Friday, April 29, 2016

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow 1x13 Review: “Leviathan” (I Believe in Choices) [Contributor: Lizzie]


“Leviathan”
Original Airdate: April 28, 2016

If I could sum up my emotions after what the promos promised us (an exciting episode of Legends of Tomorrow! One that would bring us closer to the endgame!), I’d use two words: “supremely unimpressed.”

But then again, the joke’s on me. I don’t know why I expected better. We’ve reached that time in the season where Legends of Tomorrow has to focus on plot, has to lay down some groundwork, and has to get us ready for the final battle. And, well, let’s be honest: that’s just not what the show does best. Oh, that pesky plot. That awful villain. Those reincarnated Hawks.

God grant me serenity.

FATHERS (PART II)


We talked about fathers last week as well, but we talked about the good fathers. It’s our turn to talk about the bad ones. I, thankfully, have no real experience with this phenomenon, but I know plenty of people who do. Leonard Snart and Cassandra Savage’s fathers are not the same. Snart’s father was clearly not a good man, but he also wasn’t a great father. Savage is the worst human being ever, but from the looks of it, he wasn’t necessarily that bad of a father.

But the thing is, Cassandra is now an adult. So is Leonard. There comes a time for all of us in which we need to break free. Sometimes we do this because, like Leonard, our parents are actively hurting us. Other times we do it because we want to spread our wings, to try new things. And, like Cassandra, sometimes it’s because we are finally ready to see our parents for who they truly are.

And it is at that point that we’re finally ready to decide who we want to be.

Snart didn’t want to be his father. Cassandra doesn’t want to become hers. And that’s really the only thing that matters. “It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities,” Dumbledore said. And he’s never been more right. You don’t have to be what other people expect, or what your parents are. You can always — always — choose yourself.

WAR


Jax jokingly called the time the legends landed in “World War III,” but it isn’t really a joke. That’s part of the problem, of course. We’ve been introduced to this merry band of characters and we like them because they’re fun, and because they have issues and quirks, and they get along with each other. But other than some physical fights, we haven’t seen them deal with the emotional repercussions of fighting a war. They just fight and leave. They don’t stay for the hard part. They don’t stay for the aftermath.

In this regard, they could learn a little something from Oliver Queen and Barry Allen. They’re both out there every day, in the trenches, trying to defend their city. Sometimes they do a good job, and sometimes they don’t, but they keep going out — in good times, and bad. They understand the toll defeat takes on you. They understand what’s at stake.

They know what they’re fighting for.

Our legends had no idea. Now, at last, they’ve seen it for themselves. This is the future they’re trying to change. This is what they’re trying to avoid. The question is, are they strong enough to do what’s needed?

I BELIEVE IN CHOICES


Ray wins the motivational speech of the night award — it’s just too bad he can’t use it on himself. He doesn’t believe in fate, but Kendra does. Kendra’s fate is Carter, and now she’s found him again.

In a way, at this point in time, I’m glad the writers completely failed in getting me to care about the Kendra/Ray pairing, because if they hadn’t, I’d just be mad at them. Love triangles are iffy at best, and the kind where one guy doesn’t even remember and the other one is just... well, Ray Palmer? That just doesn’t compute. But this is not about a love triangle. Or, at least, it shouldn’t be. This is about Kendra making a choice. But this time, we’re going to need an actual choice from her, one that she sticks to. She’s going to hurt someone either way. Now she just has to decide which one of these two men she can’t bear to lose.

And I think we all know what that answer will be.

HONOR IS AN OUDATED TERM


“There’s no honor in war, less in killing and none in dying,” is one of my favorite quotes, and I think it encapsulates what the end of this arc is all about. Savage needs to die and he needs to die soon. All the talk of honor that Stein engaged in is just that — talk. “There’s always honor to be found in standing for a just cause and defending the defenseless,” the above quote continues, and I think maybe Stein would like this way of looking at it a lot more.

Honor is a very personal thing and one that, so far, has kept our heroes from actually achieving anything. I asked this before, and I’ll ask it again: are these people willing to do what it takes, even if that’s not always something that coincides with their moral codes? Are they really the heroes we need? The heroes we deserve?

With just three episodes to go, I guess we’re about to find out.

Other things:
  • Who uses words like subjugated? Rip Hunter, that’s who.
  • Savage is giving off a few not-so-subtle Hitler vibes in his speech. 
  • “Especially if, and by ‘if,’ I mean ‘when’ this thing goes south.” Hey, at least you know what you’re getting into, Snart. 
  • “Are you seriously jewelry shopping right now?”
  • “We’re outnumbered.” There are literally four of you. What did you think was going to happen? 
  • So, Snart has a thing for blondes? I don’t like it. He can only get with one specific blonde. WE KNOW WHO I MEAN. 
  • Rory and Snart are back to being BFFs. Okay. Fine. They’re men. I guess it could happen that quickly.
  • “I’m your fiancée; I listen to you.” Oh, Ray. Could you be any more of a stereotype? 
  • At least when Rip makes ill-advised decisions in 2166 he’s in his own time and I don’t feel like he’s messing everything up. I mean, he is, but at least it doesn’t really feel like it.
  • The fact that Rip thought to take Firestorm and the Atom when he was confronting the resistance forces means he can actually think things through — which makes it all the more disappointing that this is the first time he’s actually done it.
  • The whole thing with Rip telling Ray that he watched his family die over and over again was cruel beyond words. Especially because the conversation involved the two actors in this cast who can emote best. 
  • Resistance lady seems very quick to give up for someone who, you know, leads the Resistance. 
  • I love the budding Sara/Kendra friendship.
  • Shirtless and silent Carter is the best Carter.
  • “You’ll never be without me. No matter what. I’ll always be near.” I know you were going for romantic, Carter, but that was just creepy. 
  • I can’t help it — I like Mick Rory. He’s funny.
  • “And there I was, thinking we could go a whole week without kidnapping anyone.” Those words are the equivalent of you accepting you’re the absolute worst at this leadership thing, Rip.
  • Even Savage is calling them idiotic. Everyone knows it!
  • Please, make this bracelet mean something. Please.
  • The Olympics of murder? Sometimes the dialogue on this show makes me cringe.
  • When the ground is shaking, there’s always a handy bottle of liquor to stare at. 
  • How did all the refugees get into the Waverider so quickly?
  • Why did the Leviathan throw the ship instead of, like, crushing it?
  • I’m not saying Stein should have died, but where are the consequences again?
  • At least they all decided to have good ideas at the same time, I guess?
  • I’m just assuming The CW blew their entire special effects budget on this episode of Legends of Tomorrow.
  • Jax is like a kid playing video games and yelling at the screen.
  • Where’s the Kendra from 2166? Or has the fact that she hasn’t died in the present altered the timeline?
  • This is the first (and possibly last time) I’ve been rooting for Kendra.
  • I can’t say I’ve missed you, Carter. 
  • Why does everyone take what villains say at face value? 
  • I told you this was going to end in heartbreak, Raymond. I told you.
  • Sure, locking up Savage isn’t going to backfire on you. It’s not going to backfire on you AT ALL.
Legends of Tomorrow airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.

1 comment:

  1. I`m surprised you did not mention the Pacific Rim style fight between Ray and Levithian. I mean he was punching and throwing firing hard light beams and then smashed his head off. Ray is still King, sadly it turns out he and Kendra are not drift compatible.

    Not really invested in Kendra Ray outside of Ray really. I mean after loosing fianice and Arrow Season 3 I wanted Ray to win he's my favorite character in the arrowverse. I mean in the comics Ray Palmer is a chew toy there too so it doubly hurts. But Kendra is going to choose Carter, though I think Carter will double cross the team so maybe a miracle will happen with Kendra and Ray maybe. I just want Ray to be happy.

    Vanadal Savage has a kid and Snart and her intrested maybe it will go somewhere?

    Kendra you have failed this Timeline

    ReplyDelete