Between season one and season two of Batman, they released Batman the Movie on 30 July, 1966. Then on 7 September, 1966 season two got underway with Shoot a Crooked Arrow. Written by Stanley Ralph Ross it introduced a Robin Hood-type character named The Archer (Art Carney) and his familiar-looking merry men.

The villains even seem intent on leaning into the whole stealing from the rich (including Bruce Wayne in the opening sequence) and giving to the poor (who return it once they learn it was stolen), but Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) are determined to discover what is really going on.

And there’s a businessman in town, Allan A. Dale (Robert Cornthwaite), who thinks the Archer could be the next big thing with his redistribution of the city’s wealth. That’s a familiar name don’t you think?

Alfred (Alan Napier) gets to lend a hand in the Dynamic Duo’s plans as the heroes investigate Archer’s hideout. He and Archer square off in an archery contest. Unfortunately, the Caped Crusaders stumble into a trap, and Alfred is rumbled by Archer and his men, leading us into the first cliffhanger of the season.

Archer is determined to learn the location of the Batcave and threatens to use a guillotine on Alfred if the pair don’t talk! When that doesn’t work (it’s a trick), Archer challenges Batman to a duel. Though it doesn’t seem like much of a duel, he and Robin are strapped to poles as Archer and his men charge down on them with jousts!

And hey, there’s a window cameo in this episode, the second of the series, and it’s Dick Clark!

Walk the Straight and Narrow was written by Ross, and aired the following night on 8 September, 1966.

Our heroes escape with the help of some bat-springs, and discover that Archer has a counterfeiting scheme that he’s working on, and that has been the crux of the whole thing.

As a big event in Gotham City is about to take place Bruce Wayne and Batman’s presence are required so Alfred gets to don the cape and cowl while Bruce deals with Dale, Gordon (Neil Hamilton) and the public of Gotham.

The baddies are determined to take the money and run, speeding away on a boat, not realizing that Batman and Robin have a boat of their own as introduced in the film. Soon the chase is on, and then when the heroes board the ship… avast mateys! it’s time for fisticuffs and swordplay as Batman and Robin go after Archer and his gang with a vengeance.

Determined to prove that crime doesn’t pay, Batman and Robin make quick work of the villains, and are able to retire back to Wayne Manor to enjoy the rest of their sunny afternoon – I gotta say, this version of Gotham gets a lot of sun! It almost feels like California.

We’ll see what the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder get up to next time as we dive deeper into season two.