Cast

Dina Meyer as Oracle/Barbara Gordon.
Ashley Scott as Huntress/Helena Kyle.
Rachel Skarsten as Dinah Lance
Shemar Moore as Detective Reese
Ian Abercrombie as Alfred Pennyworth
Mia Sara as Harley Quinn

Written by Laeta Kalogridis and Melissa Rosenberg.
Directed by Michael Katleman.

Original Airdate

Slick originally aired on Wednesday, October 16, 2002.

Synopsis

The ladies try to prevent the murders of police officers protecting shipments of weapons.

High Point

The combat with both action heroes. That was well directed, and very well paced.

Low Point

Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the comic book Alfred, but giving him dialogue with the phrase "piss them off" just seemed wrong.

Other Comments

Gee, do you think they're hoping to appeal to horny teenage males? The lengthy shots of the showering Harley Quinn were gratuitous, especially since there was no sense of any real danger to her, and his appearance was so predictable. Similar comments can be made about the sauna scene. I like looking at these women as much as the next guy, but they could at least try to work that stuff in without messing with the episode pacing.

Also, I hope that's not the regular theme song. I can't say that I liked it, or even that I think it suits the rest of the show.

The Review

This was not a particularly original episode. The villain was a lot like Hydroman (of Marvel comics; I'm not a DC buff, but they've probably got someone similar over there.) The relationship developments were predictable, not because we know the characters, but because that's the way these character types always seem to relate. I give it 3 out of 6.

The effects were decent. The water looked like water, but it looked like it was constantly flowing into a person's face, even though the size of the water body never actually changed. The motion of the batarang was excellent, as was the wire fighting. I also have to give them credit for the decent blending of real shots and the CGI cityscape. I give the effects 4 out of 6.

The story was fairly well done. The character development was nice, although the changes in the character interactions should have been spread over a few more weeks. This seemed too sudden. The intentions of the villain were well handled, too. I give the story 4 out of 6.

The acting was good but not great. These actors and actresses haven't quite settled into their roles yet, but they're coming along. The guest star was believable in his character's only dimension. I give the acting 4 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced wasn't particularly impressive. I don't know the heroes well enough to really care for them yet, and I never thought that Harley Quinn was in danger for a moment. (They've obviously got plans for her, so they wouldn't bump her off with a freak of the week in the second week.) There were moments of laughter, and stirrings of other responses (see "Other comments",) but there was nothing here that really got me enthralled. I give it 3 out of 6.

The production, apart from the opening theme music, was of very high quality. Tight pacing (apart from the scenes already mentioned,) well chosen camera angles, and well chosen mid-episode music helped hold the show together. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it was an entertaining second episode that helped justify keeping the team together, even if that aspect did feel forced. I enjoyed it, but probably wouldn't watch it as a rerun. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Slick receives 27 out of 42.