Tag: Episode Analysis

There’s No Real “Turncoat” in this Week’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

lgn211b-0013bd-1486410531091_1280w

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

*Spoiler Alert

The premise of the latest episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “Turncoat,” has the potential to be a commentary on the “problems” with the state of troublesome affairs going on in the States. What’s said would have been spectacularly great when considering how influential Rory was the first president. I’m sure some people are wondering what’s going behind a certain new president’s head, and who shaped his philosophies … but instead, this latest story creates a diversion, a trap, for the Legends team who are out to save history yet again. The Legion of Doom wants them out-of-the-way so they can reshape the world.

At the same time, this late entry is also the Christmas episode. To see this episode nearly a month later after the day feels odd. We can blame the broadcasters than the show creators, but this is a holiday episode. Sara Lance said we’re supposed to be at our best during the yuletide season and I liked this moment of clarity. Jax wanted to go postal, but thankfully he’s not the type to commit cold-blooded murder.

Continue reading “There’s No Real “Turncoat” in this Week’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”

CW’s Legion of Doom, er Legends of Tomorrow, is Not Necessarily Doomed

DC\'s Legends of Tomorrow The Chicago WayBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

  • Spoiler alert

“The Legion of Doom” is showing their true colours in this latest episode of CW’s Legends of Tomorrow. Viewers almost got to see them torture poor Rip Hunter to death. Although most of it was handled off-camera, actor Arthur Darvill had to put himself into the right psychological head-space to sell those scenes. I was cringing when it came time to pull his tooth out.

But this group of deviants is not really keen on each other since day one. The divide has been obvious since their introduction and the question of why Eobard Thawne has always been so dodgy is finally revealed. This later half of season two is far more satisfying to follow but I’m starting to find a few weaknesses in the handling a massive all-star cast. Darhk wants to prevent his death in the future but his one-sided nature of wanting to kill everyone is reminding me of the days Vandal Savage was the stock villain. Malcolm wants to change his past and he’s doing fine on screen. Thawne, the least visible, is running away from … well, I won’t spoil that detail. You just have to see it. In this universe, the question is if anyone’s destiny can be changed at all.

Continue reading “CW’s Legion of Doom, er Legends of Tomorrow, is Not Necessarily Doomed”

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

vlcsnap-2017-01-25-21h32m03s640By 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

lgn208a-0307b-1481138453022_765w

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”

How Many “Shogun” Warriors are in Tow in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow?

When DC’s Legends of Tomorrow are going from set-piece to set-piece (i.e. one time period to another), just what the second series is doing is to slowly reveal a greater plot.

legends-of-tomorrow-shogun-nate-heywood

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

*Spoiler Alert

When DC’s Legends of Tomorrow are going from set-piece to set-piece (i.e. one time period to another), just what the second series is doing is to slowly reveal a greater plot. There’s a warning from the future which n body is in on, but it will come into play in later episodes. Without giving too much away, any side-effects from altering the natural course of the timeline (from another series) will take on a butterfly effect.

As much as I like the visit to Feudal Japan, I thought the trip to the Wild West (“The Magnificent Eight” from last season) was better. Both this and last week’s “Shogun” are tributes to Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai. The latter is more blatant, and the reason why I prefer it is because of Jonah Hex. He makes for a mean hombre. Steel, the new one, is only getting started. Nate Heywood makes for a good addition to the team but he has no clue in what he’s doing. Both he and Ray share similar insecurities. They do not have super abilities. That’s not until Ray injected Nate with the super serum to make him a super soldier. While some childish fun ensues to test Nate’s newly formed skin, just how well he wears it will eventually define who he is as Commander Steel.

Continue reading “How Many “Shogun” Warriors are in Tow in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow?”

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and The Justice Society of America Collides, But What’s Next?

The second season two episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “The Justice Society of America,” continues to set up the season with even further trials for the entire team with a few spotlights (namely listening to Victor Garber sing).

DC's Legends of Tomorrow --"The Justice Society of America"-- Image LGN202b_0207.jpg -- Pictured: (L-R): Sarah Grey as Stargirl, Kwesi Ameyaw as Dr. Mid-Nite, Patrick J. Adams as Hourman, Dan Payne as Obsidian, Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Amaya Jiwe/Vixen and Matthew MacCaull as Commander Steel -- Photo: Katie Yu/The CW -- © 2016 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
(L-R): Sarah Grey as Stargirl, Kwesi Ameyaw as Dr. Mid-Nite, Patrick J. Adams as Hourman, Dan Payne as Obsidian, Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Amaya Jiwe/Vixen and Matthew MacCaull as Commander Steel — Photo: Katie Yu/The CW —  © 2016 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

The second season two episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “The Justice Society of America,” continues to set up the season with even further trials for the entire team with a few spotlights (namely listening to Victor Garber sing). While the first episode teased at Dr. Martin as being the de-facto leader, the next has Sara doing the opening narration. This entry shows the good doctor is not up to snuff when pressure is coming from everywhere and the team is attempting to deal with Nazi Captain Baron Krieger. Originally a character created under the Fawcett Comics label and a villain dealt with by Captain Marvel, could Shazam be in the future for this television series? I certainly hope so! I loved the original television series and comics (both the original and since the DC acquisition), and to see this callback has the DC nerd in me excited!

In the DC Comics purchase of this company’s heroes and revival, this villain proved to be very formidable. I’m hopeful he will come back, along with Damien Darhk. When considering CW’s Flash was dealing with Flashpoint (Paradox) where the hero created an alternate timeline, I’m guessing the inclusion of this character is not only a nod to the comics but also a building up to an eventual reveal that there will be some kind of Legion of Doom for all the heroes in this CW DC Universe to face. In what Krieger morphs into, both teams — the JSA and Legends — have to work together in order to bring him down.

Continue reading “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and The Justice Society of America Collides, But What’s Next?”