Be a Vigilante

DISCLAIMER: This post is strictly satirical and not meant to be taken seriously.

For some reason, being a vigilante is so much cooler than being an actual superhero. Technically, you are still a superhero, but with an air of mystery enveloped around you. In short, it kinda sounds badass. The downside is that you can be considered a threat to not just the bad guys, but to also the good guys. To the public, you are creep in a mask with a hidden agenda. But being a vigilante still looks cool. So here are five ways to become one.

1.) Wear a costume with dark colors.
We've seen Batman, Green Arrow, Daredevil, and the Punisher. Now what do they all have in common? Dark hues. Their costumes do not involve rainbow patterns; they involve camouflage emo colors. It's quite understandable why, since they are also viewed as the masters of deception. They know how to blend well with their surroundings, since vigilantes mostly work at the night time. Don't go for the bright ones like Spiderman. Just look where it led him; now he has to save Mary Jane all the time.

2.) Ignore the need to sleep.
If you think vigilantes are nocturnal, then you're wrong. Vigilantes need to be active during the day too because sleeping in every single day would be too suspicious. Either they will be seen as hardcore party-goers or masked vigilantes. Kinda makes sense right? As much as we need sleep, remember...sleep is for the weak. Vigilantes also lead double lives, which they need to cater to equally. Kinda explains why Oliver Queen demands too much coffee from Felicity, right?

3.) Get a depressing backstory.

As told by Batman. Depressing backstories always have a tinge of the injustice element and this triggers the vigilante's need to put on an awesome suit and save the world...or city. Basically, it's your motive. The reason you need to act crazy and beat up random robbers who are obviously living their own vigilante escapade.

4.) Sneer at the idea of a social life.

Because delivering justice is so much more important than going to your friends' average party. However you still do need to attend social events, but you need to hate it because you seriously have other more important things to do. Or at least pretend to hate it. Also, no love life. That would take a turn for the worst. Isn't that right, Spiderman?

5.) Never EVER kill

It's the vigilante code to never kill. It completely messes up one's psyche. So it would be the best idea to avoid killing. However, this code is still debatable since a lot of vigilantes broke this code. Unfortunately.

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And that is it! Sorry if it's real short. Consider this as an appetizer for an even better and bigger post that will be up in the nearby future. For now, till the next post~

Fangirl Moment! Arrow Season 4 TRAILER

As you all know, the trailer for Arrow Season 4 has just been released online! For those who haven't seen or would like to relive the awesomeness again, simply click this video!

I will not be doing the typical breaking down, but I will express the things I am (and not) looking forward to, this season.

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First off, this would be my first time saying that I am excited for Ollicity this season! CW cleverly placed cute moments between the two at the very beginning of the trailer. Although I am questioning how they are able to afford a decent house in a decent neighborhood (which is the American Dream), but I am looking forward to what kind of physics--I mean, chemistry they are going to have together.

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Let's not forget Thea Queen, who's finally going to take the helm of Speedy! We get to see more of her in this trailer, compared to how much we've seen Roy Harper in the last three seasons. And yes, perhaps it has something to do with Thea being the major character. In my opinion, Thea has had the most complex yet the most interesting character development in this series by far. The difference between the old and new Thea is drastic. Also, I never forgotten what everyone in Arrow said about Lazarus pit. Nobody comes out the same. Shortly after Thea was revived, she returned to her usual state, only in a groggy form. I was kind of expecting for something twisted to happen for Thea for that season, but I slightly miscalculated that part. Now, I am excited to know what kind of struggle she is going to have for this season.

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I have to admit, but Ra Al Ghul was kind of a drag last season. But when I saw Damien Darhk make an appearance, I kinda got my hopes up. If Ra Al Ghul never left his little nest till the end of Season 3, Damien is quite the opposite. His character is so out there, and there are many contrasts you can make with his character and with Ra Al Ghul's. For one thing, he's not wearing dramatic robes to emphasize how serious of a character he is. Rather, he looks like your average, charismatic, smart businessman. Also, he's not wearing dramatic robes for a bit of flare. So I have a good feeling about this character. Or at least, I am going to like him more than Ra Al Ghul.

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Another thing I am looking forward to is the drama occurring in Nanda Parbat. First, we see the tension between Nyssa and Malcolm Merlyn, who is now the new Ra Al Ghul. I am so glad that Nyssa will be returning for season 4 because that means I get to see her finally reaching her breaking point as a character. In other words, I just want her to stand up for herself and fight for the title that was always meant to be hers to begin with! I mean come on, when we first met her, she kept rubbing it in to everybody that she is the heir to the demon. I think it is time for Nyssa to shine and become the ultimate badass. 

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With that aside, I think things between her and Malcolm will get even more messy when Sara Lance also gets revived from the Lazarus Pit. Thanks to the teasers of Legends of Tomorrow, the next DC TV masterpiece, we already know for sure that Sara will never be the same. But whatever, I am excited to see her return! She's my favorite character in the series, and I do not care if she becomes evil. She's just so awesome. Also, it would be interesting to see Caity Lotz take on an antagonistic role, since I am pretty much used to seeing her as an extra in couple of dance movies and random TV series. But I am still confused which Lazarus Pit she will appear in. The trailer looked like she was revived in Nanda Parbat, but Legends of Tomorrow showed a completely different version of it. So yeah, hopefully that will clear up.

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We also get a new set of heroes this season. And so far, we got to see  Mr. Terrific  and the almighty Constantine!  It's already a given who Constantine is, since he's the exact same one we all know from the recent DC TV series that got canceled. Well, I haven't seen the series yet, but hopefully this strategy will somehow make Arrow the Lazarus Pit for the Constantine Series (hehe). Yeah, basically I'm assuming they think that another DC crossover might help create more buzz for Constantine, and that a couple of demands for a reboot or revival shall follow. It's a good idea and I actually hope it works. Arrow is kinda the reason why The Flash is now on the top of its game, so it won't hurt to try again.

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For those who haven't the slightest idea who Mr. Terrific is, he's the new partner of Felicity Smoak. And he's also an old DC classic, and he's known to be quite the martial arts expert. Based on his history, there were two personas who took the title of Mr. Terrific, but season 4 shall be following the story of Curtis Holt (originally Michael Holt, in the comics). The mystery of who currently owns Palmer Tech, has still not yet been unraveled.

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There are also things I am very unsure about. Let's start off with the obvious; Laurel Lance.  I get it, I've been defending her in this blog for quite some time, but I'm getting worried. In the trailer, we see her taking initiative to go to Oliver and Felicity. So my guess is that she slowly becomes the second-in-command in Team Arrow. However, I still think it is too early for Laurel to jump into becoming a solid badass character. Up till now, I still have a hard time seeing her as the Black Canary. So I'm really hoping her character development will go smoothly. It will not be rushed nor be slowed.

For the first time, I'm dreading the next phase of Oliver's past. He took a ship to Coastal City from Hong Kong (which is near my country omg). So yeah, it is safe to say his next destination is the home of Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern or another major DC character in the Justice League. Honestly, I kinda bought the idea that Oliver was able to survive in a remote island for five years because, for one simple reason. It's not an ordinary island. As seen in the past seasons, it has been set as the facility for random evil stuff. That alone gave Oliver enough exposure to what kind of shit has been happening. So if you ask me, I'm more on the "so-so" scale with him moving from one place to another for five years. I'm concerned that this subplot of him surviving will slowly deteriorate and it will become a chore to watch, even if his past will somehow have something to do with his future problems in season 4. 

I'm scared for all characters, basically. By the end of season 3, a lot of people already know who Oliver Queen is and Team Arrow gets bigger and bigger. And we get to see what kind of impact it gives to the characters. My concern is how the writers will handle such effects on the characters, because most of them have already reached their breaking points (Felicity, Laurel, and Thea, to name a few), and character development from there can be the most difficult part to mold. If its mishandled, the character's essence can slowly saturate and ultimately become overrated or boring. My fear grew when I saw Diggle in his new costume. I don't know what they have in mind for Diggle, but hopefully it won't be over the top. Because right now, he's seen as this guy who intended to carry on the hero work Oliver left, and that kinda doesn't make sense for me. The last time we all saw Diggle, he was slightly pissed at Oliver for not letting him on the plan he had all along. That alone was reasonable, because he has a family and he also cares about the other members in Team Arrow. Diggle getting on that elevator gave me the impression that he would lay low and not handle vigilante work for a while, because he kinda had enough. Then this trailer came and I got slightly confused.

Anyway, that is all I have to say for the trailer. Hopefully season 4 will pick up the pace and be much better than the third. Till the next post~

Fangirl Moment! THE FLASH AND ARROW EPIC CROSSOVER PART 2

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AND WE ARE BACK! Now it's time to talk about the second half of the greatest DC crossover of all time!

In Arrow, we finally get to know Captain Boomerang, whose motive is to murder Lyla, the ex-wife of John Diggle. Team Flash decided to drop by for a visit and eventually decided to help them with their mission whilst fangirling over their stuff. Is there another rivalry in this episode? Not so much. This time we see a conflict between the Flash and Arrow. Now time to talk about what I enjoyed in this episode.

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1.) Cisco "I want to see the toys," said Cisco. He was just so freakin' adorable in this episode! He reminds you of this eager little boy that you would normally see in a toy shop, and Caitlin is like the mother who is willing to give him anything he wants. Cisco is my spirit animal whenever I watch my fandoms and I just love how he fanboyed over everything including Thea, surprisingly. Also, the brand new gear he gave Oliver was awesome right?!

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2.) The Contrast Between the Two Shows This is clearly seen when Barry questions the way Oliver interrogates people. Other than that, we see how overwhelmed Team Flash is with the works of Team Arrow. The two shows are almost complete opposites. Aside from the fact that they're both based on DC Comics, they have different auras. The Flash is the light, and Arrow is the dark. So far, The Flash has not revealed any tragic deaths and psychotic murders (but I will be expecting that very soon). And compared to Arrow, the metahumans they take down seem almost harmless. So it is amusing to see Cisco and Caitlin react to the terrors of Starling City. As for Barry, I applaud him for telling Oliver off. It is not the first time that this happened, but it still felt refreshing to hear a mini sermon gain from another DC Superhero.

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3.) Captain Boomerang He may be a psycho, but I gotta hand it to him...he was so awesome in this episode! I love how he fights and how he acts! I never thought you could fight and kill people with boomerangs. This guy definitely pulled it off.

4.) "Sweetie" Finally after so long... DIGGLE AND LYLA ARE OFFICIALLY GETTING HITCHED! I ship them so much and I really hope nothing bad happens to any of them. May the gods forbid.

5.) The Arsenal Outfit receiving recognition Roy seriously looks like a wounded puppy in season 3. So it is really good to know that he's receiving some positive recognition for his suit. Not only that, I can see Roy improving here, even if it was just a little. Gosh, either way, I'm so proud!

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Now for the things I didn't like

1.) Laurel's appearance Seriously Laurel? You only approached Oliver just to ask if he was in Central City? That's it?

If you're seriously going to ask me which episode I like the best, then I am going to have to give it to Arrow. It sounds biased, but I can assure you it isn't. First of all, I got to appreciate all of the characters of Team Arrow and Team Flash. Unlike in the Flash, I did not get to see much of Diggle. Also, the conflict between Barry and Oliver seemed more personal in the Arrow crossover. At least, for me. Look at the bright side, Speedster viewers; Team Flash managed to own this episode. Not to worry though, the Flash crossover was still thrilling for me, and I adore the show as much as I adore Arrow. Overall, this 2-part epic crossover still feels like a dream. It's the best thing that has ever happened to my fangirl life, and I wish they will be able to make more of this. You hear me, writers? Make more of this, because it is too awesome!

Fangirl Moment! THE FLASH AND ARROW EPIC CROSSOVER PART 1

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I am probably too late to express my opinions on the most epic crossover of all time, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

IT WAS AWESOME!

But let us take this one step at a time. Of course, let's begin with Round 1, The Flash vs. Arrow

Now both episodes involve a whole lot of teamwork and before watching the first part, the fact that they're going to team up against their baddies made me so excited (as usual). And most of the trailers was purely dominated by the crossover episode of The Flash. Articles even revealed the synopsis of the show ahead of time. Anyway, in this episode we see these two heroes go up against Rainbow Raider (a.k.a. Nyan Cat), who is a metahuman that has the ability to manipulate negative emotions and uses this skill to rob banks. I know, it sounds like every typical comic book story but there's more! So allow me to share what I loved in the first half.

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1.) The Superiority The tension between Flash and Arrow starts when Barry questions Oliver Queen during training. By this time, Rainbow Raider has already injected the feeling of anger into Barry's veins. However we see the question of superiority here; basically we start to wonder who is better than who. Up till now, I can't seem to answer that question. Barry has the superpowers that I would love to have, however he does not have the level of experience that Oliver has. Oliver, on the other hand, has the experience and the conviction, skills, and maybe the supplies come along with that. Although he seems to have everything (except Felicity), can he really defeat a Speedster with just trick arrows? 

2.) Iris Fangirling I don't know why but I found this incredibly adorable.

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3.) Eddie as the Quentin Lance of The Flash In the first season of Arrow, we had to deal with Detective (now Captain, excuse me) Lance chasing the Arrow and trying to stop him. I thought there won't be such a thing in The Flash, until Eddie Thawne expressed his uneasiness about the Scarlet Speedster. It's either because the writers cannot think of anything else better for him to do or perhaps this event will lead to a much more important element of the series in the nearby future (I can hear people yelling he's Professor Zoom from a distance). I'm not a huge fan of Eddie, but I appreciate the fact that he's slowly having substance. And if the writers has surprised me enough during the first two seasons of Arrow, then they can certainly whip up a huge surprise for Eddie Thawne. Plus, he has the same surname as Malcolm Thawne, who happens to be the twin brother of Barry in the comics, and Eobard Thawne, who is also known as.... gasp!

4.) Iris giving up on the Flash Okay, maybe a lot of you did not like Iris in this episode, but I did. For me, I think it is best for her to lay off for a while, because she is slowly turning into a Lois Lane clone (not that I have anything against the love interest of Superman, but come on...I want something new). I consider this as another way for her to be drawn to the Flash. Yes, her reasons for not forgiving the Flash may not be that justifiable but as much as we all hate to admit it, she genuinely loves Eddie at the moment. And I am sure if you have a hot boyfriend that you love right now, you would not be too happy if he gets beaten up by someone "you don't know" (I mean, Iris somehow knows The Flash, she just does not know it is Barry).

5.) Team Arrow's goodbye to Team Flash I don't know why, but seeing them all together gave me chills. Just imagine me as an excited Cisco. His dopey smile has been my expression throughout the entire episode. Also, I find it amusing that Joe can still get along with someone like Ollie. And this is Ollie we're talking about, he's not so lucky with cops to begin with. And I found Oliver very endearing when he told Barry that he can talk to him about anything. Also this is a sign that this will not be the last time that they will be doing this.

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6.) Diggle's Reaction to Barry His face was super priceless. Words cannot describe with how amused I am with Diggle in this episode.

Okay, now lemme tell you what I did not like about this episode

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1.) Iris giving up on the Flash I liked at the same time disliked this part. What made this scene a bit off for me was the fact that she did not really hear what Barry had to say. Although there is the possibility that she does not have enough knowledge about the extent of Metahuman powers, it still does not change the fact that her reasons were not so reasonable. Also, this is another rip-off scene for me. I mean, if you are a Speedster viewer who has also seen Arrow, then maybe Iris finally seeing The Flash as someone dangerous is somehow familiar to you. To help you refresh your memory a bit, this starts with an L and she's one of the most hated characters in Arrow. That's right...this is almost like the scene in the first season of Arrow, where Laurel Lance (who is the primary love interest of Oliver Queen) saw The Arrow kill for the first time. This made Laurel look at Arrow (and eventually Oliver) in a completely different and terrified way. 

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2.) The Flash vs. Arrow Sorry! I was sort of disappointed with this scene. The fight felt like a round of Injustice: Gods Among Us minus the part where Joe and Dr. Wells come in with the van. The fight between Arrow and Flash was somehow personal, since Rainbow Raider can somehow release your inner anger and in this case Barry seemed to be expressing all the anger he's been trying to keep for so long. But I think it lacked the extreme factor that I was looking for. Although watching the teams take sides was funny, I wished the fight had a little bit more thrill. Heck, their training seemed more exciting than this.

3.) Dr. Wells Knowing Everything Ooooh! He knows the Arrow's real identity, woooh!!! What else is new?

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4.) The Appearance of Ronnie/Firestorm Thanks to Robbie Amell's posts about him being Firestorm, I am not that surprised anymore. But I can't wait for him to make an official appearance in the show, though.

And that is all I have for the first part of this epic crossover! I will post about Arrow tomorrow, and let's see if there is such thing as a "better" episode (and who really won in this Flash vs. Arrow crossover). Till the next post~

Let's Review! The Women of Arrow

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It's been a while since I did posts about Arrow. But I am extremely excited about the crossover event which will happen in less than a week! To express my excitement, I'd like to talk more about Arrow. In my last post regarding Bash Crime and Women Empowerment, I mentioned that one of the many things I love about this show are the female characters. They're not just purely badass, but they have so many qualities that we both love and hate. Also, Oliver Queen dated most of these women, so it will not be hard to tell what type of woman he's into. Let's remember some of these notable ladies, shall we?

Helena Bertinelli
Also known as: The Huntress
Portrayed by: Jessica De Gouw
She is my ultimate woman crush in the series. I mean, look at her. Aesthetically, she is gorgeous. Jessica De Gouw is extremely charming, which matches the character of Huntress very nicely. Have you listened to her American Accent (Jessica is Aussie, by the way)? It is divine! She made Huntress looked like the insane Succubus in sweet angel's clothing. She may not have completely nailed Helena, but she definitely portrayed her in a new and refreshing way. But at least she was able to maintain the main core of this character, which is her vengeful spirit. If you mess with the Huntress, then she will stop at nothing to kill you. Not even her good friends can stop her. At the same time, she can still her maintain her sultry-like charm.

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Mckenna Hall
Also known as: The Detective Woman who was actually assigned to arrest her own boyfriend
Portrayed by: Janina Gavankar
Yeah, we did not get to see much of her in season 1, which is such a shame. For one thing, I had no idea that women in the precinct could be this gorgeous. Also, it is quite interesting to know that she was a good friend of Oliver's, but she was also the one assigned to track him down. So what does Mr. Queen do? Date her of course! And in spite of her short appearances, it is a given that she is amazing at her job. Sadly, at the end of the arc, she seemed like a wrench in the works so people will continue to guess who the Arrow is supposed to end up with.

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Chien Na Wei
Also  known as: China White
Portrayed by: Kelly Hu
All we know is that she worked for the triad. That's it. She remains a mystery to us all (unless you read the comics). The question is, who is she and what's her deal? More importantly, will she come back and kick ass?

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Amanda Waller
Also known as: The Scary Woman in ARGUS
Portrayed by: Cynthia Addai Robinson
Okay, every woman can certainly throw a bitchfit. But if you ask me, this is one woman that I do not want to mess with. Heck, I do not even want to encounter this woman. For some reason, she has the power of an almighty pharaoh. She can take away everything you love and want with just one word. She reminds me of Kuvira, because her methods are beyond radical. When she has a goal, she puts her mind to it and she will make certain that it is achieved, even if it means taking away innocent lives. I am terrified and amazed by this woman.

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Isabel Rochev
Also known as: Ravager
Portrayed by: Summer Glau
Another woman to be terrified of. The only reason why she wanted to ruin Oliver's life is simply because his dad--who happened to be her ex-lover, by the way--chose Thea and his family over her. I guess the Queens have the knack of attracting psychopaths. And this girl is definitely a psychopath. She cleverly used all her cards just so she can get her hands on Queens Consolidated by acting as a passionate businesswoman that wants to prove to everyone that she can handle a huge and popular company. It worked perfectly, even I fell for it. And I thought it was just going to end there, but no. She had to get Mirakuru and turned into this insane killing machine. Plus, seeing her smile will give you chills on your spine and it is not the good kind. Sure, I've seen her smile and laugh during bloopers, but it still makes me feel uneasy.

Nyssa Al Ghul
Also known as: *says it in her voice* Daughter of Ra Al Ghul, Heir to the Demon
Portrayed by: Katrina Law
We all know who she is. She would never stop introducing herself as the daughter of the almighty leader of the League of Assassins. Not only that, it is revealed that she is not only a fighter but an intense lover. If any overly-attached girlfriend in the planet underwent the same training as her, then I pity the boyfriends and the girlfriends. Let's admit it, Nyssa can be quite clingy. She wouldn't kidnap Sara's mother for no reason. It's just her way of forcing her ex to come back to her.

Shado
Also known as: Shado
Portrayed by: Celina Jade
Shado is what you call an overachiever. She's a lawyer, a pre-med student, knows martial arts, bilingual (I think), excellent huntress, philosophical (in a way), and she has the looks that gave both Deathstroke and the Arrow the boners. And no, she does not have the slightest hint of arrogance in her system. She is actually a very humble person. It's been a while since I encountered a woman who can be a gentle nurse and a fighter. She's almost similar to Mckenna, only Shado had more depth. Her character in the comics was supposed to be the ruthless lover of Robert Queen--Oliver's father--but I am glad that the writers altered her personality into something like this.

Lyla Michaels
Also known as: Harbinger
Portrayed by: Audrey Marie Anderson
I am glad that Diggle has met someone like her. She is literally his other half. They're both into public service, for instance. They met during a war, for crying out loud. Although they have excellent chemistry, I am still wondering why they have this on-and-off relationship in the first place. Lyla is a very well-rounded woman and I think out of all the female characters, she is a person who can stand her ground. It is a given that they have different opinions on world peace or something and that being together while serving the military is not that easy. To make things more complicated, Amanda Waller picked them to be part of the Suicide Squad; but hey, that didn't stop them from having a baby.

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Sara Lance
Also known as: The Canary
Portrayed by: Caity Lotz
Talking about Sara Lance would be a challenge. Why? Because it will take me forever. I would dedicate an entire novel about how amazing she is in season 2. Furthermore, Caity Lotz did most of her own stunts in the series (and she is an excellent dancer. She used to be a back-up dancer in a notable cheerleading film called, "Bring it on: All or Nothing"). Basically, she was my favorite character in the entire series and she was actually the only girl that I totally shipped with Oliver. Only she died a very painful death and up till now, I am deeply upset about it. I was kinda hoping that she would be the Black Canary, but no. Writers have to play with my feels for a little while.

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Thea Queen
Also known as: Speedy
Portrayed by: Willa Holland
She's the character that I wanted to hate, but couldn't. In the first season, she's been acting like Lindsay Lohan mostly because she just wanted some attention from her family. She tries to build up in season two but she didn't like the idea of people lying to her, which is understandable. I gotta say, she had a very interesting character development. Like I can see her change in every season. Now she suddenly became more interesting in the third season, not because she gained some fighting skills but because she is finally becoming a stronger individual. And by that, I mean she is starting to have clearer goals and she is more level-headed than before. She learned to work hard, she decided that she did not want to feel sorry for herself anymore so she decided to do something about it. Even though this lead to her having some father-daughter bonding time with the crazy Malcolm Merlyn, we can still see how much Thea changes as a person.

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Moira Queen
Also known as: Oliver Queen and Thea Queen's diabolical mother
Portrayed by: Susanna Thompson
Like I said before, she displayed a mother's love in a very twisted way. Let's just say she would do anything for her kids, even if it means being a colossal bitch to Felicity Smoak. Unfortunately she was a victim herself. She just got caught in a crossfire between her husband and the people of the Undertaking. When her husband died, she had no choice but to clean up the mess he had made. Fear is evident in her expressions, but she had to swallow it down and do it. All for the sake of her kids. What even surprised me was that she knew what her son was up to for the past two years! I guess mothers do know best.

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Laurel Lance
Also known as: Black Canary
Portrayed by: Katie Cassidy
Yes, I can hear you groaning. But let's cut her some slack, she's been doing really well in season three so far. And I'm going to say this one more time: she is not a terrible character. Yes, she is complicated, but that's what makes her fascinating. She can be irritating, intimidating, loving, and sorrowful to watch all at the same time. Plus her story so far has been interesting. It's complicated, which is exactly like her and that's how it should be. Now it has been established that she is not just going to be your typical lawyer, it makes me wonder how she's going to rekindle the fire between her and Oliver...since they are the canon after all. Sorry Olicity fans.

Felicity Smoak
Also known as: Bitch with Wifi
Portrayed by: Emily Bett Rickards
EVERYONE'S FAVORITE GAL!!! I don't blame you guys, Felicity Smoak is fabulous and she deserves a standing ovation. Although I was not completely impressed with her origin story, I still love her character development. She showed us that she's more than just an awkward I.T. girl. She can threaten bad guys with her tablet and she can give serious pep talks to Oliver Queen. She hesitates, she takes stands, and she can surprise you with her amazing party clothes. Basically she's not just the typical awkward and shy girl that everyone in Arrow thinks. And above all, she has almost every awkward girl's dream: to be wooed and surrounded by very attractive, strong, and intelligent young men. She's got more game than any slut I know.

The Newbies (Just first impressions)

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Carrie Cutter
Also Known As: Cupid
Portrayed by: Amy Gumenick
I never expected Arrow to have a villain who is a mixture of Harley Quinn and Catwoman. But here she is. Believe it or not, her only motive is to make senpai--in this case, it's Oliver--to notice her. I wish I can see her again, because she has definitely sparked my interests. But seriously, what can she do for ARGUS?

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Tatsu Yamashiro 
Also Known As: Katana
Portrayed by: Rila Fukushima
She's a tough cookie with a moist heart. I am dying to know how she became Katana, but I get the feeling that I am going to regret it pretty soon.

Fangirl Moment! Arrow Season 3 and The Flash

This week has been amazing because....

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of Flash and The Arrow!!!

warning: spoilers ahead

That's right! The Flash and Arrow Season 3 showed their very first episodes this week, and both of them are... "cool" (those who watched the pilot episode of The Flash will probably understand). I don't know where to begin, so I think it would be fair to talk about Barry Allen since his show came out first.

I like how it is not so red. (source)

Barry's forensics abilities are superb (source)

Overall, I was satisfied with everything I saw in the first episode of The Flash. For almost a decade, I have been waiting for him to have his own show or movie and lo and behold, this came out. My dream has finally come true, and I don't know what level of happiness I am experiencing right now. Call it a fangirl's mere "feels" explosion, but it is more than that (even though it is just a mere fangirl's mere "feels" explosion). In short, I am just so so SO happy that Flash has his own show. 

Stop acting cute. (source)

There are many things I liked in the pilot episode, and one of them is the deep friendship between Iris and Barry. First off, I'd like to say that it was a bold move for CW to give Iris a completely different appearance. In the comics and some cartoons, Iris is originally a ginger (yes, she is meant to somehow resemble Barry's mom). Most fans would be irritated with changes in appearances, but this is probably the first time I am actually okay with such changes. Perhaps because I was so distracted with the sweet chemistry going on between Iris and Barry. Come on, they look adorable. Even as friends. I just want to tape them together so they can just continue hugging all day long. Apart from that, I am appreciate the appearances of Cisco and Caitlin. For Caitlin...can I just say that she should totally grab some coffee with Helena? As blunt as it sounds, I can totally imagine them talking about their dead fiances. And Cisco is just the cutest thing! Carlos Valdes can be the perfect Leo Valdez because he has completely nailed his character. I can't wait to see more of the two of them. Last but not least, let us not forget Barry's interaction with Oliver. This scene was pretty overwhelming for me because it shows a whole new side of Oliver Queen, and it is awesome! He is so awesome that he deserves a big round of applause. Praise the heavens for such a great scene. But the scenes with Barry Allen in it can certainly top that. Since this is just the first episode, it is hard to say if Grant will be able to complete pin down the character of The Flash. He almost resembles the character of Peter Parker (specifically the one Andrew Garfield is portraying at the moment), however I do not find him too awkward, I just find him hyper and adorkable, which I really like. AND WHEN HE RAN AROUND THAT TORNADO??!??! AWESOMESAUCE! 

AWESOOOME!!! (source)

But what made me love Barry Allen is his witty and cheerful personality, so I am expecting to see more of that in the upcoming episodes. But at least I got to see one trait of him that I see in almost any Flash cartoon, is his capacity to love. For those who have seen the episode, if you haven't felt the slightest thing during his heartfelt conversation with his father, then I feel very bad for you. I think that scene totally defined who Barry Allen truly is as a hero...heck, as a person. It's the scene that makes him separate from any other DC character. His capacity to love is huge and the length of his faith can just go on forever...just like his speed. 

Harrison Wells (source)

Professor Zoom

Now the things I did not like in the Pilot episode... I guess I have to start with Detective Pretty Boy? Not because he stole Iris from Barry, but simply because  he seems too predictable for me. I mean, the moment I saw him, I could already tell that he was going to make a move on Iris at some point, despite the fact of her being a detective's daughter (the father is pretty cool, btw). But one of the major rules of DC is to not ignore any character. So I am still going to watch out for him. Also, I do not like  Professor Zoom Harrison Wells! I may not be a professional actor or theater person, but I think his acting needs a bit more work? Seriously! You discourage Barry from being a hero, then all of the sudden you come back right in and give him the pep talk that Oliver already gave him??? Is that a way to convince the characters that you are not a total party pooper? Aside from that, I think the writers are dropping the plot twist bombs too soon. DC fans who have seen the episode most likely have a good idea on what is going to happen next. Like the newspaper he was viewing in the very last scene. If you are a DC fan and you watched the Pilot, then there is a chance you already know that it is not an ordinary newspaper. (Flashpoint Paradox)

??? (source)

OKAY TIME FOR ARROW!

You have failed this city (source)

The way I understood, nine months (thank you Diggle's ex-wife) have already passed since the second season. I have to admit, I had a really hard time containing my feelings during the first three minutes of the show because everything seemed so perfect and wonderful and I wanted to cry. Not only that, everything is slowly becoming a bit more accurate. Oliver is slowly regaining his jokes (even though they are still not that good), Laurel is hinted to become a part of Team Arrow (sorry haters), and Olicity is just at the margin, but not quite (sorry Olicity fans, but they were never really canon). Call me a fangirl with "feels" explosion, but this episode is too perfect words!

My bae <3 (source)

The things I love about this episode? Probably everything. My favorite scene will always be the very first scene when they took down the bad guy (whoever he was, I can't remember). From Roy's back flip to the random appearances of Team Arrow that intimidated the baddies, seeing them work together is truly a bliss. Heck every fight scene in the  show were incredible. So badass, so awesome. End of story. Like all the positive and ecstatic feelings were being mixed right inside my stomach and reached up till my heart to the point I almost lost my ability to breathe. And Katana's appearance nearly made me squeal! AND RAY PALMER!

Devon Aoki as Katana (source)

Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer (source)

Seeing them completely destroyed my grin because the muscles on my face could not handle the growing width of my smile. I cannot wait to see more of them in the upcoming episodes. Then there's John Diggle's baby girl! She is so adorable, she is like a human chipmunk that I want to cuddle for the remainder of my days (#DaddyDiggle)!!! And at first, I grew so nervous for Diggle because he had a screaming match with Oliver. So I thought maybe he would be leaving Team Arrow at some point. But everything turned out okay, he finally said Oliver was right and that's a first. A major first. And of course, there are the Olicity scenes. I am sure the date has been a scene that every single Olicity fan has been waiting. Also I'm certain that the writers were fully aware of that, so to tease the emotions, they had to cut the date short. Thank you, CW! As of now, I am in the middle of this whole Olicity thing. They were never canon to begin with and I am honestly a hardcore Black CanaryXGreen Arrow shipper. But I also want Olicity to happen, because in this series, Felicity seems like a much better match for Oliver rather than any other girl at the moment (ehem, Laurel, ehem). So as for the conclusion they had, I am actually very happy it ended that way (for now). Because it's realistic, at the same time it pulls on your feels, which I truly enjoy (and don't enjoy, at the same time). But after that episode I am not sure where my shipping loyalties in Arrow lie at the moment. Why? Well let's move on to the only thing I did not like about the episode.

The Canary's Appearance in Season 3 (source)

I understand that Sara was never meant to be The Canary in the first place, but did she really have to be killed off??? I actually love her and she was actually my number one choice for Oliver (besides Felicity). Up till now, I am still trying to process the fact that she died, and that I will never see her in Arrow ever again. A lot of theories has stirred up, regarding who killed her. Many said it was Ra Al Ghul, others said its Malcolm Merlyn, and this just in, someone said it could be Thea (who I am expecting to see in the next episode, by the way). Well whoever killed her, I want Nyssa to wipe the floor with that murderer. Because the killer of Sara Lance is truly an enemy that I will never have sympathy for. Unless its Thea. Oh well. Still, killing her off was not cool. Even if it is for the sake of making Laurel the Black Canary, since she is after the original Black Canary! First the writers made her go back to the League of Assassins, which made me so upset because a part of me knew she will never be on Team Arrow again Then they brought her back and that has given me a small light of hope. But no! They killed her off!!!! The foreshadowing of Sara giving Laurel the leather jacket was better than her murder. Now I don't know if I will be able to recover from this tragedy. She was such an amazing character. 

I guess I went a little overboard with the feels, but now is time to end this post. Before I do, I would like to do a little promoting. Currently my major class is handling a community blog revolving around tourism in the Philippines, and guess what? I want you all to pay a visit! Simply click here  and explore all the beautiful islands of the Philippines. Yes, I am a contributor to the blog and my posts are still under the username Tama-chan. I even have an individual blog called Tama Travels for this project, so you can click there for more detailed posts. The links will soon be available on my sidebar so stay tuned. So that is it and see you on the next post!