TV.com

Superman: The Animated Series Season 2 Episode 6

Identity Crisis

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.9

User Rating

66 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 9/15/97

Superman encounters Bizarro, an imperfect genetic double of The Man of Steel, who tries to take Superman's place as Metropolis' hero.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

The golden-hearted Doppelgänger.

6.0

By TvTome_Murdok, Aug 01, 2005

Bizzaro's story dates back 1958 when he first appeared in the edition #68 of SUPERBOY. A doppelgänger is defined as a "spiritual or ghostly double or counterpart" or "apparitional double of a living person," in other words: an evil twin. This theme has been used in comics and shows like Star Trek, He-Man, and Hercules. Bizzaro is the closest thing to Superman's doppelgänger.

The episode started off brilliantly, however I only realized about its brilliance later. Superman saves a little boy and delivers him the cheesiest speech I ever heard in this series:

"I know it's tough to avoid a dare, but sometimes being brave means using your head"

This was completely out of character, because in this version, Superman was conceived as a man of less words and more action. So, this gave me the most awkward feeling I ever had while watching one episode of Superman. But everything changed all of the sudden Superman saves Clark Kent's life! This was by far the best twist I saw in this show. It literally got my attention to see what would turn out form this predicament. Soon it all started to make sense as we realize that the cheesy Superman is, in fact, fake, as he happens to be a clone.

It was very bold of the writers to have Superman saying that corny speech at the beginning, because it was for that same reason that the Silver Age Superman was criticized for; he was regarded as being too childish, and he was than rewritten for a more mature audience.

It was also nice to see Lex back at his old ways. Since "My Girl" that he hasn't played any important part in Superman, because the series has been trying to focus on other villains, for a change. But once again, Lex acts as we all know him to be like: manipulative, calculative and ruthless. He doesn't show any kind of concern for Bizarro's feelings, for him he his just a disposable tool. From all of his schemes this is, by far, the most inhumane. Seeing all those clones in those tubes was chilling, and the way that Lex was willing to disposed of them really illustrates his lack of character.

Timothy Daly, who also voices Superman, did a fantastic job voicing Bizarro, he was almost unrecognizable. He pulled it off quite well in portraing a disturbed and troublesome, however innocent, antagonist. Every scene involving Bizarro was great; his naivety was as funny as entertaining. Bizarro is often regarded as Superman's villain, but he isn't really evil in the core. He just has a child's mentality and an identity crisis, and this along with Superman's powers create a dangerous mixture. In the end, Bizarro is only trying to do what he was 'programmed' to do: be a hero, however his lack of judgment makes him cause more trouble than good deeds.

This episode was one of the most emotional and touching up to now. There were some dramatic scenes, and Bizzaro's sacrifice – although predictable – was really moving. Bizarro is the only of all Superman's adversaries that we can really feel sorry for. The ending is one of the most said of the series so far.

The plot is simply flawless; the only fault of this episode is its mediocre animation. I think that if it had the animation quality of "The Prometheon," this would definitely be the best Superman episode.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 1

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Timothy Daly	Clark Kent/Superman
Dana Delany	Lois Lane
Clancy Brown	Lex Luthor

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Timothy Daly	voice of Bizarro	Guest Star
Robert Ito	Dr. Teng	Guest Star
John Rubinow	Helicopter Pilot	Guest Star
Lisa Edelstein	Mercy Graves	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (2)
ADD TRIVIA
- No explanation is given for why Bizarro's costume would change during his degeneration.
  EDIT SHARE
- When Bizarro, the clone of Superman, looks at his reflection in a mirror at Lex Luthor's lab, the "S" logo on his costume is not backward. In this series (unlike the Superfriends), Bizarro's "S" logo is forward like Superman's, although slightly crooked.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (8)
ADD QUOTES
- Lois: (about Bizarro) Do you think he survived?
  Superman: I don't know. I've never been in a half-kiloton blast. I hope he did. He turned out to have a good heart.
  Lois: Well, naturally. He came from good stock.
  EDIT SHARE
- Bizarro: What am me?
  Mercy: Bizarro, that's what you am.
  Lex: Mercy...
  Bizarro: Bizarro? That not my name!
  Mercy: If the shoe fits, handsome...
  EDIT SHARE
- Bizarro: Me am Superman! Me am hero!
  Lex Luthor: Sorry, my friend, but you am toast.
  EDIT SHARE
- Lex Luthor (Bizarro crashes through Lex's Lab ceiling and then to Mercy): That's coming out of your pay.
  EDIT SHARE
- Bizarro: I... have... problem.
  Lex Luthor: My friend, I would call that an understatement.
  EDIT SHARE
- Superman (to Superman's clone): Excuse me. I know you're a busy guy, but I'm dying to get your autograph.
  EDIT SHARE
- Superman: It's a date!
  Lois: A date? Hmm, must be this new perfume.
  EDIT SHARE
- Superman: Take a wrong step, Mr. Kent?
  Clark: What?!
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES
- Introduces Bizarro.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.