The Flash Review: Legends of Today (Season 2 Episode 8)

The DC television universe officially has a tradition: The Flarrow crossover.

It is now part and parcel with winter sweeps and the holiday season. What’s great is now both The Flash and Arrow are seasoned veterans. In “Legends of Today,” both shows flex their strengths and reveal our heroes’ character growth, bringing their A game to launch a legendary story.

There is one unequivocal guarantee in a The Flash/Arrow crossover: humor. Team Flash and Team Arrow are wildly different and yet remarkably the same. Somehow mixing this cast of characters results in hilarity. Whether it’s Barry and Oliver’s banter, Speedy meeting The Flash, Damien Darhk or Vandal Savage’s snipes, or Cisco and and Felicity’s… everything, “Legends of Today” brought the funny and set the gold standard. If possible, it was even funnier than last year’s crossover.

First,, let’s just call a spade a spade. The endgame of “Legends of Today” is to launch Legends of Tomorrow.

The Flash is responsible for launching six out of Legends of Tomorrow’s ten characters (Hawkgirl, Hawkman, Firestorm, Dr. Martin Stein, Heat Wave and Captain Cold) versus Arrow’s two characters (Sara Lance and Ray Palmer). The Flash has previously dealt with most of these characters except for Hawgirl and Hawkman. Tonight was their debutante ball, if you will, into the Flarrow universe..

I’m willing to admit I was pretty skeptical about Hawkgirl and Hawkman. Yes, it makes sense for them to launch on The Flash because Central City is weirder than Star City. Reincarnated lovers hunted for centuries by an immortal warlord? That veers a little too far into weird territory for me. It requires some convincing. Luckily, “Legends of Tomorrow” handles these characters reasonably smoothly. Kendra’s rapid trajectory of complete ignorance to, well, turning into a hawk is a tough sell, but there’s a key moment that pulls it together.

Barry tells Kendra to believe in herself. There is only one character who can talk accurately about the importance of belief, and that’s Barry Allen. It also encompasses the lessons he’s learned over the last of a year and a half. Barry becomes the mentor in that moment, and it is the only reason Kendra diving off a rooftop and sprouting wings worked.

Hawkman works because of Oliver Queen. Carter Hall has some personality traits in common with our green hooded hero. He’s a bit snippy and likes to make a bad ass entrance. The problem is, Carter is talking crazy. This is where Oliver comes in. Oliver Queen once told Barry he’s seen things beyond imagining. Oliver’s world may be less weird than Barry’s, but it’s a whole lot more mystical this year. So, when Oliver hears Carter’s story, he rolls with it, allowing the audience to follow his lead. If Oliver “Pragmatic” Queen buys it, then so do I.

The episode’s stand out moments occur when Barry and Oliver combine their strengths to fight Vandal Savage and take down Hawkman. While there’s an initial ruffling of feathers, there are far fewer bumps in the teamwork road than last year. It’s because our heroes have changed, which makes their teamwork much more seamless this time around.

Barry is more seasoned at the “hero” game this time around. It gives him an increase in confidence, but there’s also a weariness. He’s feeling powerless against the ever-increasing obstacles he’s fighting against. It’s a powerlessness and weariness Oliver Queen understands well.

As for Oliver, he’s embraced hopefulness, happiness, and peace in a life with Felicity Smoak. There’s a joy to Oliver that was missing last year. Although, he’s still his “snippy” self, Oliver is more open to teamwork. He’s learned he doesn’t have to save the world all alone. It’s a happiness Barry understands because Barry carries that light, joy, and hopefulness inside himself always.

The highlight of the episode is Cisco Ramon. He’s the romantic hero here, and he couldn’t have been more adorable in his description of his relationship with Kendra. Cisco stands up to both Vandal Savage and Oliver Queen with Kendra’s best interests at heart. His struggle with Kendra’s relationship with Carter results in excellent snarky comments. However, it is Cisco’s difficulty accepting his powers as Vibe — and his self-reflection on that struggle — that ultimately helps propel (pun intended) Kendra into facing her own destiny.

“Legends of Today” still feels like The Flash, but seamlessly incorporates Arrow, while successfully launching the first chapter of both Legends of Tomorrow and the crossover event. That’s quite the accomplishment for 42 minutes of storytelling and why “Legends of Today” is The Flash’s strongest episode of the year.

Stray Thoughts…

• Too many hilarious quotes. Can’t pick a favorite. Maybe we’ll do a special post!
• Although I have Robbie Amell’s full support in my dislike of Jay Garrick, he was a stand up guy this episode and, dare I say it, a hero. Garrick didn’t blink before injecting the serum, and I’m willing to give him the credit he’s due.
• Malcolm Merlyn needs more to do in this episode. Never under-utilize John Barrowman.
• Barry ships Olicity. Facts are facts.
• Oliver Queen’s son is a bomb Arrow fans have been waiting two years to see go off. It’s time to deal with this.

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The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

Jennifer Knutson

Wife, mother and TV enthusiast. She has a degree in Communications, a minor in English, a background in marketing, and a deep love for all story telling mediums. The TV obsession probably started from birth, but hit saturation level with Buffy The Vampire Slayer and hasn't dissipated since. She has a weakness for dark & twisty heroes and selfless love stories. When she's not working, raising her little human, or spending time with her spouse, she's writing, analyzing, tweeting, and obsessing about all things Arrow. You can check out her blog here: http://jbuffyangel.tumblr.com/ You can also follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jbuffyangel