Becoming A Legend

Those who know me know I am not a superhero fanatic, but I have a couple of favorites close to my heart. Superman is my man, but the Legends, are my comfort heroes.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is one of the many spinoffs known as the Arrowverse. Each player in this rag-tag team of misfits was introduced to us through Arrow or The Flash. I genuinely believe that this is one of the more underrated Arrowverse shows. This show was set up to be a bit silly, and it never took itself seriously, but it covers every type of “love” that is out there, from sweet romances, chosen family, a Father-Son dynamic, and a forced leader that loves their team.

THE WAVERIDER CAPTAINS –

The Series opens with the Time-Captain Rip Hunter, played by Arthur Darville. Some would know him as the Lone Centurion, Rory Williams from Doctor Who. Rip Hunter is putting together a team… a particular team.

Rip Hunter picked a team that was supposed to be expendable, but the further he took this team, the more he began to love them. The problem with Rip is that he doesn’t stay with one team for long, but what he does do is learn what being a Legend means.

I love Arthur Darville. I fell in love with him as Rip Hunter long before I found out he was Rory Williams, and honestly, that just made me love the actor even more. But we only get three seasons with him, and his character is erratic.

The Captain that I want to talk about is Sara Lance. Below is the perfect video tribute to the defacto Captain of the Waverider. 

Sara was introduced in Arrow as the Black Canary. She was on the boat with Oliver Queen when they were shipwrecked and found herself in situations that would break a lesser woman. She became an assassin for the Raj Al Ghul’s League of Assassins and could never entirely become the troublesome, carefree girl she was when she got on the boat with Oliver Queen. Rip recruited her because she had died once before and was considered gone, so she was the most expendable of them all.

But Sara’s leadership skills, desire to do the right thing, and grace under pressure made the team trust her. Her redemption arch gave her the confidence to embrace the White Canary name. She became the mother of these misfit heroes and would do anything to ensure that everyone made it home safe—even the misfits who were new to the team or didn’t entirely belong to her.

THE FATHER – 

Being the oldest and smartest member of the team who is literally fused with the youngest member of the team can make for a very interesting dynamic. Dr. Martin Stein and Jefferson Jaxson are the two halves of Firestorm.

We are introduced to Professor Stein in The Flash. He was fused with Ronnie, Caitlin Snow’s fiance. When Ronnie sacrificed himself, Martin had to find another who could sustain him, or he would die. They found Jefferson Jaxson, who was also compatible. For a man whose life is dependent on a second person, he is not good at treating him like he cares… at least not at first.

Most of the team is younger than this man, and there was even a time when he let his ego and the cultural understanding that the older MAN is the natural team leader. Because of this, he learned the natural talent for leading that Sara had over him. He has experience and knowledge, but Sara has the grace under pressure, and he sees that his job is to support her. 

The relationship between Stein and Jax develops them into the bigger and better heroes they are supposed to be. Their dynamic is one of a battling father and son who know they will always be there for each other. There is something beautiful about their relationship, that I wish I were better at putting into words. So, instead, I will show you their last minutes together, and I pray that you can feel the hurt and love that come with saying goodbye.

THE BROS -

This series has two bromance-type stories, starting with the criminal duo of Leonard Snart and Mick Rory. 

Introduced to the Arrowverse in The Flash, these two criminals figured out that Barry Allen was the Flash and even thwarted him a couple of times. Rip recruited them to the Waiverider, and we see them grow from self-centered thieves to self-sacrificing heroes. Unfortunately, we only get them together for season one and then on-and-off appearances throughout seasons two and three by Leonard Snart. So the real growth is seen through Mick Rory as he continues with the team though he pretends it is begrudgingly.

Now, Bromance number two is Ray Palmer and Nathan Heywood. Ray was one of the original team members displaced in time at the end of season 1, and Nate is the historian who finds a way to bring the team back together in season 2 and earns a spot in the Legends. 

Ray and Nate butt heads in the beginning, especially when Ray gives up his formula to save Nate, turning him into Steel. However, as time passes, these two pop culture nerds begin to form a brotherhood that is tried and tested and more robust than most. Throughout seasons 2-5, we watch these two bounce off each other. They learn, grow, protect, and sacrifice alongside each other, and it is beautiful to watch them develop. They are the Chandler and Joey of the Arrowverse.

THE LOVERS - 

There are a couple of romances in this story, but the one I will focus on for this is Ray Palmer and Nora Darhk.

We met Ray for the first time in Arrow. He had lost his fiance in the Deathstroke raid and became determined to do good for his world through his smarts and money.

Ray has been left behind by some incredible women, his late fiance Anna, Felicity Smoak, and Kendra Saunders. Felicity is the one who told Ray that there is someone out there “somewhere… some time.”

Nora is the daughter of one of the Arrowverse’s most formidable villains… Damien Darhk. He is the death of Laurel Lance (Sara’s sister), a member of the “Legion of Doom” trying to rewrite history in his image, and he is the man who uses his daughter as a vessel for attempting to release a demon.

Fortunately, he is still capable of love, even if it is misguided. In season 3 of Legends, he shows up again, but this time with his daughter in hand. Nora is bred to be a demon vessel, and it isn’t until he realizes that being a vessel means that Nora will be destroyed that he does everything he can to protect her and change that fate. 

Damien Darhk sacrifices himself to give Nora her life back. Ray knows that Nora has the opportunity to do better and be better and gives that to her. Nora tries to stay out of trouble, but of course, trouble finds her, and in her lessons, she realizes that she has to do the right thing and turn herself in. This decision gives her friends she can rely on, a man who loves her with every fiber of his being, the ability to help those in need, and even the chance to see her father one last time. 

Ray and Nora belong together because his goodness and love permeate everyone he comes in contact with, and her desire for the right thing is supported by that goodness—so much so that even her father cannot deny they are meant to be together. Damien may not be ecstatic that she chose the Boy Scout, but he sees her happiness and cannot… WILL NOT deny her that happiness, especially since he failed at it when he was alive.

On another note, it is just as beautiful knowing that Cortney Ford and Brandon Routh are married in real life, and their chemistry is unmatched.

THE LEGENDS -

I know this article won’t resonate with most of our readers, but it has been a joy to go back and rewatch, analyze, and even cry over these characters. D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow has much to offer regarding analyzing the different aspects of love. But mostly, it is a masterpiece in spotlighting… CHOSEN family.

So before I leave you, here is a compilation of fun Damien Darhk moments just to make Chloe roll her eyes.

Until Next Time
Peace Out, Lovers.