Sometimes it feels good to be absolutely right. Other times? Nooooot so much. This episode, for one, was dang good at making me wish I was dead on about my predictions concerning the direction of the plot. Structurally, the episode begins on a moment of high intensity, as we see both the beginning as the end of the episode.
First up we see Artemis picking up her bow again, as she heads out to Mount Justice to rejoin the team for a single mission. Of course, this paired with a warm scene involving Wally West. Then, however, the shit really hits the fan. Going in to the future, we see Nightwing giving CPR to someone, who turns out to be Artemis. Mere moments later, he says that she is dead.
Spoilers ahead.
The overall plot of the story is once again centered around aliens. This time, an Earth organization is sending out a satellite towards Mars in order to communicate with the Martians. Problem being that this one jackass of a reporter, who we've seen several times now, stirred up quite a fuss with his Anti-Alien propaganda.
With this and the already stirred up emotions around town, The Team finds itself needed. After Megan gives a press conference disguised as the Martian Manhunter, whilst levitating Connor in the air dressed as Superman, shit gets real.
Gamma Squad was sent out on this mission, which include Nightwing as the squad leader, Miss Martian, Superboy, Lagoon Boy and of course: Artemis. Quickly finding themselves up against the forces of the Black Manta, it's up to the Squad to prevent them from taking out the rocket holding the satelite.
Everything here is just covered in pure tension, as you know that Artemis can't possibly meet her end with just a few morons protesting alongside some jackass of a reporter. Some fake-outs aside, you continue to sit at the edge of your seat and follow every piece of information given to you, in the hopes of seeing an answer that would mean she didn't die.
Meanwhile, we find out more about the relationship between Megan and Connor. Their conversation really shows that Megan has gone off the deep end, abusing her powers much like Professor X tends to do. Not only does she leave her victims catatonic, but she also tried to get in to Connor's head and make him forget that he felt worried about her behavior. And it all ends remarkably beautiful (on a story level) with Connor telling her she is acting no better than her nemesis, Simon.
Enter Aqualad. After Aqualad enters the scene, things go downhill swiftly. He really comes after the Squad hard. You can really see that he is perhaps the most successful and the most threatening ever, as he manages to kidnap one of the team, kill a member of the squad personally and even completes his mission. Which gets him higher up on the food chain of his father's organization.
That entire section was pretty damn intense, as it's by this time that you start to feel that sinking sensation in the pit of your stomach. The moment is drawing closer, and there really is no way to escape it. He stabs Artemis in the gut, and she dies.
OR DID SHE? Actually, no. No, she didn't. Because, I was right. I was so absolutely gloriously right that I'm still smiling. Aqualad has infiltrated Black Mantis's organization for the Team and I couldn't be happier. Seeing as the entire death was staged.
SPOILERS END HERE.
Once again, the plot of this week's episode stands remarkby well on its own. It integrates overall story elements quite nicely and gives them just the right amount of attention without them obviously plot dumping it on us. It's all very smooth and you feel like everything is moving forward.
As for the story itself, it really manages to trump even the best episodes this series has to offer. Because of a return of an old favorite character, a tense situation, a gripping ending and a smashing revelation.
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