Title: TV Series Review: The Flash S02E08 - Legends of Today
Author: S3nsationz
Recovered Author: S3nsationz
Published Date: 2016-03-07
Original URL: https://geeknode.co.za/2016/03/tv-series-review-the-flash-s02e08-legends-of-today
Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20170712224325id_/http://www.geeknode.co.za/2016/03/tv-series-review-the-flash-s02e08-legends-of-today/
Recovery Confidence: high
Categories: TV Series
Tags: Arrow/Flash crossover, Barry Allen, Caitlin Snow, Chay-Ara, Cisco Ramone, Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Iris West, Joe West, Legends of Today, Prince Khufu, review, Staff of Horus, The Arrow, The Flash, TV Series, tv series review, Vandal Savage

- Genre Superhero
- Director Ralph Hemecker
- Producer Joseph Patrick Finn, Glenn Winter
- Actors Grant Gustin, Stephen Amell, Ciara Renee, Casper Crump,
- Air Date 2015-12-01
- Episode 08
- Season 02

- S3nsationz

- 1 year ago

- 2 0

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Season 2 Episode 7 of The Flash ‘Gorilla Warfare’.

I’ve always had an appreciation for crossover episodes. It takes a lot of planning to make sure the whole plot runs smoothly. Additionally, in terms of aesthetic appeal and subject tone, there are major differences between Arrow and The Flash . Both Team Arrow and Flash have taken a step in each other’s respective cities before but this time the crossover serves as a prelude to CW ’s most recent spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow. Granted, one or two episodes of each show have served as mini-preludes, but we’ll leave that for the Arrow recap. Let’s probe through Legends of Today, and what made this crossover so great.

We start off with Barry, Wells and Caitlyn intent on improving Barry’s speed but something is holding him back. What could push The Crimson Cruiser to further heights you say? Try a bad ass immortal, acquainted with every knife imaginable and immense invulnerability. His name, is Vandal Savage.

Villian of the week: Vandal Savage

He’s a well-known menace in the comic books, putting heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter as well as Speedsters Wally West and Barry Allen on their toes with his maniacal exploits . This week, he relentlessly hunts two targets, Chay-Ara and Prince Khufu.

Savage finds Chay-Ara on a date with Cisco, and rudely interrupts the pair, moments before kissing. Flash narrowly saves Cisco and Chay-Ara, and it’s clear that this isn’t a meta-human that can be thwarted by science. So begins the Team Arrow/Team Flash partnership. Like all superhero team-ups, this alliance struggles to run smoothly. Barry receives an intense verbal lashing from Oliver. He isn’t impressed that Barry introduced a stranger into their superhero world without asking all the relevant questions.

Oliver has a point but I’ll have to disagree with him (just never to his face). Every villain they’re forced to face is always one of an unknown nature. Granted, Savage has magic but so does his current rival, Damien Dahrk, so facing off against Savage seems like the appropriate “villain training wheels.”

All issues are hashed out at the Oliver Mansion over pigs in blankets and champagne. Watching everyone in a relaxed mood is pretty refreshing – Oliver tells Barry that he finally has the girl, a very different Oliver that Barry last met six months ago when he told him to let Iris go since, “Guys like us don’t get the girl.” Now, Oliver has the girl and Barry… is with a different girl, nevertheless, I enjoy their chemistry and I think Oliver appreciates Patty’s patience, a requisite needed when unknowingly dating a superhero.

Of course, celebrations aren’t had for long when Savage decides to crash (see what I did there?) the superhero soirée. Deathly assistance from Thea, much to the vexation of Oliver, gives the team enough time to figure out what Savage is all about. This scares Kendra, she’s not ready for this. Cisco to the rescue. By using his powers as a point of reference he tells Kendra that despite the craziness, “every day gets a little bit more normal”. What Cisco doesn’t know is that the universe is not on his side and to be frank it won’t be for a while. Enter Prince Khufu, aka Hawkman to swoop Saunders off her feet. No time to explain however as Green Arrow and Flash won’t stand for this abduction.

One riveting fight scene and a lightning bolt later, finds Hawkman defeated and chained up. This is when he reveals Savages’ intentions as well as a heart-breaking bomb to Cisco. They are Prince Khufu and Chay-Ara, reincarnated warriors and soulmates who have lived 206 different lives, each time being killed by Vandal Savage. To stop Savage, Kendra needs to embrace her life as Chay-Ara. Their best bet according to Khufu? Jumping off a building. With no Flash to save her or pressure from Khufu, second time is the charm for Kendra, and finally, Chay-Ara, the Hawkgirl, is born.

Where were the heroes while all of this was happening you ask? Green Arrow and Flash have another showdown with Savage in a local church, to acquire the Staff of Horus – an ancient relic which harnesses unfathomable power. The Staff is also the reason Kendra was subconsciously drawn to the city. While Flash and Green Arrow once again seem to be losing against Savage, a momentary pause (magically sensing Kendras’ rebirth) gives the heroes time to escape before he sets off an explosion. This isn’t the last we’ve seen of the super-villain and I can’t wait for their reunion.

Twinkle, twinkle, little S.T.A.R

While everyone else seems to be doing the impossible, it’s Harrison, Caitlin, Jay, Patty, and Joe who are placed within the B-Plot of S.T.A.R labs. Wells and Caitlin are still intent on their path to making Barry faster, for Wells this means perfecting a serum originally intended for Garrick. Thankfully, Caitlins occupation as a bio-engineer and Jay as a speedless speedster makes the (soon to be) couple, the perfect assistants.

Jay doesn’t want anything to do with Velocity 6, believing that the speed force is not meant to be manipulated by man. Patty conveniently spots Harrison outside the labs. Mistaking him for Earth-1 Wells, she follows him and mistakenly confusing Wells’ syringe gun for a real gun, shoots him. Caitlin takes charge, getting Joe to dismiss Patty and Jay to reluctantly take the serum and retrieve the bullet lodged in Wells’ chest via phasing. Jay tells Harrison that he can thank him by keeping he drug away from Barry. Could this be the start of an unlikely friendship or a dangerous union?

THINK ABOUT IT TAKE A SECOND…

- “She’s my new beautiful friend, who kisses me, occasionally”. Cisco, you my friend, are too charming for words.

- There seemed to be a strong theme of fate this week. Chay-Ara couldn’t escape her destiny of being Chay-Ara and subsequently drawn to Central City. Despite Garrick’s attempt at avoiding Velocity 6, he ended up taking it.

- The humour in this episode was legendary. From Barry asking Oliver if he doesn’t get cold with his sleeveless costume (“I spent five years on an island Barry, I don’t get cold”) to Damien Darhks’ reaction to the speedster.

- Cisco’s concern over Thea’s choice of alias, “Speedy” is an exchange I wouldn’t take lightly. Could this be the inception of Red Arrow? Hmm… you heard it here first folks.

- The overall light and vibrant aesthetic that The Flash is known for, is still maintained despite the doom and gloom that Arrow and his team arrive with.

- When Wells came up with suggestions of why Zoom is faster than Barry one of them was diet. I wonder what a ruthless, demonic looking speedster eats for breakfast. Ideas?

WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Season 2 Episode 7 of The Flash ‘Gorilla Warfare’. I've always had an appreciation for crossover episodes. It takes a lot of planning to make sure the whole plot runs smoothly. Additionally, in terms of aesthetic appeal and subject tone, there are major differences between Arrow and The Flash. Both Team Arrow and Flash have taken a step in each other’s respective cities before but this time the crossover serves as a prelude to CW’s most recent spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow. Granted, one or two episodes of each show have served as mini-preludes, but we’ll leave that for the Arrow recap. Let’s probe through Legends of Today, and what made this crossover so great. We start off with Barry, Wells and Caitlyn intent on improving Barry’s speed but something is holding him back. What could push The Crimson Cruiser to further heights you say? Try a bad ass immortal, acquainted with every knife imaginable and immense invulnerability. His name, is Vandal Savage. Villian of the week: Vandal Savage He’s a well-known menace in the comic books, putting heroes like Superman, Martian Manhunter as well as Speedsters Wally West and Barry Allen on their toes with his maniacal exploits. This week, he relentlessly hunts two targets, Chay-Ara and Prince Khufu. Savage finds Chay-Ara on a date with Cisco, and rudely interrupts the pair, moments before kissing. Flash narrowly saves Cisco and Chay-Ara, and it’s clear that this isn’t a meta-human that can be thwarted by science. So begins the Team Arrow/Team Flash partnership. Like all superhero team-ups, this alliance struggles to run smoothly. Barry receives an intense verbal lashing from Oliver. He isn’t impressed that Barry introduced a stranger into their superhero world without asking all the relevant questions. Oliver has a point but I’ll have to disagree with him (just never to his face). Every villain they're forced to face is always one of an unknown nature. Granted, Savage has magic but so does his current rival, Damien Dahrk, so facing off against Savage seems like the appropriate “villain training wheels.” All issues are hashed out at the Oliver Mansion over pigs in blankets and champagne. Watching everyone in a relaxed mood is pretty refreshing – Oliver tells Barry that he finally has the girl, a very different Oliver that Barry last met six months ago when he told him to let Iris go since, “Guys like us don’t get the girl.” Now, Oliver has the girl and Barry… is with a different girl, nevertheless, I enjoy their chemistry and I think Oliver appreciates Patty’s patience, a requisite needed when unknowingly dating a superhero. Of course, celebrations aren’t had for long when Savage decides to crash (see what I did there?) the superhero soirée. Deathly assistance from Thea, much to the vexation of Oliver, gives the team enough time to figure out what Savage is all about. This scares Kendra, she’s not ready for this. Cisco to the rescue. By using his powers as a…

TV Series Review: The Flash S02E08 – Legends of Today

TV Series Review: The Flash S02E08 – Legends of Today

2016-03-07

S3nsationz

A scintillating first half to an enticing crossover

Total - 8.2

82
8.2

A great opener with a strong plot and dazzling fight scenes that showcase what Legends of Tomorrow is all about.

User Rating: Be the first one !

8

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Article Tags:
Arrow/Flash crossover · Barry Allen · Caitlin Snow · Chay-Ara · Cisco Ramone · Hawkgirl · Hawkman · Iris West · Joe West · Legends of Today · Prince Khufu · review · Staff of Horus · The Arrow · The Flash · TV Series · tv series review · Vandal Savage

Article Categories:
TV Series · TV Series Review
