I have often found Legends' inclusion of several well-known events or significant people into their episodes to be forced and unnecessary. That time Einstein showed up? Come on. But this episode, being a George Lucas tribute, was the opposite. It didn't feel forced, his integration was light-hearted and creative, and most of all, it was a fun episode from beginning to end.
We were teased the return of both Rip Hunter and Captain Cold, though only the former actually appeared. I have to admit, I'm not a fan of either character and I think this show has worked just fine without Rip as the captain and Snart as a protagonist or antagonist. It's been a fun ride this season, there's no need to mess that up. Rip is entirely new character, however, one who never flew as the captain nor as even met any of Legends. Interestingly enough, he's stuck in the 1960's directing movies with George Lucas coincidentally based on a team of rag tag heroes.
I was glad to see that they didn't structure the episode so that the Legends were going to outright "inspire" Lucas to make Star Wars specifically because he saw laser guns and super powered beings. But they did influence him to become a director. But it wasn't until Ray and Nate lost their abilities mentally and physically following Lucas' dropping out of film school. Comically, everyone eventually got stuck in a garbage shoot/trash compactor at the hands of Darhk and Malcom. Hmm, I wonder where they got that idea.
But that's why this show is as fun as it is. It never takes itself too seriously and it never tries to be something it's not (at least in season 2). Did I need a Lucas tribute episode? No. I probably would have initially wanted more of a pure follow up to some of the Legion of Doom stuff in the mid-season finale, but the writers found a way to integrate a film icon into their story about the Legion looking for a famous medallion/spear. I mean, it doesn't get much more Indiana Jones than that. I'm nowhere near as invested in this show as I am with Prometheus or Savitar on the other shows (and I could care less that Rip was taken by Reverse Flash), but it's nice being able to kick back and enjoy a 40 minute time-traveling adventure every week.
+George Lucas inclusion was fun
+Nate & Ray losing powers because of Lucas
-I don't care that Rip is back
9.0/10
