[7.6/10] Silly me! I thought this was going to be the end of a four-episode arc like the prior storytelling cycles this season. Instead, we’re at another interlude, but it’s generally a good one. I’ll confess, I’m a little tired of the “Why are you telling me something I already knew” narrations, but it’s nice to get Zatara’s backstory. There’s a good theme to it -- that Zatara spent his entire life vacillating between various responsibilities and callings, never fully able to determine one. But his daughter’s love for Superman, the loss of his wife, and Zatanna nearly being claimed by Nobu all became bound together to give him one pure mission -- to take up this vocation to protect his daughter. The idea that he wasn’t abandoning her again, but trying to save her, adds a tragic element to the proceedings, and his charging Nobu with sharing this explanation with his daughter should he not survive gives it a point. The Zatara/Dr. Fate/Zatanna thing always felt a bit like a loose thread at the end of season 1, so I’m glad it seems like they’re addressing it here. Plus, god help me, I love the absurdity of Klarion getting beat and therefore possessing a time-traveling bus that just so happened to show up conspicuously where our heroes are. It’s such an absurd bit that allows fans to relive key moments from the series. But it also reminds of another bit from Greg Weisman’s prior show, *Gargoyle*, where a stock background character whose design had been reused for multiple goons over the course of the show was given a backstory and consistent role that saw him be bested by the titular creatures of the night on multiple occasions to the point of abject frustration. It feels like a similar story with this bus full of kids that have just so happened to need rescuing time and time again, and I like Klarion as a silly, magical explanation for what was probably a simple reused stock element. We also continue Garfield’s unfortunate descent. His inability to deliver a convincing performance on Space Trek loses him his job. We’re seeing his grief and depression hinder more and more of his ability to live his life. While it’s nice to see the director offering him resources and making it so that he can have a break when he clearly, sorely needs it, it’s almost painful to keep watching this subplot and wonder when Beast Boy is going to hit rock bottom. Last but not least, the main heroes, led by Zatanna, bouncing around the globe looking for Child is fine, but feels more like prelude than payoff. Sure, there’s theoretically big stakes when they go to places like Sydney and find giant volcanoes meant to induce chaos. But the “final” confrontation at the North Pole ain't so final, and plays as more of a placeholder for the battle to come. We get teases at Mary borrowing her allies’ powers without asking, and maybe Dr. Fate/Zatara being taken off the board, which aren’t bad. But the show’s clearly saving more of its juice for the final frame. Overall, still a good episode, the one that leaves me waiting for the finale to the arc rather than champing at the bit for it.