2021 Arrowverse Roundup - Week 19

This week featured the end of a journey, a shocking revelation and a crisis averted.

Below is a breakdown of all of the Arrowverse stuff that aired this week. It is part review, part speculation, part analysis, and part rambling. It is organized in the order they aired throughout the week, so feel free to scroll down to whatever ones you watch. If you want to get caught up, you can use my Arrowverse Viewing Order guide to help you navigate!

Legends of Tomorrow - Episode 6.04 - Bay of Squids

This is much better. This is definitely the vibe I like from Legends more than last weeks. The Cuban Missile Crisis, people undercover, aliens interfering, good stuff! The only negative was that Caity Lotz was completely absent from this episode. The Sara storyline needs to be resolved (so she can be reunited with the rest of the cast) but her separated is better than no Sara at all. However, its lucky that the rest of the cast is so charming that this still worked.

 

The big surprise was Rory though. He had more emotion, and depth, and acting to do than he has in any of his other appearances in The Flash or Legends combined. His determination to rescue Sara is very sweet, and is going to propel his storyline this season, which will probably lead to exit.

 

Its still early in the season, but the tone of Legends has been all of over the place. Still, they've done excellent character work, and there are a lot of seeds planted for future stories.

 

***

Black Lightning - Episode 4.13 - The Book of Resurrection: Chapter Two (Series Finale)

The show deserved a better ending. I mean, don't get me wrong, it wrapped up what it needed to and gave the Pierce family closure. But it arrived with "flump" instead of a "bang".

Tobias's death was satisfying in the moment, but it would have been better suited to see the aftermath - the city learning the truth, the Pierces getting their stature back, etc. I also thought Gambi was gonna kick it, but glad he didn't. The entire Pierce family (including Gambi) will have the potential to show up in the Arrowverse in the future.

What wasn't satisfying was the Jennifer thing. It was just weird. There were no seeds planted for the random return of the OG Jen, and making the new one some evil entity or something like that. It was really strange and out of nowhere. Still, I'm glad she returned and the family unit is restored fully.

The show as a whole was a triumph. I'm glad it existed, and I am glad it became a part of the larger Arrowverse, because these characters deserve to live on. I would be very surprised if we never saw them show up in The Flash, Superman & Lois or Batwoman. They could definitely fit in on all 3 of those shows.

The Painkiller spinoff is not happening, but I have faith we will see these characters again. It was a pleasure to go on this ride with these wonderful characters. I will miss them.

 

***

The Flash - Episode 7.11 - Family Matters Part 2

Well, that ended much faster than I thought it would. It seems the power forces storyline is done. It was wholly resolved, and everyone is happy. Peace in their time. There are a handful or episodes (5 or 6) left, so that begs the question...what comes next?

Don't get me wrong - I am glad they let the story run its natural course, instead of stretching it out farther than they should have because they had to fill time. The tease of them starting a family is probably whats coming next as "Impulse" is a tease to his future son.

Killer Frost wasn't in prison long. And they made some BS excuse of why she's out. Which begs the question - why did they put her in there in the first place? I guess to further Joe's story, who is no longer a cop.

Things are changing quite a bit on The Flash, lets see what the rest of the season brings.

 

***

Superman & Lois - Episode 1.07 - Man of Steel

Wow. I could just leave it at that. "Wow". But, what an episode this was. David Ramsey knocked it out of the park, with angles and shots we've never seen before in the Arrowverse. He really added something to the story, instead of just being a cog in the machine that moved things along.

We finally got answers to who the stranger is. He is not an alt-Lex Luthor, instead he is "Steel" which is a cool villain to bring to life. His story is compelling, and they showed a shocking moment that no other live action Superman thing ever dared to show. Superman killed Lois in the alternate world. That will have ramifications later.

Jordan and Jonathan are still working through some things, and their relationship will continue to evolve. It is not the weak link of the show, which I thought it would be going in. But every character is compelling. The side characters, the villains, the supporting characters, they all add something. No one seems gratuitous.

***

The best episode of the week was Superman & Lois. I love that after all these years a superhero procedural can still show me stuff I have never seen before.