http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE33RobinsReckoningPart2
Batman heads out alone to track down Tony Zucco, ordering Robin to stay clear, much to the latter's frustration. Ostensibly, Batman doesn't want Robin taking the mission of finding his parents' killer personally. Robin sets out solo in defiance, noting that (as shown in flashback) he tracked Zucco down once before, and he can do it again. Meanwhile, Batman is injured while stalking the paranoid and increasingly unstable Zucco and his goons, and flees into an abandoned amusement park where a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Accidental Hero: Zucco was ready to open fire on Batman, despite the risk of hitting his own mooks (all of whom were restrained on the merry-go-round). Robin unknowingly saves them when he arrives and grabs Zucco.
- Beware the Nice Ones: This episode shows that Robin can be just as brutal and frightening as Bruce when properly provoked.
- Big Damn Heroes: Just as Zucco says getting a hold of the kid means he no longer has to leave town, Batman decks him.
- Big "NO!":
- Zucco lets out a strangled-sounding "NO" when he finds out he's out of ammo.
- In the flashback, Dick when he realizes that Zucco escaped while Batman was saving him.
- But for Me, It Was Tuesday: Zucco doesn't seem to think his two murders (plus the attempted murder of a nine-year-old) were any reason for Batman to take special interest in him. Of course, Zucco's a member of The Mafia, he's killed plenty before. Zucco also doesn't know that the Graysons' son had grown up to become Robin, so he could not have made the connection even if he knew it was over those two people specifically.
Zucco: Don't tell me what I gotta worry about. I'm not back in town five minutes — five minutes! — and he's on my tail. You don't know the bat. He don't let up! He's the dark angel of death, man, and he wants me!
Mook: Uh, why you, boss?
Zucco: How should I know?!
- Comic-Book Fantasy Casting: The streetwalker whom young Dick saved was clearly designed to resemble Bettie Page (fully clothed).
- Cue the Sun: The final shot of the episode has the sun rising behind Batman and Robin as they head home.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Once Robin disarms Zucco, he proceeds to relentlessly throw him around like a ragdoll.
- Determinator: Robin. Neither an opening drawbridge nor a large truck blocking the road was going to keep him from getting to Zucco.
- Dramatic Ammo Depletion: Zucco is so paranoid upon believing Batman is on the roof of his hideout that he empties an entire maganize into the ceiling in an attempt to kill him. He does succeed in injuring Batman's leg, but when he has him within point-blank range, he has no bullets left to fire.
- Dynamic Entry: On his motorcycle, Robin crashes through a sign and hits the broadwalk before heading straight for Zucco.
- Foreshadowing: While Batman forcing Robin out of his investigation of Tony Zucco was well founded since the Boy Wonder would try to make it personal and kill him, it shows that cracks are starting to appear in Batman and Robin's friendship.
- Friend-or-Idol Decision: The final flashback shows that Batman finally had Zucco in his grasp, but was forced to drop everything and let Zucco escape in order to save Dick from drowning.
- From Dress to Dressing: Batman tears off pieces of his cape to tie a splint to his injured leg.
- Hooker with a Heart of Gold: As an adult, it's pretty clear the woman young Dick saved was being harassed by her pimp. She gets him some food in a diner afterwards.
- I Want My Mommy!: Zucco shouts "Mama" when he finds out Batman has found him.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Just as Batman was about to apprehend Zucco, Dick rushed the guy instead and started hitting him. Zucco pushed him away towards the river, which ultimately forces the Friend-or-Idol Decision.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Robin gives Zucco one, though Batman intervenes before it goes too far.
- "Not So Different" Remark: What snaps Robin out of his frenzy is remembering that Batman more than anyone understands what he's feeling right now.
Batman: Robin! Enough. You can't let your emotions get the best of you.
Robin: Stuff your advice, Batman! You and your stone cold heart! You don't know how I feel! How could you?! [realizing] Batman, I... I didn't mean it. I'm sorry.
- Not So Stoic: Batman purposely forces Robin out of an investigation that leads to Tony Zucco, the man who engineered the death of Robin's parents, and stonewalls him when he tries to interfere. At the end of the second episode, Robin tells Batman that he understands now why Batman kept him out: because he knew Robin would make matters personal and try to kill Zucco. Batman replies, with palpable sorrow in his voice, that his reason was completely different: that Zucco had already taken so much away from Robin, and he was afraid that he would take Robin's life as well.
- Persona Non Grata: According to Gordon, Zucco is gearing up to skip town. He muses that Batman making it known he's after Zucco have convinced Gotham's other criminals to refuse to stick their necks out for the guy (which we saw some of in the previous part when Stromwell disowned him). For all intents and purposes, Zucco has been barred from Gotham's underworld and left to fend for himself. He only slinks back into town many years later, by which point a slew of different criminals are in power.
- Pistol-Whipping: A variant; when his Tommy gun runs dry, Zucco tries to use it as a blunt instrument, but Batman dodges just in time.
- Properly Paranoid: Zucco hears a noise on the ceiling of his hideout apartment and opens fire with a Tommy gun despite his goons warning him of the collateral damage and noting they always hear rats scurrying above. Sure enough, the ceiling gives way and Batman falls on a table, spraining his leg.
- Punch Catch: Robin does this to Zucco, who then quickly realizes he's severely outmatched.
- Shout-Out: To AKIRA when Dick strikes a similar pose to Kaneda on his bike.
- Spent Shells Shower: Bullet casings spill across the floor when Zucco empties an entire magazine into the ceiling.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: Batman intervenes just as Robin is dangling Zucco over the edge of the boardwalk.
- Villainous Breakdown: After getting a beating from Robin and nearly dropped to his death by him (but instead getting thrown back onto the dock), Zucco whimpers in fear as he sees Robin approaching. He goes into a fetal position as if begging Robin not to hurt him any more, but the Boy Wonder simply walks past him.
- Villains Want Mercy: Zucco pleads for his life when Robin is prepared to throw him off the dock to his death in revenge, but is stopped by Batman.
- We Have Reserves: Tony Zucco aims at Batman with a Tommy gun, even though multiple mooks are likely to be hit as well and beg him not to. Robin swoops in before he can open fire.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Dick over Batman saving him from drowning instead of catching Zucco.
- Who Are You?: When Batman asks him how badly he wants Zucco, Dick asks this of him. Batman responds by revealing his secret identity.
- Worf Had the Flu: The final act takes place in an abandoned amusement park versus an extremely paranoid gang. Batman should have had little trouble taking them out, but he sprained his leg right before they fled into the park. Zucco also has the insight to turn on the lights to make it harder for Batman to hide.
