DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Review: Abominations (Season 2 Episode 4)
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 4, “Abominations,” takes a more serious turn. The Legends must decide if they should protect history or fight against it.
Time travel shows are in abundance now. There’s always a question of how a television show is going to handle interacting with the past. Do the characters remain peripheral to avoid making catastrophic changes to the timeline? Or do they jump into the fray?
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow has never been one to remain fray adjacent, but they took it to another level with their trip to Mississippi 1863. The Legends are attacked by zombies (yeah… I know. Just go with it) and a dispatch named Henry Scott, a freed former slave stealing secrets for the union, is killed during the battle.
Scott’s death means the secrets are never shared with the Union army. The South wins the war. Jackson decides to take Henry’s place and steal the necessary documents from a plantation owner.
He’s eventually joined by Vixen. When they see a slave being whipped, Vixen wants to intervene, but Jackson stops her. He’s afraid of what it’ll do to the timeline.
However, Jackson is punished by the slave owner for “not knowing his place” and is chained in the barn with many other slaves. After sharing in their suffering and being touched by their enduring resilience and hope, Jackson chooses to intervene.
He helps free the slaves regardless of the impact to the timeline. As Time Masters they stop aberrations in the timeline, but Jackson remarks that slavery is the true aberration.
Preach!
Then, we watch Jax and Amaya kick slavery’s butt and it’s pretty fantastic.
Other television shows make excellent points as to why historical events can’t be messed with, but when history is happening in front of the characters it’s difficult to turn a blind eye to humanity.
This is all just fantasy and what is nice about DC’s Legends of Tomorrow‘s stance is that we don’t have to let historical events stand simply because they existed before. We can allow the fantasy world to interject basic human decency in a very dark period of history.
Is it real? No. Nothing can erase the damage slavery has done. However, watching superheroes fight against it is far better than watching them let it happen. Also, a slave owner is eaten by zombies Walking Dead style. It’s a win all around.
Jackson isn’t the only character struggling with being forced to stand on the sidelines. Ray Palmer is too, however, his “sideline” pails in social, political and economic comparison. Ray lost his suit and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow needs to find something for him to do.
Luckily, Ray Palmer’s real superpower has always been his mind. It’s his mind that saves Rory from the zombie virus.
Mick and Ray are more than polar opposites. They are on opposite stratospheres, but Mick chooses Ray to be his new partner. He gives him Snart’s cold gun.
It’s a really earned moment because we’ve watched their friendship evolve over time. Ray sees more in Mick than just a villain. Mick sees more in Ray than just a haircut.
Although, the nickname needs to stay. I won’t tolerate Mick calling Ray by his actual name. There are limits to this partnership.
Stray Thoughts
- MVP for “Abominations” is Jackson. He fights slavery and secures the Union’s victory in the Civil War. Jackson wins life.
- Nate blowing up the zombies is wicked cool.
- Sara is a bad ass. I don’t care what timeline you’re in Nate. Sara always needs to do the talking.
- We heard another snip-it of Barry’s message: there’s a war coming. Please don’t piece this out over eight episodes DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. I only have so much patience.
- It’s nice to watch zombies in show that isn’t about a heart shattering and gut wrenching examination of survival. *cough*WalkingDead*cough*.
What did you think of this episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Reviewer Rating:
User Rating:
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow airs Thursdays 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