4. Real Characters, Real Situations
It all comes back to the people involved. Consider the roles that every character not just portrays, but juggles amongst others. Oliver Queen, a crusader trying to disguise himself as a dilettante. His sister Thea, part drug-user, part party girl, part voice of reason and compassion to a family torn by despair. Even Tommy Merlyn, a playboy trying to change his goals while not sacrificing his ideals. These people are believable, charismatic and working to improve life. Not only are the characters believable, but their situations are such. Hard to believe for a show based on a comic book, but it comes back to a discussion of what is vice and what is virtue. Drug dealers, arsonists, crime lords, these are battles that could happen both in the real life and seem beyond imagination.