Episode 7 – Marooned:
After the impressive episode that was Star City 2046, expectations are high for the next instalment of Legends of Tomorrow. Unfortunately, this episode begins on a melancholy note, and the action is slow to start. When the Legend’s plans go awry thanks to some dubious time pirates, Palmer is left in charge of the Waverider and it’s up to Professor Stein to rescue those captured by the pirates. This episode features (somewhat unexplained) flashbacks from Rip’s past, and we learn a little more about Snart’s history too – played by Wentworth Miller (best known for his role as Michael Scofield in Prison Break), Snart is perhaps one of the strongest characters in the series; Miller’s acting is effortless and consistent, and he makes the character extremely likeable and relatable, despite being a convicted felon. Snart is starting to redeem himself as his partner, Mick Rory, makes some wayward choices, but the ending of the episode comes as a huge shock. Overall, this episode isn’t the best we’ve seen from Legends, but it’s still got a lot going for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itnsC_p1s2g
Episode 8 – Night of the Hawk:
The 8th episode beings in a (somewhat ‘unenlightened’) 1950’s Oregon as the Legends resume their search for Savage – the attitudes of this past era prove to be difficult to adjust to for many of the characters. The team discover there has been a string of homicides, and they believe Savage may be responsible for them. Snart and Hunter disguise themselves as federal agents in order to gain more information about these cases whilst Stein and Sara play doctor and nurse in the local asylum on a similar course of action. Ray and Kendra take up the pretence that they’re married, and somehow manage to ‘move in’ next door to Savage himself. This detail feels a little too good to be true, subsequently forcing the characters into some rather cliché scenes which is a little disappointing. A particular scene with Jax is quite uncomfortable to watch – being in 1958, he is subjected to racist behaviour on multiple occasions. From a modern day point of view, it’s rather odd to see such openly horrid behaviour. The plot is starting to feel a little repeated and tired at this point, following the same patterns; hopefully the next episode will rejuvenate the plot and we’ll see the Legend’s get closer to defeating Savage.
Episode 9 – Left Behind:
The title of this episode is pretty self explanatory – the end of the last episode saw three characters become stranded in the 1950’s as Rip’s ship takes off without them, thanks to an ‘alien invasion’. This scene feels a little staged, not quite believable. The three who have been left behind also don’t seem quite as upset about being left behind as viewers might expect, further making the episode feel artificial. This orchestrated atmosphere continues into the episode which is rather disappointing – obviously Legends is set in a fantasy universe, so surely putting in the effort to make the characters’ reality believable for viewers is of the utmost importance? Wentworth Miller as Snart seems to be the only actor capable of delivering a solid performance in this episode. Admittedly, things improve when the Legends visit a 1960’s Nanda Parbat, home to the League of Assassins and Ra’s al Ghul, and the group re-convenes. Despite this, Left Behind is still, unfortunately, the weakest episode so far.
Words by Ruth Grove