Young Justice has been a great show with a very interesting take on the DC Universe. They are great at making some changes but managing to respect the original characters and concepts. They continue this trend with “Unknown Factors,” as more of the team try a covert mission that, of course, doesn’t go to plan.

In Hollywood, Cat Grant covers a movie premier from Gretchen Goode’s studio. The team has their suspicions about Goode, but haven’t realized the extent of the problem with the “sweet old woman” yet. Nightwing and Black Lightning, in stealth outfits, try to sneak into her place, guided by Oracle over coms who is embarrassing Nightwing by flirting over their channel. With a little help from some friends, they have a way to try and find what they’re looking for. Just as Oracle worries this is too easy, they lose coms right on cue. Reaching out for some backup, Oracle ends up getting some help from an Atlantean called Wyynde.

In Ivy Town, Mal and Karen are rushing for the hospital as the very pregnant Karen is about to give birth. As their conversation takes a troubling turn, another group of heroes arrive back at their headquarters in Hollywood. They’ve apparently run afoul of a joke villain who started off on another cartoon. Beast Boy looks annoyed while Geo-Force seems amused by the encounter. This makes for some interesting timing for Victor’s father visiting. While that bit of comic relief happens, we see some more of Dr. Jace’s manipulations of Halo.

Relaxing at home after her big movie premier, Gretchen Goode gets guests in the form of Aquaman and Wyynde, who have some questions about Nightwing and Black Lightning disappearing. Goode doesn’t seem surprised to see them, and then starts showing there’s more to her house than it appears, while Oracle loses another drone trying to spy on the older woman. Back in Ivy Town, Mal and Karen’s joyous event takes a turn.

Beast Boy works out, watching Cyborg finally getting comfortable with his powers. Cyborg demonstrates a new trick he picked up from Blue Beetle, and then shows he really doesn’t have a handle on his other abilities yet. I’m amused by Beast Boy and Cyborg bonding so quickly on this show, as they were best friends in the New Teen Titans run that was where Cyborg first appeared. Up on the roof, Dr. Jace extends her manipulations to Geo-Force. She was a surprising traitor in the comics, and they definitely seem to be sending her down the same path here. As things get worse at the hospital, Karen suits up in her Bumblebee gear and then borrows some tech Ray Palmer invented to do something he’s done before as Atom. It’s an old trick Ray Palmer has done several times in the comics, and it’s interesting seeing this spin on it.

Things continue to go badly at Gretchen/Granny’s place, but really, what do you expect when you clash with a New God? Not that the heroes knew that going in, unfortunately. It wouldn’t have stopped Nightwing from going, but he might have brought some heavier hitters and a lot more backup. As Nightwing and Black Lightning are tortured, Aquaman and Wyynde argue for their friends’ release. Gretchen is as disturbing as Granny tends to be in any incarnation, and there’s a lot of back and forth and even some sort of negotiation. While both sides argue their point, to greater or lesser effect, Karen does what she needs to and then has a lot of self-doubt about it.

It looks bad for the heroes at Granny’s place as she reveals the ruthlessness of her current tactic, and is utterly indifferent as to whether she kills anyone or not in the process. While Geo-Force drops an interesting name check, Cyborg and Halo both suddenly get some weird sensations, and ride Cyborg’s Boom Tube to the rescue of the beleaguered heroes. Oracle even manages some ranged backup as the fight goes on. The heroes get away, but it’s not exactly a win. Fighting New Gods can be that, especially the ruthless ones that work for Darkseid. In the other major plot, Karen tries to convince herself she did the right thing.

As the episode comes to an end, the heroes are recovering, and their prognosis is good, so that’s going for them at least. Wyynde comes to some understandable conclusions about his visit to the surface world. Halo/Violet and Geo-Force/Brion get a bit of time together, which is good for them, but gives Dr. Jace time to continue her nefarious deeds as we find out who she’s actually working for. It’s not good news. In a similar theme, Granny sends some very ominous news back home to her boss. It’s a disturbing way to end the episode.

What I Liked: Nightwing had a decent role, and since he’s my favorite character, I’m just fine with that. He and Black Lightning were utterly outgunned, but they had no way of knowing that when they launched their mission. It was interesting hearing Geo-Force refer to another DC team of mostly younger heroes. I wonder if they’ll be popping up.

What I Didn’t: There are some characters who, despite a long history and some rich backgrounds, sort of get to be one note, mostly because every version of them that gets introduced seems to have to start with the same story. Tonight’s behind the scenes big bad is one of those, and the story they seem to be aiming for isn’t a favorite of mine. Then again, the Young Justice writers have done really well so far; maybe they’ll surprise me.

It was another good episode of a great series. I’ll give this one a 4 out of 5.