#legion season 2

[air--so--sweet]

Legion and the TUA of it all

I didn't want to become a Legion recap blog, especially when no one is reading these (except @soshadysoquiet despite knowing nothing about the show outside of these posts 😂) so I had planned to combine my thoughts on the last three episodes of season 2 into one post. AND THEN SO MUCH HAPPENED...so there's going to be multiple posts after all.

This post is about the parallels with The Umbrella Academy because I thought the shows were vaguely similar in regards themes and some minor character details...and then I watched season 2.

Also, just to be clear, I am not accusing one show of copying the other or anything of the sort, I think a lot of this stuff is down to coincidence and I'm pointing it out for fun. I'm also discussing the plots of both shows in pretty broad strokes here, once you start digging into the specifics of both, they diverge a lot more.

Initially, when watching season 1, David reminded me of Klaus - he's an addict, plagued by voices no one else can hear and seeing things no one else can see. I've also read several fics where Klaus' powers are mistaken for schizophrenia so I also connected that aspect of David's character to Klaus as well, missing the glaringly obvious parallel to the actual character within TUA canon who spends most of his life unaware of his powers and believing he's mentally ill - Viktor. Also, like Viktor, when David loses control, his powers have the ability to be highly destructive.

So, based on season one, David's got similarities to both Klaus and Viktor. The general themes of the show are similar, though the larger plot isn't . There's also this shot of David which is actually from season 2 but I had to include it because in the original TUA pilot script, in which Klaus still has his telekinesis powers of the comic, this is how he is introduced -

GIF via @tvshowfeels

I know neither show created the floating in lotus pose thing, but I still thought it was a fun coincidence for two already somewhat similar characters.

Then we get to season 2, and David is warned that the apocalypse is coming by a time travelling version of Syd, who is trying to stop it. Syd doesn't say the exact cause of the apocalypse, just talks of a darkness that comes after David defeats Amal Farouk and says they need Farouk alive so that they prevent the apocalypse. So, we have an impending apocalypse due in the next week or so (we're not given an exact time frame but Syd says David killed Farouk in her timeline a week from now) with the main characters learning about from a time traveler, very much like TUA season 1.

We then find out the exact cause of the apocalypse in Future Syd's timeline, and that cause is David. So now you've got a main character being the cause of the apocalypse your characters are trying to stop, like Viktor in TUA.

Then, David's loved ones finding out how dangerous he truly can be, try to stop him - with Syd almost shooting him and then with Division 3 trapping him in an energy forcefield he supposedly can't escape...but he's more powerful than they think and he breaks free. By trying to lock him up to prevent him causing the apocalypse...they may have caused the apocalypse. If you switch the order of the escape and almost shooting and swap out the forcefield for a sound proof cell you've got Viktor's arc in the season 1 finale.

And lastly, before leaving Division 3 David teleports into Lenny's sell to free her and take her with him and I couldn't help but notice the number on the wall behind them.

Number Seven, just like Viktor. This being in Lenny's cell, I believe any symbolism about the number actually relates to her, not David, but it's still a wild coincidence. Also, David who has up until now always dressed in colour, is wearing all white. Viktor, in becoming the White Violin has his clothes turn white.

Maybe this why I found Legion on a list of shows to watch if you like TUA...

Also speaking of Lenny - this is the first time in the show we've spent significant time with her where she is actually herself and not a mask for Farouk and she, not David, is the Klaus Hargreeves of the show. There are actual character similarities between the two - both are queer addicts who are seen by many fans as genderfluid. Klaus is immortal and can speak to the dead and, while Lenny doesn't have powers she is resurrected after dying and she sees the ghost of Amy (or something akin to a ghost, it's not super clear). But aside from that, there's just an energy to the character that feels very Klaus to me? I don't know how to nail it down beyond that, she just has big Klaus energy.

Also, the outfit she wears in the desert is a Klaus Hargreeves ensemble if I ever saw one.

No one can play Klaus as well as Robert Sheehan does but I think Aubrey Plaza could come close if she were to try (honestly her performance in Legion makes me feel like she's wasted in so many deadpan roles).

Also as if I wrote this many words about similarities and parallels and somehow didn't mention the dance numbers.

Specifically, the dance battles...

Oh my God I cannot believe how long this post is. Even by my standards, this is wild...I don't know if even @soshadysoquiet will make it this far...

It's also just occurred to me maybe I should have waited until I watched season 3 before talking about all the parallels...too late now! 🙃

[lettingtimepass]

Lokius Nation, we won so bad it’s not even funny 😩😭😭

[dysfunctionalcreature]

Ok but hear me out Aziraphale and Beelzebub with their respective partners are literally the definition of "the hero that would forsake their lover in order to protect the world, versus, the villain who would burn the world to protect their lover"

[cyclone-rachel]

if I had a nickel for every time a character in a Superman-focused show got their body taken over by Brainiac, I would have three nickels. That’s not a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened 3 times. Get out of there, Brainiac. Stop that.

[strangerinthelight]

Thought a little too hard about if Loki and Mobius were reunited and finally had what they wanted, and were then torn apart once again by some insurmountable force, and I honestly have a feeling that if Marvel ever brought them back that’s exactly what they would do

[trylynarie]

Rex: echo is a mom?!

Hunter: yes. He’s actually the most responsible with omega she just has to give me the puppy eyes and I give in- why do you look so surprised.

Echo in the 501st: DAAAAAAAAAD! Fives is reading my book again you know I don’t like that can we go to the library again please please please please please-

Dad I’m scared keep the light on! Dad the juice box is a different flavour you know I don’t like blackcurrant WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN!!!

Rex at the time: *rocking him to sleep and giving him bed time stories with the rest of the 501st*

Echo: dad… I’m older now ya don’t have to-

Rex: I’m fine… I’m fine… *one breath away from parent tears*

[thankyoujangofett]

HCs of how the clones act when drunk:

Rex: never shuts up, this man will tell you stories about every single battle hes been in. And bonus, if you ask him about anything gossip related he will not hesitate to SPILL.

Fives: I feel like Fives would take off any clothes he had on, he takes one sip of alcohol and hes waving his shirt in the air.

Echo: Suuuuper giggly, you dont even have to say anything he will just start laughing and wont stop until he runs out of oxygen.

Kix: Suddenly knows the lyrics to every song that comes on and will take any opportunity to show off his vocal skills.

Wrecker: Takes one sip of alcohol and is out like a LIGHT, picture him just flopping mid sentence.

Crosshair: Massive heavyweight but once hes drunk he will be glued to any mirror he finds.

Hunter: Starts venting to anyone who will listen and gets teary sooo quickly.

Tech: Normally he has not an ounce of lust in him, but once hes even slightly tipsy he is OFF. And you best believe he can pull, after all he knows everything.

Gregor: genuinely thinks hes Michael Jackson, no one knows how this started or how to stop it you just have to wait it out.

Cody: He starts writing poems on napkins, re reads them, cries.

[lokiusly]

Lokius Legion rise up

[izzy-mizzie-boo]

"Are you obsessed with your own OC?"

Me?? Obsessed with my OC???? Yes, yes I am, damn it.

Had to do a new drawing of her younger and older self.

"Does the numbers show her age???"

No, it doesn't.

'Till because she have a few other upgrades between these which is like "1.6.74"/"1.53.4"

The first drawings of her are the upgrades 1.4 and 1.95(in Instagram).

Melody was trying to communicate with the other legioners while she is visiting her home-planet and who answered her first was Brainiac 5, now the others are telling Brainiac to move aside for they talk her. Everything she can do while they fight with each other to know who will talk to her, is laugh from the whole situation.

Hope you all enjoy it :>

[cosmo-logist]

Made the 4th cover, so goated.

Read my Manga: https://mangadex.org/title/e2f88804-6111-45c2-b2b2-24a9e6c18c45/blue-lock-legions

[mrsct7567]

Part 2 of clone memes I made 🫶

[air--so--sweet]

So, I already edited and added to this one before and it took two hours and then tumblr glitched and saved none that and instead posted my original messy draft and I didn't realise for several hours and was very annoyed which is why this is coming now rather than sooner.

I've decided to save my full David and Syd analysis until after watching season three, so this is just my stray observations post while watching the last three episodes of season 2.

- If David hadn't been off fucking Future Syd maybe he could have prevented the delusion spreading through Division 3 and maybe Ptonomy could have survived. Also, I know they were limited timewise, and I know they haven't really known what to do with Ptonomy since season 1, but couldn't we get at least one shot of his friends mourning him?! If not David and Syd, at least Melanie? Wasn't it implied they worked together a significant amount of time at Summerland? I know his consciousness is being kept alive in a computer or whatever, but they didn't know that at the time!

- I want to know how Clark and Syd's 'girl talk' moment came to be. Do they meet for tea regularly? Talk about their love lives and exes? I'm not sure how I feel about Clark's story about the boy in the army he loved who kept jumping out of planes to get away from him. I feel like it might have been better to get something more real in that moment than bizarre (especially when we know he had a husband and son that he lost due to his obsession with David). I read a review that treated the army boy story as serious and emotional but like... he parachuted away from him, and then one day his parachute didn't open?! It's just occurred to me thst I might be taking this too literally like the autistic stereotype I am but honestly in a show like Legion that's the sort of thing that would be intended to be taken literally and not as a metaphor so I don't even know anymore...

- Literal or not I did not miss the parallel of Syd jumping out of a plane and parachuting down to get to David. Honestly, parachuting into the desert and immediately kicking your boyfriend in the shins is such a power move.

- In general it feels like the show doesn't know what to do with Clark, and I worry that he'll meet a similar fate to Ptonomy as a result. Hopefully not!

- Admiral Fukuyama was created to keep the secrets safe from the telepaths...now he works with them? I liked seeing some of how he came to be, but it honestly it left me more confused. Also, if all he has is the metalwork around his head, I don't really get why he wears a basket...its probably just a meaningless visual I'm reading too much into... I love the visuals of Legion a lot, but I do feel like sometimes 'this would look cool/weird/strange' is the only reasoning behind things and it doesn't always land with me.

- So this absolutely should have gone in my TUA comparison post, but I remembered writing it, got confused, and thought I'd already posted it rather than stuck it in a stray observations draft...whoops. David choosing to not tell anyone his plan as Farouk would read their mind and instead manipulating them all as an alternative - it's the first time David, as David has acted based on his own thoughts and feelings and I'm questioning if he's doing the right thing. I couldn't help but think of Five Hargreeves line to Viktor in The Umbrella Academy, 'You know what they call a superhero who acts alone and doesn't listen to anybody? A villain.' (Having now reached the end of the season I wasn't wrong)

- Farouk previously talked about David's white father taking over and telling his people what to do (sidenote: who are Farouk's people? I thought he might mean mutants, but the white part of the line then doesn't make sense. It's unclear if Farouk is Moroccan like the comics or Iranian, since he speaks Farsi, but in this universe, did Professor X colonise Morocco/Iran?!?) He also talks about white people being cast as the heroes when speaking with Future Syd, and he's got a point, but the show needs to commit if it truly wants to address this. Yes exoticism has been used as short hand for villainous in the past, yes the writers of Legion didn't create or name Amahl Farouk, they're just (loosely) adapting the comics, and yes David does reveal himself to be a villain rather than a hero. But like...Farouk is still also a villain? So yeah, your blonde blue-eyed white man might be a monster, but that doesn't erase all the things Farouk has done (including helping turn David into a monster). Also, him being free at the end is down to his manipulations and control of others, right? Because the whole of Division 3 isn't so stupid as to let him walk free, right?!?

- 'You're the song they play outside a hostage crisis to keep criminals from thinking clearly.' This is just a great line I wanted to highlight. Syd could have just called Lenny a distraction but went with this beauty instead.

-The show that talked about delusion and moral panic then tries to blame technology for helping create narcissists and not seeing others as real people. It feels like that stupid 2014 video that claimed using our phones meant we'd miss out on meeting the love of our life because we won't ask her for directions. It's such nonsense. I've seen people who watched it when it aired say that technology is just a framing device for discussing narcissism and not meant to be seen as the blame, but if that's the case, sorry, they did a shit job because it absolutely feels like its proselytising about the evils of tech. It feels so incredibly out touch and tactless, and I wish they cut it, especially as the John Hamm narrative segments had reached a natural conclusion just the episode before. Having enjoyed the segments until now, it's disappointing that this is what they were building to.

-I think they were aiming for 'the desolate' or 'desolation' but 'Le désolé' just means 'the sorry' I checked with a French friend to make sure, and they confirmed it. You can use désolé to mean desolate, but only if there's a noun in front of it so this doesn't work.

- I'm not sure if the two David in David's mind are meant to be alters or like a devil and angel on his shoulder (really hope it's the latter because DID has been demonised enough and I don't trust the show to not be another Split honestly) but as someone who watches with subtitles I got the fun insight that their names are apparently Divad and Dvd.

- I've seen some people say Legion is set in the '60s/70s but we're never given a year, right? Considering it's a parallel universe I thought it was just another present day low/no tech AU like The Umbrella Academy or Manic. Especially as a lot if the tech we see feels more steampunk than 1960s . I get why a reviewer called the depiction of an MRI scan in season 1 anachronistic now, since MRI was only invented in 1977 (sidenote: as a student radiographer I will still never get over that scene. I was so ready to just accept it as a made up experimental scan and then they said the words MRI and I had to pause it, I was laughing so hard because it's sooo bad)

- I watched two whole seasons of this show and thought Melanie was played by Kim Cattral, but she isn't, she's played by Jean Smart! TWO SEASONS. I hadn't heard of Jean Smart before now, but honestly her and Kim Cattral are twins.

[lizardwoman-from-earths-core-2]

2 things about the Loki season 2 premere:

1. I'm from Oklahoma, and I don't think I sound like that thank you very much.

2. I'm getting real Legion vibes, and I don't know if that's because it's the best Marvel show to ever exist or because of the orange and the time period or what. I'd lose my shit if Switch or David showed up, but I'm a realist.

[mikimeiko]

Legion | Season 3 (2019), Noah Hawley

[cyclone-rachel]

just want to casually thank whoever made this decision

[trylynarie]

Hunter: I don’t know what to do! I’ve never been a parent

Echo: I know someone who can help

Hunter: cut?

Echo: maybe but he’s too far out right now. DAD!

Rex: GIVE ME A MINUTE IM CUTTING YOUR CHESSE AND HAM TOASTIE!

Echo: yes I get the triangle slices again (>•<)