Young Justice Episode 23 – Review

By: Peter David (writer)

The Story: Imagine hanging with your boo’s ex—that’s the awkwardness we have here.

The Review: I waxed poetic about David in my review of the last episode he wrote for this series, so there’s no need to fall over myself again here.  I just have to wonder, though: how does he really feel about this show that took on the name of one of his most reputable works, yet reflects his tone and concepts in virtually no other way?  How must it feel to adapt himself to characters and conceits that in some ways go against his sensibilities?

These are all rhetorical questions, of course, best left to private but ultimately fruitless musings.  The only thing that matters is how David works the material he’s given—which is pretty darn well, actually.  Watching this episode, it occurs to me that in many ways, David takes the YJers at hand treat them like the ones he knew.

Case in point: Kid Flash and Artemis.  If any of you followed the Young Justice comics back in the day, you might remember the bit of puppy love Impulse had for Arrowette at the time.  Though that particular romance never really panned out, David seems to revive it here through their TV-screen counterparts.  The show has labored to convince us that a Kid Flash-Artemis pairing would be a great idea, but only under David’s writing do sparks actually fly.  It’s a sweet moment when Wally tells Art she has nothing to prove, made even sweeter by his bashfulness and her pleased reaction.  If we get more of this, we can look forward to their courtship.

Unfortunately, the plot throws several obstacles in their path this episode.  Despite Wally’s reassurance, Artemis does let the presence of Red Arrow get to her, though not, perhaps, for the reasons everyone expects.  It’s not about the difference in their skill levels, or even of his long history with most the team.  Artemis set out on her own to rise above the criminals all around her (apparently including her mother—as the Huntress, of all things); to discover the acceptance from her heroic mentor and teammates is unearned and tenuous is a painful experience, indeed.

Young Justice Episode 13 – Review

By: Thomas Pugsley (writer)

The Story: You’re not the boss of me now!  And you’re not so big, either.

The Review: Ever since Aqualad received word from Red Arrow that the team possible had a mole lurking about and he decided to keep it a secret, we all knew it would be only a matter of time before word got out and he would have to face the consequences of that.  As we’ve learned time and time again in comics (half the time with Batman or Professor X as the offending character), heroes don’t usually take well to secrets being kept from them.

That said, the overreaction of the YJers to the news seems a little extreme, and their collective cold shoulder to Aqualad rather harsh, given how obviously penitent he is about his actions.  It’s understandable their good sense may be a little rattled from nearly perishing at the hands of Red Tornado and his “siblings” last episode, but no one seems to remember that Aqualad came just as close, if not closer, to dying as any of them, with maybe the exception of Miss Martian.

Consequently, Superboy’s rage towards Aqualad not only highlights his trademark emotional instability once again, but also reveals an one-tracked overprotectiveness for his new flame.  At least Miss Martian manages to keep her head about Aqualad’s betrayal, and even shows irritation at Connor acting like her handler.  The couple then get their first, cherished taste of romantic drama when M’gann and Artemis pair off, leaving a confused clone behind.

Of course, the team has to go through the tiresome process of splitting off and sulking before they finally get over their self-righteous anger over what Kaldur did or did not do.  Fortunately, Pugsley doesn’t spend too much time on these familiar beats, which do little except make the characters look petty and whiny, proving that Aqualad perhaps had good reason not to reveal what he knew to the team.