Professor Martin Stein: Spy Daddy Needs No Other Half

[kismet]

Best Title I could think of at the moment. Mods feel free to change it, or if someone else has something better. The title is not as important as the thread to me.

 

Anyway, I thought that Victor Garber & Martin Stein deserved their own thread. There is not a whole lot that has been revealed about this character for LoT or how he comes to the show without the other part of Firestorm. But as they say, all will be revealed in due time. Hopefully as stuff is revealed this thread can grow :)

 

I love Victor Garber. I am tuning into this new show because it looks good from the trailer and because Victor Garber is in it. Yes, I am happy that Sara is back and the other characters look fun or interesting. But if forced to choose a character/actor that I will be watching the show for its Martin Stein/Victor Garber.

[FurryFury]

Nah, I'm watching for Sara. And the premise sounds really cool, too. But Garber is awesome, and I'm especially happy that he's free from the awful Robbie Amell because their scenes were just embarrassing. That guy is one of the worst actors I've seen this year.

 

So, Firestorm speculation! I don't think Ronnie will be dead-dead (unfortunately), but I think he may lose his powers in some way so they'll get transferred to either the new character Jay whatshisname or maybe even Stein himself (less likely).

[Sakura12]

Caity Lotz and Victor Garber are the two reasons I want to watch this. I do want to see how they interact with each other. That little scene at the end of the trailer was great. Both of them looking at Ray like he's crazy. I think SpyDaddy would be good for Sara. She's been through a lot and I'm sure he'll respect her because of that. 

[FurryFury]

I'm also hoping the show won't forget Clarissa, Stein's wife. She didn't have a lot of screentime, but I'm weirdly invested in that couple's happiness. 

[Sakura12]

Now I want to see a scene where Clarissa invites Team Legend over for dinner. 

[FurryFury]

With Captain Cold, it would probably look like Joyce Summers and Spike on Buffy.Which was hilarious, so I'm all for it.

[kismet]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/garber-talks-heroes-villains-and-worse-on-legends-of-tomorrow-facing-his-first-sdcc

An article from Victor Garber... nothing too new or spoilery. He's looking forward to his first comic con. He has not read a script yet, so he knows nothing. He seems excited for the challenge of playing one part of Firestorm.

[BkWurm1]

He's never been to Comicon?  He's likely in for a treat or at least it has been my impression that he has a lot of fans. 

[FurryFury]

I liked it that they've connected him to Ray via making him Ray's former teacher. More conflict is always good and maybe it would make Ray more interesting.

[BkWurm1]

Ray and his perpetual cheer would drive the grumpy Stein nuts.  I like it. 

[kismet]

Stein was hands-down the best part of the FLASH premiere for me! So excited for his role on LoT. He brings such depth and gravitas. His touching toast during the ending scene poignant, simplistic and bittersweet. Him naming the baddie and Cisco being okay with it, absolutely adorable.

 

The only thing that was a little cheesy was when he was shouting scientific babble during the Singularity. If he's going to be on missions in LoT, I hope he can better nail that babble. I know he can do it with Spy-language on missions, so its probably just a matter of practice. He also sounds good saying it in the lab, most of the times - but I think he does need to practice the delivery a little smoother.

 

That being said, a little more excited for LoT now.

Edited October 7, 2015 by kismet

[quarks]

He was really good on Flash, and I'm guessing that unless she's killed off before then, his wife will be a supporting character on Legends?

[BkWurm1]

He was really good on Flash, and I'm guessing that unless she's killed off before then, his wife will be a supporting character on Legends?

I hope they don't kill his wife off but she is on my worry list.

[kismet]

I feel like they won't kill her. But I can't imagine how there will be time in the scripts to focus on any one who is not part of the main cast. Perhaps they will keep her as an off-screen presence. He'll reference having to get back home to her. She'll be there for poignant scenes like the end of Flash. But ep to ep, day to day she will be invisible.

[Sakura12]

I'm really looking forward to Stein being on Legends. I can't wait to see his reactions to his new team. Especially since he's working with a former assassin and criminals.

[nksarmi]

Just from that one trailer they gave us, I can't wait to see Stein with Sara and Ray.  I really like Stein as part of the Flash cast and I think he's going to be fantastic on Legends.  I love how Legends already feels like a true ensemble with Rip, Stein, Ray, and Sara all taking on key roles.  Of course, I think the others will be important as well, but just looking at those four - I think they are all going to matter a lot without any one of them outshining the others.  I also just adore a show that is setting up the guys (Stein and Ray) to be the brains where the girls are going to mostly be the brawn.

 

Edited because sleep helps when posting...

Edited October 10, 2015 by nksarmi

[kismet]

Nearly freaked out at end of Flash this week. Wonder if PMS heart attack like episode will be why they have to bring in JJ to be his other half. Also wonder how they find thw other half of firestorm? Do they hold auditions? Or is it an energy hole thing?

Also love how PMS is a know it all, but VG plays it with such diplomacy and charm with a little bite to him. His scenes with Cisco are so good. I'm really going to miss them. He makes Cisco seem less hyper and more intelligent. Cisco makes him seem more like a Professor and not as much of the as* we originally met.

[FurryFury]

Also wonder how they find thw other half of firestorm? Do they hold auditions? Or is it an energy hole thing?

 

Maybe he's from Earth-2? It would be cool if he were, and lost his own half of Firestorm.

[MarkHB]

There was one shot in a Flash preview where Stein looked like a really cold version of Firestorm.  It would be amazing if that happened in an attempt to merge with Caitlin.

[BkWurm1]

Can I just put in a vote to ban the use of PMS as the abbreviation for Prof Stein?  Yes, I know it works but I was so confused at first why anyone would suggest premenstrual syndrome would induce a heart attack.  PS or MS or even just Stein, but I will never not roll my eyes at PMS.

 

Which likely was the intention, lol.  ;)

Edited October 14, 2015 by BkWurm1

[kismet]

Actually I was just trying to honor his Prof. status. Never intended to inflict visual trauma :) There's enough eye-rolling as is on FlarrowLoT, don't want you to sustain a permanent injury @BkWurm1 :)

 

I will refrain from using it. It does look really weird. I reread my post and got confused for a moment :) Honest mistake, poor abbreviation on my part sorry :)

 

I honestly might just start calling him the Prof. Or I will do MS or Stein.

[TobinAlbers]

I want Martin to once - just once- get to wear the Firestorm suit. Don't get me wrong, I love the age appropriate sweaters and v necks, but I think Garber could rock the jacket too.

And yes to Clarissa having a bigger role and not getting fridged. I've long been a supporter of giving more time to the Stein couple. I think their long running - and no doubt complicated- marriage provides not only a grounding for Martin but for the team as well. And having a stable, mutually supportive loving couple gives something the younguns to aspire to with their own angsty love lives.

[Trini]

Best Title I could think of at the moment. Mods feel free to change it, or if someone else has something better. The title is not as important as the thread to me.

 

How about - from the trailer - "Professor Martin Stein: His Other Half is Combustible" ?

[Maverick]

 Or, paraphrasing from an episode or two ago:  "His genius has been well established"  

[kismet]

I have a feeling that they are going to be doing a lot of little tweaking to all the characters on LoT.  From something they said about Stein in the Pilot, I have a feeling he is going to be a more morally grey character than he's been previously.  The show runners originally wanted to do a Blue Beetle and in the current incarnation, the scarab itself is always trying to push it's host to cross certain lines.  Wonder if that's the dynamic they are going to go after rather than just scientist vs jock and young vs old. 

That sounds lovely! A morally grey VG is my cup of tea. Add to that a paternal streak and we're in business. I want him to have a good relationship with Jax, but I don't want it to feel cliche. Mostly I just look forward to MS being the salty caramel he is hard on the outside, but really a gooey chewy inside. And his superiority complex will be perfect. I just don't want it at the expense of putting other people down.

[BkWurm1]

Didnt they say Ray and Stein have history? Maybe he'll save his put downs for Ray. I think he can take it. ;)

[kismet]

Didnt they say Ray and Stein have history? Maybe he'll save his put downs for Ray. I think he can take it. ;)

I think I would enjoy that. :)

 

BR is no Michael Vartan, but some of my favorite moments of VG in ALIAS was when he was treating MV with such obvious disdain and yet a modicum of respect at the same time.

[kismet]

Can I just say I loved everything about Stein in ep 1? His drugging Jax was so spot on with how I want his character to be. A little devious, a little outside the lines but for good reasons. Also how heartbreaking was his you don't know how many adventures you get left at his age? So true, but I loved Jax's response - VG & Stein are far away from being ready for a hammock in some retirement community.

 

I just loved his general disdain and snobbery towards the other characters.

 

I have high hopes for this character and so far he has been better than he was in the FLASH. :)

[BkWurm1]

I love that he didn't even have to drop anything into the drink. It was all pre doctored, just something that he already has on hand.  Lol, how often does it knock people out?  Ronnie was kind of annoying.  Maybe that's how they kept from killing each other.  ;)

[tarotx]

I love Stein (and especially VG) But the drugging people to do things against their wants for your benefit? I will never be able to agree on that writing choice. I get for their own safety. Its probably because of my own history have that happening to me but it really made me Judge Stein (and even VG) last night. I just rewatched the episode and I'm dealing better with it now. I get they were going with humor. And it was probably a ;) at bad ass Spy daddy. That didn't even cross my mind last night.

 

I did love his "I don't remember you" brush off of Ray. I think I'll enjoy that dynamic. 

[kismet]

I was so excited that Prof wanted to get back into the field!! It was having ALIAS flashbacks all over again.... Infiltrating a lab, VG speaking Russian, a nuclear core only he can take care of, potential for radiation poisoning, Russian comrades in hand to hand combat. It was just so good. I was actually sorta bummed they had him use the pill modulators, because I could have listened to VG talk in Russian more. It really felt like the writers had watched a few ep of Alias just to nail down the plot. Also is anybody else distracted that Snart often sounds like Snark?

 

Also I feel like he is carrying a lot of guilt from Raymond, so it was nice to see that side of him. I really wish he would be able to confide that in Jax, but then they need to have some dysfunctional tension for drama purposes I guess. I understand the mission to save billions of people is important. But he did rip his partner from his life without his permission or ability to say good-bye. As much as I enjoyed the poisoning in the pilot, sitting with the aftereffects of it does not feel that good. It also reminded me of Beauty & the Beast, when Belle's angry with the Beast for so much and then breaks down to root of the problem which is that he never let her say good bye to her father. Jax & Stein aren't quite the same, but still that emotion felt raw. Everybody wants an opportunity to say good-bye. Makes me wonder what Stein's wife thinks he is doing.

[kismet]

While I know many people here are not mourning the loss of Professor Stein. I know I will. I understand show business. I know VG wanted out. What I will never understand is why the writers chose to send him off in that way. Barely even letting the Legends grieve or bereave before wrapping up their ridiculous for xover plot. I knew Death was an option I just hoped it was written better than that. Once again the Flarrowverse fails to give a good goodbye to one of its Legends. Such a shame.

I know people will say that he was dead wood, he dragged the Legends down, that he was expendable. That he was an arrogant, elitist, intellectual snob. ANd in many ways he was. He also was wisdom, depth of character, moralistic and irreplaceable in many ways. True Stein did not have all the CGI or fancy moves, but what he had he always contributed to the team and the mission. Whether it be his intellectual abilities, his canny spy abilities or his ability to do brain surgery on the fly. He was a true LEGEND!! He wasn't a perfect character, but he was a good character and the show is worse off with him gone.

And honestly, it's hard to say what Stein would have been without Victor Garber because that actor brought so many layers of depth and ability to him. It was a phenomenal acting job. I think the Legends set lost a true actor ready and willing to elevate the words given as well as his fellow actors. I will truly miss his interactions with the other Legends.

RIP Professor Martin Stein, a true Legend!

[Miss Dee]

I agree. I know it was Garber's choice, but Legends has lost a real asset.

[Sakura12]

Death scenes require more acting, I imagine as an actor VG wanted to go out with a bang more than walking away happy. 

However it was sad and depressing, RIP Professor Stein. 

[KirkB]

Bye Martin, and thanks for all the quips.

[Starfish35]

I think we will see more grieving for him in this week's episode, and going forward.  I don't think they'll just sweep it under the rug.