Batman: The Animated Series
S01, E26: Appointment in Crime Alley
To explain why I’m covering episode 26 after episode 1: I’m watching based on a ‘chronological order’ list. The issues Batman has to deal with in this episode may be fairly mundane – no supervillains or citywide threats to be found – but this is still an excellent episode for two main reasons. One, it shows us what Batman does when he’s not fighting supervillains, and it also does a great job showing the softer, more emotional side of The Bat.
Roland Daggett, a shady businessman, wants to get rid of Park Row, or, as it’s better known, Crime Alley, so he can build his own more profitable buildings there. But the residents of Crime Alley protest against this plan, and thus Daggett resorts to underhanded schemes. Batman, of course, comes to the rescue. Along the way he deals with several other issues, some not even directly related to Dagget, because that’s what the Batman does – help people.
This episode also introduces Leslie Thompkins – someone we learn is near and dear to Batman. He apparently meets with her regularly, and, until this episode, was never late in doing so, which goes to show exactly how important a person she is to him. That he visits her as Batman, his true self, rather than Bruce, who he met her as, also says much without any words spoken. It’s a pretty low-key episode, but an important one, because it goes a long way in showing us exactly who Batman really is – a man who helps everyone he can, and who, despite his cold demeanor, feels deeply.
