[6.8/10] Eh, if there’s one thing I’m not into in really any narrative fiction these days, it’s love triangles. Something about throwing Shayera (don’t call me “Hawkgirl”!) and Vixen together on the same mission for maximum drama just feels corny to me. It’s a shame, because Hawkgirl has one of the most interesting stories in all of Justice League and the prospect of her facing down her old Thanagarian allies who consider her a betrayer, while at the same time having to work with Justice League partners who don't fully trust her either, is a good premise. You don’t need poorly-written, romance-based interpersonal drama to muck it up.
That said, as tiresome as the material with Vixen is, I do like the headfake with Vixen seemingly giving Shayera up, only for it to be a ruse to get on a Thanagarian ship. Likewise, this is the most we’ve had for Vigilante (Nathan Fillion!) to do, and he’s a surprisingly welcome presence. I like that not only is he sharp enough to set a good trap for one of the Thanagarians, but that his lack of skill as a wild west Cowboy trying to fly a spaceship comes back in a cool way.
I also like that Lt. Kragger is still reeling from the effects of J’onn messing with his mind. The apparatus he’s operating out of is cool-looking, and his brain-addled responses and anger to everything gives him flavor as an antagonist Were that the same could be said for Thanagarian general Paran Dul, who gives a flat delivery to just about everything and feels pretty dull as a villain here.
Still, there’s some decent material about which side Shayera’s really on and where her sympathies and regrets lie vis-a-vis the Justice League vs. the Thanagarians. I don't like the fact that they try to parallel that with where romantic sympathies lie, but there’s some decent action and trickery here to make in interesting.
I thought the episode was going for the swerve here, with Vixen and Shayera being friends instead of rivals, and I guess I like that the show as least reduces their erstwhile romantic friction as two corners of a love triangle into a laughing, mutually-respectful fight for John’s heart than the usual claw-scratching fest. But the whole “en garde” thing is cheesy as hell, and I wish they acted like adults who just said to one another, something like, “I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t still have feelings for John, but I know that you’re together, and I’m not going to try to mess that up.” But I suppose it’s too much to expect these characters to act like adults, especially in this “men writing women” situation.
Overall, this one is largely fine outside of that, but mostly frustrating as a good idea for an episode, one that builds on the series’s major continuity, turning into a heap of wasted potential.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-10-10T19:20:44Z
[6.8/10] Eh, if there’s one thing I’m not into in really any narrative fiction these days, it’s love triangles. Something about throwing Shayera (don’t call me “Hawkgirl”!) and Vixen together on the same mission for maximum drama just feels corny to me. It’s a shame, because Hawkgirl has one of the most interesting stories in all of Justice League and the prospect of her facing down her old Thanagarian allies who consider her a betrayer, while at the same time having to work with Justice League partners who don't fully trust her either, is a good premise. You don’t need poorly-written, romance-based interpersonal drama to muck it up.
That said, as tiresome as the material with Vixen is, I do like the headfake with Vixen seemingly giving Shayera up, only for it to be a ruse to get on a Thanagarian ship. Likewise, this is the most we’ve had for Vigilante (Nathan Fillion!) to do, and he’s a surprisingly welcome presence. I like that not only is he sharp enough to set a good trap for one of the Thanagarians, but that his lack of skill as a wild west Cowboy trying to fly a spaceship comes back in a cool way.
I also like that Lt. Kragger is still reeling from the effects of J’onn messing with his mind. The apparatus he’s operating out of is cool-looking, and his brain-addled responses and anger to everything gives him flavor as an antagonist Were that the same could be said for Thanagarian general Paran Dul, who gives a flat delivery to just about everything and feels pretty dull as a villain here.
Still, there’s some decent material about which side Shayera’s really on and where her sympathies and regrets lie vis-a-vis the Justice League vs. the Thanagarians. I don't like the fact that they try to parallel that with where romantic sympathies lie, but there’s some decent action and trickery here to make in interesting.
I thought the episode was going for the swerve here, with Vixen and Shayera being friends instead of rivals, and I guess I like that the show as least reduces their erstwhile romantic friction as two corners of a love triangle into a laughing, mutually-respectful fight for John’s heart than the usual claw-scratching fest. But the whole “en garde” thing is cheesy as hell, and I wish they acted like adults who just said to one another, something like, “I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t still have feelings for John, but I know that you’re together, and I’m not going to try to mess that up.” But I suppose it’s too much to expect these characters to act like adults, especially in this “men writing women” situation.
Overall, this one is largely fine outside of that, but mostly frustrating as a good idea for an episode, one that builds on the series’s major continuity, turning into a heap of wasted potential.