E59: Strange Theory

Strange Theory is the seventh episode of Batman: Shadow War's season five and a Hugo Strange episode.

Plot
The episode opens up with Barbara Gordon unmasked and tied to a chair, remembering that Hugo Strange shot Batman and kidnapped her. Strange comes into the room with a camera and laughs at his "victory", taking photographs of Barbara while smirking and having a conversation with her; Barbara though tries to keep a calm mood while Strange continues to taunt her. Barbara struggles in her restraints, only for Strange to "calm her down" by threatening her life and then claims that he will expose to the identities of the Bat Family to the world. Strange records the situation with his camera and begins to film Barbara.

Meanwhile, Batman, Robin and Alfred try to track Strange and investigate a trail of blood Strange left behind due to Batman beating him down before he escaped. The trail stopped where Strange's car was and manage to use his advanced technology to follow where the car went via Batmobile. Meanwhile, Strange begins to torture and question Barbara on confessing what she does at night and the identities of Batman and Robin on camera, however she remains silent until she threatens that if he publicizes such a video, Commissioner James Gordon will hunt him down for what his doing. However, Strange disturbingly says he'll "make him understand".

Batman and Robin reach the warehouse, breaking in to find it abandoned and Robin is surprised while Batman expected it due to Strange's tendency to keep things secret and hidden. After a search, Batman revealed the bunker quietly and used thermite grenades to burn through the door instead of loudly opening it. Strange is still torturing Barbara until she manages to headbutt him, causing Strange a nosebleed, greatly angering him. Strange goes to the table and grabs a surgical tool, threatening to make her quiet. This causes Robin to burst through the door quickly after arguing with Batman, throwing a shuriken to disarm Strange and surprises him.

Batman then enters and orders Strange to surrender, however the psychotic held Barbara hostage with his gun and threatened her life if they didn't reveal their identities on camera. Batman kept Strange talking while Robin used another shuriken to hit Strange in the face; giving Batman the chance to take down Strange. However, Strange shot Batman again after recovering, so Robin quickly took Strange on the ground and beat him brutally. Batman prevented Robin from killing Strange, but Robin argued with Batman about placing Barbara in danger and that as long as Strange lives, they're all done for. A restrained Barbara agrees that they shouldn't end Strange's life, causing Robin to argue further and Strange begs for his life, resulting in a freed Barbara to knock him out in one punch.

The trio then argue at Wayne Manor after Gordon and the police had apprehended Strange, with Robin eventually apologizing and understands that they shouldn't kill him. However despite this, Robin chooses to life to become a lone vigilante himself and promises that he'll still follow Batman's teachings and respects him for that. Despite the two trying to convince him, they let Dick go anyway and Strange announces to Batman that he'll run one final test.