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Babel

Episode #25 - Babel
Original Airdate - January 8th, 2000

Shriek returns, throwing Gotham into chaos with a device that distorts sound, making it impossible for communication. In exchange for normalcy, Shriek demands the ransom of Batman's life.

Media by Bird Boy
Review by Zanna
Credits:
Written by Stan Berkowitz
Directed by Curt Geda
Music by Kristopher Carter
Animation by Koko / Dong Yang

Voices:
Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis/Batman
Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne
Chris Mulkey as Shriek
Cree Summer as Max
Michael Rosenbaum as Ollie
Stockard Channing as Comissioner Gordon
James Sikking as Foreman
T'keyah Crystal Keymah as Old Woman
Sean Donnelland as Virtual Announcer
Jeff Glen Bennett as Zookeeper
Brian George as Jace
Shuko Akune as Reporter
Screen Grabs





Pans


 
Review

Good Points
This was a wonderful episode. I enjoyed this story on many levels. First, it's not another addiction, teenage problem, or genetic mutation story. Most of those were good episodes, but sometimes, a Batman as a detective, chasing a regular human is a welcome change.

BABEL showed us more of the relationship that has developed between Bruce and Terry. Terry may not live with Bruce as his other "sons" did, but Bruce obviously cares just as much for Terry as the others. Bruce is also proud of him and is just as uncomfortable in showing it as he ever was. The actors had great lines, and not just for laughs either.

Shriek's new weapon is inventive and effective. Without physically touching anyone or anything, Shriek can disable an entire city.

The writers and artists cleverly depicted the speech distortion. The difference between the sound when the word is spoken and when it is heard is illustrated visually and audibly. Normal words are used when the speaker talks and then the visual cues and camera angles, as well as the sounds are changed when the words are heard at the other end of the conversation. Even when Terry and Bruce communicate through the computers, Terry's computer screen is red and Bruce's screen is blue - almost like having different voices.

Bruce is still Batman, even without the costume. When Barbara delivers Shriek's ultimatum to Bruce, Bruce volunteers to give himself up. He refers to Terry as the "kid" and then restrains Terry from responding to the ultimatum, at least at first.

The viewer sees that Terry is still haunted by his father's death, even if it isn't shown every episode. He has not recovered from it and it is a factor in his taking up the mantle.

Bruce and Terry both miss the fact that other animals, especially zoo animals, could be affected. Max is sharp enough to have thought about the larger effects of the problem. She is a worthy addition to the Bat family.

Terry figures out where Shriek is transmitting before Bruce does. Not even Bruce should be perfect all the time, and it serves to illustrate Terry's intelligence as well.

Shriek isn't killed off at the end of the episode. Only one sound disk is recovered in the rubble, paving the way for future battles with Shriek.

Terry really behaved like Batman in this episode. He was willing to give himself up for an ungrateful city, but first, he will try to outthink and outfight the villain. He is able to slip away when conversing with Bruce (reminiscent of Bruce's disappearances when dealing with Jim Gordon). Even the ending is typical Batman. I also liked how the ending mirrored the beginning.

Bad Points
Terry still doesn't make use of all the gadgets available to him when dealing with problems.

At the zoo, he didn't use any tranquilizers on the animals; he relied on the suit's strength enhancement for all the encounters. At least, he did use the boosters in his boots and the invisibility setting in his suit. Later, when going to fight Shriek, why didn't Terry have some kind of sound protection for his ears? He should have known that he would be vulnerable to sound attacks.

I would like to have seen more development of Shriek's character and insanity.

Why couldn't Shriek feel the massive vibrations of the towers when they began to fall? It should have felt like a large earthquake standing that close to the towers.

While Terry tried to warn Shriek about the falling towers, why didn't he just zoom over and pull Shriek out of harm's way? Still, these are relatively minor flaws in a very enjoyable story.

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