I think the writer’s notes got mixed in with the script…
There is a lot of dialogue in this episode that is literally just the characters talking about their characterization and about how they should probably change it. Oliver shouldn’t really kill people. Oliver and Laurel really should feel guilty for what they did. Etc. Everyone was getting character shifts, flipping on how they were last season due to the events in the Glades. Some of it’s reasonable, but others it’s like the writers figured this would be better for the character, so let’s change it.
While yes, it’s a good thing that Oliver isn’t just dropping bodies everywhere, and seeing Tommy’s stupid death (cause it was literally stupid, he just stands there waiting for the roof to fall) can change a person… the way it’s presented is so monotone and simplistic that I can’t help but wonder if these writers even understand the meaning of nuance?
Oh, and everyone is still whiny.
Seriously, everyone whined, except Walter, but he had like five lines.
The logistics weren’t nearly as bad… no, strike that, they were. Olivier’s Tarzan swing in the beginning was way to slow or that landmine was way too old. And if they had to parachute onto the island… then how did they get off it? You know… I’m just gonna stop there.
The good news is that the show hasn’t gotten any worse, they didn’t try to drastically change up anything (which might have actually been a good thing, but also very bad). So fans of the show are going to get more of the same. Which is good for them… and…. yeah… this is going to be a long season…
p.s. City of Heroes was an awesome game…
X-Men: The (fan fic) Series 
Your list of grievances is a little nit-picky. It seems as if you’re too busy looking for all of the problems rather than just sitting back and enjoying the show. I honestly thought it was a really solid opening to what could be a very entertaining season.
Oh, I could have been a lot worse. The problem is that the first pretty much killed it for me. It’s one thing to suspend disbelief, but every episode last season was full of ridiculous occurrences, culminating in Tommy’s death. I mean, Laurel tells everyone to leave, then just kinda hangs around as the place is falling apart. Tommy comes in, tells her to leave, then hangs around. Then surprise, the ceiling collapsed onto him.
How does one become emotionally attached to the situation when all you want to do is slap the characters, tell them to grow up, and grow a pair?
If by every episode you mean the last seven minutes of the last episode, then yes, you have a point. Tommy’s death could have been done better, but I don’t think a show can be judged by of one scene and that’s all the evidence you’re giving to support your claim.
And I think it’s easy to grow emotionally attached when the characters are written and portrayed so well. The acting in the show is truly very good, much better than I was expecting for a show on CW, and every character has their shortcomings which make them relatable to the audience.
I’m curious as to what you mean by “ridiculous occurrences” from season one, though.
Tommy’s death was just the highlight at the end, the topper on the cake as it were. I could go on, but really, just check out all my previous reviews. There you will find all the specific times when the logistics killed me, the guest characters were just thrown away, and the incessant whining made me cringe.
And no, these characters aren’t well written, at all. Nor do half of these actors now how to act beyond “brood” and “whine”. I should have mentioned, but I’m so glad they got rid of the voiceover stuff (I hope it’s gone for good) cause OMG that grated on my nerves… Oliver couldn’t voice act to save his life.