Grade: 4.25 stars

Lately DC Comics has been trying to defeat its archrival, Marvel Comics, by creating the biggest multi-medium empire. DC has recently announced 11 movies that will be released between now and 2020. They also announced three new televisions shows: The Flash, Gotham and Constantine. All will premiere this year.

This competition all began when DC released its hit series Arrow on the CW three years ago. The show is based on DC superhero Green Arrow. It centers around Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), a billionaire playboy returning to his hometown of Starling City after he was stranded on the South Pacific island of Lian Yu for five years.

When he returns home, he decides to use the skills he learned on the island to become a vigilante known as the Arrow. As he pursues his goal, Oliver finds that more people are willing to help him on his crusade. His partners in crime-fighting include his bodyguard John Diggle (David Ramsey), his technical aid Felicity Smoake (Emily Bett-Rickards), his sidekick Roy Harper (Colton Haynes), a police detective Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne) and his daughter Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy), who happens to be Oliver’s ex-girlfriend.

To avoid suspicious, all of his helpers maintain their normal routine and help Oliver when they aren’t working.

As the third season starts, Team Arrow is riding high, Diggle is having a baby, Detective Lance was promoted to captain, the team is constantly putting away criminals, and Oliver is ready to get his company back after going broke last season. However, the team does not stay on top for long as Oliver’s company is stolen away by Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), and a new criminal, Vertigo, emerges with weaponized hallucinogens.

The show is as good as ever, with more action and continued great writing. The action scenes are always filled with stunning fight choreography and gorgeous cinematography.

The interactions between the characters feel genuine and are always amusing, maintaining a good balance of drama and comedy. The characters are portrayed as fun and endearing, and their flaws are apparent, chief among them being Oliver himself.

However, so far in the season the episodes have seemed a little rushed. There seems to be too much that is being stuffed into them, and though the feeling isn’t overwhelming, it sometimes feels like there isn’t any time for the characters or the viewers to sit back, breathe and really take in and process what’s happening.

The show’s tone continues to be overall a bit dark and generally serious, which may turn some people away from it. However, the show isn’t afraid to have fun with itself when it includes humorous interactions between the characters. While the first episode of the season is pretty light, the second episode is when the series returns to its original dark nature.

The show doesn’t require the viewers to be at all familiar with the comic books, though the viewers that are more in tune with the comics are given some subtle and some not-so-subtle Easter eggs to entice them to continue watching. However, the show is completely welcoming to anyone who tries to watch it, whomever they may be.

The third season of Arrow continues to be what the show always has been, but this time even more so. It may not be the best written or the funniest show out there, but it’s entertaining, captivating and overall a solid show.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.