So, when I saw the CW was launching a gritty version, I was intrigued and a little apprehensive. After all, no one wants to see a favorite literary character diminished.
After the pilot episode I was pleased with what I saw.
As with most of the origin stories Oliver Queen was marooned on an island for many years and had to tone his physique and hone his skills in order to survive. The opening scene where Ollie is rescued looks wonderful and you're given a chance to see his physical prowess.
When he returns home he sets out to make right some of the sins of his father. Prior to being marooned, Ollie was sailing the South China Sea with his father and others. Before taking his own life so his son would have enough resources to survive the island, the elder Queen told his son he "wasn't the man" Ollie thought he was. His wish was for his son to survive and right some wrongs.
After Ollie returns to Starling City he is quickly kidnapped by masked villains wanting to know what secrets his father shared.
From there we really see that not only is Ollie skilled in surviving alone on an island, he is skilled in hand-to-hand combat and parkour, that fancy-springy-bouncy running we're seeing more and more of in film and television.
After that we see Ollie set up his Green Arrow lair, and go through a bit of a training montage that includes a crazy salmon ladder sequence and of course mad-archery skills.
Green Arrow was known for using trick arrows in the comics and "Arrow" is no exception. How does a young man who was known for debauchery prior to being shipwrecked have this skill too. Another piece of the puzzle that will hopefully be revealed.
Stephen Amell does a fine job in the title role, portraying both the gritty hero and the recently returned playboy.
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