Batman Beyond: Episode 10: 'Spellbound' (1999) - TV Episode Review

Batman is about to fight his most, 'mesmerizing' opponent yet!

Alright, so I know it has been awhile since I have done a review for anything from, 'Batman Beyond', the truth is, is it has been awhile since I have done a review of anything at all... But I am back now, and I thought that you guys would enjoy a review from the Batman's of the future... Or Batman Beyond!



Now this one is an interesting one, you see this episode titled: 'Spellbound' was directed by: Butch Lukic (James Bond Jr.) and stars: Will Friedle (Kim Possible), Kevin Controy (Batman: The Animated Series) & John Cypher (Masters Of The Universe).

This episode tells an interesting story, you see, in ole Gotham, crime is a constant... I mean that is the reason for the, 'Dark Knight' right? Well in Gotham, there is a new class of criminal that seems to have come in to take over... Regular people!

How do you fight an opponent who has you under his spell?

And as Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) suits up to find out what is going on... Along with the help of, Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy), Batman is about to find out that even he may become susceptible to the big bad controlling the criminal world!

A Spellbound citizen robbing her family... A crime she won't never forget...

Now I keep mentioning this episode as being, 'interesting'... Well the truth is, is I do find episodes where the criminals manipulate people to be an awful lot of fun... And with, 'Batman', no matter who DC gets to do these types of episodes, they always tend to do a pretty good job!



So if you haven't check this one out yet, then I highly recommend doing so... It is an awful lot of fun!

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Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode: 9, 'The Winning Edge' (1999) - TVEpisode Review

Official Score = 3 Devils

Batman Beyond... One of the things that I really must say that I do really like about this show is the fact that where as it is truly it's own show, it does add elements of, 'Batman: The Animated Series' in it as well!

I mean besides the fact that this series has an aging Bruce Wayne sort of mentoring the new, 'Batman'... (Sort of in the same way that, 'Alfred' used to mentor Bruce during his days as Batman.) Besides all that, this series has pretty awesomely incorporated in a very nice way certain elements from Batman: The Animated Series as well!

A great example of this is, 'The Jokers' a street gang that is modeled after the original, 'Clown Prince Of Crime' himself! And another example is in the episode, 'The Winning Edge'!

You see, this episode, which stars: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World) and, Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), tells the story of how certain teams seem to be gaining an unfair advantage, and that in Terry McGinnis's school, 3 of these kids are using these performance enhancing drugs, and turning to crime to pay for their habit!

Doping in School? For shame! And you will find out when Batman comes to stop you!

And as Batman  begins to investigate where this drug is coming from, he will come to discover the involvement of an enemy from the past when Bruce Wayne was still Batman!

The episode, has a good message of why drugs are bad, and talks about them in a fun way.... And as for the episode itself, I am going to say that this episode is one of the better ones out there and certainly well worth checking out!

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 8: 'Dead Man's Hand' (1999) - TVEpisode Review

Official Score = 2 Devils

Alright so... So far so good, as far as Batman Beyond goes, it has proven itself to be a pretty fun show... And an interesting concept, (I mean if you consider that this series tells the story of what happens after Bruce Wayne (Played by:  Kevin Conroy in this series) retires, 'Batman', and retires himself from a life of fighting crime...)

And the new Batman... Well I am going to say that it was definitely a good choice... He is sort of a cross between, 'Robin' before he got fed up with being Batman's sidekick and became 'Nightwing', and Batman himself!

But well unfortunately all good shows have to have a few episodes that don't live up to the standards that the show have set for itself (even the ones that have had meteoric rises!) In the case of Batman Beyond... Well I am going to have to say that, Episode 8: 'Dead Man's Hand (1999), is one of them!

Batman fighting with his soon to be, 'Lady Love.'

The truth is, is this is one of those episodes that just wasn't as, 'fun' as previous episodes... I would go so far as to say that it was actually kind of bland!

What I mean by that, is that usually with cartoons, I have found that the area is usually the story, and how it is written that is the source that can get people in to trouble... Well the truth is, is this story concept is pretty good... A story that talks about how Batman (In this series, played by: Will Friedle ends up falling in love with a woman that turns out be a criminal, is actually a very fun concept... The problem is, is that there was just no strong excitement in this episode, to the point where I really just couldn't care about the turmoil or any of it... I know it is a kids show... But come on!

In the end, well it is one of the episodes of the series, and if you are planning to watch the whole series, then you might as well check this one out, but if I were you, I would not expect to much!

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 7: 'Shriek' (1999) - TV Episode Review

Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils

So far I have to admit that I am extremely impressed with the series, 'Batman: Beyond'...

You would think that it was because of the concept of having the series take place in a technologically advanced future, in which Batman has also adapted with the times... Well that isn't it... But it is the story.

What I mean is that Batman may have had to adapt with the future, but in all honesty, Batman doesn't go super high tech (although he does have a cool different suit from the one that he used to use. In this case it is an old Batman (in a different costume), that has to learn to adapt in a high tech future, to high tech villains... Well so far this new series has as yet not failed to make me impressed with the current episode!

And you know what? This episode may not be the best of the series, but I will say that Episode 7: 'Shriek' is still a pretty darn good one!

Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Sherman Howard (Day Of The Dead) & Chris Mulkey (The Purge).

Shriek and Batman about to go in to an intense round of, 'talks'...

This episode  tells the story of how Derek Powers (Sherman Howard) decides that it is time to get rid of Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) once and for all... You see, Derek Powers is about to tear down an old section of Gotham City, that Bruce dearly wants to keep preserved... And it is starting to look more and more like he will get his choice!

So Derek puts Walter Shreeve (Chris Mulkey) on the job... Shreeve is grateful, and turns himself in to, 'Shriek', a villain that uses audio to disable and destroy his opponents, and it looks like the only one who can stop and save Bruce is the new, 'Batman'... But he will have to do so before Shriek can completely destroy Bruce, not just in body, but in mind as well!

Batman stopping Shriek's first attack!

Well, this episode was fun, because we got to see Bruce as an old man fighting the good fight one last time... But other then that, this episode is pretty paint-by-numbers, and in all honesty... Shriek... Not a particularly impressive villain...

In the end though, despite it's paint by numbers aspect... It is an episode worth watching, at least I thought so, and you might as well!

Batrman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 6: 'Heroes' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_385" align="alignright" width="353"] Official Score = 2 Devils[/caption]

A common thread in comics when it comes to a lot of the older superhero origin stories is that there is some sort of accident that causes the person or persons to become the superheroes that they were destined to be!

A great example of this is, 'Daredevil' his origin had him blinded by chemicals, and during this time he also ends up getting his super powers as well...

The reason that I mention this is the latest episode of, 'Batman Beyond' has to do with a similar topic!

Written by: Hilary Bader (Superman), Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: The New Frontier), Alan Burnett (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm), Paul Dini (The Batman Superman Movie), Rich Fogel (Smurfs), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Part 1), Tom Horn (Psi Factor: Chronicles Of The Paranormal) & Directed by: Butch Lukic (James Bond Jr.). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="352"] These heroes are the new thing... But are they truly heroes?[/caption]

This episode tells the story of how there is some new heroes in town, and they are ready to help Batman end the scourge that has been plaguing Gotham since Bruce Wayne retired, once and for all!

The only problem is, is that these super powered superheroes are not fully trusted, and when the Military ends up reneging and trying to stop these heroes... Well lets just say that it is a quick road to the world of the Super villain!

In the end, this episode is unfortunately nothing special or unique, it is just fun, and if you give it a chance, it may or may not be your favorite episode of the series, but I do think you might find it to be a good time... I know I did!

http://youtu.be/5mc02nwPxog

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 5: 'Meltdown' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

You know, so far I have to say that I am pretty impressed with, 'Batman Beyond'... I mean it is a fascinating look at a world where the mantle of, 'Batman' had to be passed on to a new generation... And with that new generation, a new generation of Super villain as well!

And speaking of new villain... Episode 5... Has our new Dark Knight fighting an old villain... Which did make for a very fun episode!

You see, this episode, which was written by: Hilary Bader (The New Batman Adventures), Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: The New Frontier), Alan Burnett (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm), Paul Dini (Batman: Arkham City), Rich Fogel (Smurfs), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1) & Directed By: Curt Geda (Ultimate Avengers). Starring: Will Friedle (Kim Possible: The Secret Files), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Linda Hamilton (Children Of The Corn), Michael Ansara (Broken Arrow) & Sherman Howard (Lethal Weapon 2).

Mr. Freeze (Michael Ansara)... A villain who when Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy) fought him as, 'The Dark Knight', was a criminal that was hell bent on saving his wife's life... His only connection to humanity... What with being a cold emotionless immortal shell and all...

Well decades later he has become a different type of person... He wants to reform and come back in tot he world of the living... In comes Derek Powers (Sherman Howard)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Mr. Freeze goes to war with his benefactor![/caption]

You see, for his own nefarious reasons, Derek Powers has decided to help him out, and gives Mr. Freeze a new lease on life, with a new body and all...
At first everything seems to be going alright... As a matter of fact, it appears as if, 'Mr. Freeze' has gone to that cold storage in the sky, what with Victor Freese adjusting to his life as a law abiding citizen of the great city of, 'Gotham' real nicely!

In the end though... Victor Freese's body ends up reverting to, 'Mr. Freeze', (along with his mind as well)... In the end though Victor Freese may finally get the justice that he so richly wanted, in the revenge he thought he deserved to reap on Derek Powers and the group that tried to help him!

In the end, this episode was a lot of fun, and well worth it to see the character arc of Mr. Freeze... So in the end, check it out, I think that you might find this episode to be fun... I know I did!

http://youtu.be/22yMGXR2fqU

Batman Beyond: Seaason 1 - Episode 4: 'Golem' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Have you ever seen a show that you were so happy with, that you ended up watching the entire series in a couple of days? Well for me, the most recent one that I have found is, 'Batman Beyond' (1999 - 2001)!

It was fun to see where most of the characters ended up at in their story lines, years after most of them could continue to dawn there roles as, 'Batman' or as, 'Robin'... Or even as, 'Batgirl'... But not just that, it was fascinating to see how without superheroes, how Gotham City begins to dive back in to the anarchy that it was in before Bruce Wayne became Batman!

And so far, with Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) as the new Batman, he has as of yet failed to disappoint as, 'Batman'!
And Episode 4 of Season 1, 'Golem' is another example of this!

[caption id="attachment_2596" align="aligncenter" width="450"] This new Batman may not be Bruce Wayne, but he is pretty awesome never the less![/caption]

Written by: Hilary J. Bader (Superman), Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: The New Frontier), Alan Burnett (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm), Paul Dini (The Batman Superman Movie), Rich Fogel (Smurfs), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1) & Directed by: Butch Lukic (James Bond Jr.). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Scott McAfee (Midnight Run), Seth Green (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Melissa Disney (Superman Vs. The Elite), Lauren Tom (Futurama) & Bill Smitrovich (Millennium).

In this latest episode, Batman goes face to face with a giant two story tall robot by the name of, 'GLM'... (Or, 'Golem')... Now Golem is a robot that is normally used to aid construction workers, but some one has kidnapped it!

And this kidnapper has decided to bring it closer to home then he would like, when as Terry McGinnis, it has been sent after his High School enemy.

In the end, Batman is going to have to find out who is doing this and stop this person from destroying, 'Terry's' High School enemy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Batman, as he is trying to defend the city from the rampaging, ' Golem' as well as defending himself from it![/caption]

This episode is a lot of fun, I believe it was inspired by Stephen King's, 'Christine'... And well... Let's put it this way, if you liked the book, then I am pretty sure you will like the episode... I know I did!

http://youtu.be/S4OUK2Q4q10

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 3: 'Black Out' - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_390" align="alignright" width="178"] Official Score = 1 Devil[/caption]

Well so far so good, so far, 'Batman Beyond' is proving itself to be a pretty formidable series... I mean we got to see how Bruce Wayne finally realized that he was, 'as the famous line goes', "To Old For This Shit"... And retired the Dark Knight... Seemingly for good, and how Gotham has begun to fall to the wayside thanks to the loss of Batman... And how just when things were at their bleakest, a young man, whom in a similar situation that Bruce Wayne was in when he decided to pursue the life of, 'Batman', ends up taking over...

Well believe it or not that was a real mouthful... The sad part is, is that the first 2 episodes of this new series were so great, but the next episode just ended up going all, 'children's cartoon' and didn't leave anything for the adults that were just settling in for a fun ride!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It looks like the new, 'Dark Knight' is really struggling with his newest enemy![/caption]

What I mean by this, is that this episode, which was called, 'Blackout' and which was written by: Hilary Bader (The New Batman Adventures), Stan Berkowitz (Superman/Batman: Public Enemies), Alan Burnett (The Batman Superman Movie: World's Finest), Paul Dini (Superman), Rich Fogel (Batman Beyond: The Movie), Bob Goodman (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1) & Directed by: Dan Riba (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Tales Of Metropolis), Shannon Kenney (The Invisible Man), Sherman Howard (Casualties Of War), Stockard Channing (Grease) & Lauren Tom (Wall Street).

In this latest episode, it looks like some one is trying to dismantle a technology firm bit by bit... The problem is, is that when the new, 'Batman' (Will Friedle) comes on the case, he discovers that not only is his first case as the new Batman an exciting one, but that the slimy dirt bag that he is following, may actually be a slime based dirt bag!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Batman's latest enemy is one that is a little more slippery the normal![/caption]

And as Terry McGinnis, settling down to a new life, both as, 'The Batman' and to try and maintain his old identity as just, 'Terry' is also proving difficult as well... But like all great cases, the old addage, 'sometimes the simplest solution is the best,' may prove out on this one!

In the end, I really just didn't like this episode all that much... Don't get me wrong, the characters, voice over work, and animation were pretty awesome, but in all truth, the big bad that they had for this episode was just really lame!

http://youtu.be/e3rAZJiVngc

Batman Beyond Season 1 - Episode 2: 'Rebirth Part 2' (1999) - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

Ok... So where were we? Ah yes...

So Terry (Will Friedle) is determined to get revenge on the people that killed his father... To do this, Terry ends up stealing the latest and final Batman suit out of the Bat Cave when he comes to realize who killed his father (I can only imagine that his intention was to have a little extra strength to back up his play...) This of course infuriates  Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy!)

Well in the end Terry will have to make a decision... Kill the people that killed his father, and satisfy his blood lust for revenge... Or become the man that Mr. Wayne sees as a reflection of himself when he first dawned the now famous Batman costume... I think we all know which direction this ended up going!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Terry McGinnis as the new, 'Batman' batting, 'Mr. Fixx'.[/caption]

In all truth, what made the previous episode so good made this episode pretty awesome to... But what was most impressive about this 2 part pilot episode is just how in the end, the story just wrapped up real nicely and how in the end, this was a great way to start off a very fascinating look at where, 'Batman' would end up at after Bruce Wayne gets to old to be, 'Batman' and who and what the new Batman might be and act like!

So in the, if you are both a fan of, 'Batman' and, 'Science Fiction', then try out these 2 episodes, because they were a lot of fun, and I think you guys might find the same thing as well!

http://youtu.be/OvxfJ5kw1J8

Batman Beyond: Season 1 - Episode 1: 'Rebirth Part 1' - TV Episode Review

[caption id="attachment_325" align="alignright" width="263"] Official Score = 3 Devils[/caption]

When I was a kid one of my favorite shows was, 'Batman: The Animated Series' It was sleek, it was dark, it was cool, and it had finally dropped all that campy stuff that made Batman so popular from the 60s through the 80s!

So when I discovered, 'Batman Beyond' in the early 2000s, I found the concept of, 'What if Bruce Wayne had to retire and pass the mantle of, 'Batman' to the next generation' and what that would be like.  Now I will admit that I have not really seen to many episodes of this new series yet, but I will admit that so far, that I have found this show to be pretty awesome!

And so far, starting with Episode 1 of Season 1, the show has been a great way to start... But we will get in to that in a moment!

Written by: Alan Burnett (Superman), Paul Dini (Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker) & Directed by: Curt Geda (Ultimate Avengers). Starring: Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Kevin Conroy (Batman), Teri Garr (Tootsie), Michael Gross (Tremors), Sherman Howard (Day Of The Dead), George Takei (Star Trek) & Lauren Tom (Futurama).

This first episode tells the story of how 50 years in the future, Gotham City is a whole different place... The technology of the future is there, including hover cars, and an over grown bustling Gotham City... The only problem is that Batman retired years ago, and the Police are essentially under the control of, 'Derek Powers' (Sherman Howard)...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Derek Powers (Sherman Howard) as he is having a frank discussion with Warren McGinnis (Michael Gross)... And boy is it the discussion of a life time![/caption]

Now Derek Powers is an up and coming billionaire playboy who is slowly replacing Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy)... Being that Powers is buying up Wayne Enterprises one company at a time!

But there is a secret that Derek Powers is harboring, and it will hit the McGinnis family pretty hard!

You see after his fight with his father, Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) takes off to go and be with his girl friend, 'Dana' (Lauren Tom)... While there Terry is confronted by, 'The Jokerz' a street gang that modeled themselves after the legend of the original, 'Joker'!

Well in the end, they chase Terry up to Wayne Manor... Once there McGinnis meets an aged Bruce Wayne, who helps McGinnis take down the, 'Jokerz' and after helping Bruce up to, 'Wayne Manor', Terry ends up accidentally stumbling on to the Batcave and discovers who Batman really is! Well after he gets home and discovers that his father is dead and decides to enlist Bruce's help in trying get vengeance...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] It's gonna be like a buddy cop movie, ya know?[/caption]

Since this is a 2 parter, stay tuned for part 2 of this review!

In the end though, the acting in this episode was good... Not exceptional, but good... The animation was good... Not exceptional, but good... In the end what really held my interest in this episode was the story! I love stories that quickly establish great back stories... which this episode did really nicely (what with having shown how Bruce Wayne initially retired as, 'Batman'... And it also quickly established a great story and motivation for bringing, 'Batman' back to life!

In the end, this episode was fun, and if this series continues this way, it is sure to get better and better!

http://youtu.be/3ABcSoiDnFQ