There was actually a fair amount to like about the CW's new DC hero series, the Flash/Arrow spin-off Legends of Tomorrow — if nothing else that it cleans out both series of some decent characters that were cluttering up the core storylines.
As a run-down:
Rip Hunter – Okay, he's new, and everyone finds casing the erstwhile Rory as a rogue time-traveler a hoot, but so far he's doing a good job of the slightly off-beat and dreadfully earnest.
Firestorm – It will be interesting to see if they do anything with his powers beyond flamy energy blasty stuff. Kidnapping Jax to go run off time traveling was kind of a dick move, but actually just what I'd expect from Sidney Bristow's dad.
Atom – I keep wanting to like this character more than I have in Arrow; the fault is more with the uneven writing than Brandon Routh's acting. I hope he's able to stabilize into more than just an Iron Man wannabe who can shrink.
White Canary – It's good to see the better of the Lance sisters (in stage fighting ability, at least) get a more central role. The whole League-of-Assassins Lazarus-Pit-curse thing should be fun.
Hawkman and Hawkgirl – Two of my favorite comics characters (in most of their incarnations), they're being played very straight here, but the melodrama of their past lives, the lack of the alien Thanagar connection, and the forced integration with Vandal Savage's past feels a bit jumbled. They're a pair that could use their own series, frankly, and I'm afraid their arc will be difficult to pull off here.
Captain Cold and Heat Wave – Okay, these guys make the show (and, along with Canary, the best scenes and quips in the opener). They are a refreshing bit of self-interest amongst the too-noble heroic types, great comic relief, and Wentworth Miller just has too much snarky fun as Snart.
Actually, the biggest problem I have so far is that Caspar Crump's Vandal Savage hasn't the gravitas or savagery about him to make him more than a dime store villain. By tying his origin into the Hawks, it's actually diminished his impact, and, with few exceptions, I've been unimpressed. That's worrisome, since this show is all about defeating his schemes. Here's hoping that improves.
The villain aside, the reason for getting the band together (and the revealed reason as well) are a great setup, so that should help the overall show quite a bit. The challenge (aside from doing stuff with the characters to help them develop over time) is that, in many ways, this is a wildly powerful group — the only way to get a decent challenge is either really powerful adversaries in return, or having them be the gang that can't shoot straight (which is sort of what happened with the battle against Chronos in the opening episode); that latter is not going to sit well for long.
Overall, for all that I really don't need an additional show to be watching (glances at DVR queue and non-DVR list), I have pretty high hopes for the show being some good, comic booky fun. And, sometimes, that's just what I want.
Originally shared by +Curt Thompson:
Blah, blah, save the world. Yak, yak, forge your destiny. Vandal Savage, whatever.
You give me supervillain road trip scenes like last night's bar brawl every few episodes and I'll stick with you seven seasons, Legends of Tomorrow.
Even with that stupid name.
Ever since the first trailer hit, some people have been complaining about this roster of heroes and villains being chosen, wondering why actual legends like Superman and Wonder Woman weren't chosen. The first episode does a great job of revealing why the big names weren't chosen.
Loved Stein drugging Jax. Also loved his explanation later when he told Jax that, as an old man, he didn't know how many adventures he had left.
Miller's Snart is perfection. Can't get enough of his snark.
I agree that the Hawks need their own series. Nice to have them on Legends but I think they'll be too constrained with an ensemble cast.
v
+Marty Shaw Why the hell did anyone think that the CW was going to be able to put on a Superman or Wonder Woman show?
"And, yes, why hasn't ABC done their own X-Men and Spider-Man series? And I want a Robert Downey, Jr., Iron Man series every week, too, thank you!"
Were is the arrow ?Did they kick him off…lol
+Dearra Too Funny He shows up in passing in the introductory episode.