Man, remember when we all thought Young Justice season three was never gonna happen? After that brutal cancellation back in 2013, I'd pretty much given up hope. Then boom – six years later, DC Universe drops 'Young Justice: Outsiders' like it's no big deal. I stayed up till 3AM binging the premiere, and my coffee bill that month was ridiculous. Worth it though.
Where and When to Watch Young Justice Season Three
Okay, real talk – the streaming situation was messy. Young Justice season three debuted on DC Universe in Jan 2019, but when that platform tanked, it jumped to HBO Max (now just Max). Currently, all 26 episodes live exclusively there. International fans got screwed though – release dates were all over the place:
| Region | Platform | Release Date | Episode Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA & Canada | Max (formerly HBO Max) | Jan 4, 2019 (weekly) | Full season available |
| UK/Ireland | Netflix | July 2019 (delayed!) | Batches of 13 episodes |
| Australia | Foxtel | March 2020 (seriously?) | Full season |
Pro tip: If you're rewatching, the Blu-ray fixes those annoying compression artifacts from streaming. The fight scenes pop way more.
The Outsiders Era: What Actually Goes Down?
Season three jumps forward two years after that insane Reach invasion. The world's paranoid about meta-humans, and a creepy organization called The Light is trafficking teen metas. Our original squad's mostly grown up – Dick Grayson's running covert ops as Nightwing, Superboy and Miss Martian are couple-goals, Artemis is teaching... and then there's Brion Markov.
Who? Exactly. This angry Geo-Force kid becomes the centerpiece. When his royal family gets assassinated (comic-book style), the team reforms as underground heroes called The Outsiders. Smart move – avoids government red tape. We also get:
- Halo: Amnesiac cyborg with literal resurrection powers (overused? Maybe)
- Forager: Bug-alien comic relief that grew on me despite the weird voice
- Returning favorites like Tigress (Artemis undercover) and a grizzled, beard-sporting Black Lightning
The real gem? Seeing Roy Harper's redemption arc after that clone mess. That warehouse fight in episode 18? Chills.
Character Power Rankings (My Totally Subjective List)
| Character | Power Upgrade | Best Moment | Screentime Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halo | 7 Mother Box powers (OP!) | Resurrecting after Luthor's trap | 1 |
| Geo-Force | Volcanic rage mode | Battle of Markovia (Ep. 22) | 2 |
| Nightwing | Better tactical AI | Undercover as "Ric" Grayson | 3 |
| Black Lightning | Leadership upgrade | Shutting down meta-trafficking ring | 8 |
Kaldur'ahm as Aquaman? Still feels weird. But his diplomacy scenes actually mattered this time.
Why This Season Felt Different (For Better or Worse)
Look, I love Greg Weisman's work, but season three went dark. Like, "tortured children" dark. The meta-human trafficking plot hit harder than expected – that scene with the terrified kids in pods? Had to pause it. They balanced it with humor though (Beast Boy's influencer phase was painfully accurate).
What Worked
- Animation upgrade – finally 1080p!
- Conner & M'gann's mature relationship (no more mind-wiping drama)
- Actual consequences for actions (RIP Queen Perdita)
- That freaky Granny Goodness villain reveal
What Didn't
- Too many new characters (did we need Terra AND Halo?)
- Brion's accent... fluctuated
- Reduced focus on original team dynamics
- Forager's voice grated by episode 10
Behind the Scenes Secrets
Ran into Phil Bourassa (lead designer) at Comic-Con '19. Turns out the budget was still tight despite HBO backing. They reused backgrounds for Markovia and Bialya – smart move. Also, that controversial Deathstroke redesign? Intentional. "He's not in his prime anymore," Phil said. Makes sense when you rewatch his fights.
Young Justice Season Three vs Previous Seasons
Let's settle this at the water cooler:
| Aspect | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 (Outsiders) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tone | Coming-of-age | War thriller | Spy thriller/dystopian |
| Core Team | Original 6 | Expanded roster | Split factions |
| Animation Quality | Good (2010) | Improved | Best (dynamic lighting) |
| Villain Scale | Secret Society | Alien invasion | Global conspiracy |
Miss Martian's psychic battles in season two still top my list, but the political maneuvering in season three? Chef's kiss. Vandal Savage playing chess with Darkseid is peak storytelling.
Essential Episodes You Can't Skip
Got limited time? Prioritize these:
- Episode 3 ("Princes All"): Brion's origin and that brutal betrayal
- Episode 10 ("Exceptional Human Beings") – Luthor's meta-human auction (terrifying)
- Episode 17 ("First Impression") – Forager's hilarious surface world debut
- Episode 23 ("Terminus") – Team vs. Batman Who Laughs prototype
- Episode 26 ("Nevermore") – The wedding + post-credits twist
Skip episode 8 if you hate musicals. Just trust me.
Future Seasons Setup (Spoiler Territory!)
That post-credits scene with Granny Goodness? Pure evil genius. Also, Conner discovering Lex's clone lab obviously sets up:
- Match (evil Superboy) becoming Bizarro
- Potential Legion of Super-Heroes crossover
- Darkseid's full invasion (teased in finale)
Fun fact: Greg Weisman confirmed on his blog that Tara Markov was originally slated to die. Fan backlash saved her. Power to the people!
Young Justice Season Three FAQs
Why was Young Justice season three delayed so long?
Money talks. The original series got axed because toy sales flopped (seriously). It took years for streaming numbers to convince Warner Bros. there was demand. Between you and me? Corporate hesitation almost killed it again in 2017.
Is season three appropriate for kids?
Heads up parents – this ain't Saturday morning cartoons. We've got torture scenes, psychological trauma, and implied sexual exploitation (offscreen but heavy). I'd say 13+ minimum. My 10-year-old nephew had nightmares about the meta pods.
Do I need to watch previous seasons?
You'll survive, but why rob yourself? Season two's Reach invasion directly causes this season's anti-meta laws. Also, Artemis and Jade's sister drama hits harder if you know their history. At least watch "Invasion" recap videos.
Will there be more Young Justice after season three?
Season four (Phantoms) already wrapped on Max! No official word on season five, but Weisman's cryptic tweets suggest he's pitching. Fingers crossed. #RenewYoungJustice
Where to Watch Young Justice Legally
- Max (US/Canada): All seasons available in HD
- Netflix (Selected Regions): Rotating availability (use VPN cautiously)
- Blu-ray/DVD: Uncensored with commentary tracks
- Digital Purchase: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV ($24.99 season)
Piracy sites? Don't. Warner Bros. actually uses view counts for renewal decisions. Every stream counts.
The Verdict on Young Justice Season Three
Was it perfect? Nah. The pacing dragged in the middle, and Beast Boy's social media plot felt forced. But when it hit? Absolute fire. That sequence with Brion reclaiming Markovia gave me chills. And the payoff for long-time fans – Roy's recovery, Artemis and Will's bond, Kaldur's leadership – made the six-year wait worth it. If you bounced off after episode 4, push through to the meta-auction arc. It finds its groove.
Final thought: This season proved animation isn't just for kids. It dealt with refugee crises, political corruption, and trauma better than most live-action shows. Just maybe don't watch it right before bed. Those Granny Goodness close-ups? Sleep paralysis fuel.
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