2x25 Apokolips... Now! (1)

[7.8/10] So here’s another weird quirk of revisiting this show as an adult after having watched it via the vicissitudes of syndication and network airing schedules as a kid. I remember the end of this little duology, but not the beginning. That makes it easy to appreciate the setup they’re doing with certain characters or conflicts, while also being a little surprised at where this thing starts versus where it finishes.

FOr one thing, this episode is big on plot and lore, but doesn't tell much of as tory. It’s more setup and introduction, which isn’t bad! It does, however, give this episode more the sense of a prelude to something bigger than a compelling story in and of itself.

That said, I like the lore! As convenient as it is to have Orion connect to the mother box to tell the story of New Genesis and Apokalips, it’s still a damn cool sequence. The god vs. the devil motifs become clearer than ever, and the royalty peacemaking of the child exchange seems that much more crazy. These scenes are visually exciting, contrasting the futuristic eden of one planet with the barren techno-hellscape on the other. Granted, this is an easy method to have the show basically just announce backstory to the audience, but it’s probably as organic a way to do it as possible.

What I really appreciate here, of all things, is that this episode picks up the thread of Manheim being Darkseid’s human patsy on Earth. The fact that Manheim and his goons test out Darkseid’s weaponry against SUperman works as a good run-up to bigger battles to come, and show what Apokalips technology can do. That’s the thing that really elevates this one despite not having much of a story to speak of. For once, you feel like SUperman is really threatened. The gamma bombs and ear-piercing booms have a real effect on him. That, combined with the extra dramatic music, gives this a season finale feel of real stakes that’s sometimes missing from a show whose main character is practically undefeatable.

You also see Manheim get double crossed by Darkseid, which I appreciate given the coldness of it. It helps sell Apokalips as a cruel boss (even if his “king of fools” line is a laugher), and ties things up there reasonably well. There’s something poetic about Manheim’s greed leading to him being condemned to die by a new god who doesn't care about petty things like money, and the nuclear explosion adds to the heightened stakes feel of this episode.

The same goes for the business with Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer. The show does a good job of putting a little focus on them here, both selling Turpin’s irascible confidence and the way he’s a little sobered by the fact that Maggie is in the hospital after going up against this weaponry. The fact that he admits he’s glad to have Superman there and that Darkseid’s enemies would be too much to handle otherwise is a nice character beat for him.

The one thing I’m a little colder on is the introduction of Orion. He just looks kind of silly, and while I’ve always liked the reveal that he’s Darkseid’s traded son, there’s a certain degree of melodrama to him that just never clicked for me. STill, his little stand up air scooter is neat, so that’s something.

All-in-all, this episode has more setup and backstory than actual storytelling, but the atmosphere alone makes it an above average episode, and knowing where the setups lead help you appreciate it more.