With all the leaps and bounds the Flarrow-verse/CW DC TV Universe has made in the last 12 months, it’s staggering to look back and remember that this time last year, how nervous those involved were about doing a full-blown crossover episode between Arrow and the newly born Flash series. So much so that all future plans of further interactions were put on hold until they saw how the fans reacted to it. The result was an undoubted success for both shows, rejoiced by fans and opening a whole new world of interconnectivity that would continue to echo throughout the rest of those seasons. It saw Arrow waving its strict “no superpowers” rule to learn that such elements could work on the show without jeopardizing its gritty and grounded approach. It was arguably the moment that began the journey towards this January’s Legends of Tomorrow crossover series, and now, 1 year later, we return for another epic Flash/Arrow crossover event to put those legends in motion, including the introduction of none other than Vandal Savage himself.
Legends of Today – A new and deadly foe with mystical powers arrives in Central City on the hunt for Kendra. Barry and friends enlist the help of Team Arrow to keep her safe before encountering a mysterious Hawkman figure that reveals he and Kendra are reincarnated Egyptian lovers and that she is destined to become Hawkgirl alongside him.
The most apparent change from last year’s episode 8 exchange is that this definitely part 1 of a 2-episode story rather than being 2 separate episodes with small adjoining events. The general feel is that the shows are going for a bigger scope and even emphasize the increased connectivity between the shows a greater degree of city-hopping. They’re also transferring a much greater number of regular characters as well as guests across shows this time around (remember that last year only Oliver, Felicity and Diggle came to The Flash) for a heightened ensemble feel and some really enjoyable group chemistry. The drinks/hangout scene at Oliver’s apartment is almost the Flarrowverse equivalent of the Age of Ultron party, complete with a similar villain crasher. In writing the episode, showrunner Andrew Kreisberg even takes great pleasure poking fun at the complexity of intersecting stories. This is best shown is in Thea’s hilarious confusion over their Team Flash allegiance, “I did not know we knew The Flash”. Elsewhere, there’s plenty of other little joys form the less common character meet ups like Diggle’s vomiting after being “flashed” away and Damien Darhk being genuinely thrilled by seeing Barry in action (also an honourable mention to the magnetic arrow in that encounter). That is what these kind of episodes should be: embracing the fun just as much as the higher stakes drama.
Like many recent Flash and Arrow episodes, the story is heavily concerned with introducing and positioning certain Legends of Tomorrow characters ahead of January’s season premier (now confirmed as January 21st). In this case, it’s Vandal Savage as the main antagonist along with Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Interestingly, the show has actually ret-conned the origin stories of all 3 together as Savage’s immortality and powers sustained and increased by killing these winged lovers each time they re-incarnate. This works well enough. Crucially, it nicely answers the LoT question over why Savage didn’t take over the Earth sooner than the 22nd century: because it’s taken him that long to slowly build up his power. Savage immediately feels like he’s been perfectly cast in the Danish actor Casper Crump (a good example of favouring quality of representation rather than a more famous face). Right from his stellar introduction, he feels self assured, mildly playful but utterly menacing (“I used to enjoy slow deaths, now I just find them boring”). His knife throwing antics produce some great thrills, especially when combined with Barry’s speed saving. There’s already a great feel of requiring a mass team up to defeat him which is entirely the point of LoT, so mission accomplished there. Despite Savage’s flare, he has some serious competition for entrance of the episode. Firstly, from Merlyn and the League of Assassins showing up in Arrow Cave in resemblance to WWEs Undertaker but mostly from the sudden swoop in of a fully armoured, mace-wielding and wings-flaying Hawkman. The wing man of this feathered pairing quickly impresses by immediately becoming likeable without the prior embedding Kendra/Hawkgirl has been given. Like many first meetings, the episode takes the opportunity for some good hero Vs hero action.
It’s also good to see that The Flash does not put itself on hold for a week and we still have a subplot continuing some of its ongoing story. This focuses on Harrison Wells working on a speed boasting serum called Velocity 6; being his 6th attempt to make it. This is actually a big comic Easter Egg as the Velocity 9 serum (which we may still progress to over the series) dates back to the Golden Age and Jay Garrick’s Reverse Flash equivalent character, The Rival. It’s demonstrated effectiveness, at least in some capacity, opens some fantastic new possibilities on to the season as to who it will effect and how. Despite his present opposition, will it bring Jay Garrick back into the ring against Zoom with Barry? Will Wells take it to become a version of The Rival (less likely as it’s quite a re-tread of last season)? Will Zoom obtain it to evolve him into his final boss mode? Or will we see it playing a part in creating a new speedster? The most likely candidate seems Wally West (who will debut next episode) with an outside chance it will transition Patty Spivot into Hot Pursuit. Speaking of Patty, she definitely has her foot in the door for joining Team Flash now having learnt some pivotal info. Although her entrance does pose some serious questions regarding Cisco’s so-called heightened security at Star Labs.
Legends of Today promised big and it has delivered. The odd minor imperfection is incurred by the mammoth task of bringing so many characters together but the overall result is a thoroughly entertaining collision of two words with spectacle, great laughs and tantalising twists. Now, the bow has been drawn; we just need an arrow to finish it tomorrow night.