Arrow (2012-present)

L to R Holland, Ramsey, Amell, Donnell, Cassidy
(Photo taken from superbwallpapers.com)

Starring:

Stephen Amell (Hung, Heartland)
Katie Cassidy (When a Stranger Calls, A Nightmare on Elm Street)
Willa Holland (The O.C., Straw Dogs)
David Ramsey (Dexter, Blue Bloods)
Emily Bett Rickards (Dakota's Summer)
Colin Donnell (Pan Am)
Manu Bennett (Spartacus, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey)

I've been enjoying this accurate and entertaining DC TV show since the pilot episode.

The acting has been great, the story-lines and plots have been practical (for a comic book show), and the visual effects have been seamless for the most part.

Manu Bennett has been my favorite part, too.  Whenever he's on screen I love it.  What a brilliant actor.  I would LOVE to see Bennett appear as Deathstroke in some DC movies (plural).

I love whoever decided to cast Bennett.  I really do.

Bennett as Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke
(Photo taken from dontforgetatowel.com)

The star of the show, Amell, is PERFECT for The Green Arrow.  His character has yet to be called that, of course.  He has the right look, right age, and the right physique.

Recently they finally showed Slade Wilson in his full Deathstroke armored combat suit; duel-colored mask and all.  It was such a geek-out moment for me!!!  So excited!!!

If you're a total nerd you'll GEEK OUT over and over at the introduction of so many characters you've read about in comics (Deadshot, Brother Blood, Malcolm Merlin, Speedy, Black Canary, Vertigo, The League of Assassins), but even if you've never heard of Ra's al Ghul you'll still greatly enjoy the new characters you'll be introduced to.

Manu Bennett as Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke, still
on the island with Oliver Queen
(Photo taken from arrow.wikia.com)

If you're a Batman fan you'll notice a lot of general similarities between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Oliver Queen/Green Arrow.  Some similarities include:
Billionaire status
Portraying a caring, socially-conscientious business man who still likes to party
Vigilante by night fighting crime wearing a mask and costume
Expensive, techical crime-fighting gadgets
Attractive, female, intelligent tech-guru who is plugged into the hero's ear to give information and witty advise
Underground headquarters
Death of a parent (both parents for Batman) set the hero on his path
Neither Batman nor Green Arrow have super-powers
Both are hunted off and on by Deathstroke and Deadshot

Amell as Oliver Queen aka The Vigilante aka Green Arrow
(Photo taken from digitalspy.com)

Some differences include:
Batman virtually never uses a bow and arrow
Batman's sidekicks start very young
Green Arrow received his training while stranded on an island, Batman did not
Green Arrow primarily rides a motorcycle, Batman has various vehicles he uses
Batman lives in the fictional Gotham City, typically fashioned to be like Chicago meets New Jersey
Green Arrow lives in Starling City, typically fashioned like Seattle meets LA

Did I mention Barry Allen got hit by lightening and has been in a coma for the last few episodes?  Hope he's OK...

Factoid: The city of Bludhaven is mentioned and visited by characters in the show.  Bludhaven is where Dick Grayson aka Nightwing patrols in DC comics.

Beast Wars (1996-1999)

Starring:

Maximals: Tigerbot, Cheetor, Dinobot, Optimus Primal,
Airazor, Rhinox, and Rattrap
(Photo taken from tfwiki.net)

Garry Chalk voicing Optimus Primal

Scott McNeil voicing Dinobot

Ian James Corlett voicing Cheetor

Richard Newman voicing Rhinox

David Kaye voicing Megatron

I'm not ashamed to admit that this was the transformers that I grew up on.  I only caught a few episodes of the original 1980s Transformers cartoon show, but I never missed an episode of Beast Wars.  

Based in the future, long after the end of the wars between Autobots and Decepticons, two factions of Transformers are now in a cold war-- the heroic Maximals and the treacherous Predacons.  The Maximals being a branch of Autobots, and the Predacons being a branch of Decepticons, naturally.

The original Optimus Prime and Megatron and their associated transformers are hardly featured at all in Beast Wars.  This series is connected to the characters we're familiar with, but these new descendant characters carry this show all on their own.

The Predacons, featuring both the initial Megatron in T-Rex Beast Mode
on the left, and his final Dragon Mode in top center.
(Photo taken from transformers.wikia.net)

In the future, the Maximals are on an exploration mission when they are attached by a Predacon warship.  The Maximals are lead by Optimus Primal (who named himself after the legendary Prime) and of course the Predacon warship is lead by Megatron who, similarly, chose his name after his own personal "hero".

In the battle between ships both are pulled into the wormhole that the Maximals were exploring, which transports them through time and space and crash-lands them on an ancient and mysterious planet.

The Maximal/Predacon war continues between these two small groups of transformers as both vie for a way off the planet, as well as a way to keep their future from being destroyed.

Dinobot: this Predacon turned hero Maximal had the most
character-depth of any other, and frequently quoted
Shakespeare, esp when facing a tough decision.
(Photo taken from unicron.us)

The storylines are original.  The characters have real depth and feeling.  The villains are threatening.

Overall I really enjoyed this show as a kid, and I recently rewatched every episode for nostalgia, but ended up enjoying it all over again as an adult.

Optimus Primal: "I will not give an order I would not be willing
to do myself!"  This declaration to his subordinate inspires me still.
(Photo taken from home.comcast.net)

Factoid: This computer-animated cartoon show won a Daytime Emmy in 1997 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation.

Factoid: This show introduced the concept of transformers having a Spark; which was a sort of soul for transformers.  This concept has been continued in all Transformer TV shows since, as well as Michael Bay's movies.

Factoid: Optimus' Gorilla beast form and Megatron's Tyrannosaurus Rex beast form were chosen as homage to the classic fight in the movie King Kong.

Beast Wars: Transformers is currently available on Netflix.

Preview of Television Knight

Currently watching:

Kim and Jack Bauer
(played by Elisha Cuthbert and Kiefer Sutherland)
(Photo taken from widescreen.com)

24
Parks and Recreation
Modern Family
Dracula
Marvel's Agents of SHIELD
Arrow

Tyrian Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage) in Game of Thrones
(Photo taken from theguardian.com)

The Walking Dead
Justified
Dexter
The Office
Beast Wars: Transformers
Robot Chicken
New Girl
House of Cards
Game of Thrones

I'm gonna blog each of these.  One at a time.

I like to watch a wide range of shows.  I dont just watch action or drama.  I like variety.

What you will notice is missing is anime.  I don't much care for anime.