Clayface turns himself over to the police, promising to give up his criminal past. And when a new Clayface arrives, he sees the perfect opportunity to redeem himself.
Tropes for this episode include:
- Bad "Bad Acting": To say Basil Karlo couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag would be an insult to people who actually can't act their way out of a wet paper bag.
- Bittersweet Ending: Ethan is cured and he might get a second chance at being a police officer, as well as rekindling his friendship with Bruce, but little do they know, Karlo still has his powers and is going to continue being the new Clayface.
- Blatant Lies: Karlo is willing to spin tales about his "tragic" childhood in order to garner more of his new-found attention.
- Bavarian Fire Drill: Before becoming the new Clayface, Karlo went to Wayne Industries and posed as a scientist to get his hands on the chemical that made Ethan become Clayface. Naturally the actual scientists and security guards don’t buy it, especially because of Karlo's bad acting.
- The Bus Came Back: This is the first appearance of Ethan Bennett/Clayface I since "Grundy's Night" all the way back in season two.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Bruce shows Dick a segment of one of Karlo's awful B-movies, Dick decides he would like to watch it.
- The Cuckoolander Was Right: Joker says he thinks the supposedly cured Karlo is "still soft in the head" before dancing off and laughing like crazy. Karlo just chalks it up to him being a jerk and insulting his intelligence. ...Until he's surprised to learn that Joker was right: he still has his Clayface powers.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: No matter how you slice it, Karlo can't seem to get it through his head that it's not how he looks that gets him rejected from auditions, it's simply his bad acting.
- The End... Or Is It?: Ethan is cured but Karlo still retains some of his powers, meaning Clayface II will return.
- Fame Through Infamy: At first Karlo is briefly dismayed to learn that everyone knows he is the new Clayface, but then realizes he is becoming well known and decides to embrace being a supervillain.
- Flock of Wolves: Robin shows up to meet with Batman, only to turn into Karlo and incapacitate the vigilante. Or so he thinks, as Batman turns out to be Ethan, having anticipated the trick.Ethan: My grandma can do a better Robin than you.
- Heel–Face Turn: Ethan finally makes one, even in the prologue where he impersonates Joker's henchmen and simply captures him then turns himself in.
- Large Ham: One of the roots of Karlo's awful acting.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Upon seeing a picture of Basil Karlo, a waitress comments on how ugly he is and then notices he's sitting right next to her.
- Out-of-Character Alert: After Punch and Judy insult his plans in the opening of the episode, Joker notes that they've never talked before. It's because Clayface is impersonating them.
- Perfect Disguise, Terrible Acting: Basil Karlo was always a terrible actor, even before he became the new Clayface. It is a Running Gag throughout the episode has people point out his terrible acting skills, which even blows his cover to Ethan Bennett when he impersonates Robin. The one time he manages to trick someone successfully is when he takes on the appearance of an old lady, but that was only because of his newly gained shapeshifting powers rather than any real acting.
- Power of Trust: Bruce still considers Ethan a friend and is working to cure him, but he's still weary of him after what happened in Season 2. Wanting to help bring in Karlo, Ethan asks for Bruce to put in a good word for him and a little trust, but he's denied (which is why he breaks out instead). Ultimately, Batman has to trust him during the final fight with Karlo, and Ethan makes good on it.
- Suddenly Speaking: Joker's minions, Punch and Judy, have always been silent mooks, but here...Judy: Pardon me, sir, your plan, how does one put it, stinks on ice.
Punch: I must concur, Jude.
Joker: (angrily) Okay, one, you never EVER talk to me like that! And two! (confused) When did you two ever talk at all?
(Punch and Judy smirk as they fuse, revealing to be Clayface) - This Is Gonna Suck: As the mangled bridge creaking:Robin: That doesn't sound good.
- Villains Out Shopping: In the final scene, Joker plays Karlo at chess (with his feet, due to the straitjacket). He wins by checkmate.
- Wham Episode: Ethan is finally cured of being Clayface for good.
