The Flash and Arrow aired their penultimate episodes, while Legends of Tomorrow wrapped up ita first season on a very high note.
The Flash: "Invincible" (Season 2, Episode 22)
For the second last episode of the season, "Invincible" was a tad underwhelming. After Barry's Speedforce experience and the ending scene of last week's episode, I was all ready for the season to wrap up with a huge battle between Team Flash and the Earth-2 metahumans on the streets of Central City, not unlike Arrow's second season. But "Invincible" just ended up feeling like just another episode of The Flash. You know, new metahuman, pep talks for Barry, Zoom being Zoom. It just didn't feel as high-stakes as it should have felt. May be that was the point, considering Barry's optimistic attitude this week?
Despite that gripe o' mine, there was still plenty of things to like here. First, of course, there's Katie Cassidy's return to the Arrowverse as Laurel's Earth-2 doppelganger, Black Siren. I liked Cassidy more in this episode of Flash than I did in recent Arrow, and I think that it was because she got more to do and got to have a lot more fun with this role. And she survives the episode, and I'd imagine they would only do that if they had plans for her in the future. Yay! Zoom and Barry's confrontation in the police station was another highlight, as was the sequence where Barry saves Dr. McGee from the crumbling Mercury Labs building. I also liked how post-kidnapping Caitlin was handled. Rather than have her sulk around with her PTSD through the whole episode, she pushed herself to get back into the field, which was a nice bit of development for her.
Now, let's talk about the ending, as it seems as though Henry has bit the dust at Zoom's hand. While it was sort of easy to see coming, as I pointed out last week, I didn't entirely like the way it was handled here. It's a good, intense moment to serve as a lead-in to the finale, but I wish it didn't feel so much like an afterthought. Like the writers were finishing up the episode and then were like "Oh yeah, we should kill someone, but we're almost at our maximum time, so let's just throw it in at the end." I'm thinking that maybe seeing the effects of Henry's death on Barry and team next week will make this ending better.
Other Thoughts:
- It was a hoot to see Cisco and Caitlin pretend to be Reverb and Killer Frost, but where on this Earth did they get the costumes?
- Sara and Captain Lance are going to find out about Black Siren, right? Come on. Maybe in the next crossover event?
- Prediction for next week: Wally and Jessie are going to unlock their powers just in time for them to help Barry defeat Zoom. If not, it will definitely be a teaser scene for next season.
Rating: 7.9/10 Beats by Wells
Next week, Barry and Zoom face off in an intense...foot race?
Arrow: "Lost in the Flood" (Season 4, Episode 22)
I think "Lost in the Flood" started on a very strong note. It was great seeing Oliver and Diggle snooping around the HIVE ark, and the scene with them running from the Ghosts in the middle of a sunny, happy suburbia was so cool (Oliver fires an arrow in mid-air!!!!). The scenes also raised a very interesting discussion about how, despite Oliver's best efforts, he hasn't entirely restored hope to Star City. And they even managed to tie the criticism about each season's evil plot being about destroying Star City. I would have loved it if this whole episode was focused on Team Arrow bringing down the ark and stuff.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
I have to admit, when the apparently mandatory Felicity subplot of the week was kicking in, I found myself enjoying it. Curtis fanboying over Kuttler was pretty amusing, and I thought Donna assuming Felicity was pregnant was as well (One of the few times I've liked Donna). After that, it was just a load of melodrama and hacking. Are Felicity's parents really going to argue when the entire world is relying on their efforts to stop Darhk? And then we get the apparently earth-shattering news that Donna was the one who left Kuttler, and not the other way around. Was I supposed to care about that? Because I didn't really. Also, Felicity's ex-boyfriend from onr of my least favourite episodes last season returned. And,,,I still couldn't care less. It felt to me that Felicity and the Smoak family drama was taking up too much time this week, when I really wanted to see more of the ark adventure.
The climactic fight scene with Anarky was fine, even though I don't get how one arrow hitting on fuel tank could destroy an entire bio-dome, but Darhk was what made the ending. With his plan in ruins, his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of Team Arrow, Darhk just wants to see the world burn. It's a fantastic place to leave the character for the finale, and I'm sure Neal McDonough will rock it next week.
Other Thoughts:
- What was the point of Thea being mind-controlled if she was freed that quickly and easily? I mean, Andy was never freed, even after John forgave him and everything. Come on, writers!
- I've noticed that I always forget to talk about the flashbacks, mostly because they're so pointless this season. They've taken a story that could've been wrapped up by mid season and stretched it over a full season. Come on, writers!
- Remember how the team was forced to nuke a small town last week? You'd think that would deal the team a significant blow, but aside from Felicity watching a newscast about it with a bit of a sad look on her face, there was nonsense of any remorse or guilt. Come on, writers!
- Is it evil of me to want Darhk to kill Donna when the finale begins?
- Speaking of that cliffhanger, I'm 99% sure Kuttler will sacrifice himself to save everyone, and then Donna will be like "Oh, I do love you." It's gonna happen. Trust me on this.
Rating: 7.4/10 Hacker battles
Next week, mobs and stuff. Classic Arrow finale...
Legends of Tomorrow: "Legendary" (Season 1, Episode 16)
The finale to Legends' first season was satisfying for the most part. I found Vandal Savage's defeat a bit anti-climactic, though. It was fun to see him get his butt kicked not once, not twice, but three times, however I can't help but feel it was a bit too quick and simple, especially after a whole season was spent hunting him down and failing to defeat him at every turn. Seeing him coordinate with two of his past selves gave me, and I assume other Whovian viewers, a bit of a "City of Death" vibe.
But the finale did deliver in the area I've always said the show excels at: the characters. It was interesting seeing our heroes adjust back to their lives in 2016, as it allowed us to see how much Mick, Ray and Stein have developed and to see Sara learn about Laurel's death. Rip's explanation as to why Laurel's death cannot be undone was a bit murky, but I was happy to see it be a driving force for Sara while facing Savage and in deciding to rejoin Rip in the end. Speaking of Rip, was anyone else confused as to how he escaped his plummet into the Sun? Rip's just all like, "You know what? Screw this!" and then he like goes back in time a bit and all of a sudden everything's okay? I may have missed something, since it all went overwhelmingly fast.
So, the ending. It's nice that we're getting the majority of the crew back for the next season, and the three empty positions leave some room to bring on some other characters, which is great. I'm happy that the Hawks are gone. Them being the weak links of the season aside, it makes sense for their story. Now that Savage is gone, why not try to actually live a normal life? As for that last bit, the introduction of a "super-team" in this universe ala The Avengers sounds thrilling. I have a feeling this could play into the gargantuan four-way crossover that was hyped up at Upfronts this week (More on that in this week's Five Bits). It was also a small but exciting note to leave the season on. Does Rex Tyler's warning not to board the Waverider mean Season 2 will open with the crew operating in present day? Looks like we'll have to wait and see...
Other Thoughts:
- The scene with Snart and Mick at the end was great. It's infinitely interesting to compare early Season 1 Mick and late Season 1 Mick.
- "Every time they do that...I get hungry for chicken."
- The Firestorm transmutation thing seemed like a really weird thing to throw into the episode, especially with a lot of other stuff happening at the same time. Was it super cool? Uhh...duh.
- No Mick ice/heat gun dual wield. Sad face.
- But seriously, if you're any level of Whovian and you haven't seen "City of Death," change that soon. It's one of the best stories of the Classic era and was penned by the one and only Douglas Adams as well. Highly recommended.
Rating: 9.0/10 wet boots
Next week...oh...wait...darn.
Noah
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