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[TV] “Arrow” Recap: Left Behind

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Arrow began 2015 on extremely solid footing by focusing on Ollie’s massive absence after his deadly duel with Ras Al Ghul. After the events of “The Climb” Ollie is left dying on a rock face halfway down a mountain and “Left Behind” explores the effects of his loss to varying degrees of success.

Somehow it didn’t even matter. We all knew Oliver was going to be coming back in relatively short order, but this week we got to see just how badly his absence affected the team that was “Left Behind.” After having very little to do for most of this season Diggle and Roy begin the episode with a bang. I could seriously watch Diggle in that “too tight” suit for the remainder of the season. While Roy actually made good on his training and proved to be a rather formidable force when going up against the faceless goons of the week.

Their resolve to keep fighting was contrasted by Felicity’s loss of her ditzy attitude. It was replaced by a noticeable hole. She’s lost the man she loves and she refuses to believe it. She can’t help but want to prevent Diggle, and Roy from falling to the same fate. And even still we can see her worry with Ray, a scientist who has great ideas but faulty execution. Her scenes this week felt a lot more at home with Ray as the two of them actually have some stakes to their interactions.

While, Malcolm Merlyn is the honorary recipient of the most convenient appearance of the week award since his few scenes in this episode were nothing if not problematic. His rolling into the Arrow cave to deliver his version of the bad news, only to reappear a little later to show that he’s done the worst detective work on his trip to Nanda Parbat was pretty much laughable. As was his random scene with Thea warning that they had to leave the city asap.

Danny Brickwell was a welcome addition to the glades. He is perfectly cast as Vinny Jones, and looks to be the villain of the next couple of weeks. I found his plan to not only be enjoyable but a pretty great idea all things considered. Plus he gave us that fantastic sequence between his goons and Roy in the pipe.

The fight choreography has really taken a step to another level this year.  I was legitimately on the edge of my seat when Roy jumped out of the pipe, onto the top and bounced off the one to his side while firing his bow. Giving us simply awesome stuff that you wouldn’t have been able to find on this show two years ago.

The flashbacks with Ollie and Maseo did a lot to sell the debt between these characters. The infiltration of the lab was another action highpoint and showed yet another different side of Ollie that we never knew he had. I’m happy they didn’t play coy with Ollie’s resurrection for too long. I knew we’d be seeing him sooner rather than later but I’m glad to see the literal “cliffhanger” resolved so quickly. Maseo seems to be the perfect character to save Ollie. I’m excited to see where this goes.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Laurel’s transition from useless pretty face to Black Canary. But I can’t stop cringing over that line she delivers. Let’s hope donning that domino mask does something for her character, otherwise I welcome her long overdue death.

Next week we’ve got “Midnight City.”

 

 

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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