THE BATMAN EPISODE REVIEW:
"Team Penguin"
ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 30, 2006
EPISODE: 4.2
CAST: Rino Romano, Alastair Duncan, Evan Sabara, Tom Kenny, Danielle Judovits, et al.
WRITING CREDITIS: Joseph Kuhr
DIRECTED BY: ony Chun

REVIEWER: Bill Ramey
POSTED: Tuesday, October 3, 2006

After a stellar season opener that featured the inclusion of Robin to THE BATMAN, episode 4.2 doesn’t live up its predecessor.

While last week‘s episode could be enjoyed by adults and kids alike, “Team Penguin” seemed to be geared more for the kiddie crowed. The premise is simple: while watching an “A-Team” like movie, The Penguin comes up with the idea of putting together a team of Gotham baddies to bring down The Dark Knight. His team eventually consists of The Penguin, Ragdoll, Killer Moth, Killer Croc, and Firefly. Bane was going to be included, but he’s sent back to jail after being defeated by The Batman, Robin, and Batgirl.

Yes, Batgirl is back and we get to witness the first meeting between her and Robin.

Wow.

Overall, I found this to be a sub-par episode and it comes across as a reason to include The Penguin and these other villains in an episode this season. One of my concerns was that since the show already has Batgirl, and now Robin, the show will be lightened up to the point it will be unwatchable for the adult Bat-fans.

For example, my youngest son dug this episode a lot.

He’s five.

Anyway, with as many references of Batman as “The Dark Knight” in this show (cheap plug for the upcoming live-action film?), I’m still hoping that the “dark” aspect isn’t abandoned.