Customer Reviews

Batman Beyond Season 3

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The third, and last, season of Batman Beyond was a big step above the decline in quality that was found in the sub-par second season of the animated series, and thank God (or Paul Dini and Bruce Timm) for that. As the third season begins, Terry McGinnis (voiced by Will Friedle) has his hands full as the Batman of the future as old villains Ink, Zeta, and the Royal Flush Gang return. It gets better though, as Talia Al Ghul, the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul, returns and makes a stunning offer to the aging Bruce Wayne, with huge results and an even bigger twist. This episode is worth picking this DVD collection up for alone as we get to see Bruce and Terry side by side fighting. It gets better with the two-parter "The Call", as Terry gets the call of a lifetime from Superman (given a great new futuristic look) to join the Justice League in an effort to uncover a traitor, with even more shocking results! Batman also takes on Big Time, a former friend from Terry's past, and then goes toe to toe with KOBRA. Sadly though, the series comes to an end with these episodes, but there would be more Batman Beyond. The Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (the director's cut that is) was an excellent film which saw the return of Batman's greatest enemy, and as a previous reviewer already mentioned, we would see an older Terry in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue" in which Terry learns a shocking secret about his real origins (and yes, it would have been oh so nice if that episode was included in this et, because that is the true end of the series). That aside, the third season of Batman Beyond is a fantastic pick up for fans of the series or Batman in general, and if you've never seen "Epilogue", you should pick up the first season of Justice League Unlimited for that alone.

If you are a fan of these cartoons, and if you already own "Batman Beyond: Season One" and "Batman Beyond: Season Two," then you really should not think twice about purchasing the final volume in the BATMAN BEYOND series because it concludes an excellent television show, and it has thirteen absolutely magnificent episodes. Here is the episode list, with a very small description of each episode, so not a lot of the plot will be ruined:

1) King's Ransom -- The Royal Flush Gang returns.

2) Untouchable -- Batman must face a new villain, The Repellar.

3) Inqueling -- Ink returns, and so does her daughter!

4) Big Time -- Big Time, a friend from Terry's past returns.

5) Out of the Past -- Talia Al Ghul, Ra's Al Ghul's daughter and Bruce Wayne's past love from "Batman: The Animated Series," visits Bruce on his birthday.

6) Speak No Evil -- Batman helps a genically enhaced gorilla find his mother's killer.

7) The Call: Part I -- Superman asks Batman to join the Justice League Unlimited.

8) The Call: Part II -- Batman must comfront a traitor in the Justice League Unlimited!

9) Betrayal -- Big Time returns once again and causes problems for Batman.

10) The Curse of the Kobra: Part I -- KOBRA kidnaps Max Gibson, Terry's friend, and plans to release a bomb.

11) The Curse of the Kobra: Part II -- The second part of "The Curse of the Kobra: Part I."

12) Countdown -- Zeta, the robot from Season Two, returns to Gotham City to find his creator...but something goes wrong!

13) Unmasked -- A flashback of how Terry was once unmaked.

SPECIAL FEATURES might be another "Panel" and probably Commenteries and trailers.

I myself have not seen all of these episodes, but I can for sure tell you that they are great! I hope you buy this to add yet another excellent volume to your Timm/Dinin DVD collection!!! You will not regret it. ^_^

In the third (and unfortunately final) season of Batman Beyond, the show's creators settle into a rhythm that's really reminiscent of their finer moments in the much heralded Batman: The Animated Series. Having followed the series from its debut episode right up until the final, I can state that the entire third season manages to feel very natural in terms of character interaction and setting mood. While not as unpredictable as the first season, the third was wise to put Maxine Gibson (from season 2) on the backburner. Terry is much more able to explore his own thoughts and feelings as the new Batman with Bruce to back him up when the going gets rough. Note: Max is still present in many episodes, but her role is a bit more subtle.

Unlike Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond doesn't run quite a tight rouge's gallery. There are some reoccurring villains (such as Inque, Blight, The Jokerz, etc.) but nothing like the staples found in the original Batman story-lines. The show's creators claim that while there never an official "canceling" of Batman Beyond, they were all approached with assignments that caused them to drift apart which explains why the final episode could be viewed as fairly anticlimactic. Fortunately, as a result, greats like Justice League and Unlimited would be born. Batman Beyond is a program that still holds up beautifully and brings an interesting take on an already wonderful franchise. My only complaint about the series is that it had to come to an end.

Episode Guide:

1) King's Ransom

2) Untouchable

3) Inqueling

4) Big Time

5) Out of the Past

6) Speak No Evil

7) The Call: Part I

8) The Call: Part II

9) Betrayal

10) The Curse of the Kobra: Part I

11) The Curse of the Kobra: Part II

12) Countdown

13) Unmasked

Having pre-ordered this I had incredible expectations for this that were met incredibly well. This was my favorite show when it was on the WB and it is still alive and well in this box set. The commentaries, like most in the DC comics classics collection, were well done and not even close to underwhelming. For fans of the series, and anyone who cares about the DC Comics classics this is a must buy.

The last thirteen episodes of batman beyond are some of the best. Revalations about terry's past make sure the series continues to evolve. The episode "out of the past" is my personal favorite. Bruce Wayne, now aged and bitter is given the chance to be young again by a former love but is everthing it seems? Of course not. The action is well balenced with plot and substance throught the season. The two part episode focused on Kobra is very good, with spectaular voice acting talent from Alexis Denishof. (interestingly many buffy the vampire slayer and angel cast members contribute their voices throught the Timmverse series, look out for them). The future justice league also make an appearence, complete with a superman whose kryptonian DNA has kept him relativly youthful over the forty years since the end of the modern DCAU, a nice touch by the creators i thought. The only gripe i have is that "unmasked" is not really a fitting ending to the series, working as a standalone episode. Fortunatly the final episode in season one of "justice league unlimited" "epilouge" ties up batman beyonds loose ends. i find the balance of darkness and humour refreshing all the way though the season and the homages to the original series are loving. Many people overlook Batman Beyond but i strongly recommend that if you are a fan of Batman the animated series, you see how the next generation pans out

Batman Beyond is a great spin-off of the Batman series. It was very stylistic and had hip techno music. I wish it would have continued a few more seasons, but alas, it lasted only three wonderful seasons. If you are like me, you must have bought all 3 Batman Beyond seasons, the Batman Animates series, Superman Animated series and all of the Justice League Animated series. These are wonderful collections fro all ages. I was initially disappointed when season 3 ended with no conclusions to the series. But if you have the Justice League Unlimited series one, it wraps up the Batman Beyond series nicely with "Epilogue" episode. We learn the shocking truth as to why Terry became the next Batman in project Batman Beyond, his love hate relationship with Bruce Wayne and finally, whatever did happen with him and Dana, his main squeeze. It is by far, my favorite Batman Beyond episode, and you'll see why when you see it. Too bad it wasn't included in this collection, but it's no biggie since I have all the animated series.

I will be honest I saw Epilogue from justice league unlimited season 1. I was expecting the new Batman season 3 to have the bigger badder Terry in it but, but was a little disappointed to find to find Terry making the same old mistakes he made in seasons 1 and 2. Having said that is you rate this serise on it's own merits the season is actually quite good. Especially the out the past episodes where Bruce is young again, also the curse of cobra where Bruce sends Terry to brush on his martial arts, even the call with the JLA of tomorrow and Superman were excellent. The only Problem I have with the series is that there does not seem to be any development with Terry as he still makes the same mistake that he always did. Even the problem with Dania was never sorted out.

I missed the majority of this show when it first aired. So I have been waiting for the series to be released to DVD, and so far I have not been dissapointed. Batman Beyond was a great show!

But I am dissapointed that Warner Bros. is not including the Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue" which is seen by many as Batman Beyond's true finale. FOX did this with both of its X-Files spin-offs The Lone Gunmen, and Millennium in which an alternate finale was filmed within the X-files series and was included in the boxed sets.

Other than that oversight by Warner Bros. I'm excited to finally have all of Batman Beyond to add to my DVD collection!

See Ras Al Gul's daughter Talia back for the first time since Superman/Batman adventures in 1998. I won't explain how.

Also see the first TV appearance of futuristic Justice League Unlimited, paving the way for their own show.

Batman Beyond is a terrific spin-off from the Batman series of the 1990s (much better than the series which it in turn spun off: Zeta Project." (You will see Zeta back one more time in this season though).

Kevin Conroy is now voicing an elderly Bruce Wayne who continues to instruct and train his replacement Terry McGinnis.

The character development between old Bruce, Terry and former Batgirl Commissioner Barbara Gordon is excellent throughout all three seasons.

Since my local cable TV in Aust did not show season 3, I was particularly glad to see this released on DVD. I'd been waiting for years.

Snatch it up and indulge yourself,

Peter

BB ended its all-too-brief run with these final 13 episodes. It's an uneven mix, but the best of the lot (Out Of The Past, The Call: Part I) stack up against the best of the run. The extras, a panel discussion and season overview are short but interesting.