The Watchtower receives a distress signal from alien miners. Their spaceship and other equipment are being affected by radiation from a strange ore they were extracting on a moon in deep space. It is discovered to be unrefined and very dangerous Nth metal, which is the same metal that forms the magical mace-like weapon used by Shayera Hol, the former Hawkgirl. Shayera volunteers to help out the miners, but J'onn J'onzz insists she be accompanied by Vixen — despite the objections of Green Lantern John Stewart, who has emotional connections to both women and fears a conflict between them.
Shayera and Vixen are joined by Vigilante, and they set off for the moon in a Javelin spaceship. When they arrive on the moon, the trio cannot locate any mining ship, miners or Nth metal. They explore a nearby mine only to discover that it is a hologram. Fired upon by unseen enemies, their spaceship is destroyed and they are forced to take cover. They then find that they are being pursued by a group of Thanagarian warriors, lead by Paran Dul, who want revenge on Shayera for betraying them during the Thanagarian invasion of Earth. Shayera is also told of how the Thanagarian Empire was subsequently crushed by the Gordanians and how her former lover Hro Talak was killed during a suicide attack on the Gordanian battle fleet.
The Justice League members are able to evade the Thanagarians for a while with the help of Shayera's covert-ops training, but there is tension in the group. Guilt-ridden over the latest revelations, Shayera feels that she should surrender and be punished by her fellow Hawkmen, but Vixen and Vigilante object to this. Vixen even goads Shayera over the way Stewart has praised her more admirable and courageous qualities which she is failing to show much of at the moment. Vigilante, bitter from when he was beaten and humiliated by the Thanagarians during the invasion, doesn't hide his hostility for the "Hawks", even Shayera, but insists they have to work together.
A serious wound on Vigilante's leg slows them down and he and Shayera just manage to get away while Vixen is captured by the Thanagarians. Shayera decides to surrender in return for Vixen being released unharmed. After she has left, however, Vigilante uses a tree spring noose trap to capture a Thanagarian and force him to reveal the location of the group's spaceship.
High in the sky, Shayera meets Paran Dul and her other followers, agrees to surrender without resistance and is seized. But then the semi-deranged Kragger drops Vixen down to a certain death. Vigilante, barely being able to fly the Thanagarian spaceship, manages to catch her before she hits the ground and they pick up Shayera after she has managed to dispatch her opponents.
Back at the Watchtower, Vigilante is treated for his injuries. Shayera and Vixen meanwhile brush aside John Stewart and march off to settle their differences. Stewart fears the worse. However, the two women actually enjoy a friendly drink, laughing over his quirks and habits. Vixen knows that he still has some feelings for Shayera, who admits to having the same for him. They agree to a friendly contest for Stewart's affections.
This episode includes examples of:
- Ascended Extra: While Paran Dul was a supporting Thanagarian character throughout "Starcrossed", she was still ultimately below Kragger in terms of plot importance and focus. Here, she has a more prominent role — and the "Starcrossed" DVD commentary confirms one reason for bringing her character back was because they'd enjoyed Elizabeth Peña's performance and wanted to give her more to do.
- Big Damn Heroes: Vigilante swoops in on a hijacked Thanagarian spaceship and saves Vixen from falling to her death, even though he can barely pilot the thing.
- Breather Episode: While not exactly as lighthearted as most examples, the episode is a relatively straightforward space adventure before the show goes into a four part season finale involving Cadmus.
- Broken Angel: After what the Martian Manhunter did to him, Kragger is on life support and can't move, fly, or even think without his suit.
- Bus Crash: Hro Talak has died in the interim since "Starcrossed", having sacrificed himself to take out the Gordanian flagship during the final battle for Thanagar.
- Call-Back: Vixen and Vigilante talk about the events of "Starcrossed"; they also mention that they were among those who helped fight back against the invaders.
- Conflicting Loyalty: Played with; while Shayera remains steadfast in her allegiance to the Justice League, she can't help but feel guilty knowing that her actions in saving Earth cost her people the war with the Gordanians and led to Hro Talak's death.
- Despair Event Horizon: The Thanagarians crossed this line when they lost the war with the Gordanians.
- Disney Villain Death: After his battle suit is shorted out, Kragger plummets to his demise.
- Drives Like Crazy: A justified case with Vigilante; his erratic handling of a Javelin and a Thanagarian spaceship are because he isn't certified and handling an alien spacecraft respectively. Vixen even gives him a playful jab about it later.Vigilante: (after Vixen defeats Paran Dul) Are you okay?
Vixen: I will be, if you let me drive. - Evil Cripple: Kragger suffered permanent damage from his encounter with Martian Manhunter, requiring the assistance of his battle suit to help him think and fight.
- Fantastic Racism: Vigilante openly doesn't care for Thanagarians, due to being imprisoned by them during the invasion. He can barely work with Shayera.
- Fire-Forged Friends: All three can barely stand one another in the start. Vigilante constantly butts heads with Shayera, Vixen doesn't seem to think much of Vigilante ("men have fragile egos"), and Shayera's guilt over her people's plight makes her come into conflict with both her teammates. By the end, however, they all seem much closer with one another, especially Shayera and Vixen.
- Heroic BSoD: Shayera briefly goes into this after learning of Hro's death and the fall of Thanagar — and how it's all her fault for siding with Earth during "Starcrossed".
- Heroic Sacrifice: Hro Talak gave his life to destroy a Gordanian flagship, striking a major blow on behalf of his people.
- I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: Firefly alumni Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres appear together once more.
- Gratuitous Spanish: After Shayera manages to win his respect, Vigilante sends her off with a solemn "vaya con dios", Spanish for "godspeed" (or literally "go with God").
- Homosocial Heterosexuality: Shayera and Vixen agree to a friendly contest for Stewart's affections.
- La Résistance: With Thanagar now under Gordanian occupation, an organized resistance has formed. However, Paran Dul and company have not linked up with yet, as their immediate goal is revenge upon Shayera for her treason.
- Killed Off for Real: Hro Taklak and Kragger.
- Misplaced Retribution: Not for most of the Thanagarians (who are understandably pissed about Shayera's betrayal), but for Kragger specifically. He blames Shayera for his brain damage, when it was actually the Martian Manhunter. Justified, since said brain damage has left his memories scrambled, so he doesn't remember what actually happened.
- The Missus and the Ex: Green Lantern is unhappy to learn his girlfriend and his ex-girlfriend are going on the same mission together.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: The Justice League destroying the Wormhole Bypass Generator during "Starcrossed" ultimately doomed Thanagar to Gordanian conquest. Of course, considering Hro Talak and company were going to destroy Earth and all its inhabitants to activate the generator, nobody in the League (apart from Shayera) is feeling particularly guilt-ridden or regretful.
- Revenge Before Reason: Paran Dul prioritises revenge against Shayera over doing anything to help their homeland; when one of her subordinates suggests heading home to join the resistance against Gordanian rule, she rejects the notion out of hand. In the end, the fixation on revenge gets Kragger killed, while Paran Dul and her men are left stranded.
- Sequel Episode: To "Starcrossed", following up on the fates of Hro Talak, Kragger, and Paran Dul (and Thanagar itself) after the failed Earth mission.
- Superman Stays Out of Gotham: Deconstructed, at least retroactively with "Starcrossed". It's established that while the Justice League was on the front lines, as it were, other heroes all over were fighting back against the Thanagarian occupation of Earth (Vixen) or ended up getting captured and imprisoned (Vigilante) off-screen.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Hawkgirl, Vixen, and Vigilante all struggle to work together for various reasons. They get over it by episode’s end.
- Unusual Euphemism: Shayera mentions having "seen [John's] underwear drawer".
