The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966) (Movie Review)

 

  When it comes to the Western genera now days, new films only seem to sparingly come about, and only a hand-full are truly great. However, there was a period between the late 1950’s and early 70’s in which Westerns dominated cinema, similar to how comic-book and superhero movies grabbed audience interest in the two-thousand-teens. One of the most iconic staples of this golden age was the 1966 Western classic “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly”, which is still cited as one of the greats of the genera, and is frequently seen on lists of either the greatest or most influential movies ever made. While I’ve personally never looked back on “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” as one of my favorite movies, I do still find it one of the more favorable Westerns I’ve seen, and it’s well worth checking out, if you haven’t seen it. This marked a conclusion of sorts to director Sergio Leone’s figurative “Dollar Trilogy”, which began with the 1964 picture “A Fistful of Dollars”, and continued with 1965’s “A Few Dollars More”. While there was no direct continuity between the films, they repeated many similar beats, and re-used many of the same actors, namely Clint Eastwood as the titular “Man with no Name”.  

  For this venture, he’s referred to a Blondie, and is in league with a self-centered schemer named Tuco. The two operate a racket, in which Tuco is captured for reward money, then Blondie rescues him from the gallows at last second, and then they move to a different town to do it all over again. Over time, it becomes a dangerous game of one double crossing the other, to the point where Tuco is ready to do-away is his quiet partner for good. As they try to out-wit one another, a cold-blooded bounty hunter referred to as Angel Eyes, is out on the trail of a thief, who buried a box containing $200,000 of stolen money. Through a series of events, both Blondie and Tuco stumble upon the dying out-law, and each learn something valuable. Tuco learns of a cemetery in which the money was placed, while Blondie learns of the grave-stone in which the box was buried under. Despite hating each-others guts, both men have to work together to survive a journey through Confederate territory during the Civil War, as well as avoiding the deadly aim of Angle Eyes, and his team of armed hunters.

  Before I go any further in the details of the film, I should stop, and address how this film is part of a sub-genera of Westerns, commonly referred to as Spaghetti westerns. While the story and events are set in the Southwestern United States of 1862, amidst the American Civil War, the movie itself was an Italian production, filmed in Spain, with all the locations and towns doubling for areas in America. In fact, the proper pronunciation of the title is “Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo” … “The Good, The Ugly, The Bad”. 

The cast by extent was primarily speaking in their native Italian langue, which was then dubbed over in English. Arguably the weakest element of this film is the doubling, as it’s very noticeable, and at times can take me out of the moment. Regardless, it doesn’t ruin the experience, and it’s admittedly better than the doubling of Sergio Leone’s first two Westerns. Honestly, being an Italian picture, it really makes me admire all the hard work that went into the production of recreating these small towns, Civil War battlefields, prison camps, and cemeteries, to look like authentic locations from a period in America. The climactic cemetery location alone took several hundred Spanish employees to craft all the gravestones, wooden crosses, and how they’d be laid-out and arranged. It’s honestly a phenomenal production, and lensed brilliantly by cinematographer Tonino Delli Colli, who helmed the films sweeping widescreen presentation. Most of the films Iconography comes from how it was shot and presented. A frequently replicated scene is when Tuco slowly walks alone into a ghost town, and with Blondie’s help, due-away with a number of armed hunters, who pop-out of the woodworks, almost like bad-guys in a video game.

  Speaking of Iconography, Clint Eastwood was well on his way of becoming the new face of the genera, with his rugged good looks, and squinty eyes, while chomping on a cigar, became staples of Western cinema. He also had his own iconic attire of a green poncho, which he wore in the first two “Dollar movies”, but didn’t have in this film, until the ending. 

This began speculation on whether or not “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” is a prequel to the first two films, and if Clint Eastwood’s character really is the same person, just taking on a different alias each time. Either way it’s fun to speculate, and there’s also a novelty in having a trilogy of films, in which the viewers mainly create the continuity. As a quick side-note, director Howard Hawks and star John Wayne had their own figurative Western trilogy, sometimes referred to as the “Bravo series”, which began with the 1959 classic “Rio Bravo”, continued with 1966’s “El Dorado”, and concluded with 1970’s “Rio Lobo”. Again, there was no direct continuity between the films, and they can almost be viewed as three different takes of a similar story, and John Wayne playing an almost identical character in all three films. I’m only bringing it up because it’s one of my favorite film series of the genera … but I better get back on track with “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.  

  While Clint Eastwood is the poster-child of the movie, the character who really steals the show is "The Rat" himself … Tuco, played by Eli Wallach. When it comes to slimy characters you shouldn’t trust, yet are still exploding with personality and charisma, Tuco is one of the gold standards … “Whoever double crosses me and leaves me alive, he understands nothing about Tuco … haha … NOTHING!”. Just how cool is this character … well, can you think of any other character in a Western who fires his gun sideways … a common cliché for gangster films, but not Westerns. 

In all seriousness, this guy has all the best lines, all the best responses, all the coolest scenes, and is arguably even the most layered. We get to explore some of his family life, and get an intriguing dynamic between he and his brother, who went on to serve in the church, while Tuco turned into a life of crime. They may seem like polar opposites, yet both chose their paths in an effort to make a name for themselves. Of course, his famous bathtub scene might just be my favorite part of the whole film. A rivel outlaw ambushes Tuco while he’s in the tub, and makes the fatal mistake to gloat, as Tuco secretly brought his firearm in the tub with him … “When you have to shoot, don’t talk, shoot!”. It’s such an iconic moment, and inspired a number of similar scenes. John Wayne had a similar bath tub surprise moment in the 1971 picture “Big Jake”, which is another one of my all-time favorite Westerns. Of course, another famous moment inspired by this was Han Solo shooting Greedo in “Star Wars” ... figured I had to mention that.

  Rounding up the cast is Lee Van Cleef as the ruthless bounty hunter Angel Eyes, a character so cool, he'd actually inspire one of my favorite "Star Wars" characters, the equally ruthless Bounty Hunter called Cade Bane. While I've only seen the actor Lee Van Cleef in a handful of films, including "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and "Escape From New York", he left an impression as this imposing, calculating, and brutal hunter. Just how bad is he ... well, he doesn’t hesitate to shoot a mans face through a pillow. Actually, a lot of the films content was darker and more violent than most Westerns of the time, including a brutal interrogation scene, in which Angel Eyes tortures Tuco. Aside from the dramatic violence, the film also avoids common conventions of the time, as there’s no love interest, and despite what the title may suggest, there really are no heroes in this film. Everyone of our main players is an outlaw, and the setting is characterized as a savage one, where only the smartest and quickest survive. When I was in film school, my teacher used this movie as an example of “Gothic Storytelling”, in which there’s no conventional protagonist, and it’s all about people with their own interests in mind, which makes storytelling unpredictable. Of course, the leads have their ways of holding viewer interest, and some characters like Blondie display just enough moments of virtue, that we cheer for him, despite being an outlaw himself.     

   My favorite segment of the film is when Blondie and Tuco find themselves in the company of Union soldiers, during the battle of Glorieta Pass, of the New Mexico Campaign. For a good twenty minutes, the film takes on a new life as a Civil War epic, yet it still remembers to keep our characters front in center of all the excitement. 

Blondie during this time makes a connection with a Union soldier on his death bed, who failed a mission to blow-up a bridge, which prompts Blondie and Tuco to do something selfless for once. It makes the destruction of the bridge all the more satisfying, and the scene itself was so intense that it had to be filmed twice, as all three cameras were destroyed on the first take. Afterword’s, we segue into the films iconic finale, in which our three main characters converge onto the buried treasure, and have a nail-biting three-way standoff. Typically, when I think of my favorite climaxes, I think of the grand, relentless battles featured in the “Star Wars”, “Avengers” and “Lord of the Rings” movies … and yet, this film likewise features one of my all-time favorite finales, and it barley has more action then a single gunshot. All the excitement of this climax comes from the build-up, the intensity, and all the little exchanges between our players, who don’t even speak much. It’s just this exciting montage of clos-ups, riveting music, and brilliant editing that make this scene a work of art.

  Of course, I had to mention the equally iconic score at some point, and yes … it’s one of the high marks of this film. Ennio Morricone’s music score for “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” gives this film such a distinct identity, and it’s what carries so much of the film’s momentum. 

As a side note, this movie opens with one of my favorite opening credit sequences ever, with all these painted illustrations of the cast, colorful transitions, flashy visuals, and all while matched with this sensational music. If I had any reservations with this movie, it would be the nearly three-hour runtime, and the leisurely pacing of the first half. Upon its initial release in Italy, “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly” had a run time of 177 minutes, although it was shortened to 161 minutes once released in America, which is still a long sit. While the music helps to keep me engaged, I don’t really feel invested until the treasure hunt story gets going, and all three of our characters cross paths, which unfortunately doesn’t happen until about the one-hour mark. Personally, I feel the first act could have been tightened-up a little, although I do understand that the point of the slower scenes was to build-up suspense and anticipation. Truthfully, I just don’t find much of it that exciting … at least in the first act … because once this film gets going, it really cooks, and the slow-build gets exhilarating. The 1968 classic “Once Upon a Time in the West” likewise had a slow-burning start, but eventually got the momentum going.

  In the end, there’s a reason “The Good, The Bad, and Ugly” is so frequently sighted as one of the best of the genera, and arguably the greatest of the Spaghetti Westerns. It avoided predictable conventions, put a new face on the genera, inspired countless imitators, and has been ingrained in our pop-culture. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, your probably still familiar with some of its iconography or maybe even its music, and may not even know where it all came from. It’s just that kind of movie that left a lasting impression, and has been replicated in many forms over the years. If you’re a long time Western fan, this film is required viewing, and for casual viewers, I’d still recommend it, but be prepared for its lengthy run time, and how it utilizes a slow-burn presentation as a means to generate excitement. Regardless, the character performances, riveting music, and film techniques on display are still well worth viewing.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1966 Western classic “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!      

    

The New Batman Adventures – All 24 Episodes Ranked

The early 1990’s program "Batman: The Animated Series" is a long-standing staple of both comic-book iconography, and animated productions in general. For me, while I’m certainly a long-time fan, my earliest childhood fondness of the show actually began with its final season, which was re-titled “The New Batman Adventures”. 

This is when the show transitioned from Fox Kids to Kid’s WB, the animation style and character designs were heavily altered, and it was joined with “Superman: The Animated Series”, as part of the Batman and Superman Adventures hour. The opening to this hour block was extraordinary, and got me hyped every time. The two naturally had a number of crossovers with each other, and all tie-in material to Batman following this season seemed to take more from it as a base point. I really like the overall look and feel of this season, with its permanent red-sky backdrop, and animation style that fit along with the “Superman” show of its time. It was still the same continuity, writers and voice cast, but at the same time, it was almost like its own self-contained spin-off series, with its own unique look and feel.

While the original classic 85 episodes of “Batman: The Animated Series” were more consistent in quality, I just have more of a nostalgic tie to these final 24 episodes, as this is where my feelings for the character, and by extent his world, first took shape. 

It’s when I was first introduced to most of the characters, and it features my favorite ensemble of main characters. For example, this season features my all-time favorite portrayal of Batgirl, with a slick yellow and black costume design, and legendary voice actress Tara Strong in the role. Batman’s original partner Robin has now grown-up, taking on the role of Nightwing, and subsequently for me is a far more engaging character. Even the new young Robin Tim Drake was more interesting, and one of my favorite variations of the character Robin. 

While not every episode was perfect, there was still something about this consistent group dynamic that always got me a little more excited to go on a new adventure in Gotham city, even more so than the original episodes of the series did. As such, I thought it would be fun to stack all 24 episodes of “The New Batman Adventures” on a list, to see which are the ventures I like least, to the ones I love the most. So … not based on any objective quality, and just my feelings … here’s my personal ranking of all 24 episodes of “The New Batman Adventures” … from my least liked … to my most loved.

 

#24 “The Demon Within” (Episode 18) 

When a nasty Witch Boy named Klarion arrives in Gotham city, he steals a magic rod that will give him control of a mystical entity called Ertegun, which once served the wizard Merlin. With the demon under the boy’s control, he goes on a childish rampage through the city … stealing Ice Cream, cake, and trashing a theater … until Batman and Robin arrive to put the little brat in his place. While don’t hate this episode, I just find it the most outlandish and generally forgettable of the whole bunch.

Occasionally, Batman will go into outlandish territory, but this is the only case in which he crosses into straight-up supernatural fantasy. Both the characters and events of this episode carry over into the “Justice League” series, and truthfully, I feel this episode should have been a “Justice League” venture, as I don’t feel it fits with Batman’s universe. There is some decent animation and designs on display, but nothing else about this outing ever really stuck with me either. On a sadder note, the villain boy Klarion was voiced by the late Stephen Wolfe Smith, who passed away shortly after this episode aired, which I feel is worth mentioning.

 

#23 “Critters” (Episode 14) 

Farmer Brown and his pretty daughter have enlarged farm animals as a proposed means of distributing more beef. Naturally, this experiment goes south, the proposal rejected, and Farmer Brown vows revenge. As such, he and his daughter unleash giant mutated cows, chickens, and bugs on the city, with Batman, Robin and Batgirl being the only ones who can stop them. 

This is one of the more famously bad episodes of the season … and from that ridiculous plot synopsis, you can probably imagine why. I must admit, while this episode naturally ranks low for me too, it’s honestly never boring to watch, and occasionally crosses into the realm of so bad it’s fun. Still, Farmer Brown has to be the most disposable Batman rouge of all time, and the image of the Bat-family on a bright and colorful farm setting, fighting a cranky old man and his scantily dressed daughter … who’s jacked on beef steroids … is not one of the shows shining moments.

 

#22 “Love is a Croc” (Episode 9) 

It’s once again time for a super-villain team-up … although, this personally isn’t one of my absolute favorites. Batman’s shortest enemy Baby-Doll has reverted back to her old ways, and has taken a liking to Killer Croc, viewing him as a misunderstood outcast, just like her. The two go out on a successful crime-spree together, but deep down, Killer Croc is waiting for a chance to ditch the little lady, as soon as he gets a big score … much to Baby Dolls dismay. Killer Croc’s re-design was a welcome one, with green scales that actually made him resemble a reptile, as opposed to the grey stone-man look he had in the original.

On the opposite side of that coin, the classic “Babby-Doll” episode from the original series is one of the all-time greats, but I feel the character herself was stronger as a one-and-done villain. I don’t think bringing her back to be paired with a B-tear rouge, and predictable out-come was really necessary. Also, while Batman and Batgirl have some good moments, I still wish there was more of them in the episode, as I felt they just got side-lined. Still, with all that said, this was a passable episode, with some strong moments, and it’s always going to be a general treat to see how different villains from this universe work-off each other.  

 

#21 “The Ultimate Thrill” (Episode 11) 

When former stunt-woman and insane daredevil Roxy Rocket arrives in Gotham, she seeks the greatest adrenaline rush of all time … being pursued by Batman. Thus, she commits a number of thefts for the Penguin as a means of batting out the Dark Knight for one death defying chase after another. Personally, I find everything with the Roxy character repetitive, and kind of boring … but I like everything with the Penguin. 

While Penguin is featured throughout the season, this episode is the closest he gets to being a main villain. Throughout the show, he owns a successful night-club called the Ice-burg lounge, and keeps a clean appearance on the surface, when secretly he’s doing shady deals and diamond smuggling on the side-lines. Maybe a Hot-Take on my part, but this is how I like Penguin the best, posing as an up-right citizen, while getting away with miss-deeds in the underworld crime rings. His setting of the Ice-burg lounge is a great design, packed with detail, personality, and is one of my all-time favorite reoccurring locations through the series … everything else in this episode is just kind of average.     

 

#20 “Cult of the Cat” (Episode 15) 

For Catwoman’s final appearance in the show (excluding the DVD short film “Chase Me”), we see her steal from a psychotic group of lethal cat-worshipers, making her their main target for a ritual sacrifice. Batman naturally comes to her rescue, and the two go from one exciting chase to another, with this evil cult on their tails. While Batman initially seems on his A-Game, he really should have learned by now that Catwoman really isn’t one to turn your back on. In the flash of a second, Catwoman betrays Batman, and uses him as a means to gain access into the cat cult. 

It all builds to an exciting battle in a giant gladiator style arena, as our hero battles a giant Sabretooth cat monster, and we see if Catwoman really has gone bad … or if she still has feelings for her Dark Knight. For all the character development Catwoman received in the original show, I do feel this episode downplayed her as simply a crook who gets away with theft. While I don’t think it worked as a send-off episode for the character, it still works as an enjoyable Catwoman adventure on its own, with the cat-cult being worthy foes, and there’s a number of decent set-pieces in which the stakes are high, while our two leads have some fun banter with each other. It's an okay watch, just not one of Catwomans absolute best either.

 

#19 “Animal Act” (Episode 16) 

The Bat-Family is following a trail of mysterious robberies, and during a stake-out, it’s revealed that the crooks, oddly enough … are circus animals, apparently trained to commit theft. Nightwing recognizes them as animals from the very circus he was raised at, before he became Batman’s first partner Robin. 

Thus, he, Batman and the new young Robin visit his old circus home, and we get to see more details of the circus world that was his up-bringing. Nightwing also reunites with an old flame named Miranda … who just happens to be the animal trainer. Batman instantly suspects her as the culprit, which leads to some intense conversations between he and his former partner. The tension between Batman and Nightwing is the highlight of the episode, with ominous shadow effects, and it builds on our excitement for later in the season, when we learn the story of why the first Robin left Batman. 

It’s eventually revealed that the Mad Hatter was the culprit in control of the animals, and it builds to a fun climax with our hero’s battling an army of mind-controlled circus performers and animals under the big top. This episode is often dismissed as one of the lesser offerings, but I think it’s a little better than its reputation would suggest. Nightwing in general is one of my favorite characters, so any episode centered on him, and further explores both his upbringing and friction with Batman is going to be decent on some level. Also, the Mad Hatter is always a welcome villain, and one that I feel deserves more attention. While some of the jokes in this episode don’t work, including a dumb closing scene, this is still a worthwhile outing with the Bat-Family.     

 

#18 “Double Talk” (Episode 4) 

One of Batman’s more sympathetic rouges … the Ventriloquist … has been released from the Asylum, and is finally acting as his own man, without being dominated by his wooden puppet persona called Scarface. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts to reform, a group of gangsters bully him back into becoming Scarface once more, and taking the role as their crime boss. Scarface in general has always been an underappreciated gem among Batman’s rouges, and I personally feel this is his best episode. 

Watching the Ventriloquist fight for dominance over his alter ego is like watching a drug attic put away an addiction. It’s also one of the rare cases in which I’m rooting for the antagonist to pull through … even Batman is on his side, acting like a figurative guardian angel. The creative animation during the dream sequences are the highlights of the episode, and there’s even references to classic horror movies … mainly the 1973 classic “Don’t Look Now”, in which a perceived illusion is really a dwarf, who’s armed to kill. Scarface’s re-design is one of the better ones of the season, and his story comes to a satisfying conclusion. 

 

#17 “Torch Song” (Episode 10) 

Popular Gotham stage singer Cassidy is having a hot time in the cold town … quiet literally, as her ex-boyfriend is out for revenge, and with his new flight suit and signature flame-thrower weapon, is trying to set his old-flame a-blaze. Batman and Batgirl do their best to keep the singer safe, although ... this new villain called Firefly, may be too hot to handle. Firefly is one of those lesser-known Batman foes, who I’m always hoping gets a little more attention than what he’s gotten. In this outing, he’s a straight forward threat, with a direct goal, and while it’s nothing too deep, it makes for an engaging watch, and his pyrotechnic powers are utilized well in some blazing action scenes. 

Also, while I’ve never been a fan of Batman and Batgirl as a romantic pair … I do love their chemistry in this episode, as they do feel like people who grew a close friendship after experiencing so much together. They even manage to make a dated 90’s reference to “Pinky and the Brain” rather charming. Detective Bullock also gets a funny scene, in which raiding a fridge is more important than collecting evidence at a crime scene. It’s all around a standard episode … executed in a fun and exciting presentation.   

 

#16 “You Scratch my Back” (Episode 5) 

To prove he can fly without Batman’s shadow overhead, Nightwing goes out after a smuggling ring, only to find himself tangled-up with Catwoman. The two engage in a battle of wits, as neither fully trusts the other, and in this game, only one can come out as the winner. This marked Nightwing’s first leading episode, and it’s great to see how far he’s come, as well as where his relations are with both Batman and Batgirl. That’s all good … the bad however comes in the form of Catwoman. 

This marked the first appearance of her new re-design, and for whatever reason … I can’t stand this illustration of Catwoman. She looks too young, too small, and the design itself is just so flat and basic that it barley stands out against the background. It’s a shame it’s so distracting, because the actual set-up of Catwoman and Nightwing teaming up, while also trying to out-wit the other, is a great concept, and leads to some terrific action … including a white knuckled duel between Batman and Gotham’s Captain Hook. For Nightwing, this is an excellent episode, and a proper progression of his character, but for Catwoman, it’s an unfortunate downgrade … mainly in the design. 

 

#15 “Legends of the Dark Knight” (Episode 19) 

Now we come to one of the bigger fan favorite episodes, and while I consider this instalment a classic, I love it more as a tribute to the characters legacy, as well as a concept perfectly realized, rather than an episode I’d want to sit down and watch. A group of kids in Gotham are crazy big fans of Batman, each with their own uniquely different story of how they interpret the character, and each tale is a loving tribute to different eras of Batman. The first is a nod to the campy 50’s comics, with an art style to match, as Batman and Robin fight the Joker, after trying to robs a giant musical-themed museum. 

The second story is a short re-telling of Frank Millers famous graphic novel “The Dark Knight Retunes”, in which the aged Batman and female Robin battle a mutant army … oh, and Michael Ironside is the voice of Batman, which is awesome. Even Joel Schumacher’s panned live-action films are winked at in one scene, as we see a boy named Joel express his feeling on him. Finally, in present day, the kids get to watch the real Batman as he takes on Firefly. Like I said, this episode isn’t one of my absolute favorites to re-watch, but it’s still a loving tribute to his different iterations, very unique in its presentation, and there’s a good reason it’s remained a fan favorite.   

 

#14 “Mean Seasons” (Episode 13) 

A new masked threat in Gotham is targeting various show hosts, and each of the villain’s methods are based around different holidays, and seasons of the year. As such, the police dub this new female foe as Calendar Girl. Batman and Batgirl are naturally on the trail of this mysterious criminal, and the more they discover, the more disturbed, and even sympathetic her story gets. Miranda Page was a former fashion model and actress, but she was forced away from the spot-light … not because of bad acting, or talent, but simply because she turned thirty. Now, despite still having a beautiful face, she can’t look at herself, feels she’s deformed, and vows revenge on all who wronged her. 

This episode manages to juggle some exciting action, an intriguing new villain, along with some decent themes and commentary on the dangers of show-business, and asks … How much effect can age have on an individual? … Is it really a stopping point, or is it just a number? This new villain was inspired in part by the preexisting Batman foe called Calendar Man, along with elements from another female antagonist called The Manikin, who appeared in the early 1980’s detective comics. Personally, I prefer Calendar Girl, as she conveys both a menacing presence, with a striking design, yet still has a relatable backstory.  

 

#13 “Beware the Creeper” (Episode 23)

Gotham City is looking back on the seven-year anniversary of the Joker, and how he came to be the famous clown prince of crime. A local news anchor is broadcasting the event at the very chemical plant that the villain was created, and to no-one’s surprise, Joker himself shows-up to steal the spot-light. 

Amidst the attack, the anchorman is dropped in the same vat of chemicals, giving birth to yet another psychotic, hyperactive nut-case, this time referred to as Yellow Skin Wacky Man … but he prefers to be called The Creeper. As he lets himself loose in town, Creeper finds he’s smitten with Harley Quinn, and is eager to dethrone The Joker as the new king of crime. As such, a battle between two psychopaths ensues, as Joker and Creeper out match one another, while Batman and Robin are caught in the crossfire. 

This is certainly one of the more fun and comedic episodes of the show, and the Creeper himself is a highly entertaining presence, especially with Jeff Bennett hamming it up in the role. Harley Quinn, despite being a damsel for most of the episode, still stands out as a bright spot with some snappy quips … and for a funny scene in which she acts seductive for the Joker in a giant pie. In general, the concept of a wild man who’s too much for even the Joker to handle is a very fun idea, but I do wish there was more of the two-characters clashing with each other. Other then that, this episode is worth watching for a laugh.  

 

#12 “Holiday Knights” (Episode 1) 

Now we come to the second of Batman's Christmas episodes, and while not on the same level as the original “Christmas with the Joker” from the first season, I still can’t help but enjoy this one as yet another special holiday offering, one that I gladly re-watch around the Christmas season. “Holiday Knights” takes a very different approach from any other episode of this season, as it’s an anthology revolving around various events throughout the month of December in Gotham City. 

First, Bruce Wayne has to escape the clutches of both Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, who are taking advantage of his money to go on a Christmas shopping spree. Then, two police officers disguised as a mall Santa and an attractive elf find themselves aiding Bat Girl in taking out Clayface. Finally, it all comes to a close with a New Years eve celebration, in which the Joker threatens to bomb time square. Each event has their own holiday appeal, the animation is great, and it’s just another really cool merging of Christmas with super hero action.

 

#11 “Judgment Day” (Episode 24) 

A new faceless vigilante simply regarded as “The Judge” has just arrived in Gotham, and he’s using lethal force in his efforts to kill off Batman’s rouges gallery of criminals. Many rouges in the vein of The Penguin, The Riddler and Killer Croc nearly meet permanent demise, if not for the interference of Batman. 

The one rouge eager to take matters into his own hands is Two-Face, who isn’t going to stand by and wait. We also discover that the Judge was enlisted by a councilman, who aims to do what Batman never could … kill off the criminals without mercy. This raises some moral and ethical debates for Batman to ponder, as the city would obviously be safer if all his enemies got killed off, but dose that sill make it right to commit mass genocide on such a high scale … even if they aren’t good people. It’s a great issue to raise in a Batman episode, and had it been given more focus and debate, this could have been one of the all-time great episodes. 

While this episode is certainly a strong instalment, I think it could have been better, mainly if it spent less time focusing on Two-Face and his development, as opposed to Batman, who really should have spent more time pondering, and even questioning the issues raised in the episode. The Judge is arguably my favorite new rouge to come from this season, with a striking presence and design … although, he’s undermined a little by the twist ending. Still, even if it falls short of it’s full potential, it’s still a highly recommendable episode, further develops Two-Face as one of my favorite main villains, along with the novelty of an exciting new antagonist at the center.

 

#10 “Joker’s Millions” (Episode 7) 

Gotham’s famous clown prince of crime finds himself short on cash, and is desperate to make some coin. One day, following the passing of a rivel gangster, Joker suddenly finds himself inheriting millions of dollars, enough to buy his own state pardon, and becoming one of the wealthiest men in town … much to Batman’s frustration. 

However, after Joker gets a visit from the International Revenue Service, he finds himself owing a large sum of money, and discovers this was all one big set-up by the former mobster to take the fall … and in the most humiliating way possible. This leads to one of my all-time favorite Joker quotes … “I’m crazy enough to take on Batman … but the IRS … no thank you!”, and naturally, it doesn’t take Joker long to revert back to his old ways of stealing money. Speaking personally, while this may not be the greatest Joker episode ever made … I do find it the funniest, and most enjoyable. Something about the set-up, payoff, and consistently amusing details just put a big, dumb joker grin on my face. 

It’s an episode that simply embraces its silly premise, and like I said, is arguably one of the more humorous of the whole show. Joker’s lines and mannerisms are priceless, the Bat-family all get involved, each with perfect reactions to everything, and Harley Quine likewise has a number of funny sequences as she tries to escape from prison, and get her revenge of Joker for being left behind. It’s a special case in which this show went for a light and care-free tone, and it was just kind of perfect, with everyone clearly having fun working on it.  

 

#9 “Chemistry” (Episode 22) 

As impossible as it may seem, Bruce Wayne has finally met the love of his life … a woman so perfect, he not only marries her, but decides to retire Batman for good … so somethings up. Red flags start waving when Bruce notices that many of his friends and fellow wealthy single members of Gotham have also found seemingly ideal mates, and all with matching green eyes. 

Turns out these perfect mates were actually plant people, specially grown by Poison Ivy, to kill off their wealthy partners and inherit all their money. While Poison Ivy makes five appearances in this season (two of which are just cameo’s), this is her only solo villain outing without Harley Quinn at her side, and it’s a nice change-up to once again see Poison Ivy acting large and in-charge as the main threat. The premise also fits right into my wheel house of Sci-Fi horror, and features some effectively nasty imagery. There are also some nice interactions with all the members of the Bat-family, which has always been a high mark of this season. We even get to see a lot of Bruce Wayne acting heroic out of costume, which is another welcome change-up. 

Lastly, the climactic final battle on a cruise ship made for an effective set-piece, and for a while marked the death of Poison Ivy. While she did return in a crossover episode of “Static Shock”, it was satisfying for this episode to finally see one of Batman’s main rouges finally bight the dust. While this episode didn’t take the characters in any new directions, it still hit so many genera marks I enjoy, that it’s always stuck with me as a personal favorite episode.    

 

#8 “Sins of the Father” (Episode 2) 

While this wasn’t the official first episode of the season, it’s mainly still the pilot episode, which gives us the full story of how the young orphan Tim Drake became the new Robin, and how the actions of his late father led to a current scheme being hated by Two-Face, who aims to hold the city ransom with a deadly bomb.  

This is a very special episode for me, because back when I first saw it as a kid, it marked my own personal introduction to the character Two-Face, who quickly became one of my all-time favorite Batman villains. This also marks one of Two-Faces most openly sinister, and imposing roles as a main threat, and he drops one of my favorite lines … “After I trigger this bomb, there will be two kinds of people left in Gotham … the dying, and the dead!”. Aside from that, there’s a lot of novelty to seeing this new Robin take his first flight, and how he meets both Batman and Bat Girl for the first time. It’s a solid episode, with suspenseful action, and it officially sets the tone for the season moving forward. 

 

#7 “Never Fear” (Episode 6) 

The Scarecrow has once again remerged from the shadows, and is threatening the city with yet another deadly gas. Sounds formulaic enough, but there’s a catch this time … he isn’t inflicting fear, instead he’s taking fear away, and leaving people without a strong continence between right and wrong. Batman himself gets hit by the gas, and now has no fear of taking lives, which forces Robin to adapt to the situation, and make hard choices … even if that means turning on Batman. This marked the first appearance of the Scarecrow in the new series, and straight to the point … he had the best do-over of any villain in the show. 

Not only was the design more imposing, but veteran horror movie star Jeffrey Combs absolutely shined in the role, giving this villain the most chilling presence he ever had. Also, the message of how we need fear to survive, and make the right choices, is a great lesson, as so many people view fear as a negative emotion. This episode also highlights the new young Robin as someone capable to think on his feet, and make hard choices. Lastly, I can’t help but feel the climactic train fight with Scarecrow might have been an influence on “Batman Begins” years later. It’s all around one of Scarecrows greatest episodes, and a bright spot in this final season.  

 

#6 “Cold Comfort” (Episode 3) 

Of all Batman’s villains, Mr. Freeze is my personal all-time favorite, so naturally, his only appearance in the season would rank high on my list. While Mr. Freeze’s story admittedly had perfect closure in the animated movie “Subzero”, it just wasn’t fitting to continue the Batman series without one of his most popular villains present. 

Thus, in his return episode titled “Cold Comfort”, Mr. Freeze took on a noticeably darker persona. His suit was literally darker, but this time the character didn’t have the same sympathetic goals driving his actions. This was Mr. Freeze after he lost everything, no longer able to reunite with his love, as most of his body was destroyed, and replaced with cybernetic limbs. As such, he’s going to make sure that everyone in Gotham feels his same level of pain and loss. In other words, he has now officially become Darth Vader ... or maybe Dr. Loveless from “Wild, Wild West”, as he’s got these silly spider legs now. 

Putting that silly detail aside, this marked the highest threat level the villain has ever been, and it was genuinely thrilling to see Batman engage him in a climactic final battle, with the fate on the city in the balance. While I prefer the pathos of the character, it is still a treat to see Mr. Freeze just go full villain, and he putts our hero through the fight of his life. Their final duel to the death is riveting, and we see Batman put in a grey area in which the only way to save the city is to break his one rule ... and kill Mr. Freeze. However, the final visual closes the episode on an ominous note, that he’s not really dead, and that he might return one day.

 

#5 “Girls Night Out” (Episode 20) 

I’m probably a minority for ranking this episode so high, but the truth is, this little crossover with “Superman: The Animated Series” is one of my personal favorites. For me, not every great episode of Batman has to be dark or tragic, and sometimes a light-hearted excursion is very welcome. My personal favorite “fun” episode comes in the form of this pairing between Batgirl and Super-Girl titled “Girls Night Out”. When the Superman villain called Livewire escapes from prison, she teams up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn to have a destructively fun night on the town. With both Batman and Superman out on missions, it’s up to Batgirl and Super-Girl to take action. 

Kind of a hot take for me, but Batman and Superman have had so many crossovers, that the novelty has all but warn out. On the flip side, it’s just a real treat for both of these iconic female sidekicks to team up. Also, unlike their superiors, Batgirl and Super-Girl get along great, and honestly make for a really cute pair of friends. It’s also fun watching the villains work-off each other in this episode, and I like how their just out enjoying themselves, and not hatching any giant scheme against the city. While some lines are a little cringe, there are still more than enough funny quips, sweet action, and it’s just a really cute little episode.   

 

#4 “Mad Love” (Episode 21) 

Widely regarded as one of the great classic episodes of the show, it’s the long-awaited installment revolving around the backstory of how the Joker gained his loony love interest Harley Quinn. Through flashback, we see the early days of how Harley was once a doctor at the Asylum, and the Joker was her prized patient. Little did she realize that he was cleverly twisting and turning the screws in her head, to the point where she fell madly in love with the clown prince of crime. In present day, Harley is ready to finally settle down with Joker … if only Batman would stop distracting him. 

Thus, she sets-up an elaborate trap to finish him off for good … much to the Jokers anger. While Harley had always been a great source of levity in the show, this episode really paints her as a tragic figure, with no escape from her one-sided romance with Gotham’s most notorious rouge. I’d also pin this as the Jokers most imposing episode, both as the quiet patient who gradually took over the mind of his nurse, and as the ruthless villain who takes out all his anger and frustration on the one person who loves him. For any long-time fan of either Harley Quinn or the Joker … this episode is required viewing.        

 

#3 “Growing Pains” (Episode 8) 

In animated programs, you commonly expect the hero to always save the day, and close everything on a positive note. However, in the case of Batman ... well, sometimes there just isn’t a happy ending at all. Personally, I think one of the most daring, memorable, and all-around tragic episodes is this Robin centered episode titled “Growing Pains”. During patrol, Robin comes across a frightened little girl, who’s lost her memory, and is being chased by a shady fellow, who claims to be her father. Robin naturally comes to her defense, and is determined to help this girl re-discover her past. As the two spend time together, a sweet little connection bloom’s between them. Unfortunately, the truth is revealed, and it turns out this little girl isn’t a real child at all. She’s a clay puppet created by Batman’s deadly shape-shifting enemy Clayface. During a tense battle, the girl rescues Robin, but at the cost of her own life.

While the child technically wasn’t alive to begin with, she was real to Robin, and still, the image of this sweet little girl melting away at the hands of Clayface is quite horrific. Outside of the heartbreaking ending, this episode also features some depressing elements of poverty. The most notable moment being when Robin finds a small group of homeless children living under a pile of rocks. That’s not the kind of content you typically get in a children’s program, but hay, that’s why this show is so great. It takes chances, and isn’t afraid to hit the kids with the drama. While the suspension of disbelief is very high in this episode, it’s still one of the more touching, yet darker Batman outings, and one of my absolute favorites.   

 

#2 “Old Wounds” (Episode 17) 

Throughout the season, there was a built-up mystery revolving round the original Robin, why he left both Batman and Batgirl in favor of fighting crime as a solo hero, and why he apparently has a reserved grudge against his former father figure. Seventeen episodes into the season, and we finally get our answers, resulting in one of the shows all-time greatest offerings. Robin and Nightwing pair-up to take on a group of thugs, and after some heated tension, end-up having a heart to heart on what it’s like to be the boy wonder. 

Through a flashback, Nightwing relays the story of how he fell out of Batman’s graces. The Joker was once again hatching a plan against Gotham city, which was putting pressure on Batman, to the point where he lost sight of his own moral code. Batman and the former Robin tracked down one of the Jokers goons to his apartment, only to discover he’s a family man, but Batman isn’t hesitating to beat the information out of him right in front of his wife and toddler son. Robin soon realizes that the years of fighting villains has finally taken a toll with Batman, to the point where he’s lost his ability to empathize. What really pushed Robin over the edge was that Batman was keeping further secrets from him, like how his girl friend Barbra was really Batgirl the whole time, and that he was willing to put her life in danger. 

Apparently, Robin leaving was the one thing that helped Batman come back to grips with what he’d lost. In the present, Nightwing reunites with the thug Batman tried to interrogate, and discovers that he not only reformed, but Bruce Wayne gave him a job, and is providing for his struggling family. While Nightwing can’t undo what happened, he is ready to apologize to Batman, and move on. The episode closes on the most triumphant note of the whole season, as he and the young Robin sour off into the night, set to heightened music, and the Bat-signal shining ahead of them. Personally, I feel this could have been the season finale, as no other episode is this character driven or intensely dramatic. In my view, it’s all around a perfect episode, and one that I highly recommend checking out.      

 

#1 “Over the Edge” (Episode 12) 

Coming in at Number One is this classic episode, which always seems to show-up on everyone’s favorite Batman episodes list … and for good reason, because it’s firkin amazing! The premise is about as jaw dropping and brutal as they get. During a confrontation with the Scarecrow, Bat-girl tragically loses her life, much to the dismay of her father, police commissioner Gordon. 

Consumed by anger, he and the police force wage war against Batman, and for once discovers his secret identity. “Over the Edge” is a great “what if” story, highlighting what could happen when friends are turned on each other, and secrets are revealed. Following a thrilling invasion of Wayne Mansion, our hero finds himself on the run from both the law, and from the criminals who now know his identity. Robin is forced to turn himself in, both Nightwing and Alfred are arrested, and to top off everything else, Gordon makes a deal with Bane to ambush Batman, knowing that he’ll show up for her daughter’s funeral. It’s as insane as it sounds, and it’s as epic as episodes get. 

It’s ambitious, unique, fast paced, and pulls no punches. The action sequences are among some of the shows best, and the violence is very tense, especially by the standards of children’s programming. Bat-girls death scene is a horrific spectacle, and one of the show’s most heartbreaking moments. Also, the final rooftop battle between Batman, Bane and Gordon is the stuff of legend. My only real qualm with this episode is that the ending is a little too abrupt, and kind of a cheat. Regardless, it’s still a top-tier Batman outing, and it’s my favorite from “The New Batman Adventures”. 

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the shows you Love!    

                                                                       THE END