Young Justice: Outsiders episode 19 review: Retracted remorse

From heartfelt confessions, to getting grounded, to whatever Lex Luther’s deal is, a lot happened this week on Young Justice: Outsiders.

Following an uncomfortable episode with a few well-composed scenes last week, Young Justice: Outsiders episode 19 makes some strides. After “Early Warning,” we needed an episodic pick-me-up. “Elder Wisdom” didn’t necessarily uplift our mood, because there were plenty of emotionally devastating scenes, but it did pick up the pace. This week’s DC Universe Young Justice episode helped bring the storyline back on track, especially with a certain ominous subplot.

In just 20 minutes, “Elder Wisdom” delivers some resolution to Halo’s two-part dilemma from last week. Beyond the bittersweet revelations, this week better defines the Outsiders team and gives new confidence to a villain in their midst. Oh, and Lex Luther gets put in his place without physically getting beat up (though he definitely deserves a punch or seven).

And there’s no way we can ignore the beautiful storytelling techniques used this week. For example, there’s a captivating scene with concurrent narratives between the impassioned dialogue versus the nearly silent mission sequence. On its own, the mission in the background reads as moving comic panels, and it’s a playful way to pay homage to the comics that made this team and series possible. We’re amused by the simplicity of this scene, especially in an episode focused on painful proclamations.

Last week’s shock-value scenes drive the tension this week. Aftershock is clearly the theme this week, and Halo’s revelation about Gabrielle’s memories prompt Tara to choose a side between the Outsiders and the Reach. While the series has hinted at Tara’s conflicting feelings, Halo’s confession is the start to Tara’s villainous origin story — at least officially. She’s finally worked through all her second thoughts; it just took Halo’s confession to make Tara suppress all her dual-agent-related remorse.

Throughout the many rehashings of Tara and the Judas Contract (both of which are practically synonymous at this point), she’s known to be impulsive. Her brash decisions to betray the Outsiders and text her villain pals only remind us of who she is. However, we can’t help but think, WTF, Tara?

Sure, traumatic news can make anyone impulsive. While Young Justice made Halo very tropey with her impulsive reactions last week, Tara completely forgets how selfless Halo has been. Minutes prior to Violet’s confessional, she died (or at least almost died) just to save Tara.

Seriously Tara, how can you be that mad at Halo — someone who saved your life — over something her old consciousness, Gabrielle, did? So mad, in fact, that you toss the entire Outsiders under the proverbial bus just to get back at Halo?

As a shameless fan of Tara/Terra (yes, all versions of her, even her doppelganger), it took Young Justice: Outsiders  episode 19 to make me finally realize why so many comic fans hate her. If this isn’t personal character development, then I don’t know what is. Apart from apparently prompting character growth in its own viewers, Young Justice offers evidence for its previous character development. Yes, we’re looking at you, Beast Boy.

We had a few doubts about Garfield’s leadership role in the Outsiders after the team officially formed. However, I’m happy to retract my doubts. Just like we’re finally getting more episodes that are consistently focused on the titular team, this week continues to build Gar’s arc — and takes a pit stop to prove why he works so well as the leader.

In an episode that acts as a team-building exercise, all that interpersonal growth is only possible through Gar’s wit. He did outsmart Lex Luther and use Lex’s plan against him, after all. Reminding us how arrogant and condescending Lex is, Gar managed to take him down and instead defame his public image while building the Outsider’s repertoire.

The concluding moments of the episode flesh the scheme that rebuilt the Outsider’s credibility and tore down Lex’s ethos in the same stage mission. But beyond giving a new reason behind Gar’s growing leadership capabilities, the entire faux-mission makes the team seem like the Outsiders. This unethical scheme, as Wonder Woman would and did call it, reinforces the fringe heroics the Outsiders canonically thrive from.

However, there are some blunders this week, in terms of strange scenes (for very different reasons).

1. That weird staring contest with M’gann and the BIF agent. Seriously, it took us a while to realize M’gann was trying to use her powers in that scene. Because that moment was so quiet, it just looks like they were aimlessly staring at each other while everyone else around them was fighting.
2. Another Outsiders episode, another unnecessarily gruesome death courtesy of Halo. It’s getting tiring at this point.
3.  What was the point of using Halo to boom tube everyone (minus M’gann) out of there when they all flew over in a ship? Did they leave M’gann behind to fly home solo? Do they hate her that much? We get dramatic exits, and there’s nothing more dramatic than leisurely exiting through a boom tube (in the middle of an argument with your parents no less). However, it’s just a weird scenerio.
4. Making Halo feel guilty for Harper kissing her (especially when we can assume Halo was intoxicated last week). It’s creepy enough that the undertones from that trope-filled scene made Harper seem sort of predatory. But making Halo say, “Well she kissed me, but I didn’t stop her” makes her seem like she’s blaming herself, which is unsettling.

Apart from some odd and even uncomfortable scenes, this week’s episode put the spotlight back onto the titular team again. Although episode 19 might seem like a filler episode from the real action involving the main villain of the season, it’s anything but a filler story. It brought the team closer together, even if it did tear a few team members apart. Amends, redemption, and apologies are integral to so many hero stories, so we have faith that Halo and Brion won’t stay apart for long. Tara, on the other hand, is another story.

No amount of preparation will make us ready for next week’s episode. We can assume we’ll get some context about what Halo is writing. Given the tragic tone following Halo’s remorseful monologue, we can assume her note will only yield more sadness.

Was Halo writing her will? Or a formal note to Brion? Or do you think she writing a note, telling her teammates that she is leaving?

Regardless of your thoughts and theories, let us know what you think Halo was writing in the final moments of Young Justice: Outsiders episode 19!