Most Catwoman episodes are awful.

[TimTwoFace]

There seem to be a lot of Catwoman posts on the board these days, so I figured I might as well join in.

First off, let me say that I have nothing against the Catwoman character - she's definately a very strong character. I just don't think she had very good episodes on BTAS.

For example, here are the ones I felt she was GOOD in:

GOOD
-THE CAT AND THE CLAW (Pt. 1, 2) - part two was lame, but her character was fine
-ALMOST GOT 'IM
-CATWALK
-BATGIRL RETURNS (sorta)

That's pretty much it. OTher episodes like YOU SCRATCH MY BACK and CULT OF THE CAT were decent enough, because they delved into her criminal life and stuff.

But then...

BAD
-CAT SCRATCH FEVER
-TYGER TYGER

I hated those two, because Catwoman suffers from too much of the "damsel in distress" syndrome. Ugh. Very few of the other episodes I mentioned earlier even focused on her, either - really, the only really good Catwoman episode I can think of is CATWALK.

Does anyone else feel this way? Did the writers not know what to do with her? What do you think?

-Tim

[Nightflower]

Well.... the problem with Catwoman is that one of the things she's really known for is her sex appeal. Her attraction to Batman doesn't exactly stem from noble intentions.... and even if adults enjoy B:TAS- it is a kid's show. Sex is a big no-no. :P

But I agree that the Catwoman episodes are kind of mediocre, most of them.

[TimTwoFace]

I think the sex-appeal aspect of her character was portrayed fine - I just hated those two episodes in particular (TYGER, TYGER; CAT SCRATCH FEVER) because Catwoman just came off as being wimpy - she wasn't the femme fatale, she was the victim, and that's a role Catwoman shouldn't be. (Her "victimization" in ALMOST GOT 'IM and CATWALK were handled much better.)

-Tim

[BWDK]

I agree the TNBA Catwoman eps sucked but I can't understand why the whole world hates Cat Scratch Fever. I love this episode. Catwoman was very sexy and portrayed as a heroic character and it was really cute to see how much Batman cared for her. The villains were also excellent. It was a good choice to create another Daggett scheme. By the way I think it was funny to see how Batman battled Milo and the ugly red haired woman.

I don't think of Tyger, Tyger as a Catwoman episode, Selina is basicly a guest star.

[Mattashell]

Whenever it's a Catwoman episode, you know your in for a treat. Catwoman is not so much a villain with plans Batman must foil, as she is a central character with adventures (and misadventures) of her own. She doesn't plot, she lives. And she takes center stage pushing Batman into the wings. Too bad TNBA ruined all that.

[CadaverousEyes]

What's with all the hate towards You Scratch My Back and Cult of the Cat?

[TimTwoFace]

I dunno, I just feel that the writers never used Catwoman to her full potential in very many of her appearances. Her stories in GOTHAM ADVENTURES #4, 24, soon to be #50 were all good - and I bet her previous stories in the other animated titles were as well, though I forget the specific issues.

I'd still like to see her as more of a villainous anti-hero - and they've strided towards that since TNBA started - but she's only had two appearances since then.

-Tim

[MILatino]

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
Does anyone else feel this way? Did the writers not know what to do with her? What do you think?

Oh, I agree. She started out as a complex character and then was turned into a common thief. And it did NOT help at all that the sexy woman drawn in B:TAS turned into a silly, bleached, Cheshire Cat in B:TNA. I hated what they did to the animation in the cross-over and they ruined her look totally. Suddenly a perfectly drawn show :cool: turned "cartoony". :bosko:

[TimTwoFace]

I didn't mind the pale-chesire-cat look to Catwoman - I just didn't like the body type. She was too tiny! All the women in TNBA had identical bodies - Harley, Ivy, Catwoman, Batgirl, Rene Montoya...

The only differences were Calendar Girl because she was...well...larger *WINK* and Baby-Doll because she's not really a woman, anyway.

Ultimately, though, how everyone looked on BTAS was far superior.

-Tim

[CadaverousEyes]

She had more than enough of her share of hero stories in TAS, so I thought the thief stories in TNBA were a nice change of pace.
She's not a common thief, she's a great thief!
I agree about the art.

[Anarky]

I too was a bit disappointed w/ the overall treatment of Catwoman.

Her best appearance was her cameo in "Almost Got 'Im".
But I greatly enjoyed Catwalk.
I like "Tyger, Tyger", inspired by the short-story "The Most Dangerous Game".

"Catscratch Fever" wasn't a great episode but there were some great moments in it, particulalry when Batman finds an infected Catwoman by the road. He feeld her forehead and says "You're hot." Selina quips "Now you notice." :-) Even plagued, she's a flirt. Plus it was sweet of Batman to find her cat.

I didn't think much of "Cult of the Cat". But the Nightwing episode was cool.

And there were several great moments in the first 2 episodes of the series, mainly the opening chase sequence between Bats & Catwoman. One of my favorite scenes from the series was Batman crouched under the streetlamp, aftr he saved Isis from being ran over by a truck.

Hopefully in future(?) series, Catwoman will get better stories.
Hmmm, how about a Selina Kyle-Clark Kent romance. Would Bruce get jealous? :-)

[DR. BELCH]

I think eps that showed Selina as a damsel in distress illustrated that she isn't as untouchable as she likes to think she is. Cats by nature are inquisitive rogues and will sometimes unwillingly eat poison, get hit by cars, or other nasty things. She got a serious mental spanking by the law, then by Rupert Thorne in"Fever", but got her revenge when she teamed up with Batgirl...and it's best showed that she plays by her own rules in "Cult", lounging about surrounded by stolen booty and feeding her cats expensive food. She may be obsessive-compulsive about stealing, and lusting after the Bat, but, like Penguin, she's not insane enough to be locked in Arkham. Come to think of it, those two might make an interesting couple--that is, a partnership, not a love affair. "Cats eat birds, you know." "I trust even the most voracious feline cannot consume an avian as majestic as an emporer penguin, my dear."

[Karkull]

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
I didn't mind the pale-chesire-cat look to Catwoman

Me too...I actually prefer it! Her old look just wasn't cool--the gray suit wasn't flattering, plus artist's couldn't decide whether or not the black on her mask was the lighting or part of the mask!

Her black suit and bleached skin was way cooler--more Batman Returns...and Batman Returns was cool. Meow...

[The Game]

The only episode that Catwoman appeared in that can be deemed "great" was "Almost Got 'Im", during which she has two lines and spends most of it tied up.

She had some good episodes (Catwalk, Cat and Claw, You Scratch My Back), but I'll agree she didn't have a terrific run in B:TAS.


Her black suit and bleached skin was way cooler--more Batman Returns...and Batman Returns was cool. Meow...

Funny you should mention this, because the original gray B:TAS Catwoman design was said to have been heavily influenced by Batman Returns, not the TNBA.

By the way, the gray B:TAS one with the blonde hair is soooooo much cooler! :)

[Mattashell]

Originally posted by thegame8866



Funny you should mention this, because the original gray B:TAS Catwoman design was said to have been heavily influenced by Batman Returns, not the TNBA.

By the way, the gray B:TAS one with the blonde hair is soooooo much cooler! :)

Yes I too noticed that the blonde Selina does strike resemblance to Michelle Pfiefer.

[The Mad Hatter]

That was intentional... the B:TAS staff was commanded by WB to make her look a lot like her. That's why we got "mutant flipper" Penguin... his original design was actually the one used in TNBA.

[Joe G.]

I never really liked Catwoman past her appearance in The Cat and The Claw. I think the reason why is because...well...she sucked after that.

Don't get me wrong, she had depth of character, and that's important. I just didn't like the character. The whole animal rights thing wasn't my cup of tea.

That's just me, though.

[Anarky]

Originally posted by Joe G.
I never really liked Catwoman past her appearance in The Cat and The Claw. I think the reason why is because...well...she sucked after that.

Don't get me wrong, she had depth of character, and that's important. I just didn't like the character. The whole animal rights thing wasn't my cup of tea.

That's just me, though.

I know what you mean, but it was either that OR the sordid past from DCU. As I remember, Selina grew up an orphan on the streets of Gotham. Later turned to prostitution before turning to crime as a cat burglar.

Am I wrong? Didn't they re-create Catwoman's roots in Miller's Year One? Or was it in Loeb's Long Halloween?

[Frank White]

I liked Cult of the Cat. It showcased every angle of Catwoman. The villianous thief( the ending in Paris was the funniest ending in BTAS and TNBA) the antihero in love with Batman, and the damsel in distress who isn't untouchable.

[CadaverousEyes]

Am I wrong? Didn't they re-create Catwoman's roots in Miller's Year One? Or was it in Loeb's Long Halloween?

Yeah, it was in Year One, but they later retconned everything about her being a prostitute.

[Dark Knight]

Im one of those people who in general liked the redesigns in TNBA overall a lot better. Everthing seemed more lively in that show somehow. Catwoman included. But I agree about the bodytype thing. Every girl from TNBA and Batman Beyond could have swapped heads and nothing would have been wrong :D !
I think the only thing that I REALLY liked better in BTAS was the rain. That always looked awesome to me and I guess it just didnt work with the new style... otherwise I dont know why they wouldnt use it.

As far as Catwoman goes the only episode with her that I thought were mediocre were "Tyger Tyger" and "Cat Scratch Fever". I loved Cat and the Claw. And I especially loved her TNBA appearances. I know she leans way more towards a villain in those but it makes sense that the more she grew apart from bruce the less shed care about trying to reform.

[DerekPowers]

i agree, the btas catwoman eps were lacking. the cat and the claw was descent, but i hated the way it ended, w/ catwoman getting the crap beat out of her by redclaw. that should have been the other way around.

cat scratch fever was mediocre at best. i liked tyger tyger though, it was a fun ep w/ good animation.

the best btas catwoman eps were batgirl returns and catwalk. those both explored her villian side more and catwalk had really good character development.

btas definately should have had more villian catwoman eps, she was too much of a good guy. thats why i loved her 2 appearences in tnba. they were great imo, two really solid eps.

but i loved her appearence in almost got im. for catwoman "almost got im" meant getting a kiss, while the others wanted to kill batman. i thought that was a nice touch at the end. peace.

[The_NewCatwoman]

Originally posted by CadaverousEyes
What's with all the hate towards You Scratch My Back and Cult of the Cat?

I agree completely!