I think Laurel's involvement in the Blood conspiracy story arc -- likely the major one for the remainder of the season -- is a good sign that there is a plan in place for her character. It irked me that, as a lead character (Dinah's status in Green Arrow lore is comparable to that of Lois' in the Superman universe), Laurel often got stuck with supporting character plot lines in the past. The pill-popping looks like an ongoing Laurel-centric mystery this season. It might be revealed, likely at the moment Laurel gets irrefutable proof about Blood's schemes. And no one will believe her because of it. She's in the thick of S2's major plot now, so I think it's more than fair to say she's not being sidelined.
Shrapnel is yet another weakly-sketched villain, which is an ongoing beef of mine with Arrow. The show has a growing rogues' gallery of them with China White, Bronze Tiger among them. Paper-thin characterization. They throw them up against Arrow to create action or conflict, but there's little else about them once the fight is done. They have a few 'second-tier' villains that have some substance but are middling in quality, despite their higher profile: Count Vertigo and Deadshot come to mind, as well as Huntress who's more of an anti-hero. Weak writing and/or acting have to be taken into account with some, if not all, of these villains.
I would say Slade and Malcolm Merlyn are the top shelf ones on the show, but they have had the advantage of a season or more to develop. Not surprisingly, the writing and acting for their characters outclass the other rogues.
Ra's Al Ghul is arguably in a class all his own, and he's yet to show his face. (This is someone that gives Batman headaches!) If he ever showed up in person on Arrow, it would be an automatic, 'time-to-call-the-JLA' game-changer.
Shrapnel is yet another weakly-sketched villain, which is an ongoing beef of mine with Arrow. The show has a growing rogues' gallery of them with China White, Bronze Tiger among them. Paper-thin characterization. They throw them up against Arrow to create action or conflict, but there's little else about them once the fight is done. They have a few 'second-tier' villains that have some substance but are middling in quality, despite their higher profile: Count Vertigo and Deadshot come to mind, as well as Huntress who's more of an anti-hero. Weak writing and/or acting have to be taken into account with some, if not all, of these villains.
I would say Slade and Malcolm Merlyn are the top shelf ones on the show, but they have had the advantage of a season or more to develop. Not surprisingly, the writing and acting for their characters outclass the other rogues.
Ra's Al Ghul is arguably in a class all his own, and he's yet to show his face. (This is someone that gives Batman headaches!) If he ever showed up in person on Arrow, it would be an automatic, 'time-to-call-the-JLA' game-changer.
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