[7.6/10] There’s a lot of balls in the air for this one, but I appreciate most of them, so even if Young Justice is once again packing a lot into a little bit of space, I’m on board with it overall.
We get to learn a little bit more about the Martian royal family. There’s a progressive son who trusts the Earthers and wants to institute reform, a prejudiced vizier who’s probably in cahoots with some of the bad guys advising draconian measures and xenophobia, and the queen in the middle trying to decide what to do. It’s a little close to the business in Markovia from season 3, but still creates an interesting dynamic.
I’m also intrigued by the dynamic between M’gaan and M’comm. Their back-and-forth is one of my favorite scenes in a while. M’Comm is an extremist, one who, it turns out, is working with Desaad to kill all red and green Martians, which is contemptible. But he’s also someone from an oppressed minority, whose own siblings look down on him for his skin color. And he feels abandoned by M’gann for leaving him when he was a kid, even though she herself was a child trying to escape the same bigotry and alienation. There’s a lot of complexity there, and the show doesn’t shy away from it.
There’s also a lot of pleasantness to Conner and M’gann’s wedding preparations. Some of it’s a bit on-the-nose, but their journey through the crystal cave, with a religious leader willing to reocgnize and celebrate their love, and parents who are just as open-minded, gives them all a respite from the terror and mystery taking place. The two lovebirds recalling their shared history is a little cheesy, but helps situate things, and gives everyone a moment of peace and joy.
That said, there’s other dangers and open questions. For one, it’s not clear what Garfield’s deal is. I thought maybe he too felt abandoned with M’gann getting married to Conner, but it seems like it’s something else. Either way, his short fuse is a bit annoying, but sets things up enough for me to be interested as to the why.
We also have a trio of what appear to be members of the Legion of Superheroes, there to protect M’gaan and Conner from some hidden assailant, but their exact purpose and mission remain opaque. And though Martian Manhunter survived, it’s also an unresolved question who sabotaged the zeta tube and communications satellites between Earth and Mars, and why.
On the whole, season 4 continues to explore meaty questions about race and cultural exchange, and ties it to the personal issues of family bonds and the sense of confidantes turning away when they’re needed most.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2022-08-10T02:58:27Z
[7.6/10] There’s a lot of balls in the air for this one, but I appreciate most of them, so even if Young Justice is once again packing a lot into a little bit of space, I’m on board with it overall.
We get to learn a little bit more about the Martian royal family. There’s a progressive son who trusts the Earthers and wants to institute reform, a prejudiced vizier who’s probably in cahoots with some of the bad guys advising draconian measures and xenophobia, and the queen in the middle trying to decide what to do. It’s a little close to the business in Markovia from season 3, but still creates an interesting dynamic.
I’m also intrigued by the dynamic between M’gaan and M’comm. Their back-and-forth is one of my favorite scenes in a while. M’Comm is an extremist, one who, it turns out, is working with Desaad to kill all red and green Martians, which is contemptible. But he’s also someone from an oppressed minority, whose own siblings look down on him for his skin color. And he feels abandoned by M’gann for leaving him when he was a kid, even though she herself was a child trying to escape the same bigotry and alienation. There’s a lot of complexity there, and the show doesn’t shy away from it.
There’s also a lot of pleasantness to Conner and M’gann’s wedding preparations. Some of it’s a bit on-the-nose, but their journey through the crystal cave, with a religious leader willing to reocgnize and celebrate their love, and parents who are just as open-minded, gives them all a respite from the terror and mystery taking place. The two lovebirds recalling their shared history is a little cheesy, but helps situate things, and gives everyone a moment of peace and joy.
That said, there’s other dangers and open questions. For one, it’s not clear what Garfield’s deal is. I thought maybe he too felt abandoned with M’gann getting married to Conner, but it seems like it’s something else. Either way, his short fuse is a bit annoying, but sets things up enough for me to be interested as to the why.
We also have a trio of what appear to be members of the Legion of Superheroes, there to protect M’gaan and Conner from some hidden assailant, but their exact purpose and mission remain opaque. And though Martian Manhunter survived, it’s also an unresolved question who sabotaged the zeta tube and communications satellites between Earth and Mars, and why.
On the whole, season 4 continues to explore meaty questions about race and cultural exchange, and ties it to the personal issues of family bonds and the sense of confidantes turning away when they’re needed most.