On the penultimate episode of Legends of Tomorrow season 4, Neron – using Ray’s body and resources – launched an app for the public to identify and report Fugitives, in a bid to get them to unwittingly sell their souls to him. While Constantine went to rescue Ray’s soul from Hell, the Legends planned to take back the Time Bureau, only to get seriously waylaid by Gary and his new Fairy Godmother.
1. Supergirl‘s not the only one who can do social commentary
From the opening, where little present day Zari watches Neron ranting on TV about invaders crossing the border into our world, this episode was a hardly subtle commentary on how tech moguls/press barons exploit fear and anger for clicks, as well to get your personal data. The idea the terms of service can be used to make you unknowingly sell your soul was just brilliant, I mean it’s such an invisible part of our lives it could happen! If I were (adult) Zari, I would’ve likely still not thought about reading them before checking out Neron’s demon app, that’s how ubiquitous they are, even after the controversy of Facebook selling our data.
2. The Redemption of Gary Green
The Legends pack some serious heat and armor to storm the Bureau, only to get punked as Gary gets the Fairy Godmother to bring Sara and Ava to Book Club, and then Nate and Mick to role play on the Waverider‘s bridge. (Gary wears a Steel costume, which combined with the tactical gear, raises the question: why don’t the Legends wear their outfits anymore?) Despite Gary’s turn to the dark side, everyone feels really bad about their treatment of him that led him there, and they all forgive each other. Unfortunately, Tabitha has enacted a scheme to pass her Fairy Godmother curse to Nora, making her his new servant, so that becomes a lost advantage.
I gotta admit, I was enjoying Gary’s betrayal as it felt like a commentary on entitled fans throwing a hissy fit when things don’t go their own way (his views on women were hardly enlightened either, and his attempts to “play” with Ava and Sara felt like an extension of that). But I guess a lot of characters on this show – like Mick and Nora – have done worse, so it would’ve been too dark and mean-spirited if he’d remained lost in his resentment.
3. Indistinguishable from Magic
I found it funny that journalists were skeptical about “Ray”‘s warnings about magical creatures, given this is the DC CW Universe and there is a Gorilla Grodd and King Shark running around. Neron getting Mona out on stage and making her transform into Wolfy felt unnecessary, given someone would argue she was cursed by an experiment gone wrong, not mysticism. Apparently, it was not enough to persuade the public, and so Neron and Tabitha plan a false flag attack on Washington to drive up their subscribers, as if the presence of evil metahumans wasn’t enough to do that. It’s a very funny example of arbitrary skepticism.
4. Right Choice, Wrong Information
Constantine tries to strike a deal with the mob boss-styled Triumvirate of Hell, who are concerned by the amount of souls Neron is about to harvest, as it would grant him dominion in the underworld. John says he needs Ray’s soul back to foil Neron, but as worried as the Triumvirate are, they decide to mess with him by offering Astra’s soul instead. Constantine makes the right choice choosing the girl’s soul, only it turns out while in Hell, she’s grown up to be corrupt and vengeful, turning the tables and trapping him in a torture chamber. Still, Constantine made the right choice: he just didn’t have all the information – I’m sure he’ll still try to get her out, as twisted as she’s become.
5. Acting Captain Zari
Zari and Charlie are the only ones who don’t get punked by Gary and Tabitha, and carry on the mission of infiltrating the Bureau, releasing the magical prisoners (who now include, delightfully, a living gnome that’s still made of porcelain). I really enjoyed seeing Zari lead the charge with Sara gone, deciding to attend the PalmerX press conference, reading the terms of service, using her childhood home as a hideout, and then getting Mona and the fugitives out. (I’m sure Charlie loved it too – how long do you think she’s been waiting to say “Plan Z”?) Unfortunately she leaves the dragon egg she’s been carrying around at her home, but no one’s perfect – at least her younger self is getting quite a treat…
Continued belowBonus thoughts:
– Seeing Zari’s constant eating was something she’s always done and not a result of growing up in a dystopian future was a pleasant surprise. Speaking of which, are we two years away from ARGUS becoming the show’s big bad?
– Last week it looked like Neron, Tabitha, and Gary fled the Bureau with Mona, so it was a bit jarring realizing they were still in control of it.
– That demon after Constantine looked a lot like Warren Ellis (the writer).
– Poor Zari, being mistaken for a witch again: she was really right that nothing changes in America.
– Tabitha’s new look after passing on her Fairy Godmother curse to Nora was fabulous: I particularly love her Saruman-esque staff.
– Quote of the week: “It’s like a demented Noah’s Ark.”
Join us next week for the season finale, as we all cry, “Hey World!”
