Well, I suppose the first thing I should do is acknowledge how long it's been since I last put anything here. Yeah, it's been two months since the last time I actually wrote anything for this. And, in coming back, I'm changing a bit about how I'm doing things. This is not going to be any sort of regularly-scheduled video game reviews or anything like that. It's just going to be a matter of whenever I have something I feel like talking about, I'll put it up here. Might be about video games, might be about anything. For example, today's topic is Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and, in particular, its finale.
For anyone who isn't aware, GLTAS has been running on Cartoon Network sporadically for a little over a year now, with the series finale having just aired yesterday. Let me just get this out of the way: This is a good show. The CG can be a little jarring, and, to be honest, kept me from watching for the longest time. But once I actually started watching, I found it had a good story, likable characters, and I overall enjoyed it. Hell, it's got me wanting to look into the comic series, but that is neither here nor there. So, if you're looking for something good to watch (and can deal with the CG, because I know that's a deal-breaker for some, and I completely get that), I would definitely recommend this show.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to talk about the series finale, 'Dark Matter,' and what I thought about it. Now, since I am talking about the finale, there are going to be some MAJOR spoilers, so if you haven't watched it yet, and you plan on watching it, don't read anymore.
So, over the course of this arc, Aya, Green Lantern Hal Jordon's ship's navigation AI, has turned evil, and plans on going back in time to stop all biological life from ever having been created. She had taken control of the Anti-Monitor's body, granting her great power and the ability to control the Manhunters that the Guardians had once created. Now, let's forget for a minute that Dr. Ian Malcom told us that life will always find a way, and just assume that this plan could work. The Green Lantern Corps is planning one last final battle against Aya and the Manhunters she controls, which is about where our episode begins.
Hal's looking at a map of all the star systems that Aya has destroyed to gain power, because he's angsty like that, when he's approached by fellow Green Lantern Tomar-Re. In talking with Tomar, Hal learns that Aya destroyed an entire system in Tomar's sector, but it just happened to be devoid of all life. Realizing that he's on to something, Hal cross-references a map of the systems Aya has destroyed with a map of lifeless systems, and learns that Aya has actually only destroyed systems devoid of life.
And here's my first problem with this episode. This whole story arc, they had been setting it up that Aya had undergone a Face Heel Turn, but with this revelation, you find out that Aya hasn't really done anything. Sure, she's destroyed some lifeless rocks, and yes, she killed Gi'ata, but, compared to some of the other villains this series has had, that's not much. This might just be my opinion, but I feel like the type of story that most resonates with people is one of redemption. And with this plot twist, the writers have pretty much killed all chance of telling such a story with Aya, which I feel would've been a really good plot in a hypothetical season 2.
Anyway, the battle starts, and I don't really have any complaints here. Some fun action scenes, everyone kicking ass and taking names, moving on. Hal tries to stop the battle, but, as per usual, nobody listens to him, so, as per usual, Hal does something reckless and stupid and rushes to confront Aya with his new-found knowledge. And in thanks for his aiding her in the past, Aya decides to take Hal with her to the moment of creation, so he can watch her unmake all biological life, and then die as reality's last living creature.
Hal calls for Razer to be sent in after him, as his Red Lantern ring is the only nearby that can harm Aya. More action ensues, and Kilowog and the other Green Lanterns construct a giant... cannon-thing to launch Razer at the Anti-Monitor's body. Razer is obviously a little distraught at this plan, as he's kinda-sorta in love with Aya, but he agrees to it anyway.
Hal, meanwhile, is trying to convince Aya not to undo all life, but she's not having any of it. Hal tries one last attempt to convince her, showing her a recording revealing that she was actually made from a biological being. She chooses not to believe, Hal reminds her that he's not smart enough to fake that. This convinces Aya of the truth, resulting in her... attacking Hal and proceeding with her plan anyway. I've got to admit, her dedication to her plan is admirable.
As Aya begins to unmake all life, Razer forms a dagger construct, sneaks up behind Aya, and... gives a battle cry, alerting Aya to him and causing her to reflexively attack Razer. Gotta say, not the smartest plan there, Razer.
I will admit, I kinda love this scene. As he's about to attack, you can see tears falling from Razer's eyes, and once Aya turns to face him, the dagger formed from his hate fades. And then the look on Aya's face when she realizes what she's done... you feel for her. I'm a huge fan of the love redeeming, and if they had been able to work in a redemption plot in the next season, this would've been a great starting point. However, as I mentioned earlier, Aya really has nothing really to be redeemed for.
Hal finally snaps Aya out of her near-story-arc-long crazy, and she rushes to Razer. She and Razer have a very brief, albeit touching, moment, Aya un-undoes all life as we know it, and she, Hal, and Razer return to the present. Aya then uses the last of her Anti-Monitor power to heal Razer, returning to her green and white coloration to show that she's a good guy again.
Also, I'm going to lie, Aya and Razer have a really cheesy moment after Razer wakes up, but I'm more-or-less okay with it. I do wonder how Aya managed to cry, though. That just makes little-to-no sense.
Anyway, back outside in space, the Manhunters are still fighting. Aya reveals that she replaced their programming with copies of her own, meaning that she can no longer control them. But, she has something that can stop them: a virus, designed to shut down her programming. She releases it, shutting down all of the Manhunters, and saving the day. Sadly, the virus also attacks her, killing her as well.
And therein lies my biggest problem with this episode: Aya's death. First off, why did she replace the Manhunter's programming with her own? I can't see any advantage to be gained from doing this. Secondly, why did she just happen to have a virus that would kill herself? Even if you claim that maybe she made it before turning evil, just as a fail-safe in case she ever did, then why didn't she destroy it upon become the Aya-Monitor? Neither of these make any sense to me at all.
Thirdly, and most importantly, I go back, once again, to the idea of redemption. I get the feeling that the writers were going for a Death Equals Redemption thing here, and I get that, villains redeeming themselves through sacrifice is always something I enjoy, but I don't feel that it was appropriate here. Like I said earlier, Aya didn't have much to be redeemed for. She killed one person, and destroyed some lifeless rocks. Compare that to Atrocitus, an unrepentant whose actions lead to the deaths of countless Green Lanterns. Atrocitus's punishment? Imprisonment. And what punishment did Aya, a repentant villain who killed, to the best of our knowledge, one living being, get? Death. I don't know, that just seems a little unfair to me.
Anyway, the day is saved, and everyone is celebrating. Hal and Kilowog go to comfort Razer, who tells them that he's going to search the galaxy for Aya, confident that she'll be out there somewhere. And, as he flies off into the distance, we see a Blue Lantern Ring, the symbol of Hope, float into view, flying off after Razer. And there ends the series.
So, my thoughts on all this. The series overall? As I said earlier, I really enjoyed this show. If you want a good DC animated series, I would definitely recommend this. This episode in particular? Probably one of the weaker points of the series. Plot holes and, in my opinion, bad themes make this a fairly unsatisfying conclusion to the show. Do I think that this show should be renewed? Yes and no. While I would like to watch more of this, and I would be curious to see where they went from here, I'd rather it end while it's good, rather than have to watch the series slowly decay as I have with other shows in the past.
So, I think that wraps up my... review?... of this. I dunno what I'll do next, maybe some more DC stuff, maybe a video game, maybe a DC video game (probably not a DC video game), who knows? I can't say when it'll be, but... yeah, I'll post some more sometime. Until then, see you later.
