The further we get from San Diego Comic Con and the more I hear about the upcoming seasons of all four Arrowverse shows, the more apathetic I find myself becoming.
Does that sound a bit harsh?
Over the weekend, I’ve spent some time talking with a friend who enjoys the shows probably more than I do. And both of us, after trading what we knew back and forth (and getting some assists from Google) found ourselves not liking what we were seeing.
Perhaps the only good decision coming out of the four shows is the fact that The Flash won’t have a Speedster as its big bad this season.
The biggest problem, is that it seems as if all four creative teams have forgotten the basics of storytelling in favor of throwing as much angst into the stories as possible.
Let’s break this down, shall we?
Remember that story I did on Arrow (check it out here if you missed it)? Well that’s one of many decisions Arrow made that supports my earlier hypothesis that it is the weak link of the set.
What surprised me is that it went from one show on weak footing to four in a matter of months. I’m not going to touch Arrow much more, mainly because I am no where near up to date on it.
Legends of Tomorrow
Let’s start with Legends of Tomorrow, since that is the one I’ll go easiest on.
As I mentioned in my post last week, Rip Hunter is going to have a recurring role on the show. His role though, from what we’ve heard, doesn’t make sense within the story its own creative team has set up.
We meet Rip Hunter in season one after he runs away from the Time Masters to try and save his family from Savage. If they can stop him in the past, the future where his family dies won’t exist.
Though a series of moments, we see that while Rip might have agreed with the Time Masters at one point, he no longer does and at one point (if memory serves) all but admits he doesn’t necessarily see a need for them anymore.
So, for someone against the last agency that policed time, why would he create the next one?
Rip helps to form the Time Bureau and they call into question the actions of the Legends.
Here’s another question for you: why would Rip call into question the actions of the team he created.
One could argue that it has to do with the events of the two-part season finale. But why could Rip yell at them for events he was a part of. In fact, his presence seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The only reason this works if it it doesn’t and it’s being done to insert artificial drama into the show.
From a writer and a fan of TV I can tell you this, there are few things worse than artificial drama inserted because plot.
Moving onto…
Supergirl
My biggest problem with her is the implication that she might be more or less having a season-long pity party. As most of us know, her boyfriend, Mon-El was forced to leave Earth after she was forced to fill the atmosphere with lead to stop his mother.
Now, in her anger, Kara is ditching the persona of Kara Danvers. For the whole show, she’s tried to balance Supergirl and Kara Danvers and (as if often the case with superheroes) she sometimes fails to do so.
The theme this season is “what does it mean to be human.”
When I heard that CW was getting Supergirl, I found myself excited because CW has done so well with the other shows in the Arrowverse. But, despite the strong start, CW seemed to falter, unsure of what to do with the Girl of Steel.
Her finale was the most lack-luster of the group. Between not completely making sense and half of it happening in the name of plot, it’s cliffhanger really wasn’t one.
The boyfriend left, not able to return to Earth.
So what?
She’s Supergirl for crying out-loud. She’s supposed to be a strong, independent woman and she doesn’t need a man to define her. She also doesn’t need a season-long pity party.
But, that makes for some forced in angst which does seem to be the trend this season.
What they need to do is focus on who Kara Danvers is. They can do Supergirl, it’s her alter ego that needs a bit of help.
And last, but certainly not least…
The Flash
We all know that I wasn’t happy with the events of the season finale of The Flash. First off, I think Iris should have died, her death would have lent more to the story than her life ever did.
The sole purpose Iris has served is to insert angst and drama.
So why is she still here?
In the season finale, Barry walks into the Speedforce, stopping the story that threatened to tear Central City apart because it’s jail had no prisoner.
Except for the fact that because of the change to the timeline, the prison wouldn’t exist. But that’s a post for another day.
So who would take over Team Flash in Barry’s absence. Cisco? Wells from Earth 2? Joe? Wally (who is now The Flash since Barry isn’t around)?
See, these are the options that makes sense in the context of their story.
Who do the creative team choose?
Iris.
Because they need to make her have a purpose now, since they couldn’t kill her off when they should have.
Also, she’s going to do her traditional job and shove more angst into the story. There have been hints that Barry and her will fight over his decision to walk into the Speedforce since he didn’t talk with her.
Last I checked, Iris, he didn’t have a lot of time to make that decision.
What is with CW turning it’s female characters into clingy people who depend on their significant others for validation. What happened to creating strong characters who can use their relationships to further their story lines?
It’s all in the name of forced angst.
While it will be six months for the rest of Team Flash, we will learn that it will be longer for Barry. I’m not sure if they will give Barry the proper character development and if they do if it will last.
Considering he spent the entire last season making a series of stupid decisions to try and save Iris, who knows.
The main thing I’m getting from all of these shows is that they’re taking steps away from their beginnings to go places to create angst. There’s a difference between taking a show forward and letting the story naturally progress and taking steps to add angst and not letting it happen naturally.
And from what I’ve heard, there’s not a lot of natural angst in the upcoming seasons of the Arrowverse.
Latest posts by Mary Helen Norris (see all)
- The Hybrid Fanzine Celebrates The Twelfth Doctor - October 12, 2018
- The Thirteenth Doctor Arrives In “The Woman Who Fell To Earth” - October 9, 2018
- Manifest Lands With A Spectacular Pilot - September 28, 2018