TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Legends of Tomorrow Season 03 Episode 17: Guest Starring John Noble

Leave it to Legends of Tomorrow to pull a big feint in regards to their trailer for the episode. For the trailer stated that the main point of the episode would be to save a young Barrack Obama from Gorilla Grodd, when, in fact, it was a lot more than that. And “Guest Starring John Noble” most definitely set things up for a big finale.

With Barrack Obama saved (in hilarious fashion) in the opening few minutes, you had to wonder how things would turn out in the rest of the episode. Turns out, it was via Damien Darhk doing a 180 on his beliefs in order to save his daughter, Nora. For he saw that Mallous would literally come to life through his daughters’ body, and that was a step too far in his mind.

Seeing him willingly go to the Legends and ask for their help was really cool, as was his numerous attempts to prove that he was being sincere. Naturally, Sara wasn’t having it, and it took a couple of really good dialogue sections to make her believe in it. Her chat with young Obama was particularly cool and 4th-wall breaking in a way.

Then, there was Amaya, who was bent on saving her village in order to pay back the debt that Kuasa had created via her death last episode. Nate and Wally were sent to stop her, but naturally, Nate didn’t go through with it. It is telling to see that they admit that WHEN Amaya goes back, she does wipe her memory, else she wouldn’t be able to do what is required of her. It makes me wonder if this season will be her last.

As things escalated, the Legends came to a plan to actually allow Amaya to save her village, and create an anachronism so large that it would free Mallous in order to kill him for good with their now fully collected Totems. It was an interesting plan, a good one even, but we all knew it would fall apart. And it did, but Mallous does look pretty cool.

Then, there’s Ava, who finally confronted Rip about who she is. I honestly didn’t like this twist with Ava, but now I’m starting to because of how they doubled down on it. Turns out, the Ava we know isn’t the first Ava, it’s the 12th. Rip needed the perfect soldier in the Time Beareu, so he created one, and he kept her alive via memory transference and clone creation. It was actually very powerful, especially when Sara admitted that she loved Ava, only for Ava to reply, “There’s no “me” to love.”

Oh, and then there’s John Noble! Yes, the actual voice of Mallous was brought in as the actual actor (via his time during Lord of the Rings) to help “recreate” some scenes in order to get Mallous onto the Waverider to be contained. It’s a testament to Noble’s ability as a voice actor that he’s able to pull off multiple accents in a single episode and yet come off as totally believable.

All that being said, I am confused as to why Damien betrayed the Legends. Yes, he wanted to try and save his daughter, but if anything, that spirit vision he had should’ve affirmed that the Legends plan was necessary. Also, Damien was right about one thing, several of the Totem bearers hadn’t ever used their Totem’s before, so why were they sure that they could defeat Mallous if some of them hadn’t even used the Totem’s power?

Still, the ending was pretty powerful, and with the Season Finale now in view, things are going to get twisted for sure.