[7.4/10] I like the crime noir premise of this one. Batman (and other cops) thinking that Harvey Bullock sabotaged a potential witness against Rupert Thorne because the same witness might implicate Bullock himself is an intriguing starting point. Granted, those familiar with Batman lore (or who watched this episode when they were 10 years old), probably figured out that the culprit was Killer Croc pretty quick. Still, I like the fact that Bruce Wayne didn’t know that, uncovering that Bullock had been credibly accused of being on the take with Thorne, and that the witnesses who mysteriously disappeared would be the ones who could point the finger at him.
Granted, Croc’s frame job is a little convenient, as is Batman’s clue to realize that Croc’s behind it all. And Croc himself is kind of dull compared to Batman’s usual villains on this show. He’s just a sideshow act turn criminal. The fact that he has the titular vendetta against Bullock is an interesting wrinkle, but in a show where every bad guy has some tragic backstory or distinctive rationale behind their crimes, Croc is basically just a weird looking tough guy. The whodunnit story at the center of the episode has some juice, but that’s about it.
Still, there’s a reasonable cool fight between Batman and Croc in the sewers, and the design of the baddie is reasonable scary, particularly his hollow jaw. And while the episode’s script lays it on a little thick, I like that this one features a bit of detente between Bullock and The Bat, with each acknowledging in their own way that they have different methods, but they want the same things. This episode helps humanize Bullock, who’s either been a foil or a punchline so far, which I appreciate.
And it’s not a big thing, but there’s some good laugh lines here. Gordon’s “remind me not to use you as a good luck charm” bit, and Alfred’s “wait till I tell him about the salad” both have a nice dry wit to them.
Overall, this is a bit of a lesser light as villain introduction episodes go, but the Bullock/Batman material helps elevate it.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-10-18T05:02:46Z
[7.4/10] I like the crime noir premise of this one. Batman (and other cops) thinking that Harvey Bullock sabotaged a potential witness against Rupert Thorne because the same witness might implicate Bullock himself is an intriguing starting point. Granted, those familiar with Batman lore (or who watched this episode when they were 10 years old), probably figured out that the culprit was Killer Croc pretty quick. Still, I like the fact that Bruce Wayne didn’t know that, uncovering that Bullock had been credibly accused of being on the take with Thorne, and that the witnesses who mysteriously disappeared would be the ones who could point the finger at him.
Granted, Croc’s frame job is a little convenient, as is Batman’s clue to realize that Croc’s behind it all. And Croc himself is kind of dull compared to Batman’s usual villains on this show. He’s just a sideshow act turn criminal. The fact that he has the titular vendetta against Bullock is an interesting wrinkle, but in a show where every bad guy has some tragic backstory or distinctive rationale behind their crimes, Croc is basically just a weird looking tough guy. The whodunnit story at the center of the episode has some juice, but that’s about it.
Still, there’s a reasonable cool fight between Batman and Croc in the sewers, and the design of the baddie is reasonable scary, particularly his hollow jaw. And while the episode’s script lays it on a little thick, I like that this one features a bit of detente between Bullock and The Bat, with each acknowledging in their own way that they have different methods, but they want the same things. This episode helps humanize Bullock, who’s either been a foil or a punchline so far, which I appreciate.
And it’s not a big thing, but there’s some good laugh lines here. Gordon’s “remind me not to use you as a good luck charm” bit, and Alfred’s “wait till I tell him about the salad” both have a nice dry wit to them.
Overall, this is a bit of a lesser light as villain introduction episodes go, but the Bullock/Batman material helps elevate it.