ARROW Adds Geoff Johns To Help With Tone Shift

With all the characters being introduced in this season of “Arrow,” it makes sense that the show is looking to take a different approach to its storytelling. While the first season did have several DC characters and little Easter Eggs sprinkled here and there, it seemed to have a more realistic tone to the story. Well, we’ll soon be seeing a shift from this realism into more traditional superhero fare.

In addition to executive directors Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg, DC Entertainment’s Creative Officer Geoff Johns will be taking a more active role in the show. Johns wrote two episodes last season, one of which introduced Helena Bertinelli, a.k.a. The Huntress, and was also involved in adding The Flash into the second season.

We knew the show was going to start diving into the super-extraordinary with the announcement of Flash making an appearance, but with Johns’ addition, it seems “Arrow” will start to broaden its horizons with super-powered individuals. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Berlanti spoke on how the show’s tone has shifted since it was first pitched to the CW.

We always pitched this show more like Jason Bourne than a comic book. But we’re changing some of it up this season.

WSJ also states that the CW is looking to broaden its programming “beyond its core demographic of women 18 to 34 years old,” something that Johns should be able to help with.

Adding Johns is a good decision on “Arrow’s” part. He’s already proven himself as a powerhouse comic book writer, and he’s had experience writing for DC television shows. With the show looking to embrace its superhero roots, Johns looks like the perfect candidate to help with this transition.

My only concern is that the show goes too far with all the super-powered characters it introduces. Besides Flash, most of the characters introduced this season are still ordinary human beings (although some of them have some bad-ass fighting skills).

The writers need to be careful of the rate at which they introduce the people with powers. Flash is a good start because he’s on ordinary person who gets his powers accidentally. The other characters need to be handled later when the show’s matured. As much as I may like them, I don’t want to see Superman, Wonder Woman, or Green Lantern appearing on the show anytime within the next few seasons. There needs to be some breathing room, and if we start piling these superheroes and super-villains all at once, it’s going to be a mess.

Then again, we have an archer who manages to fire accurately while running away from gunfire. Everything’s relative.

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal