Superman on Television

Justice League Action: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episodes 47: "Watchtower Tours"

Originally Aired: December 9, 2017 (U.S.)

Written by Tim Sheridan
Directed by Jake Castorena

CAST:
Kevin Conroy as Batman (voice)
Diedrich Bader as Booster Gold (voice)
Mark Hamill as Joker (voice)
Ken Jeong as Toyman (voice)
Cloris Leachman as Granny Goodness (voice)

Rating - 3 (out of 5): While the Bat's away Booster will play. Booster Gold suspiciously shows up for Watchtower duty much to the surprise of Batman. Seems Booster hasn't done his duty in... well never. But he tells Batman he's taking his League duties more seriously. Reluctantly Batman leaves him to it. Booster is thrilled, not because he has Watchtower duty but because he's started a new venture. Watchtower Tours! A ship pulls up in the... Watchtower harbor? Anyway, four "tourists" come ashore ready to see the sights and are greeted by Booster. They seem disappointed that a "real" hero wasn't there. Booster shows them all the sights. The laundry room, the boiler room and the kitchen. The tourists, consisting of a hooded figure, a small man with a mustache, an old Granny, and a pretty blond, are disappointed that he hasn't shown them any of the cool tech. Booster shows them the hanger where the Booster One (or rather the Justice One) is kept along with the Bat Jet. Asked about if Wonder Woman has a jet Booster stalls then tells them they can't see it because it's invisible. The small man seems interested and suspiciously asks the hooded figure, named Teddy, if he heard that. After promising to show them the powder room Booster brings them to the kitchen. When he scans for his ID the computer doesn't recognize him and it thinks he's Boodika from the Green Lantern Corp. The computer than starts a simulation with buzz saws and lava. The five barely escape with their lives when Booster uses his space time shift to whisk them away 35 minutes into the future where he notices he's out of power. Again. The Watchtower starts to scan everyone and detects a suspicious device and locks down the Watchtower. That's when the small man reveals himself to be...The Toyman! Teddy turns out to be a robot of his and starts to infect the whole system! The Watchtower employs drones to shut down the threat putting everyone in danger. That's when Granny Goodness reveals herself and shows that she's carrying a Mother Box. Booster is floored that half of his tour group are all villains. Make that the whole tour group. The pretty blond slips off her mask and is revealed to be...The Joker! Who insists he came just because he wanted to take the tour. The drones arrive and target the Mother Box. Will the drones succeed or will Booster come up with a plan?

A truly nonsensical yet funny episode. Booster telling everyone that Wonder Woman's jet is invisible because he doesn't know if she actually has one is amusing. Granny Goodness barely wearing a disguise and yet still fooling Booster just shows how silly this version of Booster is. The idea that he would start a tour group for the Watchtower is ridiculous even for this version of the character and yet it's all still funny.

After playing catch with the Mother Box Booster finally throws it putting the drones through a boom tube. Just when they think it's safe a squad of drones forms into one huge drone and chases them. Booster sees he has enough power to get away leaving the villains to run for their lives. Just as it looks like the villains will be finished off a squad of Boosters show up and blasts the drone. It appears that Booster contacted himself from different timelines for help. Each Booster is of course just as obnoxious as the other. While the Boosters phase out after getting marshmallows Batman is standing there none too pleased. Later, with the villains in custody, Booster tries to spin his story and tells Batman that it was all a plan to catch the bad guys. Batman doesn't buy it. Booster sensing trouble makes a quick getaway to return the rented yacht.

Again this is a funny episode with some clever gags, Joker has Batman on speed dial, Toyman thinks the drones forming into one is awesome, etc. But once again there isn't much of a plot and the whole show relies on the humor. That's okay but instead of giving us a farce it would've been nice to see some real superhero action. This show has shown in the past that though it can be silly and fun it can bring the action and story when it wants to.

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