Batman: The Impractical Joker & The Joker's Provokers

The Impractical Joker

"I can always think up a bit of a taradiddle."

Oh dear. I'm afraid this two-parter with the Joker's first appearance this season is completely bloody awful, the absolute nadir of the series so far. Still, most of the really egregious stuff happens in the second part: this first episode, while not particularly witty or standing out much, is at least a mildly diverting if unremarkable episode of Batman.

There are some warning signs, though- the comedy Scotsman with the kilt, sporran and outrageously bad accent is one thing, but the Dynamic Duo being foiled by a box and some hypnotism hardly makes them look very good, as the script pretty much admits. And the Joker is again giving out clues as though he were the Riddler- in fact, he comes across more as silly, capricious and childish than as a dangerous criminal here. And the whole episode is more of a series of vaguely key-related set pieces than a plot. If that had been done with any wit or cleverness it wouldn't matter, but I fear that it wasn't and it does.

I liked the cheeky shout-out to The Green Hornet, mind (same channel), but by the time we get to the over-complex cliffhanger we're hoping things will improve in the second episode. Will they?

(Interestingly, said silly deathtrap features vices. I knew that this word was often spelled "vise" in the USA but the Joker pronounced the word with the soft "s". Is this the norm for Americans? If so, I was entirely unaware.)


The Joker's Provokers

"There should be more fine, upstanding men like the Joker."

Er, no they won't. In fact, this episode dives right over a cliff as soon as we get that fantastical nonsense with the Joker manipulating time. This is bollocks for two reasons. Firstly, while Batman occasionally tips slightly into science fiction (see the character of Mr. Freeze), the emphasis should be on slightly. This type of outright magic (the Joker's description of what his magic box is made of is utterly ridiculous) just undermines what is essentially a programme rooted in the real world, albeit one that often does violence to the fourth wall.

Secondly, though, and mire importantly... the Joker has the power to control of time itself. The possibilities make the mind reel. Yet he uses it to.... extort $10 million from Gotham City. Really?

Just as bad is the cringe-worthy use of Alfred. Yes, it's always good to see him getting involved in crime fighting, but... the Alf-cycle? And his nightwatchman identical cousin (bet that's a TV Trope) Egbert, who speaks with an awful but vaguely proletarian accent is arse-clenching to watch, especially given that his dialogue is clearly written to evoke a blue collar American.

This a shockingly bad story, and all the more so for the rarity of this kind of misfire. Let's hope the Joker gets more respect from future scripts.