BATMAN-97-THE WAIL OF THE SIREN

 

BATMAN-97-THE WAIL OF THE SIREN

 

OMG. I love this episode. It used to be my favorite and I worried before watching it, that it would not live up to the memory but it surpassed the memory. Joan Collins is always interesting to watch in whatever role she’s in but the far outdoes everything with her in it with Siren aka Lorelai Circe, who apparently is a famous singer anyway (so why does she need MORE money?).

 

Let’s get a few things out of the way. In the scene where Robin takes a call from Batgirl and he’s in the Bruce Wayne study, just before and during, first in long shot and then in close up, there is a large black thing hovering over Robin’s head. It looks like it might be part of the camera lens or something to do with the camera or mikes? It’s very noticeable in a series that almost never makes these mistakes.

 

The dialog here is enormously funny. Batgirl says, “Oh, Bruce if only you were more like Batman.”

 

Robin says, when he and Batgirl have to take the stairs, “You’re in good shape!”  He also uses the term, “We’re licked!”

 

There also seems to be some line or other (and especially during the Bruce/Dick audition scene, which also calls Mrs. Cooper their house keeper; it also makes Bruce worry that Harriet would not be able to take the news that he and Dick are Batman and Robin) about them being a couple but let’s leave that alone. I also watched the BATGIRL pilot, which is not as bad as I thought but pretty bad. Joey Tata is in it and he’s always great to look at but the Killer Moth and those quick edits almost do it in. Of note there is Nelson Riddle’s music used with Batgirl. I found out by watching the credit on the blu ray that BILL MAY does the music for the third season so Nelson’s music is NOT used with Batgirl, typically. I love Nelson’s themes but it was time for a change after 94 episodes of it. Bill’s music is just as good and sometimes better.

 

Batgirl makes herself VERY useful again and I’m glad she’s not just a side addition. Her roles in the plots are integral and she finds out a lot of info and even later remembers Chief O’Hara, who was ordered by the callous Siren to go jump in Gotham Lake. NOTE: I watched a round table with Adam West on the blu rays and of note from the interesting conversation was that this show, more than any other DC or any other comic book series, set up a really new universe, their Gotham City was  a timeless city of its own, realistic and truthful. In fact, they also talked about how the comic books had Batman doing more outlandish things like going to the Moon for one. And being shrunk.

 

NO ONE can make fighting look more fun than Yvonne Craig and kudos to the show for making the leading man taken over and having his sidekick Robin handle the main action. Burt and Yvonne (and Batgirl and Robin) make a great team and this is maybe the first time we see them fight TOGETHER TOGETHER. It’s also notable that Robin has to duck a Bruce punch and then give Bruce his own punch, “Sorry about this Mr. Wayne.”

 

They always seemed to give Robin more of an edge than Batman and here it’s seems as if Robin COULD and WOULD let Siren fall to her death if she doesn’t reverse the spell. I guess, though, that Gordon and O’Hara’s just wore off?

 

One question: Batgirl saw Siren in the last episode and knew her powers and abilities AND that Siren was helping Riddler. Barbara knows that Lorelai Circe was a famous singer who could sing in seven octaves…didn’t she know what Circe looked like? Small quibble.

 

Another is: in the end Batman says something like, “I guess the lack of memory lasts as long as one is under Siren’s spell.” What? Doesn’t that mean he SHOULD now remember when the spell ends?

 

Oh and Gordon’s scenes in the BatCave the dilemma it spells were spell binding viewing then and now. As I’ve said, I love this episode, so much going on and so many new things happening that never happened before. Robin in charge. Robin hitting Bruce who seems in Siren’s snare, taken over by her. And a female villain who equals Catwoman. Catwoman and Black Widow are also name checked here.

 

Fantastic episode. Too bad Joan never returned. Siren does return in the BATMAN 66 comics.    

 

If I haven’t said so, while I love Nelson Riddle’s first and second season music and dig Neil’s theme song, I really love Bill May’s music just as much, maybe more. It really works for the show.

 

I love Siren calling Robin, “Short stuff!” Ironically, here is the first episode in a long time (ever!) since Burt's issue is not seen that prominently.

 

BTW there's one oddly edited scene as Siren is talking to her two Irwin Allen henchmen (both having been in LAND OF THE GIANTS and Mike having been in ABBOTT AND COSTELLO more than once for both credits). She's talking and then it seems to jump a bit and then she's at the harp but the dialog picks right up from where it was.

Penguin and new arch accomplice Lola Lasagna appear at the end and Batman seems to know about them via his magic computer!? I like how the series still has a way of ending with a lead in to the next episode!