Beware had been hitting it out of the park in recent weeks with episodes like “Safe”, “Family”, and “Allies” serving as great singular episodes and world building. It’s that lack of world building that holds “Control” back. It portends a greater world, that Cypher is working for the League of Assassins, but there is no on screen proof to connect the dots. After Batman replies to Gordon’s message and finds out that the architect of the Wayne Enterprises building mumbling in a patrol vehicle “Cypher” the detective puts it together that the League is making another play for the Ion Cortex. If it weren’t for him audibly calling it out there would be no connection to the greater Beware universe, it’s a strained connection at best.

Having “Control” turn into an extended chase sequence was actually a fun and enjoyable move. I’ve found most of Gotham’s buildings to be missing some Je ne sais quoi. They all just look big bland and flat. Seeing Batman scale the Wayne building should of been a visual treat. Instead it felt stunted and poorly composed, look at Batman’s depth in relation to the background. Still playing around in the Wayne building for the better part of the episode was interesting. It’s always nice when a show can have big action sequences in a controlled environment.

Cypher is one of the more strikingly redesigned characters, next to the Lady GaGa tinged Magpie. When the production wants to they can make some really beautiful imagery and that initial close up of Cypher’s metallic armor(?) and the texture it has is great. Only made better by the lighting effects from his tendrils. His tendrils gave everything a nice Tron vibe. Functionally they also served as something totally different to see animated as well. They had to be firm yet malleable more whip like than anything else. Turning Cypher into a puppet master who used his tendrils to make his victims into marionettes was actually really interesting to watch visually. Forcing Batman to contend with an uninhibited Katana only for Burr to sideswipe him. Getting the pair of fight sequences between Batman and Katana was worth it.

That ending though, why does this show have to give away heel turns so easily? So Jason still has a bit/all of Cypher left in him. It’s all very Action Man(2000).If you get that FOX Kids reference good job.

“Control” was by far the most simplistic episode in recent memory. Simple isn’t bad and the plot was well executed. Just not a lot of meat to really chew on.

The Bits At The End

• What did Bruce mean by his findings when anyalizing Cypher's tendril?

Michael Mazzacane can be found many places on the internet but mainly onTwitter @MaZZM and on Tumblr mazzz.net