The Batman "The Butler Did It" Talkback (Spoilers)

**The Penguin** · 08-20-2005, 12:41 AM

My apologies for posting this talkback so early! The Batman's Butler gets in a spot of bother...

Episode #20 "The Butler Did It"
Original Airdate - August 20th, 2005

Spellbinder, a three-eyed mystic, with the ability to induce both hypnosis and visions, sets his sights on stealing the valuable Eye of Sarkana – mesmerizing Alfred to be his personal thief.

Comments?

**Stu** · 08-20-2005, 10:01 AM

Nice to see Alfred getting the spotlight here. The second season has been great for The Batman and I expect this to be no different.

**Wanted** · 08-20-2005, 10:19 AM

This is the best character development episode between Alfred and Bruce that I've seen to date. I think Kids' WB! made a good choice holding out these episodes, as they're better than the monotonous Penguin/Joker/Catwoman episodes. Good thing I had faith in this show, and now, I don't regret it.

**creativerealms** · 08-20-2005, 10:38 AM

Ok Alfred has been lacking in this series, though out season one he was begging Bruce to give up being Batman and well did almost nothing in season two. This episode however did a good job with the Alfred and Bruce interaction. That along with Bruce actually using some of that training he went though to become batman actually makes this episode a little better.

3.5/5

**Fone Bone** · 08-20-2005, 11:05 AM

When will this air again? I missed it. I COULD have used a reminder, ya know.

**Batman Fan** · 08-20-2005, 11:24 AM

This is what I've been waiting for, an episode that develops Batman's character, and his supporting cast, which for today, was Alfred, instead of focusing on the villan.

I missed about the first 5 minutes, but I don't think anything ground breaking happened, but this was a really good episode. We finally got to see Batman use some of his training for a good use. This time, instead of relying on his kung-fu matrix style moves, or his nifty bat-gadgets, he had to use his mind to overcome his opponent, the strongest aspect of Batman. This was great, because now we know, he's capable into becoming the Batman we know and he started to show his potential today.

Alfred was also handeled well in this episode. He was clever enough to figure out Spellbinder's plan, which is one of the most well done plots I've seen in The Batman. It was nice to see Spellbinder use Alfred to steal from Bruce Wayne, and hypnotize the billionaires by taking there picture, very clever. While we don't know to much about Spellbinder's background (this might have been explained in the first act) he's still one of the better villans on the Batman, as he has an interesting ability, and is able to perform clever thefts.

The animation was good, nothing that really stood out to me, but it was good. Spellbinder's hallucinations were fun to watch, some of the stuff was really gruesome, but some of the hallucinations I didn't think fit with Batman. They looked more like something off of Jackie Chan Adventures. Also, the dialogue in this episode was pretty tolerable up to the last minute when Bruce and Alfred were making those corny puns by using the word eye

, but I can overlook that as this was indeed on of the best episodes of the first two seasons.

****1/2

**Hades** · 08-20-2005, 12:29 PM

Did this air? I turned on the TV at 10:30 to watch it, but Pokemon was on.

**Gaunt** · 08-20-2005, 12:46 PM

Enjoyable episode. There was several sections that could've been re-edited (like how Alfred figured out how Spellbinder hypnotized him), but altogether enjoyable.

**Azrael24** · 08-20-2005, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hades

Did this air? I turned on the TV at 10:30 to watch it, but Pokemon was on.

10 am? it was supposed to be at 8:30 am, its been that way for like 2 months now.

but anyways, i thought it was kind boring but at the same it was pretty good. it was really weird, specially the music. i didnt like it too much, this is the 2nd worst S2 episode after pets(what a coincidence

, they put that episode b4 this.)

oh, and i give it a ***1/2

**creativerealms** · 08-20-2005, 02:20 PM

Batman fan the only thing that happens in the first five minutes is a dream Alfred has where he steals from bruce and ends up getting punched by Batman.

**Drizzt2218** · 08-20-2005, 03:00 PM

Excellent episode. This is Alexx Van Dyne's first script for the series, but I sure hope it won't be the last. Spellbinder was a great villain (and it was cool to see such a uniquely different take on the villain, who was used most prominently in Batman Beyond, though originated in the comics.) And I really enjoyed seeing Alfred take the spotlight a little in this one, as well as his interaction with Bruce/Batman in general. The animation was gorgeous, with some (as per usual) very good directing from Brandon Vietti, and the music was a little different from what I'm used to on this series. As per someone complaining about the designs looking like "Jackie Chan" in the hallucinations -- Spellbinder is a Chinese mystic, so naturally his hallucinations would have a Chinese influence to them. I give this one a 4/5.

--Larry

**Batman Fan** · 08-20-2005, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by creativerealms
Batman fan the only thing that happens in the first five minutes is a dream Alfred has where he steals from bruce and ends up getting punched by Batman.

Oh, ok, thanks for filling me in.

**Casey Mack** · 08-20-2005, 07:51 PM

good episode but like most of the batman villans their is no backstory.
________
Chevrolet van

**Style** · 08-20-2005, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Casey Mack

good episode but like most of the batman villans their is no backstory.

Actually, I thought they explained the concept of the Spellbinder quite well, and tied it nicely to Bruce's past.

**MacGyver** · 08-20-2005, 09:49 PM

It was good, but I felt Alfred pieced it together a little too quickly. However, I did like the fact that he pieced it together. And the ties to Bruce's past. Plus the nightmare at the end that Batman had was great.

**Bizarro Batman** · 08-20-2005, 11:05 PM

I personally think this is one of the best episodes thus far. Meltdown is still my favorite, but this one isn't too far behind.

**90'sCartoonMan** · 08-21-2005, 12:06 AM

Wow, this episode had me spellbound! Well, not exactly, I just like using that word. Although then "I Can Dream About You" gets stuck in my head.

This was a solid episode, though. I liked Alfred's characterization, and the whole episode had a trippy feeling to it. Plus it left you guessing. Too bad I was half asleep, I can't say much more about it...other than I like the use of obscure (to me anyway) Batman villains.

**Stu** · 08-21-2005, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Toonmaster

This is the best character development episode between Alfred and Bruce that I've seen to date.

I agree. I think Alfred to be give or take in The Batman, but I really enjoyed his interaction with Bruce in this episode. I loved seeing Bruce's past here. I don't know if they're not allowed to show it because of the embargo, but I'd love to see some more of Bruce's pre-Batmandays.

I enjoyed Spellbinder's appearance here. I'd like to see a follow up to this episode, I think it'd be great fun to see him again.

***