[First of all, a disclaimer: I, Vidar, am a Norse God and not some comic book dork who knows every detail of “The Green Arrow”‘s life. These reviews of “Arrow” are without any previous knowledge of any of the characters or story lines. So Vidar does not want to hear from said comic book dorks, “You idiot, how could you not know that Oliver Queen was… blah blah blah from Issue 62, Page 4, etc. etc.?]

Arrow – Episode 2 – “Honor Thy Father”

Reviewed By Vidar – The Norse God of Silence, Stealth & Revenge

So now we know how Oliver Queen (Arrow) got all that bow and arrow shit on the island.

We also know how he got his little Robin Hood outfit as well.

THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PREVIOUS “GREEN ARROW” BEFORE OLIVER QUEEN BECAME “GREEN ARROW.”

(I seriously don’t know who it is – probably the Dad (Robert Queen), right? That’s why we didn’t get to see the face of the person he covered with rocks? Plus, the actor who plays Robert Queen, Jamey Sheridan, is too big of an actor to only do one guest shot.)

We can also check off one of those prominent scars on his body well. Old “Green Arrow” freakin’ shot New “Green Arrow” through the clavicle!

Thank Odin for those island flashbacks – without them, Episode 2 “Honor Thy Father” would have been a complete shit storm.

Just awful.

But, because of the mysterious flashbacks, Vidar will stay interested in this show.

Last week’s episode (“Pilot”) should have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

This week’s episode (“Honor Thy Father”) would have failed as a grade school book report written by the dumb child of an ignorant Troll.

Terrible terrible dialogue.

Really flat acting.

And this week, Oliver/”Arrow” is climbing a rope to get in shape?

Is it too boring to have him do that amazing barbell ascension thing two weeks in a row?

What’s next week, those little peg things on the wall that kids do in gym class?

Vidar has deep concerns for “Arrow” as it slogs along its first season. Hopefully, “Honor Thy Father” was an aberration and not what we can expect from week to week.

EPISODE 2 – “HONOR THY FATHER” – SYNOPSIS (Courtesy of IMDB.com with Vidar interjections):

Open with Oliver Queen/”Arrow” voice-overing some of the plot we learned in the Pilot. (If you were just starting to watch this week and didn’t see last week, you won’t be back next week.)

Oliver/”Arrow” is to appear in court as part of legally coming back to life.

On his way into the courtroom, Oliver/”Arrow” flashes back to the storm. He explains to the judge what happened, saying that for those five years on the island he felt he had to live for both he and his father. Oliver/”Arrow”s declaration of death is rescinded.

Oliver/”Arrow” runs into an angry Laurel outside the courtroom. She is representing the daughter of man named Victor who was allegedly killed by a powerful rich dude (Martin Summers) who is doing business with the Chinese Triads (and some kung fu chick named China White).

We learn that Somers’ name was on his father’s list.

Cut to Oliver/”Arrow” hanging Somers upside down, shooting arrows at him while demanding he confess to the murder.

Lots of other shit happens including:

Detective Lance orders full time bodyguards for his daughter, Laurel.

A “drunken” Oliver/”Arrow” messes up some building dedication.

Oliver/”Arrow”‘s sister Thea gets upset that he won’t “Let her in” (he will and it’s highly possible she will become “Speedy” his trusted sidekick – though Vidar does not know the story).

Oliver/”Arrow” fights to a draw with China White (she’ll be back but how could Oliver/”Arrow” even come close to losing this karate fight? Dude, you’ve got lethal arrows!).

Oliver/”Arrow” gets his man. Makes a promise at his father’s faux grave in the backyard.

Flashes back to the Island and gets shot with an arrow by the Old “Green Arrow.”

Basically, that’s it. The rest of the episode consisted of the other characters acting like they’re hiding secrets and plotting to do something that will twist the story and surely shock the viewing audience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

To accurately plot out each episode, one would almost have to write a book. The first two episodes are much too dense with back story crap and potential red herrings.

• EPISODE 1 “Pilot” – Vidar would rate as 10 GODS (out of 10)

• EPISODE 2 “Honor Thy Father” – Vidar would rate as 3 TROLLS (out of 10 – so it’s not the total end of the world).

“Arrow” had better improve. There is a lot of time to unfold these story lines, be more patient!

The show lost quite a few viewers from first week to second, it can’t afford to lose more.

Vidar – The Norse God of Silence, Stealth & Revenge

 

• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 1 – “Pilot”
• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 2 – “Honor Thy Father”
• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 3 – “Lone Gunman”
• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 4 – “An Innocent Man”
• Arrow  – Season 1 – Episode 5 – “Damaged”
• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 6 – “Legacies”
• Arrow – Season 1 – Episode 7 – “Muse of Fire”