WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Quiet Conversations," Episode 20 of Young Justice: Outsiders, streaming now on DC Universe.
Young Justice: Outsiders is slowly introducing some of the teens rescued from the metahuman-trafficking ring into different areas of the heroes' organization, such as the Taos recovery center, and assigning them to senior members for training to become part of the Young Justice initiative.
That expansion is heavily focused on Beast Boy's public relations squad, as the heroes want to ensure the kids are rehabilitated, and rise through the ranks to get the full experience. In the latest episode, Justice League leader Aquaman (that is, Kaldur'ahm, the former Aqualad) receive his own protege: Dolphin, a character with major ties in the comics to the original Aquaman.
One of the teens rescued from Lex Luthor's Project Rutabaga was an unknown Indian girl who grew gills and became a water-breather, with markings similar to those of an Atlantean. Kaldur decides to take her to the only place where she can survive, Atlantis.
He even uses Atlantean sorcery to allow her to speak their language, which shocks her, as all she knew was Hindi. We don't have a clue as to who she is, but as she meets King Orin (the former Aquaman) and Kaldur's boyfriend, Wynnde, one scene catches the eye, indicating her future moniker: She plays with a dolphin in a scene that more or less confirms she is this show's version of Dolphin, introduced in the comics in 1968.
In the source material, Dolphin was a Caucasian woman experimented on by aliens, only to escape and roam the sea. She learned sign language and, later, was inducted into Atlantean society; she even became Aquaman's lover. After they broke up, Dolphin began a relationship with Tempest (the original Aqualad), continuing her role as an integral part of the sea kingdom,.
On Young Justice, she's reimagined as the new sidekick of Kaldur, and someone in which he sees a lot of potential, rather than the show opting to make her a romantic interest for anyone. She's super-intuitive as well, recognizing Kal is hiding a major secret.
However, she doesn't press the issue further, as she knows she's going to be groomed for greatness. Her sincere attitude, however, does have an effect on Kal, who starts to feel guilty for his deception with the Outsiders.
Dolphin is left in the care of Kaldur's parents in Atlantis, and becomes part of King Orin's court. Hopefully we get to see her training, and get an idea of the full extent of her abilities; she appears to have hydrokinesis, as in the comics, but she may also be a telepath.
New episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders premiere Tuesdays throughout the summer on DC Universe.
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