I don’t know what other time period “Legends of Tomorrow” could get trapped in for a season—which presumably keeps costs down (as does no one really having any expensive superpowers anymore)—but the twenties is working out. Especially with Tala Ashe getting to directly address the racism, sexism, and homophobia they’re all now experiencing. Well, except Nick Zano. And she calls him out for it too, which is great (especially since the show did an “it’s okay, it’s not your fault for being a white man” on Zano a few episodes ago).
This episode has the Legends stuck in Chicago and getting involved with Hamza Fouad’s speakeasy troubles. Fouad runs an unsegregated speak, which—historian Zano explains—the mob didn’t allow, making it an extraordinary spot. The team’s running low on funds thanks to Adam Tsekhman’s overtipping (one of the episode’s many great quick details), and so they team up with Fouad to replenish their coffers. Likewise, Foaud’s running low on booze, and they just happen to have a magical inter-dimensional mansion with an endless supply of whiskey.
Except they don’t account for Foaud’s mobbed-up landlord, Sage Brocklebank, taking issue with the replacement booze. So all of a sudden, the Legends—led by Ashe—have to find a way to help Foaud.
Meanwhile, Olivia Swann, Lisseth Chavez, and Amy Louise Pemberton are on their way to Chicago from Texas. They’ve just hooked up with Aubrey Reynolds’s girl band, and they’re trying not to disrupt the timeline, which isn’t easy with Pemberton blurting out future facts to the various people they meet and Swann refusing to let men push them around.
When they get to Chicago, they find themselves between a rock and a hard place because Reynolds’s boyfriend turns out to be very bad guy Brocklebank, who Swann knows from her time in Hell.
There are many good moments for Swann, Chavez, and Reynolds in that plot; ditto Ashe and Fouad in the other one. Plus, a great “action” sequence for Jes Macallan and Caity Lotz, with a great punchline. And then there’s this bonding C-plot for Tsekhman and Zano.
Keto Shimizu and Emily Cheever get the script credit; it’s got some very strong moments. Kristin Windell directs, getting some excellent deliveries from Swann and Chavez in particular. Ashe’s fantastic, but she’s always great, no matter what the show throws at her. But Swann and Chavez finally get to deliver on the potential the show usually screws up for them.
And Pemberton is getting comfortable on screen as well. She’s still a little awkward—some of it’s obviously the character—but she, Swann, and Chavez are delivering an excellent “B” team.
“Legends” obviously can’t go on forever, but it easily has a couple more seasons in it. This episode showcases how well the actors keep the characters going no matter what budget, cast departures, or worldwide pandemics throw at them.
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