"DC's Legends of Tomorrow" delivered its first major twist of the season in Thursday night's episode.
(Spoiler alert! This story contains major plot details from the latest episode of "Legends." Bookmark this link to come back to later if you haven't watched.)
Franz Drameh as Jefferson 'Jax' Jackson, Falk Hentschel as Carter Hall/Hawkman, Ciara Renee as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl and Caity Lotz as Sara Lance in 'Legends of Tomorrow' (The CW)
In the second half of the "Legends" pilot, which aired Thursday night on The CW, the team lost a member. Falk Hentschel's Hawkman was killed by the show's villain, Vandal Savage (Casper Crump).
"You really don't see it coming and then, I think they did a lovely job of cutting it together," Falk told Access Hollywood of his reaction to seeing his character's death. "And I think what really sells it is not my scene, but Kendra's scene after. I thought [that was] heartbreaking. I think [Ciara Renee] did a terrific job with that, so I actually am – I'm really happy with how it came out."
The death of Carter/Hawkman is a crushing blow for fans who were hoping to one day see Kendra regain more memories from her past lives, and for the couple to rekindle their ancient romance.
"It seems really heartbreaking," Falk said of his character dying before Kendra and Carter were able to have a romance in their present day incarnations. "And I still think it's a really bold move of the creators and the showrunners to do this. I'm very curious to see what the fans will have to say, but I think because it's a bold move, it's quite lovely. It's very impactful."
For many of the show's characters, the idea of changing their fates from non-existent blips on history's radar to legends was the initial draw for joining Rip Hunter's team, but Hawkman's death galvanized the group in a new way. They were more united as a team and Captain Cold and Franz Drameh's half of Firestorm were particularly moved by the loss of their fellow would-be legend.
"Franz's character saying, 'For Carter!' I mean, it just sort of is the catalyst for the team to really bond together and really go for it, so I thought that was a lovely. It's a lovely device and it's a great honor to be sort of that for the team," Falk told Access.
But, like the executive producers of the "Arrow-verse" always say, no one is ever really gone in the world, and viewers will see Falk again on the show.
"I've gone once so far," Falk said of returning to Vancouver (where the show is filmed), when Access asked if we'll see him again on the show.
"The show – it does time travel, so I think there are opportunities to see me again and obviously I have been back up there," he said.
Falk did add that viewers will have to keep watching to find out whether he reappears for just a glimpse, or a bit more. And, while chatting about the fun costumes that time travel allows the "Legends," Falk came up with a fun idea to bring his character back.
"I want to wear a kilt. I want to go to Scotland. Carter was William Wallace," Falk laughed. "How cool would that be? That'd would be a childhood dream come true."
"Legends of Tomorrow" continues Thursday at 8/7c on The CW.
