Legends of Tomorrow: Star City 2046
February 27, 2016 10:15 AM - Season 1, Episode 6 - Subscribe
A malfunction sends the Waverider into Star City in 2046, where the heroes are faced with a surprising version of the future.
I liked it.
Specific stuff:
* Rip Hunter is the worst, but props to Sara for calling him out on it and forcing him to do the right thing. I increasingly hope that she ends up running the team - it's pretty clear Hunter's bluster about 'you guys don't understand time manipulation' is bullshit, either intentional or delusional. (I was a little disappointed that nobody went to help her right from the get-go, but most of them were legitimately a little busy to notice.)
* It's nice to see Jax and Stein at least trying to get along and learn from each other.
* I too was sad to see Leonard and Mick fighting, but it's nice to see the show offering some legitimate drama rooted in good characterization, here. It makes sense their perspectives about the mission are different, and it makes sense they would handle it poorly.
* I was glad Kendra shot down Ray. I hope they move toward giving her a real plotline soon though.
* I am not an Arrow watcher, but I gather from this that Oliver Queen's gang is bad at hide and seek.
posted by mordax at 12:48 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Specific stuff:
* Rip Hunter is the worst, but props to Sara for calling him out on it and forcing him to do the right thing. I increasingly hope that she ends up running the team - it's pretty clear Hunter's bluster about 'you guys don't understand time manipulation' is bullshit, either intentional or delusional. (I was a little disappointed that nobody went to help her right from the get-go, but most of them were legitimately a little busy to notice.)
* It's nice to see Jax and Stein at least trying to get along and learn from each other.
* I too was sad to see Leonard and Mick fighting, but it's nice to see the show offering some legitimate drama rooted in good characterization, here. It makes sense their perspectives about the mission are different, and it makes sense they would handle it poorly.
* I was glad Kendra shot down Ray. I hope they move toward giving her a real plotline soon though.
* I am not an Arrow watcher, but I gather from this that Oliver Queen's gang is bad at hide and seek.
posted by mordax at 12:48 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
God, Ollie's beard. Did Victor Garber bring it with him from Alias? So dreadful.
Loved Mick in the fur coat.
posted by oh yeah! at 12:51 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Loved Mick in the fur coat.
posted by oh yeah! at 12:51 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Why is Arrow junior even bothering to hold the city? If it's just all criminals, just move already. Central City has a better climate anyway.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 1:22 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
A bit surprised this didn't end with them taking Connor Hawke with them from a future they plan to obliviate anyway. He probably won't even be born in the new timeline, much less grow up to be that version of himself...
I'm really looking forward to getting some behind-the-scenes details about how the development of this show got screwed up so badly, sometime in the near future. It's pretty incredible how cheap, badly written, and badly plotted it is, given how well the exact same showrunners have done with ARROW and THE FLASH. I'm glad they finally stopped having to burn episodes from the other shows to set it up...
posted by gerryblog at 1:32 PM on February 27, 2016
I'm really looking forward to getting some behind-the-scenes details about how the development of this show got screwed up so badly, sometime in the near future. It's pretty incredible how cheap, badly written, and badly plotted it is, given how well the exact same showrunners have done with ARROW and THE FLASH. I'm glad they finally stopped having to burn episodes from the other shows to set it up...
posted by gerryblog at 1:32 PM on February 27, 2016
Worst.Aged.MakeUp.Ever.
It was like a crappy santa beard, some face texture of some sort(?) and gray hair spray. Oh man.
Otherwise, I was annoyed at this episode. I don't mean to be a downer, but there was so much "this isn't the real timeline" versus "but we have to save them!"
posted by Crystalinne at 4:26 PM on February 27, 2016
It was like a crappy santa beard, some face texture of some sort(?) and gray hair spray. Oh man.
Otherwise, I was annoyed at this episode. I don't mean to be a downer, but there was so much "this isn't the real timeline" versus "but we have to save them!"
posted by Crystalinne at 4:26 PM on February 27, 2016
I'm just disappointed that nobody said "You have failed this city" when Star City clearly failed.
posted by Servo5678 at 5:30 PM on February 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Servo5678 at 5:30 PM on February 27, 2016 [4 favorites]
The future was like a poorly realised Doomsday, with dubstep.
Dubstep survives.
posted by Mezentian at 8:17 PM on February 27, 2016
Dubstep survives.
posted by Mezentian at 8:17 PM on February 27, 2016
You know, this was pretty fun. This episode just was fun. The show itself plods and makes no sense half the time, but this was fun and made me hope they make a whole bunch more because timeship + handful of b-list heroes = fun.
posted by Catblack at 9:09 PM on February 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Catblack at 9:09 PM on February 27, 2016 [3 favorites]
I just watched the last four episodes back-to-back because whooooo Saturday night. While this was probably the weakest of them, I liked the Cold/Heatwave in Escape from New York stuff, and am a little charmed by the emerging superheroic Walt and Jesse dynamic between Jax and Stein. The only thing that really bothered me about the episode was the weird decision to introduce Connor Hawke to the TVDCU and then not make him Oliver Queen's son.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:59 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 10:59 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sara and Leonard continue to be the only parts of this show I enjoy. I loved Stein on Flash, but here his likability has suffered somewhat. I liked Sara standing up to Rip and her not wanting to give up her connection to Star City and Oliver (but yeah wth was that makeup). Leonard and Mick's set to was also interesting, but I continue to wonder why the hell Rip wanted Mick as part of his team in the first place. Mick's worldview seems fundamentally incompatible with the mission. Leonard pretends to be cold and uncaring, but we all know he's a diamond in the rough. Was inviting Mick along just to get Leonard on board? It'll be interesting to see this conflict play out. Will Mick begin to see things differently (we got a hint of that possibility in last week's ep with his plot with Ray) or will there be a final break? I can definitely see Mick going rogue again in a way that will force Leonard to choose sides for good.
posted by katyggls at 12:20 AM on February 28, 2016
posted by katyggls at 12:20 AM on February 28, 2016
They have a time machine. Why fight against Grant Wilson after the fact at all? Why not just fix the ship, skip back in time to when the little shit is sixteen years old and push him out a window?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:16 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:16 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Despite how bad the beard and make-up were, this episode really made me want to see Oliver sport his trademark facial hair on Arrow.
While Sara is still one of the best things about this show, her characterization seems to be getting worse with every episode. I don't know what it is specifically (I'd have to give the subject matter a lot more thought than I think it's worth), but it's starting to annoy me.
I feel like this this show is like one of those batters who keeps tipping foul balls up into the stands on the third strike count. At some point he has to connect (and maybe score a home run) or strike out completely. I suspect we're going to see the latter scenario, but I really, really want the first one to happen. I want to like this, and I want it to be better and live up to its potential.
posted by sardonyx at 9:48 AM on February 28, 2016
While Sara is still one of the best things about this show, her characterization seems to be getting worse with every episode. I don't know what it is specifically (I'd have to give the subject matter a lot more thought than I think it's worth), but it's starting to annoy me.
I feel like this this show is like one of those batters who keeps tipping foul balls up into the stands on the third strike count. At some point he has to connect (and maybe score a home run) or strike out completely. I suspect we're going to see the latter scenario, but I really, really want the first one to happen. I want to like this, and I want it to be better and live up to its potential.
posted by sardonyx at 9:48 AM on February 28, 2016
This post gives me an unacceptable amount of feelings
posted by nicebookrack at 11:12 AM on February 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by nicebookrack at 11:12 AM on February 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
I dug the Escape From NY stuff. Then again, I'm just a sucker for Escape From NY stuff.
posted by brundlefly at 12:36 PM on February 28, 2016
posted by brundlefly at 12:36 PM on February 28, 2016
Episode 1: "The truth is, I chose you because from here on out you have no influence on history."
Episode 6: "Once you guys disappeared, Star City was doomed."
posted by Ian A.T. at 5:26 PM on February 28, 2016 [9 favorites]
Episode 6: "Once you guys disappeared, Star City was doomed."
posted by Ian A.T. at 5:26 PM on February 28, 2016 [9 favorites]
Episode 1: "The truth is, I chose you because from here on out you have no influence on history."
Episode 6: "Once you guys disappeared, Star City was doomed."
Well, it's not like Star City was doing well with them there.
In 2016, Star City appears to experience a terrorist attack by an an inexhaustible force of masked mercenaries on a weekly basis. Further, an artificial earthquake destroyed half the city in 2014, and in 2015 an army of superpowered escaped criminals rampaged through the city murdering indiscriminately. The mayors keep getting assassinated. The death toll in the police force is so high that they are perpetually understaffed.
The real question is why anyone lives there at all in 2016. There's less mayhem in active war zones.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:13 PM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Episode 6: "Once you guys disappeared, Star City was doomed."
Well, it's not like Star City was doing well with them there.
In 2016, Star City appears to experience a terrorist attack by an an inexhaustible force of masked mercenaries on a weekly basis. Further, an artificial earthquake destroyed half the city in 2014, and in 2015 an army of superpowered escaped criminals rampaged through the city murdering indiscriminately. The mayors keep getting assassinated. The death toll in the police force is so high that they are perpetually understaffed.
The real question is why anyone lives there at all in 2016. There's less mayhem in active war zones.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 6:13 PM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Well, if you live in Central city, you might be attacked by a giant telepathic gorilla or a giant shark man or die in a meta-human generated tsunami.
Gotham, you have to deal with the god damn Batman all over the place.
And the rent in Metropolis is crazy high.
posted by humans are superior! at 7:26 PM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Gotham, you have to deal with the god damn Batman all over the place.
And the rent in Metropolis is crazy high.
posted by humans are superior! at 7:26 PM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I can't possibly be the only nerd who read The Dark Knight Returns as a kid who suffered from uncontrollable squee at one-armed Ollie, right?
Though giving a robot arm was nowhere near as cool as that book showing him acing his shots by using his teeth to draw.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:43 AM on February 29, 2016
Though giving a robot arm was nowhere near as cool as that book showing him acing his shots by using his teeth to draw.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:43 AM on February 29, 2016
What is it about destroying Star City that gives so many supervillains a raging boner?
It's a crappy little hybrid of Seattle and Baltimore, with maybe a bit of Miami thrown in. Tearing this down is your master plan, for real?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:48 AM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's a crappy little hybrid of Seattle and Baltimore, with maybe a bit of Miami thrown in. Tearing this down is your master plan, for real?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:48 AM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
They have a time machine. Why fight against Grant Wilson after the fact at all? Why not just fix the ship, skip back in time to when the little shit is sixteen years old and push him out a window?I think this was almost the point Rip was trying to make.
posted by Karmakaze at 10:11 AM on February 29, 2016
The real question is why anyone lives there at all in 2016. There's less mayhem in active war zones.
By 2046 refugees have learned from the Syrian situation that they'll be abused as a political football for a while before eventually being refused any sanctuary, so they just hunker down and wait to be killed in the background.
posted by phearlez at 10:13 AM on February 29, 2016
By 2046 refugees have learned from the Syrian situation that they'll be abused as a political football for a while before eventually being refused any sanctuary, so they just hunker down and wait to be killed in the background.
posted by phearlez at 10:13 AM on February 29, 2016
They have a time machine. Why fight against Grant Wilson after the fact at all? Why not just fix the ship, skip back in time to when the little shit is sixteen years old and push him out a window?
I think this was almost the point Rip was trying to make.
As dickish as Rip can come across (it might just be a British thing), he had a very valid point in this episode. Just fix the ship and leave because this is not your real future and don't get emotionally involved and get hurt while we still have to fight an immortal.
Are there just perpetually burning oil drums and cars in the future?
posted by numaner at 11:59 AM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think this was almost the point Rip was trying to make.
As dickish as Rip can come across (it might just be a British thing), he had a very valid point in this episode. Just fix the ship and leave because this is not your real future and don't get emotionally involved and get hurt while we still have to fight an immortal.
Are there just perpetually burning oil drums and cars in the future?
posted by numaner at 11:59 AM on February 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
As dickish as Rip can come across (it might just be a British thing), he had a very valid point in this episode. Just fix the ship and leave because this is not your real future and don't get emotionally involved and get hurt while we still have to fight an immortal.
The potential nihilism this could lead you to would be a really amazing thing for a much much much better show to explore.
A bit surprised this didn't end with them taking Connor Hawke with them from a future they plan to obliviate anyway. He probably won't even be born in the new timeline, much less grow up to be that version of himself...
If they stay consistent in their approach to how time travel works (hahahhahahahahahahahaha) then he'd probably just *p0of* out when that happens, a la Garber's wedding ring when their actions prevent him from meeting his wife. Though Garber's physical self (including his being 0.5Firestorm units) and his memories of her didn't change, so perhaps Hawke's clothes and gear would just disappear. Less real repercussions than scifi comedic romp.
posted by phearlez at 12:51 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
The potential nihilism this could lead you to would be a really amazing thing for a much much much better show to explore.
A bit surprised this didn't end with them taking Connor Hawke with them from a future they plan to obliviate anyway. He probably won't even be born in the new timeline, much less grow up to be that version of himself...
If they stay consistent in their approach to how time travel works (hahahhahahahahahahahaha) then he'd probably just *p0of* out when that happens, a la Garber's wedding ring when their actions prevent him from meeting his wife. Though Garber's physical self (including his being 0.5Firestorm units) and his memories of her didn't change, so perhaps Hawke's clothes and gear would just disappear. Less real repercussions than scifi comedic romp.
posted by phearlez at 12:51 PM on February 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
The impression I got was the entire world of 2046 as seen here would shortly be deleted from existence. I'm not sure Rip said as much, but presumably this 2046 only came into being when the Legends fell out of the timestream and failed (temporarily) to ever return to 2016. An entirely new future was created when the Waverider crashed. That of course would mean the Legends (or at least Sara) are much more important to history than we've been led to believe. Or that Rip just isn't that great at determining who's important to history. Either seems likely at this point.
ETA: It could also mean "important to history" = important to Rip's timeline. The fall of Star City may not have any great bearing on the future as Rip sees it.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 2:28 PM on February 29, 2016
ETA: It could also mean "important to history" = important to Rip's timeline. The fall of Star City may not have any great bearing on the future as Rip sees it.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 2:28 PM on February 29, 2016
This show would be loads better if they just admit to Rip's nihilism and selfishness. He really just wants to save his family and the rest of the world can burn. Everyone on the team is a means to an end.
I mean, you have to know there's going to be an episode where some crazy catastrophe happens, and then Gideon is like "I calculate fallout from this event will result in your family surviving Vandal Savage" and Rip is like kthnxbye to the whole team. But being CW they're going to have Sara convince him to save the team. And that would be the exact moment I give up on this show.
I think I watch just way too many shows.
posted by numaner at 1:29 PM on March 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
I mean, you have to know there's going to be an episode where some crazy catastrophe happens, and then Gideon is like "I calculate fallout from this event will result in your family surviving Vandal Savage" and Rip is like kthnxbye to the whole team. But being CW they're going to have Sara convince him to save the team. And that would be the exact moment I give up on this show.
I think I watch just way too many shows.
posted by numaner at 1:29 PM on March 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by nicebookrack at 12:24 PM on February 27, 2016 [4 favorites]