Director: Michael A. Allowitz
Writers: Mark Guggenheim and Ray Utarnachitt
Starring: Victor Garber, Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, Franz Drameh, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Nick Zano and Dominic Purcell
Summary
When we last saw the team, Ray destroyed up his suit to save the team from a crazy guy who wanted to use it in 17th century Japan. He made the right choice. However, now he has to figure out how he fits into the team. With that aside, this week DC’s Legends of Tomorrow visit 1863. That is not a great time for Amaya and Jax. In addition to the stress of leading the team, Sara has to deal with the fact that there are Confederate zombies. So, you know, there is that.
Positives
There is an actual conversation about the Legends screwing up the timeline themselves by doing even the most mundane acts. It is about time that conversation was had. Of course, they promptly get involved and screw up the timeline. That is kind of their jam.
Jax has one of the best lines in the series. He says to Martin, who is worried about him dropping into the middle of the civil war,
“I’ve been black my whole life. There is not anywhere in history we can go where I will not encounter some racism.”
Again, it is something that has been just floating out there and it is about time it is has been addressed directly. Racism and time travel go hand in hand. In another scene, Sara makes a crack about gender equality not really being a thing even now. Pretty spot on social commentary from the Legends. Nicely done.
Each week the acting gets better and better. This week, the supporting cast has a heavy load and they totally bring it. There is tension. There is fear. There is angst and, of course, there are zombies. The actors who get all zombied up are pretty good too. There are a lot of ways to play that role. Allowitz, has some nice vision with the way he directed this episode.
Acting, action, drama and real story telling. Applause all around.
Negatives
The zombie issue is not really what the show is about. This is a real drama from front to back. In general, this show is about jokes and punching. In this episode, there are some joke and some punching, but it is not the central focus. That can turn some folks off.
They spent a lot of money on zombie make up, so that means they did not spend a lot of money on other effects. Considering one of the members of the show catches on fire and another one lights things on fire, one would think that on this show, fire would look realistic. It does not.
Verdict
It is my suspicion that this will not stay the lowest rated show in the DC universe for long. Once the giant crossover happens and the Supergirl fangirls and fanboys get a load of White Canary and her band of misfit toys, folks will flock to this show.
Easter Eggs
The message from future Barry is still a backstory. Clearly, all roads lead to the massive crossover.
In George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead, the main character Ben was a black man and the overt message is that while zombies are bad, racism is worse. At the end of that movie, Ben dies because zombies can die, but racism is forever. This episode is about zombies, but you know, not really.
In 1863, Amaya meets someone who comes from her grandmother’s village and knows of the Vixen necklace. Will that lead anywhere? Maybe not, but still, pretty cool.
