As if the series didn't get campy enough, they actually added Batgirl to the show, which made the Dynamic Duo into the Triumphant Trio. However, this is the first time Batgirl has ever entered the Batman Media of TV and Film. While knowing West and Ward were perfect for their roles, will the woman playing Batgirl be just as great as they are? ON WITH THE REVIEW...
In the famous Bat-Intro as we see comic-book animation of Batman and Robin fighting off the villains as that kickass Batman theme song would play; Batgirl was added to the fight scenes, as well as riding her Batgirl-cycle when the actresses name appeared; and the woman playing her is Ballet dancer Yvonne Craig. The commercials leading up to Batgirl, showed the many Death-Traps that the Dynamic Duo has faced in the past two seasons wondering who could save them from the Death-Traps if they by some chance can't save themselves. We then see Batgirl riding her Bat-Motorcycle and fighting crime with Batman. When we hear the characters shout out the name Batgirl, it sounds like the actors are thinking "Oh great, the third wheel of the Bat-Mobile has arrived". There's also another commercial in the 1970's that I should mention where Batgirl refuses to save the Duo from a Death-Trap to get equal pay. Instead of Adam West, we get a stand in for him, who is completely horrible and not engaged in his role at all. On top of it, it ends on a cliffhanger and ends with an equal pay service message and in case if you're wondering if she saves them...I DON'T KNOW. I couldn't find a follow up commercial for it, but it doesn't matter because she's willing to let them die if they don't agree to pay her, I already hate this character. However, that was a commercial made years later and maybe, MAYBE she's a lot better in her debut promo Bat-Episode than in a cheap spin off commercial.
The Promo Bat-Episode takes place in a Library as Bruce and Dick see a group of suspicious looking characters dressed in costumes, which are the Killer Moth and his gang. Hold it! Nobody else recognized them as criminals. I mean, granted, it's a campy show, but you mean to tell me that no one besides our heroes can figure out that there's a gang of criminals dressed in their costumes in a Public Library? Are the people in Gotham really this stupid in this universe of Batman?! I'll take the whole not recognizing The Joker thing because he's wearing wearing a hat, since he acts different, and at times briefly looks the Cops in the face when wearing a Cop hat; but not recognizing a criminal in his criminal wardrobe with no alteration to the looks at all, is really stupid then it is funny. Anyway, the Killer Moth puts the Duo in Cocoons and it's up to Batgirl to save them, whose true identity is Barbra Gordon who's related to Commissioner Gordon and works at the Library.
I'm going to admit, I do like that this adaptation of Batgirl made her Commissioner Gordon's daughter and making her true identity a mystery to the Dynamic Duo and her Dad, which makes their partnership interesting. Unlike the future version of Batgirl where she's Alfred's niece without a British accent and drops out of school to be a hero... yeeeeah...that didn't happen! Though to be fair, she doesn't have that over the top, stereotypical Irish accent that her Father has, but it was for the best. I also enjoy her personality. She looks hot in that costume; she knows how to fight; and above all I can never ever see the connection between both identities; when with Batman and Robin, I totally can. Aside from being a good introduction to Batgirl, the plot is lame; the villains are stupid and forgettable; and Batman and Robin don't do much except fight and get captured. By the way, during the Bat-Fights, remember how in the second Season when the pun word would cover the whole screen during a punch; they're back to showing it while you can still see the Bat-Fight. I'd say skip it, but it's worth a look, ONLY for introducing Batgirl for the first time in the TV and film media.
RATING 2/5
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