DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season 5 episode 4 review: It’s Zari’s world and we’re just living in it
This week’s episode of Legends of Tomorrow, “A Head of Her Time,” finally hits the nail on the head when it comes to spreading time between its many characters.
After last week’s episode went all-in on the time travel and stayed light on the narrative-specific elements, this week’s entry of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, “A Head of Her Time,” makes up for lost time, seamlessly combining period costumes and historical humor with character-driven conflict and some major revelations.
As seems to be the trend this season, the Legends were split into two groups. Ava manned the main group (consisting this week of Nate, Ray, Behrad, and the newly-added Zari), while Constantine and Gary butted heads with Charlie in the B-plot. Oddly enough Sara was once again put on the back burner, which we would normally be disappointed by, but for the first time in a long time, Ava’s story really clicked during this episode.
In the past we’ve had a few issues with Ava’s character. She sometimes comes off as inconsistent or shallow and tends to just be the stuffy voice of reason whenever somebody needs to give a reason why the Legends shouldn’t be embarking on whatever antics they’ll inevitably get up to. However, in tonight’s episode, Ava’s buttoned-up traits were (brilliantly) paired with influencer Zari’s egotistical tendencies, which made for a character dynamic reminiscent of Mean Girls, but with less backstabbing.
Over the course of the episode, Ava needs to learn how to loosen up and be a good leader when the Legends find themselves in revolutionary France, battling a suspiciously Nora-Esque Marie Antoinette who is resurrected and in possession of an infatuation-inducing perfume.
It’s one of the strongest “encore” plots the season has cooked up so far. Marie Antoinette is such an iconic historical figure that there’s a wealth of inspiration to draw from in terms of costumes, narratives, and emotional beats. Similarly to how last week’s episode used the encore, not as just a flat villain but a way for the Legends themselves to grow, Marie Antoinette serves as a way for Ava to learn how to lead, and Zari to reflect on her ego.
This is now the second episode in a row where Courtney Ford has shown out in full force. This time, she’s playing double duty as both Nora (now back out in the world performing fairy godmother duties) and the frequently headless Marie Antoinette. Her French accent is shrill and piercing, but it’s performed with such enthusiasm and camp that you can’t help but laugh with the show instead of at it.
While Ford was great, however, “A Head of Her Time” had an even bigger scene-stealer: Tala Ashe’s influencer Zari. We were gutted to see the Zari we knew and loved leave at the end of last season, and even more wary when the new version turned out to be a self-centered social media star whose personality could have turned gimmicky and obnoxious very quickly.
However, while Zari is plenty egotistical, she is nowhere near the annoying brat we were worried she may be. Instead, her confidence and influencer traits are put to good use in guiding a hapless Ava along on the mission – a clever way to make an otherwise powerless character integral to the plot. Zari also isn’t just useful — she’s funny. While the old Zari was full of self-depreciating sass, this new incarnation tosses around biting one-liners like Regina George and doling out some much-needed fashion advice to Ava.
On the more serious side, Zari also shines as a foil to Marie Antoinette. It’s an excellent use of both characters that prompts some self-reflection that will hopefully lead to Zari mellowing out a little more in the future.
Another great element that we hope doesn’t go anywhere soon is her interactions with Behrad. There hasn’t been a true sibling dynamic on the ship before, and watching them bicker while still having each other’s backs at the end of the day is both funny and heartwarming. We’ve got our fingers crossed that, even though it’s inevitable Zari will get her memories back, Behrad still continues to be a member of the crew. He’s an instantly lovable figure who makes any scene better.
As for Charlie, Gary, and Constantine, they spend the episode in a haunted house dealing with (literal) demons from Constantine’s past. Though the lack of humor makes it a little less enjoyable than all the French antics, it still earns its keep by pushing the plot along.
In a surprising twist that feels like a revelation big enough it could have been saved for the midseason finale, it’s revealed that Astra actually has a chip for Constantine’s soul, and she finds a way to speed up his death. The episode ends with him coughing up blood and collapsing to the ground, motionless.
Constantine’s plot also delivered some genuinely spooky scares. The horror feels much more akin to the tone of the short-lived Constantine NBC show, and it’s much more effective than the attempts at genre fodder from last week’s episode.
Unfortunately, a few characters were pushed to the side, which can be difficult to avoid with a cast of this size. Charlie has had very little to do this season. Although her history with the loom that young Constantine played with is interesting, it didn’t give her much to do. Mick also had very little screentime, although it was hinted at that his lady love from Prom night may be appearing again.
In the end, despite Mick and Charlie’s lack of relevance, “A Head of Her Time” was still an incredibly strong entry for Legends of Tomorrow season five. The episode made excellent use of its villain of the week, as well as the clashing personalities on the waverider, and the result was a fun-filled francophile fiasco that kept us hooked the entire time.
Next. DC's Legends of Tomorrow season 5 episode 3 review: More filler than thriller. dark