CW Network Archives | Otaku No Culture

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Last Crusade in “Raiders of the Lost Art”

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Just when I thought DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is to air on Thursday, I realized today that it aired yesterday. I glad my PVR is on autopilot. Now that intro is said and done, I’m loving the latest episode, “Raiders of the Lost Art.”

George Lucas (nicely played by Matt Angel) is pivotal to this episode. When I first saw the episode title, I wondered if it would play and riff on another fond episode, Magnum P.I. “Legend of the Lost Art.” Fortunately, it was not. This Legends episode has its own charm by showing how much an impact this filmmaker had on Ray Palmer and Nate Heywood. They would not be who they are without Lucas. This episode is a love letter to this filmmaking genius and contained plenty of moments to inspire him to make those memorable moments in A New Hope.

As most fans can attest, Star Wars and Indiana Jones were huge influences to many a geek, A bit of reference is made to Hamlet and I had to chuckle at Howard the Duck. Well, if Lea Thompson is in the film, I’ll see it. When this series does not take itself too seriously and has the two nerds being goofy, the episodes shine.

Continue reading “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Last Crusade in “Raiders of the Lost Art””

“The Chicago Way” needs more than an Untouchable Feeling for DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is certainly having fun with “The Chicago Way,” and it is the perfect episode to bring back a past character — Leonard Snart (Captain Cold) — because he nicely fits in the era the team has to visit to correct the latest time aberration. While he’s back (sort of) as a ghost, just how important he will be to Mick’s narrative will require a wait as the series is now at a mid-point. The season is set to resume January 24th, 2017.

I was hoping to see him as part of the team, ripped from the timeline at a different point, and brought back to 1920’s Chicago, but instead to see him as Ghost of Christmas Past (or is that Future?) chiding Rory for becoming soft makes for a terrific character study. Just what has this hardened criminal become? Is Heatwave losing his mojo? Amaya has an interest in him, and just where that goes is seeing these two be the muscle for the team. It’s hard to say if there’s a romantic thing brewing, but I am curious about where their relationship is going.

Continue reading ““The Chicago Way” needs more than an Untouchable Feeling for DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”

Afterthoughts on Last Week’s CW’s The Dominators Mega-Crossover

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Several rewatches were needed to absorb the semi mid-season finale to CW’s power trio of shows featuring The Dominators from DC Comic’s lore. As many fans have already vocalized on social media, Supergirl was not one of the episodes essential to viewing, and nor does it have to explain Kara’s absence while she is on Earth-1, helping Flash, Arrow and the Legends of Tomorrow team deal with an alien threat.

True to the comics is why this alien race is here, they fear the meta-humans and want to put them six feet under before they become a galactic threat. But does that mean there is further trouble in store for heroes in the future? Somewhere, in all these parallel Earths is an even greater threat. Darkseid is not likely coming, but the Legion of Doom is. This fact has been revealed a while back on DC Comic’s website, and it will be exciting to see Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough), the Reverse-Flash (Matt Letscher) and Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) together.

Continue reading “Afterthoughts on Last Week’s CW’s The Dominators Mega-Crossover”

The Future is “Compromised” in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

Plenty of fun and character development can be found with “Compromised.” This week’s episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow shows the series works better when further developing the season’s story arc than making one-offs. When considering that The CW has ordered an additional four episodes, the board of writers have extra room to make the finale go out with a bang. Let’s hope an increase in budget will help. Teases about the mega crossover event suggests a lot of cash is being invested in cutting edge computer animation technology to bring to life space age wonders, but which show will see the most improvement?

This series sees more space-faring action than the other three (Arrow, The Flash and Supergirl) and as for guest stars, who else might make an appearance? The appearance of Lance Henriksen as the older Obsidian is welcoming and Dean Cain is slated to be in Supergirl. This week’s episode lays the tribute thick with more Back to the Future time-travel science and 80’s style wardrobe (Miami Vice) to boot. But in a politically charged Reagan era, I’m surprised there was no deeper look into the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), aka Star Wars, program. The narrative is certainly making allusions to it.

Continue reading “The Future is “Compromised” in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”

The Only “Abomination” with DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is no Jonah Hex (Yet)!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow celebrated Halloween a week late and will fans be “civil” about it hardly being a tale of terror? I was mildly disappointed. This episode could have easily brought back Jonah Hex sooner than later (he’s confirmed to be back), and dig into the supernatural with ease. Instead, the “Abomination” begins by starting the episode with another time travelling agent out to dispose of a chemical agent developed for war … but after his spaceship get damaged, just where he crash-lands is at the height of a certain American conflict circa 1863.

While this episode is a fun period romp almost akin to Exit Humanity (2011), at least it has an ounce of real scares built in. Jackson and Stein are worried about the future, as they struggle to understand the older Barry Allen’s message. They also discuss if telling the rest of their teammates about it will erode their thoughts in what the future holds. In another front, Sara’s confidence as a leader of this ragtag group of heroes is eroding. The reason why the Legends team meets Ulysses S. Grant is more for her than an accidental encounter. After she demonstrates her ability to command the troops during a zombie outbreak, Grant gives her his seal of approval.

Continue reading “The Only “Abomination” with DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is no Jonah Hex (Yet)!”