Batman: The Puzzles Are Coming & The Duo Is Slumming

The Puzzles Are Coming

"Sweep on, you fat and greasy citizens!"

One thing that's been very noticeable this second season has been the absence of Frank Gorshin's magnificent Riddler, the best and most frequent villain during the first season and indeed the standout baddie from the movie. I understand this was because  of a behind-the-scenes dispute but, whatever, it's been unfortunate, and no story illustrates that as much as this one.

I don't blame Maurice Evans; his performance as the Puzzler reflects the character as written- a cut-price Riddler (although one known to the police), with ridiculously random obsession with aviation and Shakespeare. He has nothing like the charisma or menacing air of Gorshin's Riddler, but it's difficult to be either when one's dialogue consists mainly of context-free Shakespeare quotes.

It's not just the villain that' rubbish, either- the story plods. And not even the joke of a game of monopoly with billionaire Atremus Knab, owner of several monopolies, can save it. After a fairly traditional opening there's little in this episode to interest us until the admittedly good balloon-based cliffhanger, although the Dynamic Duos' ridiculous leaps of logic with the word "fence" are admittedly amusing.


The Duo Is Slumming

"This should teach that crook to be a litterbug. He should put trash in a proper waste container."

Hmm. I usually watch a two parter and then blog them both immediately but this time, being uber busy juggling working from home, Little Miss Llamastrangler being at home while I'm doing this and Mrs Llamastrangler having possible symptoms of you-know-what (nothing that need alarm us), I haven't had enough free time to watch more than one episode a night so, for once, having written the above review of the first part last night... I'm not sure I'm quite of the same view.

Oh, these episodes are still a bit of a failure, make no mistake. But imagine the previous episode with Frank Gorshin's Riddler, dial down the Shakespeare quotes a bit, and have aviation as just a theme of the week, as silent films were last time. I suspect we'd suddenly have something quite decent. Puzzler is just a shallower character and Maurice Evans is just on luvvie autopilot rather than acting as such.

The script to this second part is actually quite decent, rubbish baddie aside. The escape from the balloon is gloriously silly, and I love the fourth wall-breaking cameo with Santa Claus, which we Doctor Who fans will inevitably compare to The Feast of Steven, also in 1966...

I'm afraid this story is still rubbish; it's no good trying to do an ersatz Riddler. But all that's needed to raise it from rubbish to good is Frank Gorshin, whose absence haunts every minute.

Batman: A Riddle a Day Keeps the Riddler Away & When the Rat's Away the Mice Will Play

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...