Friday, April 1, 2016

DC's Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 Episode 8 "Night of the Hawk" Review and **SPOILERS**



Director: Joe Dante
Writers: Sarah Nicole Jones & Cortney Norris
Release Date: March 10, 2016

Legends of Tomorrow has largely been an ok show. Is it as exciting and fun as the Flash? No. Is it as droll and confused as Arrow? No. So I approached this episode like I'd normally approach a movie starring Jackie Chan, with love but apprehension.

Anyways, I am glad to watch this episode. The setting of "Night of the Hawk", takes place in the 1950's (an era that I've only experienced through Back to the Future) and as a curious person I want to know more about it. I know Jim spent his early twenties in that time period, but for some reason he refuses to say anything about it. I guess, that means I should get on with the review then..



Explain it!

Our story today begins with the intrepid crew of the Waverider landing in 1958. In order to find out more about Vandal's secret murder plans, the crew splits up. Stein poses as a doctor, with the assistance of Sarah Lance as a nurse, Ray and Kendra pose as a married couple, Jefferson as a jock and Rip and Cold as a couple of F.B.I agents. Now, before we get any further I have to give this episode props. It would have been very easy to turn this episode into some sort critique on the social injustices of the past and they just didn't do that. Was it part of the story? Yes, but in a way that seemed organic to the narrative and didn't get in the way of the main plot.




Anyways, while Sarah flirts with one of the nurses she finds a secret room that Vandal uses for unknown experiments. Lance however, is incapable of entering the room. Simultaneously, Jefferson seduces a local girl in order to find out about some of the recent murders that have occurred in the town. He is successful, but before he can regroup he is attacked by a monster and then infected by Savage. While this is happening, Ray steals, Vandal's secret dagger and Kendra tries to use it to kill him. Unfortunately this doesn't quite work either. At the same time, Rip and Cold gather information from the local sheriff, but fail to find anything of substance.




Fortunately, all these separate plot threads finally converge as Jefferson is found and cured, Kendra is saved and Savage is driven from the town. It seems everything is going roses for our heroes. As well all know though, that just doesn't really happen for long and as such, Chronos sudden attack comes as no surprise. Ray, Kendra and Sarah are forced to stay in 1958 as Rip and the others seek to repair the ship; and the team splits once again.

Bit's and Pieces:

After watching this whole episode, I have to say, I didn't really learn much about 1958. Except perhaps, that the milkshakes look really good and I want to drink one right now. That said, the episode was still pretty good. We got our standard team-split, out standard monster and our standard character interactions and none of it felt forced or bad. If I had to pick one serious problem with it, however, it's that Savage is starting to look like less and less of a threat every episode. I know feel like I'm watching an episode of Scooby Doo, with Savage always about to get away with something "if it wasn't for those meddling kids." With that in mind I have to give this show a...


8.0/10

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