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The World's Finest Presents
Wired, Part 1

Episode #014 (385-621) - Wired, Part 1
Original Airdate - March 30th, 2002

Zee and Ro encounter a gang of tech-savvy teens, who have followed them on the net and want to help. At first Zee and Ro trust them, but then realize too late that it’s a trap, and all these kids want is to strip Zeta for parts.

Media by Borg4of3
Review by Matt Zimmer		 Credits:
Producer Liz Holzman, Robert Goodman
Associate Producer Haven Alexander
Written by Robert Goodman
Directed by Tim Maltby
Directed by Curt Geda
Music by Michael McCuistion
Animation Services Sum Min Image Pictures

Voices:
Diedrich Bader as Zeta / Zee
Julie Nathanson as Ro
Kurtwood Smith as Agent Bennet
Michael Rosenbaum as Agent West
Dominique Jennings as Agent Rush
Paul Amendt as Plug
Blayn Barbosa as Bucky
Amy Danles as Meg
Googy Gress as Buss
 
Screen Grabs






Pans


 
Review

The second season kicks off with a rip-roaring two parter.

In "Wired: Part One" Zeta and Ro are STILL on the run from government agents. Agent Lee has been replaced with Agent Rush, a no-nonsense woman who takes an instant dislike to Agent West (a delightfully doofy Michael Rosenbaum). As the NSA agents close in on Zee and Ro a group of tech geek kids rescue them. They claim to be Zeta and Ro's biggest fans and even dress like them. (At one point Ro quips "I'm going to have to get a new shirt.") They say they can set up a meeting between Zeta and Selig by the end of the day.

Unfortunately their REAL plan is to strip down Zeta's hardware for his technology which they do once he and Ro are separated. Ro is taken hostage by a geek named Bus who has a huge crush on her. She escapes and rushes back to the geek’s quarters to find Zeta. He has ALSO managed to escape just as NSA agents close in. They take off but are soon cornered. Bus comes by and whisks Ro away at the last second to "save" her as Zeta is captured. Ro learns that Zeta is being taken back to NSA headquarters for reprogramming and having his memory wiped.

This is a great episode and proof that after a disappointing first season The Zeta Project has finally gotten on track. There are genuine moments of tension as Zeta realizes what a bad spot he is in. The writing has improved greatly. The first season had a lot of tired storytelling and clichéd dialogue but other than a laughably bad love song sung by Bus the writing has improved a lot.

The animation is also much better. Zeta sports a sleek, new look and the designs flow together much better. The characters have bold outlines around them and look cartoonier and it gives a look that's certainly different from any other DCAU series but actually works.

A great start to the second season and proof that this show DOES belong in the DCAU.

Story: ****
Animation: ****
Average: ****
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