Batman: The Animated Series
Episode 60 & 61
The Demon’s Quest: Part 1 & 2
Robin is kidnapped along with Talhia al Ghul and Ra’s al Ghul shows up in the Batcave revealing he knows Batman’s identity and they go on a little quest all over the world to save their respective children. Plot twist, Ra’s set the entire thing up to test Batman. Batman figures it out and Ra’s offers his kingdom and marriage of his daughter to the Dark Knight. He turns Ra’s down and Ra’s vows they are enemies.
Batman learns that Ra’s is going to destroy most of world and then rule the remaining inhabitants. He vows to stop him with the help of Talhia, Batman infiltrates Ra’s stronghold. An epic battle ensues, Batman stops him. He is presumed dead after the encounter. As Batman leaves the stronghold he gives Talhia an epic kiss, something Catwoman never even got, and they part ways. Plot twist, it is revealed Ra’s lives and will get his revenge.
This is the payoff two-parter to the episode Off Balance where we first encounter Talhia and Ra’s al Ghul. One could argue it’s a mini-story arc. BtAS was never so bold as to do story arcs like its competitors Gargoyles and X-Men but it didn’t ignore it’s prior stories either. The BtAS story telling was consistent but the show was crafted for each episode to stand-alone. Thus a viewer could come in anywhere and know what was happening.
The Ra’s episodes were always designed to be these epic showdowns, very worldly. The show wanted to paint Ra’s as Batman’s greatest rival. That mantle really goes to The Joker but Ra’s certainly upped Batman’s game outside Gotham and the stories did not disappoint.
Written by
Joseph Ammendolea
Owner/President
“I Like To Play With Toys” Productions®
ILikeToPlayWithToysProductions@Yahoo.com
