Why 'Young Justice' Needs To Be Renewed For Season 5

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Young Justice characters poster

Image Source: Wallpapersden

For the second time in just under a decade, the fan-favorite series Young Justice has been abruptly canceled. Due to the merger of WB and Discovery several DC projects have been abandoned, not renewed, or flat-out canceled. The beloved show has millions of fans and had consistently high ratings but has found itself (again) in the crosshairs of bad luck and studio drama. It is very upsetting that titles like Doom Patrol and Supergirl might never see the light of day (as well as other numerous titles) but it would be a crime if Young Justice isn’t renewed for a fifth season and beyond.

Earlier this year DC fans had their world turned upside down when a 43 billion dollar merger resulted in the new combined company called Warner Bros Discovery. With Warner Bros being the parent company of HBO Max this has led to a dramatic overhaul in content that has led to chaos in the DC world. David Zaslav (President and chief executive officer) has stated that he is intent on replicating something “ very similar to the structure that Alan Horne (CCO at Disney 2019-2021) and Bob Iger (Chairperson of Disney) put together very effectively with Kevin Fiege (President of Marvel Studios and the Head producer of the MCU) at Disney” his thought is that a ten-year plan focused on quality will trump one that focused on quantity. Whether or not his strategy will be successful remains to be seen, but fans have already expressed their discontent with his immediate decisions.

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Young Justice premiered in 2010 and immediately established itself as one of the most daring and ambitious shows in the DC catalog. The series began with the “sidekicks” Robin (Dick Grayson), Aqualad (Kaldur’ahm), and Kid Flash (Wally West) creating a separate team to prove themselves to their mentors and themselves. The core group quickly expanded to include Superboy (a clone of Superman later self-named Conner Kent), Artemis Crock, and the niece of Martian Manhunter M’gann M’orzz (Miss Martian). The two seasons were a masterclass in storytelling, with each character going thru their own arc that weaved thru their personal life as it clashed with their hero world and then evolved as newer characters entered the action.

Young Justice characters

Image Source: Wallpapersden

Unfortunately, the show was not renewed for a third season due to the show's budget being tied to waning toy sales. Luckily, the show arrived on Netflix in 2016 and caused another wave of popularity that caused millions of fans to flock to the internet to protest and beg for a third season. This (luckily) worked and in 2016 the third season of Young Justice was greenlit. The show returned to DC Universe in 2019 and was successful enough that during the San Diego Comic-Con it was announced that the show was renewed for a fourth season. The fourth season (Young Justice: Phantoms) did well but unfortunately, after the merger, it was revealed only one season had been ordered and no plans for a fifth season had been announced.

Not many (animated superhero) shows deal with adult issues the way Young Justice does. Racism, drug addiction, and PTSD are just some of the issues the series has dealt with. Season one dealt with Miss Martian’s feeling of inadequacy with being a white Martian (the most persecuted on her planet) and Artemis’s shame of having a family full of criminals. Season 4 showcased Beast Boy’s slide into a dangerous depression and drug addiction after he is racked with guilt over Superboy’s death. The show dealt with complex emotions while still having a casual humor that made the show fun to watch. It was extremely inclusive (with several LGBT relationships) and proved that a superhero show (even a cartoon one) does not have to be limited in what issues it deals with.

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