Monday, January 18, 2016

DC's Legends of Tomorrow...to the Rescue!!!


“Batman v Superman” is yet a couple months away, and the live-action “Justice League” well beyond that. For the time being, we have CW's version of a DC superhero rally, and its television designation doesn’t make it any less significant. In fact, for the sake of its ambitious formula, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (premiering Jan 21) should give comic-book and time-travel fans good cause to rejoice.


The “Legends” cast of characters/performers is nothing short of impressive: Ray Palmer/the Atom (Brandon “Superman” Routh); Khufu/Carter Hall/Hawk Man (Falk Hentschel); Chay-Ara/Kendra Saunders/Hawk Girl (Ciara Renee); Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz); Booster Gold’s time-tripping son, Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill); Mick Rory/Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell); Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller); Jefferson Jackson/Firestorm (Franze Drameh); Dr. Martin Stein/also sometimes Firestorm (Victor Garber); Valentina Vostok (Stephanie Corneliussen); and Hath-Set/Vandal Savage (Casper Crump).  


I’m most pleased by Routh’s prominent station, in that Warner Brothers misled him with the promise of a Superman extension. That he’ll play the size-shifting Atom on an almost weekly basis is at least some means of compensation.


As implied by CW’s already established superhero programs, Flash and Green Arrow are set to make appearances on this new series, which is only right. After all, the whole point of “Legends” is to take the crossover/team-up equation to the max. Of course, I imagine that there will be trade-offs regarding which characters seize any episode’s given focus, but such an approach would only help spread the wealth and give the heroes/villains adequate time to develop and shine as they skid through the years to thwart the merciless Savage.


Yep, I say we're assured a rollicking good time with this one. Now, if only Matt Ryan's Constantine would leap into the mix and Supergirl would soar from CBS to CW, if only just to guest star, we’d have our bases covered!!!

24 comments:

  1. "Legend of Tomorrow" kicks butt! The time-travel component is well staged and has a "Doctor Who" feel to it. The recruiting set-up was also a great going-down-the-line intro to the primary characters. Nice, sleek package all the way. I've no doubt it'll hold its own and then some with "Arrow" and "Flash".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, looks like Darvill's Rip Hunter will be at the action's hub, which is good. The character brings a lot of quirky charm to the show, furthering that "Doctor Who" flavor.

      Delete
  2. Was just thinking...too bad Jay Garrick can't get his act together on "Flash". Re-equipped with his powers (along with a greater inclination toward action on matters), he'd fit right in as a "Legends" participant.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Terrific second half of the pilot!

    The big fight sequence in the arms-auction scene was nicely staged(loved Damien Darhk's cameo, by the way); and the "Days of Future Past" '70s vibe was pretty cool(as it was last week), but it could have been explored more for irony, I dare say.

    I was most startled (as I'm certain many viewers were) by Hawk Man's outcome, but heck, is that truly the end of the matter? I think not...I hope not!

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Blood Ties" was a swell episode, especially for Palmer/Atom with the "Fantastic Voyage" element. The background on Snart was also nice, as well as Hunter's Batman/Superman reference. Overall, a pretty cool entry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wondering how they'll get this Hawk Man situation straightened out, though. I'm not buying the status quo.

      Delete
  5. "White Knights"--exciting episode, but I don't think it had enough of the '80s ambiance that it should have. Also, '86 is described as being the height of the Cold War, but let's face it, it was pretty much the end of the line when came to U.S. and Soviet adversity.

    Captain Cold was once again...well, so darn cool. Yeah, I realize even in the context of "Legends", he's still a bad guy at heart, but he does really bring a lot of quirky, dry humor to the show. I appreciate that.

    And darn it, I'm still rather confused about this whole Hawk Man thing. Come on already. Let's fix this thing and soar onward.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Fail-Safe"--nicely placed installment, coming off the Flash's "Earth-2" adventures. I liked the insinuation of a doleful future (a parallel world that would be forged)if circumstances weren't fixed in '86. A good episode for all characters involved, and it was nice to see the plan come together in an old-fashioned "Mission: Impossible" way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS: Valentina Vostok was hot...and in more ways than one; and what a humdinger of a cliffhanger. Next week's installment is destined to be an alternate-reality winner.

      Delete
  7. "Star City 2046"--fine episode, with Connor Hawke (well, Diggle, Jr.) making an appearance and boy, does the older Oliver look ever so like his comic-book persona (with or without an arm). Captain Cold was as cool as ever, and the Deathstroke angle was a nice way to spice things up. Wasn't too keen on Professor Stein playing cupid, though, but that's okay. All the same, my thumb is raised high!

    ReplyDelete
  8. "Marooned" stood out as a sleek "Star Trek"/"Star Wars"/"Galactica"/"Guardians of the Galaxy" chapter. It was clearly a bridge episode, but that's okay, considering the fun intrigue. I also liked Palmer's Kirk admiration at the start of things, as well as his "favorite Beatle" comment later down the line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS: Guess we "lost" another cast member. Well, I've read that there would be replacements on the horizon. Maybe this is all part of that grand plan.

      Delete
  9. Was really looking forward to "Night of the Hawk". The title implied Hawk Man's return, but nope. I'm also partial to the '50s as a film setting, but this story explored the bigotry of the period. Nice and noble, but there were other periods where such was far more pronounced. (On a cultural level, the '50s paved the way for the '60s, if the truth be known, and the '60s were never bigot-free, either, though that's a whole other analysis and argument for another time, perhaps.)

    Overall, it was an entertaining episode, but also the first I found disappointing in some ways. I guess I was anticipating something more carefree. Well, put the damn blame on me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, there was potential to make the episode an A.I.P. teenage, monster-movie tribute. The concept was featured, but never developed: a missed opportunity, indeed. The more I think about it, the more I can't help but lament the situation.

      Delete
  10. After a darn two-week hiatus, "Left Behind" got things rolling again. I liked the episode's pensive tone. I guess much of that stemmed from the League of Assassins inclusion. Yeah, the atmosphere was rather Arrow-ish, in that respect.

    Above all, Palmer really stood out, I thought, but maybe that's only because I seem to favor him, and maybe if the truth be known, that's due to the Routh connection.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I liked "Progeny". In fact, I thought it was one of the series' best episodes to date. Nice to see more of Savage in there. He's a good villain and needs to be used more.

    Also liked Palmer's Hannibal Lecter reference: another swell, pop-cultural touch.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pleased to the max that Jonah Hex has entered "Legends" in "The Magnificent Eight". Jonathan Schaech is a darn good (underrated) actor; darn right for the part.

    The episode, unlike the '50s installments, captures the flavor of the time. That's a plus, a step in the right direction.

    Routh was again superb as Palmer. His stalwart stance as the sheriff was most inspiring and gave the story a good dose of heart and soul.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, maybe it should go without saying that I got a real boost out of the H.G. Wells reference, but here I am acknowledging it nonetheless. This sort of gesture to historical figures has been done in yarns before, but all the same, I found it a nice way to cap off the episode.

      Delete
  13. "Last Refuge" was a trippy, energetic entry: a cross between "Terminator" and "Dr. Who". Of course, the latter has influenced the series' structure. There's no doubt of that. I'm okay with the familiar elements. Nothing wrong with tributes here and there. It's more a matter of how any given story is told. That's what counts.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose, there was a little of "Tomorrow Man' in there as well. It helped increase character development: another nice touch.

      Delete
  14. "Leviathan" was pretty solid. Had a pretty good fight sequence, or so I thought. On the whole, good emphasis on Palmer/Atom and Savage.

    ReplyDelete
  15. "River of Time" had a nice flow about it and also a disturbing twist. Guess I should have seen it coming, but didn't, though that gave the closing more impact for me.

    Solid Savage episode, and oh, is it just me, or does Savage project a Coffin Joe quality at times?

    Glad to see Carter/Hawk Man figuring into things again, but not in the best way possible. Hawk Man is a regal character, but "Legends" often tends to ignore or misuse him. Can't say I appreciate that.

    ReplyDelete
  16. "Destiny" has to be one of the best episodes of the series, but it was also a sorrowful one. It left us with one of the characters perishing: one of the best of the show, in my estimation. I'm not pleased by that, but then, when it comes to fantasy/time-travel sagas, one never knows when the apparent dead may return.

    ReplyDelete
  17. "Legendary" was one helluva finale and with some surprises that should help shape next season in a most interesting way...a JLA way, that is. And now with Supergirl soaring into the scene, I can only imagine how fantastic the crossover quality will be, not only with this series, but with all of CW's DC shows. Gotta strong feelin' that the best is yet to come.

    ReplyDelete