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Justice League Unlimited Season 5 Episode 6

Dead Reckoning

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8.8

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EPISODE REVIEWS
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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 2/18/06

The League comes to the aid of Boston Brand, the ghost of a deceased circus acrobat, who needs their help in recovering the souls of members of a monastic order.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (18)

Grodd wanted to turn the world into gorillas?! Supes, Bats, and Wondy were turned into gorillas. Hehe. :)

9.7

By AlwayzBored, Apr 27, 2006

Grodd's big plan was to turn everyone into a primate. That's a strange plan for a giant monkey with higher intellect.

I loved the part when Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman were turned into gorillas. They were all... Well... They looked like the type of guy who lazily sits in front of the T.V. all day if you just look at their bodies. I can't get the horror out of my head! I'm kind of sad that they only stayed as gorillas for a few minutes. How sad.

I'm already a monkey, but I do not want to be a gorilla.

Bruce and Diana FOREVER! :)moreless
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Bizarro comes closer to his comic form.

9.5

By Mightgrin, Mar 15, 2006

As any comic geek knows, Bizarro speaks in a backward fashion. He says hello when he leaves and goodbye when he arrives. Here, we finally see use of that in Lex Luthor and Bizarro speaking the opposite of their intentions to communicate. Something I always missed in Superman TAS continuity.
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Luthor might have been scornful of Grodd's ultimate plan. But, then, Grodd didn't fill him in on all aspects of the plan. Did he?

10

By Carycomic, Mar 05, 2006

For example; in the comic book story, "JLApe" (which is what partly inspired this episode), it was revealed that Grodd can absorb the bio-energies of his fellow simians. So, if Grodd's masterplan--in the episode--had continued uninterrupted, the devolved Legion of Doom might have suddenly found themselves dying off. And, a result, Grodd might have also wound absorbing the collective powers and abilities of his "team-mates!"

As for Tala's reference to Grodd letting her out of that "magic mirror?" Considering the episode that preceded this one, I can only assume that he recruited Mirror Master's help. Perhaps, as the price for helping the Rogues' Gallery escape from prison, so they could spoil the Flash Museum's opening ceremonies.

I also liked Mark Hamill being cast as the voice of the Trickster. He originally portrayed the character on the 1990 live-action CBS series about the Flash. And, the laugh he used there is what led to him being used for the Joker's voice on the animated Bat-series starring Kevin Conroy!

Guess it's just a classic case of things coming full circle.moreless
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A wonderful JLU episode. I Don't quite understand Grodd's big plan, or the Deadman character, but I like this episode anyway:o)

9.3

By ThurmanatorX, Feb 27, 2006

This episode was really wonderful! I'm glad that this season of JLU has stayed on par with the Cadmus arc in terms of animation and writing. I'm also glad that new episodes are premiering on Cartoon Network now! But anyway, about this episode.

"Dead Reckoning" is an all-around exciting episode. Things were kind of over my head concerning Deadman, The Master, and some weird energy thing named Rama Kushna or something. However, it didn't take away from the episode for me, though it might require suspension of disbelief from others like me who are unfamiliar with these characters.

Kudos to Dwayne McDuffie, who kept the writing in this episode nice and sharp. One amusing part in this episode concerns Superman, who becomes possessed by Deadman in the beginning of the episode. However, I didn't really like the big reveal of Grodd's plan at the end to turn the human race into gorillas.

The animation is very nice in this episode. It's great that the people behind this show have held up the standard of the Cadmus arc last season. A few parts could use tweaking, but they were barely noticeable.

All in all, this is another wonderful installment of Season 5. The characterizations of the heroes and villains are all wonderful (except for Grodd and his plans of an earth full of gorilla-people). The ending was especially wonderful. (Without spoiling too much, one part involves Batman and a gun, and the other part involves a change of power in the Legion of Doom.) Keep up the good work, JLU!!!

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Plot twists, surprises, lots of action, top shelf villians and a unique guest hero - all the ingredients that have made this series so enjoyable were present and accounted for in this episode. Sit back, relax and just enjoy it.moreless

9.5

By mlauria, Feb 20, 2006

There were only two minor flaws with this episode:

1) There was plenty of room in this one to have more than just the big three involved in all the action (we did get a brief glimpse of Mr. Terrific in his new role).

2) It was hard to believe that Grod's big score was to turn everyone into Apes. If this was the real purpose in forming the Legion of Doom, then Luthor should have shot the writers involved with making this sequence of episodes. However, I don't think this is the case and I do believe this is all going someplace else.

Seeing both Devil Ray and Grod get blown away definitely gave this episode a deeper sense of gravity and finality than other mid-sequence episodes. Deadman's central role in this episode made the plot more unpredictable. The strong cast of supervillians made for lively action sequences that fit perfectly with the story line. It was fun to watch. I just hope that episodes like this just keep coming.

There is no doubt that this episode marks a turning point in this ongoing Legion of Doom sequence. With Luthor in charge, we know new direction is in store for both the Legion and the League. Once again the writers of this series have piqued my interest as I look forward to the next new episode.

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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Kevin Conroy	Batman/Bruce Wayne
Susan Eisenberg	Wonder Woman/Diana
George Newbern	Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Raphael Sbarge	Deadman	Guest Star
Michael Beach	Devil Ray (uncredited as Mr. Terrific)	Guest Star
David Ogden Stiers	Solovar	Guest Star
Clancy Brown	Lex Luthor	Recurring Role
Powers Boothe	Grodd	Recurring Role
Juliet Landau	Tala	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- Trivia: Bizarro now has a scar across his forehead--probably a result of whatever Luthor did to make him obey.
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- When Superman and Batman mutate, why do their capes acquire rips?
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- Grodd specifically says his ray will mutate human DNA...but Superman is affected and he doesn't have human DNA.
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QUOTES (15)
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- The Master: And yet, here you are.
  Deadman: "Here you are"? What kind of lousy wisdom is "Here you are?"
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- Monk: This humble one begs your forgiveness, but no outsider is permitted in the temple of Nanda Parbat.
  Atomic Skull: That's cute, kid-–get out of the way or I'll spank you.
  Monk: (easily catches his punch) This would also not be permitted.
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- Devil Ray: Stand aside or you're dead.
  The Master: In the fullness of time we are all dead.
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- Devil Ray: When Giganta gets out of prison, she ain't going to appreciate you holding on to her boyfriend like that.
  Tala: That's her problem. Giganta's not nearly enough woman for Grodd.
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- Deadman: Rama Kushna. Just like you to show up too late to help.
  Rama Kushna: Your impertinence is as refreshing as always. But have a care – the gods are capricious.
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- Superman: Come on, Bruce. I know a burger place in Metropolis that has the best fries on the East Coast. And the milkshakes are so thick… (Deadman takes him over) …I need your help.
  Wonder Woman: That's pretty thick.
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- Wonder Woman: Grodd? Think he's put together a new Secret Society?
  Batman: Except this time he's doing a better job of keeping the secret.
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- Batman: Solovar, this is Batman
  Solovar: What a coincidence – I was about to call you.
  Batman: Wanted to give you a head's up. We have reason to believe Grodd is heading your way.
  Solovar: You don't say? That might explain the armies of super villains attacking the city.
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- Deadman/Superman: Gorilla City?
  Wonder Woman: A hidden city of super-intelligent talking gorillas with technology far beyond anything humans have created.
  Deadman/Superman: No, really?
  Wonder Woman: You're the ghost from the Himalayas having trouble believing this.
  Deadman/Superman: Point.
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- Deadman/Wonder Woman: You killed my teacher, my friend!
  Devil Ray: You'll have to be more specific, lady, I've killed a lot of people.
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- Superman: Is everything okay?
  Wonder Woman: Well, I'm sort of missing Flash's obligatory joke about how Grodd made a monkey out of us.
  Superman: Just couldn't let it go unsaid.
  Wonder Woman: Obligatory.
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- Lex Luthor; Since there's only one monkey left around here, I'm assuming that the Justice League found a way to stop the carrier wave.
  Gorilla Grodd: There's more then one way to peel a banana.
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- Luthor: I wasn't going to do this for another few weeks, but seriously! Turning all of humanity into apes? That was your master plan?!?! (shoots Grodd) Listen up, from now on I'm in charge of this operation - anybody got a problem with that?
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- Luthor: Bizzaro, Superman is your best friend, understand?
  Bizzaro: Bizarro understand. Superman am friend. Bizarro must kill him!
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- Luthor: Bizzaro, you despise me, right?
  Bizzaro: Uh-huh. Bizzaro hate Luthor. He do anything for him.
  Luthor: Good! I mean, bad! Anyway, take care of those monks.
  Bizarro: Okay...
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NOTES (6)
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- This episode first aired on YTV in Canada on March 15, 2006.
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- Scenes at the end are from "Patriot Act" and "The Great Brain Robbery." The commercial breaks featured scenes from "Far From Home."
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- Michael Beach, Clancy Brown, Juliet Landau, David Ogden Stiers and Powers Boothe reprise their roles as Devil Ray, Lex Luthor, Tala, Solovar, and Gorilla Grodd. The actors voicing Rampage, Bizarro, Rama Kushna, and Atomic Skull are uncredited.
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- Character bios: Deadman, Rampage, Devil Ray, Gorilla Grodd, Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Tala, The Atomic Skull
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- Villains that appear without dialogue: Circe (on computer screen), Star Sapphire (flying over Gorilla City), Major Disaster (bursting out of the ground), Goldface (turning apes to gold), Blockbuster & Dr. Polaris (fighting Superman), Sonar (fighting Batman), Copperhead (held by a gorilla), the Tattoed Man (punched by Batman), Cheetah (jumping at Wonder Woman), and assembled at Legion HQ: Lady Lunar, Merlyn, the Shark, the Gentleman Ghost, the Dummy, Sportsmaster, the Monocle, the Angle Man, Livewire, Crowbar, Black Mass, Tsukuri, Fastball, Puppeteer, Evil Star, the Weather Wizard, the Psycho PIrate, Dr. Spectro, KGBeast, and the Key.
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- This episode aired on January 18th, 2006 on Toonami in United Kingdom
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Plot
  Grodd's plan to transform humanity into apes, including the Justice League, alludes to a storyline called JLApe, which appeared in JLA-related DC annuals for 1996.
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- Deadman: You know, when they beam down on that TV show, they never miss.
  Deadman relates the Watchtower's teleporter to the similar technology used on the SF series Star Trek.
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