Does the premiere season of Legends of Tomorrow stand aside its predecessors?
Ratings aside, do our legends have a future? Recap the series thus far…
If you haven’t already, check out my recap of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow two-part premiere!
“If you can’t kill your enemy [because he resurrects] weaken him.”
In a world of time travel, let’s recap this season’s attempts to kill Vandal Savage…or get themselves out of trouble at least.
Episode 3 of the premiere season; “Blood Ties” sought to bring about the destruction of Vandal Savage and his finances. Both ultimately destroyed for the moment, the team’s efforts to delay his rise to power prove unsuccessful as Gideon confirms that the timeline is unchanged.
As Rip and Sara took on Savage, Stein and Ray worked to save an ailing Kendra, whilst Snart and Rory manipulated Jefferson; aka Jax, into helping them steal an Emerald in Star City.
Whilst Sara pulls focus in the fight against her bloodlust, Leonard Snart seems to be taking the first step in defining himself with the origin story of a hero; a theme that continues through to episode 5; “Fail-safe”.
Back in episode 3, Snart serves himself up for redemption; with a threat to the timeline. Whilst Snart carefully launches his plan to steal an Emerald; an unsuspecting Mick, excited for their latest crime adventure, Snart’s true intent is to rescue his childhood; and in turn, himself.
Stealing the emerald so his father doesn’t have to; thereby saving him prison time, I’m left wondering how Mick and Leonard’s partnership will survive Leonard’s warmer side; that we’ve already seen in The Flash.
Sneaking the Emerald into his childhood home, wherein he comes face to face with his younger self. Imbuing him with words of distrust, that shape our Captain Cold, he is held at gunpoint by his father. After urging his father to stay out of prison; and be nice to his boy, he leaves.
Favouring fate, Snart is disappointed to learn that his father’s time in prison goes unchanged, as he tries to sell the emerald to an undercover cop.
Elsewhere, Sara’s bloodlust threatens to ruin Rip’s mission to find Savage’s money. In the meantime, we learn that Rip had attempted to kill Savage before, at his origin in ancient Egypt. With a legendary name, Savage’s uttering that Rip was a fool in 2166, is given some backstory. With Snart’s father’s fate in mind, is Rip still destined to fail?
During their mission, Sara and Rip discover the desecration of Carter’s body to serve the immortality of Savage’s cult. One porn-stache away from being a Manson biopic, Carter’s body is ultimately rescued and buried alongside his son.
As for his love, whose connection to Carter aided the team with assisting in saving Sara and Rip, her life is narrowly saved by Ray. After atomising his way into her bloodstream, Kendra is unable to kill Savage, and instead, he is only temporarily killed at the hands of Rip. Resurfacing next in 1986, the team make another time jump; wherein we arrive at episode 4, “White Knights”.
Facing the consequences of their interference, Rip is confronted by the Time Masters Council, distracting him from his legends wherein all goes – to be frank – to shit. As Kendra deals with her darker side, Sara must help her – with her experience with bloodlust. Elsewhere, our legends discover that a Soviet Firestorm is being developed for Savage’s next attempt at world domination.
Stealing the Pentagons files on Savage; using Snart’s theft skills, Leonard proves to be the favoured hero in this episode.
Having a way with the ladies, an Officer and a Gentleman-esque catch within the Pentagon, foreshadows that our tall, dark and handsome; Ray Palmer is useless in the episodes mission. Instead, Palmer finds himself captive alongside Mick and Martin Stein, at Savage’s base of operations.
Entering episode 5; “Fail-Safe”, we’re welcomed by the Flash ’s Cisco Ramon discussing Firestorm formulae with Stein. Missing his nerdy, pop-culture attire and classic satirical humour, Stein realises he is stuck in a hallucination. Remembering that he is captured within the Soviet Union, he becomes lucid just into to reunite with Savage; 11 years later (technically). Whilst Stalin-style torture is threatened upon him, Savage maintains faith and 4000-year-old patience, in the methods of scientist; Valentina, who was almost won over by Snart in the episode prior.
Meanwhile, Jax suffers alongside Stein; through his telepathic link, in the Jump ship’s med bay. Both hearing and feeling Stein’s pain, Kendra reassures him that they’ll save him as the legends formulate a plan. Locked up in labour camp 54, Snart is determined to break in and save his partner.
As a spin-off to Prison Break begins; Snart is placed at the mantle carrying the entire show – in my opinion. Perhaps, I’m just slightly obsessed with Wentworth Miller’s (Snart) and Dominic Purcell’s (Mick) role in the series.
Whilst Stein endures; keeping his identity as Firestorm a secret, Rory tries to figure out his escape, whereas Sara wants to manipulate the Bratva for assistance.
In Prison Break fashion, and taking note from the storylines of Arrow, Sara seeks out the Bratva tattoo for answers.
Confronting a member of this notorious Russian Mob, the legends attain a way in; after a timely fight sequence of course.
Cut-to Ray being Canadian levels of polite, as Mick wants to take care of himself, despite Ray’s concern for Stein.
Initially leaving their two most valuable assets on the Jump ship, Jax and Kendra are left behind whilst Sara, Snart and Rip head to the camp. Before they can, Rip shows Sara the world in 2016; taken over by soviet firestorms. Establishing a contingency plan; Sara agrees to kill Stein should he beyond saving.
Surprisingly an intuitive Snart, urges Sara to stay away from her old self. The growing complexities of these two characters begin to take the series from comic book queer to, the gritty and substantial progression it needs to survive. Whilst there is a place for comedy, I’m optimistic that show will develop itself akin to the Flash, in its balance of genres.
Elsewhere, as Stein tries to warn Valentina of Russia’s grim future, he learns that mutual annihilation of our cold war parties is desired for Firestorm to rise from the ashes of war. With a grasp still firm on the Thermacore, it isn’t long before Valentina discovers Stein is the missing link.
Seeing the message scratched into his forearm from Jax, the creation of Soviet Firestorm escalates as Valentina declares she’ll merge with him.
Having been brutally beaten by Savage’s men – to subsequently torture Stein, Ray lays broken in his cell. Luckily Rip, Sara and Snart arrive in time to save him and Mick. Slowly following his partner, Mick progresses in his choice to save Ray at the risk of his own discovery.
As a grim future starts to cement, Jax and Kendra decide to go to the camp.
Sensing her presence, Kendra is able to distract Savage enough to allow Rip and Jax to do their thing. Blown up at the hands of Rip, the legends settle for simply saving their crew.
Savage senses Kendra’s presence.
Elsewhere, having merged without a splicer, the pressure is on to free Stein before Valentina combusts.
Successful, Stein is saved, and Sara is talked out of her contingency plan by Snart. Proposing that she has gained a new edge, the series has begun to cement its characters within an ever-changing timeline.
With the team safely aboard the Jump ship, Savage killed until his next resurgence, the episode ends with Chronus attacking the team once more. Struck out of time, the ship crash-lands in place and time. As the Smoak name decorates the building of Palmer Tech, the team learn that they are in Star City, 2046.
Confronted by the Green Arrow, who is not Oliver Queen, we left hanging in 2046 without a hero to help our legends.
With faith yet to be diminished, tonight’s episode promises to introduce us to 2046’s Oliver Queen; and his son.
For all the Arrow fans out there, what will an older Oliver say about our Arrow’s future. And more importantly, what about Olicity?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEgd6_92etw&w=540&h=285
Legends of Tomorrow continues tonight at 8|7c on the CW!
Do you think the show will survive for a second season?
[Featured Image Courtesy of the Diyah Pera/The CW; Source Content for Gifs: Legends of Tomorrow The CW 2016, Prison Break Fox, 2006 ]