The Flash — Killer Frost

The Flash images courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

This week brings us the long-awaited Kevin-Smith-directed episode of The Flash, by which I mostly mean “who cares who directed what episode of what show, they all feel the same!!” I just thought you might like to know that since I have such a rare and unrivalled level of ambivalence towards so many things and maybe you don’t feel the same way [about life]. He directed one last year [an episode of The Flash] and he’ll be directing an upcoming episode of Supergirl as well. I think it’s a job he got mostly on the basis of crying. Anyway, it might not matter to you who directs the individual episodes of the TV shows we watch, but I think, for whatever role he may have played in it, Kevin Smith’s “Killer Frost” episode was one of the better episodes of the season. Of course, so far it’s also been the worst season of the entire series. Continue reading →

The Flash — Shade

The Flash images courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

So this week the Flash gang faces off against the fearsome new rogue known as the Shade, but really, most of “Shade” was dedicated to catching back up with all of the little subplots that have been building alongside the more major events of the season. Caitlin reveals her Killer Frost powers to the group, or rather Cisco reveals her Killer Frost secret against her wishes, Joe finally goes on a date with Cecilia, Wally’s still having problems with not having any powers, and Barry spills his guts over everything he’s messed up by creating Flashpoint. Also, now Iris wants powers too? And apparently H.R.’s Earth-19 is completely nuts? Continue reading →

Legends of Tomorrow — Compromised

Legends of Tomorrow images courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Distribution

After a first season full (FULL!) of major, foundational missteps, I think Legends of Tomorrow is finally starting to find its level. Which is an entirely different thing than saying Legends of Tomorrow has gotten good, it’s just hasn’t been so strikingly bad lately.

This week, the Legends make their way to the 1980s after their recently developed “time seismograph” warns them of a crisis during the 1987 INF Treaty signing while also explaining why they never travel to a point before the time crises they face in order to preemptively or proactively solve their time-based problems. I think by now most of us who’ve stuck by the show must be far past the point of questioning the internal mechanics of the time travel premise and its seemingly arbitrary rules, but still, it’s nice to see these types of things being addressed every once in a while. Continue reading →