The Laughing Cats

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“The Laughing Cats”
The Batman episode
Episode no. Season 3
Episode 33
Guest stars Catwoman| voiced by Gina Gershon, Killgore Steed voiced by Charles Napier
Written by Joseph Kuhr
Directed by Christopher Berkeley
Production no. 307
Original airdate November 19 2005
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Brawn" "Fleurs du Mal"
List of The Batman episodes

"The Laughing Cats" is the thirty third episode of the television series The Batman. It originally aired in North America on Saturday 19 November 2005 and later in the UK on Cartoon Network UK on Monday 1 May 2006.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

When a rare Black Siberian Leopard is stolen, Batman and Batgirl suspect Catwoman and go to protect the second Black Siberian Leopard. But what happens when Joker beats them to the punch and brings the cats to Killgore Steed? It's a maze of doom with dangerous creatures. Can Catwoman, Batman, and Batgirl escape, or will they end up on Joker's wall?

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Batman is at the zoo investigating the disappearance of a rare black leopard and Batgirl shows up. Batgirl suspects Catwoman but the Batman notices it wasn’t’ a solo job. He notes the only other leopard arrives in Gotham the next day, as part of an “animal extravaganza.” At the extravaganza, Catwoman breaks in as batman and Batgirl look on.

The Bats confront Catwoman, who claims she’s innocent from in the first theft but plans to steal the second one. A fight breaks out and she frees the wrestling gorillas as a distraction – Batman gases them while Batgirl confronts Catwoman. After a brief fight the villainess ties up Batgirl and escapes while Batman recages the gorillas. Catwoman escapes with the leopard but the Joker confronts her outside and her goons gas her unconscious. Later Batman finds a strand of green hair confirming his suspicions.

At a deserted fun house, Joker reveals to the captive Catwoman that he’s stealing the leopards for Killgore Steed, a millionaire who likes to hunt rare animals. The Joker reveals a set of giant novelty chattering teeth and lowers her into them.

Batman and Batgirl arrive and use the Batmobile to ram the teeth and. Batman takes on Punch & Judy while Batgirl frees Catwoman, and the Joker makes his escape in a van. Catwoman wants to rescue the cats but Batman plans to take her into custody…until Catwoman reveals she’s the only one who knows where the Joker is going. Batman reluctantly agrees, over Batgirl’s objections.

Catwoman vows she believes animals belong in the wilderness, much to Batgirl’s surprise, while Joker meets with Killgore who demonstrates his giant maze for hunting rare animals. He gives Steed the leopards and in return he gives the Joker rare albino hyenas for his personal pets. The Joker takes out Steed’s goons and gases the millionaire with Joker venom. Then he spots the Batboat on the proximity alarm and prepares a reception for them.

Batman, Catwoman, and Batgirl are quickly captured and dropped into the maze. The Joker warns that they must navigate the maze without their equipment or he’ll kill the leopards. They agree and turn their equipment over to him and he unleashes a giant poisonous spider into the maze, then cuts the three of them off. Batman dodges an advancing spike-wall and then they start to make their way through the maze.

The walls are too slippery to climb, and Batman confronts one of the Joker goons, armed with an acid gun. He sets off a spike trap and narrowly makes it to safety, then takes off the pursuing goon and knocks his acid gun into a puddle of its own acid. Batman fights the two goons, while Batgirl confronts the giant spider. Catwoman runs into the Joker and his hyenas but she manages to calm them down as they ignore the Joker’s kill command, and the Joker attacks her.

Batman uses the spikes to take out Punch & Judy and finds the tracking device they’re using. Batgirl tosses the spider into another part of the maze as Batman catches up to her, and they head for Catwoman. Joker has her on the ropes when the other two arrive and while the hyenas look on, laughing. He escapes back toward the manor while Batman goes in pursuit. The Joker tries to use Batman’s utility belt, which is keyed to the Caped Crusader’s bio-patterns. Batman knocks him out, while Catwoman and Batgirl free the leopards, and Catwoman imprisons her so she can make her escape…with the leopards. Catwoman heads for the boat but the leopards refuse to go with her across the boat. Batman shows up and she’s forced to leave the cats and make her escape. He goes back to free Batgirl, who is unhappy Catwoman fooled her. Batman reassures her that her instincts were good and that he’ll be keeping her on as Batgirl.

Spoilers end here.

This episode of the Batman is loosly based off of the 1929 short story "The Most Dangerous Game" with Killgore being the modern adaptation of General Zaroff

[edit] Characters

[edit] Trivia

  • Batman reveals that his utility belt responds to his biometrics, meaning only he can open it.
  • Batman and Batgirl do not appear out of costume in this episode.
  • Joker appears for the second time in the 3rd season.
  • Catwoman trying to recruit Batgirl to join her smacks heavily of the BTAS episode "Batgirl Returns".

[edit] Quotes

  • Joker: (to Jokerized Killgore, re-advancing heroes) I know your heart was set on a cathunt. But would it upset you too much to make it a cat and two bats?
  • Joker: You busted my boutoniere!
    Batman: You're lucky that's all. (Hyenas laugh)
    Joker: (to hyenas) Shhhhhut up.
  • Batgirl: (to Catwoman) You almost sound like you're going 'hero' on us.
    Catwoman: For the right cause ...
    Batgirl: You should give it a try. You might actually make a pretty good 'good guy'.
    Catwoman: I'd need a sidekick. (giving BG a once-over) And with a few costume adjustments, you're not :that far from being a Catgirl.
  • Catwoman: And seriously...if you ever decide to make the switch from sidekick to partner-in-crime...
    Batgirl: (sourly) ...I'll be sure to look you up.
  • Joker: What kind of crazy canines are you?
    Catwoman: Sorry to burst your balloon, Joker, but hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Oh, and by the way, they're laughing at you!

[edit] References

    Not available yet

    [edit] See also