always with the Dick jokes (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
irrelevant) wrote2011-04-26 01:29 pm
irrelevant) wrote2011-04-26 01:29 pm
Entry tags:
best of Batman, animated
I could say all of BTAS, but that wouldn't be very helpful. I'm splitting this into two sections: Batverse Big Bads introductory stories, and my personal favorites. The categories overlap some, though one is not necessarily equal to the other. However, Batman's main villains are important to his mythos, in the DCAU as much as anywhere else. Viewing their DCAU beginnings is a good idea if you want to get a feel for their characterization in the series.
I'm listing these by production order. If you want the original air dates, the DCAU wikia has them. TAS stands for The Animated Series, which ran from '92 to '95. GK means Gotham Knights, which ran from '97 to '99 in concert with Superman: The Animated Series.
TAS.01 On Leather Wings: (Man-Bat) The first of only two times Kirk Langstrom pops up in the DCAU. This one is his origin story.
TAS.03 Nothing to Fear: (Scarecrow) Dr. Jonathon Crane's debut, with a bit of look into Bruce's nightmares for good measure.
TAS.04 The Last Laugh: (Joker) Joker needs no intro -- he's iconic that way -- and he springs up fully fledged in the DCAU, as though he's always been there and always will be. Which is only fitting: it's as impossible to separate Joker from the Batman mythos as it is Robin. In this episode, it's April Fool's Day in Gotham. No other explanation needed.
TAS.05 Pretty Poison: (Poison Ivy) Pamela Isley is definitely one of my favorite Batman villains, and her DCAU intro is *excellent*. You also get to know Harvey Dent as he was before the coin toss, so to speak. This is a personal rec.
TAS.10/11 Two-Face (parts 1&2): (Two-Face) Harvey Dent is one of the most tragic villains of the Batverse: the young, zealous district attorney destroyed by a mob boss, a disfiguring accident, and an incipient split personality. His origin has had a couple of ret-cons over the years, but I like his DCAU backstory best.
TAS.13 I've Got Batman In My Basement: (Penguin) As with Joker, the Penguin needs no intro. This episode is his debut in this 'verse, though, and it's a great one. A couple of kids wander into one of his lairs and end up helping Batman out of jam. A personal rec.
TAS.14 Heart of Ice: (Mr. Freeze) Dr. Victor Fries is as tragic a figure as Harvey Dent; more so, actually. His story is basically the same across Batman canons, but it's one that never really loses its punch.
TAS.15/16 The Cat and the Claw (parts 1&2): (Catwoman/Red Claw) Ah, Selina. No matter where I meet her, I can't help but adore her insanely. But DCAU Catwoman? Oh, so purrrrfect. Red Claw I'll leave: she's not my cuppa. But oh. Selina. Absolutely a must watch.
TAS.20/21 Feat of Clay: (Clayface) Clayface is one of those characters whose origin story has changed numerous times over the years. In this one he's a disfigured actor whose body chemistry is altered by a highly addictive facial cream that literally smooths away wrinkles, scars, and other skin abnormalities. Interesting.
TAS.23 Vendetta: (Killer Croc) DCAU Croc is different in a number of ways from comics Croc, but then, he's evolved over the years. Comics Croc is a good deal more intelligent than this one, for one thing, or at least he used to be; maybe Timm thought he had too many smart villains and decided to dumb one of them down.
TAS.27 Mad as a Hatter: (Mad Hatter) Jervis Tetch, complete with mind control electronics and a crush named Alice. Awesome.
TAS.40 If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?: (Riddler) My favorite Batman villain of all time. And this is one of my very, very favorite BTAS episodes of all time, not least because it's got Dick getting stuck in a full-body Chinese finger puzzle in it. Definitely a personal rec.
TAS.47 Harley and Ivy: (Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy) Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a character created especially for BTAS, but she became so popular, she eventually wandered over into comics as well -- even had her own title for a while, and now she's teamed up with Ivy and Selina in Gotham City Sirens. And she is a great, great character, worthy of wide exposure. This episode isn't the first she appears in, but it showcases her as a character, and it gives you a good idea of her relationship with the two most important people in her life: Joker and Poison Ivy. Personal rec.
TAS.60/61 The Demon's Quest: (al Ghuls) Ra's al Ghul is, as far as I'm concerned, the Mary Sue of villains. I can't stand him. But he's a definite Big Bat Bad, and very popular, so I can't ignore him. He's a centuries old immortal, heads a guild of assassins, is brilliant with a sword (and supposedly all-round brilliant in general, pfft), and -- most importantly -- he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne. (He's also an eco-terrorist and a megalomaniac, but we'll let that slide for now.) He admires 'The Detective', as he calls Bruce, enough that he sees him as a worthy successor and wants him to marry his daughter, Talia. Bruce declines, and then he and Dick are left to get themselves out of a sticky situation, as per the usual. Ho hum.
TAS.64 Read My Lips: (Ventriloquist) Arnold Wesker is another split personality, only his criminal side manifests through his dummy, Scarface. Not one of my favorite villains, but interesting in his way.
TAS.75 Bane: (Bane, obviously) In comics, Bane broke the Bat. Here, he's not so lucky. Imo, the episode is memorable for a chained up, shirtless Robin, and for Bruce's line after Bane wrecks the batmobile with his bare hands: "He trashed my car. Between two guys, that's real personal."
There are more villains introduced throughout the show, but those are Batman's biggies, so I'll move on to my personal favorites. You'll notice Robin appears in most of them.
TAS.07 POV: Renee Montoya is another character created for BTAS, but unlike Harley, she's a good guy and a cop. She is also one of the best characters in the Batverse, for srs. This episode is all about her being a badass and kicking bad guy butt with Batman. It is made of AWESOME.
TAS.18 Beware of the Grey Ghost: Crimes based on an action series Bruce watched as a kid are being committed, and he'll need the help of the aging, has-been star of the show to solve the mystery. This is just a neat story, and that Adam West guest stars as the voice of Simon Trent/Gray Ghost only makes it more enjoyable.
TAS.24 Fear of Victory: Scarecrow is out of Arkham and up to his old tricks -- and a few new ones. This time, Robin inadvertently gets a dose of his newest concoction. This episode is one I watch over and over. Bruce/Dick is my main BTAS ship, and Fear of Victory is a good example of why.
TAS.29 Eternal Youth: Instead of making people out of plants, Ivy's turning people into plants. Alfred is dragged into her net via Bruce Wayne, but lucky for him, Batman isn't far behind.
TAS.30 Perchance to Dream: Bruce wakes up in a world where his parents are alive, he's engaged to Selina Kyle, and Batman is... not him. It's like living a dream. Or is it?
TAS.31/32 Robin's Reckoning (parts 1&2): Dick Grayson's DCAU origin story, and his showdown with Tony Zucco, the man who killed his parents. Do I need to say these two episodes comprise my *absolute* favorite BTAS story, period? I thought not.
TAS.35 Night of the Ninja: This episode flashes back to one of Bruce's lost years, in specific the time he spent training in Japan. An old enemy is going after Bruce Wayne, and Batman's having trouble taking action. Extra props for Robin being awesome in general.
TAS.46 Almost Got 'Im: Joker, Killer Croc, Two-Face, Penguin and Poison Ivy sitting around telling their best almost-nailed-the-Bat stories. There's more to it than that, but I'll leave some mystery. Great ep.
TAS.48 What is Reality?: The Riddler is erasing all traces of his old self (Edward Nigma) from existence, but he has to keep Batman and Robin occupied while he's at it. Which means trapping Commissioner Gordon in his personal virtual reality. ♥
TAS.55 The Mechanic: Ever wondered where Batman gets his cool automotive toys? His personal engineer, who else? Only problem is, an associate of one of Penguin's henchmen has figured out who keeps the batmobile in prime condition. Threats and sabotage follow. This was such a great idea, and it was very well executed. I only wish we'd gotten more of Earl and his daughter Marva -- they're wonderful characters.
TAS.57/58 Shadow of the Bat (parts 1&2): Well, helloooooo, Babs. This isn't the first time she shows up in BTAS, but it *is* Batgirl's debut. And folks, this one's a winner. Someone frames Jim Gordon, and his daughter is not about to sit around and wait for someone else to clear him. Pluses include Matches Malone, Babs kicking butt, and Robin/Batgirl snark. ♥♥♥
TAS.70 House and Garden: Someone is poisoning and robbing wealthy, young bachelors. The MO points to Pamela Isley, but she's gotten married and gone straight. However, when Dick Grayson is kidnapped and held for ransom by a human/cactus hybrid, Batman decides to take a closer look at Ivy's fairytale lifestyle. Fantastic ep.
TAS.72 Harlequinade: Joker's on the loose and he's got a bomb big enough to blow Gotham off the map. Batman needs someone who thinks like him to find him; unfortunately, the only candidate is locked up in Arkham and not likely to help. Unless, of course, he promises to help get her released. Classic Harley Quinn/Joker shenanigans.
TAS.73 Time Out of Joint: Temple Fugit has found a way to manipulate time, slow it down or speed it up. And if Batman doesn't figure out how he's doing it, Mayor Hill and Gotham's Courthouse are down to their last milliseconds. The Clock King isn't one of Batman's better known villains, but I love him, and this episode makes excellent use of his obsession with time. Also, Dick in a tux. Always a plus.
TAS.77 The Lion and the Unicorn: In which we get a little of Alfred's backstory, as well as getting to see him BAMFing it up. A man calling himself his cousin asks him to come to London; actually the guy is a former colleague from a British intelligence agency, and Red Claw is using him to get to Alfred. She needs the two of them to give her the codes to get a missile silo operational. Unfortunately, she picked on the wrong dude's butler. =P This is a fantastic episode without question, but my favorite part is a small scene in the very beginning: Dick doing a parallel bar routine. Yes I'm fixated, why do you ask?
TAS.81 Harley's Holiday: She's finished her rehabilitation and she's got a release form stamped SANE. Well, more or less. In any case, Harley's free, only there's this little misunderstanding (it isn't her fault--I'm being serious), and she panics and takes Veronica Vreeland hostage. Cue wild, crazy hijinks, with both Bruce and Batman doing their best to help her out of a bad situation. Love, love, love this one. Bruce Wayne/Harley Quinn is my other major BTAS ship, and this episode is ninety percent of the reason why.
TAS.83 Make 'Em Laugh: So, who is the funniest person in Gotham? There seems to be a difference of opinion, but when it comes to comedy or crime, Joker's cornered the market, and he's not about to let anyone else take the title. Hilarious.
Gotham Knights is different from TAS in a few ways. There were intensive character redesigns (I actually like the originals better) and the stories have a slightly darker edge to them, although Gotham itself doesn't quite have the brooding look TAS gave it. All in all? I prefer the original characterization and look, but GK is still excellent.
GK.01 Holiday Knights: Three Christmas-time tales. Ivy and Harley kidnap Bruce Wayne and get a lot more than they bargain for; Batgirl, Montoya and Bullock take on Clayface; Batman and Robin vs. Joker's deadly New Year's Eve bash. Fun and funny, and as light as GK gets.
GK.02 Sins of the Father: Tim Drake's DCAU origin story. In GK, Tim is Robin II, and he's a blend of Jason Todd and Tim Drake; character-wise, he's an odd mix, but he's definitely more Jay than Tim. He's also one of the best Robins ever. Prepare to lose your heart utterly. The whole episode is great, but the end is the best part. I'll let you find out why on your own.
GK.05 You Scratch My Back: Dick's back in Gotham after three years of wandering. He's Nightwing and his own man, and he doesn't need or want Bruce and Barbara keeping an eye on him 'for his own good'. Enter Catwoman, who of course has her own agenda, but oh man, these two? Sleek and acrobatic and *fantastic* to watch in action whether they're playing nice together or not. *purrrrrrrr*
GK.06 Never Fear: Someone's developed a chemical that takes away all fear. ALL of it. Imagine Batman without the slightest bit of fear. Pretty scary, huh?
GK.08 Growing Pains: Tim rescues an amnesiac girl from a group of thugs. He dubs her Annie and promises to help her regain her memory and find out who the man following her is. He's infatuated and she's a cutie, but there's more to Annie than meets the eye, as they both find out. This is one of those eps that makes you go, "Oh, of *course*," at the denouement. There are no happy endings, but it's a great, hard-hitting story.
GK.15 Cult of the Cat: Selina stole a cat statue from the wrong people: a cult of cat-obsessed, murderous thieves. She drags Bruce into the situation when she asks him to help keep her alive. Of course, they both end up in the cult's clutches. This is classic Bat/Cat interaction; great stuff. You also get proof that Selina's affinity for kitties isn't a one-way street, which is always awesome to see. ♥
GK.16 Animal Act: An old friend from Dick's circus days is under suspicion of using the animals she trains to steal. So it's back to Haly's for Dick, with Bruce and Tim in tow. The Bruce/Dick is strong with this one, as is the Batman/Nightwing snark. ♥♥♥
GK.17 Old Wounds: Nightwing helps Robin out with a couple of thieves, and then they end up talking for a while about why Dick left Robin and Bruce behind after he graduated college. Most of it is a flashback to Bruce and Dick's last few days together as Batman and Robin, and it is fantastic, everything you could want from such a gut-wrenching story. And the present day Timmy and Dick interaction sure doesn't hurt. Neither does the little bit of hope for Bruce and Dick's relationship you get at the end.
GK.22 Beware the Creeper: Oh man, the Creeper is one of my favorite Batverse characters; I love him in comics, and I love him here, and I *adore* his DCAU origin. It's the anniversary of Batman and Joker's first encounter, the one that made Joker what he is. Jack Ryder, a TV personality, is doing a special on Joker and he's filming from the ACE Chemical Factory. Unfortunately, he's got a surprise guest star he doesn't know about. Bruce, of course, is watching the show, and he sees Joker in the background. He doesn't get there in time to stop Ryder from getting doused with Joker's deadly laughing gas or getting dumped into a vat of the same chemicals that messed Joker up, though, and Ryder gets an extreme makeover. If you want to know the rest, WATCH THIS EPISODE. Best line of the whole series goes to Ryder, post getting Creeperized: "They call me yellow-skinned wacky man. But I prefer the Creeper."
These aren't, by any means, all the episodes I like; they're just the ones I *love*. Actually, I don't think I've met a BTAS episode I *didn't* like. These are just a jumping off point for anyone who's interested in getting into the DCAU.
I'm listing these by production order. If you want the original air dates, the DCAU wikia has them. TAS stands for The Animated Series, which ran from '92 to '95. GK means Gotham Knights, which ran from '97 to '99 in concert with Superman: The Animated Series.
TAS.01 On Leather Wings: (Man-Bat) The first of only two times Kirk Langstrom pops up in the DCAU. This one is his origin story.
TAS.03 Nothing to Fear: (Scarecrow) Dr. Jonathon Crane's debut, with a bit of look into Bruce's nightmares for good measure.
TAS.04 The Last Laugh: (Joker) Joker needs no intro -- he's iconic that way -- and he springs up fully fledged in the DCAU, as though he's always been there and always will be. Which is only fitting: it's as impossible to separate Joker from the Batman mythos as it is Robin. In this episode, it's April Fool's Day in Gotham. No other explanation needed.
TAS.05 Pretty Poison: (Poison Ivy) Pamela Isley is definitely one of my favorite Batman villains, and her DCAU intro is *excellent*. You also get to know Harvey Dent as he was before the coin toss, so to speak. This is a personal rec.
TAS.10/11 Two-Face (parts 1&2): (Two-Face) Harvey Dent is one of the most tragic villains of the Batverse: the young, zealous district attorney destroyed by a mob boss, a disfiguring accident, and an incipient split personality. His origin has had a couple of ret-cons over the years, but I like his DCAU backstory best.
TAS.13 I've Got Batman In My Basement: (Penguin) As with Joker, the Penguin needs no intro. This episode is his debut in this 'verse, though, and it's a great one. A couple of kids wander into one of his lairs and end up helping Batman out of jam. A personal rec.
TAS.14 Heart of Ice: (Mr. Freeze) Dr. Victor Fries is as tragic a figure as Harvey Dent; more so, actually. His story is basically the same across Batman canons, but it's one that never really loses its punch.
TAS.15/16 The Cat and the Claw (parts 1&2): (Catwoman/Red Claw) Ah, Selina. No matter where I meet her, I can't help but adore her insanely. But DCAU Catwoman? Oh, so purrrrfect. Red Claw I'll leave: she's not my cuppa. But oh. Selina. Absolutely a must watch.
TAS.20/21 Feat of Clay: (Clayface) Clayface is one of those characters whose origin story has changed numerous times over the years. In this one he's a disfigured actor whose body chemistry is altered by a highly addictive facial cream that literally smooths away wrinkles, scars, and other skin abnormalities. Interesting.
TAS.23 Vendetta: (Killer Croc) DCAU Croc is different in a number of ways from comics Croc, but then, he's evolved over the years. Comics Croc is a good deal more intelligent than this one, for one thing, or at least he used to be; maybe Timm thought he had too many smart villains and decided to dumb one of them down.
TAS.27 Mad as a Hatter: (Mad Hatter) Jervis Tetch, complete with mind control electronics and a crush named Alice. Awesome.
TAS.40 If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?: (Riddler) My favorite Batman villain of all time. And this is one of my very, very favorite BTAS episodes of all time, not least because it's got Dick getting stuck in a full-body Chinese finger puzzle in it. Definitely a personal rec.
TAS.47 Harley and Ivy: (Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy) Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a character created especially for BTAS, but she became so popular, she eventually wandered over into comics as well -- even had her own title for a while, and now she's teamed up with Ivy and Selina in Gotham City Sirens. And she is a great, great character, worthy of wide exposure. This episode isn't the first she appears in, but it showcases her as a character, and it gives you a good idea of her relationship with the two most important people in her life: Joker and Poison Ivy. Personal rec.
TAS.60/61 The Demon's Quest: (al Ghuls) Ra's al Ghul is, as far as I'm concerned, the Mary Sue of villains. I can't stand him. But he's a definite Big Bat Bad, and very popular, so I can't ignore him. He's a centuries old immortal, heads a guild of assassins, is brilliant with a sword (and supposedly all-round brilliant in general, pfft), and -- most importantly -- he knows Batman is Bruce Wayne. (He's also an eco-terrorist and a megalomaniac, but we'll let that slide for now.) He admires 'The Detective', as he calls Bruce, enough that he sees him as a worthy successor and wants him to marry his daughter, Talia. Bruce declines, and then he and Dick are left to get themselves out of a sticky situation, as per the usual. Ho hum.
TAS.64 Read My Lips: (Ventriloquist) Arnold Wesker is another split personality, only his criminal side manifests through his dummy, Scarface. Not one of my favorite villains, but interesting in his way.
TAS.75 Bane: (Bane, obviously) In comics, Bane broke the Bat. Here, he's not so lucky. Imo, the episode is memorable for a chained up, shirtless Robin, and for Bruce's line after Bane wrecks the batmobile with his bare hands: "He trashed my car. Between two guys, that's real personal."
There are more villains introduced throughout the show, but those are Batman's biggies, so I'll move on to my personal favorites. You'll notice Robin appears in most of them.
TAS.07 POV: Renee Montoya is another character created for BTAS, but unlike Harley, she's a good guy and a cop. She is also one of the best characters in the Batverse, for srs. This episode is all about her being a badass and kicking bad guy butt with Batman. It is made of AWESOME.
TAS.18 Beware of the Grey Ghost: Crimes based on an action series Bruce watched as a kid are being committed, and he'll need the help of the aging, has-been star of the show to solve the mystery. This is just a neat story, and that Adam West guest stars as the voice of Simon Trent/Gray Ghost only makes it more enjoyable.
TAS.24 Fear of Victory: Scarecrow is out of Arkham and up to his old tricks -- and a few new ones. This time, Robin inadvertently gets a dose of his newest concoction. This episode is one I watch over and over. Bruce/Dick is my main BTAS ship, and Fear of Victory is a good example of why.
TAS.29 Eternal Youth: Instead of making people out of plants, Ivy's turning people into plants. Alfred is dragged into her net via Bruce Wayne, but lucky for him, Batman isn't far behind.
TAS.30 Perchance to Dream: Bruce wakes up in a world where his parents are alive, he's engaged to Selina Kyle, and Batman is... not him. It's like living a dream. Or is it?
TAS.31/32 Robin's Reckoning (parts 1&2): Dick Grayson's DCAU origin story, and his showdown with Tony Zucco, the man who killed his parents. Do I need to say these two episodes comprise my *absolute* favorite BTAS story, period? I thought not.
TAS.35 Night of the Ninja: This episode flashes back to one of Bruce's lost years, in specific the time he spent training in Japan. An old enemy is going after Bruce Wayne, and Batman's having trouble taking action. Extra props for Robin being awesome in general.
TAS.46 Almost Got 'Im: Joker, Killer Croc, Two-Face, Penguin and Poison Ivy sitting around telling their best almost-nailed-the-Bat stories. There's more to it than that, but I'll leave some mystery. Great ep.
TAS.48 What is Reality?: The Riddler is erasing all traces of his old self (Edward Nigma) from existence, but he has to keep Batman and Robin occupied while he's at it. Which means trapping Commissioner Gordon in his personal virtual reality. ♥
TAS.55 The Mechanic: Ever wondered where Batman gets his cool automotive toys? His personal engineer, who else? Only problem is, an associate of one of Penguin's henchmen has figured out who keeps the batmobile in prime condition. Threats and sabotage follow. This was such a great idea, and it was very well executed. I only wish we'd gotten more of Earl and his daughter Marva -- they're wonderful characters.
TAS.57/58 Shadow of the Bat (parts 1&2): Well, helloooooo, Babs. This isn't the first time she shows up in BTAS, but it *is* Batgirl's debut. And folks, this one's a winner. Someone frames Jim Gordon, and his daughter is not about to sit around and wait for someone else to clear him. Pluses include Matches Malone, Babs kicking butt, and Robin/Batgirl snark. ♥♥♥
TAS.70 House and Garden: Someone is poisoning and robbing wealthy, young bachelors. The MO points to Pamela Isley, but she's gotten married and gone straight. However, when Dick Grayson is kidnapped and held for ransom by a human/cactus hybrid, Batman decides to take a closer look at Ivy's fairytale lifestyle. Fantastic ep.
TAS.72 Harlequinade: Joker's on the loose and he's got a bomb big enough to blow Gotham off the map. Batman needs someone who thinks like him to find him; unfortunately, the only candidate is locked up in Arkham and not likely to help. Unless, of course, he promises to help get her released. Classic Harley Quinn/Joker shenanigans.
TAS.73 Time Out of Joint: Temple Fugit has found a way to manipulate time, slow it down or speed it up. And if Batman doesn't figure out how he's doing it, Mayor Hill and Gotham's Courthouse are down to their last milliseconds. The Clock King isn't one of Batman's better known villains, but I love him, and this episode makes excellent use of his obsession with time. Also, Dick in a tux. Always a plus.
TAS.77 The Lion and the Unicorn: In which we get a little of Alfred's backstory, as well as getting to see him BAMFing it up. A man calling himself his cousin asks him to come to London; actually the guy is a former colleague from a British intelligence agency, and Red Claw is using him to get to Alfred. She needs the two of them to give her the codes to get a missile silo operational. Unfortunately, she picked on the wrong dude's butler. =P This is a fantastic episode without question, but my favorite part is a small scene in the very beginning: Dick doing a parallel bar routine. Yes I'm fixated, why do you ask?
TAS.81 Harley's Holiday: She's finished her rehabilitation and she's got a release form stamped SANE. Well, more or less. In any case, Harley's free, only there's this little misunderstanding (it isn't her fault--I'm being serious), and she panics and takes Veronica Vreeland hostage. Cue wild, crazy hijinks, with both Bruce and Batman doing their best to help her out of a bad situation. Love, love, love this one. Bruce Wayne/Harley Quinn is my other major BTAS ship, and this episode is ninety percent of the reason why.
TAS.83 Make 'Em Laugh: So, who is the funniest person in Gotham? There seems to be a difference of opinion, but when it comes to comedy or crime, Joker's cornered the market, and he's not about to let anyone else take the title. Hilarious.
Gotham Knights is different from TAS in a few ways. There were intensive character redesigns (I actually like the originals better) and the stories have a slightly darker edge to them, although Gotham itself doesn't quite have the brooding look TAS gave it. All in all? I prefer the original characterization and look, but GK is still excellent.
GK.01 Holiday Knights: Three Christmas-time tales. Ivy and Harley kidnap Bruce Wayne and get a lot more than they bargain for; Batgirl, Montoya and Bullock take on Clayface; Batman and Robin vs. Joker's deadly New Year's Eve bash. Fun and funny, and as light as GK gets.
GK.02 Sins of the Father: Tim Drake's DCAU origin story. In GK, Tim is Robin II, and he's a blend of Jason Todd and Tim Drake; character-wise, he's an odd mix, but he's definitely more Jay than Tim. He's also one of the best Robins ever. Prepare to lose your heart utterly. The whole episode is great, but the end is the best part. I'll let you find out why on your own.
GK.05 You Scratch My Back: Dick's back in Gotham after three years of wandering. He's Nightwing and his own man, and he doesn't need or want Bruce and Barbara keeping an eye on him 'for his own good'. Enter Catwoman, who of course has her own agenda, but oh man, these two? Sleek and acrobatic and *fantastic* to watch in action whether they're playing nice together or not. *purrrrrrrr*
GK.06 Never Fear: Someone's developed a chemical that takes away all fear. ALL of it. Imagine Batman without the slightest bit of fear. Pretty scary, huh?
GK.08 Growing Pains: Tim rescues an amnesiac girl from a group of thugs. He dubs her Annie and promises to help her regain her memory and find out who the man following her is. He's infatuated and she's a cutie, but there's more to Annie than meets the eye, as they both find out. This is one of those eps that makes you go, "Oh, of *course*," at the denouement. There are no happy endings, but it's a great, hard-hitting story.
GK.15 Cult of the Cat: Selina stole a cat statue from the wrong people: a cult of cat-obsessed, murderous thieves. She drags Bruce into the situation when she asks him to help keep her alive. Of course, they both end up in the cult's clutches. This is classic Bat/Cat interaction; great stuff. You also get proof that Selina's affinity for kitties isn't a one-way street, which is always awesome to see. ♥
GK.16 Animal Act: An old friend from Dick's circus days is under suspicion of using the animals she trains to steal. So it's back to Haly's for Dick, with Bruce and Tim in tow. The Bruce/Dick is strong with this one, as is the Batman/Nightwing snark. ♥♥♥
GK.17 Old Wounds: Nightwing helps Robin out with a couple of thieves, and then they end up talking for a while about why Dick left Robin and Bruce behind after he graduated college. Most of it is a flashback to Bruce and Dick's last few days together as Batman and Robin, and it is fantastic, everything you could want from such a gut-wrenching story. And the present day Timmy and Dick interaction sure doesn't hurt. Neither does the little bit of hope for Bruce and Dick's relationship you get at the end.
GK.22 Beware the Creeper: Oh man, the Creeper is one of my favorite Batverse characters; I love him in comics, and I love him here, and I *adore* his DCAU origin. It's the anniversary of Batman and Joker's first encounter, the one that made Joker what he is. Jack Ryder, a TV personality, is doing a special on Joker and he's filming from the ACE Chemical Factory. Unfortunately, he's got a surprise guest star he doesn't know about. Bruce, of course, is watching the show, and he sees Joker in the background. He doesn't get there in time to stop Ryder from getting doused with Joker's deadly laughing gas or getting dumped into a vat of the same chemicals that messed Joker up, though, and Ryder gets an extreme makeover. If you want to know the rest, WATCH THIS EPISODE. Best line of the whole series goes to Ryder, post getting Creeperized: "They call me yellow-skinned wacky man. But I prefer the Creeper."
These aren't, by any means, all the episodes I like; they're just the ones I *love*. Actually, I don't think I've met a BTAS episode I *didn't* like. These are just a jumping off point for anyone who's interested in getting into the DCAU.
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