Two of a Kind (The Batman)
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| “Two of a Kind” | |
|---|---|
| The Batman episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 47 |
| Guest stars | Harley Quinn voiced by Hynden Walch |
| Written by | Paul Dini |
| Directed by | Anthony Chun |
| Production no. | 408 |
| Original airdate | 24 February 2007 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Artifacts" | "Seconds" |
| List of The Batman episodes | |
Two of a Kind is the forty seventh episode of the television series The Batman. It was originally aired on 24 January, 2007 in the UK and will be aired in North America on 24 February, 2007.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
After Batman takes down Punch and Judy, Joker takes an interest in the TV pop psychologist Harley Quinn and decides to groom her as his new partner in crime.
[edit] Plot summary
The Joker starts pulling a heist with his goons, Punch and Judy. All goes well until Batman attacks him and detains Punch and Judy. Surprisingly, as Joker prepares to launch his counterattack, he is warned by the beeping of his watch. Oddly, instead of helping his goons, he makes away with a rocket-fueled skateboard. As the Bat-family makes short work of Punch and Judy, Batman leaves, telling the kids to keep hot on Joker's trail and that he would rejoin them shortly, after dealing with a whole new level of madness...
Later, Joker is seen preparing to watch his special program-Heart to Heart with Harley. While the program's supposed to be a talk show with people talking in to let go of their problems, the show's star, Harleen Quinzel, a psychologist with nothing more than an online title to support her claims, has transformed it into a media circus, and keeps giving stupid and nonsensical advice to all callers, to such an extent that the producers, seeing the mess Harleen creates, threaten her, even though the show has a great deal of popularity. Joker, of course, enjoys immensely with the farce and fraudulence of Harleen's methods, and often calls the program to back her claims. And that show's star is, of all people, Bruce Wayne. He starts by trying to promote one of his multiple charities, but Harleen keeps interrupting him, never allowing him to finish. To make a bad situation worse, she shows in one of Bruce's ditched girlfriends, who testifies Bruce ditched her in the middle of a date (obviously to enter the action as Batman) leaving her behind to pay the bill. After being humiliated further by a phone call by a man calling himself "Mr. J" (actually Joker himself), Wayne tries to leave, but Harleen doesn't allow him, until her producer shows up live, and at that instant, her program is cancelled. All of this is seen by the Joker, who smiles diabolically after realizing someone could take advantage of the situation...
Later, Harleen enters her loft, having realized nobody would ever listen to her again, nor take her seriously as a psychologist. After that, the bell rings, and a voice tells her he's her biggest fan. When Harleen opens the door-she sees who's talking-Mr. J-Joker. Later, all Batman, Robin and Batgirl seek clues around Harleen's place, and upon realizing she left with him of her own free will, Batman deduces what Joker wants-a weak, spineless person whom he can manipulate and dump when he's through with. Meanwhile, Harleen and Joker discuss a project Harleen has-a tell-all book about Joker. In exchange for his cooperation, Joker would have gotten half the profits. Joker initially rebuffs the idea, but after pitching his hyenas against Harleen and seeing how easily she orders them to sit, he relents. Initially, all goes well for Harleen, who is scribbling notes all through the session. But later, it's hell for her as Joker himself listens to her problems, subtly manipulating her. Then, Joker has an idea-to leave for a fun spree! However, Harleen is not sure, and Joker convinces her by assuring it's research for her book and by providing her with a skintight harlequin costume and makeup to cover herself. From that point, she becomes Harley Quinn...
Moments later, Harley leaves with Joker, and to the theme of a humourous song sung by Joker and Harley, Settin' the Woods on Fire, they spend a madcap evening through Gotham, robbing a restaurant and tying its patrons, making faces at a bank's security camera as they gouge grenades in the bank's ATMs, feeding the squirrels at the park with peanuts laced with Smilex, attack a policeman, first with a water balloon and later with a fireman hose, and then stuffing a pie with a grenade and throwing it to a promotional Bruce Wayne announcement, before Batman actually catches up with them. Joker, however, escapes with Harley via jetpacks built into their seats. Landing on top of a skyscraper's elevator, Batman follows them and pulls Harley's mask off, revealing her as Harleen Quinzel. Nevertheless, Joker provides a distraction for her by dumping grenades into the elevator and throwing himself with her into the fall below, their speed absorbed by one of Penguin's umbrellas, which Joker stole.
Later on, Harley awakens in Joker's lair, and hears a news announcement revealing her, Harleen Quinzel, as Joker's new accomplice. She is depressed about this, but explodes in wrath when she learns a more competent psychologist is preparing a special program-about her, and her hellish descent into madness, and worse, it is set to air at the exact date and hour her Valentine's Day special would have. She even ignores Joker's Valentine gift-a massive diamond, claiming all she wants is to see the people involved in the program's production dead. To Joker, this sounds as a great idea, so he complies.
Just as Dr. Blain, the psychologist replacing Harle, starts giving his lecture, he is interrupted by Harley, who pushes a large bookcase on top of him. As the audience tries to escape, Joker's hyenas block the escape routes, and Joker threatens everybody while perched atop the studio's upper grids. As Batgirl enters, Joker stalls her heroics by dousing with acid the supporting strings holding aloft the illumination grids above her. Curiously enough, when Harley, without thinking, gives the Joker an order, the Clown Prince of Crime suddenly starts boiling with rage, saying he just liked her because he found her amusing, but that she has no control above him. As Harley apologizes, the Joker just laughs down the whole thing. Batman and Robin are forced to do combat with the combined force of Harley and Joker. Suddenly, Harley pulls out a remote control and starts detonating the four bombs within the studio. However, Robin manages to free Batgirl and Harley is left unconscious in the blazing studio, as Joker and his hyenas are left next to the exit door. Joker, seeing the situation, escapes, Batman rescues Harley.
Later on, as Harley is to enter the police car, Batman consoles her, sayin Joker never cared for her, nor would ever. Harley, giving him a sad look, replies: "You thought a psychologist wouldn't know any better?". She steps sadly into the car, and as the police officer guarding her steps in, he sits on a whoopie cushion left beneath his seat. Pulling it out, he finds there's a message for Harley-Keep Smiling! Mr. J. This apparently cheers up Harley, who indulges into maniacal laughter as the police car takes her away-and far away, above the skies of Gotham, the sinister figure of a lauging Joker appears...
[edit] Characters
- Bruce Wayne / Batman voiced by Rino Romano
- Barbara Gordon / Batgirl voiced by Danielle Judovits
- Dick Grayson / Robin voiced by Evan Sabara
- The Joker voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson
- Harley Quinn (First Appearance) voiced by Hynden Walch
[edit] Trivia
- Even though this episode is before Seconds, it was aired after it.
- The Joker, Punch, and Judy return for the second time this season with the first being in Clayfaces.
- Harley Quinn is introduced.
- Hynden Walch also does the voice for Starfire in Teen Titans and the voice for Ace in Justice League.
- The song Settin' The Woods on Fire is sung by Joker and Harley Quinn.
- The character Dr. Blain appears to be based on Dr. Phil.
- The episode somewhat resembles Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's Batman Adventures graphic novel Mad Love, with the Joker/Dr. Harleen Quinzel sessions and the whoopie cushion's message on the ending.
[edit] Quotes
- Harley Quinn: They made my career go down in flames, and I wanted to pay back the favor!
- Batgirl: Join us again next week when Batman analyses the Freudian implications of Penguin's umbrella.
[edit] References
Not available yet
