DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 7.12

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  7.12:  "Too Legit To Quit"  

In the penultimate episode of Season 7, we see that the Legends, having taken back the Waverider, still have an evil Gideon to deal with, are faced with a choice:  retire or be destroyed.  It's not something they like, but it's certainly the situation they're faced with, as Evil Gideon has put them in a position to where it's either walk away from the job, or die at the sinister A.I.'s hands.  Plus...they're still looking to keep their promise to Dr. Gwyn Davies:  to rescue his beloved Alan from dying in World War I.  What happens?  Let's discuss...

As we left off the last installment, Gideon was stabbed by the robot Astra, and she's rushed into the infirmary to be healed.  With Evil Gideon now having to deal with the actual Legends on the ship, she begins to suck all the oxygen off the ship, thus attempting to kill the crew.  But thanks to Gideon, she manages to tell her counterpart that she cannot do such, for she'll kill her in the process, and thus--should that happen--she would not exist.  So, Evil Gideon backs off, but she's still intent on fulfilling her basic function:  protect the timeline.  While the team tries to plot a way to deactivate Evil Gideon, the real Gideon and Gary try to coax a deal out of the dark A.I., and she agrees.  So, Gideon presents the team with a deal:  Evil G will allow them to return home....on the condition that they RETIRE as protectors of the timeline.  This doesn't sit well with the team at first, but Gideon promises that her evil counterpart will show them their futures, and what they'd be like.  So, while everyone is getting a glimpse into what life will hold for them, Sara, Ava, and Spooner plot to have her sneak through the air duct of the ship to get into the armory, in order to find a way to deactivate Evil G, since she's blocked off her core, and the armory as well, for if anyone leaves one portion of the room, she'll kill them.  

Sara and Ava see that they have a daughter, Behrad sees that he becomes a singer, while we don't exactly see Nate and Astra's futures, we do see that Zari 2.0 becomes a media sensation.  But for her----it leaves her very unfulfilled.  She was hoping she'd be more---especially since being with the team, she's felt like a real hero, and she doesn't want to just go back to being a major media influence.  The team then debates about their potential futures, knowing that protecting the timeline has always been their first priority, albeit done in a messy manner.  While this is happening, we notice that Spooner has planted the device to disrupt Evil Gideon.  Meanwhile, Ava and Behrad try to convince Gwyn that he still deserves his happy ending.  He's understanding of the rules, and is content to live his life out in 1925, same as Spooner, because everyone will return to their proper time.  However, Sara's plan goes awry, and Spooner is almost whisked off the ship by Evil Gideon, but they manage to talk her down, and says that the timeline MUST be protected not just by an A.I., but by someone with compassion as well.  Gideon embodies both, so Gideon agrees to stay behind as the Captain of the Waverider, while her evil counterpart serves as the A.I., and the team all signs their contractual agreements to retire and head back to their proper homes.  They have one last time together before they all go, and Gary and Gideon admit their love for one another.  She asks Gary to stay behind, and he agrees.  So, with the rest of the team gone, she and he go about their new adventure.  However, we also see Gwyn reunited with Alan, and it seems they're happily ever after.  Astra had made keys for everyone so they could meet in the mansion in the pocket dimension once a week to keep touch.  

Gideon and Gary prepare for dinner, when she admits to him that she lied to him and Gwyn, and made a robot Alan so that the Legends wouldn't die, and the timeline is spared.  Gary's upset at first, and walks off, but he also can't shake his love for her.  Gideon feels she's lost Gary, and the Evil G begins to play on her emotions.  As Gary goes to meet up with Gideon, he's sucked off the ship by Evil Gideon, and he's lost to the time stream.  Evil Gideon then admits that Gary bolted, and she says it's for the best.  Meanwhile, we see that Gwyn had showed Alan his time machine, and then pulls out Alan's CPU, revealing that he KNEW this Alan was a fake...and he's going after the real deal. 

Well...if they DID feel they wanted to END the series after this season....they have a way out to do it.  The last two have fallen rather flat, and this season has been underwhelming at best after the start of some promise to begin the season.  But as we have seen over the course of 12 episodes is a series that's running out of steam.  I know the show has NOT been renewed (as yet), and depending on this upcoming season finale, will determine whether or not we get a Season 8.  I DO know Caity Lotz is scheduled to direct an episode of The Flash coming up, so we'll see what that holds for Sara Lance.  But to say this season hasn't lived up to season's past is an understatement.  Though I AM happy that this season, we got Amy Pemberton pulling double duty not only as a fully humanized Gideon, but as her evil counterpart as well.  A lot of this season has surrounded HER, and how she's navigated her combination of humanity as well as still being part computer.  Her evil programmed A.I., thanks to Bishop, has been content on destroying our team, by using robot doubles of them, but that failed.  But Pemberton has definitely done a fine job of walking that line between good and evil.  It's also great to have seen some relationships blossom, such as Astra and Behrad, but I'm still creeped out by the Gideon/Gary pairing.  Far as growth...that's come in the form of Zari 2.0, whom we have seen become a more dedicated hero, and not the snob media sensation she was when she got started.  We've also seen a new side to Behrad which is good.  Most importantly, each member of the team got to step up and lead the way a lot this season, and I was quite happy with Spooner, who's filled in Mick's role nicely.  

But...that doesn't mean the show hasn't had its faults.  The story this season has just left little to be desired, aside from the one where Astra fought for the black women to be put on the building of the war planes for the U.S. during World War II, and for Behrad to finally come to grips with his fears.  However, it's been more of a letdown than not.  Though I've also enjoyed the relationship that Astra formed with Gideon---taking on a reluctant mother role to her, since bringing her back from the destroyed Waverider.  I'm hoping this season can end on a positive note, and set up something epic for next season, but if they decided that enough is enough....this isn't a bad place to end the series.  It's had a really good run, but the last two seasons have left me lacking in the enthusiasm department.  I just haven't been feeling it the last couple of seasons, and I feel that either they need to do SOMETHING to shake up the series, and raise the stakes, or it's time to bid the Legends farewell.  We'll see when the CW gets around to renewing the show or not.  But until then, we'll see how the final episode plays out, and speculate from there.

How did YOU all feel with this episode?  What do YOU think happens in the finale?  Do YOU think this is it for the Legends?  Subscribe and lemme know your thoughts below.  

Until then....Time is on our side. 

SUPERMAN & LOIS 2.5

 

RECAP - SUPERMAN & LOIS  2.5:  "Girl...You'll Be A Woman Soon"

Things just keep going from bad to worse in Smallville, and the Kents can't catch a break.  This episode brings us more insight as to what Bizarro is up to, but for Superman, he's still not getting much help from Lt. Anderson. Lois is trying to get more info about Alison, but Chrissy resists helping her out, because Lois wasn't forthcoming on Lucy, or anything else.  Jon's hiding the drugs he's taking to enhance his abilities so he can play football this season.  And for Jordan, he's just trying to be supportive of Sarah, who's now celebrating her 15th birthday with her quinceanera, which her parents are prepping her for.  But Kyle has a dirty secret, and it's about to come home to roost for the Cushings.  We learn more about Alison and her plan, and what the "Ascension" truly is...and get to know more about her life, and what led her to where she his today

Alison's past comes to light as we see a younger version of her accepting this amulet that was owned by her father.  Her brother tells her that it has brought nothing but misery to their family, but she didn't listen to him, and he's ushered out.  This takes place in Metropolis in 1979.  She prepares for a guest:  Chrissy Beppo.  Chrissy goes to interview Alison, despite Lois asking her to help with the story about Bizarro.  Chrissy is still pissed off at Lois, and she goes to meet with Alison.  As the interview goes on, Alison talks about her vision of The Ascension.  She ends up drugging Chissy, and uses the amulet to show Chrissy a darker version of herself. Having been transported into this alternate world freaks her out, and all Alison can tell her is that she as "ascended".  What that means, I have no idea, but I can see now how many have fallen into Alison's trap.  Chrissy is just the latest.  Meanwhile, Lois' investigation into Alison....going over her own story to find any holes in it, as she told Clark...she discovers the one of the people attending Alison's seminars was Dr. Faulkner.  Lois goes to talk to Faulkner, only to find Bizarro there...and they have a staredown for a brief moment, and then he flies off, and Lois discovers that he's killed Faulkner by twisting her neck.  

Superman goes to visit Lt. Anderson yet again, to see if he can use the pendant that Bizarro had to track him, but Anderson shows him that when the two are in proximity to each other, they power up.  Anderson questions Superman's loyalty, and refuses to let the Man of Steel have the pendant...unless he brings Bizarro to him.  So, Superman is on his own, and he does check in on Tag at this point in time, and tells him to continue to rest, and that he did the right thing in taking the pendant to Anderson.  He then meets up with Lois, and they both discover that they seem to have a common enemy:  Alison Alston.  So, they quickly get to Alison, who tries to play off Lois' warning until Bizarro does show up.  Superman saves her, and he and Bizarro fight.  They trade blows back and forth, but Superman eventually puts him down.  He then flies him north to the Fortress of Solitude, where he hopes his mother Lara can come up with the answers as to WHY Bizarro is here.  They then get ready for Sarah's party.

Sam Lane arrives at the farm to start training Jordan, and Jon gets wind of this, and offers to be a sparring partner for Jordan, and they agree.  But before he does...he takes a whiff of the drug he got from Candice, and is ready to help out Jordan.  However, in the process of he and Jordan sparring, he starts getting REALLY aggressive.  Sam halts the sparring, but Jon throws it in Jordan and Sam's face that maybe the wrong Kent is being taught when it comes to their powers.  They each get themselves ready for the party. 

Speaking of the birthday girl, Sarah is being taught to dance by her dad, as Lana just beams with pride.  She goes to prepare for the party, and Kyle wonders just how lucky he is to have his family, especially his daughter. However, he keeps ignoring the calls from the bartender Tonya, whom he had an affair with.  

The party eventually begins, and all parties involved attend the celebration.  Jordan is obviously in awe of Sarah's dress and how she looks, Jon goes off, and Lois and Clark show up, and talk a little bit about what's happened.  She had felt guilt earlier over lying to Chrissy, and for what happened with Lucy.  Clark tries to assure her that she shouldn't feel that way, she did all she could.  Chrissy shows up and tells Lois she was right about Alison...she drugged her, and told Lois what happened.  Lois and Chrissy go to talk as Kyle talks to Clark about the party, but then he sees Mayor Dean at the party, and he realizes that the crap is about to hit the fan, and takes off, as he gets another call from Tonya.  

Sarah and Jordan spend time with each other, as they take a break from the party.  They talk about Jon and his behavior, and Sarah reassures him that things will work out.  They then overhear Kyle talking frantically to someone, and they overhear and then see Kyle talking to Tonya, who admits that she leaked info about their affair to one of her friends, who then told Mayor Dean about it.  Tonya said she thought Kyle was going to leave Lana for her, but that didn't happen.  Sarah confronts her father, and he tries to explain, but Lana shows up, and she calms everything down, and tells Sarah that this is her party, and they're going to get through this as a family.  So, they go in, and they do the father/daughter dance, but Sarah just can't handle it.  Lana is there to offer her daughter strength, as she talks about how Sarah has been just as strong for her, as she has been for Sarah.  Sarah does what she can to keep it together, as her world...and Lana's...seem to be crumbling down.  

Jon and Jordan finally have that long awaited talk about what's going on with Jon as of late, and then his eyes glow red, and Jordan realizes that Jon has powers.  He thinks that's great, and wishes he'd said something sooner.  He feels they need to tell their dad, but Jon urges him to wait on that, and let him process what's going on.  Jordan agrees.  

As for Superman, he's flown off to the Fortress, where Lara has managed to understand Bizarro's purpose.  Being able to speak now, Bizarro informs Superman that if they don't stop Alison Alston, a war will break out, and Kal-El will lose everything he ever loved.  He's here to save two worlds.  

This episode saw A LOT of puzzle pieces fit together, and we got some more background on not only Alison...who now appears to be our main enemy this season, but for Bizarro as well, as he's from an alternate reality, and he's saying he's here to save two worlds.  We now understand just who it was that Dr. Faulkner was talking to.  She was a part of Alison's cult.  And we see that this amulet she has, she uses to brainwash her members into what she calls The Ascension.  Chrissy got a taste when she saw the bizarre dark version of herself.  I wonder if the Chrissy that told Lois what she discovered is actually the evil Chrissy, and not the real Chrissy Beppo.  But either way, Lois, with the Faulkner connection, and Bizarro's ties to it all, now realizes that Alison's a much bigger threat than she thought.  And this also means that she's got to get Lucy out of this before she gets killed.  

Superman now can finally understand what Bizarro's purpose is, and we wonder at this point if they will work together, or will Kal-El keep Bizarro at bay by turning him over to Lt. Anderson?  And speaking of Anderson...how long before he finds more super soldiers, and not only stop Bizarro himself, but maybe take down Superman as well?  Tensions are getting higher and more intense between the two, and I can see that as Anderson's solution if he can't stop Bizarro.  

How long will Jon be able to stall Jordan from telling their dad about his powers?  How much of this drug and he continue to take before something bad happens?  Jon has been walking that tightrope lately, and he's been the good kid...for the most part...but now he's tired of playing second fiddle to Jordan, and he feels he needs to prove himself---even if it means putting himself at risk, and lying to his parents.  This is not going to end well for Jon when the truth comes out.  

As for Lana and Sarah...now that the cat's out of the bag, can Lana circle the wagons to save her campaign for Mayor?  Has Kyle's indiscretion with Tonya sealed her fate?  And has this revelation the straw that broke the camel's back, and there's no going back?  These two are going to have to lean on each other very heavily.  As for Kyle...he's going to have to do something extraordinary to salvage his marriage and relationship with his daughter.  His affair has put his family behind the 8-ball, and all but assured Dean's re-election.  Dark days are ahead for the Cushings, and we'll see just how bad the fallout is.  

What did YOU all think of this episode?  What's your opinion of Kyle?  Do we see Jon get out of control?  And what about Lt. Anderson?  Will he eventually turn on The Last Son of Krypton?   And can Lois save her sister...and everyone else in Alison's cult...before they're all a part of this "Ascension"?  And will we see John Henry Irons again?  And what about Natalie?  We've much to see as we move further into this season. As for your thoughts...subscribe to the blog, and leave your theories and comments below.  This show has been great on the drama, and the stories don't feel rushed.  They're taking time with character development, and they're not cheating the audience.  

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

MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

 

MOVIE REVIEW:  SPIDER-MAN:  NO WAY HOME

Our Webhead returned in a MASSIVE way with this latest installment from the join Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures venture, Spider-Man:  No Way Home.  I gotta tell you, gang....this was THE greatest Spider-Man movie I've EVER seen!  It had it ALL:  emotional beats with loaded drama, damn good action scenes, and lots of great surprises (even though the internet tried to ruin it all), it STILL it all the feels that you could ask for, and it set the tone for Spidey going forward from here on out.  It elevates Tom Holland's version of our web-slinger going forward in this Phase 4 of the MCU.  

This movie picked right back up after No Way Home, in the fact that---thanks to Quentin Beck---everyone now knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.  This forces Peter and MJ to flee, but they eventually have to face the music.  As for Peter, he's haggled by the police about Beck and the drones that were used for his nefarious plot in Europe, but Beck was careful enough to ensure that the man on the hook for ownership of the drones where Peter himself.  Because of his association with the late Tony Stark, Peter is automatically implicated in Beck's death, plus any other forms of destruction Mysterio was responsible for.  But, with the help of defense lawyer Matt Murdock, the chargers against Peter are dropped.  However, the same can't be said to Happy Hogan, as he is STILL employed by Stark Industries, that makes HIM on the hook for the drones (and, by that measure, Pepper Potts as well).  So, Happy will have to deal with that.  Meanwhile, due to J. Jonah Jameson's yellow internet journalism, public opinion has been swayed against Peter, as he, MJ, Ned, and even Happy and Aunt May have to face the public with the situation regarding Peter's dual ID.  It's hard on MJ and Ned, who've been implicated in Peter's activities as accomplices, while May herself is grilled by the cops about enabling a minor into dangerous activity.  Either way, it gives the public reason to hate on Peter, and for everyone else that he's gone to school with, reason to just follow him around.

Frustrated by everything that's transpired, and knowing that his friends and Aunt May shouldn't have to suffer the fate of HIS mistakes or deal with the fallout of HIS dual ID, Peter seeks the aid of Doctor Stephen Strange at the Sanctum Sanctorum, where he asks Strange to cast a spell to make the world forget that Peter is Spider-Man.  However, in the process of casting the spell (which Wong has warned Strange against, before taking off for China, where we found him in Shang-Chi), Peter can't keep his mouth shut, wanting Ned, MJ, Aunt May, and Happy to remember he's Spider-Man.  But the spell is messed up, and Strange has to work to kill it.  However, as it turns out, in the process of messing up the spell, it allowed the multiverse to be opened up, and some new people started coming through to their world.  Peter didn't get into MIT, as MJ and Ned were also denied, and Peter went to go plead with the dean of MIT to allow Ned and MJ to get in, but as he catches up to her, the bridge is attacked by Doctor Octopus, whom has come over from another Earth, and battles Peter, but he notices that this is NOT the Peter Parker HE knows, but mangaes to absorb Peter's nanotech through his Stark suit.  Peter manages to stop him, but also has to face off against yet another villain who's come through:  the Green Goblin.  Octavius recognizes Normal Osborn, and he attacks, but Peter manages to fight him off, and he disappears.  Strange pulls Peter back to the basement of the Sanctum, and captures Octavius.  He tells Peter that since the spell got screwed up, people have been coming over, and he needs to stop it.  

First on Peter's list is Max Dillon:  Electro.  He heads out and manages to not only run into Dillon, but into Flint Marko as well.  Having captured BOTH of them, they get a bead on Norman Osborn, who's found his way to F.E.A.S.T., where Aunt May works.  There, he grabs Norman, and they are all in one place.  Strange shows up, and says that each of them will be returned to their proper worlds, but they must suffer the same fate that they had on those Earths:  namely, they die fighting Spider-Man.  Peter can't sit well with that, and he and Strange battle over the box that will send the villains home without curing them.  He traps Strange in the Mirror Dimension.  So, Peter, MJ, Ned, and Aunt May move them to Happy's apartment.  Peter then begins working on a way to "cure" them, in order to prevent them from dying on their respective worlds.  However, Norman has played Peter, and has been looking to plot against him the entire time.  While he DOES cure Otto, Electro, Sandman, Curt Connors, and Norman attack Peter, and in the process of the battle, Aunt May is critically injured.  She tells Peter that "With great power, there must also come great responsibility", and she dies in Peter's arms.  Distraught with her death, but also facing the cops, Peter takes off to escape capture.  

Ned and MJ try to find him, but are unable to.  Ned uses one of Doctor Strange's sling rings in order to open a portal to him, but instead, bring across a Peter Parker from another world, whom they call "Peter-Two".  Ned tries again, and then brings in yet another Peter Parker..."Peter-Three" from another part of their world.  Both are at first leery of each other, but then learn that this Earth's Peter just lost his Aunt, and they need to find him in order to stop the villains from whatever plot they've hatched.  They do find him mourning atop a building, and both Peters Two & Three discuss their own tragedies, in which they both share that they lost their Uncle Ben, and have felt guilty about it, because they take the blame.  Peter Two also talks about his girlfriend Gwen dying because he couldn't save her.  But they encourage him to pick himself up, because there's a job to do.  So...with that in mind, all three Peters put their scientific minds together in order to come up with cures for each of the villains at large.  They then realize they're planning on making their grandstand play at the Statue of Liberty, where they're doing renovations.  

The three Spideys engage the villains, and despite some early setbacks, manage to subdue the villains posing a threat, depowering them, or curing them outright.  Otto is the only villain who didn't go along with the plan.  However, this brings back Norman with upgraded Goblin gear, and attacks Peter One.  MJ gets caught up in the melee and begins to fall off the statue.  Peter Two, however, manages to save her from death, thus getting some semblence of peace for saving this world's MJ.  Peter One and the Goblin battle, and Peter One gets the best of him, and then begins to pummel him, and then destroy him with his own glider.  However, Peter Three manages to stop him before he makes that critical mistake.  Peter One relents, but this allows Norman to recover and stab Peter Three.  Norman is then cured by Peter One.  As the villains are defeated, Doctor Strange shows up, as the skies start to open up, and we see the bits of the multiverse seep through.  Strange tries to hold it off, but he can't.  Peter One then realizes that the only way to stop it is to complete the original spell.  And this means that EVERYONE will forget Peter Parker...not just that he was Spider-Man.  Strange asks him if he's sure, and he says yes.  Strange casts the spell, and it works.  The multiverse seems to have been held back, and things are looking like their going back to normal.  But Strange warns Peter One that he only has a little time to say "goodbye" before the spell takes hold.  So, All three Spidey's hug and give their goodbyes, as they take their leave, and they---along with their villains----are sent back to their rightful Earths.  Peter then tells Ned and MJ that he's going to find them after this, and he and MJ kiss and admit their love to each other before he takes off.  In the process of everyone being returned to their proper Earths, this also included Eddie Brock, who'd been transported to this Earth from his own movie, but as he's returned home, a piece of the Venom symbiote is left behind. 

Two weeks later, Peter finds Ned and MJ to help them remember, but he decides against it...allowing them to have normal lives.  He then visits his Aunt May's grave, where he bumps into Happy, who has no idea who he is.  They say they both met her through Spider-Man.  Peter then finds a new place in the city, and creates a new costume, as he continues the fight as Spider-Man. 

This movie REALLY gave us that sense of nostaliga, brought back some classic villains, and two guys we admired for their portrayal of Spider-Man.  Bringing back Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Rhys Ifans , and Thomas Haden Church as the villains from Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire's universes gave the movie a genuine threat, but allowed Tom Holland to play with villains he hasn't quite had to deal with (as yet).  All of them did a fantastic job, and Dafoe especially a treat to see, as he seemed like he did NOT miss a beat as Norman Osborn.  Being the true heavy of the villains seemed appropriate.  Molina was amazing as well, and Jamie Foxx looked MUCH better with HIS upgrades in this movie.  To see Andrew and Tobey back just pierced our hearts, but in all the right ways.  Andrew's Peter was still tortured...even moreso.  His is the darker Peter...the more tortured Peter, as he's still not managed to get over Gwen.  Tobey's Peter is still trying to do better, and still trying to balance everything in his life with HIS MJ.  But he's also the eldest of the bunch, and the one with the most wisdom to provide.  The interaction between the three was just the stuff we dreamed of as youths, and they worked well together.  I could see them work together forever, and never tire of it.  

This movie also provided us the chance to move Peter forward into full adulthood, as the death of Aunt May (which didn't sit TOO well with me, but understood WHY they did it), allowed him to fully become Spider-MAN.  Peter, while guilt ridden, will find the way to push forward as the hero.  And for him to NOT tell Ned and MJ about who he is...it's his cross to bear to live this life alone...and realize that, as the hero, it's the mission that matters, and the protection of those he loves---even if it means keeping it a secret from here on out.  He truly is a loner now.  All the world knows is Spider-Man.  Peter Parker is a nobody...a stranger to the world.  So, this opens up a new avenue to Spidey for the future, and doesn't tie him to Tony Stark anymore.  For the firs time in awhile, Peter gets to be his own man, on his own terms, and is not attatched to the legacy of Iron Man anymore.  It's a clean slate that is needed for the MCU, but for Spider-Man mostly.  It's the kind of reset needed for Spidey for Phase 4, as it elevates him for what's to come in the future.  As for Peter and Strange's interaction was terrific as well.  Plus, this also sets up Doctor Strange for what's to come for HIM this coming May.  

What did all of YOU think of this Spidey movie?  Subscribe and deliver me YOUR insights on this movie.  

Until next time...

T