Young Justice post!
I love this show. I may have mentioned that a few times already. XD It's looking like it's going to fill the "I need a good animated series that has plot and character development over time!" void that Avatar left when it ended. The Teen Titans cartoon from a few years back had some complaints from fans of the comic as the tone (and characterisation for some) was completely different. I loved that show a lot, but it was kinda true. TT was more like the Young Justice comic in tone, and it seems things have come full circle as the YJ cartoon is more like the Teen Titans comic in tone (minus all the bow chika wow wow stuff, as the oldest kid in the team is Aqualad XD).
The series is headed up by Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti. Weisman made the Gargoyles series that aired on Disney in my youth, and also worked on the sadly cancelled Spectacular Spider-Man so if you like either of those series', you'll like this one too. The universe the show takes place in is pretty much brand new, so you don't really need to have any knowledge of the characters beforehand, but if you do there are plenty of Easter Eggs to geek out over. The animation is stunning (I really hope there's a Blu-Ray release!) and the voice actinɡ is awesome.
So, if you haven't already started watching it, please go do it! :D *pimp part of the post is over, haha*
I think it's going to go on hiatus after this week's episode (which I am very, very excited for!), so I'm just gonna ramble and picspam on what's happened so far, and my theories of what may happen later. So, there are spoilers for all the current episodes.
This is the current team line-up. Apparently there will be more team members later on. Someone may also be killed off during the course of the show (sidekick or leaguer) as the show doesn't have to adhere to current comic canon.
Superman and Superboy
Superboy (not yet named, but probably going to have his comic alter-ego of Conner Kent) is Superman's clone, created by Cadmus. Superboy wants to connect with Superman, but Supes is a little...well, put off at the existence of Superboy. From the viewers' (and apparently Batman and Superboy's) POV, Superman comes off as a deadbead dad kind of figure, as he doesn't really talk to Superboy much. However, I've been thinking it's a nice change to show Superman as imperfect. He has all these amazing superpowers and everyone thinks of him as the perfect moral guide or whatever, but he was raised on Earth by humans so I like that they show deep down he's pretty much human too.
I think he'll come around to Superboy, but maybe he has a good reason for not wanting to get attached to Superboy, or vice versa. I have a feeling (if Supergirl doesn't exist in this universe) that he's gotten so used to being the only Kryptonian, maybe he doesn't want to get attached to him in case he dies or is actually evil.
The Arrow Family
Speedy stopped being Green Arrow's sidekick in the first episode, and has since taken on the moniker of Red Arrow. He doesn't like being thought of as a sidekick, probably since he looks old enough to be fighting with the Justice League and knows that the League are hiding a lot from the younger kids. He's a bit short-tempered and angry, but also pretty badass. The kids seem to be fond of him, and he considers them friends, so something must have happened before the show started, as I can't see Wally being friends with someone that short-tempered. XD
Artemis has since joined the team, and clashed with pretty much everyone at first, but now only clashes with Wally. XD
Artemis is her codename, and also her real name as shown in the most recent episode.
Her mum also knows about her crimefighting.
She's apparently Green Arrow's niece, but Roy obviously knows that isn't true and allows her to stay on the team as Green Arrow and Bats "obviously have a good reason for keeping you here". He also warns her against hurting his friends.
It was hinted in this episode that she had dealt with the League of Shadows before, and when she went up against Cheshire, she had to let her go, as Cheshire seemed to know everything about her. This is pure guess work on my part, but I have a feeling they may be sisters (half sisters?), based on her reaction to Cheshire and also to Megan talking about her 12 martian sisters. It was the same kind of unconvincing response that her and Green Arrow gave when they said "She's my/I'm his niece". But this probably isn't true! XD
Even though it was confirmed that Artemis had saved Wally in a previous episode (off camera/screen), when Robin showed them the arrow, Green Arrow and Bats both looked at each other like wtf? XD It makes me wonder if she was crimefighting before she became "GA's niece", as she does live in Gotham, which is where the fight happened.
I look forward to finding out more about her though!
Papa Bats!
I cannot say how much I love that Batman isn't a dark, moody douchebag in this show. He's really good with the kids and a good dad to Robin! I was a bit worried when they said Bats would be in charge of the team, but it was a good decision!
I loved this scene where he tries to talk Clark into getting to know Superboy. He knows a thing or two about being a dad to kids that aren't his.
Robin got a little jealous since Aqualad's the leader, and Bats had a leaders only type convo with him. So Bruce decides to play basketball with him to make him feel better. Cue the awwwwww's ♥
Aqualad and Atlantis
We got some character development in the most recent episode for Aqualad.
Atlantis was BEAUTIFUL, holy crap!
We got an explanation as to why Kaldur was chosen to be Aqualad instead of Garth.
We got to hear some Atlantean!
Poor Kaldur, the girl he liked, likes Garth instead. :( I also wonder if it's a plot point that Kaldur has webbed hands and gills, but the other humanoid Atlanteans don't. WE SHALL SEE.
I know who this is! But, does Kaldur? Another WE SHALL SEE.
We also found out the King's wife (who is awesome by the way) is pregnant. So, will the King's bro (pictured above) be evil like he's been in every other version? The ending of the episode seemed to hint (to me at least) that he's one of the members of The Light.
Shipping!
As with any other show featuring teenagers, shipping has obviously started! XD And after the shipping wars that started in the Avatar fandom, I would like to warn point out that the couples in this show look to be pretty much set in stone.
At first glance, it looks like this will be the main ship of the show, as Megan is besotted with Superboy and he behaves nicely to her on occassion. XD
Wally also has a thing for Megan, but his interest is purely a physical one, so this couple won't go anywhere. She doesn't really see him that way.
Personally, I think that Wally and Artemis will be the main couple of the show. (If she doesn't turn out to be the traitor, but more on that later)
It's been hinted at heavily in a couple of episodes (even the former Dr Fate told Wally he was best suited with a girl like Artemis), and I think the only reason he's so hostile to her is because their first meeting was terrible. He was dorky and embarrassed, she embarrassed and mocked him. XD I have a feeling the new episode will give them a clean slate, so we'll see what happens there!
Other stuff!
Even though he behaves exactly like what I remember 15 year old boys behave like, I apparently still love every incarnation of Wally West. XD His smarts are shown off a lot more in this series than in JL/JLU, so I hope he matures as the series goes on.
Flash family! :D Barry's a snappy dresser. XD
Wally keeps a souvenir from every mission he goes on. I have a feeling Cheshire's mask will come into play later, as will Dr Fate's helmet.
This is The Light, they're the bad guys of the series. They were in charge of Cadmus, and also have a foothold in The League of Shadows. It's safe to assume that Lex Luthor's in this gang, and I think that Brain guy is in there too. They've said in a previous episode that they have someone on the inside, meaning there's a traitor in the team.
For a while, I thought it'd be Kaldur as his behaviour was a little too perfect and he had no backstory, but the recent episode cleared that. I think Artemis is too obvious to be the mole, so it's either Superboy or Miss Martian.
The connection with J'onn has me doubting that Megan's the mole, but we need an episode about her to see if my confirmations are correct. Part of me wonders if she's a clone from Cadmus just like Superboy, but that makes no sense.
When the kids were talking about their new HQ, Mount Justice, they said the JL had abandoned it because it had become compromised. I really hope we get a backstory on what happened, as it might explain why the League are so secretive, even to their sidekicks, and maybe some of Roy's hostility as well?
Robin's "another niece" comment makes me think he doesn't believe Artemis is Ollie's niece either. XD
Okay, that's all my theories and stuff out of the way. Haha, I can't believe I have all that speculation from just 8 episodesǃ I'm sure better DC fans have much more than I do. Let's see if any of these hold up by the season finale. XD