This week on Legends of Tomorrow, it was Behrad’s 25th birthday, and he was misled into believing his surprise present was being taken to a taping of his favorite sitcom in Vancouver, 2023. Of course, the Legends were really there because an adorable, furry little pink alien had crashed onto the set. While there, Mick also learned his daughter is now pregnant.
1. Representation Matters
Legends is all about about how ridiculous life in a superhero universe can be, but it’s also about a diverse crew of outcasts embracing being outside the norm, and in Behrad’s case, we learn in this episode that as a teenager he loved Bud Stuy, a sitcom about two pot loving Muslim roommates that only lasted two seasons, but which inspired him to embrace life as a reefer loving superhero, in contrast to the ambitious expectations his parents had for him. The alien’s appearance causes the creators to start reconfiguring the show, and as a result Behrad begins to morph into a douchey business bro who never took the Air Totem, jeopardizing the Legends’ history.
As Zari points out, the episode’s theme was about how the weight of aspirational expectations, from family or outsiders, can be really annoying, and it’s true: so often online I see people point out examples of immigrants or people descended from them, who’ve made something of themselves, and they mean well as it’s meant to combat racism, but poor, disabled, or just plain lazy POC, deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as much too. Maybe you think Behrad is a mediocre example of Muslim representation: well, ok then, but that’s fine if there’s “great” Muslims in entertainment too.
2. Gus-Gus
The baby Gusarax (or Gus-Gus as he’s soon dubbed) looks a pink blend between the show’s own adorable mascot, Beebo, and The Mandalorian‘s “baby Yoda” Grogu, and I can’t help but feel like he’s a slight dig at the latter for introducing a cuter version of a beloved character to make Star Wars even more popular. I imagine the whole dilemma of Bud Stuy using Gus to sell out may echo some conversations at the CW about using Beebo to improve Legends‘ ratings. The irony is: a multi-camera sitcom randomly introducing an alien? That’s the kind of shark-jumping creative decision that makes Legends so good every week!
3. GOLF CART CHASE
As far as resolutions go, this has to be one of the most sloppy the Legends have ever pulled: Nate getting himself cast on the show to kidnap Gus? Astra chasing Bud Stuy‘s original lead in a golf cart? You’re all lucky weed gummy bears are a thing, or else Gus would’ve rendered the whole room deaf with his ear-piercing shriek. And where was Sara? Making sure Mick didn’t kill Lita’s boyfriend Niko, as if Mick would do something that deranged noawadays. Anyway, that golf cart chase was pretty awesome right? It was shot exactly the way a car chase would be.
4. Rotating Zaris
After Nate mentions that the original Zari didn’t forget Behrad’s birthday, Zari 2.0 goes into the totem to share memories and photos of their brother. After speaking to their ancestors, and learning that splitting the totem means she won’t overwrite her brother’s existence like last time, Zari proposes to her predecessor that they can take turns in and out of the totem, meaning she and Nate can spend some time together outside its pocket dimension. I’m very keen to see how switching between Zaris also changes up the dynamics in each upcoming episode.
5. Junior
During Behrad’s birthday party, Gary knocks the drink out of Mick’s hand, revealing that Kayla impregnated the big guy, and that a brood of aliens is growing inside him. That’s right, father and daughter are both pregnant, like a genderbent version of Father of the Bride Part II.
Yeah, I can see why Dominic Purcell may be leaving after this season, but I’m an open minded guy, so I just have to ask: what are the writers smoking? It’s obvious to me now that Behrad’s usage is autobiographical, and I want that good, mind expanding stuff too.
Bonus Thoughts:
– I get Lita taunting Mick with her feminist credentials after he dissed her boyfriend, but he’s never struck me as a conservative sort. (He writes romance novels and is not married to her mom, after all.)
Continued below– Astra clearly regretted it but she was absolutely thirsting over Bad Boy Behrad (her eyes looked like they were gonna shoot straight at him.) So yeah, she and regular Behrad are totally happening.
– Gus really waddles like a troll doll.
– No, before you I ask, I haven’t watched This is Us.
– The number of the apartment on Bud Stuy is 420, haha yes, how droll.
See you all next week for “Bad Blood.”
