S04.E05: Tagumo Attacks!!!

[scarynikki12]

Quote

A new fugitive is on the loose in 1951 Tokyo and Sara, Zari, Rory and Charlie try to capture it.

 

[scarynikki12]

The title being in Japanese was inspired and fully in line with this show’s MO.  

In addition to Beebo merchandise Warner Bros should release Mick’s book. The comedy potential is high. 

Ray seeing Nora with slow-mo and orchestra accompaniment was hilarious. Brandon does Smitten Kitten well (he has tons of practice of course). 

Tala Ashe is so great. I love watching Zari weave between Mick and his book, butting heads with Charlie, and distracting the director. 

Charlie fits in already. Love her. 

Shiro was awesome and I want to give him a hug. He was just trying to make sense of his trauma and was horrified by what he created. Mick providing perspective and comfort was cool. 

Gary capturing Baba Yaga and then monsters get loose? Sounds about right. 

I liked Nate’s grandma. 

I like Sara’s nicknames. Miss G for Gideon and Z for Zari in this episode alone. And then Ray called her Detective Lance after she uses her dad’s old method to find Nora. The casual and comfortable nature between the Legends really sell that they’re in sync. 

I don’t do well with creepy crawlies and I include sea creepies so Tagumo was a little disconcerting. 

Of course Mick writes a three boobed warrior who battles Tagumo. And Shiro got it all on film! Sara, Charlie, and Zari cheering it on and then being grossed out when he started hooking up with her was fun. This show I swear. 

Project Hades? You can at least TRY to not be so obvious here Biff. 

[bettername2come]

Just now, scarynikki12 said:

In addition to Beebo merchandise Warner Bros should release Mick’s book. The comedy potential is high. 

They did it for Jane the Virgin. I wouldn't rule out the possibility.

I'm shipping Ray and Nora hard. I love her redemption arc. I also love Mona the monster wrangler.  And all the little bromance moments we got between Mick and Zari, Ava and Nate, Nate and Gary, Charlie and Sara. Legends has become the show that features characters behaving the most believably. Which is so wrong.

[Sakura12]

I liked seeing Sara talk to Shiro about feeling like a monster. Then have Charlie realize that Sara's not that bad of a cop. Complete with Ray calling her Detective Lance.  Sara always bonds with someone over drinks. 

Mick and 3 boobed alien warrior, is this the second book in his series. Lol. 

Nora is finally getting to make her own choices, she doesn't have a demon or her dad making her do bad things. And with Ray believing in her she wants to do the right thing. I'm hoping Constantine can mentor her with her magic. 

I guess Mona's going to be the fugitive handler for the TB. 

This show is so great at having character moments, that's something the other shows are lacking they never take the time to let the characters breathe. We can see why the Legends make a good team, they know each other's stories and quirks. 

Edited November 20, 2018 by Sakura12

[johntfs]

Yes.  Mick Rory jump-starts anime and Godzilla.  I also love Mona the foodie monster-wrangler.

[Alice Mudgarden]

MICK SAVED THE DAY WITH HELP FROM HIS TRI-BOOBED WARRIOR QUEEN.

THIS SHOW.

[shantown]

“I was watching porn!”

”...On your typewriter?”

 

Who would have thought in S1 that Mick would be one of the funniest, most-well-rounded characters?

Also, Ava looked really nice being out of her usual suit. Her and Nate are a nice pairing. 

[Lady Calypso]

I'm really enjoying the split time between our misfit Legends and the wacky Time Bureau stuff. I actually think they're doing a great job at balancing both.

I am very much loving the Nate/Ava pairing. I think they're making fantastic friends, and I think it's important to see Ava in other relationships other than with Sara. I'm glad she's getting to this season, and Nate's the perfect foil for her. Plus, it gets Nate out of his frat-bro personality. Seeing a mature Nate with his family is great. I mean, I'll forever be bitter at his retconned backstory, but I guess there's not much that can be done now.

I don't mind Mona but....I don't know, she's a little TOO quirky for me. That's saying a lot for this show as well, but I'm undecided on her. I think her being paired with Gary is the problem for me. They seem way too similar. 

The Legends stuff was also really fun to watch. Yes, Mick gets to save the day and it's glorious! I love his scenes with Zari. Zari is such a gem in this series. She brings out the best in every single person she interacts with. Tala Ashe is definitely the most talented actress on this show, and I'm super glad she gets great material to work with. Mick is usually pretty underused, which is why I like that they allowed his writing background to pop back up. 

Ok, show, I know that Courtney and Brandon have impeccable chemistry but can you please stop making me root for their characters to work it out and get married and have cute babies like their actors? No? Ok, I guess I'll have to 'suffer' through the most adorable good vs not so good couple this season. Seriously, I loved everything Ray/Nora, even when Ray was being a complete idiot with asking Nora for help by using magic. 

And hey, it's the first time this series that I've actually liked Constantine! They used him right this episode! And it only took him dying to get him there for me! I guess Constantine and Nora work as an alternate pairing, mostly because both have magical backstories and angst and stuff. I am glad Nora is getting to make her own choices and Constantine helped her out. I like that she turned herself in. 

[benteen]

Never change, show.  Legends of Tomorrow continues to be a ridiculously fun show in every way.  All the "new" additions are doing a great job contributing.

Mick continues to be an all-star on this show.  I say it all the time but I never would have guessed he would become central to this show when his involvement was announced.

I'm happy that Thomas F. Wilson is on this show ("Let's make like a tree and leave") but he REALLY needs to stop wearing those tight shirts.  It's not a flattering look for him.

[Miss Dee]

This was the greatest episode of anything ever.

[Cthulhudrew]

Maisie Richardson is speaking with her something like her real accent, but it sounds more fake than her fake American one. I think it is because of the abysmally trite dialogue for Charlie. 

The CGI for Tagumo was some of the best I've seen on any of the DCU shows so far. I was actually kind of impressed with it. I mean, it was obviously fake- they didn't seem to try to make it seem like a real giant octopus- but it looked good. Maybe we can get Starro one of these days?

Didn't care for much of the rest of this episode, but of course anything with Rory is great. 

[Maelstrom]

I am grateful for many, many things about this show:

• The friendships of every sort between the Legends - this show really has the team dynamics down this season, and it's an absolute joy to watch. They don't all necessarily like each other, but I believe they respect each other, in their own way - and they would do anything for each other, even if they'd never admit to it. The character work on this show is one of the best of any network show I can think of, and I love it.
• The title being in Japanese. Only this show. Also, I keep wondering what the runes around the logo say.
• Ray being chivalrously disgusted by the sleazy Ren Faire guy.
• Biff Dad's Back to the Future reference. Hoping it's not the last reference we'll get this season.
• Ava and Nate's friendship - Ava has straddled the line of being a bit one note since her introduction last season, so having her interact with more characters and develop new relationships is finally letting her become more than just an antagonist (like early last season) or Sara's girlfriend. Jes Macallan manages to inject enough warmth and humanity into Ava to make up for some of her sharp edges.
• Shiro. He was a very sympathetic character, and I really liked Sara and Mick's understanding and empathizing with him - if anyone can relate to working beyond a tragic past, it's the two of them. Also, grounding the episode in the atrocities of Hiroshima was very powerful, and I was glad they addressed it.
• Zari and Mick's friendship - as we all say every week, Tala is really the MVP of this show and I love watching Zari being a friend, in her own way, to everyone on the ship. Except maybe Charlie. But I'm sure that's coming! Also loved her old school accent when she first spoke with Shiro.
• Nora and Constantine's last scene. I actually found their dynamic fascinating in that they mirror each other's issues so perfectly. It reminds me of Rip and Sara in the first two seasons, simultaneously so alike in their troubles and yet so different in how they approach them. And Nora's burgeoning redemption story should be good. They've set it up perfectly, that she's learning that magic doesn't have to be something evil, and Courtney Ford fits right in. Looking forward to seeing her interact with the others. Also, how pretty are she and Brandon Routh together? They may just be illegally pretty.
• Charlie seeing Sara do her thing and warming up to her. I personally maintain that it's Sara's great compassion which makes her such a fantastic leader, and I'm glad that Charlie got to witness it. Really, watching all three of the female Legends in action together was pretty damn awesome. They're all such rich, fully developed characters. Though I was the only one hoping Charlie would come across a bottle of Captain Jiwe rum in Sara's office?
• And finally, I am always especially grateful for any character development from Mick, even if it stems from a giant killer octopus, a three-breasted alien warrior, and a Celtic goddess's magic book. Only this show.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Maelstrom

[owenthurman]

A Thanksgiving episode, AND a tribute to the kaiju films of the great Ishirō Honda? This show is so much fun.

[Chyromaniac]

Just wanted to give some love to the deep cut monster squad from the b-plot.  The practical makeups and prosthetics were on point for the theme of this episode. And, while I must admit that I had to look up what a Kaupe was, seeing El Chupacabra made my heart smile. Overall I’m really happy that we’re getting such a variety of legendary/mythical creatures.  At this point if we don’t get a Christmas episode with Krampus, I’ll be sorely disappointed...

[Jediknight]

Awesome to see the return of Sir Raymond of the Palms.  Haircut did a good job, speaking of that, Haircut needs to get a haircut.

A reference to Burbank, and then a reference to tranq guns, some Chuck flashbacks there.  Of course the show has Klemmer running it.

Nora's pulling a Faith, good job.  On another Buffy note, Nate's dad wants to control the magical creatures.  Are we going to get an Initiative storyline?  Science meddling in the world of magic, thinking magic can be controlled, and then the government gets it's ass thoroughly kicked.  They're screwing with a world that they have no idea about.

Maybe Nate's dad being a villain plays into the larger storyline going on with ARGUS, and Zari's future.  On Arrow they've let it be known that Lyla, Diggle, and Curtis don't trust ARGUS, and think something's rotten.  Nora had a power dampener installed in her, and we haven't gotten the reason as to why that happened.  The Time Bureau screwing up, causes the government to put more trust into ARGUS, and the path to Zari's future is begun.  I do think that this season, or next, they'll deal with the ARGUS storyline, with the 3 Beeboverse shows that share the same Earth.

Mick giving birth to anime and Godzilla is great.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Jediknight

[Starfish35]

That was awesome.  Loved all three storylines (although, yeah, I’m with Sara, Charlie, and Zari on running away from the end of Mick’s story).   I love that they brought back the Mick is a writer storyline from last season - I would have thought for sure we’d never see that again - and that Zari was the only one to know his secret, and encourage him.  

Charlie and Sara gain some respect and understanding for each other by the end of the episode, but it looks like it’ll take a bit longer for Charlie and Zari to work out their issues.  

How is it that I’ve barely tolerated Nate for two seasons and now I love him?  He and Ava bonding over family holiday trauma is the best, and I love how Mona is being drawn in as the creature whisperer.  Somehow I don’t think Gary will be “flashing” her after all. Lol.  

The Ray and Nora storyline didn’t take up as much time as I’d thought it might, but he is so totally in love with her.  Can’t wait to see how that redemption arc plays out.  And I really liked the moment that she and Constantine had after she healed him.  I thought Constantine might condemn her - he’s so gloom and doom all the time.  But he seemed to genuinely understand and be happy for her.  

I’m not sure Nate’s dad is “evil”, exactly; I think he’s genuine about reconnecting with his son.  But yes, he definitely has another agenda going on, and I agree, it’s likely an Initiative-type scenario of trying to weaponize the creatures for military purposes.  And yes, maybe that is what leads to the future ARGUS takeover.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Starfish35
Because Nick is not Nate *facepalm*

[Mellowyellow]

@Starfish35 you've called Nate Nick your entire post. For a moment you totally made me think I've been calling him the wrong name 😂

I haven't seen it yet but I'm excited! Going to save it for my lunch break tomorrow so I can indulge my Ray and Nora shippy heart.

[Starfish35]

2 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

@Starfish35 you've called Nate Nick your entire post. For a moment you totally made me think I've been calling him the wrong name 😂

Oh drat. 😕  I am so sleep-deprived right now.  Thanks for pointing it out.  

6 minutes ago, Mellowyellow said:

Going to save it for my lunch break tomorrow so I can indulge my Ray and Nora shippy heart.

I think the DarhkAtom shippers will have nothing to complain about here. 🙂

[Proteus]

Courtney & Brandon have so much chemistry. I really loved their scenes. And I loved Nora turning herself in at the end. I wasn't expecting that. I wonder if Nora will become the TB's Constantine and start working for Ava.

I loved everything Mick this episode. Him & his girl hooking up was awesome. I'm glad Zari pushed Mick to embrace his writing.

This episode had a lot of stories going on but I think they made it work.

I liked the twist ending with Nates father.

[Starfish35]

I wonder if Mona is just exactly who she appears to be, or if she will turn out to be some sort of magical creature herself.

[HunterHunted]

1 hour ago, Starfish35 said:

I love that they brought back the Mick is a writer storyline from last season - I would have thought for sure we’d never see that again - and that Zari was the only one to know his secret, and encourage him.  

I hope that in the future if they have to keep Dominic out of an episode for whatever reason, they remember Mick's writing and send him on a multiverse book tour because it's a best seller on many Earths. Also his writing sounds like a smutty Edgar Rice Burroughs.

[thuganomics85]

Ha, of course Mick ends up planting the idea of Godzilla in Honda's head.  Classic Legends of Tomorrow!  Overall, a great episode for Mick.  Loved that they brought up him being a writer again, and now he's now more open about it with others.  Even if it's basically smutty fantasy, you do you, Mr. Rory!  And, of course, Zari was awesome with him, because Zari is awesome in general and Tala Ashe is the best.

Liked how they paired Charlie with Sara this time, and they naturally butted heads, but ended with general respect between each other.  I'm definitely digging the character now.

Admittedly, a lot of the fun with Ray and Nora is knowing that Brandon Routh and Courtney Ford are married in real life, but even looking past that, the two do have great chemistry together.  Glad she saved Constantine, but I'm curious to see what will come with her turning herself back into the Time Bureau.

Even though I would probably have Nate and Ava at the bottom of my favorites' list if I were to rank the Legends, I'm actually really enjoying the pairing.  Their character types seem to gel well together.  So, it looks like this Mona character is here for her knowledge about the creatures, but I have my suspicion that there will be more to her.  Also, I should have known that Nate's dad wouldn't be on the up and up.  Project Hades?  How ominous, Biff.

Can't decide which look was my favorite: Tala Ashe in that 50's outfit or Courtney Ford in the tavern corset (don't hurt me, Brandon!)

[Featherhat]

Really good episode there. Sara using her Dad's old techniques to find Nora and sniff "Detective Lance". They never get much screentime together but BR and CL have a nice rapport. Speaking off, so does everyone else in this show. Seriously it's one of the best on TV right now for being able to throw any character/cast together, make it work, bring out something new and be true to the characters. Other Arrowverse shows who shall remain nameless should take note. 

The Shiro story was well done and very moving. Sara's right using art to deal with your grief and pain is beautiful, and a much better way than absolutely everyone else in the Verse does by dressing up in costumes and running around. Or drinking. Mick saving the day with his erotic sci fi was not a sentence I ever thought I'd type and everything I ever wanted. Perfect. 

I like Charlie and find her a good addition but Maisie's accent seems more jarring than her American one. Nice that she provides a completely different POV on the fugitives. Like her and Sara's interactions and also Zari's. I feel that's an appropriate reaction to someone completely different wearing your friend's face. Like I don't know, could be put to greater use on some other show who's name I can't quite think of. Ashe remains one of the best introduced characters ever and one of the best of the CWDC. 

Of course Nate's Dad is "evil government" they wouldn't have brought him back otherwise. I like the Nate and Ava storyline. Gives JMC something to do other than be antagonist or love interest and develop more now she's a regular and Nate is benefitting from something completely different as well. 

Ray and Nora, aww they work so well together, too bad it's unlikely to end as happily as in real life. I enjoyed her struggle and talking about her father's sacrifice. Constantine was also used well with her in this way. 

59 minutes ago, Starfish35 said:

I wonder if Mona is just exactly who she appears to be, or if she will turn out to be some sort of magical creature herself.

Could go either way. It seems unlikely they'd make the character a regular if something extra wasn't going on. They don't really need another person who knows about mythical creatures. 

[Lantern7]

Laptop died on me last night (do I need a Lazarus Pit?), so I couldn’t comment right away. I have to agree with AVClub’s review . . . not an awesome episode, but still damn good, and the writers got Mick to bone with his alien warrior woman creation. She has three breasts because Mick.

Ray’s infatuation with Nora is probably going to backfire, but it’s still sweet.

Sara wasn’t MVP, but she’s still best-dressed for the mission.

 Nate/Ava/Gary plot wasn’t as cringeworthy as I might have guessed. And Gary might have a girlfriend! So much for using him as unicorn bait again. Of course Pa Heywood is shady. Not only was he Biff Tannen in a prior life, he was also Buford Tannen . . . and those guys were jerks. “Make like a tree and leave” was a groaner, though a funny one.

It’s probably for the best that the team isn’t doing “Elseworlds.” The other series have to combine to reach that level of delightful batshit crazy.

Edited November 20, 2018 by Lantern7

[Mellowyellow]

Okay I caved and watched it!

Nora and Ray! Squeeeee that was an awesome reunion scene after we've waited 5 eps for her to return! He was gallant and nifty with the sword and then she slapped him! LOVED IT!!!!!!!! 

Now that she's in custody I am really stressed that Nate's father is going to do something shady with his project and use her powers for evil. Ray will be heart broken! Can't they just let her join them on the ship?

I get why she surrendered and I love that she didn't want Ray to be the one to let her escape again but Nooooooooooooo.

Oh well at least even if DarhkAtom ends badly we can assume that in another AU they got married and had a cute little boy =P

***

I wasn't keen on Ava last season but she's fine with Sara and I adore her friendship/camraderie with Nate. They work so well together. I feel like Nate is more grown up and less of a fratboy around Ava and Ava is less rigid and uptight around Nate. Really enjoy their friendship.

I also like cheerful/kinda goofy Sara too. She's been through so much I don't like to see angst for her.

LOVED Mick's writing arc and the fact that they continued with it! 

[kirinan]

Such a fun episode! A few thoughts:

• All three actresses looked great in their 1950s outfits, but Tala Ashe was absolutely breathtaking. What a beautiful woman she is.
• Charlie is basically a female Mick. And I love that!
• Nate and Ava are becoming one of my favorite team-ups.
• I never really liked Nora until this episode, but I do now. It's okay to bring her back more often, show.
• My husband and I laughed loudly enough that our downstairs neighbors probably heard us at Nate's father's "Let's make like a tree and leave." Great Biff callout!

I did fall asleep at various points of the show (not because of the show--LOOONNNNGGG day at work), so I get to watch it again tonight to see the moments I missed. That makes me happy!

[Sakura12]

It wasn't the best episode but it was still enjoyable and that's all I ask from Legends. With all that's going on in the world I like watching characters just have fun. 

Seeing Mick's 3 breasted alien protagonist from his book was everything. As was the teams reaction to them hooking up afterwards. 

I like seeing Zari and Charlie at odds because Charlie's the new her. She pretty much acted like that when she first joined. It wasn't until after she got go know the team that she became a part of them. Then having Charlie realize that Sara is not all bad cop she has good cop in her too. And of course Sara's weakness is anyone that calls themselves a monster. Still thinking she's one. 

[greekmom]

Loved Nora so much.  Please show make her part of the team and have her hook up with Ray.

Great show overall.

[darkestboy]

Mixing Japanese monsters with Celtic goddesses. Oh, why not, show? An interesting merging there.

Really loved Sara, Mick, Zari and Charlie working the main story and it's nice to see the show tap into Mick's creativity along with sealing Charlie's role into the team as well. 

The Ray and Nora scenes were pretty strong here too, and I liked the bond she had with Constantine too. I'm still convinced the man after John is a recast Midnite but I could be wrong too.

Nora handing herself into the Time Bureau while Hank revealing himself to be shady. That could be disastrous, couldn't it?

Mona is too similar to Gary, so I find myself mixed on the character but she seems to have some control or influence over monsters so that could be interesting to watch.

Loving the Nate and Ava friendship this season, 8/10

[dippydee]

2 hours ago, Sakura12 said:

like seeing Zari and Charlie at odds because Charlie's the new her. She pretty much acted like that when she first joined. It wasn't until after she got go know the team that she became a part of them.

I liked this too. I wonder if Zari even realises she was exactly the same when she joined it’s just over time that the trust has built and she became integrated into the Legends. Speaking of that I so love that the show has such a clear idea of their characters, everyone seems grow and evolve naturally and they can put them in whatever crazy situation they want but because the characters are so well formed and established that it’s easy to know exactly how they’d react to any given thing or how they’d behave in any given pairing the show decides to try that week. I wish more shows knew their characters even half as well as Legends knows theirs.

Mick watching porn on his typewriter was amazing and his writing the ending with his three boobed alien Queen was even more so. No other show could get away with this.

ETA: also I totally ship Ray and Nora and am very very impressed at Courtney and Brandon managing to buck the trend of real life couples having zero chemistry. Smitten Ray is absolutely adorable.

Edited November 20, 2018 by dippydee

[Lugal]

Really liked this one.  Mick saves the day with his writing.  Sara Zari and Charlie look on in pride and then quickly realize Mick and his warrior queen are still playing out the story lets say and then turn and run quickly.    And I agree with kirinan that Tala Ashe looked really good tonight, and she continues to be the strongest actor on the show (which is really saying something with this cast).  Ray and Nora (and Brandon and Courtney) work so well together and nice touch she was wearing the same outfit that Ray saw her in his unicorn vision. Can't wait to see where they go from here.

Make like a tree and leave, Biff finally got it right.  Although considering his sinister phone call at the end of Thanksgiving, I'm wondering if he'll end up face down in manure at the end of the season.  And since he's going on the Waverider next episode, we better get some more BTTF references.

What I love how they put any cast member together and make it work: Zari and Mick, Mick and Charlie, Nora and Constantine, Charlie and Sara, Nate and Ava.  They weave everything together, and can go from craziness to cold reality and back and make it feel right, like how Ishiro talks about coming home to Hiroshima and then shift into the monster being destroyed by Mick's three-boobed alien warrior queen.  Like the old saying happiness behind tears and sadness in laughter.

[tennisgurl]

We get Ishiro Honda and 1950s Japanese cinema, wacky magic hijinks, Nora/Ray, the ladies looking fabulous, AND Mick saving the day thanks to his triple breasted alien warrior woman adventure/porn novel! I freaking love this show, its like someone made a show specifically for all of my weird, niche interests,and it somehow got put on television. 

All of the plots were a ton of fun, and they all felt very balanced which is quite impressive. I love Nate and Ava as friends, which is weird because they were two characters it took me awhile to warm to, but I love them together as friends and co-workers. The stuff with Thanksgiving was actually super relatable (dinner takes forever, dont get drunk uncle started on politics, kids running wild) and really good for both characters, letting them both be funny, but also competent and mature. Damn it Biff, I was rooting for you! I dont think Nate Sr is a total bad guy, as his concern for Nate seemed really genuine, but I do think that he is up to something shady, trying to weaponize magic. Wouldn't surprise me if the people on the other side of the phone were from ARGUS, who are getting sketchier by the minute over on Arrow. 

I am totally behind Ray/Nora, I am super impressed that Courtney and Brandon can move their real life chemistry onto the screen, because those two are on fire! God I hope this works out, poor Ray needs a romantic win (one dead, two dumped him for their real true love), and Nora has had such an awful life, she could use some love and happiness. The redemption Nora is getting is working really well, as she really is taking responsibility for her actions, and really does feel awful about her evil acts, and is trying to do right, without making excuses. Hopefully Nora gets some conjugal visits :) Also, Ray snapping that pervy assholes phone like it was a cookie was HOT. Sir Raymond of the Psalms everyone! Also nice to see how supportive Constantine was of her, and her trying to make her own choices to use her magic for good. 

I also loved the main plot, giant monster fights and movie sets are right up my ally! Shiro was a great, likable historical figure guest character, and I loved the lesson about taking horrible trauma and using it to make art. Which definitely lines up with Godzilla, which, if you havnt seen the original, please do. Despite how campy and silly the franchise seems now, the original is a pretty dark and serious story with lots of focus on the destruction of Godzilla, with the monster as a metaphor for the horrors of nuclear war. Its also quite well made, especially for the early 50s. The ladies all kicking ass was great, and how it worked in Micks established writing hobby was a great call back. The characters here are all so well formed, and the actors are so comfortable with their roles, that you can basically stick them in any situation, with any character, and it works. I like Charlie already, and I enjoy the dynamic she brings to the show. I wonder if Constantine will give her some limited power back? Also, shallow note, Tala Ashe looks amazing in period clothes! 

Gary finds someone new after things didnt work out with Constantine! She seems cute and I liked her immidtate connection to the magical creatures, but I wonder if there is more to her? Maybe she is magic as well?

[kdm07]

So many meta moments and pop culture references but what makes this show so wonderful is the character beats. The writers not only know their Legends but they also know how to write for an ensemble.

 

They should give a TED talk because a LOT of shows would benefit from learning how to write fully developed characters and great storylines without compromising said characters.

[DearEvette]

9 hours ago, dippydee said:

also I totally ship Ray and Nora and am very very impressed at Courtney and Brandon managing to buck the trend of real life couples having zero chemistry. Smitten Ray is absolutely adorable.

Same here.  I was watching the scene of them talking after Nora healed Constantine, thinking that 1) the two of them have so much on screen chemistry and 2) how pretty both of them are.  She is a striking looking woman and he is so handsome!

Super fun episode.  I agree that this show really does great by their ensemble.  They really could do a master class on it.  Everyone gets great character beats and I enjoy how they mix and match the characters from episode to episode.  Nate and Ava as a b-plot pair were excellent together.

To eps in a row, I think Mick is the MVP.  Man, oh, man, his novel and his three-breasted alien queen immediately made me think of those Boris Vallejo paintings.  If one wrote a novel of one of his paintings, Mick's would be it.

I feel like I should just love Mona, but the jury is still out.

[johntfs]

11 hours ago, darkestboy said:

The Ray and Nora scenes were pretty strong here too, and I liked the bond she had with Constantine too. I'm still convinced the man after John is a recast Midnite but I could be wrong too.

It's hard for me to imagine John and Papa Midnight knocking boots.  I think this is someone else.

One thing I'd like to note is what wasn't in the show.  There was no drama whatsoever about Ava being gay (or bi or whatever).  Nate's mom didn't try to play matchmaker between them.  Ava didn't have to pretend to be Nate's girlfriend for "reasons."  Ava explained that her "girlfriend was working overtime" and Henry didn't bat an eye before happily inviting to Thanksgiving with the rest of the Heywood family.

Edited November 21, 2018 by johntfs

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

Possibly the best episode of the season so far.  What a ride,  I love how this show opens up , always a grabber.  looking forward to more exciting and fun episodes. 

[Starfish35]

1 hour ago, johntfs said:

It's hard for me to imagine John and Papa Midnight knocking boots.  I think this is someone else.

I think I must have missed something.  Why do you think the man Nora saw is someone that John slept with?

[tennisgurl]

4 hours ago, kdm07 said:

The writers not only know their Legends but they also know how to write for an ensemble.

Thats really the shows secret weapon. They put their characters into these ridiculous situations, and have a giant, ever changing cast of characters, with a huge array of personalities, backstories, powers, and abilities, but instead of falling apart under all that narrative weight, it succeeds because the writers know their characters so freaking well. They can put them into any situation, or have them interact with any character, and it instantly works, because it feels natural. We can watch Mick save the day by bringing to life his three breasted alien character, and it works because we know Mick so well, and as weird as this all, its also in character. When they put, say, Zari and Sara together, it works because we know them so well, we can guess how they would interact, as well as be surprised by showing new aspects of their characters. Its why this show doesn't just come across as a wacky cartoon, but as a show that can have drama and character development, while also being wacky and fun.

[Miss Dee]

I remember seeing a tweet a year or so ago where Keto I. was being interviewed at a con - she said the *very* first thing the writers do in planning a new season is determine where all the emotional stories for the characters are going to go that year. Plot comes afterwards.

[Featherhat]

12 minutes ago, Miss Dee said:

I remember seeing a tweet a year or so ago where Keto I. was being interviewed at a con - she said the *very* first thing the writers do in planning a new season is determine where all the emotional stories for the characters are going to go that year. Plot comes afterwards.

Makes sense. Especially since their plots appear to be picked out by playing drunk darts. How else would you get "team deals with Martin's death/Jax leaves" with Our Lord and Saviour Beebo and Vikings in the same episode? ;)

[johntfs]

9 hours ago, Starfish35 said:

I think I must have missed something.  Why do you think the man Nora saw is someone that John slept with?

Mostly John's demeanor in the moment.  He seemed to be feeling sadness/grief rather than fear or rage.  Plus, that guy was fairly handsome and we know John is bi.  Lovers who come to bad ends are pretty common for John Constantine.

[legaleagle53]

55 minutes ago, johntfs said:

Mostly John's demeanor in the moment.  He seemed to be feeling sadness/grief rather than fear or rage.  Plus, that guy was fairly handsome and we know John is bi.  Lovers who come to bad ends are pretty common for John Constantine.

Yes.  That's why he broke up with Gary.  He knew it would only end badly for Gary, and he didn't want to see that happen.  It's also why he warned Ray to stay away from Nora -- he's convinced that Nora will break Ray's heart at some point because of who she's been and because of Ray's own Boy Scout nature.

[Sakura12]

1 hour ago, Miss Dee said:

I remember seeing a tweet a year or so ago where Keto I. was being interviewed at a con - she said the *very* first thing the writers do in planning a new season is determine where all the emotional stories for the characters are going to go that year. Plot comes afterwards.

That's what makes Legends the better show for me. So many shows change their characters to fit the plot. Sometimes so much that the characters become unrecognizable. LoT puts their characters in the most insane situations and manages to have everyone act in character. 

[Lugal]

On rewatch I also noticed that Ava is thankful for the Whole Paycheck grocer near her apartment.  Someone on the writing staff has been to Whole Foods.

[blackwing]

Gary is simply... not funny.  This is supposed to be a superhero show and the show with its budget issues has been trending to depicting less use of powers onscreen.  Instead of cutting back the use of powers, how about just fire the actor who plays Gary?  The money saved by cutting his salary can be used for the CGI powers budget.  The character is completely extraneous.

[snarktini]

It was bugging me -- where did I just see a plot about a scifi story and a woman with 3 boobs? Falling asleep, I got it: Paul. It's a comedy with Simon Pegg & Nick Frost. It's a running bit in the film that Frost's character wrote a graphic novel about a woman with 3 breasts and male characters are always giggling over it. At one point, he says he's considering a 4th boob and the guy he's talking to says no, that's way too much. 3? Awesome. 4? Gross. 

Fun ep!

[Lantern7]

@snarktini: see also Total Recall. Like the man said, “Get your ass to Mars!”

[owenthurman]

The three-breasted woman has become a metatrope; it's not just referring to three-breasted women but also to every prior appearance of the image. Check "Multiboobage" on tvtropes for many more examples.

[legaleagle53]

9 hours ago, blackwing said:

Gary is simply... not funny.  This is supposed to be a superhero show and the show with its budget issues has been trending to depicting less use of powers onscreen.  Instead of cutting back the use of powers, how about just fire the actor who plays Gary?  The money saved by cutting his salary can be used for the CGI powers budget.  The character is completely extraneous.

I disagree.  I think Gary is a tremendous addition to the show. I love the fact that he so often gets in over his head at the Time Bureau and with the Legends, mainly because he simply tries too hard.  And his adorkableness is what makes him so irresistible to me.  I mean, haven't we all known (or even been) a Gary in the workplace at some point in our lives?

[VCRTracking]

This show, as always continues to be a delight.