This week’s Encore on Legends of Tomorrow was none other than Nora’s dear departed dad Damien Darhk, and since that means he’s evil again, Nora decides to hide the fact that she’s now a fairy godmother in a relationship with Ray from him. Bummer for Ray: he was hoping to propose that evening. Meanwhile, Ava learned Sara got a job offer in Star City; Charlie proved iffy on Constantine’s idea to repair the Loom of Fate; and Zari helped Mick deal with an internet troll.
1. That’s Not a Typo
You may be wondering, “Mr. Parker? I thought Ray Palmer was doing this Mr. Rogers spoof?” But you see, Mr. Parker’s Cul-de-Sac is the Arrowverse equivalent of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, one that Ray has every episode of on VHS, and which he uses to keep Nora’s fairy godchild Pippa entertained while she distracts her father. When the ruse completely falls apart and Damien has Ray, Ava and Sara pinned to the walls, Pippa intervenes by wishing they were all on the show, meaning everyone gets a much needed timeout to talk about their feelings. Nora made it clear to her father she preferred using magic to help kids instead of being a powerful sorceresss; Constantine made a sincere case to Charlie for repairing the Loom; and (in puppet form) Sara explained to Ava why she hadn’t mentioned Wild Dog’s job offer. It was so bizarre but incredibly sweet as well.
2. Was this the Best Episode to Date?
Strong words, especially when the episode begins with a flashback to the show’s most beloved scene (the Mallus-possessed Darhk’s demise at the hands of Beebo), but I think so: I couldn’t stop laughing throughout this episode, even moreso than a typical Legends, with all the lies Nora was forcing everyone to put up with, and their feeble attempts to play along that a joyful Damien remained completely oblivious to. (I also got a huge laugh when Nate leapt at the opportunity to admit to his friend he though he was rushing this relationship.) Then we had the hysterically surreal kid’s TV resolution, and then Nora’s decision to accept Ray’s proposal and get married here and then with her father at her side, which was so moving.
Darhk also provided some genuine tension to this episode: you really didn’t know if he’d be angry finding out the truth about his daughter or not, and his decision to remove himself after the wedding with Sara’s Hell sword (the one taken from Genghis Khan) provided the ending with some poignant gravitas. It’s amazing to be reminded during his final conversation with Sara that yes, he was once the Arrow big bad who murdered her sister, and she’ll never forgive him for it, and that’s why he ought to be the one to take himself out.
3. Moving On
Before departing again, Damien tells Ray that Nora needs someone who can support her in her role as fairy godmother in the real world, and not while being on a “silly” timeship. It’s presumably the final motivation Ray needs for his departure from the show this season, and let me admit: I’m just not ready to say goodbye yet. I know a wedding in most stories is a happy ending, but I’m not ready to see Sara and Mick be the only original cast members left, or to see Nate say goodbye to his bestie, even if he and Behrad have become great bros (and babysitters, like when Ray realizes he has to leave Pippa). I guess life eventually becomes a process of seeing friends forming new relationships and moving away, which is ironic given this is a show about time travel, but yeah.
4. Speaking of Wedlock
Mick discovers his internet troll is Lita (Lost in Space‘s Mina Sundwall), who turns out to be the daughter of Ali, whom he slept with in 2004 a few episodes ago… yes, that’s right Mick, congratulations, you are the father! (Mick, are you ok, you’ve fainted!)
Mick can’t stand this and resorts to using the Bureau’s memory eraser on Ali and Lita (who is named after a character from his novels, naturally), so they can move on without him. However, it’s clear from gorging himself on wedding food later and his conversation with Zari that this isn’t the tidy resolution he was hoping for. Come on Mick, what kind of time-traveling dad won’t take his daughter for a spin? Girl deserves off her miserable planet (no pun intended).
Continued below5. Constantine is Integrating Well
And in more astonishing twists, Constantine has quit smoking (well, not really, he learned he’d get lung cancer in ten years), and has taken up chewing sunflower seeds. We also see when Charlie plays a prank on him about the whereabouts of part of the Loom that he’s fully willing and able to don an Antarctic explorer’s outfit to excavate the thing, which is amazing: I love that the writers are fully embracing him as part of the fabric of the show, instead of this separate aspect that has to be treated much more reverentially than the rest of it.
Bonus Thoughts:
– At the start of the episode, Damien ties Gary to a railway in Salvation, 1874. In Mr. Parker’s Cul-de-Sac, he becomes a train, therefore getting over his fear of trains – brilliant or what?
– Damien absolutely did use a spell called Brexit on Johnny, my god.
– I wonder if the camera hovering above Damien’s death this time implies he finally went to the Good Place.
See you all next week for (wait for it) “Romeo v Juliet: Dawn of Justness.”
