Bat Minute Beyond - Chunkz of The Joker: Chunk 9 - #ReleasetheTortureCut (with Chelsea Stardust)

·1 hr 24 min·5 clips

Chelsea Stardust claims she got the best five minutes of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, a scene egregiously altered by censorship.

The episode begins with hosts Jon Parker and Niall McGowan welcoming back guest Chelsea Stardust, who last appeared in April 2023. They introduce the chunk covering minutes 41-45 of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, which features Batgirl battling Harley Quinn and the aftermath of Joker's torture of Tim Drake. Chelsea expresses excitement about this segment, calling it the best five minutes of the film. The conversation delves into Harley Quinn's portrayal in this scene, contrasting her delusional, abuse-victim persona from 2000 with her modern evolution into a more heroic or manipulative character. The hosts discuss voice actor Tara Strong's prolific career, including her roles as Batgirl, Harley Quinn, and Timmy Turner, and her agent's tactic of submitting auditions under fake names. A significant portion focuses on the censorship of Return of the Joker, revealing that an unnamed WB Kids executive demanded changes so the film could air on the channel, not due to Columbine as often rumored. They detail alterations like replacing 'putzes' with 'yutz' and changing Joker's death scene. The episode touches on the fan-led 'Release the Torture Cut' campaign that eventually led to the uncut version's release. Chelsea shares her perspective as a filmmaker on censorship, citing her film Satanic Panic being renamed 'Panic' for Walmart. The analysis covers character motivations, with Harley seen as wanting a 'happy family' with Joker and Robin, while Joker's goal is solely to hurt Batman. They note the emotional impact of Robin's breakdown and Kevin Conroy's voice acting. The hosts also reference other media, including Fight Club's censored Chinese ending and David Lynch's altered PlayStation ad.

As heard by us

A thoughtful discussion of Robin's desperation, Joker's cruelty, and the strangely muted reveal that he knows Bruce is Batman.

Bat Minute Beyond frames the Joker's treatment of Tim Drake as a horror built as much on implication as on visible damage. John Parker, Niall McGowan, and returning guest Chelsea Stardust dig into the shocks, serums, and fragmented glimpses of what happens to Robin, while…

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Why you'd press play

If you like Batman horror that hides its worst violence in the space your imagination fills, press play.

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