Overview (Spoilers Below): Team Trauma on Trombus!
Our Take: The team is now one step closer to rescuing Connor from the Phantom Zone. However, from the looks of it, their mission may have been proven more challenging than expected, with Connor already committed to the Zod side. Even worse, the forces outside of their assignment resulted in the House of Zod’s freedom. The episode places the show’s full attention on its central plot, with Nightwing, Zatanna, and the others fighting the Kryptonians in the Phantom Zone. Unfortunately, they eventually lose when Connor fights alongside the House of Zod. While all this is happening, Lor-Zod, Ma’alefa’ak, and the captured Legion continue their search for the Kaizer Thrall, containing the brain of an 11-year-old meta-human named Danny Chase. Meanwhile, Miss Martian is summoned by Aquaman, Black Lightning, and Female Forager to communicate with Danny inside the Kaizer Thrall. She later receives word from the surviving Phantom Girl and Prince J’onn that Connor is still alive in the Phantom Zone. I’m still enjoying the season for its engaging subplots that may or may not relate to its main storyline, especially Beast Boy’s. However, this is one episode that I liked the most because it has multiple perspectives centering on the same objective compared to the previous ones. It’s pretty fitting since we’re getting close to the end of the show’s successful season. You have Nightwing and the team in the Phantom Zone, Lor-Zod searching for a way to free his parents, and Miss Martian working with the Justice League and Phantom Girl to save Connor. These narratives cross paths in its conclusion when Danny opens up the portal, resulting in the Kryptonians and Connor being free from their prison. Unfortunately, the episode didn’t continue Brion’s subplot involving his Infinitors introduced in last week’s episode, “Ego and Superego”. Luckily for the show, I’m not willing to swiftly call it out for being pointless unless it turns out to be a one-time thing. The writers may be saving it for either one of the last two episodes or a possible fifth season. But again, I can’t say for sure until the season is done. Besides that, “Zenith and Abyss” effectively sets the stage for the thrilling two-episode confrontation between the superhero team and Krypton’s most dangerous criminals.