The season long Big Bad in the Flarrowverse has been a staple of the universe since Arrow premiered on the CW way back when. Sometimes the execution of these Big Bads translate well and end up with compelling villains like Slade Wilson is season 2 of Arrow. Sometimes the execution falls flat and we ends up with bland cardboard cut-out villains like Vandal Savage in Legends season 1. Thankfully, from the onset of season 2 of Legends of Tomorrow, the "Legion of Doom" has proven that it deserves to wear the moniker of Big Bad more than Vandal ever did. The only problem was that we were about to hit the halfway point of the season and have very little inkling as to what the purpose exactly was of those in opposition of our rag tag team of heroes. That's why this episode entitled "The Legion of Doom" is so important. Not only was this episode coming from a different point of view by focusing mostly on those who comprise the Legion and not following the Legends-hijinks-of-the-week format, but it also gave us a bit more insight into just why and how this team works.
I loved that this week, we got Damian Darhk doing the signature introduction before the previously tag on the show and the icing on the cake was seeing the Legion logos on the title card versus that of the Legends. The episode begins by taking us back to the night of Damian's death as Malcolm sits alone, pitifully watching Damian's last moments on TV after having been disgraced by Oliver and losing control of the league when Damian and Eobard come zooming in. This scene alone provides you with enough insight into what motivation Malcolm (Change the past) and Damian(Change his future) have for join up with Thawne.(Of course it gets spelled out pretty clearly later, but it didn't actually need to be) Cut to now, where Thawne is calling the shots and tasking Malcolm and Damian with torturing information out of
Rip Phil. Of course both Damian and Malcolm have egos as big as their personalities and each believe the other is incompetent when it comes to completing this task. Thawne doesn't have the time to sit and listen to the two bicker as he has to get somewhere so he leaves them to it, somehting that apparently happens a lot. (Both of them express how they are feeling a bit more like henchman than masters of their own destiny at this point)
Damian is actually able to find something in his torture session by pulling out one of
Rip Phil's teeth. He presents the coded tooth to Thawne and they figure out it's for a bank account in Switzerland that was last accessed by Rip in 2025. Malcolm and Damian have two different ideas about how to go about getting into the vault, but they settle for Malcolm's covert approach of using
Rip Phil to pose as Rip and access the account. After pulling off the
rectal retinal scan, the plan hits a snag when
Rip Phil can't remember the voice access code and things get a bit messy and gunfights ensue and the trio manage to escape. Things really hit the fan back on the ship when the tension between the two egomaniacs boils to a head and all the witty barbs back in forth drive Malcolm and Damian to settling their dispute League of Assassins style (aka a sword fight to the death). Surprisingly, it's
Rip Phil who manages to talk them down from killing each other by pointing out this is what Eobard wants. He wants the two of them at each other's throats and that way they won't question his leadership. This leads the twosome to forming a truce of sorts to put Thawne in his place and see them all as equals and not as henchman while alos figuring out where he goes and what he gets from all of this.
They head back to the bank and leave
Rip Phil unattended and he tries to escape but is thwarted by Thawne zooming in at the right moement.
Rip Phil reveals where they are and Eobard comes speeding in, unaware that it's a trap. They've managed to find what Rip hid in the vault, but it wasn't a piece of the spear, it was actually his memories. Eobard is ready to get this show on the road, but Damian and Malcolm lock them all in the vault and demand not only Thawne's respect but his motivations as well. Thawne starts to panic, but the evil twosome refuse to budge because they won't be kept in the dark any longer. Thankfully, the writers decided not to spend too much time trying to explain the time travel logistics of all of this, but Thawne tells them of his past with the Flash and how his ancestor Ediie killed himself in attempt to stop Thawne. Thawne now exists outside of time and he's being chased by something he thought was a time wraith, but he's pretty sure its something else. (Black Flash!) The Black Flash ends up catching up to them and Thawne panics. Malcolm and Damian offer to help him, but only if they are treated like equals. Thawne doesn't think they can take him, but Malcolm and Damian seemed convinced they can. The Black Flash is hunting Thawne by his use of the speed force, so the have Thawne stop using it, lure out the Black Flash and manage to trap him inside the vault and now they are all partners. Later, Eobard is messing around with Rip's memories, but he's decided to make some modifications. Modifications that include Rip going to 1776 and killing General George Washington. (THese three are the perfect team. I love Malcolm and Damian's cockiness when it came to taking down the Black Flash)
While the Legion took the front seat, the Legends were on the back burner trying to figure out how to activate the medallion that acts as a compass to find the Spear of Destiny. The team decides to play to their technological strengths and Martin knows just the colleague in Central City to help them. That colleague just happens to be his daughter who is also a time aberration. Martin really just misses his daughter and while that's sweet, he takes it too far by bringing Lily onto the Waverider to meet the team. The reaction that she is his daughter goes over about as well as you'd think, but Martin asks the team (Specifically Mick) to keep quiet that she is an aberration. Of course, Mick ruins everything the first chance he gets and Martin and Lily finally address the fact that he doesn't really know her, but knows her. Lily is upset by all of this and Martin resorts to drinking to deal with this mess. There's a really great conversation between Jax and Martin about how he never wanted kids for fear he would be his father that leads to Jax offering some sage advice that prompts Martin to set this right. Martin comes clean with Lily and even reveals that his half of Firestorm and you get the feeling that these two will be alright.
I think the inclusion of the Martin-Lily story line was a smart decision. While the Legion A-Plot was bit more fantastical and loaded with plot that could only be found in a comic book, the Martin story line helped to bring a more realistic story of a man who was so afraid to become a father but now that he is wants nothing more than to be a father. I think the show sometimes struggles to make good use of Victor Garber's acting abilities but I think this week was a fine showcase for him. I loved the Legion plot, but probably just because I love Malcolm and Damian and when these two actors share the screen it's like magic in a bottle. I actually found myself rooting for them in this episode, something I never did for Vandal Savage. I almost want the Legends to lose the magic that is Legion. This episode was a big high point in the season as it decided to break the formula, focus on the opposition and actually succeeded at making them likeable. I know they are supposed to be the Legion of Doom, but I'd like to call them the Legion of Fun and can't wait to see more of them! (Also, if Ray and Lily hook up...I'll barf.)
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P.S. Will they ever resolve Mick's issues? This feels like it's moving at a snail's pace and I'm more annoyed by it than interested.
What did you think of the episode? Are you loving the Legion? Sound Off Below!
The next episode of Legends of Tomorrow, 'Turncoat' airs 2/7/17 on the CW following The Flash!
About the Author - Winston Mize
I always have the most trouble coming up with a blurb to describe me. Which is really weird for someone who wants to make a career out of writing. If you think I'm awkward online, it's just because you haven't met me in person. I'd like to think I have other interests outside of TV, and maybe I do, but TV is the one that gets me most excited. I live a pretty boring life so TV's the way I get my fix, and I'd love to chat about it with you. I'm also always looking to guest on podcasts and become a podcasting sensation, so if you've got the opportunity, I'm in there like swimwear. You can check me out with different previews of various shows or read my reviews of iZombie, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Legends Of Tomorrow here on the site. If you're a fan of One Tree Hill you can check out my podcast about as well by checking out our twitter page @OnlyOthPod.
