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Recap / Batman: The Animated Series E61 "The Demon's Quest: Part 2"

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In the second part of the Demon's Quest, Batman uncovers the rest of Ra's al Ghul's master plan. Can he stop the immortal extremist from following through on his mad agenda?


Tropes in this episode include:

  • Batman Grabs a Gun: Batman Grabs a Sword: With Ra's planning to wipe out a massive chunk of the human population all across Earth, Batman's willing to use a weapon with a lethal edge. Downplayed, however, since it seems that Batman's more intent on disarming Ra's than killing him, and ultimately decides to use his sword to destroy his Doomsday Device.
  • The Big Damn Kiss: Batman and Talia al Ghul share one of these before going their separate ways.
  • Chekhov's Gun: At the beginning of the episode, Ubu warns Batman that the chemicals of a Lazarus pit can heal the dying, but will prove fatal to a healthy person. Later, it turns out that Ra's' master plan is to flood the Earth with chemicals from the Lazarus pits, killing billions and "healing" the "sick planet."
  • Deadly Dodging: Batman is so capable at dodging that Ra's ends up tripping over his own feet and falling into his Lazarus Pit.
  • Disturbing Statistic: When Batman cries out that countless lives will be lost to the Society’s plan, Ra’s informs him they have counted. Two billion, fifty-six million, nine hundred and eighty-six thousand, a number of deaths that shocks Batman and Talia. Batman calls Ra's out of his mind for his callousness.
  • Face Death with Dignity: "Victory is yours, Detective. Perhaps it is time I am finally one with the planet I so love." Except he doesn't die.
  • Foot Focus: Of Talia's barefeet as the door closes on Batman and Robin.
  • Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: Ra's al Ghul has gone temporarily insane from the Lazarus Pit and tries to kill his beautiful daughter. After Batman rescues her once, she says she can handle it and just slaps her dad upside the head. It works.
  • Graceful Loser: After tumbling over the ledge of his own Lazarus pit, Ra's holds on just long enough to compliment Batman on his victory, then lets himself fall.
  • He Knows Too Much: Ra's leaves Batman and Robin in the exploding lair for this reason.
  • A Million Is a Statistic: Averted. The Society of Shadows counted how many people would die from their plan if it succeeded.
  • Mugged for Disguise: Batman takes out the last in a line of al Ghul's guards riding through the desert, swipes his clothes and face wrap, and leaps onto his camel before any of the other guards notice anything.
  • Neutral Female: Considering that her father and Batman are dueling for the fate of the world, you'd expect Talia to do something more than just watch. Of course, her conflicting loyalties might have had something to do with it. Or, she might not want to disturb them when they're sword-fighting on a narrow ledge over a chemical hell; distracting them just then could quite probably mean either or both of them losing their footing.
  • Rage Breaking Point: Downplayed, but by the time Ubu attacks Batman in the climax, Bats is real sick of being called an infidel. Cue Curb-Stomp Battle.
  • Raised Hand of Survival: The final shot of the episode is Ra's reaching his hand out onto the lip of the Lazarus Pit and cackling insanely.
  • Sequel Hook: Ra's falls into the Lazarus Pit and is presumed dead, but the final shot shows a hand rising up out of the pit while his maniacal laughter is heard.
  • Shirtless Captives: Batman is stripped of his shirt by Ra's al Ghul's henchmen and put in chains in the dungeons after his capture attempting to sneak into the Lazarus Pit compound. Ra's orders his men to let him keep the cowl as a sign of respect.
  • Sleight of Tongue: Just as Batman is about to be locked away, Talia gives him an insistent farewell kiss, slipping a lock pick into his mouth as she does, which he uses to free himself.
  • Sword Fight: Batman and Ra's al-Ghul have one at the climax.
  • Take My Hand!: Batman tries to invoke this when reaching for Ra's after their fight. For a moment, Ra's seems to consider it, but decides it would be better to die on his own terms.
  • Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Batman is dueling with Ra's al Ghul, and decides that the best use for his sword would be to throw it at Ghul's Doomsday Device which is seconds from killing off half the planet. He grips it by the blade and throws it overhand like a spear, and it flies true.
  • Underestimating Badassery: Not Ra's himself, but the two mooks he assigns to stand guard over Batman. Stripped of his utility belt as he is, the guards think it's overkill to have two men watching the Bat. Three guesses how that turns out for them.
  • Villain Respect: Upon seeing that Batman has tracked him to his remote outpost and infiltrated it, Ra's can only say, "My admiration for you was well-founded, Detective."
  • Villainous Valor: When Ra's challenges Batman to a sword fight, he demands: "Are you man enough to face your better?"—and is immensely pleased that Batman is just that.
  • With Us or Against Us: Ra's repeats his ultimatum. Since Batman rejected Ra's's offer, he must die.
  • You're Insane!: Ra's al Ghul lets Batman in on his master plan which will result in the deaths of billions, leading to the following exchange:
    Ra's: A most impressive plan, wouldn't you agree?
    Batman: Yes... I can see it clearly now for the first time. [Dramatic Pause, giving Ra's the impression he's succeeding in recruiting Batman as his successor] You are completely out of your mind.
  • You're Nothing Without Your Phlebotinum: Batman is captured by Ra's al-Ghul and his henchmen, and is stripped of his utility belt (and, oddly enough, his shirt), two henchmen are assigned to lead him off to a cell, one commenting, "Not so tough without your precious belt." Both henchman are rendered unconscious by Batman roughly 30 seconds later, as the hero escapes and goes on to thwart Ra's scheme perfectly competently, even sans utility belt (but with help from Talia).

 
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Talia slaps her father

Ra's al Ghul has gone temporarily insane from the Lazarus Pit and tries to kill his beautiful daughter. After Batman rescues her once, she says she can handle it and just slaps her dad upside the head. It works.

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Main / GetAHoldOfYourselfMan

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