History Recap / JusticeLeagueUnlimitedS2E4TaskForceX

* DirtyCoward: Captain Boomerang and Plastique aren't excited about being on a [[IncrediblyLamePun suicide]] mission. Neither is [[TeamKiller Deadshot]].

* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Despite the fact that Task Force X is meant to be expendable, Flagg tries to ensure minimal casualties and will try to save his squadmates when possible out of a sense of duty. It's also why he was furious at Deadshot for leaving Plastique behind.

** Plastique when being asked what will she do facing Superman, seeing [[UncomfortableElevatorMoment Green Lantern use her elevator]], and [[RightBehindMe hearing Captain Atom chastise her unladylike manners]].

* PragmaticVillainy: Flagg warns the squad against "unnecessary" killing, not out of any moral qualms, but, as both Flagg and Clock King lay out, killing someone means a) the body being found and the alarm being raised or b) wasting valuable time hiding the body.
* SoMuchForStealth: It's not just people with superpowers that catch on to a team of infiltrators - a Watchtower staffer catches Task Force X where they're not supposed to be, and gets into a scuffle with Lawton - and it actually takes time for Lawton to put him down.

* UncertainDoom: Plastique is in very bad shape at the end of the episode, but was still alive when last seen.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: When Plastique gets captured, Deadshot decides to kill her so she won't prevent him from escaping.

* RoleReprise: Alan Rachins returns as the voice of the Clock King for the first (and last time) since the conclusion of BTAS over a decade earlier.

* BigBrotherIsWatching: Justified because Task Force X is a Black Ops team authorized by the U.S. government, so they could have used [[SinisterSurveillance spies]] or simply got access any existing footage about the super heroes for their PhotoMontage.

* RoleReprisal: Alan Rachins returns as the voice of the Clock King for the first (and last time) since the conclusion of BTAS over a decade earlier.

* MidFightWeaponExchange: Deadshot's ceramic gun is broken early in the fight prompting him to steal Vigilante's revolvers for the remainder of the mission.

* CallForward: TheMole in the Justice League staff? Robert Vance, the villain in "Lost Soul", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.

* DeadManWalking: How this episode begins.

** While still under cover, Deadshot asks John Stewart about Hawkgirl solely to get under his skin.

* ExpositionDiagram: Clock King shows the team one of the Watch Tower.

* MeaningfulName, StevenUlyssesPerhero:

** Played straight with Temple Fugate (a pun on Tempus Fugit, ''Times flies''), the Clock King.

** Task Force X is the official name for the ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad''. (You cannot use that term on children's TV.)

** Clock King, Plastique, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and Colonel Flagg all were members of DC Comics ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'', even if not all of them worked together at the same time.

** Captain Atom's concern for Plastique's injuries alludes to the romance the two shared in the comics.

* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Despite the fact that Task Force X is meant to be expendable, Flagg tries to ensure minimal casualties and will try to save his squadmates when possible out of a sense of duty.
** Deadshot, unfortunately, does not share Flagg’s sense of duty.

* OpenTheIris: Plastique’s iris narrows every time she has a OhCrap moment.

* RealityEnsues: It's not just people with superpowers that catch on to a team of infiltrators - a Watchtower staffer catches Task Force X where they're not supposed to be, and gets into a scuffle with Lawton - and it actually takes time for Lawton to put him down.

Floyd Lawton, aka Deadshot, is being escorted to the electric chair when he receives a last-minute reprieve from a mysterious man in a business suit. Released into the man's custody, Lawton asks "What if I don't want to go with him?" and is informed that the alternative is to carry on with his execution.

* TheBadGuyWins: Cadmus gets a victory over the League. The showrunners note in the season 3 featurette on Cadmus that the point of this episode was to give Cadmus a win against the League to keep their threat level legitimate. They score another one in “Clash.”
* BewareTheSuperman: One of the {{Central Theme}}s of this episode. Every one of the {{Badass Normal}}s is scared to death about going against superhumans. When Clock King is showing intel about Captain Atom, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter in the ChekhovsClassroom, you can hear [[ScareChord ominious music]]. Martian Manhunter in particular comes across as incredibly scary during the Squad’s attack on the transport room. He also threatens to mindwipe TheMole that facilitated the break in, unnerving even Green Lantern.

** During the briefing, the squad are told of three Leaguers to watch out for: J'onn Jonnz, Green Lantern and Captain Atom.

** Bette Sans Souci, AKA Plastique.
** Floyd Lawton, AKA Deadshot.
** Temple Fugate, AKA The Clock King.
** George Harkness, AKA Captain Boomerang.

* BadassNormal: Everyone in the squad, even Clock King, who was capable enough to standstill the Batman. The CentralTheme is how a crew of {{Badass Normal}}s can defeat a bunch of [[BewareTheSuperman superhumans]]. They need an EvilPlan.

-->'''Flagg''': It was loaded with exploding nanites. Any escape attempt...[[FauxAffablyEvil Well, you'll gonna look kind of funny trying to run away with no head.]]

* OhCrap: Plastique when being asked what will she do facing Superman, seeing [[UncomfortableElevatorMoment Green Lantern use her elevator]], and [[RightBehindMe hearing Captain Atom chastise her unladylike manners]].

* TheSociopath: Deadshot

--> '''Plastique''': [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar And that's all you're gonna see]], [[ShipTease killer]].

* ShipTease: Deadshot and Plastique [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar flirt throughout the whole episode]]. Too bad he [[FauxAffablyEvil kills her]].

* GoodIsNotSoft: Flagg is a ''hero'' who's also FauxAffablyEvil.

* VillainEpisode: The entire episode revolves around the P.O.V. of the villains.

Wait... what?

* BigBad: Colonel Flagg. Also a very rare example of both the main villain and the TokenGoodTeammate.

* EvilPlan: The plan is fueled by PragmaticVillainy, because the squad is formed entirely by [[{{TheSociopath}} sociopaths]] and a TokenGoodTeammate. The plan must be followed RightOnTheTick and it does not permit unnecessary killing. It works because it was planned by ClockKing, who is TheSociopath himself.

-->'''Flagg''': It was loaded with exploding nanites. Any escape attempt... [[FauxAffablyEvil Well, you'll gonna look kind of funny trying to run away with no head.]]

* IndyHatRoll: Played straight, then they miss the second door... until Captain Atom lifts it up for them, thinking they're trying to evacuate.

-->'''Flagg:''' This tower is so big and has so much staff in it no ones is going to notice us... [[TemptingFate unless one of you does something stupid]].

-->''Colonel... Flagg? You're kidding, right?

-->'''Sans Souci, smiling:''' And that's all you're gonna to see, killer.

--> '''Plastique''': [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar And that's all your gonna see]], [[ShipTease killer]].

This episode also marks the final time in the DCAU that any of Batman's RoguesGallery plays a major role.

** The Warden and the Guard of the prison are animated versions of Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara from [[{{Series/Batman}} live action Batman]].

* YouAllMeetInACell: Lawton and Flagg meet the rest of the Suicide Squad at the AbandonedWarehouse. Lawton can believe he could do the job and leave. He is so wrong...

-->'''Lawton:''' ''I know, I've seen the pictures.''
-->'''Sans Souci, smiling:''' ''And that's all you're gonna to see, killer.''

* IndyHatRoll: Played straight, then they miss the second door...until Captain Atom lifts it up for them, thinking they're trying to evacuate.

-->'''Flagg:''' This tower is so big and has so much staff in it no ones is going to notice us...[[TemptingFate unless one of you does something stupid]].

-->'''Flagg''': It was loaded with exploding nanites. Any escape attempt...[[FauxAffablyEvil Well, you'll gonna look kind of funny trying to run away with no head.]]