Batman: The Animated Series

This episode marks the first time Batman and Ra's meet face to face, and are also forced to work together when they learn a mysterious masked man has kidnapped both Robin and Ra's daughter, none other than Talia. Continuing the story from an earlier episode of Batman: TAS ("Off Balance") where Batman first meets, flirts and then is betrayed by Talia, the revelation that her father is Ra's is handled well. Not only that, but Ra's thanks to his connections already knows that Batman is really Bruce Wayne.



From what I was told, this is a pretty faithful adaptation of a comic book story featuring Batman and Ra's, but as I have not read the comic at the time I watched this episode (actually, I still haven't read the story now, years later), I found it an entertaining episode with surprises at every turn.



Batman's detective work in this episode is impressive and so are his little fights with Ra's servant, Ubu (or however you spell it). In only one episode Batman and Ra's travel around the world, looking for clues as to where Robin and Talia have been taken. Each place they stop they are attacked by thugs or hidden traps inside temples (Batman is always the one to take care of them as Ra's prefers to watch him battle and not help), and along their way Batman learns more about Ra's and his way of thinking.



When they finally reach the place Robin was kept, the revelation that Ra's really was behind the kidnapping is handled well and his motive is that it was all a test to see if Batman is worthy of being his successor as his daughter Talia has chosen him. Batman refuses and wants to leave but when Ra's health deteriorates suddenly he sticks around to see what the Lazarus Pits really are capable of. The episode ends with a cliffhanger as Ra's is rejuvenated and leaps out of the Lazarus Pits laughing like a mad man and tries attacking his own daughter. Overall this is a great episode as we learn more about Ra's and actually see the secret behind his longevity. The interactions between Batman and Ra's are handled well and they leave quite an impression.

Some might call this the best of what BTAS has to offer. I would disagree, but it and part two are certainly the best episodes of their kind. It has all of the classic Batman elements -- detective work, great combat scenes, and a stand-out villain.



So why only 8.5? Again, this is a classic, well put-together episode, and I have absolutely nothing to complain about. The voice acting is great, as usual, the animation is excellent for its time, and so on...but it lacks the exceptional flair, moral ambiguity, and/or humor that could justify anything higher.



This is a by-the-book episode that doesn't take chances. I would have liked to see the writers stray a little further from the original 70s storyline, because we know they're capable of excellent original episode concepts. But the episode is still great in its classic context, and it introduces Ra's al Ghul, who I consider second only to the Joker as the best of the villains in Batman's rogues gallery. A pivotal moment for the animated series, to be sure.