Fans finally got to see Oliver Queen with a goatee in this week’s episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow!
The episode opens with the team encountering a man in a green hoodie, and obviously Sara and Ray think of him to be their buddy Oliver Queen. But once the team realizes that this isn’t Queen, they retreat back to the Waverider in order to make repairs so that they can leave this point in time. Upon heading to Smoak Industries to find parts for the ship, Sara follows the hooded vigilante after a fight breaks out between the Green Arrow and a new gang, who then reveals that Oliver Queen is apparently dead. While the new Green Arrow explains to Sara about an uprising that caused Star City to be in shambles, the man responsible for the uprising appears, and Sara recognizes him as Deathstroke.
Trying to confront the man Sara thinks is Slade Wilson, the man behind the mask reveals himself to be Grant Wilson, Slade’s son. Sara, Rip and Green Arrow make their way to Oliver’s old hideout in order to find a part for their ship that they’ve been looking for. And so, Sara is reunited with Oliver Queen, who happens to be missing an arm. It’s here that we’re known the identity of the new Green Arrow: John Diggle Jr. who goes by the name of Connor Hawke, as he feels he isn’t worthy of keeping his late father’s name. Oliver tells them where they can find what they’re looking for, but doesn’t intend on helping them in their quest.
Meanwhile back at the Waverider, an unnecessary plot attempts to be thickened as Kendra now has two of her teammates trying to win her affection. I say unnecessary because everyone knows how Kendra was “destined” to be with Carter and the two always find a way to get back to each other. I really don’t see the need for any sort of romantic relationship with Ray or Jackson, and I don’t think Kendra does either.
During a fight with Wilson’s gang, Connor is taken prisoner. Sara goes to Oliver for help and eventually convinces him to be the Green Arrow at least for one more day. Sara and Oliver manage to stop Connor’s execution, and the rest of the team arrive just in time for back up. Wilson is taken care of for good, Connor takes back the Green Arrow mantle and the team make their way in their repaired ship, to stop Vandal Savage once again.
In a less exciting episode, writers Marc Guggenheim and Ray Utarnachitt attempt to give Kendra a side story by making both Ray and Jackson have an interest in her. While there has been zero signs of either men ever showing an interest in her, someone thought this would be an interesting story. But I just found it to be extremely unnecessary and bland. While I do want Kendra to have more attention, I just want to see her become the badass she’s supposed to be. I don’t want to see her always have a story that involves a boy that could possibly be a love interest. She doesn’t need that. She wasn’t brought into the team to be a distraction. She is literally a Warrior Goddess and we still haven’t truly gotten to see that side of her. I know I’ve said that I don’t particularly care for the character, but that’s because she hasn’t been written well enough to grab my attention fully. But I do have hope.
I really do believe that this show could improve tremendously, but it’s going to take a bit of time. With the inclusion of Oliver Queen and Connor Hawke in this week’s episode, I had high hopes for it to be one of the better episodes. However, Stephen Amell did do a good job as the slightly dead inside Oliver Queen. Amell has never delivered a bland performance, in my opinion, so it was still pleasant to see him have an appearance on the show.
