Young Justice Episode 10 – Review

By: Andrew R. Robinson (writer)

The Story: Good luck!  Try not to get us involved in World War III, hm?

The Review: From the start, this show has aimed for a more sophisticated, mature kind of tone, which is still something of an oddity for American cartoons.  While the creators’ efforts to produce that kind of show has run into sharp corners from time to time, the admirably high quality it’s brought demonstrates just how committed they are to ensuring the series’ success.

Still, they have to keep a younger crowd in mind, which they’ve done admirably by scripting plots that have enough topicality with the real world to stimulate the grown-ups, but dumbs it down enough for the kids to keep up (and maybe get a little enriched in the process—who knows?).  This time around, we have peace talks between the squabbling North and South Rhelasias, the results of which apparently crucial for international stability.

Arbitrating the talks is none other than Lex Luthor, not the greatest choice as he gets targeted by the League of Assassins, who doesn’t give a hoot about collateral damage.  Mark Rolston delivers a fine slipperiness as Luthor, chiding reluctant bodyguard Red Arrow with a finely-tuned degree of condescension.  When Red comments he should let Luthor and Ra’s al Ghul duke out their enmity themselves, the business mogul delivers one of the best lines of the series: “Your stab at pragmatism is, well, adorable.”