Young Justice season 3, episode 17 review: First Impression

The team enters a new era, as Beast Boy introduces a bold concept on the latest episode of Young Justice: Outsiders.

The second half of Young Justice: Outsiders has only just begun, but the plot is already thickening. Garfield (Beast Boy) has been striving to make a difference ever since he rejoined the team. Now, following the events of “Illusion of Control,” he launches an idea that will push the team in a new direction in “First Impression.”

The Revolution Will Be Televised

Since his return, Gar has believed that the team could be doing more to improve the public image of heroes and metahumans, and he’s finally come up with way to do so. He suggests the formation of a new branch of the team that would fight crime in the public eye and better connect with society. Ultimately, the new team would shift the perception of metahumans and get the general public more involved in the process.

In addition, Cassie (Wonder Girl), Bart (Kid Flash), Virgil (Static), Jaime (Blue Beetle), and Brion (Geo-Force) have all agreed to join this new team. Gar’s announcement also comes with a sleek, headquarters in Hollywood. While hesitant, Kaldur’ahm, M’gann and the other veterans agree to let the team move forward.

And as expected, it’s not long before the team is put to the test, as they are soon alerted to an attack on Brooklyn, Maine involving spacecrafts belonging to the Reach. While the town’s mayor is skeptical of the bunch, they are rooted on by the sheriff and three teenage girls. Ultimately, the team brings down the all of the crafts, which are revealed to actually be piloted by members of Intergang.

Following the battle, Beast Boy dubs the team the “Outsiders,” and they appear to be on their way to becoming a TV and social media sensation.

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The addition of this new team is a major development for the series as a whole. One of the elements that has defined the team from the very first season is the fact that they have operated behind the scenes. With a portion of them now openly fighting crime, the door is now open to a number of new possibilities, and dangers. Gar also makes an interesting point during his appeal when he mentions that he and his teammates have had to grow up in a world where metahumans are the the norm. This differs greatly from the original team, who were essentially still a part of the first major wave of metahuman superheroes and villains. And while Gar’s use of Superboy’s classic “get on board or get out of the way” quote is meant to be cheesy, it shows just how much the original six heroes have inspired a generation.

The episode is also filled with Scooby-Doo Easter eggs. The three teen girls are visually similar to Daphne, Velma and Fred. The sheriff and mayor are also similar to Mayor Jones and Sheriff Stone from Mystery Incorporated. There’s also the unmasking of the Intergang members. But aside from being shtick, it’s a nice parallel, as Mystery Inc. was also a young team hoping to be taken seriously by the public.

The Comforts of Home

While the new team is in full force, not everyone is joining up. Halo, Terra, Thirteen, and Forager have all opted decided not to join, yet. They are, however, still planning to live in the new base, which means Violet and Tara are leaving Will and Artemis’. Feeling some slight empty nest syndrome, Artemis suggests she, Violet and Tara have one final slumber party.

During the night, a storm hits, frightning both Violet and Artemis’ niece Lian. While Artemis sees to Violet, Tara comforts Lian, much to the delight of both Lian and Tara. Young Justice has a way of creating subtle yet effective character moments, and this was definitely one of them. And based on Tara’s reaction to cuddling Lian and her discomfort at a text from Slade, could be reconsidering her allegiances?

All Part of the Plan

Of course, what would Young Justice be without a twist that changes the context of the story? During a meeting of the various team leaders, it’s revealed that Aqualad and Lagoon Boy discovered the sunken Reach warship being salvaged by Intergang. And while they couldn’t stop the three escaped ships from using the attack on the town as a black market demo, they knew it would allow them to test the Outsiders.

And when asked if Gar should join their group (now that he’s a team leader), M’gann shoots down the idea, citing that Gar’s not yet ready and has a mission of his own. This is also likely due to Beast Boy’s idealistic nature, which clashes with the more jaded demeanor of the group. This alliance has been an enigma, and seeing how, and if, their goals are achieved will be interesting.

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“First Impression” sets the stage for an intriguing, and uncertain, era for the team, and it’s sure to have major ramifications on Young Justice: Outsiders moving forward.

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