"I've seen darker days. I've seen men of steel die and dark knights fall, and even then I accomplished my mission no matter what". With this epic line, Rip Hunter sets the tone for another splendid episode of Legends Of Tomorrow. It's often the little things, like this reference to DC's most distinguished superheroes, that make this series so fun to watch. However, this episode succeeds on a larger scale as well. The main plot of the season advances well enough, but it's the individual story lines of this episode alone that are truly remarkable.
Take the subplot with Ray, Kendra and Dr. Stein for example. It keeps the viewer entertained with short scenes throughout the episode, providing some well-written character development - as well as admittedly cool sci-fi scenes. The storyline with Leonard Snart trying to alter his past for the better was even better. It brought a good measure of emotion to the episode, as well as an interesting addition to the aspect of time travel in the show. The character development works there as well; it's becoming clear that of the two criminal buddies, Rory is more "rotten to the core", whereas Snart has a good heart but was driven to his way of life through a rough traumatic childhood. It'll be interesting to see if working with the team of good-willed heroes will guide Snart towards redemption - and if it will ever affect Rory in any way.
In my review for the previous episode, I pointed out how Vandal Savage isn't such a great villain. However, this episode made his character more interesting. This happened through revelations of his past with Rip Hunter, as well as the utter creepiness in the scene with Savage and Carter's body. I'm intrigued to see what else the writers have in store for this increasingly compelling villain.
The action, as always, is outstanding. The fighting scenes with White Canary were enjoyable to watch, if slightly worrisome for the character. The Lazarus Pit clearly had a strong effect on her humanity. Despite all of the bloodlust business, I still find Sara to be a likable character. Rip also remains a strong protagonist, especially now that he has (allegedly) decided to be completely honest with the group. It remains to be seen whether he will stick to this promise or not.
The ending of the episode sets up for an exciting follow-up - in the 1980's. The time travel in the series has gotten more interesting, after a first impression that made it seem like a Doctor Who rip- off. I haven't read any of the comics, so I can't say how well the time travel is adapted from the source, but I do like the way it's written into the show. As the episodes go by, more layers to it are uncovered and explored, making for good storytelling. All in all, the third episode of DC's Legends Of Tomorrow is a great one, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
