THE ARROWVERSE STATE OF THE UNION - 2020/2021
I have been thinking about things that have been happening in the Arrowverse over this past season, and I feel that there are some things to talk about, address, and where I think the universe (via their individual shows), should go. So...with cast changes, replacing main characters, and what's to come, let's see where we stand as our shows are on hiatus until 2021.
BATWOMAN: Of all the shows that has A LOT of changeover coming for the next season, Batwoman is the show that is going to be the one with the BIGGEST change. And how the direction of the show going forward is going to depend on how the show runners can not only tie up the loose ends and finish the storyline that's been left hanging because of the shutdown, and how they can incorporate the changes while keeping an audience. This show was the one that came off low on the totem pole, because it took a long while for it to catch its footing, and even then, some people were put off by aspects of the show.
The big change, as everyone knows, is that Ruby Rose is OUT as Kate Kane/Batwoman. She departed the show due to not particularly liking the heavy work schedule, and she also apparently suffered an injury while performing a stunt on the show. There were also rumors about the fact that Rose was a bit difficult to work with. Whatever you believe, Rose is gone, and the CW had to scramble to figure out how to replace her, since the show had gotten the green-light for a Season 2. Now, many had THOUGHT that they would just simple recast the role of Kate Kane, and pick up from there. And with about 2-3 episodes that were still slated from Season 1 that had NOT been shot, or completely shot prior to the shutdown, you have a storyline that's left unfinished, and with Rose gone, how will they fulfill the rest of that storyline, and give viewers a satisfying ending to the story arc?
Well, it turns out that the showrunners decided to go in a completely different direction, and go with a completely NEW character instead. So, Kate Kane is gone, and Ryan Wilder is in. Not much is known about this new character other than that she USED to run drugs on the streets of Gotham before having a change of heart, and is now homeless, and a lesbian, and will now inherit the mantle of the Bat in the upcoming season. She is also NOT a character from the comic books. She is an original CW idea, and will have no real connection to Kate Kane or anyone in the Bat mythos. I can see how, as a viewer, it will be quite jarring, and can pose a HUGE problem for the show. Many people weren't happy with the direction of the show to begin with, weren't happy with Rose's casting, and felt that Kane's sexuality became something of an issue, because it seemed to permeate the show, and it became LESS about Batwoman, and more about Kate and her trying to fit into the world. Now, I had believed that they could easily avoid any complications in storytelling. But, this is where the show is at, and I will be curious to see how they handle Kate's departure, and the impact it will have on those around her: Jacob, Mary, Luke, Sophie, Julia, and even Alice.
It took awhile, but the showrunners FINALLY found their new Scarlet Knight: Javicia Leslie, who'd been on such shows as God Friended Me. She becomes the first African-American woman to take the lead role in a superhero show. She's got a GREAT look, and I feel that she will benefit, because Ryan Wilder is a blank canvas of a character right now, and that will give her free reign to define this character on her own merit, and mold her into our hero. She'll have room to play and experiment, and hopefully, they will be able to write her into the Bat mythos in a way that will appeal to the fans, and give her a chance to get the audience behind her, and make them believe in her as our Lady Crusader. Flash star Grant Gustin has already welcomed her to the Arrowverse family, and I'm very curious to see what she can do...so I'm on her side, hoping she can give us a new Batwoman to cheer on. Hoping that she will also have great chemistry with the cast. So, pulling for Javicia here for her success. Now, I had actually lobbied for WWE Superstar Sonya Deville...since she kind of checks pretty much all the boxes for what the showrunners were looking for, but I'd still be okay with her being a guest star on the show...perhaps as a new nemesis for our heroine or even a new love interest. I just want one thing from the show runners: while I DO want character development, her sexuality should NOT be the focal point of the show...her redeeming her dark past to become the protector of Gotham should be the driving storyline, and how she molds herself into this superhero. I'm all for representation across the board, but you have to remember: it's a superhero show FIRST---that's what fans want to see...the superhero kicking ass when called upon. Also (okay...TWO things), get the stunt and fight crew from Arrow to do the fight scenes for this show. Arrow was gritty, with really well executed fight scenes...Batwoman deserves the same thing. If there is one show in the Arrowverse that has an uphill climb to avoid cancellation...it's this one. So, finishing the last story arc strong, and hitting the ground running with our new heroine is of the utmost importance. This show is also supposed to have a crossover this upcoming year with the new show Superman & Lois, but not sure if the casting change has altered that particular story. We'll have to wait and see.
THE FLASH: The new anchor show of the Arrowverse, our old pal Barry Allen is quickly losing his speed, the Speed Force is gone, and Iris is missing in the Mirror Universe. As we left off with Team Flash, they were looking to stop the new Mirror Master (I'm not calling her Mirror Mistress..lame), and get their friends back. They too had to leave on a cliffhanger due to the lockdown, and had about 2-3 episodes before their season finale as well. There shouldn't be too much problem finishing that story arc, and moving into a new story immediately after. The show runners were really smart in breaking up the season into two "graphic novel" type stories. Throw in CRISIS to separate the two, and the show had another solid season. There IS, however, ONE storyline that will prove to be a possible problem...that is, provided, they make the deicision as to whether or not to either write off or kill the Elongated Man - Ralph Dibny - and remove him from the show.
Hartley Sawyer, who had been playing the malleable sleuth since Season 4, was recently fired from the show for past tweets he had posted that were of a racial matter, and of sexual misconduct. It is yet another blow to a CW show, as Ralph was universally liked by fans, and had just recently begun his own storyline with Sue Dearbon. Now, at the end of the season, it was written into the story that Sue had been accused by Eva McCulloch of killing her husband (which we KNOW she didn't, but since he was blackmailing her family, it made her the easy target). Ralph informed her, just as she thought she'd manage to solve the part of her life. Now with a criminal charge over her head, the show runners left the story hanging there, and I feel there is a couple ways they COULD go with this story:
1. Ralph ends up getting killed...along with Sue...thus kicking off a storyline that had been featured in the comics called Identity Crisis, in which Ralph did die, as well as Sue. While this WOULD create some huge drama, since you'd have a heavy hitter villain involved, and could threaten all of Team Flash...I feel it's a cop-out idea. Killing off Ralph and Sue right now would be a monumental waste of two characters who'd barely gotten their feet wet as a team. There's great chemistry there, and there are a NUMBER of stories to tell with Ralph and Sue if you give it a chance.
2. Simply write the two off for the remainder of the story arc. Sue is a wanted criminal, so it would make sense for Ralph, wanting to protect Sue until he can clear her name, to go on the run and stay in hiding until the case can be solved. It keeps them off TV for awhile, and it gives you a chance to do what I feel is the BEST option:
3. Recast the role. Look...there are SEVERAL ways to get around recasting Ralph Dibny. And even using the "going on the run" story would fit. Think about it...Ralph's face is malleable...have him reshape it into someone else's face as a disguise, and simply put another actor in the role. It's an easier fix than having to replace the Lady Crusader. And something can happen to the extent that the face he has becomes his permanent one. It's not that hard. I like Ralph and Sue, and these are two characters you could LITERALLY spin off into their own show, with crazy hijinks and mystery involved. If you're familiar with Nick and Norah Charles of the old Thin Man series of movies---that is who Ralph and Sue are. It would be shame to waste a TON of story ideas with those two.
Outside of that, the show is running on all cylinders. This past season was one of the best yet, and if they keep the formula of "mini arcs" instead of dragging a big bad throughout, it will allow for better storytelling, character development (as we got out of Iris this season, which I LOVED), and we can bring back some more of the Rogues Gallery. Eric Wallace has done an excellent job as the show runner. But, I WOULD like a crossover with the rest of the Arrowverse at SOME POINT in the future...and I WANT something to be done with the Hall of Justice and the Justice League (yes, we need to get moving on that...Warner Bros. and DC need to stop being pansies about that and let it happen!).
SUPERGIRL: The Maid of Might is the one show that might take a bit longer to get back into production. That is due to the fact that star Melissa Benoist is in her pregnancy, and is not slated to give birth utnil the end of the year. With most of the CW shows coming back in January, this show will probably be delayed until Melissa is ready to come back to work. Plus, not sure how much of the final episode or two they had filmed before production halted. They have this current storyline with Lex Luthor to finish, then it's onto the next threat. Now, I have been VERY stoked that Lex has been a major thorn in the side of the House of El...but I feel that, after this arc is completed, Lex needs to take a powder for awhile. And when the time is right...he needs to go back to terrorizing Superman. Supergirl needs new threats and enemies of her own, and to NOT heavily borrow from her cousin's list of enemies. This show has a solid cast, and their stories are there to be told. We got Alex in a new role as a superhero, so to have HER learning to accept and adapt to this new role will provide some good stories. What becomes of Catco what with Andrea Rojas possibly being outed (we're not sure, have to see what the finality of this arc brings), will Kelly end up joining the Super Friends in the Tower, and will we see the blossoming relationship between J'onn and M'gann? As for Brainy and Nia...need resolution to THAT story as well. And how will Kara and Lena repair THEIR friendship? It's also time that Kara got a new relationship, and I am not sure William Dey is the guy, but it's a start. She's been stuck in neutral in the romance department, and it's time to get her back out there.
If there is one thing...ONE THING....that I ask of the showrunners for this season: PLEASE BRING BACK CAT GRANT! Even if it's just for a guest spot. Calista Flockhart is SORELY missed on this show, and it would benefit from JUST a touch of Cat...especially to finally get Cat to tell Kara she's known she's Supergirl for awhile, and NOTHING she did fooled her. But just for the comedy ALONE. And, we can use a guest appearance by James Olsen for an episode, just to check in on him. Of all the shows in the Arrowverse that was MOST effected by the outcome of CRISIS...it was this one. Supergirl is the Paragon of Hope, and I want to see that more explored in this season. Gotta lighten up just a little. Oh...and another trip to Argo just so we can have another Erica Durance appearance as Alura...I'm all for it.
DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: Our misit gang of time travellers finished off yet another rousing season, but with it came change. With the departure of Brandon Routh and his wife Courtney Ford, we bid farewell to The Atom and Norah Darhk. We also bid farewell to Charlie, as actress Maisie Richardson-Sellars departed the show a second time to puruse other projects. It leaves only Sara and Mick as the originals of the crew when the series began. Tala Ashe's original version of Zari made one final appearance on the show, before going back into the totem, wrapping up her storyline with Nate. The "new" Zari, Behrad's sister in THIS timeline, is now involved with John Constantine, and we'll see how THAT relationship plays out. As for Nate...with no other plotholes tying him down, he can be refocused into something more, giving him a wider canvas to work with, and more character development, other than being comic relief. So, the team will be slightly different this coming season, with Ava, Nate, Zari, Behrad (the actor has been moved to series regular for next year), Mick, Gary, John, and the missing Sara, there is your team. I am not sure if Mona will be back full-time, but I am sure she'll have SOME involvement with the upcoming storyline, as the team will have to locate a missing Sara Lance, who was abducted in the season finale. Not sure if it's aliens or even something else that has her, but the main focus will be in getting her back, and Ava having to lead this motley bunch to save her. Not sure if Mick's daughter Lita will be tagging along, and whether or not we get an appearance from Astra, who is now holding down the fort at John's house in London. Either way, it opens it up for more mirth and mayhem, and I'm kinda hoping that MAYBE this is the season we can get Booster Gold on the show. He'd be a great addition. But regardless of the cast changes, the show always finds a way to keep us entertained, as it tends to throw all the rules out the window. But this will be a chance this season to allow Jes McCallan to give some more development to Ava Sharpe, and mold her into a better leader. And the more off-kilter they keep this show, the better it will continue to be. One of my OTHER hopes, is that we get Ryan Choi to join the team as the new Atom. But this show is in good shape, and I feel it doesn't need any changes.
BLACK LIGHTNING: This show I honestly have no new ideas on how to improve it. Last season was a banger, and they can only go UP from there. You still have the threat of Gravedigger, who survived his encounter with our heroes, and Lady Eve, Lala, and Tobias, the threats are not gone from Freeland, even if the ASA is. We have an actual team for Black Lightning now, other than the Pierce Family themselves. With Geo-Force, Erica, and even Grace (providing she comes out of her coma), they are more than ready to take on any threat that comes their way. I don't expect the Markovian issue to be so easily resolved, and I want to see how all these newbies react to becoming a real team. This would also be a GREAT way to introduce a new character to the Outsiders....and old friend: Tatsu. Katana would provide great training, and keep the kids on their toes...and would give an equal to Jefferson to bounce ideas, strategy, and support to and from. The character development on this show is top notch, and everyone has had pretty equal time to explore their turf. I look forward to continuing to see the growth of these characters, as they continue to get used to the new Earth around them...and that means some serious crossover with other members of the Arrowverse. I feel that with Grace's condition, she can be taken to STAR Labs, which would allow Lynn and Anissa a chance to interact with Cisco and Caitlin, and put their heads together to help Grace. It's time for the Pierce family to explore outside of Freeland and Markovia. I want Black Lightning to feel like an equal member of the League, and someone who not only can ASK for help from his fellow Leaguers, but GIVE help in return. Outside of that, I completely trust the show runners with this program. Arguably, it's been the best show of the entire Arrowverse.
SUPERMAN & LOIS: This is the new show that's already been lit to series by the CW. This will undoubtedly pick up where we left off in CRISIS: With the Man of Steel and his stoic Daily Planet reporter wife having to navigate saving the world, getting the story...and raising two sons at the same time. This will be a perfect opportunity to show a new dynamic not really explored for the Last Son of Krypton: parenthood. I can see A LOT of comedic moments, all the while giving us the time honored tropes that go along with Superman and Lois Lane. It will also give us a chance, if they decide to, give us appearances from John Diggle and Lyla Michaels, since they're living in Metropolis now. Maybe...JUST MAYBE...we can finally see Diggle embrace being Green Lantern. But we're also not sure if he's going to be on the mentioned, but not in production as-of-yet, Green Lantern Corps show on HBO Max. But I have no doubt this show will give us a lot of what Supergirl already does, but I think with a tad more lightheartedness. I find it crazy that in this age...we have TWO superhero shows based off our Kryptonian friends. I'm hoping for a lot of fun in this one. Supposedly, we're SUPPOSED to get a crossover between THIS show and Batwoman, but not sure if that's still possible, what with the casting change going on over at that show. But we'll keep an eye out.
We are still not getting any confirmation as to whether or not Green Arrow and The Canaries has been green-lit to series, so we're in a holding pattern there. I am not sure how much THAT show will bump into anyone else in the Arrowverse, since it takes place 20 years in the future. Lots of people liked the "backdoor" pilot that aired as the 9th episode of Season 8 of Arrow. We'll find out more probably next year some time.
That's where we are as of this time for the Arrowverse. We've got a long wait until January of 2021 when these shows are supposedly going to start up again...but A LOT has to come into place---mostly---having production start UP again. This COVID virus has been a pain, and with a lot of the states here in the US seeing spiking numbers, and travel bans still in place, it will be difficult for the shows that film in Vancouver to get back there to shoot. Black Lightning and Stargirl are shot in Georgia, but even THEN, codes have to be followed.
It's tough time right now, kids...let's just hope that this country can get on top of this thing, so that EVERYONE can go back to work...and WE as a nation, can get moving again.
That's all for now---be sure to continue subscribing to the blog, tell your buddies, and leave a comment. What do YOU expect or wanna see from your favorite shows this next season? Lemme know!
Until then......
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