"I Am the Night" Rewatch: "P.O.V." and "The Forgotten"

Batman: The Animated Series

Batman was always the star of B:TAS. If I recall correctly, he appeared in costume in every single episode. I didn't check that, so feel free to take me to task in the comments if I'm wrong. He wasn't always the focal point of every episode though. The show did a great job of focusing on the ancillary characters in Batman's orbit, from his sidekicks, to his villains, to the police, to Bruce Wayne himself. The writers trusted that the audience would remain engaged as long as the stories being told were good ones. One of the episodes featured in today's post is a great example of that. The other doesn't feature Batman very much.

"P.O.V." is the first episode that really shines a light on the police officers of Gotham City and takes a look at what makes them tick.

The episode is the first to be told mainly through flashbacks. After a botched bust, Officer Renee Montoya and her rookie partner, Wilkes along with Detective Harvey Bullock, called in to explain themselves. While being interrogated by Internal Affairs office, Lieutenant Hackle, they each give their version of events, which all differ. After they are suspended and stripped of their badges, it's up to Batman and Montoya to make sure the bust is successful.

Three sides.

The first half of the episode is told almost entirely in flashback, which is a first for the series and it works really well. It's great to get to know the everyday men and women protecting the city. The trope of a character recounting their version of events while the actually events play out for the view is trotted here, but since Bullock's story is the only one that veers from the truth so spectacularly it doesn't really feel cliche.

This is the first episode where we really get a sense of who Bullock is. He's appeared in a few episodes and has been kind of broadly drawn, sort of a slob, a blowhard, doesn't care for Batman. This also shows that first and foremost Bullock cares about himself and making himself look good. Bullock is the reason that the bust goes sideways, going in without back up, though he maintains Montoya and Wilkes were late, and inadvertently starting the fire. Bullock has been portrayed in the comics as being somewhat corrupt before fully turning on the side of the angels and I like how the show isn't shying away from that morally dubious side of him, yet at the same time keeping it kid friendly.

Montoya is really the shining star of the episode. She tells the truth to IA, she pieces together the clues and is instrumental in taking down "The Boss" and completing the bust. It's a great turn and it's always nice to see a character of color, especially a woman, to be given her own agency and perspective. It was important in 1992 and it's just as important now.

My main issue with the episode is Montoya related. She does have a few moments where she is less badass cop and more damsel-in-distress with Batman running to the rescue. It's almost like the writers where hesitant to have her really steal the show from the Dark Knight, so they had to throw that in and that does throw off the flow of the climax of the episode a bit.

All in all, a solid episode that shows that Batman doesn't have to be the center of attention for the show to be great.

Grade: B+

This is another episode that puts Batman on the back burner focusing more on Bruce Wayne and what he brings to the equation.

While Bruce Wayne is volunteering at the Dock Street Rescue Mission, he learns that may of the homeless the Mission services and a volunteer are going missing. He decides to hit the streets undercover to try figure out who is taking them off the streets and ends up getting whacked in the head, losing his memory in the process. Bruce ends up working a mine with the missing homeless and Dan Riley, the volunteer. Can Bruce regain his memory in time to save himself, these people and put a stop to all this?

So many stains.

When I posted the link for the previous two reviews, I mentioned that one was my least favorite. In the comments a friend, mentioned "the Gross Fried Chicken Boss" who is the villain and I use that term loosely of the episode. I remembered thinking that despite the lame-o bad guy, the rest of the episode was not bad. Did my memory deceive me? Well, yes and no.

There is a good story to be told focusing on Batman losing his memory, but I'm not sure that this is it. I can understand the writers wanting to use a villain they concocted and not a classic to try to keep the focus on Bruce, but that villain should still seem like a credible threat. That is the main issue here. Much like the Sewer King, there is no worry at any point that Bruce won't get out of this and make a fool out The Gross Fried Chicken Boss, who has a name, but why use it?

The dreams that help awaken Bruce's memory are a mixed bag here too. I again enjoyed the allusions to the tragedy that made Bruce become Batman and the Joker bit was nice. However, the homeless people looking for handouts and the way the episode tackles homelessness in general is so ham fisted that it's sort of embarrassing.

That being said, I did enjoy Bruce showing off his disguise skills, hearkening back to his Matches Malone alter ego in the comics. This disguise is labeled "Gaff Morgan." Alfred acquits himself well in the episode, proving again that he is the best partner for Batman and doesn't need a cape or tights to do it.

All in all, another episode with some good ideas that doesn't really find a compelling way to tie everything together.

Grade: C

Two more in the bag. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. Next up, Joker gives up crime to be a birthday clown and Harvey Dent has a new fiancé!