Legends of Tomorrow: Highlights from the Avalance Panel at ClexaCon 2019
Ava Sharpe and Sara Lance are one of the most fun, heartfelt couples on TV, and the actors that play them, Caity Lotz and Jes Macallan, brought that same spirit to the stage for Clexacon’s Avalance panel. Lotz and Macallan were a gregarious jolt of energy all weekend and their panel did not disappoint.
Here are a few highlights from the Clexacon Avalance panel.
First Clexacon Experience
The very first question asked was how it felt to be at Clexacon and if it felt different than the other cons that they do.
This was mostly directed at Jes Macallan who was a first-time Clexacon guest.
With palpable excitement, Macallan responded saying, “I walked out just for the first signing, and I saw people that I’ve seen in the few Comic-cons that I’ve done, and because, just the representation and the amazing strength of everyone that’s out there I just started shaking, and like almost cried.”
Later during her press availability, Macallan expanded on why meeting LGBTQ+ fans has such a profound impact on her:
“I think because we share real stories. Like it’s not someone coming up to me to just get an autograph. It’s hey, I have a specific story or I make merch and I’m trying to raise awareness for this cause or, I’m 12 and I came out to my dad and so you know I think for me, it is different because we’re sharing. It’s not just like fandom, it’s deep. It’s stories.”
She continued, “I feel like it’s like having a sandwich with your contractor or something and having a sandwich with your sister or your brother. You know, I mean, it’s going to be a different experience.”
Joining Legends of Tomorrow
Asked about what it was like coming on to Legends Of Tomorrow last season Macallan spoke about the vastness of the Arrowverse and the effect the fan response had on her saying, “This whole Arrowverse world, in general, is so wonderful and amazing to be a part of but very overwhelming.”
“And then the fandom is just amazing and overnight you just feel like you have this family that you’re supposed to take care of and you want to interact with. Then you’re so inspired and moved by so many stories,” Macallan stated.
She added, “For me coming on to the show and into the fandom of it all is amazing. I mean I get goosebumps. I read letters, and I don’t still feel, I don’t know, like, you know worthy to read some stories and interact with some people that are dealing with like very very intense things. So I think, just grateful, grateful, grateful to represent this character.”
Finding the Reality in the Fantasy
Panel moderator, Jess Harris-DiStefano, pointed out that as wild and crazy the show can get the relationship between Sara and Ava is grounded in reality. She asked both Lotz and Macallan what it was like to slip back and forth between the high fantasy world of Legends Of Tomorrow and those more grounded character moments.
Lotz said that she didn’t ever feel any kind of separation between the two types of scenes.
“It just feels like we’re in it the whole time. I think it’s just, once you’re in it and this is what’s happening and you know it’s like, you’re in a Bollywood musical, it’s just like ok, yeah we are. So I don’t ever feel like it’s hard to slip in and out of one. I think we just live in this space of higher reality,” stated Lotz.
Lotz also emphasized the importance of those grounded character moments though, adding, “without that, like, all the other stuff doesn’t matter. No one cares about the characters unless you have that emotional connection to them through their struggles.”
Macallan echoed the importance of the character moments and the drama that comes with the irreverence of the show, explaining, “those scenes are the ones I get to and I’m like, ah, that day will be good. It’ll be what we kinda do this for, you know, finding the truth. It’s way harder to find the truth in this other stuff.
Favorite Avalance Scene of Season 4
When asked about their favorite Avalance scenes this season, Lotz immediately answered with the tango from Legends of Tomorrow Season 4 Episode 9, “Lucha de Apuestas.” Macallan quickly followed emphatically asserting that her favorite scene was the performance Sara gave Ava for her birthday on Legends of Tomorrow Season 4 Episode 6, “Tender Is The Nate.”
Macallan elaborated about why this was her favorite scene and that it was more than just how fun it is.
She said, “That scene to me read like something from I Love Lucy. Like something from one of those, you know cookie-cutter comedies from the 50s or 60s, that’s just perfect timing comedy. Something romantic is trying to happen and then all this stuff happens. So it was like be as goofy as you want. But it was like two women, and I’m like, awesome.”
Macallan continued, “Because like that would so be like a normal I Love Lucy, and now to flash forward to 2019 I felt like this is so cool. This is so cool that we’re doing this. You know what I mean, it wasn’t traditional. We pushed the boundaries.”
Wynonna Earp Shout Out
During audience questions, Lotz and Macallan were asked what milestones they want to see for Ava and Sara in Season 5.
Both Macallan and Lotz said that they didn’t feel there needed to be a marriage or anything like that but they did muse on the idea of “baby beebos.” This prompted Macallan to discuss her desire to kick ass while pregnant.
Much to the crowd’s delight, Macallan referenced Wynonna Earp’s Melanie Scrofano as one of the few examples out there and spoke about how impressive Scrofano was.
“She murdered it. She’s like inspiration. I would see those pictures, and my stunt double is actually her stunt double, same Andrea. She’s amazing. She’s absolutely amazing, and she would show me these videos and I’m like, that girl. She’s killing it. That’s what I want to do,” said Macallan.
Panel Crashers
A little under halfway through the audience questions portion of the panel Katrina Law, who played Sara Lance’s love interest Nyssa al Ghul on Arrow, danced out on stage with a rainbow flag, wearing a “Nyssa for life” t-shirt.
It was a perfect spontaneous moment of levity that Macallan repaid the next day when she crashed the Nyssara panel that Law and Lotz were doing with a “Death by Avalance” sign (designed by Atomic Octopus Designs).
After Macallan crashed the Nyssara panel, Lotz teased that she didn’t say hi to her, playfully lamenting, “did anyone else notice that she didn’t even say hi to me? I’m I just an object to fight over? Am I not a human being? Whatever.”
If any of that rapport is a preview of the chemistry we might see with the three of them on-screen, then Legends Of Tomorrow should get on writing a guest spot for Law in Season 5 ASAP.
Jes Macallan
This isn’t a specific moment, topic, or even specific to the panel itself, but it has to be said. Jes Macallan was a marvelous addition to the Clexacon line up, and her presence elevated everything she was a part of.
Whether it was her excitement seeing two fans propose to each other at her table or the sincere, deeply felt answers she gave at the panel and to the press, Macallan embraced everything Clexacon is meant to represent with her whole heart, and she did it with an infectious joy that that filled up every space she was in.
Co-Star Chemistry
Much of what made the Avalance panel so great was the banter and fun rapport that Lotz and Macallan have with each other. That’s not something that can be captured in words, so check out the Avalance panel video below to get the full effect.
What are your thoughts on the Avalance panel? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.