Written by Hilary J. Bader
Directed by Curt Geda
Animation by Koko Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Dong Yang Animation Co., Ltd.
Original air date: October 16, 1999
My rating: 4.5 / 5

Description: Curiosity, intelligence, and programming skills can be dangerous qualities for a high school student living in Gotham City. Maxine Gibson, Max to her friends, has written a computer program to ferret out Batman's identity. After some Jokerz vandalize her high school and then go after her, Max rewrites the program to discover the identity of any Jokerz gang member who may be attending her school. Guess who is at the top of her possible suspects list?
Terry McGinnis is worried. How can he protect Max and still protect his secret?

Good points:
This episode neatly illustrates the contrasting sides of good and evil. More than one character has a hidden agenda, or a secret. Like another episode, ASCENSION, the title is appropriate for both Terry and the villain.
HIDDEN AGENDA starts off with Jokerz terrorizing a hapless victim and attacking him with many sets of chattering teeth! At first the chompers look silly, but the dentures are deadly and can bite through wood and metal. The Joker would have enjoyed that little gag.
Later, at Hamilton Hill High School, Max is portrayed as an intelligent and confident young woman. A little more information about Terry is revealed when Max says that he probably did just as well in the GAT test [an SAT type exam] as she did, and she got a perfect score. At least one person at this school knows he's a smart guy.
I liked the plot twist when Max thinks Terry is a Jokerz. His confusion at her insinuations is well done.
Several things in the final fight scene are clever. Terry, as Batman, can be seen in the background as eyes only, when Terminal, the Jokerz leader, asks Max who will help her. Then Batman materializes to answer, "Me". Terry and Max's short conversation during the fight scene is perfect.
The final scene in the computer lab is a gem. I especially enjoyed Max's silent reply and the closing banter between Terry and Max. She's quite a strong-minded redhead. The fact that this redhead shares the same computing skills and determination with an older generation red head is a nice tie-in to the earlier series. The ending reminded me of the BTAS HEART OF STEEL episodes especially the ending in part 2. Max's character development in future episodes should be interesting.
After battling chemically enhanced, genetically altered, or irradiated villains, a bunch of gang members as villains is a good change. Terry doesn't have to permanently incapacitate, dilute or otherwise destroy all miscreants. Batman fights crime, whether that involves dealing with arch-villains or capturing run-of-the-mill criminals, like the law-breaking Jokerz.

Bad points: The Jokerz leader's identity is obvious very early in the story. No computer program is needed to deduce the secret. But, the identity is key to the story, so, unfortunately for any amateur detectives watching, the secret has to be given away.
The switch on the fountain may have been too easy of a plot ploy, but hey, it's just a half-hour show.
Okay, Terry knows something about Alfred. What? Will we ever find out?
Sigh, there is no Bruce in this episode. Hillary Bader, the writer, shows a more independent Terry, but I want Bruce in a Batman episode.

Zanna