Episodes 33 & 34
Fine Finny Fiends/Batman Makes the Scenes
Plot:Penguin brainwashes Alfred into being a pawn for his plan against a wealthy social event
Guest Stars:Burgess Meredith of course
Trivia:The producers of the show, William Dozier and Howie Horwitz, are in the pictures Batman shows Alfred early on. By the way the narrator for all these episodes is producer William Dozier. I loved the narrator if you read silver age comics you know they tend to overdue it with the narration. So it works here perfectly. He would do the same for another show he produced that was on at the same time. But that’s a subject for another day.
Niitpick:the way Alfred is brainwashed is incredibly silly. The Penguin Box is one of the sillier sight gags on the show. They call it brainwashing but its closer to being hypnotized.
Bat Silliness:Always look both way before crossing the street! How is it Gordon can talk to Bruce and Batman back to back and not recognize its the same voice?
Bat Gadget:Emergency tank of oxygen Batman used to breathe..after the room had the air sucked out. Guess Batman can live in a vacuum ?
Bat Trap:We’re definitely into the silly traps. Here the duo are in a vacuum room as the air is getting pumped out. Even the writer had no idea how Batman should escape, it happens off screen.
Final Thoughts: It was only a matter of time before we got a story like this, Alfred being kidnapped and used as a pawn. Robin will be kidnapped and brainwashed next season. We’re back to the token girl being a bimbo here, just to be looked at. This is one time when the plan is not a secret, Batman figures it out right away. Instead its about rescuing/helping Alfred. Batman guesses Alfred has been conditioned and sets a trap for the Penguin. Problem is this is so obvious that it makes the end of episode drag, there is no suspense we just went it to get over with. And the girl in the episode helps the villain and then…you wont believe it…feels sorry and repents, even appearing in the tag. Sigh. Over and over and over… This wouldn’t bother me so much if it was a guy, just once? This is Alan Napier’s episode to shine and he does well, but of course being this show they only scratch the surface on the trauma the experience must have inflicted on Alfred.
Grade:B, not the worst way to end the first season
That’s season 1 my friends! Before we get into Season 2 we need to discuss something special, tomorrow. Same Bat tme, Same Bat Channel
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