Crisis on Earth X

Hello everyone!! I’m 100% invested in the DC “Arrowverse.” It has it’s up’s and it’s down, just like any other show, and a lot of people give it shit for being more melodramatic than they would like, but overall, THIS is the universe that has held my interest on the DC side of things. The Justice League movie just came out, and it stands to be the least profitable movie, as part of the DCEU, behind Man of Steel! THIS Crisis on Earth X crossover gives me way more pleasure than what’s happening on the big screens for DC right now, with Wonder Woman being the exception.
Let’s get to it! Keep in mind I’m new to this reviewing business, and this is more thought, than review.

So why, other than being “friends” did all of these superheroes get together? Well this years crossover did a MUCH better job of getting this established than last years. Last year, it’s episode that was a part of the crossover, was more in line with whatever show it was attached to. The Arrow episode focused more on that show, Flash did the same, and Supergirl was barely a part of the whole event. This years crossover felt WAY more like a full on crossover, than last year, and it started with this awesome RSVP montage, which brings everyone together:

Part 1 (of 2 tonight, 4 overall) dealt mostly with the wedding of Barry and Iris. It dealt with all of the superheroes gathering, getting manicures, pedicures, and fitted for their tuxedos. We also get a little bit of that melodrama that I spoke about earlier. Alex is dealing with her recent breakup with Maggie & her subsequent one night stand with Sarah, Supergirl is dealing with the return of Mon-El who is married now, Oliver and Felicity are dealing with wanting and not wanting to get married, Barry & Iris want to get married, and Firestorm does and doesn’t want to be separated.
Pretty standard stuff, leading up to the ceremony. The only odd thing, was an overly happy caterer, who may or may not come from the future, and may or may not be the daughter of the Wests. Pretty interesting theories about that, but it seemed a little over the top to just be an Easter egg, or something subtle for a different time. I think this will pay off before the end of the crossover.

This of course leads to Nazi’s kicking down the doors of the chapel:

After the words “I hate Nazi’s” are uttered, all hell breaks loose, and we jump into the first major fight sequence. A lot of back and forth between the major heroes and what look to be like the major villains this year. Just as it looks like Kara is about to go down, she catches Overgirl by surprise, and the villains retreat. This episode ends with the heroes having the upper hand, and capturing Earth X’s version of Prometheus, who is revealed to be their earth’s, Tommy Merlyn. PART 2 starts off with his interrogation, and his subsequent suicide. I do feel like they missed the boat on that one a little bit more, and figured Colin Donnell would be sticking around a little bit longer to torture good Oliver, but that didn’t happen.
The second episode dealt a lot more with who the villains were, and was built around why they are here on Earth 1. After the setup, there needs to be villain buildup, and this part of the crossover did that just fine. Turns out, the main villains of this years crossover, are doppelgangers to Supergirl and Oliver Queen, Overgirl & the Dark Archer, respectively. The third piece to this villain puzzle is Eobard Thawne, supposedly the one from Earth 1.
This episode is actually a little more simple than the last. Team Arrow arrives, but are easily dispatched by the Dark Archer. The main heroes “find” where Overgirl’s hideout is, but they fall into a trap, and proceed to get their asses kicked. Villains gain the upper hand, and setup the “why” they are here on Earth X. The overall arch of the story of course, is that they want to dominate Earth 1. They want to make sure that the Nazi flag is hung on every earth, and this happens to be the next stop. This is what Overgirl and Thawne want. The biggest reason that the Dark Archer is there, is a little more subtle. Apparently Overgirl is dying, and they need Kara’s heart, in order to save her life. Seems like the Dark Archer wants this, more than the other, which sets up possible infighting between our villains.
The heroes are captured, and are sent to a concentration camp, on Earth X. That is where the 2 episodes for tonight will kickoff!!

I absolutely loved the first half of this years crossover. It did a spectacular job of telling the story in both episodes. Instead of focusing on the team from that episode, it focused on the story itself, which came off much stronger than last year.
There are 2 things that I still don’t understand, or annoy me.

1. Cisco get’s knocked out at the perfect time. He is the expert at inter-dimensional travel, and he is the only hero that goes down. Alive, but not at all able to help with the mission. I don’t like when a character is taken out, simply because that makes the heroes stronger if the character is able to help. Why not come up with a different problem, instead of just knocking out Cisco. Such a weird thing to employ
2. I have seen Thawne dye, a couple of times now. If there is anything bad to say about the Arrowverse, it’s that they rely way to much on characters we’ve already seen, and sometimes killed. Damien Darhk, Malcolm Merlyn, Thawne, etc. It’s time to stop relying on villains we’ve seen before, and start creating new ones. THIS is the reason that the current season of The Flash is working, because The Thinker is different. Anyway, back to Thawne. They did a shit job of explaining how the hell he is even alive, let alone siding with Overgirl and the Dark Archer. I’ve seen him die twice now. Once on The Flash, and once in Legends of Tomorrow. This leads to weak villains, and the thought that nobody will ever die.

Other than those two things, for me, as I’m sure there are plenty of people who can pick apart the acting, and the styles, blah blah blah. But, other than those two things, I’m happy. It felt more like a crossover, and it’s exactly what I want out of super hero characters. It was fun, comic “booky,” action packed, and entertaining. I’m looking forward to the 2 episode finale tonight!!
Juan Muro