We are extremely heartbroken that The CW decided to not renew DC’s Legends of Tomorrow for an eighth season. The rotating cast continues to be a part of the show’s chaotic good energy, but this leads to a lot of farewells. And it is so hard to abruptly say goodbye to the whole team. There’s nothing else on television quite like the wacky Legends. The representation of forgotten history, found family, shared trauma, and queer superheroes are wonderful and important. So, in honor of this awesome series, let’s look back on the many goodbyes that fans have already endured.
Leonard Snart/Captain Cold
Let’s go in timeline order because it’s hard to choose favorites. Captain Cold sacrifices himself for the team at the end of season 1. Wentworth Miller knows how to command a scene, and chew the scenery. Snart’s time as a Legend redeemed the crimes of his past. Though he and long-time partner Mick Rory waver back and forth in their allegiances, they’re heroes when needed most. Snart also gets to sign off with some characteristic snark and a kiss from Sara Lance.
Martin Stein/Firestorm
Victor Garber is perfectly cast as unlikely superhero Martin Stein. Not since Michael Caine in The Muppet’s Christmas Carol has an actor played it so straight amongst constant chaos. Though shot while fighting Nazis, Stein manages to sever the Firestorm partnership and save Jax. Thankfully he also appears as a puppet, his own ancestor, and in alternate universes. And in an excellent body swap episode. The picture is actually from an episode of The Flash, but the duet between Garber and Jesse L. Martin is perfection.
Rip Hunter
A Time Master steals a ship to travel through time and space saving people and accumulating companions. Sound familiar? Arthur Darvill has plenty of experience with timey-wimey aberrations and techno babble, having survived (almost) three seasons of Doctor Who. As Hunter, he is the man responsible for assembling Earth’s unlikeliest heroes. By lying to them about being legends of tomorrow. He sacrifices himself for the team after being the on-and-off-again captain of the Waverider.
Nora Darhk and Ray Palmer/The Atom
Real-life spouses Courtney Ford and Brandon Routh’s chemistry makes this pairing inevitable. Even back when Nora was still super dark. Ray is always goofy and sweet. In Camelot, as a pig, in literal Hell, and even in the darkest timeline (when Star Wars was erased from history). Meanwhile, Nora survives possession, kidnapping, and imprisonment. She chooses happiness and commits herself to the role of Fairy Godmother. Getting to live happily ever after with Ray is the sweetest reward to cap her redemption story.
Mona Wu/Wolfie/Rebecca Silver
Mona’s two years on the show include some of the best storylines. She’s a caretaker of magical creatures and ends up a hybrid rage monster herself. Ramona Young brings great energy to the character, whether befriending aliens or trying to kill Jane Austen. Sisa Grey plays alter-ego Wolfie. Mona leaves the Legends to take over Mick Rory’s nom de plume, romance author Rebecca Silver. Sadly, it seems to have brought an end to the Legends book club and other on-screen girl bonding activities.
John Constantine
Constantine teams up with the Legends to combat magical aberrations. Along the way, he saves nearly every character from possession or death. Through all the eye-rolling and incantations, Matt Ryan manages never to look silly. Constantine is apprehensive about forming attachments but truly becomes a Legend. When he loses his magic and relies on potions, his addition tests those relationships. After his latest death and resurrection, Constantine chooses to leave. Ryan is back in the next season of Legends of Tomorrow, but as a different character. Perhaps he was just tired of dying his hair blonde?
Mick Rory/Heat Wave/Rebecca Silver
Joining the Legends with his partner in crime Leonard Snart, Mick Rory’s redemption arc takes longer but is super sweet. Though there’s potential for problematic storylines, the writers and actor Dominic Purcell always manage to steer him right. Rory is always ready for a fight, and a beer. He is blunt, even when talking to the likes of Albert Einstein or George Washington. Though unexpected, Rory takes his role as a father seriously. Twice. When he gives birth after being impregnated by an alien, he leaves the Legends to dedicate himself to his family.
Nate Heywood
And Nate makes eight. Even if Legends of Tomorrow had gotten an eighth season, Nate Heywood wasn’t going to be there. Nick Zano’s character now resides inside the Wind Totem with Zari 1.0 (Tala Ashe, who will hopefully still grace us with her flannel presence). Though he never settled on a superhero nickname, Nate skin transforms into steel. He was a historian that never stops geeking out about traveling through time and meeting historical figures. Nate and Ray’s bromance is a bright spot, punctuated with hugs and “I love yous.” What a great show.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.
Originally published on April 15, 2022.