Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
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- Oct 11, 2001
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It has seemed like too damn long since we had new episodes, as well as previews of new episodes and another interview with Greg Weisman about the latest chunk of episodes. Even if in reality it's only been 2.5 months - a modest gap in the history of the show's air schedule on CN. As well as a reminder about that brief time when Season 2 only had 10 episodes, before being doubled to 20.
The interview is pretty good; probably the most notable part to me was the discussion about the "six leads". The "TLDR" version (and seriously, it wasn't that long; I've written reviews longer than this interview) is that Weisman notes that while the show has a large cast of reoccurring characters who are all important to the tapestry, that the show still revolves around the "six leads" (Robin, Aqualad, Kid-Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis). It is ironic that this topic is brought up before the premiere of an episode revolving around Red Arrow, but that's noted in the interview as a break from the main plot.
I still feel that out of those "six leads", some characters tend to get more focus than others, but maybe that is natural. I still have yet to be convinced that all of the supporting characters whose focus ranges from cameo to focal point do more than distract from the leads. Imagine that someone has chosen to produce "ROMEO AND JULIET" only it is a version where every named character (besides the titular two) gets extra lines and extended monologues, where even some of the nameless cameo roles have more flashy sequences; the main narrative becomes distracted. A large cast is fine; one could argue all of life is a large cast. I simply am aware of the temptation with team shows to go whole hog on it, and perhaps the fact that the "six leads" need to be affirmed in bold text is an acknowledgement that there was a risk of that being lost to the viewer. Or some viewers.
At any rate, I am looking forward to "SATISFACTION" although Red Arrow (or Angry Arrow as I usually call him) seems to be the main focus. Well, him, the "real Roy" and the other archer characters. I'm not as fanatic about archers as some fans are - I like Marvel's Hawkeye but not nearly as much as many typical Marvel fans - so it isn't like I hate the character, but that he's one of my least favorite ones in the show. Apparently the intervention for Red Arrow has stuck as he's been looking healthier since Cheshire and Lian entered his life. It does look like the B-plot will be reactions to the "death" of Artemis. The scene at the cemetery was good; among the ramifications of "the plan" are that Cheshire and possibly Sportsmaster may end up gunning for Aqualad/Black Mantalad for vengeance. And it looks like "real Roy" may be angrier than even Angry Arrow - not without reason, of course. I like the touch that Lian is apparently Artemis' middle name; cements the ties between her and Cheshire since that's the name of her daughter. I can imagine Wally being more concerned for the genuine pain their plan is causing everyone around them than Grayson or Kaldur may be. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the points at the end of the season is to what degree were some of "the six leads" willing to compromise morals and manipulate others to attain a goal - which is precisely what "The Light" do, only on a grander and more destructive scale. Could they wind up forming a superhero version of "The Light" - doing more than being glorified responders?
There is apparently a memorial section of the HQ which appears to confirm that not only Aquagirl is dead (or believed dead), that there was apparently a Jason Todd Robin as well. Naturally that does add a little something to Nightwing's "Try not to die," line to Drake in the season premiere. The Ted Kord Blue Beetle is also there; it is ironic that Kord never started appearing in animation before until after DC Comics killed him off. Apparently a superhero who fights crime with gadgets and an armada of vehicles with a sense of humor doesn't work unless he's Batman, or Iron Man.
Perhaps the biggest surprise to me was the appearance of Captain Cold in the photo section. Considering that whenever "the ice villains" have turned up in the show, either Mr. Freeze, Icicle Jr. or Icicle Sr. have had much of the dialogue, I wasn't expecting to see Captain Cold again. Of course, he could simply be one of a group of villains who turn up for a fight, much like Mammoth, Shimmer, and Riddler were in "USUAL SUSPECTS". It would continue the show's tradition of almost never having rogues from a particular gallery actually battle the hero (or sidekick) from said gallery, with a few Bat/Super/Aqua-exceptions. Count Vertigo is a Green Arrow villain; had his most notable episode fighting Kid-Flash. Abrakadabrah is a Flash villain; spends no time fighting Kid-Flash in "DENIAL". Neutron is a Superman villain; fights the entire Flash family in "BLOODLINES". Thus, it would make perfect sense for Captain Cold to turn up in an episode fighting the Green Arrow family. Not exactly complaining, mind you; when done well it extends the universe a bit and has characters who usually don't meet fight each other. Take it to an extreme and you have "ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN" (the Spider-Man show where actual Spider-Man villains are a rarity), but YJ is nowhere near that extreme. Will Deathstroke/Slade Wilson even meet Nightwing and Beast-Boy in this show? We'll have to see.
In fairness maybe with some exceptions DC villains have done a better job of branching out enough beyond their galleries than many Marvel villains until recently.
Also, who were those kids at the HQ memorial section? Gar Logan, Tim Drake, Jaimie Reyes and Bart Allen? I mean who else is a male red head on the current "team"? If it is Bart, does his knowledge from the future have any baring on this?
In fairness, Weisman doesn't say that the "original six" know the truth about Artemis. It was the interviewer from CBR who used that phrase. Weisman simply affirmed the characters he saw as the "original six" and noted there would be "huge ramifications" in regards to that story arc.
As of the last aired episode, 2/3rds of the "original six" are in on the secret.
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