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Hearts and MindsOriginal Airdate: October 26, 2003
Review:
Every week since season 2 started I?ve basically stated how awesome the episode was, and how much season 2 rocks compared to season 1. I thought I?d shake things up a bit and start off with the things that sucked about Hearts and Minds
First of all, this is the second time we?ve had a Green Lantern episode, and the second time I haven?t seen a huge dinosaur, crazy cool robots, or even just a huge punching glove. They even teased us during John?s training session and explained that all Lanterns start using their rings creatively, but ultimately end up using them as ?jackhammers.? Sounds like a big cop out to me. I can buy the way John uses his ring, but I don?t believe that all the Green Lanterns are as boring as him. Green Lantern episodes should be a chance for the animators to go crazy, not resort to big laser beams.
If you?re going to talk about Kyle Rayner, do so once to establish continuity. Don?t rub it in our faces that Kyle?s not around. Mention him once, not twice. It is nice to hear that Kyle hasn?t been forgotten and is actually still around, but for him not to make a cameo was criminal. This can easily be remedied with an Emerald Knights episode that explains what went on between Kyle and John, but until then, it?s going to be one of the big downsides of this episode.
The whole ?tree? ending was neat. But it was more like something out of Fantasia. It was pretty spectacular, but seemed a bit weird. Not something that ruined the episode, but it had me scratching my head.
I?m a sucker for the Green Lantern Oath. Even Duck Dodgers had it! It would have been great to see Killowog recite those lines! Alright, I?m just being whiny now.
Now that all the negatives are out of the way, I?d still have to say that this was a great episode. It beats the pants off In Blackest Night and established from the get go that this episode wasn?t going to hold back. Did anybody see two Green Lanterns dying coming? That took me completely by surprise. A great way to establish the villain as a legitimate threat.
The whole Hawkgirl/Green Lantern/Katma Tui triangle was dripping with sexual tension. First Batman/Wonder Woman, now this! I thought this was supposed to be a kids show! Naturally the episode was a big tease as there might as well been a wall of concrete between GL and Hawkgirl?s lips. Still it was a touching moment when John let Despero harm Katma, but freaked out when he laid a finger on Hawkgirl. It must have been a hard choice because Katma?s metal bikini gave Princess Leia?s a run for her money.
The overall plot was filled with twists and turns, that kept me guessing the whole time. Just when you think there?s a simple answer (the Carbon Bomb), it turns out the fire thing is alive? Katma?s turned evil?or not? Is Despero a hero to the planet, or it?s dictator? It?s that kind of unpredictability that keeps us on the edge of our seats.
Even though I complained about the lack of interesting Power Ring usage, the action was still top notch. John?s fight was Depsero was one of the best of the season. Sure the green lasers may be boring, but when there?s a lot of them?it?s actually a bit exciting. Once again it?s also nice to see Flash running faster than he did first Season.
Anybody else notice this JL lineup didn?t include the big three? The last time J?onn, John, Hawkgirl and Flash got together, we got the excellent Legends episode. It seems like the Justice League is just fine without it?s heavy hitters.
Overall the episode was great, and I?d go through all the mumbo jumbo about Season 1 vs Season 2, but you?ve heard it all already. My complaints are minor, but I would like to see them addressed. (note to the writers: All it takes is a Kyle/John team-up to fix everything!) The Green Lanterns seem to be in everything these days. First Duck Dodgers now a full episode devoted to them. Maybe it?s time for a GL animated series? (maybe not)
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