Our second favorite comic book TV show of 2018 is back baby! And things got pretty serious on last night’s return, with Mona’s Kaupe boyfriend Konane on the loose, Nate’s dad framing her for his escape, and Sara and Ava having a serious disagreement over the situation. It wasn’t completely tense though: Konane had escaped to Mexico City, 1961, and become a famous luchador.
1. Nate and Zari are Dating
They’re not, they just posed as a couple at a fundraising gala hosted by his parents to get Hank’s phone, so they could verify whether he ordered the doctoring of the security footage of Mona. I wasn’t too sure in the end why Zari had to tag along, except to subject her to the gratuitous dialogue from Nate’s mom, who was way too excited about the prospect of grandchildren, although now that I think about it, Nate and Zari haven’t interacted much, so this was good. I thought the gala being for the American Hemophilia Foundation was a great continuity nod, although it only highlighted how weird it was that Hank didn’t acknowledge his son had the condition earlier in the season.
2. Rough Patch Dance
We got a few excellently choreographed scenes this week, as you’d expect from an episode about wrestling, but we also had a great ballroom dancing sequence between Sara and Ava at the gala. It was amazing because you wanted to cheer and applaud their skills, but they were also arguing over Sara’s decision to return Konane to pre-colonial Hawaii, so you didn’t know how to feel! Suppose these two headstrong ladies had to clash sooner or later, given Ava’s just too by-the-book next to Sara: it’ll be interesting to see if it strengthens their relationship, or if they break up and continue to work together like mature adults (either would be good).
3. Acting Captain Rayge
Ray gets everyone to sign a petition to officially make him the Waverider‘s first officer, which is something you’d never thought about before but makes perfect sense. He’s well aware of Constantine and Charlie’s antics mucking up the timeline last year, and creates a game called Cards to Save the Timeline to help them understand actions have consequences, leading to some fun meta-commentary (“Oh, you’ve got to be joking: Vandal Savage? That’s a real name?”) That leads us to the second great bit of choreography, when the trio realize removing Konane from Mexico City, 1961, will lead to riots, forcing them to bring him back for one last great bout where tubby El Cura (Frank Gallegos) will take his place as the people’s champion: I was thoroughly guffawing at Konane’s inability to understand he was supposed to throw the fight.
4. Viva Mexico!
Is it me or was this episode really topical? In another delightful bit of action last night, you had a bunch of US Time Bureau agents invading Mexico to apprehend/execute the escaped “fugitive,” and the Legends fight back with the ageing El Cura to protect him: I was definitely cheering with the crowd because of those connotations. On that note, it’s gonna be hard for Ava and Hank to come back from their complicity in Neron’s scheme, they could be playing along like Nate is with his dad, but it sure didn’t sound like it from Ava’s tearful reticence to help Sara stop Hank (unless she’s giving a good performance for her superiors’ sake).
5. Monster Tamer
I really enjoyed Mick and Mona’s relationship, from him being unable to stand her, to realizing she probably gets him better than anyone else because she’s read his book. (I didn’t even know he’s already published it.) It all got very much like the classic Next Generation episode “Darmok,” with Mick using his story to explain to Mona this relationship with a “wolf man” can’t work out.
Like everything this week, things took a heartbreaking turn when a Time Bureau agent emerges, and shoots and kills Konane just as Mona is about to return him to his own time. Enraged, she transforms into a beast, and mauls him to death. Mick, who was giving them some privacy (but would probably say he’d gone to pee), returns to Konane’s camp and witnesses the bloody aftermath: talk about a change in their relationship indeed! My guess is that Mona got infected with Konane’s DNA when he scratched her during his escape – and I must say I’m quite excited the Legends have their own Hulk now.
Continued belowBonus thoughts:
– This was a given since the season took a break when Mona’s storyline was still on a cliffhanger, but it’s still 2018 on the show.
– It was striking seeing Gary being serious with Mona for a moment: good thing she zapped him with the memory eraser because it was making me uncomfortable.
– Sara flicking away Constantine’s cigarette was just so satisfying.
– I wonder if Zari picked up any prowling skills while she was a cat.
Next week: time for a road trip with a corrupt old man. And Richard Nixon.
