Heroic actor of the week (1/20): Katie Cassidy, Kat McNamara, Juliana Harkavy
In this week’s installment of Heroic Actor of The Week, we look at how Arrow’s Katie Cassidy, Katherine McNamara and Juliana Harkavy were incredible leads in the Green Arrow and The Canaries backdoor pilot.
It’s been quite the week for comic book television. Not only did the Arrowverse shows return to a post-Crisis On Infinite Earths world, Riverdale aired its midseason premiere and Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina returned to the streaming service for its third installment. However, among all of that craziness Arrow aired its penultimate episode – an episode that served as the backdoor pilot for its potential spin-off series Green Arrow and The Canaries.
To call it a major success really would be quite the understatement, as the episode drew the biggest numbers for a non-crossover episode of Arrow in nearly a year, making it the most-watched non-crossover episode of the season.
It also provided us with a number of show-stealing performances, letting us all know that if Green Arrow & The Canaries gets picked up (which it should), we’ll have plenty of them to look forward to. And, with that, allow this writer to introduce you to this week’s first-ever trio of Heroic Actors of The Week.
Katie Cassidy, Katherine McNamara, Juliana Harkavy – Arrow
With Arrow about to bid us farewell, fans have been wondering whether or not the planned spin-off series could carry on its legacy in a just and honorable way. Watching the backdoor pilot, it’s clear that Green Arrow and The Canaries isn’t just capable of that, it’s already excelling at it.
Much like the parent show consisted of a strong performance from Stephen Amell at its heart, this potential spin-off is built upon three. And that right there is the key to the show’s success: It isn’t any one person’s story – it’s more of an ensemble piece and thus, there are three leads. Three unique, powerful and exceptional leads.
Earth-2’s Black Canary Laurel Lance drives the majority of the story, as the character’s quest to protect Bianca Bertinelli is ultimately what kicks off the spin-off’s shenanigans. Katie Cassidy is as wonderful as ever here, camping and sassing up the antihero’s behavior to ensure that Laurel is every bit the larger-than-life character she’s supposed to be. And the extended screen-time works here, allowing the writers to explore the line between the villain that the character was and the hero she’s becoming – something Cassidy personifies to perfection.
A veteran performer and Arrow‘s leading lady, it’s no surprise that she thrives in the leading role here, and it’s genuinely great to see one of the Arrowverse’s most underappreciated actresses get the platform that she deserves to shine.
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Similarly, Juliana Harkavy benefits from more screen-time here, as she’s given the chance to explore new sides to Dinah. Her performance is both familiar and new, channeling the second Black Canary’s determination that we all know while also reinterpreting her new zen attitude. And, more than anything, she proved she’s more than capable of carrying her own show as one of the co-leads.
Katherine McNamara also shows us a new side to Mia Smoak-Queen. The character that is known for being too moody was completely reinvigorated here, and her softer outlook on life allowed the talented young actress to shine in brand new ways. And she did a fantastic job delving into Mia’s pain over her father’s death and the subsequent conflict that arose from the uncertainty surrounding her own life.
The fact of the matter is that all three women are exquisite. When they’re apart, they are as show-stealing as ever (especially Cassidy), but together they are a force to be reckoned with. Their shared chemistry allows the conflict to flow really while also ensuring that their friendlier scenes at the payoffs feel completely earned.
Katie, Kat and Juliana will make a wonderful leading trio if Green Arrow and The Canaries gets picked up. Make it happen, CW!
This marks Cassidy’s second win as Heroic Actor Of The Week – as she previously stunned fans with her performance in the second episode of Arrow‘s final season “Welcome To Hong Kong” – and the first for both Harkavy and McNamara.
Next. Green Arrow & The Canaries is the Arrow sequel we deserve. dark
Arrow will air its series finale on The CW this Tuesday night, Jan. 28, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Come back next week to find out who the next Heroic Actor of The Week will be – and check out previous winners here.