Batman: Hot Off the Griddle & The Cat and the Fiddle

Hot Off the Griddle

"The marchioness of misdemeanours is a wily opponent."

This two-parter has the same writer as last week's travesty, yet this time it's an absolute triumph of wit and high camp; perhaps Stanley Ralph Ross should simply avoid all things mediaeval. Of course, it also helps that we have the wonderful and sexy Julie Newmar back as Catwoman in what is, incredibly, only her second appearance- with Lee Meriweather usurping her rightful place in the movie. Whatever the reason for that, it's great to see this wonderful actress back.

I love these epithets we keep getting- "the countess of criminality", "the viscountess of venality". And the deliberately ridiculous idea of a gossip columnist working from a phone booth inside a chemists, which is delightfully bonkers. Then we have the constant po-faced reminder to "be prepared", Catwoman's kinky cat burglary lessons, and a dancing Aunt Harriet. This is Batman at is very best and, after last week, it's a relief to find the programme's mojo very much intact.

Interestingly, for the first time, Catwoman flirts with Batman near the end. Although her idea of courtship is to set up an elaborate deathtrap with giant magnifying glasses. Very kinky...


The Cat and the Fiddle

"But hark- the ghastliest goings-on are yet to transpire!"

I suppose using the solar eclipse as a resolution to the cliffhanger is a bit cheeky but, to be fair, it was heralded at the start of last episode. But all is forgiven as Batman makes the fourth wall wobble by remarking to Robin how curious it is that they always survive their deathtraps, only to stop the wobbling by saying it's because of their "true hearts".

And so the fun continues, with Catwoman disguising herself as a sprightly old millionairess in a plot to steal some Stradivariuses (Stradivarii, as Catwoman says?) and, er, leave the Gotham State Building in a "getaway rocket" with several sets of handlebars. This is superbly bonkers stuff. We even have Batman insisting on paying to park the Batmobile- "Good citizenship, you know". And not long afterwards we get "Good grammar is essential, Robin".

We end with Batman saving the defeated Catwoman's life... and definite sparks between her and a blushing Caped Crusader. But she's going down for ten to twenty years...

I loved every minute of this two-parter. More Catwoman please. Much more.