WARNING: The following review contains references and spoilers regarding the events that took place in Arrow's first season. Those who haven't seen it are advised either to come back after they've done so or to proceed reading with caution.

With the release of Batman v. Superman due in less than two years, the cinematic future of DC Comics hangs in the balance. There's no question as to the boatloads of cash that will inevitably come its way, but whether the movie kickstarts another Marvel-style universe of superpeeps or turns out to be an overstuffed debacle remains to be seen. However, as fans cautiously await the Dark Knight and Man of Steel's first big-screen throwdown, one can't help harboring more optimism for DC's televised endeavors. It was in 2012 that the CW channel transformed one of the comic publisher's second-tier properties into the hit show Arrow, which quickly attracted decent press and solid ratings. The Starling City gang is set to debut its latest round of vigilante justice this fall, and just in time for viewers who want to catch up on the action, Warner Bros. has unleashed the complete second season of Arrow on Blu-ray and DVD. Though some episodes dwell more on gabbing up a storm than punching villains, the show continues to serve as a perfectly entertaining superhero soap opera, doing right by its protagonist and ensuring the small screen comes across as expansive as it can.

When we last saw billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), his world was a shambles. A supervillain's plot had reduced part of his beloved Starling City to ashes, his mother (Susanna Thompson) has been imprisoned for her involvement in said catastrophe, and he watched as his best friend died in his arms. The last thing Oliver wants to do is to stir up trouble by returning to town and once again taking to the streets as a hooded, bow-brandishing vigilante, but as it turns out, he doesn't really have much of a choice. Between the corporate raider (Summer Glau) who has her eyes on his family's company to the crime that's run rampant in his absence, Starling City is in need of a defender, and Oliver can't help but answer the call. Aided by his loyal bodyguard (David Ramsey) and I.T. wizard (Emily Bett Rickards), our boy is convinced to suit up and take on whatever threats he can, albeit with a less lethal approach than before. But such a stance will be hard to maintain when Oliver encounters his most dangerous adversary to date: Deathstroke (Manu Bennett), a figure from his past who will not rest until he makes the Queen family endure suffering the likes of which they've never known.

Though this second season initially carries on in a manner much more conventional than the first one's unexpected finale, Arrow does a compelling job of continuing Oliver's story. The personal stakes are amped up, and the situation is constantly being tweaked to maintain as fresh a flow as possible. Accompanying Oliver's new, non-lethal approach to combating crime are a number of foes who go the extra mile, from the seemingly omnipresent Clock King (Robert Knepper) to the deranged serial killer Dollmaker (Michael Eklund). This season makes sure our hero gets good and tested, and while you're always certain the day will be saved regardless, there are plenty of avenues through which drama and suspense keep things engaging. Some story threads this time around do veer into preachy, "very special episode" territory, and I'd be fibbing if I said that the constant discussions about secrets and betrayals didn't interrupt the action from time to time. It's great that the show's creators acknowledged that Oliver's double life isn't without its complexity, but when his final showdown with Deathstroke contains more monologues than thrown punches, you know someone's priorities got mixed up. But on the whole, Arrow presents a diverting balance of heroic stunts and psychological exploration, diving into the damaging effects leading a vigilante lifestyle leaves on its protagonist without sacrificing the fun of seeing him corral baddies.

Another plus in Arrow's favor involves how it evades the typically stifling conditions of a made-for-TV property. Whereas Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. often felt as if it took place in a succession of hallways and boardrooms, this show boasts a very open feel, with Starling City coming off as an authentic modern metropolis that could still be the breeding ground for comic-based tomfoolery. Sometimes Arrow's desire for "realism" undercuts its fantastic roots (as when characters such as Solomon Grundy are brought to life through severely watered-down surrogates). But more than not, the show lives up to the challenge of being relatable while still having us buy its cast tearing up the town in tights. Amell continues to serve as a solid lead, blessing his performance with subtle changes depending on whether he's Arrow, Oliver, or a younger Oliver who gets toughened up by his experiences on a deserted island in flashbacks scattered throughout the series. Rickards and Ramsey both lend enjoyable support, Bennett makes for an intense villain (even though his Deathstroke suit is a bit on the bulky side), and Paul Blackthorne does great work yet again as Detective Lance, who opposed the Arrow's vigilante ways in season one but ends up calling him for assistance a few times here. As for the newer additions to the cast, Caity Lotz delivers a great turn as she takes up the Canary's crimefighting mantle, and Glau provides Oliver with a cunning corporate adversary.

There'll always be talk of superhero media losing sight of the free-wheeling antics of the comics they were adapted from in favor of putting on a gritty front, but Arrow pulls it off nicely. We get enough action-packed thrills, plot twists, and touches of self-aware humor throughout reminding us that while the show's not a total lark, it doesn't take itself that seriously. Arrow's sophomore season took the adventures Oliver Queen to some interesting (and explosive) new places, and I can't wait to see what his next dalliances with the forces of darkness have in store.

 
BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

-A "Year One" episode recapping the events of Arrow's first season

-Arrow's 2013 Comic-Con panel

-Deleted scenes

-Behind-the-scenes featurettes

-A gag reel