DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - Season 4.6

REVIEW:  DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 4, EP. 6:  "Tender Is The Nate"

I can honestly say one thing for sure:  The Legends know how to have a good time, and this show finds the camp in almost every episode.  It is certainly taken a drastic turn from the semi serious hero show we got in the first two seasons.  It definitely has become the wink of the eye show, and never does take itself QUITE too seriously.

This week's installment certainly had it's fair share of comical moments, especially with the newest member of the Bureau---food server Mona, as well as from our merry band of misfits.  We get a little romance, a little semi heroic fun, an appearance by a historical legend, and our monster of the week.

We start at the Bureau, where Ava is giving the newest member of the team, Mona, our erstwhile food server from the past several episodes---and Gary's crush--the lowdown on her new job---feed the magical beasts, but DO NOT fraternize with them....that INCLUDES their newest prisoner---Nora Dhark.  All Nora wants is just peace and quiet and to be left alone.  Ava is quick to remind Mona that they are not there to make friends with the prisoners.

Ava is catching up on paperwork in her office, when she gets a knock on the door.  It's Sara in a white trench coat, with a slinky little lingere number and stockings underneath.  Sara is looking for a little office playtime for Ava's birthday, and Ava looks game, until she hears Hank Heywood come in to break her out of her dreamlike haze.  Heywood is crunching the financial numbers of the Bureau, and wonders just why it takes so many of the heroes aboard the Waverider to complete a mission.  He feels the Legends are costing them money, and wants to make certain cuts there if needed.  Sara is jabbing Ava underneath the desk when Ava is at a loss for words, then Nate comes in on the conversation, and it turns out that Nate says Hank should take a tour of the Waverider, just so he can justify that the money is being put to good use.  Sara immediately calls to the ship to tell them Hank is on his way for a surprise inspection...and hurries herself to get aboard to meet up with him.  And since Nate is tagging along, Sara ALSO reminds them to space Charlie someplace, so Nate doesn't see her.

The crew is frantically trying to spruce up the ship for Hank's arrival.  When he arrives, they start giving him the tour, including introducing him to a new and improved Gideon.  Hank isn't impressed thus far, and wonders why it takes so many personnel aboard the ship to complete these tasks.  Meanwhile, they're trying to divert Nate and Hank away from the lab where Charlie is, so that Nate doesn't see her.  It fails miserably, however, when Nate does see Charlie, who's minding her own business.  Nate calls her Amaya, but she slaps him, and gives him what for with her natural English accent.  Nate is told the truth that she isn't Amaya, but a shapeshifter who's powers were taken out by John.  

Sara says the plan is to impress Hank, prove to him how they're all needed, and that the budget for them is justified, and send him on his way.  They then spot their next target:  a monster causing havoc with the timeline in 1927 Paris.  It's off they go.  As they arrive, they get into costume for the time, and head to a bar, where they try to get clues as to where this monster might be.  It's there that Hank actually geeks out when he sees his hero, Earnest Hemingway, drinking in the corner.  Off he goes to chat with is idol, as Nate and the others are trying to find out more about the monster who's been seen creating terror amongst the citizenry. They end up getting info from Salvador Dali, who says he's seen the monster.

Aboard the Waverider, Zari, John, and Ray are trying to get Charlie to blend in, so that she doesn't have to be put in prison back at the Bureau.  It's not really working.  And they all realize that the reason they're on the ship is because they're useless.  Ray is intent on seeing Nora, so he borrows a pod to go and see her.  Once Ray is there, he isn't able to see Nora, but Mona, who happened to see him, said she'd help him out.

Sara ends up dragging Hank away from Earnest, and Nate explains to him that they need to investigate more about this monster back on the ship's library.  Hank isn't having it, and says that it isn't necessary.  Mick, who joined Earnest for a drink, comes over with him, and Earnest hears about the monster.  He decides they need to go hunting for it.  Sara is dismayed when she realizes she's going drunk hunting.

Mona heads to Nora's cell for a delivery, and a letter from Ray.  Nora refuses to read it, because she isn't able to reconcile with those feelings.  As she orders Mona to leave, Mona accidently sets off the alarm in Nora's cell.  Ava catches this on her monitors, and off she goes to Nora's cell.  When she gets there, she wonders what's going on.  She sees the letter, and is about to read it, when Nora blasts her with her magic.  She didn't want to, but didn't want Ava reading the letter, either.  Sadly, that traps all 3 inside the cell.  

Charlie and Nate then run into the Fitzgeralds, who see Nate and Charlie are as dysfunctional as they are.  They talk about the monster, and Nate and Charlie are off to investigate.  Meanwhile, Sara, Mick, Nate, and Earnest are at the location where the monster was spotted, and are prepared to shoot it.  Meanwhile, Charlie and Nate figure out the monster is a Minotaur.  Nate goes to rescue the party, but in the process, Hank gets injured, and Sara gets everyone out of there.

As Hank gets subdued and healed, Sara and Nate work together to find out how to beat the Minotaur.  Sara is glad Nate is there to help.

At the Bureau, all three women trapped in Nora's cell are bickering about their lives.  Nora complains about being the daughter of an evil scorcerer, Ava gripes about being a clone and really having no family, and Mona---she says this is what she wants to do, but law school is her fallback plan.  Both Nora and Ava have different opinions about what Mona should do.  When no one can agree on anything, Mona decides to break out a bottle of champagne, and Ava's birthday cake.

Nate and the crew finally figure out how to defeat the Minotaur....they need to lull it to sleep.  Nate comes up with a lute, figuring that will be the way to stop it.  Hank feels it's a dumb idea.  They get into an argument, and Nate feels it's all about Hank wanting Nate to be more like him.  Hank feels he has the right idea, and that Nate is weak.  Sara sides with Nate on how best to handle the beast.  She also says that if Hank doesn't like it...he can fire all of them.

Back in Nora's cell, all 3 women chat about their lives, and they see that they're not all different.  Ava and Mona encourage Nora to open the letter...only to find Ray himself stuck to the tape.  Ava isn't happy, but Ray fixes the lock on the cell, and everything works out.  

Back in Paris, the team goes to put the Minotaur to sleep.  As they confront the beast, Nate starts playing the lute, only to have Hemingway interfere.  Sara punches Hemingway out, and now they have to deal with the Minotaur.  Both Nate and Sara confront the Minotaur and do battle, but Hank grabs a guitar and breaks out James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James".  It does the trick, as the Minotaur collapses, out cold for the night.  

Back at the Bureau, as Mona visits Nora again, Nora gives her a letter for Ray.  Ava agrees with Mona that things need to change a little bit, and they need to treat the prisoners with more humanity.  

Hank finally sees the value in the Legends, even though they do things in a roundabout and unorthodox way.  He's satisfied with what he's seen and he heads off.  Nate and Sara chat, and Nate believe that as much fun as he's had on the ship, he still feels his place is back at the Bureau.  Sara tells him to not be a stranger, and off he goes after the pizza party.  But not before toasting with Charlie, saying that in time, she'll fit in.  Giving her his approval.

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There was quite a bit going on here with this episode, and some of it on an emotional level from SEVERAL characters.

Ava is still dealing with the fact that she's a clone---and hard as she tries, she still doesn't feel whole or even human at times.  Nora was quick to point out, though, that she DOES head the Time Bureau, and she has Sara...so, while she lacks a formal family, it's not like she's going without.

Nora is doing all SHE can to avoid her growing feelings for Ray.  She's wanting to pay her penance for not only HER crimes, but her father's as well.  Her's is a story of redemption.  And right now, she's scared of her growing feelings for Ray.  But after this installment, she might be lightening up.  

Mona is such a weird character to shoehorn in here.  I kind of half expected her to show up sporadically like Gary (who was absent from this episode), just to provide comic relief.  I still have this sneaky suspicion that there's more to our prisoner caretaker than meets the eye.  But hey, I've been wrong about this stuff before.  We do get a little more insight on her, like wanting to spur law school for THIS job?!  Seems crazy to me, but she's a quirky one.  Still unsure about her and where she fits in to the whole grand scheme of things.

Ray is in love....there's been no doubt about that since last season.  Also goes to show the lengths he'll go for love...including mailing himself in a love letter.  How sweet.  Even Nora had to appreciate that one.  But will this romance be allowed to bloom?

Nate finally standing up to his Dad was needed, and showed Hank just how versatile his son is---and also allowed Nate to show that Hank did right by him.  Hank himself was a hoot this episode with the singing of James Taylor to save the day.  Thomas Wilson is a credit to his craft as an actor.  He's always had incredible comic timing, and he pulls it off here---as well as showing us he's not a bad singer.  Still not trusting on Hank because we KNOW he's up to something no good---but for now, we see that he's bonding with his son.  I think he also had a blast being on an adventure with the team...as crazy and unorthodox as things got...they got the job done.

As much as Amaya was annoyed with Nate at first, they still worked well together, and him giving her his blessing is a step in the right direction for her.  He knows she has a worth, and is giving her the chance to prove it.  Now, if only John can see his own worth...which I think he does, because he figures NONE of them will be able to complete these tasks without his help down the road.  Zari knows she's like the babysitter when Sara is gone.  

Sara is getting sluttier and hotter by the day.  I wish she'd walk into MY office like that...shame she's only interested in Ava...*sigh*.

That's all the fun we had with our team this week.  Was another fun installment, and look forward to next week.  As usual, I thank you all immensely for the views, and please pass them along, subscribe and don't be afraid to comment.

Same time, Next week...