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 Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, based on a story by Adam Armus and Kay Foster.
Directed by James Marshall

Original Airdate

Split originally aired on Wednesday, November 20, 2002.

Synopsis

Huntress' male counter part comes to town to track the man who killed his fiancee.

High Point

Brian Thompson's performance. He cam do more than the Schwarzennalien role he had on The X-Files.

Low Point

The "he always kills her right when I get there" line. Repeating it that often that quickly made the "surprise" a little too obvious.

The Review

This was not original. In fact, it's remarkably similar to Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. I give it 3 out of 6.

The effects were a bit weak. I can almost buy a metahuman ability to change his appearance, but the morph didn't look biological, and there was no reason for the clothes to change, too. The only other effects I remember were recycled. I give it 3 out of 6.

The story was actually quite good. If that one conversation hadn't made things too obvious, my doubts about my prediction would have really kept me going. That problem isn't going to hurt them much, as later scenes made it clear that the audience was intended to sort things out before the characters. It's also nice to see Detective Reese pulling his weight with the investigations. I give it 4 out of 6.

The acting from the guest cast, Shemar Moore, and Mia Sara was excellent. Brian Thompson in particular did a remarkable job. Dina Meyer and Rachel Scott did a good job with what they were given. (Dina Meyer had little to do apart from exposition this week.) Rachel Skarsten is obviously inexperienced, but she's in a small enough role this week that it's not a big deal. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced was very good. The episode held my interest throughout, and the ending would have guaranteed I'd watch through the rest of the season. (Now that we know the only other episode this season will be next week, that's not as impressive.) I give it 5 out of 6.

The production was very good this week. The editing of the episode, and Dinah's vision in particular, was very well done. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, this was a great episode, and likely a promise of what would have been to come. I didn't feel too upset about the plug being pulled earlier this week, but now I think they might have pulled about the kind of improvement that Smallville saw by the end of its first season. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, Split receives 30 out of 42.