Friday, February 5, 2016

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 Episode 3 "Blood Ties" - Recap and Review

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At the end of the previous episode, Carter Hall/Hawkman (Falk Hentschel) was murdered by Vandal Savage (Casper Crump). Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Ciara RenĂ©e) was severely injured and her condition was being closely monitored.

Similar to the previous episode, we see different team members go on separate missions (two of which are for greater good and one for decidedly personal reasons). All of these missions are motivated by their  loved ones and hence the title of the episode.

Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz) convinces Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) to go after Vandal's wealth. The rationale is to bankrupt him and weaken his attempts to take over the world. Or as Rip puts it, delay by a few decades.

Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) guides Ray Palmer/Atom (Brandon Routh) as he uses his Atom suit to enter Kendra's body and heal her injuries. Ray faces defeat in his first attempt and it is upto Dr Stein to boost his morale in order to save Kendra's life.


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A far less altruistic minded is the attempt by Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) to have a better childhood by preventing his father from going to jail for stealing a highly valued emerald.

After a great first part and a relatively weak concluding part of the pilot episode, the show returns to smashing form in the third episode.

I have remarked in the reviews of the previous episodes that Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are my favorite parts in the show. They are in good form here too.

But what makes this a standout episode is that even the actors who were bland so far really got to shine this time. I am referring to Arthur Darvill and Brandon Routh.


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Brandon Routh finally manages to show some acting chops as Ray Palmer. We get to know more about what inspired Ray to make the Atom suit and become a superhero. His scenes with the always excellent Victor Garber were pretty good. The special effects were much better this time for the Atom. 

Equally good was Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter. He finally gets some screen-time to emote and not just stand around barking orders in a stiff British accent. Similar to Ray Palmer and Captain Cold, we get to know more about his background. Rip had crossed paths with Vandal 4000 years ago.

Despite coming close to killing Savage, Rip hesitated and that is one decision that has resulted in a lot of self-loathing for our Time Master.


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The third cast member who comes into the limelight is Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/White Canary. She gets to beat up  a bunch of bad guys/assassins and looks totally at ease in the action scenes. She reveals how her recovery with the help of the Lazarus Pit considerably affected her psyche and unleashed a more brutal side.

Sara even gets to do some deduction using her skills of observation (like Sherlock Holmes) at the Brumberg Bank.

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The characters in the show seem to be taking turns to visit their younger versions. Last time, it was Dr Martin Stein. Now, it is Captain Cold's turn. This is getting a bit repetitive. Hopefully, the writers will stop using this plot device (or) at least resist using it for the rest of the season.

Finally, we come to the villain. Casper Crump is suitably macabre and egotistic as the immortal Vandal Savage. His brutal ritual involving drinking of the blood of the dead Carter Hall/Hawkman was captured quite effectively.


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A notable guest appearance was made by Nikolai Witschl as Caleb, one of Vandal's cult members. Readers might remember him as Ansel Barbour from the FX Vampire series: The Strain.

Trivia

1. The song “Fight the Power” by The Isley Brothers can be heard as Rip and Sara do their slomo walk to the Brumberg Bank.

2. The song “I Got the Fire by Montrose is played as Sara fights the assassins disguised as employees of the Brumberg Bank.

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Image Sources: Berlanti Productions, Bonanza Productions, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, The CW Television Network (The CW)

Monday, February 1, 2016

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Pilot Part 2 - Recap and Review

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After the great first part, we get the concluding section that is wonderful in parts, but a bit lethargic in certain aspects.

As things stood at the end of the previous episode, the team had met Dr. Aldus Boardman (Peter Francis James), the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl in their previous incarnations. Dr Boardman was killed but not all was lost. The rag-tag group came together as a team.

As this episode opens, the team determines that Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) must be somewhere near an impending auction for illegal arms and ammunition. Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz), Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber), Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Mick Rory/Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell) are sent to infiltrate the event as potential buyers.

The savvy Vandal senses the presence of Hawkman and Hawkgirl and deduces that there is trouble afoot.


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This results in a well executed action sequence with our heroes. While our heroes do manage to make it out, there is an unintentional outcome: Ray Palmer/Atom (Brandon Routh) loses a minor part of his suit in the melee.

Vandal sets his scientists to reverse engineer the advanced machinery. When Rip realizes the potential impact of Vandal utilizing the Atom's technology, it is time for yet another mission. This time, Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) offers to visit his younger self, who is an expert on Alpha Particles. The plan is to use these particles to track the suit.

The younger version of Dr Martin Stein (played by Graeme McComb) is a ladies man. He starts hitting on Sara, the moment he lays eyes on her. Dr Stein is concerned that his tampering with the timeline might prevent his own encounter with his future wife, Clarissa (played by Isabella Hofmann on The Flash).

Ray Palmer, Leonard Snart and Mick Rory have their own task to complete: retrieve the dagger that was used by Vandal Savage to murder Hawkman and Hawkgirl in their very first lifetime.


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The owner of the house turns out to be none other the immortal Vandal Savage himself. His presence brings the whole team for the climactic fight sequence. Hawkman tries to kill him using “The Aman Dagger”.

This proves to be a fatal mistake as it is only Hawkgirl who has the ability to use the dagger to finish Savage once and for all. This knowledge comes too late, as Vandal ends up stabbing Carter Hall with the dagger, resulting in his death. A distraught Kendra repents at not expressing her love for Carter.

Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) repays Dr Stein's efforts to retrieve the broken part of Atom's suit, by ensuring that his younger self meets with his Clarissa.


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Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell continue to be the best parts of the show. And Victor Garber's Dr Stein. These three nicely counterbalance the serious characters (Ray, Rip, Carter and Kendra).

The scenes featuring the trio of Wentworth, Dominic and Routh as they attempt to steal the dagger was hilarious. Ray's naivety was the perfect counterpoint to the career criminals. Things are also starting to heat up as Ray/Atom and Leonard/Captain Cold exchanged blows.

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The other enjoyable parts of this episode were the ones pitting the elderly Dr Stein against his much younger version. He realizes that despite his advanced age, he still retains the same arrogance as he did in his earlier years.

Even though Carter Hall/Hawkman dies, we know quite well that nobody ever stays dead for long in the comic books. And considering the fact that time travel is also involved, it is only a matter of time, before Carter Hall is up and flying along with Kendra Saunders (who has had a change of heart).


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A surprise guest in this episode was Damien Darhk (Neal McDonough) from Arrow. This was a nice touch to show the inter-connected nature of the universe that the show is building on.

Trivia

1. The song “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps Fire can be heard as Kendra, Carter, Rip and Dr Stein are walking in the University campus to see Dr Boardman.

Highly Recommended watch to fans of DC Comics/Comic Book fans.

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Image Sources: Berlanti Productions, Bonanza Productions, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television, The CW Television Network (The CW)