Batman: The Animated Series (TV Series) Deep Freeze (1994) User Reviews

"We are together again, my love..."

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 8/10 · 3 February 2014]

From a Mr.Freeze point of view, his second animated series appearance is no disappointment. And while there's no way I can take this as seriously or as emotionally moving or poetic as the masterful "Heart Of Ice", it's not as bad as I remembered it, and in the end it does come out on top, mainly thanks to Mr.Freeze's totally epic dialogue. The character was still so very great at this point, and all he needed was a few choice Shakespearean lines to own the whole episode. And that's not a bad thing at all, I don't think you could put that brooding voice of the cold to just any old character and get the exact same effect. It's the whole idea of Freeze as he's envisioned in this show that made it work. I believe at his very best the character can be seen to embody deep themes of loneliness and isolation and redemption for the cold at heart, and that in reality there's always that vital spark of humanity still burning underneath all the ice... I actually really liked the small detail at the beginning when Freeze is abducted from his refrigerated cell at Arkham by the cool robot and his precious ballerina snowglobe crashes to the ground and shatters, to me symbolically bursting the bubble of maudlin tragedy and regret that's established at the end of Heart Of Ice as, for better or worse, the character is now free of his cocoon of self pity to evolve once again. This story is not perfect or that great, but I personally just enjoy it for the parts that focus on Freeze, rather that the silly old fart who's crazy scheme for an Atlantis-like utopia at sea seem more than a little too big of an idea to fit into just one episode only. I like the part where the bizarre Walt Disney-esc character says how he wants to be just like Mr.Freeze and Freeze is like, what are you, nuts? This is terrible! Okay, he puts it a tad more eloquently than that.. My favourite part of the plot is when Batman exploits the weakness of one of his foes once again when he gets through to Freeze by convincing him that his wife would hate him if he does what he's planning to do. It's a great moment as Freeze breaks his 'emotionless' monotone persona again and flies into a rage, demanding that Batman be silent! I find the final image at the ending which kind of feels like it's setting up the "Sub-Zero" movie, of Freeze kneeling down beside his wife's cryogenically frozen body, alone as always, to be quite powerful and moving. Two companions worlds apart, both of them sealed away in their own personal icy tombs. One dead to the world, and the other dead inside... A very good episode that is well worth seeing. Later!

Average episode with an above-average villain.

[Addonna · 6/10 · 25 July 2009]

The story follows the tragic and conflicted Mr. Freeze in his second appearance in the series. After being sprung out of Arkham, Mr. Freeze is recruited by Billionaire Grant Walker to aid him in fulfilling his life-long vision. You might say that Mr. Walker is a cross between Walt Disney and Karl Stromberg, the villain in "The Spy Who Loved Me". At first, Mr. Freeze rejects his proposal, but is soon goaded into helping Walker with his request after being offered a gift he cannot refuse.

I enjoy Mr. Freeze stories and love the character as interpreted by the series. The details surrounding his mistakes and tragedy makes you feel empathy and you find yourself pulling for him to find redemption. It gives him some nice character depth as opposed to other Batman villains who follow the traditional "bad guy" persona.

However, this episode is average at best. 22 Minutes is not enough time to adequately develop the plot and I found it to be rushed at times. There was some good, short dialogue concerning an Utopian Society vs. Free Will, and of course Mr. Freeze always carries every scene he is in. I just wish they had produced more episodes about him.