Justice League (TV Series) Secret Society (2003) User Reviews

Is this the end of The Justice League?

[garrard · 9/10 · 2 March 2010]

The first installment of a the two-parter "Secret Society" sports some nifty dialog exchanges between the Gorilla Grodd's assemblage of bad guys as well as sharp barbs traded between the heroes of The Justice League.

Unknown to the latter, Grodd (Powers Boothe) is using his telepathic abilities to drive a wedge between the League members, resulting in the characters verbally assualting each other.

A well-written and wonderfully acted by the regular actors and the recurring ones, the story demonstrates how easy it is for even the most noble of heroes can be influenced by outside sources. It also shows "flaws" in the heroes' respective personalities: for example, Superman (George Newbern) comes across as slightly arrogant in regards to his "invulnerability" and Batman's (Kevin Conroy) tendency to be a loner questions his ability as a team player.

Because of this, the episode could possibly have been subtitled "Cracks in the armor".

Great voice-over work from Boothe, Ron Perlman ("Clayface"), Ted Levine ("Sinestro") and the regular cast.

Nice Concept, Stumbles a bit at the End

[zachaquack1987 · 7/10 · 15 March 2015]

To start with let me say I think this idea is great at it's core. Any series that focuses on a group of any sort should certainly delve into what connects them, makes them an effective team, and any obstacles; personal or otherwise that exist.

That being said, Part I does a great job of setting up the problem. Gorilla Grodd uses his mental influence to bring out the less then charitable feelings the members of the Justice League have toward one another, driving them apart. He and his super villain Secret Society track them down and capture them one by one, planning to execute them publicly.

Then comes Part II, and the good guys win.....why?

The Climax Setup: J'onn impersonates Clayface and frees the rest of the league and the two teams square off. Green Lantern warns them that Grodd has been manipulating them against one another. Flash asks what they can do against his influence. Lantern's response: "We get over it, that's how!" Big Fight, Good Guys Win. .....WHAT?!

That has to be some of the laziest writing I have seen in this show's run so far! 'Get over it?!' Ridiculous!

Revised speech off the top of my head 10 min after seeing this episode: Green Lantern: "We remember why we trust one another, we remember what drives us. We are the ones who help people and we do it together!"

Maybe a little cheesy, but so much better than "we get over it!"

This episode started out so well and it doesn't completely flop, but I think it could have been so much better.

Very contrived

[soughtforscores · 5/10 · 6 March 2024]

It feels like the conflict in this episode was shoehorned in for the sake of the plot, rather than being a natural consequence of the characters and growth we have seen so far. The Justice League has been operating fine as a team. They also had plenty of successes against super villain teams. And all of a sudden they are mad at each other and not getting along with no lead in? And Green Lantern is making them train to work together, because apparently they've never bothered to train before? And Superman, who formed the league, is upset because he's tired of having to look after other people? The whole thing doesn't make sense and feels very formulaic and contrived.