DC’s Legends of Tomorrow review: “This Is Gus”

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow takes it back to the future as the group contends with an adorable alien on the set of Behrad’s (Shayan Sobhian) favorite television show, Bud Stuy. If this was any other series, such a wacky episode would have lost it viewership. But when you’re talking about Legends of Tomorrow, basically anything goes.

“This Is Gus” fills us in on Behrad’s backstory (sort of). I often forget that Behrad is from the future, so the year 2024 is actually in the past for him. So when things on the set of Bud Stuy start changing, it affects Behrad as we know him. Without Bud Stuy, he never goes on to become the goofy, silly guy we know now.

As ever, time travel plots can be confusing, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It felt relatable to me because it’s about a person being deeply affected by TV, which is a position I often find myself in. The title, “This Is Gus,” is a reference to NBC’s emotional drama This Is Us, which has changed my life for the better. So yes, this was a great episode of Legends, even if it was completely ridiculous.

This episode gave us a lot of Behrad, but it also laid a lot of track for Rory’s (Dominic Purcell) story moving forward. It seems like Purcell may be on his way out as a series regular. Let’s discuss this and more below! And be wary of SPOILERS ahead!

Legends of Tomorrow goes back to the future

The episode kicks off with the group completely forgetting that it’s Behrad’s birthday. Not even Zari 2.0 (Tala Ashe) remembered her brother’s big day, but he hasn’t caught on. In fact, when the Legends end up in 2024 in pursuit of an alien pod, Behrad thinks it’s all part of a surprise for him, especially when they end up on the set of his favorite sitcom.

Bud Stuy focuses on the lives of two male Muslim characters. It’s a show Behrad really adored growing up, and one that shaped him into the person he would become. Apart from enjoying the comedy, Behrad saw himself in the characters.

I loved this part of the episode. People love watching people who look like them and the people they grew up around. It has always meant so much to me to see South Asian actors play characters that look like me or have had lives like me. Behrad’s excitement was something I could totally relate to.

Of course, Behrad doesn’t realize that ending up on this set was just a coincidence. The gang is here to track down an alien. This one is pink and more Furby-esque (and a bit scary looking). It’s not nearly as the adorable blue-colored teddy bear alien Beebo. Team Beebo all the way!

Where’s the alien?

While Nate (Nick Zano) and Zari distract Behrad and let him believe they are truly there for him, Ava (Jes Macallan), Spooner (Lisseth Chavez) and Astra (Olivia Swann) begin searching the set to find the alien. While in pursuit, the trio lead the alien right into the arms of showrunner Kamran (Saad Siddiqui). The two bond, which it makes it even trickier for the gang to do their job.

The alien’s presence on set seems to be helping the show, which wasn’t doing so hot before the pod crash-landed on set. With the alien bringing in the laughs, Kamran and the writers begin planning a storyline that incorporates the alien into the series.

The show’s star, Imran (Shawn Ahmed), isn’t thrilled about this, but since Kamran is both showrunner and his brother, he had no choice but to go along with the changes. Unfortunately, the more the script changes, the more Behrad changed. He goes from the goofy and aloof guy we love to a sophisticated, materialistic man. Sobhian does an amazing job juggling the multiple personas of Behrad. He’s so underrated and I was happy to see Legends of Tomorrow give us an episode that focused more on his character.

It’s time for a rewrite

It takes a while, but with the help of the Legends, things turn around for Bud Stuy, and more importantly for Behrad. In order to set things right, the show needs to go back to focusing on the two main characters.

Zari, Nate, and Astra work together to help make this happen by interfering in the writer’s room, and by trying to get a role on the show. Zari assumes she’ll get a role, but it’s Nate who ends up cast as the nosy landlord. He’s able to act in a scene and mess it up, all while attempting to get the alien to bond to him.

After some kinks, the plan works out beautifully! Even Imran returns to set after getting in a heated argument with Kamran and subsequently quitting the show. Just that change alone takes Behrad from mildly materialistic to straight-up condescending and narcissistic.

In the end, everything is put back in working order and gives us back the Behrad we all know and love. Plus, Nate taking care of a baby alien couldn’t be a more perfect way to wrap up the episode.

Rory gets a surprise

Meanwhile, Rory has his own storyline that presumably sets up his exit. Arriving in 2024, Rory learns that his daughter Lita (Mina Sundwall) is pregnant, which freaks him out.

Luckily, Ava steps in to defuse the tension and helps Rory come to terms with Lita’s pregnancy. Obviously, some time has passed for Lita and she’s in a different place than she was when Rory saw her last.

Purcell always does a great job of portraying distress and this episode is no exception. And it’s not just Lita’s pregnancy that has him all out of sorts. He also lost Kayla a couple of episodes ago, and is still reeling from her loss. So much so that he winds up in tears after tracking down and attempting to kill Lita’s boyfriend who got her pregnant.

We end this week’s episode on a high note with the timeline restored, Behrad back to normal (and  enjoying his birthday party), and Zari 2.0 making a grand gesture for Zari 1.0, who has been living out her days in Behrad’s totem bracelet. She switches places with her so the original Zari can spend time with Nate and Behrad out in the real world.

As always, Legends of Tomorrow is a hoot to watch. We had a little bit of everything this week, including a strange and wacky ending. Apparently, Rory was impregnated by Kayla’s (his former lover) tentacles, and now he’s expecting kids? Or aliens? Not sure, but based on next week’s promo, things are going to get pretty weird for the guy.

Of course, of all the people this could happen to, it happens to the grumpy old man. But hey, at least it’s an interesting way to end your series regular run on the show!

Until next week, Legends of Tomorrow fans!

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