Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American playboy, and entrepreneur has a secret double life. He is the crime-fighting vigilante Batman and his youthful ward Dick Grayson as Robin. Together the duo protects and serves Gotham city. At Wayne manor, a hidden pole transports them to the Batcave, where our heroes operate as their alter egos. On the trusty red Batphone, Commissioner Gordon summons them with the latest emergencies threatening their great city. With their trusty utility belts attached and ready, they race to Gotham in the Batmobile. Batman and Robin face great numbers of criminals and their many archenemies like the Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler, King Tut, Mr Freeze, and many more. This show offers an incredible amount of fun but also a very silly take on the character of Batman during the 60s era, bringing the comic book crusaders to life. Its hilarious depiction however is what makes it so charming, not to mention how actors, like Adam West who played Batman, act very seriously making it all the better. There are so many iconic things to take from the show too, like the huge lettering exploding on the screen with each punch, as well as Batman and Robin climbing up the side of buildings (often bumping into famous faces at the most random of times and places). The Batmobile is also an iconic symbol that is so recognisable, even showing up in the vast line of references in Ready Player One (2018), as one of many cars that is visible in a huge race sequence. I have so many fond memories of seeing the show when I was younger on TV when at school and was delighted when I was given the whole box set as a gift, which I watched in full with the rest of my family. This version of Batman is definitely a great family show as you can have a lot of laughs and enjoy all the crazy costumes and characters, which make it so enjoyable and entertaining. Not only that, but the villain's plans and traps would end up being bizarre and ridiculously entertaining. Characters such as Alfred and Chief O'Hara also bring great comedy and delight to the show. Alfred is undoubtedly the best butler you could ever need, constantly being there for Bruce & Dick and aiding them in their crime-fighting needs, and Chief O'Hara delivers some great performances, which always make me laugh. Scenes like Bruce talking to himself as Batman over two phones to fool the Commissioner and Chief will always be the most incredible scenes from the show that I'll never forget, as it looks so ridiculous. Despite its silliness, this show is simply amazing and I can see why it was popular in its time, enough to gain a movie too with Batman: The Movie (1966). Towards the third season, which would end up being the last, the show tried to introduce the character of Batgirl, who was the Commissioner's daughter, to try and boost its ratings but ultimately didn't do very well. They gave Batgirl a theme song and a bike, which she rode to fight crime, frequently helping the duo or taking things into her own hands. She was an alright addition to the show, but wasn't as much a favourite of mine as the original duo. This show has had such an impact in recent years too as it went on to inspire two animated movies that featured some returning cast to voice over their iconic roles in Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) and Batman Vs. Two-Face (2017). Overall, Adam West's adaptation of Batman is a great, making for a delightful show that you can easily get lost in with its crazy stories and characters. If you want silly, fun entertainment, this show is the one to check out. If you aren't a fan of the colourful 60s version of the caped crusader then there are so many other interpretations of darker, grittier versions in all kinds of media to enjoy. But if you want some relaxing, laid back and chill television for the whole family, this is one to put on.
Creators: Lorenzo Semple Jr. & William Dozier
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