Young Justice: Outsiders episode 23 preview: Villains define the heroes

Last week’s episode of Young Justice: Outsiders gave us a more detailed look into some villainous characters, which could carry over this week.

Despite the title of the show, Young Justice is all about the villains. For the Outsiders season, villains are especially the focal point. After all, the Outsiders aren’t the only ones who’re are working together (even though they had a blip on their amicability last week). Along with some problems within the heroic team, we can expect the Light and Darkseid’s followers to make some alarming advances this week.

As if we couldn’t love villains any more than we already do, Young Justice: Outsiders continues to make a case for the villains. Granted, we don’t route for any of the villains, but their complicated backstories do keep us whelmed and very much invested in the heroes. With Halo’s captive and mind-controlled state, the stakes are mounting against the Outsiders.

Gretchen Goode is still leading a double life as a billionaire and the liaison between Darkseid and the Light. Considering the cliffhanger with the two Granny Goodes at the end of episode 22, perhaps “Terminus” will clarify on why we’re seeing double (and why Granny specifically has a clone, as opposed to the other villains).

This week’s episode will give us more clarity on the villainous cohorts’ motives as well as several new questions. Beyond any villainous milestones, “Terminus” will play on the fine line between heroism and villainy. Regardless of their iteration or lineup, the Outsiders test the ethics of every archetypal hero organization. They don’t exactly follow every goody-two-shoes moral code.

Nonetheless, the villains’ narratives this week could help emphasize the benevolent principles within the team of heroes. Even if those same heroic principles are a bit misguided and shady, the villains will help create a disparity that better defines the titular team.

With the minor falling out last week, it would only make sense for this week’s episode to play on the ambiguous ethical divide between villains and heroes. The metahuman traffickers are still weaving an even more nefarious plot, so any heroic epiphanies within the Outsiders team probably won’t fully develop in one episode. After all, the team is notorious for making enemies with other heroes due to its dubious heroic methods. And there’s still plenty of time for the team to develop its virtues.