***This review contains some spoilers***
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“The fifth season of “Legends of Tomorrow” struggles to overcome an unfocused plotline and an extended break in episodes due to the real-life COVID-19 pandemic, but thanks to some great comedic moments and strong character arcs, the show finishes things up in a mostly-satisfying way.
After last season set up the release of some the worst of humanity from Hell, this season struggles to find much useful to do with them. It doesn’t help matters that Astra is not truly a threat, just somebody that grew up in Hell trying to get ahead, despite the carnage it causes on Earth. Bringing the Fates in as the main villains happens a bit too late in the season, and initially they come off as more of an obstacle than the unstoppable force that they later become. They also set up that the Loom of Fate could end up being a game changer with its ability to rewrite history, but it never really works in the Legends favor. (The whole finish to this arc is a little too similar to the Spear of Destiny/Legion of Doom stuff from the end of season 2. However, the proceedings here are a lot more fun, albeit it all feels rushed.)
Overall, the returning cast is used well, with plenty of humorous moments and some fantastic character beats. Sara and Ava are really allowed to dig into the growth of their relationship, but they don’t get a ton of stuff do otherwise. (Sara does have her short-lived superpower, and was also a major player in the crossover.) Nate’s stories primarily revolve around his “lost” romance with Zari and also the loss of his best friend, Ray. Ray’s own story ends up feeling mostly rushed, as he and Nora admit their love for each other, get married, and leave to live happily ever after…all in within a handful of episodes. Charlie’s story takes a lot of strange twists. We quickly find out she’s a Fate and has been on the run from her sisters, but they never really nail how this fractured family dynamic works and has impacted her so deeply. This is most obvious in the final few episodes, where they fail to properly explain some of her of character choices. Mick finally gets a meaty character arc this season. While his romance novel stuff helped flesh him out somewhat, giving him a daughter to care about has really began to transform his character, and has a lot of potential going forward. The Constantine stuff is fine, but considering how iconic some of the material is (his lung cancer and Astra), it never quite lives up to expectations. But the absolute MVP this season is Zari. Tala Ashe does an amazing job making the new Zari a brand new character, yet familiar enough the register that it’s still essentially the same woman we’ve already known. It becomes even more apparent when both versions are on screen together just how similar and different they are. Her reunion with her brother, and the rest of her friends for that matter, are expertly acted and pull at the heart strings.
There’s not much for new characters this time around. The Encores are essentially the same historic baddies we’ve seen in the past, just a bit harder to kill. The other fates are fairly bland, especially the no-nonsense Lachesis. It doesn’t help that we’re told they’re extremely powerful, yet we really never see the scope of what they can do. While Astra has a tragic backstory, they just don’t quite sell her redemption arc. The biggest surprise is Behrad. He initially just feels like a disposal placeholder till Zari comes back, but his laidback demeanor and overall likability make his imminent demise all the more hurtful…and then makes his eventual return that much sweeter…and a little surprising.
“Legends of Tomorrow” stumbles early with a lack of quality villains, and only slightly improves with the addition of the Fates. But the shows comedy, wackiness and innovated storytelling keep the show worth coming back for. And the family dynamics of these misfits leads to some emotional moments that stir up all kinds of feeling.
***1/2 out of *****