Series Finale? should there be one

[Lou Szabo]

I saw on some of the DVD/Blu Ray reviews that some people were pining for a series finale. I was not sure how I felt about that, so I'll put it to a vote from our community:

[dell]

So the obvious question is, how do they end it?

1) Do Bruce and Dick reveal themselves to be Batman and Robin? That just seems wrong and leads to all sorts of issues. For one thing it embarrasses the police and Bruce and Dick for all the deceptions they did over the years.

2) Do they just stop being Batman and Robin? This seems the most plausible to me, but also sad.

3) Do they hand off the crime fighting to someone else? Plausible, but who takes over?

Since the show never really had a beginning, it works not to have an end. At least for me.

[Gleeps, it's Batman]

Since the show never really had a beginning, it works not to have an end. At least for me.

I agree with you, Dell.

[BATWINGED HORNET]

Batman did not need a series finale. There was no indication in the scripts that the characters and situations were coming to some conclusion. Examples include: Dick Grayson going to college, or Wayne falling in love and wanting to marry--something that would compromise his job as a risk-taking crime fighter with innumerable enemies. Nothing of that sort was even implied in the last season. In fact, in the final episode, it was business as usual.

[robinboyblunderer]

Quite an interesting topic.

I vote yes.

I see the show building to a finale with several episodes dedicated to a final battle with each villain, like, have one where Mr. Freeze is cured, another one where Tut rejects the Tut personality and becomes Pr. Mackleroy permanently, do this with most of the villains. Maybe even Egghead concedes that Batman's smarter than him and so on, all of which leads into...

...a big five parter finale, where, Joker, Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman have a United Underworld reunion, but this time they also include Siren per Riddler's request.

Maybe Catwoman and Siren pretend to get along but take turns giving each other back handed compliments.

The villains decide to capture Robin, Batgirl, Gordon and O'Hara as part of a plan to finally eliminate the do-gooders of Gotham City. Batgirl, Gordon and O'Hara are put in separate death traps across the city that Batman has to outwit and outthink in order to rescue his friends while Robin is kept as a prisoner in the villains' lair.

Batman outwits the criminals, rescues Robin and we get a giant, super crazy Batfight with everyone, including Alfred involved. At some point, Catwoman turns sides, deciding to reform and join up with Batman.

Perhaps Riddler, Penguin, Joker and Siren end up blowing up in their lair due to some ironic egotistical stupidity on their part.

With all of Gotham's major criminals either reformed or dead, Batman and Robin retire, Dick going off to college and Bruce marrying a reformed Catwoman.

End the show with Batman shaking Gordon and O'Hara's hands and announcing his retirement, the latter asking what would they do if a super criminal somehow returns and Batman assuring them that all they'd have to do is light the signal once more and he and Robin will return, but that he trusts the safety of the city to them.

Later, Bruce and Dick shut down the lights in the Batcave and then Bruce and Selina watch Dick's car drive off to University while a ghostly Batsignal hangs in the sky (like Molly's image at the end of the pilot).

Give Bruce a funny parting line like his one about milk and cookies and flash The Bat End on screen.


cheers

[Lord Death Man]

Quite an interesting topic.

I vote yes.

I see the show building to a finale with several episodes dedicated to a final battle with each villain, like, have one where Mr. Freeze is cured, another one where Tut rejects the Tut personality and becomes Pr. Mackleroy permanently, do this with most of the villains. Maybe even Egghead concedes that Batman's smarter than him and so on, all of which leads into...

I would have enjoyed seeing this, except for the Siren being 'shoehorned' in (in my opinion she does not belong with the 'Big Four' for a variety of reasons). Perhaps to give viewers a lasting memory and the final episode some impact, they should introduce the real brains behind Gotham's Underworld...the Sea Hag, a Scuba Diving Villainess from the Batman Topps Card number 14a: "Danger In The Depths". What can I say, the idea has grown on me .

Your story would also make for an interesting DC 60's style 'imaginary tale' in the '66 Batman comic.

[High C]

Quite an interesting topic.

I vote yes.

I see the show building to a finale with several episodes dedicated to a final battle with each villain, like, have one where Mr. Freeze is cured, another one where Tut rejects the Tut personality and becomes Pr. Mackleroy permanently, do this with most of the villains. Maybe even Egghead concedes that Batman's smarter than him and so on, all of which leads into...

I would have enjoyed seeing this, except for the Siren being 'shoehorned' in (in my opinion she does not belong with the 'Big Four' for a variety of reasons). Perhaps to give viewers a lasting memory and the final episode some impact, they should introduce the real brains behind Gotham's Underworld...the Sea Hag, a Scuba Diving Villainess from the Batman Topps Card number 14a: "Danger In The Depths". What can I say, the idea has grown on me .

Your story would also make for an interesting DC 60's style 'imaginary tale' in the '66 Batman comic.

Give me Siren over 'Sea Hag' any day and twice on Sunday. Good grief.

[TP-6597]

Not needed. For the most part, Batman & Robin are a mystery. Their future and fate should remain one as well.

[STEPhonIT]

I wouldn't have mind an adaptation of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns starring Adam West as the series ender to Batman. Reasons are the comic books established and referenced a lot from the series including the RED PHONE from the show. It was clearly nodding the show and then turning it on it's head! As campy as the show may have been, Adam West played the character straight and I think he could've fit right in as an older Batman making a come back.

He's still alive, it could be done. I'm sure it would be more thrilling see West as the character again in a modern outfit for one last ride than Michael Keaton, or Val Kilmer, George Clooney.

[epaddon]

I've always had more fun envisioning a series revival circa 1980-81 when Adam could have still done the part but you would have more likely had some recasting of certain villain roles (and a recast Robin and Batgirl) to suit names more suitable for that era (all of those who keep wishing for Ann-Margret as Poison Ivy, *this* is the era where she would have been credible in the part, not in the late 60s).

[kennetzel]

I say there should not be a series finale. I like to think that the caped crusaders are still out there fighting crime wherever it may be.

[Gernot]

So the obvious question is, how do they end it?...

3) Do they hand off the crime fighting to someone else? Plausible, but who takes over?...

NOT Galexo!

[Lord Death Man]

3) Do they hand off the crime fighting to someone else? Plausible, but who takes over?

Ala Earth 2, Batman and Catwoman's daughter, the Huntress!

[Dr. Shimel]

Of course, it's been mentioned before that maybe the Joker spaceship episode should have been the finale, only with the Batcave explosion being the conclusion, instead of the halfway point. Just think of how much speculation could still be going on. It would be like The Sopranos ending.

[brightknight]

In terms of wrapping up the story, I don't think a finale was needed. I think '66 works best as an ongoing, jolly crusade. However I love the idea Newmar's Catwoman eventually reforms, falls in love with Bruce, not Batman, and forgoes her idea of killing Robin.

It would have been nice if they knew they were filming their last episode at the time, though. Then they could have planned a more fitting sendoff, like the classic villains teaming up again ala the movie - or something like that.

I suspect when the '66 comic series wraps up, that's what they will do.