(filed under Scorch’s Review of Young Justice:Welcome to Happy Harbor)
Just a brief commentary on the episode tonight…more so focused on the characters than the situations.
Speedy: Can’t for the life of me understand his extreme dickishness. Also, his disdain for what’s going is being played out more like someone that has a bougie attitude…that all of this is beneath him, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, given that he’s been Green Arrow’s Jr. partner all this time.
Red Tornado: My initial reaction was that I was underwhelmed…there is so much potential with having Red Tornado being the trainer. His voice & presence doesn’t feel balanced right yet…if he’s supposed to be cold, or if he’s supposed to be calculating…or empathetic…right now he’s coming off more as really bland. But the good news is, seeing that the episode reveals that they’re actually after him, perhaps more will be revealed about this air elemental.
Robin: I hated that laugh when I first heard it…but now it’s becoming his trademark, and it’s much more in line with the original concept behind Dick Grayson. The laughing daredevil…so it’s working for me now. Surprisingly. 
I love how, just like Batman, he’s got a friggin’ endless supply of gadgets in his utility belt.
Kid Flash: He’s fast, he’s funny, he’s constantly horny, he’s the perfect teenage boy with super powers. I think that his characterization is the best after Robin’s.
BlaquaLad: And yes I will call him that; he’s there for the same reason that the original Justice League cartoon configuration was conceived. If they hadn’t had John Stewart and Shayera in the League, it would’ve been “Six Super White Guys and one Woman Save the World.” So it’s clear that an attempt at ethnic diversity is being made here with Mr. Electro Boogie. I think that he’s been compromised already, because he was clearly defiant to Aquaman last week, and that seems to be the last thing that someone that has reverence for their King would be doing. So it’s hard to buy him as loyal. Whatever, he’s the character that I’m most ‘meh’ about, although his powers are definitely cool.
Miss Martian: I get what they’re trying to do with her; again, female & an alien, bringing diversity. What’s funny is that she alREADY sounds like an assimilated American Teen Girl, L.A. version. She refers to herself by her Earth name; it’s just all too easy. I’d like to see her struggling with her alien nature & loneliness, much more like J’onn does. She’s also the Starfire/Mary Sue character, which means that when Artemis shows up, she’s gonna be that Bitchin’ Bad Ass one. She’s also *sigh* already the most powerful one, especially with her telepathy. Even Superboy is vulnerable to it.
Superboy: Too one dimensional. I’m already tired of his angry confused angsty pouting. Whatever dude. I like that they’re giving him his due power wise though; at least it feels like he’s a Superman clone with room for improvement. 
The suh-MARTEST things they did tonight was establish that:
- The characters really are junior grade versions of their older mentors. They’re powers are not nearly as developed, & they don’t yet have mastery of the abilities that they do have. There is a clear distinction between the adult & teen sidekick versions; excellent.
-They all have room to grow; they’re not already so locked into their particular molds until there’s no flexibility.
-The team is anything but a well oiled machine. Yeah The Cape needs to pay attention right along through here.
-Making a difference between the more experienced members of the group and the newbie, Miss M.
The action quotient is really good too; they’re squeezing in the exposition and the character development really well.
So, so far, like their older counterparts…I’ll be watching. 
