Continuing from Task Force X, Tala, under the instruction of Felix Faust, works to reactivate the Annihilator golem that had been stolen from the Watchtower. Unfortunately, Felix betrays her and possesses the armor himself, which he then breaks out of Cadmus and heads towards Themyscira to exact his revenge against Hades. Which is exactly what the Justice League had tried to prevent by sticking the Annihilator on the Watchtower. Nice job breaking it, Cadmus.
Meanwhile at the Watchtower, Flash and Wonder Woman have dinner together to do a little catching up, but things get awkward as it was revealed Flash also had a dinner scheduled with Shayera at the same time, secretly setting it up for the two women to patch things up with each other. It didn't go so well, unfortunately, as their relationship was still pretty sour.
At the infirmary, Wonder Woman sees Martian Manhunter forcibly strapping down Etrigan, Dr. Fate, and Zatanna, who have gone crazy due to Faust's break-in at Tartarus as it began affecting all magic-users. Wonder Woman then gets a surprise visit from Hermes, who gives her a message from Zeus to go to Tartarus and restore Hades to the throne as Faust's usurping has caused a chaotic imbalance. Knowing she can't do this with her current gear, she resorts to breaking into Shayera's room to steal her Nth metal mace, but gets caught. Shayera states that things must be desperate if Wonder Woman was actually doing that, but then tells her that only she can wield it, so if Wonder Woman wants the mace's power, she comes along as well.
This episode includes examples of:
- All for Nothing: Task Force X's mission, in retrospect, because Cadmus would never get to actually use the Annihilator before Faust hijacks it for his own purposes.
- Armor-Piercing Response: When Wonder Woman balks at helping Hades, Hermes cautions her what happens when there isn't a proper order to things and cites what's currently happening in the League's infirmary.
- Bait-and-Switch: After trapping Tala in the mirror, Faust moves as if to break it while Tala blanches in terror. Then he merely straightens the mirror before walking away.
- Blatant Lies: As they head to Themyscira, Diana claims that she already forgave Shayera for the events of "Starcrossed" "long ago". Shayera doesn't buy it.
- Call-Back: Felix Faust returns after "Paradise Lost" where he is now a disembodied spirit seeking revenge against Hades for killing him. Also marks the return of the Annihilator golem made for Ares back in "Hawk and Dove", and now in the custody of Cadmus in the previous episode, "Task Force X".
- The Cameo: The Demons Three appear fighting over some food in Tartarus. When Abnegazar is nabbed by the heroines for some interrogation, Rath and Ghast stay behind and each try to claim the food.
- Casanova Wannabe: Flash plays himself off as this after the disastrous lunch with Wonder Woman and Shayera.Flash: I had dinner with two women at the same time! 'Cause I'm a stud! (smooshes his hand in his mashed potatoes)
- Curse Cut Short: When Hermes informs Diana that Zeus is ordering her to help out Hades...Diana: So he's telling me to go to H—
Hermes: Basically. - Deadpan Snarker: Abnegazar is voiced by Wayne Knight, so this was to be expected.Shayera: One more answer, and it better be the right one.
Abnegazar: Or what? You'll kill me? Gosh, I might end up suffering eternal torment as punishment for my sins. Oh, wait, I already am! - Enemy Mine: Wonder Woman and Shayera have to team up with Hades to fight Faust.
- Exposed to the Elements: Wonder Woman states she doesn't feel cold in the arctic area of Tartarus despite her skimpy attire. Lampshaded by Shayera.Shayera: Of course. The princess doesn't get cold. The princess doesn't even sweat in the fire pits of Tartarus.Wonder Woman: I do too sweat!
- Genre Blindness: After just talking with him about his disdain at being trapped, Tala follows Faust's advice on a spell that will allegedly improve the Annihilator, completely oblivious to how the spell's words clearly point to being an evocation for his freedom.
- God Guise: When she is mistaken for an angel by some demons, she plays the part (see Large Ham below).Shayera: If we're lucky they'll all be that dumb.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: While interrogating Abnegazar for Faust's whereabouts, Shayera plays bad cop and threatens violence. It's not effective since Abnegazar is already dead, but then Wonder Woman realizes the new power her lasso has and uses it while calmly asking questions.
- Heaven Above: This episode has Hawkgirl, an alien from a planet that only ever worshipped Eldritch Abominations, scaring away Hades' minions, beings who work for a polytheistic god, by pointing up to the sky and saying she works for capital-g God.
- How the Mighty Have Fallen: What befell Hades when Faust broke into his domain. Once the ruler of Tartarus, now strapped to a rock in the arctic areas slowly pecked at by vultures.
- Large Ham: When some demons panic after mistaking Shayera for an angel due to her wings, she plays the part for all it's worth. Ironic as her people are atheist.Shayera: That's right! I'm an ANGEL! You can mess with me if you want to, but I don't think you want to mess with the Boss! (points upwards as the demons quickly flee)
- I Lied: Hades offered Faust the library in exchange for being left alone. Faust boasts about taking the deal and then betraying Hades the second he got what he wanted. He lampshades how Hades was surprised by that, despite doing the same to him.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Hades to Diana. Shayera calls it BS and suggests Wonder Woman to use the Lasso of Truth on him to prove if he's lying or not, but doesn't go through with it since to her, it really doesn't matter either way.
- My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Faust's actions in Tartarus throw Order and Chaos out of balance, which afflicts all magically sensitive heroes on the Watchtower with raving agony.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: While Shayera has reconciled with the rest of the founding Leaguers by this point, Diana's the lone holdout. Diana refuses to forgive Shayera for the events of "Starcrossed" and it's only due to them working together during this episode that the grudge is finally dropped.
- Power Limiter:
- Hippolyta reveals because Diana stole the Wonder Woman outfit, her full powers weren't realized. She unlocks them for her before charging into Tartarus.
- Wonder Woman tells Faust that the Annihilator armor has this, that it is powered on rage, so as long as she doesn't fight him, he's powerless. Unfortunately, she gets struck back hard, before Faust reveals he removed that limiter long ago.
- Psychopomp: Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl encounter Charon while venturing into the Underworld. Hermes also appears in this episode, not as a psychopomp, but in his capacity as messenger for Zeus.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Hermes telling Wonder Woman to relax in his presence and politely encouraging her to take up the mission.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Diana won't rescue Hades until she's told it's needed to save the magical balance and her magical friends.
- Revenge Before Reason: Even after agreeing to stop Faust, Wonder Woman is content to leave Hades to rot. When questioned about this, Wonder Woman cites what Hades tried to do to Hippolyta in Season 1 and says Shayera would agree with her if she had been there. Shayera argues that she's letting her personal feelings cloud her judgment, and Wonder Woman ultimately agrees.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Faust's motive in storming Themyscira and Tartarus, to exact revenge on the Amazons and on Hades himself.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Wonder Woman returns to her home despite her banishment back in "Paradise Lost" in order to stop Faust and return Hades back to power in Tartarus. At episode's end, Hippolyta invokes this as she offers hospitality to her daughter and Shayera after restoring balance to chaos.
- Sequel Episode: In addition to being a direct continuation of the events of "Task Force X", this is also very much a sequel to Season One's "Paradise Lost", following up on Hades after he was re-imprisoned. It also follows up on "Starcrossed" and Diana's ongoing refusal to forgive Shayera for her role in the Thanagarian invasion.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Relations between Shayera and Diana are still strained, as Diana still refuses to forgive her colleague for the events of "Starcrossed". They finally bury the hatchet during this episode.
- Threat Backfire: When Wonder Woman and Shayera try to interrogate a demon.Shayera: One more answer, and it better be the right one.Demon: Or what? You'll kill me? Gosh, I might end up suffering eternal torment as punishment for my sins! Oh, wait, I ALREADY AM!
- Title Drop: Done by Jason Blood, as he tries to explain to J'onn what's happening in Tartarus.
- Too Much Alike: Flash mentions this is the reason why Wonder Woman and Shayera can't seem to get along well, which appalls them.
- Two-Faced: Afflicted by Faust's actions, Jason Blood and Etrigan keep shifting back and forth between each other. What's left is ultimately a composite form, with each getting half of the face.
- The Unreveal: Hades claims that he helped Hippolyta sculpt Wonder Woman but was sealed away before she was brought to life. Wonder Woman doesn't care to find out if that's the truth or not because she knows who raised her.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: By stealing the Annihilator from the Watchtower and attempting to use it for their own purposes, Cadmus not only gives Faust a physical form again, but inadvertently trigger the very scenario the Justice League had been trying to prevent when they stored the Annihilator on the Watchtower in the first place.
- Who's Laughing Now?: Faust initially died at Hades' hands due to Loophole Abuse when reviving him in exchange for magical knowledge. Now, Hades struck a deal with Faust to let him use the arcane library as he sees fit. Faust accepts the deal, but seals away Hades anyway, a nod to what had been done to him prior.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Faust uses Tala to free himself from the mirror, and in return traps HER in it since he needed a substitute in order to escape it in the first place. Of course, he never bothered to mention this important little fact to her.
