Comments
MulciberTenebras t1_isuzwkh wrote
Ya know, if the Gotham PD went after the actual villains with the same ferocity they do Batman in this episode (or whenever he's wrongfully accused like in "Mask of the Phantasm" or "On Leather Wings")... they wouldn't need a Batman.
DisturbedNocturne t1_iswk9v9 wrote
That ties into why they need Batman in the first place though. The GCPD is rampant with corruption and cops looking the other way. Of course, they're going to go much harder on the guy that's often rooting out that corruption and making them look bad than the actual villains they're often on the payroll of.
FN1987 t1_isx1h0v wrote
Batman: TAS knew what was up.
ACAB
BiggieSmalley t1_isxqcia wrote
All Cops Anger Batman
RndySvgsMySprtAnml t1_isy10bk wrote
I mean, real cops are willing to kill other cops to keep them from squealing. So it’s pretty realistic.
DeckardsDark t1_isxm4dh wrote
Gotham PD knows Batman won't kill them, and they also know the villains will
ConnorMc1eod t1_isyd6wa wrote
That's... the entire point of Batman. In the 80's and 90's police corruption was so ridiculously rampant Batman turned into the caped crusader. A complete vigilante power fantasy that frequently saw himself in the crosshairs of dirty politicians, journalists, criminals AND cops. He was a one man force for good against a completely rotten, immoral society.
dont_shoot_jr t1_iszqtgn wrote
Thank god we solved police corruption
ConnorMc1eod t1_it06g2r wrote
Bless up thanks Batman
For real though, it's leagues better than it was when I was a kid.
[deleted] t1_iswj1fq wrote
[removed]
denizenKRIM t1_isv6zmy wrote
I've always thought this plot line would be a fucking amazing story to put on film one day.
Obviously much later down the line of any given iteration, but it felt like it actually had stakes. Ironic given how it ended.
But it still captures my imagination of what could be, several years later.
Hirotrum t1_iswgod9 wrote
The DCAU always frusterated me by how often it dipped its toes only halfway into dark themes. Everything dramatic that happens always gets reset back to the status quo(everytime the show teases the possibility of harley having character development i want to scream) . And if something DOES change the status quo, it always happens offscreen, in between series (dick leaving, joker's death, ace's death) and is only shown in a flashback LONG AFTER youve already gotten used to the effects of that event, so nothing ever feels too groundbreaking; youre never left wondering what the hell is going to happen and what the reprocussions of what just happened are going to be.
It felt like the writers really wanted to make a serialized style of story, but were held back by the standards of the time.
Mattyzooks t1_isy46ot wrote
Counterpoint though. Lex Luthor. Justice League wildly changed up his status quo a few times. His first appearance rocked his status quo as a billionaire philanthropist and CEO. He gets exposed, loses everything, and has cancer for the next few seasons. Forms an Injustice League. Actually finally goes to prison. Eventually gets a pardon. Pretends to be an upstanding citizen for a bit and runs for President but it's all a ruse to become a god. Achieves it via Brainiac. Then after being separated, suffers from hallucinations. Joins the Legion of Doom, slowly becoming pissed off on how it's run, shoots the head of the Legion at point blank in a meeting (becoming its leader). Then he fights in a Legion of Doom civil war, revives Darkseid, and ultimately sacrifices himself to save Superman and the planet from Darkseid while kinda achieving his goal of being 'beyond human.' Not all of these are dark changes to the status quo but they kept this character on an actual arc once they brought him over from STAS into JL and JLU.
DisturbedNocturne t1_iswpq76 wrote
There are several episodes that would really make amazing movies, in my opinion.
PhillyTaco t1_isz1hgd wrote
>I've always thought this plot line would be a fucking amazing story to put on film one day.
Part of me hoped they were gonna steal a little bit of it for Dark Knight Rises. Bane reveals Batman's true identity and Wayne goes on the lamb but still must save Gotham.
jak_d_ripr t1_isvwuvo wrote
I love the scene at the end where Bane goes "to the death then?" and Bruce says something along the lines of it doesn't even matter. I don't know why but how understandably defeated he sounded there always stood out to me.
Kbdiggity t1_isv617v wrote
And it was all a bad dream caused by Scarecrow's gas.
anthonyg1500 t1_iswuwya wrote
Having Babs fall like 40 stories onto the hood of her dad’s car while he’s pretty casually driving by was a wild way to start an episode
PapaMikeRomeo t1_isynduw wrote
The ending ends up highlighting that Barbara’s fears are unfounded though, right? That evening, after the Scarecrow’s fear toxin works it’s way out of her system, she has dinner with her father and seems ready to tell him the truth, only for him to ask her to hold her tongue and that he supports her decisions, and gives her a knowing wink that he seems to already KNOW her secret.
ThrowawayScienceQues t1_isywgd3 wrote
> Over the Edge is my favorite episode. > Short synopsis: Batgirl fucking DIES and the inevitable fallout ruins Batman’s life. Commissioner Gordon learns his daughter is Batgirl and it ruins his friendship/partnership with Batman. (As it should, because it’s a total dick move to keep that from someone you supposedly trust) And using his daughter’s computer Gordon learns that Bruce Wayne is Batman and the entire police force raids Wayne manor to arrest him. It’s a great fucking episode.
Literally convinced me to go find and watch this right now.
Any other favorite episodes you can put on my radar?
PhillyTaco t1_isz06a2 wrote
The introduction of Clayface, which I think is a two-parter. Tragic story, great animation, unbelievable score.
JQuilty t1_it16ccv wrote
And that particular scene at the end of part 2 that's fucking nuts when you remember it was done by hand.
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isyz814 wrote
Heart of Ice is one of the most famous episodes. It turned Mr. Freeze from a campy 60s villain to a tragic figure. Most people don’t even know that Mr. Freeze’s sad origin story came from this episode.
RedDurden_00 t1_iswylm2 wrote
I don’t remember that part where Jim discovers Bruce is Batman. Just that Jim randomly showed up at the manor with Gotham police
Salarian_American t1_isxy78y wrote
Yeah they didn't show that happen, he just showed up and at some point said that "Five minutes on Barbara's computer told me everything" or something to that effect
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isxzvzk wrote
After learning his daughter was Batgirl he does some detective work. Apparently on Barbara’s computer was evidence of Batman’s identity.
elscorcho91 t1_isy9urt wrote
Calm down lol, it’s a cartoon. You’re making this sound like it’s Citizen Kane
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isyf0dn wrote
Citizen Kane? Calm down dude that’s just a movie. You make it sound like it’s Macbeth or something.
bloodyturtle t1_isyombv wrote
unga painted a lion on the cave wall you gotta check this shit out man
elscorcho91 t1_isz19h1 wrote
We get it, you’re overly defensive about a cartoon because you have a funko collection and have to speak in hyperbolic terms about things you’re hyperfixated on
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isz1okp wrote
I’m being hyperbolic?
You’re the one that compared it to Citizen Kane.
elscorcho91 t1_isz24s6 wrote
the "I know you are, but what am I" defense. Very bold.
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isz3uag wrote
Look, I get it. You don’t have a lot going on right now so you’re bored. Nobody invites you anywhere and you’re too shy to talk to women. You compensate for your lack of social life by making fun of others, even if that means joining a conversation about the Batman cartoon and acting like everyone else is childish for liking Batman cartoons.
Englishgrinn t1_isz2jv5 wrote
We get it, people genuinely enjoying things shows a level of sincerity and vulnerability that makes you uncomfortable. Just pretend they're liking it "ironically".
elscorcho91 t1_isz3fpi wrote
I'm all for enjoying things, but to act like it's a narrative marvel and pretend like it's something it's not is nostalgia nerdbaiting at its finest
mikexmachina t1_isun3v7 wrote
In a nutshell, Batman: TAS was not afraid to go dark.
I remember watching House and Garden with the plant monsters, Batman's eyes going wide when he discovered what they really were, and them dissolving with weed killer... true nightmare fuel.
But that's part of the reason the show is so popular - it wasn't afraid to go dark or crazy (remember when Catwoman actually became a cat?)
MulciberTenebras t1_isupvxd wrote
And it loved having non-human characters to fight (robots, plant monsters, ventriloquist dummies)... because then the writers could come up with horrifically graphic ways to eliminate them that the censors wouldn't allow if they were human.
slackforce t1_isur7p6 wrote
Wasn't there an episode or two where Joker uses some kinda gas on people that not only kills them but leaves their corpses with a rictus grin? I remember being very creeped out by that imagery. Definitely not something they would put in Saturday morning cartoons anymore.
MulciberTenebras t1_isut3jz wrote
In the early seasons that aired of FoxKids, it only made them laugh non-stop (they weren't allowed to show corpses). Then the 4th season on WBKids and the film Mask of the Phantasm actually showed his Joker gas killing people.
SideshowMantis t1_iswbbt7 wrote
In a way, the nonstop laughing thing is kinda worse...
MulciberTenebras t1_iswc34e wrote
They implied it leads to permenant insanity if not immediately treated (as was the case when Alfred was infected by it on April Fool's Day).
As opposed to simply dying of exhaustion due to the laughing.
SideshowMantis t1_iswfaic wrote
Yeah, I remember Bats followed up on a criminal that was in a hospital who had been dosed with the toxin and he was terrifyingly exhausted
DMPunk t1_isx7dey wrote
Mask of the Phantasm. God that's such a good movie
SideshowMantis t1_isxuzk5 wrote
Thanks for reminding me to watch it again, it's been too long since my last viewing
DMPunk t1_isx7bzu wrote
It's not implied, it's directly stated that if left untreated, it will lead to permanent insanity
Smrtguy85 t1_iswbso0 wrote
It's ironic because in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the laughing gas was considered the tame way for Joker to kill someone. He kills one of the goons at the start of the movie when the goon argues with him. In the censored version of the film, the goon gets gassed to death with the grin on his face and everything. In the uncensored version, Joker just straight up shoots him in the chest.
HiddenKING t1_isyevg5 wrote
I always felt the censored death of Joker electrocuting himself was darker than Robin shooting him.
soki03 t1_isv44nh wrote
And Bruce Timm wanted to make it even darker still. Hence what he plans to do with his new series, and what’ll be great is that we’ll get to see him start and progress as Batman.
thechilipepper0 t1_iswaqhi wrote
New series‽
soki03 t1_iswazcp wrote
Ya it’ll be feature on HBO Max with JJ Abram, Bruce Timm and Matt Reeves producing it.
slade707 t1_isweztj wrote
I think they’re not going fwd with it on HBO Max because merger bullshit but shopping it around to different platforms now. It’s by far the DC project I’m most excited for, it had better not get cancelled
Dull_Cockroach_1581 t1_isx2xfh wrote
>And Bruce Timm wanted to make it even darker still. Hence what he plans to do with his new series
Bruce Timm is a creepy hack, Paul Dini and the rest were the ones making the shows good.
I hope his show gets cancelled.
MR_PENNY_PIINCHER t1_isxyhvb wrote
Ed Brubaker is the head writer, shit would be really good.
If it ever makes it to air. HBO Max passed on it, they're shopping it around.
AlfredosSauce t1_isxz8pv wrote
People have lost their minds about this.
Dull_Cockroach_1581 t1_isy0t4m wrote
>People have lost their minds about this.
Bruce Timm being a creepy hack?
That's just a fact but go on lol
dr_mediocre t1_isupsa6 wrote
They missed the episode where Tim Drake's friend was a misplaced part of Clayface.
Chubuwee t1_iswsbom wrote
Young me was so mind fucked. I legit started doubting if my friends were real
dont_shoot_jr t1_iszrl8f wrote
But your friends aren’t real
Substantial_City4618 t1_it07axe wrote
They did an homage to this in the Harley Quinn show, but it wasn’t as traumatizing.
dr_mediocre t1_it0m8zn wrote
The one with clayface's hand? I didn't know that was supposed to be an homage.
Substantial_City4618 t1_it28gp9 wrote
Yeah that’s the one. I think it is, Harley Quinn has been pretty good at reincorporating prior stories and plots and generally making fun of them. It’s just the animated series isn’t really meant to be funny, it’s very serious. So they took a serious moment and made it funny because it would be very out of character to have such a dark moment in an otherwise colorful bright fever dream.
forever87 t1_isvlonf wrote
killer croc was this close and batman knew it
> https://np.reddit.com/r/DCAU/comments/um4fpq/i_threw_a_rock_at_him/
saltytac0 t1_isx94mp wrote
It was a big rock.
CaptainChewbacca t1_isv0t09 wrote
There were brilliant episodes like 'Silicon Soul' as well. Or 'Return of the Grey Ghost'.
Problemwoodchuck t1_isv5100 wrote
Heart of Ice still holds up too. They made Freeze into a tremendously sympathetic, complex villain.
thechilipepper0 t1_iswb847 wrote
Didn’t they retroactively make that story canon since it was so good?
GPopovich t1_isx4a7h wrote
A lot of stuff from btas became canon in the Batman franchise. Harley Quinn is a big example.
Killing off Bruce timms dcau is one of the biggest mistakes DC ever made. It could honestly rival MCU in some regards if it was given the resources
dragunityag t1_isxsncj wrote
Even their new DCAU stuff is pretty good, has some flaws but is much better than the DCU.
DMPunk t1_isx7hof wrote
Yeah, Freeze was just a generic cold-themed villain before that episode, and after it came out, they folded that origin into the comics
Exotic-Amphibian-655 t1_isx3p35 wrote
I wasn’t an avid watcher of the show as a kid, but this was the episode that really stuck with me.
RatLord445 t1_isw74ur wrote
His soul of silicon is a fucking masterpiece, it really portrayed a robot fighting its own directives by 1-Programming and 2-personal experience
Bmor00bam t1_isutdk7 wrote
It was and remains my favorite animated show. It beat The Simpsons and Futurama in my nerdy ass brain.
TheFuturist25 t1_isx4g08 wrote
I remember the first TAS movie I saw as a kid cemented the love for Batman for me... It was Mask of the Phantasm... The music, the story that was heartbreaking and the whole dark gritty atmosphere... made a lasting impression on me
DMPunk t1_isx781b wrote
Barbara hitting the windshield is one of the most hardcore things I've ever seen in a TV show, whether it's for kids or adults or live action or animated.
dont_shoot_jr t1_iszsnse wrote
The intro of villains in season 1 was like children’s twilight zone where the faults of individuals lead them to cruel fates as villains
To this day I think what happened to doctor freeze, clayface, Two Face was just unfair
Cowboys_and_Engines t1_isuxmhh wrote
Over the Edge is my favorite episode.
Short synopsis: Batgirl fucking DIES and the inevitable fallout ruins Batman’s life. Commissioner Gordon learns his daughter is Batgirl and it ruins his friendship/partnership with Batman. (As it should, because it’s a total dick move to keep that from someone you supposedly trust) And using his daughter’s computer Gordon learns that Bruce Wayne is Batman and the entire police force raids Wayne manor to arrest him. It’s a great fucking episode.