Monsters of Television

“I disagree strongly with your moral calculus.”

As we move into the finale (only 13 episodes per season here it seems), things seem to be ramping up. I don’t want to suggest that the show has been spinning its wheels, but only that the show’s forward momentum hasn’t been terribly quick. Most of the show’s legitimately strong episodes have been connected the Red Lanterns in some way, showing the series may be more suited to heavier serialization than dabbling in the mix of episodic and serialized storytelling (which, really, is a much harder feat to pull off than doing only one or the other).

“Regime Change” is busy, fast-paced episode, but it’s also a good one. Ragnar’s recruitment to a Red Lanterns (he’s a prime candidate, after all) is a sensible story, albeit one that I wish had received the episode’s full attention, as opposed to divided between Betrassus and Oa. Ragnar’s history with the Lanterns makes him a viable recurring villain, and I would’ve like to see these anxieties, not to mention his battle with Iolande, played out a bit more than it was here.

As it is, the battle for Batrassus is a good one. I’m glad that not too terribly much was made of the planet-destroying Liberator (been there, done that), and the fight sequences between the GLs and the RLs are some of the more exciting bits of animation the show has shelled out in a while.

Which leaves us with Oa. I’m glad we’re finally seeing some fallout for Hal and Kilowog’s departure, and that they appear to have been in communication with the Guardians for a while. I’m refreshed that the show is finally willing to leave the core group during an episode, I just wish it had happened sooner (and with Carol, too). It may’ve allowed the inter-politicking between Appa Ali Apsa and Ganthet to feel a bit less rushed than it is here (Ganthet is charged with treason, a trial is mentioned, and then he’s immediately banished. What?).

That being said, the conflict between Appa Ali Apsa and Ganthet is a good one for the show to address. The challenges of maintaining order in an emotional universe is an interesting one for children to hear: What do you have to sacrifice for order? Is it worth the sacrifice? Certainly the show comes down on Ganthet’s side of hope and emotion (Saint Walker, your blue lantern is on the way), but it’s still nice to see such a discussion  happening here.

DC Nation Short – “Animal Man”: Well. I think this one is out of fuel. The two sketches presented are just variations on the first one, with Animal Man overreacting to some slight against an animal. Of the two, the absurdity of the situation in the second one, featuring Darkseid, does help elevate it, but it’s still prettty much what we saw before.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• The WonderCon interviews with cosplayers may have been the highlight of the half-hour. I particularly enjoyed a woman dressed Robin saying that the Joker was the scariest Batman villain not because he’s the Joker, but because she heard that “he has a crowbar.” Likewise, I had a good chuckle at what appeared to be a daughter-father pair of the Cassandra Cain Batgirl and Batman: “Can I have the Batmobile?” “No. You don’t even have a driver’s license yet. You can’t have my car.”
• With most of the Lanterns leaving Oa, I’m excited to find out if we see any other familiar faces as the Lanterns prepare to square off against the incoming Red Lantern fleet. 
• “She’s perfectly fine. Or should I say, ‘perfectly confined’?” Ragnar was working on that one for weeks.