A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away
"Cheese?"
"Not without a glass of vintage port, you lackey!"
It's the first time we've had a villain return and- contrary to last week's teaser- it's the Riddler. This is wonderful as Frank Gorshin is easily the best of the guest villains we've had so far, with his performance going past mere villainous theatricality to hints of a very real instability and danger. Riddles and gimmicks aside, there's something that feels very real about the character as played by Gorshin, however minor a villain he may have been at this point. Not even the fact that he's employing a gang who dress up as rats and eat cheese can take away from that.
We also get the amusing character of King Boris, and a splendidly witty script from newcomer Fred De Gorter. The plot is pretty much just a never-ending treasure hunt of riddles taking us to the, er, revolutionary cliffhanger. But who cares? This is top stuff.
And don't you love the quaint 1960s computer in the Batcave?
When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play
"Stop fiddling with that atomic pile and come down here!"
Again, the plot is just riddle, set piece, repeat, fight, conclusion. But the script is witty, the Riddler is mesmerising and it's all such fun. This is the Batman formula to perfection. Who cares if the cliffhanger resolution is just another utility belt cheat; the script pretty much cheerfully admits this as our heroes note that "the utility belt saves us again".
It's weird to see a "Gotham City police call box", and this Museum of Fame looks a bit rubbish. But Batman, by this point, seems just effortlessly good. Worryingly, though, this time the Riddler is captured. I hope we see him again soon...
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