Some people like to think that superhero TV shows and movies are all jokes and action scenes in which the heroes defeat the bad guys, but that's not always the case. Of all the TV shows in the Arrowverse, Legends of Tomorrow is one of the funniest and most light-hearted ones, however, there's more to the Legends of Tomorrow than meets the eye.
Throughout its five seasons, the show has tackled some pretty serious and deep issues that left their mark on the heroes.
Some people believe that humans are ultimately selfish creatures. They do whatever is best for them, not for those close to them, be it their family or friends. Legends of Tomorrow mostly maintains a comedic tone but it grew serious on more than one occasion.
Multiple members of the team sacrificed their lives for their friends and the rest of the team had to deal with their passing. It most notably happened with Leonard Snart, Rip Hunter, and also Martin Stein who all died.
Bisexuality is shown positively in this show, which is, unfortunately, a rarity in media. Legends of Tomorrow weaves characters' bisexuality into the story and provides meaningful portrayals of it; the writers make sure that the relationships and characters don't follow any negative stereotypes or fuel any stigmatizations that still exist.
For instance, Sara had relationships with both men and women, and so did John Constantine. They even had a brief fling with each other and are still close friends. The spectrum of human sexuality is an important topic the show delved into.
Speaking of Sara, the show also showed how important it is to let the past go. Sara loses her sister Laurel when Damien Darhk murders Laurel in the fourth season of Arrow.
Sara toys with the idea of going back in time and saving Laurel but she eventually realizes it's dangerous to play with time. Instead, she manages to deal with the tragic loss. Even though she still misses Laurel, she continues her own journey.
The heroes in the show might be excellent fighters and they defeat their enemies on regular basis. But just like all people, they have their inner struggles and insecurities. The show isn't afraid to portray this.
For example, both Sara and John struggle with the question of whether they're good people or not. They did some unsavory things in the past and they sometimes feel like they don't deserve the friendship and love of others. These deep human struggles allow fans to connect the show.
It isn't a given that all parents get along well with their children. Sometimes children are angry at their parents and for a good reason.
Mick Rory's daughter Lita disliked him for a while because he was always away and only showed up to take pictures with her at some important moments in her life. Luckily, it looks like Mick and Lita are starting to form a bond and they might lead to a better relationship in the future.
Speaking of dads and their daughters, Damien Darhk is one of the worst parents on the show. He might mean well but he doesn't act that way. He gives his daughter away, doesn't raise her, and to top it all off, he lets Nora be possessed by a demon.
Despite that, Nora still loves her dad and wants to impress him. Nora stands up to Damien in the end and chooses to live the life she wants to. This realistic portrayal of some relationships between children and their parents is a very important thing to show.
Family relationships aren't the only thing the show gives space to. It also showed that sometimes romantic relationships are far from ideal and things can go ugly. For example, Martin Stein is negligent as a husband as he barely sees his wife. There are also some characters that feel complicated emotions towards more than one person at once. On a few occasions, the viewers have seen certain characters who still have lost loves they are contending with as they try to move on.
By far the most emotional struggle is shown through Rip who is grieving his wife throughout the series.
Saying goodbye is never easy, even when the other person doesn't die, just starts a new chapter of their life. One of the saddest episodes in season five shows Ray Palmer leaving the ship with his now-wife Nora.
As Ray and Nate have become best friends, they have to figure out how to say their goodbyes to one another. It's a difficult and sad process for both of them.
Vandal Savage murdered Rip's wife and he also killed his young son. Losing a child is one of the worst things that can happen to any parent and the show doesn't shy away from this.
This loss devastated Rip who was full of grief and anger. Though over time, he experiences measures of healing, this pain never fully leaves Rip. For many fans, this was seen to be a very impactful storyline as many believed the show handled this topic responsibly and with the utmost care.
A lot of people struggle with who they are at one point (or more) in their lives. Legends of Tomorrow also featured a similar struggle. Once Ava discovers the truth about her life - that she's a clone from the future - she has to learn how to deal with it.
No-one finds out they're a clone in real life, but many people know what it's like to doubt their own identity and what makes them who they are.
