Earlier today, the CW network released images from 2 of their new supernatural shows ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Arrow.’ We now have the first teasers go along with the photos!
‘Beauty and the Beast’
The clip released is from the beginning of the pilot setting up the premise of the show. While this is a reboot of the CBS version, it looks like a lot of the elements from the original have been discarded making way for this new updated series. Most notably is the appearance of Vincent. In the CBS version, Vincent’s features were more like a majestic lion. Although we don’t really get to see a clear image in the teaser, this Vincent seems more human with human deformity instead of “beasty.”
Here’s the official synopsis followed by the video:
Detective Catherine Chandler is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective. Several years earlier, Catherine witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen. Catherine would have been killed too, but someone – or something – saved her. No one has ever believed her, but she knows it wasn’t an animal that attacked the assassins…it was human. Years have passed, and Catherine is a strong, confident, capable police officer, working alongside her equally talented partner, Tess. While investigating a murder, Catherine discovers a clue that leads her to a handsome doctor named Vincent Keller, who was reportedly killed by enemy fire while serving in Afghanistan in 2002. Catherine learns that Vincent is actually still alive and that it was he who saved her many years before. For mysterious reasons that have forced him to live outside of traditional society, Vincent has been in hiding for the past 10 years to guard his secret – when he is enraged, he becomes a terrifying beast, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses. Catherine agrees to protect his identity in return for any insight he may have into her mother’s murder. Thus begins a complex relationship between Catherine and Vincent, who are powerfully drawn to each other yet understand that their connection is extremely dangerous for both of them. The series stars Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville,” “Chuck”) as Catherine, Jay Ryan (“Terra Nova”) as Vincent, Max Brown (“The Tudors,” “MI-5”) as Evan, Nina Lisandrello (“Nurse Jackie”) as Tess, Nicole Gale Anderson (“Make It or Break It”) as Heather, Austin Basis (“Life Unexpected”) as J.T., and Brian White (“The Shield,” “The Cabin in the Woods”) as Joe.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ has been scheduled for Thursdays at 9PM ET/PT. It will follow ‘The Vampire Diaries’ which has been moved one hour earlier taking the slot previously occupied by the now cancelled series, ‘The Secret Circle.’
‘Arrow’
The ‘Arrow’ teaser has me intrigued (okay, actually panting) as it centers on a shirtless Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen who is working out and honing in on his archery skills (and from the looks of it his Parkour skills as well). The teaser presents Oliver Queen as a man with a mission and the teaser does convey that dark realistic feel that the CW wanted to achieve.
Here’s the show’s official synopsis:
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine. The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, Colin Donnell as Tommy, Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Willa Holland as Thea Queen, with Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen and Paul Blackthorne as Detective Quentin Lance.
‘Arrow’ will air on Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT in the time slot once occupied by ‘Smallville.’ In what I feel is a smart move on the CW’s part, the network has moved ‘Supernatural’ off the Friday schedule (so it’s no longer competing against ‘Grimm’ or ‘Fringe’) and will be following ‘Arrow’ at 9pm ET/PT. ‘Supernatural’ seemed to do well in that time slot when it aired after ‘Smallville’ and the CW hopes it will do so again.
As for the other two sci-fi/fantasy pilots that were produced (‘The Selection’ and ‘Joey Dakota’), it looks like the executives weren’t too impressed as they were not included in the fall season line up.
Of the two, I am looking forward to seeing ‘Arrow’ more so than ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ I’ll probably watch the latter to see if this version is worth all the fuss, but ‘Arrow’ is the one that I’m more excited about. So what do you think of the teasers and the time slots for the two shows?
