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 13 of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “Leviathan” where we discuss fate vs. choice, Kendra’s decision to let Savage live, and whether Carter’s return spells the end of Ray and Kendra.
What were your overall thoughts on “Leviathan?”
ALYSSA
While “Leviathan” was one of the better episodes of late, that’s not really saying much unfortunately. But I will give it the benefit of finally gearing up for the final stand against Vandal Savage, who honestly cannot be defeated soon enough. Once again I enjoyed the prevalent themes scattered throughout, including the whole fate vs. choice, as well as how you are not your parents but your own self. But once again Kendra continues to be a weakness as she continues to be defined by her love life instead of who she is.
LIZZIE
It was …okay? At this point I’m not sure about Legends. I still like the characters, but it’s already too late to convince me that Savage is a decent villain, and they’re not going to start using logic and/or common sense at this point, so I’ve stopped expecting that. At this point, it’s like I’m just around for the character development, which, other than Kendra – my least favorite character in this whole show – we didn’t get much of this week. In conclusion? It wasn’t as bad as the old west episode (not sure anything will ever be), but it wasn’t my favorite hour of television ever, either.
LYRA
Overall, it had less faults than most of the episodes before it. It had some cool moments with Ray having a gundam fight with his own tech, Carter being found, and Savage Jr. appearing. But that’s about it. It’s concerning that this show is reaching the final stretch of it’s first season without finding their grounding. They’re still a mismatched group of “villains” who haven’t proven to be legends at all. At the end of the day they didn’t live up to my expectations of this show when it started.
One of the questions raised this week had to do with fate versus choice. Which do you believe in?
ALYSSA
When push comes to shove I’m someone who believes in choice and free will. If someone tells me that something is meant to happen because it’s “fated” then it’s all the more motivation to prove that one’s choices and actions define the person they ultimately become, as we saw in this episode. It’s clear that Kendra, who once believed in free will, feels bogged down by fate. She’s allowed herself to feel controlled by this fate and being forever linked to Carter and Savage. But then we saw someone like Ray stand up for people like us and stand firm behind his belief that someone controls their own destiny. I mean, the only thing that is “fated” on this show is the timeline because it’s already been written – by people’s choices. And time is a tricky thing that you shouldn’t mess with, so in that way, yes, it’s fated. But otherwise people control their own fate by the choices they make.
LIZZIE
I believe in choice. One hundred percent. I think, sometimes, we get so caught in the idea of fate that we end up making the decisions that take us on the path to fate, but we always have a choice. That’s the only way I can comprehend life. If we don’t, then what’s even the point of living? Are we just like Sims existing in a world controlled by a higher being, or do we have an influence in what happens in our own lives? I like the second option much more than the first.
LYRA
In John Connor’s words, “There’s no fate, but what we make.” Fate is the easy way out. The reason people stop fighting and just give in so easily. You can change your future. You have a choice no matter what anyone tells you. LOOKING AT YOU KENDRA. Stop using the “fate” excuse because it’s easier than fighting for something new and different. You’re a powerful hawk goddess. ACT LIKE IT!
Now Vandal Savage has been captured by the team. What do you think happens next?
ALYSSA
Well, considering that we still have three episodes remaining this season something’s bound to go wrong. Of course they couldn’t have Kendra “kill” Savage so soon because then what would happen in these next episodes? Well, I think it’s safe to assume that he somehow escapes and wreaks havoc aboard the Waverider. And you know that Savage is going to have some fun messing with Kendra and Ray especially.
LIZZIE
He escapes and causes mayhem? I mean, who ever thought it was a good idea to just capture him instead of kill him? They whole thing makes no sense – but then again, this show hardly ever does. I guess they just wanted to give Savage a chance to taunt each of them separately before the so called “final battle” and fine, I get that, but there were better ways to get there, ways that didn’t make the team look so incompetent. As it is there’s no way he’s staying in that cell for three episodes and then simply dying. That’s just not how television works. He’s getting out. Soon. My guess is next episode. And the rest? Well, the rest will be made even harder now that he knows all of them personally.
LYRA
He’s going to goad them, escape, and destroy them ALL before narrowly escaping. And for some reason he won’t kill them before skipping away into the night. Yup. It’s going to happen in that order. Just you wait.
Speaking of Savage being captured, Kendra had the chance to kill Savage but she didn’t because he told her he could save Carter’s mind. What were your thoughts on Kendra’s decision?
ALYSSA
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve criticized Kendra this season I could pay for my trip to San Diego Comic Con with it. With that said, I do not understand Kendra’s frame of mind here. She was brought aboard this team in order to defeat Vandal Savage not fix her fated romance woes. This was the moment; this should have been the end of Savage. There has been and probably won’t be another opportunity as perfect as this moment was for Kendra to end it. You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if the second time around when Kendra delivers the death blow to Savage if she sacrifices her life in the process.
While I don’t agree with it nor understand why Kendra made this decision, I see why she made it: because Carter’s future is on the line. Of course Savage would’ve created a fail-safe like this to use in case he was captured. Use Carter as leverage to ensure his own escape. Oh, Kendra, haven’t you realized by now that Savage doesn’t help anyone but himself.
LIZZIE
It’s understandable, and it’s not. She took his words, the words of the worst villain to ever exist, at face value, which, why do heroes tend to take everything the villain says at face value? Villains LIE. Savage says he’s the only one who can get to Carter, but do we know if it’s true? Gideon can regrow entire HANDS! Maybe she can do something. Maybe Kendra, the supposed love of his life, can. Maybe one of the brilliant minds on this team can figure out a way. But, no, Savage said it could only be HIM. And everyone just …believed him.
LYRA
It was selfish. Savage has killed thousands of people and chased her across time. Give him an inch and he’ll take a yard. He knew that love would make Kendra weak enough for him to survive. She should’ve taken the chance when she had it. With the technology on the wave rider I’m pretty sure they would’ve found a solution to their problem with Carter’s mind. And if not, they could find another Carter out there. He’s not the only one when they have a time machine in their grasp!
Carter has officially returned, and Kendra is more than affected by his return. Do you think this spells the end for Kendra and Ray?
ALYSSA
One can only hope that this is the end of the dysfunctional relationship between Kendra and Ray. There’s already been multiple signs that these two are fated for doom, and this seems to be the final straw. Well, that’s if Carter returns to his old self, that is, and Kendra doesn’t have to kill him or something. We’ve seen even in Kendra’s time with Ray that she has feelings for Carter she didn’t realize until she lost him, and now with him coming back into the picture those feelings have sprung up as clear as day. And I think Ray knows that, too. Considering that the episode ended with Kendra needing to “talk” to Ray, perhaps the end of this relationship is closer than we could’ve hoped.
LIZZIE
If this is the end of Kendra/Ray I’m throwing a party. Seriously, a party. A big one. Because was that the worst relationship TV has spawned this year or what? And it wasn’t even because of the two-year break where the relationship advanced without the viewers being privy to it, or the fact that Kendra changed her mind once an episode, no, it was about the fact that, from the beginning, the show set them up to fail. She was destined to be with SOMEONE ELSE. It’s like they set up Ray for heartbreak and then walked slowly back hoping he wouldn’t notice. And he didn’t.
LYRA
Absolutely. She felt like she was cheating on Carter when he wasn’t there. Now that he’s back she’s going to drop him like a sack of potatoes. She didn’t kill her mortal enemy that has been hunting her for centuries. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for Carter. As soon as he’s better she’ll be on him like white on rice.
This week we met Savage’s daughter, Cassandra, who was wrongly convinced of her father’s intentions. What were your thoughts on her decision to turn away from him?
ALYSSA
This was an important lesson that everyone could use in their own lives. You are not your parents. You are not destined to be them. This comes right back to the whole fate vs. choice matter. It’s the choices you make that determine the person you’re meant to be. Cassandra understood that immediately once she saw what her father’s malicious intent was. She didn’t even have to hesitate. She made a choice not to support him in his wrongdoing. I especially loved that they paired her with Snart, who also has his daddy issues. For so long Snart remained in his father’s troubled shadow, and look what became of him because he allowed himself to believe that it was what he deserved. Luckily Snart has redeemed himself on his own terms, and he’s becoming a hero in the process.
LIZZIE
I really liked it. It’s not believable that everyone on Savage’s side has the same motivations as him, but it is believable that some of the people following him think they’re doing the right thing. This does nothing to humanize Savage, but it does serve to ground the plot into some semblance of reality. And, maybe, with Savage gone, Cassandra can be as much as force for good as her father was a force for evil.
LYRA
It felt sincere and well paced for a character set only appear in one episode. Honestly would love to see more of this woman as she is the daughter of the villain of the story. She can’t just drop off and never be seen again! How Savage managed to raise such an intelligent and giving daughter is a mystery to all. The independence, smarts, and skill he instilled in her was his downfall in the end. She turned out to be a well rounded character who understood all aspects of life, even the goodness in her heart.
What are your thoughts on “Leviathan?” 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.
