Batman the Animated Series - "Love is a Croc"

I really don't like this episode.

Season 4 of Batman:TAS has been considered a mixed bag at best, from what I can tell. The Joker doesn't look right, Catwoman didn't need to be altered, where the hell did the demons come from all of a sudden, blah, blah, blah. There still a lot of good such as the exploration of Harley and the Joker's relationship as well as getting to see an animated version of the Batman of the 50's.

And it is glorious!

But! I found most of this was only a mild annoyance compared to one, singular episode of this. But first, some background:

My favourite episode is Baby-Doll. Hands down it is one of the best written, impactful and genuinely touching episodes they have, rivalled only by 'Heart of Ice'. For those that don't know, 'Baby-Doll' is about a former child star named Mary Dahl has become bitter and insane after falling into obscurity and realizing she has a disorder that prevents her body from growing to adulthood, thus biologically cursed with literal eternal youth. She kidnaps her TV family, who all led more successful lives and careers than her, and holds them prisoner on an abandoned soundstage.

And why does she do this? Because she wants to relive the last point in her life when she felt like she got recognition and love. Even if she did crave it a little too much but you can follow her motives after you hear about her failed attempts to move into serious theater. And at the end, she is given a moment of clarity of her actions and harshness of her life. When she is looking at what she could have been if she was allowed to grow, not only physically but probably mentally too, it's touching to me. I get teary eyed for her.

"Love is a Croc" is about how Baby Doll becomes enamored of Killer Croc, and the pair forms a very unlikely yet very successful criminal duo. However, their partnership soon falls apart when Baby Doll learns that Croc is only using her to further his own criminal career.

And I think it's a terrible portrayal of the character of Mary Dahl.

Firstly, it seems bizarre to me that she would start to rob banks. Originally, her crime was one born from desperation and attention-seeking, not greed or what I'd consider someone would steal for. So, her motivation to get back into crime seems contrived. Why would she do that? Because she's in love with Croc? I suppose but why would she agree to that when she's shown working in a sedate job? There doesn't seem to be too much explanation, only contrivance.

Secondly, why is she back in that costume? Yes, I know it's part of their routine but why does she act like the TV character all the time? When they're pulling a job, it makes sense but back when they're alone, Dahl sits in a high chair and talks like a child. Why? She's an adult and knows it. Surely acting like a child would be demeaning to her. We spent an entire episode conveying her desperate act of kidnapping as pitiable. Having her act like that seems to reverse that character development robbing some dignity from her.

Furthermore, she attacks someone for recognising her as Baby-Doll in the start of the episode. So, why would she regress back to this?

So...Why not try something else? Either a renewed effort to regain her fame and adoration by force or how about redemption? Why not write a story about her bringing some good to someone's life or even helping Batman to solve something if you had to bring her back. She doesn't feel like a Riddler or a Two-Face where part of their character is to never stop trying to get what they want.

It seems so...Insulting to the character.

I might be wrong but what do you guys think?

 

NIGHTWING IS HAWT!

I mean, yes. That would be preferable. However, there may be clips of these shows somewhere I can show you to get the point across. I'll look and see.

But, have you seen 'Baby-Doll' at least?