I always felt like this episode did a really good job at pointing out how Bruce is stuck firmly in his childhood. He acts like a kid when he meets the actor that plays his hero. Yeah, maybe he kind of suspects him of the crime, but he had little evidence. The real reason he acts like a jerk is that his hero is just an actor, not the symbol of justice he expects. It definitely paints Bats in a bad light, and I love that about this episode. Batman to me has never really been an infallible hero. People focus on his money, but I always related to the fact that he’s an actor himself. I grew up dirt poor but I always related to Batman’s dual nature. Having to be a responsible and charismatic kid because people expected a lot from you. Yet all the time you’re just as immature and crappy as everyone else. Seeing Bruce having to smile and perform and then work hard all night to pursue his passion was my life for a long time, and when he acts like an a-hole towards someone he admired because he’s not as put together as he thinks he is…well I’ve done that too.
I seem to remember an episode of "Batman Beyond" where old man Bruce Wayne needed a quick disguise and put on the Gray Ghost costume so as not to undermine the new guy.
I think there is a further subtext in the metaphysical Jell-O here. The Grey Ghost (not Simon Trent) is Bruce Wayne (and Batman's) idol. I'd think with nearly any other character in the Batman universe who is an actor who plays a character that Bruce encounters, he'll keep perspective. But the Grey Ghost is *different*. Bruce doesn't see Simon Trent. He sees himself. It's further convoluted by Bruces association of the Grey Ghost with happy memories of times with his dad. One of the few examples he still holds of Thomas Wayne that isn't tainted by Crime Alley. Bruce gets accusatory of Simon because that 8 year old boy hanging out in his brain expects the Grey Ghost to leap into action. Simon Trent is, to Bruce, just an alter ego of his idol. In short (too late!) Bruce is acting like a child in this episode. I don't know if this was intentional on the writers', or director's part. But, however this nuance came to be, it's profound. Even in the end, Bruce is still treating Simon like he's the Grey Ghost character. Playing the part of a secret identity and sharing a wink and a nod between crimefighting vigilantes. That kid who watched TV with his dad in the background, won't let go of his idol.
I'm not a member/consumer of Nebula yet, but congratulations on joining as a creator. Many of the creators I enjoy and learn from are there, and you added another one!
Great video, as always, Mikey. Interesting little trivia about Bruce Timm casting himself as a nostalgia-obsessed toy collector from an interview with (I think) Kevin Smith a while back: when he was a young animator living single, he reveled in not having to spend his money on anyone but his own interests, so got deep into collecting vintage toys and memorabilia, filling his home with them. One night, he got mugged and beaten up pretty bad. He walked all the way home, and he said that the most depressing moment of the entire ordeal was walking into his house filled with toys and not someone else to say “oh my god, what happened?” So, casting himself wasn’t just a cheeky razzing of himself as much as it was a directly personal meta-textual nuclear bomb he was dropping on his own head. (EDIT: might’ve been a car accident, but I’m pretty sure it was a mugging. Anyone whose listened to the interview more recently, please feel free to correct me.)
Are you sure you aren’t thinking Paul Dino? He was mugged and wrote an entire comic about it that DC published called Dark Knight: A True Batman Tale which is extremely good and worth picking up.
@@dlvnmedia Yeah because it was definitely on Smith's Fatman on Batman podcast. The link to Bruce's episode is strangely dead, though, so I can't nail down the exact details.
30 years on and this episode is still a brilliant tearjerker. Adam West's performance and history adds so much weight to it, and you can hear the joy in Kevin Conroy's voice when Bruce talks about his hero. Well worth the overanalysis. There have been a lot of worthy actors to play the Dark Knight, but Kevin Conroy has been *the* Batman for my lifetime. RIP to a wonderful performer.
This has always been tied (with "Almost Got'Im") for my favorite BTAS episode, and honestly it's been in the lead more than half the time. The idea that Batman was a story that mattered to Kid Me, and HE came out of a story that mattered to Kid HIM, was mind-blowing. That episode got me into pulp-era heroes. I tracked down old Shadow comics, Green Hornet radio recordings, VHS compilations of movie serials. I watched all the 90s movies (The Rocketeer was the best, but The Phantom was also great and I will FIGHT YOU), and when I sat down to create my own superhero universe for a project, I went back and constructed a timeline for it that ran all the way back to the 1930s (and from there into nineteenth-century dime novels, because talk about rabbit holes) because WHAT IF I WANT TO TELL A GRAY GHOST STORY. This is the first BTAS thing I've watched since Kevin Conroy passed. I've deliberately avoided all other tributes because his work as Batman AND his status as a gay man made me, a queer female nerd, feel so much more welcome in a space that too often excludes people like me. Also, the toy collector foreshadowing the Snyderbros was something I'd never thought of and I laughed hysterically when you said it.
Through my father I was treated to Zorro and The Shadow lore and episodes as a kid, lacking the context of West as a kid I didn't fully appreciate this for years but I knew it was special. This was a fun dive into the presentation of this character - thank you for that!
This series, unquestionably, changed my life. I cried when Kevin Conroe died. So when I saw this video on my feed, I dropped everything. Thanks, Mikey!
I love this episode, if only because it features Adam West, my favourite Batman and a bonafide legend, and it’s not just a cameo, it feels so genuine from him being a struggling actor mainly associated with a part he played years ago, and I’m sure many people were in Batman’s shoes watching this, seeing as many people had fond memories of West’s show. Also, a nice bittersweet ending given that the 60’s Batman show hadn’t been released on Home Video before this and took until 2014 before it could be watched by viewers again.
I love Batman, and TAS especially. I can't escape batman's class dynamics, and the way he channels (therapy-less!) grief and mourning and anger into violence outside the system. And the way he indoctrinates the (often reluctant at first) young (Robins, etc.) - and old (Gordan, the Grey Ghost, Montoya, etc.) to participate in his grief is a lesson on the way trauma, untreated, expands like a virus. On the flip, you've got story threads with Harvey and the law and orphanages where hes' trying to support and maintain the system (through the guise of Bruce Wayne)... though few of those efforts seem to succeed. They're almost strawman stories to show that "hey, sometimes Batman does try to use his billions to do good, not just billions funding his personal military industrial complex"... but also reminders that those efforts often do NOT work, and Batman, the a-systemic violence and efforts of one, is still needed. Can't wait for your B:TAS piece. Best wishes Mikey!
That’s the complexity of the whole Batman world: Everyone who is a criminal in Gotham city-including Batman himself suffers from mental illness-including his costumed allies: except for probably Batgirl (though she does suffer a bit from daddy issues which is why Batsex. Batman, however, uses his mental illness as a motivator to do what is right, even if it’s not good for him, and it’s that complexity that makes Batman such an interesting character.
I honestly highly recommend the last season of Harley Quinn for this very reason. It essentially takes all the points you site as not just fuel for parody, but also FINALLY grants some much needed therapy for Bruce. Coming from a character that originates from the TAS is icing on the cake.
8:48 I never saw anything wrong with this. I think it’s a meaningful comparison of how fans can sometime project the meaning and expectations of a character on the actor who played them. I’m sure that’s extra relevant with Adam West as the actor
Kevin Conroy wrote a story for the 2022 DC Pride anthology about the real life experiences that informed his performance as the Batman and its one of the most moving pieces of art I've ever read. RIP to a real one.
I've always enjoyed how the series made more 'grounded' versions of some of Batman's rogue's gallery. While not quite as compelling as the series' interpretation of Clock king, this take on Toyman is very well done.
I honestly don't believe Batman hastily accusing his childhood idol on "shaky evidence at best" to be a knock on his detective skills. I think we're actually being treated to an aspect of Bruce's Humanity. This man is SO damaged, I think he's just that ready to be disappointed by a figure he admires, so he pre-emptively turns on him every chance he gets as a psychological defence mechanism.
The Batman has him failing, both as Batman and as Bruce,and having to learn from his mistakes, which is the most human quality you can have in my opinion.
I feel like Bruces character also represents us the fans, wanting to squeeze every ounce worth from these two guys. And that those lines about Simon not being the Grey Shadow hit home especially for him, playing Batman so long ago I'm sure he's had that moment.
Love it, as in depth and interesting as always. On a serious note, Mikey and everyone else with Filmjoy, you changed the way I look at films, and media generally, you did more to expand my willingness to examine the things I love to find out why I love them than anyone else probably could have. Thank you
You may to checkout Batman: The Brave and the Bold... the first few episodes are a little rough... maybe it was me being to used to a serious Batman. But when accept that The Brave and the Bold is intended light hearted and over the top, It became jumped the top 5 super heroes shows (not just cartoons but full on shows). Aquaman and Plastic Man need to been too be understand their epicness. The love and attention they give to "B" Grade heroes, bringing them to centerstage is genuie. Plus Bruce's parents are voice acted by Batman Royalty. Seriously one of my favorite Batman episodes (any series).
The RC carbomb plot was also lifted from The Dead Pool, a Dirty Harry movie that shamelessly references Bullet and its car chase in San Francisco. So meta on meta on meta. Cop movies also influenced BTAS
Nice; making me all teary with that last line. The Gray Ghost also was a fill-in for Zorro; who, in lore, was the movie they came out of the theatre that dreaded and fateful night they net Joe Chill. The parallels between Simon Trent and Adam West were chilling, to say the least. West still hadn't dug himself out of the hole Batman '66 had left him in, and you can almost feel that in his portrayal of Trent/Gray Ghost. I suppose, as someone who was, at that time, nose deep in the comic and character, this show hits deep and hard for me. But then this show was brilliant nearly 90% of the time, so...
BTW there's a great podcast called The Arkham Sessions that psychologically analyzed each episode of BTAS. One of the hosts is a clinical psychologist who grew up watching BTAS.
The rabbit hole on this one episode was wild - the _other_ rabbit hole. The entire episode was a meta on Adam West. Adam West played a wildly popular TV hero, as did the character he played in this episode, Simon Trent. After the show ended, Adam couldn't get work due to typecasting - he auditioned for multiple parts but screeners only saw Batman, and wound-up living close to destitute. As does his character Simon. It was the re-invention of Batman that reignited Adam's fortunes - his works as Batman that had long all-but fallen out of syndication exploded in popularity with the release of the new Batman, something we see mirrored with Simon at the end of the episode. That's the obvious part. The real rabbit hole is the villain, Ted Deemer - aka Bruce Timm. it was Ted Deemer (The Mad Bomber) who inadvertently became the linchpin for Simon Trent's explosive re-popularity. It was his actions that led to Simon rediscovering his love for his old character and gave him a means to profit from it once more. Now, Bruce Timm didn't do that for Adam West at all. But, Bruce Timm was the one who created the Simon Trent character Adam West played, thereby becoming the vehicle for Adam's inclusion in the episode. Of course, one could also perform a scene-by-scene breakdown of the episode. The writing quality was weak and, often times outright silly - just like Adam West's Batman. Animated Batman't jumps to conclusions while ignoring logic, which while seen in other episodes ("four quarters and a heads-up penny in a phone booth coin return = Police Headquarters, Room 101, Commissioner Gordon" will forever stick in my mind as a "wut" illogic moment) is a parallel to West's interpretation. Hell, I'd eat my best kilt if the scene where Batman uses a _flame thrower_ of all things on an explosive RV car isn't a shout-out to the equally ridiculous "shark repellent" scene from West's Batman movie.
Love this episode. Alwats brings to tears every time. Was going to watch Gray Ghost after AEW Rampage in celebration of Adam West on his death day, when a bud linked me the "The Batman" vid, i looked through the FilmJoy page and found this vid. Can't wait for the Conroy retrospective 💜
The video was lovely! Also, the choice of song at the end was a fittingly uplifting melancholy (if that makes sense) and I'd love to know where it's from.
Thank you Mikey, in my heart you are the patron saint of the soft spoken truths and I care deeply about your wellbeing and art. Also the worlds best detective ™ bit made me laugh onto another person. (I knew the person)
The other context under the episode is that Simon Trent is an analogous to Adam West, both were type cast after their role as Batman/The Gray Ghost and failed to find work afterward. Adam West of course came back into any spotlight because of Seth MacFarlane but it was because of his own nostalgia with the actor did that happen
I really do (still after all this time) love your videos. Your eloquence through opinion, facts and love of media all combine to make something that grabs me somewhere inside and really listen to every word you've constructed... but really, I just wanted to say thanks. You are my favourite creator on youtube. x
I still think the best episode of television from the Bruce Tim era is either epilogue from Justice league, Unlimited or Batman, beyond return of the Joker
any and everything to do with Batman, the amimated series, justice league, and justice league unlimited I’m here for. The superman, animated series is not bad, but I am forever drawn to those other series constantly
While being accused of something is terrible, in Trent's case, being accused finally makes him blurt out that he sold those toys. Something that didn't occur to him before. That solves the case. That stops the mad bomber. That ultimately turns Trent's life around. Being "shamed" into action saved Simon Trent's life. And knowing how easy a hero or other inspiring person can turn out to be a monster or perhaps just a humbling disappointment, it's not that surprising or weird to me that Batman would take some evidence that points towards Trent and NOT ignore it. To me, ignoring any evidence and just saying, "Nah, this is my hero. My hero wouldn't do that." would go against what Batman is. There's faith, and there's reality. And Batman (being a fictional character) has faced so much sad reality that his faith in humanity and even his heroes comes up short.
I've often said that, of all the live action Batmans, the only one who you'd believe that they'd sit with Ace (Justice League Unlimited, "Epilogue") is Batman '66.
Mikey and Gabi Belle are two creators that nobody subs to but always put out really great content. It's like discovering a ma'n'pop restaurant that nobody visits that does absolutely killer Jollof. If the crowds come, great they deserve it, but I'm happy with it being this little thing for me and a few other people in-the-know to enjoy as well.
In this episode, it seems like Bruce Wayne responds to every encounter he has with the Grey Ghost as a disappointed child who suspects his hero may not be all he thought he would or should be. His constant accusations show he is not thinking like the adult Detective he is, but like the child within who is learning his hero is just a man. And in the end he is faced with the realization that no matter how hard he tries to be the hero, he is just a man as well. (Deep in the Jello)
One of my favorite RU-vidrs covering one of my favorite B;ATS episode ?? Yes Frakkin Please ! Ive always loved the Passing Of The Torch premise of the episode, ever since it aired. Yes. Im that old.
I'm fearful that this video is going to make me cry. P.S. I laughed. I cried. I hurled. Only one of those I can attribute to rum and fish tacos. Which one? YOU DECIDE!
Batman TAS holds up strong to this day, and there's a straight line from it to the excellent Arkham games (at least, the first two were). The HARDAC episodes are still my favorite, and I think one of them got some kind of award?
I think there's an aspect of projection going on when Batman accuses Simon of being a terrorist. Batman has often been portrayed as harsh in other vigilantes, presumably because he knows how slippery the slope of vigilantism is.
Pretty well done. I enjoyed the little moment that you showed Elon Musk and the Zuck. RIP Adam West and Kevin Conroy. To all the Batman fans out there who didn't grow up in the 80's or 90's, watching the cartoon as a kid or watching Adam West run around with that giant round smoking bomb over his head really helped us pass the time, even though Project X Ray was a real thing and Tesla car's are certainly self driving and their batteries are catching on fire, sometimes nostalgia helps us cope with reality and watching others attempt to persuade a wizened audience so as not to be duped by toy collectors and mad bombers when they come to town just fills us with laughter as we sit back and watch villains try their hardest to seem innocent enough to do good business with. Maybe Bruce Wayne should look into the cobalt mining happening in the Congo.
