Arrow (2012) - Season 1

Arrow is an American action-adventure television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. It is based on the fictional character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. It premiered in North America on The CW on October 10, 2012,with international broadcasting to take place in late 2012.The series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, portrayed by Stephen Amell, who, after five years of being stranded on an uncharted island, returns home to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrows. Arrow will also feature appearances by other DC Comics characters. To assist in promotion, a preview comic book was released to tie into the television series.

On October 22, 2012, Arrow was picked up by The CW for a full season.

Synopsis

The series follows Oliver Queen, billionaire playboy of Starling City, who spends five years stranded on an island following a shipwreck that claims the life of everyone else on board, including his father, Robert Queen, and Sarah Lance, the sister of Oliver's girlfriend. Upon his return to Starling City, he is reunited with his mother, Moira, and her new husband, Walter, the former CFO of his father's company. He is also greeted by his younger sister, Thea, and his best friend, Tommy; Oliver tries to reconnect with ex-girlfriend Laurel Lance, but she blames him for her sister, Sarah's, death. Oliver and Sarah were having an affair at the time of the accident.

During the day, Oliver plays the billionaire playboy; at night, he becomes a green-hooded vigilante, following through with his father's dying wishes to right the wrongs of the Queen family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. Oliver's vigilante persona becomes the focus of Detective Quentin Lance, father to Laurel and Sarah, who is determined to arrest him, unaware of his real identity. Oliver is also constantly flanked by a bodyguard, John Diggle, who suspects Oliver is hiding something under his playboy persona. Moira is also hiding some secrets, as she knows that the family yacht was actually sabotaged.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen/Arrow

Katie Cassidy as Dinah "Laurel" Lance

Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn

David Ramsey as John Diggle

Willa Holland as Thea Queen

Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen

Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance

Recurring cast

Jamey Sheridan as Robert Queen

Colin Salmon as Walter Steele

Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak

Byron Mann

Annie Ilonzeh as Joanna De La Vega

Roger Cross as Lucas Hilton

John Barrowman as "Well-Dressed Man"

Jessica De Gouw as Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress

Genre

Drama

Superhero

Mystery

Action/Adventure

Developed by

Greg Berlanti

Marc Guggenheim

Andrew Kreisberg

Starring

Stephen Amell

Katie Cassidy

Colin Donnell

David Ramsey

Willa Holland

Susanna Thompson

Paul Blackthorne

Composer(s)

Blake Neely

Country of origin

United States

Language(s)

English

No. of seasons

1

No. of episodes

5 (List of episodes)

Production

Executive producer(s)

Greg Berlanti

David Nutter (pilot)

Marc Guggenheim

Andrew Kreisberg

Location(s)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Cinematography

Glen Winter

Camera setup

Single-camera

Running time

43 minutes

Production company(s)

Warner Bros Television

Berlanti Television

DC Comics

Distributor

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Verhaal

Arrow is een serie gebaseerd op het personage Green Arrow, gecreëerd door DC Comics (van ondermeer Superman, Batman, Green Lantern). Green Arrow is in feite miljardair Oliver Queen (het personage was ook te zien in de tv-serie Smallville), een flierefluiter die een losbandig leven leidt. Hoewel hij dood gewaand wordt, wordt hij na vijf jaar ergens gevonden op een verlaten eiland ter hoogte van China. Hij keert terug als een gelouterd man om de misdaad te bestrijden. Dat doet hij aan de hand van zijn nieuw verworven vaardigheiden: Queen is een uitstekend boogschutter. 

Arrow zou een serie zijn met erg veel spectaculaire gevechtsscènes en hoge productiewaarden. Maar omdat de serie in Amerika geprogrammeerd staat tijdens de week en omdat het de zoveelste ‘superhero’ verfilming is, denken we dat Arrow vooral mikt op een tienerpubliek. Dat blijkt ook uit de cast: Stephen Amell (Private Practice, Hung) en Katie Cassidy (Gossip Girl) vertolken de hoofdrollen. De serie gaat in Amerika in première op 10 oktober.