LAUREL TAKES HER SISTER TO NANDA PARBAT — The growing tension between Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Diggle (David Ramsey) puts both their lives at risk when they go after Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) and a H.I.V.E. deployed meta-human. Meanwhile, Laurel (Katie Cassidy) talks Thea (Willa Holland) into returning to Nanda Parbat to ask her father (John Barrowman) to put Sara (guest star Caity Lotz) into the Lazarus Pit. However, Laurel is surprised when Nyssa (guest star Katrina Law) refuses to do it. Wendey Stanzler directed the episode written by Wendy Mericle & Speed Weed (#403).

During Dragon Con, I got to interview Katie Cassidy, one of the stars of the CW hit “Arrow.” Katie plays Laurel Lance, an attorney and former girlfriend of Oliver Queen. She is now part of Team Arrow as the Black Canary. “Arrow” premieres tonight at 8 pm on Atlanta’s CW.

How’s Dragon Con going for you?
Katie Cassidy: Well, it just started maybe 30 seconds ago (it’s 10 am). We flew in late last night, and I had training this morning.

How’s training going?
Katie: It’s good, it’s really good. I brought my trainer with me because I am the type of person that if he’s not here, I’ll just go “Oh, I am just too tired this morning.” But it’s really good and hard, but I love it. It’s awesome.

Have you had to ramp up the training because your character is now part of Team Arrow?
Katie: Oh, yeah, absolutely. During the second season, Mark Guggenheim and I had a discussion about the physicality of the role and the difference between Laurel in season two from the start of the season till the end. You saw her go from being an alcoholic and a drug habit, being a disaster all day, every day, which is challenging as an actor. It was really nice to have that story arc where I came out the other side and go from rock bottom to sober. Then at the start of season three we talked about how much more physical Laurel would be. So I upped by training,, especially during the hiatus. When I first started working out it was working out five days a week, three hours a day. It was just with weights or cardio; it was a mixture of things; an hour of weights, an hour of kickboxing, then an hour of yoga. I wanted to make her character as legitimate as I could make her.

Credit: 4×02 – The Candidate
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Arrow may be bringing Sara back to life, but, surprisingly, it’s Laurel who will benefit the most.

For starters, the resurrection of Sara gives Laurel a second chance at having a better relationship with her sister. “Her journey this year is tied a lot to her sister,” executive producer Wendy Mericle tells TVGuide.com, noting Laurel is a “key player” in the decision to resurrect Sara.

However, with Sara eventually moving on to the spin-off Legends of Tomorrow, Laurel will get a bit more of the Arrow spotlight. “We’re excited because the series started with the whole triangle of Oliver and Sara and Laurel,” Mericle says. “And with Sara coming back and then moving on to go on her own journey, we have the potential to change the dynamic there in a really positive way for Laurel. [We] kind of put the past to rest.”

“Green Arrow” (Ep# 401)

MY NAME IS THE GREEN ARROW — Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Felicity’s (Emily Bett Rickards) blissful getaway is cut short when Thea (Willa Holland) and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) pay them a visit and tell Oliver they need his help back in Star City. The city has been attacked by “Ghosts,” assassins led by a dangerous man named Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough). However, when Oliver returns, Diggle (David Ramsey) makes it very clear that he doesn’t want Oliver on the team. Thor Freudenthal directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Beth Schwartz and teleplay by Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle (#401).

As you probably know by now if you’ve seen my other posts, Dragon Con 2015 was last weekend, and I was able to attend on behalf of Bam Smack Pow. This allowed me to attend some of the press conferences that went on during the con, including one with Arrow star Katie Cassidy, who like her good friend and roommate Danielle Panabaker, is a very friendly and kind person. Below is a transcription of some of the best questions asked at the press conference.

 How is training going?

It’s good, it’s really good. I actually brought my trainer with me just because I am the type of person that if I’m not with my trainer, it’s easy for me to be like, “Oh, I’m just too tired this morning.” But it’s really good. It’s really hard, but I love it. It’s awesome.

Have you had to ramp up the training for having more of a role on Team Arrow as Black Canary?

Oh yeah, absolutely. I think second season, Marc Guggenheim and I had a discussion about the physicality and the difference between Laurel. Obviously, Season 2, you saw her go from, you know, an alcoholic and a drug addict and literally a disaster all day everyday. As an actor, it’s challenging and I love that, but it was really nice and I think a really good arc for me to come out the other side. You know, hit rock bottom, get sober. And then Season 3 we spoke about the physicality of Laurel, that there has to be a drastic difference. I’ve spent a lot of time, and still do obviously, dedicating my hiatus to training and working out.
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