Arrow: Season 1 [DVD] [2012] [2013]

Thoroughly enjoyed this series, the pilot got me hooked, with its Dark Knight gritty, taught style, and the pulsating action. The story centres around young rich spoiled brat Oliver Queen's transformation into the dark and damaged vigilante the Arrow after he was shipwrecked on a remote island in the south china seas for 5 years.He has a promise to keep to his dying father to make right the wrongs of his father upon the people of Starling city.Throughout we are bombarded with intrigue, family secrets, loyalty, betrayal, vengeance, love triangles, and many twists and turns to keep you hooked on every single episode.For me it was like reading a thrilling book that I couldn't put down, I couldn't switch the dvd player off until I had watched the lot!I particularly liked the flashbacks to the island where we slowly watch the rich play boy grow up, what he has to do in order to survive, and why he becomes the damaged and driven character that he is,Stephen Amell makes a very engaging handsome hero, physically the part as well as brooding and simmering, secretive and detached, keeping just the right amount of emotional tension. All the characters work well, it's very well cast, and the storylines are excellent, and I loved seeing familiar faces in the episodes such as Ben Browder of Farscape and SG1 ,James Callis of Battlestar Galactica, and my particular favourite Manu Bennett of Spartacus fame.All the family can watch this,and if you like the world of the super hero with plenty of action, classic and strange baddies, a dash of romance, and surprising twists and turns then you can't go wrong with this. have ordered series 2 and can't wait!

Like a lot of people, I was more than sceptical about a TV series which set out to re-tell the story of one of the less famous members of the DC Universe and so I was not expecting much when I watched the Pilot episode. I could not have been more wrong. The acting is not great, but it is not terrible either - the storylines are engaging and the end of every episode leaves you with a startling revelation about one of the central characters.Oliver Queen has returned to Starling City with the words of his father ringing in his ears "Right my Wrongs, make it better" and he sets out to do exactly that. First on his own, then with the help of his bodyguard and a savvy, yet slightly ditzy computer whizz working for his father's company. Most episodes link events in the now with recollections of the then, as Oliver remembers his time on the island, how he was rescued, betrayed, rescused again and eventually how he loses ones mentor only to gain two others.We meet characters from both his past and present including Deathstroke, Deadshot, China White, the Dark Archer and towards the end a young, street-wise kid who will soon become the Arrow's sidekick.The dynamic relationship between him and his mother, sister, girlfriend, best friend and other characters is kept ticking over nicely, all coming togather in the explosive season finale.Personally, this is a series which if they don't spoil the mix of action and drama should go for several seasons - SEason Two is already set to inttroduce the characters of Barry Allen aka The Flash and Black Canary and others from the DC Universe are also set to make an appearance.Cannot wait to see how things develop in Season Two ...

the best that could actually happen to a TV series. Arrow is quite a fantastic entertainment and to be recommended.Starting of with seeing a man to be rescued from an Island, it turns out that Oliver Queen is still alive and coming back home. Not wasting time, he is starting to right the wrongs of his father, Robert Queen. The well placed flashbacks Oliver has are deepening the story line and look quite logical whenever he is doing something. It makes it more 'realistic' for a show which is a very good feature, especially since so many other series are just some boring rip offs or anything - the hero can do this, he can do that, but why? where did he learn that, etc...The story is relatively dark but it has its nice and funny moments too. It is also very intriguing to see how each and every episode ends. With every episode you are practically moving closer to the TV/LapTop until you fall off your seat and you're still watching because you can't be bothered.The icing of that series are the other comic book characters. It is nice to see that they have not been forgotten.The actor playing Deathstroke is kind of funny looking, if you ask me. Whenever Oliver has one of his flashbacks it makes me smile seeing Slade Wilson being a 'tough' guy. Don't know why, but I cannot take him serious. He is trying so hard, but I somehow only feel sorry for him...Anyway, aside from all the funny moments, there are some scenes where I am thinking: what the heck? I mean, okay, Oliver returned from an island after five years of torture, wohoo... and then he's hellbent to work his way through his father's list. I get that, but what is this back and forth with Laurel and he other girls. He surely had to learn that not everybody can be saved, right? Oh, and since I'm already at it... why is every girl a friggin' model? Even the IT nerd? Really? Get a grip, guys. That's so not believable at all - even for a series.Whatever they were thinking, the action is amazing, the stunts are stunning, the plot is acceptable, the idea is good. There are always thinks one can complain about, but all in all, it is a good series.I personally am not into series much - tried the Walking dead, but was not that amazed by it - but now I spend my time watching this series till late and I totally think it's worth it - even when it means to laugh about Deathstroke...