First Look: ARROW

The CW network had their advertiser upfront today, and president Mark Pedowitz opened with the new Green Arrow series Arrow, which inexplicably changes the name of the hero persona, the town from which he hails, and the girlfriend’s first name.

Other than that, they may have gotten close to a faithful adaptation of at least Oliver Queen’s origin – billionaire stranded on an island learns to shoot arrows, comes back to civilization with a new outlook on life and starts chasing bad guys.

Let’s establish something at the get-go: this is not the Dennis O’Neil/Neal Adams version of Green Arrow. I would have loved to see that one. The hippie who matures because life and reality mean sometime you have to be The Man instead of fight him all the time. That Ollie Queen was a fun mix of emotional angst and pent up frustration at the system. His motivation for taking up the bow was very clear-cut.

Here, not so much. Granted, it’s only a snippet of the show, but the presentation has Oliver coming back from the island to face some kind of conspiracy (drek) and a girlfriend whom he wronged (drama) – but you know they’re either going to get together or she’s going to leave for her own show if they spin off Black Canary, right?

[youtube=http://youtu.be/VpFobB8EpKQ]

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Production value is high, even with the recycled Luthor mansion in Vancouver… Arrow has no problem killing, which is a distinct difference from that other billionaire vigilante with the cool gadgets.

But it’s too soon to tell if Arrow from Starling City will hit its target or not. Arrow will air Wednesday, paired up with Supernatural.