The New Batman Adventures
I love when these episodes have some sort of theme that connects them, even if it is a loose theme. That is what these two have. It's all about animals. Good times.
Catwoman: [Batman unexpectedly finds Catwoman napping in his Batmobile] "About time you got here."
Batman: "Let me guess. You needed a warm place to spend the night."
Catwoman: "Kind of."
Batman: "I know of one. Jail."
Catwoman is running from some people after stealing a golden cat from them. They are hard to shake so Catwoman enlists Batman to help. It turns out that the Cult of the Cat is after her. She meets with their leader, Thomas Blake, and agrees to an initiation ceremony. When Batman shows up, will Catwoman go through with it or will she help the Dark Knight?
 |
| Nice Kitty |
So, I still really hate this new Catwoman costume. I know I've said it before, but it bears reporting. I mean, look at it. It is so totally lame. Ugh. She deserves so much better. Sigh.
The first episode of TNBA that featured Catwoman wasn't my favorite. The flirting with Nightwing was weird and kind of off putting and there was barely any interaction with her and Batman, which is what really shines. "Cult of the Cat" remedies that. This feels like an old school episode of "Batman: The Animated Series." Batman is the only hero with Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl taking the episode off. This is for the best because we get some prime interactions between the Bat and the Cat. When Catwoman seemingly went straight in the original series, the flirtatious "will-they-or-won't-they" banter went away and that is back in this episodes.
There are ton of those moments in this episode. Batman finding Catwoman in the Batmobile, Batman blackmailing Catwoman in order to help her, him reminding her that she betrays her constantly. It's all golden. Adrienne Barbeau and Kevin Conroy really play off each other well. The episode is pretty fast moving. It starts off at a ten and doesn't really come down with lots of fun action sequences involving the cult members and Batman and Catwoman fighting off a huge... saber toothed tiger?
The cult is kind of lame and TNBA's Thomas Blake isn't my favorite. Thomas Blake is better known as Catman and he had a renaissance in the comics in the early '00's when Gail Simone was writing "Secret Six." This Thomas Blake doesn't really exude any of the charisma or cool that he does in the comics. It was a let down for me, but if you're not familiar with his comics incarnation, it probably isn't that big of a deal.
Grade: B+
Robin: "Nightwing! What are you doing here?"
Nightwing: "Oh, just following a pattern of obsessive behavior instilled on me at an early age."
Batman: "You should work on your stealth skills. I heard you coming halfway across the roof."
Nightwing: "Good to see you, too."
On a stakeout, Batman, Robin and Nightwing end up taking down... a gorilla in a trench coat? A gorilla named Peaches that Nightwing knows. This leads the former Boy Wonder to his old stomping grounds at Haly Circus and to Miranda Kane, the animal trainer. She trained Peaches and Batman is suspicious. It seems all the towns that Haly's has gone to have experienced tech thefts perpetrated by animals. Batman is suspicious but Nightwing isn't convinced. Can Nightwing track down the real thief or stop his former friend?
 |
| Gorilla friends |
This episode has a ton of potential and when it started I was pretty excited to see where it goes. Nightwing recognizing a thieving gorilla in a trench coat is a great hook. Then, it leads to Haly's Circus and I'm thinking, "Oh yeah, we are finally going to get some interesting back story about Dickie Grayson's childhood." But it sort of peters out right as Tim and Dick get there. Here's these circus performers that Dick grew up with! Isn't that fun! Tim is jealous. He thinks it would be great to live like this! I wonder if that comment will come back around?
The rest of the episode is rather paint by numbers. Batman of course thinks that Miranda is responsible. Nightwing isn't convinced. He wants to believe and prove his friend's innocence. His faith is tested when two of Miranda's bears attack them. I am kind of surprised that the GCPD just gives the bears back to Miranda, no worries. Everything is fine here. Look, that clown is razzing Bullock! Hilarious.
Can we talk about how annoying Miranda's voice is? She's voiced by the Go-Go's member, Jane Weidlin, who I really enjoy, just not here. Every time Miranda talks it is like nails on a chalkboard. Not a fan.
This whole episode there is just lots of wasted opportunity. The relationship between Miranda and Dick is kind of a throwaway. Having a flashback or two to sort of flesh out and deepen their relationship would have been really helpful to make me care more about this. The Mad Hatter reveal is sort of anti-climactic and the battle between Batman, Nightwing and the mind controlled circus folk loses it's novelty and becomes pretty tiresome after a while.
I will say that this episode's Nightwing feels more legit. He's wisecracking. He's bubbly. He's not as broody as he has been in his other appearances, so that is a plus.
Grade: C
Next up, we find out what caused Dick to give up the mantle of Robin and the Demon Etrigan shows up.
What did you guys think? Do we prefer a morally gray Catwoman? Did you want more Dickie backstory? Let me know in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment