DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Review: No Country for Old Dads (Season 3 Episode 13)
The Legends take a backseat this week to make way for the Darhk Family Drama Hour on Legends of Tomorrow Season 3 Episode 13, “No Country for Old Dads.”
First, we need to talk about villains.
As the saying goes, “Heroes are only as good as their villains.” A weak villain makes for a weak story. Unfortunately, Legends of Tomorrow Season 3 is starting to show viewers exactly why that is true.
Building off the events of Legends of Tomorrow Season 3 Episode 11, “Daddy Darhkest,” the writers are clearly trying to make Nora a more sympathetic character. There are a few moments in her interactions with Ray this episode that make this attempt briefly successful.
However, in order to reach those moments and create a situation where Nora and Ray need to work together the writers give Ray a bad case of plot-induced stupidity. He learns early in their mission together that Nora’s powers are not working but he never even tries to escape?
Also, I’m not sure if Nate’s comment that Ray is crushing on Nora is just a meta-comment about the actors being married in real life or if the show is actually trying to go there with Nora and Ray.
NO. DO NOT WANT.
Ray does leave an impression on Nora, but it seems to be a very small one since she is perfectly happy to be back with her father at the end. Unfortunately, the focus on Damian and Nora’s relationship with him is where this episode falls apart.
And the reason is pretty simple: I don’t care about Damian Darhk.
Damian Darhk is not a strong or compelling adversary for our team of heroes. Yes, he is very powerful. And, yes, he is snarky and appropriately menacing at times — but, that is all he is.
There is nothing under the character’s surface to make him interesting at this point. He’s just evil to be evil and his goal to, “remake the world in his image,” is basically Bad Guy Trope No. 1.
Why does he want to do that? Why is he so evil? Why do I always feel like his scenes are the perfect time to catch up on emails?
Oh wait, I know that last one: because his character does essentially the same thing every time he is on screen. He shows up and says something snarky at the expense of the Legends before waving his arms around to magically throw people into the air or choke them Darth Vadar-style.
Wash, rinse, repeat for one season of Arrow and two seasons of Legends of Tomorrow. I am beyond over it.
The lighter tone Legends of Tomorrow usually operates with also doesn’t help. Instead of letting Damian be genuinely terrifying, he is mostly there to wear terrible wigs and let the heroes inexplicably escape for the 100th time.
This is completely an issue with the writing. Neal McDonough’s skill as an actor and his natural charisma stop Darhk from being as awful as Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 antagonist, Vandal Savage. However, as Season 3 speeds to its conclusion let’s hope the bulk of the villain storyline shifts back to Mallus.
Moving on to the parts of the episode that are actually interesting . . .
Sara and Ava’s relationship is progressing pretty quickly and, you know, it’s fine. Ava is growing on me. Really not sure about Rip introducing a big Ava-related secret to this already crowded Mallus plot, but we will see where it goes . . .
The Legends also get a new member, though Wally West’s introduction to the Waverider is a little rocky. He does get to save the day in the end and rescue the pieces of the fire totem. The call-back to the beginning of the episode’s souvenir stealing discussion is also a fun touch.
To be honest, Amaya and Zari’s vision quest feels a bit like a simple writing cheat to move the Mallus plot along. It is always great when a mysterious character just shows up and turns into an exposition fairy to word vomit a bunch of important information at the heroes . . .
Anyway, at least the revelation that anachronisms make the demon stronger feels clever and the big Mallus plot is finally heating up. I’m looking forward to seeing it all play out, how about you?
What did you think of this episode of Legends of Tomorrow? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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Legends of Tomorrow airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Jennifer Ann
Jennifer works in public history and digital marketing. She has a borderline academic interest in how historical time periods and events are presented in popular culture. When she is not over-analyzing story arcs and character growth in her favorite shows, she enjoys lazy weekends avoiding housework and spoiling her dogs.