‘Arrow’ premiere review: Fire away

When we first wrote about the “Arrow” pilot earlier this summer, we really did not have anything negative to say about it at all. This was a fun, creative show that did something that few superhero shows have been able to do over the past few years: actually give a popcorn movie feel to the small screen, even with a much smaller budget.

What we were not able to talk about until now, though, was something that has us excited about the future of this series: Oliver Queen (who is never actually called “The Green Arrow” or “Arrow” in the pilot) is actually being hunted by his own mother and her new lover. It’s hard to feel safe when the dangers are coming from within the comfort of your own home, and this is something that will likely be ratcheted up a few notches throughout the rest of the season.

As for some other reasons why this may be one of the best new shows of the season, you have to give some serious credit here to Stephen Amell. He’s not just a great Oliver, but he’s also a great hero. You legitimately believe that he is someone capable of playing both roles, and there are even some superhero movies (including “Batman & Robin”) where it does not work as well. Katie Cassidy is also pretty strong in a role that could potentially become the Black Canary at some point during the show’s run … even though we hope that the show opts not to rush the transition.

Really, what’s not to like here? The pilot has plenty of action, drama, a nice storytelling mechanism focusing on Oliver’s past on the island while at the same time showing us the present. Hopefully, this will be the show that actually gives The CW some hope this season, especially after some of their terrible ratings elsewhere.

Did you love this pilot as much as we did? Be sure to share some more of your thoughts below!