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			{{Infobox television episode
	#REDIRECT ]
			\| series = ]
			\| image = Batman-animated-robins-reckoning.jpg
			\| image_size = 250
			\| caption = The title card from "Robin's Reckoning" Part 1
			\| season = 1
			\| episode = 51 and 52
			\| director = ]
			\| writer = Randy Rogel
			\| airdate = February 7 and 14, 1993
			\| guests = * ] as ]
			* ] as Arnold Stromwell
			\| prev = The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy
			\| next = The Laughing Fish
			\| episode_list = List of Batman: The Animated Series episodes
			}}

			"'''Robin's Reckoning'''" is a two-part episode of '']''. The episodes originally aired on February 7 and 14, 1993, and were written by Randy Rogel and directed by ].<ref>{{cite web\| url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519616/ \|title= Robin's Reckoning \|website= Internet Movie Database\|date= 7 February 1993 \| access-date= 21 January 2012}}</ref> It earned the series a ] for ] and is considered one of the best episodes of the series. The second part aired a week later.

			The story is based on the origin of ] (]) from '']'' #38 (April 1940), which it shows through flashbacks, intercutting an unfolding mystery in the present with the more significant moments of Robin's life. It touches on Robin uncovering who killed his family and how he first met and joined forces with ]. Meanwhile, with Batman leaving Robin out of his investigation of Tony Zucco it also shows the beginning of how Batman and Robin are slowly growing apart as the latter gets older, which eventually culminates in a falling-out where Dick abandons his role as Robin as depicted in '']'' episode "]".

			==Plot==
			===Part 1===
			During a stake-out at a construction site, Batman and Robin catch a gang of mobsters trying to sabotage it, as the wealthy architect refused to be ] by them. While all but one of the mobsters escapes, Batman catches the straggler and demands the name of his boss. The criminal refuses to speak to him or the police, but when Batman shows he's not joking, the criminal blurts out the name "Billy Marin", a name that seems to disturb Batman. When they return home, Robin is left wondering who Marin really is, but Batman insists that Robin stay out of this one: he works alone for the time being. Following Batman's departure, Robin and ] use the ]'s criminal database to determine the real identity of the crime boss. Robin discovers that Marin is really an alias for ], someone he crossed paths with nine years ago in an event which changed his life.

			As a young child, Dick Grayson was in a popular circus acrobat trio with his parents, "The Flying Graysons". While performing at a Wayne charity convention in ], Dick overhears Zucco threaten the ringmaster, Mr. Haley, telling him that if he doesn't pay money for "]", accidents will happen. Haley, who takes pride in running an honest business, violently refuses, and in response, Zucco partially saws through a trapeze rope to be used in the Graysons' act. Later, the rope snaps and the Graysons plummet to their deaths. Bruce Wayne, who is in the audience, takes pity on Dick and adopts him. As Batman, he becomes obsessed with finding Zucco, to the point that he is rarely home, leaving Dick mostly alone.

			Batman tracks down Zucco at his uncle Arnold Stromwell's mansion, where he overhears Stromwell angrily disowning Zucco and kicked out of the family for bringing Batman down on their heads. Suddenly, Stromwell's guards are alerted to Batman on the property. After fleeing from Batman, Zucco slips out of Gotham, leaving Batman frustrated for not catching him. As Batman returns to the Batcave, Alfred reminds him that Dick is feeling unloved and scared, which prompts Bruce to realize he must spend more time with him. He tries to comfort the boy, but Dick breaks down in tears and says that he feels responsible for his parents' death. Bruce says that he felt the same way when his own parents were murdered, but assures Dick that the pain will ease in time, and hugs him for the first time.

			After discovering the crook's identity and reliving the tragedy, Robin realizes that Batman left him out of this to keep him out of the way. Robin begs Batman to let him help, but Batman refuses. Vowing revenge, Robin deliberately disobeys Batman's orders and leaves on his motorbike to find Zucco.

			===Part 2===
			Batman tracks Tony Zucco while, secretly, Robin seeks to find Zucco to avenge his parents' death. As the investigation narrows to an abandoned amusement park, a series of flashbacks finish Robin's origin story.

			After Zucco's escape from Stromwell, Bruce and Dick grow closer, engaging in a playful fencing match. Alfred then tells Bruce that Jim Gordon is convinced that Zucco might soon try to flee from Gotham, prompting Dick to take matters into his own hands. After running away from ], he unsuccessfully tries to track Zucco. While searching a run-down section of Gotham and avoiding Batman, who, unbeknownst to Dick, is also searching for Zucco, Dick rescues a woman threatened by a large man, knocking him unconscious. The woman treats Dick to dinner in a local diner where a waitress identifies Zucco from a photo. She informs Dick that Zucco is squatting in the condemned building across the street. Dick and Batman find Zucco at roughly the same time, but Dick attacks Zucco, who throws him over a spillway. Batman rescues Dick before he can go over a waterfall, but Zucco uses the distraction to escape. Batman brings Dick back to the ], revealing his ]. He then suggests that Dick's "temporary" stay become indefinite, which Dick accepts.

			As the flashback ends, Robin continues his search on his motorcycle. He uses a phone tracer to obtain Zucco's address; in a fit of paranoia, Zucco fires a ] repeatedly into the ceiling, worried about a noise. An injured Batman falls through the weakened ceiling. Using a smoke bomb as a diversion, he limps from the room. Hiding in the amusement park, he hardly has time to treat his wounds before being attacked by Zucco's henchmen. Though limping, he picks off the thugs one-by-one through stealth, fighting several on the carousel. After the brawl, however, Zucco has the advantage over Batman and prepares to shoot him. At the last moment, Robin crashes through the fence while riding his motorcycle, drives straight at Zucco and, grabbing him by the collar, drags him to the end of a pier. He holds Zucco over the edge, determined to kill him. Batman arrives and desperately implores Robin not to let his emotions control him, but Robin lashes out at his mentor, exclaiming that he cannot know how he feels. When Batman remains silent, Robin suddenly remembers that Batman is actually the one person he knows who ''would'' know. Abashed, Robin apologizes and relents, handing Zucco to the police.

			As Zucco is hauled away, Robin tells Batman that Batman was right to leave him out of the investigation, as his emotions made him unstable. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Batman explains that he distanced Robin from the investigation because he feared his partner would be killed. The two crimefighters reconcile and leave the pier.

			== Cast ==
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|-
			! Actor !! Role
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| ]
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| ]
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| ]
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| ]
			\|-
			\| Joey Simmrin \|\| Young Dick Grayson
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| ]
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Arnold Stromwell
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Ferris Dolan
			\|-
			\| Rebecca Gilchrist \|\| Chi-Chi
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Berty
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Lennie
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Bus Driver
			\|-
			\| ]\|\| Additional voices
			\|-
			\| ]
			\| Additional voices
			\|-
			\| ]
			\| Additional voices
			\|}

			==Reception==
			"Robin's Reckoning" has received a great deal of praise from both critics and fans of ''Batman: The Animated Series'', often cited among the show's best episodes.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://ew.com/tv/batman-animated-series-episodes-ranked/#16-robins-reckoning-season-2-episodes-4-and-5\|website=]\|date=September 7, 2017\|title=Batman: The Animated Series: 25 Best Episodes Ranked\|access-date=May 24, 2018}}</ref> '']'' state that the episode's direction "handles energetic action sequences and heavy emotional moments with equal aplomb", and that the script has "philosophical and psychological depth".<ref>{{cite news\| url= https://www.avclub.com/batman-the-animated-series-robins-reckoning-parts-1-1798168201 \|title= Batman: The Animated Series: 'Robin's Reckoning, Parts 1 And 2' \| first= Oliver \|last=Sava\| date= 9 May 2011\| website=The AV Club \|access-date= 21 January 2012}}</ref> Batman On Film states that "there's little debate about 'Robin's Reckoning' being two of the best episodes in the entire run of ", praising the emotional depth and power of the events depicted.<ref>{{cite web\| url= http://www.batman-on-film.com/BTAS_episode-reviews_Robins-Reckoning_SGerber_4-11-11.html \|title= B:TAS Episode #32 & 37\| first= Sean \| last= Gerber \| date= 12 April 2011 \|website= Batman On Film\| access-date= 21 January 2012}}</ref> IGN ranked it 3rd in their top 10 best episodes of B:TAS.<ref>Archived at {{cbignore}} and the {{cbignore}}: {{cite web\| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZn3NjKGWnw\| title = Top 10 Batman: The Animated Series Episodes \| website=]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

			==References==
			{{reflist}}

			==External links==
			* {{IMDb episode\|0519616}}
			* {{IMDb episode\|0519617}}

			{{Robin}}
			{{DC Animated Universe}}
			{{EmmyAward AnimationLessThanHour}}

			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 21:42, 13 November 2024

51st and 52nd episodes of the 1st season of Batman: The Animated Series

"Robin's Reckoning"

Batman: The Animated Series episodes

The title card from "Robin's Reckoning" Part 1

Episode nos.

Season 1
Episodes 51 and 52

Directed by

Dick Sebast

Written by

Randy Rogel

Original air dates

February 7 and 14, 1993

Guest appearances

Thomas F. Wilson as Tony Zucco
Eugene Roche as Arnold Stromwell

Episode chronology

← Previous
"The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy"

Next →
"The Laughing Fish"

List of episodes

"Robin's Reckoning" is a two-part episode of Batman: The Animated Series. The episodes originally aired on February 7 and 14, 1993, and were written by Randy Rogel and directed by Dick Sebast. It earned the series a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) and is considered one of the best episodes of the series. The second part aired a week later.

The story is based on the origin of Robin (Dick Grayson) from Detective Comics #38 (April 1940), which it shows through flashbacks, intercutting an unfolding mystery in the present with the more significant moments of Robin's life. It touches on Robin uncovering who killed his family and how he first met and joined forces with Batman. Meanwhile, with Batman leaving Robin out of his investigation of Tony Zucco it also shows the beginning of how Batman and Robin are slowly growing apart as the latter gets older, which eventually culminates in a falling-out where Dick abandons his role as Robin as depicted in The New Batman Adventures episode "Old Wounds".

Plot

Part 1

During a stake-out at a construction site, Batman and Robin catch a gang of mobsters trying to sabotage it, as the wealthy architect refused to be extorted by them. While all but one of the mobsters escapes, Batman catches the straggler and demands the name of his boss. The criminal refuses to speak to him or the police, but when Batman shows he's not joking, the criminal blurts out the name "Billy Marin", a name that seems to disturb Batman. When they return home, Robin is left wondering who Marin really is, but Batman insists that Robin stay out of this one: he works alone for the time being. Following Batman's departure, Robin and Alfred Pennyworth use the Batcave's criminal database to determine the real identity of the crime boss. Robin discovers that Marin is really an alias for Tony Zucco, someone he crossed paths with nine years ago in an event which changed his life.

As a young child, Dick Grayson was in a popular circus acrobat trio with his parents, "The Flying Graysons". While performing at a Wayne charity convention in Gotham City, Dick overhears Zucco threaten the ringmaster, Mr. Haley, telling him that if he doesn't pay money for "protection", accidents will happen. Haley, who takes pride in running an honest business, violently refuses, and in response, Zucco partially saws through a trapeze rope to be used in the Graysons' act. Later, the rope snaps and the Graysons plummet to their deaths. Bruce Wayne, who is in the audience, takes pity on Dick and adopts him. As Batman, he becomes obsessed with finding Zucco, to the point that he is rarely home, leaving Dick mostly alone.

Batman tracks down Zucco at his uncle Arnold Stromwell's mansion, where he overhears Stromwell angrily disowning Zucco and kicked out of the family for bringing Batman down on their heads. Suddenly, Stromwell's guards are alerted to Batman on the property. After fleeing from Batman, Zucco slips out of Gotham, leaving Batman frustrated for not catching him. As Batman returns to the Batcave, Alfred reminds him that Dick is feeling unloved and scared, which prompts Bruce to realize he must spend more time with him. He tries to comfort the boy, but Dick breaks down in tears and says that he feels responsible for his parents' death. Bruce says that he felt the same way when his own parents were murdered, but assures Dick that the pain will ease in time, and hugs him for the first time.

After discovering the crook's identity and reliving the tragedy, Robin realizes that Batman left him out of this to keep him out of the way. Robin begs Batman to let him help, but Batman refuses. Vowing revenge, Robin deliberately disobeys Batman's orders and leaves on his motorbike to find Zucco.

Part 2

Batman tracks Tony Zucco while, secretly, Robin seeks to find Zucco to avenge his parents' death. As the investigation narrows to an abandoned amusement park, a series of flashbacks finish Robin's origin story.

After Zucco's escape from Stromwell, Bruce and Dick grow closer, engaging in a playful fencing match. Alfred then tells Bruce that Jim Gordon is convinced that Zucco might soon try to flee from Gotham, prompting Dick to take matters into his own hands. After running away from Wayne Manor, he unsuccessfully tries to track Zucco. While searching a run-down section of Gotham and avoiding Batman, who, unbeknownst to Dick, is also searching for Zucco, Dick rescues a woman threatened by a large man, knocking him unconscious. The woman treats Dick to dinner in a local diner where a waitress identifies Zucco from a photo. She informs Dick that Zucco is squatting in the condemned building across the street. Dick and Batman find Zucco at roughly the same time, but Dick attacks Zucco, who throws him over a spillway. Batman rescues Dick before he can go over a waterfall, but Zucco uses the distraction to escape. Batman brings Dick back to the Batcave, revealing his secret identity. He then suggests that Dick's "temporary" stay become indefinite, which Dick accepts.

As the flashback ends, Robin continues his search on his motorcycle. He uses a phone tracer to obtain Zucco's address; in a fit of paranoia, Zucco fires a submachine gun repeatedly into the ceiling, worried about a noise. An injured Batman falls through the weakened ceiling. Using a smoke bomb as a diversion, he limps from the room. Hiding in the amusement park, he hardly has time to treat his wounds before being attacked by Zucco's henchmen. Though limping, he picks off the thugs one-by-one through stealth, fighting several on the carousel. After the brawl, however, Zucco has the advantage over Batman and prepares to shoot him. At the last moment, Robin crashes through the fence while riding his motorcycle, drives straight at Zucco and, grabbing him by the collar, drags him to the end of a pier. He holds Zucco over the edge, determined to kill him. Batman arrives and desperately implores Robin not to let his emotions control him, but Robin lashes out at his mentor, exclaiming that he cannot know how he feels. When Batman remains silent, Robin suddenly remembers that Batman is actually the one person he knows who would know. Abashed, Robin apologizes and relents, handing Zucco to the police.

As Zucco is hauled away, Robin tells Batman that Batman was right to leave him out of the investigation, as his emotions made him unstable. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Batman explains that he distanced Robin from the investigation because he feared his partner would be killed. The two crimefighters reconcile and leave the pier.

Cast

Actor	Role
Kevin Conroy	Batman
Bob Hastings	Commissioner Gordon
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	Alfred Pennyworth
Loren Lester	Robin
Joey Simmrin	Young Dick Grayson
Thomas F. Wilson	Tony Zucco
Eugene Roche	Arnold Stromwell
Paul Eiding	Ferris Dolan
Rebecca Gilchrist	Chi-Chi
Linda Gary	Berty
Charles Howerton	Lennie
Lionel Mark Smith	Bus Driver
Ed Gilbert	Additional voices
Brion James	Additional voices
Roger Rose	Additional voices

Reception

"Robin's Reckoning" has received a great deal of praise from both critics and fans of Batman: The Animated Series, often cited among the show's best episodes. The A.V. Club state that the episode's direction "handles energetic action sequences and heavy emotional moments with equal aplomb", and that the script has "philosophical and psychological depth". Batman On Film states that "there's little debate about 'Robin's Reckoning' being two of the best episodes in the entire run of ", praising the emotional depth and power of the events depicted. IGN ranked it 3rd in their top 10 best episodes of B:TAS.

References

"Robin's Reckoning". Internet Movie Database. 7 February 1993. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
"Batman: The Animated Series: 25 Best Episodes Ranked". Entertainment Weekly. September 7, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
Sava, Oliver (9 May 2011). "Batman: The Animated Series: 'Robin's Reckoning, Parts 1 And 2'". The AV Club. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
Gerber, Sean (12 April 2011). "B:TAS Episode #32 & 37". Batman On Film. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Top 10 Batman: The Animated Series Episodes". YouTube.

External links

"Robin's Reckoning" at IMDb
"Robin's Reckoning" at IMDb

v t e Robin
Bill Finger Jerry Robinson Bob Kane
Robins	Dick Grayson Jason Todd Tim Drake Stephanie Brown Damian Wayne
Supporting characters	Batgirl Barbara Gordon Batman Catwoman Jack Drake Flying Graysons Lucius Fox Tamara Fox James Gordon Justice League Alfred Pennyworth Nightstar Nocturna Outsiders Starfire Talia al Ghul Teen Titans Leslie Thompkins Warlock's Daughter
Antagonists	Anarky Bane Blockbuster Brutale Clock King Cluemaster Deathstroke Firefly The General Joker Joker's Daughter Killer Croc Killer Moth King Snake Lady Shiva Lady Vic Lynx Mad Hatter Mr. Freeze Nite-Wing Penguin Prankster Harley Quinn Ra's al Ghul Riddler Scarecrow Shrike Tarantula Torque Trigger Twins Two-Face Tony Zucco
Related identities	Nightwing Red Robin Red Hood Squire Red X
In other media	Batman and Robin (serial) "Robin's Reckoning" Dick Grayson (film character) Batman & Robin (film) soundtrack video game Son of Batman Batman vs. Robin
Publications	Robin: Year One Robin War All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder Batman and Robin We Are... Robin Red Robin Batman and Robin Eternal Batman and Son
Alternative versions	Carrie Kelley Earth-Two Helena Wayne
Related	Robin Hood Redbird Alyas Batman en Robin Alyas Batman at Robin Batman & Robin: The Chiller Batman and Robin Have an Altercation "Holy..." Batman and Robin (disambiguation)
Category

DC Animated Universe

Creators

Television

Batman: The Animated Series	Episodes "On Leather Wings" "Christmas with the Joker" "Heart of Ice" "The Cat and the Claw" "Beware the Gray Ghost" "Joker's Favor" "Almost Got 'im" "Perchance to Dream" "Robin's Reckoning" "Heart of Steel" "Zatanna"
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