As an ensemble show, Legends of Tomorrow must balance the stories of many characters. To do so while keeping things interesting, the show pairs unexpected characters with delightful results.

Legends of Tomorrow features a cast of misfit heroes Legends who, as they say, screw things up for the better (or, this season, for the more magical). Featuring a sizable ensemble while respecting their stories and character arcs is no easy feat for a writers’ room.

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Yet the character arcs of Sara Lance and Mick Rory, in particular, show that this writers’ room is up to the challenge; these two characters have two of the strongest and most satisfying character arcs in the entire Arrowverse. But what about the remaining inhabitants of the Waverider?

Obviously, characters who spend a lot of time together in a tight space are going to develop close bonds. And the show features some lovely friendships that are totally expected, like Ray and Nate. Their bromance is one for the ages — it’s so strong that it transcends species!

Other relationships that may not be immediately obvious but still make sense have also developed, such as the slightly antagonistic but respectful relationship between Rip and Sara, especially once she became captain of the ship in his absence.

But another way we’ve seen Legends of Tomorrow balance its large cast while moving character arcs forward and exploring new, interesting aspects of these characters is by setting up unusual pairs or groups to work together on various missions.

This week’s episode, “Witch Hunt,” featured one of the more out-of-the-box pairings that worked beautifully: Nate and Ava.

These two characters, up until now, have not interacted in any meaningful way outside of group functions in which the Legends and Time Bureau were both present. While they know each other, they don’t know each other particularly well. Yet, somehow having them work together to get funding for the Time Bureau feels entirely natural.

With Nate making an effort to reconnect with his emotionally-distant father, he’s taking some time off from the ship. However, that leaves him without a place to stay; he ends up bunking at the Time Bureau — without telling Ava. Ava working late and running into a pajama-clad Nate who is brushing his teeth is downright hilarious.

Nate convinces Ava to let him help her schmooze government officials to get the funding she needs. Rather than just serve as a goofy buddy cop plotline (though it does that nicely, too), it becomes a way to further explore Nate’s relationship with his father, as Hank Heywood ends up being in charge of approving Ava’s funding.

Despite his initial hesitation to reveal himself, Nate finally gets the chance to show his father the heroic things he’s been doing. Add in a naked Ray, and Hank gives the Time Bureau the funding it needs. And Ava is the one to schmooze give him the pep talk he needs.

Something that makes it works well is that her encouragement has nothing to do with their common relationship with Sara. She simply sees him as a hero in his own right and offers him a job.

It was a pairing I never would have thought of, and yet it becomes a fun and meaningful dynamic that pushes forward Nate’s story. It also keeps Ava and the Time Bureau involved.

Some of the other unexpected but enjoyable pairings have included Mick (criminal) and Amaya (JSA member), Ray (optimist) and Zari (pessimist), Mick (hardened exterior) and Ray (soft and gooey exterior and interior), and Constantine (rebellious) and Ava (rule-oriented).

Legends has also played around by pairing the heroes up with the villains in interesting ways, such as Ray and Eobard Thawne in “Moonshot” and Ray and the Darhks in “No Country for Old Dads.” Nate and Damien Darhk also had a fun dynamic in “I, Ava.”

Despite its silliness, Legends of Tomorrow has proven itself to be one of the deftest shows on the network with its character dynamics. By grounding itself in its characters, it allows the silliness to shine while never losing its heart. And those unexpected pairings keep everything, well, delightful.

Legends of Tomorrow airs Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET on The CW.