The only thing missing from this episode were some Yakov Smirnoff jokes – in mother Russia, Gulag escapes you!
1. A clash of tones
Legends of Tomorrow has an interesting tone on its hands; rather, it has two different tones. On one hand, you get the goofy Ray Palmer smiles and the over the top Vandal Savage grins, but you also get Sara Lance campaigning for killing Stein to prevent the future’s destruction. This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, I think it is something that other shows are typically afraid to do for whatever reason.
Because of the variety in tone, the show is incredibly hard to predict on a scene by scene basis. Sure, we know that Stein isn’t going to die, because the show needs Firestorm, but due to the shifting tone, it really does keep you on the edge of your seat. Tonight’s episode was far tenser than it had any right to be, and that is a good thing.
2. Honor among thieves
Snart and Rory are obviously partners that look out for each other before anyone else, but both characters now have shown a desire to take care of their ‘team’ members in ways that even the heroes don’t necessarily show. This week, after Ray took the guard’s attention away from Rory, Mick refused to leave him behind in the Gulag. Also, Snart was quick to remind Sara that taking out your teammate is never a good idea. These guys may appear cold on the outside (pun not intended), but there is a real sense of obligation and friendship beneath the bluster.
3. Snart emerging as a leader
We’ve seen Snart over the last few weeks really take some strides in leadership, whether it is refusing to abandon folks, agreeing to avenge Carter’s death, or encouraging Sara to push past what others think of her. Do I think that he is setting up a full-on hero’s turn? Not at all – but I do think this is grooming him to be the leader of the Rogues in a way we haven’t seen before. If he’s not on Legends next season, look for him to be a major part of The Flash
4.The Firestorm Matrix
I think the show has done a very good job at showing Firestorm being a partnership, but one that leans more on Stein than Jax. This episode shook that up a bit, and showed Jax as willing to put his life on the line for Stein. Jax can veer towards stereotype of young, brash athlete at times, but the show has been giving him nice depth and a heart of gold.
A very real problem this show is going to have is this: if they keep building up these characters to this extent, they are going to run out of shows in which to feature them all. Who’d have ever thought that would be an issue?
5. That’s gotta be Connor Hawke as Green Arrow, right?
Connor Hawke is one of those characters completely locked into a time – he is the 90’s Green Arrow. No one tends to think of him at any other point in history, and for good reason: DC more or less abandoned him once Oliver came back. The TV version is doubtful to be Oliver’s son, but he could still be an interesting choice for the show. Hawke was a very different hero than his father was, and his Buddhism and pacifist’s attitude would make for an interesting mix on this show. I’m excited to see where the character goes.
What did you think? Let me know in the comments!
