Batman: The Animated Series- Robin's Reckoning, Part II

 "Looks like you could use some protection right now. And protection is my racket."

Immediately notable here is how especially good the animation is, especially the creative use of angle. There are lots of nice stylistic choices, such as the ever-creepy trope of an amusement park at night. And, as ever, the creative ambiguity surrounding the question of whether this is the 1940s or the present day gives a splendid visual style.

Yes, I suppose you could say this plays out predictably- in flashback, a vengeful Dick gets in Batman's way and inadvertently causes Zucco's escape. In the present, Robin's arrival saves Batman, and Batman intervenes to persuade Robin to find catharsis in justice, not revenge. Something along these lines was always going to happen.

Yet the final reconciliation works well in its nuance. The set pieces are impressive. And we get to see more of the seedy unpleasantness of Gotham at night. A good episode, then, not only because of its big ideas but also the little things.

Batman: The Animated Series- Robin's Reckoning, Part I

 "That Grayson kid's a real boy wonder."

Tsk. I don't think much of the child labour laws in Gotham City, allowing the Graysons to use their young, underage son in what's described as a "death-defying" bit of acrobatics. Nor do I think much of the health and safety situation. No safety net? Really? With a child involved...?

Yeah... you can sort of tell that Robin's origin story dates from the '40s, can't you? A bit like the way all the hoodlums dress and the cars they drive. It's a bit awkward in the modern age. So it's perfect that this  animated series takes place in a deliberately ambiguous fusion of the '40s and the modern day.

We still haven't seen much of Robin, but this episode serves to flesh him out really well. The narrative, contrasting "now" with flashbacks, also works well. The modern day narrative is simple- Batman finds out that Tony Zucco, killer of Robin's parents, is still alive, but refuses to tell Robin and goes after Zucco himself, refusing to involve his ward. So, naturally, Robin is furious, and this seems to presage a real rift between them.

Yet the flashbacks, taking their time to tell Robin's origin story, are the real point. It's lovely to see Bruce and Dick bond over both of them having had their parents murdered at a young age. So far, so impressive.