Showdown (The Adventures of Batman & Robin)

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Batman: The Animated Series episode
“Showdown”

Episode no.	Season 02 Episode 078
Writer(s)	Kevin Altieri, Paul Dini, Bruce W. Timm
Director	Kevin Altieri
Original airdate	September 12, 1995
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"The Lion and the Unicorn"	"Riddler's Reform"

Jonah Hex, the primary hero depicted in this episode.

"Showdown" is the second episode of the fourth season of Batman: The Animated Series. It first aired on September 12th, 1995. Written by Kevin Altieri, Paul Dini, and Bruce Timm and directed by Kevin Altieri. It is the first filmed appearance of Jonah Hex who is the primary character in the main story of the episode.

1 Plot
2 Trivia
3 Cast
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

After the League of Assassins kidnap an old man from a hospital, Batman and Robin discover a cassette tape left by Ra's al Ghul. On the tape, Ra's speaks of his attempt to destroy the railroad using a steampunk airship and take control of the American government during the Old West of the 1800s. During this time, Jonah Hex, a bounty hunter, infiltrates Ra's al Ghul's secret lair, trying to apprehend Arcady Duvall, Ra's al Ghul's second in command. At the end of Ra's al Ghul's story, Jonah demolishes the machine and captures Arcady.

When Batman and Robin intercept Ra's al Ghul at an airport, Ra's reveals that the old man the League kidnapped is Arcady. Ra's knew Arcady was too cruel to rule his empire, but went back for him anyway, because Arcady is his son. Although a hundred years old, Duvall's mind is gone, possibly beyond the Lazarus Pit's ability to heal. Ra's wants to spend whatever time Duvall has left with his son.

Batman and Robin leave Ra's and Duvall in peace, knowing they'll meet Ra's again.

[edit] Trivia

The plot of the 1999 film, Wild Wild West is surprisingly similar to this episode. It is uncomfirmed whether this was intentional or mere coincidence.

The existence of Arcady directly contradicts Ra's' statement to Batman in The Demon's Quest that he has no sons. It is possible that he meant the statement to mean that he has no sons that are worthy and healthy enough to take his place, but the ambiguity of the statement itself makes it impossible to tell.

Elizabeth Montgomery appearance as the Barmaid was her last role before her death in May 1995.

This episode has two references to Indiana Jones. Jonah's line, "I'm a bad penny," is similar to a phrase in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. Another reference is Jonah losing his hat, only to recover it at the end of the episode, which is also a running gag in the Indiana Jones films.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Role
Kevin Conroy	Batman
Loren Lester	Robin
Senator Patrick Leahy	Governor
Malcolm McDowell	Arcady Duvall
David Warner	Ra's al Ghul
Michael Bell	Airman Captain
William Bryant	Sheriff
William McKinney	Jonah Hex
Elizabeth Montgomery	Barmaid