This episode proves the merit of Justice League's initial decision to make hour-long episodes. It's rather epic in scope, yet still has enough focus on character to make it compelling.
Though long-time fans of the DCAU might remember Aquaman's initial introduction in an episode of Superman, The Enemy Below honestly requires no previous knowledge of the character. Everything you need to know about him is laid out: He's the king of the undersea Atlantean Empire, he's a tough guy, and he doesn't like humans.
Actually seeing Atlantis was a really cool thing. (the STAS episode never went anywhere close to it) It's a well-designed locale, and acts a great backdrop for this episode's large-scale adventure.
Speaking of art design, the color palette in "The Enemy Below" is much better than in the last episode. While "In Blackest Night" was rather annoyingly muted, mostly relying on black, green, and brown, "The Enemy Below" is much brighter. Furthermore, we get a nighttime scene, which always brings out the best in the DCAU's art.
There's a bit of political intrigue in this episode, leading to the classic "enemy of my enemy = super friend" plot device. While this episode was perhaps predictable, it was still interesting enough to be enjoyable. Epic sci-fi threats seem to be the best type of conflict for the JL, and this was an especially cool example.
While not completely without boredom, this episode was still good, if not great.
6.5/10
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