SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.7

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.7:  "Man of Steel"

The Kent Family is in panic mode:  Lois & Clark are desperate to help Jordan, as his powers start raging out of control, and are now threatening his life.  Clark has raced him off to the Fortress to try and save him.  Meanwhile, Lois herself has TWO stories in her lap now:  Trying to figure out what Morgan Edge plans to do with all this newly discovered element called X-Kryptonite, as well as looking into this Marcus Bridgewater character who helped her in the mine, but still has an air of mystery about him.  Jonathan is worse for wear, as he nurses a broken arm, which has ended his football career.  How will HE handle things?  And will Sarah start looking at Jordan more suspiciously in the wake of what Tag told her?  And can Lois and Lana work together in secret without Kyle finding out?  Smallville has gotten QUITE interesting as of late, and the fun is just about to start...

Clark had raced Jordan to the Fortress at the end of last episode, and that's where we pick things up in this installment.  Clark is frantic to get Jordan help before his powers overwhelm him...Jor-El tells Kal-El that Jordan will have to learn to adjust to them.  His super-hearing is haywire, and it's causing immense pain because he can't focus on one particular sound.  We see this episode that Jordan struggles to adjust to this new power, despite everything Clark tries to do to get him to focus.  He wears headphones to block out the sounds and to avoid the pain.  He does, however, keep making attempts, and---once he does learn to focus his hearing, he hears a conversation between Jonathan and Sarah.  And, of course, he begins to take it the wrong way, as he thinks his brother is moving in on Sarah.  However, Jonathan's talk with Sarah is him doing everything he can to cover Jordan's absence.  Tag came up in conversation, and Jonathan plays it off...doing what he can to shield his brother from having the truth come out.  When Jon gets home, Jordan gets into it with him, and then Jon lashes out at him, telling him that all he was doing was helping HIM....and Jordan punches a hole in the wall in frustration.  Later on, however, Jordan's powers come in handy.

Lois has been in reporter mode, and is looking to get answers about Mr. Bridgewater after their little escapade in the mine, and their confrontation with Leslie Larr.  Clark feels that they need to tell the boys what's going on, but Lois says that keeping them out has been the best thing, but now Clark isn't sure.  Lois wants to get more information on Bridgewater, as well as more on this X-Kryptonite and Morgan Edge before they decide to drop the 4-1-1 to the boys about all the crazy stuff going on in town.  Lois meets up with Bridgewater, and lays it all out for him:  she wants the truth from him.  She wants to know all about what Morgan Edge is up to.  Before their meet, we get to see a little more into Luthor's life.  Married to Lois happily, but then we find out they have a daughter, who's nauseated by all the lovey-dovey stuff between her parents.  They then witness Superman  and his legion going about the destruction of Metropolis on his world.  So, he goes about trying to see if he can help bring Superman down.  His flashbacks also include his Lois reporting on the findings of Kryptonite and her desperate plea to everyone to find it, and use it to stop them.  As her television report is viewed by her husband and daughter, they witness Superman fly up from behind her, and kill her with his heat vision.  This is the motivation for this man to go about destroying the rogue Kryptonian on his world.  

Lois and Clark decide to team up to see what Bridgewater's game is---she'll have a sitdown with him and get the truth, while Clark investigates his RV...which he discovers through the Alexa-type module in the RV that he calls himself Luthor, which gets Clark's attention immediately. Meanwhile, Lois is grilling Bridgewater, and wants him to un-complicate this story.  Lois is aggressive here, and isn't putting up with any BS.  Before she gets any real dirt from him, Christy calls, and says that Edge has a shipment of X-Kryptonite going somewhere, and wanted to let her know.  Lois tables the conversation with Bridgewater/Luthor, and she and Clark head out to track it down.  Bridgewater/Luthor gets ahold of this, and he's off to stop the shipment as well....especially when he sees that Clark had entered his RV and was nosing around.  Edge wanted to get shipment to his people, but Lois' interference was preventing that.  Leslie suggested a shipment, to see if Lois would bite...and she did.  Leslie is hearing the entire proceedings, as she listens in on Lois & Clark, as well as Bridgewater/Luthor. 

Lana Lang Cushing has been trying to adjust to her new job with Edge, and he wants her to pick 5 candidates for a new project, and one of her older friends comes in to ask to join, and Lana is a bit hesitant, but her friend persists.  Lana says that she'll put in a word for her, but won't make any promises.  Later on, we see Lana in her office, and her friend shows up with a gift, saying she got the position, and thanks her.  Lana is cautiously happy for her friend.  What we REALLY find out, is that these 5 individuals that Lana had chosen for this new project for Edge...are going to be guinea pigs for his plan to give powers to them, and help expand his army.  

Lois, Clark, and Bridgewater/Luthor all manage to get to the truck, though Lois and Clark wanted to follow it to its destination, Bridgewater/Luthor altered their plan, and he stopped the truck.  They find a case that has X-Kryptonite in it.  Lois says she wants answers, and is done playing games.  He confesses that Edge is using the X-Kryptonite to build an army and take over the world.  He says he's here to stop it, and wants to meet with Superman.  Lois says she might be able to arrange a meet, and Bridgewater/Luthor asks if she trusts Superman, and she says with her life.  Lois had Christy do some research on this Bridgewater/Luthor character, and discover that he's not a Luthor, but a military man named John Henry Irons.  Supposedly, he died six years ago.  We see more of Irons' flashbacks, as he began building the tech in the RV with his daughter, and designing the suit that he ended up battling Superman with.  He then promised that he'd be back for her, once he's done getting the X-Kryptonite, and defeating Superman.  When he DOES meet with this Earth's Man of Steel, he traps him in a field of red sun energy, thus sapping Kal-El of his powers.  Irons then proceeds to take a hammer he designed, and starts beating Superman with it.  Lois realizes that Clark has fallen into a trap, and she's off to save him. 

Remember when I said Jordan's hearing was going to come in handy?  It does, as he decides to try and practice on focusing on hearing one thing.  When Jordan does, he can hear his father in pain, as Irons continues to beat him down and kill him.  Jordan tells Jonathan about it, and the race off in the truck to save their dad.  Leslie Larr...listening in with her super hearing herself, calls Edge, and says that her plan worked, and that Superman is quite busy at the moment, so they can send their shipment out now without interference. Jonathan and Jordan arrive and knock down Irons long enough for Jonathan to take Irons' hammer, and smash all the red sun lights that have been sapping Superman's powers.  Once they accomplish that, Superman is back, and is pissed off enough to zap Irons with is heat vision, but Lois arrives, and they all tell him that it's over.  Irons is taken into DoD custody, and Superman wants to talk to him as soon as General Lane returns.  We see Irons in his cell, sad that he failed, and sad that he hasn't gotten back to his daughter...fearing the worst. 

We see the Kent family convene at home, and Jordan apologized to Jon about listening in on his conversation.  Lois and Clark then do some mild chiding of the boys for getting involved, but Clark thanks them, and says that it's time to bring the boys into the loop as to what exactly is going on in town.

This was a pretty good episode, as we got MORE answers to our questions in regards to our alternate Luthor, and his entire backstory.  We see more of what Morgan Edge's plans are, and how Lana is being used as a pawn to further his agenda.  And we see Jordan learning to adjust to his powers.  Show had a nice pace, good flow, and was enjoyable from start to finish.  It's always BETTER when we see Lois and Clark working TOGETHER.  Don't get me wrong...I love it when Lois is in Lois Lane reporter mode...she's like a pit bull with a bone---she's not going to let it go no matter what until she gets down to the marrow.  But with Clark...it just makes the show THAT much better.  We see the great chemistry, and how well these two work together.  Now that Lois' story has bled into whatever Clark has had to focus on with Tag and any other super crazies...plus this alternate "Luthor", which we find out is John Henry Irons, whom we ALL know becomes the hero known as Steel.  We get closer to that this episode, and we see the tragic end to his Lois on his world due to Superman.  But Irons feels that the ONLY good Kryptonian is a dead one---even THIS world's Superman. But I'm glad we finally got HIS backstory and purpose.

Jordan and Jonathan came through big time this episode, as we finally see Jordan try and get control of his super hearing.  Twice it served him for a purpose....though the first time didn't have good results, as his overhearing Jon and Sarah's conversation led to a huge misunderstanding between him and his brother.  But when he heard his father's screams in pain, it became the big thing that helped him and his brother save their dad from death.  This is one incident that has now brought this family closer together, as Lois and Clark realize that they can't keep their boys in the dark about the dangers they face.  While Lois and Clark will still try to ensure the boys stay safe by keeping their involvement as minimal as possible, they won't HIDE things from them anymore.  It's NEVER worked for ANY Arrowverse hero...they can ask their second cousin Kara about that...or Barry Allen....or Jefferson Pierce.  

We see how devious Leslie Larr is, and how invaluable she's been to Morgan Edge, who is now looking for volunteers for experimentation to create his super army....and Lana is playing into his hands...so he thinks.  Lana has been cautious and trying to read Edge this whole time to see what his game is, but Lois warned her not to try and get TOO nosey...she doesn't want Lana in danger.  But I think Lana is braver and smarter than Lois gives her credit for.  But no doubt she'll inform Lois of Edge's activities.  I just wonder how long it takes before Lana finds out Clark is Superman?  It's interesting that Lana is in the dark about that, considering Clark has been her best friend forever, and it's never come up.  I feel that, before the season is over, she's going to find out.  Or...surprise us, and tell the Clark and Lois she's known all along.  I also wonder when Sarah's going to figure out Jordan isn't just some timid kid with social anxiety issues, and that he did have something happen to him at the bonfire that night.  Either way, we KNOW the Cushing Family is going to change in the wake of that.  

This show has been top-notch so far, and I'm enjoying every bit of it.  It's honestly the best of the Arrowverse shows right now...especially since Black Lightning has now ended it's run.  We've got 6 more episodes to see what transpires for this season (the show is only slated for 13 episodes this year).  But I'm excited and intrigued.  How about YOU?  What do YOU all think of this show so far?  Subscribe to this blog, and drop me YOUR ideas.

Until next time....Up, up and away!

THE FLASH 7.11

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.11:  "Family Matters Part 2"  

Well...with any luck, we will have resolution to THIS little story arc before we move on to much bigger things for Team Flash (Godspeed, finally?).  Barry and Iris have managed to wrangle two of their "children" together-  The Strength & Sage Force - to take on their OTHER two "children":  The Still Force and Nora - the now-renegade Speed Force, who feels abandoned by Barry, and feels it is her duty to kill all the other forces.  With the Sill Force under her control, she has taken out Alexa, Bashir, and Iris.  Now, it's Barry against Nora and Deon to finally put this matter to bed.  Plus...what will happen to the CCPD now that Joe quit?  And for Cisco and Kamilla....they finally going to announce to the team that they're bailing on them for greener pastures?  Let's see how THIS little tale finishes up. 

The focus of this entire arc was based on family....as well as what happens when certain members of it are a tad out of control.  Nora....our Speed Force...has been on a rampage looking for the other 3 Forces, fearing that they will kill her, so she must therefore destroy them first before thean can get to her.  She assumed that Barry would help her in this cause, but it turns out--as Barry AND Iris discover--that these other forces are much like their offspring....they granted these 3 individuals powers, and they have caused some damage with them.  Nora has upped the ante, as she's threatening to destroy the city if Flash doesn't bring her the other Forces.  She has already felt betrayed by Barry....abandonded...which isn't the case, but she feels rejected by him, and must protect herself...even if it means laying waste to everything else...including Central City.  

Barry is in ONE mode:  stop Nora and save everyone at all costs.  But the problem with Barry as of late has been his complete lack of common sense.  Another thing is that it's a drawback with Flash, when he becomes SO focused on stopping the bad guys, he tends to have his judgement clouded.  He gets too mch tunnel vision.  For Barry, it's like he LIVES for the burden, the weight, and the drama that goes with it.  He's pressed his friends, and the other forces to be ready for Nora.  The team has wracked their brains, but they just can't come up with a solution.  Barry and Iris thought that hiding Bashir and Alexa in a neutral zone out of Nora's reach and off the radar would be helpful.  But as they and Iris are there, while Barry is trying to reason with Deon, but Deon just won't go along with the plan.  Barry is also running out of ideas.  Meanwhile, Bashir and Alexa feel that the only way to stop Nora is to go after her.  So, they trick Iris, and escape the zone.  Iris follows, and gets back to STAR Labs.  

Nora had given Barry only a few hours to bring the Forces to her, or she'd wreak havoc on the city.  Flash feels that he has to go it alone, but Iris won't let him do it alone.  So, they both work together to try and get through to Nora and stop her.  Nora is just in a state of anger, and then the ground shakes, and the storm gets bigger...these are Forces of Nature, and they're spiraling out of control.  They are just as much the cause of what's happening as Nora is.  The other Forces arrive and they decide to help Flash take her Nora down.  Flash takes off to chase the storm and try to stop it, while the Forces try to deal with Nora.  At one point, Bashir uses his power, agumented by Alexa and Deon, to show Nora her worst fear:  a world with no people....and empty city, and no one answering her call.  Nora starts begging them not to leave her alone, not to abandon her.  Alexa offers her hand, and says that Nora doesn't have to be alone...she can make the choice to be better.  They then join forces to do what they were destined to do:  help Flash.  With their combined powers, they augment the Scarlet Speedster's powers for him ot be able to destroy the storm.  

With the city saved once again, we head back into the neutral zone, where the four Forces will now reside....allowing them to make THAT world a better place.  All of them feel a sense of purpose....of family...now that they are intertwined.  Nora apologizes to Barry, and thanks him for saving her.  Barry and Iris leave the Forces to shape the world into something better.  Later on, we have Barry and Iris at home, feeling sad that they had to let the Forces go out into the world, and do their own thing.  They liken it to having their children leave for college...for when they actually HAVE children.  It seems that Iris agrees....and she gets up off the couch...and says to Barry she's tired of waiting....she's ready to start a family...and Barry LOVES her impulse (insert Bart Allen reference here). 

This episode, we also saw Cecile get struck by lighting due to the storm, and he felt utterly helpless to help her, plus he's no longer a cop, so he can't be at Iron Heights, trying to stop all the criminals from escaping.  Cecile tries to comfort him, but that's when she got nailed.  Joe is upset that Barry hasn't resolved the problem, and just begins to sulk.  Allega stops by and calls him out on it.  And he can step up and do what he does best, but he says he's gotta be by Cecile.  And as he had worried about the breakout at Iron Heights, his thoughts went to Frost....would she escape and skip town?  Turns out, Frost had OTHER ideas, as she DID escape...but for the sole purpose of hunting down some of the metahuman convicts, and bring them back to prison.  This included her encounter with Chillblaine, who still tried using his char on her to get her to let him go.  He was even willing to forgive her to stab him.  Frost seems a tad distracted, because she can't help but think of him.  They do fight, and Frost DOES beat him.  Towards the end of the episode, Catilin gets a knock on her door, and it's her sister, who apparently got time off for good behavior for having brought dangerous metahuman criminals back to Iron Heights.  Plus a good word from the Flash.  So, with the Snow sisters reunited, we get one more member of Team Flash back.  One of the other little tidbits they threw at us, was Cisco and Kamilla hanging out  with Chunk and Allegra.  Cisco ignored a text from his phone about a job offer, and them needing an answer quickly.  Chunk and Allega looked like they had an awkward glance

The show centered primarily on Barry, Iris, and their "children", and how they had to cope with them being...well...belligerent.  In the end, we got Nora...who had been the Speed Force...die, and then be reanimated...have a sense of loneliness and abandonment.  She did NOT want the other Forces taking that from her.  This is why she went rogue.  Bashir was abandoned, and felt betrayed by those whom he thought were friends.  Alexa felt alone because she made a mistake, and her family left her out in the cold.  Deon suffered a career-ending injury, and didn't get to play sports, hence HIS issues with his life and identity.  It was only when ALL of them....along with Barry and Iris...to see that they are better together than apart.  But it FINALLY put Barry and Iris on the track that we'd been waiting a couple of seasons for---and it's about time.  So, we'll see whether or not Iris gets pregnant in the next few episodes, and wonder how things will go with this next arc...which SHOULD be Godspeed, to finish out the run of the 18 slated episodes for this season.  This arc seemed like filler, and while I got the concept of the Speed Force split into different Forces of Nature, it also came off a tad flat.  Now that they've all agreed to build a new world forthemelves....how does this effect Barry?  And will we see them anytime again?  And it STILL bugs me that Wally was NOT involved in this storyline, because as Kid Flash...he DESERVED to be a part of this...and have HIS speed restored.  Him being left out takes away from the story.  I get they wanted to keep the focus on Barry and Iris...but this was about FAMILY...and that also meant Wally.  

Well, we get one more adventure coming up with Cisco and Kamilla, before they depart Central City for good.  And what is this tiny tease with Chunk and Allegra?  At least she dropped hints at needed a super suit and a cool name if she's going out in to the field to help the Flash.  Stay tuned for that.  

The episode was okay---average.  It wrapped up the storyline, and got Barry and Iris to the babymaking finish line.  I'm more looking forward to how the last 7 episodes transpire and play out.  What about you guys?  What did you feel about this last arc?  Subscribe and leave me a comment below.

Until next time...Keep on running!

BLACK LIGHTNING 4.13

 

RECAP - BLACK LIGHTNING  4.13:  "The Book of Resurrection - Chapter Two:  Closure"  

Here it is, gang...the Series Finale and final bow for Black Lightning.  I've only been blogging recaps about our Electric Warrior and his family the last two seasons, but I have been here from the beginning of his story.  And I have said, arguably, that this show has been the BEST well-written, well acted, well rounded show they had in the Arrowverse.  It's tackled social issues without becoming extremely preachy, given us some AWESOME superhero action, and it's also given us a plethora of drama and unique characters.  It's time for the Pierce Family and their allies to finally take Tobias Whale down once and for all...but will it be WITHOUT the family patriarch?  We last left our family with Tobias beating the snot OUT of Jefferson, and then calling Jennifer to inform her that her father is dead.  Does this send her on a rampage to kill him?  And will Gambi, Lauren, TC, and Lynn find a way to take out the emitter?  And will Chief Lopez...now loaded up on superhero genes...exact her revenge on Lightning for exposing her as a prejudiced anti-metahuman cop?  We have TONS of answers to fill in this last dance, and it's time for us to dive in, and see how our FINAL act plays out:  

The Pierce Family are desperate to find Jefferson, as they've not heard back from him since Tobias contacted Jennifer, and told him that he killed Jefferson.  Revenge is heavy on the mind of the family, but Gambi and Lynn preach patience.  They need to plan to get Tobias, and that means taking down his little organization from the foundation down.  While they begin to plan to topple Tobias, Jefferson is actually quite alive....but worse for wear...and buried in an unmarked grave six feet under.  He's in panic mode and shouts for help, but his cries go unheard.  Jefferson spends a good part of this episode buried alive, as he feels that he's at the end of his rope and failed to protect Freeland, and get justice for his father.  We see him remember his family, and everything he's done from his past...including having doubts about his powers as a youth, as Gambi had told him that he'd teach him how to use his powers for good.  He also ends up having a conversation with his father as he nears death...and his father informs him that he's not through.  He tells Jefferson that he has everything he needs around him to get the job done against Tobias....so go do it.

As Tobias is accepting his win as Mayor of Freeland, and mapping out his plans, Detective Shakur goes to see Chief Lopez, only to enter her office, and find the case of metagenes with a vial having been used.  He then gathers his team and says that Lopez has gone rogue, she's powered up with energy absorption powers, and she's a loose cannon.  His team gets to work on finding her. Jen really wants to go after Tobias and kill him, but she knows she can't.  So, in order to stop him, she'll have to power up, so---against everyon'e s wishes---she heads back into the ionosphere, and soaks up more energy, and then returns.  She's a tad woozy, but says she's okay.  While she ended up flying back to the Sanctum, the collective that's been hanging in the sky the last few weeks starts to shift more, and it shows a face, and tries to reform itself.  One it reconstitutes...we see that it's actually the original Jennifer Pierce...or seems to be....she's back and she flies back to Earth.  

The Pierce family have laid out a plan, as Gambi has found the emitter hidden at Tobias' tower.  He gives Grace and Anissa orders to provide cover and distraction, while he sneaks into the building to take out the emitter.  Gambi uses his tech and training to get into the building, find the emitter, and plant a bomb on it to destroy it.  Once he leaves, it goes off, and when he surrenders himself to the group of guards searching the place for him...Thunder and Wild attack, their powers having been restored...and none too soon.  They all continue to fight and Thunder is it with a few DEG bullets.  She's wounded, but she'll be okay.  Gambi and Wild get her out of there and back to the Sancturm as quickly as possible.  In the moment the emitter was destroyed, Jefferson...hearing his father's words....wonders how he's got everything he needs to break free....but then he remembers...and starts channeling eneregy from all the Promethium that had been buried deep beneath Freeland in the wake of his battle with Gravedigger.  He harnesses that energy, and breaks free, and unearths himself.  Black Lightning is back, and he let's the family know it.  He asks where Tobias is, and he's off for their final showdown.  

TC and Jen work their way through the tunnels to try and sneak up on Tobias, when the real Jennifer appears.  It turns out, the New Jen was an entity that Jennifer called the ionosphere.  It thought it killed Jen when she split her apart, but Jen managed to survive the ordeal, and reform.  The New Jen said that she hated Jennifer for having a life, a physical form, and wanted that for herself.  So, she decided to take it.  New Jen attacks Jennifer, and TC tries to help, but he gets blasted by New Jen.  The two Lightning women fight, and it looks like the New Jen is going to get the upper hand and win.  But Jennifer smiles, and then powers up like never before---and absorbs New Jen into her....ending the threat.  At this time, Detective Shakur finds Chief Lopez siphoning off electrical power from the powerlines, threatening to cast Freeland into darkness.  Shakur tries to reason with her, but she's pissed that he brought her own officers to take her down.  She powers up and holds them off until Lightning shows up.  Lopez, furious, is intent on killing her, and they both start to battle.  But it doesn't last  long, as Lightning puts her down, and the fight is finished.  Shakur thanks her, and she takes off.  

Black Lightning eventually makes his way to Tobias' Tower, and the final fight is on.  It's a bit back-and-forth, as the two men absorb each other's blows.  Tobias is trash talking Black Lightning the whole time, but Black Lightning isn't going for it.  Eventually, the battle takes a turn, and Black Lightning blasts Tobias out the window, where he is impaled on a spike on the roof.  Black Lightning says it's over, but Tobias refuses to give up....and quotes the last lines of Moby Dick (much like Khan did to Kirk in Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan).  He fires a few more shots at Black Lightning, but to no avail.  Tobias Whale dies, and vengeance...and justice...is served for Jefferson Pierce.

We later on see TC all healed up...his powers reactivated, and ends up entering the mind of Khalil/Painkiller.  He says he's found a way to turn off the kill order on the Pierce family once and for all---but Khalil won't like it:  it involves erasing his memory of the family...especially Jen.  Painkiller can care less, and Khalil thinks about it for a bit.  He then makes the call, and TC performs the process.  

The Pierce Family is celebrating their victory, and the fact that they are in the clear, what with Looker testifying to her crimes...and Tobias'...in the frame up of the Pierce Family.  Jennifer is still coping with being back, and the fact that everyone took the imposter Jen for the real thing.  They all apologize, but she says it's okay.  She's just got to cope with it...and she just wants to BE for now.  Then she changes the mood and says that it's party time.  Jefferson gives his best wishes in a toast to Anissa and Grace.  He and Lynn also announce that they're going to get remarried.  Lynn realizes that, all this time, her place was by his side...and with her family.  Jefferson also announces that he's stepping back as Black Lightning...and leaving the protection of Freeland to Thunder, Lightning, and Wild.  He believes in them, and is proud of them.  Gambi also decides to step back, believing TC to be more than capable of handing the logistics for this team.  The torch is passed to the younger generation, as Jefferson, Lynn, and Gambi will be there in advisory roles.  The party continues...

In the wake of Black Lightning and Tobias Whale's final battle....the frozen, sealed body of Lala...the Tattooed Man, has been cracked, and has allowed Lala to be revived.  As he awakens, shakes off the dust and concrete...and surveys his surroundings...he looks out the window, and sees the impaled body of Tobias still there.  He chuckles and says it's about time someone took him down.  And it looks like Lala is ready to take over and bring The 100 to new heights.   As our show ends....we know that evil will still lurk in Freeland---with the new Team Black Lighting ready to answer the call.  

Well....they had to speed things up, and cram A LOT into this last episode, but they did a fairly nice job of it.  It was good for Jefferson to get that "heart to heart" with his dad as he's facing death...and his father telling him what a good man he was, and to finish business.  For Black Lightning to draw upon the Promethium for his powers once they were clicked back on, was pretty cool.  I wasn't, however, expecting their final battle to be one to the death....but I guess there was no other way for Jefferson to move on, other than to kill Tobias.  I was just hoping for something a TAD more epic....to have Tobias watch his house of cards fall down...and THEN the big battle.  So, it was a tad bit of a letdown about Tobias' fall...but when you have about an hour to tell a finale, and you have a lot of moving parts....you take what you can get.  But it's a part of Jefferson's life that he can close the book on, and get on with life.  He and Lynn getting remarried is also a long overdue thing.

For me...the HUGE surprise was the return of China Anne McClain as our OG Jennifer Pierce, and defeating the New Jennifer...whom we thought was the actual real deal.  As it turns out, New Jen was a being called the ionosphere, whom blew Jen up, and then took her place, albeit with a new face.  To have our actual Jen back was a treat, and we know that Lightning, the REAL Lightning...is back and raring to go---with augmented powers, no less.  And I dug that it was HER that took down the now-snapped Chief Lopez...it was a fitting end to Lopez's revenge kick.  My curiosity is...what will happen to her?  Will she be put away, only to escape and plague Lightning again?  Makes me wonder.  The stories that could be mined there.  I was also glad to see Grace become more accepting of her powers, and of the life she has with Anissa.  This is who they are...and with these women leading the way....and TC taking over for Gambi...I've no doubt Freeland will be in good hands.  I also wonder about what will happen with Detective Shakur?  I hope he makes Chief....he'd be perfect for it.  And they'll need something fast....now that Lala has awakened...and we know HE will be ready to cause his own trouble now that Tobias is gone. 

We also got one more step closer to HOPEFULLY getting Painkiller greenlit to series, now that TC has managed to take out the kill order on the Pierce Family.  While it takes away the memories of the family to Khalil, it DOES make his dual personality easier to manage...plus, he's got his own villain to deal with in Odell and his daughter. 

Overall, it was an AWESOME 4 seasons, and arguably the best acted, well written superhero show of the Arrowverse.  I'm going to miss the Pierce Family...going to miss the many villains we got to experience in Freeland...but we know there will be MANY adventures they will have.  And as for Jefferson---I wonder if someday we will get him in a Justice League show?  I truly enjoyed this show, and it's hard to believe that it's over, and this is my last blog for Black Lightning.  I hope you guys enjoyed the blogs as much as I did writing them.  What was YOUR favorite thing about the show?  What will you miss?  Subscribe to the blog, and let me know.

That's it from Freeland, gang....for one last time....the Power is OFF.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 6.4

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  6.4:  "Bay of Squids"  

Yes, kids!  Another week has arrived for our CW shows, and we kick our week off with the Mirthful Misfits of Time.  Last week, they managed to save Zari's ex, DJ S'More Money from being killed by an alien, and in the process, Zari and John got closer, and are giving this relationship a real try.  Ava finally threw down the gauntlet to Mick as far as his attitude goes, and Sara was injured, and discovers a man who's been looking for her for quite a while, as Gary tries to find her, after devouring a bunch of Ava Sharpe clones.  We have no idea what happens from one week to the next, but we KNOW the team will find itself in trouble yet again, as they try to capture and take down another alien that's mucking up the timeline.  So, let's find out what trouble they managed to cause THIS week...

This week found the team land smack dab into the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis back in 1961, as Mick asserts control of the Waverider after finding out where their next alien landed, which was Cuba.  However, what Mick DIDN'T do is ensure that the ship was cloaked, and hence left the team exposed to prying eyes.  But before things really hit the fan, they end up in the jungle, where they land inside a truck that is carrying a nuclear warhead that the Russians had.  Mick ends up stealing the truck so that they can make their escape and find the alien, that just makes things worse.  Now, the team has to split up, find the alien, deliver the warhead back to the Russians, and prevent nuclear war by setting history right.  So, Ava and Behrad head to the Russian base to find the alien and nab it, Zari and Nate head to Washington to ensure that President Kennedy doesn't go nuclear, and Mick and Spooner...well, Mick has to return the warhead because he messed up the mission.  

Zari and Nate arrive in Washington, and manage to get into Kennedy's cabinet meeting, where they're discussing Russia, the nukes, and Cuba.  Nate does his best to try to implore Kennedy to use diplomacy, but the head of the Army is pushing for the President to arm the nukes and go to Def-con 3.  When they receive intel about a new "bomber", Nate looks at it, and it's the Waverider.  Try as he might, the President orders them to go to Def-con 3. Meanwhile, Ava and Behrad infiltrate the base, and get into the OR where the Russian doctors are going to open up the alien.  Ava does her best to fit in as a Russian doctor, but when it comes time to open up the alien, she has to think fast.  She begins the incision, and Behrad has to bail....he can't handle it.  And once he gets out of there, he bumps into some Cuban soldiers who mistake him for a friend of Fidel Castro's...so they take him to Castro himself. Spooner and Mick end up bringing the warhead back to the Russians. Ava then slices the gas lines, and allows the other doctors to be hit with laughing gas until  they've passed out.  She then grabs the alien, and tries to get out of the base with it.  She meets up with Mick and Spooner, but as they try to load it onto the truck to make their escape, it awakens an attacks, and manages to flee.

Things get MORE tense for Nate and Zari, as now Castro has the nuke, and he's looking to make a statement.  The General of the Army is highly pressing the President to arm the nukes and go to Def-con 2, which he does.  Behrad, at this moment, is trying to convince Castro to find peaceful means, including serenading him.  Eventually, Behrad gets into this CBD gummies, and Castro asks for some.  It doesn't take long before Castro is stone out of his mind.  As he goes to the door to leave the room, the alien is right there.  He slams it shut, feels he's under attack, and goes to arm the nuke.  Back in the US, Washington gets word of this, and the General decides to call an audible and arm the nukes, since he feels the President won't do it.  He's willing to accept casualties on the US end as long as Russian and Cuba are stopped.  Then, it becomes the President and his staff to try and stop the General and his from initiating Armageddon.  Using football analogies, Nate and Zari manage to prevent World War III by obtaining the suitcase with the arming keys to the nukes.  The General...still not willing to quit, goes outside to finish the war.  Back in Cuba, Castro arms the nuke and sends it off.  But thanks to Nate and Zari getting to Kennedy, the crisis is averted, and a missile falls harmlessly onto the White House lawn, only to crush the General in the process.

With things being crazy in Cuba, Behrad makes his escape from Castro, and Ava realizes that they have to destroy the alien...and find an alternate way to find Sara.  Mick, Ava, Spooner, and Behrad all find the alien, and Mick and Spooner manage to communicate with it.  It says it wants to go home, and Mick says that he's willing to help---as long as it helps them find Sara.  It agrees, and they all depart....with the timeline having been righted yet again.  The team meets up, and Mick feels his sense of purpose now, as he and the alien will now head out on the Waverider to get her home, and to find Sara.  The rest of the team then decides to head to Constantine's to wait out Mick, and see if he comes back with Sara.  Zari isn't sure John's going to like it.  As Mick and Kayla (as we discover her name) the alien fly off...he starts setting ground rules...but she changes form into that of a beautiful woman with an image inducer...and she certainly has Mick's attention. 

Not much to unpack here....fairly formulaic "alien/timeline rescue" of the week, and not too much plot to it, outside of Mick, and the usual brand of hijinks you'd expect from the team.  We had no Sara or Gary this week, so we took a break from THEM to focus on this mission at hand, which propels Mick forward into HIS story (this is Dominic Purcell's last season on the show, which will leave Caity Lotz as the only original member from when the series started), in finding Sara.  Ava is settling into her role a little more as Captain, and has had her rows with Mick as of late, but I feel she's gotten his respect, because she's taken charge and stood her ground.  As for Mick...him going on the mission with Kayla gives him a meatier storyline, since he's usually around for comic relief, and when they need something stolen or set aflame.  With this being Purcell's last season, I think this is their way of sending him off in style, and allows him the honor of rescuing Sara Lance....his only true friend left on the team.  And when he leaves, the team is truly changed once more, because another core member is gone, and it leaves Sara with a bunch of newbies in a sense.  The team that Rip Hunter put together in Season 1 is pretty much gone, except for Sara.  And when Mick DOES leave, it's going to be hard for her, because that's like losing a brother, and her real best friend on that ship.  So, the emotional beats there are pretty good hopefully.  But it just FEELS right that Mick is the one to find her and bring her home.

We had a Zari and Nate team up, and they did pretty well together.  Nate was lamenting at the beginning of this episode about missing HIS Zari, who's inside the totem that both this Zari and Behrad have.  And Nate has, at times, seen HIS Zari in this version....but as the episode went on, and at the finish---he finally sees this Zari for who SHE is...and it looks like Nate can finally start to move forward.  Nate has always seemed like he was stuck in place as a character.  Hopefully, this will propel him forward with new development as the season progresses.  And aside form Ava...Sara is going to need a best friend to lean on...and that should be Nate.  And with Nate moving forward, it will allow us to put more on the Zari/John relationship, and see how THAT develops.  Spooner has a purpose on the ship, but she's still not a character that's grown on me yet.  There's just not enough there to make me like her much.  But with Mick leaving, I guess they need someone to be rough around the edges like HE is to fill that role---and that'll be her.  But there STILL needs to be more there for me.  Behrad....I dunno.  He's gone backwards as a character.  I'm trying to figure out just what in the hell his purpose actually IS---other than being the new comic relief.  Because, honestly, he's been fairly useless this season.  He spends more time being stoned and unwilling to engage in anything to help the team.  As Zari has taken on a bigger role and embraced it...he hasn't.  And while they CAN work great as a team, I just feel he's an albatross right now.  

What do YOU feel is good and/or bad about this show right now?  What can be done to improve it?  Do you feel Legends has run its course?  Subscribe below and share your thoughts with me.  

Until then....Time is on our side. 

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK 

It's been awhile since we've posted one of these, but I was looking for an appropriate book to chat about, and while I thought it was going to be a series from the mid-80's, it turns out, THESE two had actually had  a mini-series beforehand in 1982.  But it's the first time we got these two to team up OUTSIDE of the Avengers, and this series is what we'll be looking at this week.  So, in honor of the fantastic series WandaVision, we're going to peek into their FIRST mini-series go-around.  

VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH #1 (OF 4) 

COVER ART: Rick Leonardi

WRITER:  Bill Mantlo

ARTIST:  Rick Leonardi

INKS:  Ian Akin & Brian Garvey

LETTERS:  Joe Rosen

COLORS:  Bob Sharen

EDITOR:  Mark Gruenwald

COVER DATE:  November 1982

PUBLISHER:  Marvel Comics

TAGLINE:  Night of the Living Druid

STORY TITLE:  "Trick Or Treat"  

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1 was the first, of a 4 issue series that featured the two star-crossed lovers of The Avengers.  The writers at Marvel apparently saw something when they had these two interact in the pages of The Avengers, because they found some instant chemistry, and built their relationship from there.  It's weird seeing a living synthezoid and a mutant witch cohabitate, and develop a romantic relationship.  But somehow, these two have a flow to them that somehow works.  Marvel writer Bill Mantlo put this idea to the test, as he had them leave the Avengers to start a life with each other, and set up shop in New Jersey.  From there, the fun begins.  This series gives them a few obstacles to deal with...including running across Wanda's TRUE father...Magneto.  This duo proved to be popular, that their story was once again picked up a few years later in a 12 issue series, where they actually had the two boys involved.  Some of what was featured in THAT series was what made it to TV for WandaVision.   Nonetheless, we LOVE these two together, and have always enjoyed whatever adventures they take us on. 

THE STORY:  As Vision and Wanda have retired form the Avengers, they decide to set up a home in Leonia, New Jersey.  A housewarming gift from Cap--a Druidic tome he found in Greymoor Castle--ends up possessing the essence of Samhain, and causes havoc on Halloween, as three children are possessed by him, and attack Jarvis, who had arrived to deliver the gift to the couple, and it's up to them to stop the spirit from taking over the town.  Also, Wanda gets a shock when she's visited by whom she believes is her real father:  Robert Frank.  

***********************************************************************************
 

Marvel found such popularity with these two characters...especially after this mini 4 issue run that gives us more of Wanda's past, and the continued development of her relationship with Vision, that they greenlit another min-series in 1985.  There are just certain characters that...when you put them together...their chemistry and characterizations are just on-point.  But this is our first introduction to them away from The Avengers, and their legend continues to grow to this day...as witnessed by their appearances in the Avengers films in the MCU, and eventually their own show, WandaVision. 

NEXT TIME:  Another classic book from our historical pull list....

SUPERMAN & LOIS 1.6

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  1.6:  "Broken Trust"  

That Jordan Kent kid can't seem to catch a break.  Having to deal with a social disorder that makes him an awkward enough kid, he's also inherited a part of his dad's Kryptonian ability to soak up solar energy, and have super-powers....and his problem as of late is learning to control them.  His flare up at the bonfire party caused a ruckus, and apparently, Tag felt it effected him in a way that gave him uncontrollable super-powers as well.  So, he's a bit pissed off at his situation, as he escaped from the DoD and went straight for Jordan himself at the end of last episode.  There is also Lois' continued quest to bring Morgan Edge down, and she's got an unexpected ally in a man named Marcus, who is REALLY the alternate Earth's Lex Luthor.  So, let's pick up where we left off, and talk about what happened this week.

Jordan has had A LOT of difficulty adapting to his powers, and still needs some help to learn to control them.  Clark continues to help him as best he can, as he starts teaching him about focusing his strength, as well as his heat vision.  But before Clark can teach him more, we see that Tag had to beat the snot out of him, because Tag is desperate to know HOW he became the way he did, and he blames Jordan for it.  So, Jordan is getting beaten up, and he barely manages to call his dad, and Superman races out to save him, and chases Tag, but Tag causes a train to derail to distract the Man of Steel, and while Superman makes the save of the train, the Tag takes off.  Back at the Kent Farm, they fuss over him, and try to figure out what Tag is up to.  Gen. Lane has tabs on Tag in Metropolis, and is looking to capture him.  Clark wants Jordan to sit out the football game, but he wants to get back at Metropolis high really bad, because the players on that team used to bully him.  So, he manages to lie to his dad, because at school, he starts having headaches, and sensitivity to sound.  As much as Jonathan wants to tell their dad about it, Jordan begs him not to.  Sarah comes up and says that she'll be at the game to root him on.  Jordan is still hurting, but he's going to power through...which we see turns into a mistake.

Speaking of Sarah, it turns out that she's got to play babysitter to her little sister Sophie the night of the game, because Lana and Kyle are having a night out due to Lana getting a new promotion thanks to Morgan Edge...who just had a press conference earlier in the day, and wants her to head up the community center.  Lois also showed up at the press conference, looking to find a way to get into the mines that will be opening up, and Kyle being a total kiss up to Edge.  Lois shows up at the Cushings to see if she can get access to the mines, but Kyle and Lana turn her down.  Lois turns to Lana and tells her to be careful, and be aware of what she gets herself into.  So, with the Cushings going to dinner to celebrate, Sarah forgoes the game to babysit her sister.  Unfortunately, that goes bad for her, as Tag shows up, seeking help from her, and wanting answers about what Jordan did the night of the bonfire.  Sarah says she doesn't know anything, and tries to close the door on Tag, but he blows it open and knocks her out, taking her.  

Jordan's issues continue, as his powers effect him during the game, and it's not making the coach happy.  And when the starting quarterback goes down, Jonathan goes in, and he ends up leading Smallville to a comeback win against Metropolis.  Especially when Jordan helps the team win in the end.  But the Metropolis team starts beating down on Jordan in the end zone, and as his teammates go to pull the players off him, his powers start acting up, and his heat vision activates.  Clark senses this, and runs to him, and tells him to release it into his hands.  Later on, Jonathan finally fesses up to their Clark about Jordan's issues, and Clark isn't happy about the fact they kept him out of the loop.  He orders the boys to stay in the hotel room, as he got a call from Lana, asking if he's seen Sarah, but he hasn't, and she's been kidnapped.  Clark takes off to go search for her.  And instead of staying in the room, the boys go out to celebrate the team win.  Once out, they bump into the Metropolis team and they mock both Jon AND Jordan, and as much as Jonathan tries to pull Jordan back from losing control, Jordan loads up to slug his old bully, and Jonathan puts his hand up to block the punch, knowing what Jordan can do, and Jonathan gets severely injured.  

Checking in on Lois, she's trying to get a pass to get into the mine, but isn't having much luck until Marcus shows up.  Marcus managed to get passes, and they head to the mine, where Marcus uses some high tech equipment to cut into the wall of the mine, to show Lois the X-Kryptonite, which they've never heard of.  But their discovery is short lived, as Leslie Larr shows up, and attacks them with heat vision.  Marcus uses yet another piece of high tech equipment to blast Leslie, and allow the pair to make their escape.  Marcus tells her that the story is the X-Kryptonite, but Lois is MORE interested in who the hell Marcus is.  As she goes to press him more for info, she gets a call from Jordan about Jonathan being hurt.  She takes off, but she lets him know that their business is NOT finished.  

Clark is off to Metropolis, where they have tracked Tag.  He took Sarah there, because he needs to know about Jordan, and have her tell the truth, so that he can figure out what happened to him.  She continues to say she knows nothing, and Tag is getting upset, but by this time, Superman arrives to try and diffuse the situation.  He tries to reach Tag peacefully, but Gen. Lane's DoD agents arrive to take Tag out, and Superman tells them to hold their fire, but they fire Kryptonite bullets and Superman saves Tag from attack.  He falls down, and you can see him lose his cool.  He manages to pull out the bullets, and get into the agent's face, eyes red, ready to use his heat vision.  The troops back down, Sarah is saved, and Superman and the General have yet another contentious talk, and Superman reminds him that Tag is just a scared kid looking for answers...and Sam's approach isn't the good one.  Thus, putting more of a chasm between Gen. Lane and the Man of Steel.  Superman then gets wind from Jordan that Jonathan was hurt, and he's off like a shot. 

We later see Lois and Clark talking to the boys about keeping control, and Jonathan has a broken arm, and my never play football again.  He's not happy with Jordan, and leaves the room.  Clark once again reinforces to Jordan that these powers have consequences, and he needs to learn to be responsible with them....having them and using them requires trust.  And he's got to earn it...and tells him that even when he started as Superman, he had to earn the trust of the public.  Lois then talks to Clark, and informs him about what she discovered at the mine, and what Marcus Bridgewater knows, and how Leslie Larr attacked them with what looked like Kryptonian powers.  This isn't making Clark happy, but Lois plans on getting answers.  Afterwards, Lois and Lana chat, and Lana offers to help Lois expose Edge if he's doing something underhanded.  Lois asks her whether or not she wants to tell Kyle, and Lana says that they'll keep it on the downlow. 

 Later on, Jordan and Sarah are chatting before she leaves with her mom, and Sarah lets him know that he can confide in her if he wants to say anything, and that Tag says he blames Jordan for his condition.  Jordan plays it off by lying to her, and then expresses his displeasure at having to do it to his mother.  Lois had just finished her talk with Lana, and listens to Jordan break down about how much his powers seem like a curse.  She comforts her son, but then he starts clutching his head, in agonizing pain, and yells out for Clark.  Clark zips in, uses his x-ray vision to scan Jordan's head, and immediately picks him up, and says he has to get him to the Fortress...and flies off with his son to help him. 

We got a pretty decent story this week, and got some uptick on the Morgan Edge story, as well as continue to watch Jordan cope with his powers....and screw up like any typical teenager does.  Jonathan is an amazing brother, and sacrificed his football career to spare his brother from exposure, and from killing his old Metropolis bully.  Although he's not happy Jordan reacted as he did, and will probably NOT forgive his brother for awhile, it still shows that Jon has a good head on his shoulders, and is the more responsible one of the two.  How the brothers mend fences will be another matter...especially with Jordan now having to deal with his powers raging out of control, and Clark racing him to the Fortress to try and save him. 

I think it's safe to say that, in regards to Jordan, Tag has woken up SOME suspicion in  Sarah about Jordan.  Her little quip about wanting Jordan to open up to her was that test balloon to see if he'll open up, but he doesn't.  But when he DOES open up...it's to the person he can rely on---Lois.  Whether Jordan learns from this is another matter, as he's still an angsty teen who's going to have to grow up a little faster than he wants to.  He's going to go through more growing pains before it's said and done.  And I wonder how long it will be before Sarah is roped into his truth?  

Lois now has MORE on her plate to deal with than just being Mom to two boys:  still chasing the Edge story, and now having to deal with this Marcus Bridgewater character (Lex Luthor).  His tricks of the trade to get them into the mine, to discover the X-Kryptonite (something NEITHER her NOR Clark have ever heard of), and having a near-death experience with a super-powered Leslie Larr.  We're getting that gritty, curious, and headstrong Lois Lane we all know and love.  I'm glad we get the space on this show to see Lois do her thing, and keep giving us the human perspective on everything.  I always look forward to seeing Lois do her thing every week, as it helps balance out the show, what with Clark/Superman doing his superhero stuff.  But Lex has now put himself into Lois' crosshairs, and we shall see what her response is when she begins to uncover the truth. It's also great that she managed to get to Lana about Morgan Edge.  Happy as Lana is about her promotion, I think she honestly still feels creeped out by Edge, and by the fact that Lois makes a convincing argument.  Lana feels she can trust Lois' instincts not only because she's a good reporter, but because Clark trusts her completely.  For Lana...that's good enough.  Plus...she cares about the town and loves the town...and she'll do anything to protect it.  I LOVE the idea of Lana and Lois working together...it reinforces THEIR friendship and bond.  

The Last Son of Krypton had some issues of his own this week...aside from trying to help Jordan gain better control of his powers, to having him help Jordan in the game in releasing his heat vision into his hands, to having to square off with General Lane's troops, looking to destroy a scared kid trying to understand HOW he got this powers.  Superman always does his best to diffuse every situation logically, without having to resort to violence unless necessary.  And if ANYONE understands what it's like to be a scared teenage kid disvoering their powers---it's Clark.  But leave it to General Lane to take the militaristic  approach, and try to put the kid down for good.  The fact that Lane already HAS the alternate Lex in his head about the threat of Superman just fuels his agenda more.  When Superman got shot with the Kryptonite bullets, that was the first time in a long while, I've ever seen Superman pissed off.  That poor soldier was lucky he didn't get fried to a crisp with heat vision.  But I think that will be ONE of the little notes General Lane will use as  an excuse to take Clark down should he feel he needs to.   But this is further putting a canyon in the relationship between the two, and it WILL come to a head eventually. 

Well, folks....what did YOU think and feel about the latest installment of Our Man of Might, and is intrepid reporter wife?  Subscribe below, and gimme your input.  

Until next time....Up, up, and away!