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 11 of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “The Magnificent Eight,” where we discuss the Kendra situation, how boring this episode proved to be, and how essentially Ray was the best part about this episode.
What were your overall thoughts on “The Magnificent Eight?”
ALYSSA
It was the worst of the season, in my opinion, and that’s saying something. The entire episode dragged with this bogged down storyline that you know was intended to be a fun hour before the season winds down, but it ended up being a complete mess. While Jonah Hex was memorable, as well as the smaller players this episode (Sara, Snart, and Rory), but once again Kendra and this Ray/Kendra relationship continue to spoil this show. Thankfully we seem to be getting something good out of this: next week’s episode, where our Legends must save their past selves from a bounty hunter named the Pilgrim.
LIZZIE
What a boring mess of an episode. I mean, I’m not even sure what happened. Something about the wild wild west, and eh …Jonah Hex? I’m not sure. I must have dozed off while watching it. But it’s okay, I think. I didn’t miss much. Just Rip being the most useless Captain to ever captain, Ray and Kendra doing their whole hot and cold routine (Well, fine, just Kendra) and the team, potentially, making things even worse. Yawn.
LYRA
Imagine a puzzle box. You toss all the pieces on the table. Instead of piecing it together like the box depicts, you say to hell with it and do it your way. You mesh the pieces together with tape and no regard for the pieces fitting together. No one questions you as you put together this masterpiece. When it’s done you present it to the world. Half of the people are astonished and confused. The other is fascinated but disappointed that you didn’t follow the instructions. Those are my overall thoughts on “The Magnificent Eight.”
We met the legendary Jonah Hex in this episode, who ended up having a connection with Rip Hunter. What were your thoughts on Hex and his presence?
ALYSSA
Jonah Hex is a legendary character in the comics, so it was really cool to see him in this episode. But with that said I wish that, after all the hype, that they’d have given him a better episode than this. While I loved the aura that Hex brought with him, it ultimately got lost in the mess of this episode.
But I did appreciate them linking Hex with Rip Hunter. We got to peel back yet another layer of Rip’s questionable past throughout the future, which included him abandoning a town and leaving it for destruction because the Time Masters had ordered him.
LIZZIE
He was boring, and it was all boring and I was bored. I mean, I appreciated his whole look, and the actor was good, but bringing him in the middle of such a messy, boring episode didn’t do the character any favors. I’m not at all worried about what happened to him after they left, I don’t want to see more of him. In fact, I’m just happy I can forget that he was even there. And that’s not even on him, it’s on the writers.
LYRA
I enjoyed Jonah Hex’s presence. It was about time we got some background information about Rips life before this gigantic mess of an episode. It helped fill out a character that I still don’t have a vested interest in. Now I know where Rip got his jacket, what he cared for, and his connection to our world. Honestly wished we would have gotten more of Jonah/Rip time. It wasn’t enough for me to fall in love with either characters. (Which is a shame since Rip has been here since the beginning.) Kudos to the makeup team and wardrobe. Jonah’s scars were perfect and his costume made him stand out amongst the others.
Kendra met her past older self in the Old West, and she warned her about the heartbreak that comes with being with anyone that’s not Carter. What are your thoughts on that? Does this spell doom for Ray and Kendra?
ALYSSA
I surely hope this spells doom for Ray and Kendra. I mean, when Legends of Tomorrow actually tells you that Ray and Kendra are not meant to be then you know it. I definitely wasn’t expecting for that woman to be an older version of Kendra in the past – for some reason I believed she always died young looking as she does in the present, so that was a surprise. It was interesting to see Kendra have that conversation with herself – for present Kendra’s fears to be confirmed: that things with Ray weren’t meant to be. I’ve never been a big fan of Kendra and Carter, but they make more sense in the grand scheme of things. They’ve been set up as this epic love story: lovers throughout time destined to find each other. Ray and Kendra were just seemingly thrown together because the show felt like it needed a little romance.
LIZZIE
I really, really hope so. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted so much for a relationship to fail. Kendra and Ray are just no good together, at least, not the way the writers have so far presented them. All I feel when I look at them is this intense desire for the scene to end. So, I really hope this is spells doom. I hope their relationship is just another failure that both of them will have to learn to live with. I hope that Ray can find a woman who truly appreciates him, and Kendra can reconcile herself to loving Carter. I really hope for that. I hope for anything that doesn’t end with these two together.
LYRA
This is basically giving Kendra the easy way out when it comes to Ray. Fate is against them. When she feels like enough is enough she’ll hop on that bandwagon and leave Ray in the dust. Why? Because fate said so. Who’s to ignore fate. Kendra is hot and cold 95% of the time and will no doubt break up with him soon. While we’re on Kendra meeting her past self, why didn’t the universe implode on itself? LOT prides itself in making its own awkward rules and I was waiting for Rip to jump into the scene yelling, “NO YOU MUST’NT MEET YOU’RE PAST SELF OR TIME WILL COLLAPSE UPON ITSELF.” Ultimately, he didn’t pop up and I was left disappointed, twiddling my thumbs, and wondering when anyone would realise that Kendra and Sara were missing.
Ray Palmer got to live out his childhood dream of playing cowboy and being the sheriff of Salvation under the alias of John Wayne. What did you think about Ray in this episode?
ALYSSA
The fact that one year ago I despised Ray Palmer on Arrow with every fiber of my being and have now come to the point where I like him on Legends of Tomorrow is astounding. But it just goes to show you how important writing is when it comes to characters. You can be the most likable guy in the world – aka Brandon Routh – but have your character written terribly and come off just as bad, as was the case with Ray on Arrow.
With that said, it was really cute to see Ray get to live out his childhood fantasy of getting to play cowboy, And he would pick John Wayne as an alias. But even in a situation like this it was nice to see Ray’s heroism shine through. Ray took a personal liking to this town, and he felt obligated to protect them from the danger of this Stillwater group. It was a reminder of just how heroic Ray Palmer can be, all while looking fine as hell in that cowboy hat.
LIZZIE
He was the best part in a somewhat dreary episode, and not because he was all that great, but because he at least had some enthusiasm for what was going on. He was excited, he wanted to save everyone, and, well, that’s really who Ray is. We didn’t need to take an absurd leap of logic to believe that Ray would do, well, everything he did. And, compared to other characters, that’s saying a lot.
LYRA
I think it’s admirable that Ray wanted to save these people. That’s where the good ends for me. This is the Wild West. A man who has no training (besides movies, right?), and only started flying the Atom suit a couple months ago, shouldn’t be challenging people in a shoot out. Why didn’t anyone stop him? Why didn’t Rip take charge? Oh yeah because Rip doesn’t really know what he’s doing and everyone’s allowed to play with time as they wish. Yeah, that’s why.
We were once again reminded of the dangers that come with messing with the current timeline, and we learned that Rip Hunter found himself in this situation once before but he failed to act to save one of these towns. What were your thoughts on that?
ALYSSA
It reminded me how Rip Hunter doesn’t necessarily occupy a good or bad role in terms of morality. Sure, now he’s dedicated himself to defeating Vandal Savage and saving the world – also with his selfish purposes to save his wife and son – but there’s still that piece of him from his time with the Time Masters that emerges from time to time. You know, that man that would turn his back on a town and leave them to a wave of destruction because it was his Time Master duty. We’ve seen little reminders of who the real Rip Hunter is on this show, and it’s made me realize that Rip isn’t intended to be this beacon of all that is good. He’s meant to be this character that walks the line of morality making it possible for this team to consist of both heroes and villains. Because once you find a common purpose – find something worth fighting for – then everything changes.
LIZZIE
Worst thing is, Rip sometimes makes sense. Then he contradicts himself. But, I’ve seen enough time-travel shows and read enough books to know that you shouldn’t mess with the timeline. So, I might have even forgiven Rip for all the messes he’s caused by NOT messing with the timeline, if he could only stick to his ‘Not messing with the timeline’ idea. But that’s probably asking too much of Rip at this point.
LYRA
This concerns me greatly. The other town was obliterated and left emotional wounds on both Rip and Jonah. How can anyone trust Rip again after that? How can the team trust him to actually lead them with this new town? Why didn’t Jonah or the Time Council take away his privileges? LOT is slowly, but surely, becoming my least favorite superhero show ever. No take backsies.
We got a tease about what this new threat called The Pilgrim will pose to our Legends as she seeks to kill the younger versions of them in order to kill them. What are you looking forward to next week?
ALYSSA
Finally something to get excited about. The thrilling thing about time travel is that it allows for opportunities like this to go back in time and get a glimpse of our Legends in the past. But this situation is even more unique as they’ve thrown a bounty hunter into the mix with her target being to execute this Legends in the past in order to erase them from their current omni-present time. It’s terrifying and thrilling all at the same time and raises the stakes in a unique way for the first time in this series. Not to mention we’ll get a glimpse of Arrow’s Captain Lance back when he was a detective with hair and one that hadn’t been scarred by the losses of his daughters and divorce from his wife.
LIZZIE
Anything. Everything. I’m really looking forward to not being in the old west and not having to see Hex or those costumes. I’m excited for some actual stakes. I was bored, and if they need to bring mortal danger into the equation to get me to care about what’s happening again, so be it. I can’t take another episode like this one.
LYRA
For the first time in ages, I’m really excited for an episode of LOT. It’s a bold move to send someone into the past to kill their younger selves. These are the kinds of consequences I’ve been waiting for! After the disappointment of this weeks threat from the future I’m looking forward to The Pilgrim killing someone. No more cop-outs or convenient saves. They’re not going to be able to protect their past selves 24/7 and across time. Someone has to die for me have continued interest in the show. Show me consequences to actions LOT!
What are your thoughts on “The Magnificent Eight?” 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.
