THE BATMAN
THE BATMAN
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THE BATMAN EPISODE REVIEW: "Clayfaces" ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 7, 2006 EPISODE: 4.3 CAST: Rino Romano, Evan Sabara, Steve Harris, Kevin Michael Richardson, et al. WRITING CREDITIS: Steven Melching DIRECTED BY: Matt Younberg OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: Shape-shifting villain Clayface turns himself in, promising to give up his criminal ways and hoping to earn a second chance for his alter ego, Ethan Bennett. But when a new Clayface takes to the streets of Gotham, Ethan wants to prove his worth as a hero by helping take down this threat. Having been burned in the past by a seemingly reformed Ethan, Batman isn't sure his friend can still be trusted.
REVIEWER: Bill Ramey
Episode 4.3 of THE BATMAN is titled “Clayfaces.” And obviously, it features the villain Clayface -- make that two different Clayfaces. The episode opens with The Joker and his gang planning on putting his Joker Serum in dog food cans to be distributed throughout Gotham so its dogs will “laugh like hyenas.” OK, this is why I dislike this version of The Joker. What in the hell kind of plot is that? Joker-Dogs. Whatever. Fortunately for the canines of Gotham, The Batman and Robin show up, but it’s Clayface I, Ethan Bennent, who ends of saving the day. Seems that the former Gotham Police Detective turned bad has had a change of heart and wishes to walk away from his life of crime. Consequently, he turns himself in. So Bennent not only has captured The Joker, he has also captured Clayface, so to speak. Despite this about face by Ethan, both The Batman, and Ethan’s best friend Bruce Wayne, are skeptical. He wants to prove that he is really a good guy -- in fact he has an idea. Perhaps he can fight crime in Gotham as Clayface? Not a good idea, thinks The Batman. So with The Joker and Clayface in Arkham, who is the main villian of this episode? Well, it’s Clay face -- actually Clayface II, Basil Karlo. Karlo is an actor who can’t find a job and after watching a TV report on Ethan Bennent, thinks that it’d be cool to have those Clayface powers! Then, with the ability to morph into anyone he wanted, there wouldn’t be an acting gig he couldn’t land! Zzzzzzzzzz. Anywho, to make a long story short, Ethan Bennent escapes from Arkham hell-bent on helping The Batman take down this Clayface II and win the trust of both The Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne. Or is it simply a ruse? The bottom line here is that while this episode was better than last week’s “Team Penguin,” it still reeks of “kiddieness,” if you will. I guess it’s partially do to the inclusion of Robin -- who is in this episode -- but also because these storylines haven’t had any grit to them as well. This Robin is starting to venture into annoying territory by spouting off several eye-rolling one-liners. I thought episode 1 which was Robin’s “origin story” was good, I’m starting to worry about the direction of the series now that Robin is part of the cast. And don’t even get me started on Batgirl.
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