DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Larson April 25, 2017

"Legends of Tomorrow" is the latest in the lineup of DC's superhero TV Universe series, developed as a spinoff from "Arrow" and "The Flash". Although "Legends" derives from the eponymous DC Comics anthology series and retains characters from the two shows, it also introduces new ones whose personae are not gleaned from characters in comics. The centerpiece of the first season is Time Master Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill), who witnesses the murder of his wife and child in London 150 years in the future by the diabolical Vandal Savage (Casper Crump). To prevent Savage's wrath, Hunter quickly assembles a cadre of superhero fighters consisting of the dual personas of Ray Palmer/The Atom (Brandon Routh), Sara Lance/White Canary (Caity Lotz), as well as Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) and Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Franz Drameh), who merge to transform into the hero Firestorm. Joining the recruits are Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl (Ciara Renée), Carter Hall/Hawkman (Falk Hentschel), Leonard Snart/Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), and Mick Rory/Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell).

"Legends" is a fast-paced and very entertaining time-travel yarn made on a standard TV budget that makes the most of its pyrotechnics. The show occasionally demonstrates it budget limitations but the sets and costumes should provide the eye candy for DC's fan base. For the most part, the chemistry between the characters is solid if uneven in places. The new characters are also not the most original and genre devotees should spot some archetypal similarities between them and Marvel's characters.

A typical scene from "DC's Legends of Tomorrow."

Warner Bros. has released a two-disc set that includes eight episodes apiece on two BD-50s. I have summarized/paraphrased the episode synopses provided on the release's leaflet:

DISC 1

1. Pilot, Part 1: Time traveler Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) selects a team of heroes and rogues to stop the seemingly indestructible villain Vandal Savage (Casper Crump).

2. Pilot, Part 2: When things go from bad to worse, Professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber) sets off with Sara (Caity Lotz) and Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (Franz Drameh) to contact a brilliant man – his younger self (Graeme McComb) – much to Rip's chagrin.

3. Blood Ties: In an attempt to negate Savage's power by targeting his financial assets, Rip and Sara infiltrate his bank. Meanwhile, Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller) and Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell) take the jumpship back to Central City for a job.

4. White Knights: The team follows Vandal’s trail into the 1980s Soviet Union, where they meet nuclear scientist Valentina Vostok (Stephanie Corneliussen), but only Snart gets through to her.

5. Fail-Safe: After some members of the team are captured and placed in a Russian gulag during the Cold War, Snart leads the team in an elaborate escape plan to free their comrades.

6. Star City 2046: When a malfunction sends the Waverider crashing into Star City 2046, the team forecasts a disturbing version of their own futures where they never stop Savage or come back home.

7. Marooned: After receiving a distress call from an abandoned timeship, Rip answers – despite the team's warning that it could be a trap – forcing them to battle time pirates.

8. Night of the Hawk: The team tracks Savage to a small town in Oregon in the 1950s where he's working as a doctor in a psychiatric hospital. Sara and Stein take furtive steps to unveil his plan.

DISC 2

9. Left Behind: After the Waverider departs to them stranded in the 1950s, Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) and Kendra Saunders (Ciara Renee) bond as a couple, while Sara reenlists into the League of Assassins and Ra's al Ghul (Matt Nable).

10. Progeny: In an effort to save his family, Rip leads the team into the future to take down one of Savage's allies. But he crosses the line when the team learns the target is actually a child.

11. The Magnificent Eight: The team seeks a place to hide out and Rip sets a course for the Old West. When they come against an outlaw gang, Rip calls on his old friend Jonah Hex (Johnathan Schaech).

12. Last Refuge: The team is targeted by the Pilgrim (Faye Kingslee), a deadly assassin who wants to delete them from the timeline by wiping out their younger, pre-superhero selves.

13. Leviathan: Rip escorts the team to London 2166 when Savage is at the peak of his powers. They also encounter Savage's daughter (Jessica Sipos) and the means by which her father can be killed.

14. River of Time: After the team apprehends Vandal Savage, his presence causes friction among them as they decide whether he should live or die.

15. Destiny: Rip and Rory are terribly disturbed by the Time Masters; Sara assumes control of the Waverider and Snart resolves that he might be a hero after all.

16. Legendary: Rip takes the team back to Central City a few months after their departure so they can decide for themselves if they're willing to risk everything.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

All episodes of "Legends of Tomorrow" appear in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The picture provids a consistently smooth and clean appearance with no traceable source flaws. The color palette varies depending on the era and setting. There are considerable instances of teal and orange but no crush. Authoring is very good as I didn't notice any compressional artifacts.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Each episode boasts a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (16-bit). Dialogue is constantly well-rendered as I could clearly comprehend what was said on the center and front channels. Explosions and f/x are audibly loud but didn't reveal any distortions in the mix. Generally, the audio reproduction sounds rich and dynamic with excellent balance across my home theater.

Warner has supplied English SDH as well as French, Portuguese, Latin Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish subtitles for the episodes.

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

DISC 1

• DC's Legends of Tomorrow: 2015 ComicCon Panel (18:49, 1080p)

• Gag Reel (7:03, 1080p)

DISC 2

• Jonah Hex: Hex Marks the Spot (6:57, 1080p)

• A Fantastic Voyage: Touring the Waverider Set (8:53, 1080p)

• History in the Making (13:04, 1080p)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Legends of Tomorrow" is a very good companion to DC's "Arrow" and "The Flash." The characters and storylines are engaging and the visual effects are more than adequate. There are some lulls in certain episodes due to the writing but action generally moves along well. Warner Bros. has delivered practically flawless transfers and lossless sound. There is a pretty good mix of bonus features but I would have liked to have seen deleted scenes. Warner hasn't announced a BD set for the series' completed second season but check out Season One, which earns a SOLID RECOMMENDATION.