Board 8 > Strife Watches Batman: The Animated Series for the First Time (Spoilers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

Strife2 posted...

Perchance to Dream

What'd you think about how Batman figured out it was a dream world?
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I'm taking a neuroscience course, so it made me giggle.
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Probably no episodes tonight; studying and an Iron Maiden concert
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More time to avoid purge; odds are I'll be sleeping in a lot after the concert.
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Almost done studying.
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Terror of the Sky
At least this episode felt a lot more action-oriented than the first. It was sorely needed, since less setup had to take place.
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An Arkham alumni poker game caper? Call me onboard with this plan.
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Almost Got 'Im
This is easily my favorite episode so far. The best villains in Gotham, playing a poker game and reminiscing about short Batman crusades? The dynamics at play showed a lot of character depth, even if Batman foiled a couple of them with almost stupid ease. A couple interesting plot twists, plus good showings by Harley and Catwoman. I hope I see more of these villain team-up goofball episodes.
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Strife2 posted...

Almost Got 'Im

This was one of the best episodes ever.
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"...It was a big rock."
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Knowing how the episode turned out, it makes me wonder if Croc is really that dumb.
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I was willing to entertain this "Penguin reformed and meets a girl" thing, but all the puns and other crappy dialogue left me dying. Pass.
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Ok, I know this is a paranoid thought, but virtual reality is fucking scary. In almost every movie, game, or book, putting a VR headset on or whatever is certain death or disability. I would assume it is a relatively impossible situation, but for fucks sake. I would not like having my brain fried that way. I did appreciate the concept at play though. All the riddles are about 1-2 steps above the Penguin Puns, and the animation style was pretty cool for 1992. They really made it feel wonky as fuck, in that puzzling Riddler way.

More tomorrow.
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Bump
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Off Balance
I knew right away where this was going when I saw the phrase "Society of Shadows." Sure enough, Talia played Batman, Batman played Talia, and Ra's (Ra'as?) made his appearance. I mean, how could Batman not know? Talia was shit at acting. But David Warner as Ra's? Dear God, I want more episodes, and I'm going to get more.

Also, Venom called, he wanted his origin scene back. I'm not exactly sure why "psionic vision" means "Crazy weakness to bells." Vertigo ended up looking like a pansy.
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Grad school day...tomorrow bump, maybe
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No more school. I may get an episode in finally
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Slow dissolving mud does not a threatening villain make

WTF He has a lady friend? Oh a doctor lady friend.
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Zatanna
I'm liking this lady magician angle. Keep the episode going. Getting Trucy Wright vibes with the whole thing.
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You should add Young Justice to the DC cartoon watch list.

Much more recent then the others but really good.
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Harley and Ivy? Sign me the fuck up! Anticipation RISING!

Joker: A:AUUUGH!
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My God, Harley is hopeless. Ivy gave her every chance at redemption in the eyes of villainy and EMPOWERMENT...but

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/516588602932076544/9gMTnN9q_400x400.jpeg

I get the sense this HarleyxJoker thing goes about as well as I imagine: like a dumpster fire. Ivy even lost a private toxic waste dump in the process. I almost feel bad.
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This is why people who compare their relationship to Joker&Harley as a positive need to go to therapy.
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Who the fuck would think that's a positive relationship?
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Beats me, but there are tons of shirts and merch like this: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-ncAAOSwmfhX4BLj/s-l300.jpg
out these days. And I have seen multiple people on my Facebook echo that sentiment. Its been a thing since Suicide Squad at least.
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Ewww...
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Hey there not MJ. I was busy with a female magician. I didn't notice you there.
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Barbara you idiot
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Batman: insane wealth, 20+ years of combat and espionage training, high ranking police help
Robin: 5+ years training under Batman, professional trapeze artist background
Batgirl: um...good looking gymnast, I guess

I know I am overreacting, but sheesh.
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The Demon's Quest
Ra's Al Ghul really is a piece of work. Practically immortal, immensely intelligent, and utterly psychotic. I liked the almost James Bond-esque vibe of the episodes, with Talia in an almost Bond-girl role. If it weren't for Bruce's insistence on not seeing people die, you'd think Ra's' deal wouldn't be so bad. He's probably more well-connected and wealthy than Bruce 10x over, and Talia is definitely showing an odd amount of interest in Bruce whether Ra's offered her or not.

But tormented soul, protector of Gotham, all that jazz. I liked seeing the Lazarus Pit in action. It looks like the Ra's/Talia thing continues too. I just love this plotline. So much nuance, and David Warner is just a fantastic villainous actor. So much charismatic villainy and gravitas on display. He's probably my third favorite behind Joker and Ivy.

More later
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Had to go shopping, so I had less free time than I thought to do this and play FFVII. I won't go anywhere tomorrow or Sunday. In between tests and turning in assignments, I should be able to watch more.
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Sideshow

Aww...Killer Croc ALMOST made peace. Then he had to find out about money. Having Batman on his tail didn't help either.

OOH...A Joker+villain team up episode again WOOHOO!

The Trial
This is up there with Almost Got 'Im. It's kinda hard not to be. Big cast, crazy Judge Joker, more HarleyxJoker insanity, villain interdynamics at work, and a female prosecutor who has some serious balls. Batman went all Batman at the end, which was great to see. Joker continues to find ways to be such a contemptible asshole of a "human being," nearly riddling Croc and Harley with bullet holes for the lolz. These villain team up episodes are pure magic.

Avatar
Total Gargoyles/James Bond esque episode here. Egyptian mythology, Ra's and Talia Al Ghul, confusing immortality with deceptive hypnosis and death, weird love/hate relationships. All good stuff here. There's so much to unpack, and definitely a more mature theme than "Hey I'm Joker I"M GONNA KILL BATSY HEHEHEH!" It's a welcome change of pace to have stuff like this.
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House and Garden
Goddamn. I was fooled right until the end. Ivy is a real piece of work. What made her happy ended up biting her in the ass, forcing her to lose everything all over again. She's out of Arkham Asylum for a change, but this crazy ass episode showed it probably wasn't worth a whole lot.

Harlequinade
Oof...my head hurts. I think one episode of Harley = Batman sidekick is enough for one lifetime. God knows who in their right mind could handle an entire fucking movie of this.
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Bane es muy grande!
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Holy balls...I thought I was about to see an actual on-screen death in this show. That was fucked up.
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Did Jonah really just say Hexcuse me?
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Bump for tomorrow
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After the Ivy episode, believing any other villain will reform is a hard sell, much less the Riddler.

Joker: Stop shouting, you poor deluded idiot. You'll ruin my night's prison snack. *plugs ears*
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Second Chance
I was loving this episode until the final part. I cannot fathom the whole "coin" thing to the point he wants to just fall off a construction site to grab the damn thing.

Harley's Holiday
I wasn't really feeling this episode. It had all the hallmarks of filler (I mean, it is a Harley-solo episode). But the ending sequence where she KISSED FUCKING BATMAN AND LIKED IT ENOUGH TO DO IT AGAIN, with Robin and Ivy watching in the background...redeemed the whole thing.
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Condiment King? Pack Rat? Is this shit real?

Batgirl Returns
At least this was a dream. Batgirl taking out the Joker and Penguin by herself, and Batman falling for her? Yep. Total fantasy. This isn't the Killing Joke movie or something...oh wait. At least she took down a villain that is a little more her speed. I mean, it's not hard taking down a mobster with three superheroes, er...two and an antihero I guess. Barbara should worry more about midterms. College tests suck.

I'm getting close to finishing. One more season on Amazon to go.
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Did you not watch LEGO Batman?

Condiment King is very much a real Batman villain. Just wait until Polka-Dot Man shows up! (I have no idea if he ever appears in the cartoon)
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People say they are great, but outside of the "SPACESHIP" meme, I've only caught about 2-3 minutes of footage. I couldn't understand what the LEGO movies were trying to be. There was something South Park meets Robot Chicken meets WTFisgoingon that I couldn't get into. Maybe if I had more free time, I'd start a movie from scratch, but like I said, school sucks. I barely watch movies. 1-2 episodes every hour, interspersed with more study is about all the breaks I get. 2 hours is usually reserved for wrestling or whatnot.
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Yeah...you should try actually watching it.

Without knowing the plot there are a lot of 2-3 minute stretches that would be complete gibberish.

Just start with LEGO Batman, its great. Then if you like that go try LEGO Movie.
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Holidays Knights
Um, does this episode look weird? Ivy is pale with black lipstick, and Bruce's face isn't as chiseled as I remember. Now a low rent shopping montage? WTF is this? NOW ROBIN'S A KID! Joker's eyes are all fucked up, and the animation quality is shot down to like Animaniacs or something, not the level of everything before...

Someone tell me what happened to my brain. I think it melted.
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School tomorrow; probably limited episodes if any.
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Strife2 posted...

Holidays Knights
Um, does this episode look weird? Ivy is pale with black lipstick, and Bruce's face isn't as chiseled as I remember. Now a low rent shopping montage? WTF is this? NOW ROBIN'S A KID! Joker's eyes are all fucked up, and the animation quality is shot down to like Animaniacs or something, not the level of everything before...

Someone tell me what happened to my brain. I think it melted.

What you're watching now is the final season that was started after the creative team had been working on Superman: TAS & was told to do another Bat season. They changed the art style to simplify things a bit & re-designed characters(some for the best, some meh....if you notice now Batman looks like he does in Justice League/JLU). Robin is now Tim Drake & Dick Grayson is now Nightwing.
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Ivy's new outfit is about the only good thing. Joker just...bleh
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Tomorrow bump
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Sins of the Father
Tim Drake's a spunky brat. I kinda like him a little. Batgirl's new outfit is really nice. At least the new redesign gave some good things.
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Just wait until you see Scarecrow's redesign.
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