DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - Season 4.8

REVIEW: LEGENDS OF TOMORROW – Season 4, Episode 8:  “Legends of To-Meow-Meow”

We have seen some VERY insane things on this season of Legends of Tomorrow.  Most often times, very tongue firmly planted in cheek, zany, and off-beat.  Tonight's midseason finale pretty much threw the 1966 Batman camp handbook out the window completely.

We see that after time has been altered, Charlie tries to escape after she decides to send Zari to the Waverider.  She lands in Vegas 1962, and disguises herself as Marylin Monroe, where she bumps into a leprechaun friend of hers, who is then discovered by the Guardians of the Chronology, who shoot first, ask questions later.  We get this whole 80’s intro about the team.  We see Charlie back aboard the Waverider, seeing that things have changed.  She morphs into Sara, and ends up getting stabbed by Gamera, Mick’s imaginary character, Grimera.  Apparently, Sara died at Woodstock.  Now, Charlie and Zari head to the Bureau, where Charlie morphs into Gary.  Hank says the team will get an ass chewing for their kill first logic.  Charlie gets into John’s cell, where she tells him that he screwed up the timeline.  Zari is changed back to human form, and she tells him that Sara dies in Woodstock, and that John needs to go back to New Orleans and set the timeline right.  She decides to overrule Charlie and John, and John turns her back into a cat.  Then, they’re off to put things right. 

As John and Charlie make their escape, they run into Mona, who wants to help out.  Charlie bumps into Gary AS Gary.  She tells him she’s from the future.  Gary goes off to hold the Guardians off.  Charlie and Mona arrive in Ava’s office, who’s grieving over Sara’s death.  Charlie and John explain that this timeline is wrong and that Sara is alive.  They go to fix time, but bump into the Guardians and Hank and Gary.  A battle ensues, and Ava, John, Charlie and Zari make their escape to Woodstock to prevent Sara’s death.  They managed to destroy the unicorn from the jump ship, but it doesn’t restore the timeline.  They head back to the Time Bureau, and Charlie says things aren’t fixed, as we see memorial plaques for Ray, Mick, and Nate.

Turns out, in this new reality, Ava, Sara, and Gideon are the “Sirens of Space-Time”.  A Charlie Angels type team, where Hank plays the Bosley of the group.  Charlie decides to disguise herself as Amaya and join the group.  Zari, even as a cat, is trying to reason with John, who refuses to set the timeline right.  Back with the S.O.S., Charlie tries to blend in with the team, who say that the boys were murdered by the Fairy Godmother.  Soon, Charlie is discovered, and they give chase after her.  Charlie makes it to the jump ship, and they head back to Salem to stop the Fairy Godmother.  Charlie disguises herself as the Godmother, who ends up getting her bond relinquished from Prudence, thus stopping the real Godmother.  As the guys are saved, Charlie and John take off, hoping they’ve put things right.  Zari is able to speak normally again, but they soon realize she’s a muppet!

Back on the Waverider, John discovers Ray, Sara, and Nate as the Puppets of Tomorrow.  When John asks how they became puppets, they said that Mick told them they were a bunch of puppets, and he took off with the Fairy Godmother as his new partner.  They set things right…so they think…and Zari is back to normal, Charlie still have their powers, but John is weak.  Zari still convinces John to set things right, and just because Desmond is not saved right now…but that doesn’t mean things have to be permanent.  Charlie tries to persuade John, John agrees with Zari.  Charlie says her powers are who she is, and she’ll fight to keep them.  Zari uses her powers and knock down and stop Charlie.  Charlie refuses to give up, and morphs into Ava, and she meets up with Sara and the group, saying they need to stop a threat in 2018 New Orleans.

Zari and John land in New Orleans in the recent past, and John goes to put things right.  Meanwhile on the Waverider, Sara and Charlie (as Ava) are looking at what’s going on, and Sara sends Mick and Ray down to get the monster.  They are just about ready to attack when Charlie reveals herself to Sara.  Charlie asks what it was that made them such killers, and that it doesn’t have to be this way.  Sara ends up breaking Charlie’s neck.  Constantine tells Desmond that he’s not a great guy, but Dez says he wants to give it a go.  Charlie says that she has been the common denominator in this time shift…if her and Sara never meet, Sara and the team never turn out to be killers.  Just as she’s about to battle Sara again, and Sara gives the signal to Ray and Mick to shoot the current Constantine, Dez and John from the past kiss, and time resets.  John holds up the medallion that Dez had, and apologizes to him.

As time seems reset, John, Zari, and Charlie return to the Waverider, where they see a captured Mike The Spike.  Time is reset, and everything seems well.  John goes off to tell Sara his tale, Charlie and Zari patching things up and Zari says that Charlie is hot looking like Amaya.  Mick and Ava make amends. 

Back on Earth, Hank is upset that the caveman escaped, and orders the Bureau to recapture him immediately.  As he prepares for his golf game, he says there was a slight delay, we then see Desmond, possessed by Neron, that he better be ready under his breath.  Episode ends.

_________________________________________________________________________

Okay....the only thing I can say---is I haven't the words.  

Honestly...I don't know how they got away with this episode...but they did.  "Campy" isn't even the word I would go with this episode.  "Outrageous" might even be pale in comparison.  This show has done a complete 180 from it's original premise 3 years ago.  I guess the brass at DC and the CW decided that of the 4 Arrowverse shows (and yes, this show STILL counts as a part of it), THIS show had to have the volume turned up to 11---as in the "out of this world" variety.  I don't know too many shows that can mix camp with sitcom variety humor, a hint of drama, a ton of action, and a BOATLOAD of slapstick, children's programming, and cheesy 80's primetime procedure/crime shows all into one 42 minute program...but somehow, they pulled it off.

Right off the bat, the fact that the team missed calls from Barry Allen, Oliver Queen, and Kara Zor-El is funny enough---the fact that Nate makes light of it being the "Annual Crossover" is tongue-in-cheek at the current Elseworld's storyline going on in the other three shows.  It paints it as "oh, they're teaming up...whatever!" in the Legends' eyes, but believe me...with all the time bopping and monster hunting they're doing---they have no room in their schedule to fight the Monitor.  Maybe down the road, perhaps...but they're pretty much caught up in their own peccadilloes to notice...or care.  

Zari as a cat...a nod to the Disney Cat From Outer Space movie, I believe.  At least she's still got her faculties about her.  Then Zari as a puppet---I swear, the woman has been through enough the last two episodes to last an entire season.  Poor girl.  But, at least her relationship with Charlie improved.  

As for Charlie---how about a thumbs up for a character with some growth.  Was nice to see her use her powers for the benefit of the mission---even though she hated losing them again at the end of the episode, and wanted to keep them....she learned that it's better to work WITH the team, than to be selfish and out for yourself---as evidenced by what John just put everyone through.

John himself is the only one providing the drama...because it was HIS own inner demons that got the best of him.  No matter how noble the intentions, there are just some things set in time that aren't malleable (got that, Nora West-Allen?!).  And while he DID set things right...we know that his battle with Neron is FAR from over.  And with Dez...who is now possessed by Neron, ready to strike, things are only going to get bumpier for the team down the road.

The cheesy use of 80's programs like The A-Team to promote the guys' version of The Guardians of Chronology was hilarity.  Was funny to have Mick give a wink to the camera while gazing at Gamira. Then, having Mona willing to be turned into a cat, wanting to help out the team, with a moody, emo Ava, listening to far too much Indigo Girls, mourning the loss of Sara...just funny as hell. Then, later on, we get the Charlie's Angels style Sirens of Space-Time, with the gals dressed up in leather outfits.  That was drool worthy of all of you out there drawn to the ladies.  And Hank Heywood as the Bosley character...funny.  The children's puppets...the Puppets of Tomorrow, was Sesame Street meets the Muppet Show.  The singing and dancing by Sara, Nate, and Ray...as puppets....you can't tell me the cast did NOT have fun with this episode.  And I dunno about any of YOU...but I'd be terrified of a gun toting Fairy Godmother with Mick Rory.

Overall, this show has gone to extreme lengths to NOT take itself seriously, while still trying to provide a decent story.  I get that they don't wanna hold themselves down with heavy exposition like they do on Arrow, and, at times, The Flash...and ESPEICALLY on this season of Supergirl.  I know it may turn off a good portion of you, and it often doesn't make sense...but I think, in A LOT of ways...that's part of the fun.  I know I had a great laugh at it...hopefully you did too.

Alrighty, kids---with this being the midseason finale, this show is the one that's taking the longest haitus.  Due to it's 14 episode season this year (unless the CW orders more), this one is taking the longest time off for whatever mid-season replacement show the CW has cooked up.  This show is sheduled to re-commence in April of 2019...so this blog is going into suspended animation until then.  But I DO appreciate you guys checking out the blog,subscribing, and I would LOVE to get comments from you all...I'd like to interact...get YOUR thoughts. 

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year... and be safe!

Until April 2019...see you next time!