Legends of Tomorrow 6×12 “Bored on Board” highlights one of the strongest storylines of the season while bringing back one of the lowest. What could have very well been just a filler episode ends up further advancing the plot lines and showing our Legends flaws and strengths. And one of the biggest flaws on the team during “Bored on Board Onboard” is John Constantine’s addiction to magic.
“Bored on Board Onboard” is basically Legends of Tomorrow’s homage to mystery murder thrillers and it does a very good job at that. Once the Legends get transported into the game thanks to Constantine’s magic, the search for the beast hunting down each member one by one is legitimately nerve-wracking. The beast ends up being John’s evil magic possessed side that Zari and Behrad stop. However, lets talk about what happens after that with John.
One of the most emotional scenes in Legends of Tomorrow history happens at the end of “Bored on Board Onboard” involving Constantine. After everything he’s went through and the harm he put the Legends through, John is so close to pouring out the magic he has been drinking. At the last second though, the power of his addiction overpowers him and he keeps the bottle closed. It was a terrific but heartbreaking scene.
Legends of Tomorrow has done a exceptional job showcasing the pain and hurt that addiction causes. Anyone who has had a crippling addiction has gone through a moment like John does at the end of “Bored on Board Onboard”; that moment of clarity where you know that the addiction has a hold of you and you want to end it. The hardest lesson when it comes to addiction is that it takes a lot of effort and help to defeat it. One gesture will not magically end John’s addiction to magic. Help from the other Legends….his friends… that’s what will help him in the biggest fight of his life.
Now in the other story of “Bored on Board Onboard” we get the re-appearance of Kayla who tricks Gary and Mick into making a new clone of Bishop. The sense of dread that Sara feels at the end of the episode hearing that music of his playing is the same sense I felt when I realized that’s what Kayla was on the Waverider for.
This season of Legends of Tomorrow has been hit or miss but the biggest miss was the opening arc of Bishop as the main villain. Villains shouldn’t be likable but also not as annoying as Bishop was in the open of the season. As soon as he was gone, Legends felt more refreshing. If Bishop is toned down somewhat, then he could be a exceptional baddie for this end run of episodes. But my fear is that Legends might up that obnoxiousness to a 11 and falter because of it.
LEGENDARY THOUGHTS
- Glad Zari 1.0 and Nate got to say goodbye to each other. Or instead “See ya later.”
- Ava not wanting Barry Allen at her and Sara’s wedding is a little mean. Get that she doesn’t want any supervillain to attack it but it’s a superhero wedding. Some villain will show up.
- Spooner and Astra’s growing friendship is such a joy to see.
- Behrad seems to be the only member of the team to notice something is up with John until the end when Zari figures out that John was the beast in the game. Hope this isn’t going to end up with a Legends vs. Constantine finale but I fear it will.
- Zari admitting she loves John. I swear if this ends badly, there will be hell to pay.
- Kayla being back. Our reaction : ok.
Legends of Tomorrow airs on the CW at 8 pm on Sundays.
