Written by Stan Berkowitz
Directed by Dan Riba
Animation by Dong Yang
Original air date: March 20, 1999
My Rating: 4,5/5

Description: DMSH introduces a new gang of villains, the Royal Flush Gang in the BB rogue's gallery. Bruce is supposed to have battled them as Batman in the past but they've never been shown in a Batman episode. Maybe if TNBA return... who knows? Anyway Terry encounters them as they are commiting a thief on a boat and Bruce explains to him that they form a very aristocratic gang, a group of high-educated terrorists whose sins are always linked to playing cards. Ace is the tough guy of the gang, the King and the Queen are the leaders, Ten is the King's child, and some other guy is...I don't know who he is=). But in the meantime Terry has a crush on a girl, Melanie, who appears to be none other than Ten, the member or the RFG. Which makes things even more complicated...

So like I said there are many good things about this episode.
First of all, I loved the Royal Flush Gang. I think they are the most interesting and original villains in the BB history. They look terrific in those "Alice in Wonderland"-like suits, and the idea of villains who recieved a very good (and strict) upbringing is ingenious and brings a lot to the story itself. Sadly most of its members aren't very well characterized, since the episode focuses mostly on Melanie.
The writers also expand a lot Terry's character, as he starts to look just like Dick Grayson in the time Dick couldn't stand Bruce anymore. Terry gets real mad when Bruce wants to force him to go chasing the Gang while Terry had planned to date Melanie. And he starts insulting M. Wayne. This scene reminded me a lot of the 'Old Wounds' episode in TNBA, that told the origin of the break-up between Batman and the original Robin.
Once again we get to see Dana and Terry fight over Terry being late at their date. I thought it was a turing point in their relationship, but it seems like it didn't influence the other episodes actually.

The animation is superb, rendering perfectly every move of every character. And the action sequences are terrific, especially the one where the guard from the museum is dropped by the RFG from their flying cards and Batman flies real fast to rescue him. I had never felt so much speed in an action scene.

Overall a brilliant job from the whole BB crew.

Salvor