The Batman Episode 3.11: The Apprentice

The Apprentice is the tenth episode in Season 3 of The Batman.

Plot Summary
Inspired by the Batman/Batgirl partnership, the Joker decides to recruit his own sidekick, a classmate at Barbara's school, and eliminate Batgirl and Batman.

Recap
Mayor Grange is hosting the annual chilli cook-off in the park, when Joker, Punch and Judy show up in a fire truck and sabotage the cook-off. Batman shows up and begins fighting Punch and Judy. Joker takes capture of the Mayor and prepares to gas him with laughing gas, but Batgirl shows up and stops Joker. Joker, Punch and Judy get away and regroup back at their hideout.

Joker is discussing how he wants a sidekick because Batman has one. Meanwhile, at Barbara's school, a classmate named Donnie pulls two tricks on Barbara. As a result, he is given a week of detention.

Donnie then goes to a comedy club and tries to prove his talent, but no one laughs. Joker comes in and starts clapping. Joker says he has some real potential, and suggests that Donnie should be his sidekick. Donnie says he's not sure, but Joker goes away and says he'll see him around.

Joker shows up at the school after Donnie is finished with his detention for the day and pulls a prank that leaves the principal stuck on a flagpole. Donnie and Joker laugh, and Donnie decides to become Joker's partner.

Batman is on the lookout on the top of a roof for Joker's next move. Batgirl soon comes afterwards and begins talking to Batman. Batman just ignores her and moves on. Meanwhile, Joker begins showing Donnie his hideout. Joker and Donnie come up with the idea of hitting the police with a giant gum ball. Joker then gives Donnie a new costume and the name of Prank. Joker begins launching giant gum balls at the police when Batman and Batgirl show up as Prank emerges from a school bus. Batman gets stuck in bubble gum but Batgirl manages to kick Prank and dodge the gum ball. Batgirl notices that Prank is Donnie when he begins laughing in an odd tone. From behind, Joker knocks out Batgirl with a punching glove and attatches her to one of the giant gum balls, planning to launch it and kill her.

Batman uses his ice pellets to break out of the bubble gum and throws a Batarang at the chain on the gum ball as it is being launched into the air. Batgirl manages to use her grappling hook to save herself, but Joker and Prank get away. Joker is mad at Donnie/Prank for hesitating to kill Batman, so decides to try to drop him in the same vat of chemicals that he gained his perma-clown from. Joker tries to push Donnie off the edge and into the vat but Donnie manages to hold onto the edge of the bridge. Batman and Batgirl then show up.

Batgirl tries to save Donnie from slipping into the vat of chemicals but Joker throws a playing card at her grappling hook, which causes her to have to grab onto Donnie's legs in order to not fall into the vat of chemicals. Batman fights Joker and helps Donnie and Batgirl get up. When they get up, Joker holds a gun on Batman and Batgirl.

Donnie, mad at Joker for all the trouble he put him in, delivers the final blow to Joker and prevents him from shooting Batman and Batgirl.

Trivia

 * When Donnie suggests trapping the Gotham PD in playing cards, Joker says "Been there, done that." This is a reference to season one's episode "Topsy Turvy".


 * Prank is introduced.


 * This marks the first time a villan (Prank) permanently turns good.

Quotes
Joker: It must be nice to have someone to watch your back. To mold in your own likeness. Well, if you have a sidekick, Batsy, I want one too. (Punch and Judy look at him) Joker: You two don’t count! You’re not sidekicks, you’re goons.

Batman: We'll need to pick up on Joker's trail. Batgirl: Got it covered! (pulls out a tracking device) Popped a tracer on him. Batman: Property of Gotham P.D.? Batgirl: I borrowed Dad's. When you don't have access to the official Bat arsenal, you improvise.