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* Scott's line, "A curse on both their houses", is a slight modification of a famous line from [[Wikipedia:William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s "[[Wikipedia:Romeo and Juliet|Romeo and Juliet]]". |
* Scott's line, "A curse on both their houses", is a slight modification of a famous line from [[Wikipedia:William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s "[[Wikipedia:Romeo and Juliet|Romeo and Juliet]]". |
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* [[Elongated Man]]'s first name is given as Ralph, confirming that he is based on the comics version, Randolph "Ralph" Dibny. |
* [[Elongated Man]]'s first name is given as Ralph, confirming that he is based on the comics version, Randolph "Ralph" Dibny. |
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| + | * Though they've always been in the business of saving people, this episode does well to show that the League is beginning to treat saving people like a business. J'onn's cold, calculated refusal to save Oberon is at complete odds with what the League stands for. In fact, in "[[Maid of Honor]]", both he and Flash refused to destroy Vandal Savage's rail-gun without first rescuing the astronauts aboard it, even if the delay would allow for another shot to be fired in the meantime. |
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| + | * This episode is an example of how Flash really ''is'' the heart and conscience of the Justice League; and how, despite his somewhat flaky attitude, he doesn't lose sight of the mission. |
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== Cast == |
== Cast == |
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Revision as of 02:29, 22 July 2013
"The Ties That Bind" (a.k.a. "Miracles Happen") is the second episode of the second season of Justice League Unlimited. It originally aired on February 12, 2005. Granny Goodness blackmails legendary escape artist Mr. Miracle into rescuing Kalibak from Apokolips's most notorious prison.
Plot
Scott Free, a.k.a. "Mr. Miracle", is rehearsing his latest escape act with the aid of his wife, Big Barda, and their assistant, Oberon: it involves shackling his hands and feet, encasing himself in a full-body sarcophagus, encasing the sarcophagus in a block of ice, and then dropping a train car on himself. Scott escapes (with ease), but as soon as the dust settles, Oberon is nowhere to be found. Granny Goodness appears and says she is holding Oberon hostage.
She explains that since Darkseid's disappearance, Apokolips has descended into a power struggle between herself and Virman Vundabar. Vundabar has gained an advantage by capturing Kalibak, Darkseid's son, whom Vundabar plans to brainwash and use to legitimize his claim to the throne. Now Granny wants Kalibak for the same end. She needs Scott to rescue Kalibak from the X-Pit, Apokolips's impregnable prison: Scott escaped from the Pit as a boy, and remains the only person ever to do so.
Scott and Barda approach the Justice League for help – specifically, Superman's help. But Superman is absent, and J'onn refuses to aid them – the League cannot assist Granny in gaining control of Apokolips, as she would eventually threaten Earth; it is to their advantage to keep her and Vundabar fighting. Barda storms out, followed by Scott. Flash protests, but J'onn waves him down, saying Flash needs to look at the big picture. Despite this, Flash sneaks away and catches up with Scott and Barda and offers to aid them. Barda is skeptical, saying that he's useless without Superman's strength and speed, but when Flash shows them how fast he is, Scott realizes that he would be an asset.
The trio boom tubes to Apokolips and, with relative ease, enter the Pit. Scott halts, seeing that the layout of the place has been completely changed since he escaped, meaning his plans are now useless. Despite this, Barda and Flash insist on accompanying him.
As they make their way through, Scott remembers his many escape attempts as a child – and the subsequent tortures by Granny in punishment – before he finally made it out. Granny tried time and again to break his spirit, but failed.
While Scott and Barda engage the Pit's guards, Flash hurriedly searches the prison and finds and releases Kalibak – but that's the easy part.
They make their way out, evading the Pit's many deathtraps with their combined talents. When they are within striking distance of the exit, Vundabar starts a self-destruct countdown, then flees. The prison goes up in an explosion, apparently taking all inside with it.
However, as Granny prowls the ruins of the Pit, a boom tube opens and Scott, Barda, Flash, and Kalibak emerge. Granny congratulates Scott on his success, then sweetly informs him that Oberon is going to be "taught a lesson" anyway, since he looked her in the eye and insulted her. Then "Kalibak" morphs into J'onn, who swiftly reads Granny's mind and uses his telepathy to guide Flash to Oberon's cell in Darkseid's old palace, allowing Flash to save him just before Granny's deathtrap kills him.
Barda is all for killing Granny, but J'onn reminds her that it is to their advantage to keep her and Vundabar fighting. Barda contents herself with a good right cross to Granny's jaw, and the party leaves Apokolips.
Back at the Watchtower, Flash confronts J'onn, and before the latter can speak, defends his actions. He may have disobeyed J'onn's orders, but everything has worked out: they boomed out of the X-Pit to Earth, imprisoned Kalibak, then boomed back with a disguised J'onn in tow-saving Oberon and ensuring that neither Granny nor Vundabar can make a claim to the throne. J'onn, smiling, says he wasn't about to scold Flash, only to challenge him to a friendly game of "Brawlin' Bots".
Continuity
- This episode picks up the events occurring on Apokolips after the events of Justice League, "Twilight".
- This is Big Barda's first chronological appearance in the DCAU; her first appearance was in Batman Beyond, "The Call", which takes place in the future and shows her to have eventually joined the Justice League Unlimited.
Background information
Home video releases
Trivia
- This episode marks the first speaking role of Flash in Justice League Unlimited.
- This is the first time J'onn is seen outside of the Watch Tower since Unlimited began. His increasingly hermit-like behavior becomes a serious issue by the episode "To Another Shore".
- The story is based on an idea created by Jim Steranko, the inspiration for Mr. Miracle.
- Actor Arte Johnson had a recurring role as a German soldier in the comedy program Laugh-In, in which he would use the catchphrase "Verrry IN-teresting!" and often add a modifier, like "... but STUPID!" all in an exaggerated German dialect. As Vunderbarr, Johnson mutters "Very interesting, but futile!", after Barba has destroyed a computer screen. This was one of many Laugh-in catchphrases to enter American idiom including the still occasionally used "Sock it to [me/him/her etc.]".
- Scott's line, "A curse on both their houses", is a slight modification of a famous line from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet".
- Elongated Man's first name is given as Ralph, confirming that he is based on the comics version, Randolph "Ralph" Dibny.
- Though they've always been in the business of saving people, this episode does well to show that the League is beginning to treat saving people like a business. J'onn's cold, calculated refusal to save Oberon is at complete odds with what the League stands for. In fact, in "Maid of Honor", both he and Flash refused to destroy Vandal Savage's rail-gun without first rescuing the astronauts aboard it, even if the delay would allow for another shot to be fired in the meantime.
- This episode is an example of how Flash really is the heart and conscience of the Justice League; and how, despite his somewhat flaky attitude, he doesn't lose sight of the mission.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Carl Lumbly | J'onn J'onzz |
| Michael Rosenbaum | Flash |
| Ioan Gruffudd | Mr. Miracle X-Pit Computer (uncredited) |
| Farrah Forke | Big Barda |
| Dick Miller | Oberon |
| Ed Asner | Granny Goodness |
| Michael Dorn | Kalibak |
| Arte Johnson | Virman Vundabar |
| Jeremy Piven | Elongated Man |
| Zack Shada | Young Scott |
Uncredited appearances
Quotes
Oberon: Craziest stunt you ever pulled... |
Flash: Tell me the truth, Ralph. Do I seem immature to you? |
Barda: We don't need these cowards! We can do it on our own! |
Virman Vundabar: Kalibak, Kalibak, Kalibak... I have used every vile punishment, every known torture, yet still you refuse to join Virman Vundabar's noble cause. |
Granny Goodness: Are you enjoying Granny's hospitality? |
Flash: Not that I mind the exercise, but couldn't your boob tube have transported us any closer? |
Vundabar: Ah, this should be a magnificent show, even if I already know the ending. |
Flash: Robots? I love smashing robots! |
Kalibak: Well, if it isn't my treacherous stepbrother. And his cow. |
(Scott Free is trapped in a room rapidly filling with water) |
Kalibak: Vundabar's not done with us yet! |
J'onn: (to Granny Goodness) Try not to think about where you've got Oberon hidden. - (to Flash) Darkseid's old palace. I'll guide you. |
Oberon: All legs, and no heart. |
J'onn: I was only going to ask if you wanted to play "Brawlin' Bots." |
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