Recap / Batman The Brave And The Bold S 3 E 7 Sword Of The Atom

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• Big Damn Heroes: A flashback shows that Ray saved Batman from the frog.
• Chekhov's Gun: Ryan uses the poison taken from the frog to incapacitate Daeragis during the climax.
• Deadpan Snarker: Mera in response to Aquaman forgetting their anniversary.
• Don't Explain the Joke: Aquaman claims he will travel through the phone line in order to speak to Ryan in person. As Ryan insists that's not possible both because that's not his power and that they're talking on cell phones, Aquaman sneaks in through the door and surprises him.
  Aquaman: I was outside the whole time!
• Easily Impressed: After Daeragis is brought to justice, Laethwen is satisfied with Batman, Atom (both Ryan and Ray), and Aquaman's efforts at stopping him.
• Everybody Hates Mathematics: Ryan gave up being a hero because he finds his research work more interesting and gets a thrill out of doing equations. Naturally, Aquaman doesn't see it the same way.
  Ryan: Are you even listening?
  Aquaman: No, I stopped once you started babbling on about math.
• Expository Theme Song: Aquaman sings one for The Currys of Atlantis.
• Flashback: The main story opens with Batman narrating one covering his past team-ups with Ray Palmer, Ryan taking over for a retired Ray before retiring himself, and Batman beginning a search for Ray. A couple other flashbacks are interspersed to show how Batman's search went.
• Funny Background Event: Aquaman sneaking up behind Ryan, during their Short-Distance Phone Call.
• Hypocritical Humor: At the start of their jungle trek, Ryan is dressed like any normal civilian would for such an occasion. Aquaman (in his orange and green duds) remarks he looks ridiculous and advises at least adding a cape.
• I Choose to Stay: Ray is content to stay in Morlaidh with Laethwen. After all, Ryan had a change of heart, so he figures he's not needed, anyway.
• Inksuit Actor: Laethwen looks like a brownish-red haired, mustard yellow skinned version of her voice actress Gabrielle Carteris animated in the show's art style.
• Lampshade Hanging:
  • When Aquaman insists he wear a conventional superhero outfit, Ryan refuses both because he's retired and because he likes wearing clothes with pockets.
  • Ryan can't believe that Aquaman can summon and command silverfish, to which Aquaman responds that "a fish is a fish, even if it's a bug." An irritated Ryan would rather just go with it than dwell any further on this.
  • Batman and Aquaman escape the web by the former electrocuting the spider. Ryan questions how they're both wearing electrically-insulated boot soles, but Aquaman says that's a standard part of any good costume.
• Official Couple: After Daeragis is brought to justice, Laethwen offers Atom (Ray Palmer) to stay behind, an offer he takes her up on and the two can resume their relationship, knowing Daeragis has been brought to justice and will never get in the way of their happiness.
• Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Faced with a poison dart frog looking to eat them, Aquaman remarks that he never trusts any amphibians.
  Aquaman: Never trust an amphibian. Land or water: choose a side!
• Retired Badass:
  • Ray retired at some point before the series began, though life in the jungle still means some action now and then.
  • Aquaman's view of Ryan. He might not think much of shrinking power, but he feels Ryan has the heart of a hero and can still accomplish a lot more good. The episode ends with Ryan coming out of retirement.
• Short-Distance Phone Call: Aquaman pranks Ryan by calling his cell phone and announcing that he'll be arriving via Telephone Teleport in a moment. Ryan exasperatedly points out that that's his power, not Aquaman's, and that it doesn't work over a cell phone in any case. Meanwhile, Aquaman walks in from the next room.
• Sitcom Archnemesis: Black Manta's role in Aquaman's sitcom. He plants a bomb in Aquaman's mailbox (again) as payback for Fluke ruining his octopus garden.
• So Proud of You: Aquaman, while Ryan (back in his Atom gear) takes on Chronos.
• Special Guest: Parodied in Aquaman's sitcom with Batman getting loud applause for his brief appearance.
• Studio Audience: Parodied with Aquaman's sitcom.
• Swallowed Whole: Ryan fears the frog got Batman. Doubting this, Aquaman lets the frog swallow him and punches its insides while checking the stomach.
• This Is Gonna Suck: Ryan upon getting a phone call from Aquaman.
• You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Aquaman thinks Ryan is capable of so much more than a mundane life in the lab and keeps pushing him to embrace his calling as a superhero. Ultimately, Ryan does and resumes being the Atom.