Legends of Tomorrow S2 Ep.10 Thoughts & Easter Eggs

"The Legion of Doom"

This week's episode of Legends of Tomorrow was by far the most entertaining and equally fascinating for the entire series thus far. This is the type of episode that I've been eagerly waiting to see since the show's initial debut as it beautifully crossed over major character plots from the adjacent series while perfectly blended it in with the central story taking place. Legends of Tomorrow has always been a show that has played around with the idea of interconnectivity within the Arrowverse via time travel, but that conceptual hook has never truly flourished...until now.

First off, the idea of having an episode centering around the villains' perspective just as much (if not more) than the heroes was absolutely brilliant as it allowed for the audience to invest in these characters a bit more than usual. As a big fan of both Arrow and The Flash, I was delighted to see that notable antagonists from both shows were being highly spotlighted here in a manner that perfectly followed up from their previous endeavors. We were only given a vague understanding of why Damien, Malcolm, and Eobard were chosen to be the main villains of the current season in recent episodes, but it was perfectly made clear here that the trio had a substantial reason to be associated with the show.

There are several nods to both Arrow and The Flash sprinkled throughout the episode that never felt like forcefully thrown in fan service which I admired quite a bit. As a matter of fact, every single name drop, flashback, or visual easter egg played a major role in the over arching story. The flashback to Malcolm Merlin's miserable state watching Damien's downfall on the news added necessary weight to his perception of Darhk while also revealing the moment Eobard recruited him. It's a cool scene for fans of Arrow to pick up on in context to Season 4, but more importantly, it's a significant moment that cements both Merlin's and Damien's motivation for teaming up. Both characters are driven to change their destinies which is where Eobard's plan comes in.

Where the entertainment quality here truly shines however isn't just the bits of bonus content for fans to enjoy with these characters, but the dysfunctional relationship between them. There's nothing more fun than watching a group of individually powerful characters struggle to stay on the same page which is one of the central components to the Legion's eventual rise to power. Yes, we've seen this partnership show up in previous episodes for the Legends to overcome, but to see things from their perspective made things all the more intriguing. The constant clashes between Malcolm and Damien both referencing each other's past failures while also being aware of their wrongful positions on Thawne's team was an absolute pleasure to watch.

Again, this is a crucial episode for fans of the associated series to be aware of as references such as the league of assassins, Ra's Al Ghul, or Eobard's experience after escaping Flashpoint are all mentioned here as motivational tools for these characters. What's also great is the amount of time being shown at the villains' headquarters which is something that is rarely ever displayed in the Arrowverse. Understanding these villains as characters more than mere obstacles play a big role here as we get to see them strategize, banter, succeed, fail, and reflect on their current predicament. Unlike Season 1's arguably dull central antagonist, by the end of this episode, audiences are given a well presented reason to actually care about the desires of these people.

Aside from Damien and Malcolm's dilemma, what ended up being the icing on the cake was the revealing of Eobard's secret. Although this was a very Arrow-heavy episode as far as setting a sturdy background for some of these characters, we were given a significant nod to both the Season 2 finale and Season 3 premiere of The Flash. Throughout the episode, Eobard is constantly shown rushing away to somewhere unknown after briefly interacting with Darhk and Merlin. As the two begin to grow more suspicious towards his mysterious affairs, just as the Legends are trying to figure out his identity and motivations, one of the coolest forms of interconnectivity within this world is presented.

The idea of having Zoom (who is essentially a powered up time wraith at this point) constantly being on the hunt for Eobard was a brilliant way of crossing over both shows while also adding a new layer to the character himself. We've seen the Reverse Flash as this fearless all powerful being this season, so it's interesting to finally see his greatest fear and weakness present itself. It's also a great moment for fans of the Flash to get context for Eobard's absence and Zoom's current state of existence. I loved the moment where Thawne is panicking around Damien and Merlin as it finally displayed a sense of equal footing amongst the three. With the trio finally coming to an understanding, it was a fun scene showing how much they truly do need each other in the end.

As far as the Black Flash's presentation, I thought the CGI was great showing the grotesque zombie-like disfigurement on his face as well as the black and red colored suit. It felt right out of the comics appearance-wise and the monstrous personality that it exhibited was a good implication of what the speed force did to Zoom. Watching the Legion carefully attempt to slow him down was awesome as we got to see a more personal mission being played on the team. Eobard's fearful look and the Black Flash's horrific display made this confrontation scene one of my favorites on the show.

With the Legion officially becoming an alliance, it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for the Legends team. In a more than satisfying execution of showing the magnitude of having a shared universe actually connect to a specific storyline, I can confidently say that this season of Legends of Tomorrow is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the CW DC brand. Now that I have the right amount of dramatic tension and investment in these characters, I eagerly look forward to seeing what comes next.

Bonus Content

1. Professor Stein's Beautiful Dilemma

One of my favorite parts of this episode aside from the Legion of Doom was the family drama surrounding Stein and his daughter. It's a situation that we knew would've eventually be brought up and the writers handled it beautifully with a satisfying and heartfelt ending.

2. Eobard's Conflict

What makes this episode a must watch for fans of The Flash is the big reveal surrounding Eobard's mission. The idea of him constantly running from time and needing the spear of destiny to fix his reality is a fascinating concept worth exploring.

3. Rip Hunter's Unique Role

One of the funnier segments of this episode revolves around Rip constantly trying to avoid getting  killed while also being an anomaly in the Legion's current dilemma. As someone who wasn't a big fan of the character previously, I absolutely love the new direction that they've taken with him.

4. Zoom: The Black Flash

With my dreams of Zoom becoming an entity of the speed force finally coming true, I can happily say that I absolutely love his new zombie-like design. He looks just as terrifying and inhuman as he should being an evolved time wraith.

5. How Powerful Is The Black Flash?

Although it hasn't been officially stated, we do see Zoom easily countering Damien and Merlin's attacks but ends up getting temporarily thrown back by Eobard. The fact that Thawne is terrified of him however implies that the Black Flash is capable of killing him alone.

6. The Flash's Gallery of Speedsters

In a brief shot, we get to see pictures of every speedster introduced on the CW DC universe so far (except Savitar of course). This was one of my favorite scenes showing the Legends dipping their feet into Flash territory contemplating about Eobard's identity. 

7. Flashback To Arrow Season 4 Finale

Just as the Legends examining speedsters references the The Flash, on the Legion of Doom's side, we're given a more Arrow-heavy reference with Merlin's flashback. It's a great scene showing him at a low point in his life witnessing Damien's death on the news.

8. Damien Narrates The Intro

Sealing the deal on this being a Legion of Doom focused episode, instead of the typical Legends cast narrating the intro, we get Damien talking about his past, motivation, and current position in everything.

9. Alternate Title Card

Episode Rating: 10/10