Line #6 Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE38HeartOfSteelPart1


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heart_of_steel_title_card.png]]
2	Some time ago, robotics pioneer Karl Rossum's daughter was killed in a car accident. In his grief, Rossum created humanoid robots that would not have flaws such as death or poor driving skills. His supercomputer, H.A.R.D.A.C., has taken the idea and run with it, planning to replace the flawed human race with perfect robot duplicates. Batman gets involved when one of H.A.R.D.A.C.'s small spy robots steals some valuable Wayne technology to further its scheme.
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5	!!Tropes in this episode include:
6	* ActorAllusion: Creator/WilliamSanderson's character is a guy who [[Film/BladeRunner is heavily involved in robotics, having built some of the most advanced models and also created a bunch of small toy-like robots to keep him company at home]]. He's also an InkSuitActor.
7	* AIIsACrapshoot: H.A.R.D.A.C. pursues its goal with a computer's single-mindedness, not letting such considerations as whether said goal is a good idea or not stop it.
8	* ArtificialIntelligence
9	* CensorSteam: Some ''very'' well placed steam hides the Gordon robot's nether regions as it comes out of H.A.R.D.A.C.'s press.
10	* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Randa Duane's design is based on Creator/MarilynMonroe.
11	* CyberCyclops: H.A.R.D.A.C. has a single glowing red eye high up on its giant mainframe, reminiscent of [[Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey HAL 9000]].
12	* DeceptivelyHumanRobots: The duplicants perfectly copy their originals' face and voice, but some display more personality than others. The Gordon robot has no warmth to it at all, while Randa Duane puts on a much better façade.
13	* DissonantSerenity: Randa Duane, in a disturbing manner. She is quite charming, and even displays humor, when interacting with Bruce Wayne, but becomes completely cold and indifferent when left alone, not moving a single facial muscle even when making the sensational discovery that Bruce is Batman.
14	* FunWithAcronyms: H.A.R.D.A.C. stands for '''H'''olographic '''A'''nalytical '''R'''eciprocating '''D'''igit'''A'''l '''C'''omputer.
15	* MetaCasting: Creator/WilliamSanderson playing a near-{{Expy}} of [[Film/BladeRunner J.F. Sebastian]].
16	* OutOfCharacterAlert: Barbara begins to notice something's off about her dad when the robot duplicate throws her teddy off the couch, since Gordon likes to keep it nearby.
17	-->'''Barbara:''' Dad?\
18	'''"Gordon":''' ''[reading the newspaper]'' I said, I'm fine.
19	* RobotMe
20	* SeeThruSpecs: The Randa Duane duplicant uses these to locate Wayne's backup files--and then she spots the hidden staircase to the Batcave behind the bookshelf.
21	* SequelHook: Randa finds the Batcave and figures out that Bruce Wayne is Batman. This becomes an important plot point for the later episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE62HisSiliconSoul His Silicon Soul]]."
22	* ShoutOut: A boatload--''[[Theatre/{{RUR}} R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)]]'' (Karl Rossum, the license plate "RUR"), ''Film/BladeRunner'' ("Duplicants"), ''Film/{{Metropolis}}'' (Randa Duane's jumpsuit), ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' (the scene at Commissioner Gordon's house), ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'' (Cybertron Industries), ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' (H.A.R.D.A.C.'s HAL 9000–esque red eye)...
23	* UncannyValley: The Gordon robot easily passes for human, but those who interact with it at length (and know Gordon well) realize that something is ''off''.
24	* VerbalTic: "I'm fine."

Context Recap / BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE38HeartOfSteelPart1