#meg rewatches legends of tomorrow

[redhatmeg]

Now when I watch Left Behind again, I see that Sara's defetism stems from her experiences with Lian Yu.

She has been left alone, presumed dead twice. She had to fend for herself and she put trust in wrong people who offered her protection and training. Notice that ten month later, before she leaves Ray and Kendra. She doesn't presume that Rip and co., just like that abandoned her, Kendra and Ray; she says that they were dead, because if they were alive, they would come back to 1958 and took them right from their previous spot.

[searchingwardrobes]

The Convenient Groom: 7/13

The slow burn continues to simmer in this chapter as Emma and Killian settle into a routine, and Anna’s wedding planning forces them to figure out “their song.”

This is first and foremost a gift for @spartanguard​, and this chapter includes several little touches just for her!

As I wrote this, I tried to imagine what kind of music best suits Emma’s and Killian’s personalities. So, don’t take offense at some of their musical opinions - I made digs at music even I like! And fyi, if you go on YouTube to search for wedding songs, this is pretty much what will happen (minus the hot guy to dance with you, of course).

Summary: Killian Jones just happens to be there when Emma Swan gets the phone call that changes everything: her fiance is leaving her at the altar. The thing is, it could also mean the end of her career. Convenient that Killian has nothing better to do that day. Convenient that he’s secretly in love with her. Not that Emma has to know that. Written for @spartanguard​ .

Rating: M

Also on Ao3

Tagging: @snowbellewells​​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​​ @kmomof4​​ @let-it-raines​​ @teamhook​​ @bethacaciakay​​ @xhookswenchx​​ @tiganasummertree​​ @shireness-says​​ @stahlop​​ @scientificapricot​​ @welllpthisishappening​​ @resident-of-storybrooke​​ @thislassishooked​​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​​ @kday426​​ @ekr032-blog-blog​​ @lfh1226-linda​​ @ultraluckycatnd​​ @nikkiemms​​ @distant-rose​ @optomisticgirl​​ @profdanglaisstuff​​ @carpedzem​​ @ohmakemeahercules​​ @branlovestowrite​​​ @superchocovian​​​ @sherlockianwhovian​​​ @vvbooklady1256​​​ @hollyethecurious​​​ @winterbaby89​​​ @delirious-latenight-laughs​​​ @jennjenn615​​​ @snidgetsafan​

Emma and Killian both had thought that life would slow down once they were back from the honeymoon, and it most ways, it had. The past week they had fallen into a comfortable routine. Killian woke first, tidied up the sofa where he had slept, then went for a run with Smee at his heels. While he was gone, Emma woke, made the coffee, and filled Smee’s bowl with kibble. Emma had her run on the treadmill while Killian showered, then he made breakfast while she showered. This kept Emma from leaving dirty knives poised on the edge of the sink, and gave Killian an opportunity to put her half-finished coffee in a travel mug.

Emma then raced out the door after snatching her breakfast out of Killian’s waiting hands. She was always running late for her 9 am appointment. Killian had yet to figure out why she didn’t schedule her first one later in the day. As for himself, he lingered over his breakfast so he could read a bit before heading into work.

Her book - he was reading her book.

Emma had seen it in various places around the house - on the coffee table, beside Killian’s morning coffee, and on the patio table. She wanted to ask him what he thought, yet at the same time she feared what his opinion would be. Men didn’t normally read her book, after all. Except for that one pompous windbag who only read it so he could skewer it. She couldn’t see Killian eviscerating her like that jerk had, but she also knew he would be honest. That tiny voice of doubt always at the back of her mind kept whispering that he hated every word she’d written. So she remained silent. She did note, however, that his book mark kept moving deeper into its pages.

At work, things went on pretty much as they were before, with one exception. Even though the paparazzi hadn’t followed them to Storybrooke, they still couldn’t let down their guard. The town had to believe they were a couple too, and Emma still had to keep up pretenses on her social media. For that reason, Emma made her way into his workshop at twelve each day asking what he wanted to do for lunch. Some days they walked over to Granny’s to grab a bite together (hand in hand or arm in arm - for appearances sake), while other days Killian was busy on a project and Emma brought lunch back for him. Their “work lunches” had already appeared on Instagram.

They didn’t always leave for home at the same time. It depended on Emma’s schedule and how engrossed Killian was in his current project (he had a bad habit of losing track of time). Yet Killian always insisted on cooking dinner for them both, and no matter what work had been like, they were seated at the kitchen table with a home cooked meal at seven pm every night. After that, they’d plop down on the couch and find something to watch on Netflix. Right now they were doing a rewatch of Parks & Rec.

It had honestly been the most steady, domestic week of Emma’s life. She would never admit it to anyone, especially not to Killian, but she loved it.

Unfortunately, there was one thorn in both their sides, and her name was Anna. They really should have looked closer at the calendar when they had suggested July 4th for the family ceremony.

It was Thursday night, and their enjoyment of the shenanigans in Pawnee, Indiana, was interrupted by a light tapping on the back door. They both groaned as Emma pressed a throw pillow to her face.

“I guess we can’t ignore her?” Killian asked half-jokingly as he paused the show.

Emma whacked him with the pillow. “You’re the one who started the habit of your family coming to your back door. Who does that?”

Or maybe lots of families did that - Emma really wouldn’t know.

Killian sighed again, his head dropping onto the back of the sofa. “Come in,” he called out.

“There’s really only one more thing I need to ask you two,” Anna said without preamble as she rushed through the door. “Sparklers - yes or no? Because I think they’re romantic, but Kristoff says they’re for kids, and Liam said they’re cliche, and Elsa worried we’d burn our fingers, which if you think about it, kind of contradicts what Kristoff said because if kids use them, I’m pretty sure we can handle them without burning ourselves.”

Anna finally ran out of words, and just stood there in front of them expectantly. Emma was rendered speechless, wondering how Anna hadn’t passed out from lack of oxygen, and Killian simply looked confused.

“Sparklers for what?” he finally asked.

“The wedding,” Anna clarified with a roll of her eyes.

“You know, babe,” Emma teased, poking him in the leg, “the reason she’s popped over here every single night?”

Killian rubbed his jaw, and Emma noted the bags under his eyes and frowned. For the first time, she wondered how well he was sleeping out here on the couch.

“Aye, our small, family ceremony.” He looked at Anna pointedly as he emphasized the words.

“It will be,” she insisted, punching Killian in the arm. “It’s just going to be the six of us. Now, what’s your song?”

She had a literal binder opened on her lap. It was so large, her pregnant belly was about to send it sliding to the floor. Her gaze was on them expectantly, a pen poised over the binder.

Emma glanced at Killian. “Ummm . . . we don’t really have one?” She shrugged.

Anna’s shoulders slumped and her lips turned down into a frown as if Emma had just insulted her personally. “How can you not have a song?”

“It’s not a requirement, A,” Killian pointed out.

“But . . . but . . . you had a first dance at your big fancy wedding. I saw pictures of it on the internet. What did you dance to?”

“Don’t use that,” Emma blurted out before she could stop herself. Anna frowned.

“It was just some generic song the DJ picked out,” Killian explained hurriedly. “We didn’t like it, actually.” He turned to Emma with a grin. “Remember how we laughed about that song?”

Emma’s chuckle was genuine. “We sure did.”

“Oh, well that’s disappointing . . .” Anna trailed off, slumping against the sofa. Emma was really expecting the binder to hit the floor now.

“I tell you what,” Killian encouraged her, “Emma and I will pick out a song, ok?”

“You can’t just pick out a song!” Anna argued, and Emma was startled as tears welled in the redhead’s eyes. “It has to be meaningful!” She dashed at her tears in frustration. “I’m sorry it’s these stupid pregnancy hormones.”

Killian moved to sit next to Anna and put his arm around her. “Don’t worry, A. It’ll be meaningful. I promise.”

“By tomorrow?”

“By tomorrow.”

Anna narrowed her eyes. “And it won’t be generic?”

Killian put his hand to his heart. “I promise we will find something meaningful to our relationship.”

“I know I’m being ridiculous,” she chuckled as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“No you’re not,” Emma assured her, “it’s really sweet of you to put all this together.”

Anna gave her a watery smile, then started trying to hoist herself to her feet. Killian rushed to help her, then she gathered her binder and headed for the back door.

“Oh, and Anna,” Emma called out after her.

“Yeah?” Anna asked as she turned back around.

“Yes to the sparklers.”

Anna’s answering grin was almost worth the nightly interruptions. Almost.

“Okay, Swan,” Killian exclaimed as soon as the door shut behind Anna. “We’ve got some work to do.”

“The song?” Emma was incredulous. “You’re not serious!”

“As a heart attack. You heard her. She wants something meaningful. Don’t you think it will arouse suspicions if we pick, like . . . ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ or something?”

Emma narrowed her eyes. “Why would that be suspicious?”

“Because that’s in practically every rom com ever made.”

Emma snorted through her nose. “I never took you for the rom com type.”

He smirked at her. “I have many facets, love.”

Emma shook her head and couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Okay, romance expert, how in the world do we pick a song? There are literally millions of love songs.”

“Well,” Killian replied, plopping down on the couch next to her and taking the remote, “I bet there’s a wedding dance playlist on YouTube. We’ll start there.”

He scrolled through the menu on their smart tv as Emma lounged against the back of the couch and studied him. “I’m still trying to imagine you watching . . . say . . . You’ve Got Mail or something.”

“Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are legends, darling,” he countered smoothly, still concentrating on the tv.

“Okay, I guess, but what about . . . While You Were Sleeping?”

“Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman? What’s not to love?” He winked at her. “Okay, Emma, here we have top 100 wedding dance songs.”

“100!”

He waved his hand at her dismissively. “I’m sure half of them we can rule out rather quickly.”

“You mean the super cheesy ones?”

“Precisely.” He narrowed his eyes as he pulled up the playlist, and Emma couldn’t stop the fleeting thought that he was cute like this - his eyes all crinkled at the corners and his brow furrowed. “Okay, we’ve got Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake -”

“No, and no.”

“Okay, The Chainsmokers -”

“You can not be serious.”

“Whip/Nae Nae?!?”

“You must have the wrong list,” Emma told him, snatching the remote out of his hands. “That must be stuff to play at a wedding to get people to dance.”

“Ah, you’re right. Try first dance.”

“Wedding . . . “ Emma murmured as she used the arrow keys to choose the letters, “dang it, Killian, you really need to get one of those voice activated tvs.” She glanced over at him to see him grinning at her. “What?”

“You stick your tongue out a bit when you’re concentrating,” he told her, gesturing towards her lips, “it’s cute.”

Emma glowered at him, but felt her cheeks heat all the same. She forced her gaze back on the tv. “Okay, let’s see . . . First Dance - Wedding Suggestions or Most Popular Wedding First Dance Songs. Both have 117 videos.”

Killian shrugged. “Just pull up the first one.”

“Ed Sheeran,” they both read at the same time, then glanced at each other. Simultaneously they both burst out laughing.

“I’m hoping that’s a no?” Killian asked her tentatively.

“Of course it’s a no! Ed Sheeran screams generic.”

“You know, darling, maybe we’ve put the cart before the horse.”

“Okay, old man, what the hell does that mean?”

“Well,” he replied, smoothly overlooking her jab, “what kind of music do you like?”

Emma scrunched up her nose and tapped on her chin. Killian thought once again that she looked adorable, but he didn’t say so. “Ummm . . . I guess more rock than pop. Definitely no country. And don’t laugh but . . . I like punk.”

A slow grin spread across Killian’s face. “Love, I feel we are a match made in heaven.” When Emma’s jaw dropped, he sputtered and scratched behind his ear. “Uh, I meant musically speaking.”

“Riiight,” Emma said, nodding slowly. “Oh, and no power ballads. She rolled her eyes. I don’t think I can listen to an 80s hair band again after Walsh.”

Killian chuckled. “Okay then, let’s just scroll through these with all of that in mind, shall we?”

It wasn’t easy. Most were either pop or country, and the classics like Etta James “At Last” felt too cliched. A few had them chuckling. Who the bloody hell would dance to Dave Matthews Band. Do they have any idea what Crash into Me is about? And Killian played REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight this Feeling” just so he could dramatically sing it to Emma until she collapsed laughing on the couch.

“Wait!” Emma called out finally, clutching his wrist where he held the remote. “That one? Maybe?”

“This one?”

“Yeah - you think?”

He grinned at her as he rose from the couch and offered her his hand. Emma’s brow

furrowed.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m asking you to dance.”

She rolled her eyes. “We did that already, remember?”

Killian arched both brows at her. “But that was Walsh’s cheesy power ballad about sex, remember? Anna wants us to pick a meaningful song, and we can’t do that if we don’t get the full affect.”

Emma battled the smile that teased her lips and lost. “Okay,” she said, putting her hand in his. Her traitorous cheeks blushed as he pulled her up and close to him. He pushed the play button, and Paul McCartney’s voice filled the small house.

Maybe I’m amazed by the way you love me all the time. Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you.

For some reason, dancing with Killian now felt even more nerve-wracking than it had at the wedding. She stared down at their shuffling feet, inexplicably terrified to look into his eyes. His very pretty, blue, expressive eyes that she swore sometimes could see right through her.

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you pulled me out of time. Hung me on a line. Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you.

“Well, the lyrics are definitely meaningful,” Killian chuckled awkwardly. “A won’t be able to argue that point.”

Baby I’m a man and maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something that he doesn’t really understand.

Inwardly, Killian was cursing Paul McCartney as the lyrics hit like barbs. He realized he had tightened his grip on Emma’s waist, but she didn’t flinch away. He cleared his throat nervously, then almost choked when Emma’s green eyes met his. She’d had them glued to her feet until this very moment.

Baby I’m a man and baby you’re the only woman who could ever help me. Baby won’t you help me understand?

“Yeah,” she whispered, “I mean, it is Paul McCartney.”

“Uh huh,” Killian winced at how utterly idiotic he sounded. What was this conversation about, again?

Blessedly, the song went into an instrumental break. They continued to shuffle their feet across the living room carpet, but his grip relaxed, and so did Emma’s shoulders.

“So . . . “ she said tentatively, biting on her lower lip, “I saw you were reading my book.”

 “I am.”

Emma tilted her head. “So . . . what do you think?”

Killian pressed his lips together and gazed over her shoulder, collecting his thoughts. “I think you give women very good advice on how to be smart while dating. I also like how you draw a line in the sand, telling women they should never have to change who they are to keep a man. I feel like so much dating advice is really telling people to put on an act, and that’s just garbage. I think your book empowers women to cut off bad relationships.”

Emma nodded, impressed. Those were usually the things in her book that got her hate mail from irate ex-boyfriends.

“Do I sense a but after that praise?”

Killian let out a long sigh, then looked her directly in the eye with such intensity that Emma couldn’t have looked away if she’d wanted to. “But, the chart that’s in there? The one that will show you if someone is compatible with you?” He shook his head, and Emma swore his arm snaked farther around her waist, pulling her just a hair closer. His head bent closer to hers, and his voice dropped an octave. “Love can’t be quantified and measured like that, Swan. It defies logic. It takes everything you thought you knew and obliterates it. When it’s real, you can’t tell where you end and the other person begins. It’s terrifying, exhilarating, and comforting all at once. When you love someone, you don’t need a chart. When you love someone - really love them - you just know.”

Baby, I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time. Maybe I’m afraid of the way I leave you.

There was no mistaking it now, Killian had pulled her closer, his hand splayed across her back. Emma pressed her face to his collarbone, relieved that she was no longer looking into his piercing eyes. Killian pressed his lips against her hair.

“I haven’t offended you, have I?”

“No,” Emma managed to choke out, “I appreciate your honest opinion . . . “

“But?” he prompted with a chuckle.

“But your romantic views are exactly what gets people into trouble. That’s why I suggest people analyze the person before feelings get involved.”

Paul McCartney’s voice trailed off, the final strains of the music died, and a YouTube ad for Facebook Messenger started to play. Killian lifted his head and pulled back a step. Emma looked into his eyes once again.

“What if it’s too late?”

“My book says to fill out the chart after the first date, Jones.”

“What if it doesn’t happen the traditional way?” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What if love sneaks up on you?”

Emma swallowed and took a step back. His arm fell away from her waist, and she shivered.

“I think Paul McCartney will work, don’t you?”

He chuckled. “Aye, Swan.”

Suddenly, Kelly Clarkson’s voice filled the room as the first strands of “A Moment Like This” played, and they both burst out laughing. It broke the tension, thankfully, and Emma plopped back down on the couch and snatched up the remote. She started flipping through the songs in the playlist again, just in case. Killian sat down next to her.

“So,” she said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, “you said we’re a match made in heaven music wise. You share my tastes?”

He shrugged. “Mostly. I’m rock more than pop too, though I don’t discount it entirely. I mean, The Beatles are technically pop.”

“True,” Emma conceded, “and then there’s Michael Jackson.”

“Exactly! And, I’d go less for punk and more for alternative.”

“Let me guess. Pearl Jam? Nirvana?”

“Naturally. And Goo Goo Dolls, Smashing Pumpkins, Barenaked Ladies -”

“Wait, wait, wait. Barenaked Ladies are not alternative. They are one hundred percent pop.”

Killian gasped. “Pop, no way! The lyrics are way too tongue in cheek.”

Emma stuck her lip out stubbornly. “They are pop, Jones! Maybe veering a little towards punk -”

“Absolutely not, they are not punk at all!” Emma rolled her eyes as Killian snatched his phone off the coffee table. “I’ll prove it! Hey Google, what genre of music are The Barenaked Ladies?”

“The Barenaked Ladies,” his phone replied in that emotionless robotic voice, “are a Canadian alternative rock band formed in Ontario in -”

“Ha!” Killian crowed in triumph as Emma scowled.

“Where did Google get that info, Wikipedia?”

“Don’t be a sore loser, Swan,” he teased, and then his eyes brightened. “You know, I may have an even better song for us.” He took the remote from Emma and tediously typed something into the search bar.

When Emma saw what it was, she cried out in protestation. “That can not be our song!”

“Why not? It’s the style of music we both like.” He gave her a faux-innocent pout.

“Alternative Girlfriend?”

Killian shrugged then winked at her cheekily. “Well, there’s no song called Alternative Wife.”

Emma smacked him in the chest. He hit play on the YouTube video and then began crooning the song to her.

“You’re in an all-girl band, your futon is second-hand -”

“Yeah, Jones, this screams wedding song.”

“I have a job in a shop - see, that’s me!”

“Sure it is.”

Killian kept singing as he yanked her to her feet and swung her around the room. “You’re my alternative girlfriend. I love you and now you cannot pretend. There’s nothing left that won’t cross over.”

Emma laughed as he spun her out and back in again and she collided with his chest. “I’m pretty sure by alternative girlfriend they mean the alternative rock lifestyle.”

“No way, they mean a girl you date - or marry - because she’s in a pickle. For pretend.”

“Did you just basically say that I’m in a pickle?”

“Aye, Swan, a dill pickle because those are the only kind.”

Emma was laughing so hard now, her sides ached. They ended up staying up until two in the morning sharing music on YouTube. Some that were their favorites, some that they loved to make fun of, and others they were ashamed to admit they liked in their younger days.

And even though they had decided on it hours earlier, they texted Anna a little after two am to tell her that “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney was officially their song. They figured it served her right.

[feliciacraft]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Drabble: The Only One (Buffy, G) by badly_knitted

Time Slayer (Buffy, Giles, Willow, crossover with DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV), Teen) by SeaSpectre160

Liason (Dawn, Riley, Gen) by Whedonista93

With Tired Eyes and Tired Minds (Angel/Faith, Explicit) by avablue

Quiet (Buffy/Spike, M) by sunalso

Pon Farr (Buffy/Willow, Teen) by yourcrookedheart

[Chaptered Fiction]

The Decision (CHAPTER 1) (Ensemble, G) by Fmfan1980

The Decision (CHAPTER 1) (Tara, K+) by fmfan1980

The Turning (CHAPTER 5) (Dawn, T) by fmfan1980

A New Life (CHAPTER 41) (Tara, Ensemble, T) by fmfan1980

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: ["Make Me What I Was"] (Spike, SFW) by sanshodelaine

Artwork: Torn Out (Buffy, SFW) by nightmaninred

Artwork: [Just hold my hand] (Spike/Angel, SFW) by goldminegoldmine

Artwork: Days of our Youth... (William, Cecily Addams, SFW) by comlodge

Artwork: All the wrong places... (William Pratt, SFW) by comlodge

Artwork: Fred Burkle icons (SFW) by angelandbuffy

[Reviews & Recaps]

Buffy rewatch: Graduation, part 2 (3.22) by elsalapizza

Buffy rewatch: Graduation, part 1 (3.21) by elsalapizza

Buffy - S2x12 - Bad Eggs by zoeywatchesthis

Comic Book Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12: The Reckoning #1 by siphen0

PODCAST: Angel: 519-520 by tinyfences

PODCAST: Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1X09 The Puppet Show | Rewatch by Show&Tell

PODCAST: 4.03: The Harsh Light of Day by bufferingthevampires

PODCAST: Talking Buffy Episode 1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvet by /u/Dark_Moe

Reddit: Episode 79 (S5 E01): Buffy vs. Dracula by /u/AutoModerator

Reddit: Episode 23 (S2 E01): Judgment by /u/AutoModerator

PODCAST: S04E17 - Jonathan the Vampire Slayer - Superstar by popculturerolecall

[Community Announcements]

Buffy Comm Coming! [Would anyone like to help?] by katleept

SeasonalSpuffy: Reminder: June 21 is a Spuffyfest [On LiveJoural, Dreamwidth, and Tumblr] by thenewbuzwuzz

Summer of Giles: Week 2 Roundup by littleotter73

[Fandom Discussions]

[Probably Scrapped?] The Hardest Thing Notes by aftanith

Soooo, Buffy S12: The Reckoning #1 Issue by sueworld

[If the writers had wanted to create a real dilemma for Buffy re: Robin vs. Spike, “LMPTM” would’ve been set in season 6.] by dreamsofghostsandstars

[While it is true that a great many fics that give Xander powers in some form are just… badly written or OOC for everyone or nearly everyone, you can’t condemn the entire subgenre for those] by kyliafanfiction

[One of the greatest romantic tragedies of all time] by alixoftimble

Spangel prompts to my inbox please by mkatsi

[Re: I think you can confuse obsession w/ love.] by pepperespinoza

[IMDB’s poll today on favorite TV couples] by fruking-up-the-uk-blog-blog

[Headcanons on Giles] by rupert-giles

BTVS S12 Spoilers by mrsgordo84

BtVS S12 The Reckoning #1 SPOILERS! by gite63

Christos Gage & Georges Jeanty Talk "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Reckoning" by buffythecomicslayer

[Finally, we recced Buffy the Vampire Slayer.] by thedescentiseasypodcast

[Re: What are your thoughts on Willow/Kennedy?] by sulietsexual

[If the writers had wanted to create a real dilemma for Buffy re: Robin vs. Spike, “LMPTM” would’ve been set in season 6] by dreamsofghostsandstars, spikesjojo, and rebcake

[I went to WhedonCon and got the opportunity to meet James...] by buffyness

Reddit: Does Willow ever get a job in the show? by /u/MrNateG

Reddit: Thoughts on Kate Lockley by /u/ScoobyDoo416

Reddit: Comics dilemma by /u/rararezra

Reddit: [SPOILERS] I read S12 #1! by /u/elliest_5

Reddit: Is there a source for season 8+ that isn't absurdly expensive? by /u/adamwho

Reddit: Buffy Madness episode ranking poll - Final round of voting in The First Bracket! Once More With Feel by /u/mountm

Reddit: I never understood the Xander-hate until my current re-watch by /u/ava_holden

BuffyBoards: The essence of the slayer, one girl in all the world by Dora

BuffyBoards: Bangel Fans, Sign up here! by Buffy Summers

BuffyBoards: Top 5 Cangel episodes by PaulParmar1

BuffyBoards: Buffy's cutest outfits by MarieVampSlayer

BuffyBoards: Why Did Cordelia Initially Want Buffy In Her Group? by Agent Z

BuffyBoards: The Buffy/Angel watching guide by Nico Tam

BuffyBoards: Tell me about your Buffy collection by Mohammad Khawar

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: The non-toxic masculinity of Rupert Giles by Meg Elison

[redhatmeg]

Okay, so Rip specifically chose Legends because they have no significance to the timeline...

But, like, some of them already put their mark on the timeline before he came.

Sara Lance's (multiple) death and resurrection had impact on Star City, Argus, League of Assassins and lives of Team Arrow.

Leonard Snart and Mick Rory were well-known criminals, not to mention the reccuring rogues of Flash.

Ray Palmer was a millionaire and inventor who worked to make Star City a better place.

Firestorm was often helping Flash and doing superhero work.

And as much as Hawkgirl and Hawkman were constantly dying and reborn and trying to stay hidden so Vandal Savage won't kill them, I doubt them being removed from the timeline wouldn't have consequences, if only because of Savage.

And I get that Rip probably took all of them out of the timeline after they made their mark on it, but I don't think that - giving who they are so far - it would be over.

[redhatmeg]

The Magnificent Eight is, in my opinion, one of the best episodes of Legends of Tomorrow.

It's a nice breather episode with some character bits (Mick talking with Sara about his time in Vanishing Point, Stein deliberating whenever he should cure a kid and risk some unspecified change in the future, Kendra meeting her past self, Ray becoming a sheriff) and Jonah Hex - a traditional western DC character who had its fair share of time travelling shenningans.

Also, the fact that the kid Stein cures turns out to be Herbert George Wells is a cute touch.

[redhatmeg]

Leonard Snart: Why did we become criminals?

Mick Rory: Because we hate working and love money.

Me: Heatwave, my man, I love you. And this journey will be very special to you.

[redhatmeg]

Me at the beginning of the Legends of Tomorrow pilot: You know, when Rip Hunter is assembling the Legends, he shortly explains who is who. You don't need to watch Arrow and The Flash to understand it.

Hawkgirl: *mentions that she and Hawkman killed Vandal Savage with help of Green Arrow and Flash*

Me: Okay, maybe you have to watch some of the episodes to understand it.

[redhatmeg]

Also one last thing about The Magnificent Eight:

The fact that professor Stein saved young H. G. Wells - all in all, a person important to the timeline as a father of sci-fi who also inspired scientists and thinkers - with the help of modern medicine, should be a clear forshadowing that Legends' quest was preordained by Time Masters.

[redhatmeg]

I was looking forward for the scene when Snart says: "You're welcome." after he kills the bandit in The Magnificent Eight.

It's a bit faster on this gif but the way he nods as he says this line is just priceless. One of my favorite moments in the entire show.

[redhatmeg]

I remember someone saying: "Wait, Vandal Savage told Per Degaton the myth about Oedipus and he skipped the best part?"

[redhatmeg]

Progeny aka the closest Legends of Tomorrow got to the "killing baby Hitler" episode.

(Well, aside from Nate's comment in S6 premiere.)

[redhatmeg]

You know, Kendra has surprisingly a lot of eureka moments in this show. Someone can say something and she finds a solution to the problem at hand, like when Ray said they were moving backwards (as in: Kendra just moved past their lives in 1960 the second Waverider showed up) and suddenly she realizes that Sara had to come back to something familiar when she thought she was abandoned. And this is how the team decides to search for Sara in League of Assassin's.

There was a potential for this character. She could be very smart at times.

[redhatmeg]

Marooned was the first episode where I felt sorry for Mick.

Like, we learn from Snart about how they've met in juvie and were inseparable ever since. But now - because of the events of the last episode where Snart knocked him out, got him imprisoned and told him that Snart is the boss - he just wants to stay away from him, at least for a little while. He is angry because he feels hurt by all the things his best friend said and done to him.

Mick also feels out of place with Legends. This lack of sense of belonging is enhenced with the situation on the pirate ship. Mick wants to burn things and fight, but his actions cause the damage to Waverider and him, Rip and Jax getting imprisoned.

And then we have this exchange:

Mick: That's why you rectruited me, isn't it? To hit, hurt and burn?

Rip: No, I recruited you because you and your partner were a package deal.

Mick: What?

Rip: I'm sorry, Mr. Rory. But serial arsonist was never part of my plan to stop Savage, much less one with IQ of meat.

Like, of all eight Legends recruited by Rip, six were parts of pairs - Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Jax and professor Stein, and finally Captain Cold and Heatwave. First two pairs had mini-arcs about their identities inside and outside of "the package deal", and frankly Rip has no problem seeing them as separate beings. But with Mick Rory it's different. Mick is a wild card, a person who jeopardizes the mission because of his criminal tendencies and egotism. Not to mention that his main "power" is redundant because Legends have Firestorm who not only can shoot fire but also absorb nuclear blasts.

And in this scene Rip - frustrated and angry with Mick's antics and the situation at hand - basically says that Mick is useless to him: he was brought up only so his partner - the "brain" of their duo - would join. It doesn't matter that Mick warned him about Druce's plan or that he helped Ray in gulag. In this moment, when Rip, Mick and Jax are in the cell, worried about the Waverider, Heatwave is a nuisance. And even if Rip apologizes because he "didn't want to be so blunt", Mick will remember this conversation.

And then his best friend will freeze him. And it will be one bertrayal too many.

Edit:

Just so we are clear - I am aware that the deal he made with the pirates was a betrayal too and that people had every reason to not trust him at this point.

[redhatmeg]

I'm on Star City 2046 and I have some thoughts about it. One is actually the same thought I've had when I watched this episode for the first time and Ray had surprised Pikachu moment, seeing Palmer Technologies changed to Smoak Technologies: "Dude, you made Felicity an owner of your company back in S3. Did you really forget that?"

But other than that...

Carter is dead barely two episodes and Jax and Ray already start to flirt with Kendra. It's like hitting on the widow few hours after her husband's funeral, especially because she just remembered all her past lives with Carter. This show reminds me how bad it is with romantic plots.

That bullshit aside, Stein playing a matchmaker and giving Jax love advice is strangely cute. Thier relationship moves from "partners in superheroing reluctantly sharing a secret identity" to "mentor-student, with fatherly Stein undertones" kind of relations.

The big selling point of Star City 2046 was the Green Arrow taken straight out of The Dark Knight Returns - sad, broken and one-armed. Back in TDKR, Oliver Queen had beef with Superman beucase it was Sups that took his arm (and that's why Ollie helped Batman in the final fight between him and Superman by firing a kryptonite arrow), but here we probably are to assume that he lost it during the Uprising.

So far we didn't have an episode centered around any historical figure or event like in future seasons. We've got character bits, like Stein or Snart meeting their younger selves (and Snart even trying to prevent the bad future that will befall his family). And even thought I liked those in later seasons (like that episode when baby Ray Palmer befriended an alien, E.T. style), but I wish we would see Legends meeting some actual historical people.

At first I was going to comment on the fact that in this show time repairs itself even though in later seasons Legends break time constantly (and that's kinda their shtick at this point).... but then I remember that S1 has Time Masters planning the timeline ahead and Legends will disarm them, so it makes sense.

[redhatmeg]

But the effect of fire coming out of Valentina's hair when she becomes Soviet Firestorm looks awesome.

[redhatmeg]

Now, the gulag episode caused me to fall in love with Mick and Ray.

It was the beginning of this peculiar relationahip they share. Personality wise they were polar opposites: an idealistic, a bit naivete scientist and a hardened, cynical criminal, but they went through hell together and realized new things about each other. There were times when they were forced to work together and got along pretty well.

(Which is also why, when Ray got kidnapped by Dahrks and Mick was as apathetic as the rest of the team, I was pissed, because these two already had history.)

Over the years they were also the two characters taken for granted the most. There are so many episodes when Ray is treated like a happy-go-lucky idiot and the team realizes they need someone with his optimism; and Mick is treated like dumb mascle or "part of the package" with Snart, and I always had this thought that yeah, he betrays the team a lot, but have you seen the shit he has to put up with? And he was always coming back and showing he can be better if he really wanted to.