‘Legends of Tomorrow’ Loses 2 Key Characters in Season Finale

Lauren Gallaway
TV Arrowverse
TV Arrowverse DC Sci-Fi The CW

SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from the Legends of Tomorrow episode “The Good, the Bad and the Cuddly.” Proceed with caution.

Legends of Tomorrow concluded its third season this week with an all-out war against Mallus and his forces. Mallus was freed from his spiritual prison in the previous episode, the hilarious “Guest Starring John Noble.” With Mallus free, the Legends attempted to stop him once and for all. However, their quest cost lives — the lives of one hero and one villain. Let’s take a look at who gave their lives so valiantly and what’s ahead in Season 4.

A Hero’s Sacrifice

Rip Hunter Legends of Tomorrow

While in Zambesi, Rip Hunter found a way to temporarily stop Mallus from pursuing the Legends. He detached the time drive from the Waverider and turned its instability into a time bomb. This time bomb trapped Mallus and allowed the Legends to escape. The catch with Rip’s plan was that he had to manually position the time drive, which put him right in the blast path.

Rip said a quick goodbye to the Legends, the Waverider and Gideon — who lovingly called him Rip, instead of Captain Hunter. Rip’s sacrifice was supported by a speech that Sara said earlier in the season, which pointing out all the ways in which Rip had himself become a legend. His death happened very early on, which gave the episode an emotional weight that came as quite a shock.

Rip Hunter, while mostly absent this season, was responsible for bringing the original Legends together back in Season 1. His mission to stop Vandal Savage led him to assemble this band of misfit superheroes. While he never could save his beloved wife and child, he did stop Vandal from changing the future and he helped Kendra and Carter stop their vicious cycle of death. Rip’s absence will be felt, especially since he was such a key member of the team. however, as Legends is a time travel show, he could always return as a past version of himself.

A Villain’s Sacrifice

Damien Darhk Legends of Tomorrow

Rip’s time bomb was successful, which gave the Legends time to flee to a safe space: 1971 Salvation. In the town of Salvation, the Legends and their many friends made their final stand against Mallus. While the Legends were fighting Mallus’ minions, Ray Palmer took Damien Darhk back to the moment just before Mallus consumed his daughter Nora. Dark stunned Nora, which made Mallus crawl out of her and into Darhk.

This was Darhk’s plan all along so that he could free Nora from Mallus’ power. Mallus then consumed Darhk and killed him once and for all. This valiant act by Darhk was a very unpredictable way for him to go out. Nora was heartbroken that her father sacrificed himself but happy to be spared from death herself.

Damien Darhk has been a formidable presence in the Arrowverse since Arrow Season 4. Darhk was killed at the end of that season, but he was later resurrected by Nora and Mallus this season of Legends of Tomorrow. Darhk also worked with Malcolm Merlyn and Eobard Thawne during the second season of Legends, in a quest for the Spear of Destiny. Darhk’s sacrifice was the most heroic thing he has ever done on the series and was a fitting way to end his arc on the show.

Supernatural Season 4

Legends of Tomorrow Constantine

The episode concluded with the Legends triumphing over Mallus by combining their totems to form a giant, super-powered Beebo. It was a hilarious ending, despite losing two characters. It was also great to see some returning characters this week, like Jax, Helen of Troy and Jonah Hex. Oh, and Constantine! Constantine showed up at the very end of the episode, while the Legends were finally relaxing in Aruba. Constantine showed up with the head of dragon of sorts, clueing the Legends into the fact that Mallus was not the only supernatural force that escaped the totem prison.

Huzzah for more dragons in Season 4! Oh and more Constantine, who is officially joining the show as a series regular. Ava will also be back next season, as well as Amaya, even though Nate left her in Zambesi.

Legends of Tomorrow has been renewed for a fourth season and will return to The CW.

Lauren Gallaway
TV editor at FANDOM. Creator of The Marvel Report. Journalist, Comic-Con reporter, Podcaster.