With Astra, Spooner and a now-human Gideon trying to save the Legends, Gideon becomes overwhelmed by her new human choices sending her into a catatonic state. Astra and Spooner combine their powers to enter Gideon's mindscape and discover that a virus is trying to erase all of Gideon's memories. Acting fast, they devise a plan to defeat the virus before it's too late. Meanwhile, the Legends are about to go up against a powerful new foe.
In 2020, the television industry aired 493 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of The CW's Legends of Tomorrow.
"wvrdr_error_100 not found" was written by Phil Klemmer & Matthew Maala and directed by Caity Lotz
Gideon was an original member of the Legends. She has been alongside them on every mission. Her input has been invaluable. She has even been seen as a human before. The show has always enjoyed the times it could create a way for Amy Louise Pemberton to play the character in live-action. And now, that's become central to this season's storyline as well as the plot for the 100th episode. Sure, it's easy to see the show contort itself to create a story that honors all the past iterations of the team for this notable event. It's a celebration. One that highlights all the dramatic changes the team has endured over the years. The tone and style of the first season is drastically different than what the show has become. It's fascinating to see that dramatic, overly confrontational style of the characters try to adapt to the silly nature of the storytelling. A fight breaks out upon the realization that the Waverider only has one bathroom. It's fun while still covering the dysfunction that has always been present with this team. Gideon has been a part of these events. She has memories stored within her code that highlight pivot moments that mean something special to her. Of course, this episode builds to the climatic reveal that her code was altered so that she would prioritize protecting the Legends over the timeline. That reshapes the role she has always been asked to play. It fits into the overall puzzle though. She is just as eager to help someone with a personal request as she is at alerting the team to some threat that has caused a disruption. She has thrived serving in both roles. It never felt like she was compromising one aspect in order to serve some other objective. As such, it's understandable when she walks away from this adventure accepting what it means to be human without ever denying what was done to her and the individual choices she has made along the way. The people of this world wouldn't be better off if she was simply reset to her original functions. Of course, that threat still lurks out there. That too comes across with familiarity. If the show was going to feature the return of a villain in order to represent this new threat to the timeline though, it's curious why they opted for Bishop. He wasn't all that compelling in the previous season. Moreover, it's not shocking when he shows up. Sure, it's a different version of the character as well. This is the guy who has just cracked the code for the Ava clones. He is trying to understand Gideon's design. In doing so, he may unleash the attack against these invaders in the timeline. That's how Gideon was programmed to act. And now, her nature has changed. Part of that was because of Rip. He made that decision because it was the only way for his mission to save all of time to work. That was so dramatic. It didn't match the stakes he later came to accept when operating with the team. However, that was very much his nature at the start of the series. That proves to still have consequences now. Gideon has learned so much from the team. They have relied on her across the years. Not every former member is immediately known to Astra and Spooner as they try to save Gideon. That's awkward as those characters have to essentially be introduced all over again. Some returns are more rewarding than others. The Beebo cameo is much more satisfying than the return of Hawkman. Some absences are notable too. Rory only appears via a stand-in passed out on the floor. These awkward beats have to be acknowledged and recognized. But it's also joyous to see these characters delight in a classic Legends mission. Gideon sings alongside Martin and Sara. She gossips with the book club. She makes special decorations and treats for the team. She is an active participant to this journey. The Waverider has become a home. It's gone now. The memory of this place is still special and unique. It's something worth fighting for from everyone on the team. That includes Gideon. She has embraced her human identity. That comes with accepting the pain of all the deaths that have wrecked the team. The complexity of life has to be apparent in order to handle all of these complex emotions. It's all happening to Gideon at once. It's overbearing and she doesn't even know the extent of the damage being done to her code. That threat is only introduced here. It's enough to leave everyone concerned. Hopefully it's not another season of Bishop trying to force his complicated and confusing will onto others. The Legends have messed things up plenty of times. That seems to be the case here due to unforeseen consequences of their actions. The technology to wipe people's minds may not be as solid and complete as they always believed. They may have left many people in turmoil across the years. That's dark and grim. The show portrays it as colorful and no big deal. The scope can't be denied though. The audience has some of that clarity. Gideon receives certainty in herself too. That's necessary for the next step in her journey as a Legend.
Gideon was an original member of the Legends. She has been alongside them on every mission. Her input has been invaluable. She has even been seen as a human before. The show has always enjoyed the times it could create a way for Amy Louise Pemberton to play the character in live-action. And now, that's become central to this season's storyline as well as the plot for the 100th episode. Sure, it's easy to see the show contort itself to create a story that honors all the past iterations of the team for this notable event. It's a celebration. One that highlights all the dramatic changes the team has endured over the years. The tone and style of the first season is drastically different than what the show has become. It's fascinating to see that dramatic, overly confrontational style of the characters try to adapt to the silly nature of the storytelling. A fight breaks out upon the realization that the Waverider only has one bathroom. It's fun while still covering the dysfunction that has always been present with this team. Gideon has been a part of these events. She has memories stored within her code that highlight pivot moments that mean something special to her. Of course, this episode builds to the climatic reveal that her code was altered so that she would prioritize protecting the Legends over the timeline. That reshapes the role she has always been asked to play. It fits into the overall puzzle though. She is just as eager to help someone with a personal request as she is at alerting the team to some threat that has caused a disruption. She has thrived serving in both roles. It never felt like she was compromising one aspect in order to serve some other objective. As such, it's understandable when she walks away from this adventure accepting what it means to be human without ever denying what was done to her and the individual choices she has made along the way. The people of this world wouldn't be better off if she was simply reset to her original functions. Of course, that threat still lurks out there. That too comes across with familiarity. If the show was going to feature the return of a villain in order to represent this new threat to the timeline though, it's curious why they opted for Bishop. He wasn't all that compelling in the previous season. Moreover, it's not shocking when he shows up. Sure, it's a different version of the character as well. This is the guy who has just cracked the code for the Ava clones. He is trying to understand Gideon's design. In doing so, he may unleash the attack against these invaders in the timeline. That's how Gideon was programmed to act. And now, her nature has changed. Part of that was because of Rip. He made that decision because it was the only way for his mission to save all of time to work. That was so dramatic. It didn't match the stakes he later came to accept when operating with the team. However, that was very much his nature at the start of the series. That proves to still have consequences now. Gideon has learned so much from the team. They have relied on her across the years. Not every former member is immediately known to Astra and Spooner as they try to save Gideon. That's awkward as those characters have to essentially be introduced all over again. Some returns are more rewarding than others. The Beebo cameo is much more satisfying than the return of Hawkman. Some absences are notable too. Rory only appears via a stand-in passed out on the floor. These awkward beats have to be acknowledged and recognized. But it's also joyous to see these characters delight in a classic Legends mission. Gideon sings alongside Martin and Sara. She gossips with the book club. She makes special decorations and treats for the team. She is an active participant to this journey. The Waverider has become a home. It's gone now. The memory of this place is still special and unique. It's something worth fighting for from everyone on the team. That includes Gideon. She has embraced her human identity. That comes with accepting the pain of all the deaths that have wrecked the team. The complexity of life has to be apparent in order to handle all of these complex emotions. It's all happening to Gideon at once. It's overbearing and she doesn't even know the extent of the damage being done to her code. That threat is only introduced here. It's enough to leave everyone concerned. Hopefully it's not another season of Bishop trying to force his complicated and confusing will onto others. The Legends have messed things up plenty of times. That seems to be the case here due to unforeseen consequences of their actions. The technology to wipe people's minds may not be as solid and complete as they always believed. They may have left many people in turmoil across the years. That's dark and grim. The show portrays it as colorful and no big deal. The scope can't be denied though. The audience has some of that clarity. Gideon receives certainty in herself too. That's necessary for the next step in her journey as a Legend.
