#this all comes from a place of love for the entire arrowverse btw

[tht-lesbian-fangirl]

you know how on batwoman mary knows kate’s secret and is trusting kate to let her in when she’s ready? that’s what I always wanted for lena and kara’s relationship and loved thinking about how lena knew kara was sg all along but the was going to wait for kara to bring it up bc it was HERS. this isn’t to drag sg show in any way it’s just bw counters things I wish sg missed out on.

Anon, I completely agree with you. It’s one of the things that annoys me to no extent. Things on Supergirl are mishandled so often, especially in regards to Lena, and when I look at how all the other Arrowverse shows (not only Batwoman) handle similar character situations, it drives me crazy.

On Batwoman: Mary discovers Kate’s Batwoman secret and is incredibly hurt. It builds into Mary’s idea that she’ll always be second to Alice– the person who murdered her mother– and adds to her idea that Kate doesn’t care about their relationship. She may be making passive aggressive and sassy remarks around Kate and Luke, but she still supports Kate and is willing to wait. Mary, who couldn’t feel more alone now, is able to process and love despite the pain, yet Lena has a mental lapse, ignores how Kara is trying to make it up to her, and has become a shell of herself.

On Legends: Exactly how many characters has this show redeemed without further dispute?? Too many to count, but let’s look at Mick and Nora. Mick was a legitimate villain thrown into the waverider crew. His past is brought up sometimes and his character was even tested when he briefly joined the Legion of Doom. He had an abusive father and an affinity for fire, but in the end, he’s a good person and a loved member of the team who spends his free time writing feminist romance novels. Nora (probably the character most similar to Lena) was brought up in a cult led by her father Damien Darhk and groomed to become the host of a demon. Yet, after spending time with Ray and the Legends, she realizes that she doesn’t want to be evil; she wants love and her own life. Some of the Legends slightly questioned her redemption in the beginning, but they all ended up believing in her. So Nora ended up as fairy godmother to unhappy children and married to boy scout Ray. Their redemptions were nuanced, earned, and never questioned. And both have done way worse than anything Lena even thought of doing.

On Arrow: Oliver Queen spent seasons wrestling with the fact that he’s killed so many people and the idea that his parents weren’t good people. He’s had full arcs (I’m thinking specifically in season 5) where he wrestles with the idea that maybe he liked killing. It was something he had to work through, and he was allowed to do so because he was a man and the hero of the show. [I would also get into Deathstroke and E-2 Laurel Lance, but I’ve already discussed those kind of redemption arcs in other shows.] Meanwhile, we have Lena similarly trying to clear her family’s name, but has always been strictly against killing. Yet, Oliver is a tormented hero and Lena is automatically written off as another Luthor the second her pinky toe steps out of line.

On Flash: Caitlin’s alter ego Killer Frost was LITERALLY a supervillain. Albeit a conflicted villain at certain points, but she did some pretty bad things and enjoyed it. But she’s been easily redeemed so much that her character often serves as comic relief on the show now. And no one has brought up her misdeeds in at least one or two seasons. Killer Frost was welcomed with pretty open arms onto Team Flash, whereas Alex is ready to use Kara as a trojan horse and literally blow up her “friend” Lena without even giving her a few hours to calm down and sort her shit out.

So yeah, the way Supergirl and certain parts of the fandom mishandle and misrepresent Lena (someone who grew up in an abusive household and has lived through an unknown amount of trauma, but still has always tried to be good) drives me up the wall.

[oneofthosecrazycatladies]

Arrowverse Re-Watch: Arrow season 1, episode 4 “An Innocent Man”

***Disclaimer: I recommend you read the tags before digging in to this review.

So I’m doing my annual Arrowverse re-watch (where I go back and watch all the Arrowverse shows in chronological order) and this year, I decided I would make these reviews/commentaries about each episode as I re-watch them.

So here goes… WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

LL: I care about the lives of other people, Oliver. Maybe you should try it sometime.

First of all...hitting it a little hard on the nose, don’t you think writers? We get it, she’s a saint, can we move on now?

Secondly, Oliver bb, why are you still carrying a torch for her? You already met wifey, you don’t need this negativity in your life.

But in all seriousness

Does anyone else think it’s interesting that when Oliver needed tech help he went to Felicity as himself and when he went to LL for legal help, he could only go as the Hood?

I mean, come on people! How much more proof do you need that Oliver and LL just aren’t right for each other? He can’t even be completely himself with her! And don’t give me any of this “he’s protecting her” bullshit because when push came to shove, Oliver didn’t have any problem telling Felicity his secret.

I just love that Felicity is so confident in her technical abilities and that she’s so unapologetic about her intelligence. When she thought she was being fired, it wasn’t because she didn’t think she was good enough at her job.

I miss the days when Felicity was the smarted person on the show and she wasn’t dumbed down to make other characters *coughC*rtiscough* look better.

I’m sure that Felicity will be back to being herself again now that Beth is in charge and MG doesn’t have his grubby, misogynistic hands all over her anymore.

LL: I think they need someone who cares about the lives of other people. Someone like you.

For fuck’s sake, the writers really don’t know the definition of subtlety do they?

Ugh who wrote this episode?

Oh okay, it was written by two writers who wrote a couple other sappy L*uriver episodes.

I just feel like, episodes like these that really shove L*uriver down your throat are all great examples of why L*uriver just doesn’t work.

Oliver: I took your advice with L*urel to be myself.

Thea: And?

Oliver: It’s helping.

Thea: I got mad relationship skills bro. Let me know if you need trendy places to propose.

First of all, Thea, that’s the wrong ship you’re boarding. You’re actually looking for the Olicity ship. But it’s okay Thea, bb, I forgive you. You weren’t the only one that mistakenly boarded the L*uriver ship before realizing that it was awful and doomed to sink.

Secondly, Oliver wasn’t himself with LL, he was the Hood. And considering how desperate Oliver is to claim that the two are totally separate, you’d think he’d realize that. If you can’t even tell her your secret, then how could you possibly think a relationship between you two would work? (And for the record, Oliver never actually told LL his secret, it was Slade. I have no doubts that Oliver was never going to tell her himself.)

Oliver: Rob. You gotta keep up.

I miss cheeky Oliver! I would ask if we could bring cheeky Oliver back in season 7, but considering that he’s spending the whole hiatus in prison, I doubt we’ll ever see cheeky Oliver again. Or maybe we will...after all, Oliver will have plenty of things to smile about in season 7.

(If you don’t know what I’m talking about btw, I’m talking about the Olicity baby. David [Ramsey] confirmed that it’s gonna happen in season 7 and David never lies to us.)

Felicity: The company Mrs. Queen...Steele...Mrs. Queen-Steele? Does she hyphenate? She seems like a woman who would hyphenate.

Oh Felicity, bb, you’re so smart and I love you, but obviously she’s not “a woman who would hyphenate”. If she was, then she would be known as Moira Dearden-Queen and not Moira Queen.

In the last episode, LL could more than hold her own in a fight. Now, during this prison riot, she’s once again helpless and needs Oliver to save her.

So is LL Bl*ck C*nary or Princess Peach? Because the writers can’t seem to be able to make up their minds.

As frustrating as it is seeing Oliver waste his time pining after LL, I have to say that him almost killing an inmate for choking her isn’t entirely out of character for him.

Oh well, I just have to grit my teeth and muddle through until Oliver realizes that he can do better than LL and he stops giving her the time of day.

This moment where Oliver kills the pheasant is such a great moment and so beautifully acted by Stephen. The way he apologizes to the pheasant and how he can’t even look at it as he snaps its neck. Ugh this moment gets me every single time.

Season 1: We have solid evidence that Oliver Queen is the Hood! But wait, it’s not him after all.

Season 3: We have solid evidence that Oliver Queen is the Arrow! But wait, it’s actually Roy Harper.

Season 6: We have solid evidence that Oliver Queen is the Green Arrow! But wait, it’s actually Tommy Merlyn! Scratch that, it is Oliver Queen.

Honestly do the people of Star City even care anymore? If I lived in Star City, at this point I’d be like, jfc who fucking cares who he is can you just let him keep protecting the city?

You know how on Black Lightning, they’ll show the news interviewing random citizens of Freeland about the events going on? We need that on Arrow. I’d actually be pretty interested to hear from the regular citizens of Star City (especially the ones who actually voted for Oliver to be Mayor) on what they think about all the stuff going on.

Oh my god guys. I think I finally understand why John went so batshit crazy in season six. In this episode when John joins the team, he makes a speech about how Oliver needs someone to save him and remind him of who he is.

Well, in season 6, Oliver is finally evolved. He’s opened himself up to love by becoming a husband and a father, he’s become a true hero and a good leader. He’s mature which means John’s job of saving Oliver’s soul is complete. So John has a bit of a mid-life crisis because he feels he no longer has a purpose in life.

(This is me trying to apply logic to a completely illogical and nonsensical plot-over-characterization plot.)

Oh dear me! Oliver’s been arrested! What ever shall we do?

Well this has been fun. Next up: episode 5 (just in case you lack basic arithmetic skills)

[valeriemperez]

i was thinking there might be a chance that they don't show us Barry and Iris's honeymoon, but they might just be coming back at the beginning of episode 9 in time for Christmas or something. it seems like more time tends to pass narratively btw episodes 8 and 9. that'd be lame. i want them to go on a big honeymoon at the end of the Christmas ep and come back after the break

I would love for the opening scene of 4.09 to be Barry and Iris on their honeymoon, and then getting a call that means they have to cut it short in order to return to CC due to some trouble or other. But I certainly wouldn’t object to them holding off on said honeymoon and not leaving until 4.09 ends, that way we could maybe get a scene of just the two of them dancing or something if they don’t get to at their wedding.

Huh…I’m really curious now what connection Ralph has with Barry from the past, I highly doubt Iris will know him or of him even though she technically should considering her and Barry’s history but I will say they have me intrigued. Two questions 1. Do you think he’ll eventually end up with Caitlin? and 2. Do you think he’ll flirt with Iris in like a one off scene?

I’m curious too! I’m not gonna hope Iris knows him, I’m just going to guess that his work as a PI means he clashes with Barry because he often messes up crime scenes lol. I am going to hope he doesn’t hook up with Caitlin, because I enjoy being happy. And I think he will flirt with Iris at least once, if only because it’s in his character and there are only two regular female characters on the show. Plus her and Barry’s reactions would be hilarious.

Would the thinker be responsible for getting Barry out, could he have manipulated Cisco . Which is funny because harry motivated him and now he’d be manipulated. If the thinker was already at work is he already also manipulating Barry?

I think he did manipulate Cisco by sending the Samuroid to convince him to deploy the speed cannon and release Cisco, but I wouldn’t say he is under the Thinker’s control right now or anything. I have a feeling that we will see the first time he does that to someone, but that’s just my hunch.

Did you see that Barry/Iris will be going to couples therapy more than once? I wonder where they are planning to take this storyline? Personally, I love it because this show doesn’t address mental health nearly enough. I hope this starts the change! Even healthy couples can use it to make their relationship stronger.

I did! I admit that I read it as they will go back to that story (of getting on the same page) more than once rather than going back to therapy more than once, but I think it could be nice to see them really working on it. I agree with you about needing mental health to be dealt with more.

We have two sunshine twins: Iris and Wally and Iris and Cisco. How about Sunshine Trio someday?

They’re already a Sunshine Trio, then! We just need more West sibling scenes.

While Wally and Cisco were deciding Team Kid Flash or Team Vibe, I shouted “TEAM BROWN PEOPLE!” I love what was on my screen.

so they have to gather basically the entire Arrowverse cast (everyone in the crossovers anyway) in one place for the church wedding scene, right? any idea when they filmed this?

They filmed the interior wedding scenes on Wednesday and Thursday, I believe in a studio in Surrey. Plus the exterior shots at the church where all the dress pics came from.

Honestly I didn’t even notice that weird editing choice until the Anon pointed it out 😆 I read a lot of reviews for the episode and none of the critics noticed it either. Pretty sure only hyper aware crazy shippers would. Plus it’s a nothing moment compared to the countless very obvious, very clearly meant to be romantic moments between Barry and Iris in the episode. I think there’s nothing to worry about.

Exactly. You could make an argument that the cinematopher or DP was into it, I guess, but there was clearly no narrative push towards noticing it… Which is why only a few SB fans did.