Just when we thought the Birds of Prey had a chance at uniting, EW has learned that the title of the highly anticipated Felicity Smoak-centric episode of Arrow has been changed.
At Comic-Con, it was announced that Felicity’s backstory would be told in an episode titled “Oracle,” which sent fans into a frenzy since many had speculated that Oliver’s go-to IT gal would eventually take up that comic book mantle. However, the producers are going in a different direction with the character, now calling the episode, “The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak.”
In the hour, we’ll finally get to meet Felicity’s mother, portrayed by NYPD Blue alum Charlotte Ross. “We’ve established in the past that mom is a cocktail waitress in Vegas,” executive producer Marc Guggenheim says. “She and Felicity are two very different people. Episode 5, which is when Felicity’s mom comes to town, really deals with the differences between these two women and how much of their relationship is a struggle as a result. It’s a real challenge for these two people to find some common ground.”
As for Felicity’s father, fans will have to wait a little longer to get more information. “The mystery of who Felicity’s dad is probably gets extended more than it gets answered,” Guggenheim adds.
At Comic-Con, it was announced that Felicity’s backstory would be told in an episode titled “Oracle,” which sent fans into a frenzy since many had speculated that Oliver’s go-to IT gal would eventually take up that comic book mantle. However, the producers are going in a different direction with the character, now calling the episode, “The Secret Origin of Felicity Smoak.”
In the hour, we’ll finally get to meet Felicity’s mother, portrayed by NYPD Blue alum Charlotte Ross. “We’ve established in the past that mom is a cocktail waitress in Vegas,” executive producer Marc Guggenheim says. “She and Felicity are two very different people. Episode 5, which is when Felicity’s mom comes to town, really deals with the differences between these two women and how much of their relationship is a struggle as a result. It’s a real challenge for these two people to find some common ground.”
As for Felicity’s father, fans will have to wait a little longer to get more information. “The mystery of who Felicity’s dad is probably gets extended more than it gets answered,” Guggenheim adds.
Source:
Proof this is real, Marc Guggenheim tweeted this.
"'Arrow' changes title of Felicity’s backstory episode" http://t.co/h6ooAN8bBu via @EW
— Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) August 18, 2014
who cares about the title......making a big deal out of nothing
ReplyDeleteDumbest title ever.
ReplyDelete"It sounds like the title of a Nickelodeon show or something." <These are the exact words I was looking for.
ReplyDeletewho cares? I like it and it not that important..........story---->title
ReplyDeleteI really don't care about the title as long as the episode is great. And since Charlotte Ross reaction to receiving the script for the episode was AWESOME. I have high hopes.
ReplyDeleteI agree.....making a big deal of the title change
ReplyDeleteThey did say they refer to Felicity's backstory as "The secret Origin of Felicity Smoak" in SDCC.. still liked the Oracle title better. I am just happy to see her evolve.
ReplyDeleteI don't like that title, it was ok when they used it as a description for the episode but as a title? It sounds cheesy, "secret origin" come on she's not an alien or a robot! But the title doesn't really matter much as long as the episode is good.
ReplyDeleteyou know, i was really bummed about this change. Plus, whenever i picture felicity's father i always imagined robin williams in the role, and how he can just be his usual funny self, which would explain where felicity gets her quirkiness from.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't seen Avatar The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra have you? Not all Nickelodeon shows are Spongebob. Even then it fits her weird, quirky-ness and helps downplay Batman comparisons.
ReplyDeleteLOL at the new title, but I'm glad it won't be called 'Oracle' anymore, whether it was just supposed to be a wink or if Felicity is stealing Babs' code name, I wasn't fond of the idea (unless Babs cameo-d somehow in the episode and the title referred to her, but that's unlikely). The new title kinda sucks though, sounds like a Disney channel show.
ReplyDeleteIit's surprising mature. It deals with themes of redemption, honour, pacifism, has great animation, character work and action and cool use of asian philosophy. Point is, that you shouldn't just lump all shows together or prejudge them as silly or bad. Like with this episode, there's probably a very good reason they decided to change it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm sure there's a reason. I just can't see what it is.
ReplyDeleteLol nor can I.
ReplyDeleteGood fudging lord, are you kidding?
ReplyDeleteOracle was a fine as hell title, just turn her into Arrows version of Barbara. Not like they could use a Gordon on Arrow anyway.
Why not call it 'Stop pushing us Olicity fans, here's your episode'.
I get why a Merlyn episode is called 'The Magician', I would totally support a Diggle centric episode to be called 'Flagg' (because he's pretty filling out Ricks role as the squads leader), I would be in favour of a Thea centric episode to be called 'The smiling cat' (get it....Cheshire).....but that?
Well, to be fair, a huge number of fanboys did complain about the title being called "Oracle". Get mad at that minority that got upset over a title for the title change.
ReplyDeleteWhat is still secret about this, they have already been told she went to MIT, raised by a single mom who was a waitress.
ReplyDeleteSeems like the Arrow writers want her to be a snowflake, not that thats anything new with them.
What a long freaking name, they are trying to make us crazy tbh or trying to cover up the mistake with the first one.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'll get mad at the showrunners who prioritize placating angry immature fans over their own better judgment, thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteEr... I'm pretty sure the people who complained about the title were mostly comic book purists who don't like that the title implied that Felicity were to become Oracle (because apparently only Barbara Gordon can be Oracle?). From what I've seen, most Olicity fans were okay with the title and were excited for Felicity.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm pretty sure that not all Felicity fans are Olicity fans so.... I don't see your point?
While I don't like the title and find it to be ill fitting with the other titles, I think that the reason for the change was not because of the complaints from the minority but because of DC having plans for the Oracle at one point? IDK Not every change has to do with the fans reactions. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteWow, what a lame mouthfull of a title. I liked "Oracle" and the implications therein just fine.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are right Im good if the episode is amazing who cares about a title anyway , most people who watch the show my mom and aunt included dont care about that or google the show online.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people are making a big deal out of it :p It's just a title! Titles are meant to have an insight as to what will happen in the episode, and since we already know that episode 5 will be Felicity-centric, I don't see why the title matters or how it's "terrible news" as someone below so eloquently put it. Plus, i doubt anyone ever really looks at titles anyways so...
ReplyDeleteWhat matters is the content of the episode, not the title. Don't judge a book by its cover and all that.
I don't think it's stealing if Felicity didn't know that the codename was used by someone else? IDK I think people are being presumptuous because Oracle could've easily been someone else from her past and not necessarily Felicity. I was actually hoping that it was someone like Barbra who trained Felicity to be a world class hacker(considering I don't think MIT has a course on hacking)
ReplyDeleteThen you'll be in a losing cause. Anyone working on a comic book movie, comic book series will ALWAYS listen to the fans and try to tinker here and there. This is no exception.
ReplyDeleteBy stealing, I meant if they decided to give Felicity the code name 'Oracle' for whatever reason, because we're not going to have Barbara on the show, so she would take the place of Oracle, as if all you need is to be good with computers. If they were planning on implying Barbara exists/have a cameo by her, I'd be fine. But I'm not here for Felicity going by 'Oracle' for any reason.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't change the fact that it's a dumb decision. Writing a TV series requires walking a fine line between giving fans what they want (since it's ultimately entertainment) and staying true to your own artistic vision. Personally, I didn't even see any people complain about the Oracle title, just speculation on its meaning. So I have a hard time buying that it was SUCH loud backlash from SUCH a large group of people that it necessitated changing the title.
ReplyDeleteIn any event, regardless of the reason for the title change, it doesn't also account for giving the episode a new title that sounds like a story an 8-year-old wrote for class.
It's always a dumb decision when a movie or series based around a comic book character always listens to the fans more than themselves, but it will continue to happen unless we get people that block it. At least, no matter how anyone feels about the man or his Batman trilogy, Christopher Nolan refused to even take a moment on the internet because he knows how people talk/complain/groan/etc. Look at Spider-Man 3….Avi Arad had the nerve to force Sam Raimi do to something because how how much people were crying about seeing Venom.
ReplyDeleteAnd honestly, as someone who didn't have a problem with "Oracle", I don't have a problem with this title either. I prefer "Oracle", but this title also sounds like a comic book story arc.
Why does the title even matter? Has there ever been a episodes in the history of television that was ruined because of the title? Most people don't even pay attention to titles of episodes.
ReplyDelete