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Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
Batman shows up just in time, and the Joker desperately begs him to save him from Charlie, but despite Batman attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the info on Charlie's family and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
to:
Batman shows up just in time, and the Joker desperately begs him to save him from Charlie, but despite Batman attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the his info on Charlie's family which he keeps in a book and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
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wrong wick
Changed line(s) 75 (click to see context) from:
* TheHeckler: Charlie Collins realizes the only way to truly inspire fear into the Joker is stealing his act by menacing Joker's only dream: his FinalFight with Batman.
to:
* TheHeckler: Charlie Collins realizes the only way to truly inspire fear into the Joker is stealing his act by menacing Joker's only dream: his FinalFight FinalBattle with Batman.
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
Two years later, Commissioner Jim Gordon is receiving a testimonial ceremony at the upscale Peregrinator's Club, a show of support for all his years of service, and all the best and brightest in Gotham will be there to show support... except the Joker, who wasn't invited. Furious at this, [[RevengeSVP the Joker plans to teach everyone involved a lesson]], and instead of getting a specialist to help, he decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to cash in his favor with Charlie. Meanwhile, Charlie has changed identities, moved halfway across the country, and started a new life. Nevertheless the Joker effortlessly contacts him.
to:
Two years later, Commissioner Jim Gordon is receiving a testimonial ceremony at the upscale Peregrinator's Club, a show of support for all his years of service, and all the best and brightest in Gotham will be there to show support... except the Joker, who wasn't invited. Furious at this, [[RevengeSVP the Joker plans to teach everyone involved a lesson]], and instead of getting a specialist to help, he decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to cash in his favor with Charlie. Meanwhile, Charlie has changed identities, moved halfway across the country, and started a new life. Nevertheless Nevertheless, the Joker effortlessly contacts him.
Changed line(s) 14,15 (click to see context) from:
Later, at the testimonial, Gordon's ceremony goes as planned until partway through... Harley knocks on the door, Charlie answers it, and an unscheduled cake is rolled in, in the Commissioner's honor... and Charlie finds that his hand has been glued to the doorknob. The cake holds a surprise -- paralytic gas taking everyone in the room except Charlie and Harley (she gives him a gas mask too). The Joker then pops out of the cake and gives a riveting speech in praise of the Commissioner, capping it off with a gift from him and "all the others doing 25 to life": a explosive medal, set to take out the whole building. Thus the Joker departs with one of his worst enemies and a room full of people about to die and laughs in Charlie's face, leaving him behind to die as well.
to:
Later, at the testimonial, Gordon's ceremony goes as planned until partway through... Harley knocks on the door, Charlie answers it, and an unscheduled cake is rolled in, in the Commissioner's honor... and Charlie finds that his hand has been glued to the doorknob. The cake holds a surprise -- paralytic gas taking everyone in the room except Charlie and Harley (she gives him a gas mask too). The Joker then pops out of the cake and gives a riveting speech in praise of the Commissioner, capping it off with a gift from him and "all the others doing 25 to life": a an explosive medal, set to take out the whole building. Thus Thus, the Joker departs with one of his worst enemies and a room full of people about to die and laughs in Charlie's face, leaving him behind to die as well.
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Changed line(s) 16,19 (click to see context) from:
Thankfully, Batman interrupts the party, and Charlie directs him to the bomb. After checking to make sure everyone's all right and freeing Charlie, Batman goes off in pursuit of the Joker, effortlessly taking out his goons (including Harley) and tracking the giggling madman into a temple the Peregrinator's Club reconstructed. After avoiding a few deathtraps and close calls, Batman manages to push Joker into the street, where he meets Charlie.
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his command again. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his command again. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Thankfully, Batman interrupts the party, and Charlie directs him to the bomb. After checking to make sure everyone's all right and freeing Charlie, Batman goes off in pursuit of the Joker, effortlessly taking out his goons (including Harley) and tracking the giggling madman into a temple the Peregrinator's Club reconstructed. After avoiding a few deathtraps and close calls, Batman manages to push Joker into the street, where he meets Charlie.
Drivenruns into Charlie, who sternly demands he stops. When the Joker tries to keep running, Charlie repeats his demand and grabs him, before punching him.
The Joker is furious about Charlie making demands of him, and tries browbeating him into obeying him again by threatening Charlie's family. But, driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie reveals has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both.The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his command again. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying He says that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but and Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
Driven
The Joker is furious about Charlie making demands of him, and tries browbeating him into obeying him again by threatening Charlie's family. But, driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie reveals has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands.command again. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, hits the nail right on the head, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain that was killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain that who was unceremoniously killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will make now sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain that was killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will now make now sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain that was killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. Suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
to:
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. Suddenly The Joker angrily tries browbeating him into submitting to his demands. But Charlie refuses to back down, saying that he has truly figured the Joker out; his greatest dream is to defeat Batman in a great public spectacle of a battle or die trying, but Charlie gloats he will make now sure that it that dream will never come true. He will blow himself and the Joker up, and the Joker will only be remembered as the villain that was killed by a "miserable little nobody." And he is right, as suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
Changed line(s) 22,23 (click to see context) from:
Batman shows up just in time, but despite his attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the info on Charlie's family and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
to:
Batman shows up just in time, and the Joker desperately begs him to save him from Charlie, but despite his Batman attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the info on Charlie's family and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
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Changed line(s) 126 (click to see context) from:
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero who has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor.
to:
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero who has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor. Indeed, Bruce Timm stated that this episode along with ''The Man Who Killed Batman'' was inspired by the style of Will Eisner's ''The Spirit'' where many of the stories revolved around ordinary people and the hero is often not featured until the beginning or the end.
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* ImplacableMan: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
Deleted line(s) 100 (click to see context) :
* ImplacableMan: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
Changed line(s) 126 (click to see context) from:
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero that has has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor.
to:
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero that has who has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor.
Deleted line(s) 147 (click to see context) :
* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: When Batman meets Charlie Collins, he is a pathetic victim of the Joker who is HoldingOutForAHero and could have helped the Joker to kill a lot of people. When Batman meets him again at the alley, Batman calls him ''Charlie''. After Charlie confronts the Joker and pranks him with a bomb, Batman addresses him as ''Mr. Collins''.
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* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: When Batman meets Charlie Collins, he is a pathetic victim of the Joker who is HoldingOutForAHero and could have helped the Joker to kill a lot of people. When Batman meets him again at the alley, Batman calls him ''Charlie''. After Charlie confronts the Joker and pranks him with a bomb, Batman addresses him as ''Mr. Collins''.
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Added DiffLines:
** It can't get more badass than everyman Charlie Collins actually instilling fear in ''The Joker''.
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* DoesNotLikeSpam: Charlie is clearly not a fan of his wife's meatloaf at the beginning, but after all he goes through, he knows he'll be grateful to be with her no matter ''what'' she cooks.
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Changed line(s) 57 (click to see context) from:
* {{Everyman}} / {{Muggle}} / ThisLoserIsYou: Charlie, an average man who lives an average life that Joker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless".
to:
* {{Everyman}} / {{Muggle}} / ThisLoserIsYou: Charlie, an average man who lives an average life that Joker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless". The fact that the Joker would spend two years keeping track of this poor guy only to find him and sadistically hold him up to a promise later, [[ForTheEvulz even though it didn't benefit him in the least]], only serves to show what a monster he is.
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Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
The Joker prepares to kill him, but Charlie begs and pleads for his life. It isn't until Charlie tearfully claims he'll do "anything" to save his life that the Joker's interest is piqued. Thoroughly amused by the idea, Joker promises to spare Charlie's life in return for a "favor" sometime in the future... he doesn't say what, he doesn't say when, but when he calls, he expects Charlie to answer. Then the Joker leaves, having changed Charlie's life forever...
to:
The Joker prepares to kill him, but Charlie begs and pleads for his life. It isn't until Charlie tearfully claims he'll do "anything" "[[PleaseIWillDoAnything anything]]" to save his life that the Joker's interest is piqued. Thoroughly amused by the idea, Joker promises to spare Charlie's life in return for a "favor" sometime in the future... he doesn't say what, he doesn't say when, but when he calls, he expects Charlie to answer. Then the Joker leaves, having changed Charlie's life forever...
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already mentioned below ^^;
Changed line(s) 44,45 (click to see context) from:
** Also the scenes of the Joker threatening Charlie and Charlie eventually threatening the Joker.
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this example perfectly.
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this example perfectly.
to:
** Also the scenes of the Joker threatening Charlie and Charlie eventually threatening the Joker.
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this example perfectly.Joker.
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this example perfectly.
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Changed line(s) 45 (click to see context) from:
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this scene perfectly.
to:
*** The page image for HourglassPlot shows this scene example perfectly.
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Changed line(s) 45,46 (click to see context) from:
** The TropeImage for HourglassPlot shows this perfectly.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Joker's ultimate response to ruining Charlie's life and then killing him is akin to someone finishing off a collection -- the Joker simply decides to get a new hobby.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Joker's ultimate response to ruining Charlie's life and then killing him is akin to someone finishing off a collection -- the Joker simply decides to get a new hobby.
to:
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Joker's ultimate response to ruining Charlie's life and then killing him is akin to someone finishing off a collection -- the Joker simply decides to get a new hobby.
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Added DiffLines:
** The TropeImage for HourglassPlot shows this perfectly.
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Changed line(s) 113 (click to see context) from:
*** The police cars and the batmobile run to chase the joker... when he is right behind them in a station wagon.
to:
*** The police cars and the batmobile run to chase the joker...Joker... when he is right behind them in a station wagon.
Changed line(s) 118 (click to see context) from:
** FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life".
to:
** FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life". And he couldn't be any happier.
Changed line(s) 140 (click to see context) from:
** "Now listen, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown]]!"
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** "Now listen, listen up, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown]]!"
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Changed line(s) 10,11 (click to see context) from:
'''Joker:''' Oh, I never lost you, Chaz. You've become my... hobby! (''{{evil laugh}}'')
to:
'''Joker:''' Oh, I never lost you, Chaz. You've become my... hobby! (''{{evil laugh}}'')
''({{evil laugh}})''
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Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Joker:''' ''(casually)'' Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ffft.\\
to:
-->'''Joker:''' ''(casually)'' Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ''("dead" gesture)'' ffft.\\
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Changed line(s) 46,47 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Joker:''' (''casually'') Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ffft.\\
'''Harley:''' (''even more casual'' Macramé's nice.
'''Harley:''' (''even more casual'' Macramé's nice.
to:
-->'''Joker:''' (''casually'') ''(casually)'' Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ffft.\\
'''Harley:'''(''even ''(even more casual'' casual)'' Macramé's nice.
'''Harley:'''
Changed line(s) 76 (click to see context) from:
'''Charlie:''' You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. (''reveals a Joker bomb'') This is how it ends, Joker. No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and that's really the only dream you've got? Isn't it?
to:
'''Charlie:''' You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. (''reveals ''(reveals a Joker bomb'') bomb)'' This is how it ends, Joker. No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and that's really the only dream you've got? Isn't it?
Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
'''Charlie:''' [[HeWhoFightsMonsters I had a good teacher!]] (''chuckles nastily'') [[TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]
to:
'''Charlie:''' [[HeWhoFightsMonsters I had a good teacher!]] (''chuckles nastily'') ''(chuckles nastily)'' [[TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]
Changed line(s) 88 (click to see context) from:
(''after a frenetic chase'')\\
to:
Changed line(s) 107 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane You're crazy]]
to:
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane You're crazy]]crazy!]]
Changed line(s) 127,128 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Harley:''' I know. You're thinking, "What a shame. A pure, innocent little thing like her led astray by bad companions." (''grabs a knife, but Batman stops her'')\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another. (''handcuffs Harley and goes after Joker'')\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another. (''handcuffs Harley and goes after Joker'')\\
to:
--->'''Harley:''' I know. You're thinking, "What a shame. A pure, innocent little thing like her led astray by bad companions." (''grabs ''(grabs a knife, but Batman stops her'')\\
her)''\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another.(''handcuffs ''(handcuffs Harley and goes after Joker'')\\Joker)''\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another.
Changed line(s) 153,154 (click to see context) from:
'''Joker:''' (''pats his head'') Oh, come now. (''walks away'')\\
'''Charlie:''' I said HOLD IT!! (''punches Joker in the gut'')
'''Charlie:''' I said HOLD IT!! (''punches Joker in the gut'')
to:
'''Joker:''' (''pats ''(pats his head'') head)'' Oh, come now. (''walks away'')\\
''(walks away)''\\
'''Charlie:''' I saidHOLD IT!! (''punches ''hold it!!'' ''(punches Joker in the gut'')gut)''
'''Charlie:''' I said
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Changed line(s) 99 (click to see context) from:
* NotSoDifferent: Charlie is an average man who lives an average life that SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless", his only dream to be with his family. He's nothing more than a hobby for the Joker. It turns out that the Joker's dreams are pretty petty too: [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou to kill, or be killed by the Batman]]...
to:
* NotSoDifferent: Charlie is an average man who lives an average life that SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless", his only dream to be with his family. He's nothing more than a hobby for the Joker. It turns out that the Joker's dreams are pretty petty too: [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou to kill, or be killed by too... Charlie lampshades the Batman]]...fact that the only thing that brings the Joker any joy is destroying innocent lives like Charlie's.
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Nope. Her disguise is of a lawyer.
Deleted line(s) 52 (click to see context) :
* CurseCutShort: "Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's ffft..." (mimes mushroom cloud)
Deleted line(s) 65 (click to see context) :
* FairCop: Harley disguises herself as one.
Changed line(s) 100 (click to see context) from:
* NoDelaysForTheWicked / ImplacableMan / OffscreenTeleportation: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
to:
* NoDelaysForTheWicked / ImplacableMan / OffscreenTeleportation: ImplacableMan: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
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* AndIMustScream: The Joker's gas totally paralyzes people, while. It's obvious they are still conscious, which meant that Commissioner Gordon was watching as a bomb was ready to go off, ''and all he could do was watch it happen.''
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Changed line(s) 143 (click to see context) from:
* The Sociopath: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
to:
* The Sociopath: TheSociopath: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
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Deleted line(s) 94 (click to see context) :
* LackOfEmpathy: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
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* The Sociopath: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Moving to proper recap title.
Added DiffLines:
The episode begins with {{Everyman}} Charlie Collins driving home from a rained-out baseball game and complaining about his very normal, everyday problems -- [[AdultFear busted after asking for a raise]], [[ParentsAsPeople his kid needs braces]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking his wife Bonnie is making meatloaf for dinner]]... As if that weren't bad enough, some speeding police cars and the Batmobile chasing someone cut him off. Angered and frustrated when ''yet another'' motorist cuts him off, Charlie loses his temper. The resulting rant, however, is the worst thing yet -- it turns out this second car is being driven by SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, who does not appreciate people yelling at him. Charlie desperately tries to drive away, but the Joker cuts him off at every turn and corners Charlie when he gets out of his car to run away.
->'''Joker:''' We can't have people cursing at each other on the freeway! It's simply not polite! I'll just have to teach you some manners!
The Joker prepares to kill him, but Charlie begs and pleads for his life. It isn't until Charlie tearfully claims he'll do "anything" to save his life that the Joker's interest is piqued. Thoroughly amused by the idea, Joker promises to spare Charlie's life in return for a "favor" sometime in the future... he doesn't say what, he doesn't say when, but when he calls, he expects Charlie to answer. Then the Joker leaves, having changed Charlie's life forever...
Two years later, Commissioner Jim Gordon is receiving a testimonial ceremony at the upscale Peregrinator's Club, a show of support for all his years of service, and all the best and brightest in Gotham will be there to show support... except the Joker, who wasn't invited. Furious at this, [[RevengeSVP the Joker plans to teach everyone involved a lesson]], and instead of getting a specialist to help, he decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to cash in his favor with Charlie. Meanwhile, Charlie has changed identities, moved halfway across the country, and started a new life. Nevertheless the Joker effortlessly contacts him.
->'''Charlie:''' How did you find me?\\
'''Joker:''' Oh, I never lost you, Chaz. You've become my... hobby! (''{{evil laugh}}'')
Charlie initially refuses, but after the Joker threatens his family, he grudgingly comes back to Gotham. His attempt to go for help is intercepted by ComicBook/HarleyQuinn to bring him back to the Joker, who tells him the favor he brought him back to do... opening the door at the Commissioner's testimonial. That's it. Charlie is understandably baffled, but knows how nuts and dangerous the Joker is and thus does not argue much. However, he does realize that there must be something much more sinister at work, and before the ceremony he gives a last ditch effort to contact Franchise/{{Batman}}, jury-rigging a Batsignal that Bruce Wayne just happens to see as he is leaving the party early.
Later, at the testimonial, Gordon's ceremony goes as planned until partway through... Harley knocks on the door, Charlie answers it, and an unscheduled cake is rolled in, in the Commissioner's honor... and Charlie finds that his hand has been glued to the doorknob. The cake holds a surprise -- paralytic gas taking everyone in the room except Charlie and Harley (she gives him a gas mask too). The Joker then pops out of the cake and gives a riveting speech in praise of the Commissioner, capping it off with a gift from him and "all the others doing 25 to life": a explosive medal, set to take out the whole building. Thus the Joker departs with one of his worst enemies and a room full of people about to die and laughs in Charlie's face, leaving him behind to die as well.
Thankfully, Batman interrupts the party, and Charlie directs him to the bomb. After checking to make sure everyone's all right and freeing Charlie, Batman goes off in pursuit of the Joker, effortlessly taking out his goons (including Harley) and tracking the giggling madman into a temple the Peregrinator's Club reconstructed. After avoiding a few deathtraps and close calls, Batman manages to push Joker into the street, where he meets Charlie.
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. Suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
->'''Charlie:''' You see? I can destroy a man's dreams, too! And that's really the only dream you've got... ''isn't it?''
Batman shows up just in time, but despite his attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the info on Charlie's family and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
->'''Charlie:''' Hey, Joker! Gotcha!
With the Joker thoroughly defeated and humiliated, Charlie earns a rare laugh from Batman and a new future as a free man. As Batman takes Joker away, Charlie wearily walks off happy to be able to see his family again... [[BookEnds even looking forward to having some of Bonnie's meatloaf...]]
This episode marks the first appearance of [[CanonImmigrant Harley Quinn]].
----
!!Tropes:
* AlliterativeName: Charlie Collins
* AdventurersClub: The Peregrinator's Club is an exclusive lounge for the wealthiest citizens of Gotham City. Originally used by adventurers and explorers, it later became home to the city's rich and affluent bluebloods. That would explain why on earth would the club had reconstructed a {{Mayincatec}} temple -- right down to the poison dart trap.
* AndYourLittleDogToo: Joker threats Charlie's wife and son.
* BadassNormal: Discussed. Batman says the other officers would disagree with Gordon's disgust at honoring him. The Commissioner retorts they should present Batman with the award, who declines, saying Gordon works around the clock fighting the loonies of Gotham.
* BatmanGambit: Charlie invokes HeWhoFightsMonsters as a way to bully the Joker into giving up all the info he has on him and his family.
* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: Charlie Collins begins as an {{Everyman}} with a touch of UngratefulBastard (at least about his day-to-day life). By the end, he becomes an ActionSurvivor with a new appreciation of his life.
* BigEater: Bullock, to Montoya's disgust.
* BoobyTrap: The reconstructed temple is full of them.
* BookEnds:
** The episode begins with Charlie unhappy with his mundane life and the perspective of eating meatloaf for dinner, and ends with him happily going home and looking forward to Bonnie's meatloaf.
** Also the scenes of the Joker threatening Charlie and Charlie eventually threatening the Joker.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Joker's ultimate response to ruining Charlie's life and then killing him is akin to someone finishing off a collection -- the Joker simply decides to get a new hobby.
-->'''Joker:''' (''casually'') Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ffft.\\
'''Harley:''' (''even more casual'' Macramé's nice.
* CanOnlyMoveTheEyes: The Joker's gas paralyzes people in this manner.
* CharacterDevelopment: Over the course of the episode, we see Charlie Collins evolve from a helpless victim when he meets the Joker, to a guy who seeks help in ingenious ways (when he manages to fake a batsignal) to a guy who manages to trick the Joker!
* ContinuityNod: Back ''to'' this episode, rather than from it. The Peregrinator's Club is later robbed by Harley and Poison Ivy in their self-titled episode.
* CorneredRattlesnake: After the Joker's attempt to kill Charlie, he realizes he must take other measures to protect his family.
* CurseCutShort: "Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's ffft..." (mimes mushroom cloud)
* DartboardOfHate: The Joker is seen flinging darts at a newspaper's front-page photograph of Commissioner Gordon.
* DistantPrologue: Opens with Charlie Collins accidentally cursing out the Joker, leading him to be forcibly hired by the Clown Prince of Crime to do a favor that he has not thought of yet. It takes 2 years for "Mistah J." to think of something and track Collins down.
* DrivenToMadness: Invoked by Charlie Collins in his last confrontation with the Joker.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Charlie has to assume control of the situation to save himself and his family. He defeats the Joker while Batman is a mere spectator.
* EntitledBastard: Just after another attempt against Batman's life, who is the guy the Joker asks for help when Charlie threatens to kill him?
* {{Everyman}} / {{Muggle}} / ThisLoserIsYou: Charlie, an average man who lives an average life that Joker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless".
* ExactWords:
** Charlie caps off his rant at being cut off with, "if I had my 2 cents, I'd--" before noticing who he's dealing with. When the Joker later catches up to him, he throws two pennies at Charlie's feet and ominously dares Charlie to do something to him.
** Also:
--->'''Charlie:''' Wait! [[YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo You promised to send me home!]]\\
'''Joker:''' I never said ''alive!''
* FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life".
* FairCop: Harley disguises herself as one.
* FalseCameraEffects: When the Joker threatens Charlie Collin's family by phone, the camera's depth of field moves from Charlie inside his house to his wife and son outside; when he hangs up, it shifts to Charlie again.
* FauxAffablyEvil: This is the episode that cemented that aspect of the Joker's characterization. Once Charlie calls him out for being rude, the Joker acts as a model driver.
-->'''Joker:''' Jumping Jiminy Christmas, Charlie Collins! It's been forever! How are you man? You look great! Lost a little weight. [[StealthInsult Lost a little hair too]]. Oh Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. So, [[DealWithTheDevil ready to do me that little favor?]]
* FlawExploitation: Charlie wins his BatmanGambit by exploiting Joker's dream about kill or be killed by the Batman (TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou) and his belief that [[ComicBook/TheKillingJoke everybody is only a "bad day" away from where the Joker is]], by invoking HeWhoFightsMonsters and NotSoDifferent.
* FleetingPassionateHobbies: Darkly invoked by the Joker in Charlie's case; see ButForMeItWasTuesday.
* ForTheEvulz / EvilIsPetty: The only reason Joker keeps stalking and threatening Charlie all those years, just to kill him anyway. More so than most of his other appearances, this episode shows just how needlessly cruel the DCAU Joker can be, simply because it amuses him.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** Joker saying that Charlie is "ffff...ked."
** Harley posing as a police stripper.
* TheHeckler: Charlie Collins realizes the only way to truly inspire fear into the Joker is stealing his act by menacing Joker's only dream: his FinalFight with Batman.
* HeroicHeelizationSpeech: Charlie gives one of these to ''the Joker'' of all people, after Joker has terrorized him and his family for years.
-->'''Joker:''' You miserable little nobody! If I get caught, your wife and son are history!\\
'''Charlie:''' You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. (''reveals a Joker bomb'') This is how it ends, Joker. No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and that's really the only dream you've got? Isn't it?
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Invoked by Charlie, and the Joker believes it!
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane Y-you're crazy!]]\\
'''Charlie:''' [[HeWhoFightsMonsters I had a good teacher!]] (''chuckles nastily'') [[TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Joker is ultimately beaten and humiliated by one of his own dud bombs.
* HoldingOutForAHero: When Charlie sees Batman at the paper, he tries to call him to take care of the Joker... only after Joker's KickTheDog moment does Charlie realizes that ''he'', and not any other, must stop his tormentor.
* HopeSpot: Just when Collins believes he has lost the Joker, his station wagon appears from nowhere. Collins tries to approach two policemen at the airport, only to be intercepted by Harley.
* HourglassPlot: Current Trope Illustrator for that page!
* IgnoredVitalNewsReports: {{Everyman}} Charlie Collin's car's radio broadcast the last part of the bulletin announcing ''someone'' has escaped and is considered armed and dangerous. Charlie, not being a {{Superhero}}, only cares that this would aggravate the traffic jam he's in and goes in a [[RantInducingSlight Slight-Induced Rant]] [[TemptingFate on how his life sucks]]. Some minutes later, he will be [[MuggingTheMonster Mugging the Joker]]...
* IronicEcho:
** At the highway:
--->'''Charlie:''' Hey buddy! Yeah, I'm talking to ''you,'' clown! You think you own the whole road? Well, for two cents I...\\
(''after a frenetic chase'')\\
'''Joker:''' There's your two cents. Now, what are you going to do to me?
** Charlie tries to justify his road rage with "I had a bad day". When the Joker tries to convince Charlie not to kill him, he mentions Charlie has had "a... busy day".
** When The Joker threatens Charlie's family, calling him a "miserable little nobody", Charlie throws those ExactWords back at him when he threatens to blow them both up.
* JumpingOutOfACake: The Joker.
* LackOfEmpathy: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
* {{Leitmotif}}: It's ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', so [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auVb6XQLRR0 Charlie has one]]. It's a whistling tune (backed by tuba!) used in increasingly ominous ways as things go sour.
* MacGuffin / MacGuffinTitle: Joker's favor was only an excuse for Joker to KickTheDog.
* MuggingTheMonster: Charlie Collins gives a RantInducingSlight to a unknown motorist... who is the Joker. See OhCrap.
* MusicalisInterruptus: Charlie's ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver''-esque {{Leitmotif}} suddenly stops dead as he realizes, [[OhCrap with a look of horror upon his face,]] that two of the Joker's underlings have managed to track him down to Ohio after living for two years in some form of peace and quiet under a new name.
* MyCarHatesMe: When Charlie flees from the Joker (breaking through a fence to do so), his car starts to sputter going up a steep hill. Charlie prays: "Go, go, go... come on!". [[SubvertedTrope However,]] when the radiator overheats and his car stops, Charlie simply gets out of the car and runs for it.
* NoDelaysForTheWicked / ImplacableMan / OffscreenTeleportation: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
* NotSoDifferent: Charlie is an average man who lives an average life that SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless", his only dream to be with his family. He's nothing more than a hobby for the Joker. It turns out that the Joker's dreams are pretty petty too: [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou to kill, or be killed by the Batman]]...
-->'''Charlie:''' You see? I can destroy a man's dreams, too!
* NotSoStoic: Charles Collins's revenge on Joker in "Joker's Favor" gets a brief chuckle out of Batman.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Joker takes a page out of Droopy's book when Charlie first tries to get away from him. No matter how far Charlie drives, how many twists and turns he takes, Joker always ends up right next to him -- smiling.
* OhCrap:
** Charlie Collins:
-->'''Charlie:''' That was The Joker! I cursed out The Joker!
** The Joker:
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane You're crazy]]
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Genially exploited and lampshaded by [[ThisLoserIsYou "miserable little nobody"]] Charlie Collins when he snaps and becomes a CorneredRattlesnake [[TakingYouWithMe willing to take the Joker with him]] in a HeroicSacrifice. [[Awesome/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Collins manages to inspire fear in a psychopath by menacing the only real dream he has.]]
* {{Pastiche}}: This episode shares a lot of the tropes with Creator/AlfredHitchcock SignatureStyle:
** ActionSurvivor: Charlie Collins fits the Hitchcockian pattern of an ordinary man, through one bad turn, falling into extraordinary circumstances and fighting his way out.
** BlackComedy: So, did you find the episode funny? Just ask Charlie Collins how much fun he had!
** DramaticIrony: A lot of times, Hitchcock placed his heroes in formal social gatherings, where they conceal something dark and horrible and yet can't tell a soul:
*** The police cars and the batmobile run to chase the joker... when he is right behind them in a station wagon.
*** Charlie realizes he has [[MuggingTheMonster Mugged the Joker]] and tries desperately to escape him, while the other motorists, trapped in boredom, don't even pay attention to him.
*** When the Joker menaces Charlie by phone, FalseCameraEffects uses Emphasis by Focus, showing the audience that Charlie has to hide the peril he faces from his own family.
*** A police convention proves to be the most dangerous spot in the city.
*** Charlie cannot tell any policeman the peril they all face, because the Joker's minions are watching him.
** FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life".
** HopeSpot: Just when Collins believes he has lost the Joker, his station wagon appears from nowhere. Collins tries to approach two policemen at the airport, only to be intercepted by Harley. Charlie always hoped the Joker would spare him, even trying to justify himself before Batman.
** MacGuffin / MacGuffinTitle: Joker's favor was only an excuse for Joker to KickTheDog.
** TheOner: There is one take at the Peregrinator's Club when the way the camera goes from being placed on Bruce and Gordon only to pan down past the legs of a passerby to see little Charlie Collins emerge from a door in the background.
** ThePeepingTom: Charlie Collin is spied by The Joker for ''two years'' to ensure he will not break his [[DealWithTheDevil Deal with the Joker]].
** PoliceAreUseless: Just moments after police cars and the Batmobile had pushed aside Charlie Collin's car at the highway, Charlie asks "''Where'd all the cops go?''" when the Joker was chasing him. The entire police department could have been killed if not for Batman.
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero that has has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor.
* PlayingTheVictimCard:
** Harley tries this on Batman.
--->'''Harley:''' I know. You're thinking, "What a shame. A pure, innocent little thing like her led astray by bad companions." (''grabs a knife, but Batman stops her'')\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another. (''handcuffs Harley and goes after Joker'')\\
'''Harley:''' Beauty school is looking good right about now.
** Charlie Collins also invokes it when he confess Batman he helped Joker with his plans.
--->'''Charlie:''' Watching me for two years, like a Bug in a Jar, watching, laughing and threatening my family. I had no choice Batman, really!
* PoisonDart: The Peregrinator's Club has reconstructed a {{Mayincatec}} temple, right down to re-poisoning the darts in the traps, which Joker uses to his advantage. The Joker have probably fixed this up beforehand.
* RantInducingSlight: Getting cut off on the freeway leads to a rant by Charlie, which leads to a much, much worse reaction than usual. Also, Joker's reason for trying to kill everyone at the testimonial is supposedly that he wasn't invited.
* TheRealHeroes: The episode's CentralTheme. The subplot mentions that Gordon doesn't think he deserves an homage, but Batman remarks that Gordon deals with Gotham's insanity 24/7 and he just pulls a night shift. And Charlie, an example of ThisLoserIsYou, defeats the Joker.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The Joker gets a pretty good one from Charlie.
* RevengeSVP: Though it's more likely he's merely taking the opportunity to kill Gordon while his guard is down, Joker claims that he plans to attack Gordon's testimonial simply because he wasn't invited.
* ShoutOut:
** One of Joker's mooks reads a ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' comic in one scene, one of many references in the series as the two shared several writers and producers.
** "[[Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]"
** "Now listen, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown]]!"
** The Joker's two mooks, Rocko and Henshaw, are named for characters from ''Series/ThePhilSilversShow''.
* StockPhrases:
-->'''Charlie:''' Please don't, {{I have a family}}, a wife, a little boy! {{Please I will do anything}} to make it up, anything!
* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: When Batman meets Charlie Collins, he is a pathetic victim of the Joker who is HoldingOutForAHero and could have helped the Joker to kill a lot of people. When Batman meets him again at the alley, Batman calls him ''Charlie''. After Charlie confronts the Joker and pranks him with a bomb, Batman addresses him as ''Mr. Collins''.
* TemptingFate: Said by Charlie just before everything went to hell.
-->'''Charlie:''' When exactly did I became [[TheChewToy life's punching bag]]?
* TookALevelInBadass:
** Charlie attempts this at the start of the episode. Big mistake.
--->'''Charlie:''' Oh, so that's it! No signals! No nothing! Just push me aside! Treat me like I don't exist! Well, not this time.
** At the end of the episode, Charlie takes it for real.
--->'''Charlie:''' Hold it!\\
'''Joker:''' (''pats his head'') Oh, come now. (''walks away'')\\
'''Charlie:''' I said HOLD IT!! (''punches Joker in the gut'')
* VillainousBreakdown: The Joker has a funny one, being bullied by Charlie Collins and [[EntitledBastard calling Batman for help!]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: More like a case of "what might ''not'' have been". The whole reason Harley Quinn was designed for this episode (designed at all, for that matter) was because at first, the writers thought having the Joker jump out of the cake himself would be silly (even though that's how it actually went in the final draft) so they designed a perky female henchman with the intention of her doing that job. She may never have done the role she was designed for, but several episodes of CharacterDevelopment later, Harley had become a vital part of the Batman mythos.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Averted when a FreezeFrameBonus of Charlie Collins' driver license reads: Charlie Collins, Woodrust Drive, '''Gotham States, N. Y.'''
----
->'''Joker:''' We can't have people cursing at each other on the freeway! It's simply not polite! I'll just have to teach you some manners!
The Joker prepares to kill him, but Charlie begs and pleads for his life. It isn't until Charlie tearfully claims he'll do "anything" to save his life that the Joker's interest is piqued. Thoroughly amused by the idea, Joker promises to spare Charlie's life in return for a "favor" sometime in the future... he doesn't say what, he doesn't say when, but when he calls, he expects Charlie to answer. Then the Joker leaves, having changed Charlie's life forever...
Two years later, Commissioner Jim Gordon is receiving a testimonial ceremony at the upscale Peregrinator's Club, a show of support for all his years of service, and all the best and brightest in Gotham will be there to show support... except the Joker, who wasn't invited. Furious at this, [[RevengeSVP the Joker plans to teach everyone involved a lesson]], and instead of getting a specialist to help, he decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to cash in his favor with Charlie. Meanwhile, Charlie has changed identities, moved halfway across the country, and started a new life. Nevertheless the Joker effortlessly contacts him.
->'''Charlie:''' How did you find me?\\
'''Joker:''' Oh, I never lost you, Chaz. You've become my... hobby! (''{{evil laugh}}'')
Charlie initially refuses, but after the Joker threatens his family, he grudgingly comes back to Gotham. His attempt to go for help is intercepted by ComicBook/HarleyQuinn to bring him back to the Joker, who tells him the favor he brought him back to do... opening the door at the Commissioner's testimonial. That's it. Charlie is understandably baffled, but knows how nuts and dangerous the Joker is and thus does not argue much. However, he does realize that there must be something much more sinister at work, and before the ceremony he gives a last ditch effort to contact Franchise/{{Batman}}, jury-rigging a Batsignal that Bruce Wayne just happens to see as he is leaving the party early.
Later, at the testimonial, Gordon's ceremony goes as planned until partway through... Harley knocks on the door, Charlie answers it, and an unscheduled cake is rolled in, in the Commissioner's honor... and Charlie finds that his hand has been glued to the doorknob. The cake holds a surprise -- paralytic gas taking everyone in the room except Charlie and Harley (she gives him a gas mask too). The Joker then pops out of the cake and gives a riveting speech in praise of the Commissioner, capping it off with a gift from him and "all the others doing 25 to life": a explosive medal, set to take out the whole building. Thus the Joker departs with one of his worst enemies and a room full of people about to die and laughs in Charlie's face, leaving him behind to die as well.
Thankfully, Batman interrupts the party, and Charlie directs him to the bomb. After checking to make sure everyone's all right and freeing Charlie, Batman goes off in pursuit of the Joker, effortlessly taking out his goons (including Harley) and tracking the giggling madman into a temple the Peregrinator's Club reconstructed. After avoiding a few deathtraps and close calls, Batman manages to push Joker into the street, where he meets Charlie.
Driven to mad desperation by the Joker's machinations, Charlie has taken one of Joker's bombs and plans on killing them both. Suddenly the disdainful and mocking Joker is reduced to gibbering pleading as Charlie menacingly advances to kill him with his own trap.
->'''Charlie:''' You see? I can destroy a man's dreams, too! And that's really the only dream you've got... ''isn't it?''
Batman shows up just in time, but despite his attempts to talk him down, Charlie refuses to stop, claiming that this is the only way his family stays safe. In desperation, Joker immediately takes all of the info on Charlie's family and frantically tosses it to Batman... at which point Charlie reveals that the bomb was a dud and his craziness an act all along, in order to get the Joker to give up the information.
->'''Charlie:''' Hey, Joker! Gotcha!
With the Joker thoroughly defeated and humiliated, Charlie earns a rare laugh from Batman and a new future as a free man. As Batman takes Joker away, Charlie wearily walks off happy to be able to see his family again... [[BookEnds even looking forward to having some of Bonnie's meatloaf...]]
This episode marks the first appearance of [[CanonImmigrant Harley Quinn]].
----
!!Tropes:
* AlliterativeName: Charlie Collins
* AdventurersClub: The Peregrinator's Club is an exclusive lounge for the wealthiest citizens of Gotham City. Originally used by adventurers and explorers, it later became home to the city's rich and affluent bluebloods. That would explain why on earth would the club had reconstructed a {{Mayincatec}} temple -- right down to the poison dart trap.
* AndYourLittleDogToo: Joker threats Charlie's wife and son.
* BadassNormal: Discussed. Batman says the other officers would disagree with Gordon's disgust at honoring him. The Commissioner retorts they should present Batman with the award, who declines, saying Gordon works around the clock fighting the loonies of Gotham.
* BatmanGambit: Charlie invokes HeWhoFightsMonsters as a way to bully the Joker into giving up all the info he has on him and his family.
* BecameTheirOwnAntithesis: Charlie Collins begins as an {{Everyman}} with a touch of UngratefulBastard (at least about his day-to-day life). By the end, he becomes an ActionSurvivor with a new appreciation of his life.
* BigEater: Bullock, to Montoya's disgust.
* BoobyTrap: The reconstructed temple is full of them.
* BookEnds:
** The episode begins with Charlie unhappy with his mundane life and the perspective of eating meatloaf for dinner, and ends with him happily going home and looking forward to Bonnie's meatloaf.
** Also the scenes of the Joker threatening Charlie and Charlie eventually threatening the Joker.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Joker's ultimate response to ruining Charlie's life and then killing him is akin to someone finishing off a collection -- the Joker simply decides to get a new hobby.
-->'''Joker:''' (''casually'') Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's... (''"dead" gesture'') ffft.\\
'''Harley:''' (''even more casual'' Macramé's nice.
* CanOnlyMoveTheEyes: The Joker's gas paralyzes people in this manner.
* CharacterDevelopment: Over the course of the episode, we see Charlie Collins evolve from a helpless victim when he meets the Joker, to a guy who seeks help in ingenious ways (when he manages to fake a batsignal) to a guy who manages to trick the Joker!
* ContinuityNod: Back ''to'' this episode, rather than from it. The Peregrinator's Club is later robbed by Harley and Poison Ivy in their self-titled episode.
* CorneredRattlesnake: After the Joker's attempt to kill Charlie, he realizes he must take other measures to protect his family.
* CurseCutShort: "Looks like I'll need to get a new hobby now that Charlie's ffft..." (mimes mushroom cloud)
* DartboardOfHate: The Joker is seen flinging darts at a newspaper's front-page photograph of Commissioner Gordon.
* DistantPrologue: Opens with Charlie Collins accidentally cursing out the Joker, leading him to be forcibly hired by the Clown Prince of Crime to do a favor that he has not thought of yet. It takes 2 years for "Mistah J." to think of something and track Collins down.
* DrivenToMadness: Invoked by Charlie Collins in his last confrontation with the Joker.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Charlie has to assume control of the situation to save himself and his family. He defeats the Joker while Batman is a mere spectator.
* EntitledBastard: Just after another attempt against Batman's life, who is the guy the Joker asks for help when Charlie threatens to kill him?
* {{Everyman}} / {{Muggle}} / ThisLoserIsYou: Charlie, an average man who lives an average life that Joker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless".
* ExactWords:
** Charlie caps off his rant at being cut off with, "if I had my 2 cents, I'd--" before noticing who he's dealing with. When the Joker later catches up to him, he throws two pennies at Charlie's feet and ominously dares Charlie to do something to him.
** Also:
--->'''Charlie:''' Wait! [[YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo You promised to send me home!]]\\
'''Joker:''' I never said ''alive!''
* FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life".
* FairCop: Harley disguises herself as one.
* FalseCameraEffects: When the Joker threatens Charlie Collin's family by phone, the camera's depth of field moves from Charlie inside his house to his wife and son outside; when he hangs up, it shifts to Charlie again.
* FauxAffablyEvil: This is the episode that cemented that aspect of the Joker's characterization. Once Charlie calls him out for being rude, the Joker acts as a model driver.
-->'''Joker:''' Jumping Jiminy Christmas, Charlie Collins! It's been forever! How are you man? You look great! Lost a little weight. [[StealthInsult Lost a little hair too]]. Oh Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. So, [[DealWithTheDevil ready to do me that little favor?]]
* FlawExploitation: Charlie wins his BatmanGambit by exploiting Joker's dream about kill or be killed by the Batman (TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou) and his belief that [[ComicBook/TheKillingJoke everybody is only a "bad day" away from where the Joker is]], by invoking HeWhoFightsMonsters and NotSoDifferent.
* FleetingPassionateHobbies: Darkly invoked by the Joker in Charlie's case; see ButForMeItWasTuesday.
* ForTheEvulz / EvilIsPetty: The only reason Joker keeps stalking and threatening Charlie all those years, just to kill him anyway. More so than most of his other appearances, this episode shows just how needlessly cruel the DCAU Joker can be, simply because it amuses him.
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** Joker saying that Charlie is "ffff...ked."
** Harley posing as a police stripper.
* TheHeckler: Charlie Collins realizes the only way to truly inspire fear into the Joker is stealing his act by menacing Joker's only dream: his FinalFight with Batman.
* HeroicHeelizationSpeech: Charlie gives one of these to ''the Joker'' of all people, after Joker has terrorized him and his family for years.
-->'''Joker:''' You miserable little nobody! If I get caught, your wife and son are history!\\
'''Charlie:''' You're not getting caught. Not this time. I found this blown out of the van. (''reveals a Joker bomb'') This is how it ends, Joker. No big schemes. No grand fight to the finish with the Dark Knight. Tomorrow all the papers will say is that the great Joker was found blown to bits in an alley alongside a miserable little nobody. Kinda funny. Ironic really. See, I can destroy a man's dreams too, and that's really the only dream you've got? Isn't it?
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Invoked by Charlie, and the Joker believes it!
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane Y-you're crazy!]]\\
'''Charlie:''' [[HeWhoFightsMonsters I had a good teacher!]] (''chuckles nastily'') [[TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Joker is ultimately beaten and humiliated by one of his own dud bombs.
* HoldingOutForAHero: When Charlie sees Batman at the paper, he tries to call him to take care of the Joker... only after Joker's KickTheDog moment does Charlie realizes that ''he'', and not any other, must stop his tormentor.
* HopeSpot: Just when Collins believes he has lost the Joker, his station wagon appears from nowhere. Collins tries to approach two policemen at the airport, only to be intercepted by Harley.
* HourglassPlot: Current Trope Illustrator for that page!
* IgnoredVitalNewsReports: {{Everyman}} Charlie Collin's car's radio broadcast the last part of the bulletin announcing ''someone'' has escaped and is considered armed and dangerous. Charlie, not being a {{Superhero}}, only cares that this would aggravate the traffic jam he's in and goes in a [[RantInducingSlight Slight-Induced Rant]] [[TemptingFate on how his life sucks]]. Some minutes later, he will be [[MuggingTheMonster Mugging the Joker]]...
* IronicEcho:
** At the highway:
--->'''Charlie:''' Hey buddy! Yeah, I'm talking to ''you,'' clown! You think you own the whole road? Well, for two cents I...\\
(''after a frenetic chase'')\\
'''Joker:''' There's your two cents. Now, what are you going to do to me?
** Charlie tries to justify his road rage with "I had a bad day". When the Joker tries to convince Charlie not to kill him, he mentions Charlie has had "a... busy day".
** When The Joker threatens Charlie's family, calling him a "miserable little nobody", Charlie throws those ExactWords back at him when he threatens to blow them both up.
* JumpingOutOfACake: The Joker.
* LackOfEmpathy: The Joker holds off on killing Charlie in favor of stalking him for years, forcing him to move and change identities. When he brings Charlie back, it's to do a seemingly pointless task which is actually just an excuse to kill him anyway. The kicker is that this was never anything of note to the Joker, he just regarded this as a hobby... something to do for a laugh when it dawns on Charlie that the whole thing was meaningless.
* {{Leitmotif}}: It's ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', so [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auVb6XQLRR0 Charlie has one]]. It's a whistling tune (backed by tuba!) used in increasingly ominous ways as things go sour.
* MacGuffin / MacGuffinTitle: Joker's favor was only an excuse for Joker to KickTheDog.
* MuggingTheMonster: Charlie Collins gives a RantInducingSlight to a unknown motorist... who is the Joker. See OhCrap.
* MusicalisInterruptus: Charlie's ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver''-esque {{Leitmotif}} suddenly stops dead as he realizes, [[OhCrap with a look of horror upon his face,]] that two of the Joker's underlings have managed to track him down to Ohio after living for two years in some form of peace and quiet under a new name.
* MyCarHatesMe: When Charlie flees from the Joker (breaking through a fence to do so), his car starts to sputter going up a steep hill. Charlie prays: "Go, go, go... come on!". [[SubvertedTrope However,]] when the radiator overheats and his car stops, Charlie simply gets out of the car and runs for it.
* NoDelaysForTheWicked / ImplacableMan / OffscreenTeleportation: The Joker manages to find Charlie wherever he goes, no matter Charlie's maneuvers to lose him.
* NotSoDifferent: Charlie is an average man who lives an average life that SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker derides as "mundane" and "meaningless", his only dream to be with his family. He's nothing more than a hobby for the Joker. It turns out that the Joker's dreams are pretty petty too: [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou to kill, or be killed by the Batman]]...
-->'''Charlie:''' You see? I can destroy a man's dreams, too!
* NotSoStoic: Charles Collins's revenge on Joker in "Joker's Favor" gets a brief chuckle out of Batman.
* OffscreenTeleportation: Joker takes a page out of Droopy's book when Charlie first tries to get away from him. No matter how far Charlie drives, how many twists and turns he takes, Joker always ends up right next to him -- smiling.
* OhCrap:
** Charlie Collins:
-->'''Charlie:''' That was The Joker! I cursed out The Joker!
** The Joker:
-->'''Joker:''' Stop! [[YoureInsane You're crazy]]
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Genially exploited and lampshaded by [[ThisLoserIsYou "miserable little nobody"]] Charlie Collins when he snaps and becomes a CorneredRattlesnake [[TakingYouWithMe willing to take the Joker with him]] in a HeroicSacrifice. [[Awesome/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Collins manages to inspire fear in a psychopath by menacing the only real dream he has.]]
* {{Pastiche}}: This episode shares a lot of the tropes with Creator/AlfredHitchcock SignatureStyle:
** ActionSurvivor: Charlie Collins fits the Hitchcockian pattern of an ordinary man, through one bad turn, falling into extraordinary circumstances and fighting his way out.
** BlackComedy: So, did you find the episode funny? Just ask Charlie Collins how much fun he had!
** DramaticIrony: A lot of times, Hitchcock placed his heroes in formal social gatherings, where they conceal something dark and horrible and yet can't tell a soul:
*** The police cars and the batmobile run to chase the joker... when he is right behind them in a station wagon.
*** Charlie realizes he has [[MuggingTheMonster Mugged the Joker]] and tries desperately to escape him, while the other motorists, trapped in boredom, don't even pay attention to him.
*** When the Joker menaces Charlie by phone, FalseCameraEffects uses Emphasis by Focus, showing the audience that Charlie has to hide the peril he faces from his own family.
*** A police convention proves to be the most dangerous spot in the city.
*** Charlie cannot tell any policeman the peril they all face, because the Joker's minions are watching him.
** FadeToBlack: The last shot of the episode is Charlie entering the shadows and vanishing into silhouette, symbolizing his return to his "mundane and meaningless little life".
** HopeSpot: Just when Collins believes he has lost the Joker, his station wagon appears from nowhere. Collins tries to approach two policemen at the airport, only to be intercepted by Harley. Charlie always hoped the Joker would spare him, even trying to justify himself before Batman.
** MacGuffin / MacGuffinTitle: Joker's favor was only an excuse for Joker to KickTheDog.
** TheOner: There is one take at the Peregrinator's Club when the way the camera goes from being placed on Bruce and Gordon only to pan down past the legs of a passerby to see little Charlie Collins emerge from a door in the background.
** ThePeepingTom: Charlie Collin is spied by The Joker for ''two years'' to ensure he will not break his [[DealWithTheDevil Deal with the Joker]].
** PoliceAreUseless: Just moments after police cars and the Batmobile had pushed aside Charlie Collin's car at the highway, Charlie asks "''Where'd all the cops go?''" when the Joker was chasing him. The entire police department could have been killed if not for Batman.
* PerspectiveFlip: This episode tells the tale from the point of view of the {{Everyman}} citizen HoldingOutForAHero that has has aroused the wrath of the SuperVillain and must become an ActionSurvivor.
* PlayingTheVictimCard:
** Harley tries this on Batman.
--->'''Harley:''' I know. You're thinking, "What a shame. A pure, innocent little thing like her led astray by bad companions." (''grabs a knife, but Batman stops her'')\\
'''Batman:''' Right. Tell me another. (''handcuffs Harley and goes after Joker'')\\
'''Harley:''' Beauty school is looking good right about now.
** Charlie Collins also invokes it when he confess Batman he helped Joker with his plans.
--->'''Charlie:''' Watching me for two years, like a Bug in a Jar, watching, laughing and threatening my family. I had no choice Batman, really!
* PoisonDart: The Peregrinator's Club has reconstructed a {{Mayincatec}} temple, right down to re-poisoning the darts in the traps, which Joker uses to his advantage. The Joker have probably fixed this up beforehand.
* RantInducingSlight: Getting cut off on the freeway leads to a rant by Charlie, which leads to a much, much worse reaction than usual. Also, Joker's reason for trying to kill everyone at the testimonial is supposedly that he wasn't invited.
* TheRealHeroes: The episode's CentralTheme. The subplot mentions that Gordon doesn't think he deserves an homage, but Batman remarks that Gordon deals with Gotham's insanity 24/7 and he just pulls a night shift. And Charlie, an example of ThisLoserIsYou, defeats the Joker.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: The Joker gets a pretty good one from Charlie.
* RevengeSVP: Though it's more likely he's merely taking the opportunity to kill Gordon while his guard is down, Joker claims that he plans to attack Gordon's testimonial simply because he wasn't invited.
* ShoutOut:
** One of Joker's mooks reads a ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' comic in one scene, one of many references in the series as the two shared several writers and producers.
** "[[Radio/TheBurnsAndAllenShow Say goodnight, Gracie!]]"
** "Now listen, [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charlie Brown]]!"
** The Joker's two mooks, Rocko and Henshaw, are named for characters from ''Series/ThePhilSilversShow''.
* StockPhrases:
-->'''Charlie:''' Please don't, {{I have a family}}, a wife, a little boy! {{Please I will do anything}} to make it up, anything!
* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: When Batman meets Charlie Collins, he is a pathetic victim of the Joker who is HoldingOutForAHero and could have helped the Joker to kill a lot of people. When Batman meets him again at the alley, Batman calls him ''Charlie''. After Charlie confronts the Joker and pranks him with a bomb, Batman addresses him as ''Mr. Collins''.
* TemptingFate: Said by Charlie just before everything went to hell.
-->'''Charlie:''' When exactly did I became [[TheChewToy life's punching bag]]?
* TookALevelInBadass:
** Charlie attempts this at the start of the episode. Big mistake.
--->'''Charlie:''' Oh, so that's it! No signals! No nothing! Just push me aside! Treat me like I don't exist! Well, not this time.
** At the end of the episode, Charlie takes it for real.
--->'''Charlie:''' Hold it!\\
'''Joker:''' (''pats his head'') Oh, come now. (''walks away'')\\
'''Charlie:''' I said HOLD IT!! (''punches Joker in the gut'')
* VillainousBreakdown: The Joker has a funny one, being bullied by Charlie Collins and [[EntitledBastard calling Batman for help!]]
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: More like a case of "what might ''not'' have been". The whole reason Harley Quinn was designed for this episode (designed at all, for that matter) was because at first, the writers thought having the Joker jump out of the cake himself would be silly (even though that's how it actually went in the final draft) so they designed a perky female henchman with the intention of her doing that job. She may never have done the role she was designed for, but several episodes of CharacterDevelopment later, Harley had become a vital part of the Batman mythos.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Averted when a FreezeFrameBonus of Charlie Collins' driver license reads: Charlie Collins, Woodrust Drive, '''Gotham States, N. Y.'''
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