[7.0/10] I really like what this one is trying to do. Artemis and Jade’s relationship is one of the richer ones on the show. They’ve been through a lot, relied on one another, betrayed one another, confided in one another. Seeing them come together once again, so Cheshire can help discern who’s a mole and who isn’t, is a good opportunity for the two of them to hash a few things out and flash back to some key moments.
But so much of what should be a charged reunion ends up feeling flat. It's hard to say why, beyond the style of the presentation. Their combative but subtly caring tone is fine in theory, but in practice, this feels more like people talking at each other than with each other. The flashbacks are admittedly sad to the point of being hard to watch at times, with the most clear implications of physical abuse yet, while still being tasteful about it. But the fight with the Shadows’ assassins is fairly generic, despite the arrival of Rictus and the return of Josh Keaton’s delightfully arch Black Spider.
I appreciate getting more details about Artemis’ and Jade’s childhood, and Chesire noting that both Cassandra Savage and Onyx are either telling the truth or good enough to fool anyone moves that story along fine. But for a momentous character exploration and a tense interrogation, this one played as strangely inert to me.
That said, I’m intrigued by Beast Boy sinking into depression over having lost both Brion and Superboy, in different ways of course. His grief is understandable and pitiable, and I’m intrigued to see where the show goes with him stewing in his losses and retreating into himself rather than continuing to lead the Outsiders. There’s a lot of worthwhile psychological material to explore there.
Overall, this episode does a creditable job of moving this arc along, but is otherwise not much to write home about.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2022-08-17T05:43:15Z
[7.0/10] I really like what this one is trying to do. Artemis and Jade’s relationship is one of the richer ones on the show. They’ve been through a lot, relied on one another, betrayed one another, confided in one another. Seeing them come together once again, so Cheshire can help discern who’s a mole and who isn’t, is a good opportunity for the two of them to hash a few things out and flash back to some key moments.
But so much of what should be a charged reunion ends up feeling flat. It's hard to say why, beyond the style of the presentation. Their combative but subtly caring tone is fine in theory, but in practice, this feels more like people talking at each other than with each other. The flashbacks are admittedly sad to the point of being hard to watch at times, with the most clear implications of physical abuse yet, while still being tasteful about it. But the fight with the Shadows’ assassins is fairly generic, despite the arrival of Rictus and the return of Josh Keaton’s delightfully arch Black Spider.
I appreciate getting more details about Artemis’ and Jade’s childhood, and Chesire noting that both Cassandra Savage and Onyx are either telling the truth or good enough to fool anyone moves that story along fine. But for a momentous character exploration and a tense interrogation, this one played as strangely inert to me.
That said, I’m intrigued by Beast Boy sinking into depression over having lost both Brion and Superboy, in different ways of course. His grief is understandable and pitiable, and I’m intrigued to see where the show goes with him stewing in his losses and retreating into himself rather than continuing to lead the Outsiders. There’s a lot of worthwhile psychological material to explore there.
Overall, this episode does a creditable job of moving this arc along, but is otherwise not much to write home about.