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Post by Jack Malone on Nov 28, 2017 20:41:04 GMT -6
Okay, so I just read "Trinity" and "Checkmate" in one session - and my brain is still reeling from the fallout!! Those were two of my favourites to write. I think it's cool you waited to read them back to back because they definitely felt like a back to back kind of two-parter finale.
That was a lot of fun to write. My favourite was the whole "alien/man" thing with Diana in 'Trinity.' This might sound strange, but it was important to me that Vicki's death wasn't the only loss of the season, but rather a reintroduction of real, heartbreaking loss that's kind of been avoided/reversed from Season 3 onwards. I wanted her death to be the big one, and to carry a lot of weight, and then move into an episode where the stakes were elevated even higher. Almost every character that crossed paths with Maxwell Lord in 'Trinity' was killed by the end of their scene together. I wanted that penultimate to be his victory moment — one that painted him as a powerful threat, and one that appeared almost unstoppable at this point. Once I had figured that out, it was kind of a bloodbath and I had moments to realise that I just wrote a character into their last scene. I will say that Zan and Andrea are definitely dead. For Andrea, it simply came out of remembering where we last saw her in 'Paradise' and realising that she was at Gotham Gazette and that's where Maxwell Lord was going to be. Once I had her brought in as his prisoner, and had that little interaction about 'vengeance,' it dawned on me that the scene wasn't going to end very well for her. With Zan, the thought of it just kind of hurt a little and I had this really cool picture in my head of him dissolving into water and filling an elevator where Lord is and what that would look like, especially when the doors opened and he just slid out and crashed into everything. Then, like Andrea, it was a case of realising he was alone with Lord and that it wouldn't end well for him either. I think those two casualties were needed to elevate things heading into the final confrontation because Lord, at that point, has so much blood on his hands and I always wanted him to be a villain that didn't have any redeeming qualities and that you genuinely hated the shit out of by the end of the season. As for Linda, I loved writing for her. I think her last scene with Lord was probably my favourite because it revealed that she redeemed and she was sticking up for Chloe, and trying to be a hero herself. I'd like to believe that her powers somehow activated on the way down and she survived, but I doubt I'll have an opportunity next season to turn that into anything real, and in terms of an end to her story, I thought that was a pretty cool one (despite the, you know, death). Lastly, I'm sure you're referring to Zatanna's being a misdirect/reversed. I might talk to you about that one later. But to explain the why of it all now — I originally had a scene that I had to cut that kind of showed us Zatanna before she showed up in 'Damaged' (episode three) where Doctor Fate confronts her and tells her to warn Chloe about the future, and we learn that Zatanna didn't know any names, and was kind of just the messenger and had her own hopes that Chloe could turn this around and fix it, only to see certain things play out that confirmed it was going to be irreversible. It just explained her side of things more, and would have driven home the "figures" part of it all with her realising that this of course ended with her death. I liked the idea that Doctor Fate could use Zatanna because she knew her future and how things would end up for her, and allowed her not be a victim of it but a hero. But, whether it's a story I'll get to do or not (something I want to talk to you about later), I like the idea of her being resurrected in a similar way to how she was going to resurrect her father at the very beginning of her Smallville journey. But I think if that never materialises, I'm still really happy with her story/journey on 'Watchtower.' Haha, that'd be funny. I know I'm talking a lot about things that were cut (but this episode was damn near 80 pages originally), but one of the things I wanted to show at the end was the fully formed Bat-Family. Originally, the 2018 flashforward showed all the characters and where they were at that point in time before ending with Chloe, and it showed that the promise between Vicki about family materialised in Bruce forming the Bat-Family rather than settling down and having children of his own. It was just too big a series of scenes for an epilogue, and I much preferred ending with Chloe, Archer and Oliver with that two page scene. But yeah, when I start talking about Season 5, all the things that have been cut won't be that big a deal because there's still a whole season left of the show. Thank you! My main regret with 'Watchtower' is not being able to focus on Chloe's life as a reporter, and how it's gotten further and further away from the show. I had a lot of fun with pairing Chloe up with Summer as partners this season, and really love her as a reporter, so I thought it'd make sense for her to have her own little paper/blog with the VALE VERITY. I'm glad you like the name! I'm so damn excited about Damian. So. Damn. Excited. Season 5 is going to be awesome! As for the final scene, I was a little nervous about the reception of it — not that it would have changed anything, but still. So many discussions with most of them being like "I prefer Dinah and Oliver" and "I'm glad Chloe and Oliver seem finished." I was like -- god, they're going to hate me, haha! But to be honest, I didn't decide on the husband until the finale, and it really came down to what the biggest twist would be that still felt somewhat organic, and what would offer the most story. At the end of Season 4, Oliver and Dinah are married and riding off to Star City together, so to jump ahead two years and see he's married to Chloe... it was a big question mark to finish on. How do they get back together? Does he have his memories back? What happened to him and Dinah? Who, what, when, where, why, how? Haha. It was just something that made me excited to tell those stories for Season 5. I also love that it feels a little full circle, and I'm more than happy to talk about Chlollie and Dinahollie in the future if there are any questions. I'm still such Dinahollie trash, oh my god. That's totally fine. The intent was never to have them be something more than in the background and joining the fight, but I understand the disappointment in wanting to see more of them and the sense of things being overcrowded (because it genuinely was).
When I start talking about Season 5, this will make more sense, but the Season 4 finale was something I wanted to feel like a series finale, and so I wanted to bring back all these characters, actualise the Birds of Prey and the Justice League and the Bat-Family, and kind of see the Watchtower database come to life with all these heroes. 'Checkmate' was very much a finale for the first four seasons, and I wanted it to reflect that in the episode by all the familiar faces, and the new ones that pointed towards "destiny." I hope I never have to juggle that many characters ever again as it was kind of a nightmare from 'Paradise' to the finale, but it was worth it for me to have them all there and have this be the episode that I wanted it to be for what I wanted it to accomplish.
The only reason I kind of went down that lane was because I needed the "billionaire with high tech toys" character that Chloe references in Season 10, and so making it more technological for ATOM allowed me to line that up with a DC character.
Checkmate is done. Finished. Over. Gone. *pops champagne bottle* I tried to set it up that Checkmate followed with Waller wherever she went with the whole "a building is just a building" thing in 'Ceremony' so I think a lot of things would transfer over into ARGUS with her (kind of like if they were companies and ARGUS bought Checkmate and now owned all of their assets and information). So it's definitely a merger in that sense, but the politics and the organisation itself is obsolete, and there isn't some power play to claim the highest position and take control. Waller is definitely a part of ARGUS in the future, but she isn't the one steering the ship. Now that Steve has left for his happily ever after with the one and only Lana Lang, Zinda is the one in charge. Waller will have her, and probably a board of others to answer to, but she'd be pretty high up there and a top operative. You'll see a whole lot more of her in Season 5, for sure. Season 5 won't be a Justice League show. The references to The Flash and Green Lantern were simply nods. I certainly know which versions of those characters I'd like them to be, but I don't have any plans to see a fully formed Justice League pop up on 'Watchtower.' Don't hold me to that, in case it changes and I want to do something with it, but as it stands right now, those were simply nods. The whole point of it was that Watchtower was ending as we knew it (at the helm of Chloe), but something new was born and Watchtower has a new significance now. Chloe's last mission as Watchtower would be to find and recruit those two (Flash and Green Lantern) and it points towards the city being safe under Batman's wing (with his entire arsenal of teammates in the Bat-Family), and the world being safe with the Justice League. She can happily retire and go live her life. Do you mean his ending? I will say that there were a few things in deciding how his story ended this season. First off, I had already killed him off in 'Cavalry' so I felt like death would feel a little underwhelming as a conclusion to the season, despite how much I really wanted to kill that asshole after everything he did since he "came back." Instead, I had this vision in my head of Lord's mind having deteriorated and Chloe's there teaching him the game of Chess, and that whole line about how the King is useless and the Queen is the one to watch out for... it was something I couldn't really get past, and I loved the whole scene. There were a few things I could have done to get him there, but in keeping with the theme of this being a finale for the past four seasons and wanting to bring in elements from the past (like seeing Alberto Falcone, the OMAC being an upgrade from the Key Crime Syndicate soldiers, Dusan Al Ghul, Project Respawn), Zatanna's "forget" spell was something I thought would do the trick and also allow us to follow up on her and offer her story an ending for the season, too. So that's what went into creating his end for the season. I also think knowledge is power, and that's kind of been a through-line for the show, especially one with Chloe Sullivan as the lead. Maxwell Lord was a very smart man. He orchestrated the biggest plan to take down the heroes that we've seen. To end with him as a vegetable in a care center felt more poetic than death. I also like keeping the villains around. I mean, Emil came back as a clone, The Joker went to Arkham, Dusan Al Ghul is split throughout time and we can run into him at all different points in the story. The only one that died was Alberto but he was a precursor to The Joker story, who was the real big bad of Season 2. Apparently I can only kill the characters off that I love. There's something wrong with me, I know. I'll release some stuff really soon. I just want to spit the premise out there already, it's been forever and I can't wait to finally let you guys know how the final season is going to go down. It'll be 22 episodes. It might take a little longer to produce than this season because I'll be really busy from 2018 onwards with my studies, but I'm committed to seeing this through. I want the series finale to be the 100th episode (not including any Xmas specials). But yeah, hopefully soon. I've also been sitting on the XMAS special from last year that didn't quite make it that I'd love to finish and get out there for XMAS. It's a really nice Green Arrow story that features Black Canary, Speedy and Tess Mercer, with some great flashbacks (some of which feature Vicki and Mitchell, and Mia in Season 1). It's also an origin story for a quirky Batman villain and I played around with their origin a little and think it'd be something you guys would really love. So hopefully I can get the last two acts of that written and have it out on XMAS. Thank you so much, Alex. I really appreciate you reading and reviewing and leaving your thoughts for me to respond to. Twenty two episodes is a lot to write, but it's also a lot for someone to read and give feedback on so I really appreciate all the time and energy you've put in for me this season. I'm happy to answer any questions, whether in here or via PM as always. All the best, Jack.
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Post by Brady Brown on Dec 20, 2017 16:41:22 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.03 "Damaged"This review is going to be very short because ya boy forgot to finish this ep and only read half of it months ago. So bare with me. I really loved the focus on Helena and her being forced to come to terms with her mental state and how she's been feeling since Lisa's death. It was a great way to tie that into her relationship with Chloe as well, which has been building into a great friendship since season one. Another great focus was on Vicki and Kahn's relationship. I'm sad to see Kahn go, but I think it's a definite human reaction to want to leave the city when a man makes you slice your own stomach open. Those ladies had some great scenes together, and the cliffhanger with Batwoman has me very excited for the next episode. Finally, Lana and Oliver reconnected and I hope to see more of this friendship develops, especially since he's currently the only one that knows she's dying. I wonder if that's a secret the two will keep. We shall find out! Overall, great ep, and I'm pumped for more
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Post by Jack Malone on Dec 20, 2017 16:52:47 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.03 "Damaged"This review is going to be very short because ya boy forgot to finish this ep and only read half of it months ago. So bare with me. I really loved the focus on Helena and her being forced to come to terms with her mental state and how she's been feeling since Lisa's death. It was a great way to tie that into her relationship with Chloe as well, which has been building into a great friendship since season one. Another great focus was on Vicki and Kahn's relationship. I'm sad to see Kahn go, but I think it's a definite human reaction to want to leave the city when a man makes you slice your own stomach open. Those ladies had some great scenes together, and the cliffhanger with Batwoman has me very excited for the next episode. Finally, Lana and Oliver reconnected and I hope to see more of this friendship develops, especially since he's currently the only one that knows she's dying. I wonder if that's a secret the two will keep. We shall find out! Overall, great ep, and I'm pumped for more Thanks for reading, Brady! Any review is awesome, so I appreciate it Helena's story this season, for me, is the antithesis of her arc last season — while we saw her descend into depression in Season 3, this season will hopefully show her on a journey of recovery. I always saw her "death" at the end of last season as her fully emerging into depression, and so her resurrection is symbolic of those first steps to climb out of it. I really miss writing Kahn on the show. This wasn't intended to be her very last episode, but I'm glad that there was closure for her. Vicki and Kahn's relationship was a favourite to write in Season 3, and in these opening episodes. I'm glad you liked their story in this one! I'm so nervous about your response to Batwoman. I hope you like Watchtower's version of Kate Kane. As for Oliver/Lana, they had such a great scene in that one Smallville episode of Season 8, and their confrontation at the beginning of the episode was probably my favourite scene to write in this one. You'll definitely get a few more moments between them in Season 4, and I hope you enjoy their individual character storylines going forward! Thanks again for reading. I hope you enjoy the rest of the season omg
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Post by Brady Brown on Dec 23, 2017 11:07:42 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.04 "Batwoman"This was another strong installment in Watchtower's fourth season. It had a theme of partnerships beginning to form, and I thought it was a really good through-line to have so that all of these new duos can be properly established and flourish from here on out. The main focuses were on the Bats and Chloe/Summer, but by the end of the episode we also saw a partnership blossom between Gotham and ARGUS, which is equally as exciting. One of my favorite comic characters is Kate Kane aka Batwoman, so I was eagerly excited to see an episode titled on and focused around her. I definitely expected this episode to show flashbacks of Katherine that propelled her into becoming a vigilante, but in no way was I disappointed in what we got from her. In fact, I really, really enjoyed it. You managed to capture her headstrong, blunt nature and contrast it with the caring, lovingness she shows for her father. I love seeing her partnership with Batman/Bruce begin to form, and I hope that's a real driving force for her this season. I think they balance one another extremely well in the comics (especially the Rebirth "Detective Comics"), so I'm curious to find out if we'll see them in a lot more scenes as the season progresses. Either way, I loved what you gave Katherine in this episode, and I hope she gets the spotlight a lot more. Another partnership we saw form was between Chloe and Summer. Summer was a nice bubbly, quirky addition to the cast, and I think she balances Chloe's toughness out really well. I'm interested in what Chloe will be able to teach Summer in the field of reporting, but I also have a feeling Summer can teach Chloe a thing or two, so I'm interested to see where this goes. I think it's fascinating that they're acting as sort of pro-vigilante rebels in a now anti-vigilante paper. I'm also incredibly intrigued that Maxwell Lord is so ingrained in the lives of the heroes. It'll be cool to see where the Chloe/Summer/Maxwell dynamic goes moving forward. Speaking of Maxwell, we saw his weakness (sonic noises? not incredibly clear, unless it's going to be fully revealed moving forward) and that's a really bold move to show only four episodes in. Makes me think things are going to get incredibly tense very soon. Helena also had a nice role in this episode. I hope we don't see this negative connotation she has on asking for help/therapy for much longer. I understand that's a character trait, but it can be quite a damaging one if it lasts for a long time, and I'm just personally tired of the trope. That's not a negative on writing, just a personal choice. Anyway, she was great; it was nice to see her still struggling with her past choices, and hopefully she can find something that will allow her to slowly move past it, whether it be opening up to a therapist or someone she knows personally. My only main issue was the disconnect of Lana's story. If I remember correctly, she had one scene early on and then didn't show up until the end again with Steve. It just seemed disconnected. Regardless, I liked what we saw of her and Steve, and I'm excited to see where they go from here. The final "partnership" we saw, in my opinion, was between Vicki and Bruce, and in doing so we saw the final nail in the partnership between Bruce and Gordon. I know they've worked together before, but this episode really solidified a Vicki/Bruce bond moving forward in my eyes, whether that be romantic or platonic (even though it seems to be romantic). Again, I'm excited to see where it goes moving forward. Overall, another strong episode for the season. Excited to see where we go from here!
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Post by Jack Malone on Dec 23, 2017 18:49:54 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.04 "Batwoman"This was another strong installment in Watchtower's fourth season. It had a theme of partnerships beginning to form, and I thought it was a really good through-line to have so that all of these new duos can be properly established and flourish from here on out. The main focuses were on the Bats and Chloe/Summer, but by the end of the episode we also saw a partnership blossom between Gotham and ARGUS, which is equally as exciting. Thanks for the review! It was a nice surprise to log in and see this Looking back over the season, this was an episode that was probably in my Top 5. I occasionally have moments when I want to read through episodes again, and I was really proud of this one, so I'm glad to see that you liked it so much and that you understood some of those themes throughout. I'm genuinely so nervous because she is your favourite comic character, but I continue to hope that you'll enjoy what we see of her on Watchtower. And the praise for her in this episode means so much from you, oh my god. One of the problems with bringing in new characters is that there is that question of "what were they up to before now?" And that's how it's kind of been with Katherine, and Lana and even bringing Oliver back, too. There are definitely some Lana flashbacks in the season that's coming up, but with Katherine, and knowing where her storyline was going, I felt that it'd be nicer to learn bits and pieces of her as certain characters were learning the same. And writing her, it felt like she fit so well into the world off the bat that I didn't feel like I needed flashbacks to inject her a place into the story. So it's really through her interactions, introductions, and how her storylines progresses, that we'll learn more about who she is, and what her past was like, and things like that. With that said, flashbacks are going to be important in Season 5, and I'd definitely love to do some on her. And Jacob Kane is very much a prominent figure in her life. He pops up from time to time, and maintains a presence, especially when it comes to Katherine and her life/world. I tried to keep that a constant this season. One of the things I wanted to do this season was to see Bruce slowly unravel from "Team Watchtower" (or whatever you want to call it) and lean into his own team which we know to be the Bat-Family. I can't promise that it will be on the level that it is in the comics just yet, but the goal was to sort of introduce all the pieces on the board, and see if it can come together. Katherine is a part of that, and so is her dynamic and relationship with Bruce. In terms of looking ahead, I think episode 5 explores it a little further. And I think, in linking back to you wanting to see her grow into Batwoman and what happened, she is very much still at a stage where she does have a few more things to learn, and Bruce is definitely the guide to help her do that, but I don't necessarily know if I'd call him a mentor and her a student. Episode 5 definitely establishes how they function together. I'm so excited to have Chloe back as a reporter. And the whole purpose for bringing Summer Gleeson in was to give someone Chloe to interact with at the Gazette so that I could focus more on her as a reporter. I still, admittedly, don't think I've nailed it quite yet. I think Chloe's job had more presence in the first two seasons, but there's definite baby steps to bring that back into the limelight, and you'll definitely see some more of it, and more of Chloe/Summer's unique relationship, haha. As for Summer, she's so fun to write because she talks super fast, and is a bit crazy, and there was something fun about bringing a character in that wasn't broody or had all these demons. And it's also nice to bring in some more Batman characters that aren't like major players but nod towards the mythology in some way. I'm glad you don't find her incredibly annoying (which was my fear on her personality). Maxwell Lord was my antithesis to how previous villains played out. It's kind of like how I know The Flash writers talked about Season 4, and wanting their characters to go up against the villain immediately and not have it be something drawn out until the last three episodes like it usually goes down. I guess Hush was pretty similar, but even with him he was kind of in and out, and things didn't really ignite until the end either. So I wanted Lord to have a presence, and I wanted him to feel like someone that you didn't want to see in a scene with any of your favourite characters because that presence is a little doom and gloomy. Smacking him at the paper provides that for Chloe, and it offers a few really cool moments in future episodes. As for his weakness, it was on Smallville where Martha Kent as the Red Queen played some sonic noise that made him collapse, and I wanted to play into that early on. I think its a logical weakness for someone whose power stems from his mind — a high pitched noise dilutes the focus, and brings pain right to that area. I genuinely cannot remember if it's something that gets roped back in later on, but there's a few things similar to that where we learn more about Lord, what he can do, what he can't do, what hurts him physically and emotionally, and just builds him up in a way that makes him feel more dimensional. Totally understandable. I'm not sure if it was brought up in this episode or comes in later on, but the negative connotation about seeking help/therapy comes more from not being able to talk in specifics, and having to dress everything up in some disguise, because she can't talk about how she was a vigilante that lost her father, saw her girlfriend shoot herself in the face to save her from a movie-inspired villain, killed herself, was resurrected, and has PTSD from all the villains that ruined her life. While this episode might have put it in less than desirable light, I think you'll be happy where it goes. I know the end of this episode suggested Kate Spencer was going to come in and be all "you don't need therapy, I can help you myself" but I promise that's not where it goes. Kate will be more helpful in regards to Helena's PTSD and struggle in becoming Huntress again, while there'll be other developments that tackle Helena's depression, and grief and emotional pain over all the things she went through in Season 3. I think you'll like her story in the next two to three episodes Something I do this season, with the amount of characters (regular and reoccurring) is to try and continue their arc in some way even if the episode doesn't really focus on them. So with Lana, the natural progression for her from the previous episode felt like seeing her get some less than great news from Oliver about the suit, and then pay that off with her showing her fear with Steve. Hopefully you find it less disconnected with characters in future episodes, but that's the only way I can justify the inclusion/decision. I also thought Lana's headspace paralleled Helena's arc a little, and in having her moment with Steve, it was able to set up ARGUS as a problem-solver for Katherine's story at episode's end. I love Vicki Vale so damn much. I'm so excited to hear your thoughts on her journey this season. Without spoiling anything for you, I did want to focus on Vicki and Bruce's dynamic this season because of where things left off at the end of Season 3. I think finding out Bruce was Batman had a huge impact on Vicki, and the fact that she tried to keep his legacy alive for him during his recovery, kind of allowed him to see her in a much better light. They were always sort of at each other's throats in Season 3, and I think that mutual realisation of how important and strong they are, it's allowed them to solidify this partnership and trust going forward. As for Gordon, I thought it was important for that night on the bridge to still have consequences. If they're ever able to get back to a level of partnership they had (and have in the comics), it's going to have to take a lot and I think the best option at this point in the season was to have Bruce forgive him, and then pull the plug on their whole thing. I know Gordon can often be overlooked, but I'm really proud of his storyline this season and where things go, and isolating him from Batman is the beginning of it all so hopefully you'll enjoy where the story goes for him in Season 4. Thank you so much, Brady. I was eager for you to read this specific episode, and I'm so happy to hear you liked it. Appreciate the feedback, and I hope you like the rest of Season 4!!
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Post by Brady Brown on Dec 30, 2017 17:23:10 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.05 "Debt"This was another really strong episode of "Watchtower"! It had a great pace that kept going until the very end, and, as this season has been providing, it had a ton of great character beats that really elevated the high-stakes plot. I've been loving how, in my opinion, this season has been so character driven. It might just be how I'm reading the episodes, but I don't think a season of "Watchtower" has been this focused on crafting its characters inner and outer lives, as well as their relationships with others in the first handful of episodes. That being said, I'm hooked in for every story that's building, and I couldn't be more stoked. I need to talk about Chloe and Oliver. As you know, I'm a huge fan of their romantic relationship (and apparently the last one who wants them endgame around here??), but I loved how this episode really stripped it down and made them work as partners, almost strangers in fact. The tension was ridiculously thick between them, and it made the drama stand out that much more. Their banter was a great addition, and the lines really spoke to what these two were feeling, and how confused and lost they both were. The kiss might have been a little drastic, but I think with the confrontation Chloe was receiving from Ollie, it still worked. All in all, I'm stoked to see where this takes them moving forward, and how Oliver reacts to the news of his past life with Chloe. A small addition I really liked was the scene between Helena and Dinah. I can't remember the last time they were heavily involved in an episode together, but this gave way to a really nice moment. Huntress and Black Canary have an iconic relationship, so I'm glad you're able to highlight comic book aspects like that whenever you can. At first I wasn't a fan of Dinah's throwaway seizure, but I think what it did for Helena, her character, her psyche, and her storyline moving forward, was another great addition. We also got a glimpse of Helena starting a new relationship with Katherine moving forward, and I'm eagerly anticipating what that's going to do for her, and if it's going to allow her to accept the help she desperately needs. My only real gripe with this episode was the Dinah/Oliver scene at the end. To me, it sort of came out of nowhere? Like, I needed another scene where Dinah decides to leave Gotham. I don't think Oliver working a mission with Chloe (if that's even the reasoning) was justifiable enough for her to make such a shocking move and end her relationship with Oliver. So that scene just came off very forced and dramatic for me. Back to Katherine, I was so happy with her and Bruce in this episode. Batwoman and Batman have an incredible dynamic, and I'm so thrilled that you started them off as equals. I would have hated her being pushed down to be his sidekick, so I'm over the moon about the scene where they labeled themselves as equals. They compliment one another so well, and I'm glad it's gotten such a nice focus in the past two episodes. I'm hoping we see more of them soon! Overall, another great episode. I'm really loving this season. The character beats are out of this world good, and I can't wait to see how they develop over the course of the season!
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Post by Jack Malone on Dec 30, 2017 23:52:04 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.05 "Debt"This was another really strong episode of "Watchtower"! It had a great pace that kept going until the very end, and, as this season has been providing, it had a ton of great character beats that really elevated the high-stakes plot. Thanks, Brady! I love hearing your thoughts so much, and getting that stamp of approval from you on a 'Watchtower' episode means a lot, so I'm glad you liked this episode, too! Also pace is something you tend to pick up on, so whenever I'm not messing that up, it's nice to hear That's exactly what I wanted to do this season, and so I'm over the moon with this comment. 'Watchtower' has always been quite plot-heavy, especially in Season 3. I was really into doing twists, and time travel shenanigans, and trying to throw in some curveballs and surprises, and I think everything ran towards those specific story beats, whereas this season, I wanted the characters to drive it all. I'm really happy you noticed and acknowledged that, so thank you. Hopefully that continues I feel like I haven't had much Chloe/Oliver feedback this season, so it's nice to see this. I'm ready! There's so much planned this season, especially in regards to what they go through, and I wanted to take the time to have an episode where we could see a team-up between them in this current form — of Chloe being this mysterious, foreign person to Oliver, but her still longing for him. And I'm happy to see you enjoyed it. It's actually been hard to have Oliver off the show, and then bring him back, and bring him back into Chloe's life. I was worried that things would feel so different, and they definitely did in certain ways, but it's nice to know that you, as a Chlollie fan, didn't feel like a spark was gone, or that it wasn't good. So I appreciate your perspective on them, and I can't wait to see what you think of their story going forward! Yeah, it was definitely drastic. The intent behind that big a move was that it was Chloe's last attempt at a "quick fix." She's quite hesitant to share what they had with him, and fill him in on everything. It's the whole idea that what they shared was so big, and so important, and for Chloe to just share it with him like it's a quick, bullet-point story... it's not what she wants to do. So this was her attempting the "fairy tale kiss" trope that was her last shot to restore his memories, and it didn't work (sad face). Aw, thanks. I really wanted to reference Season 2, because I feel like so much has happened and characters have come and gone, and it grounds things a little to call back to earlier moments. And Helena and Dinah had that dynamic in Season 2. It felt like Dinah would be someone she'd consider before taking her own life, and like you said, it is an iconic relationship in the comics, so it's fun to just bridge them together whenever the story calls for it. Yes! It was very much about Helena. I mean, the story came out of realising Oliver would be away with Chloe the entire time, and so I wanted something for Dinah in the episode. But it was very much about the impact it would have on Helena to feel like everything she loves, and everything she touches, crumbles. I really do hope you like her arc this season. There are a lot of characters in Season 4, and so I do think things might progress a little slower than normal (like with Lana, for example) but I hope the payoff is worth it. Speaking of Dinah for a second, this episode was very much about launching her arc for the season, too. From the relationship drama with Oliver, to her injury, it kind of sets up what her journey is for Season 4. She isn't a regular, but she does pop in from time to time, and I just wanted to make clear that the seizure, and the wound, and what happened in this episode wasn't just a one-off thing. It comes back around, and has relevance and significance later on As for Katherine/Helena, I'm so freaking excited. When you told me you were reading this episode, the ONLY thing I wanted to hear right away from you was your thoughts on them. Again, I hope you enjoy where things progress from here! I wouldn't really call it a break-up. I think if that was her ending the relationship, then I'd completely agree with your criticism — not that I'm invalidating it now or anything. But it was more about Dinah taking a step back, and it's more about what the engagement ring represents for them. It was given to her when she and Oliver were setting up a life together in Star City. They were building a future, and now Oliver is chasing his past. Dinah tried to thwart that initially by recruiting Naomi, and I think at this point she's realised that she shouldn't have to try control what Oliver does or doesn't find out. She also doesn't have to stay in Gotham while he searches for clues on who Chloe Sullivan is. So it was her stepping back and letting him figure out what he wants, and as you'll see in future episodes, the engagement ring is very much reflective of a choice — a choice for Oliver to embrace his future (Dinah) or return to his past (Chloe). I'm hoping as those future episodes play out, this moment may become clearer. I'm so happy you don't completely hate my version of Batwoman. I was so worried. Even now, I'm like "well that could change," haha! As soon as you said what you did about Batwoman/Batman in the last review, I had a feeling you'd love what this episode did for them. I wanted to establish them as partners, as equals, and have that established pretty early on in the season. I think, even without not being in the suit for the longest time, Katherine has paid her own dues and I think Bruce knows that and can see that she's kind of where he was at in maybe Season 2 when he surfaced as "The Dark Knight." Sure, there are things that could be polished up on, but she's totally ready and totally capable, and having that set-up as early as episode five really allows us to settle into Batwoman as a new character, and one that's just as important as everyone else despite being brought in just this season. It makes me think of the struggle I had with Mia Dearden as a regular in Season 1. She was a student. She wasn't fully capable yet of being a hero in her own right, and kind of being Green Arrow's sidekick made it hard for her to be a supporting character on a Chloe Sullivan show. I didn't want that same vibe to loom over Katherine Kane. And I hope these first five episodes have built a platform for which she can stand and begin to grow and evolve. I'm rambling now, oh my god. I will say — now that it's been set up — Katherine very much merges closer to Helena's world than Bruce's. But he's a solid foundation for her, as is their partnership. So you'll definitely see more of them, but I'd say there's probably a greater focus on Katherine and Helena, and how their stories and worlds collide going forward, than there necessarily is of Katherine and Bruce. Honestly -- thank you so much. Some of the stuff you said here just validates a lot for me because it was a goal to come into Season 4 and have it feel more character-driven. Five episodes in, and getting that kind of feedback means so much. So thank you. I can't wait to see what you think of the season as it develops
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Post by Brady Brown on Jan 12, 2018 15:50:10 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.06 "Sirens"This episode really felt like a comic book come to life. I don't say that with the meaning that all other episodes this season didn't feel like that, but "Sirens" was a really fun, fast paced episode that saw the resurfacing of a lot of Gotham baddies. While this episode definitely had its fair share of dramatic and emotional beats, I really appreciated the overall quickness and breathing room that this episode had to offer, because it seems like the next one is going to be one of the most intense yet. First off, I wanna talk about Ivy and Harley. You nailed their relationship. I loved their banter and protectiveness of one another, and I really, really wish we could've seen more of it, because I feel like the stakes of them as a threat wasn't necessarily as high as it could have been. There were a lot of stories being juggled, and it just didn't feel like Ivy, Harley, or Red Hood were as intimidating and as threatening as they needed to be. That was my only real issue throughout the entire thing, because, like I said, I'm stoked we got to catch up with Ivy and Harley, and the end of the episode was a clever way to establish the Sirens as, hopefully, a force waiting to come back for revenge. Speaking of which, I liked the mini arc we got with Kitty. It was a real shocking end to the episode with how she reacted to everything, so I'm curious to see if she and Selina will have a reunion sometime during the season. Next we have the actual introduction of Jason. He's a pretty cool dude. I didn't really have any strong reactions to him, but I'm still intrigued with his backstory. It's interesting getting that POV from a completely new character that has been affected by a big bad that's been a looming threat for the entirety of the series, so I'm definitely excited for what he's going to bring to the table, especially since he's already been introduced to all of the team. I'm pretty sure I remember reading a scoop about Jason and Chloe beginning to develop a sort of romance, so, while I'm Chlollie trash till the day I die, I'm open to seeing what this relationship will do for Chloe in expanding her love life beyond Oliver. Chloe and Oliver still have the story I'm most excited for this season. It's so complex and rich with history and potential, and I'm just so excited for where they're going after this. They have such a conflict of objectives, and their tactics are just blocking one another continuously, and that makes such thrilling drama for me -- to see characters want something so bad but they're in the way of what the other one wants. I'm hyped for it. I remember mentioning in a past review that I wasn't a fan of the way Helena declined help, so this episode was a really nice addition for me. I think it's a perfect choice for Lana to act as her sort of therapist, because of her history with the Isis and now Savior Foundation. I'm excited to see this relationship will progress and develop into a rather mature friendship for the show. Another relationship I'm glad we touched base on was Helena and Katherine. Their little interaction was handled in a really positive way, and it's something I'm very proud that this show is focusing on. Lastly, Sarah and Gordon were a pair I didn't expect to have a huge effect on this episode, but the end of it definitely proved that I was wrong. I'm more interested in how Sarah will deal with the fallout of her family's injuries and the (hopefully) revelation of her discovering Red Hood's identity. Another really nice addition to Watchtower's fourth season. The next episode looks insane, and I'm excited to dive into it soon!
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Post by Jack Malone on Jan 12, 2018 16:32:21 GMT -6
REVIEW: 4.06 "Sirens"This episode really felt like a comic book come to life. I don't say that with the meaning that all other episodes this season didn't feel like that, but "Sirens" was a really fun, fast paced episode that saw the resurfacing of a lot of Gotham baddies. While this episode definitely had its fair share of dramatic and emotional beats, I really appreciated the overall quickness and breathing room that this episode had to offer, because it seems like the next one is going to be one of the most intense yet. That is such a huge compliment. Hopefully not Batman and Robin type level of "comic book come to life" though, haha! I'm really happy that this season is starting off so well for you. I'm least confident about the first halves of seasons, and feel a lot better about where things progress in the back half. So it's taken a lot of pressure off knowing you've enjoyed these first six episodes so far, for the most part Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are the two Batman villains that are such a challenge for me to write, to be honest. With Harley, I was so invested in her for writing Season 2 and had a blast, but every time I've brought her back since then, I feel like I've lost her voice. So I was stressing over her dialogue. And with Ivy, I wrote like all the scene outlines and certain dialogue fragments for Chris when he penned that Season 3 episode of her, and he did such a good job with her in that one and on 'Trinity', so I feel a lot of pressure with her. I wanted to preface my response with that because it means a lot to hear that you enjoyed their dynamic and think I nailed it. I tried to lean in with what I knew from BTAS, and I'm glad that paid off! I definitely see where you're coming from in regards to the stakes not being as high with them and with Red Hood. One of the things I have to work on, especially now that I have a taste for bringing in heaps of characters and trying to expand that world a little, is to balance it all. Hopefully that gets better as the season goes on, but it's still something I'm trying to be cautious of going into Season 5 now, too. I'm glad you liked her arc. I really wanted to follow up on her role in Season 3, especially when that season evolved to offer Selina a happy ending with Holly, and kind of left Kitty in the wind. You might see her pop up again in a future episode Thanks! I had a lot of fun in pairing Chloe up with a new character for the majority of the episode. The next episode will explore their dynamic a little more, but you'll also see certain reactions to him joining the team so quickly. Hopefully your impressions of him, whether good or bad, get stronger as the season progresses! One thing I was committed to this season was to honour every dynamic/relationship on the show, so whether romance is involved or not, I hope there's something to latch onto and enjoy from whatever is planned for certain dynamics. And that rings true for Chloe/Jason, too. I hope, regardless of the direction, there's something you'll like about it, haha! This makes me so happy. I've said this before, but I feel like the Chloe/Oliver stuff in terms of other responses and reviews for the season, wasn't touched upon. But I'm not really mad about it because I get a whole slew of opinions. I'm just so happy to read and follow your thoughts on them because I put a lot of work into their dynamic for Season 4, and really love their story and their conflict, and it's nice to see someone who refers to themselves as "Chlollie trash" -- its nice to see you be excited about them. One thing I'll say about them is that the story for this season isn't really about whether Chloe can tell him the truth about their relationship, or whether Oliver can be filled in on everything. That's obviously something that needs to be explored in these first few episodes, but their story this season expands to focus on something very specific and I can't wait for you to reach that point in the season! *screaming* I was hoping when you got to this episode that it might squash some of those doubts you had about Helena's storyline. I will say, though, that this particular moment was more about Helena than setting up a Lana/Helena friendship, but that's only because Lana's own personal storyline kind of erupts from the next episode onwards. But there are some great Lana/Helena things to look forward to, regardless. I'm so glad you like this. I hope you continue to like it until the end of time, and that I can do justice to a character you really love. As for the Helena/Katherine relationship, I really liked writing their little interactions. I wanted to find a lighthearted way to have their identities be revealed to one another, rather than drag it out and/or do a Batman/Catwoman thing from Batman Returns, haha. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on them as the season progresses I love Sarah Essen so much. She has two really big episodes coming up in this first half in regards to what you're hoping to see, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts on those episodes in the future! Thank you so much Brady!!! I always love hearing your thoughts, and it means a lot to have you reading and reviewing this little VS for as long as you have. I appreciate all the feedback, and I hope you like where the season goes from here!
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