Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman, is an integral force within Batman’s story. She’s a lover and a rival, not to mention an icon in her own right. She’s a legendary cat burglar of Gotham City, and it’s safe to say she’s reinvented her story many times over, taking the reins and turning her character into something compelling and complex. She has been around in DC Comics for many years, making appearances in the comics, video games, films, and television shows. Today, we’re here to discuss her time spent on Batman: The Animated Series (Batman: TAS). Given her significance to the source material, there’s no way they could have left her out, and she created some memorable episodes for fans.
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Batman: The Animated Series was a television series that inspired many others, including the Justice League and even Batman Beyond. It took beloved characters and added new depth to their stories, forever changing the canon as we know it. It’s no surprise that Selina Kyle was included in the characters who got some extra attention during this time.
3) “Perchance to Dream” (Season 1, Episode 30)
Ironically, “Perchance to Dream” focuses more on Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle than Batman and Catwoman. The story has a typical setup, with Batman chasing after a bunch of criminals. However, things go pretty differently when he gets knocked unconscious. When he comes to, he wakes to a world without Batman. Alfred has no idea what he’s talking about; there’s no Batcave, and most notably, Bruce’s parents are not dead.
The other key change for this alternate Bruce tale is that the titular hero is engaged to Selina Kyle, who likewise has no knowledge of her alter ego. In many ways, this is the perfect life that Bruce would have asked for. However, the hero knows something is wrong, and so he won’t stop digging until he gets to the truth (revealing a classic Mad Hatter plot).
“Perchance to Dream” solidifies Selina’s status as one of Bruce’s primary love interests, allowing her to play a part in his perfect dream life. It’s a surprisingly emotional tale with heavy implications, and thus is a fan-favorite Catwoman episode.
2) “The Cat and the Claw” Parts 1 & 2 (Season 1, Episodes 15 and 16)
“The Cat and the Claw” is a two-episode arc from Batman: TAS. Interestingly enough, the first episode of this arc was the show’s first episode to air, meaning the series was initially released out of order. This arc introduces the infamous cat burglar to the series in spectacular fashion.
It all begins with a diamond necklace, because this is Catwoman we’re talking about. Batman tries to intervene, beginning the classic Batman and Catwoman dynamic. Conversely, Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne attend a celebrity auction the next night, and Selina outbids everyone to win Bruce as a date for the night. An ironic twist of fate.
“The Cat and the Claw” introduces both sides of Catwoman, putting her in place to be lover, rival, thief, and anti-hero all in one go. In other words, this arc does a lot of heavy-lifting, especially as it simultaneously introduces secondary characters to Selina’s life.
1) “Almost Got ‘Im” (Season 1, Episode 46)
When it comes to Batman: TAS, one of the most creative episodes of the set is “Almost Got ‘Im.” This episode begins with the Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Penguin, and Killer Croc sitting around a poker table. Each villain takes a turn telling of the time they almost got a win against the iconic Batman. Eventually, Joker’s turn comes up, in which he tells a hilarious story (well, hilarious in his mind) and a complicated tale, one that ends with Catwoman getting knocked unconscious by Harley Quinn.
It’s pretty obvious what Joker and Harley are doing: they’re using Catwoman as bait for Batman. However, even this chaotic duo was unprepared for Batman’s creative problem-solving. Fans know well that things at this table are not what they seem.
Technically, “Almost Got ‘Im” revolves more around Catwoman than it features her, as Selina doesn’t make an appearance until the end. However, the arc highlights the lengths Catwoman and Batman will go through to protect one another. Additionally, this episode puts their relationship on the center stage, allowing viewers to see the romantic chemistry that has begun to develop. All of which stands in stark contrast to Joker and Harley Quinn’s relationship.
Batman: The Animated Series is available to stream on HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
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image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
