Legends of Tomorrow: The Atom & Time Traveling

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Legends of Tomorrow: Ray Palmer Will Question His Time Traveling Ethics

By Lauren Gallaway

Published Aug 11, 2017

Tala Ashe and Brandon Routh discuss Zari's influence on Ray Palmer and how he approaches his time-traveling missions in Season 3.

Up until now, Ray Palmer has only ever used time travel to fix something in time that is out of place. But in Season 3, the DC's Legends of Tomorrow lead will be encouraged to use -- perhaps even abuse -- the technology at his fingertips.

Legends newcomer Tala Ashe and Brandon Routh sat down with the press at Comic-Con International to discuss what the incoming season holds for their characters. According to Ashe, her new character (Zari) will challenge Ray and his views on time travel. Ashe believes Ray can and should do more than simply repair glitches in the time stream, especially considering he is an inventor and a master of forward-thinking technology.

"You will meet me in episode three," Ashe said. "[Zari is] from the near future, 2031. She is a woman who’s strong and speaks her mind. She’s a gray hat hacktivist. She has a different philosophical approach to time travel and what to do with it. That’s because of the fallout from events in 2017 that she’s experienced in 2031. She thinks time should be improved not just fixed." The rules that Ashe is alluding to would be the Legends' code of not changing historical events. But what happens when proper history involves a massive social injustice, like slavery or the Holocaust? "I think she wants to convince the Legends to try and prevent that," Ashe said. "They have to break some of their rules."

Of course, rule breaking does not come easily to Ray Palmer, who will be the most challenged by Zari. Ashe said, "Zari is challenging to all the Legends at first. Ray is a glass half full guy and she struggles with that, because of what she’s seen. I think that they're also going to bond in that. Opposites attract in that way."

"Zari... presents a different view on technology and what it can do," Routh added. "Even more of her pessimistic view of the world, she challenges Ray to do more with his technology and inventions, in trying to help change the world. That’s a conflict with Ray. Do I really try to change time for the better or do I just keep it the way it is? How much can I really affect it?" These choices will affect the entire team, and could change how the Legends view their role as time travelers.

"She is a badass," Ashe said, describing Zari beyond her role as a Legends instigator. "She’s really articulate and is able to say why she believes what she believes and why she thinks something needs to be done... We’re going to come up with our own version, with the comic book as the template." In the comics, Zari's alter ego Isis had telekinetic powers, flight and super human strength. Thus far on Legends, Zari's strengths are her hacktivism and political beliefs.

Premiering on the CW on Tuesday, October 10, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’s third season will star Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory, Caity Lotz as Sara Lance, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer, Nick Zano as Nick Heywood, Victor Garber as Professor Martin Stein and Franz Drameh as Jefferson “Jax” Jackson.