Batman: The Animated Series
Before we dive into the next exceptional episodes of B: TAS, there was one thing I wanted to mention. I noticed it when watching "Two-Face". I even put it in my notes, but for some reason forgot to bring it up. Then, it appeared again in "Heart of Ice." B: TAS does these painted scenes, where the main figure is still, but there is motion somewhere else. In "Two-Face" there was a close up shot of Two-Face's face while he read, his eyes following the lines on the page the only movement. In "Heart of Ice," there is a close up of Freeze's face, his glowing red eyes blinking. It is a cool touch and it is something that really hearkens back to the old Max Fleischer "Superman" cartoons.
"Think of it, Batman. To never again walk on a summer's day with the hot wind in your face and a warm hand to hold. Oh yes, I'd kill for that."
GothCorp facilities are being attacked and robbed throughout Gotham City. The things being stolen seem disparate but Batman figures out that they can be configured into a giant freezing gun. The perpetrator turns out to be disgruntled former GothCorp employee, Dr. Victor Fries. When an experiment to save his terminally ill wife is interrupted by GothCorp CEO, Ferris Boyle, it leaves Fries presumed dead amongst cryogenic chemicals. The accident left Fries unable to survive outside of sub-zero temperatures and transformed him into revenge hungry, Mr. Freeze.
 |
| Baby, It's Cold Inside |
Talk about a rebound from the somewhat lackluster episodes in the last post. This is a return to the mature, confident storytelling that the series achieves when it's at it's best. Paul Dini cements his status as perhaps the series most prolific storyteller with this episode.
This was also the first B: TAS episode that worked it's way into comics canon. Mr. Freeze's comic book origin was changed to match more with his animated series origin. It was even used in "Batman & Robin" but the less said about that the better.
This episode turned Mr. Freeze into a compelling top notch protagonist after being portrayed in other media as kind of a joke. Much like "Two-Face" the episode works by having Mr. Freeze be a more empathetic villain even as he chillingly tries to get revenge on Ferris Boyle regardless of who gets caught in the crosshairs. It helps that Ferris Boyle is a weasel. Voiced by Mark Hamill, Boyle is a wolf in sheep's clothing. To the general public, he is a warm-hearted humanitarian, in private, a heartless businessman who cares more for the bottom line than his employees. This is driven home when he meets with Bruce Wayne and has no problem laughing about the irony of him receiving a humanitarian award, wrongly thinking that Bruce feels the same. Sidebar: Ferris Boyle is just the first in a long line of corrupt CEO's of various Gotham companies. Apparently, Bruce is the exception not the rule.
"Heart of Ice," for me, is the single best episode the show produced. It doesn't hit a wrong note . The writing is stellar (It won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program), Bruce Timm's direction is top notch and the voice actors are at the top of their game. Even 25 years later, it is still a shining example of what an animated series can be.
Grade: A+
I feel like these two episodes are pretty divisive when it comes to B: TAS series fans, so I'd be interested in others feelings after they read my take.
Batman is surprised to find that the cat burglar prowling Gotham City is a woman. He tangles with the aptly named, Catwoman after catching her post heist. Their first confrontation ends in a draw, but they each leave an impression on the other. Catwoman is immediately smitten with the Dark Knight, but Bruce Wayne falls for her alter ego, Selina Kyle, after she bids on him during a bachelor auction. On top of this, Batman has to contend with a terrorist organization called Red Claw descending on Gotham City. Catwoman gets pulled into the plot when she investigates Red Claw's front company, Multigon. They purchase a parcel of land out from under Selina that was going to be used as a big cat sanctuary.
 |
| Purrfect. |
So, a lot of people dislike this episode. I am not as against it as they seem to be. It's not perfect. So, let's get some of the bad out of the way right off the bat. Red Claw is a lame villain. The reveal that the organization is actually a woman of vaguely Eastern European origin with little to no motivation for what she's doing is not great. I can understand them not wanting to use an established villain since this is meant to be Selina's showcase. I can understand them wanting to make Red Claw female. Rarely does Batman come across two female antagonists. Ok, an antagonist and a half. But when the antagonist is as bland and non descriptive as Red Claw, it's not really anything to applaud or even care about.
 |
| Eat Your Heart Out Cate Blanchett |
There is some uneven characterization going on to in regards to Batman and Catowman. Catwoman is ridiculously lazy when breaking into Multigon (a company fronted by Stern, another one of those awful CEO's Gotham is famous for). I feel like she would have been a little more vigilant in looking for camera's, trip wires, etc.
Batman seems to have blinders on during the episode. It should raise some alarms that Selina gets so up in arms about Multigon buying the land and that she is so obsessed with cats, but nothing. His disbelief that the cat burglar and the head of the terrorist organization could be women also rings really false. Batman should know that anything he or his male rogues can do a woman can do too.
All that being said, I really enjoyed watching these episodes and I always do. I'm sure a lot has to do with my overall affection for Catwoman, especially this iteration of the character. Andrea Roman continues to kill in the voice casting department. Adrienne Barbeau, best known for B-movie sci-fi/horror like "Swamp Thing" and "Creepshow," brings just the right of sultriness and vamp to Selina when needed but can sell the fiery moments too.
The action set pieces from this episode are fantastic. From Batman and Catwoman's opening tete-a-tete to the car chase with Bruce and Selina. They are thrilling to watch. It's always nice to see Bruce's Batman life intrude on his civilian life and the added tension that both he and Selina are dancing around their double lives adds another layer to everything.
I'm also a huge fan of Selina's secretary/assistant, Maven. She's the Robin to Catwoman's Batman and she acquits herself well when Red Claw's assassin's attack her at Selina's penthouse.
All in all, I'm willing to forgive this episode's flaws because of my affinity for Catwoman as a character and the overall enjoyment I felt watching this two parter.
Grade: B
So, what did you guys think? "Heart of Ice" the best of the best? Am I going too easy on Catwoman's debut?
Next up: Imaginary friends and Bruce meets his childhood hero.
No comments:
Post a Comment