Entertainment
One Of The Best Batman Episodes Is A Sci-Fi Tragedy Sequel
By Drew Dietsch
| Published
Batman: The Animated Series is the best iteration of the character in any medium, whether it’s comics, movies, television, radio, you name it. This series is an indelible and persistent entry in the history of the Caped Crusader. Over the course of its 85 episodes, it cemented a version of Batman and his world that stands the test of time. There are plenty of good and outright great episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, but one that stands out and above the pack has got to be “His Silicon Soul”, a story that spun out of a previous two-parter that gave Batman: The Animated Series a sci-fi story unlike anything else in the series.
Heart Of Steel
The story of “His Silicon Soul” actually starts in the two-part episode “Heart of Steel”. An evil artificial intelligence named HARDAC (Holographic Analytical Reciprocating Digital Android Computer) begins creating androids called duplicants – a nod to replicants from Blade Runner – in an effort to replace human beings. Naturally, Batman defeats HARDAC and its army of duplicants to save the day.
However, you’ll notice that HARDAC looks oddly like the silhouette of Batman’s cowl. That was intentional as the original script for “Heart of Steel: Part II” ended with a Batman duplicant showing up as HARDAC’s final tool. The original usage of the Batman duplicant was essentially just to have a fight scene. When the producers of Batman: The Animated Series saw this in the script, they immediately recognized that a robot Batman was an episode all on its own. Thus was born “His Silicon Soul”.
His Silicon Soul
”His Silicon Soul” opens with thieves breaking into a warehouse when Batman busts out of a crate. After fighting the thieves, he is injured and it’s revealed he has robotic innards! Believing he is the real Bruce Wayne, Batman returns home and asks for help from Alfred. It’s here that Alfred reveals the idea of duplicants to the robot Batman and he begins investigating his creation and purpose. Once the real Batman catches wind of this, the chase is on as the robot Batman activates his true programming and resurrects the plan to replace humans with duplicants.
However, during a fight in a greenhouse between the two Batmen, the robot saves an innocent man when the greenhouse begins to collapse. It’s here that we start to understand that this Batman duplicant is more human than we might believe. During the final climactic showdown, the real Batman is believed to be dead at the hands of duplicant Batman. And it’s here where “His Silicon Soul” earns its reputation. Even though he has been essentially programmed by HARDAC to destroy humanity, the AI made too good of a copy in Batman. This artificial being believes in the sanctity of life so much that he destroys himself in order to save the people of Gotham City.
It’s a powerful idea that sci-fi often grapples with: what is humanity? What makes us truly human? To see a show that’s ostensibly aimed at kids go into such powerful and difficult subject matter made an impression on me when I was still of single digit age. To this day, the final moments of the duplicant Batman overcome with guilt at the belief that he has taken a life stick with me. “His Silicon Soul” is one of voice actor Kevin Conroy’s best moments in a career overflowing with them.
The idea that Batman: The Animated Series was willing to make an episode like “His Silicon Soul” showcases the incredible depth and variety of stories that show was able to tell within the framework of Batman adventures. To get a legitimate sci-fi tragedy in the midst of classic crime tales is a true treat.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
Mashable Top Stories
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
