Very good points, "dreamsofnever"! In general I'm quite positive towards Laurel, but I agree with you that the writers seem to go out of their way to make their main heroine as unlikeable as possible to the viewers/fans, to the point where I'm also starting to believe that they are preparing the way for an "Olicity" take-over! And even if they only wanted to create more melodrama and suspense between their "destined lovers", I think they could have accomplished this without sabotaging Dinah's/Black Canary's character. I don't believe that the comic book Dinah/Laurel would ever have behaved this way towards Ollie...although they have their conjugal spates, their relationship has always been rather healthy and easy-going IMHO, not at all like this season's antagonistic, "love-hate" relationship between the CW Laurel/Black Canary and Oliver/Green Arrow.
I get the feeling that the "Arrow" writers might have overestimated the viewers' maturity and ability to understand a flawed and mentally messed-up Laurel as well as their willingness to see things from her POV. It is a known fact that female protagonists in general are much more harshly judged than male protagonists by the online fandom...and if it weren't for the Ksite ban on providing outside links I could refer to some very good blog articles which discuss the skewed perceptions that characterize most fandoms. One good example is the Skyler White character, who was subjected to an inordinate amount of vitriol from the "Breaking Bad" fandom, a kind of character bashing that got so bad that Anna Gunn felt compelled to address the issue in an article in the NYTimes. And I don't think that this has anything to do with an actress' talent or suitability for a certain role-after all, Anna Gunn got an Emmy for her portrayal of Skyler White.
I presume that the "Arrow" writers are aware of these fandom dynamics-and yet they chose to throw their future Black Canary under the bus, providing her with rather feeble and unconvincing motives for going after the Vigilante and giving her a role that will make it difficult for many viewers to accept her as Green Arrow's future partner. I think that their overall plan for Laurel's storyline is that she will eventually come to her senses and realize that the Vigilante is not her enemy. However, right now I'm wondering if this change of heart may come too late for some fans...
I have the impression that I'm probably quite a few years older than many "Arrow" viewers. That may be the reason why I feel that some recent fan reactions are somewhat exaggerated and over the top. I mean, I really can't bring myself to "hate" a fictional character on a TV show, especially a character who in general has not been portrayed as a despicable, evil and selfish person. I will spare my hateful feelings for those who really deserve it, like Real World paedophiles or those Talibans who shoot little girls in the head just because they want to go to school. I actually think that a mentally confused and vengeful Laurel is more interesting than the moping generic "love interest" we saw in the latter part of season one, but few viewers seem to share my feelings. On the other hand, I really hope that the writers have some kind of plan for her and that her current mindset is a temporary stage in her evolution into the Black Canary.
Comment