Arrows and Canaries

I finally watched the final episode of ARROW.

I can't say I like the Canaries. If a show based on them actually reaches air, I might give it look, but don't know that I'll stay with them. Why?

Dull characters.

Two of the canaries are exactly alike. Except for hair color, both Dinah and Laurel look alike (same height, same weight, same body type, same makeup style), sound alike (for some reason, they both speak in a low, husky, whisky-soaked voice, and they both sound the same), same inflections (seriously, if you close your eyes, you can't tell them apart), same attitude ("Yeah, I'm a tuff bitch" while slouching on a couch), same drinking habits (sooooo much drinking from all the female characters), and even the same powers (martial arts with staff and a sonic scream that they inexplicably use only once or twice per episode instead of, say, during a fight).

Mia, meanwhile, is a tiny bit different from the other two. Her hair is different. She's younger. She uses martial arts and bow. And . . . well, that's it. Everything else about her is the same as the other two.

Apparently, TV has decided there's only one way to be a tough woman--you have to speak in a deep voice, love to fight, drink hard, have an in-your-face aggressive attitude. Oh wait--that's the stereotype of a tough man.

There are lots of ways to be a tough, strong woman. Putting three tough women on a show and making them all tough the same way is lazy writing--and boring.

Additionally, the stereotype Gay BFF (who will almost certainly be sidelined in every episode and given no steady love interest whatsoever) was barely a presence. No joy there.

So I doubt I'll watch the show again.

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