The premiere of Legends of Tomorrow was a solid start, but with room to grow.
We start off right away with an introduction to our villain, Vandal Savage, who is systematically destroying the world, so that he can rule it. That seems like a pretty typical end game for a villain. Given that Savage is immortal, he has plenty of time to achieve his goals. Those that stand against Savage are made targets. One of those people is Rip Hunter, whose wife and son are killed because of his resistance. Rip has since made it his mission to go back in time and stop Savage from destroying the world, in turn getting revenge for his family’s death. He appeals to the Time Masters Council, but they refuse to help, so he sets off on his own rogue mission. To achieve success, he recruits a team of eight special people that he believes can stop Savage and save the world.
Who are these eight people? The first member of the team is Ray Palmer, also known as the Atom. Poor Ray. He’s your lovable every man, but no one seems to have any clue who he is. It’s sad, since he seems like a really nice guy. Rip’s second pick is Sara Lance, the White Canary. Since her death and resurrection on Arrow, Sara has been lost. She’s become an assassin who fights in the shadows, constantly feeling the need to take. The scene between her and her sister, Laurel, was a great way to establish that Sara is ready to be different, and find herself again. Laurel tells her to rejoin the light and become a hero again. Cisco even made her a new costume. Of course he did. Next up is Firestorm, a hero made from the combined powers of Jefferson Jackson and Martin Stein. These two are an odd couple for sure, but I like the idea of combining strength and youth with age and wisdom to make one superhero. These two are not who I expected though. Stein is a little bit of a crazy man. When Jefferson refuses to join the team, Stein drugs him and drags him along against his will. I get that Stein wants to take advantage of adventure while he still has time, but that seems like a really harsh and out of line way to go about it. Jefferson eventually comes around, realizing he can appreciate the merit and value in being a member of a team. It reminds him of his football days. You want someone like that to have your back. Despite being the younger of the two, he seems to have a more level head than his partner. Members five and six of the team are Kendra Sanders and Carter Hall, better known as Hawgirl and Hawkman. These two are directly linked with Vandal Savage. In another life, he was in love with Kendra, but she was, as is her destiny, in love with Carter. Savage tried to kill them for their betrayal. That night, a meteor fell, and the radiation cursed Kendra and Carter with reincarnation, and Savage with immortality. Savage has made it his mission to kill each reincarnation of his two betrayers. In the present lifetime, Kendra isn’t so sure about joining Rip’s mission, fearing it may cause her to die yet again. Carter sees it as a perfect opportunity to get rid of Savage for good. In true couple form, they fight it out to decide what to do. Carter wins, so they join Rip. The last two members of the team are Leonard Snart and Mick Rory, or Captain Cold and Heat Wave. These two are especially interesting choices because they’re criminals. Even though they may lack certain morals, they bring a lot of power to the group. It’s kind of perfect that they agree to join the team mostly on the basis that it means they might get to go back in time and steal really cool items without getting caught. They like the idea of being legendary, but as villains, not as heroes. They definitely bring a unique perspective to the group. I like the team that Rip has assembled. There is something intriguing about the idea of watching a band of misfits become a team of heroes. Part of me wishes that I was caught up on The Flash and Arrow, and had seen the introductions of all of these characters on those shows. At the same time, I think being able to come at them with fresh eyes might give me a unique perspective. It’s definitely an interesting group.
The fact that this story is going to focus on time travel is exciting. The storytelling potential this opens up has the potential to be amazing. Traveling to different decades, seeing big events in history, or maybe seeing past incarnations of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The possibilities are pretty endless. It will be fun to see where in time and space the team ends up as the show goes on. Their mode of transport is Rip’s time ship, named the Wave Rider. It has an artificial consciousness named Gideon to help guide them. What I’m noticing right off the bat is that time travel equals lots of crazy physics and technological jargon that I don’t understand. I’m guessing this isn’t a big deal, and that much of it is likely made up anyway. The team’s first voyage takes them to the 1970s to locate Aldus Boardman, an expert on Vandal Savage and his whereabouts. Aldus also happens to be Kendra and Carter’s son from another lifetime. The connection between those three was my favorite part of the story. Sad as it was, it created some great character moments, with Kendra and Carter demanding that Aldus be allowed on the ship, Kendra punching Rip for getting Aldus hurt, and the scene with Kendra, Aldus and Carter in the infirmary. In a short time, they really manage to make them feel like a real family unit. I actually felt sad for Kendra and Carter when Aldus dies.
While part of the team is off working with Aldus, a select few are left behind, since their skill sets are not needed. Shenanigans inevitably ensue. The bar scene with Mick, Sara and Leonard was fantastic. It’s entertaining to see a little bit of rebellious fun from our, shall we say, less morally inclined team members. Mick is a fan of Captain and Tennille because they were his mother’s favorite, which fits perfectly into the 70s theme going on in the episode. Sara lands herself in a fight with a drunk guy, and after she proves she can hold her own, the three rebels find themselves in a full out bar brawl perfectly set to Love Will Keep Us Together. That little music element makes me excited to see what other songs from various decades and genres we will get to hear as the team travels through time. They made good picks this week. Let’s hope they keep that up.
When the Wave Rider begins taking damage, everyone returns to the ship. It turns out that Cronus, a member of the Time Masters Counsel, has been sent after Rip in light of his disobeying the Counsel. Rip is forced to reveal his true motives to the others. Though he had initially tricked them into joining his cause by calling them legends, it is revealed that this group was actually selected because they had the least impact on the timeline. Basically, they didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Clearly hurt by this news, Rip’s team looks to be no more. However, after some consideration, they decide that if they work together to save the world, they just might change their own destinies as well. It’s a very grounded and poetic notion that they all choose to fight because they want to matter, and don’t just want to leave destiny to fate. They’re all searching for something, be it purpose, or connection, or a fresh start. This journey is a way for them to find those things.
One element that this show is really succeeding with is its dialogue. The banter between characters, as well as some of the jokes and quips were a lot of fun. Already, I enjoy watching these characters work together because of those interactions. Visually, the show is also immensely entertaining. I expected nothing less from a Berlanti superhero show. I’ve always been impressed with the effects on Flash, Arrow and Supergirl. What they have in mind for the tone of the show, I’m not quite sure yet. It’s lighter than Arrow, but darker than Flash. It’s funny, but has an edge of seriousness. It’s also modern, while kind of being historical as they travel back in history. I guess you could say it’s chaos, but it’s a very specific chaos that I haven’t exactly pinned down.
Now it’s verdict time. This pilot, while it had many fun individual moments, and some great ideas, it still felt very pilot-y as a whole. I think part of this stems from the fact that there are so many characters that they have to introduce and collect. It makes the exposition all the more tedious. The checklist of what the audience needs to know is a little longer than on a show focused on one or two titular characters. I enjoyed watching, but this didn’t stand out to me as being a particularly strong episode. It was good, and I’ll keep watching, but it was pretty average as far as superhero shows go, in my opinion. There is room for improvement. Now that the exposition is out of the way, my hope is that next time we’ll start to get a better idea of exactly what this show wants to be on a weekly basis. Pilot’s are building grounds for growth. I have faith in Berlanti and his team, as I’ve yet to be disappointed by them so far. I’m sure this show will start to find its legs soon. Until then, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Did you enjoy DC’s Legends of Tomorrow?
We start off right away with an introduction to our villain, Vandal Savage, who is systematically destroying the world, so that he can rule it. That seems like a pretty typical end game for a villain. Given that Savage is immortal, he has plenty of time to achieve his goals. Those that stand against Savage are made targets. One of those people is Rip Hunter, whose wife and son are killed because of his resistance. Rip has since made it his mission to go back in time and stop Savage from destroying the world, in turn getting revenge for his family’s death. He appeals to the Time Masters Council, but they refuse to help, so he sets off on his own rogue mission. To achieve success, he recruits a team of eight special people that he believes can stop Savage and save the world.
Who are these eight people? The first member of the team is Ray Palmer, also known as the Atom. Poor Ray. He’s your lovable every man, but no one seems to have any clue who he is. It’s sad, since he seems like a really nice guy. Rip’s second pick is Sara Lance, the White Canary. Since her death and resurrection on Arrow, Sara has been lost. She’s become an assassin who fights in the shadows, constantly feeling the need to take. The scene between her and her sister, Laurel, was a great way to establish that Sara is ready to be different, and find herself again. Laurel tells her to rejoin the light and become a hero again. Cisco even made her a new costume. Of course he did. Next up is Firestorm, a hero made from the combined powers of Jefferson Jackson and Martin Stein. These two are an odd couple for sure, but I like the idea of combining strength and youth with age and wisdom to make one superhero. These two are not who I expected though. Stein is a little bit of a crazy man. When Jefferson refuses to join the team, Stein drugs him and drags him along against his will. I get that Stein wants to take advantage of adventure while he still has time, but that seems like a really harsh and out of line way to go about it. Jefferson eventually comes around, realizing he can appreciate the merit and value in being a member of a team. It reminds him of his football days. You want someone like that to have your back. Despite being the younger of the two, he seems to have a more level head than his partner. Members five and six of the team are Kendra Sanders and Carter Hall, better known as Hawgirl and Hawkman. These two are directly linked with Vandal Savage. In another life, he was in love with Kendra, but she was, as is her destiny, in love with Carter. Savage tried to kill them for their betrayal. That night, a meteor fell, and the radiation cursed Kendra and Carter with reincarnation, and Savage with immortality. Savage has made it his mission to kill each reincarnation of his two betrayers. In the present lifetime, Kendra isn’t so sure about joining Rip’s mission, fearing it may cause her to die yet again. Carter sees it as a perfect opportunity to get rid of Savage for good. In true couple form, they fight it out to decide what to do. Carter wins, so they join Rip. The last two members of the team are Leonard Snart and Mick Rory, or Captain Cold and Heat Wave. These two are especially interesting choices because they’re criminals. Even though they may lack certain morals, they bring a lot of power to the group. It’s kind of perfect that they agree to join the team mostly on the basis that it means they might get to go back in time and steal really cool items without getting caught. They like the idea of being legendary, but as villains, not as heroes. They definitely bring a unique perspective to the group. I like the team that Rip has assembled. There is something intriguing about the idea of watching a band of misfits become a team of heroes. Part of me wishes that I was caught up on The Flash and Arrow, and had seen the introductions of all of these characters on those shows. At the same time, I think being able to come at them with fresh eyes might give me a unique perspective. It’s definitely an interesting group.
The fact that this story is going to focus on time travel is exciting. The storytelling potential this opens up has the potential to be amazing. Traveling to different decades, seeing big events in history, or maybe seeing past incarnations of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The possibilities are pretty endless. It will be fun to see where in time and space the team ends up as the show goes on. Their mode of transport is Rip’s time ship, named the Wave Rider. It has an artificial consciousness named Gideon to help guide them. What I’m noticing right off the bat is that time travel equals lots of crazy physics and technological jargon that I don’t understand. I’m guessing this isn’t a big deal, and that much of it is likely made up anyway. The team’s first voyage takes them to the 1970s to locate Aldus Boardman, an expert on Vandal Savage and his whereabouts. Aldus also happens to be Kendra and Carter’s son from another lifetime. The connection between those three was my favorite part of the story. Sad as it was, it created some great character moments, with Kendra and Carter demanding that Aldus be allowed on the ship, Kendra punching Rip for getting Aldus hurt, and the scene with Kendra, Aldus and Carter in the infirmary. In a short time, they really manage to make them feel like a real family unit. I actually felt sad for Kendra and Carter when Aldus dies.
While part of the team is off working with Aldus, a select few are left behind, since their skill sets are not needed. Shenanigans inevitably ensue. The bar scene with Mick, Sara and Leonard was fantastic. It’s entertaining to see a little bit of rebellious fun from our, shall we say, less morally inclined team members. Mick is a fan of Captain and Tennille because they were his mother’s favorite, which fits perfectly into the 70s theme going on in the episode. Sara lands herself in a fight with a drunk guy, and after she proves she can hold her own, the three rebels find themselves in a full out bar brawl perfectly set to Love Will Keep Us Together. That little music element makes me excited to see what other songs from various decades and genres we will get to hear as the team travels through time. They made good picks this week. Let’s hope they keep that up.
When the Wave Rider begins taking damage, everyone returns to the ship. It turns out that Cronus, a member of the Time Masters Counsel, has been sent after Rip in light of his disobeying the Counsel. Rip is forced to reveal his true motives to the others. Though he had initially tricked them into joining his cause by calling them legends, it is revealed that this group was actually selected because they had the least impact on the timeline. Basically, they didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Clearly hurt by this news, Rip’s team looks to be no more. However, after some consideration, they decide that if they work together to save the world, they just might change their own destinies as well. It’s a very grounded and poetic notion that they all choose to fight because they want to matter, and don’t just want to leave destiny to fate. They’re all searching for something, be it purpose, or connection, or a fresh start. This journey is a way for them to find those things.
One element that this show is really succeeding with is its dialogue. The banter between characters, as well as some of the jokes and quips were a lot of fun. Already, I enjoy watching these characters work together because of those interactions. Visually, the show is also immensely entertaining. I expected nothing less from a Berlanti superhero show. I’ve always been impressed with the effects on Flash, Arrow and Supergirl. What they have in mind for the tone of the show, I’m not quite sure yet. It’s lighter than Arrow, but darker than Flash. It’s funny, but has an edge of seriousness. It’s also modern, while kind of being historical as they travel back in history. I guess you could say it’s chaos, but it’s a very specific chaos that I haven’t exactly pinned down.
Now it’s verdict time. This pilot, while it had many fun individual moments, and some great ideas, it still felt very pilot-y as a whole. I think part of this stems from the fact that there are so many characters that they have to introduce and collect. It makes the exposition all the more tedious. The checklist of what the audience needs to know is a little longer than on a show focused on one or two titular characters. I enjoyed watching, but this didn’t stand out to me as being a particularly strong episode. It was good, and I’ll keep watching, but it was pretty average as far as superhero shows go, in my opinion. There is room for improvement. Now that the exposition is out of the way, my hope is that next time we’ll start to get a better idea of exactly what this show wants to be on a weekly basis. Pilot’s are building grounds for growth. I have faith in Berlanti and his team, as I’ve yet to be disappointed by them so far. I’m sure this show will start to find its legs soon. Until then, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Did you enjoy DC’s Legends of Tomorrow?