[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Director: Christopher Berkeley
Writer: Greg Weisman
Starring: Jesse McCartney, Nolan North, Stephanie Lemelin, Jason Spisak, Zehra Fazal, Troy Baker, Khary Payton, Alyson Stoner, Jason Marsden, Greg Cipes
Summary
Pushed to the brink! our team is faced with a new threat to quail an uprising of the bug aliens against the New Gods of New Genesis. Halo and Prince Brion have yet to master their new powers and must begin training if they will join the ranks of the team. M’gann must come face to face with an old ally but a new foe.
Positives
Going into this episode, I hadn’t realized the team had not been on a full fledged mission since the last season. The Markovia mission seemed thrown together and last minute, while here we get our first planned out mission of this season. M’gann leading the team again was a welcomed sight as well as the team being called in like they would be in the past. While the team continues to suffer from its splintered ranks due to Batman’s insurrection, it’s hopeful to see that a team can be brought in at a moments notice if need be.
New Genesis was a great way to introduce the impending doom of Darkseid, however we didn’t get any hints or teases of Apokolips’ eye near by. One of the most outstanding parts of the episode is how the team’s name now circulates through the cosmos as a beacon of hope. The bugs could’ve gone to the still established Justice League or Oa to seek refuge and help, however they sought the one team they knew could do the job with not only strength, but compassion.
Negatives
It’s dark without the light. We have yet to see the master plan or even large hints of what’s going on with our main super villain team. Surely behind the majority of the attacks against the team and the Goode goggles, we have yet to even see the team contemplating its next move as we have in the past. The Light being so out of sight puts them out of mind and also leaves the narrative in darkness without anyway of shining toward the truth.
Verdict
The middle episode is the most critical not to fall into filler territory. Bridging the gap between the beginning and end, the middle episode must keep the audience entertained enough to stay tuned. “Away Mission” just does that, with hard hitting action, moral choices, and reveals that will make even the longest viewer shocked.
