Batman The Animated Series: Season 4

You cannot ever change my mind that this isn't a part of the Animated Series.

Officially titled The New Batman Adventures, this series started about 2 years after the Animated Series wrapped up and despite the same voice cast and character relationships is a heavy departure in animation style. Dubbed "the red sky season" by fans, the character designs, backgrounds, and overall animation got a major new facelift essentially making the lines sharper and the colors more on the colder darker side. Now on one hand I can see why people might be against certain characters that got redesigned, but I don't actually take issue with any except one (but not the one you might think). But it baffles me how people say this isn't a part of the Animated Series based on animation style alone, that's like someone saying Star Wars Rebels has nothing to do with The Clone Wars because it looks different. Sod that and sod off, this is the last season of the show. Only totalling in 24 episodes, it's a mighty quick season to knock out to the point where you could feasibly do it in a day. So what stood out most? We start off in a fun multi-story of Gotham Knights, and right off the bat (no pun intended I swear) you can tell the tone in this is more lighter than the other 3 seasons. It's difficult to explain but easy to notice as we see Ivy and Harley go on a shopping spree, Babs takes on Clayface, and the Joker and Batman have a new year's eve brawl which reminds me of The Long Halloween sorta. And you may notice this like I did but I almost feel like one of the animators had a massive black lipstick fetish because seriously, every woman in this show seems to wear black lipstick or dang near close to black. It's very odd and I have no idea why, but I like that Harley kept her design despite a slightly bluer face and Red actually looks more plant like which I dig the hell out of. Next up is Sins Of The Father working as a origin for technically the third Robin Tim Drake, but no love for Jason in this show, as we see young Tim as a thief on the streets that gets tangled up in a Two-Face caper and becomes the new Boy Wonder. It's good to see a young Robin with a lot of attitude and it works quite well for the show. I will not tarnish the young actor Mathew Valencia, he does admirable work but I did notice a fair few times where the line delivery was very flat, but not in a sarcastic smartass way like we see often, yet no harm no foul. Harvey I think looks the slickest of all the redesigned rogues gallery, and that suit is still pure Kino. Next episode Cold Comfort. Alright. I f***ing hate how they handled Mister Freeze in this season, which is odd because the episode set farther in the future with him in Batman Beyond I felt was a pretty good send off for the character which was after this episode was made. So Freeze after his wife has been revived and cured is going after people's passion projects for no other reason than for people to feel his pain which already is so unlike Victor and the fact that....Jesus Christ. His body has deteriorated away due to his condition and he is now a head in a robot suit. Yet they somehow crafted him one in Batman Beyond, go figure. His story should have ended in Subzero, that is all I am saying on the matter. But then! Ohhhh yes! My boy is back, Dr. Crane and holy jumping lemurs is this the version I wish we had so so much more of. Listen to the creators talk about the redesign, even they felt they went too far and too scary with this character. So unfortunately we lose Henry Polic but in his stead is Herbert West himself, Jeffrey Combs and guess what? That voice is nightmare fuel in it's most glorious state. Just this eerily quiet, calm, haunting voice coming out of what looks like a walking corpse in a old west duster and hat, just 10 out of f***ing 10!! Why in the depths of hell was he not used more? Now I treasure Henry Polic, John Noble is mind shatteringly amazing in Arkham Knight, Robert Englund is the epitome of fan casting brilliance in Injustice, but this is the one I feel we need back. Great episode material too with Crane actually taking people's fears away and ransoming the antidote, while actually eliminating Batman's fear of even killing people. Damn, this was a home run. Then we get some Nightwing action in You Scratch My Back, where he forms a fragile alliance with Selina, who I think the redesign is more minimalistic but still works, and the constant power shift between master cat burglar and solo mullet crusader is pretty great honestly. Joker's Millions could easily be an episode of The Twilight Zone with some little rewrites and I never thought I would see the Joker living in poverty, well besides in Joaquin's movie of course. Growing Pains, wow. This episode kinda cut me as a kid, with Robin finding a young lost girl who has more to her past than she remembers. This is a fairly emotional story, with a heartbreaking ending that I must applaud as an adult that they went that far with the story. Mean Seasons while a good episode I think is elevated by the commentary within, a former model has taken on the monicrum of Calendar Girl and pulls a Baby Doll kidnapping her old bosses for booting her out for turning 30. Like man, I am dead serious this bullshit system where older women who aren't even close to being old can't find work in some shade of entertainment or modelling industry can get off my goddamn planet, it is insane how unbelievably relevant this still is today and you can also kinda read it as how people with low self-esteem or even depression can only see faults in themselves despite there being plenty to like and admire about them. It's very good solid writing that makes me recommend this as a must watch episode. The Demon Within brings back a ton of magic in this series, and I just love the comraderie and unspoken past encounters and friendship Bruce has with Jason Blood, better known as the demon Etrigan, which comes up later on in the Justice League series. Good stuff. Then the bomb drops, Over The Edge. I am not saying a friggin' word, just imagine the most worst possible Elseworlds situation about the Batfamily and watch it. Solid gold. Love Is A Croc, really only struck me by just the sheer fascinating idea of what if Baby Doll and Killer Croc did heists together? I am so bewildered this pairing even exists let alone how and why someone thought it up. I will however state I love Baby Doll's voice actor, and we were on the verge of a truly niche relationship in this episode. Just watch it and try not to think anything nauuuughtyyyyy. The Ultimate Thrill was a lot of fun, entirely on the basis of Roxy Rocket who I might be admiring a bit too much, she's a total adrenaline junkie and does some wild ass stunts just to rob people but there's something about her I just like. God dang redheads man, I cannot help myself! Then we jump ahead a bit to Old Wounds, which for very briefly albeit had my money as the best episode of the show. Just the fact that we finally see the seed which was planted back in 1992 with Dick being in college, grow to where we see him call it quits with Bruce and becomes his own agent was wonderful to see and even if you are a major Batman fan and knew Dick would become something more it pays off very well I think. But then comes the crown jewel of the season, Legends Of The Dark Knight. It is so simple but such a loving and wonderful tribute to the iterations of the World's Greatest Detective, where three kids discuss what Batman actually is like. We get a terrific 1950s tribute with a silly Joker, an out there caper, the Dynamic Duo just one stop short of Adam West and Burt Ward revisiting the characters, and it is presented in all it's silver age glory even to the point I myself shouted great scott! Then we flip to the other side of the board where The Dark Knight Returns is presented and while still keeping it's feet firmly in the animation style of the show did such a faithful job getting so many touches of that story, abridging the fight with the mutant leader and giving some fair recognition to Carrie Kelley. I will not however stand for that snub shot to Joel Schumacher, yes I'm in a minority here but the man introduced me to the Batman and made me the fan I am today from Batman Forever alone, I have a lot to owe him. Best episode of the season, probably even top 10 of the whole show. Girl's Night Out at first I thought was going to be another Harley and Ivy romp but turns out all the female costume crowd came out to play, we get Livewire from the Superman Animated Series which I will admit I haven't seen much of but I love her voice and personality a great deal, our favorite girl team is still living together, and both Batgirl and Supergirl team up and even find some solace in each other's opposite lives. This is easily an episode just for the fun match ups and thusly is one of the most fun episodes of the entire show. Beware The Creeper honest to God, the only things I have to say about this episode is that Harley scene, holy moly. And the character of the Creeper practically shouted Freakazoid to me from the word go, I almost was flat out expecting the same voice actor to do both parts. Other than that, pretty crazy but pretty funny. Now we come to a similar problem that the last season had, the last ever episode broadcasted for this show was Mad Love finally laying Harley's backstory bare and seeing her near fatal death which is a positively shocking way to go out. Yet the last episode on my DVD's is Judgement Day, which truthfully is almost if not more shocking and weird to end on as a new face arrives in Gotham and passes sentence on various rogues gallery inductees, and had an almost Psycho-esque ending the more I think about it. The show ends on a fairly creepy note and then that's it. It's all over. So it is an unfortunate circumstance that there really was no definitive ending, but I don't think that was fully a thing for animated shows back then and really, knowing full and well that more shows came out which only built upon the backbone of The Animated Series makes that criticism a moot point, it keeps continuing in some form or another. Batman Beyond, Justice League, the Superman Animated Series, even Static Shock kept this animated DC legacy going. True there are other timelines, universes, whatever you want to call them but this is the one all of them have to thank for even being around. Batman The Animated Series did a tremendous lot for the comics, for the shows, for the games, for an entire generation and then some to this day. Not every episode is a 10/10, not every season has nothing but great things to talk about, it's the overall experience that makes it so good. It's seeing these animators, these creators, these voice actors commit to bringing you Batman and making it accesible and fun for everyone to watch. It's a classic still talked about for a reason, and I just like talking about it. 4 stars, 9/10 for the season but a full 10/10 for the show as a whole, and my lord there is still so much to talk about with the other shows for another day. It can be cruel, poetic, or blind but when denied it's violence you may find in my reviewing mind for The Batman. Will justice be served for all fans?

Batman The Animated Series: Season 3

The end of an era and technically the end of The Animated Series.

This is where the game changes a bit. Time for backstory! Originally Batman The Animated Series was 65 episodes, but Fox ordered twenty more episodes once they saw what a powerhouse show it was, so the show was only two seasons, and even technically the name was changed from Batman The Animated Series to The New Adventures Of Batman & Robin. But as I said I'm reviewing the show based off the volumed releases on DVD which not only splits it into 4 (we'll talk about that next time) seasons but it also plays the episodes in a different order from when they were broadcasted. I actually prefer it the way the DVD's present it which I will elaborate on when we get to the end. I feel though the animation style hasn't changed it's found it's sure footing and still looks really good, you can see subtle improvements throughout the show as you progress. Again, not really delving into productions aspects but discussing the best episodes that stuck out to me. We start off very very strong with the two parter Shadow Of The Bat that introduced Batgirl into the show and has a proper good story as to why she takes up her own secret identity. Another two parter that very much had me hooked is The Demon's Quest where we finally come face to face with Ra's al Ghul played splendidly by David Warner who has such a terrific voice and carries himself flawlessly as Ra's, as he enlists the help of Batman to find both Robin and Talia. You can tell they really did base the Arkham series first and foremost on this show and not just because of the voice cast, they introduce Ra's who is over 600 years old and the lazarus pits and the romance between Bruce and Talia. It's a great episode and hey I'm sure a shirtless Batman dueling with swords was a very eye opening (in more ways than one) experience for a lot of young folks out there. A Bullet For Bullock might be the best underrated gem of this season, not only did it nab the show another Emmy but it finally gives us some one on one time with Harvey, and I love how the show crafted his gruff demeanor and distaste of Batman without making him a completely unlikable jackass, you get so many character moments of him throughout the show but this episode really had a lot to appreciate from me. Right after that comes another big fan favorite episode Trial, where the new DA of Gotham is kidnapped along with the Caped Crusader and is forced to defend him in a kangaroo court of Arkham's finest, with the slight issue of the fact that our DA well she's not a big fan of bats by any stretch either. This is a terrific episode that brings up the question of does Batman really create the supervillains he fights, without being very pretentious in terms of writing and has fun with the idea of a madcap not even barely legal court trial with the Joker as judge, it's a wonderful time with our beloved maniacs. You know what I realized? We get more solo Ra's al Ghul stories in this season than we get solo Joker stories, a trilogy of the demon's head with The Demon's Quest, Avatar which I think is the first episode in this series that unequivocally introduces elements of the supernatural, and Showdown which is kind of a weird off story with Jonah Hex encountering Ra's in the late 1800s, still a good and actiony story in my opinion though it does make me wonder why they decided to introduce Jonah in the first place. Lord knows if I got David Warner on my project I would use him as much as possible too, but it's interesting to see how he stacks up in terms of episodes. I guess you could argue the same could be kinda said in the Dark Knight trilogy but I digress. Harlequinade is a bonkers story pretty much from the word go, somehow....I will never know how, some dipshit gangster gets his hands on an atomic with a capital A-Bomb which is then stolen by the Joker forcing Bats to enlist the help of Harley so Gotham isn't turned into the opening titles of Terminator 2. Granted I like the story and it is unashamedly comic book, which if there is anything I have learned in my entire life is, our lot loves the lavishly ludicrous. Comic books are weird and I wouldn't have them any other way. Top performances from Mark Hamill and Arleen Sorkin, who made me laugh to beat the band. Then we get an episode I don't surprisingly hear that much about with Bane, and I don't know why. This is proper intelligent, cunning, mercenary Bane hired to kill the Bat, and granted up front I haven't read Knightfall it is on my list, but this really really seems like Knightfall Bane in animated form. They get so much character info on him in 22 minutes that would please any hardcore Batman fan, his life sentence in prison, Project Gilgamesh, Bane's obsession with the Bat, his tactical thinking, Venom, he even almost does the back breaker move, and remember Bane wasn't even in the comics yet for 5 years. He was introduced in 1993, so it's impressive how much of an impact he made while the show was still being made to the point where they had to include him. And the hits keep coming with a surprisingly dark, psychological, and kinda depressing ending with Baby Doll where a television star who was born with a rare disease that stops her from aging kidnaps all her co-stars to essentially live the glory days of her career. It's like if you took Misery, Sunset Boulevard, and Orphan, mixed them all together and presented it as an episode of a children's animated show. I mean obviously it doesn't dig super deep in her psychosis or does anything graphic but you can read everything into it and it really is compelling and powerful storytelling. I genuinely get misty eyed at the end in the house of mirrors, it's just such an emotional climax and a f***ing downer to boot. I love it. Then we kinda get into a last hurrah, a victory circuit for some of the rogue's gallery as we reach the end which is probably why they did it in the first place. Riddler's Reform might honestly be my favorite of his episodes, where the Riddler goes straight but not yet he ain't as he is forcefully compelled to give clues and hints to his overall scheme with Batman giving him one puzzle he can't solve. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this episode over his other appearances, and I can't even really narrow it down as to why this is my favorite. I think because the riddles and puzzles are more subtle, and it weaves such an interesting story cause you almost believe Nygma is being legitimate but Batman is fully right when he says he can't stop and always will leave a clue behind. It just further compliments why the Riddler is one of my all time favorites. And right after that we get Second Chance which I almost feel is based off a Two-Face comic, where Harvey is about to have reconstructive surgery but is kidnapped during the operation and Batman takes the case very personally and close to the chest to find Harvey. I cannot fully express how much I love the relationship between Bruce and Harvey in this series, because Harvey is still Bruce's best friend even after what happened to him and Bruce never gives up on his friend and helps him pay for the surgery. I mean you can feel that bond, that care and respect between these two men which only bolsters the tragedy of Harvey Dent, it's some of the show's absolute best writing in my opinion. But we get a light and fun episode with Harley's Holiday where Harley is released from Arkham and through the smallest of misunderstandings kidnaps a young socialite, and then is proceeded to be chased by the Batmobile, the cops, and the socialite's father in a friggin' tank, yes I'm serious. It almost goes for a Smokey And The Bandit vibe with the car chase shenanigans which I greatly appreciate but this is an episode steeped in madness meant for nothing but unadulterated enjoyment which I feel it succeeds at. And then, we finally get the return of Mr. Freeze in Deep Freeze, an episode that while edging towards comic book outlandishness has some of the best animation cells in the show's history and still has the heart and emotion that made Heart Of Ice so damn good and a return of Victor Fries must be applauded, and for those who want the end to his story go read my Subzero review and watch it because it is a great movie and a terrific send off for his character. And now comes the last episode of the season but not the true last episode of The Animated Series, like I said the episodes are not watched in order of broadcast and this is where I get to talk about it. The real last episode of Batman The Animated Series debuted September 15th 1995 entitled The Lion And The Unicorn, a decent episode where Alfred is kidnapped by terrorist Red Claw and some light is shed on Alfred's service in the British Secret Service, and that was how the whole show ended. But the last episode on the last disc of volume 3 is Batgirl Returns, where Babs teams up with Catwoman to find a jewel thief while Robin is on their heels and Bruce isn't even in Gotham leaving the sidekicks to keep track of Selina and her possible double cross and the culprits who stole a jade statue. I think this is actually a terrific and much more appropriate end to the series, it almost reminds me of the Birds Of Prey show with a very similar ending, the sidekicks are looking after the city while Batman is gone and that there will always be another time when crimefighter and wrong doer will cross paths again. I think the dynamic between Barbara and Selina is a strong one and shows a capable but still young Batgirl in her crimefighting career, though I personally do not ship Bruce and Babs on any level as I've gotten older. Regardless, in my opinion the true final episode and a mighty good one to go out on if you ask me. Yet it's not really the end, years went by and a new Batman series came out that follows so closely in the footsteps of this show that I see zero reason why it can't also hold the title of Batman The Animated Series. 4 stars, 10/10, and one more season to cap it off.

Batman The Animated Series: Season 2

It's tricky to review this show cause technically the first season is 65 episodes and only technically had two season so just bear with me.

So obviously there isn't much that has "improved" since the last season since these episodes were made in close proximity to the ones previously reviewed, and the cast reamins the same. So at least for right now this is more of a discussion of episodes that I took great interest in and had things I really wanted to talk about. Perchance To Dream, which is Kevin Conroy's favorite episode of them all is the second episode of this season, and has a premise that works brilliantly. Bruce Wayne wakes up one day to find his parents alive, he's engaged to Selina, and someone else has taken up the mantle of the Batman but he still knows he's Batman, so it becomes this psychological dive into Bruce's mind and his perfect world that he wants no part of. Obviously if this was the basis for a graphic novel they could super easily make it a dark, twisted, psychoanalytical story about Bruce and why he feels compelled to put on the cape and cowl, and that's a book I would gladly read. Robin's Reckoning was a powerhouse two parter for me, finally we get Dick's backstory and origin as Robin as he confronts the man who took his parents life. Honestly, with a few rewrites this could be the episode where he becomes Nightwing, he really clashes with Bruce and his emotions get the better of him. A true classic for a character we haven't spent much time with. The Laughing Fish is another iconic fan favorite, more Joker and Harley action that digs just a tiny bit into Harley's undying affection for him, it's a damn good episode. The Strange Secret Of Bruce Wayne introduces Dr. Hugo Strange (I prefer Professor Strange so we don't mux up our Doctor Strange's.) who through a psychological machine discovers the true identity of Bruce Wayne (Just like Batman Forever!), and places his secret to the highest bidder where Joker, Two-Face, and Penguin bid for it. It's always fun seeing those colorful personalities clash and it's great to have another rogue introduced to the animated series. If You're So Smart Why Aren't You Rich finally gives us The Riddler in a unique potrayal of the character who designed a puzzle video game but seeks vengeance on the boss who fired him, it sort of gives a mix of Frank Gorshin's Riddler with a dash of Jim Carrey's and ultimately this classic iteration voiced by John Glover. Then we get a giant consecutive 4 home run episodes starting off with the pinnacle of fan favorite episode's Almost Got 'Im. People worship this episode, I've rarely seen someone counting down their favorite episodes and it not be #1, and I can attribute that to two points. One, these characters and their interactions is the source of the enjoyment as Joker, Harvey, Penguin, Ivy, and Croc play poker and trade stories about how they almost killed the Bat. Two, you get a lot of stories in one episode, some major bang for your buck. The writing is flawless and it does deserve the love but my personal favorite and wildest is yet to come! Birds Of A Feather comes up next with the Penguin intending on going straight and actually falls for a young socialite, but is the subject of a cruel joke forcing him to be a villain once more. Great story, easily manipulates your emotions in Penguin's favor, and shows a side of the rogue's gallery we don't get to see much. What Is Reality, a mental and expertly animated episode where Riddler crafts a virtual reality headset 25 years before Oculus or Playstation, and traps Comissioner Gordon inside leading Batman and Robin to venture into a world where the Riddler controls all. A bevy of almost trivial knowledge, and ends pretty friggin' dark I gotta say! Speaking of dark. I Am The Night. God. Damn. This is the best episode of the season for me, solely because we see Batman in an emotionally, mentally dark place and after the severe injury of Jim goes into a full on depression. Kevin Conroy if people ever had doubts in their mind about him being the best after this episode are well and truly dead. The angry howlish yells of rage, and melancholic musings of whether or not he's really doing much good absolutely floored me. You can keep your Almost Got 'Im, I will take I Am The Night. The Man Who Killed Batman harbors almost on Elseworld territory as a new and bumbling gangster seemingly albeit accidentally murders Batman, and the whole criminal underworld and more importantly the Joker has some words for him. It plainly paints the relationship between Batman and Joker effortlessly and beautifully, culminating in one of the best character eulogies I've ever heard that nearly made me cry from laughter. And we end the season once more with a bang showcasing Harley & Ivy, as Harley is booted from Joker's gang and forms her own criminal dynasty with Poison Ivy and this is where we get the 411 in all it's terrible detail on Harley's codependence and how Ivy tries to get her to be more independent. It's a real fun episode and obviously has a lot of impact on both these wonderful characters decades to come. So another incredibly strong series, with very few episodes that would be considered skippable by the uninitiated, but we are initiated aren't we? So watch them all, judge for yourself, there be gems here for sure but you'd be surprised how well handled all of them are. Another 10/10? I genuinely would say yeah, even more deserving perhaps than the first season which still knocked it out of the park unconditionally. 4 stars, 10/10, and if memory serves the game changes next time. Tune in tomorrow, same time same channel!