Showdown (The Adventures of Batman & Robin)

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“Showdown”
'Batman: The Animated Series' episode

Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 78
Written by	Kevin Altieri, Paul Dini and Bruce W. Timm
Directed by	Kevin Altieri
Production no.	078
Original airdate	September 12, 1995
Episode chronology
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"The Lion and the Unicorn"	"Riddler's Reform"
List of Batman: The Animated Series episodes

"Showdown" is the second episode of the fourth season of Batman: The Animated Series. It first aired on September 12th, 1995. Written by Kevin Altieri, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm and directed by Kevin Altieri. It is the first filmed appearance of Jonah Hex who is the primary character in the main story of the episode.

1 Plot
2 Trivia
3 Cast
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Jonah Hex, the primary hero depicted in this episode.

After the League of Assassins kidnap an old man from a hospital, Batman and Robin discover a cassette tape left by Ra's al Ghul. On the tape, Ra's speaks of his attempt to destroy the railroad using a steampunk airship and take control of the American government during the Old West of the 1800s. During this time, Jonah Hex, a bounty hunter, infiltrates Ra's al Ghul's secret lair, trying to apprehend Arcady Duvall, Ra's al Ghul's second in command. At the end of Ra's al Ghul's story, Jonah demolishes the machine and captures Arcady.

When Batman and Robin intercept Ra's al Ghul at an airport, Ra's reveals that the old man the League kidnapped is Arcady. Ra's knew Arcady was too cruel to rule his empire, but went back for him anyway, because Arcady is his son. Enfeebled in his extreme age even past the point of the Lazarus Pit's ability to restore, Ra's wants to spend whatever time Duvall has left with his son.

Batman and Robin leave Ra's and Duvall in peace, knowing they'll meet Ra's again.

[edit] Trivia

The plot of the 1999 film, Wild Wild West is surprisingly similar to this episode. It is uncomfirmed whether this was intentional or mere coincidence.

The existence of Arcady directly contradicts Ra's' statement to Batman in The Demon's Quest that he has no sons. It is possible that he meant the statement to mean that he has no sons that are worthy and healthy enough to take his place, but the ambiguity of the statement itself makes it impossible to tell.

Elizabeth Montgomery appearance as the Barmaid was her last role before her death in May 1995.

This episode has two references to Indiana Jones. Jonah's line, "Guess I'm just a bad penny," is similar to a phrase in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Another reference is Jonah losing his hat, only to recover it at the end of the episode, which is also a running gag in the Indiana Jones films.