2x16 The Terror Beyond (2)

[8.6/10] I didn’t really anticipate this episode turning into such an affecting mediation on sacrifice, atheism, and faith. That’s probably more than most people expect when diving into an episode about a bunch of superheroes fighting an ersatz Cthulhu, but shame on me for underestimating what this show and its creative team are capable of.

For one thing, they don’t shortchange us on the “fighting the Old Ones” action. “The Terror Beyond pt. 2” introduces some of the DCAU’s most striking and creative visual designs ever. From the hand-screamers that call to mind Pan’s Labyrinth to the grotesque sea creatures invading Atlantis, to the domineering skull-squid himself, the episode does a stellar job at making everyone and everything in Ichthultu’s realm seem off and more than a little disturbing.

But I also appreciated how this episode expanded the show’s history and cosmology. We don’t get a whole lot of insight as to what Aquaman and Dr. Fate’s original plan was, but it basically comes down to sacrificing Grundy using the power of Aquaman’s trident in order to close the gates that the “Old Ones” a group of malevolent “extradimensional beings” use to antagonize our world.

The wrinkles to that are two-fold. First, Aquaman’s trident isn’t just the latest in a line of cool weapons wielded by Justice League allies. It’s an implement used by Poisedon himself to ward off Ichthultu thousands of years ago, absorbing and exhausting all the ambient magic to do, causing Atlantis to sink to the bottom of the sea. And Thanagar isn’t just another lost alien world. It’s a planet where Hawkgirl’s people used to worship the Eldritch Abomination, and even make human (er, hawk-human) sacrifices to him in exchange for his favor centuries ago. That explains the need for Aquaman to be a part of the ceremony and why Hawkgirl’s mace and knowledge of Thanagarian “prayers” turned out to be useful for and against Doctor Fate.

That backstory leads to some pretty cool and meaningful developments down the line. When Arthur Curry stands down an army of the Old One’s aquatic menaces, it’s more than just another random superpowered fracas. It’s him trying to follow in the footsteps of his forebears and protect his kingdom against an invasion with a longstanding antecedent.

And when Hawkgirl faces the Elder God, she’s doing more than just subduing the villain of the week. Instead, she’s expelling and excising the devil’s bargain her people made with his monster, rejecting the authority of any higher power over her in the process.

That’s also what makes this episode as a whole more than just the latest smash-fest. There’s a lot of spiritual questioning at the heart of this one. When questioned, Wonder Woman affirms that calling out to Hera really does feel like it gives her strength. Grundy, despite his mere rudimentary understanding of what’s happening, is on the quest for his immortal soul and seeks the comforts of the afterlife. And Shayera is an atheist, one who affirmatively rejects the comforts of faith given what it cost her people long ago.

But these notions collide with one another. Grundy becomes a strangely sympathetic character. Despite Superman questioning whether Grundy has the mental wherewithal to consent to what Fate and Quaman want to do with him, he ultimately becomes the key to destroying the Elder God. Instead of being sacrificed, he basically sacrifices himself, arguably earning his soul back through deed, rather than by fiat.

Hawkgirl takes action as well, rejecting this malevolent force despite its boasts that its bargain with the Thanagarians was fair. There’s something symbolic about her finishing the job, permanently throwing off the shackles of this would-be deity and what he extracts and expects of his “children”.

Despite that, in the end, she helps bury Grundy, does so according to human customs and, most notably, tells Grundy that he and his soul will be reunited in the afterlife, despite her beliefs to the contrary. The show seems to come down on the side of faith, or at least on the notion that it can be useful, a comfort in dark times, regardless of whether you’re a believer, or a doubter, or somewhere in between. That’s remarkably profound for a show where a bunch of mulit-colored strongmen stop a squid demon’s portal by wedging a giant rock into it.

But that’s par for the course for Justice League in this period, a show that knows how to balance its fantastical adventures with deeper examinations of what makes its characters, and our world, keep ticking. I hope that Hawkgirl gets some peace out of that world, and that there’s something waiting for Grundy on the other side of it.

I dunno, this arc just doesn't do it for me.

We get a bit more lore about Thanagar and Atlantis (as well as Grundy's origin story), but I've never really cared about Grundy so him being killed off doesn't really do anything.

Plus it doesn't make sense as to why Hawkgirl would be so distraught over it, while the other league members are a bit sad.

They constantly fought him and he didn't really do much to win them over (other than take out a few minions in the old one's realm).

Icthultu is also just an anagram of Cthulhu and basically is Cthulhu (I thought the shot of an old Atlantis was R'lyeh, lol).

If you're into spiritualism and/or Grundy's character you'll probably get more out of this, but even as a fan of lovecraftian lore I just see a slight rewording of the old ones.

The creature designs are cool and the fight scenes are good, but the main plot focuses on spiritualism - and I've never been interested in that.

I must say though, this show stepping away from the constant reincarnation of Hawkgirl is quite nice. I never liked that aspect of her established lore. Always felt like any hint at a romance plot would be nullified due to it existing, so why bother trying to write them?

I think the show ends up doing that anyway in Unlimited though.... ah well.