WAH WAH WAAAAAAAAAH!!
I think, despite the bitter taste left in Americans' mouths, that we will remember this election. The candidates were very different yet similar in their little oddities. Myself, I voted for one that I would think would rise above his counterpart. He was smart, bright, and knew about right and wrong. The other one prided himself on hypocrisy, evil, and various other diabolical things that even now I cannot bring myself to say that he was the one I chose, that America chose.
Yup, at the very end it looked like Penguin would win. I mean, how can Batman defeat such a confused and outdated juggernaut known as the 'Democratic' process? Endless and annoying recounts? Rigged elections? Plus, I think that since the disputed votes were right in the Riddler's own turf, that would raise some eyebrows. But noooooooooooooo, since us Americans believe that common sense is second only to very very stupid rules, we are stuck.
Okay, kidding aside, I thought this episode(s) would be a good one to review right now. This episode (or episodes, since it is two episodes) is similar to the later-produced "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin" with Penguin's grand designs of political treachery, except this time Penguin takes the lesser-known (and non-Kennedy) route by actually running for Mayor instead of simply marrying Batgirl. In fact, the very first part of this story ("Hizzoner the Penguin") is so surreal that it brings to mind the "Free For All" Prisoner episode with all it's subtle and blatant imagery.
WAH WAH WAAAAAAAAAH!!
The plot: Penguin's scheme concerns him becoming a good-doer so he can get elected to office so he can 'do all the illegal stuff and make it legal.' Batman runs against him, thinking that since he's an all-around good guy he's a shoe-in. However, this is not the case and he looks sure to lose. Nobody listens to him, people go to Penguin's rally because of free champagne, and Batman and Robin find themselves being erased from the election by being dipped in a vat of acid.
Of course, if the Penguin was really smart, why didn't he just let the election run it's course? Who knows. Maybe that's more symbolism and satire than I'm picking up on.
Batman and Robin escape thanks to their deux ex machina in the form of acid-proof suits (even through the acid was bubbling, hence hot, hence...oh, never mind) and continue the election. On election day, just as Penguin is about to win (and in a neat little bit offers the Riddler and Joker jobs as Police Chief and Commissioner), Batman does some deductive reasoning about Penguin's election funds and, a THWAPP/THWACK/POW! fight later, everything is settled. At the very end, Batman refuses to run for President of 1968 (??) for either party, in a bit of outdated political humor that leaves everyone hanging.
Like I said before, this story has a lot of bite to it than the show usually does. Burgess Meredith seems to be enjoying his part a little more this time around as well. But, all the cheese aside, it's one of the more memorable and relevant shows around. Even with that against it, it's entertaining. Three out of Four Stars.