I didn’t grow up in the 60s or 70s, but I have fond memories of watching the old ’66 Batman series in syndication at some point in my youth. I used to keep track of the villains that appeared on which episodes there for a little while, it was good fun, just like the popular show itself. The third and final season adds Yvonne Craig as Batgirl. You also get special villains like Egghead and Siren making appearances, while series veterans such as the Riddler, Penguin, Joker, and Shame are also aboard.
The final twenty-seven episodes of the series are well represented in this remastered set. Visually, expect the original 4:3 frame size, but the image and sound quality are great for a DVD release. Of course, the complete series has previously been released on Blu-ray, but it doesn’t come cheap, and you cannot buy the seasons separately, at least not yet. If you’re seeking this specific season, this is the best way to own it. While well packaged, there are no extra features however, which is perhaps not too surprising, but a letdown nonetheless.
As for the season itself, most would readily agree that despite adding a competent and likeable Batgirl character, and some new villains, season three is the weakest of the bunch. I haven’t seen every episode of the series to say for sure, but I can appreciate some of the arguments about season three that call out its lackluster plot lines and overuse of campy elements that crossed a line of being campy and just being extra campy for the sake of it. This just wasn’t the show at its prime, and despite adding Batgirl and some new villains, overall it lagged behind the previous content noticeably. Despite that, like a lot of these classic shows, its entertaining in spurts — it’s nothing I would want to binge watch, but an episode or two here and there, sure, it can keep one entertained.
The standalone season three DVD release is a welcome option to those who prefer not to pick up the entire series, but it might be worth saving up or waiting for the right time to pickup the complete set on Blu-ray which I hear WB did a superb job with.
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