NOTE FROM THE CRITIC
Yes, half of this list was made and published earlier this year, however, there was some major difficulties when making the list and on top of it, I didn't like the order that I put some of the Bat-Episodes in Yeah, it's a major muck up that I did and I apologize completely for it but now and I have an idea and sense on how to do a list. Sorry once again and as a young aspiring film critic, I will not let this muck up slip up again. Now with that out of the way here's the complete list.
Last year I finished another Season of Batman starring Adam West and before I can start my review on the Third and final Season, I'm going to pick my favorite episodes from Season 2. So get ready you Bat-Fans out there because here are...
MY TOP 12 FAVORITE BAT-EPISODES FROM BATMAN (ADAM WEST) SEASON 2
MY TOP 12 FAVORITE BAT-EPISODES FROM BATMAN (ADAM WEST) SEASON 2
WARNING: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!
NUMBER 12
AN EGG GROWS IN GOTHAM/THE YEGG FOES IN GOTHAM
If you can get passed the amount of egg puns and the offensive Native American stereotype, the Bat-Episode isn't that bad. For starters and the main reason why I enjoy it is the casting of Vincent Price as Egghead. Yeah, yeah, I know most of his dialogue has the same amount of egg puns as Arnold's ice puns in "Batman And Robin" which can get very annoying and irritating at times, but here's what separates him from Arnold's terrible performance...CLASS! Vincent Price is one of those actors who I enjoy in whatever he's in because he's Vincent Price and he's a man full of class, horror and is always enjoying himself in whatever role he takes and watching him as a Batman villain is one of the many exceptions. Every scene he's in, he's over the top; constantly laughing; enjoying how evil and smart he is; and no matter how many egg puns he makes, he still comes off as classy, fun and charming as the Vincent Price we know and love. By the way, the narrator calls him "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind". Why does that sound familiar?
Not only is the casting of this villain is great, but the villain himself is awesome. Alright, an Egg themed villain is pretty stupid and ridiculous, I mean, come on, a highly intelligent criminal who obsesses over eggs...yeah that's pretty lame and doesn't make any sense. With that aside, however, he does do a few great evil things. First off, he's one of the rare amount of criminals in the series who actually figures out Batman's identity. OK, ok, well he doesn't know for sure, it's actually a theory he makes. However, he does try to put his theory into fact by putting Bruce Wayne under a machine that can put his thoughts into Egghead's brain and during the process it will kill Bruce which leads to a very uncomfortable cliffhanger. On top of it, he actually gets the opportunity to run Gotham City and turn it into a criminals paradise. He gets to steal and grab whatever he wants; criminals everywhere in the city are doing various crimes while the cops are forced to look the other way and arrest and ticket the citizens of Gotham for doing little wrong; and Batman and Robin are forbidden to go to the city and will be shot at first sight if they ever returned. Now that's what I call a great criminal. Granted the villain's theme again is a stupid concept, but this guy actually gets to run Gotham for a little while, that's like every Batman villains dream and for any villain to have that opportunity has defiantly grabbed Batman by the wing.
As for the Duo, they're really put to the test. With Egghead in charge of Gotham and Batman and Robin being treated as criminals with no police to help them, they must now try to save the city as their alter egos Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. They have to steal a document without no suspecting them as Batman and Robin; Bruce Wayne has to block out his memory of being Batman so Egghead wouldn't gain the information; he has to protect the millionaires from being killed by a Radar Egg-Bomb, and this is one of those rare times where Robin (Or should I say Dick) has to save our leading hero. Of course we mostly see them as the Dynamic Duo, but usually and for the most part it's only in the Bat-Cave, while the city is under Egghead's control.
Now for the fun stuff. Well, I don't have any favorite Holy lines from Robin since I'm distracted by the amount of Egg puns that this Bat-Episode has. On top of it, I don't have any good Eggpuns from Egghead either, since they're so simple and obvious. I already talked about Batman and Robin using a sad pill to prevent them from laughing by Egghead's laughing gas in my review. I guess the only fun thing I can think of is the Bat-Fight at the ending. I just love how it goes from a silly throwing egg Bat-Fight, to using their fists, to smashing each other with cartons of eggs. In fact, Vincent Price was only suppose to pelt one egg on Robin, but due to an argument that the actors had off the set, Price decided to pelt Robin with several other eggs. Of course, Price gets his when Robin smashes Price with a carton of eggs and looking at Vincent's face, you can tell that's the face of defeat from both the actor and the character. While being a silly Bat-Episode that many tend to love or hate, I still enjoy it for Vincent Price as the villain as well as enjoying the challenge that the Dynamic Duo must face.
As for the Duo, they're really put to the test. With Egghead in charge of Gotham and Batman and Robin being treated as criminals with no police to help them, they must now try to save the city as their alter egos Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. They have to steal a document without no suspecting them as Batman and Robin; Bruce Wayne has to block out his memory of being Batman so Egghead wouldn't gain the information; he has to protect the millionaires from being killed by a Radar Egg-Bomb, and this is one of those rare times where Robin (Or should I say Dick) has to save our leading hero. Of course we mostly see them as the Dynamic Duo, but usually and for the most part it's only in the Bat-Cave, while the city is under Egghead's control.
Now for the fun stuff. Well, I don't have any favorite Holy lines from Robin since I'm distracted by the amount of Egg puns that this Bat-Episode has. On top of it, I don't have any good Eggpuns from Egghead either, since they're so simple and obvious. I already talked about Batman and Robin using a sad pill to prevent them from laughing by Egghead's laughing gas in my review. I guess the only fun thing I can think of is the Bat-Fight at the ending. I just love how it goes from a silly throwing egg Bat-Fight, to using their fists, to smashing each other with cartons of eggs. In fact, Vincent Price was only suppose to pelt one egg on Robin, but due to an argument that the actors had off the set, Price decided to pelt Robin with several other eggs. Of course, Price gets his when Robin smashes Price with a carton of eggs and looking at Vincent's face, you can tell that's the face of defeat from both the actor and the character. While being a silly Bat-Episode that many tend to love or hate, I still enjoy it for Vincent Price as the villain as well as enjoying the challenge that the Dynamic Duo must face.
NUMBER 11
POP GOES THE JOKER/FLOP GOES THE JOKER
POP GOES THE JOKER/FLOP GOES THE JOKER
While the Bat-Episode with the Bookworm was my first Bat-Episode that I watched from beginning to end (Well the first part); the first time I ever caught a glimpse of the show when it was on TV when I was a kid was this Bat-Episode. I remember my Uncle had a tape recording of this Bat-Episode and while I didn't watch the whole thing, I did remember seeing the Death-Trap with all the blades as Robin's being spun around; and the scene where The Joker redecorates an antique table shouting out "Out with the old, in with the new!". So as you may have guessed this Bat-Episode brought back memories for me as a kid. However, that's not the main reason why I put it on the list. The real reason is because it's so goofy, so silly, so over the top and so ridiculous that I just love its silliness and Cesar Romero as The Joker really knows how to make a campy concept like this work.
The silly and over the top moments in this Bat-Episode are truly endless, it just simply goes from one goofy thing to another. Even when the Bat-Episode begins with The Joker destroying the Art Gallery with spray paint guns, you know right off the bat that we're in for something really silly and campy. This Bat-Episode just really goes all out with it's campyness and it never ever stops. Cesar Romero as The Joker really has a lot of funny moments and whenever he's on screen, he's always being crazy, destructive, laughing like a maniac, and he seems to be enjoying every minute of it thus making the audience enjoying his on screen presence.
For me, the funniest moment in the whole Bat-Episode is the Art Competition with The Joker. We see many artists with names that are a play on many famous artists names such as Pablo Pincus (Pablo Picasso), Jackson Potlock (Jackson Pollock), Leonardo Devinski (Leonardo Da Vinci) and Vincent Van Goes (Vincent Van Gogh). Throughout the competition, we see artists use different and extreme methods of painting such as throwing paint cans; using their feet and backs; and even having a monkey just throw paint balloons at the picture, while The Joker just stands there and paints nothing. While, the paintings look like crap and a painting that a child can easily do, The Joker wins for his symbolic picture of emptiness. Yeah, that's the kind of crazy things that this Bat-Episode has to offer, which is stupid while at the same time funny.
This Bat-Episode also has a large amount of Bat-Fights. The first few actually involve Bruce Wayne and Robin fighting as Bruce becomes a hostage with the other millionaires. While the Bat-Fights are awesome, Bruce seems to be giving away his secret identity, however, Bruce says he does let the criminals beat him up a few times so they won't connect him to being Batman which I'll buy. Joker also thinks Batman is chicken because he doesn't show up to stop him, which leads to a badass Batman scene where Joker steals priceless paintings and threatens to destroy them as he talks to Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara on the phone. However, Batman sneaks inside, picks up a phone behind The Joker, tells him to look at the paintings that he stole which have been switched with Alfred's paintings when he was a kid; and as Joker threatens Batman, Batman tells the Joker to turn around which leads to The Joker being terrified by Batman's presence. While being a badass Batman moment for this show. it still has flaws like, didn't the Joker even look at the paintings before he stole them?
Getting back to the Bat-Fights, the choreography is not only great, but the writers throw in plenty of fun things in such as Robin's face stuck in Clay, which ALMOST removes his mask (HOLY ALMOST REVEAL!); the Dynamic Duo use pieces of art to take down The Joker's henchman as well as making their knock outs look like art; Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara listen to one of the Bat-Fights over the phone; Bruce and Robin trick the The Joker into making it look like their dead before fighting; and Alfred even gets to join the action. I also love the many different locations where the Bat-Fights take place in, such as The Joker's hideout; the room where Bruce and Robin are about to be killed; the Art Gallery; and even at Wayne Manor. Personally the funniest moment in all of the Bat-Fights that happens in this Bat-Episode is when The Joker finds the Bat-Poles thinking it's a secret passageway (Since the names of Bruce and Dick, and the Bat-Cave sign have been removed so Alfred can paint the Bat-Poles. However, I do wonder how Alfred removed the Bat-Cave sign. I thought it was imprinted on the wall?) and to prevent the Joker from seeing the Bat-Cave, Alfred uses the emergency Bat-Pole Elevator switch to send The Joker to go up and down constantly. While, being a funny scene, it too does have its flaws. How did The Joker not the see the Bat-Phone after when he accidentally triggered the entrance to the Bat-Poles? We even get to see (For the first time) how deep the Bat-Cave is from Wayne Manor, which isn't that deep, wouldn't The Joker have found the Bat-Cave by now? Despite its flaws, it's still a funny scene.
Now for my favorite Holy lines...
Holy Hostage (When Bruce and a bunch of millionaires are held hostage by The Joker)
While having its flaws and being a wild and extremely campy Bat-Episode, there are so many funny and laugh out loud moments that I really have a lot of fun watching it from beginning to end. It's truly the campyness of the show at its best! On the plus side, The Joker obsession with Art and spreading art related crimes has been homage in (my opinion) the best live action Batman film ever, Tim Burton's "Batman" as we see The Joker kill people to make art, as well as destroying an art museum. Thank you Tim Burton for turning a campy concept into a sadistic concept.
The silly and over the top moments in this Bat-Episode are truly endless, it just simply goes from one goofy thing to another. Even when the Bat-Episode begins with The Joker destroying the Art Gallery with spray paint guns, you know right off the bat that we're in for something really silly and campy. This Bat-Episode just really goes all out with it's campyness and it never ever stops. Cesar Romero as The Joker really has a lot of funny moments and whenever he's on screen, he's always being crazy, destructive, laughing like a maniac, and he seems to be enjoying every minute of it thus making the audience enjoying his on screen presence.
For me, the funniest moment in the whole Bat-Episode is the Art Competition with The Joker. We see many artists with names that are a play on many famous artists names such as Pablo Pincus (Pablo Picasso), Jackson Potlock (Jackson Pollock), Leonardo Devinski (Leonardo Da Vinci) and Vincent Van Goes (Vincent Van Gogh). Throughout the competition, we see artists use different and extreme methods of painting such as throwing paint cans; using their feet and backs; and even having a monkey just throw paint balloons at the picture, while The Joker just stands there and paints nothing. While, the paintings look like crap and a painting that a child can easily do, The Joker wins for his symbolic picture of emptiness. Yeah, that's the kind of crazy things that this Bat-Episode has to offer, which is stupid while at the same time funny.
This Bat-Episode also has a large amount of Bat-Fights. The first few actually involve Bruce Wayne and Robin fighting as Bruce becomes a hostage with the other millionaires. While the Bat-Fights are awesome, Bruce seems to be giving away his secret identity, however, Bruce says he does let the criminals beat him up a few times so they won't connect him to being Batman which I'll buy. Joker also thinks Batman is chicken because he doesn't show up to stop him, which leads to a badass Batman scene where Joker steals priceless paintings and threatens to destroy them as he talks to Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara on the phone. However, Batman sneaks inside, picks up a phone behind The Joker, tells him to look at the paintings that he stole which have been switched with Alfred's paintings when he was a kid; and as Joker threatens Batman, Batman tells the Joker to turn around which leads to The Joker being terrified by Batman's presence. While being a badass Batman moment for this show. it still has flaws like, didn't the Joker even look at the paintings before he stole them?
Getting back to the Bat-Fights, the choreography is not only great, but the writers throw in plenty of fun things in such as Robin's face stuck in Clay, which ALMOST removes his mask (HOLY ALMOST REVEAL!); the Dynamic Duo use pieces of art to take down The Joker's henchman as well as making their knock outs look like art; Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara listen to one of the Bat-Fights over the phone; Bruce and Robin trick the The Joker into making it look like their dead before fighting; and Alfred even gets to join the action. I also love the many different locations where the Bat-Fights take place in, such as The Joker's hideout; the room where Bruce and Robin are about to be killed; the Art Gallery; and even at Wayne Manor. Personally the funniest moment in all of the Bat-Fights that happens in this Bat-Episode is when The Joker finds the Bat-Poles thinking it's a secret passageway (Since the names of Bruce and Dick, and the Bat-Cave sign have been removed so Alfred can paint the Bat-Poles. However, I do wonder how Alfred removed the Bat-Cave sign. I thought it was imprinted on the wall?) and to prevent the Joker from seeing the Bat-Cave, Alfred uses the emergency Bat-Pole Elevator switch to send The Joker to go up and down constantly. While, being a funny scene, it too does have its flaws. How did The Joker not the see the Bat-Phone after when he accidentally triggered the entrance to the Bat-Poles? We even get to see (For the first time) how deep the Bat-Cave is from Wayne Manor, which isn't that deep, wouldn't The Joker have found the Bat-Cave by now? Despite its flaws, it's still a funny scene.
Now for my favorite Holy lines...
Holy Hostage (When Bruce and a bunch of millionaires are held hostage by The Joker)
While having its flaws and being a wild and extremely campy Bat-Episode, there are so many funny and laugh out loud moments that I really have a lot of fun watching it from beginning to end. It's truly the campyness of the show at its best! On the plus side, The Joker obsession with Art and spreading art related crimes has been homage in (my opinion) the best live action Batman film ever, Tim Burton's "Batman" as we see The Joker kill people to make art, as well as destroying an art museum. Thank you Tim Burton for turning a campy concept into a sadistic concept.
"I make art till someone dies".
-Jack Nicholson's Joker
NUMBER 10
THE PENGUIN'S NEST/THE BIRD'S LAST JEST
While the Penguin's scheme is a little confusing for a kids show, it's still one of the best Bat-Episodes with Burgess Meredith as The Penguin, as well as having lots of funny and cool moments. First off, I love how desperate this crazy bird is willing to go to the State Penitentiary to carry out his evil scheme. He goes from stealing a bracelet from Aunt Harriette; to throwing a pie at Commissioner Gordon; to faking a murder; and none of it brings him to the Gotham City State Penitentiary. The first two crimes were considered to be "Post Prison Nerves", and faking a murder only lands him to a small time jail cell, but he's actually arrested for violating a sanitary code. The Penguin begins to take extreme measures by busting out of his jail cell by using a high voltage battery pie to knock out a guard (With a real funny cheap and campy special effect); kidnaps Chief O'Hara; locks him in a trunk where he'll be sent into an electric pool; and Batman and Robin have to save him, while avoid from being killed by Penguin's machine gun firing henchman. Damn, that is not only a suspenseful cliffhanger, but it's one of the best Death-Traps or thee best Death-Trap to ever be hatched by this version of the Penguin. After saving the day, arresting Penguin, and Penguin making a big speech in court about putting him in jail for his actions and putting the duo on the spot for not arresting him for his previous actions; the duo dismiss their case and The Penguin is free to go. Never in my life have I seen a fictional criminal become so desperate to go to prison and no matter what crazy scheme this villain does, they just won't let him go to the slammer. Burgess Meredith's performance while being classy and animalish, I just love his reactions to the many times he gets screwed as well as showing how desperate this criminal is. I also love his final reaction in the ending when the criminal he was supposed to meet in the prison gets out on parole, while this bird finally gets his wish. It has disappointment and heartbreak written all over it. By the way, for you fans of the 60's movie; he actually calls himself P.N. Guin at one point during the Bat-Episode.
What really makes this Bat-Episode awesome, aside from our leading villain are the Bat-Fights. These Bat-Fights are seriously awesome in the campy sense standards of the show. The first Bat-Fight takes place in the small prison where the Penguin is escaping from. When the duo walk in and discover The Penguin is out; the moll fires her gun and completely misses them with her bad aim, resulting with the duo saying in a non dramatic reaction "You deluded murderous girl. Will these crooks never learn?". The Bat-Fight breaks out and we get some funny moments such as The Penguin getting his umbrella caught in the jail bars; The Penguin mocking a knocked out henchman as they're both being tossed into their jail cell; Robin twisting Penguin's nose; and it all ends when the moll holds Chief O'Hara hostage resulting to the criminals escaping. Give this moll some freaking credit for kidnapping one of the many supporting characters, as well as NOT having a crush on Batman or Robin. I also love that during the Bat-Fight sequence, there's other criminals in Jail cell's watching the Bat-Fight.
The second Bat-Fight takes place after Penguin recognizes Alfred, which is the first time that a criminal who's met Alfred before has recognized him. The Penguin and his gang infiltrate Wayne Manor and holds Aunt Harriet hostage and is about to roast Alfred inside a giant pie. When Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson find out, Dick a few times nearly breaks into being Robin, while Bruce tries to calm him down. On top of it, the two have to literally switch back and forth by being both egos. They have to leave the room by making up an excuse; they have to shout out that they see Batman and Robin ,while they're in another room; they have to slide up and down the Bat-Poles to change costumes, as well as using a turn off costume device so they can go up the Bat-Poles without changing into their regular clothes; and during this awesome Bat-Fight taking place in Wayne Manor (For the first time), Alfred saves Aunt Harriett, while Aunt Harriett knocks out a criminal before fainting. WAY TO GO AUNT HARRIETT! As you may have guessed, after the Bat-Fight; Batman and Robin immediately change clothes and we see them as Bruce and Dick looking amazed that the criminals are knocked out, and are ashamed that they missed the BatFight. By the way, while we're on the topic of characters switching identities back and forth. I love that in the beginning when Commissioner Gordon calls Batman in a pay phone booth, Bruce Wayne is standing in a pay phone booth next to his and talking to him as Batman after telling Alfred to switch the Bat-Phone line, to Bruce's pay phone booth line.
Now for my favorite Holy lines...
Holy Levitation (After Batman turns an electric swimming pool into a reverse magnet)
Holy Chocolate Eclair (When they find Alfred's bowler hat in pastry flour)
The Bat-Episode is so much fun that I constantly enjoy every minute of it. The jokes are funny; the Penguin's a riot; the Bat-Fight's kickass; there's enough new aspects and previous references to the show that move the Season and the writing forward; and it does indeed deserve the place as one of my all time favorite Bat-Episode made this Season.
By the way, I still get a huge laugh at the window cameo of Lurch from "The Addams Family"!
What really makes this Bat-Episode awesome, aside from our leading villain are the Bat-Fights. These Bat-Fights are seriously awesome in the campy sense standards of the show. The first Bat-Fight takes place in the small prison where the Penguin is escaping from. When the duo walk in and discover The Penguin is out; the moll fires her gun and completely misses them with her bad aim, resulting with the duo saying in a non dramatic reaction "You deluded murderous girl. Will these crooks never learn?". The Bat-Fight breaks out and we get some funny moments such as The Penguin getting his umbrella caught in the jail bars; The Penguin mocking a knocked out henchman as they're both being tossed into their jail cell; Robin twisting Penguin's nose; and it all ends when the moll holds Chief O'Hara hostage resulting to the criminals escaping. Give this moll some freaking credit for kidnapping one of the many supporting characters, as well as NOT having a crush on Batman or Robin. I also love that during the Bat-Fight sequence, there's other criminals in Jail cell's watching the Bat-Fight.
The second Bat-Fight takes place after Penguin recognizes Alfred, which is the first time that a criminal who's met Alfred before has recognized him. The Penguin and his gang infiltrate Wayne Manor and holds Aunt Harriet hostage and is about to roast Alfred inside a giant pie. When Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson find out, Dick a few times nearly breaks into being Robin, while Bruce tries to calm him down. On top of it, the two have to literally switch back and forth by being both egos. They have to leave the room by making up an excuse; they have to shout out that they see Batman and Robin ,while they're in another room; they have to slide up and down the Bat-Poles to change costumes, as well as using a turn off costume device so they can go up the Bat-Poles without changing into their regular clothes; and during this awesome Bat-Fight taking place in Wayne Manor (For the first time), Alfred saves Aunt Harriett, while Aunt Harriett knocks out a criminal before fainting. WAY TO GO AUNT HARRIETT! As you may have guessed, after the Bat-Fight; Batman and Robin immediately change clothes and we see them as Bruce and Dick looking amazed that the criminals are knocked out, and are ashamed that they missed the BatFight. By the way, while we're on the topic of characters switching identities back and forth. I love that in the beginning when Commissioner Gordon calls Batman in a pay phone booth, Bruce Wayne is standing in a pay phone booth next to his and talking to him as Batman after telling Alfred to switch the Bat-Phone line, to Bruce's pay phone booth line.
Now for my favorite Holy lines...
Holy Levitation (After Batman turns an electric swimming pool into a reverse magnet)
Holy Chocolate Eclair (When they find Alfred's bowler hat in pastry flour)
The Bat-Episode is so much fun that I constantly enjoy every minute of it. The jokes are funny; the Penguin's a riot; the Bat-Fight's kickass; there's enough new aspects and previous references to the show that move the Season and the writing forward; and it does indeed deserve the place as one of my all time favorite Bat-Episode made this Season.
By the way, I still get a huge laugh at the window cameo of Lurch from "The Addams Family"!
NUMBER 9
SHOOT A CROOKED ARROW/WALK THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
This was the Bat-Episode that not only started the second Season, but also started the second Season on the right foot. First off, when comparing this Bat-Episode to most of the Bat-Episodes made this season, this one actually feels like watching the Bat-Episodes from the first Season. It's campy, but it wasn't overly campy as most of the Bat-Episodes made this season, it had a good a balance of it and didn't go overboard with it.
Art Carney as the villain The Archer really knows how to sell out such a campy themed villain. Instead of being goofy, or over the top as we usually know him for (At least in comedy wise); he's very respectable, full of class and actually does remind me of Robin Hood if he were a villain. His dialogue is both classy and fun; his on screen presence is always enjoyable; and he himself looks happy to be playing a villain on this show. There's not even a reference to his career on "The Honeymooners", well ok, aside from carrying a machine that makes the sound of audiences applauding, booing, and laughing that he got from the castle of a TV producer, but that doesn't count since those machines were used in other TV shows as well. What I truly love about this villain, is the high tech arrows he shoots, he's like a future version of Robin Hood, in fact at one point he even wears futuristic sunglasses after when blinding the Duo with one of his high tech flash bang arrows. His henchman again are not memorable, but I will admit after seeing this Bat-Episode again, the moll while being predictable and bland, she's at least funny and I love how out of place she is in Archer's gang. Of course Robert Cornthwaite as the traitor who's working for The Archer, while predictable and having a bad British accent, he's still enjoyably bad. Getting back to the villain, he truly is a great villain, and it's really sad that this is the only Bat-Episode he's featured in. By the way, I still don't get why he decided to change his costume to be a pirate and act like one. Is he like a kid stuck in a grown man's body? Anyway, still cool and I digress.
Another great aspect to the Bat-Episode is Alfred. He actually does more in this Bat-Episode than he did in any of the previous ones. He first distracts The Archer by challenging him to a game of Archery, which he's a pro at, who would of thought Alfred was so talented with Archery, well until the ending ruined it, but I guess maybe that's a sign of old age getting to him. When Alfred is taken hostage by The Archer as an innocent bystander that will be killed; he doesn't coware; he doesn't tell Batman to spill the beans; he himself doesn't even spill the beans and blow his cover; he accepts that he will die for keeping his mouth shut, but he'll die with dignity and know that he served his master well. Of course, it was all a trick that The Archer just pulled to make one of them talk, and you know the writers would never kill off Alfred in a campy series, but it's the idea behind it that Alfred no matter what situation he's in will always stay loyal to Bruce and this moment really puts him to the test. Alfred also has to dress up as Batman to an event where both Bruce and Batman have to make an appearance at. How Alfred achieves to look and act like Batman is by keeping his distance away from the citizens and police of Gotham; have Robin do most of the talking; and he even gets a gadget to make his voice sound like Batman. Alfred really shines as the unsung third hero of the show in this Bat-Episode, but there's an even a better Bat-Episode where he truly shines the most.
Favorite Holy lines...
Holy Houdini (When Archer and his gang disappear)
Holy Inquisition (When they find Archer's lair)
Holy Hostage (When Alfred's held hostage)
Holy Blackbeard (When the duel against The Archer and his gang as Pirates)
The Bat-Episode aside from having a great villain and making Alfred shine more than he ever did from the previous Bat-Episodes; it also gave us new gadgets (Such as spring boots and a device for Bruce to slide down the Bat-Poles without changing clothes); and above all kept the same amount of campiness as the first season before the rest of the Bat-Episodes got overly campy.
Art Carney as the villain The Archer really knows how to sell out such a campy themed villain. Instead of being goofy, or over the top as we usually know him for (At least in comedy wise); he's very respectable, full of class and actually does remind me of Robin Hood if he were a villain. His dialogue is both classy and fun; his on screen presence is always enjoyable; and he himself looks happy to be playing a villain on this show. There's not even a reference to his career on "The Honeymooners", well ok, aside from carrying a machine that makes the sound of audiences applauding, booing, and laughing that he got from the castle of a TV producer, but that doesn't count since those machines were used in other TV shows as well. What I truly love about this villain, is the high tech arrows he shoots, he's like a future version of Robin Hood, in fact at one point he even wears futuristic sunglasses after when blinding the Duo with one of his high tech flash bang arrows. His henchman again are not memorable, but I will admit after seeing this Bat-Episode again, the moll while being predictable and bland, she's at least funny and I love how out of place she is in Archer's gang. Of course Robert Cornthwaite as the traitor who's working for The Archer, while predictable and having a bad British accent, he's still enjoyably bad. Getting back to the villain, he truly is a great villain, and it's really sad that this is the only Bat-Episode he's featured in. By the way, I still don't get why he decided to change his costume to be a pirate and act like one. Is he like a kid stuck in a grown man's body? Anyway, still cool and I digress.
Another great aspect to the Bat-Episode is Alfred. He actually does more in this Bat-Episode than he did in any of the previous ones. He first distracts The Archer by challenging him to a game of Archery, which he's a pro at, who would of thought Alfred was so talented with Archery, well until the ending ruined it, but I guess maybe that's a sign of old age getting to him. When Alfred is taken hostage by The Archer as an innocent bystander that will be killed; he doesn't coware; he doesn't tell Batman to spill the beans; he himself doesn't even spill the beans and blow his cover; he accepts that he will die for keeping his mouth shut, but he'll die with dignity and know that he served his master well. Of course, it was all a trick that The Archer just pulled to make one of them talk, and you know the writers would never kill off Alfred in a campy series, but it's the idea behind it that Alfred no matter what situation he's in will always stay loyal to Bruce and this moment really puts him to the test. Alfred also has to dress up as Batman to an event where both Bruce and Batman have to make an appearance at. How Alfred achieves to look and act like Batman is by keeping his distance away from the citizens and police of Gotham; have Robin do most of the talking; and he even gets a gadget to make his voice sound like Batman. Alfred really shines as the unsung third hero of the show in this Bat-Episode, but there's an even a better Bat-Episode where he truly shines the most.
Favorite Holy lines...
Holy Houdini (When Archer and his gang disappear)
Holy Inquisition (When they find Archer's lair)
Holy Hostage (When Alfred's held hostage)
Holy Blackbeard (When the duel against The Archer and his gang as Pirates)
The Bat-Episode aside from having a great villain and making Alfred shine more than he ever did from the previous Bat-Episodes; it also gave us new gadgets (Such as spring boots and a device for Bruce to slide down the Bat-Poles without changing clothes); and above all kept the same amount of campiness as the first season before the rest of the Bat-Episodes got overly campy.
NUMBER 8
PENGUIN IS A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND/PENGUIN SETS A TREND/PENGUIN'S DISASTROUS END
As I said in my review, the partnership between Penguin and Marsha The Queen Of Diamonds is not an interesting or engaging partnership between villains, not to mention that Marsha does and shows up very little, but with that said, the performances from the actors are still great. Burgess Meredith looks like he's having a lot of fun in this Bat-Episode, while he's enjoying every little evil moment when you see him on screen. I also love the many Death-Traps that he sets up for our heroes, such as, having them being launched from a catapult, while being filmed; throws the Duo in a garbage disposal to be crushed; trap them or having them killed, while filming a scene for his fake movie (Which by the way, using a film studio as a front is really cool plan); and tries to destroy the City and the Duo with a Solid Gold Tank that he was able to somehow build behind a locked vault. There's even a funny moment where the Penguin humorously persuades two Military men to use one of their top secret rooms to be filmed for their movie, when his actual plan is to steal a document in two rooms beyond the room they're supposedly filming in. Just the acting from Burgess Meredith and the two men are what makes it so laughable. Again, as I said in my review, I also enjoy watching the Penguin play around with his megaphone, it clearly shows that Meredith is taking every advantage as possible to play around with it. Burgess Meredith is just great in this Bat-Episode, and there's enough interesting twists in his plan to make this Bat-Episode work.
Carolyn Jones as Marsha brings the same beauty, elegance and charm as she did in her debut Bat-Episode. While not doing much in this Bat-Episode, all the scenes that she's in are really great. Some of my favorite moments with her is when she walks in nude (While keeping her nudity hidden) as she's about to film a scene with her naked in a Milk Bath as she's being filmed by a camera crew with blindfolds, which results to a pissed off Aunt Harriett to have the scene pulled for being inappropriate for children, which has The Penguin try to defend the scene by saying there's Milk in the scene which is good for kids. The next moment that follows is when Marsha forcefully kisses Batman so the love potion on her lips can affect him and I just love how reluctant that Batman is to kiss her (Without even knowing of the potion); and I laughed hard at Robin's comment of Batman not wanting to kiss any girl again...could that be a gay innuendo? Furthermore, I love that the Bat-Episode ends with Bruce, Dick, Aunt Harriett and Alfred watching this moment of Batman kissing Marsha as Aunt Harriett joyfully comments on Batman's acting and being a romantic man. Another funny moment is when Marsha does an Arabian strip tease act to distract the heavily armed guards as The Penguin is sneaking stuff in the vault that they're guarding, which of course leads to the guards falling madly in love with her. Marsha is great, but the one who steals the show from both her and The Penguin is Marsha's Aunt Hilda played by Estelle Winwood. She's so much fun and over the top that I can't help but laugh at every scene she's in. Her funniest moments are when she accidentally creates a lizard like creature named Mortimer (Which I'm still disappointed that it's only a gag then a monster for the Duo to face); her constant mess ups and running out of material for her potions; constantly annoying people when being trapped; and how she playfully fires Golden Missiles from Penguin's Solid Gold Tank because she loves hearing loud noises.
As for the Dynamic Duo, they're a lot of fun too. First off, I like how the Bat-Episode opens with them cruising in the Bat-Mobile, instead of being in the Bat-Cave or at Wayne Maynor as Bruce and Dick; and I enjoy that the Bat-Episode starts immediately out with the action, which was a trap that the Duo walked into (Though it is revealed that Batman already knew). Sadly, the only fighting action that appears is only in the first part as Batman and Robin are fighting off Penguin's henchman dressed as Gladiators with real swords and spares, which is a really cool Bat-Fight. The rest is them escaping from Death-Traps and solving the mystery of The Penguin's crime. However, we do see plenty use of Bat-Gadgets such as a wrist controller to control the Bat-Mobile; Emergency Bat-Air pumps; and heck Robin even gets to use the Bat-Zooka again. I mentioned plenty of things that the Duo have to face, but the funniest moment that they face is when they're stuck in a suit of armor, which makes it hard for them to move, fight, run and they even get stuck to a giant magnet. There's also that funny moment where Batman actually "Acts" to trick Penguin into putting him and Robin in his movie, which is indeed as funny as all the other moments in this Bat-Episode. Out of all the funny things that this Bat-Episode has to offer, my all time favorite is when Batman, Robin and the police wait outside the vault that The Penguin, Marsha, her Aunt Hilda, and the finks are in for them to pass out from lack of air, but inside the vault they're not only working on The Penguin's Solid Gold Tank, but they have Fresh Air Tanks, a stove to cook food on, and Aunt Hilda is annoying them all.Where they go to the bathroom by the way, no one is sure, but they make fun of that question before Robin can even ask it.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy CinemaScope (When they find out that Penguin's making a film)
Holy Miscast (When they discover that the Dynamic Duo are playing bandits in The Penguin's film)
Holy Cliffhanger (During the first Cliffhanger)
Holy History (When they read that the changed script is taken place in "The Middle Ages")
Holy Bullseye (When Batman frees him and Robin from the giant electric magnet by throwing a loose bolt from their armor into a plugged in empty lamp to short out the fuse box and cut the power)
Again, the scenes between The Penguin and Marsha aren't that interesting, but the performances are still enjoyable; the traps that the Duo faces are fun; the Dynamic Duo themselves bring a lot of fun and heroic justice with the acting and writing; and the jokes keep getting funnier and funnier by each viewing.
Carolyn Jones as Marsha brings the same beauty, elegance and charm as she did in her debut Bat-Episode. While not doing much in this Bat-Episode, all the scenes that she's in are really great. Some of my favorite moments with her is when she walks in nude (While keeping her nudity hidden) as she's about to film a scene with her naked in a Milk Bath as she's being filmed by a camera crew with blindfolds, which results to a pissed off Aunt Harriett to have the scene pulled for being inappropriate for children, which has The Penguin try to defend the scene by saying there's Milk in the scene which is good for kids. The next moment that follows is when Marsha forcefully kisses Batman so the love potion on her lips can affect him and I just love how reluctant that Batman is to kiss her (Without even knowing of the potion); and I laughed hard at Robin's comment of Batman not wanting to kiss any girl again...could that be a gay innuendo? Furthermore, I love that the Bat-Episode ends with Bruce, Dick, Aunt Harriett and Alfred watching this moment of Batman kissing Marsha as Aunt Harriett joyfully comments on Batman's acting and being a romantic man. Another funny moment is when Marsha does an Arabian strip tease act to distract the heavily armed guards as The Penguin is sneaking stuff in the vault that they're guarding, which of course leads to the guards falling madly in love with her. Marsha is great, but the one who steals the show from both her and The Penguin is Marsha's Aunt Hilda played by Estelle Winwood. She's so much fun and over the top that I can't help but laugh at every scene she's in. Her funniest moments are when she accidentally creates a lizard like creature named Mortimer (Which I'm still disappointed that it's only a gag then a monster for the Duo to face); her constant mess ups and running out of material for her potions; constantly annoying people when being trapped; and how she playfully fires Golden Missiles from Penguin's Solid Gold Tank because she loves hearing loud noises.
As for the Dynamic Duo, they're a lot of fun too. First off, I like how the Bat-Episode opens with them cruising in the Bat-Mobile, instead of being in the Bat-Cave or at Wayne Maynor as Bruce and Dick; and I enjoy that the Bat-Episode starts immediately out with the action, which was a trap that the Duo walked into (Though it is revealed that Batman already knew). Sadly, the only fighting action that appears is only in the first part as Batman and Robin are fighting off Penguin's henchman dressed as Gladiators with real swords and spares, which is a really cool Bat-Fight. The rest is them escaping from Death-Traps and solving the mystery of The Penguin's crime. However, we do see plenty use of Bat-Gadgets such as a wrist controller to control the Bat-Mobile; Emergency Bat-Air pumps; and heck Robin even gets to use the Bat-Zooka again. I mentioned plenty of things that the Duo have to face, but the funniest moment that they face is when they're stuck in a suit of armor, which makes it hard for them to move, fight, run and they even get stuck to a giant magnet. There's also that funny moment where Batman actually "Acts" to trick Penguin into putting him and Robin in his movie, which is indeed as funny as all the other moments in this Bat-Episode. Out of all the funny things that this Bat-Episode has to offer, my all time favorite is when Batman, Robin and the police wait outside the vault that The Penguin, Marsha, her Aunt Hilda, and the finks are in for them to pass out from lack of air, but inside the vault they're not only working on The Penguin's Solid Gold Tank, but they have Fresh Air Tanks, a stove to cook food on, and Aunt Hilda is annoying them all.Where they go to the bathroom by the way, no one is sure, but they make fun of that question before Robin can even ask it.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy CinemaScope (When they find out that Penguin's making a film)
Holy Miscast (When they discover that the Dynamic Duo are playing bandits in The Penguin's film)
Holy Cliffhanger (During the first Cliffhanger)
Holy History (When they read that the changed script is taken place in "The Middle Ages")
Holy Bullseye (When Batman frees him and Robin from the giant electric magnet by throwing a loose bolt from their armor into a plugged in empty lamp to short out the fuse box and cut the power)
Again, the scenes between The Penguin and Marsha aren't that interesting, but the performances are still enjoyable; the traps that the Duo faces are fun; the Dynamic Duo themselves bring a lot of fun and heroic justice with the acting and writing; and the jokes keep getting funnier and funnier by each viewing.
NUMBER 7
THE DEVIL'S FINGERS/THE DEAD RINGERS
Yeah, I still stand by the opinion that the whole villain wanting to go straight and be free by the real villains clutches aren't as effecting or interesting as the Bat-Episode with Zelda The Great. Yeah, casting Liberace as both the tragic villain and the main villain doesn't work because we obviously still see him as Liberace. The henchmen and the criminal lawyer are not all that fun. It's obvious that this Bat-Episode was made to promote Liberace, but with the negatives aside, I actually found a lot to like and appreciate from it. I guess for a start, I never heard of Liberace until I saw this Bat-Episode and after when I saw the Bat-Episode I looked him up and found him to be a very talented man and boy does his talent of playing the piano really show in this Bat-Episode. I'm serious, I actually enjoy watching him play piano whenever he gets a chance in this Bat-Episode, and despite that he's playing himself and gives a wooden performance as both characters, he at least seems to be enjoying himself and I'd be lying if I said "I don't find him entertaining" because he is enjoyable and does bring his gay and flamboyant charm. Speaking of gay and flamboyant, Liberace is indeed gay and seeing him as a ladies man in this Bat-Episode, while acting very gayish, actually adds to the comedy to his performance, which I'm sure wasn't intended since he did deny in interviews that he's not gay, even though he secretly was. I'm just saying, while enjoying the fun he's having, I find it to be very distracting and to over the top, since it kills the drama and seriousness that the character is going through.
What I really love about the Bat-Episode is most of the first part doesn't show Batman and Robin, the focus is on Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara. The reason why is because the duo are on vacation; Bruce is out camping, and Dick is dating a beautiful school girl. Do to this fact, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara are now going to have to solve the case themselves. This whole first half, really shows how lame these two cops are without the Dynamic Duo, and how much they rely on them. Instead of being professionals like the cops in shows like "Dragnet" for example, they coware that the Dynamic Duo aren't there to help them; they're not as smart as our heroes; they get out smarted by the main villain after when turning a concert hall into a war Fortress (Complete with machine guns); and the Commissioner gets so stressed out that he has to resort to taking dozens of pills. It's amazing and incredible how lame and unprofessional that the Gotham City Police are in this show, and while being big idiots, the lameness to these cops adds to the fun of the show and makes you appreciate our heroes even more by showing how smart they are. I also love that after the intro, we see the Bat-Cave abandon and the equipment all covered up which adds to the sadness that our heroes aren't in Gotham.
When we finally do see Bruce and Dick getting ready to head back to Gotham from their vacation, you get a sense of relief and excitement to finally see the Dynamic Duo take action. As I said in my review on the Bat-Episode, I always get a laugh at how willing Dick is to report back to his job as a crime fighter. He's in a restaurant with a beautiful girl, and just as he's about to score with her, he sees his book flashing a signal from Bruce and instead of asking to be excused or something, he spills Ice Cream on his date to make it look like an accident. Not only is that funny, but I give this version of Robin a lot of credit because he shows how devoted and how serious he takes to being crime fighter and knows that saving the city comes before scoring with a hot chick, which is usually very rare for most characters around his age to do. I also like that he's not really happy about it either, in fact, he actually shows his disappointment of missing his chance on two occasions. So it actually shows how rough it is for Dick to maintain both his teenage life and a crime fighting life (Almost like Spider-Man for example).
The biggest surprise for me in the whole Bat-Episode was Aunt Harriett. Before this Bat-Episode, Aunt Harriett was like the Aunt May of the series. She would worry and wonder about Bruce and Dick; she would at times be a victim; and all she did was just love and care for the two. Here she gets to shine more than she ever did. She has a relationship with Chandell, which goes from Chandell using her, to actually might having a care for her. The scenes whenever their together is not only funny at points, but it also has some charm and romance to it. My favorite moments are when they drink root beer out of wine glasses, and when Chandell performs for her; those scenes are both funny and beautiful. Aunt Harriett also takes some action in this Bat-Episode as well. She figures out that Chandell's twin brother is in disguise as him, and instead of freaking out, she actually holds a gun at the impostor; figures out his ; and starts bossing him around. When that moment came, I was thinking to myself "GO AUNT HARRIETT!" Yeah, after that she gets kidnapped and has to be saved, but still this was a big improvement to the character! The ending and when Chandell and Aunt Harriett part because of his crime
Now for the fun stuff. Favorite Holy Lines from Robin...
Holy Impossibility (When Bruce and Dick find out that Chandell hit the wrong chord)
Holy Relief (When Finding out that Aunt Harriett is alright)
Holy Metronome (When about to be fed into a machine that turns paper into piano rolls)
Holy Perfect Pitch (After surviving the death trap by singing their way out of it)
Holy Fugitives (When the female henchmen get away)
I mentioned a few other funny moments that involve Chandell and his brother, but here are a few more. First off, instead of Chandell pretending to be knocked out, he hits himself in the head with a glass root beer bottle to knock himself out. When he awakes (And to be not injured or hurt), he gives the zip code to his Brothers hideout which is 99999 and just when you think he's done, he says two more digits which are 79. Another funny moment is while Chandell's brother gets captured by the police and is sweating underneath hot lights while being interrogated, his lawyer comes in and gives him a sun hat and sun glasses. Again, the funniest moment with Batman and Robin is when they have to sing scat to get out of a Death-Trap, it's just so stupid and silly, but yet makes perfect sense on how they survived, and flows with the campy context of the show. The Bat-Episode while failing at the Zelda The Great formula, still introduced me to a great piano player; showed us what Gotham City would be like without the Caped Crusader; and has given a small supporting character a big role.
What I really love about the Bat-Episode is most of the first part doesn't show Batman and Robin, the focus is on Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara. The reason why is because the duo are on vacation; Bruce is out camping, and Dick is dating a beautiful school girl. Do to this fact, Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara are now going to have to solve the case themselves. This whole first half, really shows how lame these two cops are without the Dynamic Duo, and how much they rely on them. Instead of being professionals like the cops in shows like "Dragnet" for example, they coware that the Dynamic Duo aren't there to help them; they're not as smart as our heroes; they get out smarted by the main villain after when turning a concert hall into a war Fortress (Complete with machine guns); and the Commissioner gets so stressed out that he has to resort to taking dozens of pills. It's amazing and incredible how lame and unprofessional that the Gotham City Police are in this show, and while being big idiots, the lameness to these cops adds to the fun of the show and makes you appreciate our heroes even more by showing how smart they are. I also love that after the intro, we see the Bat-Cave abandon and the equipment all covered up which adds to the sadness that our heroes aren't in Gotham.
When we finally do see Bruce and Dick getting ready to head back to Gotham from their vacation, you get a sense of relief and excitement to finally see the Dynamic Duo take action. As I said in my review on the Bat-Episode, I always get a laugh at how willing Dick is to report back to his job as a crime fighter. He's in a restaurant with a beautiful girl, and just as he's about to score with her, he sees his book flashing a signal from Bruce and instead of asking to be excused or something, he spills Ice Cream on his date to make it look like an accident. Not only is that funny, but I give this version of Robin a lot of credit because he shows how devoted and how serious he takes to being crime fighter and knows that saving the city comes before scoring with a hot chick, which is usually very rare for most characters around his age to do. I also like that he's not really happy about it either, in fact, he actually shows his disappointment of missing his chance on two occasions. So it actually shows how rough it is for Dick to maintain both his teenage life and a crime fighting life (Almost like Spider-Man for example).
The biggest surprise for me in the whole Bat-Episode was Aunt Harriett. Before this Bat-Episode, Aunt Harriett was like the Aunt May of the series. She would worry and wonder about Bruce and Dick; she would at times be a victim; and all she did was just love and care for the two. Here she gets to shine more than she ever did. She has a relationship with Chandell, which goes from Chandell using her, to actually might having a care for her. The scenes whenever their together is not only funny at points, but it also has some charm and romance to it. My favorite moments are when they drink root beer out of wine glasses, and when Chandell performs for her; those scenes are both funny and beautiful. Aunt Harriett also takes some action in this Bat-Episode as well. She figures out that Chandell's twin brother is in disguise as him, and instead of freaking out, she actually holds a gun at the impostor; figures out his ; and starts bossing him around. When that moment came, I was thinking to myself "GO AUNT HARRIETT!" Yeah, after that she gets kidnapped and has to be saved, but still this was a big improvement to the character! The ending and when Chandell and Aunt Harriett part because of his crime
Now for the fun stuff. Favorite Holy Lines from Robin...
Holy Impossibility (When Bruce and Dick find out that Chandell hit the wrong chord)
Holy Relief (When Finding out that Aunt Harriett is alright)
Holy Metronome (When about to be fed into a machine that turns paper into piano rolls)
Holy Perfect Pitch (After surviving the death trap by singing their way out of it)
Holy Fugitives (When the female henchmen get away)
I mentioned a few other funny moments that involve Chandell and his brother, but here are a few more. First off, instead of Chandell pretending to be knocked out, he hits himself in the head with a glass root beer bottle to knock himself out. When he awakes (And to be not injured or hurt), he gives the zip code to his Brothers hideout which is 99999 and just when you think he's done, he says two more digits which are 79. Another funny moment is while Chandell's brother gets captured by the police and is sweating underneath hot lights while being interrogated, his lawyer comes in and gives him a sun hat and sun glasses. Again, the funniest moment with Batman and Robin is when they have to sing scat to get out of a Death-Trap, it's just so stupid and silly, but yet makes perfect sense on how they survived, and flows with the campy context of the show. The Bat-Episode while failing at the Zelda The Great formula, still introduced me to a great piano player; showed us what Gotham City would be like without the Caped Crusader; and has given a small supporting character a big role.
NUMBER 6
MARSHA, QUEEN OF DIAMONDS/MARSHA'S, SCHEME OF DIAMONDS
Marsha may not have shined that much in the Bat-Episode where she teams up with The Penguin, but in her introduction Bat-Episode, she does. Sure the concept for the villain herself is all over the map, but Carolyn Jones really does a great job of putting the class and elegance into this diamond loving villain, while also managing to bring a comical approach to her character, like she did as Morticia Addams in "The Addams Family". She's also really gorgeous as well, and I love the different dresses she wears throughout the Bat-Episode. What I also admire about this villain is her ability to plant hidden traps that shoot Love Darts at her victims, who wildly fall madly in love with her, which does lead to many comedic possibilities. In the Bat-Episode's Bat-Teaser; Cheif O'Hara not only falls madly in love with Marsha, but he actually convinces the Jewelry store manager to give her a rare and priceless diamond for no charge, complete with a take-home bag. When Commissioner Gordon gets hit with a Love Dart, he's so in love with her, that he's willing to be a footstool for her. We even hear a story about a guy who was so devoted to her, that he attempted suicide by tumbling himself to death in a dryer. Man, love is indeed a crazy a thing! Once she's done using the people she's cast her spell upon, she keeps them in bird cages; and as they are kept in bird cages, the men would either beg for her to stay, or fight over her. By the way, I love that when Commissioner Gordon, and Chief O'Hara are free, they start worrying what their wives will think, while Alfred does the best he can to comfort them.
Her henchman is also cool too. Of course you have her crazy Aunt Hilda, who makes potions, but mostly end up failing at making them, and Estelle Winwood's performance is non-stop hilarious. She's over the top, with her personality, countless failures, and dressing up as a Witch. For me, her funniest moment is when she's bathing in a Cauldron full of soap suds. I also love her backstory of being a chemistry professor in a College, but got fired for accidentally turning students temporarily orange, while she was experimenting in the cafeteria. Like in the later Bat-Episode with her, Marsha, and The Penguin, I always find myself laughing at her in every single scene she's in. Marsha also has one of the best henchman in the whole entire show, and that's the Grand Mogul played by Woody Strode, he's like the Bob (Joker's henchmen in the Burton film) of the series. Says little, doesn't do too much, but is cool in every single scene he's in. He's a faithful servant, who is always ready for a fight, and always there to accompany Marsha when she needs it. It's a shame that he didn't appear with Marsha and Aunt Hilda, when they teamed up The Penguin.
One of the things that I admire about this Bat-Episode is that we don't see Batman and Robin as Bruce and Dick sliding down the Bat-Poles. They're instead already in the Bat-Cave installing, the Giant Bat-Diamond that powers the Bat-Computer, which I wish appeared for the rest of the series, instead of being shown in two Bat-Episodes. I also love that there's a Bat-Extension Phone, right by the Bat-Diamond just incase. The most badass scene in the Bat-Episode with the Dynamic Duo, is when we're led to believe that they have been turned into Toads, complete with mini capes. As Commissioner Gordon is about to give in, in tracing the Bat-Phone to the Bat-Cave, all of a sudden Batman and Robin are standing by an open window telling Gordon and O'Hara that they have not been turned into Toads and that it was all just a scheme for Marsha to fool Gordon and O'Hara by helping them find the Bat-Cave by convincing them that the Dynamic Duo have been turned into Toads with the help of Grand Mogul's ventriloquism to make the two dressed Toads talk and sound like the Duo, while the real Dynamic Duo are in cages, but have escaped. The Grand Mogul begins to attack the Duo, but they easily lure him towards the open window and pin his body on the open window by simply closing it. Before they take Marsha to jail, Batman tells her "Diamonds are not nesscarily a girls best friend". Man that's got to be one of the duo's most badass scenes in the series.
Another thing I admire about the Bat-Episode is Alfred AND Aunt Harriett save Batman when he's in a jam. To save Robin, Batman must marry Marsha so she can access the Bat-Cave legally, and take the Bat-Diamond. As things are looking hopeless for Batman, Alfred and Aunt Harriett burst in the church and stop the wedding, posing as different people. Alfred poses as a lawyer, and Aunt Harriett poses as Batman's Wife (Who's completely dressed in black to emphasize on her sadness) and they are able to stop the wedding by making it look like Batman is committing Bigamy, which disgusts the priest and has Marsha leave in anger. Alfred's able to fool them with a phony business cards, (The card he gives to Batman says "There was no other way out, sir".) and a fake Marriage Certificate thanks to the Bat-Computer. Once he and Alfred leave, people outside of the church are happily throwing rice at Batman, and the two take off on the Bat-Mobile with the sign "Just Married". To make the situation even more plausible, while Alfred convinces Aunt Harriett that they should help Batman, it is revealed that Aunt Harriett came up with the idea on how to stop the wedding. WAY TO GO AUNT HARRIETT!!!!
The Bat-Fights as you may have guessed are as awesome as all the previous Bat-Episodes that I put on my list. The first Bat-Fight happens at Marsha's hideout, and after when Batman is able to fight through the Love Dart with mostly his will-power and more years of experience then Robin (Even though Robin comically points out that Chief O'Hara and Commissioner Gordon have more years of experience then Batman, and that they weren't able to fight it, after when Batman mentioned that part of fighting the drug); henchmen with swords surround the duo, but the duo throw a table top at them, and the Bat-Fight begins, complete with swords. Some of the highlights is Robin using a Stool to fight a henchmen wielding a sword, and Batman knocking a henchmen out with a gong more then once. The Bat-Fight stops once Robin gets hit with a Love Dart, and tries to fight Batman with a sword, which sadly Batman forfeits, then figuring out a way to knock Robin out. The second Bat-Fight happens in Aunt Hilda's Lair, as the henchmen pop out of the Cauldron with swords, and then another Bat-Fight involving swords begins to break out. The highlight of this fight hands down, is when Robin has to face a henchmen with a flame tourch. Of course, since the bat-Fight takes place in Aunt Hilda's Lair, Aunt Hilda tries to splash potions on the duo, which she sadly fails because she either misses them, or the potions don't work at all. The Bat-Fight is only to be broken up when Marsha throws a smoke bomb knocking out the duo. So surprisingly, the Bat-Fight that should wrap up the Bat-Episode fails, and that's another thing I enjoy about this Bat-Episode.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Houdini (As the Duo why Commissioner Gordon is not in his office, as he should be)
Holy Hypnotism (When discovering that Commissioner Gordon is in Marsha's clutches)
Holy Trolls and Goblins (When finding Aunt Hilda's Lair)
Holy ordev (When Toad Robin is about to be eaten by Marsha's Cat)
The Bat-Episode is known for introducing a fun villain, with such very memorable henchmen when compared to most henchmen on the show; Batman and Robin get a few fun and cool scenes, including plenty of cool and fun Bat-Fights; and it's great to see Aunt Harriette play another big role on the show.
Marsha may not have shined that much in the Bat-Episode where she teams up with The Penguin, but in her introduction Bat-Episode, she does. Sure the concept for the villain herself is all over the map, but Carolyn Jones really does a great job of putting the class and elegance into this diamond loving villain, while also managing to bring a comical approach to her character, like she did as Morticia Addams in "The Addams Family". She's also really gorgeous as well, and I love the different dresses she wears throughout the Bat-Episode. What I also admire about this villain is her ability to plant hidden traps that shoot Love Darts at her victims, who wildly fall madly in love with her, which does lead to many comedic possibilities. In the Bat-Episode's Bat-Teaser; Cheif O'Hara not only falls madly in love with Marsha, but he actually convinces the Jewelry store manager to give her a rare and priceless diamond for no charge, complete with a take-home bag. When Commissioner Gordon gets hit with a Love Dart, he's so in love with her, that he's willing to be a footstool for her. We even hear a story about a guy who was so devoted to her, that he attempted suicide by tumbling himself to death in a dryer. Man, love is indeed a crazy a thing! Once she's done using the people she's cast her spell upon, she keeps them in bird cages; and as they are kept in bird cages, the men would either beg for her to stay, or fight over her. By the way, I love that when Commissioner Gordon, and Chief O'Hara are free, they start worrying what their wives will think, while Alfred does the best he can to comfort them.
Her henchman is also cool too. Of course you have her crazy Aunt Hilda, who makes potions, but mostly end up failing at making them, and Estelle Winwood's performance is non-stop hilarious. She's over the top, with her personality, countless failures, and dressing up as a Witch. For me, her funniest moment is when she's bathing in a Cauldron full of soap suds. I also love her backstory of being a chemistry professor in a College, but got fired for accidentally turning students temporarily orange, while she was experimenting in the cafeteria. Like in the later Bat-Episode with her, Marsha, and The Penguin, I always find myself laughing at her in every single scene she's in. Marsha also has one of the best henchman in the whole entire show, and that's the Grand Mogul played by Woody Strode, he's like the Bob (Joker's henchmen in the Burton film) of the series. Says little, doesn't do too much, but is cool in every single scene he's in. He's a faithful servant, who is always ready for a fight, and always there to accompany Marsha when she needs it. It's a shame that he didn't appear with Marsha and Aunt Hilda, when they teamed up The Penguin.
One of the things that I admire about this Bat-Episode is that we don't see Batman and Robin as Bruce and Dick sliding down the Bat-Poles. They're instead already in the Bat-Cave installing, the Giant Bat-Diamond that powers the Bat-Computer, which I wish appeared for the rest of the series, instead of being shown in two Bat-Episodes. I also love that there's a Bat-Extension Phone, right by the Bat-Diamond just incase. The most badass scene in the Bat-Episode with the Dynamic Duo, is when we're led to believe that they have been turned into Toads, complete with mini capes. As Commissioner Gordon is about to give in, in tracing the Bat-Phone to the Bat-Cave, all of a sudden Batman and Robin are standing by an open window telling Gordon and O'Hara that they have not been turned into Toads and that it was all just a scheme for Marsha to fool Gordon and O'Hara by helping them find the Bat-Cave by convincing them that the Dynamic Duo have been turned into Toads with the help of Grand Mogul's ventriloquism to make the two dressed Toads talk and sound like the Duo, while the real Dynamic Duo are in cages, but have escaped. The Grand Mogul begins to attack the Duo, but they easily lure him towards the open window and pin his body on the open window by simply closing it. Before they take Marsha to jail, Batman tells her "Diamonds are not nesscarily a girls best friend". Man that's got to be one of the duo's most badass scenes in the series.
Another thing I admire about the Bat-Episode is Alfred AND Aunt Harriett save Batman when he's in a jam. To save Robin, Batman must marry Marsha so she can access the Bat-Cave legally, and take the Bat-Diamond. As things are looking hopeless for Batman, Alfred and Aunt Harriett burst in the church and stop the wedding, posing as different people. Alfred poses as a lawyer, and Aunt Harriett poses as Batman's Wife (Who's completely dressed in black to emphasize on her sadness) and they are able to stop the wedding by making it look like Batman is committing Bigamy, which disgusts the priest and has Marsha leave in anger. Alfred's able to fool them with a phony business cards, (The card he gives to Batman says "There was no other way out, sir".) and a fake Marriage Certificate thanks to the Bat-Computer. Once he and Alfred leave, people outside of the church are happily throwing rice at Batman, and the two take off on the Bat-Mobile with the sign "Just Married". To make the situation even more plausible, while Alfred convinces Aunt Harriett that they should help Batman, it is revealed that Aunt Harriett came up with the idea on how to stop the wedding. WAY TO GO AUNT HARRIETT!!!!
The Bat-Fights as you may have guessed are as awesome as all the previous Bat-Episodes that I put on my list. The first Bat-Fight happens at Marsha's hideout, and after when Batman is able to fight through the Love Dart with mostly his will-power and more years of experience then Robin (Even though Robin comically points out that Chief O'Hara and Commissioner Gordon have more years of experience then Batman, and that they weren't able to fight it, after when Batman mentioned that part of fighting the drug); henchmen with swords surround the duo, but the duo throw a table top at them, and the Bat-Fight begins, complete with swords. Some of the highlights is Robin using a Stool to fight a henchmen wielding a sword, and Batman knocking a henchmen out with a gong more then once. The Bat-Fight stops once Robin gets hit with a Love Dart, and tries to fight Batman with a sword, which sadly Batman forfeits, then figuring out a way to knock Robin out. The second Bat-Fight happens in Aunt Hilda's Lair, as the henchmen pop out of the Cauldron with swords, and then another Bat-Fight involving swords begins to break out. The highlight of this fight hands down, is when Robin has to face a henchmen with a flame tourch. Of course, since the bat-Fight takes place in Aunt Hilda's Lair, Aunt Hilda tries to splash potions on the duo, which she sadly fails because she either misses them, or the potions don't work at all. The Bat-Fight is only to be broken up when Marsha throws a smoke bomb knocking out the duo. So surprisingly, the Bat-Fight that should wrap up the Bat-Episode fails, and that's another thing I enjoy about this Bat-Episode.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Houdini (As the Duo why Commissioner Gordon is not in his office, as he should be)
Holy Hypnotism (When discovering that Commissioner Gordon is in Marsha's clutches)
Holy Trolls and Goblins (When finding Aunt Hilda's Lair)
Holy ordev (When Toad Robin is about to be eaten by Marsha's Cat)
The Bat-Episode is known for introducing a fun villain, with such very memorable henchmen when compared to most henchmen on the show; Batman and Robin get a few fun and cool scenes, including plenty of cool and fun Bat-Fights; and it's great to see Aunt Harriette play another big role on the show.
NUMBER 5
THE IMPRACTICAL JOKER/THE JOKER'S PROVOKERS
The first thing I want to address about this Bat-Episode is, despite that it's a campy show, the amount of Key puns that this Bat-Episode has becomes just as insufferable as Mr.Freeze's Ice Puns in "Batman And Robin". I know I talked about Vincent Price putting class in the amount of lame Egg Puns that he's given, but I'm sorry, Romero along with Adam West and Burt Ward, as great as they are at playing their characters, they fail to do so. I also am still puzzled how Bruce and Dick can watch the TV Show of "The Green Hornet", when they clearly met him during a Bat-Climb a few Bat-Episodes ago, and will later be rivals in their crossover Bat-Episode. With complaints aside, I still really enjoy this one.
This is the first Bat-Episode of the 2nd Season with Cesar Romero reprising his role as The Joker, and despite that he has terrible Key puns in this Bat-Episode, he's still a lot of fun and just as villainous as he was in the first season. I love that he has a Magic box, which starts out as hypnotizing box that can hypnotize the Dynamic Duo into freezing for a few seconds, as the Joker steals a rare Key, and runs off. His Magic Box later on is able to control time in Gotham City with a turn of a Key. He's able to control time by polluting the Gotham City water supply with pills, and the people who drink, or heck take a shower with it, are now under The Joker's magic boxes spell, whenever the key is turned. You know it amazes me that the villains in this show know how to create such ingenious devices. Before you know it, they'll be making atom bombs. I also love at the end of the Bat-Episode, Alfred asks Batman how The Joker was able to create a time pill with a box that can control time, and Batman responds by giving a short speech about the mysteries of time, which in short, is saying he doesn't know. I also love that we get to learn a little about The Joker's past in this Bat-Episode, which we usually don't get in this show. It's not long, nor do we see a case file, or something of The Joker before he became The Joker, but it's there. I also love that we get to hear the backstory of how The Joker got his henchmen. Let me just tell you, it wasn't pretty, but not as dark as grim as you would think. I also love his female henchman Cornelia, who spends most of her time looking at herself in the mirror. I also love that one moment, when she sees the Dynamic Duo and asks what their names are, as if they were just regular everyday people. That always makes me laugh. The Bat-Episode does have a few other funny moments as well. When Batman and Robin go to a key exhibit, they try to act casual, which is funny because, usually when Batman or Robin make a public appearance, it always has something to do with their crime fighting. I also get a laugh at the window cameo of Howard Duff as Detective Sam Stone from the show "Felony Squad", who assures Batman that it's part of a case from out of town. Batman happily wishes him luck, and offers him to help if he needs it. By the way, I sadly didn't find any Hole Lines that I liked, since they're mostly Key puns.
The Death-Trap, that The Joker has planed for the Dynamic Duo is awesome. Instead of both of them sharing the same fate, they each get their own Death-Trap. Batman is about to be brutally sliced by a slow moving (As usual) "Human Key Duplicator"; while Robin is inside a 'Wax Chamber". The Joker (Like most Batman villains in this show do) leaves, and lets his men watch them and carry out the execution. Batman manages to jam the gears of the moving saw with a key that he got from his Utility Belt (Should have strapped him down tighter Joker) and breaks free. We then see him get into a Bat-Fight with the henchmen, as he single handingly knocks them all out; and he manages to save a waxed Robin "Bat-Wax Solvent", which Robin has been holding his breath thanks to the under-water swimming lessons that Bruce has given him. This Bat-Episode not only has 2, but 3 Bat-Fights. One takes place in a Fursaloon full of mannequins; the other one takes place in The Joker's lair; and the final one takes place at The Gotham City Water Works. There's really no highlight to them, but they still bring the same old good fun and hype that you'd get from a Bat-Fight in this show.
The main reason why the Bat-Episode is on the top 5 of the list, is because this is the Bat-Episode where Alfred truly gets to shine. We see him do many things for the duo on the show, but to me, this is by far the biggest thing he's ever done on the show. Alfred has a selfish cousin working at The Gotham City Water Works who takes bribes from The Joker, so that The Joker can test his experimental time pill, before polluting it with a lifetime supply of them. Alfred's cousin is played by the same actor who plays Alfred, and he does a great job at playing this selfish bitter old man. It's the complete opposite of his classy and elegant personality. Alfred convinces his cousin to take his shift, and poses as him for when The Joker arrives. Once The Joker shows up, he starts taking on The Joker. As The Joker sneaks some time pills in a water container for Alfred to drink, Alfred points his gun at them, and has The Joker and his henchman drink the water. After forcefully taking The Joker's Magic Box, he uses it against them, and freezes them in place. When my brother Jack and I were watching this, we were both rooting for Alfred, as well as discussing him as the unsung hero of the franchise, which I'm glad that Batman and Robin happily tell him that he is part of the team after Alfred asks them if he is. This Bat-Episode also introduces Alfred's vehicle, the Alf-Cycle, which is just a regular bike, with one or two gadgets, mostly used for communicating the Duo. I also love Alfred's last scene as he completely fools Aunt Harriett into thinking that he's someone else, when Aunt Harriette has to go to the Water Works for help, after when she runs out of gas.
Even though I got to get through those Key Puns, I still think it's a great Bat-Episode, thanks to its action; the return of Cesar Romero as The Joker; and above of all, giving us Alfred at his best!
IMPORTANT NOTE
The next three on the list are Bat-Episodes that involve Julie Newmar as Catwoman, and the order of the three is the order of when they were aired. I was originally going to put every single Catwoman Bat-Episode in one spot on the list, but there were a few that I didn't like as much, as the ones that are on the list. So instead of giving you a Tripple Tie (If that's what you call it), I decided to give them their own individual spot on the list. The main reason, why I'm putting them in the order of their air date, instead of choosing one from least favorite, to all time favorite, is because I personally see them as a trilogy of the relationship between Batman and Catwoman, while the Bat-Episodes that didn't make it on the list don't really fit in with this story arc. So with that out of the way, enjoy the rest of the list.
NUMBER 4
HOT OFF THE GRIDDLE/THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
THE CAT'S MEOW/THE BAT'S KOW TOW
Before this Bat-Episode, Julie Newmar as Catwoman made a cameo apperance in the Bat-Episode with Ma Parker when she took over the Gotham State Pententary, however, this Bat-Episode not only makes this the third Bat-Episode of Newmar's Catwoman being the primary villain, but also doesn't shy away the countiuity from the previous Bat-Episode on the list. Newmar as you may have guessed, is just as puurrrrfffeecccttt as she was in the previous Bat-Episodes, carrying all the characteristics that make her performance so great. Her plan of stealing people's voices with a voice-box, while as crazy and out there as The Joker's time-box, its still a cool device neither the less.
The minute when Catwoman appeared in the teaser, I was already hyped. She's in disguise; she steals a TV talk shows host voice with the voice-box; and she makes it look like that others criminals did it by leaving a trick umbrella, and a riddle, leaving the duo puzzled at who did the crime. With a set-up like this, I was hoping that the rogues gallery of villains from the Movie were going to team up again, however, with disappointment aside, I'm still pleased with what the Bat-Episode is. Getting back to Newmar as Catwoman, I love the many things that this Bat-Episode gives her. She has fun henchman named Eenie, Meenie, Miney, and Mo; a hide-out complete with a swing, and a giant Yarn-ball for a punching bag; knock out make-up; a ray gun that Marvin the Marshin would be proud to have; and night-vision glasses. She also disguises herself not once (As seen in the teaser), but TWICE! She disguises herself as a lame dance teacher to teach Dick how to dance as she infiltrates Wayne Manor to map out her crime, but she blows her cover by sneezing off her disguise, when having an allergic reaction to flowers called "Dogwood", which kills me every time when I see that scene. I also love how mercilessly she is to the victims that she steals their voices from. She doesn't have second thoughts, or give that much of a warning, she just takes their voices. Best scene of her stealing a person's voice, is when she interrupts a televised message from the duo with another big shot TV host, as she holds the Off-screen audience hostage with her ray guns; tells the duo her demands; takes away the host's voice in a act of cold blood; and uses sneezing powder to get away; man Newmar is awesome! She even takes away Commissioner Gordon's voice over the phone, now that's hardcore!
The forbidden romance between Batman and Catwoman is explored more and is done just as effectively as the previous Bat-Episode on my list. Batman at times talks about her beauty in front of Robin; and even though he has to stop her from stealing people's voices, he tries to reason with her, and tries to get her to join on his side. Catwoman is not only in love with Batman's looks and charm, but she's still touched by the fact that Batman has saved her, despite being a criminal. She's so in love with him, that she doesn't even have the heart to steal his voice or kill him. In fact, the Death-Trap that she sets for the duo, is not even meant to kill them; it's meant to make them mindless brain-dead slaves. The best scene in the whole entire Bat-Episode is the last scene with Catwoman and Batman, when Catwoman has Batman in her clutches, but is so in love with him, that she not only can't destroy him, but decides to give back the voices she stole with an antidote in a perfume bottle. During this scene, they also have a touching romantic conversation, and just as they are about to kiss, Robin interrupts the kiss, and while putting a hold to their kiss, the couple leave arm in arm, with Robin saying the only funny Holy Line in the Bat-Episode "Holy Mush". It's a really romantic and touching moment between Batman and Catwoman despite the fact that they never share a kiss. Damn boy blunder!
Another huge reason that makes this Bat-Episode so fun is the amount of celebrities that appear in this Bat-Episode. You have the singing duo Chad and Jeremy as the main victims, who not only rock, but are funny and classy as well. You have Steve Allen, playing a parody of himself called Allen Stephens. There's a window cameo of Hawaiian musician Don Ho, as the duo Bat-Climb down a building. There's a cameo of Judy Strangis as a fan of Chad and Jeremy, who will later play Dyna Girl in a series inspired by the show. There's an appearance of Maurice Dillmore who appeared in the movie as a U.N. Delegate, who's playing a U.K .public official in this Bat-Episode. Joe Flynn (Who you may know his voice as Mr. Snoops, in Disney's "The Rescuers") as a comical nerdy secretary, and is so afraid of the duo that he decides to play knock-out during a Bat-Fight. Finally, you have hairstylist Jay Sebring playing a parody of himself called Mr.Oceanbring, who was sadly murdered by the Manson family three years later. All the celebrities that appear in this Bat-Episode are so much fun, that it's one of the main reasons why this Bat-Episode is so much fun.
This Bat-Episode does a very successful job at continuing the love story between Batman and Catwoman, and the chemistry between West and Newmar is done so well, that it's one of the many reasons why people (Including myself) give this campy approach to Batman such credit-ability
NUMBER 2
THAT DARN CATWOMAN/SCAT! DARN CATWOMAN
After the previous Bat-Episode, Catwoman appeared again in the Bat-Episode with her teaming up with the Sandman played by Michael Rennie, which was the second time in the West series where a villain teams up with another villain. However, the partnership between both villains wasn't fun, interesting, or much of a threat for the Dynamic Duo; and despite Newmar's Puuurrrrfffeecccttt performance in that Bat-Episode, the love story arc between Batman and Catwoman became forgotten. However, the next Bat-Episode to have Julie Newmar as Catwoman, despite having very little romance, when compared to the previous ones on my list, is a great welcome back to the complicated relationship between Batman and Catwoman. Don't get me wrong, I still hold on to the problems I've had with the Bat-Episode in my review. The moll wanting to be a singer is a dumb subplot that is quickly forgotten after the first half of the first Bat-Episode; the villain's hide-outs are so obvious that there's signs in-front of them; and come on, Catwoman lets Batman take a Bat-Pill before getting injected with the drug that makes him her slave, couldn't he have taken the drug earlier, so it can be a surprise to the viewers? Still with its faults aside, it's still a really great Bat-Episode.
Catwoman is twice as villainous as she ever was in any of her previous appearances, mainly because she has the Dynamic Duo under a drug that makes them criminals. Sure, Batman is pretending to be under the drug, but he's still helping Catwoman with her robberies and is a labeled as criminal in the eyes of the law, including Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara, who want him dead or alive. Plus, she has Robin under the drug, which is already bad enough. Even though Marsha, The Queen Of The Diamonds has done that already with the Love Dart, Robin does more things than he did in that Bat-Episode. He punches out Chief O'Hara after insulting him; he helps rob Wayne Manor; robs money from two inventors; steals money from a Prince; he even creams Batman, and is about to kill him with a Death-Trap that will cut Batman in half. Robin's also madly in love with the girl that drugged him, and tries to forcefully make-out with her, while trying to sound cool and hip (By the way, all of Robin's Holy lines are awesome in this Bat-Episode). Without Robin, this makes the situation a little tougher for Batman, he not only has to fight Catwoman alone, but he has to avoid hurting Robin in the process. Catwoman even steals the Bat-Mobile, which results with Batman chasing her in a Police Car.
Getting back to Newmar as Catwoman, just like in every single previous Bat-Episode, Newmar still brings a killer performance. I mean, the class; the Cat-like personality; the enjoyment of being a villain; and her attachment towards Batman, never ever gets old. One of my favorite scenes of all time with Julie Newmar is Catwoman that's both classy, villainous, and funny at the same time is when she robs Wayne Manor telling a tied up Alfred what she did to Robin, as she pours herself a glass of milk into a bowl, and slurp it like a Cat. It only takes a great actress like Newmar to make a silly moment, look classy and respectable. The relationship between Batman and Catwoman doesn't really happen until the second part, and despite that she's using Batman to help her with her crimes, I still strangely find it cute seeing them together in the Bat-Mobile and even the Bat-Cave. They even get a few romantic moments together, that constantly get interrupted when it starts getting good.
The best part in the whole entire Bat-Episode, is the final confrontation between Batman and Catwoman on the rooftops (Which, I'm beginning to realize that all the best scenes with Batman and Catwoman in these three Bat-Episodes, take place at the climax, or towards the end). Catwoman is cornered on top of a building with nowhere to go except to jump into the river, which Batman tells her that she wouldn't survive. Catwoman would rather die than go back to prison, but Batman assures her that he'll do everything in his power to help her. Catwoman asks Batman to marry her, but Batman says no since he's a crime fighter. Catwoman tells him that he can help Batman fight crime, but Batman asks what they're going to do Robin. Catwoman suggests on killing Robin to take his place, however, after that humorous response, the two realize that Catwoman is not ready to be rehabilitated, and Catwoman jumps, before asking for Batman's hand. Batman looks over the ledge, and takes out a Bat-Hankey and cries. That scene is sad and depressing, but fun and campy at the same time, and is handled so well, that it takes the acting from Adam West and Julie Newmar to make it work! In the end, everyone believes that Catwoman is dead, but since her body was never found, Batman suggests that she only lost one of her lives, and the Bat-Episode ends with a sad, but hopeful note that Catwoman might return.
Later on during this Season, Julie Newmar appeared as Catwoman again for the last time on the show in the Bat-Episode "Catwoman Goes To College/Batman Displays His Knowledge"; and while not being a bad Bat-Episode, it was not good, or as good as the others on my list. The relationship between Batman and Catwoman is there, but it's not as strong as the others I put on my list. On top of it, they basically get the same exact dialogue that was taken from the rooftop scene from the previous Bat-Episode. The Bat-Episode also starts out with Catwoman getting released from prison, when in the previous Bat-Episode, she gave away one of her lives to avoid going to prison. That not only breaks some serious continuity, but also completely takes away the drama and emotion that the previous Bat-Episode ended on. For all I know, that Bat-Episode was probably made to stop the kids from crying over the sad ending from the previous Bat-Episode. Even though I still do watch the Bat-Episode that followed with Julie Newmar as Catwoman, for some of the jokes; entertainment value; and scenes between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Catwoman; this Bat-Episode to me is the real conclusion to this love story arc between Batman and Catwoman, and in my opinion should have been Newmar's last appearance as Catwoman.
AND MY NUMBER 1 FAVORITE BAT-EPISODE FROM BATMAN (ADAM WEST) SEASON 2...
THE ZODIAC CRIMES/THE JOKER'S HARD TIMES/THE PENGUIN DECLINES
This Bat-Episode is literally just as awesome as the spin-off film! It's a three part Bat-Episode instead of two parts (And is the first three part Bat-Episode of the show); it has two great villains teaming up together that surprisingly cause the same amount of chaos as they did in the film; it's full of fun action; and has really great humor. It's so great that I don't even know where to start. I guess I might as well talk about the partnership between the two villains. Before this Bat-Episode, the last time when two villains teamed up together was in the Bat-Episode with Catwoman and The Sandman, which as I said before, wasn't as fun or interesting when The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, and Catwoman teamed up in the movie. Even though The Penguin only appears in the first and last part of this three part Bat-Episode, it's still a fun and awesome partnership. Seeing them laugh together; plot to kill Batman; and even fight and argue at each other is just as great as the team with the four villains in the film. I always get a kick at watching the two of them together whenever they're on screen.
The Joker causes so much mayhem in this Bat-Episode, that it really becomes a challenge for the Dynamic Duo. He breaks into Police head quarters to steal a rare art map with a magic stick; he steals a statue with a fork-lift, while Commissioner Gordon, and Chief O'Hara are stunned by one of his tricks; he steals a rare type of fish with a net while sitting a crane, while his henchman throw giant fish to distract the duo; he holds an Opera Singer for ransom and tortures him with rock music, even after the ransom is paid; he leads the duo and the cops on a wild goose chase; and he steals two rare diamonds called "The Twins" by using jumping beans. The best crime he commits is when he pollutes the Gotham City river by turning it into Strawberry Jelly. It leads to almost every comedic possibility when we see the results of the crime, best laugh out loud moment is when Chief O'Hara is taking a shower in it. I also love that the moll Venus is unaware of the situation, since she's staying at Bruce Wayne's apartment thinking the Strawberry Jelly coming of the faucet is how millionaires live. I also love that The Joker can disguise himself by just simply putting a hat; it just shows how idiotic the people and police in Gotham are. The Joker also comes up with many cool Death-Traps for the duo such as being crushed by a giant meteorite by using a model solar-system with a lit fuse to cut the cable; and he has a giant man eating clam that almost eats Robin, which in the end of the Bat-Episode, Alfred is serving Clam Chowder for dinner, which Bruce tells Dick to think of it as a way of getting even.
The Penguin, while not doing much in the Bat-Episode compared to The Joker, he still does enough to make his presence in the Bat-Episode not pointless. He helps lead the duo on a wild goose chase by helping two henchman disguised as a band called "The Twins"; he helps out in the Bat-Fights; but the most productive thing he did in the whole entire Bat-Episode is getting The Joker and his henchman to the Bat-Cave by seducing the former moll Venus. He seduces her by giving her gifts such as flowers, Champagne, and expensive perfume; sweet talks to her in a dark room lit by candles; and convinces her to have the duo take her to the Bat-Cave to destroy his criminal record, so he can feel reformed, when really it's just away so the villains can enter the Bat-Cave by hiding in the Bat-Mobiles trunk, which I still can't get over that it's big enough to carry 8 people! I also love how The Penguin is introduced in the first and last part. He first appears in a delivery box; and he appears again in a Mail-Bag as the henchman disguise themselves as mailmen to get The Penguin out of prison.
The moll Venus played by Terry Moore, as mellow-dramatic as she is at times, she's still a great character, well acted, and one of the few good molls on the show. Like many of the female characters working for the villain, she starts out helping the villain's by helping The Joker escape; knocks-out the duo to later be killed; and disguises herself to steal things for The Joker. However, I like that there's a complexity to the character. She doesn't just briefly love the duo, and shows regret when getting caught in the end like in many Bat-Episodes with that formula, she literally keeps switching sides, and shows regret for most of her actions. She starts out willingly helping the villain; to briefly helping Batman and Robin; to reluctantly helping the villain again; to helping Batman and Robin again; to helping the villains again by getting tricked. Of course, this storyline is nothing new to the show, but this Bat-Episode still does a great job at carrying it out, with its writing and acting from Moore, even if her acting isn't always great.
Batman and Robin are completely awesome and funny in this. The struggle of them trying to get the two villains is done well; they get plenty of fun dialogue; seeing them outwit the villains is great writing; and the Bat-Fights are kickass. Throughout the Bat-Episode we see Batman use different types of Bat-Gadgets such as a Bat-Detector that can find a hidden self-destructing radio of The Joker listening into Police Head-Quarters, which Batman uses a Bat-Fire Extinguisher to put it out; he uses a Bat-A-Rang, including one that explodes; he uses a Bat-Spectrograph Criminal Analyzer that can record villains scientific data, so that they can use that information against them in the future; and even the Bat-Copter makes a brief appearance! The Bat-Fights are all as fun and kickass as you would want them to be on this show. There's a Bat-Fight on a stage, as an Opera Singer sings as if nothing's happening until he is kidnapped. There's a Bat-Fight in a Art Gallery with henchman disguised as statues; busts and spears are being thrown; and there's a spear Bat-Fight going on between Batman and The Joker. There's a Bat-Fight at a record store where the kidnapped Opera Singer is held hostage, as records are being thrown; heads are being bashed into drums; Batman knocks out two henchman with a bass; and the rock music playing in the background adds to the fun of this Bat-Fight. There's even an awesome Bat-Fight in the Bat-Cave as Batman and Robin have to fight against The Joker, The Penguin, and his six henchman, which is so cool and awesome (In the standards of this show) that words can't describe it!
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Astronomy (When finding out what Joker's crimes revolve around)
Holy Mash-Potatoes (When about to be crushed by the giant meteorite)
Holy Human Pearls (After when Robin gets rescued from being swallowed by the giant man eating Clam, which Batman tells him Pearls come from Oysters, after he says it)
Holy Jelly-Mold (When finding out that Strawberry Jelly is coming out of the faucets)
Holy Holocaust (When finding out that without water, Firemen wont be able to put out fires)
Holy Gamble (When realizing that the criminals could have opened the truck to see where the Bat-Cave is, which Batman used the emergency Bat-Lock on the trunk, knowing that they were in there.)
If I had to choose the best Bat-Episode I've seen without counting the film, this would be number 1 on the list! It's fun, it's full of non-stop action, the performances are great, and it's the show's campiest at its finest.
And those are "My Top 12 Favorite Bat-Episodes From Batman (Adam West) Season 2"; tune in soon for my Bat-Review on the debut Bat-Episode for Batgirl.
The first thing I want to address about this Bat-Episode is, despite that it's a campy show, the amount of Key puns that this Bat-Episode has becomes just as insufferable as Mr.Freeze's Ice Puns in "Batman And Robin". I know I talked about Vincent Price putting class in the amount of lame Egg Puns that he's given, but I'm sorry, Romero along with Adam West and Burt Ward, as great as they are at playing their characters, they fail to do so. I also am still puzzled how Bruce and Dick can watch the TV Show of "The Green Hornet", when they clearly met him during a Bat-Climb a few Bat-Episodes ago, and will later be rivals in their crossover Bat-Episode. With complaints aside, I still really enjoy this one.
This is the first Bat-Episode of the 2nd Season with Cesar Romero reprising his role as The Joker, and despite that he has terrible Key puns in this Bat-Episode, he's still a lot of fun and just as villainous as he was in the first season. I love that he has a Magic box, which starts out as hypnotizing box that can hypnotize the Dynamic Duo into freezing for a few seconds, as the Joker steals a rare Key, and runs off. His Magic Box later on is able to control time in Gotham City with a turn of a Key. He's able to control time by polluting the Gotham City water supply with pills, and the people who drink, or heck take a shower with it, are now under The Joker's magic boxes spell, whenever the key is turned. You know it amazes me that the villains in this show know how to create such ingenious devices. Before you know it, they'll be making atom bombs. I also love at the end of the Bat-Episode, Alfred asks Batman how The Joker was able to create a time pill with a box that can control time, and Batman responds by giving a short speech about the mysteries of time, which in short, is saying he doesn't know. I also love that we get to learn a little about The Joker's past in this Bat-Episode, which we usually don't get in this show. It's not long, nor do we see a case file, or something of The Joker before he became The Joker, but it's there. I also love that we get to hear the backstory of how The Joker got his henchmen. Let me just tell you, it wasn't pretty, but not as dark as grim as you would think. I also love his female henchman Cornelia, who spends most of her time looking at herself in the mirror. I also love that one moment, when she sees the Dynamic Duo and asks what their names are, as if they were just regular everyday people. That always makes me laugh. The Bat-Episode does have a few other funny moments as well. When Batman and Robin go to a key exhibit, they try to act casual, which is funny because, usually when Batman or Robin make a public appearance, it always has something to do with their crime fighting. I also get a laugh at the window cameo of Howard Duff as Detective Sam Stone from the show "Felony Squad", who assures Batman that it's part of a case from out of town. Batman happily wishes him luck, and offers him to help if he needs it. By the way, I sadly didn't find any Hole Lines that I liked, since they're mostly Key puns.
The Death-Trap, that The Joker has planed for the Dynamic Duo is awesome. Instead of both of them sharing the same fate, they each get their own Death-Trap. Batman is about to be brutally sliced by a slow moving (As usual) "Human Key Duplicator"; while Robin is inside a 'Wax Chamber". The Joker (Like most Batman villains in this show do) leaves, and lets his men watch them and carry out the execution. Batman manages to jam the gears of the moving saw with a key that he got from his Utility Belt (Should have strapped him down tighter Joker) and breaks free. We then see him get into a Bat-Fight with the henchmen, as he single handingly knocks them all out; and he manages to save a waxed Robin "Bat-Wax Solvent", which Robin has been holding his breath thanks to the under-water swimming lessons that Bruce has given him. This Bat-Episode not only has 2, but 3 Bat-Fights. One takes place in a Fursaloon full of mannequins; the other one takes place in The Joker's lair; and the final one takes place at The Gotham City Water Works. There's really no highlight to them, but they still bring the same old good fun and hype that you'd get from a Bat-Fight in this show.
The main reason why the Bat-Episode is on the top 5 of the list, is because this is the Bat-Episode where Alfred truly gets to shine. We see him do many things for the duo on the show, but to me, this is by far the biggest thing he's ever done on the show. Alfred has a selfish cousin working at The Gotham City Water Works who takes bribes from The Joker, so that The Joker can test his experimental time pill, before polluting it with a lifetime supply of them. Alfred's cousin is played by the same actor who plays Alfred, and he does a great job at playing this selfish bitter old man. It's the complete opposite of his classy and elegant personality. Alfred convinces his cousin to take his shift, and poses as him for when The Joker arrives. Once The Joker shows up, he starts taking on The Joker. As The Joker sneaks some time pills in a water container for Alfred to drink, Alfred points his gun at them, and has The Joker and his henchman drink the water. After forcefully taking The Joker's Magic Box, he uses it against them, and freezes them in place. When my brother Jack and I were watching this, we were both rooting for Alfred, as well as discussing him as the unsung hero of the franchise, which I'm glad that Batman and Robin happily tell him that he is part of the team after Alfred asks them if he is. This Bat-Episode also introduces Alfred's vehicle, the Alf-Cycle, which is just a regular bike, with one or two gadgets, mostly used for communicating the Duo. I also love Alfred's last scene as he completely fools Aunt Harriett into thinking that he's someone else, when Aunt Harriette has to go to the Water Works for help, after when she runs out of gas.
Even though I got to get through those Key Puns, I still think it's a great Bat-Episode, thanks to its action; the return of Cesar Romero as The Joker; and above of all, giving us Alfred at his best!
IMPORTANT NOTE
The next three on the list are Bat-Episodes that involve Julie Newmar as Catwoman, and the order of the three is the order of when they were aired. I was originally going to put every single Catwoman Bat-Episode in one spot on the list, but there were a few that I didn't like as much, as the ones that are on the list. So instead of giving you a Tripple Tie (If that's what you call it), I decided to give them their own individual spot on the list. The main reason, why I'm putting them in the order of their air date, instead of choosing one from least favorite, to all time favorite, is because I personally see them as a trilogy of the relationship between Batman and Catwoman, while the Bat-Episodes that didn't make it on the list don't really fit in with this story arc. So with that out of the way, enjoy the rest of the list.
NUMBER 4
HOT OFF THE GRIDDLE/THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE
This Bat-Episode marks the second appearance of Julie Newmar as the role of Catwoman, since she sadly wasn't able to appear in the film. Catwoman is introduced in the shadows, as her henchmen steal stuff such as a CATalogue, a CATamaran model, and three mittens, and send them down attached to parachutes (That of course, have a cartoony sound for when they fall) to Catwoman, who reveals herself once she grabs the last stolen object. The stuff they stole was a message to Batman that she has returned and is alive after when she fell down the bottomless pit. Still confused about the continuity. Julie Newmar as Catwoman was last seen, when she fell through the bottomless pit. However, the last time that we ever saw the character was in the film, when was played by Lee Merriweather. Do the events of the film take place before they meet Catwoman in the last Bat-Episode with her trying to steal the treasure, I mean it would make sense since the Movie was intended to be the show's pilot, if they had the budget to make it instead of having the first apperance of The Riddler be the pilot; or are the different actresses playing Catwoman on the show are completely different characters, that dress up as Catwoman (Which I highly doubt do to the many recasts and redesigns to the villains on the show). None of these questions are hardly ever addressed. I'm just going to assume that the events in the film take place before the events in the show, since there is a history behind it, and Batman and Robin do say that they've dealt with these criminals before in the villains debut Bat-Episode. The whole different identity thing I don't buy, since it's never been said or mentioned in the show, nor can I find it in the show's history, unless if I'm missing something.
I love Julie Newmar's reprise as Catwoman, she's just ever so puuurrrfffeccct for the role, as she was in her first apperance. The class, the charm, the elegance, the playful villainous personality, the viscuiousness, and even a tiny bit of innocence, makes this performance and villain, one the best iconic characters from the show and the franchise itself. I just love how she beats up or friegtens her henchmen if they step out of line. I love the gadgets that she carries such as knock-out gas hidden in her claws; gold cat dart guns; and that cool medallion necklace that not only tells time (As seen in Newmar's last Bat-Episode), but it also has a built in radio, for her to communicate with her henchman. Also, as seen and known as a master disguise in the film, she's able to flawlessly disguise herself as a rich old woman, which her performance as the old woman is done so well, that I too, would be as fooled as when Snow White encountered the Wicked Queen in disguise as the old hag.
Her henchman are also fun too. I love that one henchman who acts all afraid and scared of the duo when they reveal themselves after he climbs through the window, who starts acting villainous when he tells them to turn around since Catwoman and the rest of her gang are behind them, which the duo think it's a trick. There's also that other henchman who gets captured, who says that he won't tell no matter what they do to him, to quickly giving in the minute Chief O'Hara is about to hit him. My favorite henchmen out of all of them is Jack Kelly (Who you may know him best as Bart Maverick from the TV show "Maverick") as the dirty News reporter Jack O'Shea. I just love his over the top cool and hip personalty, he's just a lot of fun.
The Death-Trap, that Catwoman sets up for the duo, is great. Batman and Robin find out that her hide-out is in a rock n roll cat themed dance club called "The Pink Sandbox" that's famous for the dance the "Catusi" (A clever pun on the "Batusi") by a band called "Benedict Arnold And The Trators". As they sit down in a booth, Batman says that they're going to "turn the tables" on Catwoman, and all of a sudden, the booth turns around sending them in a room with a hot floor, as Catwoman watches them hop around on the stove like floor. The hopping from the duo is so phony, that I always find myself laughing, and seeing eggs sizeling on the floor, only increases the goofiness of the scene. Batman cuts a water pipe to cool down the floor, which is actually filled with knock-out gas, and Catwoman being the villain who loves to toy around with the duo, sets up their real Death-Trap. She ties up the duo on top of a roof with two giant magnify glass, to have them slowly be roasted to death by the sun's reflection on the glass. Like any villain on this show, she leaves them to die, but the Duo are saved by an Eclipse for a minute, to give them time to move the magnify glasses with their feet, and use the suns reflection from the magnify glasses to cut the rope and free them. After when being freed, Batman relies how they are able to get out of every Death-Trap. Robin says it's because they're "smarter" then the villains, but Batman believes it's because "their hearts are pure". I love that the show makes fun of the predictable formula, but I think the Bat-Episode "Catwoman Goes To College/Batman Displays His Knowledge", does a better job at making fun of the predictable formula. Robin thinks their lives are being written by someone. Batman disagrees by telling him that it can't happen since the world they live in is "REAL LIFE"! Enough said.
Our heroes in this Bat-Episode have some fun and kickass moments. They have a new Bat-Gadget called Bat-Jets, which is compressed air designed to lift the Bat-Mobile in the air, which becomes better of use later on in the Bat-Episode. Robin also counter-tricks Catwoman by disguising himself as a rich man selling a disguised Catwoman, Violins, which is indeed a cool reveal scene. I also love how Batman scares the thugs from throwing Robin out the window with his threatening words. The duo also have the whaling company set up a net, just incase if they get thrown out the window. I just admire, how smart and prepared they are. The Bat-Fights are also fun too. You get a fight taking place in The Gotham City Museum, as stuff is being destroyed, but the best one is the Bat-Fight in the Gotham State Building when the villain's "Getaway Rocket" fails to blast off. The henchman are trying to throw the Duo out the window as they fight; one henchman gets into many clumsy situations; and Catwoman, while trying to get the rocket to work, takes a slug at Robin. It's also important to know, this is the first time in the series, when Pun words cover the whole entire screen, then showing them as you can see very little of the Bat-Fight. It does a great job at covering, most of the obvious fake punches.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Weaponery (As Catwoman, knocks the duo out with her Dart Guns)
Holy Love Birds (As Catwoman flirts with Batman, before turning on the hot floor)
Holy Alps (When discussing mountains in Gotham)
Holy Taxation (After Batman tells Robin why he put 5 cents in a parking meter, despite that the Police won't give them a ticket for parking the Bat-Mobile).
What I truly love about this Bat-Episode the most is, this is the first time in the film and TV media of "Batman" where he and Catwoman are in love with each other. We find out that Catwoman has dated The Joker and The Penguin, but she can't stand The Joker's green hair, and hates how small The Penguin is. The first time she shows any signs of affection for Batman is when he asks him to kiss her hand like a gentlemen would, which Batman refuses. She finally tells Batman her love for him, before she turns on the hot floor, wishing that he was on the opposite side of the law, and that he'd be worthy for her, if he was. Later on, as Catwoman tries to get away with the goods, while she's on the ledge of a building. A scared Catwoman takes the rope that Batman throws to her to tie herself so Batman can pull her up, and she drops the goods, after finding out that they are fakes. However, Batman gets pushed out the window by Jack O'Shea, and Catwoman rescues him, for saving her life. As Robin pulls them up, she asks if Batman is with anyone. He says no, and Catwoman smiles and tells him that she's got a girl for him. The final scene which involves Catwoman going to jail, the two bid a sad but beautiful goodbye, but not before Catwoman cuddles and purrs on Batman for a few seconds instead of kissing him, before being taken off to jail. Batman shows a sign that he too cares for her by blushing, but quickly covers it up, stating how hot it is.
The Bat-Episode is a remarkable return for Julie Newmar as Catwoman, and it started the love between Batman and Catwoman in the film and TV franchise, which makes it not only one of my favorite Bat-Episode's from the 2nd Season, but is also a must see for Batman fans, whether they like the campy style and tone, or not.
I love Julie Newmar's reprise as Catwoman, she's just ever so puuurrrfffeccct for the role, as she was in her first apperance. The class, the charm, the elegance, the playful villainous personality, the viscuiousness, and even a tiny bit of innocence, makes this performance and villain, one the best iconic characters from the show and the franchise itself. I just love how she beats up or friegtens her henchmen if they step out of line. I love the gadgets that she carries such as knock-out gas hidden in her claws; gold cat dart guns; and that cool medallion necklace that not only tells time (As seen in Newmar's last Bat-Episode), but it also has a built in radio, for her to communicate with her henchman. Also, as seen and known as a master disguise in the film, she's able to flawlessly disguise herself as a rich old woman, which her performance as the old woman is done so well, that I too, would be as fooled as when Snow White encountered the Wicked Queen in disguise as the old hag.
Her henchman are also fun too. I love that one henchman who acts all afraid and scared of the duo when they reveal themselves after he climbs through the window, who starts acting villainous when he tells them to turn around since Catwoman and the rest of her gang are behind them, which the duo think it's a trick. There's also that other henchman who gets captured, who says that he won't tell no matter what they do to him, to quickly giving in the minute Chief O'Hara is about to hit him. My favorite henchmen out of all of them is Jack Kelly (Who you may know him best as Bart Maverick from the TV show "Maverick") as the dirty News reporter Jack O'Shea. I just love his over the top cool and hip personalty, he's just a lot of fun.
The Death-Trap, that Catwoman sets up for the duo, is great. Batman and Robin find out that her hide-out is in a rock n roll cat themed dance club called "The Pink Sandbox" that's famous for the dance the "Catusi" (A clever pun on the "Batusi") by a band called "Benedict Arnold And The Trators". As they sit down in a booth, Batman says that they're going to "turn the tables" on Catwoman, and all of a sudden, the booth turns around sending them in a room with a hot floor, as Catwoman watches them hop around on the stove like floor. The hopping from the duo is so phony, that I always find myself laughing, and seeing eggs sizeling on the floor, only increases the goofiness of the scene. Batman cuts a water pipe to cool down the floor, which is actually filled with knock-out gas, and Catwoman being the villain who loves to toy around with the duo, sets up their real Death-Trap. She ties up the duo on top of a roof with two giant magnify glass, to have them slowly be roasted to death by the sun's reflection on the glass. Like any villain on this show, she leaves them to die, but the Duo are saved by an Eclipse for a minute, to give them time to move the magnify glasses with their feet, and use the suns reflection from the magnify glasses to cut the rope and free them. After when being freed, Batman relies how they are able to get out of every Death-Trap. Robin says it's because they're "smarter" then the villains, but Batman believes it's because "their hearts are pure". I love that the show makes fun of the predictable formula, but I think the Bat-Episode "Catwoman Goes To College/Batman Displays His Knowledge", does a better job at making fun of the predictable formula. Robin thinks their lives are being written by someone. Batman disagrees by telling him that it can't happen since the world they live in is "REAL LIFE"! Enough said.
Our heroes in this Bat-Episode have some fun and kickass moments. They have a new Bat-Gadget called Bat-Jets, which is compressed air designed to lift the Bat-Mobile in the air, which becomes better of use later on in the Bat-Episode. Robin also counter-tricks Catwoman by disguising himself as a rich man selling a disguised Catwoman, Violins, which is indeed a cool reveal scene. I also love how Batman scares the thugs from throwing Robin out the window with his threatening words. The duo also have the whaling company set up a net, just incase if they get thrown out the window. I just admire, how smart and prepared they are. The Bat-Fights are also fun too. You get a fight taking place in The Gotham City Museum, as stuff is being destroyed, but the best one is the Bat-Fight in the Gotham State Building when the villain's "Getaway Rocket" fails to blast off. The henchman are trying to throw the Duo out the window as they fight; one henchman gets into many clumsy situations; and Catwoman, while trying to get the rocket to work, takes a slug at Robin. It's also important to know, this is the first time in the series, when Pun words cover the whole entire screen, then showing them as you can see very little of the Bat-Fight. It does a great job at covering, most of the obvious fake punches.
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Weaponery (As Catwoman, knocks the duo out with her Dart Guns)
Holy Love Birds (As Catwoman flirts with Batman, before turning on the hot floor)
Holy Alps (When discussing mountains in Gotham)
Holy Taxation (After Batman tells Robin why he put 5 cents in a parking meter, despite that the Police won't give them a ticket for parking the Bat-Mobile).
What I truly love about this Bat-Episode the most is, this is the first time in the film and TV media of "Batman" where he and Catwoman are in love with each other. We find out that Catwoman has dated The Joker and The Penguin, but she can't stand The Joker's green hair, and hates how small The Penguin is. The first time she shows any signs of affection for Batman is when he asks him to kiss her hand like a gentlemen would, which Batman refuses. She finally tells Batman her love for him, before she turns on the hot floor, wishing that he was on the opposite side of the law, and that he'd be worthy for her, if he was. Later on, as Catwoman tries to get away with the goods, while she's on the ledge of a building. A scared Catwoman takes the rope that Batman throws to her to tie herself so Batman can pull her up, and she drops the goods, after finding out that they are fakes. However, Batman gets pushed out the window by Jack O'Shea, and Catwoman rescues him, for saving her life. As Robin pulls them up, she asks if Batman is with anyone. He says no, and Catwoman smiles and tells him that she's got a girl for him. The final scene which involves Catwoman going to jail, the two bid a sad but beautiful goodbye, but not before Catwoman cuddles and purrs on Batman for a few seconds instead of kissing him, before being taken off to jail. Batman shows a sign that he too cares for her by blushing, but quickly covers it up, stating how hot it is.
The Bat-Episode is a remarkable return for Julie Newmar as Catwoman, and it started the love between Batman and Catwoman in the film and TV franchise, which makes it not only one of my favorite Bat-Episode's from the 2nd Season, but is also a must see for Batman fans, whether they like the campy style and tone, or not.
NUMBER 3
THE CAT'S MEOW/THE BAT'S KOW TOW
Before this Bat-Episode, Julie Newmar as Catwoman made a cameo apperance in the Bat-Episode with Ma Parker when she took over the Gotham State Pententary, however, this Bat-Episode not only makes this the third Bat-Episode of Newmar's Catwoman being the primary villain, but also doesn't shy away the countiuity from the previous Bat-Episode on the list. Newmar as you may have guessed, is just as puurrrrfffeecccttt as she was in the previous Bat-Episodes, carrying all the characteristics that make her performance so great. Her plan of stealing people's voices with a voice-box, while as crazy and out there as The Joker's time-box, its still a cool device neither the less.
The minute when Catwoman appeared in the teaser, I was already hyped. She's in disguise; she steals a TV talk shows host voice with the voice-box; and she makes it look like that others criminals did it by leaving a trick umbrella, and a riddle, leaving the duo puzzled at who did the crime. With a set-up like this, I was hoping that the rogues gallery of villains from the Movie were going to team up again, however, with disappointment aside, I'm still pleased with what the Bat-Episode is. Getting back to Newmar as Catwoman, I love the many things that this Bat-Episode gives her. She has fun henchman named Eenie, Meenie, Miney, and Mo; a hide-out complete with a swing, and a giant Yarn-ball for a punching bag; knock out make-up; a ray gun that Marvin the Marshin would be proud to have; and night-vision glasses. She also disguises herself not once (As seen in the teaser), but TWICE! She disguises herself as a lame dance teacher to teach Dick how to dance as she infiltrates Wayne Manor to map out her crime, but she blows her cover by sneezing off her disguise, when having an allergic reaction to flowers called "Dogwood", which kills me every time when I see that scene. I also love how mercilessly she is to the victims that she steals their voices from. She doesn't have second thoughts, or give that much of a warning, she just takes their voices. Best scene of her stealing a person's voice, is when she interrupts a televised message from the duo with another big shot TV host, as she holds the Off-screen audience hostage with her ray guns; tells the duo her demands; takes away the host's voice in a act of cold blood; and uses sneezing powder to get away; man Newmar is awesome! She even takes away Commissioner Gordon's voice over the phone, now that's hardcore!
The forbidden romance between Batman and Catwoman is explored more and is done just as effectively as the previous Bat-Episode on my list. Batman at times talks about her beauty in front of Robin; and even though he has to stop her from stealing people's voices, he tries to reason with her, and tries to get her to join on his side. Catwoman is not only in love with Batman's looks and charm, but she's still touched by the fact that Batman has saved her, despite being a criminal. She's so in love with him, that she doesn't even have the heart to steal his voice or kill him. In fact, the Death-Trap that she sets for the duo, is not even meant to kill them; it's meant to make them mindless brain-dead slaves. The best scene in the whole entire Bat-Episode is the last scene with Catwoman and Batman, when Catwoman has Batman in her clutches, but is so in love with him, that she not only can't destroy him, but decides to give back the voices she stole with an antidote in a perfume bottle. During this scene, they also have a touching romantic conversation, and just as they are about to kiss, Robin interrupts the kiss, and while putting a hold to their kiss, the couple leave arm in arm, with Robin saying the only funny Holy Line in the Bat-Episode "Holy Mush". It's a really romantic and touching moment between Batman and Catwoman despite the fact that they never share a kiss. Damn boy blunder!
Another huge reason that makes this Bat-Episode so fun is the amount of celebrities that appear in this Bat-Episode. You have the singing duo Chad and Jeremy as the main victims, who not only rock, but are funny and classy as well. You have Steve Allen, playing a parody of himself called Allen Stephens. There's a window cameo of Hawaiian musician Don Ho, as the duo Bat-Climb down a building. There's a cameo of Judy Strangis as a fan of Chad and Jeremy, who will later play Dyna Girl in a series inspired by the show. There's an appearance of Maurice Dillmore who appeared in the movie as a U.N. Delegate, who's playing a U.K .public official in this Bat-Episode. Joe Flynn (Who you may know his voice as Mr. Snoops, in Disney's "The Rescuers") as a comical nerdy secretary, and is so afraid of the duo that he decides to play knock-out during a Bat-Fight. Finally, you have hairstylist Jay Sebring playing a parody of himself called Mr.Oceanbring, who was sadly murdered by the Manson family three years later. All the celebrities that appear in this Bat-Episode are so much fun, that it's one of the main reasons why this Bat-Episode is so much fun.
This Bat-Episode does a very successful job at continuing the love story between Batman and Catwoman, and the chemistry between West and Newmar is done so well, that it's one of the many reasons why people (Including myself) give this campy approach to Batman such credit-ability
NUMBER 2
THAT DARN CATWOMAN/SCAT! DARN CATWOMAN
After the previous Bat-Episode, Catwoman appeared again in the Bat-Episode with her teaming up with the Sandman played by Michael Rennie, which was the second time in the West series where a villain teams up with another villain. However, the partnership between both villains wasn't fun, interesting, or much of a threat for the Dynamic Duo; and despite Newmar's Puuurrrrfffeecccttt performance in that Bat-Episode, the love story arc between Batman and Catwoman became forgotten. However, the next Bat-Episode to have Julie Newmar as Catwoman, despite having very little romance, when compared to the previous ones on my list, is a great welcome back to the complicated relationship between Batman and Catwoman. Don't get me wrong, I still hold on to the problems I've had with the Bat-Episode in my review. The moll wanting to be a singer is a dumb subplot that is quickly forgotten after the first half of the first Bat-Episode; the villain's hide-outs are so obvious that there's signs in-front of them; and come on, Catwoman lets Batman take a Bat-Pill before getting injected with the drug that makes him her slave, couldn't he have taken the drug earlier, so it can be a surprise to the viewers? Still with its faults aside, it's still a really great Bat-Episode.
Catwoman is twice as villainous as she ever was in any of her previous appearances, mainly because she has the Dynamic Duo under a drug that makes them criminals. Sure, Batman is pretending to be under the drug, but he's still helping Catwoman with her robberies and is a labeled as criminal in the eyes of the law, including Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara, who want him dead or alive. Plus, she has Robin under the drug, which is already bad enough. Even though Marsha, The Queen Of The Diamonds has done that already with the Love Dart, Robin does more things than he did in that Bat-Episode. He punches out Chief O'Hara after insulting him; he helps rob Wayne Manor; robs money from two inventors; steals money from a Prince; he even creams Batman, and is about to kill him with a Death-Trap that will cut Batman in half. Robin's also madly in love with the girl that drugged him, and tries to forcefully make-out with her, while trying to sound cool and hip (By the way, all of Robin's Holy lines are awesome in this Bat-Episode). Without Robin, this makes the situation a little tougher for Batman, he not only has to fight Catwoman alone, but he has to avoid hurting Robin in the process. Catwoman even steals the Bat-Mobile, which results with Batman chasing her in a Police Car.
Getting back to Newmar as Catwoman, just like in every single previous Bat-Episode, Newmar still brings a killer performance. I mean, the class; the Cat-like personality; the enjoyment of being a villain; and her attachment towards Batman, never ever gets old. One of my favorite scenes of all time with Julie Newmar is Catwoman that's both classy, villainous, and funny at the same time is when she robs Wayne Manor telling a tied up Alfred what she did to Robin, as she pours herself a glass of milk into a bowl, and slurp it like a Cat. It only takes a great actress like Newmar to make a silly moment, look classy and respectable. The relationship between Batman and Catwoman doesn't really happen until the second part, and despite that she's using Batman to help her with her crimes, I still strangely find it cute seeing them together in the Bat-Mobile and even the Bat-Cave. They even get a few romantic moments together, that constantly get interrupted when it starts getting good.
The best part in the whole entire Bat-Episode, is the final confrontation between Batman and Catwoman on the rooftops (Which, I'm beginning to realize that all the best scenes with Batman and Catwoman in these three Bat-Episodes, take place at the climax, or towards the end). Catwoman is cornered on top of a building with nowhere to go except to jump into the river, which Batman tells her that she wouldn't survive. Catwoman would rather die than go back to prison, but Batman assures her that he'll do everything in his power to help her. Catwoman asks Batman to marry her, but Batman says no since he's a crime fighter. Catwoman tells him that he can help Batman fight crime, but Batman asks what they're going to do Robin. Catwoman suggests on killing Robin to take his place, however, after that humorous response, the two realize that Catwoman is not ready to be rehabilitated, and Catwoman jumps, before asking for Batman's hand. Batman looks over the ledge, and takes out a Bat-Hankey and cries. That scene is sad and depressing, but fun and campy at the same time, and is handled so well, that it takes the acting from Adam West and Julie Newmar to make it work! In the end, everyone believes that Catwoman is dead, but since her body was never found, Batman suggests that she only lost one of her lives, and the Bat-Episode ends with a sad, but hopeful note that Catwoman might return.
Later on during this Season, Julie Newmar appeared as Catwoman again for the last time on the show in the Bat-Episode "Catwoman Goes To College/Batman Displays His Knowledge"; and while not being a bad Bat-Episode, it was not good, or as good as the others on my list. The relationship between Batman and Catwoman is there, but it's not as strong as the others I put on my list. On top of it, they basically get the same exact dialogue that was taken from the rooftop scene from the previous Bat-Episode. The Bat-Episode also starts out with Catwoman getting released from prison, when in the previous Bat-Episode, she gave away one of her lives to avoid going to prison. That not only breaks some serious continuity, but also completely takes away the drama and emotion that the previous Bat-Episode ended on. For all I know, that Bat-Episode was probably made to stop the kids from crying over the sad ending from the previous Bat-Episode. Even though I still do watch the Bat-Episode that followed with Julie Newmar as Catwoman, for some of the jokes; entertainment value; and scenes between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Catwoman; this Bat-Episode to me is the real conclusion to this love story arc between Batman and Catwoman, and in my opinion should have been Newmar's last appearance as Catwoman.
AND MY NUMBER 1 FAVORITE BAT-EPISODE FROM BATMAN (ADAM WEST) SEASON 2...
THE ZODIAC CRIMES/THE JOKER'S HARD TIMES/THE PENGUIN DECLINES
This Bat-Episode is literally just as awesome as the spin-off film! It's a three part Bat-Episode instead of two parts (And is the first three part Bat-Episode of the show); it has two great villains teaming up together that surprisingly cause the same amount of chaos as they did in the film; it's full of fun action; and has really great humor. It's so great that I don't even know where to start. I guess I might as well talk about the partnership between the two villains. Before this Bat-Episode, the last time when two villains teamed up together was in the Bat-Episode with Catwoman and The Sandman, which as I said before, wasn't as fun or interesting when The Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, and Catwoman teamed up in the movie. Even though The Penguin only appears in the first and last part of this three part Bat-Episode, it's still a fun and awesome partnership. Seeing them laugh together; plot to kill Batman; and even fight and argue at each other is just as great as the team with the four villains in the film. I always get a kick at watching the two of them together whenever they're on screen.
The Joker causes so much mayhem in this Bat-Episode, that it really becomes a challenge for the Dynamic Duo. He breaks into Police head quarters to steal a rare art map with a magic stick; he steals a statue with a fork-lift, while Commissioner Gordon, and Chief O'Hara are stunned by one of his tricks; he steals a rare type of fish with a net while sitting a crane, while his henchman throw giant fish to distract the duo; he holds an Opera Singer for ransom and tortures him with rock music, even after the ransom is paid; he leads the duo and the cops on a wild goose chase; and he steals two rare diamonds called "The Twins" by using jumping beans. The best crime he commits is when he pollutes the Gotham City river by turning it into Strawberry Jelly. It leads to almost every comedic possibility when we see the results of the crime, best laugh out loud moment is when Chief O'Hara is taking a shower in it. I also love that the moll Venus is unaware of the situation, since she's staying at Bruce Wayne's apartment thinking the Strawberry Jelly coming of the faucet is how millionaires live. I also love that The Joker can disguise himself by just simply putting a hat; it just shows how idiotic the people and police in Gotham are. The Joker also comes up with many cool Death-Traps for the duo such as being crushed by a giant meteorite by using a model solar-system with a lit fuse to cut the cable; and he has a giant man eating clam that almost eats Robin, which in the end of the Bat-Episode, Alfred is serving Clam Chowder for dinner, which Bruce tells Dick to think of it as a way of getting even.
The Penguin, while not doing much in the Bat-Episode compared to The Joker, he still does enough to make his presence in the Bat-Episode not pointless. He helps lead the duo on a wild goose chase by helping two henchman disguised as a band called "The Twins"; he helps out in the Bat-Fights; but the most productive thing he did in the whole entire Bat-Episode is getting The Joker and his henchman to the Bat-Cave by seducing the former moll Venus. He seduces her by giving her gifts such as flowers, Champagne, and expensive perfume; sweet talks to her in a dark room lit by candles; and convinces her to have the duo take her to the Bat-Cave to destroy his criminal record, so he can feel reformed, when really it's just away so the villains can enter the Bat-Cave by hiding in the Bat-Mobiles trunk, which I still can't get over that it's big enough to carry 8 people! I also love how The Penguin is introduced in the first and last part. He first appears in a delivery box; and he appears again in a Mail-Bag as the henchman disguise themselves as mailmen to get The Penguin out of prison.
The moll Venus played by Terry Moore, as mellow-dramatic as she is at times, she's still a great character, well acted, and one of the few good molls on the show. Like many of the female characters working for the villain, she starts out helping the villain's by helping The Joker escape; knocks-out the duo to later be killed; and disguises herself to steal things for The Joker. However, I like that there's a complexity to the character. She doesn't just briefly love the duo, and shows regret when getting caught in the end like in many Bat-Episodes with that formula, she literally keeps switching sides, and shows regret for most of her actions. She starts out willingly helping the villain; to briefly helping Batman and Robin; to reluctantly helping the villain again; to helping Batman and Robin again; to helping the villains again by getting tricked. Of course, this storyline is nothing new to the show, but this Bat-Episode still does a great job at carrying it out, with its writing and acting from Moore, even if her acting isn't always great.
Batman and Robin are completely awesome and funny in this. The struggle of them trying to get the two villains is done well; they get plenty of fun dialogue; seeing them outwit the villains is great writing; and the Bat-Fights are kickass. Throughout the Bat-Episode we see Batman use different types of Bat-Gadgets such as a Bat-Detector that can find a hidden self-destructing radio of The Joker listening into Police Head-Quarters, which Batman uses a Bat-Fire Extinguisher to put it out; he uses a Bat-A-Rang, including one that explodes; he uses a Bat-Spectrograph Criminal Analyzer that can record villains scientific data, so that they can use that information against them in the future; and even the Bat-Copter makes a brief appearance! The Bat-Fights are all as fun and kickass as you would want them to be on this show. There's a Bat-Fight on a stage, as an Opera Singer sings as if nothing's happening until he is kidnapped. There's a Bat-Fight in a Art Gallery with henchman disguised as statues; busts and spears are being thrown; and there's a spear Bat-Fight going on between Batman and The Joker. There's a Bat-Fight at a record store where the kidnapped Opera Singer is held hostage, as records are being thrown; heads are being bashed into drums; Batman knocks out two henchman with a bass; and the rock music playing in the background adds to the fun of this Bat-Fight. There's even an awesome Bat-Fight in the Bat-Cave as Batman and Robin have to fight against The Joker, The Penguin, and his six henchman, which is so cool and awesome (In the standards of this show) that words can't describe it!
FAVORITE HOLY LINES
Holy Astronomy (When finding out what Joker's crimes revolve around)
Holy Mash-Potatoes (When about to be crushed by the giant meteorite)
Holy Human Pearls (After when Robin gets rescued from being swallowed by the giant man eating Clam, which Batman tells him Pearls come from Oysters, after he says it)
Holy Jelly-Mold (When finding out that Strawberry Jelly is coming out of the faucets)
Holy Holocaust (When finding out that without water, Firemen wont be able to put out fires)
Holy Gamble (When realizing that the criminals could have opened the truck to see where the Bat-Cave is, which Batman used the emergency Bat-Lock on the trunk, knowing that they were in there.)
If I had to choose the best Bat-Episode I've seen without counting the film, this would be number 1 on the list! It's fun, it's full of non-stop action, the performances are great, and it's the show's campiest at its finest.
And those are "My Top 12 Favorite Bat-Episodes From Batman (Adam West) Season 2"; tune in soon for my Bat-Review on the debut Bat-Episode for Batgirl.
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