Batman Beyond episode
"Golem"
Airdate:	February 7, 1999 (USA)
Production Number:	04
Airdate Order:	4
Animation Services by:	Koko/Dong Yang
Written by:	Hilary J. Bader
Directed by:	Butch Lukic
Episode images (10)

You may also be looking for the robot "GoLeM".

"Golem" is the fourth episode of Batman Beyond. It depicts the revenge schemes of a scrawny teenager Willie Watt. After being harassed by Nelson Nash one too many times and being goaded to seek revenge by his father, High School student Willie Watt steals a giant construction robot known as the G.L.M. (GoLeM). However, after a fight with Batman, the robot essentially becomes part of him. Now mad with power, Willie goes on a rampage that threatens everyone around him.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Background information 2.1 Home video releases 2.2 Production notes 2.3 Production inconsistencies 2.4 Trivia 3 Cast 3.1 Uncredited appearances 4 Quotes

Plot Edit

It's a typical day at Hamilton Hill High School and nerdy Willie Watt feels the effects of biology when he sees Blade Sommer. Willie tries to ask her out so he can tutor her but Nelson arrives in his car and shoves Willie away. Willie confronts Nelson but is pushed into Nelson's car. Nelson gets angry at the fact that his car was almost scratched and prepares to beat up Willie, but Terry saves him.

Willie heads over to his father Frank, a foreman at a construction site, and watches as a worker pilots a giant robot made for heavy lifting, a GoLeM. Frank demands that Willie push Nelson back and "hit him where it hurts".

That night Batman tests out his suit's new stealth mode and learns that the GoLeM has been stolen. The GoLeM arrives at the mall in the middle of Blade and Nelson's date. As soon as it arrives, Nelson takes off, leaving Blade behind. Nelson tries to escape in his car but the GoLeM grabs it and crushes it. Willie isn't through, however and tries to kill Nelson but Batman intervenes. Angered at the intervention, Willie has the GoLeM attack Batman but Batman tricks it into striking power cables causing the circuitry to overload. The overload also feeds back on Willie, through the headband remote control. Willie manages to escape, and is surprised to see energy still flowing through his body. Disgusted at Nelson's cowardice, Blade dumps him.

Morning comes and Willie heads off to school. To spite Nelson, Blade asks Willie out to the dance. Furious, Nelson menaces Willie, but Willie senses that he still has a connection with the GoLeM and feels OK. Later, Willie heads into Jokerz Territory and uses the GoLeM to chase the gang off. He now thinks that everything's going to be different.

The night of the dance comes and Willie goes with Blade. Blade, however, regrets her ploy, as now everyone is laughing at her and she doesn't like Willie touching her. Nelson comes to her rescue and pleads for another chance. Hesitant to hurt Willie's feelings, Blade refuses, but Nelson decides he'll take care of him. He takes Willie to the docks and insists that Willie step aside and shoves him into the ocean when he refuses. Nelson and his friends have a laugh but are unaware that the GoLeM is coming.

A slow dance starts and Nelson has Blade again. Willie arrives; soaking wet and people start laughing at him. Dana decides to take pity on him and offers to take him home. Willie refuses, saying that he needs no one's help, and summons the GoLeM. The GoLeM attacks and forces everyone to jump into the water. Nelson is nearly killed but Batman arrives and saves him. Fortunately, before the GoLeM can kill Batman, Frank arrives and implores Willie to stop. However, Willie, still bitter toward his father for his harsh treatment of him, orders the GoLeM to attack Frank. Once again Batman intervenes and manages to blind the GoLeM. However, Frank is put into a bad position as he cannot swim and is dangling over the ocean. Willie grows angrier than ever and attacks again. Batman manages to save Frank and then goes to a rocket ride in the carnival. Using a cable, he manages to reel the GoLeM into the ride and destroys it. As it collapses, Willie cries for the loss of his only "friend".

Willie is sentenced to three years in juvenile hall where he is still bullied. However, he shows that he still has powers, causing a television to explode without even touching it. The other kids are afraid of him now, and Willie smiles.

Background information Edit

Home video releases Edit

• Batman Beyond - Season One (DVD)
• Batman Beyond - The Complete Series (DVD)
• Batman Beyond The Movie (DVD)
• Batman Beyond – School Dayz and Spellbound (DVD)

Production notes Edit

• When Willie blows up the TV set at the end, the ensuing explosion is reused footage from the scene of the Superman: The Animated Series episode "My Girl, "in which Mr. Eelan blows a vat of hot lead off its support.

Production inconsistencies Edit

• When Frank Watt reappears after falling into the water, he is completely dry.
• At the end of the episode, Terry speaks to Frank Watt. He does so in his "normal" speaking voice and not the voice he uses as Batman.

Trivia Edit

• The episode title and the title "character" are based on the legend of the Golem, a giant statue brought to life from clay to protect Jewish minorities in Eastern Europe from their persecutors.

• This is the first episode not to feature Derek Powers.

• Batman dumps Frank Watt in a tub full of dolls which look suspiciously like Marvel Comics villain M.O.D.O.K.

• Though Nelson shares a bitter rivalry with Terry McGinnis, this episode implies that he admires Batman. This makes him somewhat similar to Flash Thompson from Marvel Comics, who is a high school athlete and bully, has a rivalry with Peter Parker but admires his alter ego, Spider-Man. Also, Nelson's attitude tones down in later episodes and he becomes more amiable towards Terry, very much like how Flash matures and becomes close friends with Peter Parker.

• In this episode, Willie appers to gain technopathic powers (control of technology), however in his next appearance he has telekenetic powers.

Cast Edit

Actor	Role
Will Friedle	Terry McGinnis / Batman
Kevin Conroy	Bruce Wayne
Lauren Tom	Dana Tan
Scott McAfee	Willie Watt
Bill Smitrovich	Frank Watt
Melissa Disney	Bobbi "Blade" Sommer
Gregg Berger	GoLeM Controller
Seth Green	Nelson Nash
Pauley Perrette	Cop Dottie (uncredited)
Mark Davis	Virtual Anchor
Joe Lala	Spike

Uncredited appearances Edit

• Smirk

Quotes Edit

(Jokerz appear and begin bullying Willie) Willie: I got something for you: a joke. Spike: Alright then. Make me laugh. Willie: What's two stories tall and eats Jokerz? Spike: What? Willie: Him. (The GoLeM appears and scares the Jokerz off)

Virtual Anchor: Just another example of technology going, b-b-ba-ba-bad-bad.

Frank: When I get my hands on the jerk who stole that GoLeM, I'm going to make him sorry he was ever born. Willie: Maybe he already is.

Bruce Wayne: Do you know anyone who has a grudge against him? Terry: The line starts with me and goes around the block...twice.

Frank: Sure caused a lot of trouble. Guess that means he's not a wuss anymore.

Previously produced episode: "Black Out"	Episodes of Batman Beyond	Next produced episode: "The Winning Edge"
Previously aired episode: "Black Out"		Next aired episode: "Meltdown"