Predictable plot twists mar the second episode of Young Justice, making great television just okay television. When we last saw the Outsiders, they were en route to Markovia to shut down a metahuman smuggling ring.

This episode opens with a hilarious PSA from Beast Boy that is quickly tempered by its content, i.e., the abductions of the children and teens around the world. I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of Beast Boy giving a PSA, but I couldn’t laugh at the subject matter.

We even get to see Lex Luthor in his position at the U.N., being as sleazy and slick as ever. Mark Rolston brings his A-game to Luthor, imbibing the smugness and arrogance of the man into his voice as he talks about the failures of the Justice League.

Meanwhile, the Outsiders get into Markovia without any trouble, discover the lair of the ring, and then get into trouble with Vertigo, the leader of the ring, leading to the predictable complications I feared for in the past episode. For those of you who may not be familiar, here’s a refresher on Vertigo.

The writing and pacing have improved now that the focus is only on the outsiders and no one else, allowing for each character to have a moment to shine. Black Lightning continues to struggle with himself, putting Superboy at risk as he does so, while Tigress makes a new friend. Each character has a role to play, and Superboy even has a nice callback to his past.

The story is progressing quickly, which is a good thing, wasting no time with fluff, but I do wish the show would slow down and spend some time with the characters every now and then. The party was an excellent opportunity for Dick and Artemis to explore their bond, but it was eschewed for plot development. As things stand now, character moments are traded for spectacle and action, and that is not something that can function long-term. Young Justice, working on the nostalgia factor, is doing well for itself, but if the quality of the writing slips, it will still end up in the can. The writing has not slipped so considerably that the show is in danger of being cut; yet, it’s something to be aware of.

That being said, Young Justice continues to engage with its metahuman storyline, and I look forward to seeing how it pans out in the future.

TAV Rating

B+