History Notes: Legends of Tomorrow Episode 202, "The Justice Society of America"

At the end of our last episode, our heroes had become disperse, reunited, and ended up in 1942 to save New York from being hit by the Nazis with an atomic bomb, courtesy of Damien Darhk and Eobard Thawne (MATT LETSCHER), aka the Reverse-Flash, a time-traveling speedster from the 25th century. And when the dust had settled, the Legends team was confronted by a secret military force known as the Justice Society of America.

Picking up where we left off, the team's newest member, historian Nate Heywood (NICK ZANO) recognizes the JSA from his studies, particularly Commander Steel (MATTHEW MACCAULL). We later learn that this is because Steel is Heywood's grandfather, and Heywood still wears his grandfather's dogtags around his neck.

However, Heywood's knowledge of the team only further convinces the JSA that the Legends are Nazi spies, and the inevitable fight ensues with the well-oiled machine of the JSA mopping the floor with the still-formative Legends team. They awaken in custody at JSA headquarters, where Hourman (PATRICK J. ADAMS) says he's never met them, despite their claims that it was a meeting with Hourman in 2016 that ultimately led them to 1942. Ultimately Heywood gives Steel enough personal revelations to convince the JSA that they are indeed what they claim -- time travelers from 2016. The JSA order the Legends to leave 1942 while they go on a mission for President Roosevelt to stop a Nazi plan in Paris.

But after the Legends leave, Nate's dogtags pull a "Back to the Future" and disappear. Heywood quickly consults his notes on the JSA and learns that the mission on which they just embarked is their last. So it's back to 1942 to save them.

The villain that awaits the team is a Nazi leader named Baron Krieger, who has been given a sample of a super-serum from Eobard Thawne. In return, Thawne wants an amulet that is in possession of Hitler -- the Askaran Amulet. A little googling and we learn that the Askaran Amulet is connected to The Power of Isis. What we don't learn is why the super-speedster Thawne needs to trade anything for it when he has his superpowers. But I guess there wouldn't be much of a story to tell otherwise. When the JSA and Legends ultimately confront the convoy carrying the amulet, Krieger runs off into the woods and uses the serum on himself, turning himself into a rampaging, incredible brute. Whether or not he is meant to represent Baron Blitzkrieg or Captain Nazi is never clear (both were DC Nazi villains, but Blitzkrieg's last name was not Krieger while the Captain's was). He easily takes down his pursuers, Ray Palmer (BRANDON ROUTH) and Vixen (MAISIE RICHARDSON-SELLERS), and captures them.

There's a lot happening in this episode, and there's a lot to keep track of, but it's far and away better than the season opener. Important (and just plain cool) things to note:

1. A crisis of leadership in the Legends team when Martin Stein (VICTOR GARBER) is mistaken as team leader because of his age.
2. The powers of Obsidian (DAN PAYNE) and Stargirl (SARAH GREY) unleashed.
3. The protective side of Sara Lance (CATY LOTZ) when she discovers the secret Nate Heywood has been keeping from the team.
4. Reverse-Flash's deadly confrontation with a JSA member.

One of the highlights of comics when I was a kid was the annual tradition of the Justice League meeting up with the Justice Society. Back then it involved traversing from Earth-1 to Earth-2 (or vice-versa). With time-travel playing such a large role in the DCW universe shows, I'm hoping this means we'll get more visits with the classic superhero team, with the LEGENDS OF TOMORROW filling the role of the JLA. And with the Legion of Super Heroes having been hinted at in SUPERGIRL, maybe we'll get a truly time-spanning crossover of (dare I say it?) crisis proportions.