DC has numerous intelligent primates in its universe. Characters like Grodd, Solovar, the Ultra-Humanite, Monsieur Mallah, and Detective Chimp have all played significant roles in DC history. Despite this, Batman Beyond introduced a new primate character named Fingers the Gorilla.
Batman Beyond: Speak No Evil
When a gorilla named Fingers escapes captivity, Batman discovers that the creature can speak and has a rational vendetta against humans. The ensuing story revolves around environmental themes, with the captured Fingers seeking revenge against a cruel hunter. Batman and Fingers unite to defeat this common enemy.
After their mission, Fingers expresses his desire to protect the jungle’s inhabitants from poachers, akin to Batman’s role in the city.
This episode, while intriguing in concept, falls short in execution. The fast-paced narrative lacks depth and fails to fully explore its themes.
The antagonist, Van Dyle, lacks depth and serves as a generic villain. This oversight is surprising given the writer’s experience in crafting compelling characters for DC shows.
Van Dyle’s lackluster portrayal makes him akin to forgettable villains from the Batman universe. The episode misses an opportunity to enhance the storyline by connecting Van Dyle’s character to Fingers or exploring deeper themes.
The episode could have delved deeper into Fingers’ character or explored parallels between Fingers and Terry. Unfortunately, these aspects remain unexplored, leaving the episode feeling lackluster and unmemorable.
This episode, with its underdeveloped villain, can be skipped during a Batman Beyond rewatch.
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