- Directed by Rick Morales
- Written by John Matta & Matt Weinhold
Watch ‘Beware the Batman’ live on Cartoon Network USA, Saturdays @ 10!
BEWARE OF SPOILERS
Okay brace yourselves, I’m about to make a negative comment about ‘Beware the Batman’ for the first time in quite a while, possibly ever… Alfred is still missing from this show for the third episode in a row.
This show is focussing heavily on the Batman/Katana relationship and losing focus on the core three characters who were the heart at the beginning of the series. We’ve quickly forgotten Bruce’s reluctance to hire Tatsu and her almost father-daughter relationship with Alfred that helped integrate her in to this world.
There is an air of filler about this episode, particularly in the wake of the cliffhanger reveal at the end of last week but I’m going to forgive it on the basis that there is still a great story being told here and a cameo appearance at the end just to remind us that there are larger forces at play.
Pyg and Toad return for their first appearance since the series pilot only this time their characters feel a lot more beefed up making them more of a threat to the Bat and the city.
Their fairytale clues and plots make brilliant use of their characters and there’s a kind of whimsy to them that makes their scheme all the more creepy as they enjoy watching the mayhem they cause.
Their appearance gives Batman and Katana a less intense case to follow that pushes their abilities to work together whilst continuing to test and train Katana and her skills. Both characters are given chances to flex their investigative muscles although it did feel like Batman referred to himself in the third person one too many times. It’s amazing how many things ‘Bruce Wanye know about…’
There are flashes of the bigger story with a return appearance by Jason Burr who was last seen being inhabited by Cypher at fortnight ago in ‘Control’ and I won’t spoil the ending but by the time the screen fades to black at the end we’re circling back to the big arc.
As I’ve been critical of the empty Gotham in the past I’ll have to give the production team credit for introducing a night club to the show and having a – small – crowd form outside of it at the beginning of the episode. A nice lived in moment that we’ve been waiting to see for a while.
Not an outstanding episode but by no means a bad one.
6/10
