Kings' Ransom
Episode #42 - Kings' Ransom
Original Airdate - Sept 16th, 2000 - Third Season Premiere
Paxton Powers and Melanie (aka Ten) return to wreak havoc on Terry and
Batman.
Media by Bird Boy
Review by J. Chen, aka The Overseer |
Credits:
Written by Rich Fogel
Directed by Butch Lukic
Music by Shirley Walker
Animation by Koko/Dong Yang
Voices:
Will Friedle as Terry McGinnis/Batman
Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne
George Lazenby as King
Sarah Douglas as Queen
Olivia D'abo as Melanie
Parker Stevenson as Paxton Powers
Gabrielle Carteris as Sable Thorpe
Angie Harmon as Barbara Gordon
Nicholas Guest as Jack
Sean Donnellan as Virtual Anchor
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Review
Highs: Tells quite a bit about the gang itself, gives Paxton
Powers a role, interesting feud story.
Lows: None to speak of, really...the voices for Paxton and Barb
were different. That's it.
Season 3 kicks off with "King's Ransom", and...wow! There are plenty of
reasons to like this episode, which is a good thing because at the end
of season 2 some of the eps simply weren't up to the standard set
before.
First the story is excellent. Much has happened since the last time
Batman fought the Royal Flush Gang. Now that Ten has abandoned them, the
gang is operating one member short. During a museum heist Bats
intervenes and in the ensuing battle Ace is badly damaged (finally, we
know he's a robot), Jack is beaten and arrested, and the King is reduced
to selling off the goods to Paxton Powers. The R.F.G. is falling apart,
but the King introduces a "trump that cannot fail"...hold Paxton Powers
hostage and demand a massive payment.
We find out a lot more as well...Melanie, a.k.a. Ten, is now working a
low paying restaurant job. She sees the news of Powers's abduction and
freaks out. Terry questions her, and we learn she hasn't spoken to her
family in months. And when she asks about the note she wrote to Terry at
the end of "Once Burned", Terry as Batman simply dismisses the whole
issue. That's pretty cold, but it's perfect Bat attitude.
Paxton Powers shows off more of himself as well, he has his own secrets
to hide. Although not as impressive as his father's condition, Paxie has
an illegal collection of artifacts. He's just as scheming as Derek, he
convinces the King to cooperate with him in a plot to kill Bruce Wayne.
There's still more to this twisting storyline, but I'd rather not spoil
it all here...just watch it.
A few more character notes: Bruce is calm and collected when King
demands a ransom. He obviously doesn't care for Paxton, but he knows
just how far to deal. Even when Terry gets nervous, it doesn't shake the
elder Bats. We also learn of the former King, who was the father of the
current queen. It doesn't seem as if the present King is quite up the
old man's level, a factor which comes into play later.
The fight scenes are also quite nice. They're not quite as intense as
season 1, but they're action-packed all the same. There's no shortage of
hard blows and people smashing into other objects. Bruce also gets a
fight with the King, where he pulls a neat disappearing act to come out
again on top. The R.F.G. Ace almost ends it all, but fortunately Batman
has his own "Ace in the Hole"–the dog.
Is there anything wrong with this ep? Well, the voices for Barbara
Gordon and Paxton Powers were different. I can't say that's a good
thing...BG sounds too young for her supposed age, and Paxton's just
whiny now. I guess it can't all be perfect though.
Amazing. This chronicles the fall of the Royal Flush Gang perfectly, and
would be a fitting end to Batman's conflict with them. Jack and Melanie
go straight and old Paxton's in a bit of a jam...
PP: "Bruce Wayne's my mentor! He's like a father to me!"
Barb: "Except he doesn't glow in the dark."
PP: "Hey, I resent that! Where's my lawyer? I'll sue!"
Do yourself a favor and catch this showing...it sets a standard I would
like all season 3 episodes to meet.
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