Batman '66 Batgirl Watchthrough
The 1966 Batman live-action TV series aired twice a week during its first two seasons, with each week featuring a two-part story, with the exception of a one-off three-part Penguin story that aired midway through season 2. As a result, season 1 aired for 34 episodes, while season 2 aired for a massive 60 episodes, at a time when most US prime-time series only aired 25 or so episodes a season.
However, ratings were declining towards the end of the second season, so in an attempt to freshen up the formulaic show for the third season, William Dozier and the team behind the series had the idea to add a new character into the mix. Thus, Batgirl was created and the Dynamic Duo became the Terrific Trio! Although she was a popular character, her presence could not save the series, so only 26 episodes were made and the series was cancelled in 1968 after a total of three seasons and 120 episodes. In season 3 the series was scaled back to airing once a week, and the show began mixing up the formula by airing a mixture of single-episode, two-part and three-part storylines.
In January of 1967, DC comics debuted Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, inspired by the pending appearance of Batgirl on the Batman television series. On September 14th 1967, Yvonne Craig debuted as Barbara Gordon and Batgirl in the opening episode of season 3, and her character continued to appear in every episode of the season.
Season 3, Episode 1: Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin.
Summary: Penguin schemes to marry Barbara Gordon in order to become Commissioner Gordon’s son-in-law and thereby exempt from the law. But the commissioner’s daughter turns out to be a third secret crime-fighter called Batgirl and only Alfred knows her true identity.
Amount of Batgirl contents: This is her introduction so the episode focuses quite a bit on her.
Live reaction:
Barbara Gordon is introduced as Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, a librarian who has recently graduated from college. She was going to go to the opera as Bruce Wayne’s date—her father, chief O’Hara, and Dick Grayson were going too—and her father says Bruce hasn't seen Barbara since she went away for college four years ago. If she started college at 18, then by now she's at least 21 years old. (At the end of the episode, Dick is getting his driver's license on his birthday, putting him at about 16 years old.) I don’t know if Bruce's age was ever stated in the show, but Adam West was 38 years old in 1966, and Yvonne Craig was 9 years younger than him.
Age gaps aside, Penguin’s plot is stupid as hell even for this show’s silly plot standards. Barbara loudly hates his guts and Commissioner Gordon does too. I know there was a huge stigma about divorce at the time, but surely there would have been an easy anullement given that she was kidnapped and coerced? Anyway, he hides the kidnapped Barbara in the apartment next door to hers, reasoning that’s the last place anyone would look. Then his henchmen bring in a kidnapped church minister (actually Alfred, who was having tea with the minister), and lock him and Barbara together in a room. Barbara pleads for him to keep her secret (and Alfred is, understandably, like "Wait, what secret???") as she sneaks out through the window to get into her own apartment and changes into her Batgirl outfit. Batgirl re-enters the apartment through another window, joining Batman and Robin in the fight against Penguin and his henchmen. But when Batman and Robin were distracted working on the lock of the room Penguin had put Alfred and Barbara (and Batgirl slipped away), Penguin and his henchmen got back up and knocked Batman and Robin out. Penguin has everyone relocated to somewhere where he can dangle Batman and Robin from a death trap. Batgirl arrives in her Batcycle and fights, freeing Batman and Robin. She asks Alfred to promise he won't tell anyone her secret identity, and he gives her his word as a gentleman's gentleman. Penguin and his henchmen are properly captured this time. Batgirl slips away to switch places with the mannequin Penguin’s henchmen had brought in a bag believing it was her.
Final thoughts: I'm not crazy about Barbara as a love interest for Bruce, and I hope they drop that going forward. Barbara and Alfred’s friendship is fun, though. Her apartment with the secret revolving wall and hidden Batcycle lift is cool, but how is she affording that on a librarian’s salary? This episode doesn’t explain why Barbara decided to be Batgirl, so there’s room to flesh out her motivation later. I find it hilarious that Batgirl is disappearing on people while they're mid-sentence and looking away because Batman in this show doesn’t do that.
Favorite quotes!
Penguin: Now, I'll tell you that in the adjacent bedroom is a lovely wedding gown. I want you to put it on and wear it with radiance like any blushing bride.
Barbara: I am not blushing, I'm furious! *** After the first fight with Penguin and his henchmen... Batman: I don't know who you are, but you certainly know how to handle yourself well. Robin: Holy agility, I'll say. Batgirl: Thank you, Dynamic Duo. I'm sure you could've handled these crooks without my help but I was glad for the chance to join in the fun. Batman: I can understand your enjoyment. However, our purpose here is quite serious. Batgirl: Oh, crime fighting is a serious matter to me too, Batman, but we might as well get a few laughs out of it. *** After the second fight with Penguin and his henchmen... Batman: Where is Barbara Gordon? Alfred: I placed her out sight to avoid all danger in the fighting. Batman: Good show, Alfred. Barbara: What happened, Batman? Is that horrible man gone? Batman: He's temporarily out of circulation. Are you all right, Ms. Gordon? Barbara: Yes, just never been proposed to at umbrella-point before. Batman: You're quite safe now, Ms. Gordon. His umbrellas are closed. Barbara: Thanks to you, Batman. I'm sorry to be so helpless. Alfred: *Looks at the camera like he's in The Office* Batman: Alfred, where's Batgirl? Alfred: Oh, she left a few minutes ago, sir. She said she had other business to attend to.
Season 3, Episode 2: Ring Around The Riddler.
Summary: Riddler, scheming to take over the fight game in Gotham City, poses as a prizefighter and challenges Batman. The evil Siren is on hand to assist.
Amount of Batgirl contents: I appreciate that she was the one (as Barbara) solving the riddles.
Live reaction: Riddler’s plot makes some sense, in that fixing boxing fights does make money. But he very much did not have to disguising himself as a Southwestern Asian Boxer, and he certainly didn’t have to challenge Batman to a match. I get that he was gonna cheat at the fight and would have gotten some good punches in if Batgirl hadn’t stopped Riddler’s henchwoman, Betsy, with the huge magnet under the ring, but still. He ran away immediately when the magnet stopped holding Batman in place, which, yeah, know your limitations dude.
As for Siren... She’s new! And I think the show didn’t know how to introduce her or weren’t able to do a two parter for her or maybe they didn’t have enough material for the Riddler episode and decided to add her one scene in because we do get the important bit of information that her sonic mind-control powers don’t work on women, but otherwise she could have been written out and nothing changes.
Final thoughts: I didn’t much like this episode, despite normally enjoying Gorshin’s Riddler. But Batgirl continues to leave when people aren’t looking at her, and I love that that’s her thing in this show. I’m not too well-versed in Pre-Crisis Batman, but I hope that’s something she does there too. I'll get to live blogging my readthrough of Pre-Crisis Batgirl when I'm done with this show so I can compare.
Trivia: Barbara, studied the history of Southwestern Asia in college. Her pet parrot is named Charlie, and she talks to it.
Favorite quotes:
Batman: Thanks to Batgir—She's gone. Robin: Yes, but this time I saw where she went. Through that transom. And her Batgirl Cycle's parked in the back alley. Let's follow her. Let's find out who she is. Batman: No, no, old chum. Let us respect her disguise as she respects ours. Robin: I guess you're right.
Season 3, Episode 3: The Wail of The Siren.
Summary: Siren gets Commissioner Gordon under her spell to find Batman's identity for her. When he doesn’t report back with it, she then goes after Bruce Wayne, whom she directs to give her the Wayne family fortune and jump from a skyscraper. Her hope is that Batman will come to Bruce’s rescue, so she can enslave him and discover his secret identity. Instead she is faced with Batgirl and Robin.
Amount of Batgirl contents: medium. It’s her first time interacting more with Robin than Batman.
Live reaction: Siren’s whole thing is that she can sing a note two octaves above high C that renders men who hear it under her command. Her plot is really solid! Part 1, to get rid of Batman: put Commissioner Gordon under her spell, have him arrange a meeting with Batman somewhere where he knows where the Batmobile will be parked, have the Commissioner hide in the Batmobile’s trunk instead of showing up to said meeting, and order him to get out once the Batmobile is in the Batcave so he can find out Batman’s identity and report it to her. Part 2, to get rich quick: call Bruce Wayne, sing her note, and have him sign over his whole fortune and assets to her. "With Batman revealed by Commissioner Gordon and thus permanently impaired and with Bruce Wayne's millions in my possession, I'll be unstoppable." This is an actual plot! Also, I like her outfit.
Trivia: Barbara has an answering machine.
Favorite quotes:
Siren, hanging off the side of a building: Help me. Help! Robin, coming to grab her arms but not helping her up yet: Why should I? You were willing to let Bruce Wayne leap. Siren: Can we talk about it after you pull me up? Robin: Can you get Mr. Wayne out of that spell? Siren: I might try singing an antidote note. Robin: Then do it. Siren: Oh, but that's three octaves above high C. Nobody's ever done it before. My voice would be gone. I'd rather die. Robin: *Lets go off her.* Siren: I'd rather live! All right, I'll try it.
Season 3, Episode 4: The Sport of Penguins (Part 1).
Short summary: The Penguin teams up with newly-broke racehorse owner Lola Lasagne (AKA Lulu Schultz) to rig the outcome of the Wayne Handicap race. They try to close a deal with a glue-factory owner to swap one of his broken-down nags for Lola’s magnificent horse Parasol. Batman and Robin leap in through the window, but Penguin, calling out his hidden henchmen, tells Lola to take the horse and waddles after her. Batgirl, arriving in the nick of time, lassos Penguin and secures him while she joins her fellow crime-fighters. To her dismay, Penguin cuts the lasso and escapes, and brushes paste all over the Batmobile, so when Batman and Robin leap into it, they’re literally glued to their seats!
Amount of Batgirl contents: A fair amount.
Live reaction: There's still bad blood between Barbara and the Penguin. He left an umbrella rigged with explosives at the library because she stopped him from stealing a folio of illustrations of parasols and umbrellas. Lulu and Penguin have incredible chemistry and I ship them, ngl. Alfred called Barbara to let her know Batman and Robin were going after Penguin (claiming they told him they couldn't come to dinner at Wayne Manor because of it), which was nice. Also, the bit at the glue factory was hilarious.
Misc. thoughts:
I am still not into the attraction the show is trying to hint at between Batman and Batgirl, but thankfully the hints are subtle enough that I can ignore them for now.
Batgirl disappears when Batman and Robin aren’t looking, Robin suggests trying to find out who she is, Batman replies that they must allow her her secret as they keep their identities secret too, this is looking like a once per episode beat. I like it.
Favorite quotes:
Lola: I received a note that I might find my priceless stolen parasol here. Penguin: It's not as priceless as all that. A little research has proved to me that it is a fake. Just as you are a fake, Lulu Schultz. And I didn't need any research to prove that. Lola: Lulu Schultz? I am Señora Lola Lasagne. Penguin: Horse feathers, Lulu. I knew you back when. I knew you when you'd steal the braces from other kids' teeth. Lola: While you stole their teeth. But you're still very clever, Pengy. I thought I had the whole world fooled. Penguin: Now, now, what about the other Parasol, the four-legged one? Is that also a fake? Lola: Do you mean my prize-winning filly with the white stripe in the middle of her forehead? That's the only thing I have to show for my three weeks of marriage to Luigi Lasagne. Penguin: What? The billionaire South American playboy? Lola: Not exactly a playboy, Pengy. Luigi's almost 80. Instead of dying, as any adoring young wife might reasonably expect, he divorced me. Can you imagine? He thought I was after his money. Penguin: Ooh, what slander. Faugh. Lola: And that stingy old judge. All he gave me was one horse. Why, I even had to sell my real priceless collection of parasols for eating money.
***
Narrator: But even as the Dynamic Duo head for their dubious destination and Batgirl zooms through the night for her own surprise appearance in Glu Gluten's Glue Factory, Penguin and Lola are completing a deal. Or trying to. Glu: You're out of print, buddy. Dead as a dodo. The parade has passed you by. Look, glue isn't made out of horses' hoofs anymore, you know. Penguin: Then what's that horse doing here? Glu: Horse? Penguin: Yes, this four-legged thing with a long nose. *Camera pans to show a horse standing inside the factory* Glu: Oh, this horse. Well, you see, I always keep a spare one here just in case of an emergency. Penguin: Well, We'd like to buy it. If you're not gonna use it for glue, how about making a deal? Glu: What's the deal? Penguin: The usual. Nothing down and a little a week. Glu: Nothing down? What kind of a deal is that? Penguin: Why, you're out of print, buddy. Dead as a dodo. The parade has passed you by. Don't you know anything about the economic structure of this country? It's always nothing down and a little a week. That is the cornerstone of our financial security. Glu: How little a week? Penguin: Which week?
Season 3, Episode 5: A Horse of Another Color (Part 2).
Summary: Needing money to bet on the Wayne Handicap, Penguin steals the priceless folio of famous parasols from the Gotham City Library and is promptly tricked by Batman into returning it (by having "A. L. Fredd" the collector purchase it). Later, the Racing Secretary tells Bruce that all the horses, except Parasol have been “scratched” (retired from the race) because of Penguin’s devious means, Parasol is in need of a new jockey, and there is a new entry, Bumbershoot, now in his office with his jockey. Guessing that the jockey is Penguin, Bruce tells the Secretary he will enter his horse, Waynebeau, with Batgirl as jockey and with Dick riding Parasol!
Amount of Batgirl contents: She's on a horse!
Live reaction: I didn't mention it in the last one, but the plot here makes sense. They want money. Parasol is the favorite to win, so betting on Parasol won't make much money. However, if they switch in the glue factory horse in Parasol's place and have Parasol pretend to be a different horse, one Penguin and Lola are the only ones betting on, then if Parasol-in-disguise wins Penguin and Lola would make more money because the odds will be high. Penguin is fumbling Lola/Lulu by going on about wanting to get revenge on Barbara for spurning him, tbh. Bruce doesn’t want Dick riding Waynebeau because people would find Wayne’s ward riding Wayne’s horse at Wayne’s race suspicious, but he has Dick ride the jockey-less fake Parasol. He wishes he could ask Batgirl to ride Waynebeau but he has no idea where to begin to look for her... Cut to Alfred at the library asking for a word in private with Barbara, lol.
Final thoughts:
Bruce Wayne pulls a dissappearing behind someone's back while they're midsentence, and I haven't watched all season 1 and 2 so correct me if I'm wrong but this implies he picked up the habit from Batgirl.
Barbara is so stoked about running into a supervillain (King Tut) in the library in the final scene teaser for the next episode. Her face!
Trivia: Not about the episode itself, but I'm very critical of the horse racing industry.
Favorite quotes:
Racing Secretary: You may have a good-sized riot on your hands, Mr. Wayne. Almost everyone bet on Parasol. Batman better have a good explanation too. Bruce: I'm sure he will. Racing Secretary: It's a very dark day for racing in Gotham City, Mr. Wayne. Mr. Wayne? *Pan to the side to reveal Bruce is gone.* *** Batman: Batgirl, she's gone again. Like spray. Like a cloud. Like lightning. Robin: We should try to find her and thank her. Batman: Mere thanks are empty words, Robin. Whoever she is, wherever she goes, whatever she's after, I think we'll be seeing more of her.
I'm gonna be doing these in batches of 5 episodes, so see you next week(ish). Same bat time, same bat channel.
