B:TAS "The Cat and the Claw, Part 1" Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

Discuss this classic Batman: The Animated Series episode!

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/catandtheclawp1/00.jpg

Episode #013 - The Cat and the Claw, Part 1
Original Airdate - September 5th, 1992 - Series Premiere.

In the midst of Catwoman being attracted to Batman, and Bruce to her alter-ego, Selina Kyle, Catwoman discovers evidence of a military facility inside a mountain on a future resort site. As it turns out, the cartel involved is fronting for an international terrorist group headed by Red Claw, a mysterious female terrorist.

Comments?

[wonderfly]

First episode I ever saw. I could tell right away that I was in for a series that was better than all action cartoons before it. It was also the first time I reckognized how 'old style' the technology of Gotham City was, especially the clothing and cars. And it's funny that at the same time all this 'old style' stuff is happening, they're talking about the threat of Bioterrorism form a terrorist group. How modern is that!?! :p

[The Penguin]

Tonight at 12 midnight ET, Boomerang airs the Batman: The Animated Series episode, The Cat and the Claw, Part 1. This is according to the Boomerang TV schedule (http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/BoomerangServlet?action=selectBMDay) which we hope is correct. If you do not have Boomerang, you are encouraged to follow along on disc 3 of your Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 1 (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=115616) DVD set.

http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/episodes/catandtheclawp1/00r.jpgEpisode #013 - The Cat and the Claw, Part 1
Original Airdate - September 5th, 1992 - Series Premiere.

In the midst of Catwoman being attracted to Batman, and Bruce to her alter-ego, Selina Kyle, Catwoman discovers evidence of a military facility inside a mountain on a future resort site. As it turns out, the cartel involved is fronting for an international terrorist group headed by Red Claw, a mysterious female terrorist.

Comments?

The talkbacks are currently being bumped on a trial basis and will continue based on poster interest.

[Batman Fan]

This thread is begging for some talkback:D

Anyways, this part is definetly superior to part two. I mean, this is supposed to be the introduction to Catwoman, and they waste it on the Red Claw plot, so Catwoman becomes kinda like the sub-plot in part two. Honestly, if part one got rid of the Red Claw stuff, added more of Batman and Catwoman chasing each other and flirting and stuff, this episode would've been better and no need for a second part.

It started off good, Catwoman sneaking around and stealing something, running into Batman and then that beautiful rooftop chase. Seriously, the beginning of this episode is the highlight. The animation is great, seeing Batman and Catwoman pull of these amazing tricks, and mini cat fight between her and Batman, and each other's reactions! And I enjoyed seeing Isis follow them around too:anime:

The rest isn't all bad though. Bruce's infatuation with Selina was nice to see, and Selina's infatuation with Batman. Catwoman doing some recon work in Red Claw's hideout was pretty cool as well, seeing her sneak around and stuff, very cat-like. And the ending where Batman saves her was a nice touch too.

Other than that, the Red Claw stuff was crap. But, they started out right introducing Catwoman, but after about the first 5 minutes, with the exception to a few more scenes the rest of this episode fails as does part two.

***1/2

[JTolliver]

"The Cat and The Claw" in it's entirety is a good example of how Timm and Dini's handling of the Catwoman/Selina character, in B:TAS, was more often than not horrendously botched throughout the entire 3 Seasons:

"The Cat and The Claw" two parter started with a brilliant introduction to the Catwoman character, she stealthily nabbed some jewelry, fought/flirted and played chasey with Batman then kissed him and escaped. Then we got to see a Selina/Bruce mutual attraction get started. But Alas from there on in "The Cat and The Claw" succeeded in dropping the ball, crapping all over itself, and turning up naked to the party, case in point: a lame villian in "The Red Claw" (Who is she supposed to be The Red Skulls sister???) and Catwoman ALLOWING BATMAN TO ARREST HER AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVER HER TRUE IDENTITY WTF!!!, WERE TIMM AND DINI HIGH OR SOMETHING???, CATWOMAN WOULD NEVER DO THAT IT'S JUST ABOUT THE MOST UNCATWOMANLIKE THING I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!!.

Catwoman's handling in the episodes that followed "TC&TC" was fairly underwhelming, in fact more often than not she was little more than a wide eyed, damsel in distress,

in "Cat Scratch Fever" she was subdued by a toxin and lay unconcious waiting for Batman to get an antidote,

in "Tyger Tyger" she was turned into a literal "Catwoman", Dr. Moreau style, and sat in a jungle pen waiting for Batman to do something,

Her cameo in "Perchance to dream" was kinda fun if only for it's implication that Selina was truly Bruce's dream lover whom he'd marry if things were different,

"Almost Got'im" was somewhat a turn for the better with Catwoman displaying her deserved toughness and ability as she narrowly saved Batman from being fried crispy, whilst taking out Joker's goons, only to once again end up bound and helpless, on a conveyor belt rolling toward a mincer!!!.

"Batgirl Returns" was another improvement as Catwoman fought alongside Batgirl and Robin then double crossed the pesky kids and escaped, YAY!, only problem: WHERE WAS BATMAN AT???, LAME!!!.

"Catwalk", in my mind, was the only truly flawless Catwoman episode in the entire B:TAS series, it had everything a Bat/Cat story should have, plus CATWOMAN ESCAPED, YAY!!!, this was the one time Timm/Dini got Catwoman PERFECTLY RIGHT!!!, which is a shame because the character had so much potential, a soft, sexy visualisation both as Catwoman and as Selina and a sultry, seductive voice actress. The only other thing that annoyed me was the blonde hair, must've bin a "Batman Returns" tie in or something.

In fact I'll go as far as saying that "The Batman"'s handling of Catwoman/Selina is better than B:TAS's handling, sure the voice isn't as good, but she has managed to elude Batman on every occassion and keep her identity a secret even after meeting Bruce as Selina, AND she has long raven hair, FINALLY!!!.

END RANT, Thoughts???

[creativerealms]

One thing I hated was that Bruce Timm and Team still used the Batman returns designs for Catwoman and Pangy. I never liked Catwoman as a blond, it is just a little nit pick of mine.

Another small probem I have is it seems hard for any cartoon to make a soley Catwoman episode. Most of the episodes of Batman TAS she is ether a victom or has to share the spot light with someone else. The closest was The Batman's Cat an d the Bat but it turned into a toy ad for the middle part of the episode. Another small nitpick.

Besides those two little nitpicks I loved this episode.

[The Penguin]

One thing I hated was that Bruce Timm and Team still used the Batman returns designs for Catwoman and Pangy. I never liked Catwoman as a blond, it is just a little nit pick of mine.I believe they were forced to. I can't direct you to them, but I recall seeing some B:TAS concept art that was more respectful to the comic roots of both The Penguin and Catwoman.

[Azrael24]

how i wish i had boomerang! :sad: i bearily remember anything about this episode, but i do remember selina meeting bruce.

i agree with JTolliver, the batman's selina kyle is great, i cant wait to see more of her tomorrow :evil:. and TNBA selina kyle was :gir:. hated the short black hair!! reminded me of my mom's friend who i hate :mad:.