Full disclosure: Even though I have known Hawkgirl since fourth grade, does not mean that I will automatically give this show a glowing review.
Okay, the show does have an all-star cast for a TV show on the CW. Arthur Darvill (from Doctor Who and Broadchurch fame) may only have third billing but he controls the show. His character, Rip Hunter, comes from the future to gather an all-star team to defeat this jerk in the future who is destroying the world and killing everyone for no good reason. The beginning is jumbled as Darvill flies around quickly in between cities and countries to force the superheroes against their will to do his bidding. Yeah, probably not the greatest move there, now everyone is reluctant to go with you. That was a great plan.
Of course everyone agrees to meet Rip at the designated meeting place, though Dr. Martin Stein (top billed Victor Garber) does have to drug his young charge, twenty-year-old auto mechanic Jay Jackson (Franz Drameh). Even the criminals Captain Cold and Heat Wave (Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell) decide that becoming a legend is something amazing. They also briefly discuss why they became criminals in the first place, because they love money and hate work. And Hawkgirl (Ciara Renee) loves knowing that she can beat her boyfriend, Hawkboy (Falk Hentschel). Things are going to get complicated.
The first destination on the voyage is 1975 to meet this professor who has followed the lives of Hawkgirl and Hawkboy. The backstory of the constantly reincarnated lovers is interesting. Originally, Hawkgirl was married to the evil jerkface, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) but didn't love him so she and her lover, Hawkboy, were murdered and then something happened so they got the powers of a hawk. Now, the professor reveals that in a previous life, they were his parents but they have no memory of him. Yikes, that must suck.
Needless to say, this lovely family moment is cut short as the impressive time travel ship is being attacked by one of Vandal's goons and a nasty blood bath ensues. Fortunately, those who abandoned ship to drink at a seedy bar arrive back there just in time, having just finished a fight at the bar, nearly destroying the place.
Now, they have a new destination, but it isn't specific, Hunter just wants to get out of there and who can blame him? But the damage has been done, the professor is badly injured and has internal bleeding. But his parents wouldn't leave him though he is destined to die within the day. But they may have sent him to his death. And they do, he dies and Hawkgirl does blame no one but herself.
As the ship stabilizes, the truth is revealed. Rip isn't acting on official duties, sure he is a time lord but he commandeered the ship without permission all because Vandal murdered his family (in the future, of course). It doesn't matter that he wasn't supposed to fall in love or procreate, but he swears that he will get his just revenge on Vandal and won't rest until he does so. And that's a good thing as Vandal has this bomb left over from World War II, double yikes.
Okay, there are other characters, though they didn't have that much to do in this episode and weren't truly vital to the plot, but they have the potential to be super cool. Brandon Routh is this superhero called The Atom and then there is the assassin who has also died and come back to life, White Canary (Caity Lotz). She beats up a guy at the bar and Heat Wave is pleased.
This is different than any other show I've watched and it is far from my cup of tea and I have never seen any of the previous shows, Arrow and The Flash, but this show was pretty good though it did have a lot of ground to cover and more than enough characters, but each character (except for the two criminals) does have an unique personality and some great backstory that can be explained further in later episodes. The mechanics and special effects are pretty good, for a TV show but would be cheesy and cheaply made for a feature film. And I'm glad to say that the acting is good, not spectacular but certainly better than just average. Yes, it was interesting to see someone I've known since fourth grade and have shared the stage with, back in high school, on the TV screen and she was very good, as everyone else was. In fact, her character was probably the most developed in this pilot episode. Darvill is also interesting as now he is the Doctor Who character which is just weird, but he does great. I hope we learn more about the other characters soon, especially young Jackson.
However, though this was a good show, and I will continue to DVR it, I would prefer to watch my normal comedies because I would rather laugh than have to pay attention to every little detail. Grade: B
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