Written by Rich Fogel
Directed by Butch Lukic
Animation by Dong Yang
Original Airdate: September 17, 2000
Rating: ****1/2 of 5

Description: The Royal Flush gang comes up with a new plan to put them back on the top...but will it work?
Highs: Tells quite a bit about the gang itself, gives Paxton Powers a role, interesting feud story.
Lows: None to speak of, really...the voices for Paxton and Barb were different. That's it.

Season 3 kicks off with "King's Ransom", and...wow! There are plenty of reasons to like this episode, which is a good thing because at the end of season 2 some of the eps simply weren't up to the standard set before.

First the story is excellent. Much has happened since the last time Batman fought the Royal Flush Gang. Now that Ten has abandoned them, the gang is operating one member short. During a museum heist Bats intervenes and in the ensuing battle Ace is badly damaged (finally, we know he's a robot), Jack is beaten and arrested, and the King is reduced to selling off the goods to Paxton Powers. The R.F.G. is falling apart, but the King introduces a "trump that cannot fail"...hold Paxton Powers hostage and demand a massive payment.

We find out a lot more as well...Melanie, a.k.a. Ten, is now working a low paying restaurant job. She sees the news of Powers's abduction and freaks out. Terry questions her, and we learn she hasn't spoken to her family in months. And when she asks about the note she wrote to Terry at the end of "Once Burned", Terry as Batman simply dismisses the whole issue. That's pretty cold, but it's perfect Bat attitude.

Paxton Powers shows off more of himself as well, he has his own secrets to hide. Although not as impressive as his father's condition, Paxie has an illegal collection of artifacts. He's just as scheming as Derek, he convinces the King to cooperate with him in a plot to kill Bruce Wayne. There's still more to this twisting storyline, but I'd rather not spoil it all here...just watch it.

A few more character notes: Bruce is calm and collected when King demands a ransom. He obviously doesn't care for Paxton, but he knows just how far to deal. Even when Terry gets nervous, it doesn't shake the elder Bats. We also learn of the former King, who was the father of the current queen. It doesn't seem as if the present King is quite up the old man's level, a factor which comes into play later.

The fight scenes are also quite nice. They're not quite as intense as season 1, but they're action-packed all the same. There's no shortage of hard blows and people smashing into other objects. Bruce also gets a fight with the King, where he pulls a neat disappearing act to come out again on top. The R.F.G. Ace almost ends it all, but fortunately Batman has his own "Ace in the Hole"–the dog.

Is there anything wrong with this ep? Well, the voices for Barbara Gordon and Paxton Powers were different. I can't say that's a good thing...BG sounds too young for her supposed age, and Paxton's just whiny now. I guess it can't all be perfect though.

Amazing. This chronicles the fall of the Royal Flush Gang perfectly, and would be a fitting end to Batman's conflict with them. Jack and Melanie go straight and old Paxton's in a bit of a jam...

PP: "Bruce Wayne's my mentor! He's like a father to me!"
Barb: "Except he doesn't glow in the dark."
PP: "Hey, I resent that! Where's my lawyer? I'll sue!"

Do yourself a favor and catch this showing...it sets a standard I would like all season 3 episodes to meet.

-J. Chen, aka The Overseer
overseer@pacificwest.com