B:TAS "The Laughing Fish" Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

Discuss this classic Batman: The Animated Series episode!


http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/laughingfish/00.jpg

Episode #33 - The Laughing Fish
Written by Paul Dini - Directed by Bruce W. Timm

The Joker has developed a chemical which induces "Joker" smiles on fish. He makes a visit to the Gotham copyright offices, demanding a copyright for his Joker fish. When the frightened bureaucrats tell him that such a copyright is impossible, he threatens to kill them one by one until he gets what he wants.

Comments?

[JTurner954]

"Love that Joker". That's the very first thing that came into my mind when I saw that Joker Fish commercial. WOW, I remember when this episode aired at around 7-7:30 p.m. on Fox .

Wonderful episode. Bullock was classic as always. What a great way to start this great month called April. 4 1/2 star vote from me.

[whitmore_sean]

Loved, loved, LOVED this episode! The Joker was much more menacing here than he's usually allowed to be on TV. This was also one of the only episodes to feature the classic "Joker apparently dies" ending. I also liked all the nods to the classic comic story of the same name.

BTAS
Pencil-Pusher: "Great Scott!"
Joker: "Actually, I'm Irish."

Batman
Pencil-Pusher: "Good Lord!"
Joker: (turns around) "WHERE?"



SEAN

[Meow]

I LOVE this episode. I gave it a five. It was funny and had a unquie and crazy plot most worthy of the Joker. And of course, there was that "Joker Fish" commercial that was just hilarious. I loved the part where Batman and "Mistah J" were fighting on the roof. The animation was nice through-out the episode, but I thought the last fight scene between the two was very well done...with all the lightning and rain and everything..

most fitting :D

and then there's this line...

Bullock: Come on, he was a demented, abusive, psychotic, maniac.

Harley: Yea......I'm really gonna miss him... ::sob::

LOL!!!

[Bruce Wayne56]

I really liked that episode!!

[Zoddman]

Probably the best animation Don Yang did in its entire run. Beautiful episode. 5 Stars.

[The Penguin]

"They're finny and funny and oh so delish! They're joyful and jolly Joker fish!" - Harley Quinn, The Laughing Fish

This was probably the best one out of the four today. I like how Joker goes after the pencil-pushers and calls them by their full names during his little newsreports. Yep, good ol' G. Carl Francis. :D

I think it's really powerful at the end, you can never be sure if The Joker is dead or not, but then the shark snaps up that Joker card.

[CadaverousEyes]

The only downside to this one is that Batman's antidote makes the Joker's threats seem pointless. But then we have the shark element from The Joker's Five-Way Revenge so everything's all right again. Perfect way to end the marathon.

[Zoddman]

Originally posted by CadaverousEyes
The only downside to this one is that Batman's antidote makes the Joker's threats seem pointless. But then we have the shark element from The Joker's Five-Way Revenge so everything's all right again. Perfect way to end the marathon. They had to put the "antidote" into the episode (Unlike the issue of Batman which this is based on.) Because BS&P would've had Dini and Timm's throats if they did have them die.

[The Penguin]

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT Cartoon Network airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, The Laughing Fish. It is # 5 on Bruce Timm's Top 10. Some of his thoughts will be offered during the show’s airing. This episode was based on the classic 1970's Detective Comics story "The Laughing Fish" by Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers.


http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/laughingfish/00r.jpg
Episode #033 - The Laughing Fish
Original Airdate - January 10th, 1993.

The Joker has developed a chemical which induces "Joker" smiles on fish. He makes a visit to the Gotham copyright offices, demanding a copyright for his Joker fish. When the frightened bureaucrats tell him that such a copyright is impossible, he threatens to kill them one by one until he gets what he wants.

Comments?

Related Threads:
-Batman: Strange Apparitions Talkback (Spoilers) (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=140725)

[MILatino]

Originally posted by The Penguin
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT Cartoon Network airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, The Laughing Fish.

Five stars. The Joker was classic. He was funny but in a very scary way. The music was incredibly fitting... very much like Psycho was. The way the police and Batman worked together. The way Bullock figured out where to find the Joker ("It doesn't take no fancy Batcomputer to figure out that fancy fish came from an aquarium.")

I laughed; I cried... ;) Excellent.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

yeah it was good but the smiles on the Joker's victems were sick though

[TheScarecrow]

One of the best Joker story episodes, scary and funny at the same time, much like The Joker himself. :D

Worthy of the Top Ten status it was given.

[Meow]

5 stars! I enjoyed every minute of this episode. Dead on characterization of all the characters (specially Joker) and a great sick and twisted plot. Need I say more? :D

[The Penguin]

"They're finny and funny and oh so delish! They're joyful and jolly Joker fish!" - Harley Quinn, The Laughing Fish

I'd have to say this is one of the better Joker episodes and obviously Timm thinks so too.

It's really clever how the scene is arranged in the second pencil-pusher's home. You see Batman and the guy and you hear them talking, but by how they are sitting in the shot you can't tell that the two have switched places. You can hear the "Batman grunt" when he dives for the cat, but if you aren’t looking for it you miss it.

I thought Bullock was used very well and even figured out where the Joker was himself. There was some decent detective work from the Bat as well. And the music was great!

The ending was very powerful, you can never be sure if The Joker is dead or not, but then the shark snaps up that Joker card. Wow. :eek:

[Green Guardsman]

Originally posted by Meow
5 stars! I enjoyed every minute of this episode. Dead on characterization of all the characters (specially Joker) and a great sick and twisted plot. Need I say more? :D

Yeah, the first line in your signature comes from this episode!

I still can't believe they showed the meat blood though!

[jm5150bc]

5 stars, all the way... Definitely in the top 5 episodes of all time.

This was the best Joker episode of the original B:TAS, period.
It was the first time he was actually kind of scary as well as whacky... the score was brilliant... and the last act was just sheer perfection.

The only time that the Joker was ever handled better was ROTJ.

[Mattashell]

Hi all, I've had a really terrible evening and I'm in a bad situation which I may or may not post about over at the Cafe if I feel like sharing. It's the least of my worries, but just one more thing had to go wrong and I forgot to set Dr. V to tape tonight's episodes. Could someone please put up Bruce Timm's comments. This is the first "Top 10" ep I've missed.

Thanx
Matt

[DisneyBoy]

I was really disappointed that this episode didn't make it into the top ten! It really is the best Joker episode there is, as well as one of the best Batman stories the series has told. It's just classic!

[Cere]

Well, then, I shall be the first to say that I didn't like it. The first time I saw it I hated it. The second time through...I guess it wasn't that bad. I'll explain.

First, the premise seems stupid. Joker wants to copyright fish? How is that going to help him get rid of Batman? Oh, that's right, to finance his criminal practices. Well...I guess it's not quite as bad as it first sounded. But hitting off pencilpushers makes him seem not as smart as he's been shown elsewhere.

I like how Joker attacked Francis with a two-part chemical, but why didn't he just spray everyone in that room with Joker gas? Why would Joker target one specific person, when he could have a bigger laugh taking out policemen and possibly Batman in the process?

The scene with the second guy (the switcheroo) was well done. It had me surprised at first. The second time through, I could really appreciate it.

Alfred had some great lines. "Dining in tonight, sir?" "This should cause a stampede to pork." And, what was it the Joker said? Ah, yes. "I shall amuse myself watching Harv give my shark indigestion." Great lines.

The ending scene had a few problems. First, Batman never came up for air while fighting the shark. Then, Harley and the goons knocked themselves out. Duh! And it seemed rather weird that Joker would inadvertantly send his chair through the roof. What did he expect to happen?

So, I'll have to say that this episode was better the second time around, but I still question it's status in the Top Ten. To me, it didn't portray Joker the best.

[Frank White]

Did anybody else wonder why this is the only B:TAS episode without a episode card?

[Meow]

Originally posted by Cere
First, the premise seems stupid. Joker wants to copyright fish? How is that going to help him get rid of Batman? Oh, that's right, to finance his criminal practices. Well...I guess it's not quite as bad as it first sounded. But hitting off pencilpushers makes him seem not as smart as he's been shown elsewhere.

I like how Joker attacked Francis with a two-part chemical, but why didn't he just spray everyone in that room with Joker gas? Why would Joker target one specific person, when he could have a bigger laugh taking out policemen and possibly Batman in the process?

So, I'll have to say that this episode was better the second time around, but I still question it's status in the Top Ten. To me, it didn't portray Joker the best.

Woah.. did you ever miss the point of this episode! This episode may be pretty weird, but it explains a lot about Joker's StRaNgE personality. The reason he was picking on that Francis guy is BECAUSE he knew he was harmless. He's not stupid. He knew that Francis couldn't help him copyright all the fish in Gotham, and that's what made it funny. Batman even explained this....didn't you catch it? This episode shows the extremes Joker will go to just to have a good sick laugh. It also shows just how flat-out crazy the guy is! You don't think Joker was portrayed well in this episode? Well, I happen to think the complete opposite.

[WeezerGeezer]

I adore this episode, mostly because it's a retelling of teh first Batman comic I ever read over 10 years ago. In the British 1991 (I think) Batman annual, this story was reprinted, I think it was from the 70's.

Everything about the plot is awesome; probably the first time the creative team on BTAS got a grip on the character (the first few Joker stories were simply awful) and fleshed him out into the maniacal supervillain he should be.

The plot works with this character only, it's a genius idea that's so incredibly ridiculous that it just /might/ work. And in some warped way, you can see how the Joker has worked it out.

Absolute genius, definately in the Top 10.

[Caped Crusader]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
I was really disappointed that this episode didn't make it into the top ten! It really is the best Joker episode there is, as well as one of the best Batman stories the series has told. It's just classic!


DisneyBoy, this episode did make it into the creators Top Ten. It's number 5 on their list.



Originally posted by Mattashell
Hi all, I've had a really terrible evening and I'm in a bad situation which I may or may not post about over at the Cafe if I feel like sharing. It's the least of my worries, but just one more thing had to go wrong and I forgot to set Dr. V to tape tonight's episodes. Could someone please put up Bruce Timm's comments. This is the first "Top 10" ep I've missed.

Thanx
Matt

I missed it, too, Mattashell. :( Would it be possible for someone to post the creators comments after every episode like they did with "Over the Edge"? That would help me out a lot, because sometimes I'm not able to catch or tape the episode.


Originally posted by Cere
Well, then, I shall be the first to say that I didn't like it. The first time I saw it I hated it. The second time through...I guess it wasn't that bad. I'll explain.

First, the premise seems stupid. Joker wants to copyright fish? How is that going to help him get rid of Batman? Oh, that's right, to finance his criminal practices. Well...I guess it's not quite as bad as it first sounded. But hitting off pencilpushers makes him seem not as smart as he's been shown elsewhere.

I like how Joker attacked Francis with a two-part chemical, but why didn't he just spray everyone in that room with Joker gas? Why would Joker target one specific person, when he could have a bigger laugh taking out policemen and possibly Batman in the process?

The scene with the second guy (the switcheroo) was well done. It had me surprised at first. The second time through, I could really appreciate it.

Alfred had some great lines. "Dining in tonight, sir?" "This should cause a stampede to pork." And, what was it the Joker said? Ah, yes. "I shall amuse myself watching Harv give my shark indigestion." Great lines.

The ending scene had a few problems. First, Batman never came up for air while fighting the shark. Then, Harley and the goons knocked themselves out. Duh! And it seemed rather weird that Joker would inadvertantly send his chair through the roof. What did he expect to happen?

So, I'll have to say that this episode was better the second time around, but I still question it's status in the Top Ten. To me, it didn't portray Joker the best.


I agree with just about everything you said. I thought this episode was pretty good, but not good enough to be put in the Top Ten. It's never been one of my favorite episodes.

[murmur]

I may be off-base, but I think that these episodes aren't truly meant to be the best ten of the series, even though that's how they are billed. Rather, they are supposed to be excellent examples of Batman:TAS, each representing a quality that makes the series such a standout. Of course, they all have to be terrific episodes, but if the top ten episodes were all origin stories, for example, it wouldn't be a very good representation of the series. To this end, The Laughing Fish is a perfect entry. As Timm's comments, it's the classic supervillain story; no deep background, just the Joker (and Harley to an appropriately lesser degree) at his (and her) demented best/worst. It wouldn't make my personal favorite top ten by a long shot, but it makes sense here, even at #5.

[Brainiac]

This is THE BEST Joker episode created for the series--I happen to like it more than the ROTJ portrayal of the Joker. The animation, music, and dialogue was just great! That first scene with the Joker in the copyright office was great! The comedic timing was impeccable! "Great Scott!" "No, actually, I'm Irish" and some of the alliteration--'happily hedonistic lifestyle" and "my frankly, quite fabulous face"

5 STARS!!!

[James Harvey]

Cartoon Network has aired the episode "The Laughing Fish" last night at the regular 2:30am timeslot. Since there was already a talkback thread dedicated to the episode, I thought it proper to just bump up this thread. Let the commenting begin - again!

Episode #033 - The Laughing Fish
Original Airdate - January 10th, 1993.

The Joker has developed a chemical which induces "Joker" smiles on fish. He makes a visit to the Gotham copyright offices, demanding a copyright for his Joker fish. When the frightened bureaucrats tell him that such a copyright is impossible, he threatens to kill them one by one until he gets what he wants.

Comments?

[Stu]

the British 1991 (I think) Batman annual, this story was reprinted, I think it was from the 70's.

Yes it was from the 70's. The 2 part story is now in a book called Starnage apparations. It also has a Hugo Strange story that was the bases (sp?) for the strange secret of Bruce Wayne.

I think this episode easily belongs in the top 10. It shows the Joker exactly the way he should be portrayed. The only letdown in the entire episode was the ending. It would be nice if they explained how the Joker survived. I remember when ROTJ production just started that I was looking forward to hearing how the Joker was immortal because by all rights he has died in at least 3 different Batman/Superman episodes (TLF, Worlds Finest part 3 and Mad Love). I was always hoping for how this always happens to be told and as we all know it didn't happen in ROTJ. Don't worry theres still time, there always room for The Joker in JL.

[Bleu Unicorn]

While not really one of my favorite BTAS episodes, this one is still pretty interesting. The plot, while kind of lame, is pretty Joker-ish, in that it makes no sense, really. Harvey is very nice in this episode -- especially his jab at Batman's need for a batcomputer, while he on the other hand was smart enough to figure out where Joker was of his own accord.

The music is what truly irritates me in this episode, though. It's right up there with the irritating music from "The Forgiven," imho. So, this episode gets 4 stars from mio.

[Muninn]

This is probably my favorite episode of Batman, of all time. I'm a sucker for a good Joker story, and this was Mistah J at his finest.

Add in the Joker Fish commercial parody, Harley's "Yeah... i'm really gonna miss him!" and just being hilarious throughout the episode, and you've got a classic for all time.

Dini is god.

[Edward Nygma]

I don't mind that episode, but I don't find it really terrific either... I think that what I don't like with it is that it's sort of pointless.

In "Harlequinade", for example, there were more character depth (the Joker just wanting to blow everybody and not wanting a ransom, the good side of Harley but how she eventually falls for the Joker, Joker being ready to blow with the bomb, and most of all the "baby you're the best" line, seeing how he himself likes to be roughened up by Harley). Or "Mad Love". Or his speech in "The Man who Killed Batman", where we really get how the Batman/Joker relationship works for him. Or even "Trial", where he's more funny. Or "Mask of the Phantasm", where he's way more sinister. Or "Return of the Joker", where he's shown in a waaaaaaay more sadistic way. Or "Joker's Favor", where his way to play with innocent, random people is better explored. Or even "Christmas with the Joker", where the TV show/ad spoof was better.

Well, you get my point... and "Laughing Fish" has basically no script.

[JTurner954]

"Love that Joker" 4 1/2 stars

Another excellent episode. Not a boring moment during the entire thing (especially the fish commercial). As to how Joker survived the ending, he tells you how right before he drops. Unique story of Joker getting money "legally" that surprisingly doesn't have lots of action. Good storytelling is really all you need to make a good episode and this one proves it.

Now I will end this with my idea for a possible spinoff:

GCPD: Bullock. Hey, it could be good.

[Muninn]

I don't know if you're aware of it, JTurner, but coming in december is a GCPD comic book. Harvey may show up in it.

[JTurner954]

No way. I haven't heard anything about that.

[BlackCat]

I heard about it, but wasn't sure of the premiere date. Any details on the new series? Sounds interesting.

[JTurner954]

Oh, I forgot to ask this earlier: How come Robin's Reckoning Part 2 didn't air this week?

[Muninn]

Originally posted by JTurner954
Oh, I forgot to ask this earlier: How come Robin's Reckoning Part 2 didn't air this week?

In a move right out of the early nineties and Fox's original broadcast of these episodes, the second part of Robin's Reckoning will be shown at a later date, a few weeks from now, in fact. They better not break up Heart of Steel though, or i'm gonna bust some heads. :D


Originally posted by blackcat
I heard about it, but wasn't sure of the premiere date. Any details on the new series? Sounds interesting.

Try to imagine a real-life cop show, in a comic book. Something like Homicide: Life on the Street, with masked vigilantes making guest appearances.

It's the story of the Gotham Major Crimes Unit, or the Supervillain Squad, as i've taken to calling them. They get the cases regular cops can't handle. The kind that are reserved for the cream of the crop of GCPD detectives: those crimes perpetrated by the more theatrical members of Gotham's diverse criminal element.

There will be two work-shifts, with different detectives, with a seperate writer for days and nights. Renee Montoya's part of it, so i'm justified posting this on an animated Batman board. :P

[DisneyBoy]

Everyone remember way back when we were voting for our favorite episode of Batman: The Animated Series? That's when I started getting the feeling that the majority of the people here really didn't love "The Laughing Fish", which surprised me.

Some of the animation looks like it was drawn by b.t. himself (that awesome fight atop the aquarium, Batman rocketing along in the Batmobile), there's plenty of humor and adult content (don't tell me those victims didn't scare the heck out of you!), and the story never let up. To me, it always stood the test of time as the best Batman/Joker episode.

So, why isn't it reveered as such the way "Heart of Ice" is? Where does it fall short?

http://wf.toonzone.net/WF/batman/episodes/LaughingFish/02.jpg

[Batman Fan]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
Everyone remember way back when we were voting for our favorite episode of Batman: The Animated Series? That's when I started getting the feeling that the majority of the people here really didn't love "The Laughing Fish", which surprised me.

Some of the animation looks like it was drawn by b.t. himself (that awesome fight atop the aquarium, Batman rocketing along in the Batmobile), there's plenty of humor and adult content (don't tell me those victims didn't scare the heck out of you!), and the story never let up. To me, it always stood the test of time as the best Batman/Joker episode.

So, why isn't it reveered as such the way "Heart of Ice" is? Where does it fall short?

I love this episode, I like it better than "Heart of Ice" I think the problem was that when people saw "Heart of Ice" they thought to themselves, there could never be a better episode so that's why people disregard this episode. Or maybe it's the plot, I mean it's good, but people like the emotion in "Heart of Ice" where there is none such here.

[El Zorro]

Personally, I don't think it falls short at all. Its one of the best BTAS episodes & propably the best adaptation from a pre-existing comic story that they've done, aside from Mad Love.

[Captain Clown]

Heart of Ice is more definitive of the series, but Laughing Fish is still better. The last time I saw it I couldn't believe how good it was. How'd they get away with making is so dark?

[Harley Quinn]

The only thing that slightly bugged me about this episode was my namesake's "You're really sick, you know that, Boss?" line. Seemed a tad bit out-of-character to me, but oh well. Great otherwise.

[Carrieattheprom]

The effects of the laughing gas are pretty brutal.

[DisneyBoy]

What's strange is that I see this episode as being more definitive of the series. Everything about it just screams "classic".

And I loved that line from Harley :) Did she say that in reference to him force-feeding her fish during the commercial? I can't quite recall...

[sun]

while it was a good ep, not the best, I Robin's Reconing, a lot better, also a number of others, where there is more character insite....The two parter about two face, is special, as is some of the eps that show the Dark side of Bruce Wayne, and his struggle with himself....anyway, that is how I see it...Stuart

[Captain Clown]

What's strange is that I see this episode as being more definitive of the series. Everything about it just screams "classic". Hmmm. You know, in all honesty, if I wasn't in contact with internet fandom, it would never have even dawned on me that Heart of Ice would be considered the best episode of the series. It's very good and all, but it never stood out to me in a superlative way during the original run of the series and going back and watching it again on the DVD it still doesn't.

I think what HOI has going for it is that it sort of sums up a lot of what the series meant for a lot of people, with the tragic sympathetic villain who'd been revamped from being previously lame.

But like I said, there are lots of episodes I prefer - back during the original run I think my favorites were "Joker's Favor" and "Perchance to Dream" and I guess that still more or less stands. (edit: oh, and "Two Face"

[EJill34]

One of my absolute favorite episodes ever. Yes, the animation is pretty weak, but the score is GREAT and the dialogue is as crisp as ever. You really can't go wrong with this episode. I only wish that it could have gotten commentary on the B:TAS Vol. 2 set. I think it deserved it a lot more than "Heart of Steel, Part 2" (even though it was very cool to hear Kevin Altieri doing a commentary).

[Batman Fan]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
And I loved that line from Harley :) Did she say that in reference to him force-feeding her fish during the commercial? I can't quite recall...

She says that when Joker pops the fish mask on her:D

[Harley Quinn]

I love how Arleen delivered the "I got ya covered, see?" line.

[Tom Servo]

OK, finally got to watch this last night, it's been awhile, but I was surprised that there was no title card. I have never read any comment from Timm and Co. about why this episode has no title card, it's simply the title over the start of actual episode, It is quite interesting, really setting a different tone. And there are some really hilarious lines from Joker in this one, esp when he is set on getting that copyright. Shirley Walker's score works wonders, how it is primarily strings & piano, chimes are added later, then brass is allowed back into the mix much later. It also gives such a great unnerving tone to the episode and Joker's antics.

[ShadowStar]

I'm a bit conflicted on what to say about this episode. As a child, it scared me more than any other episode; even now, it's undeniably sick and creepy. But, of course, that's why it's awesome. :D I love "The Man Who Killed Batman" and "Harlequinade" more, though.

Anyway, I have a quick request to make. There are three awesome shots in this episode that should be avatars available to all, but I can only find one of them as a screenshot. Could someone make all of the following into avatars, please?: The shot of Batman inside the Batmobile as he drives to the aquarium; the shot of him as he hovers over the broken window before descending into the place (there's a screenshot of this on the episode page); the shot of him as he stands upright in the darkness before moving around. Those shots are awesome; I'd be really grateful if someone would make them into avatars. :)

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/laughingfish/18.jpg

[Mr. Mxyzptlk]

This is easily one of the series' most definitive episodes, and the ultimate Joker episode. 5/5.

[ShadowStar]

Does anyone think the Joker was serious when he said he was Irish? :D

[Cortez2301]

Does anyone think the Joker was serious when he said he was Irish? :DHe could be Of Irish heritage.Either that or Italian or even both.Who knows?

[dark knight 90]

Does anyone think the Joker was serious when he said he was Irish? :D

Being Irish myself - i dont think thats too far from the truth!!!!

Can't picture Joker with an irish accent though!

'Great scott !' - 'actually i'm irish' :D

[ShadowStar]

I'm part Irish, so I found the Irish gag highly amusing. :D Perhaps Harley's Irish too? :p

[ROBOTRON]

:D - 3 1/2 stars

Classic Joker material. Dangerous but funny. Mark Hamill is amazing as the Joker.

[Toddman]

He could be Of Irish heritage.Either that or Italian or even both.Who knows?


:confused: Why only Irish and/or Italian?




Toddman

[DerekPowers]

Great episode. But for me the definitive Joker episode is "Joker's Favor". Its just so dark, content wise and visually. But this comes in a close second for definitive Joker episode.

My favorite scene is the fight on the rooftop at the end. Beautiful. And the whole plot was really interesting and well thought out. I always loved how sick the Joker is in this episode, and how he takes out his aggression on that meek desk-worker. Funny stuff, and unsettling. There's not much to not like in this episode, its really a great one.

[ShadowStar]

How is it that the Joker theme made it into this episode (near the end) when Bruce Timm asked Shirley Walker to leave it out? :confused:

[Wolf Boy2]

:confused: Why only Irish and/or Italian?
People tend to think white people are homogenous, when in fact we are the ultimate mixed race. I am Irish/Scottish/English/French/Danish (which are all distinct ethnic groups in their own right). However, white people tend to highlight a particular heritage when they exhibit a stereotypical behavior. My mother claims her Irish heritage all the time because she's a hot-tempered redhead, though she is just as much Scottish, English and Danish as she is Irish.


I'm part Irish, so I found the Irish gag highly amusing. :D Perhaps Harley's Irish too?
In one of the comics (I think it was the Christmas issue that "Holiday Knights" was based on) she said she was Jewish. She has also mentioned not being a natural blonde, which backs up the Jewish thing. Plus, she uses Yiddish phrases (though, so does the Joker). But based on the evidence, no, I don't think Harley is Irish.


There's not much to not like in this episode, its really a great one.
What I don't like is how Joker lifts Bullock with the giant fishing pole. Where the hell did he get a giant fishing ploe?! Scenes like that (common in Joker episodes) smack of Dick Sprang and really take me out of the story. This is why none of the BTAS Joker episodes qualify as favorites to me. I find the Joker much darker and more sinister when his schemes are actually doable.

Part of why I liked "Mad Love" is that the pirana (sp?) tank made sense and really would've been a painful, disturbing death. The jet in "World's Finest" worked because it wasn't Joker themed and again, it was realistic and deadly as hell. The Royal Flush gang in JL and the entire scheme in ROTJ were also great Joker moments. I think Joker really improved after TNBA, but BTAS just fumbled the ball with him.

[Tom Servo]

How is it that the Joker theme made it into this episode (near the end) when Bruce Timm asked Shirley Walker to leave it out? :confused:

It could be that it was a version of theme tracked in from a different episode score... Walker and Timm are both on record that the score as composed for this episode did not make use of the Joker theme so I can assume that at some point during editing and post-production someone decided the episode needed and they grabbed a Joker cue from another episode...

[Hanshotfirst113]

There really aren't words for how much I miss Timm's directorial chops in the rest of the DCAU. But we'll always have his B:TAS outings to remember and cherish. There are, admittedly, a few downsides to this episode. The animation is a little bit lacking; Spectrum's layouts are nice, but they would have been so good for this episode. Dong Yang generally acquit themselves pretty well though, and with Spectrum doing the layouts, they really do the absolute best that they can. And the story is also a bit light on characterization.

What does work, however, and brilliantly, is the mood that this episode evokes. Beneath the surface of this episode bubbles a dark malevolence, and the whole thing brims with atmosphere the richest this side of an Alfred Hitchcock movie or a Gothic novel. Shirley Walker's superb music, as important to the world of the show as Mark Snow's X-Files score or John Williams' music to Spielberg's classics, and she's at the top of her considerable game here. Timm's direction evokes classic genre movies at their best, and Dini''s script brims with a deliriously off-kilter sense of dark humor and rich horror. Hamill and Conroy are at the best, and the pastiche of classic Batman storylines gels beautifully. Great stuff, and an great episode to show anyone who wonders just what all of the talk about Batman: The Animated Series is about.

[DisneyBoy]

Um...no offense to Pengy, but this can't be the official talkback thread. I would have commented in it...

Mod Note: Threads merged.

[Hanshotfirst113]

Um...no offense to Pengy, but this can't be the official talkback thread. I would have commented in it...

Can't the two be merged? I was confused as to why there was more than one.

Mod Note: Threads merged.

[Hanshotfirst113]

Mod Note: Threads merged.

Thank you :). There are a couple of episodes with multiple talkbacks, and I wasn't sure which to discuss in :p.

[DisneyBoy]

Ahhhh :) I knew I wasn't crazy!

[Joker1238]

I think the score work well here, mostly the Joker's Psycho them was pretty neat. I just loved that dark tune they had for the Joker, way better than that circus song they use in earlier shows.

Wish they keep it in later showings. I could see that working good in Mad Loved, perhaps Wild Cards??? I could see great work for that.

[DisneyBoy]

Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of the "cartoony" Joker theme...this episode will always be a favourite of mine for making him seem really, really sinister, simply because of the music.

[James Harvey]

With today's release of the Batman: Under the Red Hood animated feature (Feature Talkback (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=271373), DVD Talkback (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showthread.php?t=271374)), there's no better time than now to bump up this discussion. This acclaimed episode is included on the Batman: Under the Red Hood home video release.


http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/laughingfish/00.jpg

Episode #33 - The Laughing Fish
Written by Paul Dini - Directed by Bruce W. Timm

The Joker has developed a chemical which induces "Joker" smiles on fish. He makes a visit to the Gotham copyright offices, demanding a copyright for his Joker fish. When the frightened bureaucrats tell him that such a copyright is impossible, he threatens to kill them one by one until he gets what he wants.

Comments?

[Dinobolt]

Like everyone esle said, it was funny scary, filled with great characterization, etc. Really, I've seen most of the Joker episodes from the first two seasons, and aside from the Last laugh, I'd give them all five stars.

[defunctzombie]

Wasn't The Laughing Fish the only one of the original episodes without a titlecard?

[Yojimbo]

Wasn't The Laughing Fish the only one of the original episodes without a titlecard?"Heart of Ice" and "The Demon's Quest" didn't have title cards as well on B:TAS.

[Santino]

:confused: Why only Irish and/or Italian?




Toddman


Well he apparently worked directly under Valestra when he was a hit-man, which means he could have been Italian. But that doesn't make it for certain.

Another little screw up they made was having Stomwell (who i'd say is English or Swedish) be the uncle of Tony Zucco (who has to be at least half Italian).

[Wolf Boy2]

Well he apparently worked directly under Valestra when he was a hit-man, which means he could have been Italian. But that doesn't make it for certain.

Another little screw up they made was having Stomwell (who i'd say is English or Swedish) be the uncle of Tony Zucco (who has to be at least half Italian).
Not really. It used to be fairly common for Itallians (as well as Jews, Arabs and others) to change their name to a similar but more accepted American name.

For example, let's say there was an imigrant named Carmine Santino in the 19th or early 20th Century. Upon arrival, he might have changed his name to Carson Sanders or something. "Alfredo Santino" could be his brother, making "Carson Sanders" the uncle of Alfredo's son, "Antonio Santino" without it being a contradiction of any sort.

Also, given that Stromwell grew up poor on the streets, it's possible that he changed his name to something generic and American to avoid an "Itallian" stigma, or he didn't know his real name or it was something a shelter assigned to him. Given that he looked Italian (and his brother maintained a Roman Catholic faith), I don't think it's a problem that he was Tony Zucco's uncle.

From a real-world perspective, the producers in the 1990s were probably trying to avoid steretyping Italians as mobsters. Tony Zucco is a traditional name established in 1940 (a more racist era), and can't be changed anymore than Dick Grayson or Bruce Wayne. But for newer, original mobsters they chose generic names. For instance, "Rupert Thorne" was a better choice than "Carmine Falcone" for obvious racial reasons.

[Santino]

Not really. It used to be fairly common for Itallians (as well as Jews, Arabs and others) to change their name to a similar but more accepted American name.

For example, let's say there was an imigrant named Carmine Santino in the 19th or early 20th Century. Upon arrival, he might have changed his name to Carson Sanders or something. "Alfredo Santino" could be his brother, making "Carson Sanders" the uncle of Alfredo's son, "Antonio Santino" without it being a contradiction of any sort.

Also, given that Stromwell grew up poor on the streets, it's possible that he changed his name to something generic and American to avoid an "Itallian" stigma, or he didn't know his real name or it was something a shelter assigned to him. Given that he looked Italian (and his brother maintained a Roman Catholic faith), I don't think it's a problem that he was Tony Zucco's uncle.

From a real-world perspective, the producers in the 1990s were probably trying to avoid steretyping Italians as mobsters. Tony Zucco is a traditional name established in 1940 (a more racist era), and can't be changed anymore than Dick Grayson or Bruce Wayne. But for newer, original mobsters they chose generic names. For instance, "Rupert Thorne" was a better choice than "Carmine Falcone" for obvious racial reasons.

Yeah, good points man.

But back to the Irish Joker thing: He says a few sentences with an Irish accent in "Trial" for no apparent reason other than being wacky when they're about to unmask Batman.