Scarface has been caught, with him and Wesker sent to Arkham Asylum. Wesker hopes to build a new life without his partner in crime, and to be a normal puppeteer. Scarface begs to differ, however, especially when Dr. Strange gets involved.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Wesker gets one that gives him pause.Strange: Tell me, why do you allow him to speak to you that way?
- Bait-and-Switch: When spying on Wesker, Batman sees him pulling a puppet out of his bag and leaps in, assuming the worst. It soon transpires that the former Ventriloquist has returned to his children’s entertainer job with a new puppet.
- Big Damn Heroes: Batman (and Mr. Snoots) show up in time to stop Scarface from killing Wesker, believing him to be the mole.
- Bittersweet Ending: Unlike Scarface’s previous outing, this episode just barely avoids a Downer Ending. Arnold loses both Scarface and Mr. Snoots, leaving him in tears. But due to Arnold claiming that "he was the best," Batman realizes that there’s hope for Arnold to live a normal life, should he be referring to Mr. Snoots.
- Chronic Villainy: Double-subverted. Wesker manages to build a good life for himself without Scarface, until Strange brings the latter back into Wesker's life.
- Deadpan Snarker: When Strange asks the therapy group he's working with to have a talk with their inner "Innocent Voice", Joker makes this comment.Joker: (Beat) Mine's not talking! Must be a mime.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Mr. Snoots battles Scarface when the latter ties Wesker to the train tracks, leading to both of their "deaths". Wesker breaks down into tears.
- Hypocritical Humor:
- During the group therapy session, Scarface says he doesn't belong in Arkham with these nutjobs.
- When Batman chastises Strange's methods, Strange lampshades he's being told this by a man dressed like a bat.
- I Did What I Had to Do: When confronted, Strange admits to planting Scarface in Wesker's apartment and justifies it by saying he had to be sure the treatment had worked. Batman is dubious at best and warns him to watch his step.
- Karma Houdini: Strange for sabotaging Wesker's return to sanity and his new career as a children's entertainer. Batman does warn him that he'll be watching, and Strange seems to relish the challenge.
- The Mole: Scarface suspects one of his goons of tipping off the police when Batman interferes with their heist sooner than expected.
- Morally Ambiguous Doctorate: A psychiatrist that messes with a patient when the latter is no longer in his care definitely carries this label.
- Mythology Gag: The plot this time is a mix of the Ventriloquist's last appearance (Wesker tries to go straight, only to lapse into Chronic Villainy due to a third party) and first (Batman thwarts a heist, causing Scarface to think "the Dummy" is a snitch) in Batman: The Animated Series.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Scarface when disguised as Mr. Snoots is unable to be as cheerful, plus you can still see his Nightmare Face.
- Properly Paranoid: Batman knows Strange sabotaged Wesker's rehabilitation and promises to be watching him.
- Replacement Goldfish: Wesker after getting released gets a new puppet that is a Nice Guy, Mr. Snoots, who is a Friend to All Living Things.
- Shout-Out: As Arnold insists to Scarface that he's not The Mole, Scarface rebuffs him with: "I know it was you, Arnie! You broke my heart! YOU BROKE MY HEART!"
- Split Personality: Wesker ends up developing a third, more heroic one, in the form of Mr. Snoots.
- Tropaholics Anonymous: Strange holds a group therapy session in Arkham, asking them to search for that innocent voice deep inside and to share with the others. Joker remarks he doesn't hear anything, and Scarface gets into it with Penguin.
- Wham Shot:
- Batman thinking Wesker has returned to his criminal ways, only to find that Wesker has gotten a new puppet.
- Mr. Snoots lying in the freezer like a dead body, and Scarface waiting for Wesker.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Strange helps Wesker break free of his attachment to Scarface, only to sabotage him for no other reason than because he could.
- Your Favorite: Mr. Snoots' favorite meal is chocolate chip pancakes.
