#xssht

Hi! those questions are fun, going to try to do some proper reply but I warning you, I’m awful on this hahahaha

I’m fan of Arrow since last year, I never had interest on the show before because I didn’t knew Arrow was a superhero show based on a comic book, my dad watched it but idk I had the impression that was a mega ultra dramatic show and I get bored of that lol so by march, The Flash’s pilot was leaked, I obviously watched it and saw Oliver there and a friend of mine told “go and watch Arrow!” so that is what I did, I watched 46 episodes in 4 days... no joke, I couldn’t even sleep, I needed to finish. Arrow was all I was looking in this type of tv show and opened the doors of actually give a try and start to read comics. I’ve always liked superheroes stuff but never read a comic until I fall in love on Arrow. Oliver Queen is my bae and Team Arrow is my rock.

The evolution of Oliver’s personality and to his alter ego Vigilante/Arrow was one of the primordial aspect of the show that kept me watching, I needed to see this guy grow and being better of what he was, the mystery behind on who was doing all the shit that was happening too, the dynamic of Original Team Arrow and Olicity, those are the top reasons.

I really hope this season don’t lie us again and actually deliver us arcs stories for Diggle and Felicity, I have high expectatives on Damien because I enjoyed assholes villains who are evil just for being evil, and they’re smart, they don’t need a super power or something, and important those type of villains who are not the evil version of the hero, like for example Iron Man 1, the villain had a suit like him y’know... I think Damien can bring a lot mystery and that “OH MY GOD U ARE A SON A BITCH STOP BUT DONT STOP” feelinng hahahahaha I don’t really have expectatives or expect something because I’m a type of person who just follow the story until I stop to enjoy, but I do hope Diggle and Felicity as individual are treated better this season and not used as toy for less likeable characters. So my most anticipated storyline is Diggle/Felicity/HIVE/Damien/Oliver (in shorts words I tend to call it as the HYDRA political version of Arrow haahahhaha)

My favorite story arc was the undertaking, but the most shocking plot twist that was my favorite is 2x23 omg

Oooh thanks for the fun question xssht!! This might get long, apologies in advance, so I’ll just have it under the cut.

Hey xssht! 

My “How I got into Arrow” story is here; it’s, like everything else I do, super long but I go into some depth about how I got into the show, what made me stay etc. 

With regards to the second part(s) of your question -- my favourite arc? It depends. 

If we’re talking overall ongoing series arc, then I think the development of Olicity ranks very high on that list, as does the development of Original Team Arrow. Multiple reasons why, and I think most people already know them, but suffice it to say that those are two of the most precious things I will take away from the show when it is done. 

My favourite villainous arc thus far has been Slade’s evolution into Deathstroke -- going from the flashbacks where you can’t help but fall in love with this character who becomes like a big brother to FB!Oliver, who keeps him alive and teaches him many of his skills, who then becomes his greatest foe. It’s a hugely personal story for Oliver and I love anti-heroes or villains like that -- it’s a connection so insidious between Oliver and Slade that every interaction feels tense; it’s both a betrayal and an anticipation. On the one hand you’re desperately sad for the people they used to be and the friendship they used to share, and on the other you are horrified by what’s become of their relationship now and you can’t see a way back for them. 

In a way, I sometimes liken the Slade/Deathstroke arc to the Angel/Angelus arc on Buffy. I’ve always thought that BtVS season 2 had the best Big Bad in Angelus, and it was much for the same reason. Of course, the relationships between Slade and Oliver and Buffy and Angel were wildly different, but the idea is that their relationships were so personal for the protagonist that the turn from friend to foe wounded Oliver and Buffy both deeply; what Slade and Angelus both did was take away all hope from Oliver and Buffy; Slade killed Moira and Angelus killed Jenny and both of these acts were so much more heinous because of who committed them. That kind of arc is....delicious as a viewer. It’s painful and heartbreaking and incredibly exciting in its evil. So yeah, long story short -- Slade’s arc remains, to this day, one of my absolute favourites. 

Hopes/anticipations for the upcoming season?  I’d like to see more of a focus on character rather than plot. This show is largely driven by the latter and while I don’t expect that to change entirely, I do hope that they will have learned some lessons from season 3 and will allow the characters an opportunity to breathe, to have an introspection, to actually digest the things that are happening to them. Super excited for Diggle’s HIVE arc (and I almost typed HYDRA there -- oops!) as well as Thea’s “after-effects of the Lazarus Pits” arc. And, of course, Oliver and Felicity, both in a stable if stretched relationship, and as individuals and crime fighters and heroes extraordinaire. 

Thanks for the questions xssht! Here goes:

I posted My Arrow Spiral a little while ago so you can check that out for my tale of how I got into the show, what made me stop watching, then what made me give it a second chance.

My wishlist for the coming season:

1. Oliver explains a tattoo or scar to someone2. Oliver plays with / touches Felicity’s hair3. Oliver or Felicity tease the other about past events4. Felicity rides a motorcycle 5. Oliver and Felicity make out while Oliver is in the Arrow suit6. Felicity uses a weapon (bow, gun, etc)7. Oliver holds baby Sara8. Oliver and Felicity do a ‘Tarzan’ stunt9. Oliver and Felicity have 'make up’ sex10. Oliver finds out Felicity was a goth

(This is all just fanfic brought to life. But, I figure, after the whole Porsches and Sunsets thing, the odds of some of this happening are pretty good!)

Most anticipated storyline - Felicity and her Evil!Dad. I’m so looking forward to knowing more of her backstory and I think it will be interesting to see her struggling with being connected to the bigbad (as the fandom is presuming) whilst Oliver takes the supportive role.

“Passion feeds passion...”- Emily Bett Rickards at SDCC 2015

Back in 2012, I had no interest in watching Arrow on the CW.  I recognized Stephen Amell from a slough of various TV show guest spots and was never really impressed by his work.  In addition, I have never been a big fan of Katie Cassidy.  All the promotions for the show indicated that it would be just another comic book adaptation to take the place of Smallville on the network’s lineup. Add an abundance of melodramatic troupes that included lies, cheating, and scandalous love affairs then you have Arrow.  All signs pointed in one, singular, direction that this show would stay confined to it’s source material. Both characters would evolve into their superhero alter egos, while falling in love with one another.  Yawn... Two vigilantes loving each other did not intrigue me, because it just felt like another version of Catwoman & Batman.  How would this show be different from any other TV/Film comic book adaptation? 

Flash forward to the fall of 2013 when I read an article about Grant Gustin’s upcoming guest spot on Arrow as Barry Allen (AKA The Flash).  I was a big fan of him from his guest spot on Glee, even though he played a “bad guy.”  This sparked my interest in possibly giving the show a chance.  In coordination with my curiosity about a blonde, computer nerd girl.   See, in 2013 I truly discovered the marvel that is YouTube.  Having moved away from home, earlier that year, I had a lot more free time on my hands.  I wounded up spending hours on YouTube watching various fan made videos.   Including, multi-couple videos that often showed Oliver and Felicity staring longingly into each other’s eyes.  These motivations coupled with boredom, and Arrow season one streaming on Netflix, I decided to give the show a shot.  The show was alright, but I primarily stuck with it, because of Felicity Smoak.  I found her character to be very relatable, even though she is a supreme technological genius, while Emily Bett Rickards adds her own natural charm to all of her scenes.  I got caught up to the midseason two finale and stayed as a casual through the remainder of the season.  I always liked the Felicity/Oliver dynamic, because their partnership made him more likable.  During season two their interactions focused on Oliver’s potential as both a hero and a man.  While, his dynamic with Laurel through seasons one and two, were a  constant reminder about who he was before the island.   As much as I liked Felicity and Oliver’s on screen chemistry, I wasn’t completely on board the Olicity ship and/or a part of the Arrow fandom until season 3.  Specifically, the ending scene of 3x12 ignited a passionate obsession for the show within me.  

“I don’t want to be a woman that you love.”-Felicity Smoak

 I understand that this seems very counterintuitive, but it’s the honest truth.  My parents, siblings, co-workers, friends, and random strangers on the street (kidding, but seriously) can attest to my obsession with Felicity’s monologue from 3x12.  The episodes leading up to 3x12 consistently proved, to me, that this show is merely inspired by the source material, not confined to it.  While, Felicity’s monologue separated Olicity from various other live action pairings from comic book adaptations.  This is the first time that i had seen the love interest make an active decision not to be with the hero.  Not because she didn’t love him, or he lied to her, or he cheated on her.  Nope, she walks away because he continues to say things as “her Oliver”, but then does things as the Arrow.  His alliance with Malcolm Merlyn made her believe that only the Arrow returned, while “her Oliver” died on top of the mountain.  In addition, he had just returned from the dead, which triggered her own abandonment issues.  A constant troupe in this genre is more the love interest to run into the arms of hero, not walk away for self preservation. 

 In February 2015 I became obsessed with both Olicity and Arrow.  I re-watched scenes, episodes, cast interviews, and fan videos.  Only, to truly discover the fascinating subtextual evolution of this pairing on the screen; thanks to the remarkable Olicity fandom on Twitter/YouTube/Tumblr.  From all the parallels fans continue to find in their scenes; to the subtext in their scenes; to Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards’ openness about how their small touches in scenes is often unscripted; this relationship is rich in subtext.  In my opinion the writers relied too much on both visual and dialogue queues to communicate Oliver’s feelings towards Laurel during the first two seasons.  Then again, they needed to make up for the lack of chemistry between the actors.  While, Oliver’s feelings for Felicity can be found in subtle undertones and deeply rooted in this version of his evolution into the Green Arrow.  The writers and producers of Arrow started the series with a singular idea and focus.  Only, to cast Emily Bett Rickards from obscurity, embrace her charm and chemistry with the other characters, and begin to subtly change the show’s direction.   I strongly believe that this type of creativity, show-running, and storytelling should be applauded and not condemned.  

I proudly jumped aboard the Olicity ship during season three and will happily support the show until the writers screw everything up (don’t worry I have FAITH...but I am watching you).  

On a more personal note, this show, ship, and fandom help save my life.  In 2013 I fell into a depression spurred by weight issues, isolation, and anxiety.  I don’t want to go into too much detail, because that is a post for another day.  But I will say that I made a lot of poor decisions regarding my health, pushed those closest to me away, and cut others completely out of my life.  Now thanks to Arrow and the Olicity fandom I rediscovered something that was missing from my life after college, an outlet to be creative.  See, I majored in broadcast journalism back home in Fairbanks, Alaska.  I fell in love with video editing as a student and aspired to do great things in journalism after I graduated. Needless to say, I am a very practical person, and pushed aside my dreams and settled for the stability that a desk job could provide.  My inability to create was just another factor that lead to my depression.  I felt restless, as fear prevented me from attempting to start a blog and/or YouTube channel.  But do you remember what Emily Bett Rickards said during SDCC 2015 in regards to the Olicity fandom? 

                                    “Passion feeds passion...”      

After watching a countless number of fan made videos on YouTube and being overwhelmingly inspired by the for mentioned Felicity Smoak 3x12 monologue; I began to edit together my own Olicity videos.  At first I just used iMovie on my Mac, but between the small feedback I received from viewers and my parents, I decided to upgrade.  So, I purchased a new laptop and Sony Vegas Pro 13 for my newfound hobby. I am proud to say that since February I have uploaded 18 videos on my Sarah Belmont YouTube channel.  None of them are a complete failure, just another step in learning the software and how to do different video editing techniques.  I have also reclaimed my love for social media, even if I am still learning how to use some tools like, Tumblr.  I am addicted to Twitter and love tweeting with other Arrow fans.  Twitter and the #Olicity timeline is a nice daily reminder that I am not alone in the world.  I have discovered that by being an Olicity fan that I didn’t just join a fandom, but a family who supports one another.  Not only did this fandom reignite my love of video editing and social media, but for writing too.  As proof by this very, very long Tumblr post.  

Long post short, my decent into the Olicity/Arrow fandom was a slow burn, much like my OTP.  

Right here

Skip to around 12:30 for Stephen!