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Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid [[StrategySchmategy fumbles around]], which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
to:
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid [[StrategySchmategy fumbles around]], which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, NoOneCouldSurviveThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). [[Main/Foreshadowing Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit"]]. Anyway, Joker's a smart guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
to:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). [[Main/Foreshadowing [[Main/{{Foreshadowing}} Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit"]]. Anyway, Joker's a smart guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The tack on Joker's hand when Sidney goes to shake it is a sign that Joker's [[{{Understatement}} not too happy]] with Sidney, along with the noticable pause in Joker's voice as he says the word "Killed" in a TitleDrop.
Deleted line(s) 76 (click to see context) :
* {{Foreshadowing}}: The tack on Joker's hand when Sidney goes to shake it is a sign that Joker's [[{{Understatement}} not too happy]] with Sidney, along with the noticable pause in Joker's voice as he says the word "Killed" in a TitleDrop.
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* ForTheEvulz: This episode pretty much cements this trope as the Joker's MO, with him lamenting that robbing a jewelry store just isn't the same without someone like Batman to piss off in the process, to the point where he orders his gang to put the diamonds they were planning to steal back.
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* SlouchOfVillainy: The Joker is sitting in the shadows on a chair shaped like his face as he is introduced to Sid The Squid.
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Changed line(s) 75 (click to see context) from:
* Main/Foreshadowing: The tack on Joker's hand when Sidney goes to shake it is a sign that Joker's [[Main/Understatement not too happy]] with Sidney, along with the noticable pause in Joker's voice as he says the word "Killed" in a TitleDrop.
to:
* Main/Foreshadowing: {{Foreshadowing}}: The tack on Joker's hand when Sidney goes to shake it is a sign that Joker's [[Main/Understatement [[{{Understatement}} not too happy]] with Sidney, along with the noticable pause in Joker's voice as he says the word "Killed" in a TitleDrop.
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That has nothing to do with that trope.
Deleted line(s) 120 (click to see context) :
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: The whole episode is more than likely the TropeCodifier with a twist: Using AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, if you believe Thorne is the BigBad (the leader of the drug ring), this trope is averted because Batman gave Thorne a truly epic CurbStompBattle, but if you chose Sid as the BigBad (the InvincibleIncompetent who fulfilled his dream to be FromNobodyToNightmare), then this trope was played straight because Sid was the only {{mook|s}} who was ''not'' beaten at the show.
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Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit". Anyway, Joker's a smart guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
to:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). [[Main/Foreshadowing Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit".habit"]]. Anyway, Joker's a smart guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
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* Main/Foreshadowing: The tack on Joker's hand when Sidney goes to shake it is a sign that Joker's [[Main/Understatement not too happy]] with Sidney, along with the noticable pause in Joker's voice as he says the word "Killed" in a TitleDrop.
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Misuse. It\'s Genre Savvy, not just \"savvy\".
Changed line(s) 18,19 (click to see context) from:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit". Anyway, Joker's a GenreSavvy guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
to:
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit". Anyway, Joker's a GenreSavvy smart guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
Deleted line(s) 76,77 (click to see context) :
* GenreSavvy:
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He's never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There's a certain rhythm to these things.]] [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He's never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There's a certain rhythm to these things.]] [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
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Deleted line(s) 78 (click to see context) :
** When Sid finishes telling his story to Rupert, he immediately gets suspicious that Sid could be ''that'' lucky. He's quickly proven right when Batman bursts in and tells Sid he was trailing him all day after he supposedly died.
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** When Sid finishes telling his story to Rupert, he immediately gets suspicious that Sid could be ''that'' lucky. He's quickly proven right when Batman bursts in and tells Sid he was trailing him all day after he supposedly died.
Changed line(s) 123 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Rubert Thorne:''' You think I didn't hear the rumors of the third-rate stumblebum who rubbed out the Batman? And now you say you "ACCIDENTALLY" made a fool of the Joker? No-one's that lucky OR stupid!\\
to:
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Despite his name being mentioned, Gordon isn\'t in the episode.
Changed line(s) 114 (click to see context) from:
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: A nobody mob underling, "Sid the Squid", acts as the lookout on a job in which Batman is apparently killed. From Sid's perspective, Bats fell into a gas explosion, but everyone else thought Sid pushed him. He has to deal with a jealous Joker, an obsessed Commissioner Gordon, and a few rival mob bosses who can't believe his story. The producers admitted that this episode was an experiment to see if they could make a good episode with Batman appearing as little as possible (indeed, Batman only appears for about three minutes total in this episode). Arguably, they succeeded.
to:
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: A nobody mob underling, "Sid the Squid", acts as the lookout on a job in which Batman is apparently killed. From Sid's perspective, Bats fell into a gas explosion, but everyone else thought Sid pushed him. He has to deal with a jealous Joker, an obsessed Commissioner Gordon, angry Harvey Bullock, and a few rival mob bosses who can't believe his story. The producers admitted that this episode was an experiment to see if they could make a good episode with Batman appearing as little as possible (indeed, Batman only appears for about three minutes total in this episode). Arguably, they succeeded.
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** There is also the couple of Yiddish insults that the Joker slings Sid's way during his eulogy, most importantly "gunsel" (''maybe'' he's using it in the kind-of-current-pulp-fiction-way that means "goon", but its original meaning being a rude name for homosexuals...)
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* StrategySchmategy: When Batman shows up, Sid fumbles around as he frantically tries to escape. To the rest of the gang watching from the street below, it looks like he's actually putting up a decent fight.
-->Sid's taking on the Batman! The little weasel's got guts! [[FearlessFool No brains, but guts!]]
-->Sid's taking on the Batman! The little weasel's got guts! [[FearlessFool No brains, but guts!]]
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Changed line(s) 77 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He has never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There is a certain rhythm to this things]], [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
to:
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He has He's never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There is There's a certain rhythm to this things]], these things.]] [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
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Changed line(s) 122,123 (click to see context) from:
* YouExclamation
to:
* YouExclamation
YouExclamation: Thorne when the very-much-alive Batman kicks in his door.
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Changed line(s) 32,37 (click to see context) from:
As the acid starts dissolving the coffin, things look pretty grim for Sid until suddenly the lid opens and he finds himself on the Gotham River bank, which he attributes to the coffin being sucked down a drain pipe. He decides he needs to get out of town, so he calls Eddie to set him up with the leader of the drug ring...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story. Unfortunately Thorne drops the friendly tone he had thus far and suddenly becomes hostile: he doesn't believe that Sid managed to kill Batman AND make a fool of the Joker by complete accident since "no one is that lucky OR stupid!". He accuses Sidney of "[[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]]" to muscle in on his drug racket and draws a gun on Sid offering to get him out of Gotham... "in a pine box!" Suddenly gunshots and fighting sounds are heard from the next room, which can mean only [[HesBack one thing...]]
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring. It was also Batman who saved Sidney from the acid. Sidney thanks Batman and tries to leave... but Batman stops him, pointing out Sid is still an accomplice to the gang. However, he also points out that "in the right environment" someone with Sid's "dangerous reputation" can get "a lot of respect"...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story. Unfortunately Thorne drops the friendly tone he had thus far and suddenly becomes hostile: he doesn't believe that Sid managed to kill Batman AND make a fool of the Joker by complete accident since "no one is that lucky OR stupid!". He accuses Sidney of "[[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]]" to muscle in on his drug racket and draws a gun on Sid offering to get him out of Gotham... "in a pine box!" Suddenly gunshots and fighting sounds are heard from the next room, which can mean only [[HesBack one thing...]]
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring. It was also Batman who saved Sidney from the acid. Sidney thanks Batman and tries to leave... but Batman stops him, pointing out Sid is still an accomplice to the gang. However, he also points out that "in the right environment" someone with Sid's "dangerous reputation" can get "a lot of respect"...
to:
As the acid starts dissolving the coffin, things look pretty grim for Sid until suddenly the lid opens and he finds himself on the Gotham River bank, which he attributes to the coffin being sucked down a drain pipe.drainpipe. He decides he needs to get out of town, so he calls Eddie to set him up with the leader of the drug ring...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story.Unfortunately Unfortunately, Thorne drops the friendly tone he had thus far and suddenly becomes hostile: he doesn't believe that Sid managed to kill Batman AND make a fool of the Joker by complete accident since "no one is that lucky OR stupid!". stupid!" He accuses Sidney of "[[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]]" to muscle in on his drug racket and draws a gun on Sid offering to get him out of Gotham... "in a pine box!" Suddenly gunshots and fighting sounds are heard from the next room, which can mean only [[HesBack one thing...]]
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring.It was also Batman who also saved Sidney from the acid. Sidney thanks Batman and tries to leave... but Batman stops him, pointing out Sid is still an accomplice to the gang. However, he also points out that "in the right environment" someone with Sid's "dangerous reputation" can get "a lot of respect"...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story.
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring.
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Changed line(s) 115,116 (click to see context) from:
* UnintentionallyNotoriousCrime: Sid the Squid takes part in a small-time drug run but (apparently) accidentally kills the Caped Crusader himself.
* VillainEpisode
* VillainEpisode
to:
* UnintentionallyNotoriousCrime: Sid the Squid takes part in a small-time drug run but (apparently) accidentally kills the Caped Crusader himself.
himself.
*VillainEpisodeVillainCred: Sid ends up going to prison, but he's happy -- the other prisoners respect him for ''almost'' killing Batman and making fools of the Joker and Boss Thorne.
* VillainEpisode: The episode follows Sid's misadventures; Batman appears only briefly at the beginning and end.
*
* VillainEpisode: The episode follows Sid's misadventures; Batman appears only briefly at the beginning and end.
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* FakingTheDead: Batman takes advantage of the situation by letting everybody think he's dead while he tracks Sid to find out who's running the drug ring.
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Changed line(s) 30,31 (click to see context) from:
->'''Joker:''' (''sigh'') [[MoodWhiplash Well, that was fun! Who's for Chinese?]]
to:
->'''Joker:''' (''sigh'') (''sigh'') ...[[MoodWhiplash Well, that was fun! Who's for Chinese?]]
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* PyrrhicVictory: Sid's (apparent) triumph brings him nothing but trouble -- other petty crooks want a piece of him to establish their own VillainCred, police attention is focused on finding him, the Joker tries to kill him for [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou stealing his ultimate triumph]], and Boss Thorne concludes that he's [[ObfuscatingStupidity trying to put one over on him]]. Inverted in the end when he goes to prison with an impressive reputation among the other prisoners.
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Changed line(s) 9,10 (click to see context) from:
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid fumbles around, which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
to:
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid [[StrategySchmategy fumbles around, around]], which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
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Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
* GratuitousSpanish: Montoya mutters "Madre de Dios"[[note]]Mother of God[[/note]] upon learning of Batman's ''death.''
to:
* GratuitousSpanish: Montoya mutters "Madre de Dios"[[note]]Mother of God[[/note]] upon learning of Batman's ''death.''"death".
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** WordOfGod claims this was partially unintentional: they had come up with "Harleen Quinzel" as a SueDonym and only later on did they decide to make it her real name.
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Changed line(s) 7,8 (click to see context) from:
Sidney only stammers nervously at that statement, and even halfway denies that it is true, before explaining that he is in big trouble. He then [[HowWeGotHere starts telling his story]].
to:
Sidney only stammers nervously at that statement, and even halfway denies that it is true, before explaining that he is in big trouble. He then [[HowWeGotHere starts telling his story]].
Changed line(s) 101 (click to see context) from:
* OminousPipeOrgan: The opening theme and even Batman's theme is played with an organ. This is because this episode walks the edge on the SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror.
to:
* OminousPipeOrgan: The opening theme and even Batman's theme is played with an organ. This is because this episode walks the edge on the SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror.
Changed line(s) 109 (click to see context) from:
* SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror: This episode is a lot of fun, while you're not Sid. The OminousPipeOrgan should tip you that this is a MookHorrorShow, and even we see a guy in an acid DeathTrap from the victim's perspective!
to:
* SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror: This episode is a lot of fun, while you're not Sid. The OminousPipeOrgan should tip you that this is a MookHorrorShow, and even we see a guy in an acid DeathTrap from the victim's perspective!
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Added DiffLines:
* OminousPipeOrgan: The opening theme and even Batman's theme is played with an organ. This is because this episode walks the edge on the SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror.
Added DiffLines:
* SlidingScaleOfComedyAndHorror: This episode is a lot of fun, while you're not Sid. The OminousPipeOrgan should tip you that this is a MookHorrorShow, and even we see a guy in an acid DeathTrap from the victim's perspective!
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* ContinuityNod: Bullock nearly recognizes the uncostumed Harley, having seen her dressed as a policewoman in her debut episode.
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Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* AskAStupidQuestion: You'll get mawed by Joker's hyenas.
to:
* AskAStupidQuestion: You'll get mawed mauled by Joker's hyenas.
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Changed line(s) 24,25 (click to see context) from:
After escaping the police via a laughing gas bomb, Joker and the gang hold a little "memorial" for Batman at the Ace Chemical Plant. Batman's cape and cowl is placed inside a coffin on a conveyor belt to a vat of acid, to which Joker adds a "Kick Me"0 sign ("You put {{the fun in funeral}}," says Harley). The Clown Prince of Crime proceeds to give his eulogy:
to:
After escaping the police via a laughing gas bomb, Joker and the gang hold a little "memorial" for Batman at the Ace Chemical Plant. Batman's cape and cowl is placed inside a coffin on a conveyor belt to a vat of acid, to which Joker adds a "Kick Me"0 Me" sign ("You put {{the fun in funeral}}," says Harley). The Clown Prince of Crime proceeds to give his eulogy:
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Changed line(s) 90 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Joker:''' "[[WasntThatFun Well, that was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"//
to:
-->'''Joker:''' "[[WasntThatFun Well, that was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"//Chinese?"
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Changed line(s) 89,92 (click to see context) from:
* MoodWhiplash:
** InUniverse: "[[WasntThatFun Well, THAT was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"
** Another example InUniverse too:
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
** InUniverse: "[[WasntThatFun Well, THAT was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"
** Another example InUniverse too:
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
to:
* MoodWhiplash:
** InUniverse:MoodWhiplash: Two in-universe examples. After holding a "funeral" for Sid:
-->'''Joker:''' "[[WasntThatFun Well,THAT that was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"
Chinese?"//
**Another example InUniverse too:
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvilLater, once Sid has finished telling his story:
-->'''Thorne:''' [[FauxAffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
** InUniverse:
-->'''Joker:''' "[[WasntThatFun Well,
**
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvil
-->'''Thorne:''' [[FauxAffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
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Moving to proper recap title.
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[[quoteright:333:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Man_Who_Killed_Batman-Title_Card_925.png]]
We open with a terrified man running through the rainy streets of Gotham, as if being chased by someone. An issue of the ''Gotham Times'' floats by reading ''"BATMAN SLAIN? Mysterious Crime Fighter Missing"''. The man, Sidney [=Debris=], [[HarmlessVillain a small, bespectacled scaredy-cat]], eventually arrives at Rupert Thorne's mansion and requests to see him. Thorne agrees and despite Sidney's nervousness, Thorne greets him warmly. We then see the reason for such warmth:
->'''Thorne:''' I've heard you've made quite a name for yourself on the streets, Sidney. What is it they're calling you? Oh yes... "[[TitleDrop The Man Who Killed Batman]]".
Sidney only stammers nervously at that statement, and even halfway denies that it is true, before explaining that he is in big trouble. He then [[HowWeGotHere starts telling his story]].
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid fumbles around, which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
Sid, who all his life dreamed of being a "big shot", has apparently had his dream come true, and is being cheered by his fellow criminals in a bar celebration, with Batman's cape and cowl hanging by his chair. Unfortunately, the joy is short-lived since the minute someone calls him "the toughest guy in Gotham", some muscled thug comes along wanting to take out Sid in order to take that "title". A fight breaks out followed by the cops showing up and arresting everyone present, including Sid. While locking up the prisoners, Montoya gets the news from Bullock that Batman was killed by "some mastermind called 'the Squid'". Bullock starts demanding the prisoners give info on this "Squid" and zeroing in on a terrified Sid until a woman enters claiming to be Sid's attorney... [[ComicBook/HarleyQuinn Harleen Quinzel]]. Sid's bail has been paid and Harleen is requesting he be released. Bullock asks Quinzel if they met before but she simply retorts with "I served you a subpoena once. It was a small subpoena."
As Harleen and Sidney are being driven around, Sid wonders who could have bailed him out since his mother doesn't speak to him and his parole officer is still in jail. After complaining about Harleen's makeup choking up the air, she turns around revealing a familiar hat and black and white face paint...
->'''Harley:''' My boss likes me to wear a smile to work!\\
'''Sidney:''' Hey, I've seen you! You work for... ''[[[OhCrap gasp]]]'' ''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker!''
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit". Anyway, Joker's a GenreSavvy guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
While the cops amass outside the Exchange, Batman fails to show. Joker swings between nervousness, anger at Sid and finally sadness, over the fact that Batman is apparently really gone. He orders that Harley put back all the loot and utters the immortal line:
->'''Joker:''' [[AntagonistInMourning Without Batman, crime has no punchline.]]
After escaping the police via a laughing gas bomb, Joker and the gang hold a little "memorial" for Batman at the Ace Chemical Plant. Batman's cape and cowl is placed inside a coffin on a conveyor belt to a vat of acid, to which Joker adds a "Kick Me"0 sign ("You put {{the fun in funeral}}," says Harley). The Clown Prince of Crime proceeds to give his eulogy:
->'''Joker:''' Dear friends... Today is the day that the Clown cried. And he cries not for the passing of one man, but for the death of a dream. [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou The dream that he would someday taste the ultimate victory over his hated enemy]]. [[CreateYourOwnVillain For it was the Batman who made me the happy soul I am today]]. How I agonized over the perfect way to thank him for that. Perhaps with a cyanide pie in the face. Or an exploding whoopie-cushion playfully planted in the Batmobile. (''with growing anger'') But those dreams were dashed by the weaselly little gunsel sitting there in our midst. (''everyone starts moving away from Sid'') The cowardly insignificant gonif who probably got lucky when Batman slipped on the slime trail this loser left behind him. '''This mound of diseased hyena filth who's not fit to lick the dirt from my spats...!''' (''regains composure'') But I digress. The time for sorrow has passed. Its time to look to a future filled with smiles. (''threateningly'') And I'll be smiling again just as soon as we take that man THERE... (''points to Sid'') ...and slap him in that box THERE... (''points to Batman's coffin'') ...and roll him into that vat of acid THERE! (''points to said vat of acid'')
Joker's goons then proceed to lock Sid, who repeatedly and desperately screams that he is sorry for what he did, in the coffin and it's rolled into the [[AcidPool vat of acid]]... as Harley plays "[[AmazingFreakingGrace Amazing Grace]]" on ''the kazoo''. A tearful Joker watches as the coffin slowly sinks into the acid...
->'''Joker:''' (''sigh'') [[MoodWhiplash Well, that was fun! Who's for Chinese?]]
As the acid starts dissolving the coffin, things look pretty grim for Sid until suddenly the lid opens and he finds himself on the Gotham River bank, which he attributes to the coffin being sucked down a drain pipe. He decides he needs to get out of town, so he calls Eddie to set him up with the leader of the drug ring...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story. Unfortunately Thorne drops the friendly tone he had thus far and suddenly becomes hostile: he doesn't believe that Sid managed to kill Batman AND make a fool of the Joker by complete accident since "no one is that lucky OR stupid!". He accuses Sidney of "[[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]]" to muscle in on his drug racket and draws a gun on Sid offering to get him out of Gotham... "in a pine box!" Suddenly gunshots and fighting sounds are heard from the next room, which can mean only [[HesBack one thing...]]
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring. It was also Batman who saved Sidney from the acid. Sidney thanks Batman and tries to leave... but Batman stops him, pointing out Sid is still an accomplice to the gang. However, he also points out that "in the right environment" someone with Sid's "dangerous reputation" can get "a lot of respect"...
...which brings us to Stonegate, where the inmates give Sid a hero's welcome for having "nearly offed the Bat", "making a fool of the Joker" and having "set Thorne up". A beaming Sid remarks "A big shot at last!".
----
!!Tropes:
* AccidentalHero: Sid, to Gotham's underground anyway.
* AndThisIsFor: "That's for pulling a gun. That's for the drugs. And that one's for any I missed!"
* AntagonistInMourning:
** The Joker's reaction to Batman's "death".
** Bullock as well.
* AntiVillain: Sidney is a Type IV.
* AppropriatedAppellation: Sid the Squid was given this nickname as a mocking joke by his buddies who thought he was worthless as a crook. It became a badge of honor after he almost killed Batman and made a fool of the Joker.
* AskAStupidQuestion: You'll get mawed by Joker's hyenas.
* BadassOnPaper: Sidney
* BaitAndSwitchGunshot: "Sid the Squid", while being held at gunpoint by Rupert Thorne, who refuses to believe that anyone could kill Batman and escape the Joker out of dumb luck and thinks Sid is trying to depose him. Then they hear violence in the next room, and in walks Batman.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor:
** Just before the WholeEpisodeFlashback begins, Sid says: "For a while now, I've been trying to move my way up in the ranks." The audience sees Sid doing exactly that: The Mooks throw a party for him in a BadGuyBar frequented by GangBangers, then Sid meets an EliteMook, then a SuperVillain, and at the very end, Sid meets TheDon of Gotham City. Unfortunately for Sid, sooner or later, [[EverythingTryingToKillYou everyone of them will try to harm or kill him]].
--->'''Thorne:''' Mmmm, from pitching pennies to rubbing elbows with the Joker. Not bad Sidney!\\
'''Sid:''' Please, connections like him I can do without.
** Sid's dream is to go FromNobodyToNightmare. [[{{Deconstruction}} How does he achieve it?]] By being sent to Stonegate's prison, where the other {{mooks}} can admire him. Being one of those {{mooks}}, [[SubvertedTrope Sid doesn't mind having his life destroyed to get his dream]].
* ButtMonkey: Inverted with Sidney. This bumbling wannabe crook, through several bizarre twists of fate, experiences incredible good luck throughout the episode, making monkeys of Rupert Thorne, the Joker and (temporarily) Batman and earning widespread praise he doesn't deserve for an incredible feat that, due to a freakish coincidence, he only ''appears'' to have performed. Thorne even {{lampshade|Hanging}}s the possibility that Sid's "loser" shtick may all be an act.
-->'''Thorne:''' Nobody's that lucky ''or'' stupid!
* CanisLatinicus: While Joker is wondering whether Batman is really dead or not given the lack of a body, he says "Batus delicti", a pun on "Corpus delicti": the term, which means "body of crime", refers to the principle that a crime must have been proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime.
* {{Corpsing}}: Joker holds a funeral for his rival, complete with Harley Quinn playing AmazingFreakingGrace '''on a kazoo'''. Harley's voice actress Arleen Sorkin actually did the kazoo herself, and reportedly they had to do this bit (and Joker's follow-up line "Well that was fun! Who's up for Chinese?") in one take because the cast was laughing too hard to try again.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy:
** Eddie G. and the rest of the {{mooks}} had to pick a drug shipment, but he knows the Batman will give them a MookHorrorShow. To avoid this, Eddie sets Sidney up as bait so Batman will be too busy with Sidney to notice them.
** The Joker hears the rumor about Batman’s murder by Sid, but they NeverFoundTheBody (''No'' batus delicti, ''so to speak''), so [[VillainsActHeroesReact he pulls a job knowing that if Batman is alive, he will stop him]].
** When Rupert Thorne hears Sid’s explanation, he can’t believe Sid could be that lucky or stupid, so he suspects Sid is pulling a ScheherezadeGambit on Thorne trying to replace him.
** Batman knows that Sid has KarmicProtection by bitter experience so instead of harming Sid for being one of the {{mooks}}, he sends him to Jail knowing fully that is the only place he will be safe and satisfied his dream to be a big shot.
* ExtremeDoormat: Sid never does anything, all the things simply happens to him and he barely reacts at them.
* FakeUltimateHero
* FalseFriend: Sid considers Eddie G. his best friend... and Eddie set Sid up to be Batman's bait. And it's very difficult to blame Eddie once you get to know Sid.
* FirstDayFromHell: This is Sid's first day as one of Thorne's {{Mooks}} and he was subjected to five {{Mook Horror Show}}s (six if we count Batman sending him to jail).
* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator
* FramedForHeroism
* TheFunInFuneral: The Joker. A vat of acid. A coffin with a bat-cape and a "kick me" sign. Harley playing "Amazing Grace" on the kazoo. One of the defining moments for the entire show. The scene had to be done in one take as the actors were laughing too hard. Harley delivers the TropeNamer line afterwards.
* GenreSavvy:
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He has never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There is a certain rhythm to this things]], [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: "I served you a subpoena once. It was a small subpoena."
* GossipEvolution / SnowballLie: Even when [[TheCassandra Sid claims]] it was an AccidentalMurder, being a ExtremeDoormat, he just let the {{Mooks}} treat him as their hero. Mere hours after the explosion, Gotham Underground believes Sid is a ''[[DiabolicalMastermind mastermind]]'' at jail. Only one day after that, Rupert Thorne, with true information about Sid being a BumblingSidekick, believes Sid is a MagnificentBastard.
* GratuitousSpanish: Montoya mutters "Madre de Dios"[[note]]Mother of God[[/note]] upon learning of Batman's ''death.''
* HelloAttorney: Harley Quinn's disguise. She even wears [[{{Meganekko}} glasses]].
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: That's all Sid ever wanted. And he finally got his wish in the end. [[{{Deconstruction}} And then you realize Sid's dream was being]] FromNobodyToNightmare.
-->'''Sid:''' A big shot at last!
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Sid
* ImpossibleShadowPuppets: Sid makes a convincing shadow of a squid's tentacles with his hands. This is {{Foreshadowing}} the CentralTheme: Later, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid fumbles around, which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. The whole theme is how the GossipEvolution could make a SnowballLie making a BumblingSidekick into a BadassOnPaper.
* KickMePrank: The Joker attaches a "Kick Me" sign to Batman's empty cape and cowl before it is to be sealed in a coffin.
* LineOfSightName: "Sid the... uh... Squid!"
* MadeOfIron: A guy was punched across the room and hit his head on the front of a desk. The desk did not even have a dent and the guy did not even have a concussion.
* MinionWithAnFInEvil: Sid is certainly not one of the combatant {{Mooks}}, but he is such a loser he cannot be called Minion... he doesn't do anything useful (he was set up as bait, but Sid didn't manage to accomplish even that).
* MistakenForBadass
* MoodWhiplash:
** InUniverse: "[[WasntThatFun Well, THAT was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"
** Another example InUniverse too:
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
* MookHorrorShow: The episode [[PlayingWithATrope plays with this trope:]] showing us all the terrors {{Mooks}} had to endure:
** First, Eddie G. sets up Sid as the bait in an effort to avoid this trope with the Batman, so Sid is chased by a TerrorHero. Sid is saved by his own stupidity.
** When Sid is taken to a BadGuyBar to celebrate how he killed Batman, some BitPartBadGuys GangBangers challenge him for the title of "The toughest guy in Gotham". Cue a BarBrawl. Sid is saved by the police...
** At jail, Sid is menaced by Harvey Bullock with a little JackBauerInterrogationTechnique. Sid is saved by a lawyer...
** ... that is Harley Quinn who leads Sid to the Joker, who puts Sid in a DeathTrap. Sid escapes by a DeusExMachina...
** ... then Sid decides to asks Rupert Thorne for help... who suspects Sid is trying to pull a ScheherezadeGambit and decides [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Sid has outlived his usefulness]] and Sid is saved by
** ... Batman, who finally plays this trope straight on Thorne's gang, and he sends Sid to Jail.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: The Joker tries to murder Sid for denying him a suitably epic showdown with Batman.
* PaperThinDisguise: Harley "rescues" Sid from the cops in plain clothes and using her real name. Bullock thinks there's ''something'' familiar about her, but can't place it.
* PerspectiveFlip: The whole episode another classic Super Hero tale, now from the point of the lowly {{Mooks}} that must endure the MookHorrorShow the TerrorHero Batman give them.
* TheRuntAtTheEnd:
** Subverted by "Sid the Squid". He is the smallest and most pathetic of a gang of crooks, but is also the one who always comes out smelling like a rose because of his ridiculously good fortune.
** Played straight when Bullock asks all the {{Mooks}} for information at Gotham's Police Headquarters: From a row full of ugly angry men, only Sid is showing fear. Who do you think Bullock picks up for the interrogation?
* ScheherezadeGambit: After Sid ends the WholeEpisodeFlashback explaining HowWeGotHere, Thorne replies him that Sid is just using ObfuscatingStupidity and invokes this trope as the excuse Sid needed to muscle in on Thorn's drug racket.
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: A nobody mob underling, "Sid the Squid", acts as the lookout on a job in which Batman is apparently killed. From Sid's perspective, Bats fell into a gas explosion, but everyone else thought Sid pushed him. He has to deal with a jealous Joker, an obsessed Commissioner Gordon, and a few rival mob bosses who can't believe his story. The producers admitted that this episode was an experiment to see if they could make a good episode with Batman appearing as little as possible (indeed, Batman only appears for about three minutes total in this episode). Arguably, they succeeded.
* SuperStoicShopkeeper: The bartender.
* UnintentionallyNotoriousCrime: Sid the Squid takes part in a small-time drug run but (apparently) accidentally kills the Caped Crusader himself.
* VillainEpisode
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: The whole episode is more than likely the TropeCodifier with a twist: Using AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, if you believe Thorne is the BigBad (the leader of the drug ring), this trope is averted because Batman gave Thorne a truly epic CurbStompBattle, but if you chose Sid as the BigBad (the InvincibleIncompetent who fulfilled his dream to be FromNobodyToNightmare), then this trope was played straight because Sid was the only {{mook|s}} who was ''not'' beaten at the show.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Sid, he even admits it. However, Rupert Thorne refuses to believe that and insists that he's [[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]].
-->'''Rubert Thorne:''' You think I didn't hear the rumors of the third-rate stumblebum who rubbed out the Batman? And now you say you "ACCIDENTALLY" made a fool of the Joker? No-one's that lucky OR stupid!\\
'''Sid:''' Yes, I am! Honest!
* YouExclamation
----
We open with a terrified man running through the rainy streets of Gotham, as if being chased by someone. An issue of the ''Gotham Times'' floats by reading ''"BATMAN SLAIN? Mysterious Crime Fighter Missing"''. The man, Sidney [=Debris=], [[HarmlessVillain a small, bespectacled scaredy-cat]], eventually arrives at Rupert Thorne's mansion and requests to see him. Thorne agrees and despite Sidney's nervousness, Thorne greets him warmly. We then see the reason for such warmth:
->'''Thorne:''' I've heard you've made quite a name for yourself on the streets, Sidney. What is it they're calling you? Oh yes... "[[TitleDrop The Man Who Killed Batman]]".
Sidney only stammers nervously at that statement, and even halfway denies that it is true, before explaining that he is in big trouble. He then [[HowWeGotHere starts telling his story]].
Sidney was just a nobody mob underling wanting to move up in the ranks. His "friend" Eddie G. informs him of a drug shipment they're picking up and Sidney asks to get in on it. Eddie lets the bumbling Sidney come in the hopes that he serves as bait for Batman while the others get away. Eddie sweet-talks Sidney claiming that this will get him a cool mob name like "Sid the Squid" (which Eddie gets from [[LineOfSightName looking at a calamari billboard]]). Eddie then sends Sidney to the roof, to ostensibly keep watch. Predictably, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid fumbles around, which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. Eventually Sid accidentally falls off the roof and Batman pulls him up... but ends up falling himself, right on top of a leaking propane tank that explodes, leaving Sid holding on to Batman's cape and cowl. The rest of the mobsters arrive and notice the burning tank, Sid clutching the cowl and babbling incoherently. Believing that NoOneCouldHaveSurvivedThat, they conclude that "Sid the Squid just offed the Batman".
Sid, who all his life dreamed of being a "big shot", has apparently had his dream come true, and is being cheered by his fellow criminals in a bar celebration, with Batman's cape and cowl hanging by his chair. Unfortunately, the joy is short-lived since the minute someone calls him "the toughest guy in Gotham", some muscled thug comes along wanting to take out Sid in order to take that "title". A fight breaks out followed by the cops showing up and arresting everyone present, including Sid. While locking up the prisoners, Montoya gets the news from Bullock that Batman was killed by "some mastermind called 'the Squid'". Bullock starts demanding the prisoners give info on this "Squid" and zeroing in on a terrified Sid until a woman enters claiming to be Sid's attorney... [[ComicBook/HarleyQuinn Harleen Quinzel]]. Sid's bail has been paid and Harleen is requesting he be released. Bullock asks Quinzel if they met before but she simply retorts with "I served you a subpoena once. It was a small subpoena."
As Harleen and Sidney are being driven around, Sid wonders who could have bailed him out since his mother doesn't speak to him and his parole officer is still in jail. After complaining about Harleen's makeup choking up the air, she turns around revealing a familiar hat and black and white face paint...
->'''Harley:''' My boss likes me to wear a smile to work!\\
'''Sidney:''' Hey, I've seen you! You work for... ''[[[OhCrap gasp]]]'' ''SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker!''
At the Clown Prince of Crime's hideout, the man himself welcomes Sid and requests to shake the hand of "the man who did the impossible: The Man Who Killed Batman" (though he's visibly disgusted at uttering the latter). Sidney notices a tack on said hand which Mr. J excuses as "force of habit". Anyway, Joker's a GenreSavvy guy and the fact that [[NeverFoundTheBody no body was found]] is bothering him, therefore they're pulling a job tonight to make sure if Bats is really dead. Joker, Harley, their goons and Sid then leave to rob the Gotham Diamond Exchange. "And if Batman hasn't really gone to his final reward, we'll see that he gets there!", quips Joker.
While the cops amass outside the Exchange, Batman fails to show. Joker swings between nervousness, anger at Sid and finally sadness, over the fact that Batman is apparently really gone. He orders that Harley put back all the loot and utters the immortal line:
->'''Joker:''' [[AntagonistInMourning Without Batman, crime has no punchline.]]
After escaping the police via a laughing gas bomb, Joker and the gang hold a little "memorial" for Batman at the Ace Chemical Plant. Batman's cape and cowl is placed inside a coffin on a conveyor belt to a vat of acid, to which Joker adds a "Kick Me"0 sign ("You put {{the fun in funeral}}," says Harley). The Clown Prince of Crime proceeds to give his eulogy:
->'''Joker:''' Dear friends... Today is the day that the Clown cried. And he cries not for the passing of one man, but for the death of a dream. [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou The dream that he would someday taste the ultimate victory over his hated enemy]]. [[CreateYourOwnVillain For it was the Batman who made me the happy soul I am today]]. How I agonized over the perfect way to thank him for that. Perhaps with a cyanide pie in the face. Or an exploding whoopie-cushion playfully planted in the Batmobile. (''with growing anger'') But those dreams were dashed by the weaselly little gunsel sitting there in our midst. (''everyone starts moving away from Sid'') The cowardly insignificant gonif who probably got lucky when Batman slipped on the slime trail this loser left behind him. '''This mound of diseased hyena filth who's not fit to lick the dirt from my spats...!''' (''regains composure'') But I digress. The time for sorrow has passed. Its time to look to a future filled with smiles. (''threateningly'') And I'll be smiling again just as soon as we take that man THERE... (''points to Sid'') ...and slap him in that box THERE... (''points to Batman's coffin'') ...and roll him into that vat of acid THERE! (''points to said vat of acid'')
Joker's goons then proceed to lock Sid, who repeatedly and desperately screams that he is sorry for what he did, in the coffin and it's rolled into the [[AcidPool vat of acid]]... as Harley plays "[[AmazingFreakingGrace Amazing Grace]]" on ''the kazoo''. A tearful Joker watches as the coffin slowly sinks into the acid...
->'''Joker:''' (''sigh'') [[MoodWhiplash Well, that was fun! Who's for Chinese?]]
As the acid starts dissolving the coffin, things look pretty grim for Sid until suddenly the lid opens and he finds himself on the Gotham River bank, which he attributes to the coffin being sucked down a drain pipe. He decides he needs to get out of town, so he calls Eddie to set him up with the leader of the drug ring...
...who happens to be Thorne, which brings us back to the "present" and the end of Sidney's story. Unfortunately Thorne drops the friendly tone he had thus far and suddenly becomes hostile: he doesn't believe that Sid managed to kill Batman AND make a fool of the Joker by complete accident since "no one is that lucky OR stupid!". He accuses Sidney of "[[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]]" to muscle in on his drug racket and draws a gun on Sid offering to get him out of Gotham... "in a pine box!" Suddenly gunshots and fighting sounds are heard from the next room, which can mean only [[HesBack one thing...]]
Batman makes his dramatic entrance and quickly knocks Thorne out. Sid asks how Batman survived and he explains he swung away before the explosion and decided to tail Sid and lay low to figure out who was heading the drug ring. It was also Batman who saved Sidney from the acid. Sidney thanks Batman and tries to leave... but Batman stops him, pointing out Sid is still an accomplice to the gang. However, he also points out that "in the right environment" someone with Sid's "dangerous reputation" can get "a lot of respect"...
...which brings us to Stonegate, where the inmates give Sid a hero's welcome for having "nearly offed the Bat", "making a fool of the Joker" and having "set Thorne up". A beaming Sid remarks "A big shot at last!".
----
!!Tropes:
* AccidentalHero: Sid, to Gotham's underground anyway.
* AndThisIsFor: "That's for pulling a gun. That's for the drugs. And that one's for any I missed!"
* AntagonistInMourning:
** The Joker's reaction to Batman's "death".
** Bullock as well.
* AntiVillain: Sidney is a Type IV.
* AppropriatedAppellation: Sid the Squid was given this nickname as a mocking joke by his buddies who thought he was worthless as a crook. It became a badge of honor after he almost killed Batman and made a fool of the Joker.
* AskAStupidQuestion: You'll get mawed by Joker's hyenas.
* BadassOnPaper: Sidney
* BaitAndSwitchGunshot: "Sid the Squid", while being held at gunpoint by Rupert Thorne, who refuses to believe that anyone could kill Batman and escape the Joker out of dumb luck and thinks Sid is trying to depose him. Then they hear violence in the next room, and in walks Batman.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor:
** Just before the WholeEpisodeFlashback begins, Sid says: "For a while now, I've been trying to move my way up in the ranks." The audience sees Sid doing exactly that: The Mooks throw a party for him in a BadGuyBar frequented by GangBangers, then Sid meets an EliteMook, then a SuperVillain, and at the very end, Sid meets TheDon of Gotham City. Unfortunately for Sid, sooner or later, [[EverythingTryingToKillYou everyone of them will try to harm or kill him]].
--->'''Thorne:''' Mmmm, from pitching pennies to rubbing elbows with the Joker. Not bad Sidney!\\
'''Sid:''' Please, connections like him I can do without.
** Sid's dream is to go FromNobodyToNightmare. [[{{Deconstruction}} How does he achieve it?]] By being sent to Stonegate's prison, where the other {{mooks}} can admire him. Being one of those {{mooks}}, [[SubvertedTrope Sid doesn't mind having his life destroyed to get his dream]].
* ButtMonkey: Inverted with Sidney. This bumbling wannabe crook, through several bizarre twists of fate, experiences incredible good luck throughout the episode, making monkeys of Rupert Thorne, the Joker and (temporarily) Batman and earning widespread praise he doesn't deserve for an incredible feat that, due to a freakish coincidence, he only ''appears'' to have performed. Thorne even {{lampshade|Hanging}}s the possibility that Sid's "loser" shtick may all be an act.
-->'''Thorne:''' Nobody's that lucky ''or'' stupid!
* CanisLatinicus: While Joker is wondering whether Batman is really dead or not given the lack of a body, he says "Batus delicti", a pun on "Corpus delicti": the term, which means "body of crime", refers to the principle that a crime must have been proven to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime.
* {{Corpsing}}: Joker holds a funeral for his rival, complete with Harley Quinn playing AmazingFreakingGrace '''on a kazoo'''. Harley's voice actress Arleen Sorkin actually did the kazoo herself, and reportedly they had to do this bit (and Joker's follow-up line "Well that was fun! Who's up for Chinese?") in one take because the cast was laughing too hard to try again.
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy:
** Eddie G. and the rest of the {{mooks}} had to pick a drug shipment, but he knows the Batman will give them a MookHorrorShow. To avoid this, Eddie sets Sidney up as bait so Batman will be too busy with Sidney to notice them.
** The Joker hears the rumor about Batman’s murder by Sid, but they NeverFoundTheBody (''No'' batus delicti, ''so to speak''), so [[VillainsActHeroesReact he pulls a job knowing that if Batman is alive, he will stop him]].
** When Rupert Thorne hears Sid’s explanation, he can’t believe Sid could be that lucky or stupid, so he suspects Sid is pulling a ScheherezadeGambit on Thorne trying to replace him.
** Batman knows that Sid has KarmicProtection by bitter experience so instead of harming Sid for being one of the {{mooks}}, he sends him to Jail knowing fully that is the only place he will be safe and satisfied his dream to be a big shot.
* ExtremeDoormat: Sid never does anything, all the things simply happens to him and he barely reacts at them.
* FakeUltimateHero
* FalseFriend: Sid considers Eddie G. his best friend... and Eddie set Sid up to be Batman's bait. And it's very difficult to blame Eddie once you get to know Sid.
* FirstDayFromHell: This is Sid's first day as one of Thorne's {{Mooks}} and he was subjected to five {{Mook Horror Show}}s (six if we count Batman sending him to jail).
* FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator
* FramedForHeroism
* TheFunInFuneral: The Joker. A vat of acid. A coffin with a bat-cape and a "kick me" sign. Harley playing "Amazing Grace" on the kazoo. One of the defining moments for the entire show. The scene had to be done in one take as the actors were laughing too hard. Harley delivers the TropeNamer line afterwards.
* GenreSavvy:
-->'''Joker:''' Where is he? [Batman] [[JustInTime He has never been this late before!]] [[StrictlyFormula There is a certain rhythm to this things]], [[VillainsActHeroesReact I cause trouble, he shows up]], [[HilarityEnsues we have some laughs]] [[StatusQuoIsGod and the game starts all over again]].
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: "I served you a subpoena once. It was a small subpoena."
* GossipEvolution / SnowballLie: Even when [[TheCassandra Sid claims]] it was an AccidentalMurder, being a ExtremeDoormat, he just let the {{Mooks}} treat him as their hero. Mere hours after the explosion, Gotham Underground believes Sid is a ''[[DiabolicalMastermind mastermind]]'' at jail. Only one day after that, Rupert Thorne, with true information about Sid being a BumblingSidekick, believes Sid is a MagnificentBastard.
* GratuitousSpanish: Montoya mutters "Madre de Dios"[[note]]Mother of God[[/note]] upon learning of Batman's ''death.''
* HelloAttorney: Harley Quinn's disguise. She even wears [[{{Meganekko}} glasses]].
* IJustWantToBeSpecial: That's all Sid ever wanted. And he finally got his wish in the end. [[{{Deconstruction}} And then you realize Sid's dream was being]] FromNobodyToNightmare.
-->'''Sid:''' A big shot at last!
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Sid
* ImpossibleShadowPuppets: Sid makes a convincing shadow of a squid's tentacles with his hands. This is {{Foreshadowing}} the CentralTheme: Later, Batman shows up at the roof and engages Sidney. Sid fumbles around, which casts a bunch of shadows that make it look like he is actually fighting Batman to the onlookers below. The whole theme is how the GossipEvolution could make a SnowballLie making a BumblingSidekick into a BadassOnPaper.
* KickMePrank: The Joker attaches a "Kick Me" sign to Batman's empty cape and cowl before it is to be sealed in a coffin.
* LineOfSightName: "Sid the... uh... Squid!"
* MadeOfIron: A guy was punched across the room and hit his head on the front of a desk. The desk did not even have a dent and the guy did not even have a concussion.
* MinionWithAnFInEvil: Sid is certainly not one of the combatant {{Mooks}}, but he is such a loser he cannot be called Minion... he doesn't do anything useful (he was set up as bait, but Sid didn't manage to accomplish even that).
* MistakenForBadass
* MoodWhiplash:
** InUniverse: "[[WasntThatFun Well, THAT was fun!]] Who's for Chinese?"
** Another example InUniverse too:
--->'''Thorne:''' [[AffablyEvil So the famous Sid the Squid is nothing but a pathetic victim of circumstances]]. (''very angry'') [[WhamLine Just how stupid you think I am?!]]
* MookHorrorShow: The episode [[PlayingWithATrope plays with this trope:]] showing us all the terrors {{Mooks}} had to endure:
** First, Eddie G. sets up Sid as the bait in an effort to avoid this trope with the Batman, so Sid is chased by a TerrorHero. Sid is saved by his own stupidity.
** When Sid is taken to a BadGuyBar to celebrate how he killed Batman, some BitPartBadGuys GangBangers challenge him for the title of "The toughest guy in Gotham". Cue a BarBrawl. Sid is saved by the police...
** At jail, Sid is menaced by Harvey Bullock with a little JackBauerInterrogationTechnique. Sid is saved by a lawyer...
** ... that is Harley Quinn who leads Sid to the Joker, who puts Sid in a DeathTrap. Sid escapes by a DeusExMachina...
** ... then Sid decides to asks Rupert Thorne for help... who suspects Sid is trying to pull a ScheherezadeGambit and decides [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Sid has outlived his usefulness]] and Sid is saved by
** ... Batman, who finally plays this trope straight on Thorne's gang, and he sends Sid to Jail.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: The Joker tries to murder Sid for denying him a suitably epic showdown with Batman.
* PaperThinDisguise: Harley "rescues" Sid from the cops in plain clothes and using her real name. Bullock thinks there's ''something'' familiar about her, but can't place it.
* PerspectiveFlip: The whole episode another classic Super Hero tale, now from the point of the lowly {{Mooks}} that must endure the MookHorrorShow the TerrorHero Batman give them.
* TheRuntAtTheEnd:
** Subverted by "Sid the Squid". He is the smallest and most pathetic of a gang of crooks, but is also the one who always comes out smelling like a rose because of his ridiculously good fortune.
** Played straight when Bullock asks all the {{Mooks}} for information at Gotham's Police Headquarters: From a row full of ugly angry men, only Sid is showing fear. Who do you think Bullock picks up for the interrogation?
* ScheherezadeGambit: After Sid ends the WholeEpisodeFlashback explaining HowWeGotHere, Thorne replies him that Sid is just using ObfuscatingStupidity and invokes this trope as the excuse Sid needed to muscle in on Thorn's drug racket.
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: A nobody mob underling, "Sid the Squid", acts as the lookout on a job in which Batman is apparently killed. From Sid's perspective, Bats fell into a gas explosion, but everyone else thought Sid pushed him. He has to deal with a jealous Joker, an obsessed Commissioner Gordon, and a few rival mob bosses who can't believe his story. The producers admitted that this episode was an experiment to see if they could make a good episode with Batman appearing as little as possible (indeed, Batman only appears for about three minutes total in this episode). Arguably, they succeeded.
* SuperStoicShopkeeper: The bartender.
* UnintentionallyNotoriousCrime: Sid the Squid takes part in a small-time drug run but (apparently) accidentally kills the Caped Crusader himself.
* VillainEpisode
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: The whole episode is more than likely the TropeCodifier with a twist: Using AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, if you believe Thorne is the BigBad (the leader of the drug ring), this trope is averted because Batman gave Thorne a truly epic CurbStompBattle, but if you chose Sid as the BigBad (the InvincibleIncompetent who fulfilled his dream to be FromNobodyToNightmare), then this trope was played straight because Sid was the only {{mook|s}} who was ''not'' beaten at the show.
* WhoWouldBeStupidEnough: Sid, he even admits it. However, Rupert Thorne refuses to believe that and insists that he's [[ObfuscatingStupidity playing dumb]].
-->'''Rubert Thorne:''' You think I didn't hear the rumors of the third-rate stumblebum who rubbed out the Batman? And now you say you "ACCIDENTALLY" made a fool of the Joker? No-one's that lucky OR stupid!\\
'''Sid:''' Yes, I am! Honest!
* YouExclamation
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