Even though the show had a great start with its First Season and Movie that spun-off from the series, to slowly losing its campy touch and appeal as the show went on (Especially when we got to the Third Season), it's still overall a very fun and iconic show that shouldn't ever be forgotten! What I find interesting about people's overall perception of the show (Particularly young audiences who are so used to seeing the dark and depressing Batman movies and shows, that have never actually bothered to watch the 60s show. Let alone a full Bat-Episode) is how they would claim the show to be stupid and cheesy as if the show was ever aiming to be serious. Of course it's stupid and cheesy, that was the overall point. It was never meant to be taken seriously. The only people who took it seriously were kids, while the many adults that watched this show with their kids quickly caught on to its Tongue-in-cheek satire. And as the kids who grew up with the show got older, they would at first be surprised that the show wasn't as serious as they remember it, but then would later on grow to accept the show for what it truly is, and begin appreciate it more than they ever did before. Believe me when I say that despite that I only grew-up with the Movie, I personally went through the same exact process that many people that grew-up watching the show had. Now if you don't find the overall camp, humor, and style of the show to be appealing, I can perfectly understand why. I mean after all there were already dark and edgy Batman comic-books way before this show was ever created. Hell, I can even imagine fans of the early Batman comics at the time of the show's release, despising the show for its campy and family friendly approach to a once dark and tragic Superhero who used to kill.
But now with that said, if you were going to say that the show added nothing to the overall franchise, and was just a flat out insult to the character of Batman that should have never existed, and should be overall forgotten. That’s when I say that you are FACTUALLY WRONG, because the show did IN FACT add a lot to the overall Batman franchise BIG TIME! When this show came out, it wasn't just seen as comical kid friendly entertainment. It actually became a complete craze as something like "Star Trek" or "The Beatles" were at the time, that was best known as "Bat-Mania"! It was a merchandising success. Fans of the show (Especially kids) were begging for appearances for the duo and the BatMobile to appear at conventions. People were always constantly talking about the show and quoting some of the dialogue (Particularly Robin's Holy catchphrase). And some were even doing the Batusi (Which I have to admit has now grown on me, when I originally found it to be as stupid and lame as Batman and the Joker Surfing). The show was so popular with audiences that even celebrities at the time were asking to be on the show to either play a villain or make a cameo (Which really shows during the Second Season). And at the time when people were still holding on to their black and white Television sets, this is was one of the many shows that persuaded people to buy a color TV set since it was drenched with colorful comic-book imagery, where you had to buy a color TV to see the show's colors by order for you to fully enjoy it!
But alright so the show was popular when it was first released, big deal, many would see this show as just being a giant product of the time. Why still consider this show as being as important to the overall franchise as something like the Burton and Nolan films were? Well for starters, at the time when comic-books were being dumbed-down to the point when they were no longer seen as nothing special, but just as simple kids stuff; the popularity surrounding this show thanks to its comical comic-book style and atmosphere, has not only made Batman stand-out to a massive audience, but the popularity of the show actually encouraged people to buy the comic-books of Batman, which resulted with D.C. comics to keep on making more comics starring the caped crusader. D.C. comics also decided to bring back Batman's faithful butler Alfred to the series since Alan Napier's portrayal of Alfred has been so loved and admired among audiences who watched the show, and is now to this day a regular character in the comics, films, and TV shows (And what, no love for Madge Blake as Robin's Aunt Harriett). D.C. comics even decided to take villains such as The Riddler and the Penguin who were flops in the original comics, and bring them back because of their popularity on the show, as they took some of the trademarks that the show gave to these villains (Such as the Riddler’s green suit, and some of the mannerisms from Burgess Meredith's portrayal as the Penguin for example) that are now seen as iconic! On top of it, even though the craze for the show is not as big as it used to be, it's still being recognized. Fans still ask for the show's surviving cast members (Especially West and Ward) to appear at conventions. Many cartoons and sitcoms still lovingly reference the show, and even at times hire West and Ward to get in on the fun. And many of the dark Batman films and TV shows that we all know and love actually took some inspiration from the show as well (Which I've pointed out in some of my reviews on the show). I'm not at all saying that you have to like or enjoy the actual show if the campy charm doesn't amuse you, but even if the show isn't your idea of Batman, you should in the very least have some respect and appreciation for what the show has done for the franchise.
I do personally prefer Batman to be dark and serious with a little comedy thrown in, but that doesn't mean that I don't have to enjoy a comical and lighthearted Batman as well. And out of all the versions of Batman that aim for a light-hearted approach, this one in my opinion is the most authentic one of them all! Sure there are many things that the show did for the franchise that earned its place to be the best in that particular category. But even without talking about the legacy that the show has, there's still plenty to enjoy from it. The casting of West and Ward as the Dynamic Duo first of all is absolutely perfect! The chemistry that these two actors have together is both fun and believable to the point where they come off as very likable characters that you feel yourself connected too, rather than just viewing them as being the typical perfect Superheroes with very little personality. And how they deliver the humor that their given with their opposite personalities is completely hilarious. Adam West's melodramatic and dead pan delivery and attitude, mixed with Burt Ward's over dramatic and energetic performance is just simplify perfect. No other actor can top or bring the same fun and chemistry to these characters that West and Ward have completely mastered and originated! And what's great about their performance is even though they're playing their characters for laughs, they still manage to deliver their comical reactions and personality in a pretty serious way, which is what makes the show's Tongue-in-cheek satire on these Superheroes work so well. As well as explaining perfectly why kids that grew-up with the show took it so seriously! And why a casual viewer that's just flipping through the channels would easily mistake this show as being a typical cheesy Superhero show that took itself seriously. In fact when you really analyze the writing and logic for the show, as cleverly written and creative as it is, the majority of it is pretty ludicrous and illogical. I mean seriously what does Batman NOT have in his utility belt? How do the villains manage to get out of jail a few Bat-Episodes later after committing a serious crime, and suddenly having henchmen, a hide-out, and high-tech equipment ready for them? And sure most of the illogical stuff is explained, but many of the reasons that they give to justify it are just as far-fetched! But what makes these crazy and illogical decisions work is mainly because the people behind the show have created an over the top and campy comic-book world where the show's primary purpose is to make you laugh, as you are given great actors who can play-off of the illogical stuff by making it come across as both funny and serious at the same time. Even the moments that I found to be serious when I first reviewed the show have a comical undertone surrounding them!
Aside with our two perfectly casted stars, the rest of the cast who play regular characters that appear throughout the series are just as perfect. Alan Napier is a natural at playing the loyal Butler Alfred. Madge Blake is lovable as the innocent and constantly worried Aunt Harriett. And Neil Hamilton and Stafford Repp are incredibly hilarious as the two idiotic Irish cops that heavily rely on the duo to save the City. I'll even admit that as annoyingly bland and forced that the character of Batgirl is, Yvonne Craig still fits her role fine, and if the show gave her a lot more to work with, she'd (In my opinion) actually be just as great as the rest of the cast. I also have to mention another regular character in the series that I always find myself overlooking, and that's the show's Producer William Dozier as the narrator, who is just as perfect at playing with the show's Tongue-in-cheek humor as well as West and Ward carry it out. I really feel bad for hardly ever mentioning about this Off-Screen character because he's the one who brilliantly sets the mood and tone for the show, during the opening scenes and cliffhangers with his comical over dramatic narration! Now as perfectly casted as the regular cast of characters are on the show, let's be the honest, with the exception of our two crime fighting heroes, the characters that we all remember the most are of course the villains. Actors like Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith, Cesar Romero, Julie Newmarr, Vincent Price, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt are so much fun to watch with their delivery and energy, that they nearly steal every single scene that they're in. And even when you get good actors playing mediocre villains that are more based on themselves, while sometimes both the actor and the character their portraying would either be boring or flat-out embarrassing, they would usually for the most part still be just as enjoyably entertaining as the rest of the cast.
Outside of the casting and the writing, the visuals are just as fun. When I look at these bright and colorful comic-book like sets (Particularly the ones in the first two Seasons) that are filled with interesting and comical props as they are shot at different angles, I always find myself being amazed at how much time, effort, and imagination that went into creating these sets. The props, costumes, and Make-Up are also just as colorful and out of the norm as the sets are. The Batmobile that our heroes drive is one of the best Batmobiles in the history of Batman with its cool design, and numerous gadgets. Seriously, who doesn't get excited or any kind of enjoyment as we see our heroes drive around in the Batmobile while the kickass Batman theme song plays? It's an awesome car! Speaking of music, even though Danny Elfman's Batman theme music is the best one out of them all for how dark, chillingly, and epic it sounds; the catchiest music in the whole entire franchise is the music for the 60s show! Every time I hear the music being played during the opening credits, or when the characters are out fighting crime, I always find myself getting sucked into the show's silly and action-packed environment, as I finding myself occasionally humming the tune, and even singing along to the simple lyrics heard in the show's intro and end credits "Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na, Batmaaaaaan!". The music is so catchy and iconic that even if you haven't seen the show, chances are that you are familiar with it. Now in terms of special effects, the majority of them are very cheesy and laughably silly. But given that the show was meant to be played out for laughs to begin with, it does fittingly add to the camp and humor that the show is going for. The best parts of the show where the music, the cheesy effects, the sets, and the props mix together perfectly are for when a Bat-Fight breaks out! Watching the characters fight in various locations as they wreck the place and use some of the props to either capture or hit an opponent, along with the kickass music and comic-book pun words popping on to the screen, are so enjoyably entertaining and fun to watch that they are always the highlights of each Bat-Episode (Mainly in the first two Seasons) that carry the right balance of action and comedy. Sure it's obvious that the actors aren't actually hitting each other, and that they mostly have stuntmen replacing the original actors; but just like the cheap effects, the crazy writing, and the over the top performances that make the show so funny, these flaws regarding the Bat-Fights are no exception in helping the show achieve its comedy and charm.
Now with all my praise on the show said, and my issues regarding the show's Third Season aside, there is one thing about the show that I do find to be a little off-putting and tiresome even before its infamous Third Season, and that's the show's formula. I just find it to be overall too repetitive and predictable. After when you watch a few Bat-Episodes (Say like 4) you begin to find yourself easily catching on to the show's formula with the knowledge of how a Bat-Episode is going to start and end, which pretty much gives you the impression that if you saw one Bat-Episode, you've may as well have seen them all, since the show hardly takes any risks to change around its story structure. Now don't get me wrong, the writing, the humor, the performances, the action, and the overall look and style is more than good enough for you to forgive the show's predictable formula as long as they bring something entertaining, creative, and humorous, which they usually do. But when one or two of those aspects that I just mentioned fail to be funny or entertaining, that's when the formula starts to feel dull and cliche. If there's one stereotype in the show's formula that really starts to get old and annoying after awhile, it has to be the need for a villain to have a moll by their side. There are some good ones out there, like Molly, Susie, Venus, and Zelda the Great (She works for a villain, instead of teaming up with one. So she does count as a moll!) for example. But since the majority of molls have almost the same motivation and personality, they just become annoyingly dull and repetitive characters that are pointless and forgettable. It's a cliche that already got old and tiring before the show could even finish its First Season!
I'll admit that when I reviewed the first two Seasons of the show knowing that the show wasn't supposed to take itself seriously, I was still very critical when reviewing these Bat-Episode’s. As well as even taking some of the Bat-Episodes more seriously than they were intended to be. But after countless viewings of many of these Bat-Episodes, and knowing more about the show's impact, I honestly feel like most of the Bat-Episode’s that I reviewed should get a better rating than a 3/5. Even the flaws that I pointed out in many of the Bat-Episodes that I enjoyed, I still didn't fully understand or realize that those flaws were just part of the show’s fun. I was so torn about thinking about how general audiences may feel about the show that I wasn't thinking fully of its legacy and overall style. Now with the Third Season on the other hand, that's a different story because the show was getting to the point where its style and camp appeal was wearing out, as the actors and writers felt restrained from having fun making a Bat-Episode due to the show's budget cuts, which was what made the Third Season so bad. While I'm not going to say that the overall show is perfect for the things that I faulted some of it for (Again, especially when regarding it’s Third Season), it's still an important piece to the overall Batman franchise whether you like the show or not! Furthermore, this show has carried out the comical and family friendly image of Batman so well, that I don't think any of the Batman show's or films out there that aim for a light-hearted kid friendly approach can ever be duplicated as great as this show carries it out, which is what makes this show unique. It's an iconic and important staple in the evolution of Batman that will still stand tall as being one of the essential chapters in the franchise's history!
MY OVERALL RATING FOR THE SHOW IS A 4/5
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