BATTASS: The Batman The Animated Series Show Podcast · The Pensky File

Where’s Terry? & Ace in the Hole

September 2, 2023·1 hr 15 min·5 clips

Clay and Sean reveal why Batman Beyond's sterile animation pales next to the expressive mastery of Batman: The Animated Series.

Clay McCormick and Sean Murphy review the final two episodes of *Batman Beyond*'s second season, "Where's Terry?" and "Ace in the Hole." They note the season felt long due to its episode count and their mixed feelings on many installments. The hosts begin with "Where's Terry?," written by Rich Fogle and directed by Yukio Suzuki, where Shriek traps Batman in abandoned tunnels. They express frustration with the season's overall quality, comparing it unfavorably to *Batman: The Animated Series* in terms of animation style and color expressiveness. McCormick and Murphy find the plot of "Where's Terry?" uninteresting but praise the character moments between Bruce Wayne and Max. They highlight a scene where Bruce uses Max as bait and later lies about having her arrested, which subverted their expectations for a reconciliation. The hosts question the inclusion of the villain Shriek and the lack of background for a runaway kid Terry encounters. They feel the episode's strongest material was Bruce and Max working together and wish the plot had focused solely on them. A specific animation detail they liked was Bruce clutching his cane when a gang called the T's passes by in the subway. The conversation shifts to "Ace in the Hole," written by Hilary J. Bader and directed by James Tucker, which they consider the best episode of the season. This episode involves Ace's origin story and an underground dog-fighting ring. They appreciate the emotional core involving Ace but find the climax with a giant mutant dog excessive and tonally jarring. Murphy mentions a misleading online summary that suggested the Joker appeared in a flashback, when it was actually a theater clown. They critique a scene where Terry is swallowed and regurgitated by a dog as an unnecessary action beat. The hosts speculate that a more subdued conclusion focusing on Ace's choice would have been stronger. The tone is conversational and analytical, featuring two longtime fans critically assessing the show's creative decisions. Listeners who enjoy deep-dive critiques of animation and storytelling will appreciate this episode's honest commentary. Those seeking purely celebratory fan content or spoiler-free previews might find the critical tone less engaging.

As heard by us

A season-ending Batman Beyond chat that turns comic sound effects into a small craft lesson.

Clay McCormick and Sean Murphy close out Batman Beyond season two with Where's Terry and Ace in the Hole, and the tone stays loose and reflective. The best stretch digs into comic-book sound effects, from blasters to the logic of writing a noise out on the page.

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Why you'd press play

Batman Beyond season-two closer that starts as a recap and veers into comic-book sound effects.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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