Discarding most of the original team, and now overstuffs the show with superheroes (only 2 years later in the timeline from the original). No, you don't do that.
New characters aren't as interesting or compelling at the originals, and their introductions aren't as good as the pilot of the original show.
Rock music doesn't suit a superhero show like this.
Story is kinda lame.
Big step down from the original.
Holy shmoley.. That's quite a jump in membership since last season.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-09-17T20:52:11Z
[8.0/10] This was a great way to kick off the new era of Justice League. I’m on board with expanding the roster overall, because it gives the show more options and storytelling abilities with a full (or at least broader) complement of DC characters. “Initiation” was a nice introduction to the new premise, replete with a version of John Stewart who’s gone full Captain Sisko, both in terms of his hair/beard shift and in being a leader on a space station.
But he’s not the focal point of this story -- Green Arrow is, and I like that choice. It’s immediately taking advantage of the fact that other characters beyond the main seven can be the protagonists of Justice League stories now, and it helps acclimate the audience. We can relate to someone like Green Arrow more than we can someone like Superman. He’s both underpowered compared to several of the others who’ve been newly recruited, and he’s inherently concerned with “the little guy” and skeptical of this “big club” arrangement.
That skepticism eventually leads to an acceptance and un understanding of the good the newly unlimited league could do if he’s a part of it. That helps the audience to accept it too, and step into his shoes in a way that’s easier than imagining ourselves as a containment suit filled with nuclear energy of Kryptonian neighbor unfrozen and brought to Earth.
That said, I really like the dynamic the show sets up with its first away team here. Green Lantern is the seasoned pro. Captain Atom is the military man who’s a stickler for rules and procedure. Supergirl is “headstrong and reckless” (and a character who’s new to Justice League but familiar to the audience from past adventures, a nice balance). And Green Arrow doesn’t even want to be there. That gives all four meaningful conflicts over whether to get involved and how, showing some good character dynamics amid the usual superhero fracases.
That fracas is pretty solid though! The advent of a gigantic nuclear-powered robot wreaking havoc around an Asian country has some obvious historical implications, and makes for a good first challenge for this new chapter of Justice League. He makes sense as a foe for Captain Atom given the radiation angle. The nuclear blasts give him a reason to pose a challenge to champs like Green Lantern and Supergirl. And there’s even a good excuse for Green Arrow to show off his skills.
That’s what makes this episode cool. As Hawkeye himself would suggest in Age of Ultron, there’s something a little nonsensical about a guy whose power is being able to shoot arrows well joining flying Amazonians and shape-shifting Martians. But Oliver proves his worth here, not only using his arrows to save a falling truck (while the other Leaguers also use their powers to evacuate civilians), but the show finds a convenient way for him to jerry-rig a special arrow that can defeat the villainous robot. The show draws a great deal of tension in that closing sequence, with Green Arrow missing and having to evade the destructo-bot multiple times before he’s able to sneak away for the kill.
Along the way, he sees that Green Lantern is a strong leader despite Oliver’s reluctance to follow. He gains respect for Captain Atom despite his opposition to nuclear conflict because of the man’s willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good. And he fights alongside Kara and sees what she’s capable of. I don’t like the fact that what seemingly convinces him to stick around isn’t these experiences, but rather the physical attractiveness of Black Canary. But setting that aside, there’s the implication that Batman once shared his sentiments and skepticism, making The Dark Knight the perfect ambassador to put the right spin on what Green Arrow’s been through and come aboard.
Overall, this is a strong start to the Unlimited era of Justice League, on that serves as a good introduction for the expanded rosters, while also anchoring it around the specific experience of a handful of new characters, one in particular who shows what he and the newly-restocked league could be capable of.