Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 3 review
One of the major problems with the CW superhero shows is their reliance on the old “these characters are keeping a secret from the other characters, oh boy what will happen when they find out” syndrome. They rely so often on this trope that when these plot points are resolved quickly, either by the end of an episode or the next week, we feel grateful for it and praise The CW for not insulting our intelligence and forging ahead with the plot. Except they sometimes are insulting our intelligence and not forging ahead with the plot, we just get so caught up in the secret/revelation cycle, we sometimes miss that it’s just a ploy to get us back each week watching the show – much like the cliff-hangers before a commercial break. This week’s Legends was a prime example.
The plot thread left hanging last week, that Vixen and by extension, The JSA might mistakenly believe the Legends were responsible for killing Rex Tyler aka Hourman, was one that I actually relished. So of course just like a post-ad break resolution, everything was cleared up within the first few minutes of the show. Vixen had somehow snuck on board the Waverider in order to get revenge for her leader’s death, only to be stopped and convinced that another time traveller was responsible. Yes this means Vixen is now going to be part of the team, but at the expense of what could have been a sword of Damocles hanging over the Legends heads; their inevitable run in with the JSA. It just seems such a waste. Also, I’m left questioning; did Vixen tell her team mates back in 1942 of her belief that the Legends killed Rex? Is that conflict still a possibility?
Upon discovering that Ray’s tweaked super serum has given Nate the ability to turn into living steel (what?), making him look like a less buff Colossus, the guys decide to test Nate’s newfound abilities, accidently smashing open a bulkhead causing Nate and Ray to get sucked out into the time stream. As set up’s go, it was pretty weak. I prefer when the Legend’s go somewhere with purpose, a mission, but I guess once in a while you do just have to fall out of time and land in 17th Century Japan.
Nate, despite being a historian, falls into the usual trap of dumbass out of time. He falls for a local girl Masako, references events that she’s clearly living through in the past tense, has zero qualms about trying to save her from an evil Shogun, long term effects on the time line be damned. This felt like a time travel show written by someone who’s never seen or read anything about time travel before. OR, they were briefed that things like internal logic, continuity and consequence don’t matter as the audience is full of casual fans. Ray, poor bugger, ended up losing his Atom suit to said Shogun, who managed to get it working; an all-time best on Ray f••k-up-o-meter. Faced with giving up his chance for real super powers last episode, Ray now is faced with having to destroy the Atom suit to stop the bad guy. Of course, he’s given the whole “It’s not the armour, but the man who wears it” speech by Nate’s new squeeze’s father, leading him to don actual Samurai armour and try to take down the Shogun with the family sword. Ray and Nate actually develop somewhat in this episode, with Nate learning what it is to have power and to use it responsibly to help others, though most of his time is spent waiting for him to power up into his steel form again. What I’m really interested in though, is seeing Ray adjust to a life where he is no longer The Atom and just a genius inventor.
The other members of the team turn up to save them, but don’t really have much to do other than look cool. Vixen has issues trusting Mick, which is resolved by the end (of course) but really it’s just about Sara and Vixen looking bad ass! When Nate returns the sword to Masako, Ray finds out from her father that their family name is Yamashiro, the ancestors of the modern day Katana. So I guess it’s ok they intervened, seeing as Katana could have been erased from existence had they not.
Back in the ship, Jax and Martin worked to repair the gaping hole in the side of the Waverider, discovering that there is a secret room on board the time ship. Inside they find an armoury, one that Rip kept secret from the rest of the crew; but the real find, is a message form Barry Allen circa 2056. The only content of the message we heard, was that Rip should keep it a secret from his crew, so you guessed it, Jax and Martin decide to keep it a secret from the others, omitting to let them know they even found the room at all. This could be a really juicy plot line, as Jax and Martin try to steer the team away from a danger only they know of, but I’m guessing that we won’t have to wait long until we hear the message for ourselves; next week.
The plot thread left hanging last week, that Vixen and by extension, The JSA might mistakenly believe the Legends were responsible for killing Rex Tyler aka Hourman, was one that I actually relished. So of course just like a post-ad break resolution, everything was cleared up within the first few minutes of the show. Vixen had somehow snuck on board the Waverider in order to get revenge for her leader’s death, only to be stopped and convinced that another time traveller was responsible. Yes this means Vixen is now going to be part of the team, but at the expense of what could have been a sword of Damocles hanging over the Legends heads; their inevitable run in with the JSA. It just seems such a waste. Also, I’m left questioning; did Vixen tell her team mates back in 1942 of her belief that the Legends killed Rex? Is that conflict still a possibility?
Upon discovering that Ray’s tweaked super serum has given Nate the ability to turn into living steel (what?), making him look like a less buff Colossus, the guys decide to test Nate’s newfound abilities, accidently smashing open a bulkhead causing Nate and Ray to get sucked out into the time stream. As set up’s go, it was pretty weak. I prefer when the Legend’s go somewhere with purpose, a mission, but I guess once in a while you do just have to fall out of time and land in 17th Century Japan.
Nate, despite being a historian, falls into the usual trap of dumbass out of time. He falls for a local girl Masako, references events that she’s clearly living through in the past tense, has zero qualms about trying to save her from an evil Shogun, long term effects on the time line be damned. This felt like a time travel show written by someone who’s never seen or read anything about time travel before. OR, they were briefed that things like internal logic, continuity and consequence don’t matter as the audience is full of casual fans. Ray, poor bugger, ended up losing his Atom suit to said Shogun, who managed to get it working; an all-time best on Ray f••k-up-o-meter. Faced with giving up his chance for real super powers last episode, Ray now is faced with having to destroy the Atom suit to stop the bad guy. Of course, he’s given the whole “It’s not the armour, but the man who wears it” speech by Nate’s new squeeze’s father, leading him to don actual Samurai armour and try to take down the Shogun with the family sword. Ray and Nate actually develop somewhat in this episode, with Nate learning what it is to have power and to use it responsibly to help others, though most of his time is spent waiting for him to power up into his steel form again. What I’m really interested in though, is seeing Ray adjust to a life where he is no longer The Atom and just a genius inventor.
The other members of the team turn up to save them, but don’t really have much to do other than look cool. Vixen has issues trusting Mick, which is resolved by the end (of course) but really it’s just about Sara and Vixen looking bad ass! When Nate returns the sword to Masako, Ray finds out from her father that their family name is Yamashiro, the ancestors of the modern day Katana. So I guess it’s ok they intervened, seeing as Katana could have been erased from existence had they not.
Back in the ship, Jax and Martin worked to repair the gaping hole in the side of the Waverider, discovering that there is a secret room on board the time ship. Inside they find an armoury, one that Rip kept secret from the rest of the crew; but the real find, is a message form Barry Allen circa 2056. The only content of the message we heard, was that Rip should keep it a secret from his crew, so you guessed it, Jax and Martin decide to keep it a secret from the others, omitting to let them know they even found the room at all. This could be a really juicy plot line, as Jax and Martin try to steer the team away from a danger only they know of, but I’m guessing that we won’t have to wait long until we hear the message for ourselves; next week.
A Look Inside
