Justice League Unlimited – Episodes – Season 3, Episode 8 – The Great Brain Robbery

A mystical accident leads to Lex Luthor and the Flash’s minds being swapped into each other’s bodies.

Review by Stu
Media by Bird Boy, Jim Harvey

Voices:
Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor
Michael Rosenbaum as The Flash, Dr. Polaris
Phil LaMarr as Green Lantern
Powers Boothe as Grodd
Juliet Landau as Tala
Michael Beach as Mr. Terrific
Oded Fehr as Dr. Fate
Ted Levine as Sinestro
George Newbern as Bizarro
Lauren Tom as Dr. Light

A fine mix of action and comedy, "The Great Brain Robbery" succeeds on all levels and manages to move the season?s story along nicely. The
Legion Of Doom was an idea I originally greatly looked forward to seeing but I?ve found myself disappointed at how well the group was used.

At the beginning of the season, it seemed that the group was nothing more than an excuse to have villains team up and perform pointless tasks, but with Luthor now taking centre stage the story has really got moving. I love the DCU version of Luthor, especially how much he?s evolved since Superman: The Animated Series. He was fine in
Superman, good in some episodes, great in others but constantly in the thorn in the side of our Man Of Steel in every situation possible, which all unfortunately ended without much of a resolution.

He didn?t reappear until Justice League season one, but I thought they slightly stumbled his story there, as most of his appearances were a little too Silver Age super villainy and not enough of the smart, calculating and ruthless Luthor we?d previously seen. Plus, he had a really, really stupid green and purple costume. He was back to his great self as would-be President Luthor and Brainthor and I was left wondering how they were going to handle him in this season. He doesn?t appear to be showing signs of madness anymore (we haven?t seen Brainiac since the first episode) and we?ve since gotten arguably the best version of
Luthor ever. Hopefully the season?s conclusion won?t screw everything up because it?s been a great storyline for him.

I especially liked his squabbling with Grodd. I didn?t think we?d see
Grodd again but it seems they?re using their villains wisely; it?s especially impressive as we still take the villains seriously even though this is more of a comedy episode than an action one.

Speaking of the comedy, there were some classic one liners here, Flash truly was hilarious in Luthor?s body. I know a lot of people have dissed this shows version of The Flash but he?s always been good for a chuckle and this episode was no exception. His pitiful attempts to be evil (not washing his hands after going to the bathroom) were the stuff of legends. One of the biggest laughs of the season came from Luthor in
Flash though. After realizing he was The Flash, he boasts that he can finally find out The Flash?s secret identity and promptly unmasks and reveals he has no idea who?s face it is. Brilliant delivery from Clancy
Brown, who was utterly spectacular in both roles he played in this episode. Rosenbaum also added a little of Lex from his Smallville
role in here, much to my delight. I know a lot of people aren?t too impressed with Smallville, but I enjoy the show and find
Rosenbaum?s performances to be a big reason why.

Tala surprised me here, I know she?s a suck up to whoever?s in charge, but her ?oh? when Luthor was back had me highly amused. The ?This isn?t relaxing? scene did leave me laughing out loud for several minutes.
Perhaps Flash isn?t the fastest man alive, as predicted oh so many seasons ago?

Great episode, all in all. I?m thoroughly looking forward to seeing where this season is headed. With this many twists so far, I?m hoping the last episode will be one worth remembering.