Batman – P.O.V.

• Title: Batman: The Animated Series – P.O.V.
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In honor of Batman‘s 75th Anniversary we turn out attention back to the Dark Knight’s more memorable moments on the big and small screen with another episode from Batman: The Animated Series. When a bust goes bad three of GCPD’s finest offer their conflicting accounts to Internal Affairs. While Harvey Bullock‘s (Robert Costanzo) account places the blame on Batman (Kevin Conroy) and his support which he believes was late to arrive (although the visuals during his narration don’t quite jibe to that series of events), Renee Montoya (Ingrid Oliu) and rookie officer Wilkes (Robby Benson) offer different versions of events.

Aside from being a strong episode that continues to develop the GCPD supporting cast, “P.O.V.” sticks out as an excellent example of perspective and how a person’s point of view can color how they view the same series of events. It is clear as Bullock’s rash actions lead to the factory catching fire and the criminals getting away but the episode allows us to see how the events play out slightly differently through each character’s eyes including Wilkes’ account that plays up the more supernatural street-level idea of Batman (while showing the audience how the Dark Knight Detective performed the actions which the young officer couldn’t quite comprehend).

Even without an appearance by any member of Batman’s colorful rogues gallery, the episode works by grounding the episode on the experiences of the three GCPD officers who find themselves in the dog house following the fire. While Bullock attempts to cover his own ass and Wilkes is overwhelmed by the moment, it’s Montoya’s more level-headed thinking that eventually leads to the capture of the crooks who got away and further cements the character as one of the best original creations of the series.