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Five Thoughts on Legends of Tomorrow‘s “The Good, The Bad And The Cuddly”

By | April 10th, 2018
Posted in Television | % Comments

Almost everyone from this season (and Jonah Hex) came back for this smorgasbord of a finale, where the freed Mallus (Malice? Alice? Doesn’t matter) takes control of Julius Caesar, Blackbeard and Freydís, and has their forces lay siege to the Legends in Jonah Hex’s town. (Hey, those reused costumes keep the budget down, ok?) As the Legends try to work out why using the Totems to splash Malice or toss a rock at him doesn’t work, Ray and Damien Darhk go to extra lengths to save Nora’s soul.

1. R.I.P. Hunter

Rip Hunter goes at out the start of the episode in spectacular if somewhat anticlimactic fashion, detonating one of the Waverider‘s time drives to slow down Mallus. I honestly felt nothing for Rip’s death: his sporadic appearances this season indicated that Arthur Darvill wasn’t that interested in carrying on with the show, so his demise was not only predictable, it also felt perfunctory. The flashback to his “death” at the end of season 1 only served as a reminder of how much more emotional that scene was, and how Rip used to be far more engaging as a character. Viewing the show as is, and not as a series of contractual negotiations, it’s also a little hard to believe Rip could be completely gone again.

2. Curtain Call #2

So Ray and Damien go off on a hare-brained scheme to save Nora before Mallus completely took over her body, commandeering the jumpship to grab her in-between her escape and her transformation. It’s ultimately a rather convenient way to swap out Nora for Damien, so Mrs. Brandon Routh can stick around next season, but it does explain why killing Mallus isn’t as easy as it may seem, and it’s appropriately demonic that once a sacrifice has been made, it can’t be undone, it will still take a life if it can’t have the one offered. If this is to be Neal McDonough’s last appearance in the Arrowverse, then it’s an appropriate one that doesn’t undermine the development the character has had, and one strong season to ride out on. My lasting memory will forever of him his waving goodbye at Nate just as Ray punches him.

3. Care Bear Stare

If you had told me this season would end with a wrestling match between a gargoyle and a giant soft toy, I’d have raised my eyebrow and said, “Sounds like Legends.” This show treads a fine line between being gloriously stupid, and being just plain stupid, and this utterly unique, stirring, and ridiculous fight scene perfectly exemplified everything I love and hate about this show.

The writers must’ve realized how goofy everything was about this storyline and you could tell, from the cheesy flashback to the first Totem bearers, to the Legends’ utterly perverse and gross-out first attempt at combining their powers, that no one was taking it seriously. And it worked, from Nate (High Nate is Best Nate)’s random interjections like “lasers!,” to The Simpsons-esque presentation of everyone sharing their thoughts, it really symbolized that we’re not here for the usual superhero shenanigans, like the defeat of an ancient demon, we’re here because of how bananas these characters’ crazy interactions are (namely all of them turning into a giant furball).

4. Curtain Call #3

So without further ado, Amaya Jiwe, Vixen, Grandmother, and Dread Pirate, decides to call it a day on her time-traveling adventures. Maisie Richardson-Sellers has been saddled on two seasons with the most thankless, stress-inducing romance, and an overly passive direction, so it’s a shame to see her leave, and not the annoying guy who always forgets he has superpowers. Who doesn’t want to see her hang around more with her redeemed granddaughter? This episode should’ve actually shown her learning from Kuasa about her new life, but instead she tells it to Nate. At the moment, the show is two-for-two as having written out black actresses because audiences couldn’t really warm to them, and it’s disappointing.

5. And you were there…

Let’s run through everyone else: Ava returns with Jax (who’s become a dad, just like real life), the aforementioned Kuasa, and the Amazonian Helen. Sara’s speech skills are rubbing off on Ava, and Helen’s become adept with a sword and a pistol. Sadly, my prediction that Citizen Cold and the Ray would return turned out to be a pipe-dream. Jonah Hex doesn’t seem as scruffy as he used to be, and I hope Zari sticks around long enough for a reunion next season (I bet the only reason he’s not joining the Waverider is because his face costs money). I really hope Kuasa becomes the resident Vixen, and gives the Fire Totem to Jax, who can now be the worried parent on the ship. Constantine shows up at the end to set up the next season, on what is the fakest looking beach ever, and with Gary in tow (nice Presidential wig by the way, fantastic diss there Zari).

Next week: nah, only kidding, it’s gonna be a long wait ’til season 4. Welcome back anyway, Supergirl.


//TAGS | Legends of Tomorrow

Christopher Chiu-Tabet

Chris is the news manager of Multiversity Comics. A writer from London on the autistic spectrum, he enjoys tweeting and blogging on Medium about his favourite films, TV shows, books, music, and games, plus history and religion. He is Lebanese/Chinese, although he can't speak Cantonese or Arabic.

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