CW Invasion! Crossover Recap– Heroes vs Aliens — Popcorn Time

Supergirl’s mid-season finale was technically the first episode in the CW’s anticipated crossover. However, the episode focused mostly on a resolution to the Cadmus vs DEO plot. The only time Invasion! came into play was at the very end. That said, we start by jumping right into The Flash. Now I’m really excited to get into this, so here’s the obligatory SPOILER ALERT.

The Flash Season 3 Episode 8: Heroes vs Heroes

The episode opens up with Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) rushing to investigate what appears to be a meteor strike in Central City. Things escalate quickly when he finds that the crashed object is not a meteor, and is in fact, an alien spaceship. Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson) briefs Barry and his friends on the alien race — dubbed the Dominators — and asks them to stay out of it. Barry however, decides to put a team together, enlisting Oliver (Stephen Amell), Diggle (David Ramsey), Thea (Willa Holland), and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). Oliver goes a step further and contacts the Legends.

The Dominators’ motives remain unclear for most of the episode, and the team-up itself seems rushed… and almost forced. However, we are treated to some decent fight scenes when the Dominators set a trap for our heroes, taking control of them with the exception of Barry and Oliver. The brainwashed heroes attack STAR Labs. We get to see Kid Flash’s (Keiynan Lonsdale) first act as a superhero when he incapacitates three of the attackers to protect Barry.

Throughout the episode, Barry deals with the consequences of Flashpoint, finally opening up to everyone about how their lives changed for the worse because of him. A few Legends of Tomorrow key points are revealed as well, including Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber) discovering that he now has a daughter. Overall, a strong opening to the crossover… the only real weakness is how everything seemed to build up so quickly. The episode ends with the Dominators abducting Oliver, Sara (Caity Lotz), Thea, John, and Ray (Brandon Routh).

Arrow Season 5 Episode 8: In Another Life

This episode is heartbreaking in the best of ways. Much of Arrow Episode 8 occurs in a mental prison where the five captive heroes experience an alternate version of reality. In it, Oliver and Laurel (Katie Cassidy) are engaged and about to be married, both Queen parents are alive and well, and John Diggle wears the mantle of the Green Arrow. Oliver begins to suspect that everything around them is just an illusion, however. He attempts to convince the rest of the prisoners to find a way out.

Meanwhile, Barry and Kara meet up with the rest of Team Arrow. Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum) assembles piece of technology that allows the team to locate the prisoners, but not before taking down a minor cyborg villainess (Erica Luttrell).

 

The worst sin I found was Deathstroke’s role in the episode. He was a psychological obstacle within the prison, along with manifestations of other villains including Malcolm Merlyn and Damien Darkh. Way to throw a way the best villain the series has ever had, CW. At least it made for a badass fight sequence, though.

The captive heroes escape, of course, hitching a ride on the Waverider to escape an armada of alien space fighters. Overall, not a bad middle point for the crossover. I loved the emotional roller coaster. In terms of comic book action however, I much prefer The Flash’s Invasion episode.

Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 7: Heroes vs Aliens

Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell), Steel (Nick Zano), and Vixen (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) travel to 1951 to learn about the Dominators. Cisco (Carlos Valdes) and Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) tag along for the opportunity to time travel. Things don’t go quite as planned when a secret government agency interferes with their operation, and the team gets captured; save for Felicity and Cisco. They hatch a plan to rescue their comrades, breaking into the government facility with the perfect opening line: “Somebody call tech support?”

The heroes regroup in 2016, where the Dominators’ motives are revealed. Because of the heroes’ actions in 1951, the alien invaders perceive metahumans to be a threat. They cite Barry Allen’s manipulation of the timeline as the prime example of the danger metahumans pose. The Dominators present an ultimatum: surrender Barry Allen, or face extermination.

The heroes are unwilling to surrender Barry, and decide to fight back. Dr. Stein, together with his daughter, develop a device capable of inducing pain in the Dominators once activated. Green Arrow, Spartan, Atom, Vixen, Steel, and Heat Wave distract the alien landing force while Supergirl and Flash speed across the America, attaching the devices to unsuspecting Dominators. All the while, impending doom lingers over the city in the form of a falling metahuman bomb. Firestorm steals the climax by transmuting the superweapon into water.

Invasion! Closure and Ending

Not bad. Not bad at all. If The Flash was too fast (See what I did there?) and Arrow was too slow, Legends tied it all up with a bow and served everything just right. The episode ends with the President of the United States recognizing the heroes as what they are. A well-earned afterparty serves as the setting for their goodbyes before they part ways.

Of course, a few loose ends are left for the world to see. Dr. Stein has decided to keep his daughter despite the fact she is the result of an altered timeline. Cisco provides Kara with a means so they can communicate at any time. How do these come into play? Time will tell.

Well that’s it. Just like that, the most ambitious project the CW has ever attempted comes to a close. To be honest, they couldn’t have done it better. Good job, CW. Good job. What did you guys think? Did you enjoy Invasion! as much as I did? Let us know.

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