DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 6.15

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  6.15:  "The Fungus Amongus"

Well...here we are, at the end of yet another journey with our time-travelling heroes, and things---as usual---are a mess.  John is now dead, something's going on with Spooner, and Bishop has allowed the Fountain of Imperium to dissipate, thus allowing the "shield" that it...and the aliens that put it there...to be taken down, thus giving Bishop's plan a chance to thrive---his conquest of the Earth so he can reshape it in his image he wants---by wiping out humanity, and replacing it with alien hybrids.  And we're supposed to be getting the wedding of Ava and Sara at this point in time---and we're not sure if that's supposed to happen or not.  So....as things seem bleak in Texas 1925...how does our misfits find their way out, and stop the threat of Bishop?  Let's find out...

Things are looking bleak.  The alien invasion is coming, the Fountain is done, John is dead, and something is wrong with Spooner.  And with the rest of the team trying to save Kayla and Mick's eggs, one is dropped, and Mick goes in to save it.  The bomb that Bishop set up goes off, but THANKFULLY, Mick survives the blast AND  saves the egg.  With the kids safe, the team heads to Gloria's house, where Spooner is weak and dying, and says that the Fountain is dying, and doesn't want anything to do with humans.  With the Waverider a bit fried, and the aliens coming, Kayla and Mick are working on getting the ship back up and running, so they can make a break for it.  Mick is watching the kids, and he says he's not leaving ANY of his children behind.  He wasn't there for Lita, so he doesn't want to make the same mistake twice.  Kayla offers Mick to come with her.  She gets Gideon back online, and before Gideon can finish a sentence, a message from Bishop, who says that Sara should've figured out his plan by now---which she had---that Bishop wants to wipe out the Earth, where only he and Sara are the only one's left.  He's determined to start a new race with Sara, and also says that the only one who could save the Fountain of Imperium is Bishop himself, but he has NO plans on doing that. The team tries to wrangle up a plan, and Nate suggests that with the fact that Sara and Bishop think alike, it's best to do something that would go against EVERYTHING Sara would do---and do it.  

Behrad had returned after the explosion...which destroyed his room, and knew things were off with John, and feels bad he didn't do something sooner.  They give Behrad the mushroom that was a part of John, or that he disintegrated into.  He ends up being able to communicate with John, and tries to tell everyone that in order to talk to John, they must eat the mushroom.  He tries to appeal to Zari, but she's having none of it...and she's still hurt he betrayed them.  He then convinces Sara to eat the mushroom, but she refuses....until she hears John's voice.  She ends up taking a bite, and is transported into another realm, where John is at, saying he's the only thing keeping the Fountain alive...as well as Spooner.  He tells her to remember the love is the most important thing in the universe.  He then whispers something in her ear, and she returns to the ship, where she tells everyone that John's profound message was:  everything is connected.  It seems to strike something of a nerve with Astra. While all of this is happening, Nate, Behrad, and Ava go to nab a younger version of Bishop, to help see if they can revive John, and save Spooner, by reverse engineering the poison given to John.  He's  in the middle of creating the first of his Ava clones when he's brought to 1925. 

Kayla is about ready to tell Gideon to take off once she's back online, but Mick stops her, and says that he is NOT leaving his friends, and his world behind.  He also knows that, despite her gruff exterior, she cares as well.  Spooner is alright, but still weak.  The aliens that have landed in pods will come out at night, and that's when they'll strike, and kill anything that happens to be in their paths.  Spooner is awake, but cannot hear what the aliens are thinking or saying...it's as if her powers have gone.  She says the Fountain doesn't want to save anyone, and there's only 4 hours until dark.  So, in Sara's crazy idea, she says that she an Ava should get married right there and then---if they're gonna die...at least die married.  The team is on board, and they begin to prepare for the wedding.  Spooner then tells her mother to flee, and don't look back.  She lost her before, she's NOT going to lose her again.  Her mother reluctantly agrees...and as she goes, Esperanza hugs Astra...fearing for her mother.  

Ava is stressing about her vows, but Gary assures her that once she looks into Sara's eyes, the words will come.  She asks Gary to walk her down the aisle, and he does, as Mick did for Sara.  Nate officiates the wedding, and both women say their vows, but before they get to the "I do's", Bishop appears in Kayla's ship, which he'd stolen earlier, and she couldn't escape in.  He says one way or another, it will be him and Sara forever, and he doesn't care how long it takes to kill every single human on Earth to get his wish.  So the aliens pop out of their pods, and they start racing for the team.  They all manage to get themselves inside the house to protect themselves as best they can. The younger Bishop administers his serum to Spooner, and she's better.  He goes to hide, as the team tries to ward off the aliens.  Behrad gets scratched by one, and he's infected.  Sara is about to amputate his arm...knowing it's the only way to prevent the spread of it....but Spooner uses her power from the Fountain to heal him.  She also uses her power to give energy to the team to help fight off the attack, but it's getting harder.  Sara and Ava said at least they're going out married----but Nate says they're not married yet.  So, the team huddles together while Kayla reverts to her real form to try and quell the attack long enough for the nuptials to happen.  Both Ava and Sara say "I do", and Nate officially declares them married.  

Then, the energy from the Fountain...it rises from the team...and it moves outside of the house...and then starts to spread and envelop the aliens, wiping them out.  Bishop isn't pleased by this, but the Fountain has deemed them worthy....because of love. This does not deter Bishop, however, who plans on his Adam and Eve quest with Sara, by starting to wipe out members of the team.  But Kayla notices the eggs are hatching, and the little ones spawn into life.  Bishop did not expect that, and then they jump up on him....but then begin to eat him until he's gone.  Gary says that the kids, when born, are VERY hungry, and eat the first thing they see.  So, they ate Bishop, and the threat of him is over.  

Ava and Nate mindwipe the younger Bishop, who doesn't wish to become the evil guy, so that he can live out his destiny in historical order.  Zari goes to where the well is----and she finds John.  Because of their deed, John is free---but the Fountain doesn't want anything to do with him.  He tells Zari that he has to go---his life lies upon a different path, and there's a demon in Hell that owns his soul again.  He gives her a big key, and she wonders what it's for---he tells her that she'll find out.  And with that...John Constantine disappears.  Sara and Mick talk about how she's married now, and that he has 46 kids.  Mick and Sara know that it's time for Mick to depart the team as well...as he and Kayla will raise their children (not to mention see Lita and his grandchild).  She tells him he's always got a home to come back to.  They hug, as one more of the OG's takes his leave of the team...leaving only Sara as the only original member.  

The team is ready to take off and get back to 2021, they begin walking towards the Waverider, when ANOTHER Waverider pops into the sky, flies over the original Waverider...and blows it up!  Now, the team has no timeship to fly in, and quite possibly stuck in 1925 for the time being as the episode ends.  

This was a nice, neat, tidy way to wrap up another season of our wayward time travelling heroes.  This season didn't quite have the pop and spark as past seasons, and we did have ONE major baddie through the whole thing....Bishop.  Very maniacal character, had they typical "dominate the universe" plan, but he had this strange obsession with Sara---as if she was a one-of-a-kind creature.  All her memories, her battles, her struggles, and her survival, he felt she was THE perfect vessel for his plan.  Considering there's Barry, Jefferson, Clark, Kara, J'onn, and a plethora of others...he chose HER.  And Sara went through a metamorphosis this season.  Her original body was destroyed, and she's now a half alien, half human, married to a clone.  Ava....to her credit...also had some growth, as she assumed a much larger role in Sara's absence as team leader.  While I still feel Ava has a ways to go to reconcile her issues about being a clone...and family....I think being married to Sara will help.

Behrad and Zari were typical brother and sister this season, but Zari 2.0 grew into a more mature, responsible member of the team.  Falling in love with John made her be more of her real self....not a face plastered all over social media.  Using the power of the totem as well helped mature THIS Zari.  Though....don't get me wrong....I was STILL more happy with Zari 1.0 and Nate than Zari 2.0.  But she got better as the season went on.  But Zari also fell in love with a man who couldn't not EVER give her what she truly craved from him :  a relationship.  John's past, his life up to his time with the Legends...has been a dark one.  Astra knows it well, because she was a part of it.  For John to have to face his demons...and he has plenty...he cannot do it while being with someone else.  John Constantine's journey was meant to be a lonely one...a tragic one.  So...it was good to see John part ways with Zari...as he should have...and go back to doing what he was meant to do:   walk that fine line between Good and Evil...Heaven and Hell.  He'll be missed, but he's MUCH more interesting when the story is dark, brooding, and menacing.  What will happen to Zari 2.0 after this?  Who knows...but I'm curious to see what's with the key he gave her.

Astra also grew this season, as she had to finally understand what it was like to live amongst humans....and for HER...it sucked for awhile.  But since starting to get her magic back, she's been a more valuable member of the team....but, she's also realized that---while her mother is never coming back---she HAS a family as long as she lets them in.  She'll be the one to fill that magical void now that John is gone.  Behrad was the comic relief of the season, but he did have his few moments as well...as we saw why a simple tv show helped shape him into the man he is today.  Nate was....Nate.  He was there, playing the right-hand man/2nd Lieutenant to either Sara or Ava, and was helpful when possible.  It was sweet to see him and Zari 1.0 together, and we miss them a lot, so we take what we can get---but Nate is still the same Nate for the most part.  

Spooner was the newbie, who thought aliens abducted her---and she immediately, upon meeting the team, showed she had all the spunk, sass, and attitude to hold her own with this team of misfits.  Her story was just as intertwined with this season as was Sara...since we found out that the Fountain had been the one to whisk Esperanza away as a child, saving her from death, but having her mother killed by a land baron.   She had originally thought it was aliens, but we find out that's not the case.  We also see that she's altered history, since she did save her mother, and there is no record at this point of her mother having been killed, so it's hard to say just how much she's damaged the timeline.  But we know that her sass and attitude will supplant Rory now that he's leaving.

We bid farewell this season to Heat Wave.  Mick Rory went from bank robber with Captain Cold, to Legend....to Dad.  Mick has seen a TON of growth during these 6 seasons, and he understands he has family in the Legends...and a best friend in Sara.  With him leaving it leaves Captain Lance as the ONLY original member of the team since its inception.  Mick has found new love, a new family with Kayla, and will keep eyes on Lita and his grandchild as well.  

Things have changed for the team, but the tightness of it remains, despite the revolving personnel.  But now with the Waverider destroyed, it will be interesting to see WHY it was destroyed...and by WHOM.  And I wonder if it has anything to do with the upcoming crossover event at the start of this next season, Armageddon.  And will some or ALL the Legends interact with Flash and the others?  We look forward to it, that's for sure.

What did YOU all think of this season?  What did you like or dislike?  Subscribe and comment on what intrigued you this season, or what was BLAH.

Until next season....Time is on our side.

SUPERGIRL 6.9

 

RECAP - SUPERGIRL  6.9:  "Dream Weaver"  

Changes keep coming in National City, but one thing remains constant:  The Superfriends are the guardians keeping vigil over it.  But new threats are always on the horizon, and this week, the threat hits somewhat close to home, and effects our heroes in certain ways....especially Kelly Olsen.  Kelly began her new job as a social worker this week.  As for Kara...she's getting a new assignment---one that's close to home:  herself.  And we also dive more into this dream that Nia is having that features Nyxly.  So, bring the gang, and let's see what happened in this installment...

Kelly Olsen began her new job as a social worker this week, and she had nerves about being able to do this job well.  Of course everyone is encouraging during game night.  We know that Lena is on a personal journey to find out more about her birth mother, and that still gives us pause to take notice of Nia's struggle with her own feelings in regards to her mother.  Kelly has to try and help a young boy named Joey, who's been misusing his powers and acting out at the orphanage.  Kelly goes to visit the young boy, and takes notice of the fact that the head of the orphanage there is a bit stern in how she handles the children.  Kelly talks to Joey, and she finds out that his older brother Orlando is in a prisoner work program, and he's been overusing his powers, and it's causing him pain.  Kelly says that she will look into it and help him out.  

Kelly discusses her story with Joey to the team, and Kara says she wrote a story about the Prisoner Work program awhile back, and that she can use her contacts to get an interview with the prison warden, see what's going on with Orlando.  They get there, and meet up with the Warden, who dismisses any incidents involving alien prisoners using their powers, but he promises to do a full investigation.  Kelly and Kara aren't 100% satisfied with his answers, so they sneak around, and find out that he's being loaded into a van with other prisoners for some work, but they do NOT look happy.  Kelly decides to check up on Joey, and Kara will follow Orlando, and see what's up.  Now, I note that earlier on, Supergirl and Martian Manhunter were investigating the theft of some trucks carrying dangerous chemicals and equipment, and they notice a piece of metal that looked like it was touched with someone with alien powers.  The team had been checking into this theft---and various others---to see if there was a connection, and see what's going on. Supergirl follows the prisoners to the same place she and J'onn were at earlier, and sees that the prisoners were being used as part of the plan for the thefts...and that the prison guards are in on it...and quite possibly the Warden. She goes to confront the guards, but the prisoners use their powers to help them escape. 

Kelly, meanwhile, goes to check up on Joey, and finds that the head of the orphanage is using a device to keep Joey in check, as he's acting out...not realizing the tremendous pain she's causing the young boy.  Kelly calls her out on it, and the lady merely tells her that she's been doing this a long time, and that the kids have to learn that actions have consequences.  Kelly notices security cameras in the house, and she wonders what the state would think if those security cameras showed proof of abuse.  The lady challenges Kelly.  Kelly does check on Joey, as one of the other kids...a little girl...watches on.  Kelly later on confesses to Alex that she thinks she made things worse, but Alex assures her that she's doing the right thing.  That taking a risk to help this boy.  Kelly tells Alex about her nightmare in the Phantom Zone, and how she used a shield like James' Guardian shield to save them.  Alex says maybe she needs to do that for Joey...and the other kids.  So, later on, we see Kelly in disguise downloading the video from the security camera to help prove her theory about abuse.  

While trying to help Kelly with Orlando, Kara now sees the connection with him and their truck robberies, but also has had to deal with Andrea, and her constant pursuit of clicks and ratings for Catco, putting pressure on both her, William, and even Nia, to get the story about the Superfriends.  She wants an interview, an exclusive, and pretty much threatens their jobs with it.  Kara goes back to the prison to talk to the Warden, and he's a bit more defensive the second time around, as he takes offense to her line of questioning.  He then later has a press conference to spin the story to say that the guard was kidnapped by the prisoners, and they're trying to get the guard back.  Kara knows he's lying, but now her story...and Kelly's issue with Joey...are running in the same circle.  So, Kara and J'onn do some digging, and she also enlists William for help for his FBI contacts, and they managed to find out that the program Kara highly touted has been financed by a bunch of dummy corporations---all of which lead back to Intergang.  They also find out that the Warden has been taking graft from Intergang into offshore accounts, so they know he's in on it.  Kara relates that information to the team, and her and J'onn go to try and help Orlando  and the other prisoners out.  

The Warden knows Kara Danvers is onto them, and the guard tells that Manheim...who owns the dummy corporations and is behind Intergang, is taking care of things, as the prisoners will be killed after completing their mission:  getting the rest of the uranium they've been pilfering to make a nuclear dirty bomb.  Supergirl and Martian Manhunter show up, and easily dispatch of the guards.  As for Orlando and the prisoners, they don't want to go back because they know the system failed them.  However, Supergirl convinces him that, while the system IS flawed, and easily corruptable, she promises to work with them, to help them out.  That convinces them enough that they won't escape.  William shows up at the prison after the incident, and interviews Supergirl, who says that this was an unfortunate incident, but she still believes the program can work.  She'll continue to fight for justice.  Andrea's happy with William's work, and wishes Kara would follow his lead.  As much as William agrees with Kara that Andrea is missing the point about true journalism, he also feels that Supergirl's message, if given, could have a tremendous impact.  

Kelly also sees tremendous results of HER work, as the head of the orphanage is arrested for abuse to the children there.  Kelly promises the kids that she'll be there to keep watch over them, and ensure they're treated properly.  She also comes through for Joey, as Orlando is granted his release.  He says that he is out for good, and is going to take care of his little brother from here on out.  He only robbed a store because he needed money for a place to live for him and his brother.  But Orlando getting a second chance is heartwarming to see.  Later on, Alex and Kelly discuss the risks Kelly took, and Kelly says that the kids need a protector...and that she wants to be the new Guardian.  Alex knew that, and called up James, and he gave his sister his Guardian suit.  Thus, her official training begins.  Alex knew it was coming after seeing how Kelly used James' shield during Crisis.  

The one story we HAVEN'T touched on is Nia's.  Since the end of last episode, Nia's been dreaming of her mother, and in this dream, she's not able to catch up to her.  There's also this white owl that seems to fly in from time to time....but there's a new element:  Nyxly.  Somehow, the Imp from the 5th Dimension that snuck out of the Phantom Zone with the Superfriends is now stuck in Nia's dreams.  Throughout the episode, we see Nyxly trying to persuade Nia to let her out, so that she can go back home to the 5th Dimension...but Nia knows that Imps aren't  to be trusted.  The owl actually has a voice, and tries to convince Nia itself that Nyxly is just using her, and keeps attacking Nyxly.  But in the end---Nyxly plays her trump card:  She has the ability to bring her mother back to life---if only for 24 hours---so that Nia could see her again.  Nia then blasts the owl...agreeing to Nyxly's deal.

It's a good episode when you can have separate stories find a way to intertwine, and that's what happened with Kara's investigation with the alien prisoners, and Kelly's social work.  It allowed us to see Kara doing something we've not seen her do in a LONG time:  investigative reporting.  We got to see that it wasn't always a Supergirl issue, and that Kara Danvers can have the spotlight a little.  We got to see Kelly finally step up, and be the hero we all knew she was, and finally gets to become the new Guardian.  The team worked together on both a superhero front, but an investigative one as well.  William and Kara work well as a reporting team, much in the same vein as Kara's cousin Clark, and Lois.  I'm all for them being this reporting duo, and still NOT have them in a relationship.  

Lena took a powder this week, as she's on a personal journey to look into her biological mom's life.  I'm interested to see what she comes up with, because it will really help flesh out Lena more as a character.  But that also brings us to the BIG problem:  Nia.  She just can't shake being without her mother, and feels lost without her.  While Lena is taking steps to resolve her issues with her mother, Nia is stuck in neutral, and can't function without her.  As I have said before, this is going to be a liability for her in the field (and at work), and now with Nyxly having pulled on her heartstrings, it's just going to make things WORSE for when Nyxly gets OUT of Nia's dreams, and into the real world.  That spells trouble for the rest of the team.  Nia has had so much trouble moving on in life since her mother died.  She feels she can't control her powers as well as she could, understand them, and she's still on the outs with her biological sister, because they've NEVER gone back to resolve THAT issue.  They've teased about her sister still hating her, but have NEVER had that confrontation.  Alex and Kara have had issues between them SEVERAL times, but they have always worked it out.  But Nia NEEDS to get that issue settled...it doesn't help her character at all. 

It appears that Intergang will be a thorn in Supergirl's side going forward.  I think this was just the tip of the iceberg for that story.  Manheim is not one to suffer losses lightly, and I feel he's already working on a new plan to take down the Superfriends.  So, expect to hear more about the as the series gets into the home stretch.  

What did YOU all think of this episode?  Shoot me your thoughts and opinions, theories and otherwise by subscribing to the blog, and leaving me comments below.

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

STARGIRL 2.4

 

RECAP - STARGIRL  2.4:  "Summer School:  Chapter Four"  

Business is picking up in Blue Valley.  The JSA is now finding out that things are going to get a little hairy, because The Shade is in town, and who knows what no good he'll be up to---he's not revealed ANYTHING as yet.  On top of that...Cindy Burman is in possession of the black diamond of Eclipso, and she is ready to recruit for a new version of the ISA:  Injustice, Unlimited.  And Beth finds out through the goggles about Eclipso from Chuck, and a sense of even MORE imminent danger on the horizon.  So, let's pay another visit to our small little Nebraska town, and see what happened THIS week.  

The main focus of this week's story was that of Artemis Crock.  The exceptional female athlete of Blue Valley High has college scouts checking her out this week, and she is wishing her parents were there to cheer her on.  We get to see her talking to her parents in prison this week, still upset they're incarcerated, and truly believes they were framed for the crimes they were convicted of committing.  They do what they can to encourage her, and she hates the foster parent that she's with, and it looks as though the foster parent can care less about her, and won't take care of her as a parent should. This doesn't sit well with Crusher and Paula, as they plan on finding a way there to see their daughter's tryout.  In order to see their daughter perform at her tryout, they break out of prison.  They sneak into town, and of all the people who happen to run into them....it's Mike Dugan.  Pat is out for a drive, when he gets a call from Mike to head back to the shop.  Once there, he meets up with the Crocks, and they want Pat to help them lay low long enough to watch Artemis' tryout....or, they'll kill Mike.  Pat caves in, and they wind back up at the Dugan house, where Barb is uncomfortable with them being there....considering they tried to kill her not that long ago, but Pat is doing this to protect the family.  They have some uncomfortable conversation, but it looks as if both couples can come to an understanding about their kids.  As for Artemis, she's struggling to get focused, because she isn't eating properly, because the foster parent could care less about her diet, and then at school, Courtney and Yolanda try to make peace with Artemis, with Court handing her an apple, only for Artemis to crush it before taking off.  

Before we get to more of Artemis, we need to check in on Cindy Burman, who's feeling sad about having had Eclipso kill her stepmother, which she didn't want.  However, Eclipso says that it was necessary, because she was going to kill Cindy.  Cindy says that it's time to start recruiting, and her first stop is Isaac Bowen.  Cindy sweet talks him, and says she wants to make new friends.  She then takes him down to the ISA headquarters, and she shows him that that her father used to be known as the Fiddler, and she brings out the fiddle her father used in his career.  He says he doesn't know how to play it, but Cindy assures him he will learn.  She then looks at the picture of her and the other kids she's looking to recruit...including Mike.  She then heads out to the football field where she sees Artemis practicing for her tryout.  She uses the diamond to have Eclipso mess with her head.  

As Artemis is going for her tryout, she was not as focused, as Pat finally brought the Crocks to the school, where he told them to lay low and just watch.  They see her fail a couple of times, but start cheering her on.  When she actually DOES see them, she ends up performing MUCH better, and actually impresses the coaches. It's around this time, however, that Cindy shows up at the football field, and manipulates Artemis' mind, so that she'll experience her worst fear, and act out.  Cindy sees Courtney arrive at the field to talk to Pat, and she uses that as an opportunity to have Artemis go crazy.  Artemis looks at her parents, and sees them about to be captured, and she attacks...beating on Courtney, thinking she was an armed officer.  When she recovers, she has no idea what happened.  Pat, Court, and even her parents are surprised.  Not too long after, her parents admit to her that they are truly guilty of the crimes they committed.  She wishes they'd been honest with her, but they didn't want to ruin her future.  So, they say their goodbyes and head off back to the prison, living up to their word they made with Pat. For Artemis, things don't improve, when she gets a call from the coaches saying that, because of her temper, they don't want her on the team.  Ticked off she got shafted, she closes her locker, only to find Cindy there, offering her to join her team. 

This episode also saw the kids pull together to do research into the black diamond and Eclipso.  They're taking a look at the map, and then get some background on an explorer named Bruce Gordon, who travelled to this island they got a map of, and according to the legend, Gordon came back from this island that saw many dead people, and survived the experience.  But not much more is known.  Courtney heads to  the used book store to try and gather more intel, and she runs into The Shade.  She thinks that he wants the diamond so that he an Eclipso can take over the world.  The Shade has no such interest, and that he only wants the diamond in order to dispatch it into the deepest depths of the ocean.  She also reminds him that he killed Dr. Mid-Nite, and he says that her perspective is skewered...and asks whether or not Pat has told her the whole story. All through the episode, Pat has done his best to shield Courtney and the kids from really learning about the true levels of evil that Eclipso is...and that Eclipso had murdered Rebecca McNider.  Barb has been all in on keeping this secret, even though they had promised the family would be honest with each other.  Later on, at the football field (and after Courtney was attacked by Artemis), she presses Pat about the whole story....but Pat continues to stonewall.  

We got to see Yolanda begin work as a waitress in the diner this week, and Beth is still continuing to struggle with opening up to her parents about her knowing about the divorce papers.  She tries to coax her mother to go out on a date with her father and go to miniature golf like they did when they met, and before the place closed down.  But Beth says it reopened, and they should go---but her mother says that her father is too busy, as is she, and that she should go with her friends.  Beth still tries to get ahold of Chuck, and when she does, it's very garbled, and static like.  He still has no idea who she is, and keeps warning her that they're all in danger.  She then surmises that she's actually got the REAL Dr. Charles McNider, and that he's alive.  And as we see, Dr. Mid-Nite IS still alive...somewhere in a shadow realm, trying to connect with Beth.  This is a big surprise, as we had seen in the series pilot that he had been supposedly killed by The Shade.  Now, I am beginning to wonder if Shade sucked him into a shadow world to protect him from Eclipso.  The old ISA certainly were NOT friends with each other, and sounds like they were only part of a team for the sake of a payday or something.  But they obviously have no love lost with each other, and The Shade apparently wants to destroy Eclipso before he really cuts loose.

Cindy certainly worked her mojo overtime in this episode in order to begin recruiting her new super-villain team.  Isaac has felt like the perpetual emo loner since the death of his mother, and Cindy made sure she played on that fear...using Eclipso as a way to stir up the angst in Isaac's mind.  And becoming "friends" with him...just to recruit him, was her stroke of genius.  Artemis needed a little pushing, so, she used the power of Eclipso on her as well, to stir up Artemis' worst fears.  And when Artemis didn't get the position on the team, it played right into Cindy's hands.  I'm REAL curious at how she's going to recruit Mike.  I wonder if she will play on his fears or just his sense of abandonment and not feeling like part of the team...feeling left out.  She's still got some work to do, and we're not completely sure what her intentions are, other than destroying the JSA, but getting Mike would certainly stick it to the Dugans...and to Courtney specifically.  But I truly believe that Cindy has no real honest clue about what power she has at her disposal, and just how much SHE is being manipulated by said power.  She WILL find out the hard way.

The Shade is the wild card here, and very curious as to what he will do.  It was cool to see Tigress and Sportsmaster again---and the awkwardness between the two married couples.  It provided a little light humor for a show that's telling a very dark story right now.  But it still has a nice balance to it.

This show continues to amaze, and does its part to slowly peel away layers.  Everyone does a fantastic job in their roles, and really embrace the characters they're portraying.  The writing continues to be stellar, and the show gives great drama, but doesn't burden the show with it. 

What have YOU guys thought of this season thus far?  Gimme your thoughts below by leaving a comment...AFTER you subscribe, of course!

Until next time....Keep your eyes on the stars.

MOVIE REVIEW: BLACK WIDOW

 

MOVIE REVIEW:  BLACK WIDOW  

Another member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes finally gets their story told....and it took some time to get here...but it was about time for Natasha Romanov to be front and center for a Marvel movie, and thus---after having to endure countless delays due to COVID and other issues....we finally got Black Widow. 

With this story, we got to finally dive into the past of our heroine, showing that she was part of a fake family set up by Russia in 1995, as Natasha ( Scarlett Johansson), the younger Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz), and Alexi Shostakov (David Harbour), had been placed in America as a typical American family, but Alexi and Melina were gathering intel from SHIELD, but soon find out that they've been made, so they have to pack up and go.  While Natasha is a tad more aware of what's going on, Yelena is still naive about everything, but they know they have to leave.  Alexi---as Super Soldier---uses his super strength to help delay the authorities from trying to catch them, as Melina, Natasha, and Yelena make their escape in a plane.  Alexi holds off the authorities long enough to hop on the plane, but Melina is injured by gunshot.  Eventually, the "family" makes good on its escape to Cuba.  

There, they're met by General Dreykov (Ray Winstone), and the girls are taken to the Red Room---a place where young girls are trained to becoming super spies.  Years have passed, and Shostakov has been sent to prison, Melina works on a farm, Yelena is a part of the Black Widows, performing missions for Dreykov, and Natasha....she defected to join SHIELD, and eventually became a core member of The Avengers.  Part of her initiation into SHIELD was to kill Dreykov, and she apparently kills him and his daughter, Antonia. In modern day, Natasha is on the run, because she violated the Sokovia Accords, and is being hunted by U.S. Secretary of State, General Thaddeus Ross.  However, she makes her escape, and hides out at a safehouse in Norway thanks to and old friend of hers, Rick Mason.  

Meanwhile, Yelena is after a rogue Black Widow who has some vials that she's trying to make off with, and ends up killing her, but as the rogue agent is dying, she hits Belova with the red chemical gas.  This chemical gas ends up eliminating the mind control that's been placed on the agents.  Yelena then takes the vials, and disappears.  She ended up sending them to Natasha, hoping that her and The Avengers would use them to free the other Black Widows. While driving to get supplies (and unknowingly having the antidote in her car), Natasha is attacked by Dreykov's main assassin from the Red Room - The Taskmaster.  An assassin who can copy anyone's fighting style and adapt it.  Both Natasha and Taskmaster fight, but Natasha escapes with the vials.  She discovers that the vials had been sent from Budapest, and she heads out there. 

Once in Budapest, she meets up with Yelena...and after a brief bit of fighting with each other, Yelena informs Natasha that Dreykov is still alive and the Red Room is still active.  It's not much longer after them meeting, that they have to flee to escape Taskmaster and the other Black Widows, whom have come to kill the two women.  The pair manage to escape via motorcycle and car, and hide out until they meet up with Natasha's friend Mason once again, who provides them with a helicopter to help them in their mission:  to destroy Dreykov, and shut down the Red Room.  But they're gonna need help.  They end up breaking Alexi out of prison in order to find out where Dreykov is.  Another huge fight occurs, and the trio manage to escape once again, and Alexi has them head to a farm outside of Saint Petersburg, where they meet up with Vostokov.  She's been  there refining the chemical to help control the Widows.  After a tense reunion, Vostokov had ended up calling Dreykov and letting him know that Natasha, Yelena, and Alexi were there.  They are all rendered unconscious, and taken prisoner. 

At the Red Room, which is an aerial compound, it's soon discovered that Natasha and Melina has switched places, using face-mask technology.  While Melina is breaking Alexi out, and helping Yelena escape from being carved up, Natasha is revealed to Dreykov, who boasts about his plans to control the world by using the Widows to infiltrate every aspect of every government on the planet.  Natasha cannot kill him, because of a pheromone that Dreykov uses to render the Widows incapable of harming him.  He then shows Natasha the identity of the Taskmaster:  his daughter Antonia.  She was severely hurt in the bomb explosion set off by Natasha, that he had to put implants in her head....making her the most loyal subject.  Natasha manages to bypass the pheromones by breaking her own nose, thus severing the nerve.  She beats him down, and tries to stop the other Widows across the globe from being activated.  Taskmaster, who'd been locked in a cell, battles Alexi, as Melina tries to shut down the Red Room.  Yelena makes her escape, and Natasha has to battle the other Black Widows that have been activated.  

The building begins to crumble, and Yelena arrives to expose the other Widows to the antidote, and they all begin to make their escape.  The building begins to collapse with the engines destroyed.  Yelena believes that she's going to die in this battle, as everything is crashing to the ground, but Natasha swoops down to catch up to her, and uses the parachute to help them glide to the ground.  Yelena managed to send a shot into the ship carrying Dreykov, and he's killed in the explosion.  Once on the ground, the Taskmaster and Natasha face off, but Natasha uses some vials that were floating down to break Antonia from the programming.  The Red Room is destroyed for good.

Natasha and Yelena hug and bond once again as sisters, as Melina and Alexi meet up with them.  It's time for Natasha to face off with Ross, who's arrived to arrest her, while Yelena, Alexi, Melina, Antonia, and the other Widows take off, set on their mission to free all the other Widows from Dreykov's mind control. Two weeks later, we see that Natasha....now with her blonde hair...and having the vest that was given to her by Yelena...meet up with Mason, who managed to secure a Quinjet for her.  She's off to free the remaining imprisoned Avengers at The Raft

The post credits scene, we see Yelena visiting the gravesite set up for Natasha, when Valentina Allegra de Fontaine shows up, and gives Belova's next target:  the man responsible for Natasha's death (according to Valentina)--Clint Barton. 

This movie was a rollercoaster ride from the outset...from jumping right into Natasha's past, to her being on the run from Ross, to eventually having to fight and outrun the other Black Widows with her sister Yelena.  The movie, thankfully, gave us a few pauses to catch our breath, but A LOT of this movie gave me serious Jason Bourne vibes.  I guess it's the spy nature of it, and the fact that NONE of these people have super powers....outside of Alexi...and they're managing these incredible feats.  The stunt coordination was brilliant, and I did love the fight scenes....they felt rough and brutal.  But most of all---I seriously dug the banter and sisterly relationship between Natasha and Yelena.  Yelena is headstrong, opinionated, and a little rough around the edges...but when she is free of the mind control, we see that she also has a heart.  Alexi, Melina, and Natasha are her family...and though it was fake by everyone else...it was real to HER.  Something we see Natasha have to come to terms with during the film, as she realizes that these people ARE her family...and all she has left.  And while, at the time, Natasha did NOT know what her fate was going to be after Thanos snapped half the universe away, she still made sure she found a way to kind of "pass the baton" to Yelena (in a way, since this was Johansson's last ride as Natasha Romanov, it was befitting of her to kind of give the keys to the car to Florence Pugh to become the next Black Widow).  Yelena's story in the MCU is truly just beginning, and we KNOW she'll cross paths with Barton and his daughter when the Hawkeye series hits Disney Plus later on this year.  I look forward to seeing Pugh's Yelena interact with the rest of the MCU, and how she'll fit into a newer version of The Avengers.  

For Scarlett Johansson...we thank her for all the years and adventures she gave us as Natasha.  She brought such strength and sensibility, and kept her grounded, even though she was in a world with Gods, Monsters, and super powered beings of various origins.  She was the lynchpin of the Avengers, and we will miss her as Black Widow.  But this movie is must see for MCU competeists...and it puts a nice bow on the story of Natasha Romanov.