| "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 23-09-2006 11:15 |
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Nate
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401 - A Matter of Family
PLOT:
When the circus comes to Gotham, ruthless crime boss Tony Zucco demands protection money from the Flying Graysons, a family of trapeze artists. They refuse to pay and Zucco exacts revenge, leaving, Dick, the youngest Grayson an orphan. Having experienced a similar tragedy himself, Batman is driven to take down Zucco and in the process discovers an unexpected bond with Dick.
REVIEW:
"His parents were the family that boy had." - Alfred
"That's why I've decided to take him in. As a foster son." - Bruce Wayne
Fans were upset, yet ready to see how the idea would be approached and handled, when Batgirl appeared next to Batman in season three. Because Robin was not only the first sidekick in comic books, but he was Batman's first young partner at his side, fans wanted him in the show. Their wish was also next to their wish for a matured, darker Batman in the show. For The Batman's fourth season, fans got their wishes come true and now they have the Boy Wonder next to the dark, Dark Knight.
The whole episode's plot is basically the origin to Robin. It is like a up-to-date version of Detective Comics #38, which was the first Robin appearence. With the modern elements, like the bond between Bruce and Dick, from stories like Dark Victory. However, the idea of Zucco after the Graysons for money by force shows me that this might what will be revealed as to why they died in All Star Batman & Robin.
In the preview shown at Comic Con, and even before that with the first promotion images for ther new season, we saw that the design for Batman was changed. Animation-wise: it really shines. I was glad for this change becasue many didn't like his more "pointed" chin from the previous three seasons. Also, it shows that he has aged a little and matured. Batman right now is now dark, you can see when he arrives and delivers the first punch without delay and destroys the door to get into the club that Zucco goes to, and that is good. Not because he had to be since this was a fourth season, but if he wasn't dark then the whole idea behind the creation of Robin and why he has to be next to Batman wouldn't work nor make sense. I also liked seeing how much Batman relates to Dick and how he wants to prove Zucco did it.
I wanted to see how Robin would be handled in the show since I know, just like BTAS, that certain liberties would be issued to prevent things from the origin not to be shown on TV. Before his parents' death, Dick is shown as a happy go lucly kid that has more fun with his skills as an acrobat and is very loveable with his parents. When Zucco threated the Graysons in the beginning, he takes a stand (so does his father, I mean its the guy who voiced Batman in the DCAU) so it shows he's a hero. From that, when they die, you see his soul destroyed. And how they die is like BTAS "Robin's Reckoning" where you don't see them dying but Dick (and us) seeing them die is tragic.
When he is in Wayne Manor, he has burning hatred to get Zucco (something also Batman can relate to). Then when he finds out Bruce is Batman, he begins to understand why Bruce brought him in. When Dick and Batman see each other in the cave, I somehow saw it as Dick (like Bruce) meeting his future self (Batman). More of the connection between them. Robin is a character that when he is there with Batman, he shows humanity and at times to pull Batman away from a dark abyss. He is the light to Batman's darkness. I can't wait for him to meet Batgirl.
I think it was obivious, before we saw his design, that it would be the Tim Drake/'90s Robin costume we were going to get. Because it was modern AND Dick Grayson wore that in Batman: The Animated Series. Instead, the costume here is basically like a modern version of Dick Grayson's actual Robin costume (the pixy boot one) but modernized for today. Its actually like Batgirl's costume since that was a modern version of the costume from the '60s show. The belt is based on Tim Drake's costume, the colors of the "R" is a black R on a yellow circle, a version they made for their show since all the time its a yellow R in a black circle. And finally, the green pants and green shoes (despite looking like its one) is based on All Star Batman. At least we are giving a bit of backstory that his costume is based on his performing costume.
Zucco is a bad guy, in every way. And while his men have skills, probably due to this show, he is what real bad guys are. A man so currupt that he'll murder to prove he is not to be messin' with and to get what he wants. To show fear. I was glad that they didn't do anything to mess with it, like making him a colorful villian. No, he's a mob boss. And we got that. I was surprised when I heard that Mark Hamill would be Tony Zucco and Kevin Conroy was John Grayson. With Conroy's character's death thanks to Hamill's character, I guess the DCAU Joker got his wish against the DCAU Batman.
Overall, this season four opener offers to fans, both who either liked or disliked the show, more of what the characters are like from the comics. We have Robin, Batman with a dark attitude and matured personality (complete with a new chin). The problems people had with it are looking like it'll go away. A good episode.
RATING: 9/10
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
Edited by Caleson on 24-09-2006 01:37 |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 11:39 |
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ROBOTRON
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The Batman...now this is more like it.
Plot: Tony Zucco kills robins parents Bruce takes him in...The Robin appears. Old story...told well. Tony Zucco is a scumbag...and you can feel it. Robin's sorrow, Bruce's compassion...its all in there with plenty of action. 9/10
Characters: Character interaction was great...even Alfred provided a convicing preformence. Grayson Sr. cameo voice was cool too. I could actually feel some of those punches thrown by Bats. I am worried about Batgirl...towards the end of the last season, I was not impressed with her. I hope she does not screw up this fine partnership. 9/10
Art: Good. Basic Jackie Chan style like before...maybe a little darker? Way cool. Music was the same...acceptable. New beginning...well sorta...good. Robin art GREAT.9/10
Timeslot: Good 8.5/10
Overall: When a cartoon can make you go all emo (tional) sitting on your sofa...you know its done something right. What a great start to the new season. Lets hope it continues this way. 9.2/10
Its not fair to compare LOSH to The Batman...LOSH hasn't been around long enough to establish itself like The Batman has. Having said that, The 1st season episode of The Batman provides a LOSH the ingredients of a good show, I hope they take note.
Fight Like A ROBOT!!!
Edited by ROBOTRON on 23-09-2006 11:41 |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 13:59 |
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DavidG
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i thought the episode was great, i really did enjoy it,it is one of mine favorite Batman episodes, can,t wait to see next week episode.
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 14:07 |
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Nate
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Next week's episode is the Penguin one. But you'll get Killer Moth and Bane's return in it as well as the first meeting with Batgirl and Robin. So Team Penguin is next.
You don't get it, boy... this isn't a mudhole... it's an operating table.
(crack!)
And I'm the surgeon.
- Batman - The Dark Knight Returns
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 14:11 |
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DavidG
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sounds great can,t wait to see it.
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 14:39 |
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Azrael24
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This was great, the plot was good and the death of the graysons was very dramatic and sad. it would have been a perfect episode if only it hadn't been rushed |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 15:23 |
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Chris
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This should have been a two-parter. It was VERY rushed. I like how they did it, Dick finding the cave, putting on his suit, all of that, but I felt that Robin should not have been seen until the first part of the Second ep.
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 17:59 |
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Phil
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yea it was pretty rushed...if anything, i think a dtv introducing robin could have been the BEST batman dtv ever. for me atleast, lol.
but it was reeaaally good. the music, the voice acting, the crying, and the screen play of when dick saw his parents die were all good; almost had enough power to make me cry, lol.
http://batmanytb.com/pictures/thumbnails.php?album=4 |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 19:40 |
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ROBOTRON
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Phil wrote:
yea it was pretty rushed...if anything, i think a dtv introducing robin could have been the BEST batman dtv ever. for me atleast, lol.
but it was reeaaally good. the music, the voice acting, the crying, and the screen play of when dick saw his parents die were all good; almost had enough power to make me cry, lol.
CO-SIGN.
I just wasn't brave enough to admit it to everyone.
lolz.
Fight Like A ROBOT!!!
Edited by ROBOTRON on 23-09-2006 19:41 |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 21:07 |
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gogoedward
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NOOOOOOOO, the one thing I've been looking forward to in September and I wake up right in the middle of XIaloin Showdown. I should've recorded it since I knew I'd be out all night anyway, oh well. (Is there any way to see it, it won't be re-run for a looooooong time, so I'm thinking the direction of the internet)
Its good to see such positive reviews of the new season thus far tho.
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 23-09-2006 23:04 |
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spencer1984
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I'm in agreement with pretty much everyone here, I thought the episode was great. I thought they did an exceptionally good job of portraying how Bruce became became emotionally involved for once. You could really tell he was boiling over near the end of the episode when he went after Zucco. Good stuff all around.
Oddly, the episode didn't feel rushed to me. I say oddly because I've often gotten the sense that the episodes had to be condensed to fit their respective time slots, but not today: I felt this episode was very smooth and well done. |
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| RE: The Batman - 401 - A Matetr of Family -
Posted on 24-09-2006 01:35 |
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Caleson
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ROBOTRON wrote:
Phil wrote:
the music, the voice acting, the crying, and the screen play of when dick saw his parents die were all good; almost had enough power to make me cry, lol.
CO-SIGN.
I just wasn't brave enough to admit it to everyone. ...Seriously?  Not that that's a bad thing; I'm glad you guys could enjoy it so much. I just wasn't into it quite that much.
Even though I had a feeling it would be this way, I honestly was dissappointed that the Graysons' bodies weren't shown laying on the trapeze ground or at least a moment of their actual freefall as they looked up in desparation. I realize the show's got to be very kid friendly, but c'mon. Their deaths are central to the plot, but as soon as those wires unhinged, they only showed so much reaction and the scene was over.
It was a very good episode in the way that it was appropriately plotted and well done overall. But with its predictability, it couldn't excite me a whole lot. I mean, how good could it possibly be? We know the basic origin and this followed that outline pretty well. I wanted this to be a two-parter also, but even with this single episode, I didn't seem to feel it was rushed. Hopefully, it gave a lot of young kids unfamiliar with Robin's origin a nice insight. I'm looking forward to the new stories season 4 has to offer.
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 24-09-2006 10:26 |
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FlaBat
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It should have either been an hour-long show or a two parter. I think it was a bit rushed, but they had to in order to squeeze everything in. It was mostly true to the Robin origin, but they added their own twists to make in interesting. Overall it was one of the better episodes I?ve seen.
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 24-09-2006 11:22 |
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batgirl
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It was definitly rushed, but I loved it!!!! They really put some emotional parts in there that nearly made me cry.  Yeah, I knew the Graysons were doomed, but it was still sad. And I really liked the scene with Dick and Bruce at the funeral. The part with Bruce as a little boy crying on his parents grave stone was really good and sad. They don't mention his parents' death as much as they should. I really hope they put more emotional parts into this season, like this episode had.
I'm glad they brought the mafia into the show finally, even though its not like TAS, where they pull out machine guns!! But Tony Zucco was written great. Especially when he showed the bolts he pulled from the trapese to the other guys, and he just watched and smiled, waiting for them to die. They didn't try to hide that Zucco was a heartless murderer.
I also enjoyed hearing Kevin Conroy's voice.  It's a little wierd not hearing it come from Batman though.
This looks like it's going to be a great season!!!! I can't wait till next week.
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 24-09-2006 22:21 |
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TheDarkKnight666
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i very much liked the episode. They kept from using the same except robin story over and over by adding some nice twists. They gave zucco a family and it was a nice little element. I felt the episode was great on an emotional scale, although it could have given off an even BIGGER emotional presentation if was a two-parter. But no matter, it was great either way. With batman I think hes 100% better. Its funny how a little square chin can make him look so much better. He looks alot older, and it just fits in so much better than that odd cone shaped chin. Batman is FINALLY getting to be the DARKKnight. He punches Zucco with no second thought and breaks the door onto the guy asking for passwords in a nice painful manner. He then proceeds to break down a room full of thugs and ties a man down, giving him a little something to think about, the dark knight style. Robin was great, his voice actor is great. The teen titans robins voice was MADLY annoying, this one is perfect. Of course, if the episode had been a two-parter it could have been EVEN better(10/10 worthy) because they could have shown him make his robin suit, instead of him appearing with it and making people wonder how he got it. But on the plus side, i liked to see robin taking a beating from zucco because it showed he wasnt perfect, that he was just starting, but he did knock him around with his natural acrobatic abilities. Thats what annoyed me about batgirl. She appeared with no crime-fighting experiance and she was great...doesnt make much sense does it? but so far the new TB season is starting off with a bang, and i think this will be the season that will shut skeptics, like me, up for good. i give it a 9/10
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 25-09-2006 02:53 |
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kenoh macleod wayne
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yeah i loved the episode awsome action
and it was cool hearing keven conroys voice
playing john grayson |
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 30-09-2006 04:51 |
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Xprime
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Excellent episode, good voice acting, nice appearances from both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill and awesome fight scenes I cant wait till Saturday to see the next episode
Edited by Xprime on 30-09-2006 14:47 |
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| RE: "A Matter of Family" Talkback -
Posted on 12-10-2006 15:35 |
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Kal-EL
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Now this is more like BATMAN, finally THE BOY WONDER is here . Robin is what saving this series after [in my opinion an awful Season 3 season.] THE BAT IS BACK AND HE's a total Badass this season .
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