I was really disappointed to see that the only other IMDb review of this episode called it inaccessible to people not interested in or knowledgeable about silent films. In my humble opinion, that is hogwash. I loved this episode as a child, long before I even knew silent movies existed. As an adult who has seen a few of them, I now understand some of the episode's early references, but I'm sure I would still like it even if I hadn't seen those movies. There's so much more going on here besides silent movie homages.
First and foremost, this is an excellent showcase for The Riddler, demonstrating why to this day Frank Gorshin's Riddler remains the most beloved interpretation of the character by an actor. Next to Catwoman, I think he's the best written and acted villain on the series. In this episode, Gorshin is infectiously giddy and charismatic, as The Riddler blossoms before our eyes into one of the most brilliant scientists and explosives experts the world has ever known. How else could you describe a man who can do the following?:
1) Create pies topped with a special cream that can put a person to sleep upon making contact with the skin.
2) Create some kind of liquid that, when dissolved into a drink, enrages the drinker at the slightest prodding and drives them to violence.
3) Rig a chocolate Éclair to explode and blow open a safe.
The episode also wonderfully demonstrates how amusingly square the Batman and Robin characters of this series are. At one point, they're rushing to the Bat Poles and Bruce quietly apologizes after almost bumping into Dick. Later, he lectures Robin about parking laws, and tries to calm rioting citizens down by simply asking them to stop, unwilling to physically interfere. His commitment to good manners and observing/understanding rules of decorum under any circumstances is endearingly consistent. While The Riddler is constantly inventive with both his schemes and words, Batman and Robin's personalities are so boring, bland, tedious, and cornball that it's funny. Throughout the episode, every time they are about to get into their car or enter/exit a building, Batman exclaims, "let's race (to whatever destination)!". So lame, but so good.
The scenes of Batman and Robin solving The Riddler's impossibly convoluted clues without much difficulty are one of the show's most reliable running gags. We get some of the most memorable ones in this episode. For example, they figure out that The Riddler is going to the library because a "dishonest shortcake" is a "lie berry cake". And of course the library is on "Baker Street".
If you ever need a perfect example of how this series elevates ridiculously unlikely logic and coincidence to an art form, there you have it. At least the 'dead pan' riddle is a little more natural. Most of the riddles are completely absurd, but once in awhile the writers come up with one that's actually somewhat plausible and clever.
Another common feature of the series that gets a superior example in this episode is the special guest villain's gorgeous and ambitious female assistant. This time, it's a devious young lady who happily plays innocent and wears disguises to trick people that The Riddler wants out of the way. In her best disguise, she dresses up as a Little Bo Peep-type, tells Robin that The Riddler kidnapped her little brother, and gases him with her big cane. The cutesy music in the background makes that scene especially enjoyable and a little twisted.
The episode ends with a death trap worthy of a 1960s James Bond villain. The Riddler has Robin laying unconscious on a conveyor belt moving towards a giant saw expected to cut his body in half, right down the middle. It seems fitting to end the episode with the promise of a potentially slow and agonizing death for Robin after it started out as a non-stop race with The Riddler always one step ahead of our heroes. I can't think of a better formula for a standout episode of this series. There's hilarious dialog and unusually entertaining major and minor characters on the sides of both good and evil. Chief O'Hara is called an oaf by Commissioner Gordon and sarcastically addresses him as "your royal highness". Batman and Robin are at their lovable corniest. The Riddler has a sexy, spunky villain babe and a magnificent death trap. This isn't just fun for fans of the series who like silent movies. On the contrary, I think it has a little bit of something for everyone.
First and foremost, this is an excellent showcase for The Riddler, demonstrating why to this day Frank Gorshin's Riddler remains the most beloved interpretation of the character by an actor. Next to Catwoman, I think he's the best written and acted villain on the series. In this episode, Gorshin is infectiously giddy and charismatic, as The Riddler blossoms before our eyes into one of the most brilliant scientists and explosives experts the world has ever known. How else could you describe a man who can do the following?:
1) Create pies topped with a special cream that can put a person to sleep upon making contact with the skin.
2) Create some kind of liquid that, when dissolved into a drink, enrages the drinker at the slightest prodding and drives them to violence.
3) Rig a chocolate Éclair to explode and blow open a safe.
The episode also wonderfully demonstrates how amusingly square the Batman and Robin characters of this series are. At one point, they're rushing to the Bat Poles and Bruce quietly apologizes after almost bumping into Dick. Later, he lectures Robin about parking laws, and tries to calm rioting citizens down by simply asking them to stop, unwilling to physically interfere. His commitment to good manners and observing/understanding rules of decorum under any circumstances is endearingly consistent. While The Riddler is constantly inventive with both his schemes and words, Batman and Robin's personalities are so boring, bland, tedious, and cornball that it's funny. Throughout the episode, every time they are about to get into their car or enter/exit a building, Batman exclaims, "let's race (to whatever destination)!". So lame, but so good.
The scenes of Batman and Robin solving The Riddler's impossibly convoluted clues without much difficulty are one of the show's most reliable running gags. We get some of the most memorable ones in this episode. For example, they figure out that The Riddler is going to the library because a "dishonest shortcake" is a "lie berry cake". And of course the library is on "Baker Street".
If you ever need a perfect example of how this series elevates ridiculously unlikely logic and coincidence to an art form, there you have it. At least the 'dead pan' riddle is a little more natural. Most of the riddles are completely absurd, but once in awhile the writers come up with one that's actually somewhat plausible and clever.
Another common feature of the series that gets a superior example in this episode is the special guest villain's gorgeous and ambitious female assistant. This time, it's a devious young lady who happily plays innocent and wears disguises to trick people that The Riddler wants out of the way. In her best disguise, she dresses up as a Little Bo Peep-type, tells Robin that The Riddler kidnapped her little brother, and gases him with her big cane. The cutesy music in the background makes that scene especially enjoyable and a little twisted.
The episode ends with a death trap worthy of a 1960s James Bond villain. The Riddler has Robin laying unconscious on a conveyor belt moving towards a giant saw expected to cut his body in half, right down the middle. It seems fitting to end the episode with the promise of a potentially slow and agonizing death for Robin after it started out as a non-stop race with The Riddler always one step ahead of our heroes. I can't think of a better formula for a standout episode of this series. There's hilarious dialog and unusually entertaining major and minor characters on the sides of both good and evil. Chief O'Hara is called an oaf by Commissioner Gordon and sarcastically addresses him as "your royal highness". Batman and Robin are at their lovable corniest. The Riddler has a sexy, spunky villain babe and a magnificent death trap. This isn't just fun for fans of the series who like silent movies. On the contrary, I think it has a little bit of something for everyone.
