Last Updated on October 7, 2021
EPISODE 7: “Marooned”
SYNOPSIS: “Rip tries to rescue a timeship stranded in space and uses the other ship’s computer to track Savage. But the situation turns into a trap and the team ends up battling time pirates.”
REVIEW:
Well what do we have here? Another stand-out episode of the LEGENDS OF TOMORROW that’s what! First of all, yes, I was grumpy about last week’s episode. I dug the Arrow business a good deal, but that love triangle routine that was going on? Yeah, anyway. It looks as if we’re back on track as this week’s episode offers us a dramatic glimpse into the sorrows and time-torn mindset of our captain, Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill). I feel as if, after the events of this episode, I’m finally starting to see why Rip is such a disorganized pill most of the time. Long story short, Hunter appears to be suffering from an extreme case of survivor’s guilt, and who could blame him? Did you see the wide-eyed, puppy dog peepers on that kid of his? Yeesh!
Anyway, even if “Marooned” felt bit clunky (what with all the periodic flashback sequences) at times, I think it’s one of the better episodes of this first season. Finally, our legends are beginning to feel less like a rag-tag group of hero wannabes and more like a cohesive unit – a family if you will. For me, tonight was all about strengthening relationships, as well as tearing down one in particular. As I’d said earlier, I enjoyed the bits that concerned Rip and his sordid love affair in the eyes of the time council. While I understand the council’s logic in not wanting their soldiers to be meddling in matters of the heart, I can also sympathize with Rip and Miranda’s need for rebellion. After all, where would any of us be without love? What sort of monsters would we become without someone to share in our affections? At least now I feel a little closer to Rip, and I can appreciate the depths of his hatred for Savage beyond the obvious.
What’s more is that I’m finding myself rooting for a select members of the group to hook up. Usually a pair of thorns in my side, I was glad to see some follow-through in the attraction between Ray (Brandon Routh) and Kendra (Ciara Renee). That moment where they start making out felt earned – regardless of the chemistry only starting to bubble and churn last episode. I think it was sometime during the scene when they’re both in the main cabin and Ray is playing Star Trek that I wanted to see them together. I think that by submitting to one another it will only serve to strengthen their characters by giving them something worth fighting for – beyond their core objective of stopping Savage, of course.
In keeping with the newlywed game, things look to be heating up for Sara (Caity Lotz) and Snart (Wentworth Miller)! Could Sara be the reason Leonard is steadily turning over a new leaf? Granted, their friendship is still within its early stages, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that they’ll be hooking up at one point or another. I thought for an episode or two that Sara might fancy Captain Hunter, but now I’m not so sure. What do you think is going on here? Let us know in the comment section below!
I’ll touch on one more relationship before we move on, and that’s the crumbling partnership of Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell) and Leonard Snart. I’m a little bummed that the clever Laurel and Hardy routine between these two no longer exists, but at least their breakup is given weight as both actors have had incredible chemistry since their ARROW days. I mean, we’ve all seen this coming, I just didn’t think it would be this harsh. What’s more is that I didn’t expect Mick to sell the team out the way he did in this episode. When he lead the pirates back onto the Wave Rider, I totally thought that was a part of his secret plan to re-unite with his team. In all honesty, I was left feeling genuinely hurt by his actions. That said, I still want him to be a part of the team. I hope that tonight’s cliffhanger ending doesn’t take him too far out of the loop. We’ll have to wait and see, I suppose.
Moving on, I’m not going to spend any time here bagging on Stein (Victor Garber)’s Space Ranger shenanigans. If the good professor wants to wear a beret and pretend he’s Buzz Lightyear for 45 minutes, let him. For real, I’m usually the first to be like, “Oh give me a break!” However, I thought Stein’s giddiness gave a few us a few good laughs while simultaneously lending some light-heartedness to an otherwise dramatic episode. Sadly, Jax (Francis Drameh) didn’t get to do very much this episode, proving once again that the writers still need to work on their balancing act a bit. He did get to whoop some space pirate ass, so at least there’s that, right?
In conclusion, I think it will be good to get back on task next week and start trading blows with Vandal Savage, once more. The show seems to have met its quota for “side-stepping” episodes and really must return to focusing on the team’s primary objective. At the very least, these past few episodes seem to have helped the legends gain a sense of perspective about what their actions will change the fate of the world. And even though they have a time machine, their luck will run out sooner or later. It’s time to put Savage down, gather his ashes, and throw them into the sun, once and for all.
RECAP:
Tonight’s episode began with a rather haggard-looking Rip Hunter sorting through old holo-tapes of his deceased family. Cheerful, I know! As Rip looks on at the digital memories of his late wife and son, Stein enters the captain’s brooding quarters. Somewhat embarrassed by his behavior, Rip closes the program and confesses to the professor that the trail for Vandal Savage has grown cold. Additionally, Gideon’s software has become outdated since they’ve embarked on their mission – and the only people capable of providing the ship with an update is the evil Time Council. Obviously, asking them for help is not an option. Thus, Rip storms about the ship, frustrated by their latest setback.
Over at the ship’s main deck , the rest of our legends have come down with a severe case of cabin fever. It’s been a week since anyone has set foot on solid earth, and they’re each feeling put out – particularly one hot-headed Mick Rory. You see, Rory and Snart still aren’t getting along very well after last week’s trip to Gangster’s Paradise AKA Star City 2046. Just then, Gideon picks up a distress signal from a marooned ship called The Akron. Hunter then turns to the group and proposes that they investigate the ship, thinking it will contain the compartment necessary to upgrade the Wave Rider’s time navigation system. Begrudgingly, the team split up, leaving Sara, Snart, Kendra, and Ray to watch over the time machine while Rory, Jax, Stein, and Rip make their way to the Akron.
Flashback time! Moving ahead by several years, we see Rip and his not-yet wife, Miranda, going through the paces of a high-level training program. As the simulation ends a high-ranking member of the council enters the room to congratulate them on a job well done. Shortly thereafter, Rip and Miranda are caught snogging in the halls by their robed commanding officer. As relationships are forbidden by the council, it is decided that Rip and Miranda must stand trial for their transgressions.
Returning to the present, we find Captain Hunter, Mick, and Jax skulking about the Akron when they’re suddenly ambushed by Captain John Valor and his band of space pirates! What’s that? Stein? Oh, Rip asked him to stay behind and guard the Wave Rider’s secondary ship that they used to fly over to the Akron. Anyway, Rip figures he’ll try to appeal to Valor by informing him of their mission to stop Savage. Unfortunately, Valor, much like Sweet Brown, says ” ain’t nobody got time fo’ that!”
Back aboard the Wave Rider, Ray has taken up residence in the Captain’s chair while practicing his best Captain Kirk impression. Giggling at his antics, Kendra enters the room, her gaze lingering on Palmer’s chestnut colored eyes. On the other side of the room, Snart and Sara bear witness to the flirtation and want nothing to do with it. As if to completely extinguish the mood, Valor appears on-screen and asks to speak with who’s in charge. Ray then presents himself and tries bargaining with Valor for the safe return of his friends. One thing leads to another, and in sensing that the negotiations aren’t going well, Rip cleverly orders the ship to perform a series of evasive maneuvers.
Taken aback by the rebellious act, Valor orders the Akron to open fire on the Wave Rider – the results of which tear a hole in the time machine’s outer frame. With no time to waste, Sara and Snart move to repair the breach. In the meantime, Stein has gotten himself all in a tizzy over the commotion, and decides that he’s going to play Space Ranger! He then boards the Akron and makes his way to the ship’s weapons system to disable it. Oh yeah, along the way he puts a few karate moves on a meandering pirate and steals his doofy beret. Stein walks out from behind the pod bay doors like a bad ass … who looks more ridiculous in his new hat than Rusty Griswold on a European vacation.
With the Akron’s weapons offline, the pirates are now aware of Stein’s presence aboard their commandeered vessel. Angered by the setback, Valor tosses Rip, Jax and Mick into the nearest brig where they meet the ships true owner, Captain Baxter. Flashing back yet again, we’re in the time council’s chambers, where Rip and Miranda are engaged in a trial for their crime of passion. It’s here that we learn of the reason why time masters aren’t permitted to be in relationships. Something to the effect of love breeding consequence in the war against time. You know, love is a battlefield and all that. It looks as if Rip and Miranda will have to keep it in their pants if they both want to become time masters.
Sadly, back on the Wave Rider, Gideon has activated part of the ship’s safety protocols. But that’s a good thing, right? Well, not when it seals Sara and Leonard inside the room with the hull breach. You see, space is a very cold place, and with each passing moment our heroes are at the risk of freezing to death. You know what that means, don’t you? It’s time for Ray to suit up and make his way to the outside of the ship. With any luck, he’ll be able to mend the damage before his friends look like a pair of Mr. Freeze victims.
Let’s do the time warp again! Yes, the back and forth of this episode does wear you down after a while. Anyhow, this is the bit where we discover that Miranda has assumed full responsibility for her fraternization with Rip and has resigned from the time master program. Yes, she’s throwing her career away, but she’d doing it for love, man! Honestly though, this explains a little bit as to why Rip carries with him such a sense of remorse in addition to survivor’s guilt. After all, Miranda gave up an entire future just to be with him.
Moving right along, Stein has finally made his way to the brig to free his friends, but not before Mick gives Rip the proverbial finger and leaves to barter with the pirates for ownership of the Wave Rider. With time quickly running out, Ray has sealed the breach whilst outside of the ship – nearly killing himself in the process. Thankfully, Kendra was there to resuscitate him before it was too late.
After having regained control of the ship, Snart, Sara, Kendra and Ray are greeted by Mick, who’s leading a group of angry pirates onto the ship. A fighting montage later, Rip orders Gideon to open the ship’s bulk door, sending the warring pirates floating into the great beyond. With the scurvy space dogs out of the way and both ships reclaimed, Captain’s Hunter and Baxter have a little chat about letting bygones be bygones. Baxter concludes the talk by confessing to Hunter that she believes him to be one of the greatest time masters to ever come out of the program. She then gives Rip the device he needs to locate Savage. This serves to restore Rip’s confidence in pressing on with his mission to erase the time tyrant from existence.
Finally, we’re left with the group having to make a decision regarding Mick’s recent betrayal. Snart insists upon the group that Mick is his responsibility and that he’ll be the one to “deal with him”. Next, we find Leonard dragging an barely-conscious Mick Rory across the grass of a wooded area (the time and place of this location is unknown). After several harsh words about friendship and changes of heart, Mick threatens Snart’s life, presumably one last time. To this, Snart reluctantly raises his cold gun and opens fire on his partner in crime, and also, his best friend.
STINGER: “Night of the Hawk” airs March 10th – “The team tracks Savage to a small town in Oregon during the 1950s where a recent string of murders has occurred and they suspect Savage is involved. Stein and Sara go undercover at a psychiatric hospital where Savage is working as a doctor to find out his plan. Meanwhile, Ray and Kendra pose as a married couple to gain the neighborhood’s trust, but an interracial couple in the 1950s isn’t something that goes unnoticed.”
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