Young Justice Reviews: Episodes 1-4

It turns out I was able to fit in the first four episodes of Young Justice into my viewing Saturday night, so I'll be reviewing them all this week.

With each episode, I will give a brief summary of the plot, key elements to the overarching season storyline or to what makes the characters tick, my favorite quote from each episode and my thoughts about the episode.

There may be minor spoilers given out, but I'll do my best to avoid talking too much about the details, in case you have never seen the show and want to check it out for yourself.

Without further ado, let's look at the first four episodes of Young Justice.



Episode 1: Independence Day

The plot: Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash investigate a fire at Cadmus Labs, only to uncover a bigger operation.

Key elements: The introductions of Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Speedy and Superboy, four ice villains staging four separate attacks, Robin's penchant for play-on-words, Speedy splitting away from Green Arrow as his protege, the revelation of Cadmus Labs' operation.

Favorite quote: From Robin: "You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?"

Episode thoughts: This is actually the first part of the one-hour debut episode. What sets the plot in motion is the belief of Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash that the members of the Justice League aren't being honest about everything involved with the League (thanks to revelations from Speedy and his subsequent decision to end his partnership with Green Arrow). It's a logical motivation for the young heroes to set out and investigate Cadmus Labs -- and it's what leads to their discovery that there is more going on at Cadmus than anyone may have realized.

Episode 2: Fireworks

The plot: The young heroes convince Superboy to free them, but are faced with a bigger problem.

Key elements: More insight into Superboy's backstory, the introduction of Blockbuster, the mystery of who represents The Light, the introduction of Miss Martian.

Favorite quote: From Superboy: "Why let them tell us what to do? It's simple -- get on board or get out of the way."

Episode thoughts: This is the second part of the one-hour debut episode -- as one might guess from the titles of the first two episodes, the events take place on the Fourth of July. It's a good conclusion to the events in the first part of the episode, in which Robin, Aqualad and Kid Flash form a connection with Superboy, a clone created from Superman's DNA. Though not everything goes to plan as the heroes escape from Cadmus Labs, they ultimately convince the Justice League to give them a chance to prove themselves as their own unit -- a unit simply referred to as The Team. And, early in the episode, the mystery of who is part of The Light begins.

Episode 3: Welcome to Happy Harbor

The plot: The Team undertakes its first mission, investigating the appearance of Mister Twister.

Key elements: More insight into Miss Martian, the introduction of the Bio-Ship, learning more about The Cave, Red Tornado's relationship to The Team explored, Kid Flash's penchant for mission "souvenirs" introduced.

Favorite quote: This exchange regarding Superboy:
Robin: "He'll come around."
Miss Martian: "He doesn't seem to like me very much."
Kid Flash: "You guys remember he has super hearing?"

Episode thoughts: I liked how the young heroes teaming up together for the first time doesn't go well at the start, largely because they aren't quite willing to work together. Miss Martian, who appeared only briefly in Episode 2, gets more character development and, ultimately, comes up with a plan that allows The Team to take down Mister Twister. Hints are dropped about the importance of Red Tornado to the overarching storyline -- it's worth noting that Red Tornado is one of a number of characters, not as well known to those who don't follow comic books, who takes a prominent role in the series.

Episode 4: Drop Zone

The plot: Sent to Santa Prisca for a mission, The Team uncovers an experimental drug being prepared for an unknown buyer.

Key elements: The introduction of Sportsmaster, Mammoth and Shimmer, and the establishment of Aqualad as leader of The Team.

Favorite quote: From Superboy: "No capes, no tights, no offense."

Episode thoughts: This is the first mission Batman assigns to The Team, who is at first tasked with observing and reporting, but takes further action once it's revealed that the Cult of the Kobra is involved with the shipments of a steroidal drug being cut off, despite the factory still producing material. What's good about the episode is things don't go smoothly for The Team and the members must still figure out what it means to have a plan -- and it's what leads Robin to conclude that Aqualad is the right person to lead The Team, even as Aqualad realizes that, some day, Robin will take that role.