[7.4/10] For once, Beast Boy’s storyline is my favorite part of this. While his intervention isn’t quite up there with Christopher’s on The Sopranos, it’s still pretty darn good. I’m glad that, now that M’gaan is back on Earth, she’s using both her training and devotion to give Garfield the help he needs. They both make comprehensible points, with M’gaan correctly diagnosing Garfield as likely having depression and PTSD, while Garfield retorts that this isn’t his first loss, and he’s found his own way through it. He’s not right, of course, and M’Gaan recognizes that this is something that he needs help in addressing, but it’s a genuine sort of deflection people offer in these scenarios. For once, their conversation feels earnest and raw, rather than some of the cardboard dialogue we’v otherwise often in Garfireld’s subplot of late.
The same goes for the comments at the intervention. Blue Beetle and Static talking about how they were inspired by him and want to help return the favor and get him back where he needs to be is both wholesome and adorable. Wondergirl reminding him that she needs his leadership and guidance, or at least his friendship, with a fiery speech, is stirring. Robotman’s Eddie Kingston-like intensity and earnestness about how Beast Boy helped save him in a tough moment and needs to let others do the same for him now is excellent. And Garfield’s rejections and sarcasm show how deep into this he is, and how far his denial runs. The fact that his membership on the team is now at stake if he won’t go to a counseling session with Black Canary adds weight to whatever comes next, but regardless, the rawness of this intervention is the highlight of the episode and of this storyline.
I appreciate what they do with Conner’s subplot here too. The exact purpose of his liminal space adventure isn’t entirely clear yet, but we get hints that he’s in limbo or purgatory or something, making tougher and tougher jumps to get back to his real life. THose jumps are as metaphorical as they are literal, and I love the choice to essentially have him be visited by three ghosts who help give him the gumption to do it. M’gaan, Wally, and Superman all hold a special place in Conner’s heart, so them guiding him through this has extra resonance. The image of the show’s bizarro Superboy killing Cal-El shows he still has a lot of pain and anger to reckon with, but the experience is taking more shape, which I appreciate.
I’m still a little sanguine about the events under the sea. All the business with Aryan maybe or maybe not being the prophesied one true ruler doesn’t interest me much. The fact that Ocean Master is a clone rather than the real deal is a bit of an interesting reveal, hinting that Aryan may be cut from the same cloth, but everything’s still so vague and opaque at this stage. Meanwhile, the political unrest of the people wanting Aryan to be king while the city state rulers dismiss it as myth and superstition could be an interesting dynamic, except it’s underbaked given how much else is going on.
At least we have Kaldur setting out for adventure. A team of him, Wynde, Lagoon Boy, and a tagalong but vital Delphis setting out to find Aryan’s fabled crown on a covert mission has some juice to it. It’s a little convenient that they just so happen to get a clue as to where it might be after twelve thousand years right when it would be particularly salient, and the reassuring goodbye Lagoon Boy offers to his spouses seem to suggest, through the rules of drama, that he’s not coming back in an overly telegraphed way. But a mystical underwater treasure hunt is cool on its face, and showing Kaldur again throwing himself into duty feeds into this arc’s themes.
Last but not least, I love that we get a little grace note for Forager here! Him, Violet, and Harper Roe all graduating from high school is a nice moment for the fans to get to experience. And by god, Forager’s kind of cheesy speech about “Fred Bugg with two Gs” being his larval stage, and everyone being able to follow his example and transform into who they are and want to be, is oddly inspirational. Forage the world, buddy!
All in all, this is the best episode of this arc so far, and I’m hopeful about where things are going with Garfield and Conner, even if I’m not as excited for the main Atlantis storyline.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2022-08-26T22:17:58Z
[7.4/10] For once, Beast Boy’s storyline is my favorite part of this. While his intervention isn’t quite up there with Christopher’s on The Sopranos, it’s still pretty darn good. I’m glad that, now that M’gaan is back on Earth, she’s using both her training and devotion to give Garfield the help he needs. They both make comprehensible points, with M’gaan correctly diagnosing Garfield as likely having depression and PTSD, while Garfield retorts that this isn’t his first loss, and he’s found his own way through it. He’s not right, of course, and M’Gaan recognizes that this is something that he needs help in addressing, but it’s a genuine sort of deflection people offer in these scenarios. For once, their conversation feels earnest and raw, rather than some of the cardboard dialogue we’v otherwise often in Garfireld’s subplot of late.
The same goes for the comments at the intervention. Blue Beetle and Static talking about how they were inspired by him and want to help return the favor and get him back where he needs to be is both wholesome and adorable. Wondergirl reminding him that she needs his leadership and guidance, or at least his friendship, with a fiery speech, is stirring. Robotman’s Eddie Kingston-like intensity and earnestness about how Beast Boy helped save him in a tough moment and needs to let others do the same for him now is excellent. And Garfield’s rejections and sarcasm show how deep into this he is, and how far his denial runs. The fact that his membership on the team is now at stake if he won’t go to a counseling session with Black Canary adds weight to whatever comes next, but regardless, the rawness of this intervention is the highlight of the episode and of this storyline.
I appreciate what they do with Conner’s subplot here too. The exact purpose of his liminal space adventure isn’t entirely clear yet, but we get hints that he’s in limbo or purgatory or something, making tougher and tougher jumps to get back to his real life. THose jumps are as metaphorical as they are literal, and I love the choice to essentially have him be visited by three ghosts who help give him the gumption to do it. M’gaan, Wally, and Superman all hold a special place in Conner’s heart, so them guiding him through this has extra resonance. The image of the show’s bizarro Superboy killing Cal-El shows he still has a lot of pain and anger to reckon with, but the experience is taking more shape, which I appreciate.
I’m still a little sanguine about the events under the sea. All the business with Aryan maybe or maybe not being the prophesied one true ruler doesn’t interest me much. The fact that Ocean Master is a clone rather than the real deal is a bit of an interesting reveal, hinting that Aryan may be cut from the same cloth, but everything’s still so vague and opaque at this stage. Meanwhile, the political unrest of the people wanting Aryan to be king while the city state rulers dismiss it as myth and superstition could be an interesting dynamic, except it’s underbaked given how much else is going on.
At least we have Kaldur setting out for adventure. A team of him, Wynde, Lagoon Boy, and a tagalong but vital Delphis setting out to find Aryan’s fabled crown on a covert mission has some juice to it. It’s a little convenient that they just so happen to get a clue as to where it might be after twelve thousand years right when it would be particularly salient, and the reassuring goodbye Lagoon Boy offers to his spouses seem to suggest, through the rules of drama, that he’s not coming back in an overly telegraphed way. But a mystical underwater treasure hunt is cool on its face, and showing Kaldur again throwing himself into duty feeds into this arc’s themes.
Last but not least, I love that we get a little grace note for Forager here! Him, Violet, and Harper Roe all graduating from high school is a nice moment for the fans to get to experience. And by god, Forager’s kind of cheesy speech about “Fred Bugg with two Gs” being his larval stage, and everyone being able to follow his example and transform into who they are and want to be, is oddly inspirational. Forage the world, buddy!
All in all, this is the best episode of this arc so far, and I’m hopeful about where things are going with Garfield and Conner, even if I’m not as excited for the main Atlantis storyline.