4.03 - Clayfaces - Discussion/Feedback

[Warhammer]

This episode ain't too shabby.
The new clayface fighting Ethan is pretty cool.

I like Ethan being a good guy.

 

[Binker]

PLOT:
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.

REVIEW:
I can remember when The Batman started airing that people didn't know what to make of it. Some liked it and others didn't. It was like that for a while and while viewers were overall questioning the show, the two part season finale for season one aired and everyone's mind changed. It was because the show had tragedy with the introduction of its own Clayface. The comparsion between the Ethan Benett Clayface and the Matt Hagen version of BTAS had tragedy as its final result and people liked this Clayface. With Season Four; we learned about a second Clayface, and we wanted to know how the two Clayfaces would meet.

As this episode starts, Ethan is still on revenge against Joker. But when Batman & Robin arrive, he reveals his intention to turn himself in. For Batman, Ethan is gone so he doesn't believe Ethan from this. But as Bruce Wayne, he has a cure being made for him, which Ethan is thinking not having. He then escapes because of the new Clayface to confront him, because he truly believes he is and will always be a cop.

The new Clayface here is actor Basil Karlo. In the comics, he was the first Clayface that appeared in Detective #40. Not beign able to get a part as a bad actor, he steals the stuff that made Ethan Clayface and drinks it. (He even does the T-1000 through the cell scene from Terminator 2). When he goes as far as hospitalizing the talent agency, he gets the media attention he has always wanted. He then gets obsessed of doing the crimes and filming his actions as if it was a movie.

Overall, this episode switched back to a serious one. The battle between the two Clayfaces on the bridge (had the feeling of T-1000 from T2 again during climax fight), the attempt of redemption of Ethan, we even see Robin displaying from classic moments his boy wonder role. From the questions he had for Batman on the crimes to the "Oh Gosh" line. Glad he didn't do the "Holy (something) Batman" otherwise that would've had the classic campy feel.

RATING: 8/10

 

[blksuperman2]

Anyone notice the man and woman in the diner? A little nod to Superman 2 I think.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

This episode was really good, we get a Clayface that's more in line with the comic version, plus an homage to Superman 2, that was definitely Clark, Lois and the guy that kicked Clark's @$$ in the diner.

 

[blksuperman2]

This episode was really good, we get a Clayface that's more in line with the comic version, plus an homage to Superman 2, that was definitely Clark, Lois and the guy that kicked Clark's @$$ in the diner.

You saw that too. Awesome stuff.t:

 

[WildChild]

I liked todays episode,I'm glad Ethan is back to being a good guy.I'm also loveing Robin.

 

[Mister J]

I'm liking Robin's first run of eps much more so than Batgirl's. I don't know if it's because they learned from already intriducing Batgirl or because I genuinely found her to be really goddamn annoying. At any rate, I liked this ep too. This show has really turned around for me. I'm actually making a point to watch it now.

 

[Batjay6]

I noticed the Superman 2 homage too, that was cool. This season is definitley an improvement 4 me. I was WAY against this show in the beginning, especially the handling of Joker, Clayface and Mr.Freeze. The episode introducing Robin was also very character driven, felt like watching TAS.

 

[Jen24]

I enjoyed this episode very much. I'm glad I've made it a point to watch the series this season; it's well worth my time.

In Robin's defense, keep in mind that the cheeseball "Gosh, Batman," line came while he... wasn't quite himself. That comment turned my head, too, because it really sounded much campier than anything I'd heard Robin say, but soon after I realized exactly WHY he sounded that way.

(I'm being coy to avoid spoiling anybody here -- I'd hate to ruin the surprise, because it really is that cool!)

 

[Dread]

What a difference a season makes. With TMNT ending on TV and going to FAST FOWARD and THE BATMAN seemingly on a role, it's actually becoming the best comic show on network TV right now. This was another good episode and argueably as good as the premire, especially since it picks up on past plotlines, namely with Ethan Bennet, whose transformation single-handedly saved Season 1 and introduced a good Season 2. Every Clayface episode has been good (much like every Ventriloquist episode).

Bennet was an important character; he served the role usually reserved for Harvey Dent in THE BATMAN, being someone who was connected to the GCPD as well as a personal friend of Bruce's, who, after becoming a rogue, Wayne almost works overtime to try to "save". At least the origins of their friendship were explained here (in Season 1, they were simply buds and the backstory was barely developed). Plus, Clayface got a new design and provided for a lot of great battles and dramatic tension. It's still a shame that Yin has remained in Limbo, though; having her as a romantic subplot or something could add to the show. The last Batman show never touched serious romance much and this one could strike new ground by trying, but it probably won't.

The episode begins with Joker seemingly pulling yet another wacky job, when Punch & Judy suddenly talk to him. Turns out they're Clayface, who still has a grudge against Joker for transforming him. However, after quickly defeating the Clown Prince of Crime, Bennet doesn't make a move when Batman & Robin show up (considering that Bennet was gone for the entire Season 3, it seemed odd he wasn't too shocked to see Batman with a partner), and in fact surrenders to both he and the police. Apparently Bennet has pulled his sanity together and wants to pay for his crimes and become "legit" again. This is believeable as Clayface's first fight with the police was more of a misunderstanding, and he was driven mad from being kidnapped by Joker and turned into a living hunk of clay (understandably). Heading to Arkham, Bruce Wayne uses his technological side to have his company analyze samples of the "Clayface serum" to work on an antidote for it. However, Bennet no longer wants to be "normal", but serve his time and then work for the police AS Clayface; a heroic metahuman. Wayne doesn't believe that is possible; Bennet's sanity has shifted with his forms, and he feels that "power breeded abuses of power". Considering that, literally, EVERY metahuman that Batman has encountered so far has been evil (Mr. Freeze, Bane, Killer Croc, Man-Bat, Dracula), that is a fair estimate. Wayne also fills in Robin about his past friendship with Bennet; they met at a mall as young children and managed to become friends.

Elsewhere, Basil Karlo is a struggling but arrogant, and not very skilled, actor. Frustrated by the biz, he watched a convient news report about Wayne Tech's dealings with the Clayface formula, and he sees the power of Clayface as something that could help his career (give him "the look"). In short fashion, he steals his way into Wayne Tech, guzzles the formula and becomes Clayface II. He STILL fails to land a part, and viciously attacks the directors of the commercial, before starting to steal and build a rep for infamy. He fights Batman & Robin but manages to get past them. Bennet sees his chance at heroism, but perhaps in proving Wayne's point about "abuses of power", escapes Arkham again to fight Karlo. Basil Karlo naturally harkens back to the original Clayface from the comics, who also was an actor. Bennet got the more tragic "Matt Hagan" like origin, whereas Karlo was simply looking for the easy way in life.

The fights bewteen Bennet and Karlo are flipping AMAZING. Words alone can't describe how cool they were. The Dynamic Duo continue to have good chemistry together, and Robin's nowhere near as annoying as Batgirl was. Maybe that was because he's more serious and willing to actually obey Batman, rather than question his authority (at least now). Granted, Batgirl is also older than Robin and thus at an age TO question authority. In the end, Bennet has to "merge" with Karlo to give Batman an in for the antidote, but at the end of the episode it seems that only half the serum's dosage allows Karlo to still have SOME clay-power, so Bennet may have some, too.

I think the concept of Bennet as a vigilante is very interesting, and now that they have an outright evil Clayface II, that could be explored in the future. I also wonder how Batman's attitudes on metahumans may change when he meets the Martian Manhunter later this season (who, ironically, is also a shape-shifter). This season so far is looking way better than the last 3 episodes in. I hope it lasts.

 

[Mister J]

Great analysis, Dread.
Many of those points ring true for me as well, namely the show's improvement, Robin's role and the prospect of Bennett's development.

 

[Spike_x1]

I barely watched any of the last season, but I jumped back on for this season.

Great episodes so far. I'm especially glad to see Basil Karlo becoming what was known as "the Ultimate Clayface" from the comics, whooping Ethan's ass until they forcibly merged together. My only gripe about this episode was Karlo's annoying voice, but I suppose that it was a plotpoint relating to his bad acting, so I guess I can understand why he sounded that way. Still, I wouldn't complain if they recast him for future episodes, though.

Overall, fantastic 30 minutes.

 

[November Rain]

ethan bennet's clayface is quite a breath of fresh air...

he's just as good as the joker, definitely the two best villains in the series...and the fact they share a connection is also pretty damn good.


here's a question though, if both ethan and the other dude were apparently cured of they shape shifting powers, then why was ethan still in his crazy guarded cell while the other dude wasnt and was happily out with all the other people in the assylum?

maybe it's just to show that ethan isn't really part of one of them and would prefer to be on his own since he still sees good on his side.

there is so much to explore with ethan potentially, ever since going clay, every ep he's been in has been a pot of gold..

and with the future ep coming up next, this series is really going all out for it....

i wish i could see the faces of all the ol the batman haters now...

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Yeah, very good episode.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I loved it.

 

[R-Taco]

here's a question though, if both ethan and the other dude were apparently cured of they shape shifting powers, then why was ethan still in his crazy guarded cell while the other dude wasnt and was happily out with all the other people in the assylum?

maybe it's just to show that ethan isn't really part of one of them and would prefer to be on his own since he still sees good on his side.

Or it could be to keep him and Joker away from one another.

 

[Hypestyle]

ethan bennet's clayface is quite a breath of fresh air...

here's a question though, if both ethan and the other dude were apparently cured of they shape shifting powers, then why was ethan still in his crazy guarded cell while the other dude wasnt and was happily out with all the other people in the assylum?

maybe it's just to show that ethan isn't really part of one of them and would prefer to be on his own since he still sees good on his side.

also, there's the issue of his safety-- since he's an ex-cop, he could be easily targeted by all the "real" bad guys and unrepentant crooks up in there..

 

[November Rain]

Or it could be to keep him and Joker away from one another.

wouldn't it be a better idea to lock joker up and then let bennet roam?

besides, I don't think he has an angst with the joker anymore...

as much as i thought he was actually going to kill him at the beginning of the episode, the fact he called the cops and went down peacefully is enough of an indication that he's reformed in my eyes... he genuinely does wish to make a difference.

 

[November Rain]

also, there's the issue of his safety-- since he's an ex-cop, he could be easily targeted by all the "real" bad guys and unrepentant crooks up in there..

perhaps although it's never really been brought up before, clayface seemed to be the person with the largest vendetta in arkham beforehand.

no one inside seems to have a grudge with the police force, rather batman instead.

 

[Proteus-X312]

I can't say that I loved this episode because I liked Ethan more with his Clayface powers.Imo Ethan/Clayface was the best character in the series last season and for the writers to get rid of the one thing that makes Ethan interesting is an odd change.This new Clayface doesn't have the tragedy.He gained his powers for selfish gain while Ethan was cursed with the powers.He was a victim of circumstance and never asked for them.This is what made the Ethan/Clayface character cool and interesting.I still enjoyed the episode though and I can't wait until Killer Moth shows up again.I allso look forward to seeing the future Gotham episode.

 

[Rowen]

I can't say that I loved this episode because I liked Ethan more with his Clayface powers.Imo Ethan/Clayface was the best character in the series last season and for the writers to get rid of the one thing that makes Ethan interesting is an odd change.This new Clayface doesn't have the tragedy.He gained his powers for selfish gain while Ethan was cursed with the powers.He was a victim of circumstance and never asked for them.This is what made the Ethan/Clayface character cool and interesting.I still enjoyed the episode though and I can't wait until Killer Moth shows up again.I allso look forward to seeing the future Gotham episode.

i still think ethan retains some of his powers, but the writers could possibly do away with it. witch i to think is a wrong move. this move can hurt ethan's character more than help it. i agree with your theory on this new clayface character,

he was in no way tradic at all, just had some bad breaks. & it seems like where going to see ALOT more of him & probably less of ethan. i don't know what else they can do with this new clayface character but we will see.

as for the episode, it was pretty good. i liked the movements & fight scenes with the two clayfaces, & liked the little suprise on the fooftop. i didn't know clayface 2 was robin & clayface one was batman .( a good surprise)

all in all, it was solid epsidoe. looking forward to what thier going to do next with bennet. either their going to cure him for good, or their going to leave the clayface side of him for future stories to tell.

 

[November Rain]

I can't say that I loved this episode because I liked Ethan more with his Clayface powers.Imo Ethan/Clayface was the best character in the series last season and for the writers to get rid of the one thing that makes Ethan interesting is an odd change.This new Clayface doesn't have the tragedy.He gained his powers for selfish gain while Ethan was cursed with the powers.He was a victim of circumstance and never asked for them.This is what made the Ethan/Clayface character cool and interesting.I still enjoyed the episode though and I can't wait until Killer Moth shows up again.I allso look forward to seeing the future Gotham episode.

they haven't shut any doors on ethan, tests also confirmed that the other clayface had been totally cured yet that wasn't the case...

remember, firstly i was a trial drug and secondly it was a shared dosage that was used at the time.

they've definitely left the door open if there was ever to be a comeback.

Saying this though, any comeback would seem a lot like that episode meltdown which was so good, that i don't think it could really be topped if they tried to rehash it.

 

[Casius--J]

I really liked this episode, im glad they introduced a new clayface one with more evil intentions than bennett.

Did anyone else think the endin was a lil bit of a rip off of xmen the last stand where u see magneto discoving his powers returning from reaching for the chess piece???

So far this season has been pretty good, i just hope it improves as the episodes go on.

 

[November Rain]

ah chess piece and powers regaining...never saw the connection till now...

truth be told the batman did it better.

 

[blksuperman2]

I didn't notice that. A coincidence???