B:TAS "Heart of Ice" Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

Winner of The World's Finest "Best B:TAS Episode Poll" (website), discuss this classic Batman: The Animated Series episode!

Episode #014 - Heart of Ice
Original Airdate - September 7th, 1992.

Mr. Freeze, thirsting for revenge against the sleazy CEO who destroyed his life, begins to steal various equipment from GothCorp. Batman's sympathy is with Freeze, but first he has to stop him from using the equipment to destroy a building filled with innocent people in order to carry out his vendetta.

Comments?

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Truly a classic deserves to be on the top ten

[MILatino]

Originally posted by The Penguin
Tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT Cartoon Network airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, Heart of Ice. It is # 2 on Bruce Timm's Top 10.

Excellent. Five stars. Plot, acting, action, emotional.

Only one nitpick...

Spoiler:

Where the heck did that jar of chicken soup come from when we saw the utility belt laying flat on the console just moments before?!

[TheScarecrow]

This was a classic!!!!

This episode completely made Mr. Freeze into a major league character thanks to Dini giving the character the depth that he was never given before (and he didn't keep saying WILD! after every sentince unlike that one clown from the 60's show, which was a plus).

Bruce Timm's directing is great as well.

Mark Hamill is great as The Joker, and is underrated as the lying corrupt CEO that caused Freeze's condiction. That scene with Bruce at his office really made you hate the guy, and made you actually root for Freeze to off him. He is the real villain of the episode, and Hamill's preformance really made him so.

A few flaws prevent me from going a full ***** on this one, but ****1/2 is near perfect, and the impact that this episode had on the Mr. Freeze character and the rest of the series shouldn't be denied.

[Anubis C. Soundwave]

Drat and doubledrat. I missed this episode.

Grr. I didn't TAPE this episode. (unless it somehow aired at 2:30A during an earlier Toonami RS after ASA...hope against hope.)

GRR.

[The Penguin]

"I failed you. I wish there were another way for me to say it. I cannot. I can only beg your forgiveness and pray you hear me somehow, someplace... Someplace where a warm hand waits for mine." - Mr. Freeze, Heart of Ice

This is a classic example of an episode that makes you wish more than 5 stars were possible.

Mr. Freeze is just a great tragic villain. He's the "bad guy" but he doesn't seem all that bad, he just wants revenge and has become somewhat consumed by it. This can be seem clearly when he brushes off his frozen henchman—"He should have been more careful." That is one of the best displays of Freeze not having "tears left to shed."

In contrast Batman feels obligated the help the man, even though it means losing Freeze. Alfred was right when he pointed that Jonnie would not have done the same.

I like how this episode tends to leave you guessing at first. You start with the man in darkness talking to a woman in a snowglobe and you just go from there. It isn't until much later you really found out who he is and what he wants.

The ending is just really powerful with Victor giving the speech to Nora in the globe. It's touching and shows more than any other part of the episode the real pain he is in over lost love.

[BeastBoyWonder]

This episode is another GREAT one, like almost all of them on the top tens. Very moving, it made me feel for Fries and basically defined his character for me.

[BrendaBat]

One of my all time faves!! ! I believe that Mr.Freeze represents what Bruce could have become if losing his parents had pushed him onto the wrong side of the law.

[murmur]

I feel your pain Anubis, I missed it too. I am a very harsh grader, but I could not deny this episode its 5 stars. It is the best example of what BTAS can do and very much deserves its Emmy. All the above comments are spot on...I don't have much more to add.

[Meow]

*sigh* I hear ya Anubis and murmur. I missed it too. I remember that it was a great episode, but I haven't seen it in such a long time I don't think I should vote.

I know for a FACT that this episode's in the 4 to 5 star rating. Probably 5, but like I said...haven't seen it in a while, so I don't feel right rating it as a 5.

[James Harvey]

As everyone knows, this is my favorite episode. Even though there are a flaw or two here and there, I still gave it a perfect 5. I don't care if the bat-symbol is inverted for a moment, or the animation isn't 100% perfect. To me - this is what made everyone stand up and notice Batman: TAS. Simply the best this show has to offer.

[Caped Crusader]

Originally posted by TheScarecrow
A few flaws prevent me from going a few ***** on this one, but ****1/2 is near perfect, and the impact that this episode had on the Mr. Freeze character and the rest of the series shouldn't be denied.

I gave this episode ****1/2 as well. I think it's an excellent episode, but the flaws--like the colors on Batman's bat-symbol getting mixed up and Batman taking the chicken soup and the video out of his belt, after we clearly see it lying down flat--keep me from giving it a perfect 5.


BTW, I've posted the creators' comments for the people who weren't able to catch this episode:

Title: HEART OF ICE

Rank: Number 2

Here, the creators took a minor player from the Batman mythology and crafted him into one of the most arresting and successful characters of the series. In Mr. Freeze they created a genuinely tragic and sympathetic villain.

Series Producers: Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm

[James Harvey]

This episode reruns tonight on YTV so I thought I'd just bump this up again. Once again. my absolute favorite episode. Everything the series wanted to accomplish (great story, great characters, great animation) is all accomplished in this episode. I know there is a part or two where the animation jumps or the (*sigh*) symbol is inverted but it doesn't matter - this episode is virtually flawless.

[DKstormyknight]

HEART OF ICE was the first time I had ever seen Mr. Freeze, and ever since then I have liked him. It was a great episode!!

[Jason Hall]

5 Stars for sure from me!

And anyone who's also a big fan of this episode should definitely check out my story in Batman: Gotham Adventures #51. If you haven't read it yet, go pick up a copy -- I really think you'll enjoy it!

Thanks!

-- Jason H.
--------------------------------------------
Upcoming Writing Projects Include:
Batman: Gotham Adventures #51 (on sale now! )
Star Wars Tales #13 ("Children of the Force")
Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings TP
- (featuring the story "Pistolwhip Presents: January")
Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace GN
----------------
Visit the Pistolwhip Comics Electronic Headquarters!
http://www.pistolwhipcomics.com

[BeastBoyWonder]

ey yo listen to this man he knows what he's talkin about...both "Heart of Ice" and Gotham Adventures 51 are off the hook.

[Jason Hall]

Originally posted by ragingdrummerboy
ey yo listen to this man he knows what he's talkin about...both "Heart of Ice" and Gotham Adventures 51 are off the hook.

Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed B:GA #51!

-- Jason H.
--------------------------------------------
Upcoming Writing Projects Include:
Batman: Gotham Adventures #51 (on sale now! )
Star Wars Tales #13 ("Children of the Force")
Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings TP
- (featuring the story "Pistolwhip Presents: January")
Pistolwhip: The Yellow Menace GN
----------------
Visit the Pistolwhip Comics Electronic Headquarters!
http://www.pistolwhipcomics.com

[Squall]

Like most other Dini/Timm fans, I love this episode, and like everyone else has already said, I think this is some of the best that B:TAS has to offer!

I only have a couple of minor complaints though:

Why didn't Mr. Freeze just completely incase Batman in ice and let him freeze to death? Also, once he had Batman at his mercy, hanging upside down with his legs buried in ice, why didn't he quickly unmask him?

As for the chicken soup issue... I always thought that Batman kept the chicken soup in a 'pocket' in his costume, not on the belt.

[Spider-Man]

Such a great episode. I can easily overlook some of the small animation mistakes to see the true gem - a flawless script. I don't see a single thing wrong with the story and it show sin the final product. I've recently had the chance to view 'Sub-Zero' for the first time and absolutely fell in love with the Freeze chatacter - a great, flawed character who you can't help but root for sometimes. I bet some of us were rooting for Freeze to get his final revenge on Boyle, I know I was. A friend was able to lend me all the Freeze related comics and issues (even B:GA #51, Jason!) and I was just floored with the character. I consider myself a Batman fan, but this character just does it for me, and this episode more than proves that. While he's not Batman's ultimate villian, he is certainly one of the coolest (pun ).

I agree. While Heart of Ice may not have been perfect by any means, we did get to see a bit more of what makes Freeze ticks - especially his driven obsession with his wife. I would've been nice, though, if we saw some quiet scenes with Freeze and his wife before the accident.