[7.3/10] Cards on the table, it’s hard to disassociate this episode as a standalone installemnt of B:TAS from my knowledge that Paul Dini has, well let’s call it a “fascination” with Zatana.” There’s a way in which she’s oversexualized here that gets a little cringey in places. I’m no prude, and there’s no big concern with a cartoon having a “leggy girl in nylons” necessarily, but there’s an almost fetization of the character here, which makes her dynamic with Batman and her presentation in the show a tad uncomfortable.
Still, even setting that aside, this is a solid but not outstanding episode of the series. The premise of framed magician is a good one, but the instant the trick goes wrong and the money disappears, you just know the culprit is the evil looking dude Zantana brought on stage. Everything feels like a fait accompli from there, with the plane-side fights having a few thrills, but also a lot of static action.
The main event here is the backstory and shared history between Batman and Zatana. Despite my reservations, I like part of their dynamic here. Batman clearly having feelings about Zatana and her father, but having to pretend to be a disinterested third party since she doesn't know he’s Batman, provokes interesting reactions in Bruce Wayne. And while the setup and payoff is a little too blunt, the whole “Zanna” reveal is at least well-built. Plus, I like the backstory that part of why Batman’s so good at getting out of death traps is that he spent three months studying with an escape artist before he went to train in Japan.
Still, the main plot of the episode doesn't have much to offer. Little reveals like the giant coin at the mint being a holographic mirror are solid, but Kane is a dull bad guy. The tension in Bruce Wayne’s past and Batman’s future with Zatana is worth something (and Julie Brown does a good job voicing the magician), but it’s clouded by the metatextual stuff that unfortunately hangs over my watch of the episode.
Overall, this is still a solid episode, but one weakened by a predictable villain and conflict, and a bit of an odd approach to Zatana.
The virgin Bruce Timm writing & producing terrible films to have Batman & Nightwing vicariously live out his fantasies with Batgirl & Harley Quinn vs. The chad Paul Dini marrying a hot magician to realise his crush on Zatana.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-12-14T20:58:52Z
[7.3/10] Cards on the table, it’s hard to disassociate this episode as a standalone installemnt of B:TAS from my knowledge that Paul Dini has, well let’s call it a “fascination” with Zatana.” There’s a way in which she’s oversexualized here that gets a little cringey in places. I’m no prude, and there’s no big concern with a cartoon having a “leggy girl in nylons” necessarily, but there’s an almost fetization of the character here, which makes her dynamic with Batman and her presentation in the show a tad uncomfortable.
Still, even setting that aside, this is a solid but not outstanding episode of the series. The premise of framed magician is a good one, but the instant the trick goes wrong and the money disappears, you just know the culprit is the evil looking dude Zantana brought on stage. Everything feels like a fait accompli from there, with the plane-side fights having a few thrills, but also a lot of static action.
The main event here is the backstory and shared history between Batman and Zatana. Despite my reservations, I like part of their dynamic here. Batman clearly having feelings about Zatana and her father, but having to pretend to be a disinterested third party since she doesn't know he’s Batman, provokes interesting reactions in Bruce Wayne. And while the setup and payoff is a little too blunt, the whole “Zanna” reveal is at least well-built. Plus, I like the backstory that part of why Batman’s so good at getting out of death traps is that he spent three months studying with an escape artist before he went to train in Japan.
Still, the main plot of the episode doesn't have much to offer. Little reveals like the giant coin at the mint being a holographic mirror are solid, but Kane is a dull bad guy. The tension in Bruce Wayne’s past and Batman’s future with Zatana is worth something (and Julie Brown does a good job voicing the magician), but it’s clouded by the metatextual stuff that unfortunately hangs over my watch of the episode.
Overall, this is still a solid episode, but one weakened by a predictable villain and conflict, and a bit of an odd approach to Zatana.