So, How Is: Arrow

Although it only just premiered this past fall, Arrow (which returns March 20th to Wednesdays on the CW) seems to maintain a fully realized and complete vision for its entire series, setting up various villains and plots while delving deep into the history of its main character. Thanks to its comic origin, Arrow has a vast catalog of material to help it stay on the air for a very long time, much like Smallville before it (which actually featured its own, shallower, version of the Green Arrow character), though they are considerably different in their execution. Heavily influenced by Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and its gritty, more realistic, portrayal of the comic book word, Arrow follows billionaire heir Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) as he returns to Starling City after being stranded on a mysterious island for five years. Through chronological flashbacks (of course there are flashbacks, what show today doesn't have flashbacks?), we witness Oliver's transformation from irresponsible trust fund kid to solemn hero as he is forced to survive in a very inhospitable, and surprisingly far from desolate, island environment after his father's yacht sinks off shore leaving no other survivors.

In the present, Oliver is reunited with his remaining family members and former friends who presumed him dead along with his father. His secretive mother Moira (Susanna Thompson), wild sister Thea (Willa Holland), and fun-loving buddy Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) struggle to accept this darker and scarred version of the Oliver they once knew, while a mysterious hooded vigilante begins to threaten the rest of the city's one percent. Armed with a bow, quiver full of arrows, and an insane physique capable of even more insane acrobatics and combat, Oliver works to save Starling from the selfish upper crust like his father who "have failed this city." However, Oliver's careful planning goes even further as he recruits his imposed bodyguard Diggle (David Ramsey) to his cause, while elaborately evading Detective Lance (Paul Blackthorne), who has sworn to catch the murderous vigilante, and protecting his secret identity.

Despite the character's similarities to Batman, unlike that caped vigilante, the Green Arrow has no qualms about killing criminals when necessary. Very much like Batman however, Arrow has been developing an eclectic stable of enemies as it introduces additional DC Comics villains, such as the expert assassin Deadshot, and leaves the door open for them to return and grow throughout the series. Another introduction was the character Huntress, whom Oliver clashed with over the definition of justice and vigilantism (and who will be returning as well). Although it employs its comic roots effectively for story and character development, the show is far from restricted by them. Much like AMC's The Walking Dead, Arrow tends to switch things up from the source material, keeping even the fans guessing as to what will happen with a character such as Assistant DA Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), who is Oliver's ex-girlfriend, and according to the comics, eventual crime-fighting partner Black Canary. Add to these rich characters and twisty plotlines some expertly choreographed (and truly exciting) fight scenes, and you have a show that should keep any Batman fan (and come on, who doesn't like Batman?) satisfied for years to come.