Off Balance

"Off Balance" was the 50th-produced episode of Batman: The Animated Series and the 44th-aired on Nov. 23, 1992. So happy 50 episodes Batman! This isn't one of my favorites, but it is significant for the cameo of a certain villain at the end.

I really did like the starting, with Batman holding an interrogation on the Statue of Liberty (not sure if that's in Gotham or New York, but whatever). Things got really cooking when a couple of ninjas showed up, threw the informant off the statue and then gassed themselves before Batman could question them. Now, because this is a kids show, they made it a point to say all these people survived and the gas only erased their memories, but we all know better. Those three guys died. But then again, the prospect of erasing one's mind is almost more frightening than death, especially if it turned the victims into vegetables. Ugh.

I'll raise the score to a 7 for a wonderful Alfred line. Once again, he subtly offers Batman the clue he needs, and Batman says, "Alfred, you're brilliant!" To which the butler casually replies, "Yes, so I've heard." So simple and so effective.

I do have to take a point off, though, for the ironically flat villain of Count Vertigo. He was a one-trick pony without a clear motive. Talia tried to flesh out his character by telling Batman Vertigo worked for her father until he saw the blackness in his heart, but we never really see Vertigo display this blackness. Yes, he has a legion of devoted ninjas, but does he actually do? Despite all this, I probably would've been fine with him had he not been defeated in a most lame way. Talia rang some church bells, which caused him to fall out of the tower. Are you kidding me?

However, the episode does end on a strong point with the introduction of Ra's al Ghul. You just don't get any cooler than him. And I loved his few lines: "So even in defeat, the detective manages a small victory." Just perfect! Too bad we have to wait a while to see him again.

Final score: 7