I am – Hercules!!

To recap. The Brits and the Irish are suddenly unspooling so many new episodes of “Justice League Unlimited,” you’d think a Crisis were looming! This review is for 5.11. The season (likely the series) finale is 5.13. The U.S. version of the Cartoon Network airs 5.5 - its first new “Justice League” episode since Sept 24 - in the United States this Saturday.

“Drunken Irishman” disseminates the latest:

What's this episode called?
"Ancient History"

Who's responsible?
Dwayne McDuffy for the story, Geoff Johns for the script and Joaquim Dos Santos directed.

Who from the League appears?
Green Lantern, Vixen, Hawkgirl and Hawkman

Ok, so does this episode involve the ongoing
G.L. – Hawkgirl (un)relationship? Sure does, but with a bit of a twist. We get to see more of Hawkman and Hawkgirl in their previous lives. And a guy who looks a lot like G.L. is there too.

And is his name John also?
No, it's Oshari, a legendary General (still keeping up the military man theme) and best friend of K'Tar (ancient Hawkman).

And why do we get to see this?
G.L. and Vixen are attacked by 'Shadow Thief' (looks like a shadow but can take a limited physical form so people can hit him), who clearly has a bone to pick with G.L.

And how does he show them the past?
Remember the Absorbacron? The unfortunately named telepathic database that contained information about Shiera and Thanagar? Well, Hawkman thought he had vanquished it to the depths of the earths crust, but alas, he was mistaken. Shadow Thief found it and uses it to show Hawkman, Hawkgirl and G.L. what life was like a long time ago.

Is it the Utopia we remember?
Pretty much. Only the ancient Shiera isn't as happy as everyone else. She wants to have a child with K'Tar, but he just ain't up for it (pun intended).

So what does she do?
Simple, falls for Oshari.

And why does Shadow Thief do this?
Strange as it may sound, we've kinda met him before, when he existed in human form. He is the meta-spiritual incarnation of a persons deepest desires and what lengths that person would go through to obtain them.

So this whole episode is about how Shiera and G.L. were/are destined to be together?
Yep.

And does G.L. break up with Vixen and get together with Shiera?
That would be telling.

What's good?
The bottle of water during Vixen and Hawk-Girl's work-out. "I think I know how this story is supposed to end." Shiera finding out about War-Hawk. "Don't say that you don't love me." "I'll never say that." "Tell me about my son."

What's bad?
I'm kind of getting tired of these stand-alone episodes. And they could have brought the funny a little bit more; we know this show is capable of it, so why not do it.

Rating: *** out of Five.

“SIMPSONS” SEASON-SETS JUST GOT WAY CHEAPER!!
$19.97 The Complete First Season
$24.97 The Complete Second Season
$24.97 The Complete Third Season
$24.97 The Complete Fourth Season
$24.97 The Complete Fifth Season
$24.97 The Complete Sixth Season
$31.99 The Complete Seventh Season

“FUTURAMA” TOO!!
$19.47 Volume One
$24.97 Volume Two
$24.97 Volume Three
$24.97 Volume Four