The Bat in the Belfry

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“The Bat in the Belfry”
The Batman episode
Episode no. Season 1
Episode 1
Guest stars Rupert Thorne voiced by Victor Brandt, Thug #1 voiced by Miguel Sandoval, Chief Rojas voiced by Edward James Olmos
Written by Duane Capizzi
Directed by Seung Eun-Kim
Production no. 101
Original airdate September 11 2004
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
– "Traction"
List of The Batman episodes

"The Bat in the Belfry" is the first episode of The Batman's first season, as well as being the season and series premiere. It originally aired in North America on September 11, 2004.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

After stopping a heist by Rupert Thorne, Batman returns to the Batcave to learn that all criminals in Arkham Asylum have mysteriously been released. Batman finds out that it's a crazed clown named Joker who released them, and he plans to pop a blimp full of laughing gas over Gotham, turning every citizen into a lunatic. It's up to Batman to stop him.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

After taking down a crime boss by the name of Rupert Thorne, the mysterious vigilante Batman leaves him and his thugs for the police.

At Arkham, while making his regular rounds, a guard discovers a stowaway in one of the empty cells, and as he goes in to investigate, he is gassed by none other than the Joker.

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, the police department, led by Chief Rojas, is baffled by the new vigilante in a cape. Detective Bennett, assigned to capture the Batman, is teamed up with a new detective from Metropolis named Ellen Yin. Together, they follow a broadcast on the police radio about a breakout at Arkham. Believing that Batman will surely show up, they speed over, only to find the entrance blocked off by a giant jack-in-the-box, as well as finding several Arkham inmates wandering around. The jack-in-the-box explodes, destroying the bridge leading to Arkham, and blocking off the police force while Yin and Bennett swim across through the moat.

Batman, already on the scene, makes his way inside to see what is going on. He discovers the gassed guard, now reduced to a stiff body with a terrible grin across his face. Joker shows himself, and the two of them have their first battle, resulting in the Joker escaping. Bennett and Yin fail to catch the Batman as he takes off with the victimized guard.

Once he returns to the Batcave, he and Alfred begin trying to figure out what has happened to the poor guard, how to cure it, where Joker's new hideout is, and what his plan is. After some research, Batman catches the Joker at an abandoned party-favour warehouse, where he discovers Joker's sick plan - He's going to fly a hot-air balloon, filled with his twisted laughing gas, and pop it over Gotham City, infecting the people in the streets with terrible, unnatural smiles.

Yin and Bennett, driving below as Joker flies his hot air balloon, watch as the clown and Batman fight briefly in the basket of the balloon. As the balloon narrowly misses a sharp statue sword, Batman pulls the balloon into the water by hooking it onto a cord attached to his Batboat. The balloon sinks underwater as Batman tears a hole in it, releasing the laughing gas into the water instead of the air, and the Joker is left helpless in the water, where he is caught by police and sent to his own cell at Arkham Asylum. The guard is also restored back to his regular health, and makes his rounds once again at the end of the episode, where he sees Joker rambling to himself about having "bats in [his] belfry."

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Trivia

  • When the Arkham guard makes his rounds he checks off 2 inmates with the names Steiner and McSwain. This is reminiscent of cast members Linda Steiner and Ginny McSwain.
  • Metropolis, the city Detective Yin is from, is the city Superman (another famous DC hero) lives and works under his alias Clark Kent.

[edit] Other First Appearances

[edit] Quotes

  • Ethan: I think I saw the Batman.
    (Alfred drops a vase in surprise)
    Alfred: Not to worry. Just a ming.
  • Joker: You really know how to spoil a coming out party. How am I suppose to spread mirth and whimsy without a proper hideout?
    Batman: Listen, Joker, you’re sick, you need help.
    Joker: Well, maybe I am a bit off. But what are you gonna do, lock me in the looney bin? I’m already here!
  • Joker: I was feeling a bit screw-loose, so I checked myself in.
    Guard: Who are you?
    Joker: My card.
  • Joker: (to the crowd) If you're loving me, wait till you get a load of my pop!
  • Joker: Stop me if you've heard this one, Batman. Two fellows in an abandoned party favour factory. One says to the other…
    Batman: Where are you keeping the gas, Joker?
    Joker: You call that a punch line?
    Batman: I don’t share your sense of humour.
    Joker: Yet we're linked, you and I. Like comedy and tragedy. Two sides, same coin.
    Batman: The gas, Joker! Or I vow to turn your smile upside-down.
    Joker: If it's gas you want, (throws a card to break the bag to Batman, but he misses) place your trays in their upright positions.
  • Joker: (to Batman while attempting to hit him with a mallet) Watch your pinkies!
  • Joker: (last lines) They said I was sick in the head. They said I needed help. Well, maybe I am a bit batty. Blame it on the bats in my belfry.
  • Batman: (about the balloon) Stop this thing, Joker.
    Joker: With what breaks?
  • Joker: (to Batman while fighting) You know? I really love this place. My old hideout's a shambles. And these digs just scream me.
    (knocked out by Batman)
    Joker: Okay, take back the asylum but mark my words--this town has happy days ahead!
  • Batman: Who are you?
    Joker: Joker.
    Batman: Not what. Who
    Joker: Smear-free- it's perma-clown! (Batman is unfased) Ooh, tough crowd. Look, nothing up my sleeves. (reveals a sprayer) Nothing that won't put a smile on your face. Say cheese! (Batman knocks him out) I'm out of gas.
    Batman: And I'm out of patience!
  • Joker: You’ve made me one very sad clown!
    (Turns and finds Batman is missing)
    Joker: Where’d you go?
    Batman: Knock, knock.
    Joker: Who's... there?
    (Batman punches him in the face)
  • Thorne: How -- how'd you do that?
    Batman: I'm the Batman.

[edit] References

    Not available yet

    [edit] See also

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