Almost over, but not quite. With two episodes left, Young Justice‘s second season goes big and sets up the end with a bang. “Summit” takes place almost exclusively in one cavern beneath the island of Santa Prisca as The Reach and The Light meet to settle their grievances, and well, let’s dive in!
1. Good ol fashioned Mexican standoff
The Light and The Reach walk into a cavern and…stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The sides are both pissed as their alliances lies fractured before them. The Light allowed Blue Beetle to be cured on their watch and The Reach’s public opinion is on the outs. There was no way it was going to end but in fighting, but it’s good that Kaldur tries to get them to talk first (if not just to record the whole thing to both clear the League and diminish Reach public opinion even more). There’s so much to unpack here as the episode is framed almost completely in this small cavern as the two parties strive into town and some leave and some don’t. Either way, it’s a great set up and a great compilation of everything that happened this season. While the second half of this season had some weird pacing issues, if it all led here, this is good.
2. Deathstroke shot first
I remember watching this the first time as Deathstroke shoots Kaldur and Artemis after she is revealed by Ra’s al Guhl and I thought “Damn that’s harsh I guess that’s that for them,” because it felt like it could possibly be real. The stakes are high, they’re not fighting goons are peons Kaldur and Artemis have the real deal here with The Light and The Reach on full display. Kaldur of course gets the last laugh as he runs a recording of all the ways The Light has undermined The Reach and suddnely that standoff is a really brawl, and then…BAM Deathstroke is actually Miss M (with much better acting than a few episodes prior) and suddenly this thing got way more fun and way more intriguing. Deathstroke is weaksauce though in this universe though to be offed so easily.
3. “Hold that thought you can decide later when we’re alone.”
Wally. Artemis. I get you haven’t seen each other in a few months, but get a room this is a kid’s show. Sometimes I forget there was a 5 year time gap. This was not one of those times.
4. Betrayal
Watching Kaldur and Black Manta duke it out was almost Shakespearean in a way. With sort of very on the nose dialogue and much intense staring, Kaldur prevailed. You could tell though that he felt conflicted, that even in the act of doing good he wanted to be able to help his father. He also felt guilty that Luthor and Queen Bee never showed so they couldn’t take them down, that Black Beetle and The Reach Scientist, as well as, Savage and Klarion, both got away. Oh also Ra’s got stabbity stabbed by Black Beetle, but cause he’s also a Lazarus pit loving immortal he’s only kind of dead. So The Team only took down The Reach Ambassador and undermined The Reach’s invasion, The Brain and Mallah, and Manta. Not too shabby a haul. And yet, for all that undercover work, Kaldur wanted more. Truly honorable that Kaldur.
More fun things happen like Wally telling Bart that he can have the Kid Flash mantle, as well as a La’gann/Miss M reconciliation, alongside just a huge fight scene the likes of the Battle of Hogwarts, made you think this could be it right?
5. It’s still not over
Yeah no it was never going to be it. Season one did this same thing too. The penultimate episode ended with a big win, only for the Team to have to go rescue the League from Savage’s control. Here, Savage steals the Warworld (cause apparently Luthor gave him the key), and dispatches Black Canary, Black Lightning (showing back up again for the second time), and Captain Marvel, before throwing deuces and driving that planet off in to the sunset. Also The Reach wanna blow up the Earth cause the Green Lanterns can get them now. SO that’s another thing.
You’d think with the Team finally one-upping The Light and The Reach, getting the drop on them after they clearly think they got the drop on the Team, but, Savage Gargoyles them again. Oh, well. Time to save the world.
We have one more episode left so join us next week as the League’s trial wraps and Earth is threatened with going boom boom. Also sound off in the comments, you only have two more chances!
