Monsters of Television

“Artemis to Arrow: Look out.”

Thanks again to Nick for covering for me last week. I was sad not to get write about the episode, as I rather liked it and would’ve liked to dig into a bit. That said, Nick did a really nice job considering he hadn’t seen the show before that episode, so I think it all works out.

But now that I’m back in the saddle, let’s see how the show’s recent trend of good episodes holds up with “Insecurity.” For the past few episodes now, arguably even with the Wally-centric episode, we’ve gotten gestures to, it not outright, character development in a show that very much needed it.

Similar to “Coldhearted” (the Wally-centric episode), “Insecurity” doesn’t offer a lot of new stuff (aside from a couple of reveals), and instead serves as a refresher on Artemis’ anxieties about being on the team, and whether or not she belongs in the first place. But there’s some stuff to like in the episode, particularly a really strong performance from Stephanie Lemelin, despite the lack of new ground covered.

Artemis’ character, much like Konner and M’gann, has been built on being accepted into this team having not been a sidekick to an established character. Doubling down on that is that Artemis was viewed as, and viewed herself as, a second string replacement for the much more valued and valuable Red Arrow (this is also putting aside her anxieties about not having any powers since that issue was addressed a while back).

These concerns are brought up again here, this time with the show tripling down on Artemis’ place in the group being both (perceived as) a charity case and now not being trusted again. Artemis had come a long way, as she said to herself and as Wally pointed out before the mission began. While Roy’s mistrust of her is understandable (I’m assuming he has ideas about her parentage), it’s becoming a less and less interesting aspect of both characters.

I likewise can’t help but feel like we’re re-setting the table a bit here as the show moves into the final three episodes of the first season, and presumably wants to re-focus attention on the mole arc that has been underdeveloped lately. The show, again, is pointing us to Artemis as the mole, based on her confrontation with Sportsmaster, that clearly isn’t the case.

So while the motions of the plot may not have been particularly engaging, both fight sequences were solid (though the river segments were pretty blah), and I think this is an example of where an actor helps elevate the material. Lemlin hits all sorts of great notes here, particularly as Artemis and her mother talk, going from easy laughter to rage quickly and convincingly, including nicely articulated voice cracks. Lemlin is giving more emotion than I think the script had in it, and it certainly keeps the episode moving.

The side plot of M’gann, Konner, and Zatanna breaking into Red Torando’s apartment, while amusing, was pretty slight. I did enjoy the weird assortment of Decemember-related religious paraphernalia Red had, but not sure it offered too much of interest beyond a quick beat to see how Red has been doing with the T.O. Morrow incident. Maybe next time we get a game of hide and seek with Captain Marvel?

DC Nation Short: Oh yay. Another “Superman of Tokyo” short. This one is, at least, better than the exposition heavy one a few weeks ago. I do like the faux-1960s anime style and the fact that it seems to be playing as a serial, but I’m not finding the short to be funny or compelling.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• I’m assuming that Artemis’ mom is a heavily re-shaped Paula Brooks, who was both Huntress and Tigress in the comics (in Young Justice, she appears to have only been the criminal Huntress), was married to Sportsmaster, and gave birth to one Artemis Crock, who was also assumed the mantle of Tigress in the comics.
• I gave this episode a second viewing because the TV I watched it on originally just ate up the blacks, making the episode nearly impossible to actually see. I will say that the show as a whole isn’t afraid of shadows and black, and that’s refreshing.
• “You know how it is. I’m on a deadline. And so are you.” Word play from Black Spider, ramping up the Spider-Man riffing a little bit this time. (I mean, he’s even voiced by Josh Keaton, who voiced Spidey on The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series.)
• “Morrow’s skills have been in a coma since the 1940s.”
• “Even my boredom is bored.”
• “Long time no reveal who you really are to your friends.”
• “If making making a mistake is a betrayal, we would all be traitors.” Man. Why is Kaldur the mole? (Really, at this point, it could be friggin’ anyone.)