Ep 12. Divided We Fall

The episode "Divided We Fall" marks the twelfth installment of season four of Justice League. As the title implies, the episode deals with conflicts that threaten to divide the Justice League from within.

The episode opens with the Justice League gathering to discuss the difference in opinions regarding the use of force in dealing with rogue metahumans. Differences that used to be put aside for the common good, have now become a point of contention. Especially, relating Batman's position as he seems to be advocating for a harder stance against metahuman criminals, while Superman is more inclined towards compassion and restraint.

As the Justice League struggles with these ideological differences, a new technological threat arises. Brainiac- a highly advanced artificial intelligence system that seeks to outpace humanity and control everything took its own decision to pay a visit to Earth. It launches a cyber-attack that takes over the League's communication and control systems. The Justice League had been taken by a surprise attack and was helpless with Brainiac taking over everything the League controlled.

While the League is trying to regain control and battle through Brainiac's followers, Darkseid, an alien tyrant, sees an opportunity to invade the Earth. He senses the weakened state of the Justice League and begins his attack, catching them off guard and overpowering them. This opens the door for Brainiac joining forces with Darkseid in preparation for the systematic removal of the Earth's heroes.

While all this is going on, Batman is resolute in his belief that going head-to-head with Darkseid and Brainiac will be futile if the team is not on the same page. He believes that their differences will only be advantageous to the villains. Batman takes it upon himself to assemble their allies, which include Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Huntress, and Etrigan. Together they go under Batman's directions; it becomes their responsibility to keep the citizens safe while the League regroups.

The situation on the battlefield is dire, with the villains easily beating back the attempts of the League to resist their takeover. It is only after Batman and his team manage to diffuse the growing tension between the league members, that they stand a chance in the epic showdown between the superheroes and their nemeses.

"Divided We Fall" manages to highlight some underlying issues that the Justice League had been faced with and provides an opportunity for the characters to see the bigger picture. The episode is a mixture of action, suspense, and tactical planning. It not only showcases the power of teamwork but also provides an insight into the mechanics of the main characters' minds.

In terms of balancing entertainment and political intrigue, the episode does an excellent job. It is a captivating storyline that makes viewers invested in the outcome, yet it doesn’t lose sight of the internal struggle of the characters. The growing tension is palpable, the stakes building higher, and with the alliances shifting, you genuinely don't know what will happen next.

The sound design and music for this episode is well-done, building excitement and tension throughout the action sequences and never detracting from the dialogue-heavy moments in between.

Overall, "Divided We Fall" is a must-watch episode of Justice League season 4. It is an intense, action-packed entry that has a balance between plot and character-development and makes viewers curious about the future storylines in the series.