I made a slight error in the last JL entry--that was the start of Season 4 of JLU. I've fixed the error.
- "Task Force X" was the previous name of the Suicide Squad in the comics--incarcerated villains who agree to go on secret missions for the government, in exchange for a reduced sentence. In this case, the team is composed of Deadshot (Michael Rosenbaum), Plastique (Juliet Landau), Captain Boomerang (Donal Gibson), and Clock King (Alan Rachins). As in the comics, Rick Flagg (Adam Baldwin) leads the reluctant team while Amanda Waller (CCH Pounder) pulls the strings. They're kept in check with explosive nanites in their bodies. Their mission- break into the Watchtower and secure a "package" (the Annihilator armor from a previous episode). It's like a Mission: Impossible episode with super-villains. We even get a cameo from the faceless lackeys that work the Watchtower. There's a great moment with GL in an elevator with two of the disguised operatives. After taking out a group of minor heroes, they have to fight J'onn to escape.
- There's a lack of "Balance" in Tartarus--classic DC sorceror Felix Faust (Robert Englund) escapes the magic mirror where he was imprisoned and takes over the Annihilator armor (ooh, a continuing story), using that to kick Hades out of power. It effects all the magical heroes, turning them insane. Hermes (Jason Bateman) arrives with the bad news, so Diana and Shayera's frosty relationship has to be put aside to set things right. Diana's power gets amped up by Hippolyta (Susan Sullivan) to give her an edge. We get a cameo from Abnegazar (a DC demon, played by Wayne Knight), and Diana uses the Lasso of Truth for the first time. Shayera's mace, along with Diana's power, takes out Faust. Hades tells Diana she is his daughter, but she doesn't believe it. In the end, Hippolyta drops Diana's banishment.
- Aww, it's a "Double Date" with Green Arrow, Black Canary, The Question (Jeffrey Combs) and Huntress (Amy Acker). Huntress has a problem with rules, especially about killing, so J'onn kicks her out of the League. King Faraday (not a real king, just a gov't agent, played by Scott Patterson) is charged with protecting bad guy Mondragora (Glenn Shadix) who's going to rat out others, and GA & BC are running security. Huntress wants the bad guy dead, so they end up fighting each other--and Mondragora escapes in the confusion. We get Huntress' origin via Question--daughter of a mob boss, whom Mondragora murdered along with her mother. After multiple fights, we learn Modragora's secret--he's trying to save his son. It's a rather dark episode, with GA providing comic relief. Both the heroic couples were items in the comics, with GA/BC eventually marrying after decades of flirtation.
- Shazam! Captain Marvel, the World's Mightiest Mortal (Jerry O'Connell) joins the League in "Clash". The League is getting it's clock cleaned by Parasite (who can drain other people's abilities). Supes is called to help, but Cap gets there first. We see him back on the Watchtower, awed by Sand, Wildcat, Stargirl, Captain Atom, Shining Knight, and Vigilante--then Supes calls him in to talk. He inadvertently endorsed Luthor for President, and called on the carpet for it. Luthor is trying to fix his image, even building a new city for low income families. Clark and Bruce talk it over during a skirmish with unnamed baddies. Bruce actually likes Cap. Professor Emil Hamilton (Robert Foxworth) warns him they stole some Kryptonite. It's all a scam to make Superman look vindictive against Lex, and it ends up in a fight between the Man of Steel and the Big Red Cheese (yes, that was one of Captain Marvel's nicknames). They manage to wreck Lex's city, which was the point. Cap quits the League, and the League ends up looking like bullies. In the end, we see Luthor and Waller are now allies.
If you would like to play along, the DVD box set is available on Amazon.