Batman vs. Catwoman/Holy Good vs. Evil, Batman!
By | October 24, 2017
GOOD vs. EVIL is an age-old challenge. People have been taking sides on this very issue since the beginning of time. It is said to be a “human condition.” Just like we all have variations in our personalities, we also have our individual concepts about good and bad. Most likely these beliefs have been instilled in us since birth. Depending on your thought process and/or position on this issue, you may identify more closely with one or the other. Despite what we aspire to be, we all, inherently, possess both qualities; we want to be good but also have an inner evil side.
The Batman & Robin television series’ main focus was that good always triumphs over evil. Many of us, like it or not, associate good with something/someone that is pleasant and evil with something/someone that is unpleasant. Even when villains were wreaking havoc on Gotham City, Batman never lost hope or even uttered a foul word. Obviously, he was on the side of good!
It was so easy to “hate” villains like the Joker, the Riddler and Mr. Freeze. It was so very different, and at times difficult, to hate a beautiful, curvaceous villain, like Catwoman. We knew that when we tuned in and saw that Catwoman was part of the episode, that she was up to no good and would undoubtedly be foiled by the handsome Caped Crusader; although, we almost hated to hate her because she was so alluring. She was beautiful and pleasant to look at but that conflicts with the theory. Just about the time we thought that this might have been the one episode that we were wrong about, there was always a cliffhanger leaving us waiting until next week! Our unyielding hope continuously let us down as good always won out.
Catwoman, as portrayed in the Batman & Robin television series, was a feline seductress with a penchant for evil. Ironically, she had an underlying fondness/romantic interest for Batman, who stood for everything she seemed to be against. Although he never appeared to validate her interest, we always hoped that he would put the superhero business aside for just a minute and hook up with her! I mean, for goodness sake… she wore a tight-fitting, black bodysuit and sported a bullwhip! Holy, insanity, Batman… the bat-pole can’t purr in your ear!
The character of Catwoman was originally inspired by the 1930’s movie star, Jean Harlow. She looked innocent enough but always pleasantly surprised her audiences by doing something unexpected. Catwoman was notorious for being a beautiful cat burglar and the underlying scenario was always that she was plotting to steal the most valuable jewels in Gotham City. Little did Batman know that it was always just a ruse to get his attention; and that he was the only jewel she ever really wanted. Catwoman was characterized as an adversary to Batman but much like Harlow, she just wanted to get her man.
Although viewers knew they should side with Batman in the name of all that was good and pure, they couldn’t ignore the fact that people are, indeed, human. They usually struggle with falling for the beautiful, although less than wholesome character. Bats and cats are typically seen as enemies but something in us just wanted Batman and Catwoman to get together and admit that they found each other sexy. Men associated with being the hero and getting the woman and women associated with being devilish and getting the man! There was something for everyone! MEOW!