"Maybe You're to Tough to Admit You Need Help."

As 'Disordered' is primarily a Superboy centered story, I will only be focusing on the therapy sessions during this blog. Specifically the Artemis(of course), and Wally sessions. So, without further ado let's recover with Disordered.

To begin with; the episode begins with about thirty seconds of silence just looking at the individuals of the team and look to, understandably, still be in shock from their experience in 'Failsafe'. The League is keeping an eye on them from the Watchtower when Bruce walks in asking them how the team is doing? Jon explains that he is still shaken up from the experience, so he doesn't know how teenagers are handling an experience that can only be compared to veterans with survivors guilt. Bruce understands, to a point, but hoped the team would pull themselves together by that point. Jon and Billy seem to be surprised and a little disgusted with Bruce that he can't understand what trauma can do to a person, and how long it can last. They decide that Dinah should be the one to counsel them. This decision is not given reason in the series itself, but comic book fans know that Dinah has a psychology degree; that's one reason. The other could potentially be that Dinah is the only female mentor they know well and could give a motherly perspective.

After Dinah's failed session with Conner, she talks with Artemis. Artemis doesn't really see the need for the session as she was the first one to be taken out, and really didn't suffer the confusion of the training being a reality. Dinah, not being convinced, calls Artemis out on the fact that she is giving off the air that she believes that she is to tough to admit that help is needed. Although this could be seen as the beginning of Artemis opening up about her trust issues to anyone, this is not a floodgate of trust; because she still has little reason to trust anyone from a trauma she was really not a part of. The reason this reasoning could be is because Artemis is still adamant about not telling the others about her criminal family history. When Dinah asks if Artemis would at least tell them she is not Green Arrow's niece. Artemis' first reaction to this offer is a blow-off because she knows that Wally would make a meal out of it; or so she believes. Dinah considers the reaction to be interesting as the person's opinion Artemis values most is Wally's. The chemistry between the two have been alluded to in episodes prior, particularly in the previous episode, but it may be the first time Artemis admits this fact to herself. The scene does not carry on past that line, but the path for Artemis' growth for the remainder of the season is clearly shown in this scene.

Wally ,on the other hand, is not so successful in his session. Dinah can't understand that after everything that happened, including Wally's experience of death, that he would be mentally sound. Much like Artemis, Wally uses defense mechanism; but unlike Artemis his preferred method is joking about the experience. Potentially even turning his hormonal tendencies into a defense: which we have seen multiple times in the series well before this occurs. Dinah asks Wally a similar question of his extreme reaction to Artemis' death. Wally cannot accept his feelings about Artemis just yet; a fact he's been trying to avoid since 'Denial'. Considering where both scenes leave off, the relationship between Artemis and Wally could be said as both being at the same point in attraction; as the following episode 'Secret' shows that both are still clutching to some crush they've had since the beginning of the series(Artemis with Conner, and Wally with Me'gan). But to be honest Wally may be closer as we know that he would be an emotional wreck if Artemis died.

Thus concludes Artemis' role in 'Disordered'. While this could be seen as an episode of relationship progression between Artemis and Wally; but I take it as it is that, but also her trust with the team growing. This also gives Artemis the realization that the team would not be the same without her. In this way I think that this is the start of her self-esteem being repaired and given the courage to allow herself to invest into a deeper relationship of trust in this team from this point.

Next time we will discuss possibly the most fun episode of the season 'Secret'. Thanks for reading guys.