'Arrow' hits bullseye

The CW might be known for teen soap dramas of the vampire variety and not for being a ratings powerhouse, but, quite unexpectedly, it’s home to what has become television’s finest drama series.

“Arrow,” which debuted last fall, tells the story of Oliver Queen, a billionaire playboy who returns home after five years to moonlight as a masked vigilante, taking down the criminals of Starling City. But like most superheroes, Oliver must keep his identity a secret to protect his family and loved ones.

Yeah, we all know that one always works out well.

Last season ended with the death of Oliver’s best friend, Tommy, during a man-made earthquake which destroyed the Glades, a poverty- and crime-stricken area of Starling City. Banishing himself to the island where he was lost for five years, Oliver is convinced to return home by Felicity Smoak and John Diggle, the brains and additional brawn behind Oliver’s operation.

Oliver’s new method of operation is to no longer kill his enemies and become the hero his city needs. Easier said than done.

What makes “Arrow” such a strong show is its willingness to be a little ridiculous without pandering or resorting to cheeky “men-in-capes-and-tights” humor. After all, we are in the superhero genre, so an element of disbelief is necessary. But “Arrow” doesn’t use this as a means to play dumb.

The human aspect of the drama is always present. Each character on the show has lost something and is explored beyond a 2D rendering.Oliver’s former girlfriend and city attorney Laurel is turning to alcohol and pills to seek relief from all the death in her life. Oliver’s mother, on trial for her part in the destruction of the Glades, wishes to keep secrets from her children in order to maintain their respect.

Not to mention, the show is full of powerful women, both super and otherwise.

Laurel’s sister Sara, once presumed dead from the same shipwreck that stranded Oliver, has returned as Black Canary, kicking ass and taking names as she hides from a currently faceless League of Assassins who trained her.

Felicity, played by Emily Bett Rickards, continues to be the show’s best character, stepping up her game this season as a true necessity to Oliver’s work.

Don’t let the superhero tag keep you away from “Arrow.” Oliver may be a little unrealistic as he dons a hood and shoots arrows at impossibly far away targets, but it’s some of the only must-watch series left on network television.