DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Third Season
Review by KC Carlson
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow remains my favorite of the four “Arrowverse” shows (the others are Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl), with its odd collection of mostly broken-down characters rotating in and out, and its constant feeling of the whole thing flying apart in pieces at any given moment. Their motto has now become, “Sometimes we screw things up for the better,” which captures both the optimism and confusion of the endeavor.
This season was no exception, with episodes devoted to a stuffed animal (the dreaded talking Beebo) becoming a god, the search and rescue of Helen of Troy from 1930s Hollywood (in an episode titled “Helen Hunt”), characters becoming prisoners in P.T. Barnum’s famous circus sideshow, and battling Gorilla Grodd in 1960s Vietnam. (Why?) And, on a more serious note, perhaps the most beloved character in all the Arrowverse passed away in the saddest episode of the year.
Caity Lotz as Captain Sara Lance/White Canary, Victor Garber as Professor Martin Stein, and Franz Drameh as Jefferson “Jax” Jackson
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Third Season (including all 21 episodes and several special features) was recently released. (The studio, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, provided me with a free review copy of this set. My opinions below are mine.) The three-disc Blu-ray set has seven episodes of the series (plus special features, see below) on each disc.
It’s a typically chaotic season of Legends this time around, with lots of interesting stuff going on — especially if you enjoy watching people in alternative relationships. John Constantine drops by for an episode to help (?) the Legends, the team travels to 1950s Memphis to help somebody you might have heard of, everybody is invited to Barry Allen and Iris West’s wedding (so a chance to see Felicity outside of Arrow), and the team has to save young Ray Palmer’s life in 1988.
Tala Ashe as Zari and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom watching for Ray’s younger self
Also, there are folks trapped in time loops, noble sacrifices, an unexpected return (or several, depending on how you look at things), and a season finale that sets up a lot of interesting possibilities for Season Four. Thank goodness there isn’t long to wait for that to start!
Such a shame to be trapped in a time loop dressed like this
Special Features
“Inside the Crossover: Crisis on Earth-X” (41:59) is where the Executive Producers of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow discuss the crossover. (Note: this special feature is included on all four Arrowverse season sets this year, so if you already have one of the other three, you can skip this here. If you don’t, it is an interesting discussion, with insight on how showrunning and coordination works.
“The Best of DCTV’s Comic Con Panels: San Diego 2017” (58:27) is also on all four Arrowverse season sets.
“The Time Calibrators: Legends Assemble!” (17:52) has Executive Producer Phil Klemner discussing the anachronisms in three of this season’s most memorable episodes: “Phone Home” (with young Ray and his alien friend), “Welcome to the Jungle” (where Mick Rory meets his dad in Vietnam), and “Daddy Darhkest” (guest-starring John Constantine).
“Post Production Theatre” (6:12) explains how additional shots can be needed after principal photography, so film place holders must be created — giving the post-production crew the chance to show off (or not) their acting abilities. Here we see (among other things) Damien Darhk kicking his own ass and Beebo vs. Batman!
And the ever-popular Gag Reel (7:28) features Beebo-tastic humans in padded Grodd suits, gun juggling, overeating, ghost rats, and much, much bad dancing — topped off with a burning Beebo!
In addition, ten of the episodes have deleted scenes of various lengths. A couple are pretty interesting, if you’re paying attention.
Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory/Heat Wave, Nick Zano as Nate Heywood/Steel, and Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom
As usual, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Third Season presents us with another fine season of inspired lunacy mixed in with super-heroic feats. (Kinda sorta… None of these people are really superheroes in the traditional sense. Which is why I love this show.) Although there are a few slow episodes (such as the previously mentioned Barnum one), Johanna and I had a terrific time rewatching the season.
Season Four premieres October 22, 2018, on The CW. I can tell you that one of the episodes is titled “Wet Hot American Bummer”. I can’t wait!
2 comments