History Recap / JusticeLeagueS2E5And6OnlyADream

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Firefly and Volcana try to use fire to escape a construct Green Lantern used to trap them. They literally knock themselves out because their fire uses up all the oxygen inside the dome. Later, Volcana is seen inside a container with a breathing mask, suggesting that she's encased in inert gas to neutralize her power.
** Copperhead attempts to force Hawkgirl to fly him to safety. She simply flies about 400 feet straight up and stops, and when he threatens her again, points out that if he kills her, the fall will kill ''him''.
** Doctor Destiny's victims don't die because he kills them in a dream, they die because the nonstop stress from the nightmares they are trapped in overworks their hearts. Even Flash and Superman can't survive that.
** Dee trying to fight Batman without his powers was not a good idea, even if he was on the verge of falling asleep.
** No matter how much of a defiant badass Batman is, he is still a human being who's prone to exhaustion and needs rest. Ditto for the rest of the League, despite their varying origins and some alien biology, most of them still need stuff like downtime and resting, which renders even unstoppable powerhouses like Superman vulnerable to Destiny's playing field.

--->''Brother John, Brother John,

---> ''Brother John, Brother John''

* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Batman figuring out how to track down Destiny in the real world. Bruce correctly deduces that while Dee's using his special powers, his body's probably vulnerable in the real world. So, Dee's ''got'' to be holed up in a place he thinks is safe -- somewhere familiar. J'onn agrees with Bruce's logic, and researching Dee's background -- and the circumstances of his arrest -- is what allows Bruce to deduce Dee's holed up in the now-abandoned and vacant [=LexCorp=] harbor warehouse where he originally got busted.

* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Batman figuring out how to track down Destiny in the real world. Bruce correctly deduces that while Dee's using his special powers, his body's probably vulnerable in the real world. So, Dee's got to be holed up in a place he thinks is safe...somewhere familiar. J'onn agrees with Bruce's logic, and researching Dee's background -- and the circumstances of his arrest -- is what allows Bruce to deduce Dee's holed up in the now-abandoned and vacant [=LexCorp=] harbor warehouse where he originally he got busted.

* AmbiguousSituation: The Justice League's raid on the [=LexCorp=] warehouse that uncovered weapons smuggling and got John Dee sent to prison as an accessory. It's left unclear ''when'' exactly this happened in the show's timeline -- or more specifically, if this raid occurred before or after the events of [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS1E8And9InjusticeForAll "Injustice for All"]]. If it was ''before'' that episode, then it's entirely possible this smuggling [[ResolvedNoodleIncident was the terrorism arms deal that prompted the League to set up their sting operation against Luthor]].

** Subtle example during the climax (and one that doubles as foreshadowing for "Starcrossed" on the re-watch). J'onn and the others are trying to break through the mental barrier blocking access to Hawkgirl's mind. To all appearances, this is Dee's doing...but everybody's so focused on trying to save Shayera that none of them realize something here doesn't make sense: if Destiny can set up mental barriers powerful enough to block Martian telepathy, then why didn't he put them up sooner? Once J'onn reached and rescued Superman, Dee knew what the Martian Manhunter was up to and could've easily shut him down before they could get to the others. This suggests Dee ''didn't'' actually create the barrier...but if he didn't, then how was Destiny able break through it to enact Shayera's claustrophobic dream when J'onn couldn't? It's almost as if the barrier was specifically ''geared'' for J'onn and his specific telepathy, wasn't it?"

** Subtle example during the climax (and one that doubles as foreshadowing for "Starcrossed" on the rewatch). J'onn and the others are trying to break through the mental barrier blocking access to Hawkgirl. To all appearances, this is Dee's doing...but everybody's so focused on trying to save Shayera that none of them think this through and realize something ''doesn't'' make sense here. If Dee can set up mental barriers, then why didn't he put them up for the other Justice Leaguers earlier once he became aware of what J'onn was doing? But if Destiny didn't put it up, then how was he able break through it to enact Shayera's claustrophobic dream? It's almost as if...the barrier was specifically geared for ''J'onn'' and his Martian telepathy, wasn't it?"

** Subtle example during the climax (and one that doubles as foreshadowing for "Starcrossed" on the rewatch). J'onn and the others are trying to break through the mental barrier blocking access to Hawkgirl. To all appearances, this is Dee's doing...but everybody's so focused on trying to save Shayera that none of them think this through and realize something it ''doesn't'' make sense. If Dee can set up mental barriers, then why didn't he put them up for the other Justice Leaguers once he became aware of what J'onn was up to? And if Destiny didn't put it up, then how was he able break through it to enact Shayera's claustrophobic dream? It's almost as if...the barrier was geared for ''J'onn'' and his Martian telepathy, isn't it?"

* DidntThinkThisThrough: Clearly, [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Copperhead]] wasn't thinking ''at all'' when he grappled Hawkgirl, positioned his fangs near her neck, and demanded she fly him to safety. She flies up a few hundred feet and stops. When Copperhead demands to know why, she notes that if he carries out his threat now, [[TakingYouWithMe they'll both fall forty stories]]. "[[LampshadeHanging Didn't really think this through, did you?]]" After she touches down, Green Lantern congratulates her on the bluff; her reply is a deadpan "Who was bluffing?"

* WorfHadTheFlu:Downplayed, but Bruce nearly loses the physical altercation with Dee in the climax because he's been awake for 3 days straight and run ragged. Were he fully rested, Dee would've likely gone down in seconds.

* WorfHadTheFu:Downplayed, but Bruce nearly loses the physical altercation with Dee in the climax because he's been awake for 3 days straight and run ragged. Were he fully rested, Dee would've likely gone down in seconds.

** Later, Batman chugs down some coffee to keep going, but in his sleep-deprived state, the rush wears off fairly quickly. He lasts just long enough to take Dee down, and ends the episode dead to the world.

* WhatDoTheyFearEpisode: For the Leaguers. Superman is afraid of his powers going out of control and killing all his loved ones. Hawkgirl imagines trapped in a coffin and buried alive (this was foreshadowed earlier in the episode). Flash fears that he would run so fast that the rest of the world would freeze in time. [[LossOfIdentity Green Lantern is afraid that he was becoming nothing more than a tool for a ring, and losing touch with where he came from]]—reflected in people being afraid of him and being unable to communicate with him, as though it were just another of the alien worlds he's been tasked to protect. Batman cheats—despite telling Dr Destiny how "My mind is not a nice place to be", he just chugs coffee and stays awake until he takes him down, so we never do find out what he fears.

* MugglesDoItBetter: Dr. Destiny dispatches Superman, the Flash, and Green Lantern with ease, but he finds BadassNormal Batman too tough to crack. This is one of the few episodes of ''Justice League'' where Batman handles a problem ''his'' way, and fans point to stories like this as proof of why Batman not only ''should'' be on the team, but is one of its most valuable members.

* PrimalFear: Dr. Dee forces the claustrophobic Hawkgirl into a dream of being BuriedAlive.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: Though John Dee had occasional fantasies of power and vengeance on the Justice League, when "Only a Dream" began, he was a well-behaved prison inmate who even the guards liked and believed should be released. However, his parole is turned down again, his wife leaves him, and then the prison erupts in a full scale riot. From all indications, he really was a rehabilitated convict, but when the system would not even give him a chance, he decided to go whole-hog and cut loose.

* TomTheDarkLord: In fact, it's a plot point. Destiny's real name is John, something he hates because it's not special enough. Once he gets his powers, he proves that the man behind the name is anything but common. Batman keeps addressing him as "Johnny" as he closes in, perhaps guessing (with his understanding of criminal psychology) that it will [[IShallTauntYou annoy Destiny]] and thus chip away at his mental focus. Likewise, him repeating the nursery rhyme "Frère Jacques" might have been because of him hearing it on the radio, but given how [[BilingualBonus the lyrics appropriately translate to his situation]] it also allows him to keep non-stop taunting Destiny at the same time, which Batman was likely aware of and [[HeroicWillpower using as a focus]] until he beat him.

* WeakerInTheRealWorld: Destiny is a powerful RealityWarper in his victims' dream worlds, but in reality is an ordinary man who is defeated by Batman after a brief fight.

** No matter how much of a defiant badass Batman is, he is still a human being who's prone to exhaustion and needs rest.

* TomTheDarkLord: In fact, it's a plot point. Destiny's real name is John, something he hates because it's not special enough. Once he gets his powers, he proves that the man behind the name is anything but common. Batman keeps addressing him as "Johnny" as he closes in, perhaps guessing (with his understanding of criminal psychology) that it will [[IShallTauntYou annoy Destiny]] and thus chip away at his mental focus.

* CallBack: Superman's PowerIncontinence nightmare is a callback to the ending of [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS3E12E13Legacy "Legacy'']], when he confessed to Lois he was terrified of losing control again (as he had when he'd gone gunning for Darkseid). It's also possible it's back on his mind again because of recent events, i.e. losing all self-control yet again during "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E1And2Twilight Twilight]]" two episodes earlier.
* CallForward: When John Dee is congratulated by his former boss Lex Luthor and his gang of villains, Joker suggests naming him after his [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker future twin daughters, Dee Dee]].

* MindRape: Courtesy of the bad doctor. Doctor Destiny (John Dee) uses his powers in a disturbing fashion - he traps his ex-wife in a nightmare. In one creepy scene, he removes his clothes in front of her, before "putting on" his costume and [[TearOffYourFace peeling off his face]]. She ends up becoming the first person in the series to actually die by actions of a supervillain. Then he goes after the League.

* StrongGirlSmartGuy: Volcana is the superpowered woman with pyrokinesis that makes Firefly look like a dim candle by comparison. However, Firefly is the one with the brains and engineering ability to create the suit and the gear that can give him the ability to fly and generate fire (of a lesser intensity compared to Volcana) which enables him to fight by her side.

* WeWillMeetAgain: After being defeated in the last [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind dream-world battle]], Destiny declares, "This is far from over." However, it ''is'' over for the heroes he'd been tormenting, and it was over for Destiny himself when Batman caught up with him.

* WhatAreTheyAfraidOfEpisode:
** Poor Superman has a hefty dose of MyGodWhatHaveIDone in his nightmare as he betrays his self-image as TheCape in the most horrible way possible -- by killing three people who have always stood by him.
** Green Lantern's nightmare focuses on him having lost his identity completely, being nothing but the ring's wielder.

* PersonalHorror:

-->'''Dr. Destiny''': You're good, but I'm better.
-->'''J'onn''': That's why I brought a friend.
-->''Camera cuts to show Superman rocketing in with an outstretched fist and a furious expression.''

** He also comes close to killing Hawkgirl by trapping her in a nightmare of falling into a coffin and being buried alive.
* YourWorstNightmare: The Justice League faces John Dee, a.k.a. Doctor Destiny, a criminal accidentally given PsychicPowers by an experiment, who uses his new abilities to torture and kill his ex-wife in her dreams, then goes on to torment our heroes. He bites off a bit more than he can chew, though, when he taunts Batman, who's powering through with willpower and coffee.

* CallBack: Superman's PowerIncontinence nightmare is a callback to the ending of "Legacy", when he confessed to Lois he was terrified of losing control again (as he had when he'd gone gunning for Darkseid). It's also possible it's back on his mind again because of recent events, i.e. losing all self-control yet again during "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E1And2Twilight Twilight]]" two episodes earlier.

* AffablyEvil: Destiny is first shown to be polite and courteous to the warden and staff at the prison... [[FauxAffablyEvil but when his life starts falling apart, the politeness is revealed to be something he uses for tormenting his enemies and victims, as well as covering his pettiness and inferiority complex]].

* AndCallHimGeorge: Superman accidentally [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength kills]] [[Characters/SupermanJimmyOlsen Jimmy Olsen]] with an enthusiastic BearHug during his nightmare. His out-of-control SuperStrength snaps the kid like a twig.

* CallBack: Superman's PowerIncontinence nightmare is a callback to the ending of "Legacy", when he confessed to Lois he was terrified of losing control again (as he had when he'd gone gunning for Darkseid). It's also possible it's back on his mind again because of recent events, i.e. losing all self-control yet again during [[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E1And2Twilight Twilight]]" two episodes earlier.

* ImAHumanitarian: In Flash's dream, he's watching TV with a group of kids. When he tries to get them a snack, he finds nothing but a frog in the fridge. Then they attempt to eat ''him''.

* PsychicStatic: Batman uses the song "Frère Jacques" to keep Destiny from completely invading his mind.

** Firefly and Volcana try to use fire to escape a construct Green Lantern used to trap them. They literally knock themselves out because their fire uses up all their oxygen. Later, Volcana is seen inside a container with a breathing mask, suggesting that she's encased in inert gas to neutralize her power.