Every week, Fangirlish writers will be discussing new episodes of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and sharing their thoughts, feelings, and speculation about the hour’s hot topics in a little something we like to call Fangirlish Roundtables.
Today, we’re breaking down episode 10 of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “Prodigy,” where we discuss our thoughts on the moral ambiguity of the episode, Rory’s redemption, and our continued dislike of this Ray-Kendra romance.
What were your overall thoughts on “Prodigy?”
ALYSSA
Well, on the one hand I enjoyed the moral ambiguity of the episode. But on the other hand this episode saw the return of Vandal Savage (who I loathe) and once again did nothing to help Kendra’s case with me (I can’t with her). It was a so-so episode in a season that has had a couple of standouts. But I did enjoy the redemption arc with Rory, as well as the introduction of a new threat that definitely sounds more intimidating than slicked-back hair, Savage.
LIZZIE
It was …a surprisingly deep episode. The plans made sense this week, there was a surprising amount of human emotion woven in all the subplots, and even the Ray/Kendra didn’t bother me that much till the end. In fact, I even enjoyed the glimpses of Carter! I’m not sure if I’ve adjusted my expectations or the show is getting better. Either way, I really enjoyed this episode and I hope to see more like it in the future.
LYRA
Prodigy was another example of how this show is still having trouble finding it’s footing. Vandal Savage is still lackluster and the Kendra/Ray romance is about to crash and burn. (I can feel it in my bones! Even in death Carter is helping it end!) Rip’s not ready to take on a task so big aka saving the world. Either buck up or ship out. We need people that are actually going to get this done.
The team was faced with a moral dilemma of killing a child that would grow into a dictator responsible for the end of the world. What were your thoughts on that dilemma of, “Do we kill a child?” and how the team handled it?
ALYSSA
I think they handled it in the way I expected them to. Obviously there was a divide between those that thought it immoral and those that felt it necessary given the circumstances. But that’s one of the things that I really enjoy with Legends of Tomorrow is that there is such a unique makeup on this team that the team is never going to have a singular mindset. They are going to disagree in their ideologies. Of course you had the good souls like Stein and Ray absolutely refusing to consider the idea of killing a child even for the greater good, but then you have the rebels like Snart and Rip Hunter that entertained the idea because basically, you do what you have to do. It’s a dynamic that I continue to love, and it proves how important it was for this group to not only consist of good-natured heroes.
LIZZIE
I understand that these people are so called “heroes” and I love the moral dilemma of this whole thing, but I can’t comprehend how the only one who seemed to understand that killing the kid was probably a good idea was Snart. I expected Sara, at least, to be more pragmatic. Certainly Kendra, who should be getting pretty tired of being killed by Savage over and over again. Being unable to actually go through with it is one thing, but the whole this is wrong posturing felt a little OOC. Heroism isn’t just about doing what’s right, sometimes it’s about taking on the burden of doing what must be done so that others don’t have to. Legends of Tomorrow tried to go deep, and yet, in the end, was unable to really deliver. And that’s disappointing.
LYRA
We’ve all had to face this sort of dilemma before. Like, “If you had the chance to kill Hitler, would you do it?” The noble answer, the one that Ray would give, is no. It’s a child. This isn’t Minority Report and you can’t accuse someone of a crime they haven’t done. Then there’s the other side of me that would throw my morals right out the window, Malcolm Merlyn style, and save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It’s all about knowledge. And if I knew that I could save that many people…I’d do it. The sacrifice of one for the many.
The team handled it by…not really handling it at all. Sure, they certainly ‘tried’ to talk about it, but I wasn’t left with an impression on what they would actually do when they reached the end of the line. It left me confused, so you sure as hell can bet that it left the team confused. Rip didn’t make matters any better when he kidnapped the future dictator. He just lit the fire under that kid to push up his murder plans.
An ongoing theme on this show is how far Rip Hunter is willing to push himself when it comes to accomplishing his goal of saving his family. We saw him nearly kill this young, future dictator, but he pulled back. What are your thoughts on Rip? Did he make the right decision here?
ALYSSA
Rip Hunter’s arc is guided by his love for his family, and we’ve seen how far he’s allowed that love to push him when it comes to questionable acts this season. Whether he made the right decision is up for debate. I mean, in terms of saving the world it wasn’t the right decision as the group’s encounter only pushed this little dictator into power even sooner. But as far as doing what’s right for himself, Rip made the right call. Rip isn’t a murderer. He’s a father and a husband who has this intense drive to save his family. But at what cost? What he does to ensure the salvation of the future and their lives must not be at the expense of his own self. But with that said, ultimately he should’ve killed the boy.
LIZZIE
From a real world perspective, no. He should have killed the boy. He literally only made things worse. Though, I think this was probably a lesson the team needed to learn. If you’re going to fight against an “immortal tyrant” you have to be willing to get your hands dirty. That was half the reason he brought in Snart and Rory and Sara, right? It’s just that they all seemed to have developed a conscience or something, which is good, we want characters to grow – we just would rather they also maintain some common sense while they’re at it. Do they all think they can get rid of Savage by what…asking him nicely? No. That’s not how stopping evil works sometimes. And they should all know this.
LYRA
Honestly? No. Rip made the wrong decision here. He should of went for it. If you’re going to steal a time ship from some time organization, to save the world and your family, you better be ready to do what you have to! No half measures. (Where’s the Suicide Squad when we need them?) Rip was as ready for this mission as much as the rest of the team was. He lied to them and he lied to himself. He can’t handle this. He can’t save his family. And he certainly can’t figure all of this out if he tries it alone. Depend on your team! You know, the one you put together? They’re there to be more than funny and beautiful (Looking at you Snart & Sara.)
Another important theme on these superhero shows is redemption – is it possible? We saw a focus on that question with Rory and this dictator. While the dictator proved he wasn’t redeemable, Rory showed some important signs of redemption. What are your thoughts on Rory’s redemption arc?
ALYSSA
Rory is a character that has become incredibly interesting since his small guest spot on The Flash. There’s still so much that we don’t know about him, but I feel like we’re really starting to dig deep into who this guy is. Rory is someone who in the beginning had been classified as a “villain” on this team, along with Snart. We’ve seen signs in him that show us otherwise until a most recent turn of events. Redemption isn’t something that I would’ve associated with Rory after his betrayal, but redemption is about wanting to change; to want to be saved. And we did see Rory take some important steps in the right direction when he made the decision not to kill Snart, and when he told the team about the new threat of the Hunters. Every week it just feels like we continue to peel back the layers and flesh out this character, and I love every second of it.
LIZZIE
Oh, it’s coming. Redemption arc for sure. They’ve been setting it up for a while. I’ve been saying it since that episode where he saved Ray – he’s going to be redeemed. You don’t make a character do that, and then give us the thing about how he protected Snart when they were kids unless you want to redeem him.
They’re just taking their time, and I’m glad. Redemptions can’t be a one episode thing. Snart’s change of heart might feel sudden, but it started way back on The Flash. Every character on Legends of Tomorrow has had its own journey (even if some of those got a two year jump for like, reasons). I don’t Rory’s redemption to be quick and easy. I want it to be hard. I want it to be meaningful. And I want it to end with him hugging Snart. For …reasons.
LYRA
Redemption is absolutely possible. A part of you needs to want it to actually work. Seeing that things can get better and that people care about your turn from the dark side, are also important factors. Without these things you’ll be lost before you even start. Rory had a chance for redemption because his team believed in him and he still cared for Snart. They might not be on the best terms but there’s a connection there, something Rory can fight for. Now the dictator child of doom. He doesn’t want to get better. He sees kindness and justice as a threat to what he has been taught by our slicked back villain, Vandal. There is no one there to help guide him or show him that things can get better. But he has a father, you say!? Well his father doesn’t know his son needs redemption and is about to turn to the dark side. Either by choice or ignorance, he’s missed that his son’s mind was being warped. This boy was lost, long before Rip Hunter came around.
Another episode, another time to discuss Ray and Kendra’s relationship. What were your thoughts on Ray and Kendra’s continued trek into this romance?
ALYSSA
Love Ray. Kendra? Not so much. Look, I understand Kendra’s hesitancy when it comes to being able to love Ray considering she’s remembering being in love with Carter throughout time. That’s not what I have a problem with. I have a problem with how Kendra is treating Ray. It’s not fair to him what’s happening – neither is it to her – but she treats Ray as if he’s part of the problem when he’s not. Whether it’s Kendra begging Ray not to give up on them – when it’s actually the reverse. Come on, Ray was ready to propose to her! He’s fighting for them. She needs to do the same. I haven’t been a fan of this pairing from the start, but I was hoping that the writers could find a way to fix that for me. But that has yet to happen in how several episodes now. I just don’t see how this ends well for Ray and Kendra.
LIZZIE
Dear God, save me from this utter mess. First, it was Kendra seeing uncommitted, only to be all like, no, no I love you. Now it’s Kendra going, well, I love Carter, only to finish with, but I love you too. I just can’t with Kendra. I know she’s got issues, but she literally had TWO YEARS WITH RAY TO EXPLORE THEM. Why is she going through all of this now? And why is he just putting up with it? I’m not saying break up with her, but Ray is literally the guy who sits there and waits as someone breaks his heart, and I can’t even…no words.
As much as I hope Savage is gone at the end of the season, I hope Kendra is too. I really do. Wrap up that storyline. Bring another female character in. Anyone would be better at this point.
LYRA
It’s the same story. For 75% of the episode they doubt where they are with each other and the status of their relationship. They deal with their problems separately and only come together at the end. (This right here might be the biggest problem. A relationship is about taking on this world, and the problems that plague your mind and heart, together!) Then they declare their love for each other and assure that they’ll be ok. It’s repetitive and makes me feel like they have no direction. Like they’re just wasting time with each other until something better comes around…like Carter. As soon as he appears I know that Kendra will drop Ray like a hot potato. She’s not sure about this relationship. Hasn’t been from the beginning. And it’s sad to see her trying so hard for something she knows she doesn’t want. She’s keeping herself busy until the man she’s having dreams about, comes back to her. Break it off now and spare yourselves the hurt!
On another note, I didn’t like how Kendra questioned Ray on why he didn’t tell her that he was freaking out at the possibility of having a child. Didn’t she just tell Ray how she kept her domestic dreams with Carter a secret? You can’t have it both way Kendra. Treat Ray with the same respect you want to be treated with and don’t make him feel like he did something so wrong. You kept the truth a secret too! Either enlist Rip to help with couples therapy or separate now! If not, I don’t know how they can continue to be friends when their relationship explodes into smithereens.
So we learned that there is a new threat out there for our team – a group called the Hunters that are tasked with killing them. What are your thoughts on these Hunters?
ALYSSA
Um, can we have them instead of Vandal Savage? Please? See this is a threat that makes sense and is actually intimidating. A group of “Hunters” that has been recruited by the Time Masters and sent to kill our pretty and amazing group of Legends for messing with time. I mean we don’t really know much about them yet – apart from the fact that their mission is to kill every last one of them – but I’m looking forward to learning more about them and see the threat they pose to the team.
LIZZIE
Meh. I mean, Kronos wasn’t exactly effective and/or someone I really worried about before I knew he was Mick, so I can’t really say I’m too worried about these Hunters. I mean, they’re going to cause trouble, I’m sure, but these people can get in trouble without much help anyway, so …eh, what’s the difference?
LYRA
If they had these Hunters ready then why did they send Rory? He obviously has an emotional connection to the team. There was always a chance that he’d betray the Time Lords…or whatever the heck they’re called. I can’t remember. Anyway, they could have avoided all of this trouble and years wasted in training Rory by just sending out the Hunters. They really need to have a seminar on time management.
What are your thoughts on “Prodigy?” Sound off in the comments to keep the discussion going!
Join us for another Legends of Tomorrow roundtable next Wednesday.
Legends of Tomorrow airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW.
