From: lf7z@ellis.uchicago.edu (Glenn Carnagey)
Subject: Re: BTAS: I am the Night
Reply-To: lf7z@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 06:51:20 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.215438.1@cgsvax.claremont.edu> walkerjo@cgsvax.claremont.edu writes:
>
>Wow.
>
>It's hard to believe this was a show animated for American TV.  I mean,
>what was the last afternoon cartoon where we saw this kind of stuff?
>A main character actually gets *shot*.  The main conflict of the show
>wasn't Batman vs. Jazzman, but Bruce's self-doubt and his struggle with
>himself.  This is pretty heady stuff for American carttons.  Up to now
>I've been rating the shows in my records on a scale of 1-5 stars; this
>one may need six.

My kids talking into re-viewing some of the earliest shown episodes
again, and it struck me that the animation has fallen off overal,
while the writing (with notable exceptions) has held up fairly well.
But today's episode was definitely a cut above what we've seen lately,
IMHO.

>Other thoughts:
>It would have been interesting to have had Barbara Gordon in a wheelchair--
>obviously they couldn't have gone into why, but it would have added even
>more drama to the show, at least for the comics readers.  It also would
>have resonated nicely with her dad's situation.  Still, it was great to
>see the character used effectively without either making her Batgirl (shudder)
>or making her entirely helpless.

(Risking the rising flames, he zips up his absestos suit) I kind of
miss Babs in Spandex, this episode raised my hopes a bit.  I may be
mis-membering, but wasn't Batgirl among the voices listed in the cast
list posted last summer?  If so, it's a nice touch to introduce her
slowly; on the other hand, the cast is large enough to begin with.  I
would imagine it to be limited to a Robin-type cameo.

>I continue to be amazed at how effective the supporting cast in the show is.
>This isn't just the adventures of Batman, it's also the story of those who
>care about him and try to save him from himself.  I'm particularly glad to
>see Leslie Thompkins used well again.  Jim, Dick and especially Alfred are
>integral parts of the show.  This is the first time outside of the comic
>books where we've seen how Bruce's obsession would drag him over the edge
>without them.

Agreed, the handling of Alfred has been priceless at times, and I
think they've done pretty well with Robin; he tends to show up more
for moral support when Bats is down, more than anything else, and I
kind of liked that.  And Leslie is a nice touch as well.  Really, I've
though Gordon to be the weakest among the supporting cast, and mostly
because Hoskins voice doesn't really fit the part for me.

>Ok, the kid hustling change was annoying (did anybody else think it was
>Michael J Fox?).  I guess I'll take it back down to five stars. :)

Yeah, the kid was annoying, but it is a kid's show :^), it wasn't as
bad as "Batman in my Basement :^).  BTW, anyone remember villians
listed we haven't seen yet (besides Riddler, who's coming up)?
Tomorrow looks like it includes every villian we've seen thus far, or
most of them at any rate.

Pax ex machina,
Glenn
......................................................................
"Real as anyplace you've been. Get a life!  From the dreamer's dream."
  --- Peter Gabriel
g-carnagey@uchicago.edu, if you must know