1
00:00:49,759 --> 00:00:51,761
[theme song playing]
2
00:00:53,179 --> 00:00:54,013
[singing]
Blue Beetle
3
00:00:54,096 --> 00:00:56,849
Blue Beetle, Blue Beetle
4
00:00:56,933 --> 00:00:59,602
When you need some help
He'll save the day
5
00:00:59,685 --> 00:01:02,855
Blue Beetle fights evil
6
00:01:03,731 --> 00:01:07,151
Blue Beetle
With a strobe-light gun, he's on the way
7
00:01:07,234 --> 00:01:10,404
Friends, everyone but the villains
8
00:01:10,905 --> 00:01:14,283
Our hero
Flying his trusty bug
9
00:01:15,242 --> 00:01:18,454
When not fighting crime
He's chillin'
10
00:01:18,537 --> 00:01:22,708
But always willing
To step on a thug
11
00:01:23,584 --> 00:01:28,923
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle, Blue Beetle
12
00:01:29,006 --> 00:01:31,092
When you need some help
He'll save the day
13
00:01:31,175 --> 00:01:34,053
Blue Beetle's on the way
To save the day
14
00:01:38,516 --> 00:01:40,059
[car horns honking]
15
00:01:43,354 --> 00:01:46,732
[suction cups puckering]
16
00:01:52,029 --> 00:01:53,322
-[switch clicks]
-[flame roars]
17
00:02:10,881 --> 00:02:13,426
[Squid 2] Where in the name
of Neptune is it?
18
00:02:13,509 --> 00:02:16,512
[Squid 1] The Boss said
we don't stop lookin' until we find it.
19
00:02:19,890 --> 00:02:22,184
[Squid 2] You can stop looking.
20
00:02:22,268 --> 00:02:25,688
I've found it!
The famous Colossal Star diamond!
21
00:02:25,771 --> 00:02:27,356
Now, let's get out of here.
22
00:02:27,481 --> 00:02:30,526
You're not going anywhere, Octo-morons!
23
00:02:30,609 --> 00:02:31,861
[Squid 1] Blue Beetle!
24
00:02:31,944 --> 00:02:35,197
Sorry, Squid Gang,
that diamond's bigger than your head,
25
00:02:35,322 --> 00:02:36,949
and has a lot more brains.
26
00:02:37,033 --> 00:02:38,993
[Squid 2] This diamond
means everything to us.
27
00:02:39,076 --> 00:02:41,871
We must have it! You won't stop us.
28
00:02:42,413 --> 00:02:45,207
Well, I'm not here
to leave mints on the pillows.
29
00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,086
[Squids grunting, laughing]
30
00:02:51,297 --> 00:02:52,298
[Squid s] Got it.
31
00:02:52,381 --> 00:02:54,216
Haven't lost a game
of "keep away" yet.
32
00:02:54,717 --> 00:02:55,676
[Squid grunts]
33
00:02:57,928 --> 00:03:01,015
[Squid 4] There's always
a first time, Bug Head.
34
00:03:03,768 --> 00:03:04,935
{Squid 1] Woo-hoo!
{Squid 2] Feels great!
35
00:03:05,061 --> 00:03:06,395
[Squid 1] Sayonara, sucker!
36
00:03:06,604 --> 00:03:10,691
Never seen the Squids so emotional.
What could have them so worked up?
37
00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:12,485
[man] That is the question.
38
00:03:14,945 --> 00:03:16,322
Sufferin' scarabs!
39
00:03:16,864 --> 00:03:19,075
Oh, it's you, Question.
40
00:03:19,742 --> 00:03:20,910
Don't do that.
41
00:03:21,118 --> 00:03:24,747
Nothing surprises quite like
an unexpected question.
42
00:03:24,830 --> 00:03:28,376
Look, Question, I'd love to hear more
of your weird criminal theories
43
00:03:28,459 --> 00:03:32,296
on how moral truths exist independently
of human knowledge, or whatever,
44
00:03:32,463 --> 00:03:35,716
but right now, I need to get
that diamond back from the Squids.
45
00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,511
[The Question] Getting it back doesn't
get you the answers you need.
46
00:03:38,677 --> 00:03:41,222
It gets me the diamond,
that's what I need.
47
00:03:41,305 --> 00:03:44,308
But the answer to this mystery
is this question.
48
00:03:44,517 --> 00:03:46,894
"Why did they want it
in the first place?"
49
00:03:46,977 --> 00:03:49,772
[Blue Beetle] A ginormous diamond
worth $5 million?
50
00:03:49,855 --> 00:03:54,276
[The Question] That ginormous diamond
might have more value than money.
51
00:03:54,652 --> 00:03:56,654
You always read way more into things
52
00:03:56,737 --> 00:03:58,697
-than are actually there.
-[belt button beeps]
53
00:04:00,074 --> 00:04:00,908
[The Question] A-ha!
54
00:04:01,909 --> 00:04:03,744
Oh, did you find a blue button,
55
00:04:03,869 --> 00:04:05,538
because one fell off my glove.
56
00:04:05,621 --> 00:04:07,164
A cap from an eight-ounce bottle
57
00:04:07,248 --> 00:04:08,958
of the infamous,
over-caffeinated beverage...
58
00:04:09,208 --> 00:04:10,459
Zortz.
59
00:04:10,626 --> 00:04:14,338
Zortz Cola. I thought
they stopped making that stuff.
60
00:04:14,422 --> 00:04:16,549
Zortz Co. went bankrupt
when the FDA discovered
61
00:04:16,674 --> 00:04:18,384
they'd lied about
the amount of caffeine
62
00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:21,220
and other nearly-toxic chemicals
the drink contained.
63
00:04:21,303 --> 00:04:22,763
How "nearly toxic?"
64
00:04:22,847 --> 00:04:26,058
I mean, [chuckles nervously]
I'll still be able to have kids, right?
65
00:04:26,183 --> 00:04:29,770
That is a question for your urologist.
66
00:04:31,939 --> 00:04:34,400
[Blue Beetle] Okay, if Zortz Co.
Is out of business,
67
00:04:34,483 --> 00:04:37,570
what's one of their bottlecaps doing in
a freshly-cleaned hotel room?
68
00:04:37,945 --> 00:04:42,158
There are three places in Hub City,
that still sell the outdated soda.
69
00:04:42,324 --> 00:04:45,077
So, we go to those markets
and find out who bought the soda,
70
00:04:45,161 --> 00:04:46,954
and that person
could have the diamond.
71
00:04:47,788 --> 00:04:51,000
Dang it! I hate it when
your weird theories are right.
72
00:04:51,083 --> 00:04:52,585
[The Question] We can evade reality,
73
00:04:52,835 --> 00:04:56,338
but we cannot evade the consequences
of evading reality.
74
00:05:00,759 --> 00:05:03,304
So, like, what do you squares want?
75
00:05:03,762 --> 00:05:06,432
'Cause most people
just come here for the Zortz.
76
00:05:06,599 --> 00:05:08,559
Groovy stuff, man.
77
00:05:09,059 --> 00:05:13,189
I notice you have one of those new
closed-circuit TV security systems.
78
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,650
We'd like to know
exactly who is buying Zortz.
79
00:05:16,734 --> 00:05:19,737
Like, everyone, Daddy-O.
80
00:05:19,820 --> 00:05:22,490
It's the ginchiest.
81
00:05:22,781 --> 00:05:24,283
-[fizzes]
-[bottle cap clatters]
82
00:05:28,037 --> 00:05:30,498
Zortz is out of production for a reason.
83
00:05:30,581 --> 00:05:33,375
Water is the only drink
anyone should consume.
84
00:05:33,751 --> 00:05:36,253
We need to see those videotapes.
85
00:05:36,337 --> 00:05:37,963
You're not the fuzz,
86
00:05:38,047 --> 00:05:41,383
why don't you make like Dizzy Gillespie
and scat!
87
00:05:41,717 --> 00:05:43,886
The question isn't who
is going to let me...
88
00:05:43,969 --> 00:05:45,054
[grunts]
89
00:05:45,137 --> 00:05:47,389
It's who is going to stop me?
90
00:05:47,473 --> 00:05:51,769
I, uh... like, see your point, Clyde.
91
00:05:53,145 --> 00:05:54,104
[tape fast forwarding]
92
00:05:54,188 --> 00:05:55,731
-There.
-Where?
93
00:05:55,814 --> 00:05:57,358
Oh, yeah!
94
00:05:57,441 --> 00:06:00,277
He dropped a penny
in the leave-a-penny jar.
95
00:06:00,528 --> 00:06:02,947
That's what you call a stand-up cat.
96
00:06:03,030 --> 00:06:05,574
Let's get that penny jar
back to The Bug.
97
00:06:07,326 --> 00:06:10,996
Hey! It's "leave a penny, take a penny."
98
00:06:11,163 --> 00:06:14,458
A penny. Not all the pennies, man.
99
00:06:14,583 --> 00:06:15,751
I'll send you a check!
100
00:06:18,671 --> 00:06:19,672
[The Question] Here it is.
101
00:06:19,755 --> 00:06:21,298
The Squid's penny.
102
00:06:21,382 --> 00:06:25,010
Well... [scoffs]
How do you know it's the right penny?
103
00:06:25,302 --> 00:06:28,889
It's the only one without fingerprints.
Squids wear gloves.
104
00:06:29,014 --> 00:06:33,060
Hmm, and it's much shinier
than the other pennies to boot,
105
00:06:33,394 --> 00:06:35,771
but what is this substance?
106
00:06:36,188 --> 00:06:39,608
Let's get a chemical breakdown
of whatever this coating is.
107
00:06:40,109 --> 00:06:41,360
[computer trilling]
108
00:06:44,488 --> 00:06:45,698
[computer beeps]
109
00:06:46,991 --> 00:06:48,909
Cerium oxide?
110
00:06:49,034 --> 00:06:51,287
That's a high-grade polishing agent.
111
00:06:51,453 --> 00:06:52,705
Very expensive.
112
00:06:52,788 --> 00:06:56,083
It's used to polish mirrors for
sophisticated telescopic equipment.
113
00:06:56,166 --> 00:06:58,002
I know. Kord Industries used it
114
00:06:58,085 --> 00:07:00,421
on the telescopic amplifier
we sold to the military.
115
00:07:01,463 --> 00:07:05,217
Uh, I mean... they sold to the military,
116
00:07:05,301 --> 00:07:07,720
which I read about in the paper.
117
00:07:07,845 --> 00:07:09,805
[The Question]
That amplifier was stolen last week,
118
00:07:09,888 --> 00:07:11,682
right out from under their noses.
119
00:07:11,807 --> 00:07:15,728
It's not your fault. There's no way you,
aka Ted Kord,
120
00:07:15,811 --> 00:07:18,772
could've known the military would've
been so careless with your invention.
121
00:07:19,023 --> 00:07:21,191
No, no, I'm not... Ted Kord.
122
00:07:21,275 --> 00:07:23,861
[stammers] Well, I mean who is Ted Kord.
[chuckles nervously]
123
00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,322
You, sir, that is not...
124
00:07:26,405 --> 00:07:29,325
If this diamond theft has something
to do with the telescopic amplifier,
125
00:07:29,408 --> 00:07:31,702
that you, as Ted Kord, invented--
126
00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:34,079
-I'm not Ted Kord.
-...we need to find it.
127
00:07:34,538 --> 00:07:36,332
That's something I can help with.
128
00:07:36,457 --> 00:07:40,085
Every Kord product has a brilliantly
designed homing beacon created by...
129
00:07:40,377 --> 00:07:43,464
[sighs] me, Ted Kord.
130
00:07:46,050 --> 00:07:50,012
Boss, you're gonna be thrilled!
We got you the diamond!
131
00:07:50,262 --> 00:07:53,307
[laughs evilly] A few more adjustments,
132
00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:56,060
and my magnificent aura oscillator
133
00:07:56,143 --> 00:07:59,730
will be ready for
its final crowning glory!
134
00:08:05,736 --> 00:08:07,738
Sorry to drop in unannounced...
135
00:08:08,197 --> 00:08:09,740
Doctor Spectro.
136
00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:11,033
Yes, it is I,
137
00:08:11,450 --> 00:08:13,243
Doctor Spectro,
138
00:08:13,369 --> 00:08:16,997
the emperor of emotions,
the finagler of feelings.
139
00:08:17,247 --> 00:08:19,750
You societal leeches can make it
easier on yourselves
140
00:08:19,833 --> 00:08:21,293
and hand that diamond over.
141
00:08:21,502 --> 00:08:25,631
No way! This diamond
belongs to Doctor Spectro!
142
00:08:26,215 --> 00:08:29,676
Spectro uses emotional manipulation
to control people.
143
00:08:29,802 --> 00:08:30,636
That's how he--
144
00:08:30,719 --> 00:08:32,805
That's how he got the Squids
to steal that diamond.
145
00:08:32,971 --> 00:08:35,933
By artificially instilling
affection and loyalty.
146
00:08:36,016 --> 00:08:38,268
So, you've encountered
Doctor Spectro before?
147
00:08:38,352 --> 00:08:40,813
No, it just seemed obvious.
148
00:08:41,146 --> 00:08:43,774
They do whatever I command.
149
00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:46,944
And soon,
so will everyone on the planet!
150
00:08:47,403 --> 00:08:51,281
He's going to use the giant diamond,
the perfect refracting element,
151
00:08:51,365 --> 00:08:55,077
to make the telescopic amplifier
an emotional amplifier.
152
00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,205
With that kind of power,
he could take over the world.
153
00:08:58,330 --> 00:09:00,290
We aren't going to let him.
154
00:09:01,959 --> 00:09:03,836
But we are.
155
00:09:04,086 --> 00:09:05,838
Captain Atom and Nightshade?
156
00:09:06,422 --> 00:09:08,757
But you're fellow
Charlton action heroes.
157
00:09:10,634 --> 00:09:12,511
You Squids sit this one out.
158
00:09:12,594 --> 00:09:16,223
I want to see the Nuclear Nemesis
and the Debutante of Darkness
159
00:09:16,348 --> 00:09:18,767
battle these interlopers.
160
00:09:18,976 --> 00:09:22,187
Don't worry, Doctor Spectro.
We'll incinerate this insect.
161
00:09:22,438 --> 00:09:25,524
And punch this one
right where his face should be.
162
00:09:25,816 --> 00:09:29,736
Spectro has them under his control,
just like the Squids. But how?
163
00:09:29,820 --> 00:09:33,615
Unlike the Squids, they're
strong-willed, and individualistic.
164
00:09:33,824 --> 00:09:36,535
Of course, he must've
imbued the soda with a chemical,
165
00:09:36,618 --> 00:09:38,871
which heightens his
emotional-manipulating waves
166
00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:41,874
creating the perfect substance
for mind control.
167
00:09:46,086 --> 00:09:47,713
[both grunting]
168
00:09:53,302 --> 00:09:54,845
[Blue Beetle grunting]
169
00:09:55,471 --> 00:09:57,473
Snap out of it, Nightshade.
170
00:09:57,556 --> 00:10:00,768
You hate Spectro more than you hate
an outdoor brunch in Palm Springs.
171
00:10:00,976 --> 00:10:02,519
Oh, I used to think that.
172
00:10:03,729 --> 00:10:04,855
[groans]
173
00:10:05,564 --> 00:10:07,149
But now, I understand him.
174
00:10:07,232 --> 00:10:11,528
He deserves love, devotion,
just as you deserve this!
175
00:10:11,612 --> 00:10:13,071
[both grunt]
176
00:10:15,532 --> 00:10:17,034
Now, ain't that a kick in the head.
177
00:10:24,249 --> 00:10:25,209
[The Question grunts]
178
00:10:26,418 --> 00:10:29,880
Captain Atom, resist Spectro's control.
179
00:10:29,963 --> 00:10:31,590
I want to.
180
00:10:31,882 --> 00:10:36,261
I don't know how his emotional rays
penetrated my nuclear forcefield.
181
00:10:38,013 --> 00:10:40,682
That soda did this to you.
Use your energy ray
182
00:10:40,766 --> 00:10:43,685
to change its molecular structure
and create an antidote.
183
00:10:44,478 --> 00:10:46,605
I'll try.
184
00:10:50,192 --> 00:10:51,318
[straining]
185
00:10:55,030 --> 00:10:56,198
[groaning]
186
00:10:56,281 --> 00:10:59,201
I hope this works.
187
00:11:07,209 --> 00:11:09,378
Whoa, that was just
what the doctor ordered,
188
00:11:09,461 --> 00:11:12,214
-and not Doctor Spectro!
-[growls]
189
00:11:14,591 --> 00:11:16,385
A question for Nightshade...
190
00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,013
How would you like
a nice, refreshing soda?
191
00:11:21,306 --> 00:11:24,226
[grunts] Why, you faceless freak!
192
00:11:27,771 --> 00:11:30,566
Blue Beetle?
Sorry about the shakedown.
193
00:11:30,649 --> 00:11:32,818
Let's make sure Spectro
gets it a lot worse.
194
00:11:32,901 --> 00:11:36,196
Count on it.
Q, you and Cap take the Squids.
195
00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,448
Shade and I will get Spectro.
196
00:11:38,657 --> 00:11:40,284
Too late!
197
00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:42,786
-[machine powers up]
-Too late. [laughs evilly]
198
00:11:44,079 --> 00:11:47,040
[all grunting, straining]
199
00:11:48,542 --> 00:11:49,793
[cries]
200
00:11:50,794 --> 00:11:54,464
Waves of sadness bombarding me.
201
00:11:55,048 --> 00:11:57,759
Everything about me is a lie.
202
00:11:58,051 --> 00:12:00,637
I'm too depressed to fight.
203
00:12:07,811 --> 00:12:11,023
-[all crying]
-[car tires screech, crashes]
204
00:12:26,955 --> 00:12:31,251
What if jazz is, like,
the biggest sellout of all?
205
00:12:31,543 --> 00:12:32,836
[cries]
206
00:12:35,672 --> 00:12:37,841
[Doctor Spectro] Citizens of Hub City,
207
00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:41,345
you are under the control
of Doctor Spectro!
208
00:12:41,428 --> 00:12:45,641
Obey my will. It is your only hope.
209
00:12:45,724 --> 00:12:46,725
[all crying]
210
00:12:46,808 --> 00:12:53,106
Must fight it. I'll never live for
the sake of another man's will!
211
00:12:53,523 --> 00:12:56,151
What? Impossible!
212
00:12:56,234 --> 00:12:58,695
No, objective reality.
213
00:12:58,820 --> 00:13:01,865
-Emotion, sadness, anger, love...
-[growls menacingly]
214
00:13:02,157 --> 00:13:05,202
they're not real,
just hormonal imbalances.
215
00:13:05,494 --> 00:13:07,954
Once you subjugate
emotion with reality,
216
00:13:08,038 --> 00:13:11,833
which I do every day,
emotion becomes powerless.
217
00:13:11,917 --> 00:13:15,587
Facts don't care about your feelings.
And the fact is...
218
00:13:15,837 --> 00:13:17,881
I'm about to knock you out.
219
00:13:18,507 --> 00:13:19,716
[grunts]
220
00:13:24,137 --> 00:13:26,348
-[machine crashes]
-[gasps]
221
00:13:27,516 --> 00:13:28,809
No!
222
00:13:29,017 --> 00:13:30,602
-[machine powers down]
-[all groaning]
223
00:13:33,605 --> 00:13:37,609
No! My super sad subjects,
224
00:13:37,693 --> 00:13:41,822
my depressed darlings,
they are no more.
225
00:13:41,988 --> 00:13:45,367
Okay, Squids,
this is the end of the line.
226
00:13:45,450 --> 00:13:48,578
Scratch everything off your to-do list
except jail.
227
00:13:48,662 --> 00:13:51,081
[Squid 2] But we were under his spell.
228
00:13:51,164 --> 00:13:53,208
[Squid 1] You can't blame us.
229
00:13:53,291 --> 00:13:56,420
Q, I have to admit,
I underestimated you.
230
00:13:56,712 --> 00:13:58,171
You're an incredible hero
231
00:13:58,547 --> 00:14:00,132
and an even better friend.
232
00:14:00,215 --> 00:14:02,217
Friendship isn't
objectively real, either.
233
00:14:02,384 --> 00:14:04,511
Ugh, you really are the worst.
234
00:14:04,803 --> 00:14:06,596
[chuckles] Come on.
235
00:14:06,680 --> 00:14:08,765
Let's get Spectro
into The Bug and off to jail.
236
00:14:08,932 --> 00:14:11,268
[gasps] Sufferin' scarabs!
237
00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:13,520
-He's gone!
-What?
238
00:14:13,603 --> 00:14:17,274
That distortion, just like Nightshade's.
239
00:14:17,357 --> 00:14:20,193
He must've slipped through reality
into a pocket dimension.
240
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,363
No, he can't. He must face justice.
241
00:14:23,530 --> 00:14:25,532
He must be punished for his crimes.
242
00:14:25,657 --> 00:14:26,825
Easy there, buddy.
243
00:14:26,908 --> 00:14:29,786
Don't get swept away
by a hormonal imbalance.
244
00:14:30,620 --> 00:14:32,956
[The Question]
No, it's objectively wrong.
245
00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,375
[Blue Beetle] Come on, pal.
You're all keyed up.
246
00:14:35,625 --> 00:14:36,793
You need to relax.
247
00:14:37,169 --> 00:14:40,464
I'll take you out
for a nice, refreshing soda.
248
00:14:42,549 --> 00:14:44,551
[theme music playing]